GOVERNMENT

Saudi Arabia hosts meeting of Arab Ministers of Social Affairs Council

Saudi Arabia hosts meeting of Arab Ministers of Social Affairs Council

RIYADH: The Kingdom is hosting a meeting of the Arab Ministers of Social Affairs Council and the Conference for the Management of Social Transformation Program for Social Affairs’ Arab Ministers. The event was launched on Monday in Riyadh and continues until Dec. 23. Ahmed Al-Rajhi, Saudi Arabia’s minister of human resources and social development, inaugurated […]

Crown Prince launches Jeddah Downtown $20bn master development plan

Crown Prince launches Jeddah Downtown $20bn master development plan

RIYADH: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has launched the master development Downtown Jeddah project, formerly known as “New Jeddah Downtown”,  to develop 5.7 million square meters with a total investment of SR75 billion ($19.98 billion). The project will be implemented by the Public Investment Fund’s Central Jeddah Development in three phases, the first of which […]

Gulf leaders in Riyadh for 42nd GCC summit

Gulf leaders in Riyadh for 42nd GCC summit

RIYADH: Gulf leaders arrived in Riyadh on Tuesday for the 42nd Gulf Cooperation Council summit, which is set to explore avenues for tighter cooperation and integration in the region. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman first received the Omani delegation, headed by the deputy prime minister, before welcoming Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoim, vice president of the […]

Bennett ‘optimistic’ after landmark UAE trip

Bennett ‘optimistic’ after landmark UAE trip

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett says he is “very optimistic” after a one-day trip to the United Arab Emirates — the first official visit to the Gulf country by an Israeli leader since the countries established relations last year. Bennett met Monday with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi’s powerful crown prince and de […]

Saudi Arabia’s 2022 budget to see first surplus since 2013 at $24bn

Saudi Arabia’s 2022 budget to see first surplus since 2013 at $24bn

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia expects a 2022 budget surplus of SR90 billion ($24 billion), the Saudi Press Agency reported, citing a Cabinet statement. If achieved, this will be the first fiscal surplus since 2013. Total revenues for 2022 are estimated at SR1.05 trillion, while spending is estimated at SR955 billion — the lowest level since 2017. […]

Saudi Arabia to host 42nd GCC summit on Tuesday

Saudi Arabia to host 42nd GCC summit on Tuesday

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia will host and preside over the 42nd session of a summit for Arabian Gulf countries on December 14, the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council said on Sunday. Nayef Falah Mubarak Al-Hajraf congratulated the Kingdom for assuming the presidency of the forty-second session of the GCC and thanked Bahrain for its great […]