Mar 2 - Mar 8, 2008

~~~~~~~~ [ Mar 3] ~~~~~~~~~

Saudi Arabia Is Not a Puppet State: Saud [Mar 3]
"Saudi Arabia will never change its domestic or foreign policies under pressure from the United States, Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal said here yesterday. Addressing a closed session of the 150-member Shoura Council in the capital, Prince Saud said the Kingdom’s policies were steady and not dictated by the superpower or any other country. 'We have never been a puppet state,' a Shoura member quoted Prince Saud as saying. He said the United States and Saudi Arabia have been sharing 'strategic' relations over decades, but the relationship was built on national interests.. ..Regarding the negative image projected by certain media outlets about Saudi Arabia in the West and the need to improve the country’s image abroad, the foreign minister said it was unfortunate that Western media outlets continue to print misleading facts about the Kingdom.." [more]

Saudi Arrests 28 Suspects For Links With Zawahiri [Mar 3]
"Saudi Arabia said on Monday it has rounded up 28 more Al-Qaeda suspects after arresting an equal number in December who plotted "terrorist" attacks and were in contact with the group's number two Ayman al-Zawahiri. This brings to 56 the total number of members of the same group who have been detained and are linked to the Al-Qaeda leadership abroad, the interior ministry said in a statement carried by the state SPA news agency. The group had been instructed by the Al-Qaeda leadership to launch a "terrorist campaign" inside the kingdom.. ..The fugitive Egyptian-born Zawahiri is the right-hand man of Saudi-born Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden. Security forces have now rounded up a total of 56 members of the group who are of 'various nationalities,' including their leader, the Saudi ministry added, without naming its chief.." [more]

Saudi Compares Israeli Offensive to Nazi Crimes [Mar 3]
"Saudi Arabia compared Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip to Nazi war crimes yesterday and called on the international community to stop what it called the mass killings of Palestinians. Saudi Arabia, which condemns the Israeli war crimes against the Palestinian people and the threats of Israeli officials to transform Gaza into an inferno, sees that Israel is simulating through these actions the Nazi war crimes.. ..Saudi Arabia urges the international community, peace-sponsoring countries and the international Quartet to work to curb the Israeli military machine and stop it from carrying out mass killings and destruction against the Palestinian people and their properties.." [more]

Saudi to Shun Paris Book Fair [Mar 3]
"Oil-rich Saudi Arabia said on Monday it will boycott this year's Paris book fair because Israel is invited as guest of honour. 'Saudi Arabia will not participate in the fair due to Israel's presence as guest of honour,' a Saudi official told AFP, requesting anonymity. Saudi Arabia has taken part in the fair in previous years. Several Muslim countries and writers' associations have said they will stay away from this year's fair on March 14-19, after organisers announced that 39 Israeli writers were being invited to mark the 60th anniversary of the creation of the Jewish state. The 50-nation Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation has called for a boycott of the event by Muslim states.." [more]

Saudi Money Supply Growth Hits 4-year Peak [Mar 3]
"Saudi Arabia's money supply growth, an indicator of future inflation, hit its highest in at least four years in January. This signals inflation in the world's largest oil exporter could accelerate from a 25-year peak. M3, the broadest measure of money circulating in the Saudi economy, grew to 815.14 billion riyals ($217.4 billion) at the end of January compared with 657.92 billion riyals a year earlier.. ..Inflation in the largest Arab economy, which pegs its riyal currency to the dollar, hit a quarter-century peak of 7 percent in January as rents surged 16.7 percent. The central bank's room for manoeuvre for combating inflation is limited by its need to track US interest rates given the peg.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Mar 2] ~~~~~~~~~

Saudi Embassy Received Threats: Lebanon Acting FM [Mar 2]
" Saudi Arabia's warning to its citizens to leave Lebanon, issued this weekend, was based on 'specific threats' received by its embassy in Beirut, Lebanon's acting foreign minister said Sunday. 'The Saudis have specific reasons. They have received specific threats,' Tareq Mitri told the private LBC television channel, though he did not elaborate. Lebanese and Saudi officials on Saturday said Saudi Arabia was advising its citizens to leave Lebanon or exercise extreme caution because of heightened political unrest.. ..Last month Saudi Arabia had advised its citizens against travelling to Lebanon and in August 2007 threats against the embassy had forced Ambassador Abdel Aziz Khoja to leave the country, although he eventually returned.." [more]

US-Saudi Effort Seeks to End Syrian Influence in Lebanon [Mar 2]
"The United States and Saudi Arabia have launched a joint campaign to pressure Syria to end its political interference in Lebanon, including the US deployment of the USS Cole and two other warships off the Lebanese coast, according to US and Arab officials. The new military, economic and diplomatic steps include the toughest actions taken by the Bush administration against the regime of President Bashar Al Assad, such as a recent presidential executive order allowing sanctions against Syrian officials meddling in Lebanon and a member of Bashar's family.." [more]

Motorola Gets $335 mln Pact from a Zain Saudi Firm [Mar 2]
"Motorola Inc. said on Sunday that it received a $335 million contract to supply a communications network and related services to a Saudi Arabian member of Kuwait's Zain Group. The member, Zain in Saudi Arabia, is planning a $1.87 billion initial public offering, and the network will help the company provide voice, data and multimedia telecommunications services, Motorola said. Zain in Saudi Arabia was formed to provide mobile-telecom services in Saudi Arabia under the third mobile license the kingdom awarded last July, Motorola said.." [more]

Saudi Arabia Slowly Opens Doors to Tourists [Mar 2]
"If you were running a restrictive Islamic state where the women can't drive and restaurants are segregated between families and single men, the last idea that might occur to you is to invite Westerners in to have a look. And yet, that's exactly what the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is doing. As part of a group of reforms, the kingdom is trying to develop the country as a tourist destination, first for domestic travelers and later for international ones. Westerners are starting to visit the country on small group tours, a process that has become easier with loosened visa rules.. ..in April, the government passed a law allowing domestic travel agencies to bring in foreign tours. If all goes as hoped, the new arrangement will speed the visa process and give foreign tour operators greater flexibility. It is a small step, but one that reflects the Saudi government's new interest in foreign tourism.." [more]

Oil Prices to Stay Above 60-70 Dollars: Saudi Arabia [Mar 2]
"Saudi Arabia's oil minister believes oil prices are set to stay above a minimum price of 60-70 dollars per barrel, signalling a new era for world energy markets, he said in an interview released Sunday. Ali al-Nuaimi, one of the most influential people in the business as oil minister for the world's biggest crude producer, said 'a line has been drawn below which prices will not fall.' His explanation to French oil newsletter Petrostrategies was technical, based on the idea that public policy in many countries was to invest in alternative energy sources to compete with crude. These government-backed alternative sources such as biofuels -- but also alternative oil sources in Canada's tar sands, for example -- can only compete with crude if the price of oil stays above 60-70 dollars a barrel. 'If you take all the subsidies that go into producing a barrel of biofuels, I doubt that anybody can make money in that business with a price less than 60 or 70 dollars,'.." [more]

Saudi Arabia, IBM to Implement New Project [Mar 2]
"A spokesman for IBM announced that the company is cooperating with Saudi Arabia to implement a new project to look into nanotechnology for cleantech applications.. ..The multi-year project will see Saudi scientists and engineers working together with their IBM counterparts on advanced nanotechnology programs in the fields of solar energy, water desalination and petrochemical applications including recyclable materials.." [more]

Kingdom’s Sovereign Ratings Raised [Mar 2]
"Capital Intelligence, the international rating agency, has raised Saudi Arabia's long-term foreign currency and local currency ratings to AA- from A+ and its short-term foreign- and local-currency ratings to A1+ from A1. The outlook for Saudi Arabia's ratings is ‘stable'. The upgrade reflects the continued strengthening of the public and external finances along with improved prospects for faster economic growth over the medium to long term, the Capital Intelligence report said. As the world's largest producer and exporter of crude oil, Saudi Arabia has benefited greatly from the upward movement in oil prices over the past five years.. ..The propitious economic setting has also enabled the authorities to move ahead with structural reforms geared to increasing private sector involvement in the economy, raising the level of foreign direct investment, and enlarging the non-oil export base.." [more]

Saudi Stocks Fail to Maintain Upward Trend [Mar 2]
"Saudi stocks failed to maintain last week’s upward trend as the Tadawul All-Share Index (TASI) dropped 113.57 points to close at 10,177.91 yesterday. Industrial stocks led declines on Saudi Arabia’s bourse. The Industrial index fell 1.43 percent to 27,246.11 points yesterday.. ..The BMG Saudi Index started the week with a fall. The index dropped by 1.1 percent to 560.60 points. The market turnover, however, did not follow the performance of the index, experiencing an increase in the value invested by 11.4 percent, ending yesterday’s session at SR5.4 billion ($1.4 billion) compared to 4.8 billion ($1.3 billion) on Wednesday.." [more]

It Is No Slur to Be Called a Muslim [Mar 2]
"Hillary Clinton denied leaking the photo of Barack Obama wearing a turban, but her campaign manager says that even if she had, it would be no big deal. 'Hillary Clinton has worn the traditional clothing of countries she has visited and had those photos published widely.' Sure she did. And George Bush put on a poncho in Santiago, while Paul Wolfowitz burned up YouTube with his anti-malarial African dance routines while World Bank president. The obvious difference is this: When white politicians go ethnic, they look funny; when a black presidential contender does it, he looks foreign — and when the ethnic apparel in question is vaguely reminiscent of the clothing worn by Iraqi and Afghan fighters (at least to many Fox viewers, who think any headdress other than a baseball cap is a declaration of war on America), the image is downright frightening. The turban 'scandal' is all part of what is being referred to as 'the Muslim smear'.." [more]

Feb 24 - Mar 1, 2008

~~~~~~~~ [ Mar 1] ~~~~~~~~~

U.S., Saudi Arabia Jointly Put Pressure on Syria [Mar 1]
"The United States and Saudi Arabia have jointly pressured Syria to end allegedly political interference in Lebanon, including the U.S. military deployment off the Lebanese coast, the Washington Post reported Saturday. The new military, economic and diplomatic steps include the toughest actions taken by the Bush administration against Syria, such as a recent presidential executive order allowing sanctions against Syrian officials allegedly meddling in Lebanon, Saudi Arabia is considering withdrawing its ambassador from Damascus and pressed for an Arab League meeting to be held next week, to discuss the political vacuum in Lebanon followed by its inability to elect a new president since last November, said unidentified U.S. government officials in the report.." [more]

Over $240bn to be Pumped Into Saudi Property Market [Mar 1]
"More than 900 million riyals ($240.5 billion) will invested in Saudi Arabia's real estate sector over the next 12 years as economic development and population growth drive demand for property in the kingdom, according to new research. The study by King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) predicted almost two million housing units would be built between now and 2020 at a rate of around 163,750 units per year, reported the daily Saudi Gazette on Saturday. The total number of housing units in Saudi is expected to reach seven million in 2020, the study said, estimating that there are currently just over five million units in the kingdom.." [more]

Saudi Khursaniyah Oilfield May be Delayed [Mar 1]
"Production at Saudi Arabia's 500,000 bpd Khursaniyah oilfield may be delayed beyond the first half of this year, a Saudi newspaper reported on Saturday. 'The oil field may start pumping limited quantities in May but it will not be able to meet the announced production capacity since the gas plant has not been completed yet,' Al Watan newspaper said, quoting an unnamed oil industry source. 'The project's completion might be delayed to beyond the first half of this year,'.." [more]

Saudi Investors Regaining Back Their Confidence [Mar 1]
"The Saudi stock was highly volatile last week following previous week’s jump of more than 10 percent. The Tadawul All-Share Index (TASI) gained further 1.62 percent last week, closing at 10,291.47 points from 10,127.10 points previous week. TASI is currently 7.9 percent lower than the year’s start. The Riyadh-based Bakheet Investment Group (BIG) said in its weekly report that with oil prices breaking the $100 per barrel barrier, investors of the world’s largest crude exporter restored confidence they seemed to have lost a month ago as a result of turmoil at global markets. 'We expect the Saudi stock market to witness a steady increase during the coming days with the retreat of negative external factors,'.." [more]

Opportunities Abound in Tourist Infrastructure: Maldives Envoy [Mar 1]
"The Maldives, the island country in the Indian Ocean, has opened its first embassy in the Middle East in Saudi Arabia. “We chose Saudi Arabia as the first destination to have our foreign mission in the region since the Kingdom, which hosts millions of pilgrims in the holy city of Makkah and Madinah, is accepted not only as a leader in the Muslim world but also as a strategic hub in the region,” said the new Maldivian Ambassador Hussain Shihab, who presented a copy of his credentials to Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal in late February.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Feb 29] ~~~~~~~~~

Saudi Arabia Invites Taiwan to Develop King Abdullah Economic City [Feb 29]
"Saudi Arabia has invited Taiwan to head the development of its new a multi-purpose King Abdullah Economic City, a newspaper in Taiwan reported Friday. The Saudi Arabian General Investment Administration (SAGIA) plans to give Taiwan priority in developing the city, the Economic Daily News said. Taiwan would form an investment company and sign a contract with SAGIA in march, according to the report. Taiwan's Vice Economics Minister Hsieh Fa-ta visited Saudi Arabia in January and met with Saudi officials and SAGIA members.. ..The King Abdullah Economic City will be built along Saudi Arabia's west coast, about 100 kilometres north of Jeddah. It is the largest among the six economic cities Saudi Arabia plans to build to lure foreign investment to boost its economy.." [more]

Saudi Purchase of Turkish Bank Approved: Official [Feb 29]
"Turkey's banking watchdog has approved the sale of privately owned Turkish Islamic lender Turkiye Finans to Saudi Arabia's National Commercial Bank, a BDDK official told Reuters on Friday. Last July, National Commercial Bank, the Gulf's largest lender by assets, agreed to pay $1.08 billion for 60 percent of Turkiye Finans. The BDDK official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said a statement would shortly confirm the approval of the sale.. ..Islamic banks only control 3 percent of Turkey's overall banking assets but their share is expected to more than treble. Officials have told Reuters they expect Turkiye Finans to see asset growth in 2008 to at least match last year's 36 percent.." [more]

Yemeni-Saudi Joint University to be Established [Feb 29]
"Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Saleh Ba-Sura returned home on Friday from Saudi Arabia after both countries agreed to establish a joint Yemeni-Saudi university aiming to serve Yemeni expatriates in the kingdom, whose number ranges between 15-20 thousand students. The minister clarified that he participated in the activation of the Cultural and Scientific Forum of the Yemeni Universities in the Saudi Universities. In a statement to Saba, the minister pointed out that higher education and scientific research ministries of both countries agreed to develop and activate aspects of cooperation between the two countries in the several fields .." [more]

Silencing Arab Media [Feb 29]
"In yet another erosion of political freedoms in the Middle East, the Arab League adopted a new Arab media charter this month, dealing a huge blow to press freedoms in the Arab world.. ..The importance of the television media in the Arab world should not be underestimated, especially in societies that lack serious political opposition due to oppressive governments, legal obstacles and failed political cultures. Private Arab television stations often present the only serious "opposition" to Arab regimes. What few voices exist promoting social change, especially since the United States has all but abandoned its democracy promotion efforts in the region, are only accessible via these satellite stations. They a forum for expressing conflicting and varied political views and routinely show footage of labor strikes, demonstrations and student protests - topics that have not found their way into state-controlled TV.." [more]

Saudi Scholars Slam Move [Feb 29]
"Saudi Muslim scholars and propagators have denounced the appointment of an Egyptian woman in the post of a Mazun (Islamic marriage attorney). In statements to Gulf News they said this step opens all doors for women, adding that this trend runs contrary to the teachings of Islamic Sharia. Shaikh Dr Abdul Rahman Bin Shraim Al Azahrani, a Saudi Sharia professor, said it was not permissible in Islam. 'Sharia does not allow women to assume such a job. During the era of the Prophet (PBUH), men were appointed as judges.'.. ..'Never during the era of the Prophet (PBUH) or his righteous companions, was a woman appointed to perform this task. No woman has been reported to have concluded the wedding contract of another woman,' he said.." [more]

Syria Slow on Saudi Invite to Summit Amid Lebanon Row [Feb 29]
"Syria has yet to invite regional powerhouse Saudi Arabia to an Arab summit in Damascus next month, an official said yesterday, as Arab League chief Amr Mussa said some member states would only attend if Lebanon's political crisis was resolved. Syria and its regional ally Iran are the main backers of the Lebanese opposition which has been at odds with the Saudi-backed Beirut government for months over the election of a new president.. ..Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem handed an invitation to HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani in Doha yesterday to attend the March 29-30 summit. The previous day he delivered an invitation in Abu Dhabi to United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahayan. It was unclear where the Syrian minister was headed next but Saudi media have made no mention of any planned visit.." [more]

Women’s Rights Group Riled by Ministry Rebuff [Feb 29]
"The founder of the Ansar Al-Marah Women’s Rights Society has condemned the Ministry of Social Affairs for denying initial approval to establish the society. The women’s rights activists in the Kingdom were eagerly anticipating the establishment of Ansar Al-Marah — the first civil society group dedicated to supporting women’s rights in the country.. ..Al-Watan newspaper yesterday reported, quoting a source at the Ministry of Social Affairs, that the ministry has not given approval to establish the society. The source claimed that authorizing such bodies is not the ministry’s responsibility. Suliman Al-Salman, the founder of the group, said not allowing this group to function is unfair. 'We need an official response from the ministry stating their reasons for this rejection,' he said.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Feb 28] ~~~~~~~~~

Saudi King Boycotting Arab Summit, Mubarak Reluctant to Go [Feb 28]
"Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz is boycotting an Arab summit due to be held in Syria next month and Egypt's President has not made up his mind yet on the conference amid a row over Lebanon's presidential crisis. Press reports, citing both Saudi and Egyptian sources, said the Saudi monarch will not attend the summit scheduled for March 29-30. They said Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, however, is likely to attend the opening session only. The sources said that Mubarak and Abdul Aziz have agreed that participation, should it take place, is to be on a low level.. ..An Arab diplomat had also said that Syria was "accusing Saudi Arabia of trying to internationalize the Lebanese crisis" by supporting the Hariri tribunal which Syria fears could pin the blame on Lebanon's eastern neighbor. Damascus believes Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal's recent tour of several Western capitals, including Washington and Paris, was aimed at speeding up the establishment of the tribunal, according to a Riyadh-based diplomat.." [more]

No Freedom For Dean of Saudi Bloggers [Feb 28]
"A top Saudi blogger who was jailed late last year remains in prison more than two months later for unspecified, non-security matters -- and there are few signs that he will be freed anytime soon.. ..Al-Farhan -- known on the Internet as the "Dean of Saudi Bloggers" -- was arrested on December 10 shortly after one of his blog entries was critical of influential Saudi religious, business and media figures. 'He is still being investigated,' Maj. Gen. Mansour al-Turki, a spokesman for the Interior Ministry, told CNN this week. Al-Farhan has yet to be charged with a crime, but under Saudi law can be held without charges for six months.." [more]

Saudi Aramco and Total Likely to Build Refinery Despite High Costs [Feb 28]
"France's Total and Saudi Aramco are likely to go ahead with plans to build a 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) refinery in the kingdom despite escalating costs, an industry source in Saudi Arabia said yesterday. The world's top oil exporter Saudi Arabia is planning four new plants as it looks to boost domestic refining capacity by as much as 1.6 million barrels per day from 2.098 million bpd. But rising costs for equipment and labour have hit the energy sector worldwide, forcing project cancellations and delays and raising industry concern about the new Saudi plants.. ..Total and Aramco would take a final investment decision on the plant in May or June.." [more]

Cumber is US Envoy to OIC [Feb 28]
"US President George W. Bush will formally announce later Wednesday that Texas entrepreneur Sada Cumber will be the first US envoy to the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the White House said. Bush, who first indicated in June 2007 that he would send an envoy to the OIC.. ..Asked why Bush's search for an envoy had taken as long as it had, Perino replied: 'He wanted to find the right person and he found that in Sada Cumber.' OIC, headquartered in Jeddah, groups 57 Muslim countries.." [more]

Saudi-Jordan Summit Talks Focus on Major Issues [Feb 28]
"The political standoff in Lebanon, the forthcoming Arab summit in Syria and the vulnerable situation in Palestine topped the agenda of the talks between Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and Jordanian King Abdullah II here yesterday. The wide-ranging talks during the several-hour visit of King Abdullah to the Saudi capital also focused on the latest developments in the Middle East region with special reference to Saudi-Jordanian relation.. ..Referring to the subjects of talks with Saudi king, the diplomat said: 'The talks between King Abdullah and Jordanian leader dealt on the chances of concluding a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians on core issues before the end of 2008 as envisaged earlier by US President George W Bush'.." [more]

Justice Ministry to Hire 2,000 New Judges [Feb 28]
"The Ministry of Justice will appoint 2,000 university graduates as judges to fill a shortage in the Kingdom’s courts, a newspaper reported yesterday. 'The ministry will select the most qualified graduates to enroll in the judiciary sector,' a ministry source told Al-Madinah newspaper, adding that the graduates would operate in the new appeal courts, which are scheduled to open in two years time as part of a project to develop the Kingdom’s judiciary. The source said the ministry would advertise the positions in the next few days.. ..In two years, on completion of a judiciary development project, the cassation courts are to be converted into appeal courts, which will be closely monitored by the Supreme Court in Riyadh. The appeal courts are designed to give people, who are unsatisfied with verdicts issued by preliminary courts, to have their rulings reviewed.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Feb 27] ~~~~~~~~~

Jordan's King Departs for Saudi Arabia for Talks [Feb 27]
" Jordan's King Abdullah II on Wednesday left for Saudi Arabia where he will hold talks with Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz on bilateral ties and means of further cementing them in various fields. According to Jordan's official news agency Petra, the talks during the several-hour visit are also expected to focus on the latest developments in the Middle East, mainly the situation in the Palestinian lands and Lebanon. Abdullah's visit to Saudi Arabia comes within his continued consultation and contacts with Arab leaders on ways of addressing challenges facing the Arab nations.. ..Later this week, Abdullah is scheduled to start a visit to the United States during which he is expected to urge the U.S. President George W. Bush to put pressure on Israel to show more cooperation in its current talks with the Palestinians.." [more]

Saudi Moves its Ambassador in Damascus to Doha [Feb 27]
"Saudi Arabia has decided to move its ambassador to Syria Ahmed Ali Qahtan to Doha in a move that reflected Riyadh's desire to lower its representation in Damascus. Arab Diplomatic sources in Damascus said the 'swift' Saudi measure was a result of the deterioration in relations between Syria and Riyadh over the Lebanese crisis.. ..Saudi Arabia recalled its ambassador from Doha in 2002 when the Al-Jazeera television network aired a debate in which participants strongly criticized the Saudi royal family, and the two neighbors often snipe at each other through their respective media.." [more]

Arab Media Code Attacks Free Speech - Group [Feb 27]
"A new Arab League charter on satellite broadcasting adopted this month amounts to a 'crude assault on free speech' that Arab governments should publicly reject, Human Rights Watch said on Wednesday. Arab governments, led by Egypt and Saudi Arabia, adopted a satellite broadcasting charter on Feb. 12 that will entrench state control over broadcasts and curtail political expression on the airwaves over a region of some 300 million people.. ..The Arab charter bans airing material seen as undermining "social peace, national unity, public order and general propriety", as well as criticising religions or defaming political, national or religious leaders. 'Many Arab states routinely use this language of 'state interests' and 'national sovereignty' as an excuse to imprison journalists and intimidate critics,' Stork said in a statement.." [more]

Most Muslims Desire Democracy [Feb 27]
"The largest survey to date of Muslims worldwide suggests the vast majority want Western democracy and freedoms, but do not want them to be imposed. The poll by Gallup of more than 50,000 Muslims in 35 nations found most wanted the West to instead focus on changing its negative view of Muslims and Islam. The huge survey began following the 11 September 2001 attacks in the US. The overwhelming majority of those asked condemned them and subsequent attacks, citing religious reasons. The poll, which claims to represent the views of 90% the world's 1.3 billion Muslims, is to be published next month as part of a book entitled Who Speaks For Islam? What A Billion Muslims Really Think.." [more]

Virtue Commission Refutes Professor’s Entrapment Claims [Feb 27]
"The head of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice in Makkah has hit back at claims that the commission conspired against a professor who was sentenced to jail for eight months and 180 lashes for being in a state of “khulwa” (seclusion) with an unrelated woman.. ..He said that Al-Sanusi’s claims that the prosecution board had returned the case to the commission saying it had not seen any evidence of khulwa and that the commission took the case directly to the General Court were incorrect. He said that the case was taken to the prosecution board, which followed all legal procedures and that the General Court found the professor guilty.." [more]

Kingdom to Take Part in Water Conference [Feb 27]
" Saudi Arabia together with several Arab countries will participate in a high-profile international conference to be hosted by Germany to find out solution for the depleting water resources in the Middle East and North Africa region. The event will be organized on the sidelines of the International Trade Fair for Water, Sewage, Reuse and Recycling (IFAT), to be held in Munich May 5-9. Addressing a press conference here on Sunday, Eugen Egetenmeir, deputy managing director of Messe Munchen International (Munich Trade Fairs International Company), said here yesterday that IFAT is the most important environmental trade fair in the world.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Feb 26] ~~~~~~~~~

Saudis Move to Stem University Radicals [Feb 26]
"Saudi Arabia has taken an unprecedented step to curb radicalisation among its university students in Australia by ensuring its pupils make up less than 1per cent of any campus. The move is a marked turnaround from past initiatives by the Saudi Government, including allegedly bankrolling hardline Muslim clerics, such as Canberra-based Mohammed Swaiti who openly praised jihadists; and pumping an estimated $120 million into the local Islamic community since the 1970s to influence its ideological bent. Muslim leaders yesterday backed the move by the Saudi embassy's cultural mission, which is responsible for the nation's students in Australia.. ..'Radicalisation is already taking place in this country,' Mr Ali told The Australian. 'This (influx) will add to the momentum of radicalisation.' 'So I think it's a good measure by the cultural mission not to allow them to congregate in one place because they are coming from a very orthodox, conservative Islamic background. It's better to scatter them, so that they can acclimatise to the general environment of this country and mix with the other students'.." [more]

Saudi Arabia's Sovereign Ratings Raised [Feb 26]
"Capital Intelligence, the international rating agency, today announced that it has raised Saudi Arabia's long-term foreign currency and local currency ratings to AA- from A+ and its short-term foreign- and local-currency ratings to A1+ from A1. The outlook for Saudi Arabia's ratings is stable. The upgrade reflects the continued strengthening of the public and external finances along with improved prospects for faster economic growth over the medium to long term. As the world's largest producer and exporter of crude oil, Saudi Arabia has benefited greatly from the upward movement in oil prices over the past five years.." [more]

Industrialists Welcome Saudi Ministry Decision [Feb 26]
"Saudi industrialists have welcomed the Ministry of Labour decision reducing Saudisation quotas at manufacturing industries from 30 to 20 per cent. The decision also grants incentives with regard to recruiting foreign manpower in this sector. It stipulates that the quota of Saudis working in these factories should never be less than 15 per cent in the first two years of operation, or three years from the date of granting licence to the factory. 'The decision is an encouraging measure for increasing the productivity of this sector which constitutes 80 per cent of the volume of Saudi industry'.." [more]

Opec Set to Fine-tune Oil Output to Match Demand [Feb 26]
"A seasonal drop in demand will lead Opec to curb oil shipments unofficially in the short term, even if it leaves its formal target alone, officials from producer nations and executives said. Oil at near $100 a barrel has piled the pressure on the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to refrain from cutting output when it meets in Vienna March 5.. ..But demand in April and May was expected to fall because of refinery maintenance in Asia which receives more than half of the crude exports from top Opec producer Saudi Arabia. Some producers especially in the Gulf will have to trim back only because customers are in turnaround and can't take it, the oil executive said. Ministers have said repeatedly they respond to fundamentals of supply and demand. Pumping more oil when the market does not require it will not offset the speculative buying they say has been largely responsible for inflated prices.." [more]

Academic Gets Jail, Lashing for Illegal Seclusion with Girl [Feb 26]
"The General Court here sentenced a prominent academic to eight months in prison and 180 lashes after he was found guilty of being in illegal seclusion with a girl. Staffers of the Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice had caught the academic with the girl in a café. The academic's lawyer Abdullah Al-Sanousi claimed his client was framed and appealed to the National Human Rights Association and National Human Rights Society to back his plea for reviewing the case.. ..According to Al-Sanousi, his client had drawn the ire of some of the Commission's staffers for speaking at length during a training course about how important it was for them to deal nicely with the public.." [more]

Saudi Arabia Plans Big Hike in Refining Capacity by 2013 [Feb 26]
"Saudi Aramco plans to go ahead with three new refineries that may not all reach full capacity until 2013, a company official said today. Aramco will add 400,000 barrel-a-day refineries in Ras Tanura, Yanbu and Jubail, taking Saudi Arabia's total refining capacity to 3.29 million barrels a day, Mahdi al-Adel, Senior Manufacturing and Planning Engineer at the existing Ras Tanura refinery, said at a conference in Abu Dhabi. 'Ras Tanura is expected on stream in December 2012,'' al-Adel said after the event, clarifying his presentation and correcting his earlier statement that the refinery may be delayed until as late as 2014. "It may take a month or two to reach full capacity, so we can comfortably say that Saudi Arabia's new capacity will all be on stream in 2013.' Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil producer, is planning to raise refining capacity by 50% to provide fuel oil and gasoline for soaring local demand, and benefit from exporting high-value oil products.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Feb 25] ~~~~~~~~~

Saudi Arabia Brings Down Job Quota for its Nationals  [Feb 25]
"Inability to find local workers has forced Saudi Arabia to reduce the job quota for its nationals in certain sectors. Jobs reserved for Saudis have been reduced from 30 per cent to 20 per cent in industries like foodstuffs, beverages, textiles, readymade garments, shoes, furniture and paper. The decision taken last week by the Saudi Minister of Labour Ghazi Al-Gosaibi also requires that the quota of Saudis working in these factories does not fall below 15 per cent in the first two years of operation, or three years from the date of licensing.. ..'Saudization is a national demand, I agree, but dealing with unqualified Saudi labour in a downstream industrial project can be costly,'.." [more]

Dropping Gulf Dollar Peg Would Ease Inflation: Greenspan [Feb 25]
"Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan said on Monday near-record Gulf Arab inflation would fall 'significantly' were the oil producers to drop their dollar pegs, in contradiction to Saudi policy. The pegs restrict the Gulf's ability to fight inflation by forcing them to shadow U.S. monetary policy at a time when the Fed is cutting rates to ward off recession and Gulf economies are surging on a near five-fold jump in oil prices since 2002.. ..'In the short term free floating ... will not fully dissipate inflationary pressure, although it would significantly do so,' Greenspan told an investment conference in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia's second-largest city.." [more]

Saudi Arabia, France Sign Cooperation Agreement to Combat Terrorism, Money Laundering [Feb 25]
"Interior ministers of Saudi Arabia and France have signed a security agreement to combat terrorism, the official news agency reported Monday, amid the European country's efforts to take a higher profile in the Middle East. Saudi Interior Minster Prince Nayef bin Abdel Aziz and visiting French Interior Minister Michele Alliot-Marie signed the agreement after brief discussions Sunday night.. ..France has long-standing military cooperation accords with other countries in the Persian Gulf region, including the United Arab Emirates and Qatar and a little over a month after becoming one of the first Western countries other than the U.S. to have a base in the Persian Gulf region.." [more]

WTO Integrates KSA in World – Turki [Feb 25]
"Throughout history, the Mideast has been of great economic and cultural importance, Prince Turki told the JEF 2008. Now as a member of the WTO with a powerful economy, the Kingdom has again become a major cog in the world economy, opening its doors to international investment to foster development and communication, he said.. ..Segueing to other aspects of his chosen theme, Al-Faisal stressed the importance of economic growth in the Arab world, in particular, that of Saudi Arabia. 'Economic growth in all sectors of the economy is vital,' he said, 'as it creates more opportunities on various fronts. Saudi Arabia is open for business across the board, not just in the oil sector.'.." [more]

Businessmen Sign $417 mln in Saudi Deals [Feb 25]
"A delegation from the All Industrialists and Businessmen's Association (TÜMSİAD) signed $417 million in trade agreements during a visit to Saudi Arabia last week. Önder Matlı, president of TÜMSİAD's Bursa branch, said they had completed several deals and that the visit had proved more fruitful than they had expected. He noted that 33 members participated in the business trip, which aimed to establish trade channels and cooperation.. ..The delegation signed an agreement with the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Turkish businessmen in the delegation signed agreements worth nearly $417 million with various Saudi companies. Matlı said the visit also paved the way for further business and trade deals and cooperation.." [more]

Saudi Leads Gulf Losers [Feb 25]
"Shares in Saudi Arabia, the Gulf's largest stock market, closed lower yesterday, reversing an eight-session winning streak that saw it add 17%.. ..Saudi shares were down 2.1% to 10121.23 at close, led by Saudi Electricity, down 4.8% at 14.75 riyals and Saudi Basic Industries Corp, or Sabic, down 3.3% at 177.75 riyals. Investors are booking gains after the market closed higher in the last eight straight sessions.." [more]

Breast Cancer Alarm Prompts Saudi-US Course for the Cure [Feb 25]
"Every woman after 40 years must be screened for early breast cancer detection (mammogram), as the incidence rate of this dreaded disease appeared to be alarmingly high in Saudi Arabia, said Dr. Yousef A. Al-Jehani, member of Saudi Cancer Society (SCS).. ..Dr. Al-Jehani was speaking at a press conference in Riyadh Saturday held at King Fahd Medical City to announce the launch of Course for the Cure, which is considered as the milestone of the US-Middle East Partnership for Breast Cancer Awareness and Research in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi-US Partnership that unites leading breast cancer advocates from Saudi Arabia and the US to reduce breast cancer incidence and increase early detection of the disease, came as a result of high-level government contacts both in Saudi Arabia and the US including King Abdullah, Princess Hessa Bint Tarrad Al-Sha'lan and Prince Faisal Bin Abdullah, (honorary SCS president) and Laura Bush (US First Lady).." [more]

Abdullah Welcomes Mubarak [Feb 25]
"Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah held wide-ranging talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Riyadh yesterday to discuss their positions on a range of bilateral and regional issues, including the next Arab Summit to be held in Damascus, Syria, on March 29-30. The talks primarily focused on Lebanon’s political standoff, the siege imposed on the Palestinian people and the continuing Israeli aggression.. ..'By deciding their level of participation in the summit, both regional powers — Saudi Arabia and Egypt — are setting the tone for many Arab countries, which are likely to follow suit,' said a report published in Al-Riyadh Arabic daily yesterday. 'Ahead of his visit to Riyadh, Mubarak stressed the importance of his alliance with Saudi Arabia and the Saudi people,' said the report.." [more]

Women Take 58% Seats in Universities, Says Anqari [Feb 25]
"Fifty-eight percent of students in higher education departments of Saudi universities are now women, Higher Education Minister Dr. Khaled Al-Anqari stated yesterday. 'This is a record rate for women’s higher education in the region. Forty years ago Saudi women had no opportunity to conduct post-graduate studies within the country,' the minister said, speaking to reporters after signing an agreement on an executive program for higher education with his Egyptian counterpart Dr. Hani Mahfouz Hilal. Al-Anqari also said that there was considerable increase in the number of Saudi girls in all levels of education. He attributed this increase to rising awareness and progress in education in the country.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Feb 24] ~~~~~~~~~

FPCCI President to Lead Trade Team to Saudi Arabia [Feb 24]
"FPCCI President Tanvir Ahmad Sheikh would lead a trade delegation to Saudi Arabia to attend the Pak Saudi Investment Conference and Seminar being organised by Investment Division and Board of Investment of Pakistan with the coordination of Embassy and Consulate General of Pakistan in Riyadh and Jeddah, Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Council of Saudi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.. ..The purpose of the investment conference is to promote Pakistan’s economic policies to generate Saudi investment in various economic sectors.." [more]

Saudi 2008 Inflation Unlikely to Fall [Feb 24]
"Inflation in Saudi Arabia, which hit at least a 27-year high last month, is unlikely to fall this year as a housing shortage spurs rent rises and government spending causes bottlenecks, the central bank deputy chief said. Revaluing the Saudi riyal, which has been fixed to the dollar at the same rate for 22 years, would not necessarily help reduce inflation because the imported element in limited, Muhammad Al Jasser, Vice Governor of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency told Reuters in Dubai on Sunday. Annual inflation in the world's largest oil exporter rose to 7 percent in January, its highest since at least 1981. Rents jumped almost 17 percent.." [more]

Cut to Saudi Benchmark Lending Rate Doubtful [Feb 24]
"The Saudi central bank is unlikely to cut its repurchase rate, the benchmark lending rate, in response to further easing by the US Federal Reserve as it seeks to stem money supply growth, the vice governor said. With its riyal pegged to the dollar, the world's largest oil exporter has been striving to track US monetary policy as the Federal Reserve slashes interest rates to help ward off recession while the Saudi economy surges.. ..The central bank has soaked up liquidity by raising reserve requirements twice since November to force lenders to keep more money in their vaults in a bid to slow down credit growth, another trigger of inflation. Its reverse repurchase facility 'is also mopping up some liquidity', Al Jasser said, without giving details.." [more]

Saudi Minister Meets US Business Leaders [Feb 24]
"The Governor of the Saudi Arabia General Investment Authority (SAGIA) His Excellency Amr Al Dabbagh was joined in Boston this week by Massachusetts State Treasurer Tim Cahill and a dozen academic and business leaders to discuss cooperation and business opportunities between Saudi Arabia and the US. The meeting was hosted by Bruce Fenton, President of Atlantic Financial Inc., an investment company that focuses on the Middle East region. Governor Dabbagh highlighted SAGIA’s construction of six economic super cities and discussed the many economic incentives available to US based companies who might be interested in business opportunities in Saudi Arabia.. ..Governor Dabbagh highlighted the desire for Saudi corporations to draw on the expertise of US firms and the 
ways in which Saudi Arabia can benefit US companies as consumers and as a source of consumption, capital and a gateway to the region.." [more]

Petrochemical Firms Pace Rise in Saudi Shares as Oil Prices Surge [Feb 24]
"Saudi Arabian stocks gained for the eighth straight trading session, led by Saudi Kayan Petrochemical Co and Yanbu National Petrochemicals Co as energy companies benefited from this week's record oil price. The Tadawul All Share Index rose 2.1% to close at 10336.06, the highest since January 21. The oil prices soared to $100 a barrel this week, which forced investors' confidence in the local economy and in the performance of Saudi companies, particularly in the petrochemical sector, Bakheet Investment Group said in a weekly report posted on its website after the close of trading on Wednesday.." [more]

Saudis Pull Out 18b Riyals in Investment From Lebanon [Feb 24]
"Businessmen have revealed that Saudi investments worth more than 18 billion Saudi riyals have been withdrawn from Lebanon. At the same time, the number of Lebanese been recruited to work in the kingdom has also come down, they said in a statement.. ..He attributed this to what he called 'the fallback in the confidence of the future of the Lebanese economy' following the escalation of the political crisis and lack of security. He noted that the deteriorating situation in Lebanon has caused frustration among investors.. ..Observers are expecting the number of Saudis travelling to Lebanon to come down sharply due to the security situation in Lebanon.." [more]

Justice Ministry to Appoint Spokesperson in Wake of Qatif Girl Case [Feb 24]
"Ministry of Justice will soon be more accessible to the media. A source at the ministry said it is planning to appoint an official spokesperson to preempt rumors.. ..The source said the idea of nominating a spokesperson came up after the media outcry over what has come to be known as the Qatif Girl.. ..The source said that following the upheaval triggered by the case, the Ministry is leaning towards appointing an official spokesperson to nip rumors and "fabricated" Ministry news in the bud.." [more]

SIHS Sends First Group of Students for US Training [Feb 24]
"The Saudi Institute for Health Services (SIHS) announced yesterday that a first batch of Saudi medical students have joined Miami Dade College in the United States under a partnership deal signed by the two institutions in 2007. SIHS is a non-profit organization established five years ago with the aim of guiding Saudi youth toward better employment opportunities in health care. “This is done by offering invaluable educational and medical training for high school graduates in Jeddah,” said a statement issued by the institute. SIHS currently provides four intensive medical programs including optometry, radiology, nursing and health administration, delivered by highly committed and qualified staff.." [more]

Blogger’s Family Urges Authorities to Allow Prison Visits [Feb 24]
"The family members of the detained Saudi blogger Fouad Al-Farhan said yesterday that although Saudi authorities allowed Al-Farhan for the first time to make a telephone call from Jeddah’s Dahban Prison on Feb. 12 they would still like to continue to visit him.. ..Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki, spokesman for the Interior Ministry, told Arab News earlier this month that there is no update on the Al-Farhan case other than the ministry’s previous statement that the blogger was being held for 'interrogation for violating non-security regulations.' Al-Turki would not clarify exactly why Al-Farhan was being held and whether it was in connection with his blog www.alfarhan.org. Al-Turki was unavailable for comment yesterday.." [more]

Feb 17 - Feb 23, 2008

~~~~~~~~ [ Feb 23] ~~~~~~~~~

Mubarak to Visit Saudi in Run-up to Arab Summit [Feb 23]
"Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak travels to Saudi Arabia on Sunday for talks with King Abdullah on an Arab summit due to take place in Syria next month, his office said on Saturday. Oil powerhouse Saudi Arabia, which hosted the annual summit in 2007, has not yet received a formal invitation from Syria to attend the March 29-30 forum amid tensions between the two countries over Lebanon's presidential crisis.. ..Arab analysts and recent media reports have suggested that Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Arab countries may boycott the Damascus summit or send low-level delegates.." [more]

Businesses Fear Impact of Inflation [Feb 23]
"Nearly half of firms surveyed in Saudi Arabia last month expected inflation to have a negative impact on their business and a third said they would pass on higher costs, SABB bank said. In the survey, which showed high business confidence, more than a third of respondents said they expected Saudi Arabia, facing record inflation in December, to revalue its US dollar-pegged riyal by the end of September, the bank said. Saudi Arabia's dollar peg limits its ability to fight inflation, which hit 7% in January.. ..The US economy is slowing but Saudi Arabia's is growing due to a five-fold increase in oil prices over the past six years. Some 48% of 609 respondents said they expected inflation to harm their businesses and 33% said they would pass on higher costs to end-users through higher prices.." [more]

Saudi Men Arrested for Flirting [Feb 23]
"Prosecutors in Saudi Arabia have begun investigating 57 young men who were arrested on Thursday for flirting with girls at shopping centres in Mecca. The men are accused of wearing indecent clothes, playing loud music and dancing in order to attract the attention of girls, the Saudi Gazette reported. They were arrested following a request of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice. The mutaween enforce Saudi Arabia's conservative brand of Islam, Wahhabism.. ..The guardians of some of the men defended their actions, however, saying they would regularly get together at the weekend to have fun without ever violating laws governing the segregation of the sexes.." [more]

Women Want Women Muftis [Feb 23]
"Saudi women who find it embarrassing to seek a fatwa (religious ruling) on private matters are calling for appointing female mufti specialized in women's affairs. A fatwa is a formal legal opinion or religious decree issued by an Islamic scholar (mufti) recognized by the State. 'In many cases women find it embarrassing to seek clarification about matters and issues dealing with their day-to-day life,' Haifa Al-Kharboosh, a lecturer in Shariah (Islamic law) told the Arabic daily Al-Watan. Hence it is preferable that a knowledgeable woman in Shariah be assigned to reply to their questions," she said. There are several women licensed for different recitations of the Holy Qur'an and Al-Kharboosh wondered what prevented them from being accredited in Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence)?.." [more]

Private Sector Must Employ More Women [Feb 23]
"With 106,000 unemployed Saudi women actively seeking employment, 65 percent of them holding university degrees, Deputy Minister of Labor Abdul Wahim Al-Homaid said recently that the private sector should act more quickly to find places for these qualified workers. Al-Homaid also conceded that a proposal to place Saudi women in shops selling lingerie and other products targeting women (to replace expatriate men) has been a failure so far.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Feb 22] ~~~~~~~~~

Fourth Saudi Airlift Relief Plane Leaves for Tajikistan [Feb 22]
"In implementation of the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to provide urgent relief aid to afflicted people in Tajikistan and a grant of $ 10 million as a result of severe cold and snow, the fourth Saudi airlift relief plane left Riyadh Airbase Airport for Tajikistan today.  The plane carried 7.5 tons of relief materials including foodstuffs, blankets and rugs.." [more]

The Gulf States - Annual Report 2008 [Feb 22]
"The Gulf states are a pillar of US policy in the Middle East and in the present decade have moved towards political and economic liberalisation. The changes include the media, which is less restricted than before, but things have a long way to go.. ..The reforms begun in Saudi Arabia have had a good effect on both society and the media, according to many Saudi journalists. The royal family and religion still cannot be criticised, but the media’s margin for manoeuvre has significantly increased. Newspaper editors are still under pressure to avoid discussing the country’s international relations or national security. When 'mistakes' are made, they are usually encouraged to dismiss the journalists considered to be 'disrespectful' by the regime. Two journalists of the daily Al-Wakt in Bahrain were summoned by the authorities in January for referring to 'Bandargate,' a political scandal involving the royal family and regime officials that has been a forbidden topic since 2006.." [more]

Saudi Hip-Hop's Painful Birth [Feb 22]
"For many years, the members of the Saudi hip-hop group Dark2Men performed mostly in living rooms for their friends. They hid their pastime from relatives who view singing and dancing as shameful in this strict Muslim kingdom where concerts, theaters and movies are banned. But that all changed last month after the group auditioned for a hip-hop competition on MTV Arabia -- launched in November as the latest addition to the MTV network -- and became one of eight finalists from the Middle East.. ..In a kingdom where the Koran serves as the constitution, Dark2Men's rapid ascent from obscurity to the waiting room of pop fame has brought its three young members a mix of elation and misery.." [more]

Arabs and South Americans Want Energy Cooperation [Feb 22]
"Arab and South American governments are prepared to join forces in the energy sector. The theme deserved several paragraphs in the Buenos Aires Declaration, the document published at the end of the meeting of foreign ministers of both regions, which ended yesterday (21) in the Argentine capital.. ..During the meeting it was agreed that the next summit of heads of state of both regions should take place in the second half of this year in Doha, the capital of Qatar. The meeting in Buenos Aires included representatives of the 34 Arab and South American nations, many of them ministers, including Saudi Foreign Minister and prince Saud Al-Faisal, the secretary general at the League of Arab States, Amr Mussa, and the minister of Foreign Relations of Brazil, Celso Amorim.." [more]

Saudi Mulls Prudent Steps to Tame Inflation [Feb 22]
"Saudi Arabia, which pegs its currency to the dollar, said it will act with prudence when considering what measures to take to tackle inflation. The inflation surged to a record in December on higher rent and food costs. Saudi Arabia will 'deal with the matter with wisdom and prudence, and not surrender to superficially easy solutions,' Saudi central bank governor Hamad Al Sayyari said yesterday. 'Easy solutions can be catastrophic in the long term,'.. ..Saudi Arabia has held back from revaluing its currency or dropping the dollar peg that forces it to track the US in lowering interest rates to maintain the relative value of its riyal. Whilst the US economy is slowing, Saudi Arabia's is surging on a five-fold increase in oil prices during the last six years, causing bottlenecks and accelerated price rises. 'Many commentators blame the exchange rate and speak as if the matter is simple, as if de-pegging the riyal's link to the dollar would solve the problem of inflation,' Al Sayyari said. 'The truth is that the subject is far more complicated than that ... the impact of the exchange on local prices is limited.'.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Feb 21] ~~~~~~~~~

Saudi Officials: Lebanon Crisis Putting at Risk Arab Summit in Damascus [Feb 21]
"Lebanon's political crisis has further damaged relations between Damascus and Riyadh, putting at risk next month's Arab summit in Damascus, Arab officials in Riyadh warned on Thursday. 'There is a crisis in ties with the Syrian government, with Lebanon the main reason,' a Saudi official told AFP. "Damascus has not joined in efforts, including the Arab initiative, to elect a consensus president" in Lebanon.. ..The Arab League proposal calls for the election of army chief General Michel Suleiman as consensus president, followed by the formation of a national unity government in which no single party has veto power, and a new electoral law.." [more]

Saudi Arabia Says Arabs Likely to Reconsider Mideast Peace Process [Feb 21]
"Saudi Arabia said Wednesday that Arab states would reconsider their stance if Israel continued its inaction of implementing the Annapolis deal reached last year. Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal, who was attending a South America-Arab foreign ministers meeting in the Argentine capital, said Arab countries have taken active actions to support the Mideast peace process in a bid to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace with Israel. However, the Arab world would scale back support for the Annapolis deal if Israel continued its settlement expansion in the West Bank.." [more]

Poly Proceeding With Partnership With Saudi College Despite Human Rights Concerns [Feb 21]
"Cal Poly is moving ahead with a multimillion-dollar partnership with a Saudi Arabian college, even as the plan has drawn ire from some professors and others because of that nation’s human rights record. Critics of the proposed collaboration — for which Cal Poly would get $6 million to help design new engineering programs abroad — say that qualified local faculty members could be shut out because of discriminatory Saudi policies.. ..But in discussions on campus and with The Tribune, Cal Poly officials deny that any bias would take place in the five-year partnership with University College of Jubail, a city on the Persian Gulf coast of Saudi Arabia. 'There is no intention on our part to exclude anybody,' said Bill Durgin, Cal Poly’s provost. 'Anybody who wants to participate will have the opportunity to do so.' Under the program, about a dozen Cal Poly faculty members would design curriculum, laboratories and admission requirements, among other duties. They would also help hire and train Saudi instructors.." [more]

Aramco Allots $45b for Expansion [Feb 21]
"Saudi Aramco announced on Wednesday that $45 billion has been allocated to carry out the company's expansion plan, adding that it would increase oil output to 12 million barrels a day next year from the current 9.6 mbd.The expansion plan calls for incorporation of five new oil production mega projects representing an increase in crude oil production capacity by 3 million barrels per day. Aramco said the cost that does include the company's joint projects in the area of refining and petrochemical processing which are valued at about $35 billion. These projects are the largest in Aramco's history and include Al-Kharasaniyah project which has a capacity of 500,000 barrels per day, Al-Shaibah project with a capacity of 250,000 barrels per day, Al-Naim, which will produce 100,000 barrels per day, Khurais, at 1.2 million barrels per day and Manifa, at 900,000 barrels per day.." [more]

Saudi Women Will Not Be Flight Attendants [Feb 21]
"Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAA), the kingdom's national carrier, has ruled out any plans to hire Saudi women as flight attendants, ending a long controversy about employing Saudi women on-board its fleet. The national carrier said that such jobs are inconsistent with Saudi society. At the same time, SAA said that it is planning to hire Saudi women at ticket sales centres adding this will begin initially at the airline's headquarters in Jeddah.. ..In 2006 SAA announced that it intended to recruit more women in line with the government's policy to increase job opportunities for Saudi women, while respecting religious teachings.." [more]

Education Fair Shuts Out Women [Feb 21]
"Twelve Australian universities are being showcased to the Saudi public in a three-city tour. Around 1,200 Saudis have visited the exhibition, which was held in Al-Khobar and Riyadh.. ..While 1,200 visited the university fair so far, women were excluded from the event. 'Women are not allowed, security guards at the Marriott Hotel told Saudi women interested in attending the fair. After being turned back by security guards, around a dozen young Saudi women gathered at the lobby of the Marriott hotel where the event was taking place. 'Due to our limited budget, we couldn't open a separate section for female visitors,' Nimrawi told Saudi Gazette. 'We try to attend to their needs in the lobby of the hotel.' However, this didn't play well with some of the female visitors.." [more]

Women Driving Is Not in Conflict With Religion: Scholars [Feb 21]
"A well-regarded Saudi religious scholar said that there is nothing in Islamic law that bans women from driving and that the fatwas issued in this regard are based on individual judgments. 'In principle women driving is permitted in Islam,' said Sheikh Abdul Mohsen Al-Obaikan, a member of the Kingdom’s Council of Senior Islamic Scholars. The ban, he said, has to do with the social complications rather than the act itself.. ..Fawzeyah Al-Oyouni, a woman’s rights and human rights activist, said that most people agree that Islam doesn’t forbid women from driving. The problem, she says, is that the government isn’t moving fast enough to implement the necessary actions to open the way for a smooth transition toward allowing women to drive. The Saudi government has pointed out that there is no law that states women cannot drive.." [more]

Inflation Jumps Above 6% in 5 Saudi Cities [Feb 21]
"Consumer prices in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, and four other cities topped 6 percent in the fourth quarter, growing faster than the average of 16 cities, as food, rent and utility costs surged, official data showed. Saudi Arabia’s dollar peg means its ability to fight inflation — which hit a record 6.5 percent in December — is limited because it has to mirror US interest rates at a time when the United States is lowering them to ward off recession.. ..Inflation last year averaged 4.1 percent, a 12-year high. Average inflation in the prior five years was just 0.8 percent. Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil exporter, pegs its currency to the dollar, which declined almost 11 percent last year against the euro.." [more]

King OKs Rail Link Between Holy Cities [Feb 21]
"Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has ordered the implementation of the Makkah-Jeddah-Madinah railway project using Saudi local funds, Transport Minister Dr. Jabara Al-Seraisry announced yesterday. He said the royal directive would speed up the implementation of the project known as Makkah-Madinah Rail Link (MMRL), which is estimated to cost SR20 billion ($5.33 billion) and bring about revolutionary changes in the transportation of pilgrims between the two holy cities.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Feb 20] ~~~~~~~~~

Saudi Arabia Confident of Meeting Expansion Target [Feb 20]
"Top world oil exporter Saudi Arabia is confident it will reach a target to lift crude oil output capacity, a top executive from the country's state oil firm said on Monday. Saudi Arabia holds the world's largest oil reserves and is expanding supply capacity to meet rising world demand at a time when higher costs are leading to delays and cancellations across the oil and gas industry. State oil firm Saudi Aramco aims to lift supply capacity to 12 million barrels per day, enough to meet 14 per cent of current world demand, by the end of 2009.." [more]

Saudi Muttawa Hits Back on Arrest of Businesswoman [Feb 20]
"A Saudi Arabian commission hit back yesterday at critics of their arrest of a businesswoman in a Starbucks cafe for mixing with a male colleague, threatening to sue a journalist. The powerful Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice charged the Saudi woman was making “suspicious gestures while in the man's company and broke the law on several counts.. ..the 5,000-strong Muttawa accused Yara of violating both the law and Islamic tenets by flying unaccompanied from Jeddah to Riyadh and sitting alone with an unrelated man in a public place in a section reserved for families. Muttawa said its members went to the coffee shop after receiving information that the woman did not have her head covered and was wearing make-up.." [more]

KSA to Recruit Cuban Doctors [Feb 20]
"The Ministry of Health is reportedly planning to recruit senior doctors from Cuba because of difficulties in recruiting from countries that have been traditionally supplying qualified medical staff to Saudi Arabia. Dr. Obied Al-Obied, undersecretary at the Ministry of Health for Planning and Development, revealed to Al-Madina Arabic daily the Cuba option. The ministry has been mainly recruiting doctors from Arab countries like Egypt, Sudan, Tunis and Syria in addition to some other Islamic countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh and also from friendly countries such as India. In the past few years, however, the ministry had been facing some difficulties in recruiting doctors because of both stiff international competition and improvement of the standard of living in these countries.." [more]

US Visas From Dhahran Starting May [Feb 20]
"At the US Consulate’s Presidents’ Day reception on Monday evening, US Ambassador Ford M. Fraker announced that the US Consulate in Dhahran will open for full visa services from May 3.. ..'I am extremely pleased we are opening full non-immigrant visa services in Dhahran,' Fraker said. 'This action demonstrates the high value the United States places on our relationship with Saudi Arabia and the historical importance of the Eastern Province to American and Saudi friendship. We expect that this step will facilitate business and tourism and will allow greater numbers of Saudi students to study in the United States.'.." [more]

Saudi Bribery Cases Surge, Despite Crackdown [Feb 20]
"Corruption and bribery cases continue to increase in Saudi Arabia, despite legislative efforts to fight the practice.. ..Saudi anti-corruption laws stipulate severe punishment against those who receive bribes, stating that employees who accept gifts or promises to perform any duties face 10 years imprisonment or fines of up to one million riyals ($267,000). The government report follows the 2007 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), published in September by anti-corruption coalition Transparency International, which placed Saudi Arabia as the most corrupt Gulf country with a score of 3.4.." [more]

IPO Attracts More Than Five Million Investors [Feb 20]
"The initial public offer of shares in Saudi Arabia’s newest cellular licensee, Saudi Zain, attracted more than five million investors and was 151% oversubscribed. 5.05 million investors purchased 952 million shares worth a total of SAR9.52billion (USD2.5 billion), reported Arab News. Saudi Zain (originally known as Saudi MTC) won an auction for Saudi Arabia's third national mobile licence in March 2007, beating off competition from the likes of Orascom Telecom (Egypt), MTN (South Africa), Turkcell (Turkey), Oger Telecom (UAE), Reliance (India), Bharti (India), MTNL (India) and Digicel (Jamaica) with its winning bid of SAR22.91 billion (USD6.11 billion).." [more]

Oil Price Surges to More Than $101 a Barrel [Feb 20]
"Oil prices have surged to more than $101 after fears that Opec nations will reduce output. In New York, light sweet crude oil finished trading on Tuesday at $101.01 a barrel, a rise of $4.51 on the day. Opec producers are due to meet on March 5 but analysts are predicting they will cut oil production because of the slowdown in the US economy.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Feb 19] ~~~~~~~~~

Saudi To Hold First Official Film Contest in May [Feb 19]
"Ultra-conservative Saudi Arabia, where movie theatres are banned, will hold its first official film festival in May, a newspaper reported Tuesday. There have been smaller and informal movie screenings in recent years but the contest, to be underwritten by the government, will mark the first time film critics from the region will be invited to take part, the Arab News said. The planned annual event will start on May 20 and is organised by a literary club based in the eastern city of Dammam and the Saudi Society of Arts and Culture, the English-language paper said. Quoting poet Ahmad al-Mulla, a board member of the Dammam Literary Club, the paper said the five-day contest will feature Saudi and other Gulf and Arab movies of various genres.." [more]

Cabinet Condemns Israel for Aborting Chance for Peace [Feb 19]
"The Council of Ministers on Monday said Israel was aborting any chance for peace by announcing its plans to go ahead and build new settlements in occupied East Jerusalem. The Council reiterated its condemnation of Israel's continued military escalation and aggression against the Palestinians, and its ceaseless killing of innocent people. The Council noted in particular Israel's aggression against Al-Breij Camp in the heart of the Gaza Strip, which destroyed lives and property, SPA said. King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, presided over the session Monday afternoon at his residence in Rawdhat Khuraim. The Council appealed to the United States and the international community to stop the continuing Israeli aggression and give a push to the Middle East peace process.." [more]

Cabinet Ratifies UN Protocol on Illicit Weapons [Feb 19]
"Saudi Arabia yesterday ratified the UN protocol against illicit manufacturing of, and trafficking in, firearms, their parts and components and ammunition. A meeting of the Council of Ministers, chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, made the decision to ratify the firearms protocol. Countries that ratify the protocol must adopt a series of crime control measures in order to prevent illegal manufacturing of, or trafficking in, firearms on the basis of the protocol requirements.. ..The objective of the protocol is to promote, facilitate and strengthen cooperation among states in preventing, combating and eradicating the illicit manufacturing of, and trafficking in, firearms, their parts and components and ammunition.." [more]

Virtue Commission Defends Arrest of Businesswoman [Feb 19]
"The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice yesterday defended its action against the Jeddah-based businesswoman Yara earlier this month, saying she violated Saudi regulations and Islamic law. 'The Ministry of Labor does not approve mixing of men and women at work places. So it’s both a violation of the country’s law and the Shariah,' the commission said in a statement carried by Sabq.org Internet portal. In its first reaction to the arrest of Yara, a mother of three, in Riyadh on Feb. 4 by its officials, the commission also said that it reserved the right to take legal action against columnist Abdullah Al-Alami for accusing its officials of abducting the woman.. ..There was public outcry in the Kingdom and around the globe at the highhandedness of the commission members.." [more]

Saudi Arabia, Luxembourg to Form Business Forum [Feb 19]
"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Luxembourg will soon form a business council to promote bilateral trade between the two countries, Abdul Rahman Al-Jeraisy, chairman of the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry told Arab News yesterday, following his talks with Prince Guillaume, crown prince of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg who is currently visiting the Kingdom. The prince, who is leading a 30-member trade delegation including Jeannot KRECKE, minister of economy and foreign trade, met a number of key Saudi officials during his visit.." [more]

Saudi Ministry Admits Some Imams Lack Qualifications [Feb 19]
"An official at the Saudi ministry of Islamic affairs ruled out accusations that prayer imams and preachers in Saudi Arabia are not concerned in their sermons with the daily social life of citizens. Dr Tawfeeq Al Sudairy, undersecretary of the Saudi ministry of Islamic affairs, described as 'individual behaviour and not a phenomena' the use of mosques' Friday sermons for promoting certain ideologies.. ..Meanwhile, the Ministry has admitted that some of its mosques imams (prayer leaders) and preachers lack qualifications that enable them to promote the role of mosques.." [more]

Saudi or Expat, We Want Qualified Staff [Feb 19]
"Difficulties in obtaining visas for foreign workers and finding qualified Saudi personnel are the main problems businesswomen here face. They addressed their problems to Deputy Minister of Labor Dr. Abdulwahed Al-Hameed during a closed circuit meeting at the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI), Monday morning. "I have applied 10 times in the past two years for visas for interior designers and decorators without any results," said Daliyah Al-Get. Women with businesses in education and training complained of the legislation that prohibits them from recruiting trainers from abroad. 'We are not permitted to employ from abroad'.. ..'There are not enough qualified Saudi women in the market to fill our needs,' she said. 'Yes, there are many graduates but they lack experience.' Huda Al-Jeraisy, RCCI member who owns a computer-training institute, agreed. 'The problem is that we do not have Saudi females graduating with bachelors in Computer Science,' she said. 'They all have diplomas which does not meet the Ministry's requirements for holding such positions.' The businesswomen suggested that they be allowed to employ expatriate women who are in the Kingdom as dependents - under their husbands' sponsorship and not on job visas.." [more]

Saudis to Hire Over 2 Million Domestic Workers in 10 Years [Feb 19]
"Experts estimate that during the next 10 years Saudi Arabia will recruit more than two million domestic servants to work in different parts of the country, Al-Eqtisadiah newspaper reported yesterday. Walid Al-Suwaidan, director of the Recruiting Offices Committee in the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Riyadh, said that the Saudi labor market would receive two million domestic servants of various nationalities over the next 10 years. The annual figure is expected to between 250,000 and 300,000.. ..He called on people to give up hiring unnecessary domestic helpers and those who hire maids purely for prestige not to do so. Many families recruit maids from abroad without any actual need for them.." [more]

Italy to Help Establish Biomedical Institute [Feb 19]
"Saudi Arabia and Italy have set out a new vision for bilateral relations in the field of education and culture following the launch of a joint initiative to help 300 Saudi students enroll in Italian institutions this year.'A total of 150 students will go to Milan, which has emerged as a premier destination for international students,' Mayor of Milan Letizia Moratti said here yesterday. She pointed out that the Kingdom would also attain a world-class level facility in the form of a biomedical institute following an agreement signed by the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) and a top oncology institute in Milan.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Feb 18] ~~~~~~~~~

Saudi Arabia Advises Citizens Not to Visit Lebanon [Feb 18]
"Saudi Arabia, a key backer of Sunni Muslims in Lebanon, advised its citizens on Monday not to travel there because of a deteriorating political and security situation. Sunni Muslim Saudi Arabia is a major backer of the Sunni-led government in Lebanon which is locked in a political battle with an opposition movement led by Shi'ite group Hezbollah, backed by Iran and Syria.. ..Diplomats and political analysts in Riyadh saw the Saudi announcement as a possible signal of more civil strife to come in Lebanon. 'They could see a real possibility of the situation getting out of control,' a senior diplomat told Reuters. Political analyst Khaled al-Dakhil said: 'Perhaps they have intelligence information that something is going to happen or they think the negotiations taking place now on presidential crisis are going nowhere. They are in a position to know.'.." [more]

Saudi Aramco Confident of Oil Expansion Goal [Feb 18]
"Top world oil exporter Saudi Arabia is confident it will reach a target to lift crude oil output capacity, a top executive from the country's state oil firm said on Monday.. ..'We're pressing ahead and we are very comfortable, we're very confident," Khalid al-Buainain, Senior Vice President Refining, Marketing and International, told Reuters on the sidelines of a London conference. "We will reach it.' Aramco is confident it will reach the goal despite one major project coming on stream later than expected.. ..An official at Aramco had said in January the giant field, previously scheduled to begin pumping at the end of last year, would come onstream in the first quarter of this year.." [more]

Saudi Arabia: New Boycott Against Danish Goods After Cartoon Row [Feb 18]
"A new campaign has begun in Saudi Arabia calling for a boycott of Danish products, after the fresh publication of 12 controversial cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed, reported the Arab daily al-Watan. 'We will carry out a new boycott,' said the president of Arab entrepreneurs, Mohammed Abidat. 'It is imperative for Arab and Muslim tradespeople and shopkeepers to boycott Danish products,'.. ..On 12 February 2008, Danish police arrested five people in connection with a planned attack to kill the cartoonist Kurt Westergaard, who drew the original images of the prophet Mohammed in September 2005.." [more]

Saudi Draft Law to Curb Family Violence [Feb 18]
"A draft on a by-law to protect women and children against sexual, psychological and physical abuse will be finished next week, Saudi Minister of Social Affairs Abdul Mohsen Al Akkas has announced. The study by the Experts Commission of the Council of Ministers came after reports by Saudi and foreign human rights groups. The minister told reporters on Saturday evening that the new law was a qualitative move to eliminate domestic violence. 'What makes the ministry prepare this draft law is that there are cases of violence not only against wives but against children too,'.." [more]

New Saudi Measures May Cost Govt SR66 Billion [Feb 18]
" Saudi Arabia has announced its second public-sector wage increase in the course of two years. The first rise (15 percent) was instituted in 2005, following a 20-year pay freeze. It is estimated that this 2005 pay rise will have cost the government SR65 billion ($17.3 billion) by October 2008. This latest move follows public-sector rises of 15 percent in Bahrain and Oman during 2007, whilst the UAE announced a massive 70 percent increase. Across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), governments have become attuned to growing calls for higher salaries to combat the rising cost of living.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Feb 17] ~~~~~~~~~

Saudi King May Miss Syria Arab Summit Over Lebanon [Feb 17]
"Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah is unlikely to attend the Arab League's annual summit in Syria next month unless a political deadlock in Lebanon is resolved, diplomats and analysts said on Sunday. Other Arab leaders may follow suit, potentially spoiling a chance for Damascus to shore up its regional standing in the face of U.S. pressure against it as a 'rogue state'. 'What we have heard is that if there is no president in Lebanon, King Abdullah and (Egyptian leader) Hosni Mubarak will not go,' said a senior diplomat in Riyadh.. ..'Saudi Arabia wants to persuade Russia to tell the Syrians to stand back and allow a president to be elected'.." [more]

Al Jazeera Calls Media Penalties a Risk to Freedom [Feb 17]
"Al Jazeera, the satellite television company based in Qatar, has reacted angrily to the adopting of a charter by the Arab League that authorizes member governments to penalize broadcasters that offend the religious or political authorities. The charter is 'a risk to the freedom of expression in the Arab world,' Al Jazeera said in a statement issued Friday. 'Some of the language contained within the charter is ambiguous and could be interpreted to actively hinder independent reporting from the region.' The measure calls on broadcasters to air only shows that 'conform with the religious and ethical values of Arab society and take account of its family structure.' It calls on governments to 'withdraw, freeze or not renew the work permits of media which break the regulations.'.." [more]

First Saudi Relief Plane Leaves for Tajikistan [Feb 17]
"In line with the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz to provide urgent humanitarian aid to the Republic of Tajikistan, which has recently suffered from the wave of the cold weather and snow, in addition to a $10 million grant, the first Saudi relief plane left this morning for Tajikistan. The plane was carrying 10500 Kilogram of relief assistance including blankets, carpets and foodstuffs.." [more]

Reprinting of Mohammed Cartoon Condemned [Feb 17]
"The Saudi-based Muslim World League on Sunday condemned the decision by Danish newspapers to reprint a controversial cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed but also urged Muslims not to overreact. The organisation, which represents Muslim associations worldwide, expressed its "deep consternation" and denounced 'the obstinacy in offending Islam and its Prophet', a statement on the official Saudi SPA news agency said. It also warned that reprinting the controversial cartoon would lead to more hatred and urged Denmark to act to stop the insults against the Prophet.." [more]

Shoura to Discuss Major Issues With Al-Assaf [Feb 17]
"Three hot issues — revaluation of Saudi riyal against the US dollar, rising inflation and a GCC common currency — will be the focus of today’s discussion between the 150-member Shoura Council and Finance Minister Dr. Ibrahim Al-Assaf. Dr. Osama Abu Gharara, deputy chairman of the Financial Committee at the Shoura Council, said the discussions would also deal with the Kingdom’s financial and monetary policies and its efforts to contain inflation. 'So far we have not seen any solution to control inflation,' Gharara told Al-Eqtisadiah business daily.." [more]

Albania, Saudi Arabia First to Recognize Kosovo? [Feb 17]
"Beta says an analysis shows Kosovo's unilateral declaration will first be recognized by some Islamic countries. The news agency has had insight into the document, put together 'by some EU countries', that says the province's independence declaration, rejected by Serbia, will be recognized in "three waves". Albania, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and some other Muslim countries will lead the way, the report says. This will be followed by Austria, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, Belgium, and, the document speculates, France, Great Britain, Germany and Italy. The United States is also likely to recognize Kosovo very soon.." [more]

UK Powerless Over Saudi Threats [Feb 17]
"The UK government was powerless to resist threats from Saudi Arabia which forced it to drop a BAE corruption probe, a court heard Friday. Lawyers for the Serious Fraud Office said the ‘grave’ and ‘imminent’ threat to British national security was so great the office had no option but to close its two year investigation into the Al-Yamamah arms deal, UK media reported.. ..A lawyer for the groups said the government had not denied that Prince Bandar bin Sultan, who allegedly received $1 billion in secret payments from BAE, had in July 2006 threatened to withdraw a contract for Typhoon fighter jets if the inquiry was not dropped. The $8.8 billion deal for 72 Typhoon jets was eventually sealed in September 2007.." [more]

First Gulf Investment Forum Explores Gulf Common Market [Feb 17]
"The organizers of the First Gulf Investment Forum (FGIF) in GCC States noted that the variety of discussions in the eight working sessions of the forum, reflected different types of investments and financial trends in GCC states. They also illustrated the different experiences of the speakers at the Forum, they added. This variety, they said, will directly contribute to achieving the desired goals of the forum, which is the first of its kind after the establishment of the Gulf Common Market at the beginning of 2008.." [more]

Saudi Riyal Revaluation May Curb Inflation [Feb 17]
"Revaluing the Saudi currency against the dollar could help tackle inflation at a near record peak, but severing the link to the dollar would not be a solution, a Saudi councillor was quoted as saying on Sunday. Saudi Arabia's Shura Council, which advises the king, is scheduled to meet with the finance minister and central bank governor on Sunday to discuss ways to fight inflation.. ..The deputy governor of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency, Mohammed al-Jasser, said last month it would take a 'precipitous' decline in the dollar for Saudi Arabia to consider revaluing the riyal. Saudi policymakers have repeatedly said the largest Arab economy would not sever its dollar link. 'I don't think that dropping the peg is a magical solution to curb inflation as there are neighbouring countries that changed the peg and their inflation reached record highs,'.." [more]

Feb 10 - Feb 16, 2008

~~~~~~~~ [ Feb 16 ]~~~~~~~~~

Bush Meets Saudi FM at White House [Feb 16]
"US President George W. Bush held talks here Friday with Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal on what was expected to touch on the Palestinian-Israeli peace process and Lebanon, officials said. White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said Bush planned to meet the Saudi foreign minister in the Oval Office in the morning, with another official confirming that the meeting actually took place. Bush 'looks forward to discussing with him a wide range of regional issues including the president's recent trip to the Middle East, to the region, the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and the situation in Lebanon,' Stanzel said. A spokeswoman for the National Security Council later confirmed that the meeting between the president and Prince Saud took place but declined to provide any details about what was discussed. The Saudi embassy in Washington also declined to comment.." [more]

Rights Group Attacks Arab Media Charter [Feb 16]
"A new Arab "charter" to coordinate media control is an attempt by autocratic governments to squash already limited freedom, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said on Saturday. Arab governments, led by Egypt and Saudi Arabia, last week adopted a satellite broadcasting charter, which will entrench state control over broadcasts and curtail political expression on the airwaves across the region of some 300 million people. The charter, signed by information ministers in Cairo, bans broadcasting material seen as undermining "social peace, national unity, public order and general propriety", criticising religions or defaming political, national and religious leaders.." [more]

King Abdullah Urged to Spare Saudi Witchcraft Woman’s Life [Feb 16]
"A Saudi woman condemned to death for 'witchcraft' is still clinging to hope that King Abdullah will spare her life after Human Rights Watch appealed her sentence. Fawzi Falih faces imminent beheading for sorcery unless the King issues a rare pardon. But the influential rights group has stopped short of asking for intervention from foreign governments in the case, which has captured international attention and highlighted discriminatory aspects of the Saudi justice system, where courts often fail to follow due process. Such was the case in the trial of Ms Falih, Human Rights Watch argues. Religious police arrested the illiterate woman in 2005, allegedly beating her before forcing her to fingerprint a false confession.." [more]

Saudis to Discuss Revaluing Riyal on Sunday [Feb 16]
"A Saudi Arabian council that advises the king will discuss revaluing the riyal against the dollar at a meeting on Sunday with the finance minister and central bank governor, a newspaper reported on Saturday. Reviewing the exchange rate of the riyal versus the U.S. dollar is a 'necessity', daily al-Eqtisadiah quoted Osama Abu-Gherara, deputy chairman of the Shura Council's finance committee.. ..It would take a precipitous decline in the dollar for Saudi Arabia to revalue, Mohammed al-Jasser, vice governor of Saudi Arabia's central bank, said last month. Saudi Arabia has been trying offset the impact of price rises on its 25 million people through measures including a plan announced last month to raise wages, welfare payments and subsidies.." [more]

Saudi Arabia to Set Up International Translation Center [Feb 16]
"Saudi Arabia has announced plans to set up an autonomous international translation center with a mandate to translate references, textbooks, international literature and scientific materials to be used by individuals as well as local and international institutions. The proposed center will also help bridge the gap between Arab and Western cultures, boost the process of Arabization and also address the problems of shortage of translators and interpreters.. ..Also, the center will help engage in dialogue with non-Muslims in different countries to clarify any misconceptions about Islam.." [more]

Thai Foreign Minister Plans Restored Relations with Saudi Arabia [Feb 16]
"Thailand will implement a proactive foreign policy spearheaded by both political and economic aspects, including restoration of the former warm relations enjoyed with Saudi Arabia before diplomatic ties were strained by the 1980s gems scandal, according to Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama.. ..The ministry prepared to restore the relationships with foreign countries after formerly strong ties were strained by the coup in 2006, he said. Mr. Noppadon said plans to normalise diplomatic relation with Saudi Arabia by concluding the Saudi diamond case and the murder of four Saudi businessmen and the disappearance of one Saudi businessman. The case dates to the late 1980s.." [more]

Ministry Plans to Assess Quality of Education in Kingdom [Feb 16]
"In an attempt to improve the quality of education in the Kingdom, the Ministry of Education is planning to assess the curriculums used in the system.. ..The assessment will review different sample groups of students: three grades in the first phase of the survey. The fourth, eighth and twelfth grades (boys and girls) will be assessed next year. The courses to be assessed are: Islamic studies, Arabic, mathematics and science. 'These are the courses that are important for academic advancement,' Al-Shamrani said.." [more]

Luxembourg Crown Prince Arrives [Feb 16]
"Prince Guillaume, crown prince of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, will arrive here today on a four-day visit to the Kingdom at the head of a 30-member trade delegation including Jeannot Krecke, minister of economy and foreign trade. “This is the first ever delegation from Luxembourg,” Michel Lastschenko, Belgium ambassador, told Arab news yesterday, adding that the purpose of Guillaume’s visit is to boost the bilateral trade and identify new areas of interests that would mutually benefit Luxembourg and Saudi Arabia. The envoy pointed out that the prince would begin his official round of talks with Saudi officials tomorrow.." [more]

Saudi Stocks Expected to Recover Slowly [Feb 16]
"..According to the weekly report of the Riyadh-based Bakheet Investment Group (BIG), the Saudi stock market witnessed a slowdown amid trading value decreases to an average of SR8.8 billion daily, 30 percent lower than previous week. The value of traded shares reached SR 44.2 billion, down against last week’s SR63.69 billion. Rabigh Refining and Petrochemical Co. (Petro Rabigh) dominated trading value at 17 percent followed by Saudi Kayan Petrochemical Co. at 13 percent and SABIC at 7 percent. The BIG report expected Saudi stocks to recover 'slowly' following the recent series of plunges as investors turn to blue chip shares, the prices of which have gone down tangibly.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Feb 15] ~~~~~~~~~

$20 Million Saudi Gift Is Questioned [Feb 15]
"A Virginia congressman has asked Georgetown University to explain how it used a $20 million donation from a Saudi prince for its academic center on Muslim and Christian relations. Rep. Frank R. Wolf (R) sent a letter yesterday to university President John J. DeGioia expressing concern about the donation and asking whether the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding has ever produced any reports critical of Saudi Arabia. Wolf has been critical of Saudi Arabia and what he calls its influence on U.S. affairs for some time.. ..Georgetown spokesman Julie Green Bataille issued a statement saying that the school had received the letter and that university officials would respond to Wolf.." [more]

Al-Jazeera Slams Arab Media Restrictions [Feb 15]
"Al-Jazeera television on Friday lashed out at a set of recommendations adopted by the Arab League that seek to stop Arab satellite channels from offending governments in the region. 'Al-Jazeera considers the adoption of the charter... a risk to the freedom of expression in the Arab world,' the Qatar-based pan-Arab television network said in a statement. Information ministers of the 22-member Arab League on Tuesday voted in favour of the guidlines, with Qatar the only dissenting vote. The document, which is not legally binding, was principally backed by Egypt and Saudi Arabia and calls for the stations 'not to offend the leaders or national and religious symbols' of Arab countries.. ..The document authorises signatory countries to 'withdraw, freeze or not renew the work permits of media which break the regulations'.." [more]

Ensuring Energy Security Is a Costly Affair [Feb 15]
"Oil is a costly affair. When US Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman was last here in Riyadh, he stressed on the need to invest “billions of dollars” in the industry annually, so as to achieve 'global energy security.' The International Energy Agency estimates that $22 trillion of investments would be needed between now and 2030 if the world is to meet expected energy demand. While the debate about ongoing investments in the upstream sector continues, recent reports indicate that despite clouds on the horizon for crude demand, OPEC states have embarked upon substantial upstream and downstream investments.. ..OPEC heavyweight Saudi Arabia is investing $50 billion plus in attempts to meet the growing demand of the consumers. Plans to bring on stream 12.5 million bpd capacity by 2009 are reported on track.." [more]

Saudi Arabia Could See About 110 IPOs [Feb 15]
"Morgan Stanley expects about 110 initial public offerings (IPOs) in Saudi Arabia by the end of next year as companies seek funds to expand and benefit from surging economic growth in the world's biggest oil producer. 'There is enormous pent-up demand to sell shares,' Fahad A. Al Mubarak, chairman, Morgan Stanley Saudi Arabia said in Dubai on Thursday. 'Companies are maturing, there has been a change in generation in some cases, and there is economic growth.'.. ..Morgan Stanley Saudi Arabia has mandates to manage seven IPOs this year, including an offering by Saudi Basic Chemical Industries (Sabic) that may raise 300 million riyals ($80 million), Al Mubarak said. Two share sales slated in the first half of the year are by financial service companies. 'Investing in IPOs is very attractive in Saudi Arabia and most shares have doubled after listing,'.." [more]

NHRA proposes Allowing Women to Practice Law [Feb 15]
"The chairman of the government-run National Human Rights Association, Dr. Bandar Al-Hajjar announced that the Association has finished work on a bill allowing women to practice law in the Kingdom's courtrooms. The bill is now expected to wind its way through the legislative process with various government agencies weighing in on its merits.."  [more]

Dialogue or No Dialogue? That’s the Real Question [Feb 15]
"I have always been a fan of the Saudi National Dialogues. To me, this creative brainchild of King Abdullah not only serves as an ideal public platform to jumpstart the process of our coming to terms with current and emerging issues in a post-9/11 Saudi Arabia; but it also is the necessary prerequisite for building the social capital of our nation.. ..It is at this critical juncture that I believe that this new process is forever changing the way we Saudis think, behave, and cooperate with each other as well as with the rest of the world.." [more]

Calls Mount for Time Limits on Workers in Gulf [Feb 15]
"Support is growing for time limits on the residency of the millions of expatriates living in the Gulf, seen by some of the region’s governments and nationals as posing a demographic threat. Foreigners make up about 13 million, or 37 percent, of the 35 million population across the six member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). They come mainly from the Asian sub-continent and fuel the booming economies of the oil-rich Arab bloc, which comprises Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). GCC governments are becoming increasingly concerned that the rising number of outsiders, many of whom work as laborers on construction sites, could suffocate the indigenous cultures of the conservative Muslim states.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Feb 14] ~~~~~~~~~

British Open Inquiry on Saudi Arms Deal [Feb 14]
"Britain's High Court began a judicial review Thursday of the government's decision to stop an investigation into allegations of corruption by BAE Systems in an arms deal with Saudi Arabia. The review was won by two pressure groups, Campaign Against Arms Trade and Corner House. The two groups argued that the decision to stop the inquiry was unlawful because Britain's Serious Fraud Office was pressured into doing so and because it contravened the anti-bribery convention of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.. ..Under the British court system, a judicial review can determine whether or not a decision was made lawfully. It does not judge whether the decision was 
right or wrong.." [more]

Shoura Warns of Dangerous Brain Drain [Feb 14]
"Shoura Council members want urgent government intervention to prevent what they say is a 'dangerous brain drain' caused by Saudi female graduates taking up lucrative job offers in other Gulf states. The members said that the government was losing out as it has invested in the education of these graduates 'who are the pillars of the country's present and future development.' 'The migration of these female graduates to the neighboring countries is very alarming,' said Hamdi Al-Jahni, member of the Administration, Manpower and Petitions at the Shoura Council. 'The whole matter needs to be thoroughly examined in order to reach a comprehensive solution to this problem.'.. ..Jobs are limited for women in Saudi Arabia because of religious restrictions. As a result, even administrative jobs in the private sector are generally not open to them. Saudi men are also taking flight to other Gulf countries, lured by reasonable salaries in teaching jobs.." [more]

Saudi Arabia to Execute Woman for Witchcraft [Feb 14]
"A leading international human rights organisation is calling on Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah to halt the planned execution of a woman accused of 'witchcraft'. The woman is due to be put to death on foot of a coerced confession and the statements of witnesses who said she had 'bewitched' them.. ..Human Rights Watch has described the charges against her as 'absurd' and says they have no basis in law. 'The fact that Saudi judges still conduct trials for unprovable crimes like 'witchcraft' underscores their inability to carry out objective criminal investigations,' said Joe Stork, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch.." [more]

Saudi Education Development is Economic Priority [Feb 14]
"Saudi Arabia spent some $15bn on educational development in 2007, mainly to fund existing and open new universities as part of a priority programme to develop higher education.. ..There is an urgent need to expand the skills base since the Kingdom's educational structure has up to now not kept pace with economic demands. Many jobs are held by expatriates with the result that there is a high level of unemployment of around 11 per cent among young Saudis. Traditionally the government has provided jobs but bureaucracy is being steadily overhauled with the result that state jobs are likely to become fewer as the private sector increasingly becomes the main driver of economic activity in Saudi Arabia.." [more]

Saudi Vows to Reunite Divorced Couple: UN [Feb 14]
"Saudi Arabia has promised to allow a couple who were forced to divorce by a religious court to live together again, a UN official said yesterday, ending a case that has embarrassed the Islamic state abroad. Fatima Azzaz and Mansour al-Timani were forced to separate in 2006 after her brothers persuaded judges that her husband was not of sufficiently prestigious tribal stock. It is one of a series of cases that have drawn international criticism of human rights in Saudi Arabia, a key US ally which is also the world's top oil exporter.. ..The king said in October he wanted to reform the judiciary, dominated by clerics of hardline Wahhabi Islam. Plans are underway to put laws into writing, but reforms could take years.." [more]

Don’t Waste Women’s Potential – Erturk [Feb 14]
"A visiting UN official called Wednesday for greater participation of Saudi women in society so as to avoid 'an incredible waste of human resources here.' Yanik Erturk, the special United Nations rapporteur of the Human Rights Council on Violence against Women, said at a press conference here that while her 10-day visit to the Kingdom has given her hope about improvement in the condition of Saudi women, more is needed to be done. 'I have met many high-level educated women, and I see an incredible waste of human resources here,' said Erturk. 'Half of society can't contribute.'.. ..During the press conference, Erturk addressed the need for judicial reform, the overall participation of women in society, work force and decision-making, violence against women and the conditions of foreign female workers.." [more]

Iraqi Doctors to Be Trained in Riyadh [Feb 14]
" Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has instructed the National Guard Health Affairs to host 48 Iraqi doctors for intensive training in treating accident victims, Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, director of the department, said yesterday. He said the Iraqi doctors to be trained at Riyadh’s King Abdulaziz Medical City would come from major first aid and emergency health care centers in the war-torn Arab country.." [more]

BMG Saudi Index Continues to Rise [Feb 14]
"The BMG Saudi Index was able to maintain its positive performance yesterday, after a downtrend seen earlier in the week. The index advanced by 1 percent, closing at 491.5 points, in the last trading session of this week. The market turnover also increased, to reach SR4 billion ($1.1 billion), up by 6.4 percent. The BMG index’s increase this week was attributed to the strong performance of four sectors: the banking sector, appreciating by 2.7 percent; whilst the insurance, electricity, and industrial sectors went up by 2.6 percent, 1.9 percent, and 0.5 percent, respectively.." [more]

Total to Decide on Saudi Refinery Before June [Feb 14]
"French oil and gas company Total will decide before the end of June whether to go ahead with a planned refinery in Saudi Arabia as it weighs the impact of rising industry costs, it said on Thursday. State oil company Saudi Aramco has signed a joint venture with Total for a 400,000 barrels per day refinery to cope with the country's growing crude output capacity. 'We will decide this year, before the end of the first half,' a Total spokeswoman said. 'We have withdrawn from exploration in Saudi Arabia so this is a project that we are keen on,' she added.. ..Higher labour and raw material costs have caused delays and cancellations across the world's oil and gas industry.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Feb 13] ~~~~~~~~~

Public’s Role Vital for Confronting Extremist Ideologies: Al-Turki [ Feb 13]
"In light of globalization, Saudi society needs to play a more vital role in confronting extremist ideologies, said Interior Ministry Spokesman Gen. Mansour Al-Turki on Monday. Addressing a seminar entitled “Intellectual Security in the Kingdom” at the first forum held by ASIS International (American Society for Industrial Security) branch in Jeddah, he said people expose themselves to negative thoughts through different outlets without realizing where it might lead them. The ASIS is a global organization for security professionals. Al-Turki explained the link between the country’s security and people’s way of thinking and said that the latter is reflected in one’s outward behavior.." [more]

Afghan, Saudi Leaders Vow to Cement Bilateral Ties [Feb 13]
"Afghan President Hamid Karzai and King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia have stressed for strengthening bilateral relations between the two Islamic states during a recent telephone conversation, a statement released by the Afghan presidential office said on Wednesday. In the telephone conversation on Tuesday night, the statement said, both leaders exchanged views on issues of bilateral relations, situation in Afghanistan as well as the issues in the region and Islamic world.. ..King Abdullah during the talks also reassured his government's continued support to the people of Afghanistan.." [more]

Saudi's Rawabi Holding Wins Congo Refinery Deal [Feb 13]
"Saudi Arabia's Rawabi Holding Company has won a 390 billion CFA franc ($868 million) contract to quadruple capacity at Congo Republic's CORAF refinery, the Central African country said on Wednesday. The expansion will take at least two years and should increase capacity at the plant to 100,000 barrels a day from current levels of 25,000, the presidency said in a statement.. ..Rawabi had also signed a deal to build a 19.5 billion CFA franc ($43.38 million) bitumen plant beside the refinery, with a capacity of 100,000 tonnes a year.." [more]

Arab Nations Move to Regulate Satellite TV [Feb 13]
"Arab satellite television channels are to face tighter restrictions on the content they broadcast. A set of regulations was agreed upon at a meeting in the Egyptian capital attended by information ministers from across the region. Qatar, the home of Al-Jazeera, was the only nation to voice reservations about the charter, citing legal reasons.. ..Some critics think the charter, which was sponsored by Egypt and Saudi Arabia, will limit broadcasters' ability to discuss political issues.. ..Others in the Arab world disagree - including Khaled al-Maeena, who edits the English language Saudi newspaper Arab News. He told Newsline that some regulation could be helpful.." [more]

Saudi Arabia Drafting New Law To Protect Women, Children [Feb 13]
"Saudi Arabia is drafting a new law that, when implemented, will go a long way in protecting women and children from violence. The Experts Commission at the council of ministers is expected to finish revising the draft next week, which defines child abuse, violence against women and punishment and penalties for these.. ..According to the draft law, fines or punishments or both may be imposed upon those found guilty of subjecting women and children to physical or mental abuse. The draft called upon the social affairs ministry to coordinate and cooperate with NGOs and with the education, health and culture and information ministries to launch public awareness campaigns against family violence.." [more]

Russia to Hold WTO Talks With Saudi Arabia [Feb 13]
"Russia is scheduled to hold a new round of talks with Saudi Arabia on the accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) on February 18, 2008, Maxim Medvedkov, head of the Russian Economy Ministry's trade negotiations department, told journalists today. He pointed out that Saudi Arabia had sent a request to Russia on exported products, primarily dates, adding that the two countries were nearing an agreement on the matter. Moreover, Russia is to hold talks with Georgia on the operation of customs checkpoints on the boarder, as well as with United Arab Emirates on exchange of goods and services.." [more]

Saudi Society Is Opening Up, UK Delegation Told [Feb 13]
"Saudi society has broken taboos of the past when men and women opened their hearts and minds to discuss issues that relate to social development in a no-holds barred environment a group of Saudis at the King Abdul Aziz Center for National Dialogue told a visiting delegation of British parliamentarians.. ..Ibn Muammar explained to the delegation that the idea behind establishing national forums for dialogue, which was called for by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah as part of his vision for political and economic reforms in the country, was to get local people express their views about crucial topics related to the Kingdom’s development goals.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Feb 12] ~~~~~~~~~

Kingdom Asks World Powers to Curb Israeli State Terror [Feb 12]
"Saudi Arabia yesterday called upon the international community to stop Israel from continuing state-sponsored terrorism against the Palestinian people. It also denounced the crimes being committed by the Jewish state in defiance of United Nations resolutions.. ..the Kingdom expressed its deep concern over the worsening situation in the occupied Palestinian territories as a result of continuing Israeli atrocities against Palestinian civilians. 'The international community must take a decisive stand on what is currently happening in Palestine and adopt effective steps to protect the Palestinian people from Israeli state terrorism,”'.." [more]

Saudi Telecom Says to Borrow $2.6 bln for Oger Buy [Feb 12]
"Saudi Telecom Co 7010.SE (STC) said on Tuesday it would borrow 9.6 billion riyals ($2.56 billion) from local banks to finance its purchase of a 35 percent stake in Oger Telecom. 'We are at a very advanced stage of talks to borrow 9.6 billion riyals to finance this deal,' Chairman Mohammed al-Jasser said in an interview on Al Arabiya Television. The largest Arab telecoms firm by market value would take loans from local banks and could look at selling Islamic bonds in the future. Jasser is also deputy-governor of the kingdom's central bank which has been struggling to manage a surge in liquidity and inflation.." [more]

Saudi Arabia, UAE May Proceed With Common Currency [Feb 12]
"Plans to introduce a single currency for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries by 2010 seem to be failing as some member states are not ready yet. This is causing Saudi Arabia and the UAE to consider going it alone, a very similar scenario to the situation with the euro when France and Germany took the lead. The GCC member states are Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Oman, Bahrain, and Qatar. For several years there have been talks on establishing a common currency to strengthen the regional economy. Despite the extraordinary economic growth the region is now experiencing, its economic power is relatively weak on a global scale.. ..A major headache for the GCC is that the foreign workers, who play a vital role in economic growth, are now earning less than they did and have less money to send home.." [more]

Saudi Arabia May Abolish Sponsorship System For Foreign Workers Within 3 Years [Feb 12]
"Saudi Arabia may abandon its sponsorship system for foreign workers in the Kingdom within three years, media reports said citing a human rights group. Mufleh Al-Qahtani, vice president of Saudi Arabia's National Society of Human Rights, said the group carried out a study, which found the current kifala or sponsorship system to be invalid. The sponsorship system, in place in all Gulf Cooperation Council, or GCC states, is a heavily criticized set of regulations that limits workers movements, especially with regard to switching jobs. The system gives employers the right to terminate the work of foreign staff and prevent them from finding jobs in the country unless they fulfill a set of tough conditions. Further, employers can also hold employee's passports to prevent them from seeking other work for better pay. Human rights officials and groups within the GCC and abroad have condemned the system as akin to slavery.." [more]

Peak Oil: Simmons v. Saudis, Round Two [Feb 12]
"Both Nansen Saleri, former chief of reservoir management at Saudi Aramco, and Houston-based investment banker Matthew Simmons are feeling good these days about the famous–and weighty–debate they held four years ago at Washington’s Center for Strategic and Security Studies. Are Saudi Arabia’s massive oil fields in great shape—or falling apart? Can Saudi Aramco help slack the globe’s soaring energy thirst far into the century—or has that ability already peaked?.. ..Saleri says he’s convinced technology will help revive aging reservoirs all over the globe, and world oil production won’t hit peak until well after 2050. Simmons believes we may already have hit that peak. After his recent studies, he now fears he has “grossly underestimated how savage the post-peak oil reality will be.” [more]

Saudi Elenex 2008 [Feb 12]
"..The Kingdom's electricity sector is expanding by a whopping 7% a year. Over the coming 20 years, projects worth almost $120 billion are going to be undertaken to satisfy demand for electricity generation, distribution and transmission. These projects are going to create enormous demand, as well, for subsidiary electricity-related products and equipment. The Saudi government is currently spending billions of dollars on constructing and upgrading power plants.. ..An unparalleled array of investment opportunities in Saudi Arabia exists for electricity industry players from across the region and the world. Seize them at Saudi Elenex 2007.." [more]

Private Sector Draws Flak For Not Hiring Saudis [Feb 12]
"Saudi Labour Minister Dr Gazi Al Gosaibi has criticised the private sector for not supporting government policy in hiring more Saudi citizens in the private sector. Speaking at the Shura Council (Consultative) on Sunday, Al Gosaibi, whose statements were carried by the Saudi media yesterday, revealed that work visas issued by his ministry have risen to 1,700,000 in 2007. The ministry has been facing accusations from businessmen following its tight measures on issuing visas for recruiting foreign manpower. The ministry, on the other hand, accused businessmen of not backing its efforts of hiring more Saudis in the private sector.." [more]

Plan Ahead for US Visa, Embassy Tells Travelers [Frb 12]
"The US Embassy in Riyadh announced this week that anyone planning to travel to the United States this summer should apply for their visas and make appointments through the embassy’s website as early as possible in order to avoid unnecessary disappointments and delays.. ..'The embassy is encouraging people to plan early because demand for interview appointments for visas increases during summer months,' said Meghan E. Gregonis, a spokesperson for the US Embassy.." [more]

OPEC Transfers to Settlements for Oil From US Dollar to Euro [Feb 12]
"The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) can decline from settlements in US dollars and transfer to settlements in euro. OPEC secretary general Abdalla Salem El-Badri stated that the Organization can introduce a new scheme of settlements for oil within the next 10 years. Earlier the statements about transfer from US dollar to euro in oil trade operations were made by Iran. Russia is preparing an oil and gas exchange with settlements in Russian rubles. In case of realization of all these plans about 60% of oil operations will be conducted in euro.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Feb 11] ~~~~~~~~~

Saudi Kayan, Shell Global in Start-Up Deal [Feb 11]
"Saudi Kayan Petrochemical Company has awarded Shell Global Solutions a contract to prepare its industrial complex for a smooth start-up. The three-year contract, at the Saudi Kayan industrial complex, calls for Shell Global Solutions to utilise its ‘Flawless-start-up’ programme to help identify the potential risks to a smooth production launch or to interruptions after start up. The Saudi Kayan industrial complex, located at Jubail Industrial City, will be one of the latest greenfield petrochemical projects to be started in the Middle East.." [more]

Saudi Telecom Assigned A+ Long-Term Foreign Currency CCR [Feb 11]
"Standard & Poor's Ratings Services has assigned Saudi Telecom Co (STC), which is 70 pct owned by the Saudi Arabian government, its 'A+' long-term and 'A-1' short-term foreign currency corporate credit ratings (CCR) with a stable outlook. The ratings are supported by STC's leading market position in the Saudi fixed-line telecom market, implicit state support, high operating profitability margins and very strong cash flows, S&P said. But the ratings are constrained by potential regulatory changes, which may negatively affect STC's competitive position and market shares.." [more]

No Red Roses for Saudi Sweethearts on Valentines Day [Feb 11]
"Saudi Arabia's religious police have banned red roses ahead of Valentine's Day, forcing couples in the conservative Muslim nation to think of new ways to show their love. The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice has ordered florists and gift shop owners in the capital Riyadh to remove any items colored scarlet, which is widely seen as symbolizing love.. ..It is not unusual for the Saudi vice squad to clamp down ahead of Valentine's Day, which it sees as encouraging relations between men and women outside of wedlock.." [more]

Saudi Arabian Hail Baja Rally Set to Get Underway [Feb 11]
"International rally drivers, co-drivers, FIA officials, mechanics and members of the media from the UK, Germany, Russia, Holland, Cyprus, France, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Belgium, Hungary, the Czech Republic and countries within the GCC have arrived in Hail in the north-central region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to make their final preparations for the Saudi Arabian Hail Baja. The opening round of the 2008 FIA International Cup for Cross-Country Bajas is scheduled to get under way with a ceremonial start at the picturesque Maghwat conference facility, surrounded by the striking jagged peaks of the 
nearby mountain range, at 2pm on Tuesday.." [more]

Gulf States Poaching Skilled Foreign Workers from KSA [Feb 11]
"Employers in other Gulf countries are poaching highly skilled foreign workers, such as engineers and technicians, from Saudi Arabia, said owners and executives of Saudi companies here. They are being lured with higher salaries, attractive perks and better living conditions. The reason is that it has become increasingly difficult to recruit foreigners to work in the Gulf. The problems include the rigmarole of getting visas in the face of rising unemployment among nationals in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Besides, Gulf currencies pegged to the US dollar have fallen in value compared to those of labor-exporting countries.. ..'This poaching is tantamount to corporate sabotage,'.." [more]

Saudi Stock Index Plunges Below 9,000 Points Mark [Feb 11]
"The Saudi stock index plunged below the 9,000 points mark as banking and industrial stocks suffered badly yesterday. The Tadawul All-Share Index (TASI) dropped 215.10 points or 2.35 percent to close at 8,919.03 points. The index is down 20.19 percent so far this year after rising over 40 percent in 2007. There was an addition of another company to the insurance sector yesterday. The SR10 shares of Al-Sagr Company for Cooperative Insurance, which started trading for the first time on Tadawul yesterday, closed at SR43.25 after rising as high of SR72 and low of SR42.50.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Feb 10] ~~~~~~~~~

Prince Bandar Bin Sultan's Assets Frozen [Feb 10]
"Prince Bandar Bin Sultan, the former Saudi Arabian ambassador to America, has been hit by a court order in effect freezing some of his US assets, as part of a class-action lawsuit over bribery allegations at British defence giant BAE Systems. A Michigan pension scheme the City of Harper Woods Employees’ Retirement System has been granted a restraining order, according to documents filed in the US district of Columbia and seen by The Sunday Times. The order, granted last Tuesday, blocks Bandar from transferring out of the country any money he makes from the sale of property in America.. ..The latest move comes after the pension scheme launched a class-action suit on behalf of rebel investors last September against the BAE board, as well as former directors and Bandar.." [more]

Saudi Women Believe End to Driving Ban is Near [Feb 10]
"Buoyed by recent advances in women's rights, a group of women campaigning for the right to drive in Saudi Arabia, the only country in the world that prohibits female drivers, says it believes the ban will be lifted this year. The group has collected more than 3,000 signatures in the past five months and is hoping King Abdullah will issue a royal decree before the end of the year giving women the right to drive.. ..The king has said that he does not oppose allowing women to drive but that society needs to accept the idea first. 'I think the authorities want people to get used to the idea and will lift the ban before the end of the year,' said group co-founder Wajeha al-Huwaider, 45, an educational analyst.." [more]

Rwanda, Saudi Arabia Officials to Attend Conference at FSU [Feb 10]
"The president of Rwanda and the Saudi Arabian minister of state will speak at Florida State University on Monday as the schools aim to play a part in international politics. FSU is the leading U.S. college in the United Nations' new Alliance of Civilizations, which is an attempt to bridge religious and cultural divides around the world. Saudi Arabian Minister of State Abdullah Alireza and Rwandan President Paul Kagame will attend a forum hosted by the FSU Claude Pepper Center for Intercultural Dialogue. Aside from launching the alliance of colleges, it is also the first step in the construction of a school in Rwanda to be paid for with money raised by FSU students.." [more]

Saudi Arabia: National Water [Feb 10]
"In a bid to manage the privatisation of water services and save diminishing water resources, Saudi Arabia's Supreme Economic Council (SEC) has recently licensed the National Water Company (NWC). The creation of the company is another step in the government's plan to restructure the country's ground and sewage water sector. Earmarked in 2002 by the SEC for privatisation, it was decided in September 2006 that a complete overhaul of the water sector, via the creation of a national company, would best serve the Gulf state. The new company is expected to significantly improve the sector's performance, especially in the area of water conservation. Some 20% of water leaks out of desalination plants. The NWC, reported to have a capitalisation of $5.9bn, will have 2.2bn shares, each with a nominal value of $2.68, and a paid-up capital of $1.83bn with 684.88m shares.." [more]

Peace Deal Possible, Says Qurie [Feb 10]
"Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's top negotiator, Ahmed Qurie, told a US envoy yesterday that a peace deal with Israel would only be possible this year if commitments by both sides were met. Qurie told visiting Assistant US Secretary of State David Welch that Israel has not met its obligations under a long-stalled road mappeace plan, such as halting all settlement activity and uprooting outposts built without government authorisation in the occupied West Bank. "We talked about the possibility of achieving peace this year and an agreement with Israel this year. We said yes it is possible but with good will from both sides".. [more]

S Arabia to Invest $3bn in Bangladesh Energy Sector [Feb 10]
"Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia yesterday has signed a deal to invest $3bn to set up an oil refinery with a capacity to produce 300,000 barrels of oil products a day. Hi-Tech International Group (HTIG) of Saudi Arabia and Cosmopolitan Oil Refinery Management Limited (CPORML) of Bangladesh signed the deal to implement the project within the next 40 months, chairman of CPORML said.. ..The plant will be set-up with 100% foreign direct investment and it will import more than 5mn tonnes of crude oil from Saudi Arabia, Sultan said. The entire final product will be exported in neighbouring countries.." [more]

Saudi Human Rights Official Slams Vice Cops in Yara Case [Feb 10]
"The National Society for Human Rights (NSHR), Saudi Arabia’s non-governmental rights body, will address the Governorate of Riyadh regarding Yara, a 36-year-old Jeddah-based businesswoman who was apprehended by the religious police and thrown in Al-Malaz Prison on Monday.. ..The incident occurred on the same day that Yakin Ertürk, the special rapporteur of the United Nations Human Rights Council on Violence Against Women, arrived in the Kingdom on a 10-day visit. A member of the religious police apprehended Yara for the moral crime of “khulwa” (a state of seclusion with an unrelated man). The woman’s colleague, a Syrian financial analyst, was also arrested and released the following day.." [more]

Grand Mufti Slams Rights Panel Report [Feb 10]
"Sheikh Abdul Aziz Bin Abdullah Aal Al-Sheikh, Grand Mufti and Head of the Senior Ulemas Authority, has slammed a recent report released by the United Nations Human Rights Committee on women's rights in Islam and Saudi Arabia. In his Friday sermon at the Grand Mosque in central Riyadh, the Grand Mufti described the UN report as "based on fallacies, errors and untrue information, which is spiteful for our religion and country." Sheikh Aal Al-Sheikh said the report was critical of matters at the core of the Shariah. 'This report is unfair,' the Sheikh said,'particularly the call to end patronage of fathers over their daughters - and labeling it as disparaging to women and a repression of their freedom.' The report was disrespectful, the Grand Mufti said.." [more]

Stocks Tumble as Trade Union Makes Strong Debut [Feb 10]
"The Saudi stock market tumbled as the initial public offering of Zain, the Kingdom's third mobile phone operator, began yesterday. Trading also began for the first time in another insurance company yesterday. Trade Union Cooperative Insurance Co. shares opened at SR85 and reached a high of SR92 before settling at SR48 during the trading yesterday. Trade Union became the 17th company in the insurance sector to be traded. A new insurance company, Al-Sagr Company for Cooperative Insurance, is set to begin trading on Tadawul today. The Tadawul All-Share Index (TASI) plunged 350.28 points or 3.69 percent to 9,134.13 yesterday.." [more]

Feb 3, - Feb 9, 2008

~~~~~~~~ [ Feb 9] ~~~~~~~~~

Weekend Protest to Support Jailed Saudi Blogger [Feb 9]
"Supporters of a Saudi Arabian blogger who has been held in jail for the past two months are planning a rally today in Washington, D.C. to draw attention to his cause.. ..The American Islamic Congress (AIC), a nonprofit civil rights organization, is calling for a vigil at 1 p.m. Eastern Time today in front of the Saudi embassy in Washington. To date, more than 1,200 people have participated in the group's online letter-writing campaign, asking the Saudi government to release Al-Farhan. His arrest has rallied bloggers in the region, who have republished his work and held an international day of blogging silence to draw attention to his cause.." [more]

Saudi Aircraft Join in Air Force Exercise [Feb 9]
"Red Flag is underway at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., this time with the Saudi Arabian air force flying in tandem with U.S. Air Force and Navy warplanes. This Red Flag, which continues through Feb. 14, marks the third time the Saudi Arabian air force has participated. On this visit, the Saudis Arabians are flying the F-15S, a version of the F-15E Strike Eagle.. ..Red Flag is staged several times a year and is the Air Force’s largest air combat exercise. The idea is to replicate the opening days of large-scale air campaign over the Air Force’s training ranges north of Nellis.." [more]

Saudi Bourse Continues Volatile Performance [Feb 9]
"Arab stocks retained their steady performance last week, buoyed by annual profits as well as easing of US economic fears, financial analysts said yesterday. With the exception of Saudi stocks, regional shares gained fresh ground last week as more listed firms announced their 2007 balance sheets and dividends. The Saudi stock market continued its volatile performance for the second week in a row with speculation emerging again as the dominant factor, according to the weekly report of the Riyadh-based Bakheet Investment Group (BIG). The Tadawul All-Share Index (TASI) shed 1.97 percent last week, closing at 9,484.41 points from 9,675.02 points in the previous week. TASI is currently 15.1 percent lower than the year’s start.." [more]

Saudi Arabia to Deposit an Extra US$1 Billion with Lebanon's Central Bank [Feb 9]
"Saudi Arabia is planning to deposit US$1 billion with Lebanon's central bank in the coming days as part of the kingdom's support for the country's economy, An Nahar newspaper reported Friday. The new move will increase the Saudi deposits to US$2 billion as King Abdullah granted the Lebanese Central Bank US$1 billion to shore up its currency and US$500 million in aid to help rebuild the country after the Israeli offensive in the summer of 2006. However Lebanon's financial community is split over the real motives of the Saudi gesture which has received mixed reactions from Lebanese bankers and economists.." [more]

Riyadh University Initiates Program on Nanotechnology [Feb 9]
"Dr. Mohammed Nashai, a renowned nanotechnologist from Egypt, has been appointed dean of King Abdullah Institute for Nanotechnology (KAIN), which will be up and running at King Saud University’s Department of Physics here in six months.. ..As for the students, Al-Omar said undergraduate and postgraduate students would be enrolled. Initially, admission will be limited to Saudi students before extending it to others from around the world. This intermingling of students should help young Saudis a great deal in cultivating scientific ethos among them. The thrust of the research program will be on harnessing the benefits of nanotechnology on the socio-economic side.." [more]

OPEC May Switch to Euro [Feb 9]
"OPEC may abandon the dollar for pricing oil and adopt the euro but any such switch will “take time”, OPEC Secretary-General Abdullah Al-Badri was quoted as saying by a weekly magazine. A decline in the dollar has eroded oil exporters’ purchasing power, prompting some members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to call for a switch away from the US currency. Badri’s remarks sent the dollar lower against the euro yesterday.. ..Reuters obtained an advance copy of the interview which will be published in the London-based magazine’s next issue.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Feb 8] ~~~~~~~~~

German, Saudi Ministers Press Syria to Contribute to Lebanese Presidential Solution [Feb 8]
"The German and Saudi foreign ministers called on Syria Friday to help clear the way for the election of a new Lebanese president, the German Foreign Ministry said. Lebanon has been without a president since November.. ..German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his Saudi counterpart, Saud al-Faisal, discussed their common concern over Lebanon during a meeting in Berlin, a ministry statement said. Both ministers stressed that all parties in Lebanon and the region are urgently called upon to make possible the election of a new president and the formation of a government on the basis of the initiative of the Arab League, it said. They stressed that «Syria must also make a contribution to this now,» the statement added.." [more]

Volatile Trend Continues in Saudi Arabia [Feb 8]
"The Saudi stock market continued its volatile trend for the second consecutive week as trading value dropped by more than 20 per cent compared with last week. Insurance sector stocks witnessed gains this week following its weak performance in the past five weeks. On the other hand, prices of blue chips are still relatively low with price earning ratio varying between 12 to 17 times.. ..Tadawul All Share Index (TASI) registered 9484.41 points on Wednesday, 15.1 per cent lower than the start of the year. As for trading value, it reached 63.7 billion riyals compared to last week's 78.5 billion.." [more]

Al-Dabbagh Gets 4-Year Extension as SAGIA Chief [Feb 8]
"Amr Al-Dabbagh has received a four-year extension as governor of Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA), it was announced yesterday. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah issued a royal decree extending Al-Dabbagh’s term.. ..Al-Dabbagh, who was first appointed SAGIA governor in March 2004, is the main architect of Saudi Arabia’s mega economic cities in Rabigh, Hail, Madinah and Jizan, that are expected to draw investments worth SR300 billion and create more than a million jobs. A leading Saudi businessman and former president and CEO of the Jeddah-based Dabbagh Group of Companies, he has played an important role in promoting SAGIA as a gateway to investment in Saudi Arabia. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the Harvard Business School.." [more]

Gulf Automobile to Build Pickups in Saudi Arabia [Feb 8]
"Abu Dhabi-based Gulf Automobile Industry Corp (GAIC), the first UAE producer of an indigenously developed double cabin pick-up, will now also manufacture the 150-horsepower vehicle in Saudi Arabia through a 375 million Saudi riyal joint venture with a Saudi industrial investor. "With the support of the Saudi government, we are setting up a factory in Dammam Industrial City 2, which will have a capacity to produce 15,000 pick-up units annually," Nasser Hamad Al Hajeri, chairman of the Gulf Automobile, told Gulf News in an interview. "The production at the 109,000 square metre factory will start by the beginning of 2009,".." [more]

No Update on Detained Saudi Blogger Fouad Al-Farhan [Feb 8]
" Today would mark the 60th day of imprisonment for Saudi blogger Fouad Al-Farhan, a 32-year-old father of two who runs a web journal that discusses Saudi social and political issues. He has been in Jeddah’s Dahban Prison since he was arrested from his office on Dec. 10. A family member had been able to visit Al-Farhan once, on Jan. 5, and the family told Arab News yesterday that requests to visit him since have been denied. “We know nothing about him since the brief visit last month,” said a family member on condition of anonymity. Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki, the spokesperson for the Interior Ministry, told Arab News yesterday that the ministry has no update on the case.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Feb 7] ~~~~~~~~~

Saudi Cops Grab U.S. Woman In Starbucks [Feb 7]
"An American businesswoman was carted off to jail by religious police in Saudi Arabia for sitting with a male colleague at a Starbucks in Riyadh, the Times of London reported. The woman, who spent a day behind bars, was strip-searched and forced to sign a false confession before being released, the newspaper said. The Times declined to publish her name at her request.. ..The newspaper said the woman had received a visit from officials at the U.S. embassy in Saudi Arabia. A U.S. official told The Times that it was being treated as “an internal Saudi matter” and refused to comment on her case.." [more]

France, Saudi in Fresh Bid to Salvage Lebanon Elections [Feb 7]
"Saudi Arabia and France were reportedly engaged in a new effort to salvage the ongoing Lebanese presidential crisis, press reports said Thursday. The pan-Arab daily Al Hayat, citing well-informed sources, said Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal held talks in Paris on Tuesday with French President Nicolas Sarkozy. The sources said Faisal's visit comes within the framework of a global tour to rally support for Lebanon in a bid to free the country from its prolonged political impasse.. ..They said both leaders also discussed ways to help strengthen Prime Minister Fouad Saniora's government as well as the Lebanese army and Internal Security Forces.." [more]

Release Our Loved Ones or Bring Them to Trial [Feb 7]
"The families of several imprisoned pro-reform activists in Saudi Arabia have drafted a letter to King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz asking him to either release their loved ones, jailed for over a year without charges, or bring them to trial. The draft, made available on Tuesday, reminded King Abdullah of his pledge on becoming king in 2005 to set free all "prisoners of conscience" and also of the kingdom's international commitment to abide by universal human rights. The letter, expected to be sent to the King on Saturday, listed 11 activists, including human rights advocates, lawyers and university professors.." [more]

Editorial: A Disturbing Picture [Feb 7]
"The World Bank’s Middle East and North Africa (MENA) report on education deserves close study. Even though the majority of the statistics gathered date from no later than 2004, the picture it paints of the way young people are being educated in the Arab world rings certain alarm bells, which are well characterized in the 399-page report’s doleful title “The Road Not Traveled”. One of the principal findings is that Arab education is falling behind the rest of the world.. ..Education is the solemn duty of governments, families and young people themselves. The World Bank report, despite data shortcomings delivers in many ways a disturbing situation that must not be ignored.." [more]

IMF Urges GCC to Cut Money Supply to Curb Inflation [Feb 7]
"Gulf Arab states must apply strict fiscal policies by tightening money supply to curb inflation, which has soared because of supply constraints in housing and commodities, an International Monetary Fund official said yesterday.. ..GCC partners Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates should “reduce the amount of money available to spend,” Leon said. The IMF expects overall GCC inflation to rise to six percent in 2008, but consumer prices in some member states, like the UAE and Qatar, have run at higher levels, registering 9.3 percent and 11.8 percent respectively in 2006.." [more]

Foreign Minister to Visit the Middle East [ Feb 7]
"The Brazilian Foreign Minister, Celso Amorim, is going to begin, tomorrow (8), a new trip around the Middle East. The Foreign Minister has been to the region several times since the beginning of president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's term in office, in 2003. According to information disclosed by the Itamaraty, the objective is to strengthen the Brazilian presence in the region.. ..The first stop should be Saudi Arabia, after which Amorim should go to Syria, Jordan, Palestine and Israel. The agenda had not been completely finalised up to yesterday evening (6), but meetings have been scheduled with Saudi king Abdullah bin Abdel-Aziz Al-Saud, with king Abdullah II, of Jordan, with Syrian president Bashar Al Assad, with the president of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), Mahmoud Abbas, and with Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Feb 6] ~~~~~~~~~

Whatever Happened to Saudi Reform? [Feb 6]
"In February 2007 the Saudi secret police stormed the Jeddah villa of lawyer Issam Basrawi and arrested him and five other prominent reformists. Four others were arrested in Jeddah and nearby Medina. The 10 men were professional people - lawyers, doctors, academics, a former judge. A year on, although Mr Basrawi has been released on health grounds, the rest are still in jail - even though none has been formally charged. A lawyer representing some of the men says he has been denied access to them.. ..Both Saudi and international human-rights activists believe 2007 witnessed an intensification of pressure on political dissent. The current climate is in marked contrast to that in 2005, when King Abdullah came to the throne promising change. Having pinned their hopes on him, reformists now feel he has failed to deliver.." [more]

Saudi Arabia Closes Down Embassy in N'djamena [Feb 6]
"The Foreign Ministry of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced Tuesday evening the closedown of the Saudi Embassy in the Chadian capital city of N'djamena and evacuation of all staffers of the embassy. The move is in line with the instructions of the Saudi leaders to ensure the safety of all staffers and the other Saudi nationals in Chad, the Saudi Press Agency quoted a statement issued by the ministry as saying. The staffers have flown by a private plane to the Kingdom, the ministry disclosed.." [more]

Saudi Seized Over 800 Smugglers Carrying Weapons and Drugs at End of Last Year [Feb 6]
"Saudi Arabian authorities arrested 880 alleged smugglers attempting to transport weapons, ammunition, explosives and drugs across borders between October and December last year, a newspaper reported Wednesday.. ..Okaz, which is deemed close to the government, said that many of the smugglers were of Yemeni nationality, according to unnamed Yemeni security officials. Saudi's southern border with Yemen stretches 1,200 kilometers (750 miles) and consists of rough terrain often used by smugglers.." [more]

Saudi Power Project in Prequalification Stage [Feb 6]
"Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) has issued a request for qualification from interested parties to build, own and operate the new independent power plant planned for Rabigh on the Kingdom's west coast, around 140 km north of Jeddah. Statements of qualification have to be presented by 18 February. Some 45 companies and consortia previously submitted expressions of interest for the project.. ..The project company will sell electricity to SEC under a power purchase agreement, while SEC will supply the fuel oil. Citigroup is the financial consultant for the project and Germany's Fichtner is acting as 
technical advisor.." [more]

Luxury Car Show Attracts Hordes of Saudi Women [Feb 6]
"Although banned from driving, large numbers of women flocked to the third luxury car exhibition which opened in Jeddah on Sunday.. ..There is heated debate in the Saudi press and on internet sites regarding the banning of Saudi women from driving. There are calls for an official decision allowing Saudi woman to drive. Some Saudis believe that within the reform package initiated by the King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, the lifting of this ban, at any time, will not be surprising.." [more]

BMG Saudi Index Up by 0.5% [Feb 6]
"The BMG Saudi Index continued to go up for the second day in a row in its third trading session this week. The index went up by 0.5 percent to 517.7 points. The market turnover, reversed its performance from Sunday’s session and increased by 10.3 percent to SR3.8 billion ($1.0 billion), up from SR3.4 billion ($918 million) registered in Sunday’s session. All sectors appreciated except for the electricity sector, which declined by a marginal 0.04 percent and the banking sector, which witnessed no change.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Feb 5] ~~~~~~~~~

Pranab Mukherjee's Visit to Saudi Arabia Cancelled [Feb 5]
"Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee's three-day visit to Saudi Arabia beginning Feb 8 has been cancelled. 'The visit of the external affairs minister to Saudi Arabia has been cancelled as of now,' Rajiv Shahare, deputy chief of mission at the Indian embassy in Saudi Arabia, told IANS over phone from Riyadh Tuesday. Asked the reason for the cancellation, he said, 'I am not in a position to tell you the reason now. All I can say is that the minister will not be visiting the region in this period of time.. ..This is the second time since 2007 that his visit to Riyadh has been cancelled.He was set to go to Riyadh in April last year.." [more]

Saudi Energy Investments to Top $119bn [Feb 5]
"Saudi Arabia's energy infrastructure investments will exceed $119 billion during 2007-2009, says a study. The massive investment will provide considerable opportunities for all players involved in financing, delivering or supporting these projects, said the study titled 'Saudi Arabian Paradox: Opportunities & Challenges in the KSA Energy Infrastructure Market, 2008’, launched by energy management consultancy Contax Group. 'The biggest growth opportunities will be for refining and petrochemical projects, reflecting the kingdom’s desire to diversify from a strong dependence on pure crude exports,'.." [more]

Starbucks Leads to Strip-Search for Saudi Woman [Feb 5]
"Saudi Arabia's religious police detained and strip-searched a woman for sitting in a Starbucks coffeeshop with a male work colleague who is not a member of her family, Arab News reported on Tuesday. The 40-year-old financial consultant, named only as Yara, told the paper she was arrested on Monday by members of the powerful Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice. She was holding a business meeting with the man in a branch of Starbucks in Riyadh.. ..She said the religious police, known as the Muttawa, released her several hours later after her husband, Hatim, intervened. 'I look at this as if she had been kidnapped by thugs,' said Hatim. The paper said the man with whom Yara had coffee, an unnamed Syrian financial analyst, was also arrested and remains in custody.." [more]

Arab Education Falling Behind [Feb 5]
"The World Bank has said the quality of education in the Arab world is falling behind other regions and needs urgent reform if it is to tackle unemployment. In a report, bank officials said Arab states had to make improving education their top priority, because it went hand-in-hand with economic development. The region had not seen the increasing literacy and school enrolment witnessed in Asia and Latin America.. ..A senior World Bank official, Marwan Muasher, told the BBC that educational reform had to take top priority if the region's youth were to be better equipped in a fast-changing world and high unemployment combated.." [more]

New TV Channel to Cover Shoura Discussions Live [Feb 5]
"Saudi TV will soon have a fifth channel, Iyad Amin Madani, Minister of Culture and Information revealed. The channel will have "serious" programming such as live transmissions of Shoura Council sessions and municipal councils' meetings, and documentaries. Madani revealed the plan on Sunday during a closed-door discussion in the Shoura Council.. ..Madani, in explaining his ministry's firm stand against satellite channels that promote tribalism and regionalism, said, 'We will never allow it because the media is the forefront of confronting whatever threatens the county's national unity.' He said it is the Saudi media's duty to even confront any Arab channel that promotes matters like regionalism or encourages nepotism.." [more]

Embassy Staff in Chad Flown Out to Gabon [Feb 5]
" A group of 10 diplomats and employees, including the ambassador, from the Saudi Embassy in the Chadian capital N’Djamena was expected to arrive here in the next 24 hours after they were airlifted by a French military aircraft from an airbase in the war-torn African country yesterday.. ..Guepratte said a special Saudi plane had already landed in Gabon to bring the Saudi diplomats and citizens home. The move to quickly evacuate the Saudi Embassy officials came after a bomb hit the residence of the Saudi ambassador to Chad, killing two relatives of an embassy employee.." [more]

Arabia Insurance Makes Strong Debut on Tadawul [Feb 5]
"The new Arabia Insurance Cooperative Company made a strong debut on the Tadawul yesterday. The SR10 Arabia Insurance’s shares opened at SR59.75 and reached a high of SR104.75 and a low of SR59.50 before closing at SR78 on the first day of trading. It is the 111th company to be traded on Tadawul and 16th in the insurance sector. The Capital Market Authority (CMA) also announced yesterday that the listing and trading of Trade Union Cooperative Insurance Company will take place on Feb. 9. The Tadawul All-Shares Index (TASI) surged 93.45 points to close at 9,747.27 yesterday.." [more]

German Firms Seek Saudi Partners in Health Sector [Feb 5]
"A 16-member medical technology and health care delegation from Bavaria, Germany, is in the Kingdom to explore possibilities to join hands with local health care companies. 'Bavaria is well known for its hospitals and health care facilities and some of the members of the delegation have been meeting local heads of hospitals and health care providers to reach cooperation deals,' he told Arab News. 'Our delegates are seeking cooperation with local hospitals for management, technical know-how and exchange programs involving specialists, doctors and nurses,'.. ..Bayern International, represented by Wager, is a service enterprise of the Bavarian state government. Its tasks include promotion and intensification of international activities of Bavarian firms worldwide.." [more]

Saudi Mobily Founders Can Sell Shares to Foreigners [Feb 5]
"Founding shareholders of Saudi Arabian mobile telephone operator Etihad Etisalat 7020.SE (Mobily) will offer to sell 20 percent of the company to local and foreign investors, the company's CEO said on Tuesday. 'They are free to sell to whoever they want,' Chief Executive Khaled al-Kaf told Reuters.. ..Six Saudi institutional investors including the state-run Public Pension Agency and the General Organisation for Social Insurance (GOSI) have 45 percent of the firm's shares. 'Of course we want strategic investors, preferably in Saudi Arabia ... But we will not hesitate to look elsewhere depending on price offers and the quality of investors that are bidding,'.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Feb 4] ~~~~~~~~~

France to Help Evacuate Saudis Trapped in Chad [Feb 4]
"Saudi Arabia and France are working closely to evacuate Saudi citizens in Chad amid reports that fierce fighting was continuing between rebels and government forces in the former French colony. The Saudi and French foreign ministries are coordinating their efforts for immediate evacuation of Saudi nationals, senior Saudi and French officials said here yesterday.. ..Eight diplomats and employees of the Saudi Embassy in Ndjamena are holed up at the Saudi ambassador’s house, said the source, adding there are some Saudi citizens, who need urgent help to fly out of that country. The situation, he said, has become very serious after two members of a Saudi Embassy employee’s family were killed on Saturday.." [more]

Kuwait, Saudi to Increase Neutral Zone Oil Capacity [Feb 4]
"Kuwait and Saudi Arabia are on track to boost oil output capacity in the shared Neutral Zone between the two countries by 50,000 barrels a day by 2009, a Kuwaiti official said on Monday. The capacity boost would come entirely from the offshore area, taking the total capacity for the zone to around 624,000 bpd, said Bader al-Khashti, managing director of Kuwait Gulf Oil Company. Current output capacity at the onshore area was around 274,000 barrels per day.. ..Saudi Arabia and Kuwait share an estimated 550,000 barrels per day of output from the Neutral Zone, a region between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait that dates back to 1920s treaties to establish regional borders. Kuwait also hopes to have a development plan in place for the Kuwait and Saudi sectors of the massive Dorra gas field by the end of the year after it completes a seismic survey.." [more]

Cisco Wins Saudi Economic City Infrastructure Contract [Feb 4]
"US-based Cisco has won the contract to design the information and communications technology infrastructure for Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC). The company will also provide network consultancy and advisory services to the city's master developers, Emaar, the Economic City (EEC).. ..Cisco is already developing the communications network for the kingdom's Knowledge Economic City (KEC). KEC is expected to spend $266m on building the communications infrastructure to connect its 4.8 million square metre development, and a total of $6.6bn on information technology and telecommunications over 12 years.." [more]

Sharia Protects Rights of Women [Feb 4]
"Saudis rejected the gloomy picture of status of women in the country as drawn by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discriminations against Women. The Geneva-based committee, in a report released on Friday, said women in Saudi Arabia are the victims of systematic and pervasive discrimination across all aspects of social life.. ..Dr Misfer Al Qah'tani, deputy chairman of the Saudi National Human Rights Society (NHRS), an independent Saudi human rights body, said the status of women in Saudi Arabia is progressing remarkably.. ..Al Qah'tani admitted, however, that there are some obstacles in the implementation of some laws.." [more]

Journalists Shut Out From Madani's Shoura Session [Feb 4]
"Minister of Culture and Information Iyad Madani has reportedly given orders to the Shoura Council to ban Saudi journalists from attending the Shoura session in which he was to appear yesterday. Saudi journalists who made their way to attend the session were turned away.. ..Banning journalists from sessions involving ministers is not uncommon, but in this case journalists were shut out of a session involving the minister in charge of media communications in Saudi Arabia. Even the official Saudi Press Agency did not post any information on Madani's address to the Shoura as of yesterday evening.." [more]

Kingdom to Set Up First Car Manufacturing Plant [Feb 4]
"Saudi Arabia intends to establish its first car manufacturing plant in the eastern city of Dammam. The Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technological Regions (SACTR) has reached an agreement with the Gulf Automobile Manufacturing Company to set up the plant with a capital of SR375 million. Toufique Al-Rabeea, director general of SACTR, said the factory would be shifted to the new industrial city in Sudair, where three million square meters would be allocated for the facility. It will produce 300,000 cars in the second phase. Rabeea said there is good prospect for car manufacturing factories in the Kingdom, which currently imports vehicles worth more than SR22 billion annually. Car sales in 2008 are expected to rise by 27 percent compared to last year.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Feb 3] ~~~~~~~~~

World Islamic Body Urges More U.N. Action Over Gaza [Feb 3]
"The Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), which comprises 57 Muslim countries, said on Sunday it would step up action at the United Nations to stop Israel's blockade of Palestinians in Gaza.. ..A slight dampener on the meeting was that few OIC foreign ministers actually took up an OIC call to attend, including Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal, suggesting little desire among Saudi Arabia and its Arab allies to rally international action over the issue. Last month the U.N. Human Rights Council last month criticised "grave violations" by Israel in Gaza, which it has blockaded for several weeks in what it says is a response to rocket attacks by Gaza-based Palestinian militants.." [more]

Stocks Key to Opec's March Decision [Feb 3]
"Opec's output policy decision in March will depend on how much crude oil stocks have been drawn down during the winter, influential Saudi Oil Minister Ali Al Nuaimi told Al Arabiya television. Al Nuaimi said predictions of output decisions at the Opec meeting in March were premature, but inventories were currently at the low end of the five-year average range. 'I believe that by the second quarter, stocks will be near the mid-point of the five-year range,' Al Nuaimi told the station on the sidelines of the latest Opec meeting in Vienna.. ..Al Nuaimi said the second quarter was usually used to build up stocks drawn down during the winter, and how much leeway Opec would allow for stock build-ups in the spring would depend on how much fuel was used during the winter.." [more]

Two Saudi Embassy Staff Killed in Blast [Feb 3]
"The wife and daughter of a Saudi employee at the Saudi embassy in N’Djamena were killed yesterday when a bomb hit the ambassador’s residence, the Saudi foreign ministry announced.. ..The incident occurred as rebels seized Chad’s capital after intense fighting with government forces, and as President Idriss Deby Itno remained holed up in the presidential palace, a military source said. At the time of the explosion, all of the mission’s staff and their families were gathered in the residence in preparation for being evacuated.." [more]

King: Health Care Needs Will Be Met Regardless of Cost [Feb 3]
"Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah stated yesterday that the government would leave no stone unturned to strengthen the health sector. “Nothing is expensive when it comes to people’s health,” the king said, emphasizing the government’s readiness to meet the requirements of the health sector regardless of cost. King Abdullah made this comment after receiving World Health Organization’s (WHO) shield in appreciation of his efforts to combat smoking and for declaring Makkah and Madinah as tobacco-free cities.. ..“There is nothing impossible and nothing expensive for you,” the king told the health officials. “You can tell me anything you want (for the betterment of this sector) and I will accept it with an open mind for the welfare of the Saudi people,”.." [more]

Foreign Minister Receives Foreign Minister of Cyprus [Feb 3]
"Prince Saud Alfaisal, the foreign minister, received here today foreign minister of Cyprus Dr. Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis and the accompanying delegation currently visiting the kingdom. During the meeting, they discussed ways of boosting bilateral relations between the two countries and reviewed regional and international issues of common interest.." [more]

5,000 National Guards Help Secure Oil Facilities [Feb 3]
"A total of 5, 000 National Guard soldiers are supporting security forces guarding oil facilities and foreign consulates in the Eastern Province, said Prince Meshari Bin Saud Bin Abdul Aziz, undersecretary at the National Guard in the Eastern Sector. Prince Meshari said that while that Ministry of Interior is solely responsible for security, the National Guard, just like the other Saudi security divisions, have a supportive role in protecting the country's vital interests and strategic facilities. The Ministry of Interior through the Facilities Protection Administration has trained 7,000 recruits for protecting oil installations and other vital facilities, particularly in the Eastern Province. The ministry plans to 
train as many as 30,000 recruits to safeguard national and strategic facilities.." [more]

Home Away From Home [Feb 3]
"They are Americans yet they call Saudi Arabia their home. They were born and brought up here. They have a membership of 4,500 Americans. They call themselves Aramco brats. Three of these Aramco brats took upon themselves to rectify the image of their Home, Saudi Arabia. So Todd Nims, Mathew Miller and Zach Nims produced a 90-minute feature length documentary, "HOME - The Aramco Brats' Story." It is about the Kingdom as seen through the eyes of over 100 of expatriate children that grew up here. "The movie is called ‘Home' because this is the way people who lived in the Kingdom and grew up here feel," explained Todd to the Saudi Gazette.." [more]

Grand Mufti Asks Govt to Fix Price Problem [Feb 3]
"Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh, the Kingdom’s grand mufti and top religious authority, yesterday urged the government to fix prices of essential commodities in order to control rising prices. “Every effort should be made to contain rising prices of goods all over the Kingdom,” the mufti said in comments published yesterday. “When we check prices of goods we can clearly see the greediness of traders who increase prices without any justification.” He said increasing prices without any genuine reason was against the teachings of Islam. “There is nothing wrong in making profit but it should be within a reasonable limit and it should not harm others.”.." [more]

BMG Index Turnover Up 6.9% [Feb 3]
"The BMG Saudi Index started this week on a negative note, declining by 1.4 percent, to close yesterday’s trading session at 513.63 points. The market turnover advanced by 6.9 percent to reach SR6.3 billion ($1.7 billion), with most of the investments directed toward selling, forcing most of the stocks to depreciate in value.. ..The two leading shares, Saudi 
Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC) and Al-Rajhi Bank, were among the session’s losers, pulling the BMG Saudi Index down due to the decline in their share prices by 2.1 percent and 0.5 percent, respectively.." [more]

Jan 27 - Feb 2, 2008

~~~~~~~~ [ Feb 2] ~~~~~~~~~

Bomb Hits Residence of Saudi Ambassador to Chad's Residence, Killing 2  [Feb 2]
"A bomb hit the residence of the Saudi ambassador to Chad on Saturday, killing the wife and daughter of an embassy staffer taking shelter from the fighting between the government and rebel forces, according to a foreign ministry statement. The statement carried by the official Saudi press agency quoted an unnamed official as saying that all members of the Saudi mission to Chad had gathered with their families at the ambassador's home as they waited to be evacuated because of the violence.. ..The nationality of those killed was not immediately known.." [more]

Lebanese Druze Leader to Meet Saudi King [Feb 2]
"Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt will discuss the country's deepening political crisis with King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia this week, Lebanon's information minister said on Saturday. Jumblatt, a prominent lawmaker from the anti-Syrian parliamentary majority and leader of the Progressive Socialist Party, arrived in the oil-rich kingdom late on Friday for a three-day visit, Lebanese Information Minister Ghazi al-Aridi told AFP. Jumblatt is expected to meet the Saudi monarch on Sunday for talks on the 'latest developments in Lebanon,'.." [more]

Saudi Air Force to Participate in Military Exercise in US [Feb 2]
"In line with the approval of Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz, the Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, the participation of the Royal Saudi Air force in the exercise of the Red Flag-3, 2008, due to take place at Niles base in the United States, the Royal Saudi Air Force Planes which will participate in the Exercise arrived on Friday at the Base. The planes were received by commander of the group of the Royal Saudi Air Force for the mission of the Red Flag-3, 2008.. ..Highlighting the efficiency and capability of the Saudi pilots, al-Assiri said this participations is the third participation for the Royal Saudi Air Force in the exercises of the Red Flag.." [more]

Middle East Sets Focus on Asia [Feb 2]
"..Shifting geographical priorities are combining with the weak US dollar to persuade cash-rich Middle Eastern investors to refocus their portfolios on Asia, including established markets such as Japan, the giant Chinese market and emerging markets such as Vietnam.. ..Energy-hungry Asian countries are desperate to root themselves in the oil-rich Gulf, which will probably produce the world's last barrel of oil. Meanwhile, Gulf states have looked on askance at the rising tide of rhetoric from some Western nations regarding the apparent lack of transparency of sovereign wealth funds.." [more]

No Need to Change Oil Output – Al-Naimi [Feb 2]
"Saudi Oil Minister Ali Al-Naimi said he saw no need to change OPEC's output ceiling during its ministerial meeting Friday, as crude prices tumbled on fears of an economic slowdown.. Most members of OPEC, which pumps 40 percent of world oil, said Thursday that they wished to see official daily output kept at 29.67 million oil barrels. A freeze would be a snub to the United States, the world's biggest energy consumer, after President George W. Bush recently urged OPEC to hike output to help bring down high oil prices that stunt economic growth and fuel inflation.." [more]

Naif Surprised by Inaction on Int’l Anti-Terror Center [Feb 2]
"Minister of Interior Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz on Thursday expressed surprise over world inaction on a Saudi proposal for setting up an international center to combat terrorism under the umbrella of the United Nations. The proposal had received worldwide welcome when it was first presented by King Abdullah, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, at the International Anti-Terrorism Conference hosted in Riyadh in 2005. Prince Naif said the fight against terrorism should not focus on terrorist operations but rather on the roots of the scourge. If the roots of terrorism were not dried up, the problem would continue to persist.." [more]

Chairman of Saudi Arabian Parliament to Visit Azerbaijan [Feb 2]
"..the chairman of the Saudi Arabian Parliament will visit Azerbaijan by invitation of Azerbaijani Milli Medjlis speaker Oqtay Asadov. The visitor from Saudi Arabia will take part in jubilee arrangements on the creation of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic as well as the 90th anniversary of Azerbaijani parliament to be marked in May of 2008. Sheikh Salekh will hold a number of meetings with Azerbaijani officials, including with President Ilham Aliyev, and discuss issues of development and deepening of bilateral relations between the two countries.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Feb 1] ~~~~~~~~~

Saudi Women Face Systematic Discrimination -- UN Report [Feb 1]
"Women in Saudi Arabia are victims of systematic and pervasive discrimination across all aspects of social life, a United Nations report said on Friday. The UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women urged the Saudi government to take concrete steps to enforce gender equality and end violence against women.. ..Saudia Arabia is governed by Wahabism, a strict interpretation of Islam that -- in the name of Sharia law -- imposes almost complete separation of the sexes. As such, it is illegal for a woman to be in the company of a man who is not in her immediate family. Women suffer from domestic violence, poor healthcare provision and high levels of illiteracy, the committee said in its report.They are also shackled by the obligation to have a male "tutor" or guardian to accompany them for many daily tasks, it found.." [more]

Saudi Arabia Insists It Will Not Depeg Riyal [Feb 1]
"Hamad Al Sayyari, the governor of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA), has reiterated the Kingdom's current policy of pegging the riyal with the dollar. He said the slowdown in the US economy will not have much effect on Saudi Arabia. Al Sayyari said there was no change in the Saudi currency exchange rate. 'There is no change in the current policy of the riyal exchange rate,' he said while addressing a forum on financing small and medium-scale enterprises in Riyadh.. ..Asked about what the Saudi authorities will do in case the US Federal Reserve again cuts interest rates by 50 points, Al Sayyari noted that if this happens it will immediately be studied and a decision will be taken.." [more]

Saudi Mortgage Law Nearly Ready [Feb 1]
"Saudi Arabia's advisory Shura Council is examining draft proposals for a long-awaited mortgage law and mortgage financing regulations that will allow more Saudis to own property, the finance ministry said. 'The issuing of mortgage financing regulations, which have been drafted by committee... and are currently being reviewed by the Shura Council... will help establish the whole regulatory framework for the financing of this sector,'.. ..The mortgage law is expected to allow much wider access to property ownership, in a country where only one out of five Saudis owns a home.." [more]

Internet Disruption May Last 10 Days [Feb 1]
"Disruption to communications in Saudi Arabia and throughout the Middle East and South Asia continues due to a cut in two submarine cables in the Mediterranean Sea. Both the FLAG and SEA-ME-WE 4 undersea cables have been cut, off the coast of Egypt near Alexandria.. ..Several Saudi businessmen reported that yesterday afternoon, when placing telephone calls to Europe, their efforts were met again and again with the recorded message 'all lines in this route are busy.' In the coming week, communication across the region will be challenging. It is expected that the problem will grow as companies return to business in Saudi Arabia on Saturday and try to use online services.." [more]

Women-Only Hospitals [Feb 1]
"..Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh, the grand mufti of Saudi Arabia, recently proposed the establishment of women-only hospitals during a symposium in Riyadh entitled 'Applying religion in medical issues.' Describing intermingling of sexes at hospitals as a “disaster” that infringes upon the modesty of Muslim societies, the mufti said medical professionals should only treat patients of the same gender except in time of emergencies.. ..The idea of having single-gender hospitals has attracted mixed reactions from women. Some women feel such hospitals would be convenient, while others are against them.." [more]

Oil Scene: All Options Are Open at OPEC Talks [Feb 1]
"The 147th (extraordinary) OPEC ministerial moot in Vienna today is taking place amid contradictory push and pulls and in a sensitive environment. OPEC ministerials are often under microscope, and this time too it is no different. The world is awaiting the outcome. With President Bush, Samuel Bodman, the IEA, all in chorus for the cartel to open its taps, it’s definitely a tough call. Only a couple of days back the US Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman made it clear that the US would be able to make do if OPEC declined to boost oil production. If OPEC nations fail to raise production, “then that’s what they decide and we’ll move forward,” Bodman said. Clearly OPEC doesn’t want high oil prices to kill the world economy since that would cut crude demand. But if production is increased and the economy stalls anyway, oil prices could collapse — a dicey situation indeed.." [more]

Work Out Change From Within — Brundtland to Saudi Women [Feb 1]
"Former Prime Minister of Norway Gro Harlem Brundtland, who is also the Special Envoy on Climate Change for the United Nations Secretary-General, visited Saudi Arabia last week to speak at the Global Competitiveness Forum. Brundtland spoke to Arab News about the condition of Saudi women.. ..Brundtland is aware of the happenings in the Middle East and the talk of reform in Saudi Arabia. In terms of democracy and bettering women’s conditions in developed countries, the UN can play an important role in opinion making, she said. However, she strongly believes that change should come from within. 'There is no one outside that can force change on Saudi Arabia. The change should come from Saudis themselves,' she said, adding that young Saudis could start change by asking difficult questions.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Jan 31] ~~~~~~~~~

OPEC Favors Holding Output Amid US Pressure for Hike [Jan 31]
"OPEC ministers might debate whether pumping more oil would help revive the world economy when they meet here even though ministers favored no change, the cartel's chief said on Thursday. US President George W. Bush recently called on the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries to increase output at its production meeting in the Austrian capital due Friday, to help reduce high oil prices which he claims are weighing on an already weak economy.. ..On Wednesday, OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest crude producer, voiced satisfaction at the present levels of crude supply and demand, while other key members said they did not believe there was a need to change output. 'The fundamentals are sound,' Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Nuaimi had told reporters.." [more]

Saudi Women See a Brighter Road on Rights [Jan 31]
"Buoyed by recent advances in women's rights, advocates for the right of women to drive in Saudi Arabia -- the only country in the world that prohibits female drivers -- say they believe the ban will be lifted this year.. ..Since taking the throne in 2005, Abdullah has championed women's right to work and often takes official trips overseas with delegations of female journalists and academics. The king has said that he does not oppose allowing women to drive but that society needs to accept the idea first.. ..In November, the foreign minister, Prince Saud al-Faisal, told Britain's Channel 4 news that there was no Saudi law prohibiting women from driving.." [more]

Saudi Wage Boost to Cost $16bn [Jan 31]
"Increases in public sector wages, pensions and welfare benefits announced by Saudi Arabia this week will cost the government 60 billion riyals ($16bn), the finance minister said yesterday. Ibrahim Al Assaf said that wages and pensions for public sector employees would be increased by five per cent per year for the next three years. These increases will take immediate effect starting January, he said. The original announcement had said the increases would take place over the next three years without giving details. Saudi Arabia also raised social insurance benefits by ten percent over a three-year period.." [more]

Saudi Investment Rules Attract Foreign Backers [Jan 31]
"Saudi Arabia's investment climate draws international intrest, particularly after its accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) two years ago.. ..With the booming economy and increased cash flow, the Saudi purchasing power is stronger than ever, he said. 'The high purchasing power in any market means that such a market is strong and healthy. Therefore, it offers any corporate entity the opportunity to avail of the enormous investment potential as consumer needs normally grow in line with the growth of the purchasing power. This positive feature of the Saudi market places it among our most promising global markets,'.." [more]

Emal to Set up $5 Billion Smelter in Saudi Arabia [Jan 31]
"Emal International, a joint venture between Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Development Company and Dubai Aluminium Company (Dubal), will set up an aluminium smelter complex in Saudi Arabia at cost of $5 billion. The plant’s production capacity will be 700,000 tonnes of raw aluminum in the first phase. The companies have signed an agreement Emaar Economic City to set up the project in the latter’s King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) development, according to a joint statement. The agreement has the approval of the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (Sagia).." [more]

Petrochemicals Boost Saudi Stock Index [Jan 31]
"Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul all share index closed higher for a second consecutive day, helped by gains in Saudi Kayan Petrochemicals Co and Saudi Basic Industries Corp (SABIC). The benchmark, which gained more than 40 percent last year, closed up 1.36 percent at 9,675.02 points. But it is down almost 18 percent since Jan. 15. Kayan gained 6.93 percent and SABIC 0.61 percent.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Jan 30] ~~~~~~~~~

Saudi Probe Put Al-Qaeda Info at Risk [Jan 30]
"Vital information on Al-Qaeda would have been lost if an investigation into alleged corruption by BAE Systems during an arms deal with Saudi Arabia was pursued, Britain’s head of overseas intelligence warned ministers, according to a report released Tuesday. An annual report by the UK’s Intelligence and Security Committee revealed ministers were told the inquiry could have had damaging repercussions on the fight against terrorism, and that British lives would be put at risk if Saudi Arabia ended intelligence-sharing.. ..According to the report MI6 had raised objected to the investigation before the SFO decided to drop the case. Its head, John Scarlett told the committee 'There were threats made to the existence of the cooperation (and) there was reason to take those threats seriously.'.." [more]

Saudi Claims Inflation Will Stabilize at 4% This Year [Jan 30]
"Saudi Arabia's central bank governor said on Wednesday he expected inflation in the world's largest oil exporter to "stabilise" this year at last year's 4.1%.. ..Average inflation in Saudi Arabia, which pegs its riyal to the US dollar, hit a 16-year high of 6.5% in December, partly driven by a rise in global commodity prices and the declining US currency. Al-Sayyari said the kingdom would revise its reverse repurchase rate, which it uses to track US Federal Reserve policy moves, depending on economic conditions. The governor's prediction contrasts with that of investment bank Merrill Lynch, which on Sunday warned that inflation in the kingdom could average 6% this year, up from an average of 4% in 2007.." [more]

HK Offers Saudis 1-Month Free Visa to Woo Investment [Jan 30]
"Starting from next Monday, all Saudi citizens will have the opportunity to receive a one-month free visa to Hong Kong in a move aimed to encourage locals and businessmen to visit the Asian business hub, Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Donald Tsang said yesterday. Tsang, who arrived on Monday in the Kingdom on his first visit to the country, met Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah in Riyadh. Accompanied by dozens of top executives representing the finest of Hong Kong's business enterprises, his mission was to boost bilateral cooperation and seek joint business ventures in the Kingdom.." [more]

OPEC Won't Raise Quota, May Consider Cut [Jan 30]
" OPEC won't raise output quotas at a meeting this week and may need to cut production in the months ahead because of slowing world economic growth and rising oil inventories, Qatar's energy minister said. `'The world has sufficient supply, even oversupplied in some places,'.. ..The 13-nation group, dominated by its largest producer, Saudi Arabia, will discuss output targets on Feb. 1, then again in Vienna on March 5. An economic slowdown risks further curbing demand for OPEC oil, which declines anyway during the second quarter as the end of winter in the Northern Hemisphere reduces heating needs.." [more]

Saudi Arabia Kills 158,000 Chickens After Detecting Bird Flu Virus [Jan 30]
"Saudi Arabia said it had killed some 158,000 chickens after the deadly H5N1 bird flu strain was found at an infected farm. The birds were killed in Kharaj province, south of the capital, Riyadh, according to a statement by the Agriculture Ministry. About 475 workers were tested, but no human infections were found. The ministry also said more than 4.5 million fowl have been killed in provinces around the capital, but it did not specify when the killing took place. Bird flu resurfaced in November in Kharaj province, in another blow to Saudi Arabia's $10 billion poultry industry.." [more]

Aramco Ranked No. 1 in the Muslim World [Jan 30]
"Saudi Aramco, the world’s top oil producer, is once again the largest business enterprise in the Muslim world, according to business strategy e-magazine Dinar Standard. Its DS100, a ranking of the Top 100 businesses in the 57 member countries of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), is published annually.. ..The ranking showcases the continuing growth of the Muslim world economies with $1.08 trillion in total revenues and a healthy 14.6 percent in revenue growth compared to the previous year. Due to rising oil prices, which are hovering around $90 a barrel currently, the 20 integrated oil and gas companies on the list continued their dominance representing 65 percent of the total DS100 company revenues.." [more]

Recruitment of Foreign Manpower Jumps 35% [Jan 30]
"The number of visas issued by the Labor Ministry for the recruitment of skilled foreign workers increased by 34.57 percent last year compared to visas issued in 2006, Labor Minister Dr. Ghazi Al-Gosaibi said. Gosaibi attributed the increase in recruitment visas to growing development and industrial projects across the Kingdom.. ..The tremendous increase in recruitment visas comes in response to the growing demand for skilled foreign manpower to carry out new industrial, educational and real estate projects in various parts of the country and implement the recently launched mega-economic cities in Rabigh, Hail, Madinah and Jizan. The increase was also a response to the complaints of foreign investors that they had no skilled workers to carry out their projects in the Kingdom.." [more]

GE Unveils Multibillion Growth Strategies in the Kingdom [Jan 30]
"General Electric Company (GE), the $173 billion diversified technology giant, will support Saudi Arabian Airlines’ ambitious plan to launch overhaul services of engines, which will finally lead to the building of a new state-of-the-art facility at the Jeddah-based King Abdul Aziz Airport within the next 18 months, Jeffrey R. Immelt, GE’s board chairman & chief executive officer, said here yesterday during a press conference. Under the agreement, valued at about $1.4 billion, GE will supply materials to the Kingdom’s national carrier for 14 years from the start of the new overhaul facility. Immelt said 'the new state-of-the-art facility would serve the Kingdom, the Middle East and Africa regions, where our cumulative revenue has gone up by 45 percent to $8 billion in 2006.'.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Jan 29] ~~~~~~~~~

Saudi to Step Up Welfare Payments [Jan 29]
"Saudi Arabia will raise wages, welfare payments and subsidies to counter rising inflation. Resentment over the cost of the living led the king's advisers to summon the central bank governor and finance minister next month to discuss the peg, which has forced the central bank to slash rates by 150 basis points since September.. ..The cabinet also agreed to raise social insurance benefits by 10 per cent and subsidise half the cost of shipping and some administrative expenses including those for driving licences and passports.. ..Unable to raise interest rates, many of Saudi Arabia's neighbours are also resorting to subsidies and price controls to cushion their populations from rising prices.." [more]

UAE Waits for Saudi Signal on Revaluation [Jan 29]
"King Fahd of Saudi Arabia is to convene a meeting of the Shura council on February 10 to hear presentations from senior officials about the revaluation of the riyal and future of the dollar-peg. It is highly likely that the UAE and the three other dollar-linked GCC states will follow any Saudi move, if it happens. What hastened the consideration of the dollar-peg and revaluation - apart from mounting inflation - was probably the surprise interest rate cut by the US Federal Reserve last week which weakened the dollar again, and through the dollar-peg all the Gulf currencies. The idiocy of having the interest rates of the booming GCC economies set at a wholly inappropriate level by the slowing US economy is clear once again for all to see.." [more]

Saudi Plans Airport Cities Near Major Airports [Jan 29]
"Saudi Arabia plans to develop 'airport cities' around the kingdom's three major airports under private sector participation schemes.. ..Abdullah M N Rehaimi, president of Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), and Lars Thunell, executive vice president and CEO of IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, today signed an advisory agreement to help mobilise private investment for sustainable, commercially oriented developments around the airports. The projects will help the airports make better use of the assets within their boundaries, improving operations and creating jobs while 
helping GACA achieve financial sustainability.. ..'IFC is helping Saudi Arabia to diversify its economy by increasing private sector participation and by developing its airports into economic hubs for the country.'.." [more]

Birds Culled in Saudi as New Bird Flu Case Found [Jan 29]
"Saudi authorities have culled nearly 160,000 birds after a new case of the deadly strain of bird flu was found on a farm outside Riyadh.. ..Authorities killed thousands of birds in al-Kharj and other sites near Riyadh in November, as inspection teams combed farms and markets around the city of about 4 million people. In March, Saudi Arabia said the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu had been discovered in peacocks, turkeys, ostriches and parrots at a house in the east of the kingdom and that an unspecified number of birds in the area had been culled. The Saudi government says it has large stocks of Tamiflu anti-flu tablets in case the virus spreads to humans.." [more]

Reformists Denounce Rights Abuses in Saudi [Jan 29]
"Saudi reformists are to send a new petition to King Abdullah calling for the release of fellow activists and an end to the harassment of bloggers and journalists, one of them said. The petition also demands the promulgation of a law "guaranteeing people's rights and freedom... on the basis of Islamic tenets," said Mohammed bin Hudeijan al-Harbi, one of 12 Islamist reformists who drafted the document. The petition, which complains that the scope of freedom and 'peaceful expression' in the ultra-conservative kingdom has narrowed over the past year, is timed to mark one year since nine reformists were 
arrested.." [more]

Institute Takes Saudi Arms Deal to the American People [Jan 29]
" In its ongoing opposition to the proposed $20 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia, the Institute on Religion and Public Policy has launched a new online petition demanding that Congress halt the deal. The petition can be found at www.religionandpolicy.org. 'While news reports and analysts remain skeptical that Congress will block the deal, we have faith that the American people will voice their inherent opposition to a deal that threatens American security, destabilizes the region, and arms a country that is ideologically and practically opposed to all America values,' commented Institute on Religion and Public Policy President Joseph K. Grieboski. The petition, addressed to the leaders of the Senate and House and available at www.religionandpolicy.org, 'respectfully demand[s you remember the words President Bush has forgotten and vote NO on authorizing the $20 billion arms sale to Saudi Arabia… We've made this mistake before - let's not make it again.'.." [more]

Saudi Arabian Bank Profits Fall 14.5% [Jan 29]
"Profits of Saudi banks declined by 14.5 per cent in 2007. Eleven banks realised net profits of 30.21 billion Saudi riyals compared to 35.34 billion Saudi riyals in the previous year. The profits of banks in 2006 increased by 31.2 per cent over 2005. Four banks - Al Jazira, the Saudi Investment Bank, Al Saudi Al Hollandi and Al Bilad reported a decline of more than 50 per cent in profits in 2007.. ..The profits of the ten banks listed on the Saudi stock exchange have declined by 16.8 per cent in 2007. The profits of these banks amounted to 24.1 billion Saudi riyals compared to 29 billion Saudi riyals in 2006. Riyad Bank is the only Saudi bank that reported an increase in its profits in 2007.." [more]

Kingdom Encourages Use of High-Tech on Climate Change [Jan 29]
"Saudi Arabia has been encouraging greater usage of high-tech solutions to deal with climate change, Prince Abdul Aziz bin Salman, assistant minister of petroleum and mineral resources for petroleum affairs, said. 'These solutions include the advanced technology for separation and storage of Carbon dioxide, especially after fossil-fuel proved to be the first option that will dominate the world market during the 21st century,'.. ..'Although the Kingdom will not need the technology of separation and storage of carbon dioxide for the enhanced extraction of the oil in the upcoming years, but it will make many researches and upgrade this technology to have its fair share in confronting the climate change,' he said. 'The oil industry in the GCC states are in need of building partnership with research institutions in order to find solutions in the field of geological storage and increase oil production as well as to reduce the cost of separating carbon dioxide from immovable resources,'.." [more]

GCC Should Not Drop Dollar Peg [Jan 29]
"Gulf Arab nations should hold back from dropping their dollar pegs or revaluing their currencies because supply constraints rather than more expensive imports are driving inflation, HSBC Holdings Plc Middle East CEO said. 'Most of the inflationary pressures are not because of the dollar peg, but because of supply constraints ... a lack of raw materials and workers,' Chief Executive Officer Youssef Nasr told Reuters yesterday on the sidelines of an infrastructure conference in Dubai.. ..Any revaluation might undermine investor confidence in the region, Nasr said.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Jan 28] ~~~~~~~~~

Hamas Leader Meshaal in Saudi, Discusses Gaza [Jan 28]
"Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal met Saudi officials in Riyadh on Monday as part of a Saudi bid to mediate the return of Gaza, under Israeli blockade, to Palestinian Authority control, Saudi and Palestinian officials said. The Syria-based leader of Hamas, a Palestinian Islamist group which controls the Gaza Strip, held talks with Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal after arriving in Riyadh on Sunday night, a Saudi source said. Arab efforts are under way to return control of the border crossing between Gaza and Egypt to the Fatah group of Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas.. ..There has been no mention of Meshaal's trip in the Saudi state media and it was not clear if he would meet King Abdullah.." [more]

U.N. Rights Expert Will Examine Violence Against Women in Saudi Arabia [Jan 28]
"..Yakin Erturk, the U.N. special investigator for violence against women, will visit the kingdom from Feb. 4-13 and meet with government and civil society representatives in Riyadh, Jeddah and Damam, according to a statement by the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights.. ..Earlier this month, Saudi officials told the U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women that the kingdom would likely lift the ban on women driving in the near future and was taking measures to address the issue of domestic violence. A report last year by New York-based Human Rights Watch found many female foreign workers in Saudi Arabia are physically abused by their employers.." [more]

Saudi to Debate Riyal-Dollar Peg [Jan 28]
"Saudi Arabia's finance minister and central bank governor will appear before a council to discuss the riyal's peg to the US dollar and a surge in inflation, a council member said yesterday. Inflation in Saudi, which pegs its riyal to the dollar, rose to a 16-year high of 6.5 per cent in December, partly driven by a rise in global commodity prices and the declining US currency.. ..'The finance minister and the central bank governor were invited to debate these issues, discuss this dollar peg debate, its repercussion and what the government plans to do about it,' Zulfa said. The 120-member Shura can review draft legislation and make recommendations, which are not binding on the government. Saudi Arabia has been trying to offset the effect of higher prices on its 25 million people through measures such as subsidies on imported rice and baby milk, introduced last month by order of the king.." [more]

US Roadmap Monitor Meets Israeli FM [Jan 28]
"Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni on Monday met a former US general appointed by US President George W. Bush to monitor compliance with the Middle East peace blueprint known as the roadmap. During the talks with Lieutenant General William Fraser, Livni reiterated Israel's position that the Palestinians must crack down on militants in order to implement any peace deal, her ministry said in a statement. 'The implementation of the roadmap is crucial for the success of the process... because the road to the creation of a Palestinian state runs through guaranteeing Israel's security,' Livni was quoted as telling Fraser. Bush earlier this month appointed Fraser to monitor the implementation of the first stage of the 2003 internationally-drafted blueprint, which calls for Palestinians to end violence and for Israelis to freeze settlement construction in occupied Palestinian land.." [more]

PetroRabigh Opens Trading With a Bang [Jan 28]
"Rabigh Refining and Petrochemical Co. (PetroRabigh) shares began trading Sunday with a major bang, making up almost half of the day's trading volume even as the stock closed almost 150 percent higher from its initial public offering (IPO) price. At closing bell, PetroRabigh was at SR52.25 per share on a turnover of 228,520,778 shares or 49.9 percent of the 457,547,779 total shares traded for the day. The Tadawul All Share Index (TASI) gained 356.58 points to 9,789.07 points on a total value turnover of SR19.689 billion and with 103 of the 110 shares traded posting gains. PetroRabigh, a joint venture between Saudi Aramco and Japan's Sumitomo Chemicals with a 37.5 percent interest each, sold the remaining 25 percent or about 19 million shares to Saudi nationals this month at an IPO price of SR21 per share.." [more]

Women’s Rights Body in Pipeline [Jan 28]
"Women’s rights activists in the Kingdom are eagerly anticipating the establishment of Ansar Al-Marah — the first civil society dedicated to supporting women’s rights in Saudi Arabia. Suliman Al-Salman, founder of Ansar Al-Marah, told Arab News that the society aims to create institutional and individual change that would improve the lives of women in the Kingdom.. ..Regarding the criticism of some people who may feel that the society aims to Westernize Saudi Arabia, Al-Salman said, 'Helping women to get their rights, which are ignored or suppressed by law or customs doesn’t conflict with Islam, which does not prevent women from utilizing their own money, driving or choosing their own husbands.'.." [more]

US University Explores Possible Links [Jan 28]
" high-level team from the University of Colorado is in the Kingdom to explore the possibilities of collaborating, and developing joint programs, with Saudi universities. Invited by Zuhair Hamed Fayez, an alumni of the university and president of Zuhair Fayez Partnership, the Jeddah-based architectural and IT consultants, the team is led by Dr. M. Roy Wilson, chancellor of the university’s campus in Denver.. ..One area in which Dr. Wilson is particularly interested in establishing collaboration is medicine. Colorado University at Denver is currently building a multibillion-dollar dedicated medical campus on a former military base in nearby Aurora. When finished, it will be one of the largest and most prestigious education, patient care and research centers in the US.." [more]

GCC Officials Discuss Nuclear Energy Plans [Jan 28]
"Delegates from the GCC countries began discussions on the use of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes at a regional meeting in Doha yesterday. The participants said they would issue recommendations tomorrow at the end of their meeting.. ..in Doha last month. A “historic” decision to establish a committee to study the feasibility of the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes was also taken at the meeting. Al-Ali told the delegates: 'There is a huge responsibility on your shoulders as the decisions you take here would be the first step towards building such a vital and strategic project. I am sure you are going to live up to the responsibility.' He said the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has endorsed the feasibility of the project to produce electricity and desalinated water.." [more]

Peak water in Saudi Arabia [Jan 28]
"..Peak water may have taken place in Saudi Arabia already more than 10 years ago. According to recent news from Reuters (2008) the Saudi government has decided to stop all subsidies to agriculture. It means abandoning a policy that had obtained self sufficiency in food production and that had allowed Saudi Arabia to be a major food exporter in the past. According to Reuters, 'The kingdom aims to rely entirely on imports by 2016'. The desert is going to win back the land it had ceded to agriculture.. ..It seems that the depletion of the aquifers has left Saudi Arabia with few options other than transforming oil into food. Selling oil and using the profits for importing food is the only possibility in the short term. In the future, however, it may be possible to replace aquifers with water from desalination.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Jan 27] ~~~~~~~~~

Saudi Council to Quiz Finance Minister, Central Banker on Peg [Jan 27]
"Saudi Arabia's finance minister and central bank governor will appear before a council that advises the king to discuss the riyal's peg to the U.S. dollar and a surge in inflation, a newspaper reported on Sunday. Inflation in the world's biggest oil exporter, which pegs its riyal currency to the dollar, surged to a 16-year peak of 6.5 percent in December, partly driven by a rise in global commodity prices and a weak U.S. currency. The Shura Council, whose members are appointed by King Abdullah, will hold a meeting next month with Finance Minister Ibrahim al-Assaf and Hamad Saud al-Sayyari, the governor of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency.. ..'The session will raise key financial and economic issues, mainly the debate over de-pegging the riyal currency from the U.S. dollar and the rise in inflation rates,'.." [more]

Kingdom to Take Delivery of Eurofighters Next Year [Jan 27]
"Saudi Arabia will receive 72 Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft next year, said Deputy Minister of Defense and Aviation for Military Affairs Prince Khaled ibn Sultan. The Eurofighter Typhoon is a twin-engine multipurpose canard-delta strike fighter aircraft. The aircraft is used by the German Luftwaffe, the Italian Air Force, the Spanish Air Force and the UK’s Royal Air Force. It is built in Britain, Germany, Italy and Spain by a consortium involving BAE (BAE Systems), EADS (The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company) and Finmeccanica. The 4.43 billion pound ($8.86 billion) agreement was signed by the government of Saudi Arabia and Britain on Sept. 11 last year.." [more]

Israeli PM and Palestinian President to Discuss Border Crisis [Jan 27]
"Israeli prime minister and Palestinian president are expected to meet on Sunday and discuss the border crisis. Meanwhile, both Hamas and Fatah have accepted invitations to hold separate talks with the Egyptian government to discuss the Gaza border, which has been breached to allow blockaded Palestinians into Egypt. The border, which was initially breached by Hamas fighters, remained open for the fifth day on Sunday, though Egyptian security forces blocked Gazans from driving beyond the border town of Rafah.." [more]

Trend Micro Hosts IT Security Event for Growing Jeddah [Jan 27]
"New technology from Trend Micro, a leader in network antivirus and Internet content security software and services. Saudi Paramount Computer Systems and Trend Micro will extend their expertise to end-users in the Kingdom with an exclusive security update and solutions event on Monday, 28th January, at the Le Meridian hotel, Jeddah.. ..Security experts from Trend Micro will present the latest security solutions and product information for enterprises and SMBs.." [more]

BMG Saudi Index Starts the Week Up by 1 Percent [Jan 27]
"The BMG Saudi Index switched its performance; rising in yesterday’s trading session by 1 percent to 509.78 points after the fourth quarter of 2007 rebalance took place. The market turnover, however, decreased to SR6.9 billion ($ 1.8 billion), down by 1.4 percent from SR7 billion ($1.9 billion) in Wednesday’s trading. The rebalance of the BMG Saudi Index introduced 3 new sectors; the Banking sector, the Electricity sector, and the Telecommunications sector. Only the Insurance sector ended the first trading session of this week on a negative note, declining by 5.4 percent, while the Electricity sector stood still. The best performer was the Services sector, rising by 2.6 percent, whereas the Telecommunications sector advanced by 1.8 percent.." [more]

Saudi Hawks Lure Aerobatics Fans With Spectacular Al Ain Show [Jan 27]
"The Saudi Hawks team today wowed thousands of spectators at the Al Ain International Aerobatics Championships – which is being held under the patronage of HH General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Formed. In a routine which incorporates 24 different formations, the Saudi Hawks are the only team to have ever lifted consecutive gold awards in Al Ain, with their 2004 and 2005 triumphs gaining the team 
worldwide popularity.." [more]

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