in al-monitor.com: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday voiced hope that President-elect Donald Trump will pick up his work to normalize ties between Saudi Arabia and Israel, acknowledging a historic deal will not happen under Joe Bidens administration. Blinken until recently was still voicing hope at reaching an agreement, which he had dangled as an incentive for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to show moderation in the Gaza war. The work that weve done on putting in place the elements of that deal, including what we and Saudi Arabia would do together, what they would do with Israel, all of that is now there, Blinken said in an interview with MSNBC. My hope is well move as far as we can, but it wont be complete, he said. But well be able to hand it over, and then the next administration can decide how it wants to proceed.

Via Humeyra Pamuk and Amina Ismail in voanews.com: Top diplomats from the Biden administration are in Damascus on Friday to meet new Syrian authorities led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a State Department spokesperson said, the first in-person and official meeting between Washington and Syrias de-facto new rulers. The State Departments top Middle East diplomat, Barbara Leaf, Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens and newly appointed Senior Adviser Daniel Rubinstein, who is now tasked with leading the Departments Syria engagement, are the first U.S. diplomats to travel to Damascus since Syrias opposition militias overthrew oppressive President Bashar al-Assad. The visit comes as Western governments are gradually opening channels to HTS and its leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, and start debating whether or not to remove the terrorist designation on the group. The U.S. delegations travel follows contacts with France and Britain in recent days.

Via Georg Szalai in hollywoodreporter.com: RSIFF 2024 jury president Spike Lee took time out of his busy festival schedule to take part in the discussion at the historic Nassif House Museum in Jeddah’s Old Town Al-Balad. Representing host nation Saudi Arabia was Meshal Al Jaser, whose humorous thriller Naga, which tells the story of a young woman who sneaks out for a date that goes wrong, screened in the 2023 RSIFF’s Arab Spectacular section and is streaming on Netflix. It also presented an opportunity to bring together six filmmakers who have made names for themselves as game changers and innovators for the second annual Hollywood Reporter roundtable at the Red Sea International Film Festival. The filmmakers discussed a broad range of topics, including creative influences, the importance of music, battling stereotypes, the role of AI and the lasting influence of Lee’s Do the Right Thing.

in alarabiya.net: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is adamant about having a Palestinian state as part of any deal to establish diplomatic ties with Israel, the top US diplomat has said, adding that this was the key to long-term stability in the Middle East and one that would ensure Israel’s security. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that a Gaza ceasefire was necessary first. But after that, the focus would need to be on the long-term stability of the region, which would include Israel’s security. “And, of course, the key to that is the normalization of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia,” he said in an interview with Foreign Affairs published on Wednesday, expressing hope that the incoming Trump administration would get such a deal done. Despite several reports over the last year, including as recently as this week, that Saudi Arabia is willing to ease its demands in exchange for normalization, Riyadh has repeatedly been consistent in its stance demanding a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

in thearabweekly.com: Saudi Arabia’s Heritage Commission has registered 13,040 new urban sites, increasing the total number of documented sites with cultural and historical importance to 17,495 in various regions. The commission’s National Urban Heritage Register includes a list of urban sites that manifest a “lasting testament to the kingdom’s historical narratives for future generations,” the Saudi Press Agency reported. According to SPA, the most recent registered sites are 1,950 in Riyadh, 3,273 in Madinah, 1,531 in Al-Baha, 1,525 in Hail, 1,400 in Qassim, 972 in Aseer, 571 in Makkah, 363 in Al-Jouf, 351 in Jazan, 200 in Najran, 107 in Tabuk, 35 in the Northern Borders, and 762 in the Eastern Region.

Via Robbie O’Brien in trailfinders.com: It is best to travel without preconceptions, but as so much has been written about Saudi it’s difficult not to have some put upon you by the media, others’ opinions, or hearsay. When walking around the capital, Riyadh’s streets felt clean and safe with locals sitting outside enjoying cafes and shisha bars, while western females had their hair down and shoulders on display. It was clear that Saudi is certainly no more oppressive or strict than Dubai is, and it didn’t feel any more religious either; we didn’t hear the atmospheric call to prayer until day four when we were much further south in the holy city of Medina. Just like how the UAE has developed over the last 20 years into a certified holiday destination, Saudi offers more of the same with reliable sun and warmth just a relatively short, direct flight away. But what Saudi can offer that Dubai and Abu Dhabi can’t, is the centuries of history that came before it, with fantastic museums, cultural experiences and UNESCO World Heritage sites to explore. Now is the perfect time to visit for everyone but especially those who are more adventurous and like to have been somewhere that others haven’t yet.

Via Laura Gardner Cuesta in yahoo.com: Saudi Arabia’s Almoosa drew 173 billion riyal ($46 billion) worth of orders from institutional investors for its $450 million initial public offering in the kingdom, in a sign of continued interest in Middle Eastern listings. Almoosa is offering 13.3 million shares, or a 30% stake. At this price, the firm would be valued at 5.62 billion riyals, with the deal on track to be the kingdom’s second largest listing of the year. Almoosa is the latest Middle Eastern listing to garner triple-digit levels of oversubscription, although of late this has not necessarily translated to strong trading performance.

in archdaily.com: The Mujassam Wattan competition, aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, has been a catalyst for integrating meaningful public art into cities across the Kingdom. By inviting artists and designers to create works inspired by Saudi heritage and aspirations, the initiative fosters cultural expression while enhancing urban spaces. In Alkhobar, the competition resulted in the creation of Alarda and Alkhobar Memory, two sculptures that transformed the citys sea front into a cultural and social hub. These works exemplify how public art can redefine spaces, connect communities, and highlight local identity.

Via Nikita Buekenhout in mepmiddleeast.com: Diriyah Company, the visionary Saudi mixed-use developer transforming “The City of Earth,” has awarded a $202.2 million contract to China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) for bulk excavation works within the second phase of the ambitious Diriyah project. Spanning approximately 6.3 square kilometres of the 14 square kilometre development, this phase is a cornerstone in bringing Diriyah’s integrated urban master plan to life. The project features more than 40 hotels, arts districts, museums, and world-class sporting venues, including the Royal Diriyah Opera House and the 20,000-seat Diriyah Arena. This groundwork will enable the seamless construction of the planned cultural and entertainment landmarks, paving the way for Diriyah to become a premier live-work-play destination on the outskirts of Riyadh.

in saudigazette.com: The 5th general meeting of the heads of the Saudi missions abroad discussed on Sunday the priorities of Saudi foreign policy and the role of the missions in achieving the Kingdom’s strategic goals.The agenda of the meeting included interactive dialogues and presentations with the aim of discussing and examining the ministry’s strategies and initiatives and exchanging visions on their implementation. This is in addition to activating coordination between the Saudi missions abroad and government agencies, and exchanging views on issues related to their tasks on the external scene in a way that serves the interests of the country and the citizens.

Via Alexey Milovanov in agbi.com: The World Cup is always more than just a series of matches. It’s a global event that transforms nations, driving development in infrastructure, the economy and tourism. For Saudi Arabia it’s also an opportunity to establish itself as a modern, ambitious and open nation. The country has announced plans to build 15 stadiums. And if you think these are just sports venues, think again. Each stadium is envisioned as a future architectural marvel designed to impress the world. But behind this grandeur lies a harsh reality: the kingdom’s limited domestic resources mean it will need to rely heavily on imported materials, technology and expertise – a significant challenge for a country determined to showcase its self-sufficiency.

in arabnews.com: Saudi Arabia has been ranked third globally in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development’s AI Policy Observatory, behind the US and the UK.Al-Ghamdi added that the Kingdom’s AI Ethics Early Adopters initiative and the International Center for AI Research and Ethics were vital in enhancing trust in AI products and establishing ethical standards for AI practices and services. He said that ICAIRE, which is based in Riyadh and sponsored by UNESCO, had been selected as a regional and global partner for advancing the AI ethics agenda. Al-Ghamdi added that UNESCO had praised Saudi Arabia’s advances in the AI sector as part of a recent report evaluating countries’ readiness to adopt AI in accordance with ethical values and international standards.

Via Lucas Shaw in bloomberg.com: Over the past two weeks, dozens of movie stars, filmmakers and Hollywood executives visited Jeddah, a metropolis on the west coast of Saudi Arabia, for the fourth edition of the Red Sea Film Festival. Vin Diesel and Emily Blunt received awards at the opening ceremony. Spike Lee and Minnie Driver served on the jury. Agents from CAA and WME spoke on panels alongside executives from production outfits such as Fremantle and Anonymous Content. While Wall Street, Silicon Valley and some in Hollywood have been tapping Gulf money for some time, Saudi Arabia has emerged as a hub of financing and production in just the past few years. The state-backed Public Investment Fund has already invested billions in video games and sports, and the country is now offering generous incentives — a rebate of about 40% — to film in Saudi Arabia.

in arabnews.com: Jordan: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan joined top diplomats from the US, Turkiye, the European Union and Arab nations in Jordan on Saturday for talks on Syria following the ousting of President Bashar Assad earlier this week. Prince Faisal led the Kingdom’s delegation at the meeting, held under the auspices of the Arab League, which focused on supporting a Syrian-led transitional political process to address the challenges faced by the Syrian people. Discussions emphasized restoring Syrias national institutions, ensuring the countrys sovereignty and territorial integrity, and supporting the aspirations of its citizens for a secure and dignified life.

Via Wael Mahdi in semafor.com: The rapid expansion of government employment has created a significant wage gap between the public and private sectors. Government jobs, with higher salaries and better benefits, have made it harder for private employers to attract top talent. This distortion threatens the competitiveness of the private sector — which must be fostered to achieve the economic diversification goals under Vision 2030. As the best talent gravitates toward government roles, the private sector risks being sidelined. Without a competitive labor market, it will struggle to drive innovation, productivity, and sustainable job creation. Reducing unemployment to 5% by 2030 is an ambitious and commendable goal, but its success depends on more than hitting numerical targets. Saudi Arabia’s true transformation will be measured not by how many jobs are created, but by how many are still viable a decade from now.