MUST-READS

• The Emirati defense gambit in Brazil

  Already the largest trade counterpart of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in South America, Brazil is emerging as a key security partner and a promising destination for Abu Dhabi's defense industry and arms exports. This trend has been epitomized in the recent letter of intent signed between the Emirati EDGE Group and the Management and Operational Centre of the Amazon Protection System (CENSIPAM).

• Saudi delegation led by Royal Court advisor meets with Syria’s Al-Sharaa

  A Saudi delegation headed by an advisor from the Royal Court met with the head of the new Syrian administration, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, at the People’s Palace in Syria on Sunday, according to an Al Arabiya report. Earlier this week, Al-Sharaa praised progress made by Saudi Arabia and neighboring Gulf countries in an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat. “We admire the development in Gulf countries, particularly Saudi Arabia’s bold plans and vision, and we aspire to achieve similar progress for Syria,” he told the newspaper’s Bissane El-Cheikh during an interview the the Presidential Palace in Damascus. “There are many opportunities for cooperation, especially in economic and developmental areas, where we can align our goals,” he added.

• As Iran’s top council pauses new hijab law, some warn of ‘tyranny’

  The implementation of a controversial new law which mandates stricter enforcement of the Islamic dress code has been put on hold by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC). The move—which has raised eyebrows—comes after widespread criticism of the legislation. Many have credited Reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian, who chairs the top decision-making council, for the feat. At the same time, the maneuver has raised questions among critics who say it makes a mockery of the legislative process in Iran.

• Deception and Betrayal: Inside the Final Days of the Assad Regime

  As rebels advanced toward the Syrian capital of Damascus on Dec. 7, the staff in the hilltop Presidential Palace prepared for a speech they hoped would lead to a peaceful end to the 13-year civil war. Aides to President Bashar al-Assad were brainstorming messaging ideas. A film crew had set up cameras and lights nearby. Syria’s state-run television station was ready to broadcast the finished product: an address by Mr. al-Assad announcing a plan to share power with members of the political opposition, according to three people who were involved in the preparation. Working from the palace, Mr. al-Assad, who had wielded fear and force to maintain his authoritarian rule over Syria for more than two decades, had betrayed no sense of alarm to his staff, according to a palace insider whose office was near the president’s. The capital’s defenses had been bolstered, Mr. al-Assad’s aides were told, including by the powerful 4th Armored Division of the Syrian Army, led by the president’s brother Maher al-Assad, the insider said.

• Saudi imports from GCC hit $4.36B in Q3 2024

  Saudi Arabia’s imports from GCC countries fell 14% year-on-year (YoY) to SAR 16.4 billion in Q3 2024, according to a recent report by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT). Imports from the UAE declined by 22% YoY to SAR 9.7 billion, accounting for 59% of total Saudi imports. Bahrain came second, with about SAR 2.9 billion, followed by Oman with SAR 2.5 billion.

• Germany’s attack suspect reportedly offered reward to target Saudi ambassador

  The arrested suspect in the deadly car-ramming attack at a Christmas market in the German city of Magdeburg had plans to target Saudi ambassador to Germany, according to media reports. A Saudi source told "Independent Arabia" newspaper that Talib Al-Abdul Mohsen, the suspect, had offered a reward of SR10,000 to anyone who provides information about the location of Saudi ambassador's residence and time of his presence at residence. The Saudi embassy passed this information to the German authorities but they did not take the matter seriously, the newspaper reported.

• Saudi Arabia announces resumption of embassy operations in Kabul

  Saudi Arabia announced on Sunday the resumption of operations of its diplomatic mission in the Afghan capital, Kabul, more than three years after withdrawing its diplomats from the country amid the chaos that accompanied the Taliban's rise to power. "Based on the keenness of the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to provide all services to the brotherly Afghan people, it has been decided to resume the activities of the Kingdom's mission in Kabul as of December 22, 2024," the Saudi embassy in Kabul said on X.  In November 2021, Saudi Arabia announced the resumption of consular services in Afghanistan, where the Saudi Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief) is providing humanitarian aid. Saudi Arabia is one of three countries, along with the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan, to recognize the former Taliban government, which was overthrown in the U.S. invasion in 2001.

• Saudi Arabia invests in robots to help build its Neom desert megacity

  "Having worked in the rebar industry in various forms for the past 30 years, it is very exciting to reach a point where the large-scale adoption of robotics and automation to improve the rebar process is happening," explains Ulrich Deichmann, CEO of GMT Robotics. "We share in Neom's ambition to rethink how construction is delivered and look forward to a highly successful partnership that will help revolutionize the construction industry. The benefits of robotics application within the construction sector are numerous. They include boosting task efficiency, reducing operating costs, improving health and safety, and optimizing design flexibility."

• Saudi warnings about market attack suspect were ignored

  The Saudi authorities, I am told, are currently working flat out to collate everything they have on the Magdeburg market suspect, Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, and to share it with Germany's ongoing investigation "in every way possible". Inside the imposing sand coloured and fortress-like walls of the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Riyadh there is a perhaps justifiable sense of pique. The ministry previously warned the German government about al-Abdulmohsen's extremist views. It sent four so-called "Notes Verbal", three of them to Germany's intelligence agencies and one to the foreign ministry in Berlin. There was, the Saudis say, no response.

• Suspect in German Christmas market attack had history of troubling social media posts that grew increasingly dark

  The man accused of killing five people and injuring more than 200 others by ramming a car into a crowded German Christmas market had a history of making anti-Islam statements, which had grown increasingly dark and threatening towards Germany in recent months. The suspect, Taleb Al Abdulmohsen, was arrested at the scene of the deadly attack in Magdenburg on Friday. German authorities said they believe he acted alone. A Saudi Arabian citizen, the 50-year-old psychiatrist came to Germany in 2006. Once settled in the country, he began sharing advice online with other people about how to escape repressive regimes in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, setting up the platform wearesaudis.net.

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