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Kingdom Offers to Host Lebanese Peace Talks [Mar 10]
"Saudi Arabia is welcoming rival Lebanese parties to settle their political differences on its soil, announced the Kingdom’s Ambassador to Beirut Abdul Aziz Khooja. 'The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is keen on Lebanese parties gathering together to end their political differences to save their country from political and economic turmoil,' Al-Khooja told Arab News over the phone from Lebanon. 'If they are willing to come to the Kingdom then they are most welcome'.. ..Ambassador Khooja said should the Lebanese parties choose the Kingdom as a peace broker, they would have to arrive with a peace agenda. 'Should they choose to come here they must come with ‘a clear outline’ for Lebanese reconciliation,' he stressed.." [more]

Saudi Arabia's Non-Petroleum Exports Increase [Mar 10]
"Saudi Arabia's non-petroleum exports last November jumped to SR 7634 million from SR 5971 million in November 2005, said a report issued by the department of general statistics and data at the ministry of economy and planning. The report pointed out that the petrochemical materials topped the list of the exports amounting to SR 2563 million. In second place are the exports of the plastic materials which amounted to SR 1917 million.. .. regard imports during the same period, they amounted to SR 25013
million.." [more]

Saudi Companies Urged to Devise New Strategy Against Foreign Firms [Mar 10]
"The national industrial committee at the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce (CSCC) has urged formation of independent legal committees in Saudi Arabia in order to look into the disputes arising because of the increasing competition between the companies in the Kingdom and foreign firms following the country's accession to the World trade Organisation (WTO). According to Salman Al Jashi, deputy chairman of the committee and head of the industrial committee at the Eastern Province Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EPCCI), the companies should be familiar with the stipulations and terms of the WTO agreements.." [more]

Women Control 21% of Kingdom Investments [Mar 10]
"Saudi Arabia’s efforts to empower women are yielding fruits as its businesswomen now own more than 20,000 companies and establishments and hold 21 percent of total private investments, according to Abdul Wahab Attar, the Kingdom’s permanent representative to the United Nations. 'Saudi women account for 56.5 percent of total university graduates and 40 percent of Saudi doctors,' Attar told a meeting of the UN General Assembly. Of the total Saudi work force in the Kingdom 14 percent are women, with 30 percent of them concentrated in education, Attar said. Attar gave the latest statistics about Saudi women’s growing role in the nation- building process.." [more]

Shoura Rejects Proposal for Free Internet in Schools [Mar 10]
"A number of Saudi intellectuals have called for having Internet available in schools and universities free of charge. They say such a measure is essential in order to take the Kingdom to a new era of scientific and technological progress. According to press reports, the 150-member Shoura Council recently rejected a proposal made by a member in this respect on the grounds that telecom companies in the country were operating commercially.. ..The Shoura Council did not approve Awad’s proposal but it did ask telecom companies to provide Internet service to educational institutions at discounted rates that would cover the costs.." [more]

BAE Systems and VT Group Set for 2 BLN STG Saudi Destroyer Deal [Mar 9]
" Britain is aiming to win a 2 bln stg order from Saudi Arabia for the world's most advanced naval destroyer, which would be built by BAE Systems PLC and VT Group PLC, The Independent newspaper reported. The proposed deal comes just three months after the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) was forced to drop an investigation into claims BAE Systems bribed Saudi officials to secure the Al Yamamah arms-for-oil contract. The report said the Saudis are understood to be interested in buying two or three Type 45 destroyers to strengthen their defensive capabilities in the region.." [more]

CNN Goes Mobile in Saudi Arabia [Mar 9]
"CNN International has launched on 3G mobile in Saudi Arabia through a deal with local network operator Mobily, the first time the channel has been made available live on mobile in the Middle East. The agreement makes CNN the first international television channel available to mobile users in Saudi Arabia. It joins a line-up on Mobily that also includes CNBC Arabiya, Saudi TV Channel 1 and Al-Afasi TV.." [more]

Saudi Stock Market Rallies [Mar 9]
"The Saudi stock market rallied by an impressive 16 percent in February, sending its year-to-date performance into positive territory after the huge losses in January. 'This has been the most significant development in the Middle East stock market situation in February with the turnaround in the Saudi market,' a monthly Middle East stock market report released yesterday by Rasmala, a regional investment bank headquartered at the Dubai International Financial Center, with operating subsidiaries in Riyadh and London. It was close to this time last year that the Saudi Tadawul Index closed at 20,635, before starting its huge sell-off to below 7,000 during January of this year.." [more]

Saudi Financial District Announced [Mar 9]
"Saudi Arabia is to be the home of the Middle East's largest financial centre, after the master plan for the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) was approved by the Executive Committee. The new financial centre forms a major part of Saudi Arabia's strategy to promote private sector development and diversify its economy. The KAFD will be located in Riyadh and will cover 3.3 million square metres. The first excavation work is scheduled to begin within weeks and the first building is expected to open by the end of 2008. It will be the base for the Capital Markets Authority, the Kingdom's stock exchange and commodity market, and for financial institutions and other service providers.." [more]

League Remarks Incense Iraqis [Mar 9]
"Iraq's Shiite leaders expressed anger yesterday at criticism levelled against them by the top Arab League official, warning that such remarks could overshadow this weekend's regional conference to ease the security crisis in Iraq. Last weekend, Arab League's Secretary-General Amr Mousa suggested that Arab governments may take their recommendations on quelling the bloodshed in Iraq to the UN Security Council. Such a move would be widely interpreted as a failure of Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki's government.. ..the United Iraqi Alliance, the major Shiite bloc in parliament, said Mousa's comments amounted to 'flagrant interference in Iraq's internal affairs' and 'ignored the march of the Iraqi people to build a free and democratic state'.." [more]

Saudi Woman to Chair Science Forum in Bahrain [Mar 9]
"Saudi Aramco engineering consultant Fatema Al-Awami will chair a conference highlighting “Women in Science, Engineering and Technology” this weekend in Bahrain. The workshop aims to explore the reasons why women in Gulf countries and Saudi Arabia are driven away from careers in high-tech fields. The event takes place Friday and Saturday at the Sheraton Bahrain Hotel and Towers.. ..The conference is part of the worldwide Society of Petroleum Engineers’ program to encourage and highlight the role of women in the oil and petroleum industry. As such, the event will highlight the leadership capabilities of successful women scientists and engineers from the Gulf region. The workshop will address issues such as parental conditioning, guidance and schooling, gender expectations, the work environment, balancing responsibility with lifestyle and government support.." [more]

Saudi royal calls for ‘fertile crescent’ in region [Mar 8]
Prince Turki al-Faisal says region should economically cooperate, not divide over Shiite-Sunni power -- ABU DHABI - A senior Saudi prince called on Wednesday for regional cooperation conducive to economic prosperity that would dispel fears of Iranian-inspired Shiite ascendancy in the Middle East. "Let me say it loud and clear: instead of dreaming of a Shiite crescent or fearing it, we can work together to build a fertile crescent stretching from Iraq to Lebanon," Prince Turki al-Faisal told a conference on Gulf security. [more]

Jordan's king urges U.S. to lead Middle East peace drive
Citing the risks of further delay, Jordan's King Abdullah II said Wednesday the United States must take the lead in creating conditions for a permanent peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Speaking to a joint meeting of Congress, Abdullah said that history has shown no progress in Middle East peacemaking is possible without American leadership. [more]

Slaying Suspects Now Considered Fugitives [Mar 8]
The two Saudis suspected of involvement in the Feb. 26 murder of four French nationals failed to meet yesterday’s 8 a.m. deadline to surrender peacefully to Saudi authorities for questioning. Nasser Latef Al-Balawi and Abdullah Sayer Al-Muhammadi failed to appear before authorities yesterday and are now considered fugitives from the law.   [more]

The Arabs' 'No. 1 mediator' Saudi Arabia's efforts could breathe life into Mideast peace process [Mar 8]
For the first time in years, serious Israeli-Arab peace moves seem to be afoot. The key mover is Saudi Arabia and the key document is a 2002 peace initiative that it sponsored. The Saudis have been exchanging ideas quietly with Israeli leaders on changes in the document that would make it more palatable to Israel. They also have been closely coordinating their moves with the United States and the Arab world.   [more]

Saudi Arabian consumers highly optimistic about future: survey [Mar 8]
Consumers in Saudi Arabia are highly optimistic about their future, according to MasterIndex of Consumer Confidence survey for the second half of 2006. Results showed that consumers in the Kingdom are confident on all five economic factors — employment, economy, regular income, stock market and quality of life.. [more]

Master Plan for King Abdullah Financial District Approved [Mar 8]
Work on the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) in Riyadh, which is designed to become the largest financial center in the Middle East, will start within a few weeks as KAFD’s executive committee has approved the master plan, it was announced yesterday. The financial district will be the headquarters of the Capital Market Authority (CMA), the Stock Exchange (Tadawul) and the Commodity Market, and for financial institutions and other service providers such as accountants, auditors, lawyers, analysts, rating agencies, consultants, and IT providers. [more]

Saudi Job Seekers Now Must Enter Training Regimen [Mar 8]
Under new guidelines issued by the Ministry of Labor, Saudi high school graduates who seek government job-placement services will be required to undergo a four-to-six month training program through the General Organization for Technical Education and Vocational Training (GOTEVOT), a ministry official said yesterday.   [more]

Saudi Arabia’s efforts to combat polio hailed [Mar 8]
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has commended Saudi Arabia’s efforts in making the Kingdom a polio-free country since 1995 and has presented it with a certificate of appreciation. [more]

Diplomacy: Saudi and Offline Israeli [Mar 8]
A worried Saudi Arabia has begun to engage in Middle East diplomacy – on the one hand bringing together Hamas and Fatah; and on the other, meeting with Ahmadinejad to discuss Lebanon and Iraq. The first irritated the State Department (but makes us happy in a twisted sort of way); the second may hold some seed of promise.   [more]

Patching the Wounds Is Not Enough [Mar 8]
AL-RIYADH newspaper recently reported that the Civil Service Council had decided to remove teachers who are known to have “extremist ideas and thoughts” from teaching. The plan is either to transfer them into administrative positions or give them the option of early retirement. At first glance, it seems to be a step in the right direction; at least it is a strong tacit acknowledgement that we are finally aware of the dangers posed by such teachers. This is all on the theoretical side, however; the practical side of the decision could literally mean that half of all Saudi schools would be unable to operate because of severe staff shortages. Extremist thought is nothing rare or unknown in Saudi Arabia and it will most certainly not be eradicated by transferring a few teachers to other jobs. There is little doubt, on the other hand, that it would be a good thing in a number of cases. So far, we are talking about what is called “the big picture” — the real danger is that we might end up sidelining large numbers of teachers without actually achieving the desired result. [more]

Andrew Tours SABB’s New Head Office [Mar 8]
British investment in Saudi Arabia was given a fresh royal seal of approval yesterday with the visit of Britain’s Prince Andrew, Duke of York, to the new head office of SABB in Riyadh. The hour-long visit by the second son of Queen Elizabeth II follows the announcement of a significant further commitment to Saudi Arabia’s developing economy by HSBC, a 40 percent shareholder in SABB and Britain’s and Europe’s largest financial services organization.   [more]

Saudi Arabia warns foreigners of attacks [Mar 7]
Saudi authorities have warned foreign embassies that a group blamed for last month's killing of four French nationals could strike again, diplomats said on Wednesday. "Saudi authorities officially notified us on Tuesday that the group could attack again and urged foreigners to avoid travelling outside cities," a Western diplomat said. [more]

Emergency Measures to Curb Bird Flu Outbreak [Mar 7]
Saudi authorities have declared an emergency aimed at preventing an outbreak of bird flu in the country after 52 cases of the infectious illness were reported in neighboring Kuwait, according to Muhammad ibn Abdullah Al-Sheiha, assistant deputy agriculture minister for animal resources affairs.. ..The Saudi official’s assurance came as a team of experts from the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) arrived in Kuwait where authorities said yesterday that the number of bird flu cases in the emirate had risen to 52. “Two new cases of the H5N1 deadly strain were detected in a falcon and a chicken that were found dead in two new locations,” Kuwaiti Health Ministry spokesman Ahmad Al-Shatti said. [more]

Saudi Women Demand Equal Citizenship Rights [Mar 7]
Mohammed Noor Baksh, a 60-year-old Pakistani driver, has been married to a Saudi woman for 27 years and hasn’t traveled outside the Kingdom for the past 15 years. He has two daughters — one 21-year-old and the other 19-year-old — and a 14-year-old son. When he tried getting his children Saudi nationality, he hit a snag. [more]

Accept the Saudi initiative [Mar 7]
Four years after it was first presented, the Arab peace initiative is finally coming to center stage. Rumors of behind the scenes meetings and negotiations on the initiative between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Saudi national security advisor Prince Bandar bin Sultan have been strengthened by reports that the Saudi prince is trying to modify the initiative so that it will be more acceptable to Israel. [more]

Saudis, Iranians seek to heal rift [Mar 7]
The weekend summit between Saudi Arabia and Iran crowned weeks of frenzied diplomatic activity by the two regional powers, which seek to ease Sunni-Shi'ite tensions by minimizing the presence of the United States, participants and analysts say. Saturday's meeting in Riyadh, the Saudi capital, between Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, ended with both leaders promising to fight the spread of sectarian strife in the region. [more]

Suspects Held in Frenchmen’s Murder [Mar 7]
Two Saudi men suspected of involvement in the Feb. 26 cold-blooded murder of four French nationals 90 km north of Madinah have been given an ultimatum by the Interior Ministry: Turn yourselves in by 8 a.m. today, or else. “If they fail to do so they will be declared wanted men,” said Mansour Al-Turki, Interior Ministry spokesman. Although the connection of Abdullah Sayer Muawad Al-Muhammadi and Nasser Latef Al-Balawi to the crime is unclear, the government is offering a SR7 million ($1.9 million) reward for information leading to their capture. [more]

Saudi Arabia mulls Dominican refinery [Mar 6]
Saudi Arabia may build an oil refinery in the Dominican Republic in hopes of quickly expanding their access to the U.S. market, the kingdom's embassy spokesman in Washington said Tuesday. Dominican Foreign Minister Carlos Morales Troncoso discussed the proposal during an hourlong meeting with senior Saudi oil official Ibrahim Al-Mohana and executives of the Saudi Arabian Oil Co., or Saudi Aramco, in Riyadh, the Dominican foreign ministry confirmed in a statement. [more]

Saudi arrests suspects over French killings [Mar 6]
Saudi authorities said on Tuesday they have arrested suspects over the February killing of four Frenchmen near the Muslim holy city of Medina but are still hunting two others linked to the murder. "Strong evidence led to the arrest of some suspects" in the shooting of the four French nationals on February 26.. [more]

Saudi Arabia Upbeat on Arab Summit [Mar 6]
Saudi Arabia is optimistic that the March 28-29 Arab summit in Riyadh will adopt effective resolutions on major issues such as Palestine and Iraq and open a new era of progress, reform and economic cooperation in the Arab world. The Council of Ministers, chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, also emphasized the Kingdom's resolve to strengthen Islamic unity and solidarity, promote understanding among religious schools of thought (madhab) and establish closer relations among Muslim communities. [more]

Lebanese president praises Saudi peace efforts [Mar 6]
Lebanese President Emile Lahoud on Monday praised mediation efforts by Saudi Arabia, expressing hope that such efforts would ease tension in Lebanon, local press reported. Recent talks between Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad have eased tension in the volatile Mideast region and created a positive and hopeful climate in the region, Lahoud told Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Abdul Aziz Khojah in a meeting. For his part, Khojah said that Saudi Arabia would be pleased to host at any time any conference bringing together Lebanese political leaders. [more]

Saudi defends Gulf Arab atom plans [Mar 6]
Saudi Arabia said on Monday that Iran's nuclear programme was an extra burden on a region already fraught with challenges, but that Gulf Arab allies had the right to their own peaceful atomic ambitions. Arab Foreign ministers of the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) were meeting in the Saudi capital Riyadh to discuss progress in their plans for a joint civil atomic programme that has raised fears of a nuclear race with Iran. They agreed at a summit in December 2006 to study the feasibility of developing nuclear energy. [more]

Forum to Bring Together Prominent Saudi Women [Mar 6]
Princess Adila bint Abdullah will spell out her vision for Saudi woman in 2020 at the Khadija Bint Khuwalid Forum on "The Reality of Women's Participation in National Development" to be held at Hilton Hotel in Jeddah on March 19 and 20. The forum will bring together prominent Saudi businesswomen, academics and executives. It coincides with the launch of the Arab News Top 20 Supplement featuring a profile of companies headed and owned by Saudi women. [more]

Western Firms Make Themselves at Home in Booming Saudi Arabia [Mar 5]
"Saudi Arabia is a frontier jurisdiction of the Middle East. It is also a place where multibillion-dollar project finance deals are regular occurrences, making it a region that UK and US firms are placing increasing emphasis on. In the first few weeks of this year, there were some major partner and associate moves between firms. This hunt for top-level lawyers belies how crucial the West views the jurisdiction.. ..Of the Kingdom's of Saudi Arabia's population of 27 million, an estimated 60 per cent are under the age of 21. Coupled with the oil price boom that provides the kingdom with an annual revenue of some $100bn (£51bn), the country's government has a massive amount of funds to invest in infrastructure. It is undoubtedly a market on the verge of a boom.." [more]

Saudi Arabia to Launch New System for Children With Special Needs [Mar 5]
"The Director of Special Education at the Saudi Ministry of Education declared that Saudi school children with special needs are now the center of attention of the Saudi educational program, the Saudi Gazette reported. The program plans to upgrade and boost the curriculum that the students with special needs study through including behavior modification, social training, rehabilitation, gentle sports and arts, he said and added that combining general and special subjects will offer objective and efficient
learning environment.." [more]

Saudi Group Invests US$ 9 Million to Increase Pipe Production in Brazil [Mar 5]
"Saudi group Amiantit, a giant in the pipe sector, is investing US$ 9 million to expand the productive capacity of Amitech, a large diameter pipe and fitting factory the group controls in the city of Ipeúna, in the interior of the southeastern Brazilian state of São Paulo. The objective is to supply the demand of the Brazilian market, as production is at a limit. "Throughout 2006 we worked in four shifts," said to ANBA the president at Amitech, Roberto Roselli.. ..The Saudi group started operating in Brazil in 2002, after purchasing 38% of the capital of the G-Tec factory and taking control of the plant. The Brazilian pipe factory had started operating two years before. The name was changed to Amitech and Amiantit now has 98% of the capital. The Saudis invested US$ 5 million in the purchase of shares and in capitalization of the company.." [more]

Microsoft Sponsors National Computer Skills Competition in Saudi Arabia [Mar 5]
"The General Organization for Technical Education and Vocational Training has announced plans for the National Competition for Computer Skills, which comes within the framework of an agreement signed with Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates. Motivated by appreciation for the importance of such activities for youths in the Kingdom, Microsoft has lent their support through a financial grant amounting to SR 100,000. The National Computer Skills Competition is open to computer fans from all segments - male or female, old or young, Saudi and expatriate.. ..'Microsoft has had a pioneering role in driving the wheel of development and upgrading in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The relationship between Microsoft and the General Organization for Technical Education and Vocational Training dates back to 2003, when this competition was launched for the first time. The relationship was born out of conviction that creativity, developing and upgrading skills and education in technology are important facets to ensuring qualified technical professionals capable of tackling the challenges of the future'.." [more]

Inflation Rise in Saudi Stems From Steep Global Prices: Minister [Mar 5]
"Rising inflation in Saudi Arabia, which hit its highest in at least five years in December, is mainly due to high global prices for items such as food and building materials, the trade minister said yesterday. The government plans to set up a department to protect consumers and allow non-governmental consumer rights groups to operate in the kingdom, Trade Minister Hashem bin Abdullah Yamani told the advisory Shura Council. Saudi newspapers, including al-Riyadh, reported the council - a quasi parliament whose members are appointed by the king - had summoned Yamani to explain an increase in inflation, which hit 2.9% in December.Yamani told the body the increase was part of a global trend.." [more]

Saudi Index Hits Year-High on Rajhi [Mar 5]
"Saudi stocks hit a year-high during trading yesterday as investors piled into Al-Rajhi Banking & Investment Corp after it approved a cash and share dividend plan. The Saudi index closed up 2.52% at 8,586.62 points, having hit an intra-day peak of 8,629.73 points, its highest level this year. 'Newly-listed shares like Emaar The Economic City are attracting more attention,' said Saudi analyst Mohammed Al Omran. 'The index is breaking its upper trend line and has tested the 8500-level for the second time in two weeks,' he added. Al-Rajhi, the largest Gulf Arab bank by market value, jumped 6.79% after its shareholders approved plans to give one free share for every one held by investors and a cash dividend of 1 riyal.." [more]

Arabs to Relaunch 2002 Peace Plan [Mar 5]
"Arabs will relaunch a 2002 land-for-peace offer to end the decades long conflict with Israel at a summit in Saudi Arabia later this month but without the changes Israel has been pushing, a top Arab League official said yesterday. Secretary-General Amr Mousa's made these remarks at an opening speech to a meeting of Arab foreign ministers. 'The Arab peace initiative expresses an Arab consensus and will not be redrafted as demanded by some foreign powers'.. ..'Manoeuvring and watering down [the initiative] will be a strategic mistake,' Mousa said. 'It perhaps will lead to new bloodshed'.." [more]

Pullout Timetable Urged by League [Mar 5]
"The Arab League yesterday said the Security Council should set a timetable for the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Iraq. Apart from setting a timetable for US-led coalition to leave, it also called for fair distribution of wealth and disbanding of all militias - a demand that Arab leaders have repeated many times, its secretary-general Amr Moussa said. 'I suggest that these foundations be included in a binding council resolution that all Iraqi and other parties with present roles in Iraq should respect and follow,' he told a meeting of Arab foreign ministers.." [more]

Kingdom to Support Any Arab Decision on Peace Plan: Saud [Mar 5]
"Saudi Arabia said yesterday that it would support any Arab decision to change or develop the Arab peace plan, which was passed by the Arab League summit that was held in Beirut in 2002. 'The peace plan is the property of Arabs, not Saudi Arabia. If they want to change or develop it, it’s totally an Arab decision,' Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal told reporters here.. ..He said Saudi Arabia had never considered Iran as an enemy. 'If the Kingdom had considered Iran its enemy, Custodian of the Two Holy
Mosques King Abdullah would not have received President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad in Riyadh.' However, he advised Tehran to avoid confrontation with the US to reinforce the stability of the region.." [more]

GCC FMs to Meet in Riyadh Today [Mar 5]
"Foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) will hold their 102nd meeting here Monday to discuss a number of issues, including talks with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) over establishing a peaceful nuclear energy program. During their meeting, presided by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the ministers are expected to follow up on implementation of decisions taken by GCC leaders during their "Jaber Summit" held in Riyadh last December.. ..The foreign ministers will also discuss the situation in the Palestinian territories, developments in Iraq, Sudan, and Somalia, as well as political, security, and legal issues. Moreover, they will assess negotiations with economic blocs, namely the EU, as well as the Iranian nuclear file and the Persian state's occupation of the UAE's three islands -- Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Moussa.." [more]

Iran, Saudi Arabia Disagree On Topic Of Discussion [Mar 4]
"Controversy has broken out over what Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad did or did not say during his visit to Saudi Arabia. The official Saudi SPA news agency reports that during their March 3 talks King Abdullah and the Iranian leader backed a 2002 Arab plan for normalizing ties with Israel. But Ahmadinejad's office today vehemently denied there was any discussion of the initiative. Ahmadinejad and the king did agree to counter sectarian strife, which they described as the biggest threat to Muslims.." [more]

Seven Consortiums Bid for Saudi High-Speed Railway [Mar 4]
"Seven consortiums have submitted bids to build and operate a 450-km (280-mile) high-speed railway linking the Saudi cities of Medina and Mecca, the head of the state-run Saudi Railways Organization said on Saturday. The groups included Saudi and foreign firms from Australia, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and Spain, Khaled al-Yahya said. 'We are talking about international industry leaders,'.. ..'We estimate at 15-20 million the number of passengers that could use the Medina-Jeddah-Mecca rail link each year,' Yahya said. Saudi Arabia, with a relatively underdeveloped railway network, also plans a 2,400-km railway, called Landbridge, linking the north of the vast
desert kingdom to its south.." [more]

Libya Won't Attend Upcoming Arab Summit in Saudi [Mar 4]
"Libya won't attend the upcoming Arab summit in Saudi Arabia, the Libyan foreign minister said Sunday, adding that the Arab world 'is not serious' and that 'joint Arab action is dysfunctional'.. ..'Our relations with Saudi are brotherly and good,' Shalqam told reporters Sunday. 'But the Arab world is not serious,' he said criticizing the way Arab countries manage their political affairs. 'Iran has become the enemy (of Arab countries) — not Israel. What nonsense this is.' Shalqam added. Hesham Youssef, an aide to the Arab League secretary-general, said, 'We haven't been officially informed about this. I heard remarks by the Libyan foreign minister and I hope this is not a final decision, we still have time to discuss the issue and we hope that Libya will reconsider it'.." [more]

Saudi Aims for Global Top Ten [Mar 4]
"Saudi Arabia intends to be among the top ten competitive nations in the world for inward investment by 2010 according to the governor of Saudi Arabia General Investment Authority Amr Al-Dabbagh. Dabbagh believes that the 'sky is the limit.' as the authority looks to attract $300 billion of investment in 'energy-intensive industries' over in the next 13 years. A further $100 billion of investments is also being sought for 'knowledge-based' industries and a similar amount for transportation ventures.. ..In 2006, the
World Bank's International Finance Corporation placed Saudi Arabia 38th out of 155 countries assessed in its 'Doing Business in 2006' report, a major jump from the Kingdom's 67th ranking in 2005.." [more]

Saudi Arabia, Yemen to Set Up Joint Economic Zone [Mar 4]
"The Chairman of the Saudi-Yemeni Business Council said that Saudi and Yemeni authorities have agreed to set up a joint economic zone in order to promote joint investment opportunities between the two projects, Arab News reported. He indicated that the Yemeni side has presented seventy-five investment proposals including seaport management, mineral resources and tourism for the proposed city which will be located at Wadeea area in the Empty Quarter. He added that Saudi exports to
Yemen have reached $2.13 billion in 2006, reflecting growing economic and commercial ties between the two neighbors.." [more]

Arab Bank Accused of Funding Terrorists [Mar 4]
"A three-year investigation into the activities of one of the Middle East's largest and most influential banks is producing extensive evidence of how tens of millions of dollars have flowed from wealthy Saudi Arabians to Palestinian groups that allegedly used some of the money to pay off suicide bombers and their survivors.. ..The Justice Department is conducting a criminal investigation into the New York branch of Arab Bank, which is based in Jordan, and its financial links to organizations and individuals
accused of terrorism, according to three former U.S. counter-terrorism officials. In 2005, the bank agreed to pay the federal government $24 million in fines for violating U.S. laws aimed at preventing terrorist financing, including failing to report suspicious transactions.. ..Arab Bank officials deny such charges and say they have never knowingly supported acts of terrorism.." [more]

Virtue Commission Slams Media Bias {Mar 4]
"In an interview with Arab News, the director of the Madinah branch of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, Sheikh Suleyman Tuwaijri, highlighted the good work that the government-run organization carries out in the Kingdom and among other things dismissed Western media allegations that the commission deprives women and non-Muslims of their rights and freedoms. Sheikh Suleyman Tuwaijri spoke about the highly controversial allegation that the commission denies women their rights. “The commission takes great pains to protect women from being deprived of their rights, and guarantees them total security.. ..Describing the report as one fraught with errors, the director said that the report was made without ascertaining facts and without establishing the credibility of sources.." [more]

Role of Mass Media Focus of Educational Meet [Mar 4]
"The first international conference on media education will open here today as part of an innovative move to promote the role of the mass media as an educational tool. The four-day event, sponsored by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, will bring together educationists, media producers and UNESCO experts who will discuss how students can benefit from the Internet and the mass media.. ..the main objective of the conference was to focus attention on the mass media as an essential tool of the enlightened citizen, as media education enables the people to interpret news and develop critical and creative skills of the youth.." [more]

OPEC Expansion at Risk If Oil Drops Below $50 [Mar 4]
"OPEC’s $254 billion upstream expansion plan to raise production capacity risks being delayed if oil prices drop below $50 a barrel, the organization’s secretary general has warned. “My concern now is the price, because we are undertaking a lot of investment. If we don’t have a reasonable price then that investment will not be finished,” Abdalla el-Badri told the Middle East Economic Survey (MEES) in an interview to appear tomorrow. Asked what price capacity expansion is relying on, he said: “It’s about 50” dollars a barrel for the OPEC basket.." [more]

Clasma Launches BuilConn Building Automation Event [Mar 4]
"Clasma Events Inc., the leading US technology events company, launched its flagship building automation event BuilConn at the Four Seasons Hotel yesterday.. ..'The conference was arranged anticipating the mega developments that are to take place in the five economic cities planned throughout the Kingdom,' Clasma’s president and chief executive officer (CEO) Anto Budiardjo said in his opening remarks. 'Smart buildings will make smart cities,' he stressed, pointing out that the event has united all the individuals involved in buildings and IT to take an objective and comprehensive view of buildings and facilities, understand the technologies and trends that shape it, and discover the steps required to implement truly intelligent, integrated buildings'.." [more]

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