Saudi-US Relations Information Service

"Iraq's neighbors are playing a major role -- both positive and negative -- in the stabilization and reconstruction of "the new Iraq." As part of the Institute's "Iraq and Its Neighbors" project, a group of leading specialists on the geopolitics of the region and on the domestic politics of the individual countries is assessing the interests and influence of the countries surrounding Iraq. In addition, these specialists are examining how the situation in Iraq is impacting U.S. bilateral relations with these countries. Joseph McMillan’s report on Saudi Arabia is the third in a series of USIP special reports on "Iraq and Its Neighbors" to be published over the next few months. The "Iraq and Its Neighbors" project is directed by Scott Lasensky of the Institute's Center for Conflict Analysis and Prevention, who is also the author of the project’s next report on Jordan."

Saudi Arabia and Iraq: Oil, Religion, and an Enduring Rivalry
Joseph McMillan, United States Institute of Peace

"..Parade magazine's January 22, 2006 cover trumpeting its annual 'Who is the World's Worst Dictator?' by David Wallechinsky. For at least the third year in a row the Sunday newspaper insert, which claims to reach over 75 million Americans, included King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia among the 'top ten' dictators of the world, the 'heads of state who terrorize and abuse the rights of their own people.' ..'What planet do these people dwell on? You know, if Crown Prince Abdullah is the world's worst dictator then the world is in better shape than it has been at any other point in my lifetime.' ..[journalist Thomas] Lippman continued, 'You don't want to get into invidious comparisons but the fact is Crown Prince Abdullah doesn't even fit the category of dictator. He's not a dictator. He's a negotiator.'


Recently on SUSRIS	(point for info)

World Scouts Gather in Jubail
JUBAIL, 4 February 2006 — The World Organization of the Scout Movement kicked off an international meet this Thursday in Al-Deffi Park in the Eastern Province town of Jubail. The scouting camp, the first in series of planned international scout meetings, is being held with the support of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah. The camp will run through Feb. 10..

Saudi budget airline sees 10 million passengers by 2010
"Saudi Arabia's first low-cost airline Sama plans to start flights within months and expects to carry at least half a million passengers by the end of the year.. ..Saudi authorities are gradually liberalizing air transport services by opening domestic flights to private investors. The kingdom also plans to privatize the flagship carrier Saudi Arabian Airlines.."

English, Computer Courses for Saudis Planned
RIYADH, 3 February 2006 — Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University is finalizing arrangements to offer courses in English and computer sciences to Saudis. Abdullah ibn Muhammad Al-Razin, dean of the Social Services and Continuing Education Center, said the courses were designed to meet the needs of Saudi society and to help Saudi students become proficient in English language required by the employment market. According to the dean, students would be taught how to develop their communication skills, both written and oral. The program also aims at enhancing the proficiency of the academic staff and supervisors in the Ministry of Education as well as scientific institutions. It will explore methods how best to teach foreign languages, management classes, and to upgrade translators’ skills in government departments. Computer science courses are also in the works.

Saudi Arabia Announces $300M Aid for Pakistan [Feb 3]
"Saudi Arabia has announced to give $300 million aid to Pakistan that includes $113 million grant for quake-affectees and $187 million debt to Pakistan on easy installments.. ..Saudi Finance Minister noted that the government of Saudi Arabia was also going to establish a 40-bed mobile hospital in quake-hit areas.." [more]

Saudis Want to Ensure Supply of Raw Materials [Feb 3]
"During their visit to Brazil, the executives of three great state-owned companies of Saudi Arabia started yesterday their moves for the formation of partnerships with Brazilian companies. The aim is to make joint investments to ensure the supply of raw materials to the Saudi steelworks sector, and of petrochemical products to the Brazilian industry. These investments may be made both in operations in the Arab country, and in Brazil.." [more]

Egyptian Ferry Carrying 1,300 Sinks in Red Sea Off Saudi Arabia [Feb 3]
"An Egyptian ferry with at least 1,300 people on board sank in the Red Sea after leaving Saudi Arabia, Egyptian officials said. An undetermined number of passengers survived, an official from the Egyptian port of Safaga was cited as saying by Egypt's official news service, MENA. There was no immediate information on the cause of the ship's disappearance.." [more]

Cartoon Row Gives Muslims 'New Spirit': Saudi Cleric [Feb 3]
"A leading preacher in Saudi Arabia proclaimed a new spirit of defiance among Muslims after worldwide protests over cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad in European newspapers. "A great new spirit is flowing through the body of the Islamic nation.. ..this world can no longer ignore this nation and its feelings," Saleh bin Humaid said in a televised sermon at the Grand Mosque in the Muslim city of Mecca.." [more]

Saudi King Avoids Kashmir Issue in Pakistan [Feb 3]
"Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz did not make any reference to Kashmir at a banquet here on Wednesday and confined his comments to the India-Pakistan peace process.. ..The King's comment in the course of his speech that he hoped the region does not become a subject of `destructive force' has caught the attention of the diplomatic and political observers.." [more]

CMA, SAMA Act to Curb Stock Market Speculation [Feb 3]
"The Saudi Capital Market Authority (CMA) enforced new measures last week to limit the participation of large companies in financial securities trading. The measures will also control the market activities of large shareholders. This is CMA’s second step in less than one month aimed at limiting unregulated and speculative activities in the market.." [more]

King Back in Riyadh [Feb 3]
"King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, arrived here late Thursday after completing a four-nation tour that took him to China, India, Malaysia and Pakistan.." [more]

3 Saudi Women to Represent SAGIA Abroad [Feb 3]
"FOR the first time in the Kingdom s history, three Saudi women have been named to represent the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) abroad.. ..The three Saudi women are Jawaher Al-Sedari (to be posted in Beijing), Dalia Rahemi in Frankfurt and Jehan Ramadan in Washington. A French woman has been selected for Paris office.." [more]

Saudi Ambassador to Discuss the Kingdom's Ongoing Reforms and Saudi/U.S. Relations [Feb 2]
"Members of the media are invited to this rare opportunity to hear first-hand from Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the United States His Royal Highness Prince Turki Al-Faisal about reforms underway in the Kingdom. The Ambassador will also give an assessment of the current Saudi/U.S. relationship and discuss Saudi/U.S. counterterrorism cooperation. Additionally, Prince Turki will discuss the current state of the energy industry and highlight Saudi Arabia's commitment to remaining a strong and stable energy provider.." [more]

Saudi Government Donation to Assist Hungry [Feb 2]
"The United Nations World Food Program has welcomed a generous donation by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to WFP programs in Cambodia. The money will primarily benefit students in Cambodia by providing them with meals in school and food to take home to their families. The cash donation worth US$ 440,000 will be used to purchase rice within Cambodia. Over 130,000 people are expected to benefit from the donation.." [more]

Saudis, Qataris May Fund Palestinian Payroll [Feb 2]
Israel has frozen the transfer of millions of dollars in tax rebates and customs payments to the Palestinian Authority, and Palestinian officials said yesterday that Saudi Arabia and Qatar have promised $33 million in quick aid to ease a severe budget crisis.. ..Saudi Arabia has promised $20 million.." [more]

Saudi Arabia Takes First Steps on Path to Reform [Feb 2]
"Slowly but surely, ultra-conservative Saudi Arabia appears to be loosening the bonds of its strictly controlled society, in spite of the absence of big government initiatives on political reform.. ..observers note a series of small steps that, taken together, are evidence of a new political atmosphere in the country, whose powerful religious establishment still has free rein to impose its austere 'Wahhabi' form of Sunni Islam.." [more]

Bank of Brazil Wants to Support Business with Saudi Arabia [Feb 2]
"Representatives of three state-owned companies from the Arab country met yesterday with the vice president of foreign business at the bank, José Maria Rabelo. According to him, the institution's operation may be through the financing of exports and imports and joint projects between companies from both countries. Today the Saudis are going to be in São Paulo and are going to visit the Arab Brazilian Chamber.." [more]

Saudi Arabia Grants Yemen Investment Loans [Feb 2]
"The Saudi Development Fund agreed to grant Yemen five loans of 392,500 million Saudi Riyals to finance several development projects. Loans are dedicated for Hodiedah Central Hospital, Taiz Faculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences and a road in Sa’ada governorate.The loans come under Saudi soft loans provided through the 16th round of the Yemeni-Saudi coordinating council.." [more]

Saudi Arabia, Iran Denounce Bush's New Appeal for Democracy [Feb 2]
"Saudi Arabia and Iran denounced President George W. Bush's new appeal for greater democracy in the Middle East calling on the U.S. leader to stop acting as if he were the 'sole agent for reform' in the world.. ..'Saudi Arabia is the country that has been most responsive to demands for reform in the region, but reform, under the leadership of King Abdullah, is not linked to calls from the United States,' said Mohammad al-Zalfa, a member of the top consultative body in the kingdom.." [more]

Real Estate is the Fastest Growing Sector in Saudi Arabia [Feb 2]
"Real estate is the fastest growing sector in Saudi Arabia with more than SR1 trillion in investments. The growth is said to be the second highest in the world after Shanghai, Solaiman Al-Majed, Chairman, Tanmiyat Group, was quoted as saying by Khaleej Times.." [more]

$2bn Saudi Oil Help Expected [Feb 2]
"Pakistan expects to get around $2 billion worth of crude oil per annum from Saudi Arabia under the Special Financing Arrangement (SFA) during the ongoing visit of Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz.. ..Saudi Arabia started supplying oil to Pakistan at the rate of about $1 billion per year under SFA, commonly known as Saudi Oil Facility, in 1998 following the US-led international sanctions.." [more]

Naif Raps West on N-Policy [Feb 2]
"Interior Minister Prince Naif censured yesterday the double-standard adopted by Western powers toward Israel’s nuclear weapons. “This puts a question mark not only before the Arabs but also before the whole world...and this gives justification for every country to think of having nuclear weapons,” the Saudi Press Agency quoted the prince as telling reporters in Tunis.." [more]

Burton to Head US-Saudi Business Council [Feb 2]
"The Board of Directors of the US-Saudi Arabian Business Council has announced that Edward Burton, commercial attache at the US Embassy in Riyadh, will become its new president and managing director from March 1.. ..Burton is responsible for all US Foreign Commercial Service (USFCS) operations in Saudi Arabia and oversees.." [more]

Saudi Stock Index Reaches New Milestone [Feb 2]
"Saudi stocks hit a record high yesterday. The Tadawul All-Share Index (TASI) broke through the 19,000 barrier to close at an all-time high of 19,069.50, up 248.75 points or 1.32 percent from Tuesday’s close. The index gained 14.10 percent or 2,356.86 points so far this year. It closed on Dec. 31 at 16,712.64 points.." [more]

Malaysia Lobbies to Enter Saudi Arabia Oil Business [Feb 1]
"Malaysia signed business proposals worth more than $500 million with Saudi Arabia on Tuesday but had its eye on something bigger — oil. Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi asked King Abdullah, visiting Kuala Lumpur on an Asian tour, to give Malaysia’s oil firm Petronas a chance to work with Saudi Aramco, which oversees the world’s largest crude reserves and exports.." [more]

Pakistan, S Arabia to Sign Economic Cooperation Agreements [Feb 1]
"cooperation during the two-day visit of King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz which begins on Wednesday (today), the spokesperson of the Foreign Office said on Tuesday. The agreements, particularly on investment protection and avoidance of double taxation, will boost economic relations, spokesperson Tasneem Aslam said. Aslam said that an agreement on political consultations will also be inked during the Saudi king's visit, the first by a Saudi king in almost 30 years.." [more]

Bush Presses Egypt, Saudi Arabia in Global Democracy Push [Feb 1]
"President George W. Bush on Tuesday renewed his pledge to press for democratic change in the Middle East and beyond, calling on US allies Egypt and Saudi Arabia to expand political reform.. ..'Saudi Arabia has taken the first steps of reform -- now it can offer its people a better future by pressing forward with those efforts'.." [more]

Saudi King Abdullah Arrives in Pakistan [Feb 1]
"Amidst unprecedented security, Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz arrived here today on a two-day visit to Pakistan for talks to boost bilateral economic ties and review regional matters. Breaking protocol, President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz received the King at the Islamabad International Airport as a special gesture.." [more]

Dormant al-Qaida Cells Exist in Saudi Arabia [Feb 1]
"Saudi Interior Minister Prince Nayef Bin Abdel Aziz said dormant al-Qaida cells exist in Saudi Arabia, but police have aborted 90 percent of planned attacks. Nayef was quoted by the Saudi Press Agency, SPA, as saying Wednesday 'we cannot say at all that we have purged the country from those terrorists as long as certain parties are still offering them training, financing, and leading them in ways that have nothing to do with true Islam'.." [more]

French Paper Reprints Danish Mohammad Cartoons [Feb 1]
"A French newspaper reprinted on Wednesday a series of 12 Danish newspaper cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammad that have sparked protests in the Muslim world and prompted Saudi Arabia to recall its ambassador from Denmark.. .. the France Soir daily said it had published the cartoons in the name of freedom of expression and to fight religious intolerance. 'Because no religious dogma can impose its view on a democratic and secular society, France Soir publishes the incriminated cartoons,' the paper said.." [more]

Boycott Not by Government, Says Saud [Feb 1]
"Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal said here yesterday that the boycott of Danish products in the Kingdom was not governmental. Rather the boycott was an action by the people of Saudi Arabia to express dismay about the cartoons published in a Danish newspaper.." [more]

Call for UN Anti-Terror Conference [Feb 1]
"Interior Minister Prince Naif yesterday called for an international conference under UN sponsorship to discuss matters related to terrorism and find scientific solutions to wipe out the scourge.. ..He said the proposed UN conference could be based on the counterterrorism international conference hosted by Riyadh in February last year.." [more]

Jeddah Economic Forum to Address Cultural Diversity [Feb 1]
"Nearly 2,500 businessmen and women from within and outside Saudi Arabia will take part in the Jeddah Economic Forum, which is expected to discuss 32 working papers on promoting perpetual global economic growth.. ..JEF has become one the most prestigious events not only in the Kingdom but the whole the Middle East. The event has gained extra significance this year as it comes following Saudi Arabia’s accession to the World Trade Organization after 12 years of intense negotiations.." [more]

Stopping Aid to PA Disastrous – Saud [Feb 1]
"Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal warned Tuesday that withdrawing aid from the Palestinian Authority after Hamas won last week s election would be disastrous . Prince Faisal, who is visiting Malaysia as part of Saudi King Abdullah s delegation, called for calm after the stunning victory by Hamas in the Palestinian polls.. ..His comments came as the diplomatic quartet of the European Union, the United States, Russia and the United Nations said they would give Hamas time to change its tune by renouncing violence and recognizing Israel s right to exist.." [more]

Saudi Oil Minister: OPEC to Leave Output Unchanged [Jan 31]
"Saudi Arabia's oil minister Ali Naimi said Monday that all 11 OPEC members agreed they will keep the daily output quota unchanged at 28 million barrels a day when they meet later Tuesday. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries will meet on Tuesday with its 11 members already unanimous that it won't cut output, preferring to wait until March, said OPEC oil ministers.." [more]

Accords Worth SR4bn to Be Signed [Jan 31]
"Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah arrived here yesterday to a rousing welcome.. ..Saudi officials accompanying the king told Arab News that the two countries would sign agreements worth SR4 billion including one for a SR1 billion real estate project during the two-day visit. A medical college will be established in Madinah under one agreement, they added.." [more]

Kingdom Welcomes Hamas Poll Victory [Jan 31]
"Saudi Arabia yesterday welcomed the victory of Hamas in the recent Palestinian elections and urged the international community to respect the rights of the Palestinian people to determine their future and exercise their freedom of choice.. ..The Cabinet meeting, chaired by Prince Sultan, the regent, also called upon the international community to pressure Israel to follow the road to peace in order to achieve a just and comprehensive Middle East peace settlement.." [more]

IIUM Confers Honorary Doctorate On King Abdullah Of Saudi Arabia [Jan 31]
"The International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM), Tuesday conferred an honorary Doctor of Philosophy In Islamic Development on King Abdullah Abdul Aziz Al-Saud of Saudi Arabia for his contributions to the Muslim world. King Abdullah, who is the custodian of the two holy mosques in Saudi Arabia, was also awarded the first IIUM Royal Award of Distinction for the Promotion of Unity of the Muslim Ummah.. ..Saudi Arabia is one of eight countries sponsoring Malaysia as the home of the
IIUM, which was formed 23 years ago following the Mecca Conference on Education.." [more]

Denmark Warns on Saudi Arabia Trips [Jan 31]
"Denmark on Monday warned its citizens not to travel to Saudi Arabia amid growing tensions between Arab and Nordic countries over cartoons of the prophet Muhammad that have offended Muslims.. ..Peter Mandelson, the European Union’s trade commissioner.. ..stressed that, if the Saudi government encouraged the boycott, he would have to pursue this “very serious’’ issue before the WTO, which Saudi Arabia joined last month.." [more]

German Official to Fortify Ties [Jan 31]
"Horst Freitag, the director general for Near and Middle Eastern Affairs, Federal Foreign Office of Germany, starts a one-day visit in Saudi Arabia today. The visit is aimed to bolster Germany’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its friendly relationships with Saudi Arabia and the Arab world.." [more]

Kingdom, Malaysia Sign MOU for Medical College [Jan 31]
"A memorandum of understanding (MOU) has been signed with International Medical University in Malaysia to conduct a feasibility study on establishing a medical college in Madinah, according to a prominent Saudi businessman. Speaking to Arab News, Ghassan A. Al-Sulaiman, chairman of Saudi-Malaysian Business Council.. ..'We have already obtained preliminary approval from the Madinah Council for the medical college project.' Al-Sulaiman said two more colleges would be established in Madinah in order to set up a medical university in the region.." [more]

Saudi Stock Index Jumps 235.63 Points [Jan 31]
"The Saudi stock market recovered yesterday after major fluctuations on Sunday. The Tadawul All-Share Index (TASI) jumped 235.63 points or 1.27 percent to 18,785.45. The major Industrial and Banking Indexes closed 1,294.47 points higher to 45,291.36 and 205.06 points up to 44,904.76, respectively.." [more]

Mideast’s First Female Recruiting Firm [Jan 31]
"The first female recruiting firm in the Middle East has been launched in Riyadh and has been overwhelmed by the market demand. Due to the government efforts in engaging women in the workforce and the realization among many families that a one-income salary is not enough these days, many companies are recruiting female employees for their female sections. To meet this demand, Ecsa the first and only female recruiting firm in the Middle East, was launched three months ago.." [more]

U.S. Visa Services to Resume in Dhahran [Jan 31]
"American Consulate in Dhahran will resume the issuance of visa sometime this year, a consulate official said. The consulate hopes to open the consulate for visa services in 2006, but we do not have a date, said David Galbraith, political and economic officer at the US Consulate in Dhahran. He said the needed infrastructures and facilities to resume the visa issuance are already there and that what is being worked out is the assignment of personnel who will provide the service.." [more]

Saudi Curbs al Qaeda but Long Term Problem Remains [Jan 30]
"Saudi Arabia has succeeded for now in suppressing al Qaeda but extremist ideology, regional tension and autocratic rule could make Islamist violence a reality for years to come, analysts say.. ..Washington has praised its key ally, the world's biggest oil producer, for taking far-reaching steps to improve security operations in the effort to counter the Islamist attacks. Saudi Arabia says it has also moved to tone down fierce fundamentalist rhetoric in school textbooks and mosque sermons.." [more]

EU Warns Saudi Arabia That it Could Take Danish Boycott to WTO [Jan 30]
"EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson has warned Saudi Arabia that it would take WTO action if the Riyadh government supported a boycott of Danish goods, the European Commission said Monday.. ..The Saudi minister told Mandelson that the government had not encouraged the boycott. Denmark told Riyadh that it did not support the incitement of racial hatred but could not condemn the free expression of the press.." [more]

Private Sector to Play Key Role in Saudi Aluminum Industry [Jan 30]
"The future of the aluminum industry in Saudi Arabia looks bright because the Saudi government will increase the Kingdom's aluminum production. The government is considering involving the Saudi private sector in downstream aluminum industries.. ..The aluminum industry will contribute to the development of secondary industries in the Kingdom. When aluminum is available in molten form at a smelter, it can be economically used for the production of other products.." [more]

Saudis Say Hamas Should Moderate Israel Stance [Jan 30]
"U.S.-allied Saudi Arabia believes militant group Hamas should moderate its stance towards Israel, but its victory in Palestinian polls could create pressure for more Saudi funding, officials and analysts say. Bowing to pressure from the United States, Israel's chief ally, Saudi Arabia has sharply reduced its direct funding for the Palestinian Islamist group, which swept to victory last week over the Fatah group which has dominated peace talks since 1993. Riyadh officially says it funds only the Palestinian authority.." [more]

The 'Feedstock Issue': Another WTO Win for Saudi Arabia [Jan 30]
"The "feedstock issue" was a highly contentious issue in Saudi Arabia's bilateral negotiations with major petrochemical producing countries. Their concern was that Saudi Arabia was charging an "unfairly" low price for its petroleum-based and natural gas-based inputs, dubbed as "feedstock", to it domestic petrochemical producers, thus giving them a huge advantage over foreign-based producers.." [more]

Lukoil Starts Exploration in Block A Saudi Arabia [Jan 30]
"Lukoil Overseas started deep exploration drilling in the contract area of Block A in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.. ..Block A is located in the eastern part of the Rub al-Khali basin to the south from Ghawar, the largest oil field in Saudi Arabia and in the world. The total area of the block is 29,928 square kilometers.." [more]

Oxford, Sultan Varsity Sign Scholarship Pact [Jan 30]
"Saudi undergraduate and graduate students are now able to go on scholarships to study at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. An agreement between Prince Sultan University in Riyadh and Oxford took place this year to accept Saudi students to study humanities in the United Kingdom.. ..The ministry will activate its online application process for study in the United States in May.." [more]

Saudi Stock Index Dives After Crossing 19,000 [Jan 30]
"The Saudi stock market fluctuated heavily yesterday. The Tadawul All-Share Index (TASI) closed yesterday 64.81 points down at 18,549.82 after briefly breaking the 19,000-point barrier during the day. The index reached intra-day high of 19,012.87 points for the first time yesterday. The index also dived as low as 18,252.67 yesterday. The total value of traded shares reached SR42.70 billion.." [more]

Saudi Arabia Rejects OPEC Production Cut Despite Iran Call [Jan 29]
"Saudi Arabia said there is 'absolutely' no reason for OPEC to cut production at a forthcoming meeting, a view echoed by Kuwait, Algeria and four other members, but opposed by Iran. OPEC is meeting here tomorrow at a time of stubbornly high oil prices, fuelled by instability fears in key producers Iran and Nigeria.." [more]

Saudi Arabia: Follow U.N. Call to End Juvenile Death Penalty [Jan 29]
"Saudi Arabia must publicly commit to ending the execution of juvenile offenders, as the U.N. Committee on the Rights of the Child recommended on Friday, Human Rights Watch said today. At least 126 individuals are on death row in Saudi Arabia for crimes they were found to have committed before age 18.. ..Saudi Arabia ratified the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in 1996 and considers it to be a valid source of domestic law.." [more]

King Abdullah Of Saudi Arabia To Visit Malaysia [Jan 29]
"King Abdullah Abdul Aziz Al-Saud will be making a three-day state visit to Malaysia beginning Jan 30, the third country that he visited after China and India, since his ascendency to the throne as King of Saudi Arabia on Aug 1 last year.. ..During his visit King Abdullah is scheduled to attend a State Banquet at Istana Negara and have bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi besides addressing a business forum organised by the Malaysian-Saudi Business Council.." [more]

Dodging Boycott Call, Norway Voices Regret [Jan 29]
"The government of Norway expressed regret to Muslims around the world, condemning the publication of illustrations of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in a Norwegian magazine. The illustrations, which first appeared in Denmark’s Jyllands-Posten daily in September, have incited a public call to boycott Danish products. Meanwhile, Norway seems to have dodged scrutiny for the same offense in one of its publications.." [more]

Assets of Saudi Banks Rise to SR748bn in November [Jan 29]
"Saudi banks in November slowed down a bit after a period of heavy spending during Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr. The banking climate in November was also affected by the decision of SAMA (Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency) to reduce the amount given as personal loans by commercial banks. However, assets of Saudi banks rose in November.." [more]

Saudi Stocks Decline After a Record Surge [Jan 29]
"After a record surge last week, the Saudi stock market declined yesterday. The Tadawul All-Share Index (TASI) closed 137.15 points lower at 18,614.63. The index closed on Thursday at an all-time high of 18,751.78 points.." [more]

Saudi-Malaysia Alliance Could Help Reshape Islamic World [Jan 29]
"The Malaysian leg of King Abdullah’s Asian tour will not be as much about economic deals as was the case with the Saudi leader’s visit to China and India. However, the coming together of two Islamic heavyweights with different political, social and economic orientations throws up several possibilities that could redefine the course of the Islamic world in an age of increasing globalization.." [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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