Middle East

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Tweets Eid greetings after leaving hospital

Editorial Bureau July 31, 2020

RIYADH (SAUDI ARABIA) – The kingdom’s ruler King Salman bin Abdulaziz, 84, posted his Eid al-Adha greetings on Twitter on Friday, shortly after leaving hospital. The custodian of Islam’s holiest sites left King Faisal hospital on Thursday after undergoing surgery to remove his

Middle East

Saudi ruler Salman bin Abdulaziz admitted to hospital: SPA

Editorial Bureau July 20, 2020

RIYADH (SAUDI ARABIA) – Ruler of Saudi Arabia King Salman bin Abdulaziz, 84, has been hospitalised in Riyadh. He is suffering from an inflammation of the gall bladder, state news agency SPA said on Monday. The agency said the ruler of the world’s largest oil exporter, which is a close ally of the US, has […]

UK

Britain complies with Saudi Arabia arms order

Editorial Bureau July 7, 2020

LONDON (UK) – Britain has adhered to a court order over its decisions on giving export licences to sell arms to Saudi Arabia, according to its trade minister on Tuesday. It meant that it can once again issue new licences to export arms to the kingdom. The Court of Appeal last year declared officially that […]

Middle East

Saudi Arabia goes ahead with goal of doubling size of capital Riyadh despite downturn

Editorial Bureau July 7, 2020

LONDON (UK) – Despite an economic downturn because of the pandemic crisis and low oil prices, Saudi Arabia is forging ahead with its plan to double the size of its capital, said a government official. President of Riyadh’s royal commission Fahd Al-Rasheed said the government has already pledged funds to the tune of $266.6 billion […]

Middle East

Saudi Arabia to restrict domestic haj pilgrims amid coronavirus fears

Ren Leen June 23, 2020

RIYADH (Middle East) – Saudi Arabia is to limit the number of domestic pilgrims attending the haj to around 1,000 to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, after barring Muslims abroad from the rite for the first year in modern times. Haj minister Mohammed Benten told a news briefing on Tuesday that strict health criteria […]

Middle East

Saudi puts pressure on ex- intelligence official’s family, seeks access to documents

Ren Leen June 23, 2020

LONDON (Middle East) – As Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman went on to tighten his grip on power by detaining senior members of the royal family and opponents, a former top-ranking intelligence official who was close to a key rival to the throne eluded him. Over the recent months, the crown prince has put […]

Middle East

Saudi Arabia lifts three-month curfew, people celebrate

Ren Leen June 22, 2020

RIYADH (SAUDI ARABIA) – For the first time in three months, people in Saudi Arabia ventured out on Sunday night to celebrate the end of a nationwide COVID-19 curfew by eating out, walking pets and cruising around on motorcycles. The country introduced strict measures in March to slow down the spread of the new coronavirus, […]

Middle East

Saudi comes out with framework to end standoff in southern Yemen

Ren Leen June 18, 2020

DUBAI (UAE) – Saudi Arabia has come out with a framework to end the latest standoff in southern Yemen between nominal allies under a Saudi-led coalition, sources said, as violence with the Iran-aligned Houthi movement escalates in the north. Clashes between Yemen’s Saudi-backed government and the separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC) have complicated

Middle East

Mosques in Saudi Arabia reopen with strict regulations for worshippers

Jim Stein May 31, 2020

RIYADH (Middle East) – Saudi Arabia’s mosques opened their doors to worshippers on Sunday for the first time in more than two months as the kingdom, the birthplace of Islam, eased restrictions imposed to combat the coronavirus. “It is great to feel the mercy of God and once again call people for prayers at mosques […]

Finance

Natixis’ investment banking office opened in Saudi Arabia

Jim Stein May 31, 2020

DUBAI (Finance) – French investment bank Natixis has opened a corporate and investment banking office in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh and appointed former JPMorgan banker Reema al-Asmari as its chief executive officer, the bank said on Sunday. Western financial institutions have been seeking opportunities in Saudi Arabia since the government unveiled plans to