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Saudi Arabia Urges U.S. to Change Course in Iraq [Jan 6]
"Saudi Arabia has urged the United States to change course in Iraq and warned against the break-up of the country along ethnic or religious lines amid growing sectarian violence.. ..'The coalition forces in Iraq
should review the aims of their presence and the strategy of remaining there because the question that should be asked is: what have these forces achieved since their arrival on Iraqi land?' Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul-Aziz told the London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper.." [more]

Saudi Tightens Freight Security [Jan 6]
"X-ray and security tapes of shipments will become mandatory in Saudi Arabia from May 2007 as per a new cargo and freight security initiative. The Saudi Arabian Civil Aviation Authority (Sacaa) has said the new programme of 'appointed freighter to all air cargo agencies and offices' will apply.. ..Businessmen need to fulfil additional requirements in accordance with the Authority's specifications. Foremost of these is securing X-ray detective devices to detect the contents of the shipment and to provide security tapes for packing the shipments.." [more]

Saudi Shares Market Commences Business After Eid-Break [Jan 6]
"The Saudi Shares Market will commence its business here later today after Eid-Break. Today is the first transaction for the year 2007. the Saudi shares market ended its transaction last year at 7,993 points. The market lost 53% of its value last year compared with a year earlier following the dramatic decrease on February 29 and the month of October last year.. ..In terms of value of shares traded and number of deals executed, the industrial sector was the most active sectors.." [more]

Empowering Women in Saudi Media [Jan 6]
"At a recent UNDP seminar in Riyadh on the role of the media in human development, one of the workshops was on the role of the media in empowering women. The participants agreed that Saudi media have failed in empowering women but there have been efforts in the past few years to amend that.. ..While they admitted that there has been an increased interest and focus on women’s issues in the media, the coverage generally remains limited, superficial and censored.." [more]

Negative Trend in GCC Stock Markets Partially Reverses [Jan 6]
"The negative trend in GCC markets, set in October and accelerating in November, was partially reversed in December as five of the six GCC markets ended the month higher.. ..The largest market, Saudi Arabia, was lower over the month as trading volumes were markedly lower due to the onset of the Eid holiday and persistently poor sentiment. The decline was broad-based across all sectors with the industrial sector performing relatively well and ending the month unchanged.." [more]

BAE Systems Above the Law Over Saudi Enquiry [Jan 5]
"The recent decision by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) to drop its investigation into the alleged bribery of Saudi Arabian officials by arms maker BAE Systems PLC has prompted criticism from anti-corruption campaigners who claim that the UK defence company is now 'above the law'.. ..Mark Pieth, the chairman of the OECD Working Group on Bribery in International Business Transactions, wrote to the British government in mid-December on behalf of a Working Group asking for clarification on media reports regarding the BAE affair.." [more]

Saudi Govt Signs Agreement for Land Linkage in ECSWA Region [Jan 5]
"..The Ministry of Transport would be the regulatory authority in preparing the groundwork for a freer flow of trade and transportation. Al Ohali said that the Saudi government has already signed an agreement for land linkage within the United Nations' Economic and Social Commission for West Asia (ECSWA) region. 'We have fulfilled the requirements in this regard by completing the road network as far as the Kingdom is concerned. The proposed railroad link between Jeddah and Dammam will further enhance this network'.." [more]

Gulf States Want Status Quo In Mideast [Jan 5]
"..Against a background of Western saber-rattling, the GCC has recently focused its efforts on building a distinctive Gulf Arab position on Iran's nuclear program.. ..Instead of focusing on punitive levers on Iran, GCC states remain committed to a largely nonconfrontational policy of defusing tensions with Iran and maintaining the status quo of strong U.S. military commitment as the key deterrent to Iranian influence. Recent GCC statements on Iraq and Iran have been shaped by Saudi Arabia's attempts to demonstrate leadership, while simultaneously avoiding any significant commitment, to prevent deviation from the status quo.." [more]

Top Jobs Reserved for Women [Jan 5]
"Top jobs, especially in the ministries of education and higher education are to be reserved for women. The Education Ministry, which announced the plans two weeks ago, has already appointed more than 27 women in top positions. Five posts for deans have been reserved for women as part of the government’s efforts to place women in top positions and give them more autonomy concerning girls’ education.. ..The Labor Ministry, which is working to create more job opportunities for women in different sectors, estimates unemployment among women at 28 percent.." [more]

Oil Little Changed, Set for Biggest Weekly Decline Since 2005 [Jan 5]
"Crude oil traded little changed, set for its biggest weekly decline in New York since April 2005, as mild U.S. weather curbed demand from the world's largest energy consumer and fuel stockpiles jumped.. ..Oil has fallen more than 9 percent this week, the biggest decline since the week ending April 29, 2005, when oil slid 10 percent.. ..OPEC is ``very concerned'' by the slide and ministers may consider meeting before the next scheduled gathering on March 15 to review quotas.." [more]

Saudi King Met Lebanon's High-Ranking Hezbollah Delegation [Jan 4]
"A Lebanon's high-ranking Hezbollah delegation was received by Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz in Saudi Arabia last week, urging the Shiite group to sit down and discuss the controversial issue of the international tribunal with an "open-minded spirit," Lebanon's local daily As Safir reported.. ..It was reported that the three-day visit was aimed at easing tension between the mainly Sunni Muslim kingdom and Hezbollah.." [more]

Alpha Tours to Spend $1.4m in Saudi Venture [Jan 4]
"Dubai-based Alpha Tours has entered into a joint venture with the Saudi Travel and Tourism Bureau (STTB) in Saudi Arabia to manage 28 offices jointly. The venture is part of a Dh10 million ($2.72 million) investment.'Saudi has always been the biggest market from this region. The focus has shifted to bringing in more tourists from selective markets'.. ..Though Saudi Arabia is known to have strict visa and travel formalities, Aridi points out that the Saudi Supreme Commission for Tourism has eased restrictions in recent months, and is working towards a solution to bring in more tourists.." [more]

Ban on Israeli Goods in Place: Saudi Customs Chief [Jan 4]
"Director General of Saudi Customs Saleh Al-Barak reiterated that the Saudi regulations do not permit the import of goods manufactured in Israel. 'The official regulation followed by every customs house at the Kingdom's border crosspoints is a total ban on any goods of Israeli origin'.. ..Anyone found breaking the regulation would be treated as a smuggler of contraband goods to the Kingdom and fined accordingly and the seized goods destroyed.." [more]

DHL Wins Multi-Million-Dollar Contract with Saudi Aramco [Jan 4]
"DHL Exel Supply Chain, the logistics specialist at Deutsche Post World Net, has concluded a 10-year
multi-million-dollar contract with the world’s number one crude oil producer, Saudi Aramco. Starting with the implementation in January, it represents one of the largest business deals ever achieved by DHL.. ..DHL has been contracted to develop the oil giant’s national logistics infrastructure.." [more]

Saudi Arabia’s Sama Airline Eyes $500m Leasing Plan [Jan 4]
"Saudi Arabian low-cost airline Sama has announced plans to lease up to 35 Boeing 737s by 2010 at a cost of about $500 million as the kingdom ushers in private carriers. Sama last month won Saudi Arabia's second domestic passenger airline licence, ending the monopoly of state-owned Saudi Arabian Airlines as the government seeks to improve services and encourage investment.." [more]

Saudi Economy Set for Strong Performance in 2007 [Jan 4]
"Saudi Arabia is set to emerge as one of the most influential global financial powers in the years ahead.
Following 18 years of deficits, the Kingdom has now recorded a surplus every year since 2000 with gross domestic product reaching $347 billion in 2006. Saudi Arabia's economic fundamentals have rarely been so sound.. ..Prospects for the economy continue to look good. While Saudi real GDP growth is forecast at 4.2 per cent compared to 6.2 per cent in 2006, the Kingdom is still expected to record a surplus albeit a much smaller one in 2007.." [more]

Women’s Issues: Baby Steps and Individual Successes [Jan 4]
"Perhaps there is no issue in Saudi Arabia more sensitive, more controversial and more shrouded in secrecy and contradictions than the issue of women. Whether it is driving, Shoura Council membership, legal rights, employment or anything concerning women, it is guaranteed to generate debate and media attention.. ..society favors siding with traditions that hamper women’s progress. The year 2006 witnessed ups and downs for women.." [more]

Saudi Arabia Ends Haj [Jan 3]
"Saudi Arabia ended haj in the holy city of Mecca this haj season without the deadly accidents that used to occur for the last years, al-Jazeera English TV channel reported on Tuesday. A senior Saudi official was quoted by al-Jazeera channel as reporting that some 2.5 million Muslims have been to Mecca for haj this season, and it has ended without the deadly accidents because of the government's security plan.." [more]

Interview with Saudi Film Director, Abdullah Al Eyaf [Jan 3]
"‘Cinema 500 km’ by Saudi director Abdullah Al Eyaf summarizes the story of the Saudi youth and the cinema industry known as the seventh art. Some people consider the symbolic distance referred to in the title optimistic. The docufilm, ‘Cinema 500 Km’ is director Al Eyaf’s first production. It presents a daring concept of Saudi’s young population in love with the cinema.." [more]

Saudi Arabia Expected to Continue Telecom Liberalisation Process [Jan 3]
"Saudi Arabia is expected to continue pursuing its telecommunications liberalisation process, according to an IDC study. A new licence is likely to be issued in the first half of 2007 and the telecom regulator was likely to open the market to voice over broadband (VoBB), further spurring competition and opportunities for both the incumbent and the new operator.. ..The study said that the Saudi Arabian circuit-switched telephony voice market contracted by 4 per cent to just over $2 billion in 2005 and will contract an average of 7.6 per cent annually over the next five years.." [more]

Inward Investment [Jan 3]
"The Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) is playing a pivotal role in allowing the Kingdom to fulfil its economic ambitions by taking a leading role in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI), and promoting its newly liberalised investment laws.In particular, SAGIA is involved in plans to establish four economic cities, which will attract nearly US$80 billion from external investors. To ensure it can provide the information and services clients and potential investors require, SAGIA has invested in cutting-edge IT systems.." [more]

Market Capitalisation of GCC Bourses Down by $442bn Last Year [Jan 3]
"The market capitalization of GCC bourses was down by an astronomical $442bn in 2006. Saudi Arabia, which has the largest stock exchange in the region, topped the list with a $320bn loss.. ..Experts attributed the heavy losses of the regional bourses in 2006 to some serious flaws they are suffering from. The region being oil-rich is flush with funds as crude prices in the international markets have been ruling high. But the economies offer fewer investment opportunities to absorb the high liquidity.." [more]

Saudi Giant Buys Major North Plants [Jan 3]
"A middle-eastern conglomerate has completed the purchase for £350m of the company which runs some of Teesside's biggest chemical plants. Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC) has snapped up a chunk of chemical multi-national Huntsman - which employs 850 workers on Teesside.. ..The acquisition marks a significant step in SABIC's global growth plans. The former Huntsman business adds substantial capacity to SABIC Europe and complements the group's strong home base in Saudi Arabia.." [more]

Securing Saudi [Jan 3]
"The Saudi Arabian government has recently drafted tough new laws targeting electronic crimes; NME spoke to Dr Abdulrahman Al-Shenaifi, senior advisor on IT and security to the Saudi interior ministry.. ..The cybercrime unit is part of the security organisation – the public security section of the Ministry of the Interior of Saudi Arabia – within the investigations unit. I’m in charge of building this unit to fit in with the direction of the MoI (Ministry of the Interior), and we will be closing the RFP in a few weeks.." [more]

Saudi Arabia Declares Hajj Season Success [Jan 2]
"Saudi Arabia Chief of the General Intelligence and Deputy Governor of Makkah region Prince Miqren Bin Abdulaziz said on Monday that the Hajj season of this year was a success. In a press statement the Chief General said health and security status during the Hajj season were excellent, adding that no real security incidents nor contagious diseases which might have disrupted Hajj pilgrims have been reported.." [more]

Competition Spurs Saudi Aviation Growth [Jan 2]
"Saudi Arabia's aviation market shake-up is set to intensify in 2007 as the Kingdom's first low-cost carriers start operations. This follows a decision 18 months ago by the Supreme Economic Council to end the 60-year old monopoly on scheduled internal air services held by state-owned Saudi Arabian Airlines.. ..Some 33 million air passengers passed through Saudi Arabia's 27 local and regional airports as well as the Kingdom's three international airports in 2006 as air travel continues to grow.." [more]

Lack of Women's Role in Haj Decried [Jan 2]
"Saudi women working as mutawwifs are a rare sight these days, but this was not always the case, says Asia Ali, a great grandmother and former mutawwif. Mutawwifs are people who guide pilgrims to perform the rituals. 'Seventy years ago, women had a greater role in serving Allah's guests during the Haj'.. ..'Female mutawwifs used to be part of the yearly Haj organisation and participated in the discussions'.." [more]

Pilgrims May Have Spent SR10 Billion in Makkah Alone [Jan 2]
"Pilgrims have spent SR10 billion in Makkah alone so far, according to a senior official at the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI). 'The Haj-related business activities this year have increased at least by 10 percent compared to last year'.. ..The MCCI official said the hotel sector has earned SR7 billion this season while the food and restaurant sector would have received an estimated SR1 billion.. .. the transportation sector is estimated to have earned over SR1 billion.." [more]

For the First Time, Women Guides Serve South Asian Pilgrims [Jan 2]
"The South Asian Pilgrims Establishment introduced some new measures this year to cater to 425,000 pilgrims from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Myanmar. For the first time they employed 100 women to reach out to female pilgrims and this proved to be very helpful.." [more]

Singapore Simplifies Visa Procedure for Saudis [Jan 2]
"Singapore has announced to simplify visa procedure for Saudi nationals under which all Saudi citizens holding diplomatic passports will not require visas to visit Singapore with effect from Monday. Though, all other types of Saudi passport holders will still be required to obtain appropriate visas for entry, but they have also been assured of a simplified and timely processing system of visa applications.. ..According to Singapore’s Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, the changes to the visa requirements are part of its ongoing review to facilitate the entry and stay of bona fide visitors.." [more]

New Year Holds Little Hope for Peace in Middle East [Jan 1]
"The UN resolution 1737, which imposes sanctions on Iran because of its nuclear activities, have raised several other questions about what the new year would bring for the Middle East. 'The development of the Iraqi security situation towards sectarian war would undoubtedly affect Iraq's neighbouring countries'.." [more]

Camera Surveillance at All Holy Sites [Jan 1]
"The Civil Defense directorate is planning to bring the whole pilgrim movement in areas that include the Grand Mosque, Mina, Arafat and other holy sites under camera surveillance to monitor activities in these areas, according to Brig. Muhammad ibn Abdullah Al-Qarni, commander of the control room at the holy sites in Mina. The surveillance system is already in place in the area surrounding the Jamrat Bridge, which had been the site of fatal overcrowding incidents in the past.." [more]

GACA Grants Licence to Sama for Operating Domestic Flights [Jan 1]
"Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has granted a licence to another carrier — Sama — to operate domestic scheduled flights across the Kingdom.. ..According to Sama, the aviation contract will secure all necessary technical support for daily engineering and maintenance of Sama's aircraft. Sama officials explained that the Swiss firm, an ISO 9001 certified company, is widely experienced in aircraft maintenance.. ..The Kingdom also plans to privatise the national carrier Saudi Arabian Airlines.." [more]

Islamic Banking in 2007 Set for Massive Growth [Jan 1]
"There seems to be no letting up of the massive growth of the global Islamic banking and finance sector in the coming New Year. Never mind the estimated year-on-year growth of between 15 percent to 20 percent of the global Islamic finance sector.. ..With oil prices and liquidity projected to be sustained at roughly the same levels during 2007, the budget surpluses of Gulf Cooperation Council countries will continue to be high. The Saudi budget for 2007 is projected at a staggering SR160 billion. This is important for the Islamic finance sector given that it will further drive both the public and private sector involvement in the sector.." [more]

Saudi Stock Market 2006: A Turbulent Year [Jan 1]
"As the 2006 closes, the Saudi Stock market Tadawul Index hovered at just about the 8,000 levels. This
represents around a 52% fall.. ..the year 2006 was a turbulent one that will be long remembered as a watershed for the Saudi Stock market, with peaks of 20,966 and lows of 7,500. In between, many thousands made what was seemingly easy money, but many more thousands lost substantial amounts of their lifelong savings, compounded by social ailments, family breakdowns and cases of tragic deaths.." [more]

For Young American Muslims, Hajj Pilgrimage is an Adventure [Dec 31]
"The 20-year-old American tells his hajj pilgrimage stories a mile-a-minute, his hands moving in excitement.. ..For young American Muslims far from home, the hajj pilgrimage is an awesome adventure that they say not only deepens their faith and connects them with the wide range of Muslim peoples.. ..More than 20,000 Americans are participating in this year's hajj, a higher number than usual because the pilgrimage, which began Thursday and ends Monday, coincides with Christmas and New Year's holidays.." [more]

Saudi Economy Enters 2007 on High Note [Dec 31]
"The twenty first century has seen Saudi Arabia emerge as one of the most influential global financial powers. Following 18 years of deficits the Kingdom has now recorded a surplus every year since 2000 with gross domestic product reaching $347 billion in 2006. Saudi Arabia's economic fundamentals have rarely been so sound. Oil revenues soared to $194 billion in 2006. As a result, Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency, the country's central bank, estimates that the Kingdom's trade balance was 17.5 per cent up on the previous year at SR 553.4 billion ($148 billion).." [more]

Saudi Revives Mediation After War of Accusations Created Stir [Dec 31]
"The 'war of accusations,' which has created a stir when Druze leaders accused Hizbullah of involvement in a string of political assassinations, made Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz revive his efforts in a bid to ease tensions and avoid further escalation. Saudi ambassador Abdul Aziz Khoja cut short his Eid Al-Adha holiday trip to return to Beirut, where he promptly met with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on Friday.. ..The paper said Khoja expressed the kingdom's backing for Berri's "new initiative" aimed at resolving the crippling political crisis in Lebanon.." [more]

Pilgrims Begin Ritual of Stoning the Devil [Dec 31]
"More than two million Muslim pilgrims began the symbolic stoning of the devil yesterday, that puts to test new safety measures at a stage of the Haj that has seen tragedy in the past.. ..Security fears were already high during this Haj season because of sectarian strife between Sunni and Shiite Muslims in Iraq and elsewhere in the region.." [more]

Outrage at Timing of Execution [Dec 31]
"The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) yesterday criticized the timing of the execution of Saddam Hussein. An analyst with the official SPA said the execution has drawn strong disapproval of observers because it took place during the holy month of Dul Hijjah, besides being on the first day of Eid Al-Adha. 'It is an occasion which is respected by the entire Muslim population,' the analyst said.. ..Saddam’s execution struck a chord of sympathy in many Saudis.." [more]

Region Must Capitalise on Petrodollar Boom [Dec 31]
"Even more impressive than the oil bonanza of the 1970s and 1980s, a consequence of the four-year rise in oil prices has been to boost the economic power of Gulf Arabs, even as their political authority wanes and their regional security is violently shaken. The urge to translate oil wealth into political advantage on the world stage is inevitable. Most important, however, is for Gulf states to deploy their petrodollars wisely, at home and abroad, and create more robust economies that can sustain themselves through periods of low oil prices.." [more]

British Stewardess to Challenge Airline’s Bible Ban on Flights to Saudi Arabia [Dec 31]
"A Christian air stewardess is planning to challenge a ruling by a British airline that prevents staff from
travel to Saudi Arabia with a Bible.. ..'But Bmi says it has banned her from taking the Bible with her in
accordance with Foreign Office advice that no non-Islamic materials or artifacts are allowed in Saudi Arabia. 'On its website the British Foreign Office says of Saudi Arabia : 'The importation and use of narcotics, alcohol, pork products and religious books, apart from the Qu’ran (Koran), and artifacts are forbidden'.." [more]

Anti-Smoking Campaign to Bear Fruit Some Day [Dec 31]
"The Health Ministry’s Anti-Tobacco Awareness Campaign took Haj as an opportunity to carry out a vigorous campaign against smoking. Dr. Abdullah Al-Badah, head of the campaign, said.. ..'It is a great opportunity for a large-scale anti-smoking campaign. There are almost three million pilgrims, half of them from the Kingdom, whether citizens or residents,' he said. Al-Badah, who is heading the campaign for the fifth consecutive Haj, used statistics from other Arab countries to emphasize his point.." [more]

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