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  • Saudi Arabia to launch stratosphere space tourism by 2026

    In a move poised to revolutionize the global tourism industry, Saudi Arabia is set to become a hub for space tourism, providing adventurers the chance to venture into the stratosphere by 2026. This groundbreaking initiative, offered at a cost of $164,000 per person, is being facilitated by Halo Space, a Madrid-based pioneer in the field of space tourism founded in 2021. The company has chosen Saudi Arabia as one of its prime departure points, with a scheduled test flight in June marking a significant milestone ahead of commercial operations. This test flight, which has received conditional approval from Saudi Arabia’s Communications, Space & Technology Commission, will be Halo Space’s sixth, reaching an altitude of 32km above the Earth.

  • Spain-Saudi soccer deal in spotlight as Spanish federation and ex-boss raided

    Police searched the Spanish Soccer Federation's (RFEF) headquarters and an apartment belonging to its former President Luis Rubiales on Wednesday and arrested seven people in a corruption probe over a multimillion-euro deal to relocate the Spanish Super Cup to Saudi Arabia. A Spanish court has been investigating since June 2022 whether Rubiales committed a crime of improper management when the RFEF agreed with former Barcelona player Gerard Pique's Kosmos firm to move the tournament, a judicial source said.

  • RFEF searched in corruption probe of Spanish Super Cup’s Saudi Arabia deal

    The Spanish Football Federation’s (RFEF) decision to take the Spanish Super Cup to Saudi Arabia is back under the spotlight after police searched the national soccer governing body’s headquarters. Seven people have been arrested in a corruption probe over the multimillion-euro deal to relocate the tournament to the Gulf state. An apartment belonging to former RFEF president Luis Rubiales was also searched on 20th March.

  • HALO Space gears up for groundbreaking test flight in Saudi Arabia this June

    HALO Space, a leading company in the near space tourism sector, has revealed plans for its sixth test flight to take place in Saudi Arabia this June, pending approval from the Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST)—the regulatory body for space activities in Saudi Arabia. This event marks a crucial step for both the company and the industry, as it will be the first instance where all the technologies behind HALO Space’s zero-emission flight are tested simultaneously, an achievement unparalleled by any other company in the field. The upcoming test will feature the launch of HALO’s second full-scale prototype capsule to a height of 32 kilometers above the Earth, further advancing their ambitions in stratospheric commercial flights.

  • Saudi Arabia unveils ‘Data Saudi’ platform to increase transparency

    Initially launched on a trial basis in September 2023, the Data Saudi platform, under the stewardship of the Ministry of Economy and Planning, has seen continuous enhancements and the addition of numerous features since its introduction. Designed as the central repository for economic and social data within the Kingdom, the platform seeks to improve data accessibility and bolster transparency regarding national economic information, aligning with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030. It offers an array of key indicators and the capacity to analyze them throughout the Kingdom's regions via visual and interactive tools, making it easier for users to obtain detailed insights into the Saudi economy and social sectors.

  • F1’s George Russell calls for transparency after report FIA president sought to overturn penalty

    Mercedes driver George Russell has called for transparency following a report alleging that the president of Formula 1’s governing body intervened to overturn a penalty last season. Russell finished fourth behind Fernando Alonso in last year’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix but was briefly upgraded to third when Alonso was given a 10-second penalty because Aston Martin’s pit crew touched the car with a jack while serving an earlier penalty. That ruling was later overturned.

  • Cristiano Ronaldo obscene gesture sparks Saudi soccer investigation: reports

    Cristiano Ronaldo has come under fire for a gesture aimed toward heckling fans during Al Nassr’s match against Al Shabab in a Saudi Pro League match on Sunday. Ronaldo scored on a penalty in the first half, helping Al Nassr to a 3-2 victory. After the match was over, videos on social media showed Ronaldo razzing up the crowd and repeatedly thrusting his hand forward near his groin – apparently aimed at fans of Al Shabab.

  • Saudi Arabia to monitor sustainability strategy from space

    Saudi Arabia is looking to tap into the Earth observation market for enhanced environmental monitoring across the kingdom, a Saudi space official has said. The efforts would help the country track the impact of its Green Initiative, a plan to plant 10 billion trees in the coming years, is having on the kingdom's weather and if it is helping to fight climate change. Mishaal Ashemimry, adviser to the chief executive of the Saudi Space Agency, told The National the kingdom was looking to build assets in space and details, including how many satellites would feature in the plan, would be released in a new space strategy at a later date.

  • Saudi Space Agency Partners With LeoLabs and NorthStar for SSA

    On the sidelines of the Space Debris Conference in Riyadh, the Saudi Space Agency signed memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with Leo Labs and NorthStar, respectively. The MoU with Leo Labs aims to build a cooperative relationship in the field of space monitoring. Both agreements aim to exchange expertise and knowledge related to space situational awareness and explore future collaboration opportunities between the Saudi Space Agency and both NorthStar and LeoLabs.

  • Saudi SAL partners with Space Age for drone-based shipments

    Drones will be utilized to enhance transportation and shipment efficiency in Saudi Arabia, thanks to a new agreement signed by the Kingdom’s SAL Saudi Logistics Services Co. The logistics and supply chain solutions provider signed a memorandum of understanding with the Saudi-based technology firm Space Age on the second day of the World Defense Show 2024. The agreement aims to provide the technical solutions and infrastructure necessary to transfer and localize the drone industry, as stated by SAL in a post on X.