As part of the “Quality of Life” program, these houses aim to upgrade cultural infrastructure and boost Saudi engagement in arts and culture.

New York, United States -- The women's tennis tour (WTA) on Monday announced "a multi-year partnership" with the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund (PIF), emulating a deal made by the men's tour (ATP) in February. The WTA said in a statement that it shared with PIF an "ambition to grow women's...

In a wide expansion of aviation services, Saudi Arabia's top airline Saudia Group has place an order of 105 aircraft from Airbus. Saudia airline will receive 54 A321neo aircraft, while budget offshoot Flyadeal will acquire 12 A320neo and 39 A321neo planes, they said in a statement.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia's King Salman has a lung infection and is undergoing a treatment programme involving antibiotics, the Royal Court said Sunday in the latest update on the ageing monarch's health. Earlier in the day, the court said King Salman was suffering from "high temperature" and joint pain,...

Israel has also fought and bombed resurgent Hamas forces in northern and central areas of the coastal territory previously considered to be under army control, sparking US warnings that it could become mired in a lengthy counterinsurgency campaign.

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan says there is a potential of Israel-Saudi normalization deal if Netanyahu alters his political strategy for the future of the Palestinian enclave.

The setting for Red Sea Fashion Week, the St Regis Red Sea Resort on Ummahat Alshaikh island, is part of Red Sea Global, one of the giga-projects at the heart of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 social and economic reform program.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) has licensed "Hala Financing" to provide debt-based crowdfunding solutions. With Hala Financing, there are now 11 authorized companies offering debt-based crowdfunding solutions in Saudi Arabia. The addition brings the total number of finance companies licensed and permitted by SAMA to 62,...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – The Saudi Tourism Authority (STA), in collaboration with the Saudi Ministry of Tourism, has announced the expansion of its eVisa program to tourists from the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, Barbados and Grenada. Nationals of these three countries can now apply for a visitor visa to Saudi either electronically...

Gabriel Chahine, Middle East Lead for AlixPartners, discusses the significance of the World Economic Forum in Riyadh, economic outlook, AI, and strategies for businesses.

Dubai, UAE -- flynas, the Saudi budget carrier, has announced expansion plans for the UAE from September this year, which will increase the number of routes between Saudi Arabia and the UAE to nine, with flight frequencies surging to more than 20 daily flights. The carrier unveiled expansion plans for...

Despite lower profit, it will pay $31bn in dividends to Saudi government.

The kingdom accelerates its biotech and genomics sector with substantial investments, in line with Vision 2030's push for economic diversification and innovation, according to ADL report.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- UpLink, the World Economic Forum community dedicated to supporting early-stage impact-focused entrepreneurs, has announced the launch of four initiatives aimed at accelerating the transition to a circular carbon economy, addressing the growing demand for clean energy minerals, rejuvenating vital ocean ecosystems, and leveraging quantum computing for...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia has called for a "real commitment to a two-state solution that is a credible, irreversible path to a Palestinian state". At the World Economic Forum Special Meeting on Global Collaboration, Growth and Energy for Development aimed at dialogues to tackle the most pressing geopolitical, social...

Earlier on Monday, European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told reporters he would encourage Arab leaders to put forward their proposal for a two-state solution and that he wanted EU member states to invite Arab leaders to Brussels to present it.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit to Riyadh comes nearly seven months after the eruption of war in Gaza put the brakes on what was intended as a signature foreign policy achievement for his boss, US President Joe Biden. It also comes as Americans prepare to vote in November...

GCC countries are prioritizing actions like near-shoring, international partnerships, and technology adoption to ensure supply chain adaptability and responsiveness, says a report by Oliver Wyman.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia is warning potential Hajj pilgrims to be cautious of fake Hajj companies that may scam people. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has advised individuals to use the Nusuk app for registration, which is available in several countries. For those countries where the app...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia could have its first Miss Universe contestant this year, organizers said this week, after a fashion model and influencer claimed she had been selected. The Miss Universe Organization "is currently undergoing a rigorous vetting process qualifying a potential candidate to be awarded the Saudi Arabia...

The two-day World Economic Forum special meeting, scheduled to begin in Riyadh on Sunday, includes in its official program appearances by the Saudi, Jordanian, Egyptian and Turkish foreign ministers. A Gaza-focused session is set to feature newly appointed Palestinian prime minister Mohammed Mustafa among others.

The deal involves sponsorship rights for multiple events including the 2026 Men's World Cup and the Women's World Cup the following year. "We are delighted to welcome Aramco to FIFA's family of global partners," FIFA president Gianni Infantino said in a joint statement released by the energy company.

Business travelers worldwide are drawn to the GCC countries due to their rapidly growing economies, strategic geographic locations, and ambitious infrastructure development plans.

The kingdom's housing program achieves remarkable success, surpassing targets and reducing waiting times from 15 years to immediate entitlement, revolutionizing residential ownership.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia has imposed anti-dumping duties on seven products imported from 10 European and Asian countries, six of which are subject to the unified GCC law to protect the industry from the damage caused by dumped and subsidized imports, media reports said. The products included all...

Saudi startups were the biggest beneficiaries of LEAP24 tech conference, securing the lion's share of the total investment of S254 million.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - The prestigious Red Sea Fund has thrown open its doors to filmmakers across Arab and African origins, inviting submissions for its Production Cycle. With the launch of Cycle 2 for the year 2024, the Fund is geared up to support feature-length narrative, documentary, and animation projects....

The burgeoning construction sector in Saudi Arabia is fostering the expansion of its talent pool and consolidating its regional leadership, says Barry Lewis, CEO at ALEC, in an interview with TRENDS.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - The Saudi Ministry of Interior has announced a significant measure aimed at reducing the burden of accumulated traffic fines for violators. The initiative will see a 50% reduction in fines incurred prior to April 18, 2024. Implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and the...

Clean hydrogen could be bigger than the oil and gas economy for the region, says Jo Bamford, chairman of HYCAP, which invests in net zero and hydrogen economy.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - The Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources on Wednesday announced six new mining opportunities for local and international investors. The opportunities are part of the fifth round of mining competitions for exploration licenses and encompass gold, copper, zinc, lead, and silver ores in various regions...

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – flynas, the Saudi air carrier and the leading low-cost airline in the Middle East and the world, celebrated taking delivery of the 50th airplane out of a large order for Airbus A320neo jetliners at a reception held at King Khalid International Airport here. The company is...

GCC countries collaborate on comprehensive tourism strategy, leading global recovery post-pandemic with remarkable growth rates and ambitious plans for sustainable development.

"We have to think seriously about doing it this semester," Sanchez told a group of Spanish journalists accompanying him on a tour of three Middle East countries Sanchez had said on March 9 he would propose that parliament vote in favor of this recognition by the end of the current...

Dhahran, Saudi Arabia – Saudi energy giant Aramco Tuesday awarded engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts worth $7.7 billion for a major expansion of its Fadhili Gas Plant in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. The project is expected to increase the plant’s processing capacity from 2.5 to up to 4...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) announced on Monday that the share of retail consumer electronic payments - one of the Financial Sector Development Program’s KPIs -  reached 70% of total retail payments in 2023, up from 62% in 2022.  The achievement is attributed to the significant...

Non-oil growth to stay robust, bolstered by a strong non-oil GDP growth in the region's two biggest economies, UAE and Saudi Arabia.

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) has announced the addition of the new shipping service 'NRS' by Folk Maritime to Jeddah Islamic Port. This initiative aims to connect the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to various ports along the North Red Sea. The introduction of these two new...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - The unemployment rate among Saudi women witnessed a historic decline, plummeting to 13.7 percent in the fourth quarter of 2023, as per the latest figures released by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT). This marks a notable 2.6 percent drop from the third quarter's 16.3 percent....

Tokyo, Japan--The UAE exported 44.1 percent, namely 31.3 million barrels, of Japan's crude oil needs in February 2024, according to the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy in Tokyo. The agency, part of the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, stated that the amount of crude that Japan imported...

Regional market trends, IPOs, geopolitical issues and crude oil prices affected the flow of foreign money in the region, said a report by Kamco Invest.

Abu Dhabi, UAE – Rotana, one of the leading hotel management companies in the region with over 100 properties in the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe, and Türkiye (MENAT), announces on Sunday the soft opening of Dar Rayhaan by Rotana, Al Khobar, in Saudi Arabia. The opening is in line...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- ROSHN Group has launched ALMANAR, its fifth integrated mixed-use community and its first venture in Makkah, the group said in a press release.The first phase of ALMANAR, the release said, will provide 4,149 residential units that will house over 17,000 people on a footprint of 2.5...

TABUK, SAUDI ARABIA – A few days ago, the Red Sea destination hosted several international football stars from Saudi Pro League teams. Accompanied by their families, the players stayed in the resorts of this distinguished destination, indulging in its charming turquoise waters and vast desert dunes. They also engaged in...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia's tourism sector contributed to a record-breaking $36 (SR135 billion) in spending by international visitors. The surge, reported by the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), represents a substantial 42.8 percent increase from the previous year. The Kingdom's remarkable performance in tourism was further highlighted by its...

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) issued on Friday the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) statistics for Q4 of 2023, which show that the net flow of FDI in the Kingdom amounted to over US$3.4 billion (SAR13 billion), an increase of 16 percent or US$2.9 billion (SAR11...

JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA – The Ministry of Culture, represented by the Jeddah Historic District Program, has announced the completion of work in the project to restore ramshackle buildings in the district under the generous donation of US$13 million (SAR50 million) from the Kingdom's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The project...

Despite qualifying for the Champions League for the first time in 20 years, Newcastle still had to tread a fine line to avoid exceeding PSR after spending more than £250 million ($315 million) in the first three transfer windows under the new ownership.

Saudi Arabia leads GCC efforts towards defense self-reliance by creating the first military industries committee, aiming to reduce foreign imports and enhance local capabilities.

Flights to Al Jouf Airport and Red Sea Airport to start from April 18.