News - August 2008

Aug 24 - Aug 30, 2008

~~~~~~~~ [ Aug 30] ~~~~~~~~~

Gulf Arabs Scoff at Obama�s Oil Threat [Aug 30]
"Saudi and other Gulf Arab businessmen Friday scoffed at Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama�s pledge to end US dependence on Middle East oil within 10 years if elected president. 'For the sake of our economy, our security, and the future of our planet, I will set a goal as president: In 10 years, we will finally end our dependence on oil from the Middle East,� Obama had declared in his speech to the Democratic convention in Denver, Thursday. In the Gulf, where many people stayed awake after the morning Fajr prayer to watch live TV coverage of Obama�s historic acceptance speech as the first-ever African-American presidential nominee, the pledge sounded more like political grandstanding. 'It�s easier said than done,' said Abdullah S. Al-Ghamdi, chief finance officer of a Saudi contracting company. 'If Obama ends buying oil from the Middle East, that will not hurt because we have other markets,' added Dr. Said Al-Qahtani.." [more]

Kingdom Positioned to Become Solar Power [Aug 30]
"In the wake of the first Gulf War, the US Army assessed Saudi Arabia�s solar energy resource potential in a classified effort to determine how oil fires had affected the region. The results were clear and surprising. In addition to being a vast petroleum repository, the Kingdom was also the heart of the most potentially productive region on the planet for harvesting power from the sun. Sitting in the center of the so-called Sun Belt, the Kingdom is part of a vast, rainless region reaching from the western edge of North Africa to the eastern edge of Central Asia that boasts the best solar energy resources on Earth. With the cost of oil skyrocketing, this belt is attracting the attention of a growing number of European leaders, who are embracing an ambitious proposal to harvest this solar energy for their nations. The developed world again turns to the less developed countries in hopes of powering their economies.." [more]

Patience is the Name of the Game in Saudi Arabia [Aug 30]
"Patience appears to be the key approach by investment banks doing business in Saudi Arabia, the Middle East's largest economy and the world's biggest oil producing country. Most investment banks have long had a limited presence in the kingdom but, over the past two years, many - including UBS, Merrill Lynch, Deutsche Bank and JPMorgan - have been granted licences to open offices as the sector has been liberalised. There has also been recent pressure on international institutions to boost their business in emerging markets, including the Middle East, to counter slowdowns elsewhere and help offset the hits they have taken from the subprime crisis. However, in spite of the influx of global investment banks, the extent of new business the groups have been able to attract in Saudi Arabia is questionable.." [more]

Saudi Arabia, Malaysia Banned for Nepali Maids [Aug 30]
"The government has stopped granting work permits to Nepali women to work as housemaids in Saudi Arabia and Malaysia. The decision comes at a time when there are increasing numbers Nepali housemaids are being reported to have been undergoing abuse by their employers in these countries. Also, Nepali embassies in Saudi Arabia and Malaysia have requested the government to arrange a proper mechanism to safeguard the rights of domestic helps before allowing them to leave for foreign jobs. Saying that the women working in these countries are subjected to economic as well as sexual oppression.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Aug 29] ~~~~~~~~~

Saudi Group Calls on Rights Body to Stop Illegal Arrests of Citizens [Aug 29]
"A group of citizens has urged the National Human Rights Association in Saudi Arabia to try to find a solution to the illegal arrest of Saudis, especially those who express their opinions in peaceful and civilised ways. The group denounced the arrest of Professor Matrook Al Faleh, political science professor at King Saud University (KSU) which it described as an indication of a serious human rights violation. His family was not informed about his arrest until late at night. Dr Al Faleh was not provided with an attorney during questioning, even though Saudi law grants him that right. Dr Al Faleh's wife, Jameela Al Aqla, said that her husband has been in prison for more than 80 days; however, he is still in solitary confinement in Al Haeer Jail. He is prohibited from receiving books, newspapers, and watching television.." [more]

Religious Police Demand Access to Blocked Websites [Aug 29]
"A number of members of the religious police (the Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice) have urged the Chairman of the Saudi Shura Council, Dr Saleh Bin Humaid, to enable them to have access to blocked websites to monitor immoral practices by visitors of these sites. In an open meeting held by Dr Bin Humaid at the headquarters of the Commission in Makkah last night they justified this unexpected request by arguing that there are some male and female youngsters who exploit blocked websites to get involved in negative practices away from the eyes of the Saudi authorities. 'Since members of the Commission have no access to these blocked websites, such immoral practices cannot be pursued and put an end to. Dr Al Humaid told the Commission members to provide the relevant authorities with convincing justifications to give them to access to the blocked sites. However, he expressed doubt on the need for such a thing. 'These justifications must be supported by clear evidence, otherwise there is no need for it,'.." [more]

Kingdom Signs Treaty Against Chemical Weapons [Aug 29]
"Saudi Arabia, along with 186 countries, signed the Chemical Weapon Convention (CWC) treaty prohibiting the use of chemical weapons in Colombo, Monday. 'We discussed many issues before signing the treaty. The Kingdom�s role is to support peace and stand against violence,' said Dr. Khalil Al-Khalil, member of the Shoura Council and head of the Security Affairs Commission and the Saudi delegation in Colombo.. ..'This treaty includes many conditions that must be followed by Arab and international countries to ensure world safety,' Al-Khalil said. 'The treaty prohibits the use of chemical weapons in war and puts a restriction on weapon factories. All countries that have signed the treaty must declare the number of the chemical weapons they have.' 'All countries should be inspected by the (OPCW) authority to make sure they are free of such weapons', he added. The Kingdom has earlier signed a treaty prohibiting the use of chemical weapons in 1993.." [more]

Foreign Investments Break Record [Aug 29]
"Saudi Arabia's foreign investment swelled by nearly $25 billion (Dh91.7bn) in one month to smash the $400bn mark for the first time at the end of July � and it is expected to surge by the year end. Foreign assets of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (Sama) hit an record high of around SR1.56 trillion (Dh1.5trn) at the end of July this year, an increase of nearly $25bn over their level of SR1.468trn at the end of June, official figures show. The assets have gained a staggering SR297bn since the start of 2008 to reflect a surge in the Kingdom's oil export earnings and a massive budget surplus that has replaced a painful deficit in most of the 1985-2000 period. The figures by Sama, Saudi Arabia's Central Bank, showed the assets were nearly double their 2006 level of SR884bn and eight times the foreign assets of around SR197bn at the end of 2002.." [more]

Shariah-compliant Housing Loan Unveiled for Saudis, Expatriates [Aug 29]
"A leading Saudi company has come forward to offer housing loans for Saudis and expatriates following the introduction of mortgage laws in the Kingdom. 'We are going to help them own property by giving them simple and flexible Shariah-compliant home finance,' Sheikh Abdullatif Al-Shalash, managing director of Saudi Home Loans (SHL), told Arab News. SHL, which was launched with a SR2 billion in startup capital in January this year, is the first fully Islamic specialized home finance company to be established in the Kingdom. Al-Shalash said that the company�s experienced advisers would offer free advice and provide home financing up to 90 percent of the cost of the land, villas and apartments with payment terms up to 25 years.." [more]

Saudi Arabia Releases Leading Reformer [Aug 29]
" Authorities in Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil exporter, have released a leading reform activist after he served a six-month prison sentence, acquaintances said on Thursday. Abdullah al-Hamed, a leading intellectual figure among Islamist reformists, was freed early on Thursday, preacher Mohsen al-Awajy and rights activist Fawziya al-Oyouni told Reuters. Hamed's sentence was widely seen as punishment for his calls for political reform in the conservative Islamic monarchy, a key U.S. ally. He was jailed by a Saudi court for encouraging the wives of suspected Islamist militants to publicly protest their husband's indefinite detention. 'I hope Hamed's release will be the beginning of a new phase and that this will be a good sign regarding the status of reformers,' said Islamist activist Khaled al-Omair. Saudi intellectuals this week urged the government to do more to stop detentions and other restrictions placed on figures, both liberals and Islamists, who work publicly to turn the absolute monarchy into a parliamentary democracy.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Aug 28] ~~~~~~~~~

IMF Vindicates Saudi Dollar Peg [Aug 28]
"Saudi Arabia's economy has almost doubled since 2002 with nominal gross domestic product projected to approach $500m this year. The kingdom is awash with liquidity as most of the rest of the world faces a credit crunch. A robust economic performance, oil revenue windfalls and strengthened government finances as well as the government's commitment to diversification have been accompanied by the announcement of infrastructure projects valued in excess of $350bn. However, the huge expansion of wealth has made the economy vulnerable to rapid inflation now at double-digit levels.. ..In spite of this the kingdom's currency peg to the dollar provides macroeconomic stability benefits that currently outweigh its contribution to short-term inflationary pressures the International Monetary Fund has said, following its recent annual consultation with Saudi Arabia. Most of the IMF's executive board consider the benefits of maintaining the peg to outweigh the cost of higher short-term inflation, provided that current inflationary pressures prove temporary.." [more]

Kingdom to Host Real Estate Investment World Summit [Aug 28]
"With a booming real estate industry and Shariah-compliant investments on the rise, the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce & Industry has decided to partner with Naseba, a leading international business information company, in hosting the exclusive Real Estate Investment World Summit, to further attract foreign investors to the country. The summit, held for the first time in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, will take place on Oct. 19-20th, 2008 at the Four Seasons Hotel at Kingdom Center in Riyadh.. ..250 of the biggest profiles including royalties, ministries, financial authorities, high net worth individuals and institutional investors as well as the board members from top worldwide financial institutions and developers will attend the summit. They will have the opportunity to be re-educated on the market trends and regulations, discuss future projects and funding, as well as to network with the high net worth individuals from Saudi Arabia and across the region.." [more]

AIDS Cases in Jeddah up by 20% [Aug 28]
"AIDS cases in Jeddah have increased by 20 percent when compared to last year, Dr. Sami Badawood, Jeddah�s Health Affairs Director, has said. Efforts are under way to assist AIDS patients to get jobs and not be treated as pariahs, Dr. Badawood said. Addressing the media after inaugurating mobile clinics for HIV tests, Badawood said the rise in the AIDS cases in Jeddah is associated with the increase in technical facilities provided for medical tests manifested in the premarital test centers. He said these facilities have made it possible to detect new cases of this deadly disease.. ..He said the continuation of the awareness campaigns is a must as they enlighten the public about how people should protect themselves from AIDS and the stigma attached to it.." [more]

Ericsson in Exclusive Broadband Deal for Flagship Saudi Tech City [Aug 28]
"Ericsson is to supply, build, integrate operate and manage multiplay communications infrastructure for Saudi Arabia's high-tech flagship, King Abdullah Economic City. The five-year sole-supplier partnership agreement with Emaar, developer of the smart-city project, is the first for an end-to-end fixed network in Saudi Arabia. This turnkey agreement award breaks new ground in Saudi Arabia.. ..Fahd Al-Rasheed, CEO of Emaar the Economic City, says: 'This partnership sets the foundation for King Abdullah Economic City to be the world's first truly smart city.' Omar Al-Khudairi, Ethraa Smart City Senior Director, described the deal to build the smart city's infrastructure in alliance with Ericsson as a global benchmark from all perspectives.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Aug 27] ~~~~~~~~~

Iran Tops GCC Ministerial Agenda [Aug 27]
"The occupation of three UAE islands by Iran and the implications of the recent international confrontation between Russia and the US over the security in the region will top the agenda of the GCC ministerial council meeting to be held in Jeddah next Tuesday, according to an official statement issued by the GCC secretariat. This will be the 108th meeting since he GCC was formed in 1980 and will be especially crucial due to Iran's recent activity on UAE island of Abu Mousa, strategists told Gulf News. Iran would be committing a huge mistake if it keeps ignoring the call by the GCC for a peaceful end to the conflict.. ..Riad Kahwaji, Director General of the Institute of Near Easat and Gulf Military Analysis, said the GCC show of solidarity with the UAE is very important at this stage.." [more]

Banks Act on Saudi's Foreign Investment Shift [Aug 27]
"Major investment banks say they have begun trading under new rules by Saudi Arabia that allow foreigners their first-ever access to individual stocks listed on the kingdom's exchange, the largest in the Middle East. Saudi authorities announced the major policy shift a week ago, but it was uncertain when trading would begin. Investors previously could invest in Saudi stocks only through locally run mutual funds - a restriction observers said limited outside investment in the kingdom.. ..Under the new regulations, foreign buyers can enter into transactions known as swap agreements with local branches of investment banks. The arrangement lets investors take advantage of movements in Saudi shares even though they are prohibited from owning them outright. Some 60 companies are authorized to carry out swap trades on the Riyadh-based exchange, known as the Tadawul, according to a list on the CMA Web site. Most buyers are likely to be large institutional investors, industry experts said.." [more]

Saudi May Face OPEC Pressure to Trim Supply [Aug 27]
" Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter, may come under pressure from within OPEC ranks to reduce supplies to prevent a further fall in crude prices when the group meets on Sept. 9. While OPEC is unlikely to change its official supply target at the meeting in Vienna, it is pumping almost 1 million barrels per day (bpd) more than the target largely because of an increase from Saudi Arabia. The extra Saudi oil and declining demand from slowing economies in the West have helped lower prices to $117 a barrel from a record high of $147.27 in July. The drop has prompted OPEC price hawks Iran and Venezuela to suggest a cut in supplies.'I think there will be pressure on Saudi Arabia to rein in some of its recent unilateral increases,' said Julian Lee, analyst at the London-based Centre for Global Energy Studies.." [more]

Nobel Laureates Associate With KSU [Aug 27]
"The new �Noble laureates at King Saud University Program� has hosted 10 Nobel laureates since it started last year boosting the academic standing of the university worldwide, said Dr. Khaled Al-Nuwaib, supervisor of the program. The university discussed with the top-notch visiting professors means of cooperation in different aspects including joint research, teaching, conferences, and seminars, he said. This step comes as part of a makeover the university has taken to climb the list of world university ranking. In less than a year, the ranking of the university jumped phenomenally from nearly 3,000 to a spectacular 380, according to the rating of the famous Spanish Webometrics Ranking of World Universities. The visiting Nobel laureates were selected from different disciplines such as medicine, economics, physics, and chemistry.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Aug 26] ~~~~~~~~~

Steps in Place to Foil Terror Attack [Aug 26]
"As the Kingdom braces itself for a huge influx of Umrah pilgrims during the holy month of Ramadan, the Saudi Interior Ministry has ruled out the possibility of a terror attack during the holy month. Lt. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki, spokesman for the Interior Ministry, made the comments in the wake of new security and travel warnings issued by the Australian and British governments yesterday. 'Saudi Arabia is adequately prepared to face any emergency and we are prepared round the year to cope with any eventuality. We are always ready to foil any such plans,' said Al-Turki. 'The security forces are alert and they are keeping a watch round-the-clock. Suspects are not detained by security forces without any rhyme or reason... suspects, in fact, are first questioned and their movements are closely monitored, before they are arrested,' he added. The Australian government issued a warning yesterday asking its citizens to consider whether they need to travel to the Kingdom 'at this time due to the very high threat of terrorist attack.'.. ..In another warning, the British government highlighted 'credible' reports that terrorists are planning attacks on Westerners. A notice on the British Embassy�s website warned of a continuing 'high threat' of terrorism in the Kingdom. Australia and Britain have followed an American Embassy warning issued on July 25 that militants were probably plotting new attacks.."  [more]

Rice Criticises Israel Over New Report on Settlement Construction [Aug 26]
"US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice criticised Israeli authorities for undermining peace efforts in the region, following a report that said construction in Jewish settlements had nearly doubled. Citing information from Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics, the Israeli group Peace Now released an eight-page report on Tuesday, which said that construction on more than 1,000 buildings in the West Bank had begun since January, more than double the number the year before. Speaking at a news conference while in Israel as part of her Middle East visit, Rice repeated her criticism of the settlements. 'I think it's no secret, and I have said it to my Israeli counterparts, that I don't think that settlement activity is helpful,'.. ..More than half of the construction took place in areas beyond the intended settlement blocs, adding that it undermines peace negotiations by 'creating facts on the ground that might prevent the possibility of an agreement'.." [more]

Zain to Invest $8 Billion in Kingdom in Next Five Years [Aug 26]
"Kuwait�s telecom giant Zain, which launches its mobile phone service in Saudi Arabia today (Tuesday), said the company plans to invest between $6 and $8 billion in the next five years. Last year, a Zain-led consortium won the third mobile phone license in the Kingdom after making the highest bid of $6.1 billion.. ..With a focus on corporate social responsibility, to date Zain in Saudi Arabia has made considerable financial contributions to various charitable organizations such as the King Abdul Aziz University, the BMG Foundation as well as sponsoring the Kingdom�s national football teams, the company statement further said. Zain in Saudi Arabia has committed investments of over $1.5 billion in the development of the network.." [more]

King Urges Speedy Solution to Water Crisis [Aug 26]
"..King Abdullah, who chaired the weekly meeting of the Council of Ministers at the Huwaiyyah Palace in Taif yesterday, affirmed the need for careful use of water and preservation of water resources. The Saudi Press Agency quoted acting Culture and Information Minister Saud Al-Mutahammi as saying that the king ordered the speeding up of measures to solve the problem of water shortage and guarantee a sufficient water supply to all regions of the Kingdom. The measures include construction of new dams, digging wells, shifting of floating desalination plants to places close to affected regions and the hiring of fleets of tanker trucks. Asir province and several cities, including Riyadh, Jeddah and Taif, have been suffering from water shortages and people have been obliged to wait for hours for water tankers at water distribution centers. The water shortage is attributed to climatic changes and drought in most parts of the Kingdom.." [more]

Saudi Institution Under Threat From Revived Publishing Brand [Aug 26]
"Marwan Dimas seems to be on a roll these days. With his company flush with revenue from the kingdom�s booming print media market, the general manager of Al Wataniya is at the receiving end of praise for his aggressive marketing of Al Hayat, a decades-old pan-Arab title. Advertisers say Al Wataniya is leaving its main rival, Saudi Research and Marketing Group (SRMG) and its flagship title Asharq Alawsat, in the dust in the battle for dominance of Saudi Arabia�s dailies scene. And the battle is just beginning: Dimas says Al Wataniya now has its eye on more dailies. He is guarded when it comes to revealing specifics of the company�s expansion strategy, but says the publisher 'will acquire new media and acquire existing media on the market.'.. ..As with all newspapers in the Kingdom, both titles have the support of powerful patrons: SRMG is chaired by Prince Faisal bin Salman, while Al Wataniya is owned by Prince Khalid bin Sultan, both of whom are nephews of King Abdullah. Though both papers have been critical of the government at times, they toe an editorial line that is broadly both pro-Western and pro-Saudi. But in the marketplace, neither respect nor wasta necessarily translates into financial success.." [more]

HRC Seeks End to Child Marriages [Aug 26]
"The Saudi Human Rights Commission (HRC) has called on government agencies to take necessary steps to end the practice of child marriages by adopting a clear and unambiguous position on such weddings. The condemnation comes in the wake of several cases across the Kingdom in which young girls have been married to elderly men, mainly for monetary reasons such as the settlement of debts or to receive generous dowries. 'Such marriages violate human rights by depriving a girl of her childhood,' said Turki Al-Sudairy, president of the Human Rights Commission. He added that such weddings are prohibited by a number of international conventions and by reputed global organizations concerned with children�s rights.. ..Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh, grand mufti of Saudi Arabia, has also warned parents against marrying their young daughters to elderly men.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Aug 25] ~~~~~~~~~

Saudi Shura Member Calls for Unified Position to Counter Iran [Aug 25]
"A member of the Saudi Shura Council has called for a strong unified Arab position to counter Iran's aggressive designs in the Arab region, according to a report in Elaph, an electronic newspaper, on Sunday. Dr. Mohammad Al Zalfa unleashed an unprecedented barrage of criticism at Iran and its aggressive policies against Arabs, referring to its occupation of the UAE's three islands of Abu Mousa and Greater and Lesser Tunbs. "Iran and Israel are two sides of the same coin since both are still occupying Arab territories," said Dr Al Zalfa. He unleashed a strong attack against Iran, accusing it of playing the same strategy as Israel in the region.. ..Al Zalfa also described statements by Iranian officials as provocative, referring to a statement by Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister who said the region will remain in crisis as long as monarchies remain in the Gulf.." [more]

Kingdom Plans SR2bn Firm to Invest in Agriculture [Aug 25]
"Saudi Arabia plans to set up in two months time a SR2 billion holding company to invest in agriculture overseas to ensure food security, Agricultural Minister Fahd Balghunaim said. The new company, a partnership between the public sector and domestic private companies, is part of a program to ensure adequate and cheap food supplies in the Kingdom, Al-Madinah newspaper reported yesterday. The company will focus on items that either cannot be grown in the Kingdom such as rice and sugar, or need plenty of water supplies such as wheat, barley and animal fodder, the minister said. The government had earlier hinted at plans to reduce by 12.5 percent each year the amount of wheat bought from local farmers, abandoning a 30-year program to grow wheat and which achieved self-sufficiency but depleted the Kingdom�s scarce water supplies.." [more]

OPEC to Try to Curb Oil Price Fall in Sept-Iran [Aug 25]
"Iran's oil minister said on Monday he expects OPEC to work on preventing the falling trend in crude prices and also to study oversupply in the market when it meets in September, oil ministry news website SHANA said. Iran is traditionally a price hawk and has been at the forefront of rejecting calls for more output from consumers such as the United States, even when prices surged to a record $147 a barrel, a level from which they have now tumbled. Iran has previously said the market was oversupplied by about 1 million barrels per day (bpd).. ..Oil prices are now trading at around $115 a barrel, finding some support from tensions between the West and Russia over Georgia. Iran's nuclear row with the West has provided support for oil prices this year. OPEC ministers next meet on Sept. 9 in Vienna.." [more]

Gulf States Remain Wedded to Dollar [Aug 25]
"Before the recent fall in oil prices and the subsequent rise in the dollar, a chorus of academics and policy experts had been contending that Saudi Arabia and neighboring Gulf countries should abandon their long-fixed currency peg to a depreciating dollar to help combat the social ravages of inflation that were spreading across the region and affecting people like Bahader. The brief, put forth by the likes of Alan Greenspan and the Harvard economist Martin Feldstein, made impeccable theoretical sense: with Gulf economies riding an oil boom, higher interest rates and stronger currencies were needed, not the reverse. Currency traders took heed. But that argument made only limited headway in Saudi Arablia. And now, with the dollar's modest comeback and oil's retreat, policy makers in the region have been bolstered in their resolve to keep the peg in place and accept the consequences of higher inflation if need be.." [more]

SHUAA Saudi Hospitality Fund Attracts SR900 Million at First Closing [Aug 25]
"Shuaa Capital Saudi Arabia announced today the successful first closing of its 'SHUAA Saudi Hospitality Fund I', a Shari'a compliant closed-end fund which aims to develop and own seventeen hotel properties, furnished apartments, and resorts across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia comprising 5,000 rooms. As at August 25, 2008, commitments from regional, institutional and individual investors totalled SR 900 million (US$ 240 million) for this initial closing and it is anticipated that a further SR 1.1 billion (US$ 293.3 million) will be fully subscribed by the second and final closing.. ..Its goal is to acquire or develop five stars and budget hotels in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In addition, it will own 20% of a new hotel management company to be incorporated in the Kingdom.. ..The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is experiencing a sustained boom in business and leisure travel and the SHUAA Saudi Hospitality Fund is in an excellent position to benefit from that. Demand for hotel accommodation, throughout the Kingdom, is far outstripping supply. Overnight visitors to and within the Kingdom have jumped over 74% from 6.6 million in 2000 to 11.5 million in 2007, while the number of hotel rooms increased by a limited annualized growth rate of only 1.5%.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Aug 24] ~~~~~~~~~

Saudi Women Hoping to Get Green Light to Drive Soon [Aug 24]
"..Supporters of ending the ban on female drivers point out that the prohibition exists neither in law nor in Islam. There is no written Saudi law banning women from driving, only fatwas, or edicts by senior clerics that are enforced by police. No major Islamic clerics outside the country call for such a ban. Conservatives say women at the wheel create situations for sinful temptation. They argue that women drivers will be free to leave home alone, will unduly expose their eyes while driving and will interact with male strangers, such as traffic police and mechanics.. ..Last September, a group of women formed the Committee of Demanders of Women's Right to Drive Cars to lobby for the right to get behind the wheel, collecting more than 3,000 signatures. They have sent two petitions to Abdullah, committee member Wajeha al-Huwaider said.. ..To mark Women's Day in March, al-Huwaider posted a video of herself on YouTube driving in the Eastern province. Surprisingly, the government did not try to stop the group from collecting signatures or punish al-Huwaider. Al-Huwaider said that's an encouraging sign, leading her to believe that women will start driving by the end of the year.." [more]

Saudi Child Files for Divorce [Aug 24]
"A court in Saudi Arabia is reported to be preparing to hear a plea for divorce from an eight-year-old girl who has been married off to a man in his 50s. The Saudi newspaper al-Watan said the girl had been married off to the man by her father without her knowledge. The child's mother is thought to be pushing for the marriage to be annulled - though the father opposes the move.. ..Child-protection groups say children are often given away in return for hefty dowries, or as a result of old customs in which a father promises his infant daughters and sons to cousins out of a belief that marriage will protect them from illicit relationships. Activists have called for an end to the practice.." [more]

Saudi Arabia to Fingerprint Air Travellers [Aug 24]
"Starting this Haj season, passengers arriving at King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah and Prince Muhammad Bin Abdulaziz Airport in Madina will be finger-printed, a senior Saudi official has said. The Saudi government has recently started finger-printing seven million foreign residents, who make up 30 per cent of the its total population of 21 million and started training personnel to master the new system at the country's entry points. World Bank estimates this number to reach 34 million in 2020.. ..In 2003, the Saudi government began a package of new measures including finger-printing to eliminate the problem of overstaying. Now foreign residents and visitors will be finger-printed to help put an end to those who enter the country with fake passports or forged papers.." [more]

Saudi Stocks Jump 5.18% on CMA Announcement [Aug 24]
"The Saudi stock market reacted positively yesterday to the announcement of the Capital Market Authority (CMA) on Wednesday that it will allow non-resident foreign investors access to the stock market through swap agreements with authorized investors, who would legally own the underlying shares. The Tadawul All-Share Index (TASI) jumped by 5.18 percent or 438.19 points to 8,901.90, its biggest one-day gain since April 2007. Despite yesterday's big gain, the index is still down 19.36 percent so far this year. Out of 124 shares traded, 117 companies were in positive territory, while only three were down.. ..Over SR8.76 billion worth of shares changed hands yesterday.." [more]

Investment Bankers Turn to Saudi Arabia [Aug 24]
"Saudi Arabia is not a country that stands out as a trendsetter. But as the Gulf enjoys a period of unprecedented expansion, the kingdom has been turning heads throughout the investment banking world. In the past two years a series of major international players - including Merrill Lynch, Deutsche Bank and JPMorgan - have been granted licences to open offices as the financial services sector has been liberalised. Last month UBS joined the list. Most investment banks had been doing business in the kingdom for some years.. ..But the line from bankers today is that a group is not considered a player in the region unless it has a full-blown presence in Saudi Arabia.." [more]

Saudi to Set Up Farm Investment Firm in 2 Months to Ensure Supply [Aug 24]
"Saudi Arabia plans to set up a firm to invest in agriculture overseas within two months to ensure food security, the kingdom�s agricultural minister said in remarks published yesterday. The new company, a partnership between the public sector and domestic private companies, is a part of a programme to ensure adequate food supplies to the Gulf Arab country at cheaper prices.. ..The firm will focus on items that either cannot be grown in the kingdom such as rice and sugar or need plenty of water supplies such as wheat, barley and animal fodder, the minister said. Saudi Arabia said in January it would start reducing purchases of wheat from local farmers by 12.5% per year from this year, abandoning a 30-year programme to grow wheat that achieved self-sufficiency but depleted the desert kingdom�s scarce water supplies. Riyadh�s plan was to start importing wheat in the spring of 2009 and move to 100% reliance on foreign purchases by 2015.." [more]

Palestinians to Receive Cash Boost From Saudi Arabia [Aug 24]
"The cash-strapped Palestinian Authority will receive a financial boost from Saudi Arabia to help Prime Minister Salam Fayyad pay public sector salaries, Palestinian officials said on Saturday. 'The Saudi finance minister told the Palestinian Authority that the decision was made to transfer $100 million,'.. ..Malki said the money was part of pledges made to the Palestinian Authority at a donors conference in Paris in December and expected the transfer to arrive in the coming days. Fayyad has struggled in recent months to pay government workers because many Arab donors have not met their financial commitments. Earlier in the week, the European Union said it would inject 40 million euros ($59 million) of funds on top of the 256 million euros in budget support disbursed so far this year by the European Union.." [more]

Deutsche Bank Ready to Offer Access to Saudi Arabia�s Stock Market [Aug 24]
"Deutsche Bank announced today that it is ready to commence offering its international clients access to Saudi Arabia�s stock exchange, the largest equity market in the Middle East. Most Recently Saudi Arabia�s Capital Market Authority (CMA) took the groundbreaking decision to allow non-resident foreign investors to conclude swap agreements with authorized entities.. ..The swap agreements will be conducted through Deutsche Bank�s subsidiary in the Kingdom, Deutsche Securities Saudi Arabia, subject to final regulatory approval. Henry Azzam, Deutsche Bank�s CEO in the Middle East and North Africa and Chairman of the Board of Deutsche Securities Saudi Arabia, said 'We are delighted with the CMA�s historic resolution, which we believe will greatly enhance the depth and breadth to of the Saudi capital market. This development will undoubtedly increase foreign capital inflows to the Kingdom�s stock market, promote greater transparency, reduce volatility associated with dominance of the retail investors in the Saudi market, and encourage more comprehensive equity research on listed companies.'.." [more]

Aug 17 - Aug 23, 2008

~~~~~~~~ [ Aug 23] ~~~~~~~~~

Saudi Ban on Women Driving Erodes Gradually [Aug 23]
"When Ruwaida Al Habis' father and two brothers were badly burned in a fire, she had no choice but to break Saudi Arabia's ban on women drivers to get them to a clinic. Using the driving skills her father taught her on the family farm, Al Habis managed to reach the clinic's emergency entrance without a hitch. 'When I pulled up, a crowd of people surrounded the car and stared as if they were seeing extraterrestrial beings,' the 20-year-old university student said. 'Instead of focusing on the burn victims, the nurses kept repeating, 'You drove them here?'.. ..Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world that bans all women - Saudi and foreign - from driving. The prohibition forces families to hire live-in drivers, and women who cannot afford the $300-$400 a month for a driver must rely on male relatives to drive them to work, school, shopping or the doctor.But there are signs support for the ban is eroding.. ..Recent media reports have highlighted women driving not as organised protests, but out of necessity or just a desire to be behind the wheel.." [more]

Sighting of Moon a Must, Ulema Board [Aug 23]
"The Board of Senior Ulema dismissed the idea of determining the beginning of Ramadan with astronomic calculations without visibly sighting the month�s crescent, Al-Madina reported. The Grand Mufti, Sheikh Abdul Aziz Bin Abdullah Aal Sheikh, said astronomic calculations are based on mathematical equations and are not acceptable in terms of fasting. He said the Prophet�s (pbuh) Hadith of 'Fast at its sighting' and the one of 'Do not fast until you sight it' were clear and decisive. The Board finished discussing the issue last Tuesday and concluded to continue depending on sighting the crescent since only three members agreed on using the mathematical calculations instead.." [more]

Saudi Set to Lead Way in Future Steel Demand [Aug 23]
"One of the largest steel trading companies in the world said on Saturday that demand for the raw material will rocket in parts of the Gulf region over the next five years. UK-based Balli Steel said the Middle East is one of the fastest growing markets for steel in the world and while Dubai has led the way, Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi and Qatar will be the growth markets in the future.. ..Balli Steel believes that while the Dubai property market has grown significantly and emerged well ahead of other markets in the region, the next five years will see the rapid growth of new property markets in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Abu Dhabi. The company highlighted Saudi Arabia as a major area for growth, saying the kingdom had not commenced construction on any of its major masterplan projects, which will add some five million tonnes per annum to the country's steel requirement.." [more]

Kingdom Further Opens Up Skies [Aug 23]
"Singapore and Saudi Arabia Friday signed a new air agreement which will allow any number of air services to operate between the two countries. With the new deal, airlines may operate up to 14 services between Singapore and other points in Saudi Arabia, including Jeddah and Riyadh, according to a statement from the Singapore Transport Ministry. Airlines of both countries have also been granted permission to operate services between the other country and selected cities in third countries with 5th freedom traffic rights. Under the previous agreement, carriers were only allowed to operate three weekly services between Saudi Arabia and Singapore.. ..Local aviation experts, who spoke to our correspondent, said the agreements would spell doom for the country�s domestic carriers, as the foreign carriers that had been granted multi-point entry into the country would airlift the passengers they ought to be carrying.." [more]

Mufti Has Spoken Against It [Aug 23]
"The grand mufti of Saudi Arabia, in recent press statements, has rightly warned parents against marrying their young daughters to men who are older than them by 50 and 60 years or more. He described such practices as an indication of lack of conscience on the part of the parents. He also said such marriages will not protect the chastity of the girls and may drive them toward sinful acts. The mufti stressed that the young girl will be living in agony while her parents enjoy the comforts her dowry can buy them.I cannot agree more with the mufti. He is right in his warning about the consequences of such marriages which may lead the young girls to adultery to satisfy their sexual urges which old men cannot satisfy. To escape marital violence or unhappiness and the coldness of their elderly husbands, the young wives may also resort to drugs. The marriage of old men to young girls is not new to this country or the world.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Aug 22] ~~~~~~~~~

The Saudi Arabia Of Solar Energy [Aug 22]
"In the wake of the first Gulf War, the U.S. Army assessed Saudi Arabia's solar energy resource potential in a classified effort to determine how oil fires had affected the region. The results were clear and surprising. In addition to being a vast petroleum repository, the desert nation was also the heart of the most potentially productive region on the planet for harvesting power from the sun. In other words, Saudi Arabia was the Saudi Arabia of solar energy. Sitting in the center of the so-called Sun Belt, the country is part of a vast, rainless region reaching from the western edge of North Africa to the eastern edge of Central Asia that boasts the best solar energy resources on Earth. With the cost of oil skyrocketing, this belt is attracting the attention of a growing number of European leaders, who are embracing an ambitious proposal to harvest this solar energy for their nations.." [more]

Top Cleric Quashes Colleague's Opinion on Celebrations [Aug 22]
"Celebrating anniversaries, birthdays or mother's day is against Muslim 'righteousness', Saudi Arabia's top cleric has said, quashing suggestions by a colleague that Islam permits personal celebrations. Media savvy cleric Salman Al Awdah told viewers during a television show last week that celebrating birthdays and wedding anniversaries was not against Islam, sparking a debate in the kingdom and prompting the Mufti to weigh in. Grand Mufti Abdul Aziz Al Shaikh said celebrating such events would make Muslims like followers of other faiths including Jews and Christians, Al Madinah newspaper reported. Al Shaikh embodies Wahhabism.. ..Awdah, who follows a relatively softer line, is widely believed to be favoured by circles close to King Abdullah. The monarch has repeatedly said that Saudi Arabia needs reforms.." [more]

Yemen Hands Over Saudis Wanted on Terror Charges [Aug 22]
"Yemen has handed over eight Saudi citizens wanted on terror charges to the security authorities of Saudi Arabia, a Yemeni security official said on Thursday. The eight men were arrested in the Yemeni territories, and were extradited to the Saudi authorities over the last two days; the state-run newspaper on September 26 quoted an unidentified security official as saying. The extradition of the men came in the framework of the bilateral cooperation between the two countries in accordance with security agreements on extradition of criminals. Earlier in the week, Saudi Arabia press reports said that Yemen forms a haven for Saudi members of Al Qaida who receive support from Iran and Libya.." [more]

GCC Panel to Discuss KSA Proposal on Tobacco Duty [Aug 22]
"The Kingdom�s proposal to double customs duty on tobacco products is to come up for discussion at the 45th meeting of the Customs Union Committee of the GCC here on Sunday.. ..Gulf sources expect the committee members to resolve the issue in the meeting as it stems from their determination to curb smoking in GCC member states, Al-Riyadh said. They said the committee members would discuss the Saudi proposal and submit its recommendation to the Financial and Economic Committee to take a final decision. The GCC unanimously agrees on the importance of turning the member states into smoking free countries because of the irreparable damage it causes to health and respective economies of the Gulf countries� sources added.." [more]

Ministry Asked to Pay Citizens for Land Acquisition [Aug 22]
"In what has been hailed as a first in Saudi Arabia, the Court of Grievances here issued 18 verdicts compelling the Ministry of Transport to compensate citizens whose lands were claimed by imminent domain for the construction of the Jeddah-Jizan coastal road. The ministry had previously rejected a ruling on the grounds that an article in the law concerning the acquisition of property for public interest stipulated that there was no compensation, in some cases, for real estate owners. The judicial committee refuted the ministry's claim and said that not compensating owners for the acquisition of their properties is against Shariah. 'All regulations in Saudi Arabia are based on the Qur'an and the Sunnah. So refusing to compensate people whose properties are confiscated for the public interest is against Islam,' the court said.." [more]

OPEC Faces New Challenges as Global Oil Demand Slows [Aug 22]
"With market dynamics undergoing massive transition, literally in a matter of weeks, the focus is back on the next move of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) on the global energy chessboard. In the evolving scenario, eyes are once again set on the next OPEC ministerial scheduled on Sept. 9 in Vienna. While barely a few weeks back, there was a growing clamor for the oil producers to open their taps; things have taken 360 degrees U turn. Oil prices have lost more than $35 since the peak attained on July 11. And now there are talks all around of OPEC reining in production of its members to respect their respective production quotas. And the hawk within the OPEC � Iran � is on the forefront of the drive.. ..Interestingly, after a long time, the issue of abiding by the OPEC output quotas is also back under hammer. The group�s President Chakib Khelil while on a visit to Iran last week, emphasized that the OPEC members should keep oil output within the agreed targets. The issue of quota is also back on the table and with a vengeance this time, it seems.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Aug 21] ~~~~~~~~~

Saudi Market Opens Door, a Bit [Aug 21]
"Saudi Arabia's stock-market regulator took a step toward opening the country's stock exchange to outsiders by allowing foreign investors to enter into some swap agreements for shares. Outside investors aren't allowed to buy shares listed on the Saudi stock market, or Tadawul, the largest in the Mideast. They can own shares only through complex and indirect mutual funds. As global investor interest in the Saudi market has grown amid a regionwide economic boom, international banks have pushed for an opening. Under the new rules, foreigners will for the first time be able to buy and sell swaps of Saudi-listed shares through authorized brokers, according to the country's Capital Market Authority. A dozen or so international banks and brokerage firms with licenses to operate in Saudi Arabia are expected to be approved for this activity.." [more]

Fake-Degree Mill in US Leads to Saudi Inquest [Aug 21]
"A long list of people who had purchased or attempted to purchase fake university diplomas in the United States has spurred the Saudi education authorities to launch an investigation into the issue of Saudis and expatriates who may be working in the Kingdom on counterfeit certificates. However, Shoura Council member Abdullah Al-Tuwairqi called the reaction to the list 'disappointing,' and expressed concern that education officials would have a death-by-committee mentality in addressing the issue. The Spokesman-Review newspaper in Washington state recently obtained and posted online a list of nearly 10,000 names of people who had spent $7.3 million on purchasing or attempting to purchase fake diplomas from an illegal operation. The US Department of Justice shut down the illegal enterprise and compiled a list of its clients. The list was then leaked to the newspaper.. ..Deputy Minister of Higher Education Muhammad Al-Ouhali told Al-Watan newspaper that the ministry would investigate people on the list who may be working in Saudi Arabia on fake documents. He said that if the US Department of Justice�s list were accurate then Saudi education officials would take necessary action.." [more]

Saudi Banks Limit Loans as Borrowing Costs Increase [Aug 21]
"Getting a loan has just got harder for consumers, corporate, and even financial institutions themselves according to local banks which are reporting stiff demands for credit amid an increasing lack of deposits. 'There is an increasing number of requests for credit from facilities in the economy and contributors to the economy but not enough money in riyals to support these requests,' the chief economist of SABB in Riyadh said. Three-month CIBOR (corporate Saudi riyal interest rates), according to analysts have risen sharply over the past few months, which saw the rates at around 2.2 percent in May of this year but rose to 4 percent last month.. ..Local banks have found themselves 
in an increasingly difficult position as the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA) has cautioned local commercial banks not to exceed their asset to deposit limit, which is equal to 85 percent of their total assets, while on the other hand trying to battle rising inflation.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Aug 20] ~~~~~~~~~

Liberal Pockets in Saudi Arabia's Rigid State [Aug 20]
"The Saudi government has a project to develop at least four 'economic cities' where many expect the religious establishment will be kept at a distance from social life, the workplace and education. Women will be able to drive in them and there may even be cinema houses. There are already some spaces in the country of 25 million people where the religious police -- charged with maintaining "public morals" -- are nowhere to be seen. They are Jeddah, which has a population of about three million people, and the tri-city area of Khobar-Dhahran-Damman, which houses about two million.. ..'For people in Riyadh, Jeddah is their breathing space if they can't afford to go abroad,' said public relations manager Rayyan al-Dahlawi as he headed into one of Jeddah's famed malls. This year the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) -- run by the once-U.S.-owned state oil giant Aramco -- will open just north of Jeddah with desegregated education. Islamists constantly fulminate against the situation in Jeddah as if it was Sodom and Gomorrah.." [more]

Kingdom Accounts for 40% of IT Spending in Mideast [Aug 20]
"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia accounts for 40 percent of IT spending in the Middle East region, according to recent industry reports. This high expenditure is attributed to an increasing demand by both large enterprises and SMBs for more robust and high performance IT solutions and products.. ..'The KSA IT market is among the fastest growing regional markets at present, with industry indicators pointing towards more accelerated growth in the near future. An increasing number of organizations in the Kingdom are recognizing the benefits of adopting latest technology, thereby boosting the demand for advanced IT solutions,'.." [more]

Saudi Arabia Tops Fast Food Sales in Gulf [Aug 20]
"Saudi Arabia consumes about 75 per cent of the total volume of fast food served in Gulf markets, according to a study. The fast food sector has grown rapidly in the region because of lifestyle changes and the spread of Western trends, the study by the Gulf Organisation for Industrial Consulting found. Of the 60 fast food factories in the Gulf, 29 are in Saudi Arabia. Investment in the sector has increased due to the overwhelming consumption of fast food, especially by Saudi youth.." [more]

OPEC�s Reserves Put at 900 Billion Barrels [Aug 20]
"More than three-quarters of the world�s oil reserves are located in OPEC countries. The bulk of OPEC oil reserves is located in the Middle East, with Saudi Arabia, Iran and Iraq contributing 55 percent to the OPEC total. According to current estimates, OPEC proven reserves currently stand well above 900 billion barrels. OPEC countries have made significant contributions to their reserves in recent years by adopting best practices in the industry. As a result of these additions, OPEC added 111 billion barrels of reserves, substantially more than the reserve additions made by other crude oil producers. According to the information available on the website of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, the global reserve/resource base can easily meet forecast demand growth for decades to come. Estimates of ultimately recoverable reserves (URR) have increased over time, with advancing technology, enhanced recovery and new reservoir development.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Aug 19] ~~~~~~~~~

Saudis Deny Musharraf Asylum Plan [Aug 19]
"Saudi Arabia has denied it has a plane waiting to take former Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf to the Muslim kingdom, a press report said today, amid speculation Riyadh could offer him asylum. The Saudi ambassador to Pakistan, Ali Awad Esseiri, said media reports that that there was a Saudi plane in Islamabad ready to transport Musharraf were 'baseless claims' and 'media lies' , the Okaz newspaper reported. 'Saudi Arabia has been and continues to look out for the security, stability and sovereignty of Pakistan and will not interfere in its internal affairs,'.. ..In Pakistan, officials from both the ruling coalition and the security services said that in the wake of his resignation Musharraf would travel to close ally Saudi Arabia in the coming days to perform Muslim rites. A senior coalition official said Musharraf would then head for London or Turkey.." [more]

Saudi Minister Rules Out Increase in Haj Quota [Aug 19]
"Saudi Minister of Haj Dr Fouad Bin Abdul Salam Al Farsi has denied that there will be an increase in the quota of pilgrims visiting Makkah for any country this year. The announcement came from a Press Conference held on Sunday in which Dr Al Farsi noted that the increase in pilgrims each year has been the biggest challenge for Haj organisers. The UAE and Qatar among other GCC countries have frequently sought to increase the quota for pilgrims in their respective countries.. ..'From time to time countries with large populations ask to increase their quotas, but we have to abide by the decision agreed upon by the Islamic foreign ministers,'.." [more]

Court Orders Retrial of Canadian in School Brawl [Aug 19]
"The case of two Canadian brothers charged in connection with the death of a teenager during a schoolyard fight in Jeddah has taken a new turn after a court threw out an earlier judgment and ordered the retrial of one of the brothers in an adult court. If tried as an adult, Sultan Kohail, 18, may face a stiffer punishment or even death for his role in the killing. Sultan�s elder brother, Mohammed Kohail, 23, has already been found guilty and sentenced to death. That ruling is currently being appealed.. ..In an official statement, the Canadian Embassy in Riyadh said Canada would continue to pursue all avenues to assist Mohammed and Sultan Kohail. Canadian officials, during their recent visits to Saudi Arabia, have raised the case at top levels. 'The Canadian consular officials are actively providing assistance and support, and remain in regular contact with the Kohail family and their legal counsel... Due to the Privacy Act, we cannot comment further on specific details of the case,'.." [more]

OPEC Likely to Cut Output as Oil Prices Dip [Aug 19]
"The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries may decide to cut the organization�s oil output quota as the price of crude risks falling under $100 a barrel, energy consultancy CGES said yesterday. 'The worsening economic outlook suggests that oil prices have further to fall, but OPEC, whose members are due to meet in early September, may act to prevent them from falling too far,' the Center for Global Energy Studies said in its latest monthly report. 'There is a danger, though, that the Organization will over-react, cut its production too sharply and send oil prices back up,' added the London-based consultancy. Oil futures had fallen sharply last week on the prospect of reduced demand for energy around the globe owing to slower economic growth. Oil prices have sunk since hitting record highs above $147 one month ago.." [more]

KSA Wins IAPB Awards [Aug 19]
"The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) decided recently to award Saudi Arabia the Global Partnership Award and Regional Achievement Award in recognition to the Kingdom�s efforts led by King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, in a program to control visual disability and to support WHO in the fight against blindness and the leading role played by the Minister of Health during the past years. Both awards have given for the first time to Saudi Arabia.. ..He also referred to Kingdom�s strong role in presenting the initiative Vision 2020: the Right to Sight to the General Assembly of the World Health Organization.." [more]

Chiyoda to Bid for Saudi Refinery Projects [Aug 19]
" Japanese oil and gas engineering group Chiyoda Corp said on Tuesday it and South Korea's Samsung Engineering Co are preparing to bid for two huge export refinery projects planned by Saudi Aramco jointly with Houston-based ConocoPhillips and France's Total SA. The orders are estimated to be worth 200 billion yen ($1.8 billion). Chiyoda President Takashi Kubota also told Reuters in an interview that the company plans to announce one or two alliances with other engineering firms when it unveils half-year results in November. Chiyoda, which saw its profit squeezed last year due to its heavy concentration of contracts in Qatar, is pursuing new contracts in areas such as refineries, development of oil fields and construction of petrochemical production facilities in Asia and Latin America as it aims to diversify income sources and markets.." [more]

Kingdom to Develop Biodiversity Strategy [Aug 19]
"The Council of Ministers yesterday decided to develop a national strategy for preserving biological diversity involving the protection of all kinds of species, natural locations, hereditary resources and training manpower for its development. The existing National Committee for Biodiversity should develop the strategy, Culture and Information Minister Iyad Madani said in a statement.. ..King Abdullah, who chaired the council meeting at the Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah, said that the national committee should also prepare a database on the Kingdom�s biodiversity and classify all known types of environments, their geographical locations, their history and changes that they have undergone or that may take place. The Council of Ministers ordered the National Commission for Wildlife Conservation and Development to set up a National Committee for the Program of Man and the Biosphere to undertake the preservation of biodiversity including identifying the locations for establishing biosphere reserves.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Aug 18] ~~~~~~~~~

Pakistani President Quits in Deal Brokered With Help of Saudi Arabia [Aug 18]
"Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf on Monday announced that he was resigning from his post in light of an impending impeachment motion by the ruling coalition government. Musharraf announced his decision in a 75-minute televised speech in which he flayed attempts to impeach him but said was avoiding confrontation to prevent instability.. ..On Sunday the coalition said it had drawn up impeachment charges and would lodge them in parliament this week. The charges reportedly included violation of the constitution and gross misconduct. Officials said that Musharraf's aides have been in talks with the coalition, brokered by Saudi Arabia, the United States and Britain, to allow him to quit in return for indemnity. Sources told CNN-IBN that Musharraf is likely to go to the Saudi city of Jeddah as a state guest of the kingdom.." [more]

US Hopes for Mideast Peace Before Bush Leaves Office [Aug 18]
"US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will make another trip to the Middle East next week to continue the Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations, officials said on Monday. "She is coming on the 25th and 26th of August for a series of trilateral and bilateral meetings," Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said. Rice originally planned to visit the region on August 20. After the trip, she will visit Brussels to meet with Nato and EU officials. Israel confirmed the dates for talks to be held in Occupied Jerusalem and the West Bank. Meanwhile, an Israeli cabinet committee approved on Monday a list of 200 Palestinian prisoners to be released on August 25.." [more]

Recommendations on Labor Laws await GCC Nod [Aug 18]
"The GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) Ministerial Council has received two recommendations from the labour ministers' council concerning expatriate labour laws, informed sources at the GCC secretariat have revealed. The first recommendation calls for setting a six-year limit to foreign labourers. The second recommendation calls for forming a joint committee to specify certain professions that would be exempt from this time frame. If the two recommendations are approved, GCC states will be given a grace period to arrange their own affairs and issue the required legislations implement such recommendations.. .Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Saudi Human Rights Commission Turki Khalid Al Sudairi affirmed that his organisation has adopted several initiatives to improve the status of expatriates in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Al Sudairi confirmed the adoption of these initiatives after he received a delegation from the US embassy in Riyadh.." [more]

Northern Fuel Shortages Widen [Aug 18]
"A fuel crisis is the last crisis most would not expect in the world�s largest oil exporting country. The northwestern city of Ar�ar already facing a diesel shortage for the last month is now faced with a shortage of fuel. Some nine owners of fuel stations filed complaints to the Ar�ar Chamber of Commerce and Industry against Saudi Aramco for not supplying enough fuel to meet their needs.. ..the shortage was due to a new electronic quota system adopted by Saudi Aramco. 'The electronic system distributes a certain quantity of fuel to each fuel station, but the quantity distributed is not precise and does not meet the market demand,' he said. 'The system does not take into consideration that many fuel stations do not own their own fuel tanker trucks, so several fuel stations may help each other.' 'Some factories purchase large quantities of fuel reducing the quota for fuel station owners,'.. ..In an earlier SG report, farmers of Al-Jouf region threatened to sue Saudi Aramco for curtailing diesel supplies.." [more]

Gulf Construction to Top SR1.2 Trillion [Aug 18]
"Despite the petrodollar windfall Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have been raking in as a result of the increase in oil prices over the last few months, new research suggests that there is an even bigger investment to be made in the region.. ..At the center of the world�s most concentrated construction boom � Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have more than 3,800 active construction projects across the region involving commercial, education, health, residential, retail, hotel, leisure, entertainment and mixed-use buildings amounting to SR12.2 trillion ($3.5 trillion) under way or planned to begin shortly.. ..'Gulf countries have historically under invested in their own infrastructure but have clearly realized the requirement to do so now'.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Aug 17] ~~~~~~~~~

Gap Widens Between Saudi Arabia's Very Rich and Very Poor [Aug 17]
"With inflation rising across the Gulf region, Saudi Arabia's perennial problem of an unequal distribution of wealth has never been so obvious. While poor Saudis line up for hours to obtain water in Jidda, others are able to take advantage of America's new-found disdain for gas-guzzling four-wheel-drives by snapping up imported cars. Thousands of couples are cutting costs by forgoing individual weddings in favor of mass ceremonies carried out by a charity backed by Saudi princes. But the affluent are still going on vacation, albeit opting for more affordable visits to neighboring Arab countries rather than to Europe or Asia. Surging oil prices have led to a turnaround in Saudi Arabia's economic fortunes and a return to some of the big spending - by wealthy individuals and the monarchy - that characterized the 1970s and 1980s. But the boom has also driven up the prices for food and fuel, creating discontent in a rapidly changing country where about two-thirds of the 17 million local resident are under 30, educated, outspoken and aware of events abroad. This has put the royal Al Saud family under greater scrutiny.." [more]

Saudi Telecom Signs Five-Year Deal With Manchester United [Aug 17]
"Manchester United has signed a lucrative sponsorship deal with Saudi Telecom. The five-year deal with Saudi Arabia's biggest telecommunications company was announced at Old Trafford on Sunday ahead of United's season-opening home match against Newcastle. Details of the deal, which is reportedly worth US$18.6 million, were to be announced at a news conference on Monday. It is the European and English champion's biggest marketing deal outside of jersey sponsorship.. ..Saudi Telecom, whose adverts featured inside and outside Old Trafford on Sunday, will be able to use the United brand and players in advertising campaigns in Saudi Arabia.." [more]

Saudi Oil Subsidy at Stake Over Musharraf Exit [Aug 17]
"Saudi Arabia thrust itself into the Pervez Musharraf impeachment drama last night when it warned that a huge oil subsidy that provides life support for the moribund Pakistan economy was at risk unless he was given an 'exit with dignity'. As a deadline tonight approached for the Pakistani President to 'quit or else', the House of Saud's powerful intelligence chief Prince Muqrin bin Abdul Aziz, acting as a personal emissary of King Abdullah, injected himself into the impasse. One source described it as 'banging heads together and trying to get all sides to see sense before the point of no return is reached'.. ..No country exerts greater influence than Saudi Arabia on Pakistan, which is frequently seen as a vassal state of the House of Saud, and the appearance on the scene of Prince Muqrin, acting as a satrap, is seen as a potentially decisive development in the crisis. The cut-rate Saudi Oil Facility is worth more than $US5 billion ($5.8 billion) a year in deferred payments and without it, analysts say, Pakistan's economy would fall into an even deeper hole.." [more]

Saudi Almarai to Buy Egyptian Food Company [Aug 17]
"Saudi Arabia's Almarai, the largest dairy company in the Gulf by market value, said on Saturday it has signed an initial agreement to buy an Egyptian dairy and juice manufacturer. Almarai will sign the fin-al deal to buy International Company for Agricultural Industrialisation Projects (Beeaty) once it completes financial, technical and legal audits, the Saudi firm said in a statement on the bourse website. Beeaty is Arabic for 'my environment'. If completed, the acquisition would be Almarai's first in Egypt, the Arab world's most-populous country - and home to twice as many people as the Gulf, where Almarai's business is currently focused.. " [more]

Jubail Chevron Set to Start Exports [Aug 17]
"Saudi-based Jubail Chevron Phillips Co. petrochemical company said on Saturday it plans to export its first shipment next month. The firm, based in the eastern Saudi city of Jubail, will produce an annual 750,000 tons of styrene and 150,000 tons of polypropylene, Saudi Industrial Investment Group (SIIG) said in a statement posted Saturday on the bourse�s website. SIIG holds a 50 percent in Jubail Chevron Phillips Co.. Chevron Phillips Chemical Company holds an unspecified stake in Jubail Chevron Phillips Co. which was built at a total cost of SR4.5 billion ($1.2 billion). The start of commercial operations has been delayed by at least six months on initial launch plans.  Jubail Chevron Phillips Co. is the second joint venture between SIIG and Chevron Phillips Chemical Co. Saudi Arabia is among the world�s top suppliers of petrochemical products.." [more]

GCC Slams Iran Over Abu Musa [Aug 17]
"The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) yesterday chided Iran for setting up facilities on an island claimed by the United Arab Emirates, two days after Abu Dhabi protested to Tehran over the move. GCC Secretary-General Abdurrahman Al-Attiyah 'strongly denounced Iran�s opening of two administrative offices on Abu Musa Island, which belongs to the UAE and is occupied by Iran,' a GCC statement said. The Iranian measure constitutes an 'illegitimate action on an indivisible part of the UAE,' he said, calling for it to be revoked. The GCC groups Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Attiyah renewed the GCC�s support for the UAE�s 'full sovereignty' over Abu Musa and the Greater Tunb and the Lesser Tunb � two other strategic Gulf islands controlled by Iran and claimed by Abu Dhabi.." [more]

Rice Hopes Saudi Women Will Soon Compete in Olympics [Aug 17]
" US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Sunday she hoped to one day see Saudi women competing in the Olympic Games. 'I think Saudi women ought to be able to participate. I've said they ought to be able to vote. And I think that when women can vote and are empowered you'll see them in the Games,' she told NBC's Meet the Press.  She said many countries with predominantly Muslim populations, such as Afghanistan and Iraq, were now allowing women to compete in athletic competitions. 'Certainly I look forward to the day that there's a Saudi woman athlete in that parade,' Rice said, referring to the opening parade for the Olympic Games. There are no women on the 
Saudi team competing at the 2008 Games in Beijing and the director of the country's sprint team, Hadi Souan Somayli, told the BBC recently: 'Some events are difficult for us, with the clothes. Events like track and field, swimming, even football.'.. ..Sports for girls are banned in public schools, and women face a host of restrictions.." [more]

Stocks Surge as Disclosure Rule Kicks In [Aug 17]
"After falling 3.11 percent last week, Saudi Arabia�s stock market rose yesterday as Tadawul began naming investors holding stakes of 5 percent or more in order to boost transparency on the largest Arab bourse. The Tadawul All-Share Index (TASI) surged 1.75 percent to close at 8,331.63 points as investors snapped up shares they judged were cheap relative to earnings expectations. The index has risen 5.7 percent in the last four trading days, having dropped almost 9 percent in the seven sessions after market operator Tadawul said on July 30 it would name large investors at the end of each trading day from Aug. 16. The index is down 24.52 percent so far this year.." [more]

Aug 10 - Aug 16, 2008

~~~~~~~~ [ Aug 16] ~~~~~~~~~

Saudi Intelligence Chief in Pakistan Amid Musharraf Crisis [Aug 16]
" Saudi Arabia's intelligence chief dashed to Pakistan for talks with the government over its plans to impeach President Pervez Musharraf, a senior official said Saturday. The visit of Muqrin bin Abdul Aziz came amid speculation that Musharraf could be forced into exile if he bows to pressure from the ruling coalition to quit before he is impeached. 'Yes, Saudi intelligence chief Prince Muqrin bin Abdul Aziz did visit Pakistan on Friday and met senior government officials,' a senior coalition official told AFP on condition of anonymity. 'The main purpose of the visit was to find an amicable solution to the (Musharraf impeachment) issue and that no one should become a laughing stock,' the official said. Asked what solution the coalition regarded as acceptable, the official said that "Musharraf should step down" but that it was "really up to Musharraf" if his plans included exile to Saudi Arabia.."[more]

Saudi Stocks Rise for Fourth Day [Aug 16]
"Saudi Arabia's stock market rose for a fourth trading day on Saturday as the market operator began naming investors holding stakes of 5 percent or more to boost transparency on the largest Arab bourse. The Saudi benchmark, which has fallen more than 24 percent this year, advanced 1.75 percent to 8,331.63 points as investors snapped up shares they judged were cheap relative to earnings expectations. The index has risen 5.7 percent in the last four trading days, having dropped almost 9 percent in the seven sessions after market operator Tadawul said on July 30 it would name large investors at the end of each trading day from Aug. 16.. ..Tadawul said last month it was 
implementing the rule to improve transparency. The Saudi market is dominated by day traders and restricts foreign access to shares. The disclosure rule could help the regulator dispel rumours that big retail traders are behind rapid fluctuations in share prices, a common assumption in the market.." [more]

Major Drug Smuggling Bid Foiled, says Saudi Arabia [Aug 16]
"Saudi Arabia has foiled an attempt to smuggle of 4.5 million of drugs pills and half a ton of hashish into the country, it was announced by the media spokesman of the Directorate General of Drugs Control, Major Ebrahim Abu Hilayel.. ..he noted that the attempt was foiled in cooperation with a neighbouring country which he declined to name. According to him, the Saudi anti-drugs squad also foiled in the past two weeks several attempts of drugs smuggling and trafficking in Al Aflaj, King Khaled International Airport, Asir region, Jizan and Eastern Province. These include an attempt at trafficking more than one million Captagon pills smuggled into the Kingdom from a neighbouring country. They also include seizing of 54 kilograms of hashish and 254,000 drugs tablets.." [more]

Oil Price Falls to $112 on Global Demand Worries [Aug 16]
" Oil dropped more than $2 to $112 a barrel yesterday on growing concerns about demand in industrialized nations and the stronger dollar. US crude fell $2.67 to $112.34 a barrel after dipping down to $111.34 a barrel, the lowest level since May 2. London Brent lost $2.52 to $111.16 a barrel. Crude has fallen sharply since reaching an all-time high of $147.27 a barrel on July 11 as growing global economic problems and high fuel prices cut demand in top consumer the US and Europe. 'We might get to $110, how quickly we get there would depend on the demand outlook,' said Simon Wardell, oil analyst at Global Insight. 'If next week�s US inventory data shows an increase in stocks, we could go lower.' Producer group Opec cut its 2008 demand forecast yesterday and added ample supplies were paving the way to building inventories.." [more]

We�d Rather Quit KSA � Philippine Recruiters [Aug 16]
"Recruiters in the Philippines would rather risk losing the Saudi market than compromise on the welfare of Filipino workers sent to Saudi Arabia, the president of one of three major Filipino recruitment agencies in Manila said Thursday night. 'Our workers are not commodities � we are bound to protect them,' said Jose Fernandez, president of the Philippine Association of Service Exporters Inc. (PASEI) in an interview here. He was referring to a new Saudi 'unified contract' regulation that went into effect on Aug. 1, making it mandatory for recruitment agencies in the Philippines to route all visa processing work through the Saudi National Recruitment Committee (SANARCOM), a grouping of Saudi recruitment establishments. Fernandez described the unified contract as 'oppressive' because it has provisions that give recruits no choice but to accept without complaint whatever job their employers give them, and that also prevent them from leaving their employers without justifiable reasons.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Aug 15] ~~~~~~~~~

Sept. 11 Families Can't Sue Kingdom of Saudi Arabia [Aug 15]
"Families of Sept. 11 victims were rebuffed again yesterday in their attempt to hold Saudi Arabia and its rulers legally responsible for the terror attacks. A Manhattan federal appeals court backed a ruling by a lower court judge over two years ago that threw out a lawsuit by the families, including that of a former FBI agent, seeking damages for the thousands of deaths caused by the attacks. In a ruling by a three-judge panel, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit found that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, four Saudi princes, a Saudi banker and the Saudi commission responsible for disbursing funds to charities were protected from lawsuits under U.S. law.. ..Under the sovereign immunity doctrine, foreign governments and officials can't be sued in the United States except for damages in auto accidents and other torts, commercial activity or state sponsorship of terrorism.." [more]

Saudi Oil Policy Unresolved [Aug 15]
"Saudi oil policy is key to what OPEC may or may not do to influence price trends in a world of highly volatile oil prices. Since the oil price began its inexorable rise in 2007--reaching a record level of $147 per barrel in June--there has been growing speculation over what Saudi oil policy actually consists of. Between 1985 and the early years of this century, Saudi Arabia had a clear and consistent oil policy: The aim was to encourage reasonably low prices (around $18-25 per barrel) and maintain price stability by holding a cushion of excess capacity to produce crude oil.. ..The policy was designed to try to recover oil's position in the global primary energy mix, which it lost as a result of the oil price shocks of the 1970s. Yet at the start of this century the policy came under pressure from two different directions.. ..It is not clear what price level the Saudis actually want since Oil Minister Ali Naimi has refused to be drawn on a target, reflecting policy divisions.." [more]

Survey Finds More Women are Choosing to Stay Single in Saudi Arabia [Aug 15]
"The number of spinsters in Saudi Arabia has reached 180,413, according to a demographic survey conducted in 2007. The survey classified spinsters as women who had reached the age of 30 years or above without getting married. It revealed the rate of spinsterhood amounted to 2.6 per cent last year out of the total number of women in Saudi Arabia. This means that one out of every 16 women in Saudi Arabia is classified as a spinster. The study also revealed that the rate of divorced women in Saudi Arabia amounted to 2.4 per cent in 2007.. ..The survey also showed that 97.4 per cent of Saudi women married below the age of 30 years old while only 2.6 per cent married at the age of 30 or above. As for the scale of balance between the two sexes in Saudi Arabia, the survey revealed that there are 102 Saudi males for every 100 females. This stands within the normal range.." [more]

Saudi May Ignore IMF Forex Reform Call [Aug 15]
"Saudi Arabia is likely to ignore an IMF suggestion that it might drop its dollar peg, even though inflation remains high and plans for currency union with other Gulf Arab states are suffering delays. Riyadh has kept the riyal pegged to the dollar as the US currency fell over the past two years, pushing Saudi inflation to a 30-year high. Now the dollar is recovering, it has one reason less to change. 'I don�t see anything in the IMF report that says we are wrong,' said a senior Saudi government official familiar with policymakers� thinking. 'We have seen the worst of the inflation without having to revalue our currencies, so there is economic sense in keeping the dollar peg for the moment,'.. ..John Sfakianakis, chief economist at SABB bank, HSBC�s Saudi subsidiary, said Saudi Arabia�s decision-making elite would most likely overlook the IMF�s recommendation. 'The Saudis will not drop the peg. It�s just another recommendation .. The IMF note had a sort of disclaimer by mentioning the advantages of maintaining the peg,' he said. 'The IMF is giving a tacit approval of the Saudi line on this issue because of the US clout in international financial institutions like the IMF,'.." [more]

KSA Alert for Terror Plot [Aug 15]
�..'The U.S. Embassy Riyadh has received information regarding an alleged, non-specific threat to Westerners in downtown Riyadh, KSA, possibly during the weekend of 14-17 August, 2008. We have no further details regarding this information at this time; however the Embassy recommends American citizens living in Saudi Arabia consider this information and take appropriate personal security precautions.' Major Gen. Al-Turki said the Interior ministry�s report made public on Wednesday had confirmed the need for Saudi security forces and people to remain on constant alert for terrorist plots. The report was based on 990-hotline tip-offs provided by alarmed family members of young Saudis who were on the verge of being recruited for terrorist acts.. It said all categories of Saudi society have become alert to plans by 'deviant' groups to exploit religious passions and induce Saudi youth to take part in terrorist plots.." [more]

King to Meet With Mubarak [Aug 15]
"King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques will meet with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Friday to discuss 'the situation in the Palestinian territories and Arab efforts to unite Palestinian ranks,' Al-Ahram reported. Mubarak will also meet with several other heads of state from around the region including Lebanon and Oman over the next three days in Alexandria to discuss regional developments. On Thursday, Mubarak will meet Oman�s Sultan Qaboos to discuss the Iranian nuclear issue. On Saturday, Mubarak will meet Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora to discuss the latest developments in Lebanon.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Aug 14] ~~~~~~~~~

Saudi Arabia's First Female CFO [Aug 14]
"From her smartly appointed office in Riyadh, Samira Al Kuwaiz, 44, helps manage Osool Capital, an independent investment firm in Saudi Arabia that holds 2.2 percent of the country's traded shares. Al Kuwaiz is from one of Saudi Arabia's tribal families, the equivalent of blue blood in that society. After earning a master's degree in accounting and teaching at King Saud University, she became the first female chief financial officer in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.. ..Women make up roughly 6 percent of the workforce in Saudi Arabia, according to the Labor Ministry -- among the lowest in the world, but a jump up from nearly nothing a generation ago. Al Kuwaiz is part of an emerging set of women executives in the Kingdom.." [more]

Saudi Stock Market Continues Three-Week Decline With 900 Points Lost [Aug 14]
"The series of losses in the Saudi Stock Market continued into its third week where the TASI broke the 8200 Points amid modest Trading volume, the lowest since mid 2006. The index has now accumulated losses of 900 points (10 per cent of its total value) since July 25, 2008. The financial ratios of listed companies are extremely attractive, especially after the latest losses where the multiples of the large-cap stocks vary between 10 and 15. The ongoing dispute between Iran and the West about Iran's nuclear program and the shortfalls in regional stock markets may have pushed investors towards waiting on the sidelines until the market stabilizes instead of taking advantage of the discounted prices.." [more]

Kingdom Should Drop Dollar Peg if Gulf Currency Union Delayed � IMF [Aug 14]
"Saudi Arabia should drop the riyal�s peg to the dollar and consider 'alternative exchange rate regimes�' if inflation persists and the Gulf single currency is delayed, the International Monetary Fund said. For the moment, most IMF directors say the advantages of the peg outweigh the disadvantage of temporarily higher inflation, the IMF said in a report published on its website today. Still, some recommended reviewing the peg immediately. Inflation in Saudi Arabia accelerated to above 10 percent in April, after averaging less than 1 percent between 2003 and 2007. The Kingdom ruled out plans to drop the riyal�s peg to the dollar, insisting that the pick-up in inflation is largely caused by domestic factors, such as a housing shortage. 'Directors observed that the peg of the Saudi riyal to the US dollar has provided a credible anchor that has contributed to macroeconomic stability,�' the IMF said. 'If, however, inflation should persist and the Gulf Cooperation Council monetary union be delayed, they recommended to consider also alternative exchange rate regimes.'.." [more]

Saleh Informs Sultan of Al-Qaeda Plots Uncovered in Yemen [Aug 14]
"Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has briefed Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, on terrorist plots against Saudi Arabia uncovered after police raided an Al-Qaeda hideout in southeastern Yemen, official media reported yesterday. Saleh told Prince Sultan in a telephone conversation late Tuesday that an Al-Qaeda cell dismantled by security forces in the Hadhramout province on Monday had plotted terrorist attacks in Yemen and Saudi Arabia. The Yemeni leader said police had seized documents containing 'dangerous information unveiling a plan by Al-Qaeda to carry out terrorist acts in Yemen and Saudi Arabia,' according to the state-run Al-Thawra daily. Authorities said on Tuesday that a key member of Al-Qaeda in Yemen was killed in Monday�s gunbattle in the Hadhramout province. They said Hamza Al-Quaiti, believed to be the mastermind of several terrorist attacks that hit Yemen in recent months, was among five Al-Qaeda suspects killed as police stormed their hide-out in Tarim.." [more]

Canadians Wrongly Accused by Saudis, MP Says [Aug 14]
"The outlook has grown bleaker for two Canadian brothers accused of murder in Saudi Arabia, prompting calls from opposition Liberals for the Harper government to step up efforts on their behalf. Eighteen-year-old Montrealer Sultan Kohail's case has been transferred to adult court in Saudi Arabia, meaning he could face beheading if convicted for his alleged role in the murder of a Jeddah student 19 months ago. Also, his 23-year-old brother, Mohamed, already convicted and sentenced to death, has failed once more to get this verdict overturned despite a second appeal effort that was rebuffed by lower courts. The Kohail brothers, who are of Palestinian origin, have been Canadian citizens since 2005. Their family lived in the Montreal area for six years before they returned to the Red Sea city of Jeddah in 2006.. ..A spokeswoman for Foreign Affairs Minister David Emerson said Canadian officials are doing all they can. 'Consular officials continue to closely monitor the cases of Mohamed and Sultan Kohail,' Lynn Meahan said. 'Canada will pursue all avenues to assist [them].'.." [more]

Deviants Turned in By Close Relatives [Aug 14]
"The families of five Saudi men involved in terror activities reported their loved ones to local authorities while a sixth man turned himself in for adopting "takfiri" ideology (labeling other Muslims as infidels), the Interior Ministry announced yesterday. The calls were received on the local hot line No. 990, which is operated by the Interior Ministry and is specifically aimed at people who want to report suspected terror-related activities. A ministry statement said that a woman and four men called the hot line to turn in their loved ones. 'This illustrates the high level of awareness that has been achieved by the public,' said Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki.. ..The men who turned in their sons reportedly told officials that their sons had left to join jihad. The men were picked up at the airport of a neighboring country. The Interior Ministry statement did not specify which country.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Aug 13] ~~~~~~~~~

Saleh: Dismantled Terror Cell Had Planned Attacks in Saudi Arabia [Aug 13]
"Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh said in remarks published Wednesday that an al-Qaeda cell dismantled by security forces in south-eastern Yemen had plotted terrorist attacks in his country and its oil-rich neighbour Saudi Arabia. Saleh was quoted by state newspapers as saying Yemeni police had seized documents containing 'dangerous information unveiling a plan by the al-Qaeda organization to carry out terrorist acts in Yemen and Saudi Arabia.' He reportedly made the remarks in a telephone conversation with Saudi Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul-Aziz late on Tuesday. Authorities said Tuesday that a leading member of al-Qaeda in Yemen was killed in a gunbattle the previous day between police and al-Qaeda suspects holed up in a hide-out in the south-eastern province of Hadhramout.." [more]

IMF Issues Report on Saudi Economy [Aug 13]
"Discussing the annual economic report on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) stressed that the macroeconomic performance in 2007 was strong as the real GDP grew by 3.5 percent, sustained by strong and broad based private non-oil sector growth (6 percent), especially in construction, retail trade, transportation and communication services despite the fact that inflation accelerated during 2007 and reached a historical high of 10.5 percent year-on-year in April 2008 driven by domestic demand pressures (especially rents) and higher import prices (mostly food). This came in a press statement issued by the World Bank today containing the results of the Executive Board of the IMF's discussion of the Article IV consultation with Saudi Arabia.. ..'The outlook for 2008 remains favorable. Real GDP growth is projected to reach 5 percent with a rebound in oil output to 9.2 million barrels/day and a further acceleration in non-oil growth. Reflecting higher oil prices, a record current account surplus of US$191 billion (35 percent of GDP) is projected despite continued strong import growth'.." [more]

Removal of Respirators From Brain-Dead Not Permissible [Aug 13]
"Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia Shaikh Abdul Aziz Bin Abdullah Al Shaikh has affirmed that removal of respirators from brain-dead people and babies born with disability is not permissible since their hearts beat naturally. Addressing a meeting of senior doctors in Taif city, he also said that it is prohibited to force prisoners sentenced to death to donate their organs and treat as brain-dead persons. 'It is right to execute them, but there is no right to cut a part of their organs,' he explained. 'It is wrong to take some parts of the body of a person sentenced to death and then carry out the death penalty on him. This is not permissible,' he added.." [more]

Strong Dollar, Drop in Inflation Ease Need for Gulf Revaluation [Aug 13]
"The dollar�s recent strengthening and leveling inflation in oil-rich Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC), countries make the case for revaluation or a depeg from the greenback less likely, economists in the region said yesterday. 'A revaluation from the dollar would have been a big blunder as it would have taken place at the euro�s peak,' John Sfakianakis, chief economist at SABB in Saudi Arabia�s capital Riyadh, told Zawya Dow Jones in an interview. 'Inflation in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait seem to be reaching a plateau and the dollar has strengthened significantly signaling a structural shift in the euro/dollar dynamic putting an end to the dollar�s slide,'.. ..According to the latest Saudi government data, inflation in the kingdom rose slightly to 10.6% in June from 10.4% in May. Although inflation remains at a record high the monthly rise is significantly lower than the jump to 10.5% in April from March�s 9.6%.." [more]

Manila Recruiters Threaten Boycott [Aug 13]
"Philippine recruiting agencies said they will stop sending Filipino workers to Saudi Arabia from next month if the new law on employment contracts is not abolished.The new law, titled �unified contract�, took effect on Aug 1 and requires all employment contracts of Saudi-bound Filipinos to be routed through the Saudi National Recruitment Committee (SANARCOM). The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Manila said it will not issue visas to local recruitment agencies unless they provide a copy of a contract from SANARCOM.. ..The Philippine Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) disclosed that there are over 400,000 job vacancies overseas and locally. The POEA also has pending job offers for 150,000 skilled workers in many Gulf countries, which have not been filled yet. Philippine recruiting agencies fill up only about 40 percent of their total job orders due to the lack of skilled workers and insufficient training programs.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Aug 12] ~~~~~~~~~

Iranian Officials Remarks Insulting to Whole World [Aug 12]
"Saudi Shura Council members and political analysts have denounced the recent statements made by Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mohammadi casting doubt on the legitimacy of some Gulf governments and traditional systems. In statements to Gulf News they also slammed the statement of the Commander of the Land Forces of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, Brigadier Mohammad Jafar Asdi, in which he said that the first step to be taken by Iran if attacked is to cut the oil supply and hit oil refineries in the region. Dr Mohammad Al Zulfa, member of the Shura Council.. ..'The recent Iranian media escalation in two successive days is a dangerous indication of how relations between the GCC and Iran will be,' he said. He added Iran had been displaying a hostile policy against GCC countries and it underestimated the abilities of these countries and ignored their right to build up international coalitions.." [more]

Opec Chief Urges Members to Abide by Output Target [Aug 12]
"Opec members should keep oil output within the group�s agreed targets, Opec�s President Chakib Khelil said in remarks published yesterday. Khelil, whose comments were carried by Iranian oil ministry news agency Shana, is on a visit to Opec price hawk Iran. Opec is overshooting its informal output target, with Saudi Arabia leading the way after it pledged to meet rising demand and help tame runaway oil prices. Opec�s twelve members under the target output umbrella pumped at 30.20mn bpd in July according to a Reuters survey, over 500,000 bpd above the informal target. 'Except for Iraq and new members who are outside the Opec quota, the rest of the members should produce in the framework of their committed quota,'.. ..Top oil exporter Saudi Arabia pumped at 9.7mn bpd in July, the fastest rate since 1981 and well above its target of 8.943mn bpd.." [more]

Agreement With UN Nuclear Agency gets Cabinet Nod [Aug 12]
"The Council of Ministers yesterday approved the Kingdom�s agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on the application of safeguards in the framework of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and its attached protocol. The decision was taken in the council�s weekly meeting chaired by Crown Prince Sultan at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah, said Culture and Information Minister Iyad Madani in a statement to the Saudi Press Agency.." [more]

Anees Ibrahim Detained in Jeddah [Aug 12]
"The CBI today approached the Saudi Arabian authorities to verify reports about the detention of Anees Ibrahim, brother of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim. The CBI query follows reports that Anees, against whom an Interpol Red Corner notice was issued at the instance of the CBI, has been detained at the Jeddah airport.. ..Anees is wanted by the CBI for his involvement in the 1993 serial bomb blasts in Mumbai.. ..Besides his involvement in the Mumbai blasts, Anees was also wanted in nearly 70 cases of murder, attempt to murder, extortion, kidnapping for ransom pending against him in several states.." [more]

Stop Brain Drain of Professional Saudi Women [Aug 12]
"..There is no question that the Ministry of Higher Education has done much in recent years to provide scholarships for women to study abroad. I am the beneficiary of such a program. The intent by the ministry is to give Saudi women a Western education so they can return home and contribute to society much like their fathers and uncles have done in the 1970s and �80s. One reason why Saudi Arabia has flourished in the international business community over 30 years is because thousands of men studied in the West and brought that knowledge home to apply it to Saudi business practices. Now women are given similar opportunities. But there is a twist. The reality is the Ministry of Higher Education wants its women to get the best education possible. The fantasy is that there will be well-paying jobs, respect and opportunities for advancement in the workplace.." [more]

Mother Asks Court to Annul Marriage of 8-year-old Girl [Aug 12]
"In order to settle his debts, a Saudi father here married his eight-year-old daughter to a man in his 50s, who already has two wives, a local newspaper reported yesterday. Details of the case came to light when the mother of the girl took it to the court calling for an abrogation of the marriage contract. The mother, who is estranged from the father, urged all concerned parties and the National Society for Human Rights to support her in canceling the marriage.. ..A source at the court said this is not the first case of its kind. He added that the case is further complicated due to the parents not being on speaking terms and because the girl was not consulted. A court in Asir is currently considering a similar case in which a man married his 10-year-old daughter to a man in his 70s for SR170,000.." [more]

Saudi Shares Rebound After Deep Plunge [Aug 12]
"The Saudi stock market rebounded yesterday and bucked the regional downward trend, recouping some of the losses incurred from the last three days after investors pulled out in part to new transparency rules which will come into effect on Saturday. Other Gulf stock markets dropped sharply as the dollar�s rally and a rebound in Western stocks lured global investors out of the region. After falling 3.28 percent on Saturday and 3.55 percent on Sunday, the Tadawul All-Share Index (TASI) surged 2.33 percent or 183.48 points to close at 8,067.62. The TASI is the worst-performing Gulf benchmark, down 26.91 percent so far this year.. ..The BMG Saudi Index broke the successive decline which has been seen in the previous three trading sessions, with the index rising by 2.1 percent to reach a closing level of 440.39 points. The total turnover, however, fell, by 15.9 percent to reach SR1.8 billion ($473 million) versus SR2.1 billion ($563 million) registered in Sunday�s trading session.." [more]

Saudi Arabia, a Lucrative Option in Real Estate Investment [Aug 12]
"The economies of Islamic countries have witnessed a huge surge in the past few years with Islamic finance being one of the most booming markets estimated to be worth US$800 billion and growing at a substantial rate, by 15% to 20% a year. That performance has translated into an equally promising mortgage finance growth resulting in the rapid development of the Islamic retail sector, which has proved to be a stable investment option ensuring a high return on investment. The rapid emergence of a wider range of real estate financial instruments compatible with the principles of Islamic finance is significantly contributing to the growth of the sector.. ..Due to the extra liquidity generated from high oil revenues, regional governments are planning ambitious infrastructure programs, especially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which now represents the largest construction market in the Middle East. Its total real estate investments are estimated at US$270 billion and the total value of new projects is likely to reach US$410 billion this year.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Aug 11] ~~~~~~~~~

Musharraf Seeks Saudi Arabia's Help [Aug 11]
"Disappointed by his American friends, President Pervez Musharraf, who faces impeachment by the ruling coalition, has sent an "SOS message" to the Saudi authorities, a source said on Monday. 'The message was sent through a senior Saudi diplomat based in Islamabad,' the source said, adding the president has received a response that is 'not very positive'. The source said the Saudi authorities, however, are sending a senior government official to gain a first hand view of the situation arising out of the impeachment move. The source, privy to the developments here, said that Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Ali Awadh Asseri would also be soon returning home after cutting short his private visit to his homeland.. ..The source said that Saudis may prefer to stay away from the internal politics of Pakistan after the Sharif incident after which, for the first time in the country's history, the media and civil society voiced concern over the Saudis' role.." [more]

Saudi Keeps Sept Crude Supply Steady to Asia [Aug 11]
"Saudi Arabia, the world's top crude exporter, will supply full contracted volumes of crude oil to Asia in September, steady from August levels, sources at the refiners said on Monday. Traders had expected no change in supply for September, although the market has been looking for signs of where incremental volumes are headed since the kingdom began raising output earlier this year in response to more demand and to quell what it sees as unacceptably high prices. Saudi Arabia pumped 9.7 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil in July, up from 9.45 million bpd in June.." [more]

China to Export Guns to Saudi Arabia [Aug 11]
"China has signed a contract to provide Saudi Arabia with PLZ-45 155-mm self-propelled howitzers for one battalion, according to an authoritative military industry source. One battalion would normally be armed with 27 such guns. This represents a second successful sale of PLZ-45s to the Middle East, following an earlier sale to Kuwait. In 2000, China exported 54 of the self-propelled guns to Kuwait, sufficient to arm two battalions. This latest batch of PLZ-45s is primarily to be used for testing purposes, according to the industry source. Once the Saudi military determines that the weapons meet their needs, it is likely that it will import more of the howitzers. However, the United States has voiced objections to the Saudis� procurement of China-made howitzers.." [more]

Technology Builds Links Between British and Saudi Arabian Women [Aug 11]
"Schemes to improve links between Britain and Saudi Arabia are using technology as a springboard to further success, the British Council has commented. A partnership between the Jeddah College of Technology and City College Brighton and Hove, called Connecting Classrooms, is helping students improve their language and technology skills as well as gain wider cultural understandings. Another scheme to aid women in their professional lives has been launched called Springboard, which has been translated into Arabic. Abir Alami, project manager for Women and Science at the British Council, believes that the project will provide a boost for women both inside and outside of the workplace.. ..The British Council is a non-governmental organisation that aims to help people "develop, grow and become self-sufficient" through its various initiatives around the world.." [more]

Sri Lanka Cites Abuse, Decides to Send Fewer Maids to Middle East [Aug 11]
"Sri Lanka is planning to trim the number of maids employed in the Middle East, a labor official has reportedly said. Kingsley Ranawaka, chairman of the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE), was recently quoted by an international media source as saying that Lankan labor officials have decided to curb the number of housekeepers due to the number of complaints of ill-treatment received from Lankan maids in the region. The bureau said that in the first half of this year, it received a total of 3,400 complaints, including 577 cases of breach of contract and 479 cases of sexual abuse and other forms of physical violence, as well as complaints of unpaid or underpaid salaries. Saudi Arabia in particular has been a main market for Sri Lankan workers. For years as many as 500,000 maids work in the Kingdom at any time.. ..When asked what effect he thinks the reduction will have on Saudi sponsors due to the low availability of Sri Lankan maids on the employment market, the ambassador replied that because nearly 80 percent of Saudis earn monthly paychecks of SR5,000 or less he believes demand for Lankan maids will increase.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Aug 10] ~~~~~~~~~

Saudi Arabia, BAE in Talks on New Arms Deal [Aug 10]
"BAE Systems Plc is in talks with the Saudi government over a second order of Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft that could be worth $38.6 billion, the UK's Sunday Times newspaper reported on Sunday. 'BAE.. may provide as many as 70 extra combat aircraft to the Saudis, although some defence industry executives say the contract is likely to be for 48,' the Times reported. 'It is understood that senior staff from the (UK's Ministry of Defence) department recently visited Saudi Arabia to discuss the deal,' it added.Ahmed al-Shodokhi, from the Saudi Defence Ministry's media department, declined to comment on the report.. ..Sources familiar with the negotiations over the previous contract have told Reuters that this pact will be paid for in cash from the Saudi budget instead of a previous formula that used oil shipments. The Al Yamamah arms-for-oil pacts signed by Riyadh and London in the 1980s have produced an estimated 43 billion pounds in business.." [more]

Samba and Sabic Lead Decline on Saudi Bourse [Aug 10]
"Saudi Arabian shares declined for the second-straight day, led by the Samba Financial Group and Saudi Basic Industries Corp (Sabic), the world's largest chemical maker. The Tadawul All Share Index lost 3.3 per cent to 8,173.97 in Riyadh, the lowest since October last year. The index has dropped 26 per cent this year. Samba Financial, the second-largest bank by market value, dropped to its lowest level since December 2004, losing 8.8 per cent to 62 riyals and bringing the slide this year to 48 per cent. Sabic declined 3.3 per cent to 119.25 riyals, the lowest since October. 'There are concerns about Samba's exposure to US mortgage-related security losses, directly or indirectly,' Murad Ansari, a Riyadh-based analyst with EFG-Hermes Holding.." [more]

Saudi Rajhi Steel Eyeing Doubling Output by 2012 [Aug 10]
"Al-Rajhi Steel Industries, one of Saudi Arabia�s three largest steel producers, said it plans to spend up to 4bn riyals ($1.07bn) to more than double its production capacity by as early as 2012. The company, which accounts for about a fifth of steel and by-products sales in the kingdom, plans to start a 1mn tonne reinforced steel plant in Jeddah by early 2011.. ..Prices of steel have almost doubled over the past two years as demand has outpaced supply in Saudi Arabia, where the government and the private sector are spending hundreds of billions of riyals on infrastructure and housing projects. The rise in steel prices, exacerbated by increases in other input costs, has raised fears on the viability of some projects. A Riyadh commerce and industry chamber official said in November that some 80% of small and medium-sized construction projects have been put on hold because of the surge in building materials and labour costs. But the plethora of projects that are either led by or sponsored by the government are offsetting any impact on steel demand in the world�s largest oil exporter.." [more]

Prince Bandar Meets With Chinese Vice President [Aug 10]
"Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping on Friday met with Prince Bandar Bin Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, secretary general of the National Security Council stressing China�s cooperation and increasing relations with Saudi Arabia, the Saui Press Agency reported Friday. In the meeting with Xi he said the China-Saudi Arabia friendship should constantly bear new fruits. Xi noted that China-Saudi Arabia relations have entered into a fast-growing new stage. The two countries should push their cooperation to a higher level, he said.. ..King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques donated SR150 million in relief and SR37million worth of relief materials to the southwestern province of Sichuan. Over 60,000 people died and millions were left homeless in the 8.3 magnitude earthquake in May.." [more]

OIC Slams Anti-Islam Congress in Germany [Aug 10]
"The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) has expressed serious concerns about reports that an far right group is holding an anti-Islam conference in the German city of Cologne in September. A spokesman for the OIC�s Islamophobia Observatory in Jeddah said in a statement issued yesterday that the proposed conference was aimed at arousing anti-Muslim sentiments in Europe and that it would pose a threat to inter-communal peace and harmony in society. The right-wing extremist group Pro Koln is organizing the event on Sept. 19-20, with the aim of issuing a declaration against the purported 'Islami-fication' of Europe. The meeting is expected to be attended by some of the most inflammatory names in European race politics.. ..Various international groups have condemned Pro Koln for organizing the conference and called for public initiatives to confront efforts to spread the right-wing propaganda against people of other ethnic or religious groups.." [more]

Saudi Retailing Undergoes Aggressive Expansion [Aug 10]
"Over the last 10 years, the population in Saudi Arabia has been growing rapidly at the rate of 3% per year. This has played a role in making Saudi Arabia the most important and dynamic retail market in the Middle East. With around 2.4 million square metres of existing retail space and an extra four million planned, retail sales in the kingdom peaked to outpace average growth, despite a hike in prices.. ..Saudis are conscious consumers who value established and well-known brands. This is mainly due to the emergence of a large population of young people in Saudi Arabia, coupled with the fact that women represent more than 50% of consumers. Al Hokair Group says that the size of population and its growth rate, together with its young demographic structure, makes it a lucrative market for consumer products. In its report, the group drew a picture showing consumers as modern shoppers with sophisticated brand tastes, influenced by global media through satellite television.." [more]

Festival for Women Entrepreneurs [Aug 10]
"An all-women festival dedicated to female entrepreneurs titled �Where the Creation Starts,� will take place from Aug. 25-28. The event will be inaugurated by Princess Hisa Al-Sha�lan, wife of King Abdullah, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. The venue of festival will be the Jeddah Westin hotel and it�s in cooperation with the Disabled Children Association of Makkah. The three-day festival is geared towards giving tourists a glimpse into the important role Saudi women play in Saudi society.. ..'In cooperation with the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the participants will present their projects to a committee who will select the best for a prize,' Fawzi said.Several companies will promote their products at the festival such as the Oxford Language Institute and the Shams Academy for Arts and Crafts. Several jewelry designers will also be presenting their work.." [more]

Saudi Stock Index Dips to 41-Week Low [Aug 10]
"The Saudi stock market index tumbled to a 41-week low yesterday ahead of the implementation of a rule to name investors with stakes of five percent or more in listed companies. Tadawul will start publishing names of investors on a daily basis from next Saturday. The Tadawul All-Share Index (TASI) plunged 277.09 points or 3.28 percent to close at 8,173.97 points in thin trading yesterday. It fell 3.31 percent last week. The index is the worst performer in the Gulf Arab region this year as it is down 25.95 percent or 2,864.69 points so far this year after closing at 11,038.66 at the end of last year. The only gainers yesterday were Saudi Public Transport Co. (SAPTCO), Malath Cooperative Insurance and Reinsurance Co., Saudi Indian Company for Cooperative Insurance and Alabdullatif Industrial Investment Co. The stock market turnover was thin at SR3.50 billion with 98.27 million shares changing hands.." [more]

Aug 3 - Aug 9, 2008

~~~~~~~~ [ Aug 9] ~~~~~~~~~

Tadawul Falls by $18bn as Investors Take Flight [Aug 9]
"Saudi Arabia's bourse dived by nearly $18 billion (Dh6bn), while most other Gulf exchanges recorded relative stability as regional markets entered the first week of another calm summer month, official figures showed yesterday. While speculation and market fundamentals dominated most markets in the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC), the Saudi Tadawul bourse in Riyadh was gripped by a recent decision by market regulators that the names of investors holding stakes of at least five per cent in any of the 125 listed companies would be published on daily basis. The decision, which would be enforced in mid August, and is intended to bring Tadawul in line with Western standards of market transparency, provoked an exodus of capital as Saudi Arabian investors feared their holdings would become public knowledge.. ..According to its study, the relatively closed nature of the Saudi market, combined with a lack of visibility, has in the past encouraged speculative action, with trades often following rumour rather than clear market signals. It said: "The attempt to list large shareholders forms part of the regulator's move towards shedding this somewhat opaque reputation.." [more]

Oil Supply Crunch Seen in 2013 [Aug 9]
"The world faces a serious oil supply crunch within five to 10 years that may drive prices up to more than $200 a barrel, a British think tank said on Friday. The Chatham House report says $200 oil is possible, barring a collapse in demand, because of inadequate investment by oil companies in raising output - not because of a lack of oil underground. A supply crunch appears likely around 2013, 'even allowing for some increase in capacity over the next few years,' says the report by Paul Stevens, a senior research fellow at Chatham House. 'The implication is that it will quickly translate into a price spike although there is a question over how strategic stocks might be used to alleviate this," the report adds, concluding that "a spike of over $200 is possible.' The report concedes that it uses a 'controversial and extremely bullish' forecast of future oil demand and supply. It assumes Saudi production capacity will remain flat after reaching 12.5 million barrels per day in 2009 and that the capacity of other OPEC countries remains flat after 2008.." [more]

Ministry Admits Education Project Obstructed [Aug 9]
"The Education Ministry said the King Abdullah Project for Educational Development is being obstructed by five major obstacles. The main obstacle is the 10-month delay in allocating the SR9 billion budget, a ministry official told Okaz. With the delays specialists from within the Ministry could not be recruited to work in the project because there was no way to gurantee salaries, the official said. There was also lack of qualified Saudis to join the education development project, the official said. Shoura Council member, Abdul Aziz Al-Thonaiyan said the project will need private sector investment if the full scope of the project is to be realized.."  [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Aug 8] ~~~~~~~~~

KSA�s Own Silicon Valley [Aug 8]
"King Saud University (KSU) expects the Riyadh Technology Valley (RTV) to generate 22,000 jobs for Saudis including university graduates, researchers and economists according to a report released by the university. The RTV project is set to attract 43 local and international companies to invest in the 1.2 million square meter project located near KSU. At the July launch Shoura Council member Abdul Rahman Al-Zamil said, 'The RTV is a serious effort from KSU to realize the vision of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to transform the Kingdom into a knowledge-based economy with the cooperation of institutions of higher learning and the private sector.'.. ..The RTV project is geared towards contributing to the development of a technically knowledgeable workforce. Five main zones will be created inside the RTV complex. Each zone carrying research in different fields.." [more]

Diplomat's Murder Adds to Saudi Development Concerns [Aug 8]
"The Saudi Arabian Embassy says the murder of a Saudi diplomat in Canberra 10 years ago adds to its security concerns over a Deakin development. The Saudis are applying for an extension of time in the ACT Administrative Appeals Tribunal to lodge an objection against a unit development being built on the Embassy Motel site.Lawyers for the embassy say the six-storey Ambassador Apartments will provide a direct line of sight into the embassy, compromising security. They also say the fact a Saudi diplomat was murdered in his Kingston apartment a decade ago adds to security concerns. But lawyers representing the developer have dismissed the assertion, saying the diplomat was killed for personal reasons and not because of his role at the embassy.." [more]

OPEC Looks on Calmly as Oil Price Falls [Aug 8]
"OPEC has held its nerve while oil prices have dropped nearly 20 percent in a month and the producer group is expected to let the market slide further before taking any action to cut output. Oil traded at below $120 a barrel on Friday, down from a July peak of $147.27 as soaring fuel prices and an ailing economy have cut consumption in the world's largest energy consumer the United States. Members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), source of more than a third of the world's oil, have shown scant concern. 'At the moment, and at this level, there is no movement within OPEC to do anything,'.." [more]

Almajdouie, Sinotrans Form Joint Venture [Aug 8]
"A leading business house of Saudi Arabia, Almajdouie Group, and Sinotrans Ltd. of China have signed an agreement to operate a joint venture logistics company in Saudi Arabia. The joint company, named as Almajdouie Sinotrans Middle East, will operate in the areas of customs clearance, heavy oversized cargo handling and inland transportation services. 'Both groups were working together for past three years in Saudi Arabia and successfully completed the project logistics management including customs clearance, heavy oversized cargo and inland transportation services by moving equipment for five cement production lines of Sinoma International Engineering Co. Ltd. in Saudi Arabia and providing quality service by delivering over 500,000 freight tons cargo to the site,' said Abdullah Al-Majdouie, vice president of Almajdouie Group, while speaking on the occasion of the signing ceremony.." [more]

Saudi Arabia Sees 30% Drop in Immoral Crime Rate [Aug 8]
"The rate of immoral crimes in Saudi Arabia has declined by 30 per cent, according to an annual report issued by the Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice [religious police in Saudi Arabia]. The report released here yesterday did not specify the reason for the drop in immoral crimes. The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice is a religious government institution responsible for controlling and fighting immoral offences, prostitution dens and sexual molestation among youth. The report revealed that there was a total of 34,000 immoral crimes in the past year, representing 11.6 per cent of the total crimes and offences registered by the Saudi Vice Squad in all parts of the Kingdom. This showed that there was a 30 per cent decline in the number of these crimes compared to the previous year.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Aug 7] ~~~~~~~~~

Religion Today [Aug 7]
"Early last Saturday, senior members of the Saudi royal family and religious establishment took up brooms and cloths perfumed with rosewater to wash the interior of the Kaaba, the sacred stone structure that Muslims face during their five daily prayers. Barefoot and dressed in traditional long, white robes, the men finished the cleaning ceremony by wiping the marble walls and floors of the small room with scented oils, re-enacting a tradition started by Prophet Muhammad almost 1,400 year ago. The ritual, carried out twice a year, offers a peek inside the stark interior of the structure Muslims call the navel of the world. Muslims consider the Kaaba, which stands in the middle of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, as the holiest site in Islam because they believe that God created the universe from the place where it stands. The sacredness of the place gives special significance to the washing ceremony. It is carried out before the holy fasting month of Ramadan, which falls in early September this year, and a day before Eid al-Adha, or the feast of sacrifice, which follows less than three months later. The only other time the Kaaba is opened is when Muslim dignitaries � such as a head of state � request to go in.." [more]

New Nissan Advert Sparks Gulf Furor [Aug 7]
"Gulf countries may boycott the Nissan Motor Company after an Israeli TV commercial depicting Saudis angered by a fuel-efficient car, according to a Saudi official. The advertising campaign, created by Renault-Nissan, led to an uproar among the Arab and Muslim population in the Gulf when it showed a group of Saudi oil barons sreaming and attacking the Renault-Nissan vehicle. The advertisement, which has been airing in Israel, depicts wealthy Arab oil barons cursing and hitting the Tiida, angered at the car being so fuel efficient.. ..Many Arabs perceive that the company made a huge mistake running the ad and should therefore come forward with an apology if it cared to keep its interests in the region. 'It's my opinion that Nissan made a huge error by igniting these [racist] instincts,' official Hani al-Wafa told MBC TV, a Saudi-run station headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. 'We need to apply punishments... against these things. In order for Nissan to keep its interests in the region, it must apologise.'.." [more]

OPEC Capacity Set to Increase to 36.9 mbpd [Aug 7]
"As global demand for oil increases, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has embarked upon substantial investments, both upstream and downstream, to ensure that the world economy benefits from regular and secure oil supplies. OPEC spare capacity has played a critical role in ensuring that oil markets remained well supplied and the industry is investing heavily to expand capacity. OPEC crude oil production capacity (excluding Iraq) is projected to increase to around 36.9 million barrels per day (mbpd) by 2010 from 31.7 mbpd in 2005. In addition, Iraq�s recovery should contribute significantly to raising OPEC�s overall production capacity, according to information available on OPEC website.." [more]

Saudi Funds Hit Hard as Global Markets Decline [Aug 7]
"Saudi Arabia�s fund managers are nervous about their bonuses this year as few mutual funds listed on the kingdom�s bourse have made gains, pulled down by market volatility and an uncertain global economy. The biggest losers are mutual funds invested on international markets. Out of 45 of these funds listed on Tadawul, only one has made gains this year, according to data on the exchange�s website. Of the 18 listed 'Arab Funds' on Tadawul, only seven have made gains. 'Usually we tell our clients that diversification is good as not all markets move together,' said Adel al-Ateeq, the director of asset management for Riyad Capital. 'But this year it�s strange. All markets are down; local, regional and international.' Al-Ateeq believes that the US credit crunch has pulled down global markets for the short term and that they will rebound later.." [more]

Medical Supplies From KSA for Palestinian Refugess [Aug 7]
"The Interior Minister visited the Palestinian embassy in Beirut to discuss distribution of medical supplies totaling close to SR3 million raised for Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Interior Minister, Prince Naif Bin Abdulaziz and General Surpervisor of the Saudi Popular Campaign for the Relief of the Lebanese People met with Palestinian officials at the embassy in Beirut to discuss how to distribute the aid to the over 40,000 Palestinian refugees in Lebanon. The aid was specified to the Nahr El-Bared and Beddawi camps. The Nahr El-Bared refugee camp is located 5km from the city of Tripoli and has close to 30,000 displaced Palestinians living there. The Beddawi camp has over 16,000 Palestinians refugees.." [more]

Universities to Enroll 236,000 High School Grads [Aug 7]
"The Kingdom�s universities will enroll more than 236,000 students who passed out of the secondary schools this year, according to Higher Education Minister Khaled Al-Anqari. Approximately 88 percent of the 267,122 secondary graduates schools would be able to join for higher education in the new academic year, Al-Anqari said in his statement to the Saudi Press Agency. 'The Ministry of Higher Education strives to accommodate as many students as possible and in response to the needs of the job market. As the number of colleges and universities are growing, 170 percent more men and women students could go for higher education than 2007,'.. ..the government has been striving to improve the educational level in the Kingdom and that is why the it sends more and more students to foreign universities on scholarships and supports institutions of higher education in the private sector.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Aug 6] ~~~~~~~~~

Saudi Arabia's Shopping Mall Goldmine [Aug 6]
"The Saudi retail market can only be described as a goldmine, with its large population of young adults and the increasing number of shopping malls which are being built to accommodate the increasingly affluent and highly mobile population.. ..The Saudi apparel retail industry is one of the high-growth markets in the Arab region especially in the women and children segments. The apparel business grew rapidly over the last several years as people became more fashion-oriented. The growth in the sector is attributed to high young population and increasing purchasing power in the backdrop of recent economic boom. Growth of this sector is evidenced by the growth of fashion retailers. In fact according to Colliers International, Riyadh has 2.5 million square meters of gross leasable shopping mall space in Riyadh versus 1.1 million in Jeddah and 1.7 million in Dubai as of 2007.. ..Despite the fact that all women wear the traditional Abaya on top of their clothes, underneath the abaya, Western dress is most common.." [more]

Saudi Authorities Intensify Umrah Preparations [Aug 6]
"Saudi authorities have intensified preparations to receive Umrah pilgrims in Makkah and visitors of the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah. The number of people who will come from all over the world to perform Umrah and visitors is expected to increase considerably in Ramadan since it will coincide this year with the summer vacation period.. ..Makkah has been witnessing for more than two weeks an influx of thousands of people who come to perform Umrah and spend the summer holidays. It is expected that more than three million people will arrive from abroad to perform Umrah during the coming month of Ramadan, in addition to Umrah performers from inside the kingdom. The concerned Saudi authorities have provided all necessary facilities at sea, land and airports and prepared various religious and other programmes for visitors of Makkah and Madinah during Ramadan. Ramadan is regarded the most important time for Muslims to perform Umrah, and this explains the reason for the influx of visitors throughout this month, particularly in the last ten days.." [more]

Calls For End to Saudi Child Marriages [Aug 6]
"An 11-year-old boy gave out invitations to his classmates for a big event his family was planning this summer � and it wasn't his birthday party. It was his wedding to a 10-year-old cousin. Muhammad al-Rashidi's marriage was eventually put on hold, his father said, after pressure from the governor of the northern province of Hail, who considered the elementary school student too young to marry. The case is among a recent spate of marriages involving the very young reported in the media and by Saudi human rights groups. They have been widely denounced by activists, clerics and others who say such unions are harmful to the children and trivialize the institution of marriage.. ..There are no laws in Saudi Arabia defining the minimum age for marriage. Though a woman's consent is legally required, some marriage officials do not seek it. For example, a father can marry off a 1-year-old girl as long as sex is delayed until she reaches puberty.." [more]

Lawyers Seek Urgent, Sustainable Legal Reforms [Aug 6]
"Courts across the country are overloaded and quite often understaffed, lawyers say, making the case for �urgent and sustainable� reforms in the country�s judicial system for which the government has already allocated SR7 billion.. ..There is general agreement that direction, planning and coordination are all substantially missing from many law firms in the country, be they private institutions or associations. Experienced lawyers and newcomers alike struggle to keep afloat within an ever changing set of rules and circumstances brought about by globalization. Family legal problems are easier to handle rather than the broad range of corporate and business oriented legal problems, the lawyers say. In corporate cases the intentions are often not clear and there is no direct focus on content, making court procedures cloudy for the presiding judge. Hence court cases are too often settled out of court due to endless delays as well as lack of transparency. Another problem crippling the legal system is that not many Saudis are taking to the law profession.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Aug 5] ~~~~~~~~~

Quranet Project is an Attempt to Serve Political Agenda of Israel [Aug 5]
"Israeli �Quranet� project is aimed at interpreting the Quran to serve the political agenda of Israel, warned Saudi scholars and researchers. The scholars expressed doubts about the real objective of the online Quran interpretation project called Quranet, which was recently launched by the Israel�s Foreign Affairs Ministry to serve as a 'bridge between the Muslim world and the West'.. ..In a statement to Gulf News, Dr. Al Mutlaq stressed that the Israeli Quranet project should not be trusted by Muslims since it is run by Jews who openly show their hatred to Islam and Muslims. 'A Muslim, who wants to abide by Islamic teachings, should not depend on this website for interpretation of the Holy Quran whatever the case,' he said. He warned that Muslims should not be deceived by Israeli allegations that 'the Quranet transforms the Quran into a unique and useful educational tool for parents and teachers, and thereby renders the beneficial power of the Quran widely accessible'.." [more]

Saudi Relief Convoy Providing Aid to Flood Victims [Aug 5]
" Saudi Relief convoy is traveling to seven regions of Sudan to provide relief for flood victims of last year�s flood. The relief convoy is part of the first phase ordered several months ago by King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to provide relief to flood victims, the Saudi Press Agency reported. In July 2007, heavy rains and flash floods swept through central, eastern and southeastern Sudan. Over 15,000 homes were destroyed.. ..Hasabo Mohammed Abdulrahman, Commisioner General for Humanitarian Aid in Sudan said the convoy consists of food, pesticides, ambulances, tanks. In addition the aid will also provide water and electricity equipment for several regions. As part of the SR75million aid project emergency hospitals will be dispatched to the areas worst affected by the flood last year.." [more]

95% of Saudi Women Suffer Abuse [Aug 5]
"As many as 95 percent of women in Riyadh have been subjected to a form of physical or emotional abuse from within their family, according to a new survey. The survey � which constituted of 80 women being interviewed about their family life - revealed that 75 percent have been abused both psychologically and verbally. Another 25 percent said they had been sexually abused by a family member.. ..Dr Majed Al-Isa, Medical Director in the Family Safety program for the National Guard said verbal and psychological abuse are the main forms of abuse used by families. He told the newspaper that the degree of education has no bearing on how much abuse a person is subjected to.." [more]

Oil Falls Below $120 as Opec Production Rises [Aug 5]
"Oil fell below $120 a barrel yesterday, pressured by evidence of rising Opec output in the midst of declining demand in the US and Europe. The losses, adding to a record slide from the mid-July peak over $147 a barrel, came despite a storm in the Gulf of Mexico that was curbing oil production, shipping and refining.. ..The losses came after a Reuters survey showed Opec supply rose for a third consecutive month in July mainly because of increased output from the world�s top exporter Saudi Arabia. The boost in production from Opec comes as soaring energy prices and an economic slowdown cut into consumption in the US and Europe. 'The market is focused on falling demand with Opec seen producing more oil,'.." [more]

Saudi Arabia�s Natural Gas Demand to Surge Over Next 25 Years [Aug 5]
"GCC demand for gas is growing faster than the region�s demand for oil, with projections that it could increase to the oil equivalent of more than 4 million bpd by 2010 and to 5.1 million bpd in 2015 and 6.4 million bpd to 2020. According to OPEC the growth is expected to expand the proportion of gas in the Arab energy market to more than 46 percent by 2020. Saudi Arabia�s natural gas demand is expected to reach 14.5 billion cubic feet-a-day over the next 25 years, compared to around 5.5 billion cf/d at present.All of Saudi Arabia�s already substantial gas production is for domestic use, but much more is urgently needed and so far little has come from gas exploration projects with international oil companies in the Empty Quarter. However, there are other good prospects on and offshore and Saudi Aramco has committed $1.5 billion to almost doubling output from its Karan gas field in the Gulf which is estimated to contain at least 9 trillion cubic feet of gas.." [more]

Interior Ministry to Study Bidoon Issue [Aug 5]
" An official of the Civil Affairs Department at the Ministry of Interior said his agency is currently studying the issue of the Bidoon (stateless people) in the Kingdom. 'The study on the immigrant tribes has been launched with the aim of finding solutions to their problems,' he said, referring to the nomadic tribes who settled in Saudi Arabia.. ..Zuhair Al-Harithy, the spokesman for the National Society for Human Rights, said last week that the commission would set up a committee to study the problems of stateless people in the Kingdom. Their major demand was Saudi citizenship, and removing the obstacles in the way of their children�s education and medical care. The Arabian Peninsula is home to a large population of nomadic or rural-sedentary Arabs. Many tribespeople still live in Bedouin encampments (or small out-of-the-way villages) without any civil status.. ..Saudi Arabia is home to a large population of these stateless Arabs who, due to their culture and rugged independent lifestyle, haven�t become officially recognized as citizens of the country. A lack of civil status shuts these Bedouin out of social benefits.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Aug 4] ~~~~~~~~~

Shoura Expansion Expected [Aug 4]
"The number of Shoura Council members is expected to be increased from the present 150 to 180 in its next session, according sources. The number of female advisers too is expected to increase from six to 11, the sources said.. ..The Shoura Council enjoys the same powers as western parliaments. It is entitled to enact laws, oversee the functions of governmental agencies and investigate public cases. The Shoura Council started its sessions with 60 members. But in the next session, the number was increased to 90, then to 120 in the third session. The current number of members is 150. Having been expanded in 1997 and 2001, the council achieved a place in the International Parliamentary Union by the end of 2003.." [more]

Qatari Premier and Asharq Al-Awsat Reach Amicable Settlement [Aug 4]
"A case filed by the prime minister of Qatar against Asharq Al-Awsat has been settled out of court without any payment for damages, Al-Riyadh newspaper reported yesterday. Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem Al-Thani, prime minister and foreign minister of Qatar, filed the suit against the newspaper in a British court of law.. ..the agreement stipulates that the two parties would bear their own financial expenses, that a correction would be published in Asharq Al-Awsat � both in print and online, that a correction would be read in court, and that the newspaper would never again publish the contents of the original articles, which drew the case. Sheikh Hamad had filed the case in objection to three articles in Asharq Al-Awsat, which alleged that the Qatari leader visited Israel while on his way from Damascus to Beirut to attend a meeting of Arab foreign ministers during Israel�s war against Lebanon in the summer of 2006.." [more]

Saudi Inflation Reaches 30-Year High [Aug 4]
"Saudi Arabia's annual inflation rose 10.6 per cent in June to a 30-year high due primarily to increases in food and housing costs, official data released on Sunday showed. The cost of living index for the largest Arab economy rose to 115.5 points on June 30 from 115 points in May, the Saudi Press Agency cited a report by the Ministry of Economy and Planning's Central Department of Statistics. 'We could be reaching some kind of plateau within three months but we don't see a rampant inflation that is out of control,' said John Sfakianakis, chief economist at SABB bank, HSBC's subsidiary in Saudi Arabia.. ..Saudi Arabia's annual inflation may hit its peak towards the end of the third quarter which coincides with the end of Ramadan, the Muslim fasting month which sees a surge in both consumption and prices, he said.." [more]

Saudi Equity Market Cap Reaches SR1.70 Trillion [Aug 4]
"The Saudi stock market�s decline continued to an eighth consecutive trading day yesterday. The Tadawul All-Share Index (TASI) fell 6.26 points after falling over 107 points on Saturday after Tadawul announced new transparency rule which will be effective from Aug. 16. The market may be heading for more sell-off because of the new rule to disclose names of investors with stakes of 5 percent or more. Out of 124 companies traded, shares of 58 companies increased while 40 firms were in the red. Over SR4.2 billion worth of shares changed hands yesterday. Tadawul also announced the stock market performance report for the month of July. According to the Tadawul�s statistical report, at the end of July TASI closed at 8,740.74 points, which is 611.58 points or 6.54 percent lower than the previous month.." [more]

GCC Demand For Gas Growing Faster Than for Oil [Aug 4]
"GCC demand for gas is growing faster than the region's demand for oil, with projections that it could increase to the oil equivalent of more than 4 million bpd by 2010 and to 5.1 million bpd in 2015 and 6.4 million bpd to 2020. According to OPEC the growth is expected to expand the proportion of gas in the Arab energy market to more than 46% by 2020. Saudi Arabia's natural gas demand is expected to reach 14.5 billion cubic feet-a-day over the next 25 years, compared to around 5.5 billion cf/d at present.. ..All of Saudi Arabia's already substantial gas production is for domestic use, but much more is urgently needed and so far little has come from gas exploration projects with international oil companies in the Empty Quarter. However, there are other good prospects on and offshore and Saudi Aramco has committed $1.5bn to almost doubling output from its Karan gas field in the Gulf which is estimated to contain at least 9 trillion cubic feet of gas.." [more]

Iran Foreign Minister in Saudi Arabia to Attend OIC Meeting on Sudan [Aug 4]
" Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki is currently on a visit to Saudi Arabia to attend a meeting of the executive committee of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, it was announced on Monday [4 August]. Foreign Ministry spokesman, Hassan Qashqavi made the announcement while talking to domestic and foreign reporters during his weekly press briefing. Qashqavi said that participating delegates would discuss Sudan crisis in the OIC meeting. The spokesman added that during the meeting, Mottaki is expected to voice Tehran's support for the Sudanese government and nation.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Aug 3] ~~~~~~~~~

Return Home Call to Saudi Women [Aug 3]
"A CALL has gone out to Saudi women studying in Bahrain and abroad to take their skills and experiences home with them. Their search for more freedom abroad is a dangerous trend, robbing their own country of women who could help lead the fight for change, says Saudi writer and women rights activist Wajeha Al Huawaider. Many Saudi women are living outside their country to get their independence, without being ruled by or having to rely on men, says Ms Al Huawaider. 'Women in Saudi lose their existence and become crippled beings, who cannot do many things independently,'.. ..But she says the exodus is a dangerous trend, because if all educated liberal women leave the country, there won't be any left for changing it. 'What if new positions in the government, like the Shura Council, let women join? Where do we get the right women for the job if they all leave?' said Ms Al Huawaider. She said young females should try life outside Saudi so they can build their personalities and get more experience in the real world. 'Then they should come back after they get enriched by the experience to serve their country, which needs them the most,'.." [more]

Saudi Non-oil Exports top SR10bn in May [Aug 3]
"Saudi Arabia's non-petroleum exports during the month of May showed a hike of 19% compared to the same month last year. These exports were valued at SR10.278m compared to SR8.672m, while the tonnage of exports also increased by 17% to 3,883 tons, compared to 3,305 tons in May 2007. Petrochemicals continued to be the country's most important commodities exported during the month of May. This was followed by plastics, plastic products, base-metals and re-exported commodities. During the same month, the total value of Saudi imports also showed an increase of 12% to SR31.778m, compared to SR28.459m in May 2007.. ..During the period under review, The United States topped the list of countries that export commodities to Saudi Arabia, followed by China, Germany, non-Arab Asian countries and Islamic groups of countries, EU countries and North America.." [more]

Saudi Maaden to Borrow $8 bln in Q3/2009 [Aug 3]
"Saudi Arabian Mining Co .. .. will borrow about 30 billion riyals ($8 billion) in the third quarter of 2009 to fund a planned aluminium plant in the kingdom, a Kuwaiti newspaper quoted its CEO as saying on Sunday. The loan will be 'international and in conformity with Islamic regulations', Kuwait's al-Rai newspaper quoted as saying Maaden's Chief Executive Abdullah al-Dabbagh. The funds will help finance a planned 740,000 tonnes per year aluminium smelter, that will be jointly developed in the kingdom with Rio Tinto at a total cost of $10.55 billion.. ..The estimated cost of the project has risen 40 percent due to the rise in contracting costs as well as domestic rise in the cost of labour and also to a 14 percent increase in the planned plant's production capacity, Maaden said earlier this week. It was the second time Maaden revised up the project's cost which it raised in May to $7.53 billion from $7 billion.." [more]

King Approves E-learning Conference [Aug 3]
"The first international conference on electronic and distance learning has been approved by King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for March 18, 2009. Minister of Higher Education, Khaled Bin Mohammad Al-Anqari, said the plan goes hand in hand with a national IT plan initated by King Abdullah in order to improve the knowledge economy. He said the conference should benefit from the expertise of other countries in improving electronic and distance learning within Saudi Arabia.." [more]

Al-Haramain Refiles Suit Against US Wiretapping [Aug 3]
"In yet another blow to the American terrorist surveillance program, the Al-Haramain Islamic Foundation (AHIF) has refiled a lawsuit in San Francisco federal court accusing the Bush administration of illegal wiretapping. The suit follows the recent dismissal by a US court of the original lawsuit filed by the Oregon-based American branch of the now-defunct AHIF, which was declared a terrorist organization by the US Treasury Department in 2004. 'The refiling of the suit has asserted that the Bush administration had circumvented the US Constitution by authorizing wiretaps,' M. Wendell Belew, president of the Friends of Charities Association (FOCA), said yesterday. Belew added that the AHIF has gone back to court, accusing the Bush administration of intercepting phone calls between AHIF�s Saudi directors and two of their US-based lawyers.. ..Referring to the refiling of the lawsuit, Belew said several public disclosures about the Bush administration�s surveillance program in general and about the AHIF�s role in particular could help Al-Haramain�s lawyers prove their case.." [more]

A Subversive Soap Roils Saudi Arabia [Aug 3]
"A Turkish soap opera featuring an independent fashion designer and her amazingly supportive and attractive husband is emptying the streets whenever it's on and has more than doubled the number of Saudis visiting Turkey this summer. Millions of people -- especially women, apparently -- are tuning in nightly to find out whether the couple will stay together or be torn apart by jealousies and old flames. But 'Noor,' the story of a multi-generational, upper-class Turkish family, has also sparked a backlash. The show has become the subject of angry Friday sermons in this strict Islamic kingdom, and the country's chief cleric recently issued a fatwa calling it 'decadent' and sinful to watch.. ..The fascination with the show and the lush scenery has propelled more than 100,000 Saudis to travel to Turkey this year, according to Turkish diplomats, up from about 40,000 last year. The fictional home of Muhannad's family has been rented by tour operators and turned into a temporary museum for visitors. Saudi magazines have featured several spreads of the luxury villa on the Bosporus in Istanbul where the show was shot and interviewed Saudi tourists there.." [more]

Olympics Security Poses Visa Problems [Aug 3]
"The new measures adopted by the Chinese authorities to provide security to the Olympic Games in Beijing on Aug. 8-24, including restrictions in granting entry visas, have caused havoc among Saudi merchants and importers, Al-Eqtisadiah newspaper reported yesterday, quoting Saudi businessmen. Nabeel Bafadul, a Saudi businessman, told the newspaper that it was anticipated that Olympics would cause some difficulty in obtaining entry visas to China but did not expect the restrictions to be so severe. Officials at the Chinese Consulate in Jeddah cannot be reached for comment, but the daily quoted an unidentified source at the consulate as saying that these measures were being applied on all countries, not just Saudi Arabia.. ..Anwar Qashgari, another Saudi businessman, agreed with Bafadul and said there has been a complete halt now on the issuance of visas to China. 'If you do not already have an entry visa, you cannot get one now,' he said. He said he had applied for a visa before the new restrictions and was only given six months. 'This is not enough as we have to visit many Chinese cities to see the products that we import in their places of origin,'.." [more]

India Calls for Probe Into Worker�s Death [Aug 3]
"The government of India has asked authorities in Saudi Arabia to probe an incident in which an Indian worker died after allegedly being assaulted by his workplace supervisor. 'A formal communication has been sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to probe the death of worker Sudheesh Kalathil Parambil Narayanan, 34, who succumbed to injuries two weeks after the alleged assault,'.. ..The Egyptian supervisor who allegedly beat Narayanan has neither been arrested nor charged. Repeated calls to get a comment from Narayanan�s sponsor, Abdulmohsen Al-Koban, owner of KGC Construction Co., went unanswered. Meanwhile, the Federation of Kerala Associations, Saudi Arabia (FOKASA), held an emergency meeting in Riyadh on Thursday night to discuss ways of helping the bereaved family.." [more]

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