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  • Saudi FM Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud meets German counterpart, Annalena Baerbock, in Jeddah

    Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud met his German counterpart, Annalena Baerbock, in Jeddah on Monday, the Saudi foreign ministry wrote on Twitter. The German foreign ministry had said earlier that Baerbock, who will also visit Qatar next, would discuss bilateral issues as well as questions of regional crises with Gulf counterparts.

  • Khartoum Under Bombardment as Sudan’s Rivals Talk

    Truce deals have been repeatedly broken but the United States and Saudi Arabia are mediating talks in Jeddah aimed at securing a lasting ceasefire. "You don't know how long this war will continue ... The house became unsafe and we don't have enough money to travel out of Khartoum. Why are we paying the price of Burhan and Hemedti's war?" said Yassin, the teacher.

  • The Gulf governments need to openly discuss the risks of artificial intelligence

    The Gulf countries’ rapid ascent up the income ladder during the last century would not have been possible had they insisted on in-sourcing every step. Importing foreign technologies, organizational philosophies, art, legal systems, and so on is an intelligent alternative to reinventing the wheel because of the time and resource savings. However, the floodgates should not be completely open, and homegrown capacity must be built for two reasons.

  • Dubai Reefs: Inside the world’s largest artificial reef megaproject

    Dubai will soon be home to the world’s largest ocean community megaprojects – the Dubai Reefs. The project will help strengthen Dubai’s position as a leader in sustainable marine initiatives as well, according to a statement by Dubai Reefs developer URB. The upcoming floating community will feature facilities for marine research, regeneration, ecotourism, hospitality, retail, and education.

  • How Sudan’s paramilitary forces took parts of Khartoum, stormed army chief’s quarters

    Burhan, the de facto head of state, himself picked up an AK-47 rifle and opened fire before his security pulled him to safety, one of his bodyguards told Reuters, in previously unreported details of how close he came to being toppled, or killed, in those first days. More than 30 of his guards died in the ensuing battle, before the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) fighters retreated from the residence in the capital, said the bodyguard, who asked not to be named.

  • Saudi Arabia to start implementing second phase of annual levy on house workers from May 11

    The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD) announced the implementation of the second phase of the decision of the Council of Ministers to selectively impose a levy on domestic workers from Thursday, May 11, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Saudi employers will have to pay an annual fee of SR9600 for each house worker if their number exceeds four while expatriate employers will pay the same amount for each worker in excess of two.

  • Abu Dhabi tops Dubai as ‘smartest city’ in MENA region

    For the third consecutive year, Abu Dhabi ranked as the smartest city in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region for 2023, according to the IMD Smart City Index released by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Switzerland in collaboration with the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD).

  • Iran, Saudi Arabia resume bilateral trade as part of rapprochement

    Minister of Industry, Trade and Mining, Reza Fatemi Amin, said in statements cited by state news agency, IRNA, that the entry of Iranian goods into Saudi Arabia was "on the agenda". He added that his Ministry has begun the process of exporting goods to Saudi Arabia in line with agreements reached between the two sides in recent months. Last month, Tehran and Riyadh agreed to revive relations after seven years, with China brokering the final round of marathon talks.

  • Eid Al-Fitr prayer proves to be a memorable and heartfelt affair for Saudi residents

    As Muslims across the globe prepare to celebrate the first of two eids on the Muslim calendar, many initiate the day’s festivities with a morning prayer. The Eid Al-Fitr prayer has long surpassed its type as a sunnah (an action of the Prophet Muhammad) and positioned itself, emotionally, as a fardh (obligatory act) in the hearts of Muslims around the world and across the Kingdom.

  • Eid Al-Fitr prayer proves to be a memorable and heartfelt affair for Saudi residents

    As Muslims across the globe prepare to celebrate the first of two eids on the Muslim calendar, many initiate the day’s festivities with a morning prayer. The Eid Al-Fitr prayer has long surpassed its type as a sunnah (an action of the Prophet Muhammad) and positioned itself, emotionally, as a fardh (obligatory act) in the hearts of Muslims around the world and across the Kingdom.