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  • Saudi women’s football sees 195 percent surge in professional players: NEOM report

    Women’s football in Saudi Arabia has experienced “remarkable transformation” since 2018, with over 70,000 girls now participating at the grassroots level, more than 1,500 registered players nationwide and the number of professional female players surging by 195 percent, according to a new report. The report, “Pioneering Change: Women’s Football in Saudi Arabia,” published by the Kingdom’s mega project NEOM in partnership with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), details the rapid development of women’s football in the Kingdom as part of its Vision 2030 reform agenda. The most significant growth has occurred at the grassroots level, with the Saudi Arabian Football Federation’s (SAFF) Girls’ Schools League seeing participation surge 46 percent year-on-year to reach more than 70,000 players in 2023.

  • LIV Golf to Open 2025 Season Under the Lights in Saudi Arabia

    LIV Golf will open its 2025 season under the lights at Riyadh Golf Club. With the time difference, a daytime event in Riyadh would be in the early hours of the morning at an unwatchable time for most viewers in the United States. However LIV Riyadh, from Feb. 6-8, will begin at 6:15 p.m. local time and therefore 10:15 a.m. for golf fans in the eastern U.S. With LIV Golf inking a new broadcast deal with Fox, the change in time for the event could be an attempt to get their relationship with Fox off to a hot start.

  • Trump administration accepts resignation of US ambassadors to Jordan, Saudi Arabia

    The Trump administration has accepted the resignation of the US ambassadors to Jordan and Saudi Arabia, Al Arabiya English has learned. All ambassadors submit their resignations when a new administration takes office, but these two were immediately accepted. A career diplomat, Ratney previously served as the acting deputy director of the State Department’s Foreign Service Institute (FSI). and the chargé d’Affaires at the US Embassy in Jerusalem. He also previously served as the deputy chief of mission at the US Embassy in Qatar as well as the acting deputy assistant secretary for the Levant and Israel and Palestinian Affairs. The veteran diplomat was US special envoy for Syria and served in Mexico City, Baghdad, Beirut, Casablanca and Bridgetown.

  • Saudi Arabia’s non-oil economy poised to grow 4.8% in 2025: Minister

    Saudi Arabia’s non-oil economy is expected to grow by 4.8% and 6.2% in 2025 and 2026, respectively, driven by efforts to invest in human capital and more dynamism in the private sector, said Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Al-Ibrahim. During a seminar entitled "Future of Global Economic Growth" at the Davos Conference 2025, Al-Ibrahim highlighted that the Saudi leadership has pushed for planning with confidence and careful management to drive further economic diversification and not to rely solely on oil.

  • Saudi Arabia Joins Hague System for International Registration of Industrial Designs

    Saudi Arabia has become the 99th country to join the Hague System for the International Registration of Industrial Designs, the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP) announced. The Hague System provides a streamlined process for securing design protection across multiple countries or regions. The system is intended to assist creative individuals in promoting and marketing their designs while ensuring regional and international protection. This accession highlights the Kingdom's commitment to fostering creativity and innovation, which are essential for strengthening the national economy.

  • Saudi Arabia surpasses 2030 investment target: Al-Falih

    Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih said Saudi Arabia has surpassed its $3.3 trillion investment target for the base economy, originally set for completion by 2030. Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih said Saudi Arabia has surpassed its $3.3 trillion investment target for the core economy, originally set for completion by 2030. Speaking with Bloomberg at the World Economic Forum in Davos, he said these projections were part of Vision 2030. Capital formation targets have already been exceeded, with a significant portion deployed into the base economy, the minister added. Al-Falih said the government is slowing spending to let the private sector drive growth, indicating that the Public Investment Fund (PIF) plays a key role but accounts for only 15% to 20% of total investments.

  • Saudi Arabia’s economic potential in the gaming and esports market

    Gaming in Saudi Arabia has evolved far beyond just a hobby – it has become a dynamic industry driving innovation and shaping the Kingdom's future. The gaming and esports market is projected to generate $13.3 billion by 2030 (according to Savvy Games), making it a key driver of economic diversification under Vision 2030. The National Gaming and Esports Strategy (NGES), announced in 2022, aims to create 39,000 local jobs by 2030, spanning roles from game development to event management. Saudi Arabia’s investments in state-of-the-art infrastructure and hosting of world-class tournaments position it as a global hub for esports excellence. Beyond economic potential, esports provide young Saudis with opportunities to develop critical skills in technology, media, communication, and collaboration.

  • NDMC closes January 2025 issuance under Saudi Government SAR-denominated sukuk program

    The National Debt Management Center (NDMC) announced the closure of January 2025 issuance under the Saudi Arabian Government SAR-denominated Sukuk Program. The total amount allocated was set at SAR 3.724 Bn (three billion and seven hundred and twenty-four million Saudi Riyals) The Sukuk issuance was divided into four tranches as follows: The first tranche has a size of SAR1.255 Bn (one billion and two hundred and fifty-five million Saudi Riyals) maturing in 2029. The second tranche has a size of SAR 1.405 Bn (one billion and four hundred and five million Saudi Riyals) maturing in 2032. The third tranche has a size of SAR 1.036 Bn (one billion and thirty-six million Saudi Riyals) maturing in 2036.

  • Saudis top Qatar’s 5m tourist arrivals in 2024

    Saudis made up the largest proportion of tourists to Qatar in 2024 at nearly a quarter of arrivals, a Visit Qatar spokesperson told Arab News. The peninsular state bordering Saudi Arabia is pushing to boost its tourism numbers in the years following the FIFA World Cup 2022, which brought millions of visitors from around the world. “Visitors from Saudi Arabia remain the top source market for international visitors this year, contributing around a quarter of all arrivals,” said Dr. Buthaina Mohammed Al-Janahi, media relations and communications senior manager at Visit Qatar. More than 5 million tourists visited Qatar in 2024, officials said, with the presence of more than 1 million Saudis reflecting close ties between the neighboring countries three years after the end of a diplomatic rift.

  • Bizjet Movements Rise 24% in Saudi Arabia

    Business jet activity in Saudi Arabia jumped a record 24% last year, the General Authority of Civil Aviation announced today at the 2025 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Movements rose from around 19,000 in 2023 to more than 23,600 in 2024, with domestic flights up 26%, to 9,200, and international trips rising 15%, to 14,400. Business jet traffic at major airport hubs in Jeddah, Riyadh, and Dammam climbed 30%, 22%, and 7%, respectively.