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  • Saudi Arabia tourism growth sees 27% surge in international arrivals

    The travel and tourism sector in Saudi Arabia has reported a 27% increase in incoming tourist numbers during the first nine months of 2024, compared to the previous year's 14% rise. This information was released by the Saudi Press Agency, citing the kingdom's tourism minister, Ahmed Al-Khateeb, at the 2025 Budget Forum in Riyadh.

  • Who are the rebels seizing control of Syria’s second city?

    Rebel forces launched the largest offensive against the Syrian government in years on Wednesday. By Sunday, they had taken control of "large parts" of the country's second-biggest city, Aleppo and were advancing towards Hama in the south. The surprise offensive prompted the first Russian strikes on Aleppo since 2016, and saw Syria's military withdraw its troops from the city. The attack was led by the Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) - which has a long and involved history in the Syrian conflict.

  • Hamas releases hostage video as UNRWA halts aid deliveries to Gaza citing looting

    Hamas has released a video of hostage Edan Alexander, 20, in which he addresses his family,  Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump. Hamas leaders held talks in Cairo with Egyptian security officials to explore ways to reach a deal with Israel that could secure the release of hostages in return for Palestinian prisoners.

  • Russian strikes hit Aleppo as rebels take control

    Rebel forces in Syria have taken control of the "majority" of the country's second-largest city, Aleppo, according to the UK-based monitoring group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR). Russia launched air strikes in response across parts of Aleppo overnight into Saturday for the first time since 2016, the observers added. SOHR said more than 300 people - including more than 20 civilians - have been killed since the offensive started on Wednesday. The offensive is the largest against the Syrian government in years and the first time rebels fighting the forces of President Bashar al-Assad have reached Aleppo since being forced out by the army in 2016.

  • Saudi Arabia grants 60-day grace period for runaway workers to correct their status

    The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) launched a new campaign to grant a 60-day grace period for runaway foreign workers to correct their status through the ministry's Qiwa platform, Okaz/Saudi Gazette has learnt. "Those workers, against whom there is an absence report, can utilize the grace period, starting from Dec. 1 and ending on January 29, 2025, to transfer their services to another employer," the Qiwa platform, under the ministry, revealed. The platform called on workers, who meet the conditions, to quickly transfer their services to another facility through the service available on the Qiwa platform before the end of the specified deadline on January 29. It indicated that the campaign aims to enhance the stability of the labor relationship and give workers an additional opportunity to correct their status in line with the regulations and allow them to transfer their services to another employer. It stressed the need to take advantage of the available period before the expiry of the deadline.

  • Neom: Will Saudi Arabia’s Trillion-Dollar Desert Dream Ever Become a Reality?

    Saudi Arabia’s Neom is perhaps the world’s most controversial architectural project at present, covering 10,200 square miles – almost the size of Belgium – and incorporating renewable energy projects and advanced smart technologies in the middle of the desert. Following several construction delays, rising costs, and criticism over structural aspects of the project, many are wondering whether the Kingdom’s ambitious plan can become a reality. In September, the Kingdom began to prioritize certain aspects of the megaproject to ensure that it can hold international events that have been planned for the city and try to attract more private funding. The Line has reportedly been scaled back from 170 km to just a 2.4 km stretch including a stadium, which is expected to host the final match of the 2034 football World Cup. Meanwhile, development at Trojena is being centered around the 2029 Asian Winter Games.

  • Saudi economy expected to grow 4.7% in 2025, 2026: World Bank

    Saudi Arabia’s economy is forecast to grow 4.7% in 2025 and 2026 driven by higher oil output, the World Bank (WB) said in a recent report. The Kingdom’s economy is expected to grow by 1.1% in 2024, supported by robust growth in non-oil activities at 4.6%. WB highlighted that Saudi Vision 2030 has spurred significant investments in tourism and renewable energy, alongside strong performance in the retail and hospitality sectors. It also noted a decline in the Kingdom's unemployment rate, indicating a strong labor market.

  • Saudi Arabia’s US Treasury Holdings Hit Highest Since 2020

    Saudi Arabia’s holdings of US Treasuries as a portion of foreign assets held by its central bank rose in October to the most in four years. US Treasuries as a portion of total foreign assets held by SAMA, as the Saudi Central Bank is known, rose to almost 35% last month, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. That puts them at the highest level since February 2020 at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. The country’s investments in the US government bonds has been rising this year and SAMA now holds $144 billion in US Treasuries even as its total foreign assets has fallen to the lowest since February.

  • Saudi Youth Expectations and Opportunities for COP16

    The roundtable discussion addressed the expectations of Saudi youth regarding COP16, with participants stressing the importance of making concrete commitments to combat desertification and land degradation, advancing sustainable land management, ensuring water security, and fostering agricultural innovation. They emphasized the need to bridge the gap between youth and policymakers to enhance youth participation in shaping environmental policies. The challenges highlighted included financial barriers, lack of educational resources, and the limited engagement of youth from rural areas and marginalized communities.

  • Saudi Crown Prince arrives in UAE on a private visit

    Earlier on Sunday, the Saudi Crown Prince was in Kuwait where he attended the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Leaders’ Summit. Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrived in the UAE on a private visit on Sunday, the official Saudi Press Agency reported. During his visit, the Crown Prince met with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, according to the Emirati state news agency WAM.