Saudi

Saudi Moroccan soccer spat symbolises Arab world’s new politics

By James M. Dorsey A Saudi Moroccan soccer spat speaks volumes about the depth of change in the Arab world. The spat over Saudi Arabia’s refusal to support a Moroccan bid for the hosting rights of the 2026 World Cup tells the tale of the rise of individual country nationalism at the expense of Arab solidarity, Saudi determination to safeguard its alliance with the United States at whatever cost, […]

May 07

Saudi engagement in Iraq: Exception that confirms the rule

By James M. Dorsey Stepped up Saudi efforts to forge close diplomatic, economic and cultural ties to Shia-majority Iraq in a bid to counter significant Iranian influence in the country appear to be paying off. The Saudi initiative demonstrates the kingdom’s ability to engage rather than exclusively pursue a muscular, assertive and confrontational policy towards the Islamic republic and its perceived allies. It raises the question whether […]

April 23

Islamic militancy: Bangladesh looks to Saudi in twist of irony

By James M. Dorsey Bangladesh, in a twist of irony, is looking to Saudi Arabia to fund a $ 1 billion plan to build hundreds of mosques and religious centres to counter militant Islam that for much of the past decade traced its roots to ultra-conservative strands of the faith promoted by a multi-billion dollar Saudi campaign. The Bangladeshi plan constitutes the first effort by a Muslim country to enlist […]

April 15

Saudi canal cuts off Qatar’s nose to spite its face

By James M. Dorsey There’s a cutting-off-the-nose-to-spite-the face aspect to a Saudi plan to turn Qatar into an island by digging a 60-kilometre ocean channel through the two countries’ land border that would accommodate a nuclear waste heap as well as a military base. If implemented, the channel would signal the kingdom’s belief that relations between the world’s only two Wahhabi states will not any time soon return to […]

April 14

Saudi exchange joins FTSE Global index series

|By Arabian Post Staff|The Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) announced FTSE Russel has decided to classify Tadawul as a “Secondary Emerging” market in the FTSE Global Equity Index Series, moving up from its previous status as “Unclassified”. This decision followed a series of market enhancements introduced by Tadawul and the Capital Market Authority (CMA) over the past two years. These developments have fulfilled market quality criteria set by […]

March 31

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Saudi moderation: How far will the Crown Prince go?

By James M. Dorsey In his effort to improve Saudi Arabia’s badly tarnished image and project the kingdom as embracing an unidentified form of moderate Islam, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has hinted that he envisions a conservative rather than an ultra-conservative society, but not one in which citizens are fully free to make personal, let alone political choices of their own. Prince Mohammed’s vision, although […]

March 22

A Saudi break with ultra-conservatism?

By James M. Dorsey Saudi Arabia, in an indication that it is serious about shaving off the sharp edges of its Sunni Muslim ultra-conservatism, has agreed to surrender control of the Great Mosque in Brussels. The decision follows mounting Belgian criticism of alleged intolerance and supremacism that was being propagated by the mosque’s Saudi administrators as well as social reforms in the kingdom introduced by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, including […]

February 13

New frontiers in the world of Saudi Arabian art

|By Alaa Alghamdi| One of the most powerful ways in which individuals can understand the worldview of another culture is through art. Even if economics, politics, and lifestyles may divide different nations, art can provide a common, sympathetic connection and remind others that similarities between human beings are greater than differences. This is one of the underlying rationales for Desert to Delta, an exhibition of art and cinema […]

December 01

Saudi soft power: The changing face of Saudi Arabia

|By Alaa Al Ghamdi| One of the most common distinctions made in the discourse of international relations is that of hard versus soft power. Hard power refers to traditional modes of influencing international relations through force, such as through military might or economic power (such as withholding a critical natural resource like oil). Soft power refers to cultural power, such as the arts, intellectual ideas, and tourism. Saudi […]

November 22

Moody’s says Saudi accounts freeze bad for banks

|By Arabian Post Staff|Saudi Arabia’s freezing of bank accounts is credit negative for banks, Moody’s said in a review. On 8 November, the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA) froze a large number of bank accounts belonging to princes, ministers and businessmen who were arrested as part of an investigation by a new anti-corruption committee that began on 4 November. The rating agency said these actions are credit […]

November 20

Saudi economic transformation unstoppable, says BoA-ML

|By Arabian Post Staff| In a major endorsement to Saudi economic reforms initiated by Crown Prince Mohammad Salman, a top executive of American financial giant Bank of America Merrill Lynch said Saudi Arabia’s economic transformation will be “unstoppable” and there has already been a positive shift in the Kingdom’s business culture. Hootan Yazhari, managing director of the bank’s Dubai-based research department, said there are key moves being […]

November 17

$100 billion involved in Saudi corruption scam

|By Arabian Post Staff| An estimated $100 billion has been involved in the systematic corruption and embezzlement |that plagued Saudi Arabia over several decades, Saud Al Mojeb, the kingdom’s Attorney General and member of the Supreme Anti-Corruption Committee, announced. The disclosure came in a statement on the status of the anti-corruption proceedings, which are moving forward There is strong evidence that confirms initial suspicions, which led Saudi […]

November 10

11 princes, ministers arrested in Saudi anti-corruption sweep

|By Arabian Post Staff| In an unprecedented move against corruption at high places Saudi Arabia’s King Salman removed the chief of the National Guard,along with 10 other princes, and replaced the the Economy Minister. The king also constituted anti-corruption panel, headed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to prevent corrupt practices by those in the authority. Al-Arabiya news channel reported that 11 princes and dozens of former […]

November 05

Saudi to back OPEC deal extension

|By Arabian Post Staff|Saudi Arabia has indicated it is ready to back extension of an oil production cut agreement led by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in order to balance global crude oil supply and demand. This was indicated by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in a statement. He said the high demand for oil has absorbed the increase in shale oil production. He said the demand […]

October 29

Foreigners to get full access to new Saudi market from Jan

|By Arabian Post Staff| Non-resident foreign investors will be able to invest directly in Saudi Arabia’s parallel market called NOMU meant for small and medium sized enterprises starting from January next, Mohammed El-Kuwaiz, chairman of the Capital Market Authority (CMA) announced at the investment summit in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia’s reforms to develop and open up its capital markets are part of Vision 2030, an economic reform plan […]

October 28

Alabbar keen to associate with Saudi mega project

|By Arabian Post Staff||Emaar Properties chairman Mohamed Alabbar said he is keen to do further business with Saudi Arabia, and offered to help in the development of the $500 billion Neom project. “It’s a big, exciting thing. If they call on us (Emaar), we would look on that positively. The Middle East as a whole is very short on infrastructure, and the project is a very significant […]

October 26

Business

Noon Saudi roll out before year-end, says Alabbar

|By Arabian Post Staff|Emaar Chairman Mohamed Alabbar said that the new digital marketplace Noon, founded by him, will be rollled out in Saudi Arabia before the end of this year. He was addressing a media briefing with Faraz Khalid, Chief Executive Officer of Noon, on the sidelines of the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh. Headquartered in Riyadh, Noon is a joint venture with the Public Investment Fund […]

October 25

Salman puts Saudi on ‘Dubai mode’ with $500b investment

|By Arabian Post Staff|Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman put the kingdom somewhat in the ‘Dubai mode’ announcing the launch of an initiative backed by more than $500 billion investment to transformation of the kingdom into a leading global hub through the introduction of value chains of industry and technology. The plan, known as Neom, spires to make the country the “safest, most efficient, most future oriented, […]

October 25

Business

Saudi investment summit to set future development agenda

|By Arabian Post Staff|Saudi Arabia is holding one of its most important investment summits ever, named the Future Investment Initiative (FII), considered to be game-changing forum in Riyadh. The landmark event is being attended by more than 2,500 delegates and internationally-renowned business and investment leaders from over 60 countries. The three-day event will explore new trends, opportunities, challenges and emerging industries that will shape the world economy and […]

October 24

Business

Real estate refinance company formed in Saudi Arabia

|By Arabian Post Staff| Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has announced the establishment of the Saudi Real Estate Refinance Company (SRC) to improve the performance of the real estate market, increase its contribution to GDP, and raise the rate of homeownership among Saudis to 52% by the end of 2020. Demand for real estate financing in the Kingdom is expected to increase from SAR 280 billion […]

October 20

Making a voyage into Arabian past, Branson is mighty impressed with Saudis

|By K Raveendran| Virgin boss Richard Branson recently went on a voyage to Arabia’s past, which he claims helped him discover an incredibly exciting time in Saudi Arabia’s history. The visit also turned out to be an inspiration for him to announce a major investment in a luxury tourism project aiming to transform a stretch of Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast into a hub for high-end holidaymakers. […]

October 03

Newsbox

Trump, About to Visit Saudi Arabia, Is Urged to Help Yemen

“We need to reassess every single thing we are doing as to what we can do to bring an end to this conflict,” added Mr. Beasley, a former governor of South Carolina who was appointed to lead the agency by the Trump administration in March. Continue reading the main story By making Riyadh, the Saudi capital, the first stop on his tour, observers say, Mr. Trump has […]

Newsbox

Saudi Arabia to Give Trump a Royal Welcome, Ignoring His Slights

The grandiose reception seeks to convince Mr. Trump that his priorities are theirs, too, and that they are indispensable partners in fighting terrorism, in confronting Iran, in bolstering American businesses and perhaps even in pursuing peace between Israelis and Palestinians. Continue reading the main story “It is a remarkably buoyant moment for them,” said Stephen A. Seche, a former United States ambassador to Yemen and the executive […]

Middle East

Saudis’ countdown President Trump’s historic visit – Politics & Economics

Officials in Saudi Arabia have organised a packed schedule for US President Donald Trump’s visit to the kingdom this weekend. In his first official foreign trip, Trump will attend three key summits on May 20-21 in Riyadh, which will be attended by 55 leaders along with representatives from across the Islamic world, according to the official website riyadhsummit2017.org, which also includes a clock counting down to when […]

Saudi Arabia launches military industries firm

|By Arabian Post Staff| The Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund has announced the creation of a new national military industries company. Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) will manufacture products and provide services across four business units: Air Systems, which includes maintenance and repair of fixed-wing aircraft as well as manufacturing and repair of unmanned air vehicles; Land Systems, which includes manufacturing and repair of military vehicles; Weapons & […]