Saudi-US Relations Information Service

"Saudi security foiled on Friday an attack on the huge Abqaiq oil facility by three cars armed with explosives, firing on them as they rammed the outer gates of the facility.." "..Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi said oil and gas output was unaffected by the "terrorist attempt" -- the first direct strike on a Saudi oil target since al Qaeda militants launched attacks aimed at toppling Saudi Arabia's pro-Western monarchy in 2003.." "..Security sources in Riyadh said four militants and two security officers died and two other officers were wounded.."

"..We also had an opportunity to renew the importance of our dialogue about bilateral issues. We are hoping that the United States and Saudi Arabia can increase the contacts between its peoples. This is something to which King Abdullah and President Bush have been very much dedicated, and we talked about how to do that. We also talked about the course of internal reform here in Saudi Arabia and the importance of continuing our dialogue on those issues.."


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Barr Praises Saudi Response to Terror Bombing Attempt -- Had Visited Saudi Oil Facility in 2005

Washington, D.C. - In a statement today, in the aftermath of a failed terrorist attack on a strategic oil facility in Saudi Arabia, former Congressman Bob Barr praised the quick and decisive response by Saudi security that stopped the abortive suicide bombers well short of their target - the oil facility at Abqaiq, the largest in the world.

Barr, who conducted a fact-finding trip to Saudi Arabia in 2005, a trip that included an in-depth visit to the oil production and shipment facilities in the very area of today's attack, said that "the security capabilities and commitment of the Saudi government are, in my experience, the best in the world. Not only do they maintain the very latest in military and computer technology, but they are deeply committed to ensuring the security of their petroleum facilities." In fact, noted Barr, "the security at these facilities is much superior to security reflected in comparable U.S. facilities."

Barr also noted that the long-standing strategic partnership between the United States and Saudi Arabia has greatly benefited both countries and could be a model for others.

King Abdullah receives former U.S. Ambassadors

Riyadh, Feb 19, SPA--The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz received here today Former U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom and Chairman of Board of Directors of Middle East Institute Wyche Fowler and Former U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom and President of Middle East Institute Edward Walker.

The audience was attended by Prince Miqrin bin Abdulaziz, Chief of General Intelligence; Prince Abdulaziz bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, Advisor to the King; Prince Dr. Bandar bin Salman bin Mohammed Al Saud, Advisor to the King; Prince Abdulaziz bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz, Minister of State, Cabinet Member and Chief of the Court of Cabinet's Presidency; Abdulmohsin bin Abdulaziz Altuwaijri, Advisor to the King and Adel bin Ahmad Al-Jubeir, Advisor at the Royal Court.

Spread over 55 million square meters, King Abdullah Economic City will be divided into six distinctive zones, each making contributions, over several sectors, to the city's fulfillment of its objectives.

In every one of the six zones, investors are presented with limitless opportunities in countless disciplines. The mega-project will attract unprecedented amounts of private capital, both domestic and foreign, to take advantage of opportunities in property development, commerce, industry, finance, hospitality, recreation and healthcare, among others.

The first of King Abdullah Economic City's six zones is a world-class Sea Port, which will provide a magnificent trans-shipment hub. The second zone is an Industrial District that will be a powerhouse for manufacturing and logistics. The Resort zone provides Saudi Arabia with a luxurious holiday destination, while the Financial Zone will make the Kingdom a world-class capital for finance and commerce. Fifth in the city's repertoire is in the Education Zone, equipped with the best educational programs to ensure a rich learning experience. Lastly, the Residential Area will provide the basis for a thriving a community that offers the very best in living standards.

Al Qaeda Vows More Attacks After Saudi oil Raid [Feb 25]
"Al Qaeda in Saudi Arabia vowed more attacks after an attempted assault on the world's largest oil processing plant ended in a massive explosion at the site's gates, a Web site statement said. The statement issued on Saturday named two suicide attackers who died in the blast as Mohammed al-Ghaith and Abdullah al-Tweijri -- both on a list of top wanted militants.." [more]

Bird Flu Scare Hits Saudi Poultry Industry [Feb 25]
"Saudi Arabia’s Poultry Producers Society has urged the Ministry of Agriculture to take rapid measures to help poultry companies affected by the bird flu scare. The kingdom reported last month that five falcons at a veterinary centre in Riyadh tested positive for the bird flu H5 virus.. ..the scare has slashed demand for chicken and most poultry companies have reduced prices of chicken recently. Society members complained that the poultry industry is losing heavily due to the flu crisis.." [more]

Saudi Arabia to Fund Water Projects in Pakistan [Feb 25]
"Saudi Arabia has asked Pakistan to formally submit its reference seeking funds for mega water projects of Bhasha, Kalabagh and Akori dams so that the Board of Directors of the Saudi Fund and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) could take up the reference for finalising the volume of funding.." [more]

Makkah Imam Urges Iraqis to Cool Their Guns [Feb 25]
Sheikh Saleh Al-Taleb, the imam of the Grand Mosque in Makkah, yesterday condemned the attacks on mosques in Iraq and warned against flaring up inter-Muslim violence in the country.. ..Iraq has seen reprisal attacks and around 200 deaths after the bombing of a major religious site in Samarra on Wednesday raising fears of a civil war in the country.." [more]

French Team in Jeddah [Feb 25]
"A delegation of French companies specialized in airport equipment is visiting Jeddah for three days from today. During its visit, the group comprising eight companies will hold meetings with the General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) with the objective presenting the French technology, especially the extension of King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah.." [more]

Saudi Stock Index Gains 1,193.52 Points in a Week [Feb 25]
"The Saudi stock market continued to attract the limelight last week with investors reportedly withdrawing from other Gulf markets and turning to the Saudi stock exchange. The Tadawul All-Share Index (TASI) climbed 6.1 percent on Thursday, when it closed at an all-time high of 20,624.84 points, up from 19,431.32 points last week. The index gained 1,193.52 points over the week.." [more]

U.S. Stock Futures Fall After Saudi Blast [Feb 24]
"U.S. stock index futures fell on Friday after a report of an explosion and shooting at a Saudi Arabian oil facility, which pushed oil futures up sharply.. ..'That's going to dominate the market today until we get more information,' said Barry Hyman, equity market strategist at Ehrenkrantz, King, Nussbaum. 'A potential story like this from an OPEC producer brings up the worry that oil can spike to new highs very easily'.." [more]

Official Reports Blast at Saudi Refinery [Feb 24]
"An explosion occured Friday at a major oil refinery in Buqayq, eastern Saudi Arabia, a Saudi oil official said. The pan-Arab satellite channel Al-Arabiya TV reported the authorities foiled an attempt to bomb the refinery with two vehicles packed with explosives.. ..Saudi Interior Ministry spokesman Lt. Gen. Mansour al-Turki told The Associated Press in Cairo: "I have no information. I am following this up." The Baqiq refinery is a major oil complexs on the eastern side of Saudi Arabia.." [more]

Saudi Shares Rose by 1.34% on the Week [Feb 24]
"Saudi shares rose by 1.34 percent on the week ending Thursday. The Tadawul All-Shares Index (TASI) closed the week at 20,624.84 points, up from last week's close of 19,432.18.. ..Trading value for this week stood at SR23.6 billion ($6.3 billion) down by 0.9 percent. The Saudi market is the largest in the Arab world in terms of capitalization estimated at over $400 billion.." [more]

Oil Jumps After Blast Reported at Saudi Arabia's Abqaiq Center [Feb 24]
"Crude oil climbed the most in a month after al-Arabiya TV said Saudi Arabian forces foiled a suicide attack on the country's Abqaiq processing center, which handles two-thirds of the oil from the world's largest producer. At least two car bombs were involved in the attack near the Persian Gulf.. ..A halt in Saudi exports would take out 11 percent of the world's oil" [more]

Saudi Firm Plans Islamic Hotel in Dubai [Feb 24]
"At a time when the hospitality industry in the Gulf is offering varied attractions, a Saudi real estate entity is embarking on a plan to establish an Islamic hotel in Dubai. “What we mean by Islamic hotel is that our project will be without a bar, a disco or a nightclub. Our food will be based on halal meat and beverages will be without alcohol,” Tariq Al-Jassmi, the Dubai-based real estate consultant.." [more]

Saudi Reformers Say Have Little Faith in U.S. Help [Feb 23]
"Saudi liberals said on Thursday they had abandoned hope that the United States would pressure the government to reform the absolute monarchy given the country's status as an oil supplier and key ally.. ..Reformers in Saudi Arabia, which has no elected parliament, said they doubted Washington had much concern for democracy in the kingdom as long as the government was fighting al Qaeda militants and pumping oil to world markets at near capacity.." [more]

King Abdullah meets with Secretary Rice [Feb 23]
"Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz met with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at the his farm near Jenadriyah yesterday for a wide-ranging discussion of regional and global issues.. ..The Saudi-US talks focused on bilateral relations as well as major regional and international issues.." [more]

Prince Saud Al-Faisal and Secretary Rice Hold Joint Press Conference [Feb 23]
"Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Saud Al-Faisal and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice held a joint press conference in Riyadh.. ..Prince Saud highlighted the deep Saudi – US friendship and the determination to further strengthen relations between the two nations. He said that the Strategic Dialogue Committee would meet for its third session in the United States in a few months. He also noted that King Abdullah received a letter from President Bush shortly before Secretary Rice’s visit to the Kingdom stressing the depth of bilateral relations and the importance of strengthening them.." [more]

Rice Listens as Saudi Vows Aid to Palestinians [Feb 23]
"Saudi Arabia refused Wednesday to join an American effort to deny foreign aid to a Palestinian government led by Hamas, the second Arab ally in two days to rebuff Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. 'We wish not to link the international aid to the Palestinian people to considerations other than their dire humanitarian needs, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al Faisal said through an interpreter.." [more]

Saudi Telecom (STC) wins prestigious GCC Economic Leader Award [Feb 23]
"Last night saw Saudi Telecom Company scoop one of the six GCC Economic Leader awards for Saudi Arabia at the annual GCC Economic Awards ceremony held at the Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai.. ..The award is designed to recognize individuals and organizations who own, manage and create successful initiatives that have had a significant impact on the development and enhancement of the GCC economy.." [more]

Saudis Put Cinema Ban in the Frame [Feb 23]
"Saudis, thirsty for cinema in a country with no big screens, say they are determined to drag the ultra-conservative Muslim kingdom into the celluloid world. Seven films produced by Saudis will take part in a festival in the United Arab Emirates' capital Abu Dhabi in March, the strongest showing yet for the country's nascent cinema industry.. ..The authorities in Riyadh allowed public screenings of children's cartoons in November, the first time films have been shown in public since the 1970s.." [more]

UAE Deal is Test of U.S.-Arab Relations, Experts Say [Feb 23]
"To many in this booming financial center, the American backlash over Dubai running U.S. ports boils down to something simple and ugly: 'This is Arab-phobia,' says one Arab security analyst.. ..As the U.S. secretary of state heads here for talks, many Arabs go further, saying that the very basis of American policy toward the Middle East may be at stake: If the United States cannot work with a moderate, friendly and socially liberal Arab ally such as Dubai, it may not be able to work with any Arabs at all.." [more]

Abdullah, Rice Discuss Global Issues [Feb 23]
"Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah held talks here yesterday with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on major regional and international issues and ways of strengthening bilateral ties.. ..Addressing a press conference here later along with Prince Saud, Rice said her discussions with the king ranged from the Syrian-Lebanese conflict, situations in Iran and Iraq to ways to strengthen Saudi-US relations.." [more]

EPCCI Vote Closes With 38 Percent Turnout [Feb 23]
"After five days of voting, the Eastern Province Chamber of Commerce & Industry (EPCCI) closed its election boxes yesterday. The turnout for the poll was estimated at 4,200 out of 11,000 eligible voters, or just over 38 percent. Vote counting went on late into the night.. ..Only 417 of the 11,000 eligible voters are women, and only 42 of them cast their franchises.." [more]

Banking, Industrial Indexes Push Saudi Stocks Up [Feb 23]
"The Saudi stock market kept its upward momentum in yesterday’s trading. The Tadawul All-Share Index (TASI) jumped 290.52 points to close at a record high of 20,352.21. The index gained 920.89 points in the last five days of trading, attributed mostly to market speculation and YANSAB debut. The index also went up 21.78 percent so far this year.." [more]

Women Needed in Shoura, Municipalities – says U.N. Deputy [Feb 23]
"Dr. Thurayya Obaid, Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations and Head of the Development and Population Fund, said that by virtue of serving the local community, Saudi women have a pressing need to be represented on the Shoura and municipal councils. Obaid explained that all countries which implemented participation of women in elections started with allocating seats to women on municipal councils as a first stage of institutional work.." [more]

WorleyParsons Gets $133m Saudi Deal [Feb 23]
"Saudi mining firm Maaden said it had awarded a $133 million engineering and management services contract to Australia's WorleyParsons for a phosphate mines project. Maaden said the contract covers the phosphate mines, a chemical complex, a town site and related infrastructure at the Gulf coast industrial zone of Ras Al Zour.." [more]

Arab Media and the Social Debate [Feb 22]
"The relatively recent advent of Arab satellite television is spurring a new social debate in Middle Eastern society, indicating much unchartered territory ahead for Middle Eastern media.. ..The advent of newer Arab media began around 1994 when the BBC failed to launch its Arabic language news channel. This prompted the staff to approach the ruler of Qatar, who offered his support, and al-Jazeera's 1996 launch was the result. According to Ballout, by the end of 2007, the Arab world will have more than 250 satellite channels. This is indicative of a new perspective of discourse ensuing in the Middle East.." [more]

IAA World Advertising Congress Anticipates Strong Saudi Participation [Feb 22]
"When the 40th International Advertising Association (IAA) World Congress kicks off in Dubai on March 20, 2006 at the Dubai International Convention Centre, more than 600 participants from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are expected to contribute during speaker sessions and discussions with some of the world's most dynamic speakers and personalities.." [more]

Saudi Tycoon Prince Alwaleed Heats Up IPO Frenzy [Feb 22]
"..As his sobriquet denotes, Alwaleed is Saudi Arabian royalty, but he's storied for far more than an aristocratic bloodline. The incarnation of his people is an amalgam of the courtly and the turbo-powered, of religiosity and worldliness--a devout Muslim who is vociferously in favor of building bridges to the West.. ..Through his Kingdom Holdings investment vehicle, the prince has stakes in companies far beyond the land bound by Red Sea and Persian Gulf. Companies themselves representing the
"globalized" world.." [more]

Saudi Foreign Minister on Follow-up Visit [Feb 22]
"Less than a month after the landmark visit of King Abdullah, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal held talks with Indian leaders aimed at implementing decisions taken during the monarch's visit, including on counter-terrorism measures and boosting energy and business ties.. ..The entire range of bilateral issues, including energy partnership, the promotion of two-way investment and intensification of joint efforts to combat global terrorism figured in his discussions.." [more]

Saudis Bemoan Poor Image in U.S. [Feb 22]
"..At the conference last week, many Saudis asked how it was possible that a country that, in their view, has adopted so much of the American way of life - especially American fast food, cars and education - could find itself so reviled.. ..Many Americans, of course, see wide divisions between their society and Saudi Arabia's, which forbids the practice of any religion except Islam and demands strict segregation of the sexes, including barring women from driving, many jobs or even traveling without a male relative's permission.." [more]

Health Authorities Step Up Drive to Combat Dengue [Feb 22]
"The four deaths that were reported in the Kingdom due to dengue fever over the last two months have raised alarm among health officials.. ..In 2004 there were 291 cases and two fatalities. In 2005 there were 305 cases without deaths. In the first two months of 2006 there were 143 cases and four deaths, he said. Health officials have stepped up efforts to combat dengue.." [more]

Zogby Says Saudis Need Better PR Strategy in US [Feb 22]
"The Kingdom needs to hone the communication skills of “smart Saudi women” to put across its message effectively to the American audience.. ..Pointing out that Saudi Arabia should review its communication strategy, Zogby said talented Saudi women from the mass media could be mobilized to explain the Saudi point of view to the target audience, such as the American youth, the elite, opinion makers and other influential people in the US.." [more]

Riyadh International Book Fair 2006 Opens [Feb 22]
"More than 500 Saudi and foreign publishers will take part in a major book fair that begins in Riyadh today. As many as 150,000 Arabic titles and 100,000 in English, French, Italian, German, Russian and other foreign languages will be displayed during the 10-day show.." [more]

Riyadh to Name First Woman Diplomat [Feb 22]
"A Saudi woman could well become the country's first 'ambassador-at-large', said the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A Saudi diplomatic source told Gulf News that efforts are on to appoint at least five Saudi women in higher posts in the ministry. 'The concerned ministerial committee is engaged in shortlisting well-qualified women academics in this regard'.. [more]

SAGIA Releases Foreign Investment Figures for 2005 [Feb 21]
"The Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) Governor Amr Al-Dabbagh announced today that foreign investment in the Kingdom totaled SR 97.7 billion [$26.1 billion] in 2005, excluding investment in oil, gas and mineral prospecting. Japan was the Kingdom’s top investor in 2005, with SR 807 billion [$215 billion], followed by the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and the United States.." [more]

Saudi Human Rights Authority Prepares to Tackle Incest [Feb 21]
"The Chairman of the Saudi Human Rights Authority, a governmental organization, revealed to Asharq Al-Awsat that the association has already prepared an in depth study concerning incest in Saudi Arabia. According to the authority's chairman, the study was prepared by the King Khaled Charitable Foundation in cooperation with Dr Osama Al Damegh for the Human Rights Authority. The study will aim to end this phenomenon and will be presented to the Authority's Council.." [more]

Saudi Paper Closed for Publishing Cartoons [Feb 21]
"Reportedly, a newspaper in Saudi Arabia was shut down for publishing the profane cartoons of Prophet Muhammad that outraged the Muslim world. Sems newspaper employees said the Information Ministry closed the paper after they published some of the 12 cartoons, which were first published in the Danish daily, Jyllands-Posten.." [more]

Saudi Committee for Joint Stock Companies Established [Feb 21]
"A Saudi national committee for joint stock companies has been established at the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry. The committee will safeguard the interests of 77 listed companies.. ..According to Arab News, the setup of the council comes at a time where 56 family-owned enterprises have applied to the authorities seeking to protect the interests of both joint stock and private limited companies planning to float IPO.." [more]

$100 Million Venture Capital Investment Firm Planned in Saudi Arabia [Feb 21]
"The Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA), Venture Capital Bank, a Bahrain-based Islamic investment bank, and Global Emerging Markets (GEM), an international investment house with offices in New York, London and Paris, announced yesterday a cooperative effort to help establish an independent $100 million venture capital investment company to invest in venture capital opportunities and small-to-medium enterprises in the Kingdom.." [more]

22 New Insurers to Enter Saudi Market [Feb 21]
"The Council of Ministers is likely to license 22 insurance companies within a few weeks as the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA) has already finished studies on these companies and presented their files to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to complete licensing procedures.. ..Muhammad Al-Jasser, deputy governor of SAMA.. ..confirmed that the ministry had transferred the files of companies to the Cabinet for approval.." [more]

Rice to Ask Allies Egypt, Saudi Arabia to Constrain Hamas, Iran [Feb 21]
"U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrives in the Middle East today aiming to persuade Arab allies to cut support for the Hamas-led Palestinian government and help deny Iran a nuclear weapon.. ..One of Rice's main goals is to line up Egyptian and Saudi Arabian officials to tell Hamas leaders that they must 'make choices' or face a funding cut-off from Islamic charities.." [more]

Saudi Bans Poultry Import [Feb 21]
"Saudi Arabia has banned the import of birds and poultry from Egypt after cases of bird flu were detected in the country, an agriculture ministry official said yesterday. Instructions were given on Saturday to all entry points into Saudi Arabia to turn away any shipments of bird or poultry coming from Egypt.." [more]

A New Saudi Vision to the Asian Economy [Feb 21]
"The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, is currently striving to reinforce and develop Saudi Arabia's relations with China and India - a laudable and momentous step indeed underscoring the new Saudi perception of the international political and economic developments. More than home to one third of the world population, China and India touch the highest growth rates in the world.." [more]

Kingdom Calls for Respect Among Nations [Feb 21]
"The Saudi government yesterday urged world nations to strengthen their relations through dialogue, respecting one another, their sanctities, faiths and identity. It also denounced the clash of civilizations idea and called for the peaceful coexistence of different cultures.." [more]

Saudi Businesswomen to Take Part in WB Roundtable Talks [Feb 21]
"Three Saudi businesswomen are participating in a roundtable discussion at the World Bank in Washington on the role of women in the development of the private sector in the Middle East and North Africa.. ..Among the key questions that policy makers face are how to address the high female unemployment rate and how to put to effective use the tremendous investments made to advance women’s education in the MENA region.." [more]

Saudi Women Trying to Break Down More Barriers in Chamber of Commerce Voting [Feb 20]
"A minor revolution has spread to this sprawling oil town, with six women running this week for seats on the local chamber of commerce in this deeply conservative country where Islam dictates strict segregation of the sexes. Although winning won't be easy – of the 12,000 merchants eligible to vote, fewer than 500 are women – the election is a marker of change in Saudi Arabia.." [more]

Multinational Scientific Expedition to Explore Empty Quarter [Feb 20]
"A group of 50 scientists from Saudi Arabia, the United States, Switzerland and Egypt will spend nearly two weeks in the deserts of the Empty Quarter. The Empty Quarter — in Arabic, Ar-rub Al-Khali — is an area of some 560,000 square kilometers which accounts for more than a quarter of Saudi Arabia. The scientists will study various features of the region along with its geographic and geological components.." [more]

Saudi Arabia Plans Piracy Clamp [Feb 19]
"Saudi Arabia has warned stringent punishments against violators of its copyright law. The punishments include fines up to SR500,000 or prison term up to a year, according to Saeed Al-Ghamdi, director of the Culture and Information Ministry's office in the Makkah region. He said the ministry would carry out surprise raids in various parts of the country to track down violators.." [more]

Cosmetics Sales Up 7pc in Saudi Arabia [Feb 19]
"Sales of perfume and cosmetics in Saudi Arabia are expected to grow 7 per cent to SR5.25 billion ($1.4 billion) this year against SR4.87 billion in 2003. The increase is primarily due to an increase in per capita incomes and a remarkable growth in purchasing power.. ..European products comprise 34 per cent of sales, and French perfumes and cosmetics make up a major part of that segment.." [more]

Saudi Newspapers Print Apology for Cartoons from Editor of Danish Daily [Feb 19]
"Saudi newspapers Sunday published full-page apologies by the Danish newspaper that first ran cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad that have touched off violent anti-western protests around the Muslim world.. ..The advertisements ran in three of Saudi Arabia's main newspapers - Al-Jazeera, Al-Riyadh and Al-Youm - as well as the Saudi-owned Asharq Al-Awsat, which is distributed around the Arab world.." [more]

Tehran Strives to Build Links With Saudis [Feb 19]
"Faced with increasing pressure from the US and Europe, Iran is looking for friends closer to home and trying to reach out, in particular, to Saudi Arabia.. ..Mr Velayati told the Saudis that Tehran wanted to develop a more direct channel of communication, beyond formal government-to-government discussions. Western diplomats in Riyadh say the setting up of this channel – between Mr Velayati and Saud al-Faisal, the Saudi foreign minister – is a way of calming tensions between the two regional powers.." [more]

Dialogue Forum to Focus on Education [Feb 19]
"The next dialogue forum to be held in the northern city of Al-Jouf will focus on the theme: “Education: Reality and Methods of Development,” the King Abdul Aziz National Dialogue Center announced yesterday. The purpose of the forum as announced by the center’s president, Sheikh Saleh Al-Hussayen, is to determine whether the existing educational system fulfills the needs of the local labor market.." [more]

19,000 Palestinian Students Benefit From Saudi Aid [Feb 19]
"Some 19,000 Palestinian students will be able to pursue their education with the help of aid extended by Saudi Arabia. “The Palestinian students will enjoy a fee remission of 75 percent during the current semester, mainly because of the $15-million grant made available by the Kingdom,” a United Nations statement said yesterday. The Saudi Committee for the Relief of Palestinian People has donated the funds, to be used by a UNESCO program to waive tuition fees of the Palestinian students.." [more]

King Condemns Clash of Civilizations Idea [Feb 19]
"King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Saturday condemned the idea that the world was in the midst of a clash of civilizations between East and West urging Arab and Muslim intellectuals to foster better understanding. I condemn the idea of a clash of civilizations and call for it to be replaced with the idea of peaceful and constructive coexistence between civilizations, the Monarch told a group of Arab and Muslim thinkers taking part in the annual Al-Janadriyah cultural festival outside Riyadh.." [more]

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