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Six Arab Countries Look to Nuclear Power [Nov 4]
"At least six Arab countries are developing domestic nuclear power programmes to diversify energy sources, a Middle East economic magazine reported on Saturday. Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Morocco and Algeria have shown interest in developing nuclear power primarily for water desalination, the Middle East Economic Digest (MEED) quoted Tomihiro Taniguchi, deputy director-general of the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), as saying.. ..Analysts say that besides the need for alternative energy sources, many Arab countries are concerned about Iran's nuclear ambitions.." [more]

Regional Forums to ‘Broaden Base for National Dialogue’ [Nov 4]
"The King Abdul Aziz Center for National Dialogue will organize this week meetings in Riyadh and in Dhahran in preparation for the sixth national dialogue forum to be held at the end of the year in the northern town of Al-Jouf. Educational reform will be the main theme of the forum.." [more]

No Place for Weak in Comity of Nations [Nov 4]
"..King Abdullah yesterday launched a number of educational, health, tourism and infrastructure projects worth SR11.7 billion in the Asir region.. ..Addressing a popular reception held in his honor by the people of Asir at the Prince Sultan Sports City in Mahala on Thursday, King Abdullah urged Saudis to work hard to strengthen the country’s position in the comity of nations. 'We have to look to the future with confidence, seeking a leading position in the world where there is no place for the weak'.." [more]

No New Saudi Initiative on Lebanon [Nov 4]
"The Saudi ambassador to Lebanon on Thursday denied a new Saudi initiative in Lebanon. Abdul Aziz Mohieuddin Khoja said in a press statement that there are continuous endeavors and calls for political parties in Lebanon to exercise self-control and respond to President Nabih Berri’s call to have consultation in order to resolve controversial issues. He asserted that Saudi Arabia is keen to always be close to all parties due to its Arab, Islamic and international position. 'However, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is not a part of the internal political movement'.." [more]

Saudi Arabia Assists the Displaced People in Muttur [Nov 3]
"The Government of Saudi Arabia has extended their helping hand to build up the lives of the people in Muttur who were displaced due to LTTE violations in the resent past.. ..Mr. Samarasinghe said that the Government of Saudi Arabia has sent this goodwill massage through the Sri Lankan Ambassador in Saudi Arabia. The message states that the Saudi Government will donate 4000 Blankets, 2000 Carpets, medicine and food items. The cargo will be sent by two cargo aircrafts.." [more]

Saudi Aramco Shifting Regional HQ to Malaysia [Nov 3]
"Saudi Aramco is moving its regional headquarters to Malaysia as early as January next year, the New Straits Times newspaper reported, citing senior officials who spoke on condition of anonymity. The newspaper said Saudi Aramco, which is the largest oil corporation in the world and the world's largest in terms of proven crude oil reserves and production, currently uses Singapore as its regional base. The newspaper said the decision to move from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur is believed to be because the latter is a is a cheaper base than Singapore.." [more]

Oil Prices Going to the Century Mark [Nov 3]
"Ever since the beginning of the oil industry, we have experienced dramatic rises and falls in the price of
petroleum with oil prices fluctuating some 700 percent over the past two decades. The lower prices at the pump today will not last long; we can easily expect oil prices to rise to $100 a barrel over the next five years.. ..To meet the forecasted petroleum demand in the next two decades, Saudi Arabia would have to double its production, and the West would need Iran -- OPEC's second-largest oil producer -- to triple its production.." [more]

Saudi Woman Among World’s top 25 Managers [Nov 3]
"A Saudi woman executive with Saudi ARAMCO has been selected among the world’s top 25 female project managers by a trade magazine. Nabeela Al-Tunisi, a Saudi national and Director of Supporting Administration and Projects Monitoring Methods at ARAMCO, has been selected by the American magazine Projects Management Network to be among the 25 most efficient female project managers. The magazine has more than 200,000 subscribers all over the world.." [more]

Don’t Miss the Boat, Dabbagh Tells Chinese Investors [Nov 3]
"China should invest in Saudi Arabia’s petrochemical sector or risk becoming a victim of the Gulf nation’s bid to use its energy reserves to become an industry leader. “Don’t’ miss the boat,” Amr Al-Dabbagh, governor of the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA), told Chinese investors at the closing session of the CEO Forum.. ..China’s vast market and export-oriented manufacturing industries makes it a perfect partner for Saudi companies with their cheap energy and feedstock.." [more]

U.S. Plans Hubs for Middle East Businesswomen [Nov 3]
"At a summit here this week for Middle East businesswomen, Karen Hughes, U.S. undersecretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs, announced partnerships with local groups to form business network hubs for women.. ..The U.S. State Department's Middle East Partnership Initiative will provide funding and logistical support for these hubs as part of a $3.97 million grant to the Beyster Institute, an organization based at the University of California, San Diego.." [more]

Saudi Market Extends Steepest Fall Since Crash [Nov 2]
"Saudi shares plunged to their lowest close in almost 20 months yesterday as retail investors scrambled for the door, extending the sharpest decline in the index since a Gulf Arab stock market crash ended in May. Stocks across the world’s top oil exporting region took their cue from the Riyadh market, the Arab world’s largest, which has fallen almost 12% since it switched on Saturday to a single session and scrapped evening trading, a move which has upset retail investors.." [more]

Saudi Arabia to Implement Fingerprint System [Nov 2]
"The Riyadh Passport Department is to randomly fingerprint people living in the Kingdom in a trial system that is to begin on Saturday. The new steps come following various studies conducted by the National Information Center and after the completion of technical aspects of the system by engineers working at the center. This new system aims to detect passport violators.." [more]

China to Announce a $4 Billion Project in Saudi Arabia [Nov 2]
"According to the governor of Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA), a major Chinese industrial project with investments of more than $4 billion will be established in the kingdom soon, Arab News reported. The governor added that Sino-Saudi economic relations had been boosted significantly the landmark visit of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to Beijing. He further emphasized the strong position of Saudi Arabia of being the largest economy in the Middle East.." [more]

GCC to Discuss ‘Peninsula Shield’ Expansion [Nov 2]
"The six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) will discuss the possible expansion of their joint force called “Peninsula Shield” following a proposal made by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah in this regard recently.. ..According to the proposal, the soldiers comprising the Shield will be stationed in their home countries and will be called for joint exercises from time to time. The troops will conduct themselves under a joint command and control system.." [more]

King Orders Release of Ismailis Held for Rioting [Nov 2]
"King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia on Tuesday ordered the release of most of those jailed after a riot by minority Ismaili Muslims in 2000.. ..At least 77 people were jailed over violent clashes after police closed a mosque belonging to Ismailis, members of an offshoot of the Shiite sect.." [more]

Saudi Unemployment 'To End in Five Years' [Nov 2]
"Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz has said the kingdom, which relies heavily on foreign labour, will end crippling unemployment among young Saudis within five years.. .."Balanced development in all regions and in all sectors is a strategic goal of the government," Prince Sultan said in a speech printed in the daily Al Madinah. "Thousands of young Saudis will be drawn in and thus there will be no unemployed youth, who will be assured a government job during the next five years," he added, without giving details on how the jobs would be created.." [more]

Partnership With Global Investors Expected to Result at the Energy Forum [Nov 2]
"The Kingdom is expecting to attract local and foreign investors as a result of the international conference on energy.. ..dubbed the ‘Saudi Energy Forum,’ slated for November 18-20. “The energy forum is being held with the main objective of attracting local and foreign investments into the Saudi gas sector and associated industries. This would even lead to the establishment of cooperation and partnership between Saudi and overseas investors, resulting in joint ventures in the local energy sector,”.." [more]

Saudi Initiative Called Possible Basis for Mideast Peace [Nov 1]
"Israel's defence minister said a dormant Saudi initiative for Mideast peace could be a 'basis for negotiation,' indicating a new possibility for talks with the Palestinians after years of stalemate. The Saudi plan calls for a comprehensive peace between Israel and the Arab world, based on a complete Israeli withdrawal from lands it captured in the 1967 Mideast war, namely the West Bank, Gaza Strip, east Jerusalem and Golan Heights.." [more]

TASI Drops Below 10,000 Points - Saudi Arabia [Nov 1]
"The Saudi stock market continued to drop yesterday with the Tadawul All-Share Index (TASI) falling below the psychological 10,000-point barrier. The index lost another 335.97 points yesterday after falling 473.99 points on Monday. TASI dropped 3.34 percent yesterday to a new low of 9,717.89 points. The index has lost 41.85 percent so far this year.." [more]

STC Posts SR10 Billion Profit for Nine Months [Nov 1]
"Saudi Telecom Company (STC) posted a profit of SR10.013 billion for the first nine months of this year, registering a 9.1 percent increase compared to the figure of last year's SR9.176 billion. In a statement issued yesterday, the Saudi telecom giant attributed the growth in profits to an increase in the number of clients and a subsequent rise in domestic and international calls.." [more]

Poor OPEC Discipline May Undermine Saudi Cut [Nov 1]
"OPEC has cut less than half the 1.2 million barrels per day of oil agreed last month and with prices still near $60 some countries may be pumping more crude at the expense of more disciplined members.. ..Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil exporter, is shouldering the bulk of the reduction. Its customers say they have already been informed of cuts amounting to 380,000 bpd.." [more]

US Energy Independence a 'Dream': Saudi Oil Executive [Nov 1]
"A senior Saudi oil official warned Monday the notion that the United States could become energy independent was "only a dream" in the modern globalised economy. Khalid Al-Falih, senior vice president of state-owned conglomerate Saudi Aramco, made his remarks as US addiction to foreign oil reverberated along the campaign trail before legislative elections next week. His warning was endorsed by top executives of US oil companies, which sponsored a daylong program on crucial US-Saudi ties at the annual conference of the National Council on US-Arab Relations, a private outreach group.." [more]

Saudi Aramco Still Targeting 12 mbpd [Nov 1]
"Saudi Aramco has restated its determination to increase oil output to twelve million barrels per day (bpd) by the end of 2009.. ..'Saudi Aramco is significantly expanding its efforts to play its part in meeting global demand,'.. .. 'In the long run, the company will be embarking on major initiatives in exploration, delineation and R&D that are poised to generate huge additions to its recoverable hydrocarbon resource base over the coming decades'.." [more]

Prince Khalid Arrives in US [Nov 1]
"Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, Assistant Minister of Defense and Aviation for Military Affairs, arrived here Monday evening. He was scheduled to attend the meetings of the joint strategic planning committee and was welcomed by Prince Turki Al-Faisal, the Kingdom’s Ambassador to the United States.." [more]

Child Abuse Is a Major Problem, Says Expert [Nov 1]
"A major medical symposium will take place next week to discuss and study child abuse in all its forms: Physical, sexual and mental. Entitled 'Child Abuse: Advanced Training for Medical Professionals,' the symposium, to be held in Riyadh on Nov. 6-7.. ..'Since child abuse has become a medical fact in Saudi Arabia, a lot of people do not know what the strategy is for dealing with cases in terms of the child, the family and how to report it to the police. It is still a major problem here'.." [more]

Saudi Arabia Donates $1 Million To Ghana [Oct 31]
"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has donated a cheque for $1 million to the government of Ghana and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to support the emergency food assistance programmes in the country. The amount, which forms part of a $10-million donation from the Saudi government to support WFP operations in seven countries in West Africa, will be used to purchase 1,400 tonnes of maize, vegetable oil, iodated salt and pulses for refugees in Ghana, as well as enhance the school feeding programme in the country.." [more]

Saudi Stocks Take a Dive [Oct 31]
"The Saudi stock market nose-dived yesterday with the Tadawul All-Share Index (TASI) plunging 473.99 points or 4.5 percent to close at 10,053.86. On Sunday the index closed at 10,527.85 points. The Saudi stock market is trading under the new one-session hours — 11 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. — from Saturday.Out of 82 stocks traded, shares of 81 companies dropped.." [more]

Saudi Investment Strategy Focuses on Agriculture [Oct 31]
"Saudi agriculture employs 12 per cent of the country's workforce and accounts for 3.3 per cent of the Kingdom's annual GDP. In social terms the sector has long been seen as crucial to the Saudi economy.. ..Strong investor interest in the sector has been generated with more than 500 applications from local and international concerns for investments totalling $4 billion in agricultural and fish farming ventures.." [more]

Islam at Heart of Saudi Arabia's Tourism Drive [Oct 31]
"Saudi Arabia has announced plans to use Islam as a key tourist pull. As the birthplace of Islam and home to some of its holiest shrines in the cities of Mecca and Medina, Saudi hopes to use its religious heritage to attract pilgrims and tourists without compromising its way of life.. ..The kingdom has also allowed tourist visas to foreigners for the first time this year. Officials said alcohol will remain banned and women will have to cover from head to foot. The holy cities of Mecca and Medina will be for Muslim visitors only.." [more]

Tax Incentives for Investing in Poor Saudi Areas [Oct 31]
"Tax incentives for foreigners who invest in Saudi Arabia's least developed regions have been unveiled.. ..'The tax incentives will be limited to some specific regions. All the companies, which are making investments in these regions, can take advantage of these incentives,' said Al Dabbagh.." [more]

Saudi Post to Ink Deal with Gates [Oct 31]
"The Saudi Post Corporation is expected to sign an agreement with the founder and Chairman of Microsoft Bill Gates during his one-day visit to the Kingdom next month.. ..Under the agreement, Microsoft is expected to provide five million free e-mail accounts to Saudi nationals for free, a move that is expected to increase Internet usage penetration in the Kingdom.." [more]

Record Spending by Pilgrims [Oct 31]
"According to estimates, pilgrims and visitors to the Kingdom this Ramadan spent over SR6 billion in the holy city of Makkah alone. Market experts say this is the highest amount of spending by pilgrims ever during the holy month. Dr. Mahfouz Bin Marie Bin Mahfouz, a member of the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that luxury towers and five-star hotels such as the King Abdul Aziz Endowment project that began this year played an important role in the increase of revenue.." [more]

New Prize to Promote Cultural Relations [Oct 31]
"King Abdullah has approved an international prize for the translation of international cultural works to and from Arabic in order to promote cultural relations. The prize, to be set up by King Abdul Aziz Public Library, will be named after the library.. ..the prize would contribute to enriching Saudi and Arab libraries with major literary and intellectual works in human sciences and literature as these works will be translated from other languages.." [more]

"Credible Qaeda Threat' Against Saudi Oil Sites [Oct 30]
"Al Qaeda recently said it planned to attack Saudi oil facilities and last week the United States pledged to help the kingdom after Britain's Royal Navy said that coalition forces in the Gulf had been deployed to protect the Saudi Ras Tanura Terminal, the world's biggest offshore oil facility. 'As you know, in the last few days there's been a credible threat and the United States is standing with Saudi Arabia shoulder-to-shoulder to ensure that the (oil) installations, the vital installations, are not going to be taken out,' said Saudi Minister of State Abdullah Alireza.." [more]

Saudi Ambassador Chides U.S. Policy [Oct 30]
"The U.S. standing in the Middle East is at an all-time low and can be helped only by pressing Israel to relinquish all occupied Arab land - and Jerusalem - to the Palestinians, the Saudi ambassador said Monday. 'We want you to remain friends with Israel,' Saudi Ambassador Turki al-Faisal said at a news conference. 'But that friendship should be used to push Israel' to relinquish the land the Arabs lost in the 1967 Mideast War and provide the Palestinians with a state they have been denied for more than a half-century.." [more]

Cherokee Signs License in Saudi Arabia [Oct 30]
"Cherokee Inc., which licenses various clothing brands, said Monday it signed an exclusive international license agreement with the Fawaz Al Hokair Group, the largest retail group in Saudi Arabia. Terms of the deal, which covers clothing, footwear and home textiles, were not disclosed.." [more]

$107m Express by Holiday Inn Hotels for Saudi [Oct 30]
"Assaudia Real Estate Development, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Omar K Al Esayi Group (OKAG), has appointed Zuhair Fayez Partnership (ZFP) as architect and engineering design consultant for the SR400 million ($107 million) nationwide Express by Holiday Inn Hotel Program.. ..The Express by Holiday Inn Hotel Program will develop 15 hotels over the next five years in strategic locations across the Kingdom.." [more]

Saudi Denies Foreign Security Aid [Oct 30]
"Saudi Arabia has stressed that its own forces ensure the security of oil installations in the Gulf waters and inland, denying reports of foreign assistance. Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Mansour bin Sultan al-Turki said Monday 'the Saudi naval forces are the ones that assume the protection of oil installations in Ras Tannoura on the Arab Gulf and are solely responsible for ensuring security inside Saudi territorial waters'.." [more]

Saudi Not Planning Currency Revaluation [Oct 30]
"Saudi Arabia has no plans to revalue its riyal currency which is pegged to the US dollar, the central bank governor said, reiterating comments made to local media last week. The riyal rose to a 5-1/2 month high against the dollar last week on talk of a revaluation over the Eid holidays, but slipped the next day after central bank governor Hamad Saud Al Sayyari told newspapers the speculation was unfounded. 'We have no plans to revalue the riyal'.." [more]

Oil Rises on Saudi Concerns [Oct 30]
"Oil prices rose on Friday after news that Royal Navy forces had been deployed to intercept a possible seaborne attack on the world's largest oil export terminal in Saudi Arabia. US light crude oil for December delivery rose 39 cents to settle at $60.75 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.." [more]

Shoura Backs Allegiance Law [Oct 30]
"The 150-member Shoura Council yesterday commended the new Allegiance Law issued by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah as one of the king’s major political reforms. 'The new law will strengthen political stability, ensure national unity and provide a big boost to comprehensive development,' the Shoura said in a statement after a regular meeting in Riyadh.. ..Shoura Chairman Dr. Saleh Bin-Humaid said all members of the consultative body had welcomed the law as a significant political reform introduced by the king.." [more]

Saudi Educators Leave to Learn From Japanese Experience [Oct 30]
" A delegation consisting of seven senior officials from the Ministry of Education left for Japan yesterday to attend a training program on how to improve the school education system in Saudi Arabia. This tailor-made program has been designed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and comes following a request made by the Kingdom to boost Saudi efforts to modernize and improve the overall school education system.." [more]

Conference to Highlight Mineral Resources [Oct 30]
"Seventeen Arab ministers and a large number of businessmen and experts will take part in the 9th Arab Conference for Mineral Resources.. ..The conference, to be attended by nearly 1,000 delegates including about 100 experts from within and outside the Kingdom, aims at highlighting the importance of mineral resources in the Arab world and strengthening Arab cooperation to exploit these vital resources.." [more]

Foster Wheeler Gets Saudi Moneefa Oilfield Contract [Oct 29]
"Saudi Aramco and Foster Wheeler (FWLT.O: Quote, Profile, Research) signed on Sunday a front-end engineering and design contract for the Moneefa oilfield development, which is expected to add 900,000 barrels per day of crude oil by mid-2011. State oil firm Aramco said in a statement that front-end engineering for the onshore portion of the development programme was expected to begin in early November and be completed in the third quarter of 2007. It gave no value for the deal.." [more]

CIA Chief Meets Saudi King After Gulf Terror Alert [Oct 29]
"CIA director Michael Hayden yesterday personally delivered a message from US President George W Bush to Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah, the official SPA news agency said. Although it did not elaborate on what was discussed, Hayden’s visit came a day after Western naval forces in the Gulf were reportedly on heightened alert for possible sea-borne attacks against the world’s largest oil-producing country. Hayden met the king, Saudi intelligence head Prince Miqren bin Abdulaziz and senior advisers to the monarch at the Red Sea Port of Jeddah.." [more]

Saudi Arabia Loans $50m to Maldives [Oct 29]
"The Ministry of Finance has announced that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has loaned US$50 million (Rf 642.5 million) to the Maldives. The sum is being loaned through the Saudi Fund for Development.. ..The loan is for the construction of 295 houses in Gaafu Dhaalu atoll as tsunami relief.." [more]

KSA's New $10.7 Water Company to Float Shares [Oct 29]
"The Saudi water and electricity minister said that the new $10.7 billion water company will be a major turning point in the water and sewage sector in Saudi Arabia.. ..The minister said the new company would float part of its shares through a public offering at a suitable time. Saudi Arabia is the world's largest producer of desalinated water. But the demand for water is increasing day by day as a result of a growing population.." [more]

Telecoms Drive Saudi, Kuwait Stocks Up [Oct 29]
"Stock markets in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait gained ground yesterday as investors snapped up telecom stocks on the first day of trading following the Eid al-Fitr holiday.. ..The Saudi index edged up 0.33% to 10,579.72 points, while the Kuwait market added 0.08% to 10,572.50 points.." [more]

Gates to Speak on ICT Role for Kingdom at Riyadh Forum [Oct 29]
"Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah will sponsor the first Global Competitiveness Forum Series in Riyadh on Nov. 8. Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates will be the keynote speaker. Gates is well known as a technological wizard and the world’s richest man with a net worth of some $53 billion.. ..Bill Gates’ keynote address at the forum would reflect the joint vision of Microsoft and SAGIA to make the Kingdom one of the top 10 global destinations for competitive investments.." [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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