Recent stories from sustg

MUST-READS

  • U.S. Special Envoy for Yemen Lenderking’s Travel to Saudi Arabia and Oman

    U.S. Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking is traveling to Saudi Arabia and Oman this week to continue discussions with partners regarding recent Houthi detentions of UN, diplomatic, and international NGO staff and efforts to secure an immediate end to reckless Houthi attacks in the Red Sea and surrounding waterways.  Houthi detentions and attacks threaten progress toward achieving a durable resolution to the conflict in Yemen and obstruct the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Yemenis and people in need across the region.

  • New Telecommunications and Data Protection Rules Taking Effect in Saudi Arabia

    The express goal of the Telecommunications Act is to promote digital transformation in the Kingdom and enhance the services provided within the ICT sector, particularly in light of recent exponential growth. At the same time, the new Telecommunications Act and ByLaws continue to require a license or authorization to provide certain communications or technology services in KSA and, in fact, they have effectively widened the scope of the CST’s regulatory jurisdiction to include additional technology and digital services. Whether these changes advance or hinder these policy goals, therefore, may ultimately depend on the burden created by the CST’s implementation practices.

  • Saudi Arabia’s Qiddiya City unveils groundbreaking performing arts center

    Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC) on Monday unveiled plans to launch a groundbreaking Performing Arts Center that is set to become a new cultural icon in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported. The addition aims to enrich Saudi Arabia’s cultural landscape and enhance the array of attractions within Qiddiya City, according to SPA.

  • How Sports Are Making Saudi Arabia Look Better Than Ever

    This spotlight has also largely succeeded in redefining narratives of Saudi Arabia's reputation abroad in countries like the United States, where long-standing concerns over the nation's human rights situation have been substantially diluted as Riyadh bears the soft power fruits of its multibillion-dollar push to attract foreign fans, talent and events.

  • PGA Tour commissioner says sides are making progress on deal with Saudi backers of LIV Golf

    “With complexity comes opportunity,” he said before the start of the Travelers Championship at the TPC River Highlands. “There are a lot of different factors at play, but nobody who is having the conversation is unaware of the complexity. And everyone, I think, is embracing the fact that there are obstacles and things you’ve got to overcome in a complex situation.

  • Saudi Taekwondo Champion Dunya AbuTaleb Soars to Fourth in World Rankings

    AbuTaleb, already the first Saudi woman to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics, has her sights set even higher. With her recent Asian Championship gold medal (another first for Saudi women's taekwondo), she's considered a strong contender for the World Championship bronze medal.

  • Saudi Arabia Tops Global Cybersecurity Rankings

    The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has secured the top position globally in the cybersecurity indicator, according to the 2024 World Competitiveness Yearbook published by the Swiss-based Institute for Management Development (IMD). National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA) Board of Directors Chairman Dr. Musaed Al-Aiban congratulated the Saudi leadership on this achievement. He highlighted it as a confirmation of the country's leading role in international cybersecurity and a testament to its commitment to Saudi Vision 2030.

  • Unpacking Saudi Arabia’s $4B online fashion opportunity

    Saudi Arabia is set to shake up global e-commerce, with online fashion sales predicted to grow from $2.34 billion in 2023 to $4.08 billion by 2027, up 74 percent. According to a 2024 report by the Saudi Fashion Commission, the country is uniquely positioned compared to China, the US, and Europe, which are currently the most prominent e-commerce markets globally.

  • Working Women Are Changing Saudi Arabia

    The government’s subsequent campaign to push the private sector to start creating more jobs for Saudis had the unexpected effect of increasing opportunities not only for men but also for women, who joined the workforce in numbers that shocked policymakers: as of 2023, 31 percent of Saudi women were employed. This shift is remolding both the economy and society: Saudi women are becoming a source of tremendous economic potential and a visible and powerful presence across public life in the kingdom.

  • Rainfall relieves Muslim pilgrims marking final days of Hajj in extreme heat

    Rainfall above Mecca on Monday relieved Muslim pilgrims, who used the early morning hours to perform the second day of the symbolic stoning of the devil, as noontime summer heat caused heatstroke among thousands wrapping up the Hajj pilgrimage. The final days of the Hajj coincide with Muslims around the world celebrating the Eid al-Adha holiday.