Daily news on Saudi Arabian and regional developments provided by our partner, the Saudi-US Trade Group (SUSTG.com). To keep up with “everything Saudi” be sure to subscribe to the SUSTG News Review through the Web site [Link]. Also check SUSTG.com/the-review for additional related news reporting.
SAUDI ARABIA
News, analysis, and more
WAR IN YEMEN
Yemen Houthi boss tells men to fight on, dismisses loss of Aden
Reuters | Mohammed Ghobari and Hadeel al Sayegh | 8.3.2015
The leader of Yemen’s Houthis urged his militia on Sunday to fight on against Yemen’s Gulf Arab-backed government, dismissing its recapture of Aden last month …
JAMAL KHASHOGGI
A new Saudi ‘project’ for the Middle East: Exclusive interview with Jamal Khashoggi
Middle East Monitor | Emmanuela Eposti | 8.2.2015
“The Saudis bring stability back to the region, and stop Iranian intervention. That is the larger picture; that is the …
DOMESTIC ENERGY CONSUMPTION
Feelin’ the burn in Saudi: domestic energy consumption is highest in MENA
Al-Bawaba | 8.3.2015
While Saudi Arabia’s production in May stood at 10.333 million barrels a day (mbd) slightly higher than April’s, its exports were 6.935 mbd, down from …
SAUDI ARAMCO
Foreign firms bid for Saudi Aramco’s Fadhili gas project
Reuters | Reem Shamseddine | 7.31.2015
Foreign engineering firms have submitted bids to build a gas plant in eastern Saudi Arabia for state oil giant Saudi Aramco at an estimated cost …
SOMA MESSENGER
1.2m in Saudi Arabia download new free messaging app SOMA
Saudi Gazette | Nicolla Hewitt | 8.3.2015
Since SOMA’s debut it has got about 2 million users from Middle East — 1.2 million from the Kingdom. Unlike other instant messaging apps, SOMA …
SOLAR POWER
Saudi Electric Company project dips under five cents per kWh
PV Tech | John Parnell | 8.3.2015
The Saudi Electric Company (SEC) has agreed a deal to build a 50MW solar power plant with a power purchase agreement in place at a …
POWER
Saudi private sector eyed for $186bn power spend
Trade Arabia | 8.2.2015
Saudi Arabia’s private sector is expected to contribute a large percentage of the SR700-billion ($186.5 billion) investment needed in the next 10 years by the …
CENTRAL BANK POLICY
Saudi central bank curbs credit card cash withdrawals -source
Reuters | Reem Shamseddine | 8.3.2015
The Saudi central bank has a reputation as a conservative and cautious regulator. Last year it published new consumer lending rules which gave it the …
OFFICE SPACE
Saudi cities seeing rising demand for office space
Arabian Business | 8.3.2015
Year-on-year, office take-up continued to increase in Riyadh and Jeddah. In both cases however, higher levels of demand were offset by new office completions. …
BIN LADEN CONSTRUCTION
Saudi official: Bin Laden family members killed in England plane crash
USA Today | AP | 8.2.2015
“We do believe three of the deceased to be the mother, sister and brother-in-law of the owner of the aircraft, all of whom are from …
SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 ATTACKS
Saudi Arabia tells US court it was not involved in 9/11 attacks
Arabian Business | 8.2.2015
Saudi Arabia has insisted it was not involved in the September 11 attacks in New York City and called to be dropped as a defendant …
MOBILY
Mobily Slumps to 6-Year Low With Saudi Regulator Silent on Probe
Bloomberg Business | Deema Almashabi | 8.3.2015
Etihad Etisalat, also known as Mobily, last traded on June 8, when the market regulator raised concern about its contracts and asked the company to …
SAUDI POLITICS
Analysis: The Resurgent Tribal Agenda in Saudi Arabia
Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington | Sebastian Maisel | 8.3.2015
Over the past 25 years, tribes have achieved a gradual revival and consequent resurgence in other areas of public life such as the legal sector, …
ROBERT JORDAN INTERVIEW
Former U.S. Amb to Saudi Arabia, Robert Jordan, speaks with Fareed Zakaria about Saudi Arabia’s new king and more
CNN | Fareed Zakaria | 8.3.2015
The greatest leap forward was after the bombings on May 12th of 2003, when three Western housing compounds were – got blown up by Al …
CONTRACTS
Saudi approves 168 municipal contracts worth $266m
Construction Week Online | Paromita Dey | 8.2.2015
The projects include storm water drainage systems, walkways, environmental health projects, seafront development and construction of municipal buildings and public facilities as well as several …
SAUDI-FRANCE
Saudi king cuts short controversial holiday in France
BBC News | 8.2.2015
A Saudi source quoted by Reuters said the king’s departure was part of his holiday programme and not connected to the media coverage the visit …
SAUDI +
Regional and related topics
U.S. – SYRIA
U.S. to defend Syrian rebels with airpower, including from Assad
Reuters | Phil Stewart | 8.3.2015
The United States has decided to allow airstrikes to defend Syrian rebels trained by the U.S. military from any attackers, even if the enemies hail …
U.S. MIDDLE EAST POLICY
Kerry sets off on Mideast trip to Egypt, Doha
Saudi Gazette | AFP | 8.2.2015
US Secretary of State John Kerry departed late Friday to Egypt for cooperation talks and to Qatar, where he hopes to ease Gulf countries’ concerns …
AFGHANISTAN: TALIBAN
The Afghan Campaign and the Death of Mullah Omar
Center for Strategic and International Studies | Anthony Cordesman | 8.3.2015
It does seem likely, however, that the central power structure of the Taliban covered up his death in 2013 in an effort to preserve its …
GCC IPOS
Saudi Arabia accounts for 75 percent of GCC IPOs
Al-Arabiya | 8.3.2015
The most active IPO market in Q2 2015, and during the year so far, was the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which accounted for 75% (3) …
U.S. – EGYPT
US, Egypt resume formal security talks with Kerry visit
Yahoo/AP | Matthew Lee | 8.3.2015
Despite persistent human rights concerns, the United States on Sunday resumed formal security talks with Egypt that were last held six years ago and kept …
U.S. – TURKEY: SYRIA
Analysis: US-Turkey deal on Syria a big gamble
Washington Post | Steven Hurst | 8.3.2015
Erdogan wants to combat Islamic State militants in his country who had flown freely across the border with Syria. But his biggest priority is one …
IRAQ
Top Pentagon Intel Officer: Iraq ‘May Not Come Back as an Intact State’
Foreign Policy | Sean Naylor | 8.3.2015
Iraq is not the only country whose very existence is threatened by the forces roiling the Middle East, according to Stewart. “You see a lot …
UAE
UAE Prosecutor Refers 41 People to Trial on Terror Charges
Associated Press | Aya Batrawy | 8.3.2015
The United Arab Emirates’ top prosecutor referred 41 people to trial on charges of planning to carry out terrorist acts with the aim of overthrowing …
JERUSALEM VIOLENCE
Jerusalem Gay Pride: Israel teenage stabbing victim dies
BBC News | 8.3.2015
A teenage girl who was stabbed at a Gay Pride march in Jerusalem has died from her wounds, doctors say. …
ABOUT THE SAUDI-US TRADE GROUP
The Saudi-US Trade Group (SUSTG) leverages the Internet, social media, digital media, major trade forums, policy events and special meetings to create a unique and powerful platform focused on matters critical to Saudi Arabia and to the U.S.-Saudi Arabia relationship.
A U.S. based, not-for-profit, business association, SUSTG works closely with the Committee for International Trade (CIT) within the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry as well as SUSTG’s corporate members and prestigious program partners.
US-Saudi Business Opportunities Forum – Los Angeles
SUSTG partners with respected American and Saudi institutions to implement delegations, forums, meetings and other special projects. SUSTG is an organizing sponsor along with the Saudi Committee for International Trade (CIT) and the U.S.-Saudi Arabian Business Council of the US-Saudi Business Opportunities Forum initiative. These Forums attracted over 1,100 American and Saudi business people to Chicago, IL in April 2010, Atlanta, GA in December 2011, and Los Angeles, CA in September 2013. The impressive agendas and speakers as well as presentation videos for each of these forums can be found at www.us-saudiforum.com. This initiative is part of SUSTG’s ongoing efforts to strengthen business, commercial and cultural ties throughout the United States.
SUSTG and its partner the Saudi-US Relations Information Service (SUSRIS) call on their extensive network of Saudi and American experts to produce the Focus KSA series of online discussions providing unparalleled insight and perspective on key economic, social and political issues involving Saudi Arabia.