SUSTG.com / Research

Discover stories, topics, and more about Saudi Arebia faster.

Recent stories from sustg

MUST-READS

  • SAFF officials open world football’s first dedicated Football Research Institute in Riyadh

    The Saudi Arabian Football Federation [SAFF] has officially launched the Saudi Arabian Football Federation Institute of Research [SAFFIR], marking the world's first dedicated Research Institute for Football operated by a Football Federation. ‘SAFFIR’ - translated from Arabic as ambassador – is a symbol for the Institute’s aim to act as a connecting point between researchers, scholars, policy makers and the wider football community as a source of knowledge and insights for the game beyond the pitch. The first-of-its-kind institute in Riyadh will welcome its first researchers, scholars, football policy makers and lecturers to the site this week, with international researchers from all over the world arriving to begin ground-breaking projects on football and its impact - on and off the pitch.

  • Steven Gerrard: Al Ettifaq manager leaves role at Saudi Pro League side by mutual consent

    Ex-Liverpool and England midfielder Gerrard, who joined Al Ettifaq in July 2023, signed a two-year contract extension in January 2024 that was due to keep him at the club until 2027. But the 44-year-old leaves the role with Al Ettifaq sitting 12th in the 18-team Saudi Pro League, just five points above the relegation zone. Al Ettifaq have won just five of their 17 league games this season under the ex-Rangers boss, most recently drawing 2-2 with second-bottom side Al Wehda FC.

  • Saudi Arabia’s evolving lending market: Surge in international interest and diversification of borrowers

    In recent years, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has implemented large scale regulatory reforms, including the Civil Transactions Law, Bankruptcy Law, Public-Private Partnership Program, and the Government Tenders and Procurement Law. These reforms were designed to enhance the Kingdom’s diversification efforts and attract international business – they have also propelled the country to rank 16th globally on the IMD World Competitive index. Historically, the interest in Saudi borrowing has been predominantly domestic or from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. However, we expect to see a shift in 2025, with a surge in interest from international markets. Several factors contribute to this change.

  • Collector Basma Al Sulaiman on the Future of the Saudi Art Market: ‘We Are Not Just Consumers’

    The Gulf has been a hotbed of cultural investment in recent years. Saudi Arabia, in particular, has experienced a burgeoning museum landscape—both public and private—and cultural events launching as part of its Vision 2030 project, a sweeping plan for diversifying the nation’s economy to be less oil-production reliant. As of last year, projects associated with Vision 2030 have reached $1.3 trillion in value. Part of that plan has included expanding luxury retail as well as arts and culture infrastructure. Last year, Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund struck a $1 billion deal with Sotheby’s owner, Patrick Drahi, for a minority stake in the firm. Christie’s also recently announced that it is expanding its presence in the Middle East with an outpost in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia— this will be the house’s second location in the region, alongside its Dubai office, which opened in 2005. The Riyadh location will focus on Modern and contemporary Middle Eastern art, as well as jewelry and timepieces, the house said, aiming to draw the kingdom’s wealthy millennials; Saudi Arabia is one of the world’s youngest countries, with roughly 70 percent of the population under the age of 40.

  • SFDA chief rules out plan to ban sale of cigarettes or vapes

    Saudi Arabia has no plan to ban the sale of traditional or electronic cigarettes, according to Dr. Hisham Al-Jadhey, CEO of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA). His remarks came amid growing international discussions on tobacco regulations, with countries like Belgium opting for stricter measures, including bans on vaping products. Speaking on Rotana Khalejia’s program “Fi Al-Soura” on Monday, Dr. Al-Jadhey clarified that electronic cigarettes are subject to different regulations worldwide. He emphasized that e-cigarettes are not a safer alternative to traditional smoking, countering common misconceptions. Dr. Al-Jadhey highlighted the SFDA's overarching goal to encourage smokers to quit smoking entirely. “Our primary aim is to support smokers in transitioning away from tobacco use,” he said, while explaining that the authority works to ensure tobacco companies comply with established standards and regulations while actively monitoring potential violations.

  • GCC trade set to grow 5.5% annually through 2033

    Trade in the GCC countries likely to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.5 per cent to reach $2.3 trillion by 2033, research showed on Wednesday. According to new research from Boston Consulting Group (BCG), world trade in goods is projected to grow at an average of 2.9 per cent annually through 2033, with the GCC region playing an increasingly pivotal role in connecting major trade routes between East and West. BCG’s latest report, “Great Powers, Geopolitics, and the Future of Trade”, analyses trade and economic data from more than 150 countries. The report reveals how shifting global trade dynamics will impact regional and international commerce through 2033.

  • GCC weighs impact of Trump’s global corporate tax moves

    Tax professionals in the Gulf are assessing how President Donald Trump’s pull-back of US support for an international corporate tax framework might affect GCC states’ implementation of it. In a day-one executive order last week, the returning US president repudiated “any commitment” made by the previous Biden administration toward the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s global minimum tax. The so-called “Pillar Two” of the OECD regime has about 140 participating jurisdictions around the world. It aims to ensure that large multinationals – those with a consolidated revenue of more than €750 million ($780 million) – pay at least a 15 percent rate regardless of where they operate.

  • Commentary: Historical GCC-Lebanon partnership should be restored

    Several high-level Gulf Cooperation Council officials have visited Lebanon recently to show support for newly elected President Joseph Aoun and Nawaf Salam, his pick for prime minister. Last Thursday, Prince Faisal bin Farhan visited Beirut, becoming the first Saudi foreign minister to do so in some 15 years. Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya and GCC Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi were in Beirut last Friday. They delivered similar messages to Lebanon’s new leadership. Kuwait holds the current rotating presidency of the GCC and has been keenly interested in restoring Lebanon’s close relations with the Gulf countries. Over the past two decades, Lebanon and the GCC countries became estranged as Hezbollah came to dominate Lebanon’s political, security and economic systems, including its foreign policy, which became aligned with Iran’s. It also dominated law enforcement and parts of the judiciary, frustrating investigations into its members and shielding them from accountability.

  • King & Spalding’s Strategic Expansion: Merging with Al Fahad & Partners in Saudi Arabia

    In a landmark move to solidify its presence in the Middle East, King & Spalding, ranked 17th in the 2023 Am Law 100 with a gross revenue of $2.14 billion, has merged with Abdulaziz H. Al Fahad & Partners, one of Saudi Arabia’s most esteemed law firms. The newly formed entity, King & Spalding Al Fahad, is poised to deliver an expansive suite of legal services, aligning with the region’s evolving needs and the ambitious economic transformation under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

  • Salesforce Expands Presence in Saudi Arabia with New Regional Headquarters in Riyadh

    Salesforce, the world’s #1 AI CRM, today announced plans to expand its presence in Saudi Arabia with a new regional headquarters in Riyadh. Salesforce also announced plans to partner with IBM to open a Center of Excellence in Riyadh. Separately, it pledged to provide upskilling opportunities to 30,000 Saudi citizens by 2030. These investments underscore Salesforce’s growing presence in the region as more companies invest in Agentforce, the digital labor platform for enterprises.