News - August 2009

Aug 30-Sep 5, 2009

~~~~~~~~ [ Sep 5]~~~~~~~~~

Palestinian Ambassador to Saudi Denies Tripartite Meeting [Sep 5]
"President of the Palestinian National Authority Mahmoud Abbas will arrive in Jeddah on Sunday from Cairo. He will hold talks with King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz and their talks will focus mainly on the latest developments in the region.  Speaking to Gulf News, Palestinian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Jamal Al Shubaki, said that the meeting attains greater significance in the wake of the efforts being made by the Palestinian National Authority to work out a unified Arab stand against the ongoing Israeli settlement plans on the occupied territories. He said that Abbas will brief the Saudi monarch on the content of the speech he will deliver at the UN General Assembly meeting in New York on September 23, as well as his plans to hold talks with US President Barack Obama and other world leaders.." [more]

Insurance Companies Refuse Swine Flu Cases [Sep 5]
"Several insurance companies in the Kingdom have refused to cover expenses relating to treating workers affected by swine flu, saying insurance policies do not cover epidemics, earthquakes and eruption of volcanoes. According to a report published on Friday in a local daily, private firms say that insurance companies have refused to deal with swine flu cases as it is a pandemic and has been described as such by the World Health Organization, which also raised its pandemic flu alert to Phase 6 on a six-point scale. However, Abdul Ilah Saati, an insurance professor at King Abdulaziz University, said if the government is treating swine flu patients in both the public and private sectors, then insurance companies do not have the right to refuse treating such people. At the same time, many insurance companies said they are not responsible for treating infected patients.." [more]

Saudi Central Bank Won�t Buy Algosaibi, Saad Debt From Banks [Sep 5]
" Muhammad al-Jasser, Saudi Arabia�s central bank governor, said the bank won�t buy up debts from two family businesses that defaulted after borrowing more than $15 billion. 'Absolutely not,' al-Jasser said when asked whether the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency would buy up the debt of Ahmad Hamad Algosaibi & Bros. and Maan al-Sanea�s Saad Group from local banks. He spoke to Bloomberg News at a meeting of central bank governors and finance ministers of the Group of 20 countries in London today.. ..Al-Jasser�s comment comes after the Economist Intelligence Unit said in a report this month that the 'fall-out for local banks may be limited as the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency is expected to help local banks to cover losses.' International and regional banks are suing the Al-Khobar- based Saudi groups after both missed payments due from their Bahraini-based banking units, which are now under the administration of the Bahraini central bank.." [more]

Easy Oil is Never Far From the Cutting Edge [Sep 5]
"..Easy oil is not only confined to new exploration. In June, Saudi Aramco brought onstream the Khurais oilfield, the largest ever single increment to global supply, and equal to half of the reserves in Kuwait. Unlike new deepwater fields, which will be developed as fast as possible, Khurais was discovered in 1957, emphasising how Saudi Arabia can afford to take its time in developing its vast hydrocarbon resources. In July, BP bid aggressively to guarantee itself some �easy� oil in addition to Tiber�s difficult treasures. The company agreed to a deal with Iraq to boost output at the supergiant Rumaila field by almost 2 million barrels per day (bpd), more than 2 per cent of global production. New oil seems to fall into two camps.." [more]

Saudi-Chinese Firms Win $720m Rail Contract [Sep 5]
"Saudi Railway Company (SAR) has awarded a 2.7 billion riyal ($720m) contract to a consortium that includes China Civil Engineering Construction Corp to build a rail link, a senior executive said on Saturday. The group includes Al-Ayuni Trading and Contracting Co and Al-Abdulaziz al-Omer Establishment for Trading and Contracting, said Abdulrahman Al Hoari, finance manager at Al-Ayuni. The contract involves civil works for the 500 km (300 mile) rail section linking the capital Riyadh to Al-Qassim, part of the mega North-South rail project. The Chinese firm will build the metal tracks.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Sep 4]~~~~~~~~~

Yemen Says Kills Rebel Chiefs, Rebels Blame Saudi [Sep 4]
"Yemen said on Friday it had killed three rebel leaders in fighting in the north, while the Shi'ite rebels accused Saudi Arabia of backing the government. 'Three terrorist rebel leaders met their deaths in an army operation in the Malahidh area of Saada province,' a military statement said, naming the men killed on Thursday as Jarallah Mohammed Ismail, Ali Abd-Rabbo Jabal and Abdelaziz al-Uraimi.. ..Last month fresh fighting erupted between Zaydi Shi'ite Muslims in the Saada region and government forces trying to impose central authority. The conflict first broke out in 2004. The rebels issued a video of mortars that bore Saudi emblems, seized from an army unit. An earlier video recording appeared to show government troops captured in the Maran region. 'We are placing before everyone the fact of direct Saudi support that we have talked about,'.." [more]

Islamic Summer Camp in Saudi Targets Extremism [Sep 4]
"..Saudi Arabia says it's waging a "war of minds" against extremist ideology, alongside the fierce security crackdown that has killed or arrested many al-Qaida leaders over the past six years. To do so, the kingdom plans to expand a broad public campaign aimed at preventing young people from being drawn to radicalism. 'We are working on the men of the future,' Abdulrahman Alhadlaq, general director of the Interior Ministry's Ideological Security Directorate, told The Associated Press. Islamic summer camps are a key part of the program, attended by thousands of families who consult with government-backed clerics instilling what Saudi authorities call a moderate message. The teachings at the camps are still ultraconservative, in line with the kingdom's strict Wahhabi interpretation of Islam � but the clerics drill the message that youth should turn to approved religious authorities for guidance, not radical preachers. For example, on the issue of jihad, or holy war, they teach that it can only be waged on the orders of the head of state.." [more]

Egypt to Slash Number of Haj Pilgrims by 40% [Sep 4]
"Egyptian Haj authorities have decided to reduce the number of Haj pilgrims by 40 percent this year as precaution against the spread of the H1N1 virus. Approximately 80,000 Egyptian pilgrims come for Haj every year. 'The Egyptian Higher Committee for Haj that met two days ago under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif decided to cut the number of Haj pilgrims to be sent from that country by 40 percent in view of the increasing reports of swine flu deaths,'.. ..He said the Egyptian authorities informed him that a final decision concerning the number of Haj pilgrims or cancellation of Haj for all Egyptians is under study. The decision would be taken ahead of the Haj after monitoring the spread of the virus. He said Saudi companies involved in Haj services have no clue about the number of pilgrims they are going to deal with this year.." [more]

Students� Trips to Holy Sites Canceled [Sep 4]
"The Ministry of Education has canceled students� trips to holy sites in Ramadan as a precaution against swine flu, according to a circular issued to all regional Directors of Education. Ramadan students� clubs and Qur�an memorization clubs had made preparations for students� trips to the holy sites by making early reservations for flights or bus seats. The swine flu death toll in the Kingdom rose to 23 Wednesday with the Ministry of Health reporting the deaths of four Saudis � three women and a man. The death rate from the AH1N1 virus in Saudi Arabia is less than the global rate of 0.66%, the ministry statement said.." [more]

Saudi Arabia�s Largest Oil and Gas Exhibition Get�s Bigger [Sep 4]
"The 2nd Saudi Arabian Oil and Gas Exhibition (SAOGE) will be taking place in Dammam on the 1st- 3rd of November, 2009. As the Kingdom�s premier oil and gas event, SAOGE attracts high-level technical experts, key industry professionals, specialists and decision-makers from the petroleum industry from within the kingdom and around the world. Last year�s inaugural SAOGE brought together more than 5,600 attendees and 207 exhibitors from 28 countries. �We received highly positive reviews for SAOGE 2008, which confirmed it as an important date on the international Oil and Gas events calendar. With high calibre speakers and an impressive programme, we are highly optimistic of an even greater turnout this year.." [more]

OPEC Likely to Hold Steady, But Stocks Worry [Sep 4]
"Bloated inventories and the risk of a price slide will trouble OPEC ministers when they meet in Vienna next week, but oil at close to $70 a barrel is expected to convince the group to hold output steady for now.. ..Some analysts have said the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries might have to address when to cut supplies even if it is not yet, but OPEC delegates and other insiders have been virtually unanimous in saying there is no need for a formal change at their September 9 meeting. 'Really the global oil system is functioning well,' said Sadad al-Husseini, a former top official at Saudi state oil firm Aramco. 'There's a lot of oil available. The industry is functioning with a good safe capacity margin. There is a high price. It's the best of all worlds, so there's no need to change it.'.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Sep 3]~~~~~~~~~

New Twist to Saudi Bomber's Death [Sep 3]
"The wanted Saudi militant who attacked the kingdom's anti-terror chief after pretending he wanted to surrender, blew himself up while the official was on the phone, reassuring another militant in Yemen it would be safe to return home, the Interior Ministry said on Tuesday. The disclosure offered a strange twist to an already surprising story.. ..During the meeting, Assiri, who was on the country's most-wanted list, told Mohammad that other Saudi militants who had fled to Yemen, following the kingdom's fierce anti-terror campaign, wanted to surrender too but were seeking safe passage from the prince. 'They wanted to hear this by phone from the prince himself,' said the statement. The statement said contact was made with one of the men in Yemen while Assiri was in the same room as the prince. 'The explosion occurred during the phone call,'.." [more]

Prince Bandar Gets 4 More Years as National Security Council Head [Sep 3]
"The tenure of Prince Bandar Bin Sultan as Secretary General of National Security Council was extended by four years Wednesday. King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, issued a Royal Order for the extension. Prince Bandar holds the rank of minister. Prince Bandar, son of Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, was the Kingdom�s ambassador to the United States from 1983 to 2005.." [more]

Militant on Wanted List Surrenders [Sep 3]
"A Saudi who figured on a list of 85 most-wanted militants has surrendered to the authorities, the Interior Ministry announced on Wednesday. The announcement comes less than a week after another wanted militant blew himself up in the Jeddah office of Assistant Interior Minister for Security Affairs Prince Muhammad bin Naif.. ..According to the Interior Ministry statement on Wednesday, the family of wanted Saudi militant Fawwaz Al-Otaibi assisted him in surrendering. The statement said that Al-Otaibi, 36, had telephoned his parents and said he wanted to return to the Kingdom and turn himself in. Al-Otaibi was reunited with his family and was allowed to perform Umrah on Tuesday night. 'The majority of these suspects have been misled. It is our responsibility to guide them to the right path,' said Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki responding to calls for a more aggressive approach in dealing with terror suspects. The statement did not say how long Al-Otaibi had been in custody.." [more]

Saudi, Kuwait Extend Deadline For Oilfield Work [Sep 3]
"A joint venture between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait has extended the bidding deadline by over two months for a contract to expand water facilities at the al-Khafji oilfield, the company said. Khafji, which is in the Neutral Zone between the two countries, has oil capacity of around 550,000 bpd. Saudi and Kuwait plan to boost capacity to 700,000-900,000 bpd by 2030 in the zone, formed under 1920s treaties to establish regional borders. Contractors have until Dec. 7 to bid for a new onshore water treatment plant and overhaul an existing plant the al-Khafji Joint Operations Company (KJO) said on its website .. ..KJO is split between Aramco Gulf Operations, a subsidiary of Saudi Aramco, and Kuwait Gulf Oil Co (KGOC). U.S. firm Chevron (CVX.N) has the concession to operate on the Saudi side of the zone. Chevron is using new techniques in the zone to boost output of heavy crude in the zone.." [more]

Saudis Must Offer Shia Equality [Sep 3]
"A report by the Human Rights Watch pressure group has detailed what it says is systematic discrimination in Saudi Arabia against Shia Muslims. Unfavourable treatment of minority Shia extends from education and employment to the justice system, leading to a big increase in sectarian tension, it says. They comprise 10 to 15% of the Saudi population, and have long complained of being treated as second-class citizens. Human Rights Watch wants a government commission to tackle the problem. Saudi Arabia follows the puritanical form of Sunni Islam known as Wahhabism, and many Wahhabi clerics regard Shia Muslims as unbelievers.. ..Shias want equal opportunities in government and the military as well as freedom of worship. They want to be able to build their own mosques, have their civil courts granted more power and to print their own religious books. Human Rights Watch says that a government commission should explore the sharing of holy places among Muslims of differing creeds, especially in Mecca and Medina.." [more]

GCC Ministers Call for Cementing Relations With Iran [Sep 3]
"The GCC Council, which concluded its 112th foreign ministers� meeting here on Tuesday evening, has called for the continuation of friendly and neighborly relations with Iran.. ..'Rifts should be resolved by peaceful means in a manner that would cement the bridges of trust between Iran and the GCC countries,' the communiqu� said. Referring to Iran�s nuclear program, the council affirmed the right of all countries to obtain nuclear technology for peaceful purposes and called for a peaceful solution to the rift between Iran and the West on this issue. 'Both sides should be committed to international law and should continue consultations until the matter is settled,' it added.." [more]

Dutch Prosecutes Arab Group Over Holocaust Cartoon [Sep 3]
"Dutch prosecutors said Wednesday they will charge an Arab cultural group under hate speech laws for publishing a cartoon that suggests the death of 6 million Jews during World War II is a fabrication. The public prosecutor�s office in the city of Utrecht said the cartoon insults Jews as a group and is therefore an illegal form of discrimination.  Prosecutors plan to press charges for insulting a group and distributing an insulting image... ..The Dutch arm of the Arab European League said it doesn�t deny the reality of the Holocaust, but published the cartoon on its website as an �act of civil disobedience� to highlight a double standard. AEL chairman Abdoulmouthalib Bouzerda argued that prosecutors had not pressed charges against Dutch lawmaker Geert Wilders for his film that included cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Charges against Wilders, who campaigns on an anti-Islam and anti-immigration platform, were dismissed after prosecutors said his insults were aimed at Muhammad, not all Muslims, and were not systematic.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Sep 2]~~~~~~~~~

Gunmen Attack Security Post in Saudi Arabia [Sep 2]
"Two security men were injured when gunmen fired at them in the southern region of Bisha in Saudi Arabia. Five assailants fired indiscriminately at the security men, who were guarding a checkpoint, and sped away in their Land Cruiser in the direction of Khamees Mushayt city. The authorities have launched an intensive search, according to security sources. The incident comes a few days after an attempt to assassinate Prince Mohammad Bin Nayef Al Turki, Deputy Interior Minister. In a related development, the security forces arrested three suspected militants at their hideout in Madinah Tuesday.." [more]

Wanted Saudi Militant Surrenders After Attack [Sep 2]
"A wanted Saudi militant has surrendered to authorities, the interior ministry said on Wednesday after another wanted man failed to kill a top Saudi security official in a suicide attack.. ..A statement on state news agency SPA on Wednesday said Fawwaz Al-Otaibi turned himself in after he contacted his family to get help and "return to the homeland". "His return was arranged and facilitated as well as reunion with his family soon after returning to the kingdom," it said. It did not say where he was in hiding. Otaibi was on a wanted list of 85 predominantly Saudi militants abroad, who have been urged by Saudi authorities to surrender and 'return to a normal life'.." [more]

Al-Qaeda Launchpad in Yemen Gives Saudis New Headache [Sep 2]
"Al-Qaeda's regrouping in Yemen is proving a headache for authorities in neighbouring Saudi Arabia, who have dealt severe blows to the jihadists but have failed to eliminate the root causes of extremism in the kingdom, analysts say. The suicide attack on anti-terror chief Prince Mohammed bin Nayef last week backs reports that Saudi militants have taken neighbouring -- and mostly lawless -- Yemen as a base to launch attacks in their home country. The bomber had crossed from Yemen for the meeting with Prince Mohammed, whom he deceived by claiming that he wished to repent. He was on a Saudi list of 85 most-wanted militants. 'Yemen is the open venue for Al-Qaeda now after it came under pressure in Saudi Arabia. Their presence there has allowed them to regroup,'.. ..In the latest blow to Al-Qaeda, Saudi security forces last month arrested 44 members, many of whom were described as highly educated, and uncovered large arms caches. 'The new tactic for Al-Qaeda is to be based in Yemen and execute attacks in Saudi Arabia,' said Saudi writer Faress bin Hezam.." [more]

Activists Pledge to Continue Protest [Sep 2]
"Activists demanding the release of a terror suspect detained in Saudi Arabia have pledged to continue their protests until he is freed. Abdul Raheem Al Murbati, 48, was arrested in August 2003 in Medina, Saudi Arabia, where he owns a residence and where he regularly lived with his family for several years on suspicion of links with members of a terrorist ring. However, he was never charged.. ..Nabeel Rajab, a rights activist largely involved in the successful campaigns to release the six Bahrainis detained in Guantanamo Bay, said he would continue his support to Al Murbati family as some of its members press for the return home of Abdul Raheem. Rajab was briefly detained last week by the police during a protest in front of the Saudi embassy. Rajab and other activists were then asked to vacate the area and to go to a different place for their protest.." [more]

Saad, Algosaibi Debts No Threat to Saudi Banks [Sep 2]
"Muhammad Al-Jasser, governor of Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA), said Tuesday that the debts of business conglomerates Saad Group and Ahmad Hamad Algosaibi & Bros did not pose any major threat to Saudi banks. 'There is no systemic risk on the Saudi banking system from the debts of these two firms. Profitability, however, could be affected,' Al-Jasser told reporters. Saad and Algosaibi are embroiled in a legal battle in the United States after defaulting on debts, with some bankers warning the total cost of write-downs may hit $22 billion and affect around 120 banks.. .. 'The government has set up a special committee to look into the two firms, follow the situation of these two firms and take appropriate action.' The committee is submitting its reports to 'the higher authorities in the government,' he added. He did not provide any additional information.." [more]

News Corp. in Talks for Stake in Saudi Firm [Sep 2]
" News Corp. is in talks with Saudi billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal to take a stake in Rotana Media, marking its first major investment in the Middle East, according to people familiar with the deal. News Corp. may buy a 20% interest in Rotana from Prince Alwaleed, who controls Saudi conglomerate Kingdom Holding Co., a person involved with the deal told Zawya Dow Jones. It's not clear at this stage whether the deal will be for existing stock or new shares. A formal bid valuing the stake is expected this month, the person said, without giving specifics on price.  News Corp., which owns Dow Jones & Co., publisher of The Wall Street Journal, is increasingly looking into new markets as advertising revenue in the U.S. and Europe slips. A stake in Rotana could help expand News Corp.'s presence to the more than 300 million people in the Arab world.." [more]

Aramco, Dow Eye $4 Billion Savings on Petchem JV [Sep 2]
"Saudi Aramco and Dow Chemical (DOW.N) expect to save around $4 billion on their joint petrochemical complex as slowing economic activity cuts project costs, the al-Hayat newspaper reported on Wednesday. The estimated cost of the plant was at least $20 billion before reduction, al-Hayat said. The fall was due the global economic situation, the newspaper reported sources as saying. The project at the Saudi energy hub of Ras Tanura is two years behind the initial schedule. An Aramco spokesman could not be contacted immediately for comment. Dow and Aramco are expected to make an investment decision on it next year in the third quarter of 2010, a Saudi state oil company official said in June. If it goes ahead, Dow's investment would be the largest ever single foreign investment in the Saudi energy sector.." [more]

Prospect of Middle East Peace Dims [Sep 2]
"The US has decided to be �flexible� regarding its once-touted call for a total Israeli freeze on the expansion of its settlements in the occupied territories � all illegal under international law. According to Reuters, a senior official speaking to reporters on condition of anonymity on Aug. 27 said, 'It was more important that the scope of a settlement freeze was acceptable to the Israelis and the Palestinians than to the United States.' This means that peace negotiations can resume while Israeli bulldozers are carving up Palestinian land, demolishing homes and cutting down trees. It also means that the Israeli rejection of the only US demand, which has thus far defined President Barack Obama�s relations to the Middle East conflict, has prevailed over the supposed American persistence. In other words, the US has officially succumbed to Israeli and pro-Israeli pressures, in Tel Aviv and Washington.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Sep 1]~~~~~~~~~

Saudi Arabia Vows to Root Out Terror [Sep 1]
"Saudi Arabia reiterated its determination to root out terror and drain its material and moral resources from its soil. The weekly meeting of the Council of Ministers, chaired by King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz in Jeddah on Monday night, decided to pursue its combat against terrorism and its perpetrators at all cost. The Cabinet statement was made in the wake of a failed suicide assassination attempt on Assistant Interior Minister Prince Muhammad Bin Naif, at his home in Jeddah on Thursday night. The Cabinet appreciated the efforts of the 'brave security men' of the Ministry of Interior for their vigilance and preemptive strikes against 'the advocates of deviant thought.'.." [more]

Inflation to Fall Further � SAMA [Sep 1]
"Saudi Arabia�s inflation rate is expected to keep falling after it reached a two-year low of 4.2 percent in July 2009, the central bank governor said. Muhammad Al-Jasser, Governor of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA), said the falling inflation rate will provide better opportunities for further growth and financial stability. The inflation rate had hit an all-time high of 11.1 percent in July 2008.. ..Highlighting the main points of Saudi Arabia�s economic performance in 2008, the governor said real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased by 4.5 percent and the private sector grew by 4.7 percent.  The year also saw Saudi Arabia achieving a surplus in general finance for the sixth consecutive year, amounting to 33 percent of the GDP � the largest in the country�s history. 'Balance of payments registered a surplus for the tenth successive year amounting to 28.6 percent of GDP,�'.." [more]

Alwaleed Gives $1m to Scouts [Sep 1]
"Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal, chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Alwaleed Bin Talal Foundation, Lebanon, has donated $1 million to the World Scout Foundation. The donation was given to the World Scout Foundation�s general endowment to support the development of scouting worldwide, particularly in developing countries. The Scouts� mission is to contribute to the education of young people � through a value system based on the Scout Promise and Law � to help build a better world where people are self-fulfilled as individuals and play a constructive role in society. Currently, there are more than 28 million Scouts, young people and adults, male and female, in 216 countries and territories.." [more]

Musharraf Visits Saudi Arabia to Meet King Abdullah [Sep 1]
"Pakistan's former military ruler General Pervez Musharraf, who has been living outside the country for over four months, has travelled from Britain to Saudi Arabia to meet Saudi King Abdullah. Gen (retd) Musharraf's legal adviser Chaudhary Fawad Hussian said the former president had travelled to Saudi Arabia in a special aircraft sent by King Abdullah.  Musharraf will stay in the kingdom as a special guest of the Saudi royal family.. ..Musharraf's legal woes have increased in the past few weeks as police in Islamabad have registered a case against him for illegally detaining scores of judges during the emergency while a court in Lahore yesterday asked him to appear before it in connection with an allegation that he was involved in the assassination of former premier Benazir Bhutto.." [more]

Saudi Aramco To Award Deals On $6.9B Gas Devt Projs [Sep 1]
"Saudi Arabian Oil Co. may award two contracts this month to help implement gas projects worth up to $6.9 billion to meet soaring demand for gas in the Middle East's largest economy, people familiar with the plans said. Several international contractors are vying to provide project management and early engineering on the projects at the onshore site of the Manifa offshore oil field and at the Shaybah oil field in the Empty Quarter desert, the persons said. The projects, the Manifa gas development program and the Shaybah natural gas liquids, or NGL, program, are estimated to be worth close to $7 billion. 
'The projects are aimed at increasing gas output, they are huge,'.." [more]

Saudi in Talks to Lease Pakistan Farmland [Sep 1]
"Saudi Arabia is in talks with Pakistan to lease an area of farmland nearly twice the size of Hong Kong in a bid to ensure food security, an official from Pakistan's ministry of agriculture said on Tuesday. Gulf Arab states, heavily reliant on food imports and spurred on by a spike in prices of basic commodities, have raced to buy farmland in developing nations to guarantee supplies. 'Over the past few weeks the Saudi government has been in talks with us to lease 500,000 acres (202,400 hectares) of farmland and we are currently in the process of locating which land we could give them,' Tauqir Ahmad Faiq, regional secretary at the ministry of agriculture.." [more]

Saudi Calls For Pilgrims to be Vaccinated [Sep 1]
"Saudi�s interior minister has called on countries to vaccinate pilgrims against swine flu before they arrive in the kingdom to mitigate the possibility of an outbreak during the upcoming Haj season, local daily Arab News reported on Tuesday.  Speaking at a meeting of the Supreme Haj Committee, Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz also urged governments to help raise awareness about the virus among pilgrims so they can take appropriate precautions while in the kingdom.. ..More than 2 million people flock to Mecca and Medina every year to perform Haj, the fifth pillar of Islam that every able-bodied Muslim must perform once in their life if they can afford to do so.." [more]

KSA Envoy Seeks Stricter HIV/AIDS Test for OFWs [Sep 1]
"The Embassy of the Saudi Arabia has directed medical clinics to impose stricter health screenings on overseas Filipino workers (OFW) suspected of having the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). 'Medical clinics undertaking medical exams for OFWs bound for the Middle East should undertake stricter measures in examining OFWs suspected of having the HIV/AIDS disease,'.. ..As of June 2009, the Department of Health National AIDS Registry has recorded a total of 3,951 HIV cases in the country � 815 of which have developed into full-blown AIDS.. .. Wali said it is important that OFWs be properly screened to prevent the spread of the disease in Middle East countries, particularly in Saudi Arabia where more than one million Filipinos are currently residing and working.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Aug 31]~~~~~~~~~

Policy of Enticing Repentant Militants to Continue � Naif [Aug 31]
"Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior, defended Saturday the policy of welcoming the return of repentant militants after Thursday�s failed assassination attempt on his son, Prince Muhammad, but warned that further, more violent attacks, could follow. 'In this country we are targeted. The situation could change and could intensify, not in terms of the number [of attacks] but rather in their nature, and that is more dangerous,' the minister said.  Prince Naif, speaking at a meeting organized by Jeddah�s Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that policy would not change in the light of the attack. 'The security efforts and strategy that the country is following for reform will not change,'.." [more]

Alwaleed Spends SR9bn on Humanitarian Projects [Aug 31]
"Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal formally inaugurated the Alwaleed Bin Talal Foundation at the organization�s headquarters in Riyadh on Sunday. The prince described the foundation as a charitable and philanthropic organization with a mission to contribute to the Kingdom�s development. Prince Alwaleed was speaking at a packed press conference held on Sunday in the capital. 'It encourages and supports organizations, studies and academic centers focusing on empowering Saudi women, alleviating poverty, upgrading services provided to the population and other social infrastructure issues that face the country,' the prince said.." [more]

Digging Up the Saudi Past [Aug 31]
"Much of the world knows Petra, the ancient ruin in modern-day Jordan that is celebrated in poetry as 'the rose-red city, half as old as time,' and which provided the climactic backdrop for 'Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.' But far fewer know Madain Saleh, a similarly spectacular treasure built by the same civilization, the Nabateans. That's because it's in Saudi Arabia, where conservatives are deeply hostile to pagan, Jewish and Christian sites that predate the founding of Islam in the 7th century. But now, in a quiet but notable change of course, the kingdom has opened up an archaeology boom by allowing Saudi and foreign archaeologists to explore cities and trade routes long lost in the desert. The sensitivities run deep. Archaeologists are cautioned not to talk about pre-Islamic finds outside scholarly literature.. ..In the eyes of conservatives, the land where Islam was founded and the Prophet Muhammad was born must remain purely Muslim.." [more]

Saudi Inflation Drops to 4.2 Percent [Aug 31]
"Inflation in Saudi Arabia is expected to continue its slide after falling by more than half from its record high of 11 percent in July 2008, the head of the central bank in the Arab world's largest economy said Monday. Saudi Arabia's annual inflation rate fell to 4.2 percent in July, down from a peak 11.1 percent in the same month last year, Mohammed al-Jasser, governor of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency, was quoted as saying by the official Saudi Press Agency. The drop in the inflation rate reflects the overall decline in housing and commodity costs, which eased sharply last year as the global economic crisis took its toll on the OPEC powerhouse. The sharp drop in crude prices from last year's record highs of nearly $148 helped bring those costs down, but also worked to undercut growth in the country where oil is king.." [more]

Musharraf Heads to Saudi Arabia [Aug 31]
"Former Pakistani President General (r) Pervez Musharraf on Monday flew to Saudi Arabia where he is likely to meet King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, a private TV reported. Musharraf - who is living in London since last many months after resigning from the office in August 2008 - is likely to discuss with Saudi King his much-demanded trial by various sections of the Pakistani society for his alleged misdeeds committed in nine-year long presidency. Former military ruler would also meet key figures of Pakistani community living in SA besides performing Umrah.." [more]

Jakarta Attack Financier Confirmed as a Saudi [Aug 31]
"Indonesian authorities have confirmed that the suspect held for financing terrorist attacks on the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels in the Indonesian capital Jakarta in mid-July is a Saudi, but withheld his full name. 'The man suspected of financing the terrorist attacks in detention with us is a Saudi national named A. Aal Kh.' Al-Hayat daily reported the head of Indonesian police as saying Saturday. The police had suggested last Wednesday that the suspect�s identity documents might be forged leading them to postpone the announcement. A source at the Indonesian Embassy in Riyadh told Al-Hayat that his country�s authorities would provide their Saudi counterparts with all the information related to the Saudi detainee on Sunday.." [more]

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

Al Qaida Names Man Who Tried to Kill Saudi Minister [Aug 30]
"Abdullah Al Asiri, a wanted suspect who entered Saudi Arabia from Yemen, tried to kill Saudi Arabia's security chief on Thursday, Al Qaida said in a Website statement on Sunday. A suicide bomber posing as a repentant militant blew himself up in the Jeddah office of Prince Mohammad Bin Nayef in the first known attack on a member of the Saudi royal family.. .. Asiri was apparently flown to Jeddah from Najran near the Yemeni border after entering from Yemen to give himself up to the Interior Ministry, according to the statement. 'He managed to get through all the inspections at Najran and Jeddah airports and travelled on his (the prince's) private jet,' it said, accompanied by a picture of Asiri.." [more]

Saudi Tightens Security to Protect Oil Plants [Aug 30]
"Saudi Arabia has tightened security at oil facilities after the country's anti-terror chief escaped a suicide attack, guards at Abqaiq, the world's biggest oil processing plant, said on Sunday. Abqaiq was the first Saudi oil target since Al Qaeda launched attacks aimed at toppling Saudi Arabia's pro-Western monarchy in 2003. The country's deputy interior minister, Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, on Thursday escaped with light injuries in the first known assault on a member of the Saudi royal family. 'Thursday night we received a call to tighten security measures and car inspection at all gates,' one security guard said. 'Even Aramco employees undergo inspection. There's a lack of trust as militants disguised in Aramco's cars in 2006 attacked the facility,'.." [more]

Saudi Arabia�s Food and Agro Imports to Grow Some 25 Percent [Aug 30]
"350 firms from 20 countries to attend Saudi Agro-Food 2009 to explore new investment prospects in GCC�s largest agricultural importer. Saudi Arabia�s food and agricultural imports are expected to grow by 25 per cent in 2009 to surpass the SAR 56.35 billion spent on related products in 2008. The country is currently the GCC�s largest agricultural importer, with food and agricultural products accounting for around 13 per cent of total imports and currently representing the fourth biggest domestic import sector.." [more]

Saudi Banks See Life After Scandal [Aug 30]
"Saudi Arabia�s banks have had little reason to celebrate since May, when the central bank froze the accounts of Maan al Sanea, the chairman of Saad Group and one of the kingdom�s most influential businessmen. That event triggered what has become the Middle East�s biggest financial scandal, while the intervening three months have shaken confidence in Saudi Arabia�s banking system as wary investors keep a tally of debt defaults from the Saad Group and Ahmad Hamad Al Gosaibi and Brothers. The two family conglomerates are estimated to owe as much as US$20 billion (Dh73.46bn) to about 100 regional and international lenders.." [more]

OPEC Likely to Keep Output Steady in September [Aug 30]
" OPEC is likely to keep oil production targets unchanged when it meets in September on expectations that demand will strengthen over winter as the global economic recovery gathers pace, a senior Gulf OPEC delegate told Reuters on Sunday.  "According to (the) current circumstances of supply and demand, possible demand during winter and the start of an economic recovery, they (ministers) might keep things as they are until the next meeting," the delegate said. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), supplier of more than a third of the world's oil, will again call on its members to adhere closely to production quotas when it meets on September 9 in Vienna to set policy.." [more]

Labor Committees Attend Training Program in Italy [Aug 30]
"The International Labor Organization (ILO) recently organized a training program on the role and functions of labor committees in the Kingdom. The training program, at the International Training Center of the ILO in Turin, Italy, was part of the cooperation between the Ministry of Labor in the Kingdom and ILO in the field of technical support and training through the management of labor activities in ILO. The program in which Okaz Organization for Press and Publication participated included several workshops in the field of specialization of the training course. This was with the aim of boosting awareness about labor culture in the field of collective negotiation and social dialogue. Those in charge of labor committees in many establishments in the Kingdom and representatives of the Ministry of Labor participated in the program. The participants lauded the role being carried out by ILO as a United Nations specialist agency in the interests of the laborers.." [more]

Need For Job-Oriented Courses Emphasized [Aug 30]
" Suleiman Abalkhail, president of Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University, has emphasized the need to introduce more job market-friendly academic programs for women in the Kingdom�s public and private universities. 'The education of Saudi women is facing big challenges, especially in harmonizing between graduates and job market requirements,' the president said, adding that the problem was snowballing with the establishment of new universities. He called upon public and private universities to coordinate their efforts to focus on courses that are required by the job market and cut down on courses that have already produced a large number of graduates. The president made this comment on the occasion of the university�s plan to organize a conference titled 'Saudi Women: Present and Future' on Dec. 23-24. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has approved the conference.." [more]

It is Time For the US to Act Decisively [Aug 30]
"It is more than ironic that at the very moment when the US is pressing Arab states to take steps toward normalizing relations with Israel (including measures like: opening airspace to Israeli overflights, exchange of commercial offices, and issuing visas for business and cultural exchange), the government of Israel has taken new measures to further restrict the rights of American citizens visiting Israel and the Occupied Palestinian lands. According to an Aug. 14, Department of State 'Travel Warning', 'In June 2009, the Israeli government began selectively limiting certain travelers to either the occupied territories of the West Bank and Gaza, or to Israel and Jerusalem.' As described by an advocacy group working on these issues, here�s how the new policy works.." [more]

Aug 23-Aug 29, 2009

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

Attack Has Increased My Resolve to Fight Terror: Prince Muhammad [Aug 29]
"Assistant Interior Minister for Security Affairs Prince Muhammad bin Naif, who escaped an assassination attempt on Thursday night, said on Friday he was more determined than ever to pursue the Kingdom's campaign against terrorism. He is largely credited with the Kingdom�s aggressive anti-terrorism efforts. The bombing was the first significant attack by militants in the Kingdom since 2006. Saudi Arabia has waged a fierce crackdown on Al-Qaeda militants in the country that led to the killing or capture of most of its leaders after a string of attacks that started in 2003. The suicide bomber blew himself up while waiting in line to enter a gathering of well-wishers at the prince�s home in Jeddah, said Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki. Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, the Saudi arm of the group, claimed responsibility for Thursday�s bombing attempt.." [more]

Saudi Attack Evokes Fears of Yemen-Based Militancy [Aug 29]
"An attempt to assassinate Saudi Arabia's security chief, who is a prominent member of the royal family, appears to mark a new tactic by an al Qaeda network that is exploiting worsening instability in neighbouring Yemen.. ..The Saudi and Yemeni branches of al Qaeda merged early this year to form AQAP. They regrouped in Yemen following a vigorous counter-terrorism campaign led by Prince Mohammed, deputy interior minister, that badly damaged militants in Saudi Arabia. AQAP is led by a Yemeni, Nasser al-Wahayshi, but it named as commanders two Saudis freed from the U.S. detention centre at Guantanamo Bay who had later graduated from Saudi Arabia's rehabilitation scheme for militants -- run by Prince Mohammed. Although one later surrendered to the authorities, that was a setback to a scheme that has won much publicity, even though the Saudis say its successes still outweigh occasional failures. Boucek said the rehab programme was only an adjunct to tough tactics credited with derailing al Qaeda's campaign by 2006.." [more]

Russia, Saudi Arabia Set to Finalise Arms Deal [Aug 29]
"Saudi Arabia is close to signing a two-billion-dollar (1.4-billion-euro) deal to buy Russian arms, a Russian defence industry source was quoted as saying on Saturday. 'Work is nearly complete on a set of contracts on the delivery of Russian arms and military technology to Saudi Arabia, with a total value of around two billion dollars,' the source told Interfax news agency.   For many of these contracts, all the technical and financial details have practically been agreed, for others work is still ongoing,' he added. Riyadh may purchase up to 150 helicopters -- 30 Mi-35 attack helicopters and up to 120 Mi-17 transport helicopters -- more than 150 T-90S tanks, around 250 BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles and "several dozen" air defence systems, the source said. Contracts for the sale of the tanks and the helicopters 'could be signed as soon as this year,'.." [more]

MoneyGram International and Saudi Arabia's National Commercial Bank [Aug 29]
"MoneyGram International (NYSE:MGI), a leading global money transfer company, and National Commercial Bank (NCB), the largest bank in the Middle East, announced today an agreement to offer MoneyGram's international money transfer service at NCB's 1,400 ATM locations, creating one of the largest money transfer networks in Saudi Arabia. The agreement, which significantly expands MoneyGram's presence in this important country, provides consumers in Saudi Arabia with more convenience and greater access to money transfer services through a network more than 10 times larger than any other money transfer network currently available in Saudi Arabia. A global remittance leader and home to more than 6 million expatriates, Saudi Arabia saw remittances grow to more than $17 billion in 2006, according to the World Bank. In addition to the fact that 27 percent of Saudi Arabia's population is foreign born, the demand for money transfer services is also driven by the growing number of Saudis studying, traveling and working abroad. 'Saudi Arabia is the second largest send market in the world behind the United States'.." [more]

Prince Alwaleed Ranks as Richest Saudi on Arabian Business List [Aug 29]
"-- Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, Citigroup Inc.�s largest individual investor, was ranked the richest Saudi national by Arabian Business, even after losing 4.6 percent of his personal wealth in the past year. Alwaleed�s assets are valued at $16.3 billion, compared with $17.1 billion last year, the Dubai-based magazine said today in its 2009 Saudi Rich List, citing the accounts of Kingdom Holding Co., the prince�s investment company.. ..Alwaleed, nephew of the late King Fahd bin Abdulaziz al- Saud, stands out among more than 2,000 Saudi princes because he has made money. After earning a bachelor�s degree from Menlo College near San Francisco, he returned to the Persian Gulf and parlayed an inheritance of less than $1 million into a billion- dollar fortune in the 1980s, mostly through real-estate investments.. ..The prince, 54, built his fortune by investing in brand- name companies he considered undervalued, including Apple Inc., News Corp. and Time Warner Inc. Forbes magazine estimated he was worth $13.3 billion in March, ranking him 22nd among the world�s billionaires.." [more]

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

Saudi Minister Escapes Assassination Attempt [Aug 28]
"A suicide bomber lightly wounded a senior prince largely credited for Saudi Arabia's anti-terrorism campaign when he blew himself up just before going into a gathering of well-wishers for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, the state news agency said Friday. It was the first known assassination attempt against a member of the royal family since Saudi Arabia began its crackdown on Al Qaida affiliated militants eight years ago following the September 11 terror attacks in the United States.  The militant who attacked the assistant interior minister, Prince Muhammad bin Nayef, late Thursday at the Ramadan gathering in Jiddah had previously expressed his intention to give himself up to the official.. ..The Interior Ministry has spearheaded the kingdom's aggressive campaign against terrorism, one that has intensified since militants first struck in the kingdom in May 2003.." [more]

Yemen Rebuffs Rebels' Claim of Saudi Air Raids [Aug 28]
"Yemen rebuffed claims by Shiite rebels that the airforce from neighbouring Saudi Arabia has been aiding the army in its offensive against rebels in the north of the country. 'These fabricated claims are baseless. We have become familiar with such lies from those elements, as they overtly try to embroil our Saudi brothers in the confrontations,' an unnamed official spokesman said in a statement carried by Saba state news agency early on Friday. The Shiite Zaidi rebels -- also known as Huthis -- had claimed that Saudi warplanes bombed districts in the rugged mountainous Saada province, near the Saudi border.." [more]

Foreign Ministers Include Nuclear Issues in Next Week's Meeting [Aug 28]
" GCC foreign ministers will review the steps taken to carry out studies with regard to collective usage of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. Abdul Rahman Al Attiyah, Secretary-General of the GCC, will present a report at the 112th ordinary session of the GCC Foreign Ministerial Council scheduled to be held in Jeddah on Tuesday.. ..Al Attiyah said the foreign ministers will examine the report about pre-emptive security measures to combat terrorism, being taken by the GCC states, especially Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain. The meeting will review a number of political issues, mainly Palestine and Iran, as well as the issue on three UAE islands, occupied by Iran. The situations in the restive Sudanese region of Darfur, Lebanon, Iraq, Somalia and Yemen will also be discussed.." [more]

Gulf Markets Gain but TASI Falls [Aug 28]
"Most Gulf Arab markets closed higher on Wednesday, boosted by upbeat US data and early oil price gains which fueled hopes that the worst of the recession may be over. But oil later pared some of its earlier gains, sending Saudi Arabia�s index lower, the only benchmark in the region to end in the red.. ..Banks dragged the Tadawul All-Share Index (TASI) 0.4 percent lower at 5,762.75 points on Wednesday. Seven of the 15 sectors closed with positive gains which ranged from 0.06 percent in Building & Construction to 1.73 percent in Energy & Utilities. On the negative side, 8 market sectors saw losses ranging from -0.04 percent in Telecom & IT to -1.78 percent in Insurance. Overall market breadth was negative, with 41 advancers and 72 decliners registering an AD ratio of 0.57, the Jeddah-based Financial Transaction House (FTH) said in its daily market commentary.." [more]

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

Swine Flu Hit People in Saudi Arabia to be Quarantined at Their Homes [Aug 27]
"People infected with HINI virus (swine flu) in Saudi Arabia will be given a medical leave for seven days and will be quarantined at their homes. The move was announced by the Saudi Ministry of Health on Wednesday, reported Arabic daily Al Madinah. More than 230 government hospitals and over 200 clinics in the kingdom are required to issue this certificate if lab tests prove that a patient has been infected with swine flu. The health authorities said this approach of isolating the patient in their own house will ensure that the virus does not spread, especially for those whose line of work involves interaction with large number of people.." [more]

KSA Preparing Law to Govern News Websites [Aug 27]
" Authorities are to study putting in place a law to govern the workings of Internet news websites and make them answerable to a single body in the same way as the Kingdom�s press is answerable to the Ministry of Culture and Information. Undersecretary for Internal Media Abdul Rahman Al-Hazza� said the aim will be to codify an Internet law. A committee of representatives from the ministries of Interior and Culture and Information, the Communications and Information Technology Commission, and the King Abdul Aziz University for Science and Technology will in its first meeting center its discussions on licensing the electronic press, appointment conditions for editors-in-chief, granting permits to journalists, and invitations to cover news events.. ..The authority for electronic press would, Al-Hazza� added, also have in place a list of infringements and penalties as is the case for the printed press, with the electronic press working 'under license according to a clear program with comprehensive conditions.'.." [more]

Tadawul Signs Up S&P Indexes [Aug 27]
"Standard & Poor�s (S&P) will create indexes for the Saudi stock exchange (Tadawul) to boost the foreign exposure of the Arab world�s largest bourse, Tadawul said on Wednesday after signing an agreement allowing S&P to become an authorized user of market information. The development came two weeks after MSCI threatened to ban it from its indexes.. ..The agreement follows a warning earlier this month by index maker MSCI that it could scrap all indexes containing securities listed on Tadawul and replace these with indexes excluding Saudi Arabia, following a dispute over licensing rights. Analysts said an MSCI ban would have little impact on Saudi stocks because few shares are foreign-owned.. ..The addition of S&P gives local and international asset managers another benchmark that can be used when designing investment products.." [more]

Saudi Demands Certificate of Swine Flu Vaccination [Aug 27]
"There are indications that Saudi Authorities may demand for a certificate of swine flu vaccination from pilgrims in an attempt to minimise the risk during Umrah and Hajj.Agency reports said the Saudi government had so far requested Swine flu vaccination certificates from pilgrims coming for Umrah from Kyrgyzstan. This, according to the report, is an indication that the Saudi authorities may request such certificates from other countries, including Nigeria. The Saudi authorities last month issued a statement requesting intending pilgrims in the country to be vaccinated against Swine flu.." [more]

Religiously Safe NaqaTube is Saudi Answer to YouTube [Aug 27]
"Sick and tired of profanities and explicit nature of some video clips on YouTube, a group of Saudis have developed a "clean" alternative called NaqaTube (Naqa being the Arabic word for 'pure'). The aim, as they put it, is to prevent the youth from watching sexually explicit video clips online, an Arab News report quoted a moderator of the website as saying. With millions of youth logging into YouTube each day, the group launched NaqaTube, which is simply an amalgamation of 'clean' clips from YouTube. Abu Ibraheem, one of the moderators of the website, said that clips on NaqaTube are religiously safe and often edited prior to being uploaded.. ..Women's images are totally forbidden, along with music.." [more]

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

Saudi Blasts American Energy Policy [Aug 26]
"The question of American 'energy independence' clearly rankles officials in Saudi Arabia, the world�s biggest exporter of crude oil, who seem increasingly puzzled by the energy policy of the United States, the world�s biggest oil consumer. In a short and strongly-worded essay in Foreign Policy magazine, Prince Turki al-Faisal, a former ambassador to the United States and a nephew to King Abdullah, said that for American politicians, invoking energy independence 'is now as essential as baby-kissing,' and accuses them of 'demagoguery.' All the talk about energy independence, Mr. al-Faisal said, is 'political posturing at its worst � a concept that is unrealistic, misguided, and ultimately harmful to energy-producing and consuming countries alike.'.. ..Considering this, efforts spent proselytizing about energy independence should instead focus on acknowledging energy interdependence. Like it or not, the fates of the United States and Saudi Arabia are connected and will remain so for decades to come.." [more]

Saudi Ambassador in Syria For First Time in a Year [Aug 26]
"Saudi Arabia's new ambassador to Syria arrived in Damascus to fill the post vacant since last year because of tension between the two Arab states, a Saudi diplomat said Tuesday. Abdullah Bin Abdul-Aziz Al-Eifan flew in Tuesday, said the diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. Relations between Syria and Saudi Arabia soured after the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese premier Rafik Hariri, a close Saudi ally. Syria was widely blamed for his death, but Damascus denied any responsibility. In July, Saudi appointed a new ambassador to Syria, the strongest sign yet of the solidifying reconciliation between the two rival Arab nations. The United States and its Arab allies, including Saudi Arabia, have been working to boost ties with Syria in recent months in hopes of pulling it out of the fold of Iran and Islamic militant groups in the region.." [more]

Professors, Businessmen Among 44 Arrested in KSA [Aug 26]
"The 44 members of Al-Qaeda whose arrests were announced last Wednesday included among their ranks university professors and local businessmen whose links to the terrorist organization went back several years, sources have told Okaz newspaper. According to the sources, the 44, who were detained between July 9 and Aug. 2 of this year, had an over seven-year association with the organization and had met with Al-Qaeda leaders Osama Bin Laden and Ayman Zawahiri in Afghanistan as well as other members of the group killed in the Kingdom such as Abdul Aziz Muqrin, Turki Al-Dandani, Yousef Al-�Ayeeri, and Yemeni national Khalid Al-Haj.. ..This 'operational switch in Al-Qaeda strategy and tactics,' the sources said, revealed a desire on the part of the terrorist organization to target prominent figures, scholars, security personnel and others by planting devices in buildings or on routes frequented by their planned victims, an operational method similar to attacks on armored vehicles and army trucks in Iraq.." [more]

Plan Set Out to Face Potential Swine Flu Outbreak in Schools [Aug 26]
"A comprehensive plan to face a potential outbreak of swine flu will be implemented in the Kingdom in the new academic year when around five million students return to school. The plan will come into effect on Saturday, Oct. 3, the day when the new academic year begins. The move follows a Memoran-dum of Understanding (MOU) signed on Monday in Jeddah by Minister of Education Prince Faisal bin Abdullah bin Muhammad and Minister of Health Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah to cooperate on issues related to health and potential swine flu outbreaks in schools. The accord aims to improve the health of schoolchildren and curb communicable and noncommunicable diseases in educational establishments by encouraging students to lead healthy lives and immunizing them against diseases.." [more]

Saudi Money Growth Slows [Aug 26]
"The annual growth in Saudi Arabia�s M3 money supply fell for a third month in a row in July to 15.3 percent, as loans to the private sector posted their lowest annual expansion in at least three years. Bank claims on the private sector, a key indicator of lenders� confidence in the economy, stood at SR728.84 billion in July, inching up from SR728.7 billion in June, according to data published by the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA) on Tuesday. In terms of annual growth, bank claims on the private sector slowed to 3.6 percent in July, down from 5.6 percent in June. M3 stood at SR1.01 trillion ($269.7 billion) in July compared to 1 trillion riyals in June, when its annual growth reached 16.4 percent. In July 2008, money supply stood at SR877.1 billion. M3 is the broadest measure of money circulating in the economy.." [more]

Saudi Religious Police Crack Down on Summer Festivals [Aug 26]
" Saudi Arabia's religious police is cracking down on summer festivals that the government hopes will promote domestic tourism, in the latest battle between liberals and conservatives in the world's biggest oil exporter. The Saudi government is trying to promote internal tourism but restrictions on singing, dancing and mixing of unrelated men and women by the powerful religious establishment has complicated the effort. Conservative clerics backed by some powerful members of the Saudi royal family oppose efforts to liberalize the country of 25 million.. ..Jeddah's summer film festival was canceled this year despite the support of local governor Prince Khaled al-Faisal. King Abdullah, who ascended the throne in 2005, is seen as backing the reformers but he must balance the opposing forces. 'Unfortunately such actions carried on by religious police do not adhere to the official political will and they sabotage the government efforts to improve and maintain the internal tourism industry,' said Mahmoud Sabbagh, a newspaper columnist.." [more]

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

PM Wants US to Pressure Saudis on Normalization [Aug 25]
"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will ask US Mideast Envoy George Mitchell to pressure the Saudis into opening diplomatic channels and opening its skies to Israel as a leading condition towards normalization of ties between Israel and Arab states. If this is done, the Israeli government will be able to reach an agreement on freezing construction in settlements according to American demands.. ..Netanyahu is of the opinion that the most significant move the Saudis could make at this point is to open a diplomatic channel with Israel. In addition, he expects them to open their airspace to Israeli flights to the East. He also expects the Saudi leadership, like the rest of the Arab leaders, need to take steps to prepare their people for what he calls a big change. Netanyahu reportedly also expects the Saudi leaders to support the regional peace process being led by President Obama by becoming full partners with Egypt and Jordan. Netanyahu largely sees the Saudi initiative as a welcome change. He sees the initiative also as a precondition, and not as an inclusive, final script for peace in the Middle East.." [more]

SAIC to Support U.S. Military Training Mission to Saudi Arabia [Aug 25]
"Science Applications International Corporation (NYSE: SAI) today announced it has been awarded a prime contract by the U.S. Military Training Mission (USMTM) to support the Saudi Arabian Armed Forces (SAAF) by establishing a Saudi War College (SWC) that meets educational and administrative standards of US War Colleges. The contract has a one year base period of performance, three one-year options and a contract value of more than $11 million if all options are exercised. Work will be performed primarily in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The USMTM to Saudi Arabia is a joint training mission and functional component command under the military command of the U.S. Central Command. The USMTM advises and assists the SAAF through security assistance efforts by developing, training and sustaining capable deterrent and self-defense forces for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in order to facilitate regional security.." [more]

Jordan's King Flies to Saudi Arabia for Peace Talks [Aug 25]
"King Abdullah II of Jordan flew to Jeddah on Tuesday for talks with Saudi leaders to discuss the prospects of resuming peace negotiations between the Palestinians and Israel under US auspices, officials said. The Jordanian leader is scheduled to have talks with King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia as part of a fresh drive to get regional and global powers to push for talks. The goal is to get Israel to endorse a separate Palestinian state. Such recognition could lead to an eventual end to the Palestinian- Israeli conflict. The Jordanian-Saudi summit comes after intense Palestinian lobbying for the two-state solution in accordance with the Arab peace initiative.." [more]

Saudi Arabia Set to Buy 30 Russian Military Helicopters [Aug 25]
"Russia is concluding talks with Saudi Arabia on selling 30 Mi-171B helicopters, a source close to the negotiations said on Tuesday. "We are in a final stage of talks on the purchase of 30 helicopters and hope to sign the deal in September," the source told RIA Novosti.. ..The Arab state has traditionally bought only Western, mainly U.S.-made, civilian and military equipment, but has recently expressed an interest in acquiring Russian weaponry, including S-400 air defense systems, T-90 tanks, BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles, and various types of helicopters. Russian analysts linked the Saudi interest in Russian weapons with a change in the kingdom's political priorities and the difficulties it has encountered in purchasing weaponry from the West since the September 11 terrorist attacks.. ..Saudi Arabia's defense budget currently exceeds $33 billion, and is expected to reach $44 billion in 2010.." [more]

Saudi Arabia's Science Agency to Fund UCLA Research in Nanoelectronics, Clean Energy [Aug 25]
"King Abdulaziz City for Science & Technology (KACST) in Saudi Arabia and the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science have signed both a cooperative agreement that will promote educational and research exchanges as well as a contract that will fund UCLA research in nanoelectronics and clean energy. KACST is both Saudi Arabia�s national science agency and its national laboratories. A $3.2 million contract over three years will fund UCLA research work in three areas: nanostructures for high-efficiency solar cells; patterned nanostructures for integrated active optoelectronics on silicon; and carbon nanotube circuits.. ..The Western Institute of Nanoelectronics, a research center based at UCLA Engineering, will lead the research. 'We foresee a fruitful cooperation lasting many years that includes research in emerging nanotechnology areas to benefit both the Saudi Kingdom and the U.S. economies, while training the next-generation of science and engineering professionals,'.." [more]

Yahoo Buys Maktoob Arabic Portal [Aug 25]
"Yahoo Inc. (YHOO), said on Tuesday it agreed to buy Arabic online portal Maktoob.com as it seeks to add the Middle East to its expanding strategy for the fast-growing emerging markets. 'This deal reinforces Yahoo's commitment to invest in emerging markets,'.. .. The Sunnyvale, Calif.-based company said in July its second-quarter revenue fell 13% as its online advertising business continued to deteriorate. Yahoo has 44 million users a month in the North Africa and Middle East region, Nilsson said. Maktoob.com has over 16 million users, according to the company. The deal comes a month after Yahoo agreed to join forces with Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) in the Internet search and advertising business to help create a counterweight to Google Inc. (GOOG) and has upgraded its services as the Internet portal tries to make its core properties more appealing. Yahoo and rival Google, which already has Arabic internet services, are competing to tap the Arab World's fast-growing population of over 320 million and high per capita gross domestic product, one of the highest in the world.  'Saudi Arabia and Egypt offer tremendous size and growth opportunities that we will be looking at in addition to other countries in the Middle East,'.." [more]

Bahraini and Saudi Authorities Urged to Ease Passage of People [Aug 25]
" Bahraini businessman has urged the Bahraini and Saudi authorities to ease the passage of people between the two countries, saying that the current bottlenecks and delays were detrimental to everybody's interests. 'We have hoped that both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia would go for exceptional measures this Ramadan to help the growing number of travelers cross the borders smoothly and quickly. Unfortunately, they are being made to wait for hours in long queues,'.. .. The 25-kilometre causeway, opened in November 1986, is the only terrestrial link between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia and is used by passengers and large trucks carrying goods. Several companies have complained about the delays in clearing their trucks, saying that the slow procedures and long waits at the crossing were costing them millions of dinars because of the waste of valuable time, the late arrival of goods and increased vehicle maintenance costs.." [more]

Women Backing Guardianship Law Create a Stir [Aug 25]
"Describing themselves as activists, a number of Saudi women have launched a campaign supporting the Kingdom's male guardianship system. As part of the campaign � entitled 'My Guardian Knows The Best For Me' � the women have written a letter to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah in which they confirmed their full support for an Islamic approach in administering the Kingdom. The campaign has been launched to counter calls to abandon the Kingdom's guardianship or wali system. In a statement published on the Internet, Rawdah Al-Yousif, the campaign's supervisor and organizer, wrote about 'her dismay at the efforts of some who have liberal demands that do not comply with Islamic law (Shariah) or with the Kingdom's traditions and customs.'.. ..The campaign has received mixed reactions from both genders, something that former Shoura Council member Ibrahim Al-Belaihi, a champion of Islamic values, says is natural. 'Approval is expected even more as the concept is deeply rooted in our society; it is a norm rather than a religious issue and people usually respond to what they are accustomed to,'.." [more]

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

400 Students Begin KAUST Studies Sept. 5  [Aug 24]
"Four hundred students are expected to commence their studies at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) on Sept. 5 ahead of the university�s official Sept. 23 opening to be conducted by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. Initial subjects at the university, described as one of the most advanced in the world, will be restricted to post-graduate studies. The university in Thuwwal, 70 km to the north of Jeddah, aims to attract 'the best researchers from the Kingdom, the Arab and Muslim world, and a variety of cultures to work together on world issues and technology advancement'. The entire university isprojected to cost SR10 billion.." [more]

Huge Potential for Sukuk Market in Kingdom  [Aug 24]
"The Saudi sukuk market has grown considerably over the last few years and has the potential of becoming a major vehicle for raising finance for local corporates and utilities and an investment portfolio diversification for both local and foreign investors.  While a report published in August by Jadwa Investment confirms the above, Islamic investment bankers and investors abroad are much more cautious about investing abroad including the Kingdom because of prevailing bond market conditions and the general global economic and financial slowdown. Similarly, the introduction in June by the Saudi securities regulator, the Capital Market Authority (CMA), of an automated order-driven secondary exchange for the trading of conventional bonds and of Islamic securities (sukuk on the Saudi stock exchange (Tadawul) is an important symbolic move; but according to market players it won�t transform the Saudi sukuk market on its own.." [more]

Saudi Arabia Technology Center Opens [Aug 24]
"CGGVeritas announced today that ARGAS, one of its joint ventures with TAQA in the Middle East, has opened a Technology Center in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia. The new facility is an open center designed to serve the oil and gas community in the Kingdom with a suite of state-of-the-art capabilities and resources. This unique center offers a focal point for both local oil and gas players and researchers from the Earth Sciences Department of the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals to benefit from.. ..At the inauguration ceremony, Robert Brunck, chairman and CEO of CGGVeritas, said: �Our investment in this Technology Center is a significant milestone in our long and productive 40-year partnership with TAQA in the Kingdom through our ARGAS joint venture.." [more]

Saudi Arabia Frees 17 Shi'ite Political Inmates [Aug 24]
"Saudi Arabia on Monday freed 17 political inmates from the Ismaili community who had been jailed since 2000, sources said, in a new sign of easing tensions with the minority group based near the Yemen border. King Abdullah ordered the release of the predominantly young Shi'ite Ismailis about six months before the end of their 10-year jail sentence as part of a broader royal pardon for hundreds of inmates in the kingdom to mark the start of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, the sources said. 'The 17 Ismailis were released this afternoon,' a source at the governorate of the southern Najran province told Reuters. 'The order to release (them) came on Sunday,' he said.. ..The 17 male prisoners had initially been sentenced to death by public beheading in 2001 under the reign of King Fahd before the de facto ruler King Abdullah -- who was then crown prince -- commuted in 2002 the sentences to 10 years in prison. The prisoners were arrested after a meeting in 2000 with the then governor of Najran province, a royal disliked by Saudi Ismailis, to ask for the release of an Ismaili teacher, ended in clashes that left two civilians injured.." [more]

OPEC Weekly Oil Prices Drop Slightly [Aug 24]
"The weekly average prices of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) kept dropping to 70.69 U.S. dollars per barrel last week, down 0.74 dollars slightly compared to the previous week, the Vienna-based cartel said Monday. OPEC weekly average oil prices reached 72.04 dollars a barrel in the first week of this month, which was also the highest this year. However, the prices kept declining afterwards and fell to 71.43 dollars in the second week and 70.69 dollars in the third.. .. The strong volatility of the oil prices within a week was mainly due to the reduction in U.S. crude oil stocks, falling by 6.1 million barrels according to the figure released by American Petroleum Institute (API) on Aug. 18, and leading to the continual raising of international oil prices for several days.." [more]

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

Yemen Denies Military Cooperation With Saudi Arabia Against al-Houthi Rebels [Aug 23]
"A well-informed source denied on Sunday news reported by Iranian Al-Alam TV website about the establishment of Yemen-Saudi joint military operations against the al-Houthi rebel group in the northern Yemen province of Saada. Speaking to Saba, the source said that the news reported by Iran's Al-Alam News TV and TVs others were totally baseless and they have no credibility and accuracy. Last week, a high rank official source at Yemen's Defense Ministry has denied the fake claims broadcasted by an Iranian official radio station on the participation of Saudi Air forces besides Yemeni military forces against the al-Houthi rebels in the Yemen-Saudi borders.." [more]

Saudi Raises Oil Output to Benefit From Prices [Aug 23]
"Saudi Arabia boosted its oil production by 144,000 barrels per day (bpd) in June apparently to net higher revenue after crude prices climbed by more than $10 a barrel, official figures showed yesterday.. ..The kingdom, the world's dominant oil exporter, had already boosted its crude supplies in May by around 175,000 bpd over April, when its production stood at 8,038 million bpd, according to Jodi, which groups Saudi Arabia with more than 100 other oil producers and consumers.. ..The report gave no reason for the large rise in Saudi oil supplies in June but if followed an increase of nearly $12 in the price of Opec's basket of crudes to about $68.3 a barrel from around $56.9 in the month of May. Oil prices averaged nearly $50.2 in April and were as low as $42.5 in January and February. Under a series of collective agreements aimed at propping up prices, the 12-nation Opec has decided to trim crude supplies by 4.2 million bpd from the start of 2009.." [more]

Indian Investment in Kingdom Tops $1.09bn [Aug 23]
"The Indian Business Forum (IBF), an apex nonprofit organization of Indian businessmen, is continuing to work toward strengthening Indo-Saudi commercial ties. The IBF is, in fact, �working as an interface between the business gentries of India and Saudi Arabia,� said Rajeev Shahare, deputy chief of Indian mission, here. Shahare is also the IBF�s ex-officio chairman. The forum supports Indian business interests and promotes trade and investment relations between the two countries. The IBF, he said, had assumed its role 'to represent and express the views of the Indian community on matters of commercial interests.'  The forum, which also acts as a nonofficial consultative and coordinating body between Saudi and Indian businessmen, functions in close collaboration with the Indian Embassy.." [more]

Saudi Researchers Develop Safe Approach to Nanotech [Aug 23]
"A non-toxic and environmentally friendly way to make tiny nanorods of zinc oxide has been developed for the first time by researchers in Saudi Arabia. The approach, described in the current issue of the International Journal of Nanoparticles, could allow the nanorods to be used safely in medical and for other applications. Zinc oxide has many uses when fabricated as nanoparticles and nanorods, just 100 nanometers in diameter. In such as nanoscopic form, it can be used in food products, such as breakfast cereals as a source of zinc, a necessary nutrient. It can also be used in dentistry and cosmetic ointments, creams, and lotions to protect against sunburn and skin damage caused by ultraviolet light.." [more]

Saudi Arabian Ambassador Promises to Protect RI Migrant Workers [Aug 23]
"Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Indonesia Abdurrahman Mohammed Amen Al Khayyat has promised to enforce the law against employers who deny the rights of Indonesian migrant workers in his country, a government official says. 'On Friday, the Ambassador met with me and we talked about the protection of Indonesian migrant workers in his country,' chairman of the National Agency for the Placement and Protection of Overseas Labor (BNP2TKI), Jumhur Hidayat, said Sunday, as quoted by Kompas.com. Jumhur added that Saudi Arabia is seeking 3,000 nurses from Indonesia. He said the Saudi Arabia government had recently ordered its Home Ministry and Labor Ministry to pay more attention to the protection of Indonesian migrant workers.." [more]

Time We Stopped This Bar on Women at London's Games [Aug 23]
"The former sports minister Kate Hoey has called for the International Olympic Committee to issue an ultimatum to Saudi Arabia over its refusal to allow its women to compete in the London Olympics. Last week we highlighted how women in the Middle Eastern nation are not allowed to publicly play or watch sport and that once again the Saudis will send an all-male team to London in 2012. Hoey, now the Mayor of London's sports commissioner, says: "It is very disappointing that the IOC do not seem to have the power to help women in Saudi Arabia to become part of that country's sports programme. It is political enough to be aware that here is an issue of blatant discrimination which should not be tolerated. It is surely contrary to an ethos which is based on equality of race and gender.." [more]

Another Achievement for Saudi Security [Aug 23]
"Another round with terrorism! This was the expression on the lips of the Saudi Arabian citizens when they received the news that a group of dangerous suspects who were planning and financing acts of terrorism in different parts of the country had been arrested. The announcement of the arrest of this terrorist cell came only a few days before the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan.. ..However it is important to say that achievements of the Ministry of Interior and its security forces are far greater than what those who are responsible for ideologically confronting the terrorists have achieved, as this is still below the required level. Evidence of this is that sections of Saudi youth are still falling into the bottomless pit of terrorism and extremism.." [more]

Seats Remain Vacant in Most Universities [Aug 23]
"Saudi universities have so far admitted 200,621 students for the new academic year (2009-2010) and this represented 80 percent of available seats, a report issued by the Ministry of Higher Education said on Saturday. 'There are many vacant seats in most universities,' the report said. Girls represented 48.5 percent of the newly enrolled students. The largest numbers of students (53,226) were given admission in the last week of Shaaban. The ministry said there are 68,232 seats vacant at government universities, including 29,507 for boys and 38,725 for girls. This is in addition to more than 11,000 seats available at private colleges and universities. Saudi Arabia has been giving utmost importance to education and training to meet its growing development requirements. In the last four years, 12 new universities and several colleges have opened in different parts of the country.." [more]

Aug 16-Aug 22, 2009

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

Italy's Danieli Wins $213 Million Saudi Deal [Aug 22]
"Italian foundry equipment maker Danieli has been awarded a contract to build a steel plant in Saudi Arabia worth $213.3 million (Dh785 million), the firm's Saudi client Al Rajhi Steel said on Saturday. Al Rajhi Steel, one of Saudi Arabia's three largest steel companies, signed the agreement with Danieli to build the 1 million tonne per year steel rebar plant on Thursday, it said in a statement. The plant, which will be located in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah, will take 22 months to build and will start production in November, 2011, it added.." [more]

Saudi Arabia Business Spat Threatens Riyadh Bid to Be Middle East Boomtown [Aug 22]
"Eight months ago this sprawling desert capital seemed poised to take on the mantle of new Middle East boomtown. Flush with $450 billion in foreign-exchange reserves, the Saudi government kicked off a massive spending program to mitigate effects of the global economic downturn and loss of oil revenues. Officials knew 2009 would be a tough year but unlike neighboring Dubai at least they could boast of healthy banks. Bankers were touting Riyadh as the next financial frontier. But a speedy economic recovery is threatened by a multibillion-dollar battle between two of the kingdom's biggest business groups. The ugly brawl between Ahmad Hamad Al Gosaibi & Brothers Co. and the Saad Group has left the fate of as much as $20 billion in debt in question and almost paralyzed lending to the private sector.." [more]

Saudi Shares Surge [Aug 22]
"Saudi shares opened higher, led by heavyweight Saudi Basic Industries (SABIC), tracking US stocks and boosted by oil prices hitting a 2009 high. The benchmark TASI was up 2.17 percent at 5,745 points, with SABIC gaining 5.6 percent. US stocks ended the week at 2009 highs on Friday after a surprising rise in home sales and optimistic comments from Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke reassured investors about the prospects for an economic recovery.." [more]

No Restrictions on Haj Pilgrims Despite Swine Flu [Aug 22]
"No restrictions have been placed on Haj pilgrims from India by the Saudi Arabian government despite nearly 48 deaths being reported in the country from influenza A (H1N1) virus, a Haj committee official said Saturday.. ..He said that Saudi Arabian government is maintaining strict vigil at all its airports for passengers with possible swine flu symptoms. The Saudi Arabian government has, however, advised minors, senior citizens and pregnant women to take extra precautions regarding swine flu at the annual Haj, the largest single religious congregation on earth. 'The Indian government has indicated that a vaccine may be available within the next six months. In that case, the pilgrims may go without the vaccine,' Owais said. Meanwhile, all preparations are in place for the 40-day pilgrimage.." [more]

Saudi Firm Offers to Upgrade Power Units [Aug 21]
"A Saudi group on Friday expressed interest to upgrade country�s power sector, and proposed that the existing gas turbines be augmented up to 20-25 per cent as a short-term solution to power crisis. A proposal was forwarded to Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervez Ashraf by a delegation of Powerlines Communications Co Limited of Saudi Arabia. The group, headed by its chairman Ahmed Ali Hazza Alghamdi, expressed interest to upgrade the efficiency of Guddu Thermal Power Station, and Shahdara and Kotri thermal power projects. Talking to the delegation, the minister said that the Saudi investment in power sector would be welcomed, and assured them of his full support.." [more]

Saudi Ambassador to The Sudan Hands Over 30 Ambulances to Sudanese Government [Aug 22]
"Saudi Red Crescent today provided the Government of the Republic of The Sudan with 30 ambulances within a contribution of the Saudi Red Crescent's program to assist hospitals in Sudan's Darfur State. The Saudi ambassador to The Sudan Mohammed bin Abbas Al-Kilabi handed over the ambulances at a ceremony held on this occasion in support of the Sudanese government.. ..Dr. Muala Alian Al-Gabri, Executive Director of Saudi relief program, confirmed that the delivery of the 30 ambulances came within the $ 70 million allocated by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Darfur through the Saudi Red Crescent.." [more]

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

Militants Sought to Set Up Independent Terror Cells [Aug 21]
"The 44 suspected militants that were arrested in Saudi Arabia sought to set up cells 'that would carry out their goals without their direct involvement,' according to Interior Ministry spokesman, Mansour Al Turki. 'They're like an engine that manipulates others while working in the shadows,' he said. Some of those arrested had 'tight links' with Al Qaida's foreign-based leadership, said an Interior Ministry statement, using the government's standard euphemism describing the terrorist organisation as 'the deviant group.' Saudi authorities arrested 44 suspected militants with Al Qaida links in a yearlong sweep that also uncovered dozens of machine guns and electronic circuits for bombs, the government said .." [more]

Travel Between Kingdom, UAE Using ID Cards Suspended [Aug 21]
"Saudi Arabia has suspended the use of national ID cards to travel between the Kingdom and the UAE by the nationals of the two countries, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) quoted Director General of Passports Maj. Gen. Salim Bin Muhammad Al-Blaihid as saying, Thursday. The measure follows the wrong depiction of the map on the identity cards of UAE nationals, which is not in conformity with the border demarcation agreement signed between the Kingdom and the UAE on Aug. 21, 1974, said Al-Blaihid. Now the nationals of the two countries must use their passports instead of their national identity cards to travel between the Kingdom and the UAE, he said. The Kingdom on several occasions and through several official channels brought the discrepancy to the notice of the UAE government but nothing was done to rectify the map, said Al-Blaihid.." [more]

Saudis Lead Foreign Investors in Yemen [Aug 21]
"The Saudi investment has topped the list of foreign investment projects in Yemen during the first half of 2009, a report issued by the General Investment Authority (GIA) says. The report said that the foreign investment projects registered in the GIA have reached 12 projects with a total cost of over YR91 billion.??Saudi investments ranked the first with four projects in the industrial and service sectors at a cost of YR 4.1 billion, providing 832 job opportunities. Kuwait came second with three projects costing nearly YR 4 billion in industrial, tourist and agricultural areas and provide 241 jobs. Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan were all in the third position in the foreign investment lists with two projects for each. Meanwhile, the government has agreed with the United Nations on carrying out a comprehensive program for economic diversity and upgrading the promising sectors.." [more]

Saudi Government to Boost Education in Sierra Leone [Aug 21]
"The Government and People of Saudi Arabia have decided to further support and improve educational standards in Sierra Leone. This disclosure was made on Thursday 20th August 2009 by the Principal of the Ansarul Islamic College in Freetown, Sheikh Umar Faruq A. Bah whilst signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Al-Iman Mohammad Ibn Saudi Islamic University in Saudi Arabia and the Ansarul Islamic College in Freetown in a ceremony held at the NCTVA (Sierra Leone�s Tech-Voc Educational authority) conference hall on Tower Hill in Freetown.. ..Head of the delegation Dr. Sulaiman Ibn Abdallh Abal- Khail maintained that the signing of the MOU will achieve a fruitful goal and will improve on the relationship between the University and College of both countries and will also enhance capacity building in education and bilateral relationship between the two Countries.." [more]

Umrah in Ramadan Hit by H1N1 Concerns [Aug 21]
"The rising number of swine flu cases and deaths across the Middle East has cast a cloud over the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, with a plunge in the number of people going to Makkah to perform Umrah. Arrivals in Islam�s holiest city surged ahead of the start of Ramadan, residents said, but the numbers were well below usual. With Egypt, Iran and Iraq among countries placing restrictions on who can undertake the minor pilgrimage or Umrah during Ramadan because of swine flu, businesses in Makkah are forecasting a disastrous month. And worries were spreading that fears over the H1N1 flu could dampen the sunset Iftar parties held across the Muslim world to break the fast and entertain. Business in the holy city of Makkah could be down by 40 percent in the coming month because of flu fears.." [more]

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

Saudi Arabia Considers Building First Nuclear Power Plant [Aug 20]
"Saudi Arabia is looking at building its first nuclear power plant, according to an Arabic-language daily on Wednesday. 'The kingdom is working on building a pilot plant fuelled by nuclear energy' to generate electricity, Minister of Water and Electricity, Abdullah bin Abdul Rahman Al Husayen, told the Al Watan newspaper. In May, French's Economy Minister Christine Lagarde said Saudi Arabia and France were close to finalising a civilian nuclear energy cooperation agreement.  Saudi Arabia already faces costly power outages of up to five hours a day in the industrial zone of the commercial hub of Jeddah.." [more]

Kingdom Refutes Reports on Egypt, Syria Relations [Aug 20]
"Saudi Arabia stated on Wednesday it has been maintaining "unblemished" relations with Egypt and Syria, an official source said, refuting press reports that it had received advice from certain countries that it should not hurry in going to Damascus and that there is a difference of opinion between the Kingdom and Egypt on the formation of the Lebanese government. The Kingdom maintains its relations with other countries with clarity and frankness, the source said, adding that Saudi foreign policy is based on non-interference in other countries' internal affairs.." [more]

Saudi Arabia Censors Activists' Twitter Pages [Aug 20]
"Saudi Arabia has begun blocking the Twitter pages of activists in a move one man targetted says may be a result of Twitter's role in publicising Iran's recent pro-democracy uprising. Human rights lawyer Waleed Abulkhair and businessman Khaled al Nasser said their Twitter pages have been blocked since about Monday by the official government Internet censor, the Communications and Information Technology Commission. Some pages of offshore dissidents have been blocked for a few weeks, but this is apparently the first move against known Twitter users inside the kingdom, said Ahmed al-Omran, who first reported the censorship on his blog "Saudi Jeans". "My account has been blocked for four days," Nasser told AFP.." [more]

Ramadan Starts Saturday for Most Arabs [Aug 20]
"Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, will start the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan on Saturday along with most other GCC and Arab countries. Senior religious councils in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, Yemen and Iraq said the moon's crescent was not sighted after nightfall on Thursday, and so Friday would be the 30th day of Shaaban, the month preceding Ramadan. The start of the ninth and holiest month of the Muslim calendar is traditionally determined by the sighting of the new moon, often dividing rival Islamic countries and sects over the exact date. More than one billion Muslims worldwide fast from dawn to dusk during the holy month. Because it follows the lunar cycle, Ramadan comes 11 days earlier every year on the Gregorian calendar, bringing the fasting month this year in the summer.." [more]

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

Saudi Arabia Arrests 44 Suspected Militants [Aug 19]
"The Saudi Interior Ministry says authorities have arrested 44 suspected militants who sought to recruit youths and finance their "deviant activities" through charitable donations. In a statement carried Wednesday by the official Saudi Press Agency, the ministry says the 44 were arrested in a campaign that began July 9 and ended August 2. It says some of those arrested have received training on the use of light and heavy weapons in the kingdom and abroad. It says all but one are Saudi. Saudi Arabia has pursued an aggressive campaign against militants since May 2003, when they first began attacks in the kingdom. The country is the birthplace of Al Qaida leader Osama bin Laden and home to 15 of the 19th September 11 hijackers.." [more]

Oil Pulls Saudi Economy Down [Aug 19]
"A 10.3 per cent decline in oil income is likely to lower Saudi gross domestic product (GDP) by 0.9 per cent this year from a 4.4 per cent increase in 2008, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The 76.86 per cent drop in oil exports, from $281.4 billion (Dh1.03 trillion) last year to a projected $159.1 billion this year, is expected to drag government revenue down by 22 per cent. It is likely to reduce the kingdom's GDP by $92 billion to $377 billion this year from a whopping $469 billion in 2008, said a latest IMF report, a copy of which was obtained by Gulf News. According to the National Commercial Bank's annual economic report on Saudi Arabia, the steep fall in crude prices, combined with a decline in oil production and tighter credit, are primary sources of danger to the local economy. The Arab world's biggest economy, however, refuses to concede to the workings of the global crisis, choosing instead to confront the recession with 'stronger fundamentals'.." [more] 

King Orders Airlifting of Kuwait Tent Fire Injured [Aug 19]
"Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah on Tuesday ordered the airlifting to the Kingdom of 12 Saudi women and children injured in Saturday�s Kuwait wedding tent fire. Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah said the king had ordered the injured be brought to the Kingdom for treatment using air ambulance planes. He further thanked the king for his humanitarian gesture. According to press reports, nine Saudi women were among the 46 women and children who died in the fire that was allegedly started by the groom�s ex-wife. Kuwaiti authorities have not disclosed the name of the arsonist. Fahd Al-Sufyan, charge d�affaires at the Saudi Embassy in Kuwait City, said the embassy was making every effort to identify the dead Saudis in coordination with Kuwaiti security authorities.. � [more]

Saudi Top Cleric Bans H1N1 Sick From Pilgrimage [Aug 19]
"Saudi Arabia's top cleric has said Muslims knowing they are infected with the H1N1 virus or other contagious diseases must refrain from going on pilgrimages and even attending mosques. 'Whoever is aware of the contagious nature of his or her disease ... must not go to gathering places so that he or she does not cause others harm,' Sheikh Abdul-Aziz Al-Shaikh said in comments carried by Islamic web forums, including Sahab (www.sahab.net).. ..Saudi Arabia has said it will use thermal cameras and have more medics on stand-by to try to limit H1N1 flu during the main haj pilgrimage but does not expect to stop the spread of the virus completely. Around 3 million pilgrims from more than 160 countries take part in the haj most years, including up to 2 million from abroad.." [more]

Saudi Ready to Unveil its Future [Aug 19]
"Saudi Arabia will next month unveil the centrepiece of its long-term aim to move from an oil economy to a worldwide centre for high-technology research. The King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), located 80km north of Jeddah in the town of Thuwal on the Red Sea coast, is crucial to that aspiration. While known today primarily for its huge oil exports and conservative society, Saudi Arabia is pinning much of its future hopes on the development of knowledge industries, particularly high technology. Such sectors create the kind of skilled jobs that an increasing number of its booming population of educated youth is demanding.. ..But unlike many Arab states looking to deal with a demographic and economic crisis, Saudi Arabia has resources unmatched by almost any nation, and is investing tens of billions of dollars of oil revenues into what it hopes will be a broad macroeconomic transformation.." [more]

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

Saudi Arabia Concerned Over Yemen Rebellion [Aug 18]
"Saudi officials have expressed concern over a Shiite rebellion in a northern Yemeni province bordering their country. Foreign Ministry official Osama Al Nuggali said Yemen's security and stability are important to the whole region, including its neighbor, Saudi Arabia. Another Saudi official said security officials from both countries are in touch over the flareup in violence in Saada province. Yemen has stepped up its weeklong military offensive against Saada's Shiite rebels, who complain the government has ignored their needs. Yemeni authorities have portrayed the rebels as a fundamentalist religious group, supported by Iran.." [more]

MSCI Row: Tadawul Flaunts Dow [Aug 18]
"The Saudi stock exchange confirmed Monday that MSCI Inc. has taken a 'regrettable position' of having to drop Tadawul-listed securities. The Tadawul press statement sought to allay local market fears that the dropping of Saudi stocks from MSCI might negatively influence the foreign investment strategies of fund managers for whom indices like MSCI�s are benchmarks. Tadawul said that, unlike MSCI, nine local and international companies including Dow Jones Indexes (a leading international index provider) have signed the Tadawul Index Creation Agreement (TICA) 'and fully agreed to comply with Tadawul�s terms.' 'Within weeks, Tadawul will sign the Index Creation Agreement with other local and international financial institutions,'.." [more]

Palestinian Rift Helps Enemies: Kingdom [Aug 18]
"The Council of Ministers urged feuding Palestinian factions on Monday that they should quickly settle their differences for the establishment of their independent state with Jerusalem as its capital. 'Palestinians should understand the danger posed by their disunity. It will not serve except their enemies and will harm the Palestinian cause, the prime cause of Arabs,' the Cabinet said. The weekly Cabinet meeting, chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, also reminded Palestinians that their unity was the key to restore their legitimate rights.." [more]

Ramadan Travel to Saudi Arabia Predicted to be Down by 30 Percent [Aug 18]
"According to a traveldailyasia.com report, travel during the Islamic holy months of Ramadan is expected to be down by almost 30 per cent due the H1N1 Influenza scare and travel restrictions. Fursan Travel, Saudi Arabia�s provider of leisure and corporate travel, meetings and events, and GSA services, has advised that restrictions placed on travellers to Umrah during Ramadan would have a severe impact on travel to and from Saudi Arabia.. ..'The decision to ban people travelling due to the H1N1 Influenza pandemic is respected; however the long term impact on the economy here cannot be understated'.." [more]

Saudi Court Urges Public to Watch Ramadan Crescent [Aug 18]
"Saudi Arabia's Supreme Court called the public to look out for the new crescent on Thursday to determine the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan.. ..The new moon would be born Friday night, August 21, 2009, according to the calculations of the Umm Al-Qura Calendar. Moreover, the Supreme Court stressed that people should report to the nearest court and disclose their testimony of sighting the crescent with the naked eye or with the aid of a telescope.." [more]

Give Women a Chance to Work for the State�s Welfare [Aug 18]
"The perception, held by some, that Saudi Arabia does not respect women and their ability to think, to contribute, and to debate creates the wrong image of the Kingdom in the world, according to Samar Fatany, veteran Saudi radio journalist, columnist and activist. Fatany, along with Rasha Hefzi, and Ala Nafees, co-founders of a consultation company, attended the four-day 2009 Women�s Islamic Initiative in Spirituality and Equality (WISE) conference in Kuala Lumpur recently. 'I don�t doubt our government�s sincerity,' Fatany told Saudi Gazette in an interview. 'However, I have to admit that there are many areas where we have failed as people'.. ..She stressed that the Kingdom is working toward reforms. There are many government initiatives that are already being implemented, but, according to her, the problem is in implementation itself.." [more]

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

Saudi Maaden to Spend $25 mln on Magnesite Plant [Aug 17]
"State-controlled Saudi Arabian Mining Co said on Monday it signed an agreement with local firm Olayan Descon to build a magnesite processing plant. The plant will cost 95 million riyals ($25.3 million) and produce 140,000 tonnes per year of magnesite over the next 20 years, Maaden said in a statement on the bourse's website. Maaden, Saudi Arabia's largest mining firm by market value, did not say how much a stake it will hold in the joint-venture. The plant will turn white mineral magnesite into caustic calcinated magnesia which can be used in agriculture, construction, and fuel additives and dead burned magnesia which can be used for glass and refractory production.. ..Maaden is investing about 60 billion riyals to develop the kingdom's phosphate, bauxite, gold and industrial minerals and help reduce its reliance on oil.." [more]

Economic City Touches SR2b Mark [Aug 17]
"Sales at King Abdullah Economic City touched the SR2 billion mark in 2008, registering a 400 percent increase over the previous year, according to KAEC�s annual report. The value of contracts concluded in 2008 rose 88 percent over 2007, the report said. The number of engineering consultation contracts awarded went up by 226 percent. And by the end of 2008, the number of engineers, technicians and other workers in the city increased 170 percent to 13,500.. ..The 168-million-sq.m. city in Rabigh, north of Jeddah on the west coast of the Red Sea, is a multi-purpose development that consists of six main zones including a sea port that is projected to be one of the 10 largest in the world.." [more]

New Strategy to Tackle Unemployment Among Youth [Aug 17]
"The Labor Ministry will open employment offices at universities as part of a new strategy endorsed by the Cabinet to reduce unemployment among young Saudi men and women.. ..The new strategy includes establishment of women�s units at the Human Resource Development Fund and supporting productive family programs. Women will be encouraged to work from remote work centers. The new employment strategy includes the establishment of employment offices at institutes of higher learning as well as at secondary schools where students would be informed of employment opportunities in the public and private sectors and job requirements.. ..Speaking about incentives given to private companies for employing more Saudis, he said they would be given priority in government contracts and purchases.." [more]

Sheikh to Deliver Ramadan Sermons in Virtual World [Aug 17]
"A senior Saudi cleric is set to deliver a Ramadan sermon from within a popular virtual world platform as part of the Saudi religious authorities� efforts to reach wider audiences through unconventional media platforms.  Sheikh Ahmad Al-Ghamdi, the Mecca director of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, will deliver a sermon entitled "Ramadan, oh youth!" on Tuesday evening from a virtual mosque on Middle East Island, a fictional island in Second Life, an Internet-based virtual world imagined by its users. The virtual Ramadan sermon is the first attempt by the commission, effectively Saudi Arabia�s vice police, to reach out through a less conventional communication platform.." [more]

Mubarak to Tell U.S. Israel Must Make Overture [Aug 17]
"In White House meetings beginning Monday, President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt is expected to tell the Obama administration that Arab nations want peace, but are unwilling to abide Mr. Obama�s call to make good-faith concessions to Israel until Israel takes tangible steps like freezing settlements, an Egyptian official said.. ..The Bush administration effectively sidelined Egypt, turning more to Saudi Arabia as a regional force to counter the growing influence of Iran and push forward a peace initiative that the Saudi king initially sponsored, political analysts here said. But today, the Saudis have stepped back. Political analysts said that Mr. Obama was pressing Saudi Arabia to take the lead in offering so-called confidence-building measures to Israel, but the Saudis flatly refused, saying they had already produced a peace initiative endorsed by all 22 members of the Arab League.." [more]

Saudi Arabia's Wheat Farmers Need SR25bn Compensation [Aug 17]
"Saudi Arabia should exempt its wheat farmers from the remaining farming loans and pay them nearly SR25 billion (Dh24.48bn) in compensation for its decision to halt local production to save its water wealth, a local study has proposed. The Gulf kingdom, the world's richest in oil resources and one of the poorest in water, should also take other measures to prevent massive losses by the wheat farmers as a result of the suspension of domestic wheat production and sale of land and agricultural equipment at much prices, said the study issued by the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry this week. It warned that the decision to halt local wheat production and rely on imports, gradually enforced this year, would have many negative effects on the farmers, including a sharp fall in their income, abandonment of the profession by many of them, a drop in local cereal per capita, and a deterioration in unemployment.." [more]

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

Saudi TV Investors Warned on Offensive Programmes [Aug 16]
"Saudi investors in satellite television stations cause offence to their country by allowing material that violates Islamic teachings to be aired, a government official was quoted as saying on Sunday. Earlier this month, two offices of the Lebanon-based network LBC were closed in the kingdom after it broadcast an interview with a Saudi man speaking about his sexual adventures. Mazen Abdul Jawad, 32, faces trial after shocking Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam and one of the most conservative countries in the world, with details of his sexual exploits. In remarks published in Saudi newspapers on Sunday, Abdullah Al Jasser, undersecretary for media affairs at the Culture and Information Ministry, did not identify any channel or investor and did not directly refer to the case.." [more]

KSA Takes Giant Steps in Protecting Human Rights [Aug 16]
"..The government of King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, has demonstrated significant concern for human rights and has laid the foundation for the protection of these rights in the local and international communities.. ..the Kingdom ratified four key international treaties including the International Convention on the Elimination of Forms of Racial Discrimination in 1997, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women in 2000, the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child 1996.." [more]

Barclays, Soc Gen Get Saudi License For Investment Banking [Aug 16]
"Barclays Saudi Arabia and Societe Generale Saudi Arabia received Sunday licenses from the Capital Market Authority to conduct investment banking activities in the kingdom. The companies, which are joint ventures of the British Barclays PLC (BARC.LN) and the French bank Societe Generale SA (SCGLY), were approved to act as an agent, clearing house, asset management and advisor, according to a statement on the Saudi bourse Web site.." [more]

Pakistan Honors Saudi Journalist With Civilian Award [Aug 16]
"The government of Pakistan conferred one of its highest civilian awards - Sitara-e-Quaid-e-Azam - on renowned Saudi journalist and managing editor of Urdu News, Tariq Mishkhas, for his services to Pakistan.. ..The new Ambassador, Umar Khan Ali Sherzai, Consul General Zaigham Uddin Azam and the Press Consul felicitated Mishkhas for the well-deserved award he earned for the promotion of Pak-Saudi relationships, said a statement released by the Pakistani Consulate in Jeddah. Sitara-e-Quaid-e-Azam is an honor given by the government of Pakistan to civilians for distinguished merits in the fields of literature, arts, sports, medicine, and science and journalism.." [more]

Iran to Boycott Umrah if Insults to Iranians Continue [Aug 16]
"Grand Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi announced on Saturday that Iran will boycott the Umrah visit to Saudi Arabia, if Saudi Wahabists do not stop insulting Iranians pilgrims. Misbehavior toward pilgrims shows that Saudi officials are not qualified to take care of the holy shrines in the country, he said. Also on Friday, Makarem Shirazi condemned disrespect toward Iranian pilgrims by Saudi Wahabists and called for an immediate end to such insulting behaviors.." [more]

Higher Personal Income Hits Saudi Consumer Loans [Aug 16]
"A surge in personal wealth because of soaring oil prices has sharply depressed bank consumer loans in Saudi Arabia over the past three years and they could remain subdued because of official curbs, said the kingdom's largest bank. From about SR188 billion (Dh186.2bn) in 2006, the total consumer loans extended by Saudi Arabia's banks declined to SR183.4bn in 2008 and nearly SR183.2bn in the first quarter of 2009, said the National Commercial Bank (NCB) in a study sent to Emirates Business. 'The banks' portfolio of consumer and credit card loans has been shrinking every year since 2006 because of spreading prosperity,' it said. Its figures showed the consumer loans as a proportion of banks' overall loans to the entire economy dwindled 13 per cent, from 37.8 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2006 to 24.8 per cent in the first quarter of 2009.." [more]

Saudi International Boat Show [Aug 16]
"Many of the biggest names in the world of superyachts, leisure boats and marine equipment will be presenting the latest models and products at the Saudi International Boat Show, which will be held 14 - 17 October, 2009 at Al Furusya Marina and Yacht Club in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.. ..The Saudi International Boat Show is organised by Dubai World Trade Centre with the endorsement of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities. It is held at the Al Furusya Marina & Yacht Club which is managed by Al Ahlam Marine Tourism Group.. ..Jeddah's recently launched 20-year regeneration plan includes reuniting the city centre with its marine environment, extending and enhancing facilities on the Corniche and developing the city's hospitality facilities. The facilities offered by the Red Sea for boating, fishing and scuba diving are a key attraction in Jeddah's aim to become a world class resort for Saudis vacationing from other cities in the Kingdom and visitors from abroad who come to enjoy the year-round sunny climate.." [more]

Saudi Religious Police Arrest Philippine Labour Activists [Aug 16]
"Saudi religious police charged with preventing the mixing of sexes raided a meeting of Philippine runaway workers and labour activists alleging they were engaged in prostitution, activists said on Sunday. Eighteen Filipinos, 10 men and eight women, were arrested on prostitution charges at Friday's meeting of a local unit of Migrante, the Filipino overseas workers' confederation, in a Riyadh 'safe house,'.. ..Eric Jocsol, chairman of the Riyadh Migrante chapter, said the group was discussing the cases of runaway and mistreated workers when five officials of the Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, the religious police, burst in and accused them of running a prostitution den. Four of those arrested -- three women and one man -- had sought Migrante's help after leaving their jobs because of mistreatment, he said. Jocsol said he had been released by police into the hands of his Saudi sponsor, but that the others were still in custody.." [more]

Aug 9-Aug 15, 2009

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

Fight of Foreign Capital Feared [Aug 15]
"Saudi financial experts said foreign investors will lose an important source of information if MSCI drops the Saudi listings. The MSCI indexes are used as benchmarks by many international fund managers and the dropping of Saudi stocks may impact their investment strategies, forcing them to pare their exposure to the Kingdom�s companies. Ma�toug Al-Talhi argued that foreign investors cannot do without international companies providing indices and analyses on markets, including the Saudi stock exchange. Khalid Al-Jemay�iy said Tadawul should provide all information on Saudi companies to any company specialized in financial consultancy, analyses, indices and investment portfolios. Tadawul must ensure full transparency to acknowledge the trust of both foreign investors and Saudis who have invested billions in the market.." [more]

Advanced Surveillance System to Monitor Swine Flu Planned [Aug 15]
"Preparations are underway to operate an advanced surveillance system to monitor swine flu during this year�s Ramadan Umrah and the following Haj. 'It is a mobile surveillance system developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, known as the CDC, based in Atlanta by request from the (Saudi) Ministry of Health,' said ministry spokesman Dr. Khalid Al-Mirghalani. 'The purpose of the system is to help in monitoring the epidemiology of swine flu and other infectious disease under surveillance by the ministry among the pilgrims at the ports of entry and the holy places,' he said. He pointed out that there is already a team of experts from the CDC working with Saudi teams on this system.." [more]

Capital Intelligence Affirms Samba Financial Group Ratings [Aug 15]
"Capital Intelligence (CI), the international credit rating agency, today announced that it has affirmed the ratings of Samba Financial Group (Samba). The long-term foreign currency rating of AA-, the short-term foreign currency rating of A1 and the financial strength rating of AA- are all unchanged, as is Samba's support rating of 2. All ratings carry a 'Stable' outlook. Samba is Saudi Arabia's second-largest bank by total assets, with a market share of about 14%, and the fourth-largest by capital. In the past decade its franchise has expanded beyond the bank's traditional strength in corporate banking to become a major force in the kingdom's consumer banking sector.." [more]

Soft Drinks Sales in KSA to Grow 26.1 pc [Aug 15]
"Soft drinks sales in Saudi Arabia are forecast to grow 26.1 percent through to 2013, the 'Food and Drink Report' for the third quarter of 2009 said. It said that despite a weakened near-term macroeconomic outlook, a number of food and drink companies have continued to fare well, not least within the competitive dairy sector. The report has forecast food consumption to push up by 10.9 percent through to 2013, which, banded together with their regional sales, should allow Saudi Arabia�s dairy majors to register steady turnover uptick.  Although Saudi Arabia has fallen back into fourth place in the regional Food & Drink Business Environment Ratings table for Q309, the Kingdom�s soft drinks industry remains a valid target for investors seeking regional entry, the report further said, forecasting a soft drinks sales growth of 26.1 percent through to 2013.." [more]

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

State to Bear Swine Flu Treatment Cost [Aug 14]
"King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, has directed all government and private hospitals in the Kingdom to treat and provide medical care to patients (Saudis, expatriates and Umrah pilgrims) suffering from swine flu at the expense of the State.. ..As of Aug. 6, some 177,457 cases of the virus, including 1,462 deaths, have been officially reported worldwide, but the true number of infections is certainly much higher, said the World Health Organization.. ..Countries are now only obliged to report their first confirmed cases to WHO, which says there is no longer any point to counting each infection as the virus is unstoppable.." [more]

Foreign Lawyers Allowed to Appear in Saudi Courts [Aug 14]
"The Ministry of Justice has adopted a long-awaited decision allowing foreign lawyers to appear in Saudi courts and to practice the profession in the country. The General Administration of Advocacy at the ministry is coordinating with the labor offices in the Kingdom to seek the help of foreign lawyers and to recruit them from their countries. Thus far the ministry has approved more than 245 applications for hiring foreign lawyers.. ..'It should also be borne in mind that most contracts of the mega projects in the Kingdom are usually processed in law firms abroad. All of these facts support the urgent need for the recruitment of foreign lawyers in the Kingdom. Thus the ministry must relax the law restricting the recruitment of foreign lawyers'.." [more]

UAE Likely to Overtake Japan as Dominant Investor in the Kingdom [Aug 14]
"The foreign direct investment (FDI) by the UAE in Saudi Arabia stood at nearly $5.8 billion last year, the largest FDI flow by an Arab country, the Kuwaiti-based Inter-Arab Investment Guarantee Corporation (IAIGC), said. The UAE�s FDI flow into Saudi Arabia accounted for nearly 45 percent of the total capital of nearly $12.9 billion received by the kingdom from other Arab countries in 2008, said IAIGC, which groups most Arab countries. The UAE investments in Arab countries last year also accounted for more than a third of the total inter-Arab FDI of nearly $34 billion.. ..the UAE was the second largest foreign investor in Saudi Arabia after Japan. However, with the completion of the Economic City project, it is expected to lead the pack.." [more]

Egypt Puts Bar on Umrah Pilgrims [Aug 14]
"Egypt has imposed restrictions on Umrah pilgrims traveling to Saudi Arabia during the holy month of Ramadan as a precaution against the HINI virus. Egyptian Health Minister Hatim Al-Jabali said Thursday that only those pilgrims for whom Umrah visas were issued before Thursday would be allowed to travel to Saudi Arabia. He was commenting on the recent decision of an Egyptian ministerial committee to suspend permission for new Umrah trips for Egyptians as a precaution against the spread of the H1N1 virus in the country. Egypt�s partial suspension follows moves by Iran and Iraq to suspend Umrah visits during Ramadan.. ..Egypt has apparently gone beyond the recommendations of the emergency meeting of the World Health Organization and region�s health ministers in July that included not allowing pilgrims under the age of 12 years and above 65 years to perform the upcoming Haj in November.." [more]

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

Iraq Bars Citizens From Visiting Saudi Arabia [Aug 13]
" Iraqi authorities have decided to stop Iraqi citizens from coming for Umrah during the holy month of Ramadan. The decision was taken as a precaution against the risk of citizens contracting H1N1 virus, Iraq�s Radio Dijla reported on Wednesday. The move follows Iran�s recent decision to suspend Umrah trips in Ramadan.  'The government also recommends reducing the number of Haj pilgrims this year. It will prevent the old and the chronically ill from performing Haj,' spokesman for Iraqi government Ali Dabbagh said in his statement which was quoted on the radio.." [more]

KSA Leads ME Farm Sector With 8% Annual Growth [Aug 13]
"Saudi Arabia remains the Middle East�s largest market for agricultural products and technologies, posting a steady eight percent average annual growth. The Kingdom imported more than SR25.5 billion worth of agricultural products in 2008, an impressive increase of 42 per cent over the previous year. This year, agricultural projects are expected to account for 23 percent of the country�s expected SR181 billion private sector investments, enhancing KSA�s status as major player in the regional agribusiness. Set to reaffirm the Kingdom�s dominance in the fast-growing agriculture sector, this year�s Saudi Agriculture 2009 � the 28th International Agriculture, Water and Agri-industry Show, will gather leading international agricultural investors and companies, manufacturers, and key decision makers to identify new business opportunities in Saudi Arabia and showcase the latest in agricultural machinery, equipment and products.." [more] 

Crime in Kingdom up by 14 percent [Aug 13]
"There were 78,737 crimes recorded in Saudi Arabia last year with an increase of 8,335 crimes over the previous year, the Investigation and Prosecution Commission (IPC) said in a report released recently. 'The crimes, including aggressions against people and drug abuse, have increased by 14 percent over the same period in the year 2007,' the report said, adding that there were 21,395 drug and alcohol-related crimes.. ..According to the IPC�s report, there were 15,540 crimes of assault, 27,888 crimes of rape or sexual harassment and 3,014 financial crimes.." [more]

MSCI May Drop Saudi Sec. On Licensing Rights Dispute [Aug 13]
"MSCI Inc. (NYSE:MXB) may be forced to drop securities listed on the Saudi Stock Exchange, or Tadawul, from Aug. 24 because of a dispute over licensing rights with the Riyadh-based bourse. 'As a matter of principle and policy, MSCI cannot agree to grant stock exchanges pre-approval rights on MSCI's ability to license its own indices,' MSCI said in a statement Wednesday on its Web site. The company clarified that a proposed Tadawul agreement contains a provision that would give the exchange the right to prohibit MSCI from licensing to third parties certain MSCI indices, which was not acceptable to it. Saudi Arabian stocks are included only in MSCI GCC Countries indices and MSCI Arabian Markets indices; they are not included in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index Series or any other MSCI Index Series.. ..'If Tadawul continues to insist on a veto right over MSCI's licensing decisions and it follows through on its threat to cutoff the supply of data, MSCI will be unable to continue calculating certain of its indices,' it added. The MSCI indexes are used as benchmarks by many international fund managers and the dropping of Saudi stocks may impact their investment strategies, forcing them to pare their exposure to the kingdom's companies.." [more]

Saudi Activist: Gender Equality, the First Step to a True Social Development [Aug 13]
" A series of "cultural factors" have led to women, especially Muslim women, becoming "the victims of attacks" in the Arab world and beyond. Some societies are characterized by "cultures that marginalize women," instilling "discrimination between the sexes, which results in conflict." So says Bahija Bint Baha Azzi, secretary general of the International Organization for Muslim Women and the family (Imowf), in an interview to the Saudi "Female" magazine Roaa. The activist, adviser to the Saudi Shura Council, says that "to exclude women from public affairs is not helping development"; real social growth needs a policy of "equal dignity" between men and women without discrimination�. Referring specifically to Saudi women, Bahija Bint Baha Azzi points to "an erroneous conception of habits and traditions" that have negative effects - even if specific cases were not cited - in the way they are treated.." [more]

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

Saudi Arabia Wavers on Obama's Plan [Aug 12]
" Pro-Israeli lobbyists here won the support of 77 senators (out of 100) for a letter sent to President Barack Obama that urged him to 'press Arab leaders' to consider making dramatic, upfront peace overtures to Israel.  But one key Arab state, Saudi Arabia, has already clearly communicated its refusal to make any such gestures at this time. On July 31, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal told journalists in Washington that, 'Confidence-building measures will not bring peace. What is required is a comprehensive approach that defines the final outcome at the outset and launches into negotiations over final status issues.' Saudi Arabia is one of the most influential players in Arab-Israeli peacemaking. But given its pivotal position in international energy markets - and the fact that it has no need of US financial aid - it is almost immune to American pressure.." [more]

Iraq Accuses Saudi Mullahs of Orchestrating a Terrorist Campaign [Aug 12]
"A senior Iraqi government advisor this morning accused Saudi Arabia of sending legions of extremists across the border in an attempt to destabilise the country as American troops are scaled back. Iraq has recently witnessed a worrying spike in attacks that demonstrate the police force is incapable and its army is struggling to contain violence. But accusations that the mullahs of Saudi Arabia are orchestrating a campaign to isolate and destroy the fledgling state don�t withstand scrutinity. The statement is a ploy in a tit-for-tat sectarian battle between Riyadh and Baghdad. The Shia-led Iraqi government is incensed by a Saudi- and Turkish-led process to bring Iraq�s Sunni hardliners in from the cold. In fact, Baghdad foresees a pincer movement as Syria puts pressure on America to talk to the Ba�athists who were ousted with Saddam Hussein�s regime in 2003. Elections are looming in Iraq and the Baghdad government has much to lose.." [more]

Saudi Arabia Construction Industry To Reach A Value Of US$23.29bn [Aug 12]
"In the Q309 Saudi Arabia Infrastructure Report we have revised our data using a new methodology in order to forecast a more accurate and pertinent data set. The report is forecasting Saudi Arabia�s construction industry to grow by 0.05% in real terms, to reach a nominal value of SAR87.23bn (US$23.29bn). A growing Saudi population has ensured that there is a continued need for infrastructure development.. ..However, there are upside risks to our forecasts. The first is the potential for Saudi Arabia to act as a safe haven for construction companies operating in the gulf, with reduced demand in the more saturated markets such as the UAE. Another is the Saudi government�s amassed oil revenues and willingness to spend them to prop up the country in the current economic climate, illustrated by a fiscal balance of 0% of GDP forecast for 2009 down from a surplus of 32.1% in 2008.." [more]

Saudi Arabia to Crackdown Zamzam Water Mafia [Aug 12]
"Authorities have taken the necessary precautions to prevent the thriving illegal sale of Zamzam water, which is available to all pilgrims free of charge at the Haram mosque. The holy water will be accessible to Umrah pilgrims. A five member committee has been formed to track down the so-called Zamzam mafia, mainly illegal Africans and south Asians, who virtually monopolised the holy water distribution at the refill station in the past.. ..Committee members have assembled to directly supervise the water distribution at the Kuday station. The gang members, who usually man the taps are no longer seen. In the past, especially during Ramadan and Haj, pilgrims were unable to fill Zamzam cans unless they pay the gang members. The mafia have also pushed people away from the taps. The committee is comprised of officials from Makkah police, traffic, Jawazat, municipality and the security department called Al Mujahideen.." [more]

Saudi Arabia Requests Airborne Upgrades Worth Over $2 Billion [Aug 12]
"On August 5 and 6, the US Congress has been notified of a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to the Government of Saudi Arabia of two different airborne upgrades worth some $2 billion. In one of these requests, the Government of Saudi Arabia enquired with the US for a possible deal on a two-phased approach for the Communication Navigation and Surveillance/Air Traffic Management upgrades of the communication and navigation systems for the Royal Saudi Air Force�s fleet of 13 RE-3 ELINT aircraft, KE-3 aerial tanker and cargo aircraft, and E-3 AWACS aircraft worth $1.5 billion. Furthermore, the Government of Saudi Arabia has asked the US for services to upgrade those aircraft which use the TASS (Tactical Airborne Surveillance System) with High Frequency, Very High Frequency/Ultra High Frequency secure voice/data systems and crypto systems as well as modification of existing ground stations. Including test equipment, spare and repair parts the contract would be worth some $530 million.." [more]

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

KSA Slams Israel Over E. Jerusalem Evictions [Aug 11]
"The Cabinet Monday condemned Israel�s latest atrocities against the Palestinian people, involving the expulsion of Palestinian families from their homes in occupied East Jerusalem. A statement issued by the Cabinet, which was chaired this week by Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, called upon the international community to �seriously and firmly� address the criminal acts by Israel and force it to abide by the United Nations resolutions on Palestine. The Cabinet noted that the message sent by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas last week was 'a heartfelt expression of pain over the differences among the Palestinians which only serve their enemies at the expense of the Palestinian, Arab and Muslim cause.'.." [more]

Closure of Television Station Marks Another Censorship Debate [Aug 11]
"Nearly a month after Mazen Abdul Jawad was arrested for discussing his sexual exploits on a Lebanese television station, Saudi officials closed two offices of the Lebanese Broadcasting Corportation (LBC), according to the Saudi Gazette, an English-Language daily based in the Kingdom. On Saturday, the Ministry of Culture and Information closed the LBC's office in Abdul Jawad's hometown of Jeddah. On Monday, the Ministry closed the Riyadh office.. ..While the Jeddah office was officially closed for operating without a license on orders from Deputy Prime Pinister Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz, the Abu Dhabi-based daily the National reports that Ministry of Culture and Information spokesman Abdul Aziz al-Hazzaa said the closure 'was because of the interview with Mazen Abdul Jawad.'.. ..The closure of the LBC offices mark the second time this year that Prince Alwaleed bin Talal's media Empire has been embroiled in the media control debate in Saudi Arabia. Prince Alwaleed, who owns an 85% stake in LBC, was accused by his brother of using media outlets to propagate vice this past June.." [more]

Saudi Braces as Flu Imperils Haj [Aug 11]
"A revenue shortfall looms for the kingdom�s economy as sickness worries and bans on some groups threaten to slow Haj-related spending this year. David George-Cosh reports. As the world prepares for another round of swine flu, Saudi Arabia is bracing for a sharp fall in travel and tourism spending since health officials in many countries have warned vulnerable groups against undertaking the Haj and Umrah due to fears of contracting the virus while others have banned certain age groups this year. The kingdom�s travel and tourism sector could lose as much as 25 per cent of the expected revenue from Muslim pilgrims.. ..Any losses due to travel cutbacks mark the first real example of swine flu�s impact on the economy. Since the virus, officially known as the H1N1 strain of influenza, began infecting humans in Mexico last April, its immediate impact has been clear. More than 162,000 people have been affected and the epidemic is responsible for 1,154 deaths worldwide.." [more]

Nigerian President to Visit Saudi Arabia for Medical Checkup [Aug 11]
"Nigerian President Umaru Yar�Adua will travel to Saudi Arabia on Aug. 14 for a medical checkup, his spokesman said. Yar�Adua will also perform the Muslim pilgrimage during the weeklong trip, Olusegun Adeniyi said yesterday in a statement on the president�s official Web site. A visit last year by Yar�Adua generated speculation about the state of his health, with some Nigerian newspapers reporting he had undergone surgery for a kidney ailment while he was officially on a religious pilgrimage. Yar�Adua, who turns 58 on Aug. 16, came to power in Nigeria, Africa�s most populous nation, in May 2007.." [more]

Tide Turns for Gulf Economies [Aug 11]
"They say a rising tide lifts all ships, but the oil-rich economies of the Persian Gulf are likely to rise further and faster than most. With oil prices back around $70 a barrel and new evidence suggesting a stronger-than-expected U.S. economic recovery, confidence is returning to the region after the somber reality check of the last year. Six months ago the region's economic planners were coming to terms with the prospect of their first budget deficits in almost a decade as crude hovered as low as $34 a barrel. But the possibility of higher demand from the world's biggest economy could see a dramatic turnaround in sentiment across the Middle East. Saudi Arabia, the region's economic powerhouse, is now predicted to post a "small" budget surplus this year.. ..Resurgent growth in the Gulf could also be good news for U.S. and European exporters as oil wealth once again fuels the region's thirst for consumption. Saudi Arabia has already committed to spend $400 billion over the next five years to build infrastructure and stimulate growth. Much of that work will be done by western companies. Meanwhile, sovereign wealth funds in the region may be let off the leash to rebuild their battered portfolios, providing a further boost to financial markets.." [more]

OPEC July Output Rises For 4th Straight Month On Saudis [Aug 11]
"The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries Tuesday said its members' oil production increased for a fourth straight month in July above the group's production target. The increase, a bearish signal for crude prices, highlights the rising amount of crude that various OPEC members are putting into the global market at a time when world oil demand is fading due to the close of the northern-hemisphere summer peak driving season. Output from the 11 OPEC members bound by production quotas rose by 105,000 barrels a day last month, led by an unexpected increase from Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil exporter.."  [more]

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

Kingdom to Generate 10.8m Job Opportunities by 2014 [Aug 10]
"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is expected to generate around 10.8 million jobs by 2014 to complete and sustain existing and future projects, a recent study revealed. The study pointed out that only 5.45 million Saudi nationals will be ready to take the new jobs, opening huge employment opportunities for expatriate workers, including young Arab jobseekers. An estimated amount of $6 billion are allocated for various residential projects in Saudi Arabia, which is expected to give employment for Arab youth over the next few years. The Kingdom is pursuing a 'super project' at an initial cost of around $87.8 billion, a development program that is expected to generate over 1.5 million jobs by 2020.." [more]

9,000 Terror Suspects Held in Saudi Arabia [Aug 10]
"Saudi Arabia has held more than 9,000 terrorism suspects indefinitely since 2003, offering some religious "reeducation" instead of trials, advocates say. Human Rights Watch said in a report released in New York Monday that Saudi Arabia only moved in October 2008 to try some detainees, announcing in July that it had convicted more than 300 on terrorism charges in trials the international group said were secret and unfair. Some of the Saudis detained under its counterterrorism program were peaceful political dissidents whose cases were never heard by judges because the country's domestic intelligence agency, the Mabahith, which runs its own prisons, allegedly prevented effective judicial oversight.." [more]

Argentina Expo Showcases Expansion of Holy Mosques [Aug 10]
"Exhibitions showcasing the huge expansion projects undertaken at the Two Holy Mosques and achievements of Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities got going here Saturday evening. Juan Landaboro, Deputy Secretary of Religions at Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Dr. Abu Bakr Bin Ahmad Baqadir, Undersecretary of Saudi Ministry of Culture and Information for International Cultural Relations, inaugurated the exhibitions as part of the Saudi Cultural Days currently in progress in Argentina.. ..The inauguration ceremony was attended by Issam Al-Thaqafi, Saudi Ambassador to Argentina and Uruguay. Dr. Baqadir emphasized the importance of holding such cultural exhibitions as they convey messages of peace, cordiality and brotherhood between peoples. Through these exhibitions, he said, the Ministry of Culture and Information seeks to introduce cultural and civilized perspectives in the Kingdom and to contact with other cultures.." [more]

Iran Halts Saudi Flights to Limit Swine Flu [Aug 10]
" Iran has cancelled all flights to Saudi Arabia during Ramadan to minimise the spread of swine flu, an aviation official was quoted as saying by Jumhuri Eslami newspaper on Monday. 'In order to prevent the spread of swine flu, there will be no flights from Iran to Saudi Arabi during the holy month of Ramadan,' Reza Jafarzadeh, spokesman for the Iranian civil aviation organisation said. Iran will despatch flights from Tuesday to bring back all Iranian pilgrims currently on pilgrimages in Saudi Arabia before the start of Ramadan, he said. Iran has banned all pilgrimages to the Muslim holy places in Saudi Arabia during Ramadan to control swine flu. Iranian health authorities have said that no Iranian pilgrims will be in Saudi Arabia from August 22, at the start of the holy month.." [more]

ABB Gets Orders Worth $60M In Saudi Arabia [Aug 10]
"Swiss engineering company ABB Ltd. (ABBN.VX) said Monday it won orders worth $60 million from Saudi Electricity Company, Saudi Arabia's national power transmission and distribution utility, to improve the power efficiency of 28 distribution substations.. ..Products to be supplied include capacitor banks, reactors, medium-voltage switchgear, protection and control equipment, and a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system to help the utility manage the flow of power in the network.." [more]

Lal Masjid Affectees to Ask S Arabia Not to Give Asylum to Musharraf [Aug 10]
"Relatives and associates of victims of Lal Masjid operation have decided to approach Saudi Arabian government to formally request not to accord political asylum or any official status to former President General (Retd) Pervez Musharraf because of his leading role in 'Operation Silence'. The decision to approach Riyadh was taken in Islamabad following a report published in media on August 1, 2009 that Saudi Arabia might consider giving political asylum to former President Pervez Musharraf if he requested for a safe refuge. Political sources believe that PML-N leaders may also be playing a back-stage role in pursuing the case against Pervez Musharraf and British MP Lord Nazir Ahmed is working more vigorously in compilation of evidences to frame new charges.." [more]

Saudi to Keep Sept Crude Supplies to Asia Steady [Aug 10]
"Saudi Arabia, the world's top crude exporter, will keep crude oil supplies in September steady to August levels, industry sources said on Monday. State oil firm Saudi Aramco will supply crude at 7 to 8 percent below contracted volumes in September, unchanged from August, to one buyer, one of the sources said.." [more]

Passport Compulsory for Haj Pilgrims [Aug 10]
"Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor today wanted those planning to go for Haj to apply for passports as Saudi Arabia government had this time made it compulsory that only persons with valid travel documents would be allowed. Earlier, Haj pilgrims used to go to Saudi Arabia with a special pilgrims permit, but this time, passport has been made compulsory along with a vaccination certificate against viral fever, Tharoor told reporters after a meeting of passport officers of southern and western regions here. Out of the 1.10 lakh persons already selected for performing Haj by various state haj committees, only 20,000 persons have applied for passports.." [more]

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

James Smith New US Envoy [Aug 9]
"The US Senate has confirmed President Barack Obama�s nomination of Brig. Gen. James B. Smith, of New Hampshire, to be Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, replacing Ford Fraker whose tenure ended in April. Brig. Gen. James B. Smith most recent posting was as deputy commander, Joint Warfighting Center, US Joint Forces Command, in Suffolk, Va. His aviation career includes 4,000 hours in the F-15 and T-38, including combat sorties during Desert Storm.." [more]

Saudi Closes Broadcaster After Sex Confession [Aug 9]
"Saudi Arabia has closed the Jeddah office of a Lebanon-based television network after it aired an interview with a Saudi man speaking about his sexual escapades, a government spokesman said on Sunday. Mazen Abdul Jawad, 32, was arrested last month in the Red Sea city of Jeddah after shocking Saudi Arabia, one of the most conservative countries in the world, by recounting details of his sexual exploits on Lebanese channel LBC.  The divorced father of four spoke to camera from his bedroom in Jeddah about how couples can spice up their sex lives. "Everything happens in this room," he said on an episode of the show Ahmar Bilkhat Al Areed (Wide Red Lines), before launching into descriptions of tricks for cruising women on the streets of Jeddah.." [more]

Kingdom Establishes Ties With Kosovo [Aug 9]
"Saudi Arabia formally established diplomatic ties with Kosovo following the signing of the protocol accord for diplomatic relations by Khalid A. Al-Nafisee, permanent representative of Saudi Arabia to the United Nations, and Avni Spahiu, Kosovo ambassador to the United States, at the UN office on Friday. A close ally, the Kingdom has also been one of the top donors to Kosovo, which broke away from Serbia and declared its independence in February 2008. 'A significant number of countries from the Middle East will be following Saudi Arabia�s lead in recognizing Kosovo and in boosting links with that state on all levels,' Al-Nafisee said in a statement to Arab News on Saturday. 'Riyadh, which seeks to strengthen ties in all sectors, is a close ally of Kosovo.' He said that the Kingdom became the 58th state to recognize Kosovo in April this year despite reservations expressed by many other countries on this issue.." [more]

24 Saudi Humanitarian Aid Trucks Depart Egypt for Gaza [Aug 9]
"24 Saudi aid trucks departed Egypt for Gaza on Sunday morning, to assist the Palestinians in the spirit of the upcoming Muslim month of Ramadan, Arabic newspaper Dar Al Hayat reported. The convoy was carrying 352 tons of food and medical aid to Gaza. The humanitarian convoy was coordinated with the Egyptian government to assist the citizens of Gaza.." [more]

Oil to Lift Gulf Spending, Saudi Surplus Likely [Aug 9]
"Higher oil prices will help Saudi Arabia record a small fiscal surplus in 2009, and underpin state spending in the Gulf region, but the risk that oil prices will fall remains, EFG Hermes said in a note published on Sunday. Saudi Arabia projected a $17.3 billion budget deficit for this year, but with the rebound in oil prices, several analysts have bet its books will edge into the black. Crude, which soared six-fold between 2002 and 2008 and peaked at $147 a barrel in July 2008, fell to $32 by December. It stood at $70 on Sunday.. ..'With the higher oil revenue estimate, we are now forecasting that Saudi Arabia will realise a small fiscal surplus in 2009,'.." [more]

Yemen Agrees to Extradite Its Guantanamo Detainees To Saudi [Aug 9]
"The Yemeni government has agreed to transfer its Guantanamo detainees to Saudi Arabia to rehabilitate them, well-informed sources told Sahwa Net. The sources said that the first group of detainees would arrive in Saudi in the next two months. Official sources had cited that the Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh exerted efforts to induce the U.S. president Barack Obama not to extradite Yemeni detainees to any other courtiers.  For their part, the families of the detainees refused measures aiming at extraditing their relatives to any country except Yemen, demanding the Arab countries not to accept them.." [more]

Saudi IWPP Attains Full Production [Aug 9]
"Saudi Arabia�s first independent water and power project (IWPP), developed by the Shuaiba Water & Electricity Company (SWEC), is now in full production. The project, located 90 km south of Jeddah, provides 880,000 cu m of desalinated water per day, and 900 MW of electricity to Saudi water and electricity grids. The plant is considered one of the largest IWPPs in the world, playing a major role in providing water and electricity to the Western Region of the kingdom (Makkah, Jeddah, Taif and Al Baha areas). Established by a Royal Decree, the government has a 40 per cent share in the project.. ..The successful completion of Shuaiba IWPP is a significant milestone in the kingdom�s privatization program and should give developers and their lenders considerable confidence for future IWPPs.." [more]

Deposits With Saudi Banks Rise to SR916 Billion [Aug 9]
"Saudi Arabia�s banking sector is one of the strongest in the Middle East and its strength is based on high profitability, strong liquidity, high capitalization and strict supervision by Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA). Total deposits with Saudi banks grew to SR916 billion at the end of June 2009, since banks tried to attract more deposits as interbank lending tightened, according to BMG Financial Group�s Saudi Banking Sector Review released this week. Demand deposits constitute 43 percent of the total deposits, partially driven by higher demand for Islamic banking services, which provide a low cost of funding for Saudi banks, and is one of the key reasons behind their high margins. Meanwhile, 79 percent of demand and saving deposits are secured from the private sector, as opposed to 21 percent from government entities.." [more]

Aug 2-Aug 8, 2009

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

Deal Signed for $250m Dammam Energy Park [Aug 8]
"An Energy Park will be established at Dammam�s Second Industrial City, for an estimated outlay of $250 million, Saudi Aramco announced. Under a memorandum of understanding signed between Saudi Aramco and Oilfields Service Contracting Co., OSCC will plan, build, own and operate the complex, the first project of its type in Saudi Arabia to adopt the Common User Supply Base concept.. ..OSCC aims to attract international, regional and local oil and gas service and power generation companies, with over 120 manufacturing, workshop and material storage facilities expected to occupy the park. Commercial operations should start by mid-2011.." [more]

Saudi Non-Oil Exports Drop As Petchem Prices Fall [Aug 8]
"Saudi Arabia said Saturday that non-oil exports in May dropped 23% to 8.02 billion Saudi riyals ($2.14 billion) from a year earlier as trade in petrochemicals was hit by the global economic downturn. Imports in May also fell, down 16%.. ..A drop in the value of petrochemical exports could hit earnings further this year at Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (2010.SA), the region's largest petrochemicals maker and one of the kingdom's largest employers. The company, listed on the Saudi bourse, has already suffered from a drop in demand due to the global economic downturn. The Middle East's largest-listed company, Sabic said last month that net profit declined 76% to SAR1.81 billion in the second quarter, from SAR7.55 billion a year earlier, due to the sharp fall in commodity prices. This followed Sabic reporting its first quarterly loss since 2001 in the first three months of the year as demand for high-margin plastics used by car and electronics manufacturers fell.." [more]

High Prices For Heavy Oil Defy Logic [Aug 8]
"The difference in cost between the most and the least prized liquid petroleum fuels should normally be about US$50 per barrel. At the end of last week, the margin was a little more than $5, and oil traders expect this unusually narrow gap to persist.. ..So why has fuel oil become so expensive?.. ..Saudi Arabia, the biggest OPEC producer, will supply 20 per cent less oil to Asian refiners this month than contracted, with the deepest cuts in heavy and medium crudes, according to a Reuters survey of refinery officials. SK Energy, the largest South Korean refiner, ran its refineries at an unusually low 72 per cent of capacity during the second quarter of this year. According to the most recent figures available from the Joint Oil Data Initiative, an international group, the country�s fuel oil production in May was 46 per cent lower than a year earlier.." [more]

Jeddah to Have Tourism College [Aug 8]
"The Mayor�s Office in Jeddah has launched 42 private and publicly-funded projects, prominent among them the creation of a College of Tourism, to train staff working in the field. The plans, according to an official source, will take ten years to come to fruition and center on the historical Al-Balad district of Jeddah, and include an institute for handicrafts and other educational facilities.. ..Adas said a contract that has been signed with a team of French experts involving courses for engineers and specialists on urban rehabilitation and development. These courses include lectures and field training in which trainers will demonstrate methods that can be used to ensure high quality restoration of historic sites at the lowest possible cost.." [more]

Begging for Life! [Aug 8]
"Smuggling children from neighboring Yemen into Saudi Arabia to beg for money, especially during pilgrimage season and the holy month of Ramadan, is a rising phenomenon. Nobody really knows how many children are trafficked into the country and forced into bondage as child beggars. Estimates vary from a few dozen to as many as 10,000. Whatever the number, it is recognized to be a problem that lies in the area of child exploitation and child labor. It is a violation of UN conventions on children�s rights.. ..Child begging rackets often involve a number of kids who are tossed out into the streets to beg or sell trinkets, forced to sleep on the street until they have accumulated an amount of money that is enough to keep them from being physically abused by their masters, and hopefully get a decent meal.." [more]

12,000 Visas Issued to Vietnamese Workers [Aug 8]
"The Saudi mission in Bangkok has issued about 12,000 visas to Vietnamese workers for the Kingdom, Al-Watan daily reported on Friday. The visas were issued in Thailand because the mission in Vietnam started functioning only recently. 'Visas are issued to Vietnamese men and women to work as masons, welders, carpenters, farm laborers, fishermen and heavy-vehicle drivers, in addition to domestic hands,' Chairman of Saudi Arabia�s National Committee for Recruitment, an affiliate of the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce Saad Al-Baddah told the daily in a statement. 'The reason for tapping the labor resources in Vietnam is because the workers of that country are preferred by many Saudis,' Al-Baddah said. Vietnamese are peace loving and generally averse to committing crimes, the chairman added.." [more]

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

Israeli Settlement Freeze Not Enough For Saudis [Aug 7]
" Saudi Arabia believes that Arab recognition of Israel should only come after a final peace deal with the Palestinians and not simply be a quid-pro-quo for freezing settlement expansions, analysts say. Haaretz newspaper reported Thursday that Washington had proposed a one-year freeze last week to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as a way of persuading Arab states to move toward normalising ties with Israel.. ..Middle East experts say Saudi Arabia, which is mostly calling the shots of Arab diplomacy toward Israel, would be deeply reticent to reward the Jewish state for anything short of a final peace deal with the Palestinians. In fact, says Robert Malley, the Middle East programme director at the International Crisis Group, Israel's desire for Arab recognition makes it more valuable as a final prize in the peace process. 'The ultimate signal for that recognition comes from Saudi Arabia,' he said.." [more]

Saudi Super Projects Draw Strong Interest [Aug 7]
"Saudi Arabia currently owns one of the world�s most comprehensive housing development programs with an estimated $6 billion being allocated for various residential projects. At an initial cost of around SR330 billion, the Kingdom is pursuing an ambitious �super project� that aims to build six �economic cities,� which will be home to 2.5 million residents and are expected to collectively contribute $150 billion to the Saudi GDP and generate over 1.5 million jobs by 2020.. ..Saudi Build 2009 will be held on Oct. 4-7, 2009 at the newly completed Riyadh International Exhibition Centre, one of the region�s most advanced exhibition facilities. The event has been designed to be a gateway for investors to capitalise on the country�s construction market.." [more]

Jet Airways Begins Riyadh Flights [Aug 7]
"Jet Airways, India�s premier international airline that currently operates flights to 64 destinations across the world, launched its services from the Saudi capital city on Thursday with the introduction of its direct flight from Riyadh to Mumbai.. .. 'We are excited by establishing direct links between India and one of the Middle East�s key destinations � Riyadh � a major center of trade and industry as well as a vibrant market for both business and cultural passengers.' On behalf of Fursan Travel, the GSA of Jet Airways; Roger Pfund, Fursan�s chief executive officer, briefed the newsmen about Jet Airways� future plans and the quality services.." [more]

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Ratings Affirmed On Strong Financial Position [Aug 7]
"Standard & Poor's Ratings Services today said it had affirmed its 'AA-' long-term and 'A-1+' short-term foreign and local currency sovereign credit ratings on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The outlook is stable. The Transfer & Convertibility (T&C) assessment on Saudi Arabia remains 'AA+'. 'The ratings on Saudi Arabia reflect our view of the government's extremely robust external and fiscal positions,' Standard & Poor's credit analyst Farouk Soussa said. 'Saudi Arabia currently enjoys an exceptional amount of fiscal flexibility to allow it largely to shield the local economy from the full impact of the global recession, primarily through the pursuit of expansionary fiscal policy.' Driven by high oil receipts over the past few years and the cautious approach of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA) towards foreign reserves management, foreign reserves and liquid foreign assets managed by SAMA stood at $438 billion at year-end 2008 (up from $136 billion in 2004).." [more]

Mitsubishi Rayon to Build Plant in Saudi Arabia-Nikkei [Aug 7]
"Japan's Mitsubishi Rayon (3404.T) plans to set up a joint venture with Saudi Basic Industries Corp 2010.SE (Sabic) to produce material used for acrylic glass in Saudi Arabia, the Nikkei business daily reported on Friday. Acrylic glass is used in various consumer electronics and auto parts, and demand for its resin, methyl methacrylate monomer, has been recovering, partly helped by Chinese stimulus measures. Mitsubishi Rayon, which is likely to take a majority stake in the joint venture, is expected to spend more than 50 billion yen ($524.1 million) on the project to build a factory that will start operating in 2013, the Nikkei said.." [more]

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

Squabbling Palestinian Movement Gets Saudi Scolding [Aug 6]
"Reformists kept up pressure for leadership change in the dominant Palestinian party Fatah on Thursday and Saudi Arabia said no Palestinian state could emerge unless internal divisions are healed. Fatah's first congress in 20 years got off to a rocky start this week, with charges by reformists that a well-entrenched but aging and politically discredited "old guard" had stacked the convention with loyalists to safeguard the status quo. Internal feuding and the risk of an open split in the Fatah movement of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, in addition to the deep rift between Fatah and Islamist rival Hamas, provoked a warning from Saudi King Abdullah in unusually blunt language. 'Even if the whole world agreed to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, with all the needed support and backing, it will not be established as long as the Palestinian house is divided,' Abdullah wrote in an open letter to Abbas.." [more]

KSA Puts Limits on Pilgrims [Aug 6]
"Saudi Arabia will require the millions of pilgrims who flock to the Kingdom to provide a health certificate showing that they do not have a chronic disease, as part of country�s efforts to battle swine flu, a Health Ministry official said Wednesday. The country will also ban adults over 65 and children under 12, and require pilgrims to show proof they�ve received flu shots at home, said Khaled Al-Merghalani, the ministry spokesman. �These conditions came after consultations with top international experts in the field,� Al-Merghalani told The Associated Press. 'No one will be able to get a visa without fulfilling these new rules.' Al-Merghalani said the restrictions will apply to the Haj, which this year takes place in late Nov., and to Umrah, which can see up to three million visitors during the holy fasting month of Ramadan, which begins later this month. Al-Merghalani said the government will start implementing the rules once they are approved by top Saudi authorities.." [more]

Riyadh's Hotels Boom As Businessmen Seek Saudi Deals [Aug 6]
"New hotels are rising up in Riyadh to help meet demand from business travelers visiting the capital of Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil producer, that is avoiding the worst of the global economic downturn. Riyadh had some of the highest average room rates and revenue per available room levels in the world last year at $244 and $175 respectively, according to business advisory firm Deloitte. And average room rates climbed 18.5% through the first quarter but have leveled off since. This is in stark contrast to hotels in the world's major cities.. ..Executives and sales reps are still heading to the kingdom in droves spurring demand for hotel rooms. Developers are rushing to build new hotels but face limitations posed by an absence of visitors other than businessmen trying to score a deal.." [more]

Saudi Courts to Begin Trial of Terror Suspects [Aug 6]
"A number of terror suspects including three men whose names figured on the list of 85 suspects released by the Ministry of Interior will soon go on trial in Saudi courts. 'These militants, including the three who surrendered themselves before Saudi police recently under pressure from family and friends, are behind bars for plotting attacks against the Kingdom from abroad,' Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki said on Wednesday. 'Everybody will be tried in a fair manner,'.. ..The spokesman said that all the cases involving suspected militants arrested for plotting attacks would be transferred to Shariah courts. This would be the second mass trial of Saudi suspects since judgment was handed down on July 8 against 330 terror suspects indicted in 179 terror-related cases.." [more]

Domestic Credit Growth Slows Down in Saudi Arabia [Aug 6]
"According to the latest monetary data, domestic credit growth in Saudi Arabia slowed down in the 12 months to June, expanding by just 4 percent, down from more than 35 percent a year earlier. Commercial bank claims on the public sector showed the biggest slowdown, moving into negative territory from near 60 percent growth in October as the government cut yields on its treasury bills, making them less attractive to commercial banks, according to the Riyadh-Based Samba Financial Group's Economic Monitor for August. However, most of the downward pull came from private sector credit, which accounts for around 75 percent of overall domestic credit. Private credit growth fell from around 35 percent in June 2008 at the height of the boom to just 5.6 percent 12 months later. The retrenchment is clearly visible on the other side of the monetary balance sheet.." [more]

Top Judiciary Institute Seeks Man-Made Laws, Consistent Sentences [Aug 6]
"The Dean of the Higher Institute of the Judiciary (HIJ), the body that trains judges for judicial posts after completing university training in Islamic Law, has said that the legal system would 'benefit from man-made laws compatible with Islamic Shariah Law' and has called for sentences to be codified as soon as possible to avoid variances in sentences for similar crimes.. ..'Scholars have different opinions on the codification of sentences,' Al-Mazeini said, 'and a jurisprudential argument has been going on for a long time, but many scholars in the Kingdom such as Sheikh Abdullah Bin Suleiman Bin Maneah of the Board of Senior Ulema support the codification of sentences.'.." [more]

4m to Enter Job Market [Aug 6]
"More than four million youths will enter the Kingdom�s job market over the next 10 years, according to a recent study.. ..'More than 400,000 men and women are graduating annually in various specializations in the country. The share of jobs that will be in Makkah will be between eight and 10 percent of the total. On the other hand, there are only 80 big companies that can provide large-scale employment. Small size enterprises have huge potential for creating new jobs in large numbers,' official spokesman of the MCCI Maher Jamal said while commenting on the report recently.. ..'Small enterprises sector is the backbone of the private sector in the Kingdom and potential job provider. MCCI founded SEC to serve this sector,'.."  [more]

Sound Group Wins RMB 560 mln Contract From Saudi Arabia [Aug 6]
"Sound Group, a Beijing-based company mainly engaged in water disposal and the manufacture of environmental protection equipment, announced that it won a contract worth RMB 560 million from Saudi Arabia. The project is to upgrade Saudi Arabia's ninth water treatment plant. The Beijing-based company will be in charge of the design work for the first phase and the third phase and will handle construction during the second phase. The total contract value of the three phases is estimated at RMB 700 million. The company will consider source integration with its subsidiary Epure in accordance with the situation of the capital market, said Wen Yibo, the company's president.." [more]

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

End Rift, King Tells Palestinians [Aug 5]
"Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah called on the Palestinians on Tuesday to set their house in order while exhorting them to unite not only to realize their dreams but also to combat the aggression of Israel.. ..'I frankly tell you that all that the arrogant and lawbreaking enemy could not do to the Palestinian cause over the past long years of continuous aggression the Palestinians themselves have done in a few months. I am telling you the truth, if the whole world jointly strove to establish an independent Palestinian state but the Palestinian house remained divided, nothing would be achieved.'.." [more]

Saudi To Decide On Swine Flu Haj Restrictions Soon [Aug 5]
"Saudi Arabia will decide shortly on whether to impose restrictions and medical requirements to contain the spread of swine flu among Muslims visiting the kingdom for this years Haj, the world's largest annual religious pilgrimage. The global A/H1N1 swine flu pandemic has claimed 1,154 lives since the outbreak was identified in April, according to data published by the WHO. saudi authorities are concerned that the influx of pilgrims to the kingdom could see a surge in infections. Authorities are considering 'restrictions that will be issued soon,' said Saudi's health minister Abdullah al-Rabia, in a statement on the official Saudi Press Agency Web site Wednesday. The government may ask pilgrims traveling to the event held in Mecca take vaccinations against the virus amongst other measures.." [more]

80 Projects Cancelled in Saudi Arabia [Aug 5]
"Reuters reported that about 80 projects worth around USD 20 billion have been put on hold or cancelled in Saudi Arabia due to the global economic downturn. Dubai based research firm Proleads Global said that 'The economic crisis has not had a great effect on the rate at which projects have been cancelled in Saudi Arabia.' Mr Emil Rademeyer the firm's director said that 'The market in Saudi Arabia is expected to maintain current levels throughout 2010 although a slight decline is expected in the education and healthcare sectors countered with an expected slight growth in commercial and retail.' The report examined more than 720 projects worth more than USD 430 billion across all property sectors.." [more]

Youths Launch Campaign About Saudi Society [Aug 5]
"Saudi youths have launched a media awareness campaign on the Internet in response to 'faulty' media portrayals of their country, in hopes to correcting the image the world has about their society. The campaign, which so far includes more than 320 supporters, is called "Never compromise your homeland" and is aimed at Western media. It instructs western journalists to be cautious and accurate when presenting information about the kingdom. 'This campaign aims at responding to the negative image Western media presents of the Saudi society,' Amgad al-Manif, the official spokesman of the campaign told Al Arabiya. The campaign's main target is to present the true identity of Saudi Arabia, starting with reviewing all media reports and T.V. shows targeting Saudi audiences and combating those that tarnish the image of the kingdom. 'The campaign is not after imposing censorship on journalists. We are not against freedom of expression,' Manif explained. 'We are against incorrect information, which defeats the purpose of journalism.'.." [more]

Saudi Academy in Virginia Allowed to Expand Campus [Aug 5]
"Officials have granted a zoning exemption that will allow a Saudi-funded academy to expand its campus. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, which voted 6-4 Monday to grant the exemption, emphasized that the decision was made on zoning issues. Scores of people spoke at hearings in the spring and summer on the academy�s plans. Some neighbors were against the expansion because of traffic worries. Others opposed the plans because of ideological concerns about what the school teaches.. ..The approval drew jeers from critics of the academy. Jim Lafferty, one of the critics, vowed political retaliation against the supervisors who supported it. The academy was founded in 1984 and has some 1,000 students in pre-kindergarten through grade 12. It is the only Saudi-funded school in the United States.." [more]

Saudi Firm Develops Anti-Swine Flu Drug [Aug 5]
"The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has approved the first Saudi produced anti-swine flu drug which has now been officially registered by the Saudi Ministry of Health, according to a UPI report Tuesday.. ..'The drug,' Bawazir was quoted as saying, 'is 30 percent cheaper than previously used drugs.' Khalid Al-Zamil, the assistant general manager of the company producing the drug, said that it was used to tackle the virus during the first few days of infection and not for prevention. Researchers, he said, began working on it since the first case of swine flu was announced.." [more]

Iran Cancels Ramadan Umrah [Aug 5]
"Tehran has decided to stop Iranians from going to the holy places to perform Umrah during Ramadan due to serious concerns over swine contracting swine flu. The decision was announced by Majlis Health Committee deputy chairman Hosseinali Shahriari. So far, 105 people have been diagnosed with swine flu in Iran, compared to 595 in Saudi Arabia where four people have also died.." [more]

Saudi Aramco Cuts Most Sep OSPs To Europe, Asia; Raises All US [Aug 5]
"Saudi Arabian Oil Co. has reduced its crude oil official selling prices for September term supply to Northwest Europe and Asia, and raised all prices to the U.S., the state-owned company said in an official notice received Wednesday. Official selling prices for September term supply to the Mediterranean were mixed, the company, also known as Saudi Aramco, said. Saudi Aramco's September crude oil official selling prices, in U.S. dollars a barrel, are as follows.." [more]

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

Saudi Well Poised to Contain Swine Flu [Aug 4]
" Saudi Arabia is well poised to contain the situation arising out of swine flu, which claimed lives of four people and afflicted more than 500 citizens and foreign nationals. The Minister of Health Dr. Abdullah Al Rabee�a has assured the Council of Ministers that the swine flu situation in the Kingdom is under control and there is nothing to worry about.. ..The Council of Ministers listened to a report on the elaborate preparations for welcoming Umrah pilgrims and visitors to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah during the forthcoming month of Ramadan. In his briefing to the Cabinet meeting, chaired by Prince Naif bin Abdul Aziz, Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior, Monday evening, Dr. Al Rabee�a assured that his ministry was making every effort to prevent the spread of the flu in the Kingdom.." [more]

Wasta Behind Protests � Taif University [Aug 4]
"Taif University claimed Monday that its refusal to pay heed to recommendations for admission was the reason why �400 girl applicants who scored low marks,� staged a chaotic sit-in protest here. 'There is no place for intercession (Wasta) or favoritism,' said Abdul Ilah Banajeh, the university�s president, about Monday�s protest. 'We did justice by not accepting students with low marks at the expense of outstanding students.' He said 12,000 out of 30,000 applicants were given admission; of these, 10,000 were full-time students, male and female. The university had to call the police after its security staff failed to disperse the protesters at the campus gates.. ..In all, there were 400 girls in the protest, Banajeh said. Many guardians of the girls also joined the sit-in.." [more]

Sex Braggart May Face Death [Aug 4]
" Mazen Abdul Jawad, the Saudi man who went on an LBC program and bragged about his sex life, along with his alleged accomplices, may have to defend against hiraba charges. Hiraba defined as waging unlawful warfare (in speech or action) against the state and society. If the defendants face such a charge, they would be fighting capital punishment. Hiraba is in a class of crime known as hadd, whose punishment is specifically prescribed in the Holy Qur�an as death. 'The prosecution may request the application of Hadd Al-Hiraba to the defendants which entails beheading,' said a source from the Prosecution and Investigation Commission (PIC), who spoke to Arab News only on condition he not be identified.. ..Abdul Jawad appeared on the LBC program �Bold Red Line� on July 15, speaking about sex, including frank talk about his supposed sexual adventures.." [more]

Cosmetic Surgery Booms in Saudi Arabia [Aug 4]
"..In a country where lifestyle is largely dictated by religion, Saudi Arabia has seen a growing interest in the past few years in cosmetic procedures � once thought of as indulgences of the Western world. In fact, the country�s cosmetic practices are causing clerics to contend with new questions about the intersection of beauty and faith: Does the Islamic faith allow for various cosmetic surgeries, such as nose jobs, breast implants or liposuction? Sheik Mohammed al-Nujaimi, a Saudi cleric, uses guidelines that were reached in a meeting between plastic surgeons and clergymen three years ago to determine which procedures religion allows.. ..procedures intended to reverse damage or disfigurement from an accident, or procedures that enhance or fix features that cause a person grief, are considered acceptable. Procedures or surgeries that would change a 'perfect nose' to more resemble the shape of a celebrity�s nose, are generally frowned upon. Previously rare in Saudi Arabia, there are now about 35 plastic surgery centers in the capital city of Riyadh.." [more]

Saudi Seen Cutting All Crude Prices to Asia For September [Aug 4]
"Top oil exporter Saudi Arabia is expected to lower the price of all its crude grades heading to Asia for September on slow demand from regional refiners deterred by their current high costs, traders said on Tuesday. A poll of seven refiners and traders said they saw no upside for Saudi crude prices to Asia as they estimated the August official selling prices (OSPs) to be too expensive and after Abu Dhabi issued very competitive OSPs late on Monday. 'The Saudi OSPs are too expensive now and I think some have already lowered their requirements,' a trader with a refiner said.. ..Saudi crude OSPs are usually released around the fifth of each month, and set the trend for Iranian, Kuwaiti and Iraqi prices, affecting some 7 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude bound for Asia.." [more]

Kingdom�s Gross National Income First in Arab World [Aug 4]
"Saudi Arabia�s gross national income was the first in the Arab world and 23rd worldwide at $457.6 billion. Kuwait came second and 17th worldwide, World Bank�s report on per capita income for 2008 said. However, in terms of per capita income, Saudi Arabia came fourth in the Arab world and 53rd worldwide with a per capita income of $15,500.." [more]

More Saudis Are Shopping Online [Aug 4]
"There has been a marked increase in the number of online orders placed by Saudis for goods in shops in the United States over the past three months, according to an official of Saudi Post. Saudi Post recently launched a service called My Address in America, for Saudi online shoppers from stores in the United States. 'Now there has been a more than 200 percent increase in the number of Saudi customers seeking the e-shopping service from the USA since the service began in April,'.. ..The service is available to all Wasel subscribers for whom the post provides a personal address for use in the US. Any purchases bought online in the US and delivered to this address will be shipped directly to the subscriber�s Wasel address in the Kingdom.." [more]

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

U.S. to Push Peace in Middle East Media Campaign [Aug 3]
" George J. Mitchell likes to remind people that he labored for 700 days before reaching the Good Friday accord that brought peace to Northern Ireland. So the fact that Mr. Mitchell has shuttled back and forth to the Middle East for the last 190 days without any breakthroughs, he said, does not mean that President Obama�s push for peace there is stalled.. ..In coming weeks, senior administration officials said, the White House will begin a public-relations campaign in Israel and Arab countries to better explain Mr. Obama�s plans for a comprehensive peace agreement involving Israel, the Palestinians and the Arab world. The campaign, which will include interviews with Mr. Obama on Israeli and Arab television, amounts to a reframing of a policy that people inside and outside the administration say has become overly defined by the American pressure on Israel to halt settlement construction on the West Bank.." [more]

Saudi Aramco Awards $400 Mln Seismic Data Contracts [Aug 3]
"Saudi Aramco has awarded $400 million worth of seismic contracts as it steps up oil and gas exploration in the kingdom, industry sources said on Monday. The data-gathering contracts will cover the Red Sea and the 900,000 barrels per day (bpd) Moneefa oilfield, said the sources from BGB Arabia.. ..The first one, a 3D programme on Moneefa will last for two years while a 2D transition offshore/ onshore zone on the Red Sea will be over a period of 14 months and another onshore 4 year programme to study possible gas or oil finds in some parts of the vast Empty Quarter, the sources said. 'There is no confirmation from Aramco that the Rub al Khali (Empty Quarter) is going to be included in this programme but maybe some terrains,'.." [more]

First Saudi Women Work as Maids [Aug 3]
"The first group of Saudi housemaids has begun work under a government scheme, say reports from Saudi Arabia. Until now, the job - which is regarded by many Saudis as demeaning - had been mostly restricted to Asian women. The Saudi Ministry of Labour permitted Saudi women to work as maids two years ago, but there has been strong resistance to the move. Thirty Saudi women aged between 20 and 45 have started work in Jeddah.. ..The women are contracted to work eight hours a day for a monthly wage of 1,500 Saudi riyal (�238; $400).. ..The labour ministry's decision two years ago to allow Saudi women to work as maids provoked controversy. There is a strong social stigma attached to the work, but supporters, such as impoverished widows, argue they need opportunities for honest work.." [more]

Saudi Women Stage Rare University Demo [Aug 3]
"Scuffles broke out on Sunday when hundreds of Saudi women students held a rare protest at a university over alleged corrupt admission policies, local newspapers reported. The protest erupted after students were turned away on admissions day at Taif University, south of the holy city of Mecca, Okaz and its sister paper the Saudi Gazette said on Monday. Female security guards clashed with the students and female guardians as they staged a sit-in and blocked streets and the entrance to the university.. ..The women accused the university of admitting less qualified students and closing admissions before the official registration date. But the dean of admissions and registration, Hisham al-Zeer denied there was any corruption in the admissions process.." [more]

Earnings of Listed Firms Increase to SR17.20 Billion [Aug 3]
"The Saudi stock market fell on Sunday. The Tadawul All-Share Index (TASI) dropped 0.32 percent to 5,767.94. Only 4 sectors closed in positive territory on Sunday, namely Telecom (0.04 percent), Energy (0.29 percent), Cement (0.42 percent) and Retail (1.56 percent). On the other hand, 11 sectors closed with losses ranging from 0.03 percent in the Agriculture & Food sector to 1.03 percent in the Multi-Investment sector. Overall market breadth was negative, with 31 advancers and 87 decliners posting an AD ratio of 0.36, the Jeddah-based Financial Transaction House (FTH) said in its market commentary on Sunday.. ..Meanwhile, second quarter results announced by 127 of the 130 Saudi listed joint-stock companies boosted investors� confidence for a rebound in the equity market and expectations for yet another year of positive economic growth, the Jeddah-based National Commercial Bank (NCB) said in its market review on Sunday. TASI is maintaining an upward movement in line with a slight pickup in bank credit in the second quarter of this year.." [more]

Saudi-Based Partners Launch Africa Rice Farming Plan [Aug 3]
"A group of Saudi-based investors, including the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), will launch later this year a seven-year plan worth $1 billion in Africa to reduce dependency on rice imports and supply the Middle East region. The so-called 7X7 project aims at developing and planting 700,000 hectares of farm land to produce within seven years 7 million tonnes of rice, said Salim Lalani, head of investments at Foras International Investment Company, one of the partners in the project. 'We are looking at three to four countries: Mali, Senegal and may be Sudan and Uganda,' Lalani told Reuters. Food security has topped the policy agenda in the arid Gulf Arab region following rampant inflation in 2008 that underscored its dependence on imports and forced countries to invest abroad to ensure supplies of staples such as rice and wheat.." [more]

IEA Economist Warns of Oil Shortfalls [Aug 3]
"It�s not every day that an International Energy Agency economist can be heard publicly stirring the pot about peak oil and energy shortfalls in the near future. But old habits are sometimes put aside of new priorities; it appears that the agency is becoming more worried about the future. In an interview hovering somewhere between a stern warning and scaremongering, the IEA�s chief economist, Fatih Birol, has told the Independent that we�re on the verge of a catastrophic �oil crunch� at current rates of consumption:.. ..The IEA has already adjusted its forecasts and doesn�t predict that peak oil, or the day after which oil production will only decline, will come for another decade. Birol doesn�t seem to be contradicting that prediction, but he is raising an alarm over whether the production levels he expects us to reach will be able to satisfy demand.." [more]

Delegation to Show Arab Solidarity With Bashir [Aug 3]
" In an effort to show solidarity with Sudanese President Omar Hassan Bashir, all 22 member states of the Arab Inter-Parliamentary Union (APU), including Saudi Arabia, have decided to send a high-ranking delegation to Khartoum while renewing their call to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to take urgent steps to defuse the crisis in Sudan by suspending the warrant of arrest for the Sudanese leader. APU Secretary-General Noureddine Bouchkouj made the call ahead of his visit to the Kingdom. Bouchkouj said, 'Saudi Arabia and other APU members share common concerns on the question of Bashir�s indictment and have identical positions on this issue.'.. ..Asked how the APU would help Sudan to overcome its problems especially at a time when Bashir is named on an arrest warrant, Bouchkouj said he was working on a common initiative to send an APU delegation to Khartoum in a few weeks. The APU, which coordinates efforts to restore comprehensive peace in the region, has called for the suspension of arrest warrant. He said the APU is planning to hold its next conference in Cairo in February next year.." [more]

~~~~~~~~ [ Aug 2]~~~~~~~~~

Saudi Arabia Offers Asylum to Musharraf   [Aug 2]
"Saudi ambassador to Pakistan says the kingdom may grant asylum to the former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf in the case he makes such a demand. Abdul Aziz bin Ibrahim Al Ghadeer's comments on Friday came as Musharraf appears to be heading for trouble in the wake of the Pakistani Supreme Court declaring his imposition of emergency in 2007 as unconstitutional, Indian Express reported. 'The Proclamation of Emergency issued by General Pervez Musharraf as the Chief of Army Staff on November 3, 2007 is hereby declared to be unconstitutional and consequently illegal,' Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said, reading the short order of Supreme Court. The 65-year-old Musharraf, who is abroad on a lecture tour, has not yet made any comment on the court's verdict.." [more]

KSA Orders 4m Doses of Vaccines [Aug 2]
"Saudi Arabia has ordered four million doses of swine flu vaccine from multinational pharmaceutical companies in preparation for the Haj pilgrimage in the year-end, the health minister told a crowded press conference here Saturday. He was speaking a day after the number of deaths due to A-H1N1 in the Kingdom reached four. The first shipment of vaccines is expected to arrive by the end of October, Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeah said. The vaccines, currently under clinical trials, are expected to hit the world market around that time. 'Four million vaccine doses were reserved and, of course, buying the vaccines is not easy as there is global competition,'.." [more]

Saudi Cable Co Takes Majority Stake in Turkish Firm [Aug 2]
"Saudi Cable Co said on Sunday it has agreed to buy a 79-percent stake in Turkish electronic equipments maker Elimsan for 123.75 million riyals ($33 million). 'Elimsan's takeover is among strategic steps taken by the (Saudi Cable) company to consolidate and diversify its products, which will enable it to cover promising markets in the Gulf Arab region,' Saudi Cable said in a statement. Two unidentified banks will finance about 91 percent of the deal's cost over a five-year period and the remainder will be funded from Saudi Cable's own cash, it added. Elimsan mainly specialises in the production of electrical switchgears, gas circuit breakers, metal enclosed switchgears and high voltage disconnectors. Saudi Cable, a power and telecom network equipment maker, said Elimsan generates annual sales of 500 million riyals.." [more]

Saudi Banks' Provisions For Loan Losses [Aug 2]
"Data from the Saudi stock exchange showed on Sunday that Saudi Hollandi Bank 1040.SE made a second-quarter provision for loan losses of 253 million riyals ($67.5 million), more than three times its equivalent in 2008. Hollandi is the latest Saudi bank to unveil the amount of provisions for loan losses amid concerns over the solvency levels of two heavily indebted Saudi conglomerates, the Saad Group [SAADG.UL] and Ahmad Hamad Algosaibi & Bros (AHAB). Below are details of provisions for losses made by listed Saudi banks during the second quarter and comparative figures for previous periods.." [more]

Saudi/Shell JV Says 2 Empty Quarter Zones Give Gas [Aug 2]
" A Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L) and Saudi Aramco joint venture said on Sunday that gas from two zones under exploration in the kingdom's Empty Quarter flowed at a combined rate of 90 million cubic feet per day. South Rub al-Khali Co (SRAK) said the two zones were located in the Arab reservoir in its fourth exploration well called Kidan-6. 'One zone was flowed at a rate of 50 million cubic feet per day of gas while the other zone was flowed at 40 million cubic feet of gas per day,'.. ..SRAK began exploring in 2004 for gas, condensate and natural gas liquids in nine blocks in two separate parts of the Empty Quarter. Ownership of SRAK is split equally between Shell and Aramco. Total (TOTF.PA) has sold a 30 percent stake in SRAK after the first three wells found nothing.. ..The kingdom is short of gas to meet demand from power plants and industry.." [more]

Haj Visas Being Cleared Despite Advisory on Ban [Aug 2]
"The Ministry of Health (MoH) has forwarded the Arab health ministers� anti-swine flu recommendations to the higher authorities, on banning vulnerable groups like the elderly, pregnant women and young children from the Haj pilgrimage.. .. Dr. Memish said it is up to the higher authorities to decide on whether to issue a ban on elderly pilgrims (above 65 years of age), pregnant women and children below 12 years old. The recommendations were adopted by the Arab League Health Ministers conference held recently in Cairo. Dr Memish said Saudi embassies and consulates abroad are endorsing Haj visas at present regardless of the recommendations.." [more]

Saudi Construction Sector Escapes Crisis [Aug 2]
"The Saudi Arabian civil construction industry is stable and has escaped the worst of the global economic crisis, which has afflicted some of its Gulf neighbours, according to a new report by a leading research house.. ..The study finds cashflow in the Saudi Arabian industry grew throughout 2008 and stabilised in 2009. 'The market in Saudi Arabia is expected to maintain current levels throughout 2010, although slight decline is expected in the education and healthcare sectors countered with an expected slight growth in commercial and retail,' said Emil Rademeyer, director of Proleads Global. Despite the global slowdown, Saudi Arabia is one of the most active construction markets in the world as it grows its infrastructure to meet domestic demands with more than 350 of the active projects in construction.." [more]

Jeddah Gets Policewomen [Aug 2]
"A Policewomen�s Section was launched Saturday at the Jeddah Governorate. The policewomen have purely administrative jobs in areas like civil status, criminal evidence, criminal investigation and preventive security, said Maj. Gen. Ali Bin Muhammad Al-Saadi Al-Ghamdi, Director of Jeddah Police. Bassma Rajb, Director of the Women�s Section, said the women have completed advanced training in police work.." [more]

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