Saudi Arabia’s most recent attempt to bring Japanese firms into its special economic zones, which it announced at the Saudi-Japan Investment Forum in Osaka, is not just business news. Beneath the surface, this forum, where more than 1,500 participants from both countries were present, was presented as a bilateral economic cooperation celebration. But under the […]
Saudi Arabia is back in the news, but this time not only for its football ambitions. Saudi Arabia’s benchmark index, the Tadawul All Share Index, jumped as much as 5% after reports indicated the Kingdom is poised to open public companies to majority foreign ownership, Bloomberg reports. This possible shift may draw in billions of […]
Over the past few years, Saudi Arabia has spent a lot on rebranding itself globally. The Kingdom regularly promotes success in tech, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation as it positions itself as the epitome of modernization. All of this, Raied Al-Jadaany and Rehab bint Saad Al-Arfaj insisted, was proof of innovation. They spoke with pride […]
As Saudi officials closed more than two dozen music lounges in Riyadh and Jeddah this month, the world was reminded of the uncomfortable reality: while its billion-dollar campaign to modernize is ongoing, the kingdom remains profoundly repressive at its core. The lounges, where young Saudis flocked for live shows, shisha, and co-ed socializing, represented a […]
Saudi Arabia’s recent high-profile participation at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80) shines a spotlight on the Kingdom’s global strategy. When Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan led the delegation in New York, flanked by senior officials including Princess Reema bint Bandar, Adel al-Jubeir, and others, the country promised to champion peace, humanitarian aid, and […]
Saudi Arabia’s new “virtual center” of water sustainability was launched, led by its Water Authority, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, and King Abdulaziz University, and was termed a breakthrough in solving the Kingdom’s water challenges. The project emphasizes desalination technologies, renewable energy integration, and research collaboration to ensure the country’s water future. On […]
On 16 September 2025, Saudi Arabia officially embraced a United Nations Commission of Inquiry report charging Israel with genocide in Gaza. The statement, made by the Foreign Ministry of the Kingdom, stated that the report “clearly shows the crimes and violations of the Palestinian people.” It called for global action, the implementation of UN resolutions, […]
On September 15, 2025, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, as well as the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health, formally lifted a three-month prohibition on working outdoors during the hottest part of the day, from noon to 3 p.m. The prohibition, from June 15 to September 15, was supposedly aimed […]
The negative shutdown of the Arar border crossing between Saudi Arabia and Iraq has uncovered again the frailty, incompetence, and deep inconsistencies of Saudi rule. Iraqi pilgrims numbering in the thousands were detained for more than 24 hours when Saudi authorities halted buses carrying contraband liquor and drugs dressed in deplorable disguises: Captagon pills hidden […]
On September 10, 2025, the Bright Star 2025 military drill concluded at Egypt’s Mohamed Naguib Military Base. For two weeks, 40 nations participated in one of the largest and most sophisticated joint exercises in the region. Tanks rolled, marines stormed beaches, paratroopers unfurled national flags, and Saudi Arabia placed itself in the spotlight with a […]