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Gulf intelligence
Policy, investment, residency and the transformation of everyday life in the Kingdom.
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PARIS — Saudi Arabia and the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) signed the "SEE Agreement" to establish the legal and administrative framework governing the participation of countries and…
Read the full brief →RIYADH — Saudi Arabia maintained a merchandise trade surplus in June 2026, despite national non-oil exports declining 11.4 percent compared with the same month last year, according to the General Authority…
PARIS — Saudi Arabia and France have extended their strategic partnership for the development of AlUla until 2035.The extension was formalized through an agreement amending and extending the existing…
PARIS — Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman and French President Emmanuel Macron held bilateral talks at the Élysée Palace in Paris on Monday before chairing the inaugural meeting of the…
PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron announced a €6 billion Saudi-backed investment to develop three theme parks in Cergy-Pontoise, northwest of Paris, describing the project as unprecedented and the…
PARIS — French foreign direct investment stock in Saudi Arabia reached SR63.9 billion (€16.3 billion) in 2024, more than doubling from its 2021 level and making France the Kingdom’s fourth-largest source of…
JEDDAH — The Council of Ministers reiterated Saudi Arabia’s categorical rejection of repeated Iranian attacks on commercial vessels and tankers. The Cabinet session, chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy…
JEDDAH — The Jeddah Mayoralty, through its Agency for Branch Municipalities and affiliated municipalities, has intensified simultaneous field inspection campaigns to combat negative practices across several…
Type 2, no AI processing
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia has ranked first globally in the activation of Resource Public Key Infrastructure Route Origin Validation (RPKI RoV), a technology that helps verify that an internet router is sending network traffic through the correct and authorized networks and reduces the risk of traffic being directed to untrusted websites or online services. The…
RIYADH — Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah Alswaha held meetings with his counterparts responsible for communications and information technology in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar. The meetings were held on the sidelines of the 30th Ministerial Committee Meeting for Postal and Telecommunications Affairs of the Gulf Cooperation…
ABU DHABI — Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman met with United Arab Emirates Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.During the meeting, they reviewed Saudi-UAE relations and underscored the importance of continuing coordination and cooperation to…
MANAMA — Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan attended the 168th session of the Ministerial Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in Manama on Sunday. The meeting was chaired by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bahrain and Chair of the current session of the GCC Ministerial Council Dr. Abdullatif Al Zayani. It was attended by the…
MANAMA — The Ministerial Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) called for designating the Houthi militia as a terrorist group and dealing with it in the same manner the international system addresses terrorist groups that threaten security, peace, development, and prosperity. In a final communique, issued at the end of the 168th session of the…
ABU DHABI — The United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan received Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. During the meeting, they discussed the fraternal relations between the two countries and ways to further enhance joint cooperation. Sheikh Mohammed and Prince Khalid also reviewed the latest…
MANAMA — Six Saudi citizens were injured and three homes and three vehicles sustained material damage when a projectile launched by the terrorist Houthi militia struck a residential area in the city of Najran on Sunday, the General Directorate of Civil Defense revealed. **media[2781803]** The Civil defense teams responded to the incident and followed…
MANAMA — Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan met with Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov in Manama on Sunday. The meeting was held on the sidelines of the ninth Gulf Cooperation Council—Russia Joint Ministerial Meeting for Strategic Dialogue.Prince Faisal and Lavrov reviewed bilateral relations between the two friendly…
RIYADH — Minister of Justice Dr. Walid Al-Samaani affirmed that the rules governing the work of technical offices, recently approved by the Supreme Judicial Council, will enhance institutional maturity and quality of judicial work.The minister noted that the development of judicial work is founded on establishing quality standards, integrating roles, and…
RIYADH — The rules governing the work of technical offices, recently approved by the Supreme Judicial Council, establish an institutional framework for organizing case preparation and technical review processes in the courts, based on artificial intelligence technologies, Okaz reported quoting well-informed sources.The framework defines responsibilities…
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia's economy remains resilient despite the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, supported by strong financial buffers, a well-capitalized banking system and prudent economic policies, Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) Governor Ayman Al-Sayari said during the 2026 IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings in Thailand.In the Kingdom's statement to the…
RIYADH — The King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC) received two Best Paper Awards at the 25th WPC Energy Congress in Riyadh, recognizing its research contributions to global energy challenges, including the energy transition and clean cooking solutions in Africa.The center concluded its participation as a National Partner at the…
RIYADH — Students in public schools across Saudi Arabia will enjoy their first extra school holiday of the current academic year next Sunday, Oct. 25. This holiday was approved by the education departments across the Kingdom but is not included in the academic calendar issued by the Ministry of Education. These include six extended school holidays during…
MANAMA — The ninth Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)—Russia Joint Ministerial Meeting for Strategic Dialogue commenced in Manama on Sunday afternoon, with the participation of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and foreign ministers of other GCC states.Bahraini Foreign Minister Dr. Abdullatif Al Zayani, who…
RIYADH — As of July 2026, industrial investments in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states reached $426 billion, with the number of factories standing at nearly 22,000. The industrial sector in the Gulf has employed more than 1.7 million people, according to the latest statistical data released by the GCC Statistical Center (GCC-Stat). The report showed…
RIYADH — Two Saudi National Guard officers died when an AH-6i reconnaissance helicopter crashed in the Najran region due to a technical malfunction, the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen announced Sunday.Coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki said the helicopter, belonging to the Ministry of National Guard, crashed inside Saudi territory in…
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Commerce seized more than 1.3 million noncompliant products during Q3 of 2026, alongside more than 144,000 inspection visits to combat commercial fraud and strengthen compliance among commercial establishments. According to the ministry’s Q3 2026 Consumer Protection Bulletin, 1,399,251 products violating the Commercial…
JEDDAH — Red alerts for heavy rain have been issued across parts of Jazan, Asir, Al-Baha and Makkah on Sunday, as moderate to heavy thunderstorms are forecast across several Saudi regions, according to the National Center for Meteorology (NCM). The red alerts cover parts of the four regions, with heavy rainfall expected in the affected areas. The…
RIYADH — Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received a phone call from his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi to discuss regional developments and ongoing efforts to contain conflicts. During the call on Saturday, Prince Faisal and Safadi, Jordan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, reviewed efforts to limit…
RIYADH — The Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen announced early Sunday that it had intercepted and destroyed two Houthi ballistic missiles targeting Khamis Mushait and three drones over the Riyadh and Eastern regions.Coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki said the two ballistic missiles were launched by the Houthi militia toward Khamis Mushait…
RIYADH — Saudi security forces arrested a total of 13,822 illegal residents in a week. The arrests were made in joint inspections, carried out in cooperation with the relevant government agencies, during the period between October 8 and 14, the Ministry of Interior announced on Saturday. Those who were arrested include 6,547 violators of the Residency Law,…
BANGKOK — Saudi Minister of Finance Mohammed Al-Jadaan affirmed that investments by countries such as Saudi Arabia had helped mitigate the impact of the energy shock on the global economy. “The shock would have been far more severe without these investments,” he said. Al-Jadaan, who is also chairman of the International Monetary and Financial Committee…
CAIRO — Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi affirmed that Egypt would take all necessary measures to protect and defend Saudi Arabia, in accordance with the directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. He stressed that any Egyptian action, if requested, would be strictly defensive…
RIYADH — The General Directorate of Civil Defense urged the public to exercise caution and stay in safe places amid forecasts of thunderstorms to continue across most regions of the Kingdom through Wednesday. It called on people to keep away from valleys and flood-prone areas, refrain from swimming in them, and follow instructions issued through the media…
ISLAMABAD — Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif received the new Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Dr. Rajeh Albugamy in Islamabad on Friday.Sharif congratulated the ambassador on his appointment, stressing that Pakistan-Saudi relations have developed significantly in recent years, and reaffirmed his country's commitment to strengthening…
RIYADH — The Ministry of Tourism has launched a service allowing private and non-profit tourism establishments to pay financial penalties in installments, under Cabinet Decision No. 105 and the installment rules approved by the Ministry of Finance.The ministry started receiving applications for this service from Tuesday, Oct. 13 until the expiry of the…
NAIROBI — President of Senegal Bassirou Diomaye Faye has awarded Saudi Ambassador to Kenya Saad Al-Nofaia the rank of Commander of the National Order of the Lion, one of Senegal's highest national honors. This is in recognition of his efforts and contributions to strengthening bilateral relations between Saudi Arabia and Senegal during his tenure as the…
RIYADH — Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani condemned the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and reaffirmed his country's solidarity with the Kingdom during talks with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Riyadh on Friday.The two ministers discussed regional developments amid escalating Houthi attacks targeting Saudi Arabia, with…
RIYADH — The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and 18 other Arab and Islamic countries strongly condemned Colombia's decision to inaugurate its embassy in Jerusalem, calling the move a violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions and a setback to international efforts to achieve a two-state solution.In a joint statement issued Friday, the…
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia welcomed a United Nations Security Council presidential statement strongly condemning escalating Houthi attacks against the Kingdom, reaffirming its inherent right under international law to defend its security and protect citizens and residents.In a statement issued Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed appreciation for…
RIYADH — The specialized medical and surgical team of the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program have achieved a new medical milestone on Thursday by successfully separating Fijian conjoined twins—Jasepeli and Desicia. The operation was performed at King Abdullah Specialized Children's Hospital, part of King Abdulaziz Medical City under the Ministry of National…
RIYADH — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed Saudi Arabia's sincere condolences and sympathy to Pakistan following the collapse of parts of a school building in Peshawar, which resulted in the death and injury of several students.The ministry affirmed Saudi Arabia's solidarity with the government and people of Pakistan over this tragic incident and…
RIYADH — Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman held talks with the Greek Minister of National Defense Nikos Dendias in Riyadh on Thursday.During the meeting, the ministers condemned the terrorist attacks carried out by the Houthi militia against the Kingdom. They reviewed ways to further strengthen the defense partnership between the two friendly…
CAIRO — Deputy Minister for International Cooperation at the Ministry of Health Nouf Alnumair highlighted Saudi Arabia’s experience in health sector transformation under Saudi Vision 2030, including efforts to develop the healthcare model and improve service efficiency and quality. She made the remarks while addressing the 73rd session of the World Health…
RIYADH — The Ministry of Commerce has announced the recall of 3,108 model-year 2025 Ford Explorer and Taurus, and Lincoln Nautilus and Corsair vehicles due to a defect in the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve. The defect could cause reduced acceleration and loss of driving power, increasing the risk of an accident.The ministry urged owners of the…
RIYADH — Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki, spokesperson of the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen, announced on Thursday that the Coalition inflicted huge losses to the Houthi terrorist militia, including destruction of 127 weapons depots, numerous launch platforms and vital sources of funding. Addressing a press conference in Riyadh on Thursday, Al-Maliki…
RIYADH —The Producer Price Index (PPI) in Saudi Arabia recorded an increase of 5.1 percent in August 2026 compared with the same month in 2025, according to data released by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT). The authority attributed the increase to a 5.3 percent rise in manufacturing prices, a 4.2 percent rise in prices for water supply,…
RIYADH — Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan received on Thursday a phone call from Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan Toshimitsu Motegi. During the call, the ministers discussed the terrorist Houthi militia's attacks against the Kingdom. The Japanese foreign minister expressed his country's strong condemnation of these repeated attacks…
BANGKOK — Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan affirmed that Saudi Arabia’s investments in alternative routes have helped ensure the continuity of energy supplies and trade flows amid the regional uncertainty and shipping disruption. He stressed that economic resilience depends on diversifying sources of economic strength, safeguarding the foundations of…
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia’s annual inflation rate remained steady at 1.9 percent in September 2026, while consumer prices were unchanged month-on-month. The stability comes amid risks to global trade and energy supplies arising from tensions along maritime routes, which could exert upward pressure on shipping costs and disrupt supply chains.Data released on…
RIYADH —Minister of Energy and Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman held a series of bilateral meetings over two days with ministers and senior officials participating in the 25th WPC Energy Congress, which will conclude in Riyadh on Thursday. These include ministers from Germany, Algeria, Iraq, Tunisia, Uzbekistan, Libya…
RIYADH — The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) announced Thursday the postponement of the GCC-EU Summit, originally scheduled for October 24 in Riyadh, citing continued Houthi attacks targeting Saudi Arabia and the extended suspension of flight operations at King Khalid International Airport.GCC Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi said the decision was taken to…
RIYADH — The Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen announced Thursday that it had intercepted and destroyed a Houthi cruise missile over the Madinah region.Coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki Al-Maliki confirmed that the cruise missile had been launched by the Houthi militia and successfully intercepted over the Madinah region.The latest interception…
JEDDAH — Abu Arish in Jazan Region recorded the highest rainfall in Saudi Arabia at 14.2 mm, followed by Mina in Makkah Region at 4.6 mm, according to the National Center for Meteorology (NCM). The NCM recorded rainfall across parts of Jazan, Makkah and Al-Baha regions during the 24-hour period from 9 a.m. Wednesday to 9 a.m. Thursday. In Jazan, Abu Arish…
RIYADH — Under the directives of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, a 15-hour operation to separate 13-month-old Fijian conjoined twins Jaspili and Disisia began Thursday morning in Riyadh. The complex procedure, which has an estimated 70 percent chance of success, is being carried out in nine stages by a team of 34 medical professionals…
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia’s foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows increased by 33.5 percent to SR159.1 billion in 2025, compared with SR119.2 billion in 2024, according to the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT). The increase came as the Kingdom’s total FDI stock rose by 8.3 percent to SR1.06 trillion by the end of 2025, while net FDI inflows increased…
JEDDAH — A red alert for heavy rain and possible flash floods has been issued for parts of Makkah Region on Thursday, as moderate to heavy thunderstorms are forecast across several Saudi regions, according to the National Center for Meteorology (NCM). The red alert covers Bahrah in Makkah Region from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m., with strong winds, near-zero…
RIYADH — Riyadh Season has announced the postponement of the third edition of the international "Six Kings Slam" tennis tournament, originally scheduled for October 21, 22, and 24, to December 27–30, 2026.The decision reflects Riyadh Season's commitment to delivering sporting events to the highest standards, following an assessment of the organizational…
RIYADH — Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan received on Wednesday a phone call from Italy’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio Tajani.During the call, the Italian foreign minister affirmed his country's condemnation of the brutal Houthi attacks targeting regions in Saudi Arabia. He expressed Italy's…
GENEVA — Saudi Permanent Representative to the United Nations and International Organizations in Geneva Ambassador Abdulmohsen bin Khothaila affirmed Saudi Arabia's commitment to strengthening international cooperation and supporting the efforts of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to protect refugees and safeguard their dignity. He…
ISLAMABAD — Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Dr. Rajeh Al-Baqami presented his credentials to President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari. Al-Baqami conveyed to Zardari the greetings of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman and their wishes for further progress and prosperity for the government and…
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia, represented by the Saudi Space Agency (SSA) and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), has launched the first biological samples of their kind from the Middle East to space. This was part of the BioGravity-1 mission aboard SpaceX CRS-35 to the International Space Station, with support from NASA. The launch…
RIYADH — The Council of Health Insurance has emphasized that a patient’s recovery journey continues beyond hospitalization, extending into the home environment.The council confirmed that the mandatory health insurance policy covers home healthcare services to facilitate the continuation of treatment at home. These services include urinary catheterization,…
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia's cybersecurity sector posted a robust growth with the value of the market reaching SR16.3 billion in 2025. The market recorded a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.7 percent between 2023 and 2025.This was revealed in the report on “Key Economic Indicators in the Cybersecurity Sector 2026,” published by the National…
RIYADH — Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi strongly condemned the recent attacks on Saudi Arabia, including the strike on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, during a meeting with Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman at Al-Yamamah Palace on Wednesday.The Iraqi prime minister reaffirmed Baghdad's commitment to preventing Iraqi…
RIYADH — The Saudi National Development Fund (NDF) Governor Abdulaziz Al-Arifi revealed that the NDF and the Saudi Industrial Development Fund, in partnership with local and international financial institutions, have contributed to financing the green hydrogen project, with total investments amounting to SR31.5 billion.Speaking at the World Petroleum…
BANGKOK — The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said on Wednesday that developments in Saudi Arabia potentially have “negative spillovers for everybody everywhere.” Speaking at the IMF Managing Director’s briefing on the Global Policy Agenda during the 2026 IMF-World Bank Group Annual Meetings in Bangkok on Wednesday,…
RIYADH — An Arab expatriate was injured after debris from an intercepted Houthi ballistic missile fell in Riyadh on Wednesday, causing minor damage to a residential home and a vehicle, Saudi Civil Defense announced.The Civil Defense spokesman said emergency teams responded to the incident on October 14 after air defenses intercepted and destroyed a…
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia condemned Colombia’s decision to open an “embassy” in occupied Jerusalem, describing the move as a blatant violation of international law and relevant international resolutions. In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Saudi Arabia said the Colombian government’s decision directly infringes on the legal…
RIYADH — Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan received on Wednesday a phone call from Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman Safadi. During the call, Safadi expressed Jordan's condemnation of the Houthi militia's brutal attacks on King Khalid International Airport and its absolute…
Opportunity Intelligence
Aramco, Maaden form mining JV to explore nearly 10% of Saudi Arabia’s land The exploration program may create future supplier and specialist-service demand across Mining, Logistics, Professional Services. This is an analytical inference from the reported development, not an opportunity explicitly offered by the source. Foreign participation requirements are not yet clear.
Introduction of a new organizational regulation governing the Higher Education Fund, replacing the previous framework and providing transitional provisions for ongoing governance.
