Saudi-US Relations Information Service

Keeping Track - Recently on SUSRIS











Rollover image for info		Rollover image for info

Abdullah, Siniora Discuss Crucial Issues [Jan 26]
"..King Abdullah yesterday held talks with Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora at his Janadriya ranch outside Riyadh, the Saudi Press Agency said. "The talks focused on the present crisis in Lebanon and Arab League's efforts to solve it," the agency said.." [more]

Saudi Tightens Grip on Internet Use [Jan 26]
"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has begun implementing new laws for controlling the use of technology for terrorism, fraud, pornography, defamation, violating religious values and disregarding public etiquette. The new information technology law contains 16 articles, and provides a maximum penalty of 10 years and a SR5 million fine for persons found guilty of running web sites in support of terrorist organisations. A maximum penalty of three years and a SR500,000 fine will be handed to anyone found guilty of financial or data fraud, or found guilty of attacking the private life of another subject.. ..The new law comes into effect as Saudi Arabia faces the world's attention for its treatment of Saudi blogger Ahmad Fouad Al-Farhan. Al-Farhan was arrested for violating “non-security regulations", and is believed to be the first online critic to be arrested in the kingdom.." [more]

IEA Urges Opec to Raise Production [Jan 26]
"Opec should pump more oil to replenish inventories and ease high prices, while state-owned oil companies must keep up the pace of investment in new capacity, the head of the International Energy Agency said. Oil stockpiles are still "very tight," IEA executive director Nobuo Tanaka said in an interview on Friday in Davos, Switzerland, where he is attending the World Economic Forum. 'The price level is quite high, so we want Opec to see the current situation and get the market signals right. But we cannot order them to produce more.'.. ..In its annual World Energy Outlook in November, the IEA said a supply crunch in the period to 2015 cannot be ruled out. The best way to tackle climate change is to improve energy efficiency.." [more]

KAUST Partners with Munich University [Jan 26]
"The King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) has partnered with Munich University for scientific research on applied engineering, nanotechnology and solar energy. Dr. Nazmi Al-Nasseri, KAUST acting vice chancellor, said the cooperation between the two universities will also involve the establishment of research centers and construction of laboratory facilities in KAUST, and the sharing of expertise and the exchange of teaching staff.. ..Munich University is one of the world's leading universities in the field of applied engineering research.." [more]

Saudi Arabia’s First Girls’ Soccer Match [Jan 26]
"The first soccer match between female teams has taken place in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province, the Al-Watan newspaper said. No men were allowed in the stadium, and the referee and her linesman, as well as the fans, were also female. The Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University team defeated their guests, the Al-Yamamah College.. ..Saudi Arabia's male national soccer team is one of Asia's most successful teams, currently ranking 57 in the FIFA ratings and has taken part in the last four World Cups. It is unclear if a female Saudi national soccer team is in the offing and whether they would participate in international competitions.." [more]

Much-Awaited Railway Project on Track [Jan 26]
"The winner of the contract for the much-awaited land-bridge project to link the Kingdom’s east with its west will be announced in April, Transport Minister Dr. Jabara Al-Seraisry said yesterday. The total cost of the project is estimated at $5 billion. 'Four consortia have been qualified to carry out the project. They will present their offers in the second half of next month and the winner of the contract will be announced in April,' he said.. ..The land-bridge project involves construction of 950 km of new railway tracks between Riyadh and Jeddah and another 115-km line between Dammam and Jubail. It is the cornerstone of a massive multibillion-riyal railway expansion project and will be the first rail link between the Red Sea and the Gulf.." [more]

Beyond Literacy in the Arab World [Jan 25]
"Education in the Arab world is a mixture of good and bad news. On one hand, literacy continues to improve across the region, with some countries progressing more than others. On the other hand, the Arab world continues to lag behind most of the world and is producing citizens ill-equipped to participate in the rapidly evolving global market. As a result, structural unemployment is a major dilemma. Educational reform is urgently needed.. ..Arab graduates find themselves at an increasing disadvantage as they seek entry into their respective labour markets, where their skills are often mismatched with the needs of the marketplace. For example, in Saudi Arabia, approximately 5.5 million foreign workers play an essential role in the Saudi economy – particularly in the service and oil sectors. Yet despite the government's aggressive policy to encourage the employment of Saudi nationals, the official (and persistent) unemployment rate of Saudi males is 13 percent, and many independent experts believe that the rate may be as high as 25 percent.." [more]

India and Saudi Arabia Sign New Bilateral Air Services Agreement [Jan 25]
"India and Saudi Arabia have signed a new bilateral air services agreement on 23 January, 2008, allowing for more passenger flights between the two countries and removes all restrictions on cargo services. The agreement also allows for more designated airlines from the two sides, and enhances the existing traffic entitlement of 8,500 seats per week to 20,000 seats per week with immediate effect. Saudi Arabia's airlines can now serve to Bangalore, Calicut and Lucknow, and India's airlines will be able to operate to Madina.." [more]

Religious Police to Learn Diplomatic Skills [Jan 25]
"Members of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice will be trained on how to deal with diplomats and foreign non-Muslims in Saudi Arabia. The training course will be organised by the Riyadh-based Institute of Diplomatic Studies, an affiliate to the Foreign Ministry.. ..The religious body is often criticised by international human rights organisations. The new training programme aims at enlightening the commission members on how to deal with diplomats and non Muslims working or coming to visit Saudi Arabia. Last week, Saudi Arabia decided to establish ‘community police’ stations in the kingdom. The move was regarded by some people as a step for containing the wide role of the religious police.." [more]

The Economies of the Middle East [Jan 25]
"On February 24, 2003, in the Islamic Financial Forum in Dubai, Brad Bourland, chief economist for the Saudi American Bank (SAMBA), breached the embarrassed silence that invariably enshrouds speakers in Middle Eastern get-togethers. He reminded the assembled that despite the decades-long fortuity of opulent oil revenues, the nations of the region - excluding Turkey and Israel - failed to reform their economies, let alone prosper. Structural weaknesses, imperceptible growth, crippling unemployment and deteriorating government financing confined Arab states to the role of oil-addicted minions. At $540 billion, said Bourland, quoted by Middle East Online, the combined gross domestic product of all the Arab countries is smaller than Mexico's.. ..Not surprisingly, most of the members of the Arab Gulf Cooperation Council have joined the World Trade Organization a while back. But their citizens are unlikely to enjoy the benefits at least until 2010 due to obstruction by the club's all-powerful and tentacular business families.." [more]

Oil Prices Shoot Above 90 Dollars [Jan 25]
"The price of oil jumped back above 90 dollars on Friday, helped by a recovery in global stock markets on the back of plans to prevent the US economy falling into recession, traders said. New York's main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in March, gained 54 cents to 90.44 dollars per barrel. Brent North Sea crude for March rose 78 cents to 89.85 dollars. 'Crude futures were firmer, extending last night's rally,' said Sucden analyst Andrey Kryuchenkov. 'Oil prices are continuing to follow gains on the broader market and especially on equity markets,' he added.. ..Elsewhere the oil market was looking ahead to next Friday's meeting of the OPEC oil-producing cartel in Vienna. Analysts expect the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries to resist calls from oil consumers to increase output to help to bring down prices further. Analysts are even suggesting that OPEC may soon decide to cut output because its members are unhappy about earnings being reduced by oil price drops.." [more]

Experiences of Saudis Studying Abroad [Jan 25]
"Our country is currently undergoing an encouraging educational boom. Instead of building more private and public colleges, universities and institutions for young men and women, there’s a trend to send students abroad to study in different Western, Eastern and Arab countries. We hope that these students will come home with valuable and useful degrees and qualifications that will help in the advancement of the country and boosting its economy. They should be prepared academically and psychologically in advance to live through this beneficial yet difficult experience. What matters in the experience isn’t just only academic success, but also maturity and personal development by which the young man or woman lives an independent lifestyle and thinks seriously about handling residence issues, finances, friendships and how to survive. However, one shouldn’t deprive himself or herself of the joy of getting to know the good in other cultures instead of what is destructive physically or emotionally.." [more]

Saudi Activist Still Held Without Charge a Year After His Arrest [Jan 24]
"A prominent Saudi political activist and academic remains in solitary confinement 'without charge and without access to counsel' a year after he was arrested, his lawyer said Wednesday. Saud Mokhtar al-Hashemi, 45, was among 10 men arrested last February and accused of illegally collecting funds and sending fighters to Iraq. His lawyer and supporters say the detentions were a government attempt to silence demands for democratic reform in Saudi Arabia.. ..Hashemi was working to form a civic rights group, the National Reformist Grouping. He was arrested the day a petition by some of the men involved in the group was made public. The petition called for an elected advisory council to help rule the country, curbs on Interior Ministry powers and a more equal distribution of the country's land and wealth.." [more]

Saudi Sees FX Change Only After Sharp Dollar Drop [Jan 24]
"Saudi Arabia said on Thursday it would take a 'precipitous' decline in the dollar for it to change the value of its riyal against the U.S. currency, which has been fixed since 1986. The dollar has fallen 16.2 percent against a basket of major currencies from two years ago, dragging the Saudi riyal lower against the currencies of Europe and many Asian countries from which Saudi Arabia imports. The largest Arab economy does not intend to change its currency policy, Mohammed al-Jasser, vice governor of Saudi Arabia's central bank, told Reuters in Davos, Switzerland. Asked if a 30 percent decline in the dollar's value would prompt Saudi Arabia to shift its currency policy, he said: 'If there are changes in (the composition of) exports and imports, and the simultaneous precipitous decline in the dollar, of course that's a change in circumstances.' This is the first time a Saudi official has said publicly that there could be circumstances under which it would consider changing the riyal's exchange rate.." [more]

Democracy Essential for the Middle East says Rice [Jan 24]
"Democracy is essential for political and economic development in the Middle East, said Condolezza Rice, US Secretary of State told delegates at the World Economic Forum in Davos. 'The emphasis on democracy in the Middle East is controversial and some argue that is has made the situation worse, but I ask worse than what?'.. ..She linked economic development to democracy, pointing out that 'some states are growing economically through a kind of ‘authoritarian’ capitalism. But it is an open question whether this is sustainable for a government to respect people’s talents but not their rights'.. ..As she laid out this list of principles for American foreign policy, she recognised that it would be controversial in many areas of the world. She insisted that it was important for the USA to stick to its principles and put them into action.." [more]

Saudi Plans First Sovereign Wealth Fund [Jan 24]
"Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil producer, plans to start its first sovereign wealth fund with about $6bn, channeling surplus cash from crude-oil revenue into foreign companies, reported Bloomberg. The Saudi monetary authority, known as SAMA, is the nation's central bank and manages the kingdom's currency reserves. The Public Investment Fund provides loans to ventures that will develop the Saudi economy.." [more]

Together Let’s Keep the World Going, Says Walter Mead [Jan 24]
"Walter Russell Mead, Henry A. Kissinger Senior Fellow in US Foreign Policy at the Council on Foreign Relations, said that the war on Iraq is a lesson that is going to make a historic change in both the East and the West. 'Working with Arabs, trusting them and building relationships with them is the key to protecting their lives. God makes good come out of evil. Maybe the long-term consequences of this terrible war are going to be better than we expected,'.. ..'I’ve wanted to visit Saudi Arabia since 9/11. As a member of the largest think tank on foreign relations in the US, I feel that my education and knowledge isn’t complete without visiting the Kingdom,' said Mead. 'People now understand the US in a new way. Our strategies are not having the results we wanted. But I don’t think our learning process or policy reform has finished. Americans want a better relationship with the Middle East.'.." [more]

Mining Expo in Jeddah Eyes Investors [Jan 24]
"The first international exhibition for mineral exploration and applications opened at the Jeddah International Convention Center on Tuesday night, with Jeddah Gov. Mishaal ibn Majed describing MENA-EX 2008 as 'the gateway for potential investors.' Around 190 companies from 16 countries are taking part in the four-day exhibition, some of them with their latest mining and geological equipment.. .. 'our objective is to place Saudi Arabia in the forefront of the mining sector and develop it as the biggest mining market in the world.' It is also the Kingdom’s strategy to diversify its investments into non-oil mineral resources and provide its youth with employment opportunities in alternative sectors. The 40-year exploration by various organizations and companies operating in the Kingdom has led to the discovery of about 2,500 metallic minerals. Currently, Maaden is operating four gold mines.." [more]

Saudi Arabian Airlines Planning to Go Public [Jan 24]
"Khaled Almulhim, director general of Saudi Arabian Airlines, announced yesterday that the aviation sector of the airline could be privatized within two years. 'We have already started privatization of the airline with the catering sector,' the Saudia chief said, adding that the airline would sell 30 to 40 percent of its shares in its strategic units.. ..'The next strategic unit slated for privatization is cargo,' the Saudia chief said. It will be followed by privatization of the ground service unit and maintenance unit. 'The civil aviation service, which is the core activity of the airline, will be the last to be privatized,' he added. He said the participation of strategic partners in the new companies would strengthen the airline, adding that the selling process would be carried out in a transparent manner.." [more]

Saudi Arabia Executes Three Myanmar Men for Burglary [Jan 23]
"Saudi Arabia took the unusual step on Wednesday of executing three men for burgling a home and robbing its owner at knifepoint. The three men from Myanmar were put to death in Makkah for stealing gold jewellery from the house of a woman who they had tied up to prevent her calling for help and threatened with knives.. ..Saudi Arabia usually carries out executions by public beheading for murder, rape, drug smuggling and increasingly armed robbery.." [more]

Saudi Economic Reform to Accelerate in 2008 [Jan 23]
"King Abdullah's instruction that government departments step up their performance by simplifying procedures and maintaining regular contact with those who receive their services is a strong indication that economic reform is to be accelerated. The King has been a central figure in the country's modernisation process by encouraging the efforts of the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) to stimulate domestic and foreign investment, streamlining privatisation moves and acceding to the World Trade Organisation.. ..At the same time the Kingdom is gradually opening up sectors for investors including telecommunications, airlines and insurance and is continuing to support the main engines of economic growth by encouraging local and foreign private sectors to contribute to development of Saudi Arabia's new economic cities.." [more]

Gulf, Asian States to Fight Labour Abuse [Jan 23]
"Gulf Arab states heavily dependent on an Asian labour force agreed yesterday with labour-sending Asian countries to join forces against the exploitation of expatriate workers from Asia. Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) labour ministers and counterparts from Asia are to propose an action plan to protect the welfare of Asian workers, according to their Abu Dhabi Declaration. The ministers have recommended the drawing up within three months of the plan aimed at “preventing illegal recruitment practices” both at the country of origin and in host countries.." [more]

US Diplomat Backs Plan for PA Control of Border [Jan 23]
"A senior US diplomat said yesterday the US backed the idea of letting President Mahmoud Abbas’s Palestinian Authority control main border crossings in Hamas-run Gaza to help ease local hardship. Israel has tightened restrictions on the movement of people and goods through the passages since Hamas violently took over the territory from Abbas’s forces in June. Gazans often describe the area, home to 1.5mn people, as a prison.. ..'Fayyad came up with this idea. We think it’s a good concept,' Jake Walles, the US consul general in Jerusalem, said about the proposal, which would mainly effect the main commercial crossing between Israel and Gaza at Karni, and the Rafah border station with Egypt.." [more]

Saudi Shares Dive as Fed cuts Rate [Jan 23]
"The Saudi stock market, by far the largest in the Arab world, dropped sharply at the end of trading Tuesday, shedding almost the maximum permissible 10 percent on economic concerns and profit-taking. The Tadawul All-Shares Index shed 9.7 percent to finish below the 10,000-point psychological barrier on 9,338.54 points. The maximum allowed drop in a single day is 10 percent. The TASI which closed last year up 40.6 percent, has so far dropped about 21 percent from its highest close this year of 11,895.47 points on Jan. 12. The decline was led by market leaders, petrochemicals giant SABIC, the banking and telecom sectors, all of which dropped close to the maximum 10 percent. It is the worst single-day loss in the market in almost two years.." [more]

Students Welcome Decision on Unions [Jan 23]
"The Shoura Council has passed a new University Law that allows the formation of student unions at Saudi universities. The unions will have a representative on the university council, the law said. The members of the unions will be elected by secret ballot and can serve for more than one term. Financing will be from the university budget, donations, gifts and revenue from their activities. University students and teachers have welcomed the decision to form student unions and said it would improve educational standard and create a healthy environment on campuses.." [more]

Singapore, Saudi Arabia Sign MOU to Improve Youth Exchange [Jan 22]
"People-to-people exchange between Singapore and Saudi Arabia has been given a boost with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the charities of both countries on Tuesday. It is expected to pave the way for an exchange of ideas that will eventually develop an entrepreneurial spirit among disadvantaged youth.. ..The programme aims to provide youth entrepreneurs with seed business loans and a mentoring programme with successful entrepreneurs. Both Hesham A Tashkandi, who heads The Centennial Fund, and Raymond Huang of the Heartware Network are also keen for youth exchange programmes. Youth Business Singapore plans to raise S$500,000 to fund its annual expenditure, including S$400,000 in business loans. It is also planning to set up a dedicated one-stop Youth Business Hub in Singapore.." [more]

Kingdom Slams Gaza Blockade [Jan 22]
"Saudi Arabia yesterday denounced the Israeli atrocities against the Palestinians in Gaza and West Bank and urged the Quartet to shoulder its responsibility toward protecting the human rights of Palestinians. The so-called Quartet is made up of the four main sponsors of the Middle East peace process — the European Union, Russia, the United Nations and the United States. In a statement after the weekly Cabinet meeting, chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, the Kingdom said it would intensify humanitarian aid for the Palestinians in order to meet their requirements.. ..'The Council of Ministers has been following with deep concern Israeli violations and its policy of imposing the worst forms of collective punishment in Gaza and West Bank,'.." [more]

Saudi Arabia Remains China's Top Crude Supplier [Jan 22]
"Saudi Arabia consolidated its place as China's top crude oil supplier in 2007 after its exports growth outpaced that of nearest rival Angola, data from the General Administration of Customs showed Tuesday. The Middle Eastern kingdom is now likely to pull further ahead, as it chases a target of exporting 1 million barrels of crude a day to China by the end of the decade. That would equal more than half of Angola's current total exports to international customers.. ..Saudi Arabia supplied 26.33 million metric tons of crude to China last year, equivalent to around 528,000 barrels a day, the customs data showed. Annual growth in imports from the world's largest crude producer of 10.3% was achieved despite a 3.2% fall in volumes sent to China in December.." [more]

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia Commence Joint Naval Exercises [Jan 22]
"Seven Royal Saudi Naval Forces ships Tuesday reached the Pakistani southern port city of Karachi to participate in the joint naval exercises with Pakistan's navy, codenamed "Naseem al Bahr." The exercise, ninth in the series of Naseem al Bahr manuevers and commenced from Tuesday afternoon, will involve participation of state of the art sea and air platforms besides Special Forces.. ..Highlighting salient features of the exercise, Commander Pakistan Fleet said that during Naseem al Bhar-XI the units will be actively involved in exercise under multi threat environments along with host of other operations related to counter terrorism, convoy protection, anti-air, anti-submarine, mine counter measure and intelligence based operations.." [more]

Stock Markets Tumble in Oil-Rich Gulf States [Jan 22]
"Stock markets in the energy-rich Gulf Arab states nosedived on Tuesday amid a slide in international stock markets on fears of an economic recession in the United States. The seven markets in the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, which made a remarkable recovery last year, lost most of their gains on a nervous trading day. The slide was led by the Saudi stock market, the largest in the Arab world, that shed more than nine percent during trading and dropped below the 10,000-point psychological barrier. Trading in the market was to close at 12:30 GMT. 'The drop in international markets is certainly the main reason for the sharp slide in Gulf stock markets, mainly the Saudi market,'.." [more]

Alwaleed Grants $3m for Housing Project in Sudan [Jan 22]
"Kingdom Foundation (KF), under the chairmanship of Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, donated $3,193,000 to Sudan’s Darfur region for building a complete village that will serve 500 families, complete with water station, clinic, school, police precinct, electric generator, mosque and mill. The contribution was in response to an earlier invitation from President Omar Hasan Bashir of Sudan to Alwaleed to attend the Arab Conference for Humanitarian Support to Darfur that was held in Khartoum on Oct. 21-30, 2007. The invitation was handed to Alwaleed by Sudanese Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Mohamed Amin Alkarib during a meeting with the prince at his office in Riyadh.." [more]

JEF 2008 to Focus on Education [Jan 22]
"The ninth Jeddah Economic Forum (JEF) will focus on involving students in academic and economic interaction, leading educators said. Effat College, in cooperation with Duke University, designed the programs that will be discussed at JEF 2008, as Haifa Jamalallail, dean of Effat College, and Jane Sommers-Kelly, managing director at Duke University, said at a press conference held at the college yesterday.. ..Duke University has been a partner of Effat College for several years now. “Duke is delighted to continue its partnership with Effat College. Our role is to largely focus on designing the schedule of the forum so that the impact of the forum would be as great as possible,” Sommers-Kelly said. 'We listened to the programs proposed by our partners and decided which of them will be most effective programs, different and interactive.'.." [more]

No Stopping Reforms: King [Jan 21]
"King Abdullah said yesterday that Saudi Arabia would continue proceeding with economic reforms, adding that they would have a positive impact on the economy and the well-being of Saudis. “The Kingdom has undergone several reforms and we will continue with these economic reforms,” King Abdullah said in a speech, which was read out on his behalf by Riyadh Governor Prince Salman at the opening of the 2nd Global Competitiveness Forum here last night. King Abdullah referred to the Kingdom’s judicial reforms, adding that he had allocated SR7 billion to upgrade judicial facilities. The reforms in the education system will cost more than SR11 billion, he added.." [more]

Saudi Disputes Latest US Insurgency Figures [Jan 21]
"Despite the US army's statements that Saudi Arabia and Syria are cooperating in the prevention of militant infiltration into Iraq, Saudi Interior Ministry spokesman Brigadier General Mansur al Turki stated that concerning the decrease in figures of Saudi infiltrators into Iraq that, "[the information] is inaccurate and this area necessitates further research and investigation." Brigadier al Turki added that infiltration did not take place directly from within Saudi Arabia into Iraqi territory, "because Iraq is an open country and it is linked to other neighboring countries through its geographical borders, not just Saudi Arabia," he said. In his statement to Asharq Al-Awsat, he stressed that, "Saudis may be recruited through these [neighboring] states," and added "the issue of increasing or decreasing figures is not a matter that the Saudi Interior Ministry should be questioned about; rather, the source that made these statements should be questioned in whichever relevant country.".." [more]

The Economist Ranks KSA 7th in Higher Education [Jan 21]
"British magazine The Economist has placed Saudi Arabia ahead of France, Russia, Italy, Spain, Malaysia and many other countries in the field of higher education and scientific research, reported the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Sunday. A recent issue of the global magazine placed the Kingdom on seventh place, SPA said. The Economist report said several factors helped in enabling the Kingdom to occupy this position. These include the number of universities considered among the top 500 in the world. The amount spent on each student in the field of higher education, the percentage of allocations for higher education in the general budget, the total number of external students, and the number of business administration institutes were among the other criteria for making the Kingdom occupy top position.." [more]

Saudi Women Can Now Stay in Hotels Alone [Jan 21]
"Women in Saudi Arabia can now stay in a hotel or a furnished apartment without a male guardian, according to a government decision that comes as the country faces increasing criticism for its severe restrictions on women. The daily Al-Watan, which is deemed close to the Saudi government, reported Monday that the ministry issued a circular to hotels asking them to accept lone women — as long as their information is sent to a local police station. The decision was adopted after a study conducted by the Interior Ministry, the Supreme Commission of Tourism and the religious police authority known as the Commission for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice.." [more]

Russian Railways Wins $800 Million Saudi Project Tender [Jan 21]
"Russian Railways announced on Monday it had won an $800 million tender to build a 520-km (323-mile) rail line in Saudi Arabia. 'The company received an official letter of invitation to talks today from the Saudi Finance Ministry for a contract worth around $800 million,' the Russian railroad monopoly's press service said. The Russian company will build a line from Al Zabirah to the King Khalid international airport (Riyadh) in central Saudi Arabia, which will make up over one fifth of the North-South rail line in the Mideast state, which will have a total route of 2,400 km (1,500 miles).." [more]

Saudi Network Deal Worth $935m [Jan 21]
"Nokia Siemens Networks has won a $935 million turnkey contract with Zain of Saudi Arabia to roll out a greenfield mobile network in the Kingdom. NSN will supply a 2G and 3G mobile network, including core and radio networks, operations and business support systems and applications. The contract includes HSDPA and HSUPA based on the most modern base station design. The deal includes managed services for five years from a dedicated local network operations centre.." [more]

Opec Dismisses US Call to Boost Oil Production [Jan 21]
"Opec dismissed further calls to boost oil output from top consumer the US, saying the global market is well supplied and the producer group has little control over oil prices near $90 a barrel. US Energy Secretary Sam Bodman on Saturday urged top exporter Saudi Arabia and Opec to raise supply on a visit to the kingdom. His appeal came just days after President George W Bush asked the group for more oil on a separate visit to Riyadh, and less than two weeks before Opec’s next meeting on February 1. “I don’t think there is a need to increase because the market is well supplied,” Qatar’s Deputy Premier and Energy Minister HE Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah told reporters on the sidelines of a conference in Abu Dhabi yesterday.." [more]

Saudi Stocks in Steep Drop [Jan 21]
"Saudi stocks fell sharply Sunday on profit taking, spurred mostly by Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC) missing fourth quarter earnings forecasts and ending a run of record profits that began in 2006. The Tadawul All Share Index (TASI) ended down 7.45 percent or 861.58 points to 10,697.88 points at the closing bell, its biggest one day loss since April 6 last year when it fell 521.47 points. Turnover was pegged at SR15.333 billion with 387.823 million shares changing hands from 109 symbols traded, with 107 of losing ground. "SABIC's below forecast earnings partly have to do with the drop in the Tadawul," John Sfakianakis, chief economist at SABB, said in a telephone interview with Saudi Gazette.." [more]

Military Solution Is No Solution, Says Hess [Jan 21]
"The increasing complexity of interaction between countries and cultures brought about by globalization will inevitably affect Saudi Arabia. It will require innovative diplomatic solutions to survive in a world where military intervention against states is proving decreasingly effective and the balance of power in the energy sector has the potential to shift away from the Middle East toward Central Asia. Such was the message delivered in an intensely focused and detailed lecture at Dar Al-Hekma College in Jeddah last evening by Andrew Hess, professor of international relations and director of the Southwest Asia and Islamic Civilization Program at the Fletcher School of Diplomacy at Tufts University, USA.." [more]

Senior Saudi Prince Offers Israel Peace Vision [Jan 20]
"A senior Saudi royal has offered Israel a vision of broad cooperation with the Arab world and people-to-people contacts if it signs a peace treaty and withdraws from all occupied Arab territories.. ..Prince Turki al-Faisal, a former ambassador to the United States and Britain and adviser to King Abdullah, said Israel and the Arabs could cooperate in many areas including water, agriculture, science and education. Asked what message he wanted to send to the Israeli public, he said: 'The Arab world, by the Arab peace initiative, has crossed the Rubicon from hostility towards Israel to peace with Israel and has extended the hand of peace to Israel, and we await the Israelis picking up our hand and joining us in what inevitably will be beneficial for Israel and for the Arab world.'.." [more]

MM Lee Says Saudi Arabia Needs to Pay Attention to Human Capital [Jan 20]
"Saudi Arabia must pay attention to human capital if it wants to be among the top ten globally competitive investment destinations by 2010, Singapore's Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew said during a visit to the kingdom's National Competitive Center in Riyadh.. ..The key challenges facing the kingdom includes the economy's dependency on oil, the risk of rising unemployment as a fast-growing young population enters into the labour market, and low labour productivity. The keys to addressing these challenges include providing a good educational system, high-quality transport and communications infrastructure, and a pro-business environment with minimal bureaucracy.." [more]

The Construction Site Called Saudi Arabia [Jan 20]
"..The project is Saudi Arabia’s boldest bet yet that this oil-rich kingdom can transform itself into an industrial powerhouse. The plant is part of a $500 billion investment program to build new cities, create millions of jobs and diversify the economy away from petroleum exports over the next two decades.. ..In Saudi Arabia, Riyadh looks like a boom town: sprawling over 40 miles, it is teeming with shopping malls, electronics stores and luxury boutiques. But while times are good today, many Saudis realize that their country is locked in a race against time to create industries that produce more than just oil in order to keep a young and growing population employed. The kingdom, which has a population of 24.5 million, including nearly 7 million foreigners, has what one analyst called a “human time bomb.” About 40 percent of Saudis are under 15, and because the country has one of the world’s highest birth rates, the population is expected to reach nearly 40 million by 2025.." [more]

Bodman Urges OPEC to Raise Output Amid High Demand [Jan 20]
"US Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman said yesterday that oil-producing countries, including Saudi Arabia, the top supplier, should increase their output to meet the rising energy demand. 'I think it is possible for an increase in supply over a period of time because there is adequate reserve in the Kingdom,' he told newsmen, adding that such a move would gradually ease the problem. 'In my judgment, the new energy reality means the world must develop safe, reliable ,clean, affordable and diverse energy supplies,' he said, stressing that the world needs a more diverse group of energy suppliers and a more diverse network of energy supply routes.." [more]

Saudi, Syria Cut Number of Fighters Getting Into Iraq: US [Jan 20]
"Syria and Saudi Arabia have reduced the flow of foreign insurgents crossing their borders to fight in Iraq, a US military spokesman said on Sunday. "Syria and Saudi Arabia have taken a number of steps to reduce the flow of foreign fighters into Iraq," US military spokesman Rear Admiral Gregory Smith told a press conference in Baghdad. 'In early 2007, 110 foreigners were coming into Iraq from Syria every month. That is now reduced to 40 to 50.'.. ..The United States has in the past accused Arab countries neighbouring Iraq of failing to do enough to stem the flow of foreign fighters sneaking into the country, especially from Syria.." [more]

Chinese Minister Arrives Today [Jan 20]
"Chinese Minister of Defense Cao Gangchuan arrives here Sunday two-day official visit at the invitation of Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General. Cao and Crown Prince Sultan will hold talks on ways of boosting mutual cooperation between the two countries. In a telephone interview with Okaz, the Chinese Ambassador to the Kingdom said that the Saudi-Chinese bilateral relations are witnessing continued growth in various political, economic, cultural and military areas.." [more]

Saudi Women Respond to UN Questions on Rights [Jan 20]
"Saudi businesswomen on Saturday spoke up in defense of Islam but blamed the society for the country's questionable record on gender-equality.. ..Reacting to the questions raised by the 23-member UN committee of experts - most of them women - on Saudi norms that give men the right to twice the inheritance women are allowed, and make women obliged to have a 'Mehram' (male guardian) accompany them for many of life's daily tasks, Dr. Amira Kashgari, an outspoken voice for Saudi women's rights, told Saudi Gazette: 'Islam gave woman her rights 1,400 years ago but now we don't have these right just because of the society.'.. ..According to minutes of the meeting, one of the CEDAW experts asked the Saudi delegation: 'What is the legal basis in Saudi society that justifies this guardian system? ... Is it necessary to maintain this system in the 21st century?'.." [more]

King OKs SR430m Cancer Center [Jan 20]
"An advanced cancer treatment center will be established at King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center in Riyadh at a cost of SR430 million.. ..Al-Qasabi said the new center would be designed to match world-class medical facilities. Every year about 8,000 cases of cancerous tumor are reported in the Kingdom, he said. He estimated that the number of cancer patients in the Kingdom would increase dramatically by 2020. 'This demands advanced diagnosis and treatment,'.." [more]

Qatif Girl’s Lawyer Gets His License Back [Jan 20]
"A disciplinary committee at the Justice Ministry in Riyadh yesterday returned the law license of the Saudi lawyer who represented the “Qatif Girl,” the 20-year-old woman who was kidnapped and raped by seven men last year. Lawyer and human rights activist Abdul Rahman Al-Lahem was returned his license, which was confiscated on Nov. 14 prior to a hearing at Qatif General Court, said Al-Lahem’s lawyer Khaled Al-Mutairi.. ..Al-Mutairi said that since the state prosecutor has not activated the case yet, the charges have become “reserved,” which does not mean that the charges have been dropped altogether. 'Legally the prosecutor has the right to file the same lawsuit again and schedule another hearing,'.." [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.
< Read More About SUSRIS >