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  • Will the Ceasefire Lead to Normalization with Saudi Arabia?

    Since the war began, Saudi Arabia has intensified its tone toward Israel, and public messages from Riyadh have become critical, even venomous. The peak came in November of last year, when Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the strongman of the kingdom, accused Israel of committing “collective genocide” against Palestinians in Gaza. Such statements from the de facto leader of the Saudi kingdom had not been heard before and seemed to contradict some of his previous statements regarding Israel before the war. Since the onset of the war, the kingdom has called for an immediate ceasefire, and when it was achieved, the Saudi Foreign Ministry welcomed it, adding that the kingdom hopes that it will end the “Israeli barbarism and aggression” in Gaza. Initially, the kingdom had called for an IDF withdrawal from Gaza, but recently, it added the demand for withdrawal “from all Arab territories,” referring to positions held by the IDF in southern Lebanon and the Syrian side of the Golan Heights. In doing so, Saudi Arabia is aligning itself with other Arab states.

  • Combine yachting and Formula 1 at the Saudi Arabian GP

    From 18 to 20 April, the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix will take place at the renowned Jeddah Corniche Circuit, offering a spectacular coastal venue where yachting and Formula 1 can combine. With capacity for yachts up to 120 metres, Jeddah Yacht Club and Marina still has berths available and is offering a 30% discount on rates over the event. Attending yachts will enjoy unparalleled convenience and the ability to soak up the electric atmosphere from the dock. “The marina is next door to the racetrack, so guests can be at the VIP lounges within minutes,” says Niel Gow, Agency Operations Manager at Hill Robinson. “It really is the best way to attend the event.”

  • TĂźrkiye in Talks with Saudi Arabia for US$6 Billion Defense Deal. KAAN to Get First Foreign Customer?

    The Turkish Air Force is expected to begin operating the KAAN fighter jet in 2028, with an initial delivery of 20 aircraft from TAI (TUSAS). By 2029, TAI is projected to produce two KAAN fighter jets per month, generating approximately $2.4 billion (RM9.6 billion) in annual revenue. Recently, Defence Security Asia reported that Saudi Arabia is considering a proposal to acquire approximately 100 units of the KAAN fifth-generation fighter jet, which is currently under development in Tßrkiye. Discussions on the potential acquisition were reportedly held during a recent visit by Saudi Royal Air Force Commander Prince Turki bin Bandar Al Saud to Tßrkiye. During his visit, Prince Turki met with key Turkish defense companies, including Roketsan, Aselsan, and Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), the manufacturer of the KAAN fighter jet.

  • What does Neymar’s departure mean for the Saudi league?

    The Brazilian attacker was among the global stars who transferred to Saudi clubs in 2023 when Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr and Karim Benzema left Real Madrid for Al-Ittihad. But unlike the latter two, Neymar was injured too often to make much of an impact in the desert kingdom after his 90 million euros ($94 million) transfer from Paris Saint-Germain. He played just seven games before Al-Hilal released him this week by mutual consent. Analysts say his exit is not likely to have a big impact on the Saudi league’s international standing as long as other big names remain. “Neymar’s departure does not damage the brand. If the other stars start leaving then it is different, but that does not look like it’s happening,” said Sasi Kumar, a former Singapore international and founder of Spain-based sports investment company 28 Ventures. “He went there, got injured and the timing was unfortunate. I am sure Hilal and other clubs will go and make more signings, as the ambitions are still there.”

  • Saudi Arabia’s Q4 GDP expands at fastest quarterly pace since 2022

    Saudi Arabia’s economy grew at the fastest pace since 2022 during the fourth quarter of last year, buoyed by expansion of both the oil and non-oil sectors as the kingdom continues to pursue its economic diversification agenda. The country’s gross domestic product grew by 4.4 per cent on an annual basis during the three-month period to the end of December “supported by the growth of key economic activities”, the kingdom’s General Authority for Statistics said on Thursday. This rise is markedly higher than the 2.8 per cent year-on year GDP growth recorded in the third quarter of 2024, and is the sharpest rate of expansion in the past two years, according to Gastat data.

  • Saudi defense giant SAMI appoints new CEO

    Saudi Arabia’s government-owned defense giant has appointed Thamer AlMuhid as its new Chief Executive Officer, five months after previous CEO Walid Abukhaled stepped down, the company’s board of directors announced today. “In his role as CEO, Eng. AlMuhid will lead SAMI’s mission to develop cutting-edge technologies, manufacture world-class products, and forge strategic partnerships,” according to a statement from Saudi Arabian Military Industries. The company said AlMuhid served earlier in several executive positions from CEO of Saudi Chemical Company to the vice chairman of the board of directors of the National Academy of Military Industries. AlMuhid will be the third SAMI CEO since the organization’s founding in 2017, after German national and former Rheinmetall executive Andreas Schwer, and Saudi national and former Northrop Grumman executive Walid Abukhaled.

  • Commentary: For Trump, is Gaza merely real estate to be developed?

    It’s hardly surprising that one of US president Donald Trump's initial forays into Middle East policy has been the suggestion – repeated over the weekend – that the Palestinian population of the Gaza Strip should be moved to Egypt and/or Jordan. The concept has been met with hosannas from the Israeli ultra-right, whose racist attitudes towards Palestinians are unabashed. While Mr Trump and his officials attempted to clarify it could be either "temporary" or "long term" – Israel has never allowed substantial groups of Palestinians to return to any part of Palestine once they are removed. The idea that Israel would agree to see millions of Palestinians leave "Eretz Israel" and ever allow them to return en masse would require Israeli officials to have a completely different mentality as well as a different relationship with the Palestinians.

  • The Estimated Cost of the Gaza War on the Israeli Economy

    More than a year after the Hamas attack on the towns of the so-called Gaza envelope, it has become clear that the economic and financial cost of Israel’s genocidal war on the Gaza Strip and its expansion into Lebanon will be very high. Indeed, it will be different from previous wars on Gaza or the Second Lebanon War in 2006. For the first time since 1948, the war started after a military offensive inside Israeli towns in the south of the country. The war has greatly affected the home front, causing serious destruction to the infrastructure and housing in those towns.

  • Interpol to establish regional office in Saudi Arabia

    Interpol is to establish an office in Saudi Arabia that will serve the Middle East and North Africa region. Hisham Al-Faleh, undersecretary at the Kingdom’s Ministry of Interior, and Jurgen Stock, secretary-general of the international police organization, signed a host country agreement on Wednesday. Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud, the Saudi Minister of Interior, and Maj. Gen. Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi, the president of Interpol, also attended the signing ceremony, the Saudi Press Agency reported. In addition, they discussed Interpol’s activities during a meeting that also included Nasser Al-Dawood, the deputy minister of interior; Brig. Gen. Abdulmalik Al-Saqeeh, the director general of Saudi Interpol; and other senior officials.

  • Adesanya vs Imavov: UFC fight Saudi Arabia – start time, card, how to watch

    The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) travels to Saudi Arabia with an impressive lineup of mixed martial arts (MMA) talent, headlined by a thrilling main event middleweight clash between former two-time UFC champion Israel Adesanya of New Zealand and France’s rising star, Nassourdine Imavov. The co-main event features a much-anticipated bout between the all-round brilliance of Shara Magomedov from Russia and the powerful punching Briton, Michael Page.