Feb 25-Mar 3, 2007

~~~~~~~~~ [ Mar 3  ] ~~~~~~~~~

Israel Hardens its Peace Terms Ahead of Saudi Arab Summit [Mar 3]
"Israel has begun staking out its minimum conditions for any attempt by 'moderate' Arab regimes to advance a peace process with the Palestinians, in the apparent hope of influencing a Saudi-convened Arab summit later this month. Tzipi Livni, the Israeli foreign minister, told the Palestinian newspaper Al Ayyam that 'it was impossible to accept' the Saudi-inspired peace plan launched at the Beirut Arab League summit five years ago 'in its current formulation'.. ..The importance Israel has attached to the Riyadh summit, which will review and, according to Israeli sources quoted in Ha'aretz yesterday, possibly modify the peace plan, appeared to underline the increasingly pivotal importance of Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah in the diplomacy of the region.." [more]

Saudi Filmmaker Lacks Visa for Festival [Mar 3]
"A rare Saudi Arabian feature film will make its American debut at a film festival in Manhattan tomorrow night, but its director, unable to secure a visa in time, will remain in Riyadh, left to ponder the realities of artistic exchange in an era fraught with suspicion. 'I am sad that I could not be able to be in the United States to bridge the gap between the culture of our two societies, to know the people, and explain what is needed to be explained during my projection,� the director, Abdullah al-Muheisin, said in a telephone 
interview from Riyadh. His film, �Shadow of Silence,� is set in an unnamed Arab country, and follows the travails of a woman who enlists a group of Bedouin tribesmen to free her husband from a state institution set up, according to the festival summary, to �manufacture unthinking citizens'.." [more]

Saudi Telecom Signs $7m Deals With Sun Microsystems [Mar 3]
"The Vice President of the Saudi Telecom Company (STC) said that the company has signed two agreements with Sun Microsystems Inc. at a total value of nearly $7 million, Khaleej Times reported. The official pointed out that that the agreements appoint Sun as STC's major provider of IT infrastructure hardware, software, professional services and support needs. He added that the two companies are resuming previous cooperation in the field of telecommunications tecknology. Saudi Arabia represents a key market for Sun Microsystems, which has opened offices in Jeddah, Riyadh and Al-Khobar.." [more]

GCC Stock Markets Suffer SR3 Trillion Loss [Mar 3]
"Stock markets in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states suffered a loss of SR3 trillion in the past one year as a result of crash, according to Majed M. Garoub, regional secretary-general of the International Federation of Lawyers for the Middle East. 'As a result of stock market debacle that began in February last year assets of Gulf shares fell by 60 percent. About 30 million Gulf citizens with a wealth of more than SR6 trillion are still going through a stock market crisis,�'Garoub said. The second Capital Market Forum in Dubai, which opens today, would be attended by a large number of international organizations. There are nearly 700 joint stock companies in the Gulf countries and 300 financial consultancy houses.." [more]

Ministers to Discuss GCC-IAEA Meeting Outcome [Mar 3]
"Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal will chair on Saturday a meeting of foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to discuss the outcome of talks with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) over GCC plan to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. �The ministers will assign a special committee to conduct a joint study on the program after IAEA expressed its readiness to provide technical support to carry out the preliminary feasibility study,� GCC Secretary General Abdul Rahman Al-Attiya said in a statement. Last month, the six-nation GCC and nuclear watchdog IAEA agreed to cooperate on a feasibility study on regional plans for a nuclear energy program.." [more]

~~~~~~~~~ [ Mar 2  ] ~~~~~~~~~

Egypt Mediates Between Saudi and Syria [Mar 2]
"Arab diplomats said Egypt is trying to mediate between Saudi Arabia and Syria to close their chasm ahead of the Riyadh Arab summit later this month. Diplomats in Cairo told United Press International that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak spoke to Syrian President Bashar Assad after the first held talks with Saudi King Abdullah during a visit to Riyadh Wednesday. "Mubarak relayed to Assad the Saudi desire to see more positive Syrian stands towards efforts exerted by Riyadh to resolve the various issues in the region, especially the Lebanese crisis," said one diplomat on condition of anonymity. Saudi-Syrian diplomatic tension was triggered last summer when Assad sharply criticized Arab leaders who denounced Lebanon's Hezbollah abduction of two Israeli soldiers in a cross-border operation last summer, prompting a 34-day war.." [more]

Rare Visit by Iranian President to Saudi Comes at a Crucial Time [Mar 2]
"Iran's president will make a rare visit to Saudi Arabia, a major U.S. ally, to hold crucial talks with the Saudi monarch on several key issues of international and regional concern, an Iranian official said Friday. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will visit Saudi Arabia Saturday for talks with Saudi King Abdullah, Iran's ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Mohammad Hosseini was quoted as saying by the official Islamic Republic News agency. The trip suggests that weeks of talks between envoys from the two countries on the conflicts in Iraq and Lebanon have made some headway.." [more]

Murders of French Tourists Will Not Hit Ties [Mar 2]
"The recent murder of four French tourists will not affect the strong, deep-rooted Saudi-French relations, said an official at the Saudi embassy in Paris.. ..In press statements published yesterday, Waleed Qattan, head of political affairs section at the Saudi embassy in France, noted that the French media have expressed surprise of the terrorist attack following the significant success made by the Saudi security forces in containing terrorism in the Kingdom. He added that both French President Jacques Chirac and Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy have condemned the attacks and expressed confidence in the capabilities of the Saudi authorities in moving to arrest the killers and bring them to justice.." [more]

Saudi Arabia Expected to Cut Price of its Heaviest Crudes [Mar 2]
"Saudi Arabia will likely cut the price of its heaviest, fuel-oil rich crudes to Asian buyers for April as the fuel oil crack has weakened, traders said yesterday. Heaviest Arab Heavy crude could bear the brunt of the cuts. Its discount to Oman/Dubai could widen by up to 60 cents to a $5.20 discount, as Saudi Arabia is considered unlikely to further cut exports to Asia, traders added.. ..The front-month fuel oil crack to Dubai swaps has weakened by some $1.15 in February from January, as the tightening of supplies felt in January ahead of the Chinese New Year has eased, Reuters data show.." [more]

Saudi to Privatise its Cargo Business [Mar 2]
"Ahead of its planned privatisation, Saudi Arabian Airlines is planning to divide its company structure into five business units. The airline will also privatize its cargo business before the end of this year. The different business units will all perform air operating activities for different target markets. The units will be a low-cost carrier, a main carrier, a regional carrier, a carrier dedicated to transporting Muslim pilgrims who visit Islam's holiest shrines and another for VIPs and royal family members.." [more]

US-Saudi Trade Grows to $39.5b in 2006 [Mar 2]
"Trade between Saudi Arabia and the United States grew 16 per cent to a record 148.11 billion Saudi riyals ($39.49 billion) last year, compared to 127.52 billion Saudi riyals ($34 billion) in 2005. The trade balance remains heavily tilted in favour of Saudi Arabia with a surplus of 89.55 billion Saudi riyals which is an increase of 17 per cent compared to 2005 where the Saudi trade surplus with the US was 76.42 billion riyals. In 2006 also, the value of Saudi exports to the US touched 118.8 billion riyals compared to 101.9 billion riyals in 2005.. ..Saudi Arabia provides excellent growth opportunities for US companies in a number of diverse industries. Hernandez's mission aims at boosting business and investment ties between the two countries.." [more]

Authorities Haven�t Ruled Out Suspect in Monday�s Shooting [Mar 2]
"Saudi authorities have not ruled out that Waleed Al-Radadi, one of the Kingdom�s most wanted criminals, was involved in Monday�s shooting that left four French nationals dead, the daily Al-Watan reported yesterday. A source told the newspaper that authorities are looking for a green 1998 Nissan four-wheel drive that was used in the shooting.Al-Radadi�s name appeared on a list of most-wanted terrorism suspects released by the Interior Ministry in 2005, and is believed to be from the city of Madinah.. ..The newspaper reported that foreign companies operating in the Kingdom have increased their level of security, especially those operating in the region where the killings took place. Foreign missions in the Kingdom have issued updated warnings following the attacks.." [more]

JCCI Center for Women in Business to Host Forum [Mar 2]
"Princess Adilah bint Abdullah will host a forum sponsored by the Khadija bint Khuwailid Center for Businesswomen of Jeddah Chamber of Commerce & Industry (JCCI) on March 19-20 at the Jeddah Hilton Hotel. The forum, titled �The Reality of Women�s Participation in National Development� will focus on Muslim women in business. The event will highlight role models for Saudi women business executives and entrepreneurs.. ..The goal of the forum is to get feedback from some 1,000 expected participants in developing future projects to assist Saudi women in business.." [more]

Dammam on Bird Flu Alert [Mar 2]
"The Eastern Province has been put on a state of alert to prevent the outbreak of bird flu after the neighboring Kuwait confirmed seven more cases of the avian flu strain that is dangerous to humans, reported Al-Hayat Arabic daily Thursday. Director General of Agricultural Affairs in the Eastern Province Saad Al-Meqbel said research teams assigned to conduct serological examination on migratory and wild birds in their habitat in the region are working according to the emergency plan. 'The research teams are conducting a comprehensive survey of all types of migratory and wild birds. The teams have already surveyed all coastal areas in the Eastern Province from Ras Qaryia in the south to Khafji in the north'.." [more]

W H O Appreciates Kingdom�s Polio Eradication Drive [Mar 2]
"The World Health Organization (WHO) recently presented Saudi Arabia with a certificate of appreciation for its success in eradicating the poliomyelitis disease, commonly known as polio. 'This could not have been achieved without Allah�s assistance and the decent care and generous support of the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz,' Health Ministry spokesman, Khaled Marghalani, told The Saudi Gazette. 'The Kingdom has not reported any cases of polio since 1995.� Marghalani said the Minister of Health, Hamad Man�e, will hold a ceremony in honor of the achievement Saturday. ." [more]

Key Facts on Iranian-Saudi Relations [Mar 2]
"Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will go to Saudi Arabia on Saturday for talks on regional issues, an Iranian official said on Thursday. Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani visited Saudi Arabia earlier in February for talks on Iran's nuclear energy program, which is opposed by the West and Saudi Arabia. Here are some details on the ups and downs of relations between the two countries over the last 20 years.." [more]

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

Iranian President to Visit Saudi Arabia Next Week [Mar 1]
"Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is expected in Saudi Arabia this weekend a Saudi Foreign Ministry official said Thursday of the visit that will cap weeks of intensive talks between the two countries to resolve simmering conflicts in the region. The Saudi official said Ahmadinejad will arrive Saturday for a one-day visit. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to give statements to the media. Iran's official IRNA news on Wednesday quoted Iran's ambassador to Riyadh, Mohammad Hosseini, as saying that Ahmadinejad's visit to Saudi was "imminent" but didn't give any further details.." [more]

Saudi Arabia, Yemen to Establish $100m Joint Investment Fund [Mar 1]
"The Yemeni Minister of Planning and International Cooperation announced that Saudi Arabia and Yemen have agreed to create a $100 million joint fund to carry out studies on investment opportunities between the two countries, Arab News reported. The minister, who was addressing a meeting at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), said that the two countries have also agreed to form a Saudi-Yemeni committee as an initial step towards establishing the fund.." [more]

Profit-Taking Extends Saudi Losses [Mar 1]
"Saudi stocks fell for a third straight day yesterday with profit-taking and a global rout pulling the largest Arab bourse down 1.65%. The Saudi index, which ended its longest bull run in 18 months on Tuesday, closed at 8,176.37 points after trading more than 2.5% down for much of the session. Eight of the 10 largest stocks ended the day lower.Kuwait�s index edged down 0.17% to close at 9,752.60 points, paced by Kuwait Finance House.." [more]

Saudi Licence Offers Last Big Opportunity in the Gulf [Mar 1]
"The auction for the third Saudi Arabian mobile operator licence presents one of the last great opportunities for regional players that want to make a significant impact in the Gulf region.. ..The Saudi market is the largest in the region in terms of inhabitants, and has a relatively wealthy population whose demand for mobile services has yet to be saturated. The Saudi mobile market is already home to two of the region's largest players: domestic incumbent Saudi Telecom Company (STC) and UAE's Etisalat, through its 35% stake in Mobily.." [more]

Remittances Pour Out of Saudi Arabia [Mar 1]
"About 70 per cent of Saudi Arabia's $14 billion in outbound remittances goes to South Asia, a senior company official said. "Saudi Arabia is the biggest market for us in the Gulf and the UAE is also very, very important too," Hikmet Ersek, executive vice president and managing director for Europe, the Middle East, Africa and South Asia of Western Union, told Gulf News. "Of the $14 billion remittance industry in Saudi Arabia, 60 to 70 per cent of the money going out is going to South Asia and the Philippines.." [more]

Consortium Signs Deals for Saudi Power Plant [Mar 1]
"A consortium composed of ACWA Power Projects, Gulf Investment Corporation (GIC), and Mitsubishi Corporation yesterday entered into a series of agreements with Water and Electricity (WEC) for the development of the $1.9 billion Shuqaiq Independent Water and Power Project (IWPP). The project, on the southwestern coast of Saudi Arabia, consists of a thermal power plant and a reverse osmosis technology desalination plant together with all support facilities.. ..The Project is the second IWPP being developed by WEC and represents a major development in the Saudi water and power sector to help satisfy the increase in demand.." [more]

Kingdom�s Oil Output Up to 10.7 Million bpd in �06 [Mar 1]
"Saudi Arabia�s oil output increased to 10.7 million barrels per day (bpd) by the end of 2006, according to Abdullah Jumah, president and chief executive of Saudi Aramco.�Among the company�s accomplishments in 2006 were the optimization of upstream operations and development and depletion strategies to meet crude demand and increase maximum sustained capacity to 10.7 million bpd,� he said. Jumah made this comment while addressing a meeting of the executive committee of the company�s board of directors in Dhahran.." [more]

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

Don�t Delay Ending Crises, Says Moussa [Feb 28]
"Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa said yesterday that impediments such as regional politics and international policies that produce disorder and slow down the economic development of the region had to be addressed in order to ensure sustained growth.. ..�Political stability is a prerequisite for sustained development. But how can it be sustained when the region is threatened by acute and delicate issues in Palestine, Lebanon and Iraq, with sectarian, ethnic and other types of strife?.." [more]

Saudi King Vows to Punish Trouble Makers [Feb 28]
"Saudi King Abdullah on Tuesday said the fatal shooting of four Frenchmen near the holy city of Medina on Monday was an act of terrorism. 'Whoever carried out this terrorist act against innocent people will not escape justice,' the state-owned Saudi Press Agency quoted him as saying. King Abdullah made these comments in a telephone conversation with France's President Jacques Chirac.. ..The Saudi cell of al-Qaeda had previously threatened to 'cleanse the Arabian peninsula of infidels'. The Saudi interior ministry said it was investigating into the assault.." [more]

$1.9 Billion Saudi IWPP Contract Signed [Feb 28]
"A consortium of leading companies today signed a series of agreements with Saudi Arabia�s Water and Electricity Company (WEC) for the development of the $1.9 billion Shuqaiq Independent Water and Power Project (IWPP). The consortium comprises ACWA Power Projects, Gulf Investment Corporation (GIC), and Mitsubishi Corporation.The project, to be developed on a BOO (build, own, operate) basis, will be located at Shuqaiq, on the southwestern coast of Saudi Arabia and will substantially increase power and water supplies to the south region.." [more]

Experts Call for Developing Energy Sector [Feb 28]
"A Saudi oil expert yesterday called for insulating the Kingdom from oil-price fluctuations, as this would enable diversification and developing the energy sector. 'We must draw the right lessons from the previous booms. We must have economic reform independent of oil revenues. This is required if the Kingdom has to meet the challenge of developing the energy sector,' Majid Al-Moneef, Saudi Arabia governor to OPEC, told the morning session of Jeddah Economic Forum 2007. 'Such a shift from the oil dependence to the energy sector will also lead to the participation and investment of the private sector'.." [more]

Saudi Inflation is Highest in 5 Years [Feb 28]
"Inflation in Saudi Arabia climbed in December to its highest in at least five years as economic growth in the kingdom strained supply and drove up prices, data published by the central bank on Tuesday showed. Annual inflation in December quickened to 2.9% from 2.8% in November, according to data on the website of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA). 'Inflation under 3 per cent for a country growing at Saudi Arabia's pace is still fairly low,' said Simon Williams, economist at HSBC bank in Dubai. 'But the upward trend may be a matter of some concern to SAMA.'.." [more]

Exxon and Aramco to Sell Fuel Oil Cargoes [Feb 28]
"Saudi Aramco and ExxonMobil have offered to sell one cargo each of end-March high-viscosity fuel oil from their joint-venture refinery in Yanbu for a total 170,000-180,000 tonnes, traders said yesterday.. ..Traders expect both deals to be concluded at lower prices than Middle East trader FAL Oil's purchase last week at a discount of $4-$5 a tonne to Singapore spot 380-cst quotes, C&F, equivalent to an FOB discount of $13-$14.. ..Higher-than-usual spot volumes have come from the Yanbu refinery this year after Aramco opted not to sell any barrels from the refinery on a long-term basis this year.." [more]

Pakistani in 17m Riyal Forgery Arrested [Feb 28]
"Considered as the biggest of its kind in five years, the Saudi passports anti-forgery squads in Jeddah have arrested a Pakistani involved in forgery operations worth more than 17 million Saudi riyals.. ..The expatriate had been monitored for the past three months, the statement added. Millions of foreigners come to Saudi Arabia every year to perform Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages. Thousands of them stay to look for jobs. The Saudi authorities are exerting tremendous efforts to eliminate the number of overstayers and forgers. Saudi Arabia is sending back thousands of foreign illegal overstayers every year.." [more]

Opportunities Open Up for Saudi Women [Feb 28]
"Saudi businesswomen boasted of slowly growing opportunities at an annual forum that closed yesterday, even as the Kingdom�s strict form of official Islam forced their segregation from their male colleagues. Participants in the Eighth Economic Forum in the country�s commercial capital of Jeddah said more was needed to be done to help women fulfil their potential but said the obstacles were more social than political. Women have made lots of progress in the past five years,� said Sarah Baghdadi, the first woman to serve as executive director for public relations of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.. ..She said the government was in favour of women working. 'The challenge comes from society,' with men unwilling to share the household responsibilities of working wives. 'Women�s problem is social rather than political'.." [more]

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

Saudi Ambush Claims Fourth Victim [Feb 27]
"A French teenager has died of his wounds after a shooting in Saudi Arabia, raising the death toll to four. Saudi sources told the BBC police were treating Monday's ambush as terrorist- related, the first deadly attack on foreigners in nearly three years. The identities of the dead - all French nationals - have not been released.. ..The road where the attack occurred is reported to be restricted to Muslims only, as it leads to the Islamic holy city of Medina. However, a French diplomat quoted by the French news agency AFP said that three of those shot dead were not Muslims. The French foreign ministry said two of the victims were employees of the electrical equipment manufacturer Schneider Electric, and one was a teacher.." [more]

U.S., Saudi Policies Diverge On Iran [Feb 27]
"Saudi Arabia and Iran are engaged in talks on defusing the crisis in Lebanon. Saudi efforts to contain and engage Iran simultaneously could succeed at the regional level, but could also strain U.S. relations and promote long-term sectarian tensions between Sunni and Shia Arabs. Moreover, the Saudi strategy holds little prospect for changing the situation in Iraq. Riyadh is playing a subtle balance-of-power game with Iran, looking to reduce growing Iranian influence in the Arab world while avoiding open confrontation.. ..The Saudi strategy fits into U.S. efforts to mobilize a "moderate" bloc of Arab states against Iran. However, Saudi tactics on two fronts risk working at cross-purposes with Washington.." [more]

Top Level Analysis of Saudi Changing Capital Markets Sector [Feb 27]
"The most authoritative review of Saudi Arabia�s capital markets is underway following a tie up between HSBC Saudi Arabia Limited, the Kingdom�s first global investment bank, and Oxford Business Group (OBG), the publisher of the world�s most insightful business intelligence guides. Working together with HSBC Saudi Arabia, OBG will produce an essential review of the Kingdom�s capital markets sector for inclusion in its �The Report: Emerging Saudi Arabia 2007�.. ..'The Report: Emerging Saudi Arabia 
2007' will be available in the second quarter of this year.." [more]

'No Evidence' of UK-Saudi Bribery [Feb 27]
"Britain's Serious Fraud Office found no evidence of bribery in a huge arms deal with Saudi Arabia and the investigation will not hurt business ties, a prominent British parliamentarian said. "The reason they did not find anything is because there was nothing to find," said Elizabeth Symons, a former security and defence procurement minister who is a member of the House of Lords (upper house) and co-chairs the Saudi British Business Council. The SFO dropped its corruption inquiry last December into the multi-billion dollar Saudi deal with BAE Systems.." [more]

Saudi Arabia Attempting To Persuade Syria Over Lebanon Rift [Feb 27]
"Saudi Arabia is attempting to persuade Syria to accept an international tribunal in Lebanon to try suspects in the killing of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, Lebanon's Central News Agency (CNA) reported. The international tribunal has been a key source of tension between the Lebanese National Opposition led by Hezbollah and the government of current Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. Syrian and Saudi Arabian officials are expected to meet in Spain in coming days in order to discuss the matter further. It would be the first meeting between senior officials from both countries since a rift widened after last summer's Israel-Hezbollah war.." [more]

Saudis Seek to Boost Jobs for Nationals [Feb 27]
"Saudi officials are considering increasing the cost of expatriate workers for the private sector, as a way of tackling rising unemployment and making the recruitment of young Saudis more attractive. Foreigners, mainly Asians who are willing to accept lower salaries and work longer hours, dominate the job market. But the influx of expatriates since the 1970s - there are some 6.5 million foreign workers in Saudi Arabia - has created a 'lower equilibrium wage' pricing Saudis, who tend to seek higher salaries, out of the market.. ..In spite of the oil boom, Saudi unemployment has risen from 9.7 to 12 per cent since 2002, because of the number of students graduating and the unattractiveness of the private sector for young Saudis.." [more]

Abdullah and Jordan�s King Discuss Key Issues [Feb 27]
"Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and his Jordanian counterpart King Abdallah held talks in Riyadh yesterday on major regional issues, including Palestine and Iraq.. ..'King Abdallah�s visits to Riyadh and Cairo come ahead of his visit to the United States this weekend where he will discuss prospects of restarting negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis and tackling other issues of the region,' SPA quoted Jordanian sources as saying. The meeting of the two kings also comes ahead of a March 28-29 Arab summit in Riyadh when Saudi Arabia is likely to press for a radical solution to the protracted Arab-Israeli conflict.." [more]

JEF Diary: American President�s Brother Building Bridges With Saudis [Feb 27]
"..It was during one such networking sessions that Arab News ran into Mr. Neil Bush, the younger brother of the US president. There was no cause to strike up a business negotiation with the affable brother of the current US president, who runs an educational software company with dealings in the Gulf region, but Arab News did take the opportunity to speak to him. 'The Jeddah Economic Forum has been very productive,' he said. 'I have been to this conference four times since 2002. I have seen it develop 
from the very beginning. There was less participation in the past, now there is more international participation'.. ..Bush says it is important to gain 'a more balanced perspective' on Saudi Arabia, and to let go of some of the stereotypes.." [more]

OPEC Cuts Should Balance Market [Feb 27]
"OPEC's existing oil output curbs should bring the world market into balance, the group's new Secretary-General said on Monday, less than three weeks before the exporter group meets to chart policy. Abdullah al-Badri, who took on OPEC's top job in January, also told Reuters he expects the world economy to remain healthy for the next five to six years and downplayed the idea of a so-called gas OPEC. OPEC oil ministers meet on March 15 to set output strategy and review compliance with deals to cut 1.2 million barrels per day (bpd) from November 1st and a further 500,000 bpd from February 1st.." [more]

Riyadh to Host Arab Summit, Invites Syria [Feb 27]
"Saudi Arabia, which has recently stepped up a diplomatic drive to counter non-Arab regional power Iran, will host an annual Arab summit on March 28-29, Saudi media reported yesterday. Saudi Arabia, which has traditionally preferred to play a behind-the-scenes role in regional conflicts, had said in 2006 it did not want to host an Arab summit this year, but the Arab League said in January Riyadh had changed its mind. The gatherings of Arab leaders are convened annually and it was Saudi Arabia�s turn to host the summit this year. Saudi Arabia did not give a reason for not wishing to hold the summit and its subsequent change of heart.." [more]

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

ExxonMobil, Saudi Aramco, China's Sinopec to Triple Fujian Refining Capacity [Feb 26]
"China Chemical & Petroleum Corp (Sinopec) said it has signed an agreement with ExxonMobil, Saudi Aramco and the Fujian provincial government to triple the capacity of its Fujian refining and ethylene joint venture project. Sinopec did not provide investment data in a statement published on its website. When the venture was announced in 2005, it carried a price of 3.5 bln usd. The capacity of the Fujian project, located in Quanzhou City, will be increased to 240,000 barrels per day from 80,000. The facility will refine and process mainly sour Arabian crude oil.." [more]

Plant Seeds for Future, says Rania [Feb 26]
"Jordan's Queen Rania Al-Abdullah stressed the concept of planting the seeds for the future in her address to the Jeddah Economic Forum on Sunday, maintaining that such a concept is a thread that links all humanity. 'There is grace and glory in the efforts we make to build a better world,' she said, 'even when those investments take decades to bear fruit...whether we are aware of it or not, we are planting today for tomorrow.' The Queen also referred to the enormous progress of Saudi women in being elected to the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and as industry board members for the first time in history. 'This is the Arab woman we are proud of and the one many in the West do not know'.." [more]

Chinese Look to Stronger Ties With Saudi Arabia [Feb 26]
"Chinese leaders at the 8th Jeddah Economic Forum emphasized the importance of upcoming Saudi-Chinese joint ventures as well as the need to reinvigorate relations between the two countries. 'Saudi and Chinese bilateral economic cooperation has increased considerably within a very short time,'.. ..'Presently, we are working on 36 Saudi-China joint ventures,' Niu continued. 'Some SR 2 billion are involved in these ventures.�' Niu credited this activity as the result of strong bilateral efforts. If things 
continue at this pace, the prospects for both countries will be very bright in terms of joint trade agreements, he said. According to Li Goufu, a senior research fellow with the Chinese delegation, China is exporting high quality Chinese craftsmanship to the Kingdom, and this must be followed in the future with an increase in cultural exchange programs.." [more]

Riyadh Begins Arab Summit Preparations [Feb 26]
"Saudi Arabia has stepped up preparations for the upcoming Arab summit in Riyadh scheduled for March 28-29 to make the conference a success. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah yesterday sent invitations to a number of Arab leaders including Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Syrian President Bashar Assad to attend the summit.. ..Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa said recently that the summit would discuss a string of regional issues, including the Palestinian-Israeli 
conflict and the Iraqi issue. He called on the international community not to stand idly on the situation in Iraq, but rather support Arab reconciliation efforts in the violence-ravaged country.." [more]

Commission Proposed to Protect Women and Children [Feb 26]
"Saudi Arabia is studying the establishment of a nationwide system under which a supreme commission would be established to protect women and children from violence.. ..Dr. Maha Al-Muneef, president of the National Family Safety Program in the National Guard Hospital. 'This system, if it is established, would have wide legislative powers to make laws and regulations to eradicate and combat violence against women and children,' she told Arab News. 'It is now with the committee in the Cabinet. We hope that it is established within the next few months,' she added.. ..'Violence against women and children should be fought just like any other problem such as AIDS or cancer,' she said, pointing out that as in many Arab countries, coordination between government bodies is a problem. 'Our problem is that each of our ministries works on its own'.." [more]

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

Muslim Foreign Ministers Hold Mideast Talks in Pakistan [Feb 25]
"Foreign ministers of seven prominent Muslim countries gathered in the Pakistani capital Islamabad Sunday to discuss a joint strategy for the Middle East ahead of a proposed leaders' summit in Saudi Arabia. Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz was to open the talks focusing on political and diplomatic initiatives to help resolve the Palestinian conflict and address the turmoil in Lebanon and Iraq, as well as rising tensions between the United States and Iran.. ..The ministers were scheduled to call on Musharraf and then hold a joint press conference on the results of the consultations, which would pave the way for a summit of leaders to be held in Saudi Arabia at a later date.." [more]

Saudi Official Underlines Success of Jeddah Economic Forum [Feb 25]
"Saudi Arabia's holy city of Makkah's Prince, Abdulmajid bin Abdulaziz Saturday said Jeddah Economic Forum has succeeded in triggering economic reforms over the past seven years.. ..He hoped the forum, which would conclude Tuesday, would continue the pace of economic reforms. The Jeddah Economic Forum 2007 is dubbed "Economic Reform: Flourishing Grounds and Expanding Horizons." Forum Chairman Sami Bahrawi urged participants to explore all means to reach all objectives of the forum. He said the organizers were willing to increase competitiveness of the Jeddah forum vis-a-vis international economic fora.." [more]

Bank Stocks Power 13th Day of Saudi Rally [Feb 25]
"Saudi Arabia�s stock market yesterday extended for a 13th day its longest bull run in 18 months as investors piled into banking stocks that promised bonus shares. But the one-year anniversary of the beginning of a stock market crash might dampen investor sentiment this week, analysts said. Saudi Arabia�s bourse, the worst performer of the Gulf Arab region last year, overtook Dubai last week as the Gulf�s biggest 2007 gainer after a rally beginning on February 6 added 17.26% to its market capitalisation. Banking stocks have been the driving force behind the gains on the Arab world�s largest bourse.." [more]

Anti-Vice Squads Must Get Prior Approval for Inspection [Feb 25]
"The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice in Saudi Arabia, known in the Western media as the 'religious police', has asked its staff not to enter public buildings, private hospitals as well as other business facilities for inspection unless they have prior coordination with official parties in these departments. The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (CPVPV) squad can enter government and private sector buildings, on receiving reports of moral violation, to nab violators but now it requires prior communication with those in charge of these buildings.. ..In the past few years, performance and behaviour of the anti-vice squad has come under fire from some writers in Saudi press.." [more]

Saudis May Drop Planned China Petrochemical Plant [Feb 25]
"Saudi Basic Industries may find another location for a $5.2 billion petrochemical plant planned for China if Beijing keeps delaying approval for the project, its chairman said Sunday. The Saudi petrochemical company says it has been waiting for more than a year to start work on the complex in the northeastern city of Dalian, which would include an oil refinery and an ethylene plant. 'We hope this approval gets completed so that we can go ahead with our investment in the project,' the company chairman, Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Thunayan al-Saud, told reporters. 'There are many opportunities in the world. But there isn't a specific alternative to China, he said.. ..The Chinese companies have been waiting for 18 months for the authorities in Beijing to approve the project.." [more]

Sri Lanka Concerned Over Executions [Feb 25]
"Sri Lanka on Friday raised concerns with Saudi Arabian officials about the recent public execution of four Sri Lankans, including the beheading of a person sentenced to 15 years in jail.. ..Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama told Sultan Al Dakhel, the Saudi charge d'affaires in Colombo that there is a 'widespread concern in Sri Lanka with regard to the carrying out of these executions,'.. ..The foreign ministry said Sangeeth Kumara who had been given a 15-year jail term had also been executed. Bogollagama told Al Dakhel that the Sri Lankan embassy in Riyadh was not notified before or after the execution and asked him to convey his concerns to the Saudi Arabian government.." [more]

OIC Creates $3b Trade Development Corporation [Feb 25]
"A trade development body with $3 billion in capital designed to increase trade and finance in Islamic nations was created yesterday in Jeddah. More than 50 finance and planning ministers from the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) nations convened to inaugurate the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC). The enity is billed as the first dedicated to developing trade and finance in the Islamic nations.. ..As an independent organisation, the ITFC will also monitor market trends and launch specialised funds in its efforts to combat poverty and improve economic performance in the Islamic world. The ITFC will also support Islamic Development Bank investments and initiatives.." [more]

Turkey, Kingdom Discuss Iran [Feb 25]
"Turkey yesterday reaffirmed its strong support for the Middle East peace process while pledging to work with Saudi Arabia and other Islamic nations to advance efforts to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who held wide-ranging talks with Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah here yesterday, said that his visit to the Kingdom is aimed at coordinating positions and boosting efforts to resolve the conflict.. ..'We also discussed the nuclear developments in Iran,� said the Turkish premier, adding that �on my return from the Kingdom, I will send immediately a technical team to Israel to find out facts about the excavation works done near Jerusalem�s Al-Aqsa Mosque'.." [more]

Poor Health of Arab Children Causes Alarm [Feb 25]
"Health Minister Dr. Hamad Al-Manie has called for increased vaccination programs in the Arab world where the mortality rates for under-fives have increased by 13 percent. Some 640 million children lack adequate shelter; 500 million others have no access to sanitation and some 400 million depend on water unfit for consumption. The number of the severely undernourished is 90 million. The minister was speaking yesterday at the opening of a three-day international conference on Arab Child Health.. ..The Third Millennium Development Goals for 2015 seek to reduce by two-thirds under-five mortality rates; reduce by three-quarters the maternal mortality rates; stop the spread of HIV/AIDS; and bring malaria and other major diseases under control.." [more]

Expats Remit $14 Billion in 2006 [Feb 25]
"Expatriate workers in Saudi Arabia sent home some $14 billion in 2006, ranking the Kingdom second only to the United States, according to the Arab Monetary Fund (AMF). Remittances from Saudi Arabia represented more than half of the total transfers made by foreign workers in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the Saudi daily Al-Madinah reported yesterday, quoting the AMF. The GCC bloc, which groups Saudi Arabia with Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, saw outflows of some $25.7 billion in remittances during 2006, the newspaper said.." [more]

Feb 18-Feb 24, 2007

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

JEF Opens Today [Feb 24]
"The 8th annual Jeddah Economic Forum (JEF) opens here Saturday. Held under the patronage of Makkah Emir Prince Abdul Majeed Bin Abdul Aziz and organized by the Jeddah Marketing Board, a department of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the three-day forum is expected to attract more than 2,000 delegates from around the world. Queen Rania of Jordan will deliver a special keynote address at the conclusion of the opening day.. ..The theme for this year�s Forum is �Economic Reform: Flourishing Grounds and Expanding Horizons.� The six half-day sessions are: �Strategies for Economic Reform: Universalism vs. Particularism�; �Flexicurity in Reform: A Balanced Social Agenda�; �People are at the Centre: Social Responsibility & Citizenship Initiative�; �The Legal Structure must keep up�; �Changing the Global Energy Paradigm� and �Privatization: The Indispensable Tool.� .." [more]

More Saudi Students Keen To Study In M'sia [Feb 24]
"The number of Saudis studying in Malaysia is expected to double to between 500 and 600 this year and will increase further to 1,000 in 2008 following greater interest shown by Saudi Arabia to send its students to Malaysia. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the Saudi Government's move to make Malaysia as the centre for higher education had attracted a lot of interest in that country.. ..He also said 154 Malaysian students are currently studying in Saudi Arabia, of whom 119 are sponsored by the Saudi Government. Most of them are studying in Medina.." [more]

Saudi Stocks Keep Upward March [Feb 24]
"The Saudi stock market kept its unabated upward trend for the last three weeks after a series of historical plunges. The Tadawul All-Share Index (TASI) gained 4.6 percent last week, closing at 8,245.05 points up from 7,881.55 points in the previous week. TASI is currently 3.9 percent higher than the year's start. It is the first time the Saudi benchmark price surmounts the level recorded at the beginning of the year. The Saudi market's turnover grew by 49 percent last week to SR73.1 billion compared with SR49.1 billion in the previous week.." [more]

Saudi Arabia to Provide Free Health Insurance for Citizens [Feb 24]
"A spokesman at the Saudi Arabian Health Ministry said that the ministry is planning to set up a national cooperative fund to provide free health insurance coverage to all of its nationals after privatizing state-owned hospitals, Arab News reported. The spokesman added that the proposed plan, which is likely to be executed next year, will enable more than 12 million Saudis to receive free medical services at both private and public hospitals.." [more]

Nine Consortiums Bid for Saudi Mobile Licence [Feb 24]
"Consortiums led by Egypt's Orascom Telecom , South Africa's MTN , and Kuwait's Mobile Telecommunications Co. (MTC) are among those vying for a third mobile licence in Saudi Arabia, the Gulf's largest telecom market, the regulator said on Saturday. Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil exporter, is selling its third mobile phone licence and also plans to end the fixed line monopoly of Saudi Telecom Co.. ..Other consortiums in the race include Kingdom Holding Co., owned by billionaire Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal which is bidding with Turkish mobile operator Turkcell , and Dubai-based Oger Telecom, controlled by Lebanon's al-Hariri family, Sultan al-Malik, spokesman for the Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC), told Reuters.." [more]

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

OIC to Break Embargo Against Palestinians [Feb 23]
"Fifty-seven Islamic countries yesterday decided to break "the unjust embargo" against the Palestinians and called on the Middle East Quartet to put pressure on Israel to stop excavations near Al Aqsa mosque, a top Organisation for Islamic Conference official said yesterday. 'In light of the positive developments in Palestine and formation of the national unity government, the international embargo against Palestinians has no justification," Ekmel Al Deen Ihsanoglu, Secretary-General of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) said'.." [more]

Market Volatility to Last Until the Medium Term [Feb 23]
"Host of factors � reduced OPEC output, cold weather in the northern hemisphere, slower than expected non-OPEC production growth and drop in inventories � aided by the increasing confusion on a possible confrontation Iran on the nuclear issue, has contributed to the firming up of the oil market prices lately � from the lows of below $50 a barrel to around $58 mark at the moment.. ..Concurring with the Saudi Oil Minister Ali Al-Naimi, the CGES said: 'OPEC's current level of production, estimated at slightly less than 30.1 million bpd in January, is below the expected call on its oil. Unless OPEC production is permitted to rise in the coming months, oil prices could once again set off in an upward direction as refiners chase scarce barrels to meet summer demand for transport fuels in North America'.." [more]

Economic Reform Takes Center Stage at JEF 2007 [Feb 23]
"This year's three-day Jeddah Economic Forum opens at the Jeddah Hilton tomorrow with a formal dinner reception for participants, with the support of Makkah Governor Prince Abdul Majeed. The fifth annual event organized by the Jeddah Marketing Board of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, with "economic reform" as the central theme, will bring together some global leaders to deliver their respective discourses on various topics.. ..This time, media coverage of JEF will take a new dimension with the introduction of "Jeddah economic media awards," designed to recognize the best press handling of the annual event.." [more]

Job Opportunities and Employment to Be Tackled [Feb 23]
"The King Abdul Aziz National Dialogue Center announced earlier this week that the next dialogue would discuss Saudi job market and employment opportunities for the country�s citizens. The forum, which is titled �Job Opportunities and Employment: A Dialogue Between the Community and Labor Institutions�, is part of the ongoing national dialogues where citizens and public figures from the private sector and the government hold period forums to address myriad issues facing the Kingdom, from social concerns to future of public policies.. ..This will be the second National Dialogue where the organizers are actively pursuing more participation of high-ranking government officials.." [more]

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

BAE-Saudi Eurofighter Deal to Complete This Year [Feb 22]
"BAE Systems said on Thursday that it expects Saudi Arabia to sign a firm contract for Eurofighter combat jets by the end of the year. Chief Executive Mike Turner told reporters on a conference call that he expects a deal this year, noting they were government-to-government negotiations, with BAE serving as the prime contractor. The news comes on the same day that the UK arms firm posted a 33% jump in 2006 underlying operating profit. However, commentators have condemned the figures as fundamentally compromised because of the recent diplomatic crisis in which corruption allegations against BAE Systems were dropped because of pressure by the Saudi authorities.." [more]

U.S. Transfers Seven Guantanamo Detainees to Saudi Arabia [Feb 22]
"The United States on Wednesday transferred seven detainees from the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to Saudi Arabia, the Pentagon announced. With Wednesday's transfer, about 390 detainees still remain at the detention facility at the U.S. naval base in Guantanamo. The United States has transferred to other countries or released about 385 detainees from Guantanamo since the prison was opened in early 2002, the Pentagon said in a statement.. ..Most those still being held there have been detained for about five years and only about 10 have been charged.." [more]

Groundbreaking Saudi Sukuk Issue Closes at US $600M [Feb 22]
"The first international Sukuk issue by a Saudi corporate has successfully closed at US$600m. The landmark three-year issue - based on an Ijara structure - was significantly oversubscribed. A consortium of international banks announced the successful closing on behalf of Dar Al Arkan Real Estate Development Company (DAAR) - a leading residential real estate developer in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.. ..Launched as a US$425m issue by ABC Islamic Bank, Arab National Bank, Standard Bank Plc, Unicorn Investment Bank and WestLB AG, the DAAR Sukuk received an overwhelming response from financial institutions across Europe, South East Asia and the GCC region.." [more]

U.S. Congressional Delegation Visits Effat College to Learn About Saudi Education [Feb 22]
"Effat College announced that it hosted a delegation of congressional chiefs of staff from the U.S. on campus on February 21, 2007. The delegation included the following officials who hold offices with Democratic Congressmen: Mr.Jammel Johnson, Ms.Erika Young, and Ms.Semhar Araia. The Republican members of the congressional delegation were Ms.Helen Hardin, Mr. Kenny Kraft, Mr. Dana Gartzke, Mr. Joel Maiola, and Mr. John Goetchius. This visit was arranged by the Saudi Embassy in Washington, D.C.. .. 'The objective of this visit is to enable the congressional delegation members to learn about Saudi culture and become aware of the educational reforms that have occurred in Saudi education.'.." [more]

Media Denied Saudi Academy a Fair Hearing [Feb 22]
"The British media has been engaged in a war of words with the Saudi-funded King Fahad Academy, located in West London, following allegations that textbooks which taught pupils that Jews were "apes" and Christians "pigs" were being used in the classrooms. The allegations of Colin Cook, an English teacher who was dismissed in December for misconduct, has prompted the British government to investigate a school that has served Arab and British children.. ..By and large, the media has used Cook's allegation as the basis for their reporting without putting any of the allegations to the academy's director or staff members.." [more]

JCCI Chief Says Illegal Immigrants Putting Squeeze on Resources [Feb 22]
"A US Congress delegation met with Saudi businessmen at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) yesterday and discussed issues ranging from bilateral visa procedures, the US policy toward Israel and the Kingdom�s oil policy.. ..�The Kingdom has seven million legal residents who repatriate billions of dollars to their countries. This is a major dent into our economy. However, the residents are beneficial to the Kingdom as they have been contributing to our economy,� Al-Turki said.." [more]

Corruption Costs Flight of SR3 Trillion Worth Funds [Feb 22]
"Saudi funds worth SR3 trillion ($800 billion) have gone out of the Kingdom as a result of administrative corruption, according to Majed Garoub, a legal consultant and chairman of the lawyers committee at the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry.. ..He made this disclosure while commending the significance of the national strategy for combating corruption, which was approved by the Council of Ministers last Monday. The Cabinet also set up an authority to monitor implementation of the strategy. Garoub called for greater administrative and financial controls and establishment of a separate ministry for administration.." [more]

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

Peters Names New Ambassador to Saudi Arabia [Feb 21]
"New Zealand�s next Ambassador to Saudi Arabia will be career diplomat Trevor Matheson, Foreign Minister Winston Peters announced today. Based in Riyadh, Dr Matheson will also be non-resident ambassador to the other Gulf Cooperation Council states of United Arab Emirates, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait. �These countries are key partners for New Zealand in the region, and central to our interests in the wider Middle East," Mr Peters said.. ..'The Middle East is rapidly becoming a key outlet for our high quality niche products and services. Education is an area of particular growth, with Saudi Arabia recently announcing that over 350 scholarship students will be eligible to apply for study in New Zealand this year,' Mr Peters said.." [more]

84 Saudi Arabians to Study at Korean Universities [Feb 21]
"Eighty-four Saudi Arabian students will study at Korean universities from March under a Saudi government education grant, the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development said Wednesday. A ministry official said the study program is designed to help the students get acquainted with engineering, computers and other high technologies.. ..Each student will be given an annual scholarship of $40,000 by the Saudi government and is expected to enroll in a Korean-language course for about one year before starting a degree course.." [more]

Saudi Women Seek to Break Male Domination of Airport Services [Feb 21]
"The Arabian Aircraft Services Company (Arabasco) has broken the male domination of the frontlines at Saudi airports by hiring five Saudi women to work at the company�s counters that provide services to VIPs at the private terminal of King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. The women were assigned to female customer service, thus ushering in a new field for Saudi females at airports where the available jobs had been limited to female inspectors and security staff.. ..Suwaylim said that this successful experience is an example that encourages the employing of women at all airports in the kingdom, particularly to facilitate services for women as dictated by the conservative particularities of Saudi society, a step that will provide a larger number of job opportunities and contribute to reducing unemployment among Saudi females.." [more]

Kingdom Considers Medicine Import Company [Feb 21]
"The government is considering a proposal by the Ministry of Health to establish a company that will be responsible for drug imports, according to the London-based Asharq Al-Awasat. The paper said the idea was the brainchild of Obaid Al-Obaid, undersecretary at the Ministry of Health for planning and development. The paper quoted him as saying that such a company would help unify purchase prices of all medicines for all public health sectors in the Kingdom, including military hospitals. Another objective, he said, is to enable the ministry to purchase drugs at competitive prices, which would help save millions for the treasury.." [more]

Kingdom Finds New Oil Well [Feb 21]
"Saudi Aramco has uncovered a new oil well in the Kingdom�s Eastern Province, SPA state news agency reported yesterday. The well will be able to produce daily almost 4,000 barrels of oil and 11.9 million cubic feet (336,970 cubic meters) of gas, it quoted Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Ali Al-Naimi as saying. Saudi Arabia is the world�s leading oil producer and has reserves totaling 261.2 billion barrels, or more than a quarter of the global total.." [more]

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

Saudi Poll Campaign Goes Online [Feb 20]
"Saudi pro-reform activists say they have begun an online petition calling for elections with men and women voters and greater freedom of expression. They say they plan to present the signatures to King Abdullah next month. The petition was initially circulated in private, activists say, but was put on the internet after 10 organisers were arrested at a meeting this month. The authorities have denied the arrests were linked to the issue. The men have been accused of funding Iraq militants. By placing their petition on the internet the Saudi activists are taking an enormous risk.. ..Saudi authorities have made it clear they will not tolerate public calls for political change.." [more]

Saudi School's Regret Over Books [Feb 20]
"The director of an Islamic school says she should have immediately "chucked out" books that landed it at the centre of a religious intolerance row. Dr Sumaya Alyusuf of the King Fahad Academy said no one there had read the texts, parts of which label Jews as "repugnant" and Christians as 'pigs'. But she told the Guardian newspaper they had no place in the school. Schools minister Jim Knight has ordered an inquiry into the Saudi-funded independent school in west London.. ..Dr Alyusuf agreed to remove the 
passages in question from the books some time after the controversy hit the headlines.." [more]

Saudis May Make Weapons With US [Feb 20]
"The United States is planning to jointly produce tank components, light armoured vehicles and other products in Saudi Arabia, according to a senior US military official. 'Our biggest co-production project in the Middle East is in Egypt, where we jointly produced 1025 M1A1 tanks. In Saudi Arabia we are still in the planning phase, though the project initially will not be as big as what we have in Egypt, but there is good potential for growth there' .. ..With growing security concerns, Anderson said, demand for air-defence systems and infrastructure protection have surged in the region.." [more]

Mechanism Urged to Counter Propaganda [Feb 20]
"A number of Muslim scholars have called for the creation of a mechanism to advocate Islam and its tenets and respond to the allegations labelling Islam as the religion of violence and hatred. The scholars were speaking at a symposium titled "The World and the Culture of Hatred" organised yesterday in Riyadh on the sidelines of the annual National Festival for Heritage and Culture. The event, organised by the Saudi National Guard is in progress here.. ..He pointed out that the Zionists also adopt racial and 
intolerant ideologies believing they are the preferred people of God and that it is their right to wipe out Palestinians. He indicated that the Pope's remarks about Islam last year demonstrated ignorance of the reality of Islam, adding that this runs contrary to any objective study of Islam.." [more]

Saudi 2006 Gold Demand Down 16.4% [Feb 20]
"Gold demand in Saudi Arabia fell 16.4% in 2006 from 2005 due to price volatility in the first half of the year, the World Gold Council said yesterday. But the WGC was more upbeat on the demand outlook for 2007 following a period of more stable prices later in 2006. The slide in Saudi equities last year might also have hurt the appetite for gold of the Gulf�s largest consumer, said John Sfakianakis, chief economist at SABB bank. Gold demand in Saudi Arabia came to 128.1 tonnes in 2006, down from 153.2 tonnes in 2005. But demand rose 14.7% in the fourth quarter from the same period a year earlier.." [more]

Bids to Operate Duty Free Shops Under Study [Feb 20]
"The Civil Aviation Authority is studying 20 offers submitted by international and local bidders to operate duty free shops at airports in the Kingdom. Civil Aviation Authority President Abdullah Rahemi told Arabic language newspaper Al-Jazirah seven international and five local companies have offered to run duty free shops. The names of the winning bidders would be announced within 10 days.. ..the Authority would award the operational contracts to national companies in partnership with foreign entrepreneurs.." [more]

Saudis Dismayed at Chevening Suspension [Feb 20]
"Saudi students have expressed concern over a decision made by the British Embassy canceling the Chevening Scholarship program for the Kingdom saying there were not enough subscribers.. ..Abdulmohsen Al-Subaie, an English teacher at Al-Jwaharee High School, said he was devastated by the news. It�s wrong to say that there was not enough demand. I know many Saudi students who are aspiring to go to Britain for higher studies. Moreover, there is no link between the government�s decision to send Saudi students to different countries, including Britain, for higher studies and the cancellation of the Chevening Scholarship scheme,' he said, adding, 'I hope that the British government�s decision could be reviewed in the larger interest of our bilateral relations'.." [more]

Akhtar in Kingdom for Bilateral Talks [Feb 20]
"Pakistan�s Minister of Commerce Humayun Akhtar arrived here yesterday to participate in the Eighth Saudi-Pakistan Joint Ministerial Committee meeting to be held at the Royal Conference Palace today.. ..A Pakistan Embassy spokesman told Arab News that the seven-member Pakistani team led by Akhtar will hold talks with a Saudi team headed by Dr. Yamani on issues related to trade, commerce, investment, education, Haj and Umrah. They are also expected to discuss free trade agreement with the GCC countries. He said the two parties are expected to sign an agreement tomorrow. Bilateral trade between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan annually averages around $2.5 billion.." [more]

OPEC Basket Price Stands at USD 53.58 a Barrel [Feb 20]
"The price of Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries' (OPEC) basket of eleven-crude spiked two cents and stood at USD 53. 58 a barrel on Monday, compared with USD 53.56 the previous day, OPEC's news agency, OPECNA, reported on Tuesday. The yearly price average of the basket for 2006 reached USD 61.08 a barrel, OPECNA said. OPEC began cutting production levels by 500,000 barrels a day, effective from February 1, as it stipulated production cuts of 1.2 million barrels a day a few months ago, which made the organization's production settle at 26.3 million a day.." [more]

Corruption Clamp Backed [Feb 20]
"Saudi Arabia has approved a plan to clamp down on corruption, which newspapers said would target officials regardless of rank. The Saudi cabinet approved the 'national strategy to protect integrity and fight corruption' at a meeting chaired by King Abdullah, the SPA news agency said. It gave no details. Newspapers Asharq Al Awsat and Arab News said the plan could open government officials to investigation. '(It calls for) reducing and simplifying procedures and for applying the principle of accountability to all officials regardless of their positions' .. ..The announcement is the first move to crack down on corruption since King Abdullah, who came to power on a reform agenda in August 2005, pledged to fight graft last year. 'This will help the country improve its image in the Gulf region, especially among foreign investors,' a Western diplomat said.." [more]

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

Saudi Gives Critical Us$1 Million Donation To Guinea [Feb 19]
"The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today thanked the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for a US$1 million donation to its operations in Guinea, where humanitarian needs have been accentuated as a result of the current unrest that comes at a time when many people are struggling with loss of income and growing poverty rates.. ..An increasingly significant donor to WFP operations, the Government of Saudi Arabia has contributed over US$33 million last year alone, a tenfold increase compared to 2005. Saudi individuals and associations have donated nearly US$10 million over the past two years. In the Middle East, Saudi Arabia is by far the biggest donor to WFP's global activities and the Kingdom has become the 16th largest donor overall to the UN food aid agency in 2006.." [more]

The New Saudi Arabian Healthcare Market [Feb 19]
"..'Saudi Arabia�s healthcare system is ripe for investment opportunities,' said Mr. Ziad Fares, Booz Allen Hamilton Health Expert. 'The growing affluence of Saudi Arabia and the GCC region as a whole will mean that the healthcare systems of these nations will need both money and expertise from outside sources in order to cope with an aging, yet well-to-do population'.. ..The Saudi government has recognized this situation, and has identified healthcare as one of the key sectors targeted in its wide-ranging privatization program.." [more]

Riyadh Seeks Dutch MP's Apology for Offensive Remarks [Feb 19]
"Saudi Arabia wants an apology from a Dutch politician who said Muslims should "tear out half the Quran" if they wanted to live in his country and has asked the Dutch government to intervene, a Saudi newspaper said yesterday. The Dutch government, which said it did not agree with the remarks made by populist anti-immigration politician Geert Wilders, confirmed that foreign ministry officials held informal talks last week with the Saudi embassy in The Hague.. ..Wilders, who has lived under heavy guard since 2004 when a Dutch-Moroccan killed filmmaker and Islam critic Theo van Gogh, has campaigned to ban the veil, wants to freeze immigration and ban new mosques and religious schools. The Dutch news agency ANP quoted Wilders as saying yesterday he would not retract his remarks. "I would not dream of taking any of it back," Wilders said.." [more]

Saudi Arabia�s Nominal GDP Reaches SR1.30 Trillion in 2006 [Feb 19]
"A correction in the stock market failed to have a major impact on Saudi Arabia�s economic performance last year. Saudi Arabia�s economy was in fact exceptionally sound and robust in 2006. After joining the World Trade Organization (WTO), Saudi Arabia embarked on the mammoth projects of economic cities which will have a long-lasting impact on the macro-economic policies and on the fundamental structure of the Saudi economy.. ..Saudi Arabia�s nominal gross domestic product (GDP) is estimated to have grown by 12.4 percent in 2006, reaching SR1.30 trillion ($346.9 billion) while real GDP is estimated to have grown by 4.2 percent to SR799.9 billion ($213.3 billion).." [more]

Rights Group Hails Saudi Invite but Complains of Restrictions [Feb 19]
"Human Rights Watch said the Saudi government has shown a new willingness to discuss domestic human rights after inviting the watchdog to the kingdom, but complained that authorities blocked access to trials and prisons.. ..'The Saudi government�s invitation to HRW reflects a newfound openness towards discussing domestic human rights issues,' said Sarah Leah Whitson, HRW�s Middle East and North Africa director. The governmental Saudi Human Rights Commission arranged access to a wide range of high-level officials, while several ministers expressed their desire to invite HRW back to the kingdom to discuss the findings in detail, the statement said.But the rights group said the movement of its mission was restricted.." [more]

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

Joint Panel to Discuss Makkah Agreement [Feb 18]
"The Saudi-US Committee for Strategic Dialogue will hold its third session in Riyadh this week. The session will be co-chaired by Prince Saud Al Faisal, the Saudi Foreign Minister, and his US counterpart Condoleezza Rice.. ..During its one-day session, the committee will also discuss developments in the region including the latest agreement concluded in Makkah between the two main Palestinian factions, Fatah and Hamas, as well as the situations in Iraq, Lebanon and Iran's nuclear programme. Gulf News has learnt that the committee will review reports of the six ad hoc committees emanating from the Saudi-US Committee for Strategic Dialogue.." [more]

Saudi Index Hits 8,000 [Feb 18]
"Banking shares powered Saudi Arabia�s stock index above 8,000 points for the first time in almost two months yesterday, but analysts say profit taking in the next few days may erode some gains from an eight-day rally.. ..Saudi Arabia�s market has gone from the Gulf�s worst performer this year to the region�s third-biggest gainer after a rally beginning Feb. 6 drove the index up 12.4%.. ..'There was a switch in Saudi this month from investing in day-trading stocks to investing for the long term,' said Youssef Kassantini, chief executive of Bourse Experts, a stock market consultancy in Riyadh.. ..The four largest companies on the index have accounted for 75% of the rally that has added almost 1,000 points in less than a month, Kassantini said.." [more]

First NAS Flight Takes Off in Saudi Arabia [Feb 18]
"The National Air Services (NAS) a private Riyadh-based, low cost airline, yesterday operated its first flight between Riyadh and Jeddah.. ..The second phase will start in March with flights to three Saudi cities. A high volume of passengers was recorded on the first day with more than 2,500 booked on the company's flights during the first 24 hours since the company announced the activation of its booking service.. ..NAS is planning to increase its domestic destinations to 23 by the end of the second year of operations before launching international flights.." [more]

King Abdullah Economic City Opens Investor Registration for Industrial Zone [Feb 18]
"King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), the path-breaking development by Emaar the Economic City (Emaar.E.C), has opened investor registration for its Industrial Zone. The first phase of the 63 million sq metre zone dedicated to industries will be launched soon and potential investors can register on-line at www.kingabdullahcity.com.. ..The Industrial Zone will have specific initiatives to encourage local entrepreneurs through incubator-like modules. International experts have already been consulted � and will work hand-in-hand with Emaar.E.C management � to ensure that the development is in line with the best environmental practices. With the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) as the project�s prime facilitator, KAEC has the potential to create one million jobs. The mixed-use development with commercial, residential, industry and hospitality components is expected to be home to over two million people.." [more]

NAS Says Yes to IPO [Feb 18]
"NAS Air, Saudi Arabia�s first �no frills� airline, says that it is planning an initial public offering (IPO) as early as 2008 in order to fund expansion following its first commercial operations later this month. �NAS will hopefully be eyeing an IPO for 2008-2009,� Taher Agueel, NAS chief executive, said. �NAS is developing itself to be the leading aviation services provider in the region.� The company said in December it would spend US$2bn on 75 planes and create a fleet of 100 by 2010.." [more]

Gul Discusses Regional Issues [Feb 18]
"Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah held talks here yesterday with visiting Turkish Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul on major regional issues with focus on Palestine. The talks were also attended by Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal.. ..'Gul�s visit to Riyadh is significant keeping in view the official tour of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to Ankara early this week and his approval of a proposed Turkish inspection of construction work near Al-Aqsa Mosque, which sparked violent Palestinian protests and angered Muslims across the world,' a Turkish official said. Naci Koru, the Turkish ambassador to the Kingdom, said, 'Gul�s talks covered regional subjects with special reference to the Middle East peace process'.." [more]

Feb 11-Feb 17, 2007

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

Saudi Selection May Boost Airbus in Mideast [Feb 17]
"After several years of tough competition � and a few days of confusion � Airbus appears to have won a Saudi order for two aerial tankers, beating out Boeing and scoring an edge in a Middle East market that often follows Riyadh�s lead.. ..Sources at the Saudi Defense Ministry declined to comment on the deal, but a Boeing official in the Middle East confirmed that its KC-767 bid had lost to Airbus. Saudi Arabia is the latest country to go for the MRTT, which is based on the A330 aircraft. The Royal Australian Air Force has already ordered five and the British reportedly are in final negotiations to buy 14. Boeing officials are hoping the Saudi decision does not influence the United Arab Emirates, which is preparing to choose between the KC-767 and MRTT for a three-plane purchase.." [more]

Tourists and Visitors Throng Janadriya Village [Feb 17]
"Public response to the annual Saudi National Heritage and Cultural Festival, known as Janadriya, has been overwhelming. Hundreds of tourists and guests from more than 50 countries are attending the 22nd festival which was opened on Wednesday by King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz . Janadriya village, which is spread over 1.5 square kilometres, houses over 30 replicas representing different regions of the country. It is open to the public twice a day. The Janadriya festival provides an opportunity for local and foreign visitors to see life as it was for previous generations of Saudis and how life was in the country long before the discovery of oil.." [more]

Arabs Seek Coherent Chinese Strategy [Feb 17]
"China's meteoric rise as a global economic power is a recurrent theme at business forums these days everywhere, and the Gulf region is no exception. Having been busy for decades in building relations with the West, Arab countries lack strategies in dealing with new world realities in which the US alone no longer holds sway over global trends, analysts say. They point out the "Bric countries," or Brazil, Russia, India and China, have also become new global arbiters.. ..Saudi Arabia already talks about China in strategic terms and has concluded several energy deals. It has been the top supplier of crude to the US and rarely bothered in the past to search for new consumers. Participating in a recent Middle East-China conference held in Dubai, Saudi Arabian mining company Ma'aden's chief executive officer Abdullah Al Dabbagh enumerated several benefits of close Saudi-Chinese relations.." [more]

Performance by Blue Chip Firms Buoys Saudi Bourse [Feb 17]
"The Saudi stock market continued to surge last week after rising over 4 percent the previous week. The Tadawul All-Share Index (TASI) climbed 7.55 percent last week, closing at 7,881.55 points. TASI is still 0.65 percent lower than the year�s start. The Riyadh-based Bakheet Financial Advisors� (BFA�s) weekly report said: 'The soaring was fuelled by a number of positive factors, including good performance by blue chip firms and the banking sector, which was the major driving force behind last week�s rise.' The 
Saudi banking sector index climbed by 12 percent. The BFA expected the rebound to continue this week, but cautioned that the market could witness a 'limited profit-taking�.." [more]

Global Leaders To Address Multinational Gathering [Feb 17]
"In a press conference hosted by the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and Sami F. Bahrawi, Chairman of Jeddah Economic Forum 2007, the program and speakers were formally announced today. Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah of Jordan will deliver a special keynote address at the conclusion of the opening day, Sunday 25th February. Plenary Speakers will include: HRH Prince Turki Al Faisal, H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister of Turkey; The Hon Dato� Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak, Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia; H.E. Lech Walesa, former President of Poland; H.E. Benazir Bhutto, former Prime Minister of Pakistan; The Rt. Hon. Jean Chretien, former Prime Minister of Canada; Minister Liu Jiangfeng from China; General Wesley Clark, former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO; Mr Peder Wallenberg, Founder of Carpe Vitam and Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean, UK Chair of the Saudi-British Business Council.." [more]

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

History Comes to Life at Saudi Janadriya Festival [Feb 16]
"The annual Saudi National Heritage and Cultural Festival, known as Janadriya, the village some 43 kilometres north of Riyadh where the event takes place, was opened on Wednesday by King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz. The opening ceremony was attended by a number of dignitaries from inside and outside Saudi Arabia. The festival has turned into one of the most important events of its kind in the Arab world. This is the 22nd festival as the function, organised by the Saudi National Guard, first kicked off in 1985.. ..The event has always been a big hit among Saudis, particularly youths, who throng the village to get a glimpse of their heritage and culture. The folk and heritage festival, moreover, gives Saudi and foreign visitors a chance to slow down and take a closer look at the social tableau of an earlier era.." [more]

Rice Denies US Will Boycott Ministers [Feb 16]
"US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice denied that the United States decided to boycott all ministers of a Palestinian unity government now being formed during an interview on Friday. Speaking with Al Arabiya television, Rice said Washington would reserve judgement on the new Palestinian government until it was formed, but said she hoped it would abide by the requests of the Quartet of Middle East negotiators and recognise Israel and accept interim peace accords.. ..Rice is due to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on February 19 but uncertainty over the Palestinian unity government complicates the summit.." [more]

Saudi Woman Creates Janadriya History {Feb 16]
"Mariam Al-Ghamdi created history on Wednesday night. She became the first Saudi woman artiste in the 22-year history of Janadriya Festival to participate in the opening ceremony of this important cultural event in Riyadh on Wednesday. People watched her brief but meaningful play screened during the 50-minute operetta entitled �Saudi Arabia: The Land of Love.� Mariam, who works in TV serials and stages shows, is a household name in Saudi Arabia. She is also a writer and a poetess.. ..Mariam believes the future for Saudi women artistes is very bright.." [more]

Saudi Arabia Rules the Region in Consumption of Junk Food [Feb 16]
"Saudi Arabia is the processed food king of the region, according to a recent study by the Doha-based Gulf Organization for Industrial Consultancy. While it may not be surprising that the largest country in the region is also the largest consumer of unhealthy, processed, sugary and fatty mass-produced food and beverages, the study also shows that the Kingdom is also ranked 15th in the world in terms of producing processed food items. Saudi Arabia invested $325 million in the production of processed food, such as potato crisps, candy and biscuits in 2005, out of a total of $356 million in investment in that industry in the GCC.." [more]

Arcelor Mittal to Build Saudi Steel Mill [Feb 16]
"Arcelor SA and Mittal Steel Co., currently joining to become the world�s largest steel producer, said yesterday they would build a steel mill in Saudi Arabia to supply the oil industry. The companies said they would hold 51 percent of a joint venture with the Bin Jarallah group to construct a seamless tube plant in the eastern Saudi city of Jubail on the Arabian Gulf that could churn out 500,000 metric tons of steel tubes and pipes a year.. ..Saudi Aramco, will be �one of the key customers� of the mill, Arcelor Mittal said. Aramco plans to spend $50 billion over the next five years to build more refineries in Saudi Arabia and other parts of the world.." [more]

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

Saud: No Barriers to Nuke Cooperation With Russia [Feb 15]
"Saudi Arabia said yesterday there were 'no barriers' to atomic energy cooperation with Russia, following a visit made by Russian President Vladimir Putin. 'Saudi Arabia discussed this matter with the Secretariat General of the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) during the Russian president�s visit,' said Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal at a press conference held here yesterday. 'The (Al-Jaber) GCC Summit held in Riyadh had mentioned that GCC countries would develop this (nuclear) energy in line with certain protocols,' he added. He said that GCC countries would not develop nuclear weapons.." [more]

Gulf Warned of Jobs Revolt [Feb 15]
"Unemployment is a ticking bomb that could cause 'a revolt' across the Gulf region, a top official said.. ..Abdul Rahman Bin Hamad Al Attiyah, secretary-general of the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC), told delegates at the opening of the 30th Governing Council of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in Rome. "For the GCC countries, [unemployment] is an issue of great importance as high rates of employment are prevalent, particularly among young people, and have become one of the most pressing challenges faced by countries in the Near East and North Africa,.." [more]

Saudi Readymix to Carry Out $85.3m Expansion Plan [Feb 15]
"The President of Saudi Readymix that the company's production has crossed the threshold of 3 million cubic meters in 2006 for the first time since the establishment of the ready-mixed concrete supplier, Arab News reported. The official indicated that the company will carry out an $85.3 million expansion plan within five years through expanding its factories and distribution bases throughout the KSA. He added that Saudi Readymix is also planning to raise its annual output volume by further 30 percent.." [more]

Saudis Allocate 9b Riyals for Education [Feb 15]
"Saudi Arabia is moving ahead in developing its education curriculum, said Saudi educational experts in press statements yesterday.. ..'The King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz scheme for developing education will contribute to turning about 5 million male and female students from the traditional method of text books and lesson memorisation, which is currently adopted in schools, to the application of scientific methods that help students upgrade their mental and thinking skills,' the experts said during a press conference in Riyadh.. ..the new scheme will include the introduction of e-syllabus and the training of some 400,000 male and female teachers to enable them to cope with the new development in trends.." [more]

US Businessmen Show Interest in Madinah Projects [Feb 15]
"Several American businessmen have expressed their interest to develop various business projects in Madinah in a recent visit to the Madinah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI). Basem Al-Hasemi, a high-ranking official at the US consulate in Jeddah, led the US side.. ..Yanbu, with its two industrial cities and a seaport, is home to SR46 billion worth industries. The city also provides all facilities for industrial investors, the MCCI chairman added. In and around Madinah, there are 147 industrial units with SR1billion worth of investments.. ..A representative of the Saudi Arabian Investment Authority, Saleh Abbas, who also attended the meeting, explained the incentives provided by the government to foreign investors.." [more]

MedGulf Set to Float 25% of Stock - KSA [Feb 15]
"MedGulf (Insurance and Reinsurance) will float 20 million shares worth SR200 million at the par value of SR10 each starting on Saturday. The initial public offering (IPO) represents 25 percent of MedGulf's stock and will be sold to the public through 11 authorized banks. It marks a major step en route to becoming a joint stock company from the Kingdom's insurance sector.. ..It becomes the second company from the insurance sector to go public following the flotation by Al-Malaz Insurance Co. on Feb. 3.." [more]

Fuelling the Dragon [Feb 15]
"..The advance into the Middle East creates another front in Beijing's growing global rivalry with Washington and other western countries. 'China's strategy in the Middle East puts us in a competition for influence,' says Flynt Leverett, director of the Geopolitics of Energy Initiative at the New America Foundation in Washington. 'But the answer is not a confrontational approach over energy interests - it is to develop a more co-operative relationship with the Chinese on energy security'.. ..Jon Alterman, Middle East programme director at Washington's Centre for Strategic and International Studies, says western governments have to recognise that China will be a rising power in the Middle East and that it should be brought into discussions on regional security.." [more]

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

Saudi Arabia: Lift Travel Ban on Government Critics [Feb 14]
"Saudi Arabia should lift politically motivated bans on foreign travel it has imposed on prominent government critics, Human Rights Watch said in a letter sent to King Abdullah on February 9. The Ministry of Interior has imposed the travel bans without regard to Saudi or international law and has refused to hear the appeals for relief from many of the men subject to the bans. �By imposing travel bans, the Saudi government is restricting the movement of leading intellectuals, diminishing their ability to work for a better future for the Saudi people through an international exchange of ideas,� said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch.. ..These travel bans violate international human rights law which guarantees everyone the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country.." [more]

Reality Show Aims to Take US Closer to Arab World [Feb 14]
"As the US struggles with its image in the region, a group of former officials and diplomats, Democrat and Republican, is trying to come to the rescue, unveiling the results of what they hope will help bridge the gap between Arabs and Americans. Layalina Productions, a television content provider that counts an impressive board of advisers, including George Bush, the former US president, and James Baker, the former secretary of state, is behind a reality television show that aims to portray America in a more appealing light.. ..Yet analysts say it is unlikely to change Arab attitudes towards the US.." [more]

Saudi Al-Qaida Urges Strikes on U.S. Oil Sources [Feb 14]
"A Saudi wing of al-Qaida is calling for attacks on U.S. oil sources across the world, saying targets should not be limited to the Middle East and listing Canada, Venezuela and Mexico as U.S. oil suppliers. The threat appeared in the al-Qaida Organization in the Arabian Peninsula�s e-magazine, Sawt al-Jihad (Voice of Holy War), which was posted on a Web site used by Islamist militants.�It is necessary to hit oil interests in all regions which serve the United States not just in the Middle East. The goal is to cut its supplies or reduce them through any means,� the statement said.. ..Al-Qaida launched a failed suicide attack on the world�s largest oil processing plant in Saudi Arabia in February 2006 in which officials said two tons of explosives were used.." [more]

Arab Economies Grow Despite Turmoil [Feb 14]
"Arab Gulf states are utilising oil revenues to diversify their economies better and non-oil producers in the Middle East are liberalising faster despite political turmoil, the World Bank's deputy head said. 'In general all countries of the region are growing at a rate of between three to seven per cent..,'.. ..The World Bank's latest report on economic prospects for the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region says the surge in oil prices and the boost in government expenditure has sent growth in the region to its highest levels in the past four years.." [more]

Iraq Reopens Its Riyadh Embassy After 17 Years [Feb 14]
" Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari reopened his country�s embassy in Riyadh after 17 years as part of its efforts to strengthen relations with Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries.. ..He said the reopening of the embassy was based on an initiative from the Iraqi government to restore full diplomatic relations with Arab and Islamic countries with Saudi Arabia being the first. The Iraqi Embassy was closed down in February 1990 after Iraq invaded Kuwait, sparking the first Gulf War.." [more]

Consumer Confidence in Kingdom at New Highs [Feb 14]
"Consumer confidence in Saudi Arabia grew stronger in the second half of 2006, elevating the Kingdom to top place in the Middle East and Levant region. In the latest MasterIndex survey covering five economic factors � employment, economy, regular income, stock market and quality of life � consumers across Saudi Arabia were highly optimistic about their future. The current Saudi Arabia MasterIndex score of 97.3 out of a possible score of 100 is a significant improvement on the 88.5 score received six months ago.. ..The most significant increase in the Saudi index score was the rise in consumer sentiment on the stock market, which rose to 95.8 from 82.1 up 13.7 points from the last survey six months ago.." [more]

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

US Nominates Business Bigshot as Saudi Ambassador [Feb 13]
"US President George W. Bush has nominated Ford Fraker, a heavyweight business executive, to be the next United States Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, the White House said in a statement early today. A Harvard University graduate, Fraker served in the past as Head of Banking for the Saudi International Bank. With deep knowledge in the Middle East, he now serves as Chairman of Trinity Group Limited and consultant to Intercontinental Real Estate Corporation.. ..Fraker's appointment comes one day after 
Saudi Arabia appointed Adel Jubeir as the Kingdoms Ambassador in Washington, replacing Prince Turki Al-Faisal who left his post after 15 months of service as the Saudi envoy in the US.." [more]

Saudi Arabia Allocates $2.4b for Improving Education Sector [Feb 13]
"The Saudi Arabian Education Minister said that the Saudi government has approved the King Abdullah Project for developing education with at total budget of $2.4 billion, Arab News reported. The minister pointed out that the project aims to improve the education atmosphere, enhance teachers' training and meet the requirements of the education sector in the kingdom.." [more]

Saudi Arabia Keeps Supply Steady [Feb 13]
"Saudi Arabia will keep oil supplies steady to some of its big-gest customers in March, although some Asian refiners were expected to receive additional crude, trade sources said yesterday. Opec has pledged to reduce supplies by a total of 1.7 million barrels per day, including a second cut of 500,000 bpd taking effect from February 1.Several Opec ministers have said there will be no need for a further output cut when the group meets in March, provided there is no significant change in market conditions.. ..Saudi Arabia has so far adhered to Opec's pledged cuts and some traders said higher supplies to some refiners would be offset by reduced deliveries elsewhere.." [more]

Russia Could Help Saudi in Atomic Energy: Putin [Feb 13]
"Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow would consider helping Saudi Arabia with a possible atomic energy programme and that he hoped to build stronger ties with Muslim countries. 'Russia is willing to look into co-operation opportunities in the area of atomic energy,' Putin told Saudi businessmen, speaking through an Arabic interpreter. Saudi Arabia and fellow GCC members Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait and the UAE, said in December they had ordered a study on a possible joint civil atomic programme.." [more]

Saudi Arabia Finances a Housing Programme in Hebron [Feb 13]
"On 11 February 2007, in Riyadh, a Memorandum of Understading (MOU) on mutual cooperation between UN-HABITAT and the Saudi Committee was signed by Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka, Executive Director, UN-HABITAT, and H.E. Dr. Sa'id Al-Orabi Al-Harthi, Chairman, Saudi Committee for the Palestinian People Relief, and Advisor to the Minister of Interior. The occasion was witnessed by H.E. Dr. Jamal Al-Shobaki Ambassador of Palestine to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The MOU provides a framework for the establishment of a 'Housing and Income Generating Programme for Widowed and Poor Women in Al Khalil (Hebron), the West Bank, the occupied Palestinian territories'.." [more]

MIT to Help Create First �Smart City� in Saudi Arabia [Feb 13]
"King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), the path-breaking development by Emaar the Economic City (Emaar.E.C), is in talks with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to develop KAEC as the first �Smart City� in the world. A delegation from MIT met Nidal Jamjoom, chief executive officer, Emaar.E.C to discuss strategies that will shape KAEC as the world�s first truly IT-driven �Smart City�.. ..'Our association with MIT will serve as a technology telescope for bringing in emerging technologies and roll out ICT solutions that will continue to uphold the status of KAEC as the world�s �Smart City� even after several years,' added Omar Al-Khudairi.." [more]

South Africa Tourism Woos Saudi Investors [Feb 13]
"The South African Embassy and Consulate General in Saudi Arabia will host workshops in the Kingdom to promote South Africa�s tourism and investment opportunities ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. The workshops will take place in Jeddah on Feb.18 and in Riyadh on Feb.19. Dubbed the �Next Stop South Africa� campaign, a delegation of senior officials from the Departments of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Trade and Industry (Investment Promotion Unit), members of South African Tourism, the International Marketing Council of South Africa, as well as representatives from several Provincial Investment Promotion Agencies, will give presentations at the workshops.." [more]

France Reverses Announcement of an Airbus Tanker Deal with Saudi Arabia [Feb 12]
"French officials scrambled Monday to avoid a rift with one of the world's biggest arms buyers after prematurely announcing a deal by Airbus to supply Saudi Arabia with refueling tanker planes and then backing down. The reversal came as Boeing, the U.S. archrival of Airbus, introduced a newly redesigned KC-767 as its proposed aircraft for a $40 billion air force contract competition to replace 179 refueling planes. Boeing tweaked its 767 design to improve fuel efficiency, among other factors, to beat Northrop Grumman, which is expected to offer its KC-30, a modified Airbus A330, at a discounted price. Airbus has been seeking to loosen Boeing's grip on the tanker market.." [more]

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

Oil Prices Fall After Comments by Saudi Oil Minister [Feb 12]
"Oil prices fell back from the $60-a-barrel mark today as the market looked ahead to a surplus of supply in the second quarter and following a suggestion that OPEC is unlikely to further cut production. On Friday, prices climbed briefly above the psychological $60 barrier on unrelenting cold U.S. weather.. ..Over the weekend, Saudi oil minister Ali Naimi suggested that the cartel was not looking to make further production cuts.. ..'If you are asking me are we going to take additional cuts or increase supply, I do not know,' said Naimi, the oil cartel's de facto leader. 'But, most probably if the trend is like what it is like today, with the market getting in much, much better health and balance, there may not be any reason to change'.." [more]

An Eye-Opening Visit for Australian Women [Feb 12]
"Australian and Saudi businesswomen found more similarities than differences during their meeting at the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry Saturday. The 14-women delegation arrived in the Kingdom last Tuesday for a two-week visit.. ..During their visit to the women�s branch of the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI), Huda Al-Jeraisy, chairwoman of the Executive Council at the RCCI, answered the most common question foreigners ask: why women�s branch of the RCCI is separated from the men�s and whether this separation causes any difficulties? 'We have it separate to abide by Islamic teachings,' Al-Jeraisy answered. 'But by having a separate women�s branch, the specialized needs of businesswomen have been met through the separate specialized department.'.. ..Fiona Hill, the head of the Australian delegation, said she understood the need for specialized services for businesswomen. 'We don�t have a special Chamber of Commerce and Industry for women in Australian but we need one,' Hill said. The delegation head invited Saudi businesswomen to visit Canberra.." [more]

Saudi Prepares For Airport Privatisation [Feb 12]
"Saudi Arabia is paving the way for privatisation of its international airports. The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) is working on plans to give all three of the Kingdom's international airports into autonomous, state-owned, companies. Abdullah Ruhaimy, president of GACA, says that the airports need to be given their own corporate identities and financial independence in order to improve performance.. ..Ruhaimy stressed that no decision has yet been taken on full privatisation of Saudi Arabia's airports, but was keen to discuss the positive impact that the private sector is already having on the country's aviation industry.." [more]

Saudi Arabia's Non-Oil Exports to Soar [Feb 12]
"Saudi Arabia's non-oil exports are set to reach 79 billion Saudi riyals during 2007, compared to 71 billion riyals in 2006, according to a report. The report, released by the Saudi ministry of finance, has based its forecasts on the major increase in non-oil exports to Iraq and East Asia, as well as the access of Saudi exports to European markets following the Kingdom's accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The report noted that the value of these exports increased by 10.3 per cent.. ..The forecasts of the Ministry of Finance are not much different from those made earlier by the Saudi Exports Development Centre, an affiliate to the Council of the Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry. The centre predicted that Saudi non-oil exports would touch 80 billion riyals in 2007. The centre noted that there are a number of Saudi projects that will begin operating in 2007, which will boost the value of non-oil exports.." [more]

Airbus Wins Saudi Order [Feb 12]
"Airbus has won a Saudi Arabian order worth between 350 million euros ($455 million) and 400 million euros, the French Ministry of Defence said. The French government said Saudi Arabia had decided to order an unspecified number of A330 MRTT tanker/transport planes from Airbus. The basic planes will be made in Toulouse while Spain's CASA will turn them into military aircraft at its Getafe site near Madrid.." [more]

JEF Registration Begins [Feb 12]
"Registration for the Eighth Annual Jeddah Economic Forum, starting on Feb. 24, at the Jeddah Hilton, begins this week with a regional and international marketing and advertising campaign. Delegates can register directly Online via the link on the Forum Website [www.jef.org.sa]. For Registration Forms � contact the Registration Office on +966 2 657 0001.. ..JEF 2007 will explore the theme �Economic Reform: Flourishing Grounds and Expanding Horizons�. International Speakers are expected to include Prime Minister Erdogan of Turkey, Lech Walesa - former President of Poland, Jean Chretien - former Prime Minister of Canada and other internationally known economists and business leaders.." [more]

Saudi Women May Soon Take Up Diplomatic Work [Feb 12]
"Saudi women will soon be eligible to take up diplomatic work at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, according to a leading official at the Institute of Diplomatic Studies. 'There is an inclination to open the diplomatic sector for women at the institute and the minister of foreign affairs is very keen on women working in the ministry,' said Dr. Muhammad Al-Uwaydi, director of the Periodicals and Publishing Department at the Institute of Diplomatic Studies. The institute was established 27 years ago to serve the Foreign Affairs Ministry by training Saudi diplomats.. ..Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal announced two years ago that Saudi women would be employed at the ministry. The ministry had also began hiring S