“Few Saudi officials understand better than Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman the ‘never alone’ mantra. The current Saudi oil minister attended his first meeting of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries in 1987. It was a teaching moment for the young royal. For several years, Riyadh had cut oil production unilaterally to support prices, ceding market share to rivals inside and outside OPEC. At one point in late 1985, with output barely covering domestic consumption, the kingdom threw in the towel and sharply boosted output, triggering a price collapse. So why has Prince Abdulaziz, a critic of previous Saudi ministers who acted alone, taken the solo route?”
-Javier Blas, Bloomberg columnist. Saudi Arabia’s Solo Oil Production Cut Is a Risky Strategy. [Bloomberg]
“Gastat statistics from the 2022 census show that the population of Saudi Arabia reached 32.2 million, with Saudis at 18.8 million and expatriates at 13.4 million.”
Saudi Arabia’s population passes 32m, census results show [Arab News]
“This honor is incredibly humbling. Never would I have imagined when I started out as a busboy in Brooklyn, New York at age 13 that the countless voluntary acts of goodwill that come so naturally to those of us in hospitality could ripple into something so meaningful, globally. Service is at the heart of hospitality, and hospitality is at the heart of community and friendship.”
Jerry Inzerillo, CEO Diriyah Gate Development Authority, on receiving the Presidential Volunteer Service Award from President Joe Biden. [Hotelier]
“We are all so excited, so happy about this union,” she said. “Of course it’s a beautiful thing for our families, and for the relationship between Jordan and Saudi Arabia.”
Noura Al Sudairi, an aunt of the bride. Jordan’s royal wedding to get underway in ceremony packed with stars and deep symbolism [AP]
“That was a phenomenal ride. We really enjoyed all of it.”
Axiom 2 crew leader, Peggy Whitson. Saudi astronauts Ali al-Qarni and Rayyanah Barnawi – the first Arab woman ever sent into orbit – splashed down on Earth safely Wednesday after a 12-hour journey, capping an eight-day research mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). [Al-Arabiya]
“Saudi Arabia has a poor reputation in the west, however, I didn’t experience anything negative during my travel into and out of the country. The new international airport (Terminal 1) is very modern and well organised. The arrivals area has food and coffee outlets, a huge aquarium, and is only a short walk to the transport waiting area. Credit card and wireless payments are readily accepted. The Saudis I encountered spoke good English and were friendly and helpful.”
Saudi Arabia Dive Travel Review [Blue Water Travel]
“Western sanctions on Russian fossil fuels are accelerating the shift in global energy flows, with China and India increasingly taking advantage of Russian oil discounts and Middle Eastern suppliers redirecting their crude to Europe. In March, Russia surpassed Saudi Arabia as China’s top oil supplier, while last month India’s imports of Russian oil exceeded combined flows from Saudi Arabia and Iraq for the first time ever, according to data from Vortexa, a data-commodity company.”
Saudi Arabia, Russia Ties Under Strain Over Oil-Production Cuts [Wall Street Journal]
“The recovery from the slump caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and the response to the global energy crisis have provided a significant boost to clean energy investment. Comparing our estimates for 2023 with the data for 2021, annual clean energy investment has risen much faster than investment in fossil fuels over this period (24% vs 15%). Our new analysis highlights how the period of intense volatility in fossil fuel markets caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine has accelerated momentum behind the deployment of a range of clean energy technologies, even as it also prompted a short-term scramble for oil and gas supply.”
World Energy Investment 2023 [International Energy Agency]
“According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 70,000 people die of smoking-related diseases yearly in Saudi Arabia alone. Smoking increases the risk of cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung disease, diabetes, and various other health issues. The PIF said that tobacco-free nicotine products will be available across Saudi Arabia by the end of 2023, adding that it aims to expand its reach to regional and international markets in the longer term. Badael products are expected to help nearly one million people switch from smoking by 2032 – approximately 25 percent of all smokers in Saudi Arabia.”
Saudi Arabia’s PIF establishes ‘Badael’ to reduce smoking prevalence in the Kingdom [Al-Arabiya]
“While all textbook reform is important, Saudi Arabian textbooks are particularly consequential. Kudos is due to the Saudi government for this multi-year and systematic removal of Jew-hate and moderation of content on Israel in the textbooks of over six million Saudi children, and of many more who study the textbooks outside of Saudi Arabia.”
Marcus Sheff, CEO, IMPACT-se Nearly all antisemitism removed from Saudi textbooks [Jewish News Service]
