Saudi-US Relations Information Service

"..The visit of King Abdullah "will write a new chapter of friendly cooperation between China and Saudi Arabia in a new century" according to Chinese President Hu Jintao. The King has moved on to India, the second of four stops on his Asian tour, but a great deal of discussion has been generated by the meetings in China. Reporters, analysts and commentators have weighed in on the significance of the visit -- the first by a Saudi King to the "Middle Kingdom," the first overseas destination for Abdullah since ascending to the Saudi throne -- covering a broad spectrum of topics: energy, trade, security, strategic balance, and more.."

Saudi Arabia's Accession to the WTO: Is a "Revolution" Brewing?
Middle East Policy Council Capitol Hill Conference Series
on US Middle East Policy

"..We've come together today to discuss a neglected topic, one on which there are more spurious opinions than facts out there. And that is, Saudi Arabia and its accession to the WTO. Saudi Arabia is a unique place, and the impact of its accession to the WTO is likely to be enormous. Saudi Arabia has, because of its history and its oil wealth, been able to make up its own rules for investment and foreign trade, and to play by its own rules. But it is now embracing international norms for the first time. It's doing so in its own interest and in furtherance of King Abdullah's effort to promote reform in the kingdom. WTO accession really marks the end of an era in many respects. That was an era where some people quipped that the national motto in Saudi Arabia was "progress without change." This era has come to an end and much change is now in store.." -- Amb. Chas Freeman

Saudi Arabia Culls Falcons Over Suspected Bird Flu [Jan 28]
"Authorities in Saudi Arabia have culled a group of 37 falcons after discovering five suspected cases of bird flu among them, the Agriculture Ministry said on Saturday. Samples from the five falcons have been sent for checks to determine if they were affected by the deadly H5N1 virus.." [more]

Kingdom, India Forge Energy Partnership [Jan 28]
"Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah yesterday concluded his four-day historic visit to India by signing a landmark declaration that committed the two countries to develop a strategic energy partnership.. ..The declaration weaves together the new elements of an emerging strategic partnership reflecting India’s knowledge economy and its ravenous energy appetite and a changing Saudi Arabia looking eastward for fresh infusion of technology, skilled manpower and inspiration.." [more]

Imams Back Call for Danish Boycott in Cartoons Row [Jan 28]
" Imams of mosques across the Kingdom yesterday denounced Danish and Norwegian newspapers that published cartoons tarnishing the image of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and urged Islamic countries to confront such hostile campaigns.. ..Jyllands-Posten, Denmark’s largest newspaper, ran 12 cartoons last September, including one in which the Prophet is portrayed wearing a turban shaped as a bomb. Islam considers images of prophets disrespectful and caricatures of them
blasphemous.." [more]

Saudi Stock Trading Tops SR206 Billion [Jan 28]
"The Saudi stock market witnessed some of its heaviest trading last week, buoyed mainly by the strong gains of the Saudi Telecom Co. (STC), Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC) and Al-Rajihi Banking & Investment Corp. The Tadawul All-Share Index (TASI) climbed 6.22 percent, to close on Thursday at an all-time high of 18,751.78 points from 17,653.72 points previous week.." [more]

The Pitfalls of Being a Saudi Female Journalist [Jan 28]
"The expulsion of five Saudi female journalists from the press conference of Erick Smith, President of the Copyright International Association, here Wednesday has sent shock waves. The incident happened at a time when the Kingdom is taking measures to expand the participation of Saudi women in the country s economic activities and their absorption in the labor market. Security officers in the InterContinental Hotel here, the venue of the conference, expelled the five journalists from the conference hall under the pretext that they had no permits.." [more]

Saudi Arabia Recalls Envoy in Danish Row [Jan 27]
"Saudi Arabia has recalled its ambassador to Denmark in a row about cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad published by a best-selling newspaper. A Saudi government spokesman said the ambassador had been recalled for talks following Denmark's failure to deal with the insults to the Prophet.. ..Islam bans any depiction of Muhammad or Allah.." [more]

Saudi Arabia, India Fail to Sign Anti-terror Accord [Jan 27]
"Efforts to sign an anti-terrorism treaty between Saudi Arabia and India have reportedly failed.. ..Sources privy to the talks said that India could not agree to the Saudi demand to incorporate 'freedom struggles' as justification of acts of violence, categorically opposing use of terror against civilians.." [more]

Oil Prices to Stay High, OPEC to Keep Pumping-Saudi [Jan 27]
"Saudi Arabia's oil minister said on Friday that OPEC would keep production steady when it meets next week, although he did not expect oil prices to fall soon due to issues beyond market fundamentals. 'There seems to be no reason to reduce, so OPEC will continue the way it is right now,' Ali al-Naimi told reporters.. ..Asked about the possibility of raising output, he said: 'There are no customers for additional oil'.." [more]

Boycott of Danish Goods Over Blasphemous Cartoons [Jan 27]
"Abdullah Al-Othaim, executive president of Al-Othaim Holding Company, reaffirmed yesterday his company’s boycott of Danish products until that country’s largest daily apologizes for publishing 12 cartoons that mocked the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Al-Othaim said that just as Denmark has freedom of the press, Muslims have freedom to buy or not to buy.." [more]

King Assures India on Energy Needs [Jan 27]
"Abdullah, the first Saudi king to visit India in 50 years, arrived here Tuesday at the head of a 250-member delegation. He held wide-ranging talks with President Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The talks focused on strengthening cooperation in energy, expanding trade exchange and fighting terrorism.. ..A staunch advocate of peace, the king urged India and Pakistan to build on their ongoing peace initiatives to reinforce peace and stability in the region.." [more]

More Friendly Environment for Businesswomen [Jan 27]
"With the Kingdom now a World Trade Organization (WTO) member, more opportunities will open up for businesswomen. Under the current Saudi system, a woman may not officially hold a CEO or general manager position in a company that has both male and female employees, but this will change soon.. ..More job opportunities are also opening up for women after joining the WTO. Within four years time Saudi employees must represent 70 percent of all foreign investments. Saudi women could take up a
large portion of that 70 percent.." [more]

Egypt and Saudi Arabia for New Talks to Reduce Tension [Jan 27]
"Egypt and Saudi Arabia are stepping up efforts to reduce the tension between Lebanon and Syria, triggered by the assassination of former prime minister Rafik Hariri, Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said yesterday.. ..Siniora said the Egyptian leader would be sending his intelligence chief, Omar Suleiman, to Damascus and Beirut to mediate between the two governments. Siniora said the Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Saud Al Faisal, would embark on a similar mission.." [more]

Saudi Arabia Offers Investors Historic Opportunities [Jan 27]
"HRH Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf, the Ambassador to the United Kingdom and Ireland, opened the latest Forum on Trade and Investment Opportunities for British Companies in Saudi Arabia in Manchester yesterday. In a key address before more than 250 representatives of financial, economic and investment institutions in Manchester, the Ambassador confirmed that the Saudi economy offered historic opportunities for investors, and urged them to seize every chance to work with the Kingdom in its development projects and take part in its industrial prosperity.." [more]

Saudi Arabia Plans Production Expansion [Jan 26]
"Saudi Arabia is pressing ahead on its ambitious oil expansion scheme and stepping up exploration to meet future demand, the head of state Saudi Aramco said on Thursday. Opec's leading producer, has plans in train to boost production capacity from 11 million barrels per day (bpd) to 12.5 million bpd by 2009. It has been pumping about 9.5 million bpd of crude for monthsrunning.." [more]

India, Saudi Arabia Sign Landmark Business Deal [Jan 26]
"India bilateral business and economic ties with Saudi Arabia got a significant boost with the signing of the proposed Bilateral Investment Protection Agreement (BIPA) and the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement.. ..India is in the process of negotiating a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in goods with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), of which Saudi Arabia is a prominent member. One of the most striking merits of strengthening ties with Saudi Arabia is that once the FTA becomes operational, many of the bottlenecks in trade with member nations of the GCC would be removed.." [more]

Saudi Arabia Expects Stable Oil Output at OPEC Meet [Jan 26]
"Saudi Arabia said on Thursday that it expects OPEC to maintain current output levels at its upcoming meeting while the country could increase supply in the last quarter of 2006 if demand warrants. Saudi oil minister Ali Al Naimi told the private Indian NDTV television channel that there would be no change at the January 31 OPEC meeting in Vienna.. ..The minister said that demand for oil might go up in the last quarter of 2006 but was unlikely to increase before that.." [more]

Saudi Arabia Pledges Tougher Anti-piracy Drive [Jan 26]
"Saudi Arabia, the newest member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), has pledged to jail violators of intellectual property rights in a fight against widespread piracy, a U.S. body said on Wednesday. Saudi Arabia has stepped up raids against piracy but needs to do more to live up to the WTO's treaty, Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), said Eric Smith, president of the International Intellectual Property Alliance (IIPA). He said piracy accounted for 50 percent of local sales.." [more]

Saudi Arabia Plans Production Expansion [Jan 26]
"Saudi Arabia is pressing ahead on its ambitious oil expansion scheme and stepping up exploration to meet future demand, the head of state Saudi Aramco said on Thursday. Opec's leading producer, has plans in train to boost production capacity from 11 million barrels per day (bpd) to 12.5 million bpd by 2009. It has been pumping about 9.5 million bpd of crude for months running.." [more]

Kingdom Is India’s Main Source of Oil [Jan 26]
" India’s Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Mani Shankar Aiyar told Arab News yesterday that the Kingdom is “India’s main source of oil” mentioning that since last year, Saudi Oil Minister Ali Al-Naimi had personally assured him that the Kingdom would continue to meet India’s growing oil needs. “Saudi Arabia is our single most important supplier of oil,” he said. The minister also said that Saudi Arabia was a strategic partner in the energy sector and the visit of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah would open new venues for cooperation in the liquid gas sector.." [more]

British Firms Urged to Invest in Key Saudi Projects [Jan 26]
"Saudi Arabia has called upon British companies to expand their investments in the country, especially in the vital sectors of petrochemicals, natural gas, water desalination, tourism, agriculture, railways and information technology. “The current strong relations between the two Kingdoms provide a great opportunity to explore the possibilities of increasing their economic cooperation,” the Saudi Press Agency quoted Saudi Ambassador to the UK, Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf, as saying.." [more]

Saudi Arabian Airlines Posts Record Revenue of $3.8 Billion [Jan 26]
"Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAA) posted a record revenue of SR 14.6 billion [$3.8 billion] in 2005, with net profits of SR 500 million [$133.3 million].. ..the airline transported more than 16.8 million passengers in 2005, one million more than in 2004.." [more]

Saudi Stocks Stay in Record Territory [Jan 25]
"The Saudi stock market stayed in a record territory yesterday. The Tadawul All-Share Index (TASI) broke the 18,500 barrier and closed 203.16 points or 1.11 percent higher at 18,587.46.. ..Out of 77 stocks traded, 43 were up while 33 were down. The value of traded shares crossed SR38 billion yesterday.." [more]

SR600bn Worth of Projects Planned in the Kingdom [Jan 25]
"The oil and gas sector in Saudi Arabia faces unprecedented growth in 2006. High energy prices and strong global oil demand are fuelling a significant upturn in construction activity, with almost SR600 billion ($160 billion) worth of large-scale projects planned in the Kingdom, according to MEED (Middle East Economic Digest) projects, the online business tracker.." [more]

Kingdom signs accords with China [Jan 25]
"Saudi Arabia and China have signed a series of agreements to increase trade and political relations, particularly in the areas of oil and gas supply, and mineral production.. ..The Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal stressed before the signing ceremonies the focus of interest for both nations. “China is one of the most important markets for oil and Saudi oil is one of the most important sources of energy for China,” he said. He added that the energy deal would set the framework for specific energy investments, but agreements on the projects would have to be signed between the two countries’ oil
companies.." [more]

Gujarat Oil Firm to Form Saudi Arabia JV [Jan 24]
"Strengthening India and Saudi Arabia relations in the energy cooperation sector are two agreements that are going to be signed between industry chamber Ficci and Saudi energy companies during the official visit of Saudi King Abdullah. State-owned Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation Ltd is signing a memorandum with Suadi petroleum major FAS Saudi Holding to establish a joint venture in Saudi Arabia. This JV aims to explore possibilities in the field of upstream oil and natural gas. GSPC would be the first state-owned petroleum company to establish presence in Saudi Arabia through this joint venture, which is expected to be signed on January 25.." [more]

Saudi Arabia to Provide $573 M in Aid to Pakistan [Jan 24]
"Saudi Arabia is to provide 573 million dollars to Pakistan for reconstruction and rehabilitation of the areas ravaged by last year’s quake in Northwestern Frontier Province (NWFP) and Kashmir region.. ..Saudi Arabia had pledged 573 million dollars during last November’s international donors’ conference in Islamabad, which had committed over six billion dollars for reconstruction and rehabilitation of the areas.." [more]

Fundamentals in Excellent Shape: Saudi Oil Minister [Jan 24]
"OPEC is unlikely to cut output at the cartel’s meeting at the end of the month, Saudi Arabia’s Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi said on Monday, adding that global inventories were reasonable and supply adequate.. ..The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries meets on Jan. 31 to decide whether to rein in production ahead of the second quarter, when global demand is at a seasonal low.." [more]

Saudi King Arrives on Four-day Landmark Visit [Jan 24]
"Saudi King and the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Abdulllah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, arrived here today on a landmark four-day visit, the first by a Saudi monarch in 51 years.. ..King Abdullah will be the chief guest at the Republic Day parade and will begin his official engagements tomorrow with a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan.." [more]

GCC Market Cap Breaches $1 Trillion Mark [Jan 24]
"The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) stock markets enjoyed good growth last year led by Saudi Arabia which reported yearly growth of 103.66 percent.. ..The year 2005 was marked by some high-profile listings which coupled with strong gains in stock prices. The combined GCC market capitalization breached the $1-trillion mark in 2005, according to a report by the Kuwait-based Global Investment House (Global).." [more]

Zamil Steel Plans $20 Million Factory in India [Jan 24]
"Saudi Arabia’s Zamil Steel Industries, a sector business of Zamil Industrial Investment Company, said it will set up a $20 million factory in the western Indian state of Maharashtra to design and produce pre-engineered steel buildings.. ..Zamil Industrial Investment Company managing director Khalid Al Zamil said: “This initial investment of $20 million – which we have made through Zamil Steel India - is part of our investment strategy for the dynamic and growing Indian marketplace.." [more]

Saudi Arabia Denounces Prophet's Cartoons [Jan 24]
"Saudi Arabia has denounced "certain European newspapers" for cartoons "defiling" Prophet Mohammed, warning that such actions would spread hatred and animosity among people of different faiths.. ..Islam does not allow the depiction of Prophet Mohammed, even if they are respectful, because of concerns that it could lead to idolatry.." [more]

Kingdom, China Sign Landmark Energy Pact [Jan 24]
"Chinese President Hu Jintao yesterday gave a red carpet welcome to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah at the Great Hall of the People and said the royal visit would open a new chapter in Sino-Saudi relations. The summit in Beijing saw the signing of five agreements, including a landmark pact for expanding cooperation in oil, natural gas and minerals.." [more]

Saudi Stocks Leap to New High [Jan 24]
"The Saudi stock market continued to surge to a record high yesterday. The big jump in banking stocks sent the Tadawul All-Share Index (TASI) higher by 380.22 points to 18,384.30 points. The index has already gained 710.07 points or 3.98 percent in two days and 10 percent so far this year.." [more]

UU Signs Saudi Nursing Partnership Agreement [Jan 23]
"The University of Ulster has signed a long-term contract to deliver nurse education in Saudi Arabia. The ten-year agreement – the first of its kind in Ireland – signed between the University and SAAD Nursing and Allied Health Science College of Al-Khobar, will support the growth and development of the nursing profession in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States. Students will follow a five year programme (including a year long internship) blending e-learning with traditional nurse education techniques, leading to the award of a BSc (Honours) in Nursing from the University of Ulster. The students will undertake clinical placements in their home country.." [more]

SR500m Saudi-U.S. Joint Venture in Jubail [Jan 23]
"Two leading Saudi and American companies Sunday signed an estimated SR500 million joint venture agreement to build world scale ethyleneamines manufacturing facility under the name of Arabian Amines Company to be based in Jubail Industry City. With this signing of agreement that took place at the headquarters of Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) between Riyadh-based Al-Zamil Group and Texas-based Huntsman Corporation the number Saudi-US joint venture projects reached
361 worth more than $20 billion.." [more]

Saudi King: Terrorism is our Enemy [Jan 23]
"Saudi King Abdullah stressed that his country is a fierce enemy of terrorism and has been introducing social and political reforms slowly but steadily. "The Saudi kingdom is an enemy of terrorism and is combating it," Abdullah was quoted as saying in an interview with the Indian NDTV.. ..The king also underscored social and economic reforms which he said are being introduced "slowly but steadily" to ensure appropriate development and change.." [more]

China, Saudi Arabia Sign Bilateral Energy Agreement [Jan 23]
"China and Saudi Arabia signed an agreement to expand energy cooperation during a visit by Saudi King Abdullah here. The agreement on 'cooperation in oil, natural gas and minerals' was signed between Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi and Ma Kai, minister of China's State Development and Reform Commission.. ..Neither side immediately provided any details on the agreement, but Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal indicated before the signing ceremony it would allow for more
specific joint projects in the future.." [more]

Oil Holds near $68, Saudi Aims to Reassure [Jan 23]
"Oil held close to $68 on Monday, but eased from four-month highs after top exporter Saudi Arabia vowed to plug any supply gap from Nigeria and said OPEC was unlikely to cut production when it meets next week. Prices have shot up around $10 since December as consumers fret over outages from militant attacks on oil facilities in Nigeria and rising tension over Iran's nuclear program.." [more]

Insurance Sector Set to Spur Saudi Arabia's Growth [Jan 23]
"As a result of its accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), Saudi Arabia has agreed to open its insurance sector to foreign investors and to allow foreign insurance companies to open and operate branches in the Kingdom. The insurance sector in Saudi Arabia is still underutilized and at present, the sector's contribution to the Saudi gross domestic product (GDP) is estimated at 0.7 percent.." [more]

Abdullah Gets Warm Welcome in China [Jan 23]
"Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah arrived here yesterday morning to a warm welcome by high-ranking Chinese officials. The Chinese said they were honored by the royal visit, the first by a Saudi king to Beijing since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1990.. ..The king is scheduled to meet Chinese President Hu Jintao today.." [more]

Wide-ranging Reform Plan for Education [Jan 23]
"A strategic, wide-ranging reform and development plan for university education in Saudi Arabia is now being prepared for implementation during the next 25 years starting middle of 2007. The Ministry of Higher Education has designated the Research Institute of the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (RI-KFUPM) to coordinate and present detailed studies of the plan.. ..The project management team has already launched a two-year planning period, which started last August 2005.." [more]

No Magic Wand to End Women Unemployment [Jan 23]
"Labor Minister Dr. Ghazi Al-Gosaibi has admitted difficulties in employing Saudi women in the private sector.. ..He pointed out that the goal is not only to employ women, but to find a suitable environment of employment for them. They should work for specific hours and get a suitable monthly salary.." [more]

Saudi Stock Index Tops 18,000 Mark [Jan 23]
"The Saudi stock index broke through the 18,000 barrier yesterday. The Tadawul All-Share Index (TASI) closed to an all-time high of 18,004.08 points, up 329.85 points or 1.87 percent from Saturday’s closing. The index previously hit a record high of 17,675.91 points on Jan. 8. Over SR37.47 billion worth of shares changed hands yesterday.." [more]

Kingdom’s Farm Tariffs Under WTO [Jan 23]
"In agriculture, Saudi Arabia has negotiated an advantageous deal for itself that will cushion the impact on domestic producers to a large extent. First, the Kingdom obtained developing country status in agriculture (it had originally asked it for all products), thereby getting a 10-year transition period to phase in tariff and subsidy cuts.." [more]

Prince Sultan Inaugurates SR135 Million Mall [Jan 22]
"In a rare case, a commercial venture is collaborating with a charitable organization, which ensures continuous financial support for charity work. The commercial venture is Savola Group’s University Plaza Center, a most modern shopping mall at the King Abdul Aziz University roundabout, and the charitable organization is Disabled Children Association (DCA).." [more]

Oil Soars Above $67 [Jan 22]
"World oil prices on Friday surged past $67 in New York and breached $66 here as the market was shaken by Al-Qaeda's apparent threat to the United States and supply worries over Nigeria and Iran. US light crude hit a peak of $67.45 a barrel, taking gains since the start of 2006 to more than 10 percent.. ..The bullish trend in the oil market was confirmed by the market's indifference on Thursday to news of rising US crude inventories, analysts said.." [more]

The SUSRIS project -- an independent, private-sector information resource – offers objective, comprehensive news and information on the history, breadth and depth of the US-Saudi Arabia relationship.
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