• Israel’s sports team makes landmark visit to Saudi Arabia

    Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - An Israeli sports delegation arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday to participate in the World Weightlifting Championships, as reported by Israeli media. This marks a historic moment, as it's the first time Israeli weightlifters are competing in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for the championship that began on...
  • Gaming industry posts exponential growth in Saudi Arabia: PayerMax COO

    Riyadh, Saudi Arabia-- The gaming industry has witnessed exponential growth in Saudi Arabia with an average revenue per paying user touching $270 as compared to $181 in MENA. With the game live streaming market poised to an annual growth rate (CAGR 2023-2027) of 10.08% in Saudi Arabia, esports is gaining...
  • Saudi Arabia to register 50,000 urban heritage assets 

    Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- The Saudi Heritage Commission announced on Monday the nomination of 50,000 urban heritage assets across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for registration. This process is being carried out in close coordination with various stakeholders, following the Antiquities and Urban Heritage regulations.  ]The Commission has outlined its...
  • Saudi Arabia and Iran two most influential countries in Islamic world: Raisi

    Tehran, Iran--Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi has termed Saudi Arabia and Iran as the two most influential countries in the region and the Islamic world as he lay emphasis on the need for strengthening relations between the two. The president made the remarks In a meeting with Iran's newly-appointed ambassador to...
  • Saudi Arabia to invest $25bn over next five years: Pakistan interim PM

    Islamabad, Pakistan - Pakistan's caretaker Prime Minister, Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, announced on Monday that Saudi Arabia plans to invest up to $25 billion in Pakistan over the next two to five years across various sectors. The investment is part of a concerted effort to boost foreign direct investment in the South...
  • BRICS’ share in global GDP to rise to 30% from January 2024: Indian bank

    New Delhi, India -  The share of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) group in the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is set to increase from its current 26% to 30% starting January 2024, State Bank of India (SBI) said in its report.  The growth is attributed to...
  • Saudi Arabia forms Global Water Organization to secure sustainable resources

    Jeddah, Saudi Arabia--Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has announced the establishment of Global Water Organization in order to safeguard water resources, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Monday. The newly formed organization will have its headquarters in Riyadh and is set to play a pivotal role in...
  • Real estate exchange transforms Saudi market

    The stock exchange offers indices, real estate services, and wealth management. It ensures supply-demand balance, and swift transactions, while delivering high-quality, accurate and efficient data.
  • Saudi and Iran to resume home-and-away matches: AFC

    The move by the two countries' football federations would contribute to "fostering closer ties between their respective footballing communities, allowing clubs to host matches on their home turf and visiting the respective away stadiums, creating a more engaging and exciting experience for the fans and players alike," the Asian Football...
  • Qatar tourist arrivals surge on post-world cup momentum

    Doha, Qatar -- More than 2.56 million people visited Qatar from January to August 25, which is more than the full-year arrivals in 2022 and marking a 157 percent increase over the same period last year, according to Qatar Tourism. Qatar Tourism said in statement that the latest achievement bears...
  • GCC Secretary General praises DCO role in digital transformation of Saudi economy

    RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA –  Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)Jassem Mohamed Albudaiwi visited the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) headquarters. The secretary general was received by Dima Al Yahya, Secretary General of DCO. Albudaiwi said that the DCO plays an important role in Saudi Arabia, in employing technology for...
  • PIF to buy Hadeed, Rajhi Steel

    New firm will help Kingdom’s steel-making capacity.
  • Gulf banking sector flourishes amidst rising rates

    GCC banks experienced robust lending growth during Q2-2023, despite multi-decade high rates from US hikes, with loans from GCC-listed banks hitting a record $1.9 trillion.
  • Saudi Arabia and Singapore pledge to ramp up economic ties

    Singapore-- Saudi Arabia and Singapore have pledged to enhance economic cooperation between the two countries and also reviewed the challenges facing the global economy. In this connection Saudi Minister of Finance Mohammed Aljadaan met in Singapore with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of Singapore, Lawrence Wong. According to...
  • Liverpool turns down Al-Ittihad $190m offer for Mohamed Salah

    LONDON, UK - Liverpool have rejected a blockbuster £150 million ($190 million) offer for Mohamed Salah from Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad, according to reports on Friday Egypt star Salah has been linked with a move to the Gulf State for several weeks and it is believed a verbal offer was made...
  • Gulf Federation for Electronic Sports formed, will develop regional talent

    Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - The Gulf Federation for Electronic Sports was established Thursday on the sidelines of the Next World Forum, to support, nurture, and develop Gulf talents through annual tournaments hosted by all countries. The launch was attended by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi...
  • Agri-Nutrients SABIC, US firms together support sustainable farming

    RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA -  Agri-Nutrients SABIC, in cooperation with the American companies ADM and BiOWiSH has helped farmers achieve high productivity using sustainable and cost-efficient methods. Through these collaborative efforts SABIC aims to help reduce the carbon footprint in the agricultural supply chain, especially after the company obtained the world's...
  • Saudi first quarter travel balance of payments surplus $6 billion

    Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia achieved a surplus of SAR 22.8 billion ($6.07 billion) in the balance of payments for travel items in the first quarter of 2023, compared to a deficit of SAR 1.6 billion in Q1 2022, the Kingdom's Ministry of Tourism said. The ministry added that...
  • SABIC-Sinopec China plant opens

    The plant is located in their jointly owned petrochemical firm.
  • Saudi Arabia’s consumer spending hits $27bn in July: Central Bank

    Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Consumer spending in Saudi Arabia increased 2 percent to SAR 104.6 billion ($27.88 billion) in July 2023, from nearly SAR 102.97 billion during the same month last year, according to the Saudi Central Bank's SAMA monthly bulletin. Consumer spending includes total cash withdrawals, point-of-sale (POS) transactions and e-commerce...
  • Abu Dhabi to unveil one of world’s biggest airport terminal

    Dubai, UAE - An airport terminal able to handle up to 45 million passengers a year will open in Abu Dhabi in November, state media said Thursday, accelerating competition in the crowded Gulf market. Terminal A in the oil-rich United Arab Emirates capital, touted as one of the world's biggest, will...
  • Constructive Saudi pledges made for Lebanon assistance: Iran FM

    Tehran, Iran -- Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said Thursday that discussions with Saudi authorities have resulted in constructive statements regarding assistance for Lebanon's situation. "In the discussions we had with Saudi authorities, we heard constructive statements from them regarding assistance to the situation in Lebanon," Amirabdollahian stated, adding that...
  • Saudi Arabia’s oil exports down 33.4 percent in second quarter

    Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia's oil exports fell by 33.4 percent to SAR 227.7 billion ($60.70 billion), from SAR 341.6 billion, in the second quarter of 2023, contributing mainly to the decline of 31.8 percent in overall merchandise exports, compared to Q2 2022. The value of exports amounted to...
  • Chinese diplomat, Arab Parliament speaker discuss Middle East

    BEIJING, CHINA – The director of China’s Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs met with the speaker of the Arab Parliament Adel Al Asoomi here. Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that Beijing is willing to...
  • SAMA licenses new company to provide E-wallet solutions

    Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) licensed “Alhulul AlMubassatah Financial Company (SiFi)" to provide E-wallet solutions.  With SiFi, there are now 25 licensed companies offering payment services in Saudi Arabia, in addition to 7 companies that have obtained initial approval to operate within SAMA's regulatory sandbox. SAMA...
  • Another Saudi sports push: PIF buys stake in US mixed martial arts league

    Combining elements of everything from boxing to judo and Muay Thai, mixed martial arts (MMA) had a limited following in Saudi Arabia just a decade ago, but that started to change when the kingdom hosted the popular regional Desert Force competition in 2014.
  • UAE first half non-oil foreign trade hits all-time high of $337 billion

    The results are buoyed by record non-oil exports, which reached AED 205 billion in H1 2023, an 11.9 percent growth compared to the first half of 2022 and 5.4 percent more than H2 2022. Non-oil exports in the first six months of 2023 exceed the exports recorded in the whole...
  • Saudi Arabia’s imports from GCC countries fall by 19% in June

    Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia’s imports from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries fell 19 percent year-on-year (YoY) to SAR 5.51 billion in June, according to a recent report by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT). UAE accounted for 65.6 percent, or SAR 3.61 billion, of the total Saudi imports,...
  • Saudi hospital installs world’s first automated medication dispensing machine

    Tabuk, Saudi Arabia -- King Salman Hospital in Saudi Arabia’s  northwestern region has installed the world's first automated medication dispensing machine, transforming the way medications are distributed without requiring hospital visits. The machine consists of a workstation that handles the prescription barcode, a screen for interaction with the beneficiaries, a...
  • GCC to establish partnerships with international organizations: Albudaiwi

    Riyadh, Saudi Arabia-- The GCC countries are "actively engaging" with international and regional organizations in order to establish strategic partnerships that serve their interests. This was stated by the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jassem Mohamed Albudaiwi. He made the remarks during a meeting held between the GCC...
  • Exclusive: Middle East’s retail sector rides on AR and hybrid shopping to become $600bn digital economy

    In the GCC, online market growth surpasses offline, driven significantly by Saudi Arabia, amid intense competition where local brands increasingly stand out.
  • Exclusive: Middle East’s retail sector rides on AR and hybrid shopping to become $600bn digital economy

    In the GCC, online market growth surpasses offline, driven significantly by Saudi Arabia, amid intense competition where local brands increasingly stand out.
  • Israeli PM thanks Saudi after emergency aircraft landing in Jeddah

    The Air Seychelles flight laden with Israeli passengers was heading from the Seychelles to Tel Aviv. Saudi airspace had been closed to flights to and from Israel until July 2022, when it opened to coincide with a visit by US President Joe Biden to the region.
  • GCC optimistic about FDI growth despite hiccups

    Despite a decline in FDI inflows in the past few years, GCC countries remain optimistic as they expect strong economic growth in 2023 and beyond.
  • Saudi hosts AlUla Desert Blaze, the toughest run in GCC region

    AlUla, Saudi Arabia -- AlUla Desert Blaze, a unique running challenge, which kicked off on Saturday and saw participation of nearly 200 male and female runners from 39 countries, has been hailed as the most arduous competition in the Arabian Gulf region. The participants faced the toughest challenges amid scorching summer heat, enduring temperatures reaching...
  • Saudi Arabia’s banks post 9.6% rise in aggregate profits in July to US$1.71bn

    Riyadh, Saudi Arabia-- Banks in Saudi Arabia have reported a 9.6 percent increase in aggregate profit to $1.71 billion in July, according to official data. The Saudi Central Bank, also known as SAMA, said that the aggregate assets of these banks also rose 8.84 percent year on year in July...
  • Saudi Arabia and Turkey to boost ties in industrial, mining sectors

    The two countries signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU to boost mining cooperation in critical minerals needed in new technologies like electric vehicles and solar panels. The Turkish and Saudi ministers also discussed deepening partnership in areas such as hydrogen, solar and wind energy, besides seeking to widen trade between...
  • GCC shows economic resilience as inflation hits globe

    GCC countries consistently maintain inflation rates below the global average, with the Food and Beverages CPI subcategory showing moderate growth across the region.
  • ICIEC, SAPICO ink pact

    Pact to enhance commercial activities between the two.
  • NEOM to set up education, research and innovation center

    TABUK, SAUDI ARABIA – NEOM has announced plans to establish a world-class education, research and innovation (ERI) center, following last year’s appointment of Andreas Cangellaris as the founding president of NEOM U, NEOM’s flagship university. NEOM’s ERI will consist of four interconnected pillars: NEOM U; the Education, Research and Innovation...
  • Saudi Arabia and Iran invited to Moscow-led defense bloc’s military drills

    Moscow, Russia -- Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) member states have invited observers from Saudi Arabia, Iran, China and Mongolia to monitor the Combat Brotherhood-2023 drills in Belarus, CSTO Joint Staff Chief Colonel General Anatoly Sidorov said at a briefing. Saudi Arabia, Iran, China and Mongolia are not the members...
  • $202m contract signed for Jeddah project

    The contract involves MEP works for Al Muhammadiyah Hospital.
  • Red Sea Global launches ‘Tamala’ to transform agricultural economy in Tabuk

    Riyadh, Saudi Arabia--Red Sea Global (RSG) has announced the launch of the Red Sea Farms Cooperative (Tamala), established through integrated national partnerships between the government, private and non-profit sectors. Tamala aims to develop a model entity that achieves the kingdom's orientation to enhance the role of cooperatives in the agricultural...
  • Mancini hired as Saudi Arabia team coach for $25m a year

    Mancini's resignation from the Italy job came as a major shock, as earlier this month he had been handed responsibility for the country's Under-21 and Under-20 teams. He was heavily criticised for his decision especially following early reports that he was set to accept a mega-money move to Saudi, which...
  • BRICS to coordinate approaches with new members within UN, G20: Lavrov

    The BRICS summit, which held in Johannesburg from Aug 22-24 agreed to admit Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates as new members from Jan 1, 2024.
  • stc Group begins work in Europe

    stc’s subsidiary TAWAL buys assets in eastern Europe.
  • Saudi Arabia to host CAF Super Cup match between Al Ahly and USM Alger

    Johannesburg, South Africa--The 2023 CAF Super Cup match between Al Ahly of Egypt and USM Alger of Algeria will be staged in the Saudi Arabian city of Taif on September 15, the organizers announced on Saturday. Ahly qualified for the annual match by winning the Champions League and USM by capturing...
  • Space Economy: Saudi Arabia targets stars and beyond

    From the establishment of the Saudi Space Authority to Serco Middle East's new space division in Riyadh, the Kingdom is making significant strides in the space sector.
  • Spanish footballer Veiga to play for Saudi club Al Ahli

    Gabri Veiga, one of Spain's most promising young players, signed for Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli from Celta Vigo in a move greeted with disquiet in Spain. Clubs in the Gulf state have signed several of football's top veteran stars this summer on huge deals, including Ballon d'Or holder Karim Benzema...
  • Saudi Arabia’s foreign trade rises to $172bn in a year

    Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia’s foreign trade soared to $172 billion last year, the Saudi Minister of Commerce and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Authority of Foreign Trade, Dr Majid Al-Qasabi said during the August 24-25 G20 Trade and Investment Ministers' meeting held in India...