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Arab News
27-05-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Cabinet reviews Hajj 2025 plans as Dhul Hijjah begins
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's Cabinet on Tuesday reviewed plans for this year's Hajj season as the Supreme Court announced that Dhul Hijjah will start on Wednesday. Hajj takes place during Dhul Hijjah and the pilgrimage will start on June 4 with pilgrims gathering in the Tent City of Mina. The Cabinet said relevant authorities were operating with the highest standards of efficiency, quality, coordination, and integration, the Saudi Press Agency reported. These efforts aim to ensure the comfort and safety of pilgrims, supported by the Kingdom's extensive development projects and advanced infrastructure, which enhance all aspects of service and facilitate the performance of Hajj rituals for pilgrims from around the world, the Cabinet said. The Cabinet said the Kingdom takes pride in serving the Two Holy Mosques and receiving millions of pilgrims for Hajj, Umrah, and visits. This reflects the Kingdom's pioneering Islamic role and longstanding commitment since its unification by the late King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al-Saud. The Cabinet also discussed the Kingdom's participation in the recent summits between the Gulf Cooperation Council, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and China. These engagements reaffirm the Kingdom's support for international initiatives promoting sustainable development and regional stability, contributing to a prosperous future for all nations, it said. The Cabinet welcomed the announcement of a new oil discovery in the neutral zone between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. It described the development as a positive step that enhances cooperation in the energy sector and reflects the success of joint exploration and development efforts. The Cabinet also reviewed regional and international developments, reiterating the Kingdom's ongoing efforts to support the Palestinian cause. It called for an end to the war on the Gaza Strip, the facilitation of humanitarian aid, and the cessation of violations by Israeli authorities of international laws and norms. The Cabinet praised the launch of the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition's regional program for Sahel countries, inaugurated in Mali. The initiative aims to strengthen cooperation among member states in combatting terrorism and its financing through joint action and the exchange of expertise. The Cabinet lauded initiatives launched as part of the Health Sector Transformation Program which have enhanced the quality and comprehensiveness of healthcare, improved preventive and traffic safety measures, and advanced digital health services in line with the objectives of Vision 2030. The Cabinet affirmed that the Kingdom remains committed to comprehensive and sustainable development through economic diversification, optimization of its competitive advantages, stimulation of local and foreign investment, empowerment of Saudi citizens, and the creation of job opportunities across various sectors.
Arab News
25-05-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Trump in Riyadh: Saudis shift the storyline
As US President Donald Trump's plane descended toward Riyadh on May 13, escorted by Saudi F-15 fighter jets, preparations on the ground evoked a quiet cultural confidence. Across the tarmac stretched the lavender ceremonial carpet, officially adopted in 2021, inspired by the desert khuzama flower and bordered with the geometric patterns of the UNESCO-inscribed traditional sadu weaving. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, 'the visionary leader who never sleeps,' as Trump described him, welcomed his guest into the reception hall, where Saudi coffee was served in traditional Arabian style. And within two days, perceptions built up over decades began to shift. Riyadh was once again Trump's first foreign trip in office, this time coinciding with the 80th anniversary of the 1945 Quincy meeting between King Abdulaziz and President Franklin Roosevelt. Back in 2017, Trump's first summit in Riyadh had introduced a new political chemistry between a Saudi leadership with an ambitious vision and an outsider American administration driven more by deal-making than by bureaucratic routine. The 2025 meeting, however, took place between two well-acquainted partners, at a rare moment of symmetry: an American president returning to power after a sweeping victory, and a young Saudi leader who is the architect of regional transformation and the subject of global fascination, thanks to a vision that repositioned his country as a rising force on the global stage. While analysts were preoccupied with the headlines of political understandings, investment deals, and bilateral economic agreements, the deeper meaning of this visit lay in how the Saudis chose to present themselves, and how the Americans responded. For decades, visits by Western, especially American, leaders to the region followed a familiar script: security cooperation in exchange for energy stability, filtered through a condescending outsider's gaze and quiet assumptions of superiority. But this time, something fundamental had changed. The inspiring Saudi reality on the ground turned old expectations on their head and signaled a new way of seeing. The visit became an opportunity for Saudi Arabia to reintroduce itself to the world through its most authentic symbols, to reshape the storyline through which it has long been seen — the lavender carpet; dallah pots pouring Saudi coffee into finjan cups; Arabian horses escorting the presidential motorcade through Al-Yamamah Palace; and the samri dance that greeted Trump in At-Turaif, the UNESCO-listed district in Diriyah, birthplace of the Saudi state that restored the Arabian Peninsula's central role after a millennium away from the geopolitical spotlight. This was a live act of meaning-making from a nation that knows its own cultural weight. On air, in real time, the Kingdom projected a narrative of itself as confident, visionary, ambitious, and economically powerful. A country shaping how it wants to be seen. Western media captured the symbolism with awe, while Saudi digital majlises erupted with pride. The message was unmistakable: Welcome to the new Saudi Arabia, a nation proud of its roots, open to the world, and carrying a heritage unfolding toward the future. Beyond symbolism, the perception shift was clearest in Trump's own speech. In one of its most striking moments, he delivered a sharp critique of 'Western interventionists ... giving you lectures on how to live or how to govern your own affairs ... intervening in complex societies that they did not even understand.' Then he declared that 'the gleaming marvels of Riyadh and Abu Dhabi were not built by so-called nation-builders, or neocons, or liberal nonprofits. They were built by the people of this region themselves, developing their own sovereign countries, pursuing their own visions, and charting their own destinies.' The 2025 Riyadh Summit marks a new chapter in the Saudi-US story, one defined by mutual respect and a new understanding of the region from within, rather than through borrowed frameworks. Dr. Hatem Alzahrani This echoed Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's 2018 remarks at the Future Investment Initiative, two years after Vision 2030 was launched: 'The new Europe is the Middle East' and that achieving this vision is 'the Saudis' war, my war personally. I do not want to die without seeing the Middle East at the forefront of the world. This goal will be achieved 100 percent.' Some at the time saw those words as a visionary promise still far from reach. Even Trump acknowledged that: 'Critics doubted whether what you achieved at home was even possible.' But what once sounded like a distant ambition is now an undeniable reality, and the US leader's remarks were a direct response to that. Moreover, these remarks marked a shift in how Washington perceives its relationship with the region. They pushed back against the 'Western savior' narrative, returned credit to local agency, and acknowledged that real change is now coming from within. The outcomes of the visit reflected this shift as well, culminating in a strategic economic partnership covering vital sectors. For years, the Middle East figured in American discourse as a problem to fix, a threat to contain, or a place waiting to be saved. These portrayals were largely imagined constructs, shaped by entrenched Western frameworks built on outdated assumptions and ideological baggage. As historian Zachary Lockman reminds us in 'Contending Visions of the Middle East,' much of the Western scholarly engagement with the region was historically tied to the priorities of foreign powers, rather than a genuine intellectual quest for understanding. The Middle East was treated as the 'Other,' an object to be studied and explained in service of Western strategy. Now, the lens is changing. The developmental models taking shape in the wider region are not imported templates, but strategies born from lived experience and cultural depth. Now reality leads perception, after decades in which perception shaped reality. Thanks to countries like Saudi Arabia, the region is reclaiming its voice as a fully engaged actor, redefining itself from within what was long considered an 'exotic' or 'mysterious' part of the world. Saudi Arabia is redrawing its global image with clarity of vision and tangible results. Through self-assessment, data-driven governance, and large-scale reforms, the Kingdom has done in a few years what Trump called 'a modern miracle, the Arabian way.' This shift echoes a broader global rebalancing. As Fareed Zakaria outlines in 'The Age of Revolutions,' we are witnessing the rise of 'new powers,' countries that combine bold economic reform with cultural self-confidence and geopolitical ambition. Saudi Arabia stands as a leading example of these emerging global actors. With strategic clarity, Saudi Arabia is reclaiming its place in the global imagination, not as a petro-state anomaly, but a civilizational force rooted in the Arabian Peninsula. For centuries, this land served as a crossroads of trade and a hub of cultural exchange. It gave rise to a language that became a global medium of learning and philosophy. From its historic cities, the people of Arabia, alongside peoples from Asia, Africa, and Europe, helped synthesize ancient knowledge and forge new ideas in science, law, literature, and spirituality. Vision 2030 calls back to this legacy as a strategic resource, reinvesting it to forge global partnerships, articulate a confident Saudi identity, and position the Kingdom as a key player in shaping the future. In that spirit, the 2025 Riyadh Summit marks a new chapter in the Saudi-US story, one defined by mutual respect and a new understanding of the region from within, rather than through borrowed frameworks. 'All of humanity will soon be amazed at what they will see right here in this geographic center of the world and the spiritual heart of its greatest faiths,' Trump declared in his Riyadh address. It was a shift in perception, a recognition that the West will now understand the region through its own successful models. And at the center of those models stands Saudi Arabia as a force actively shaping the narratives of tomorrow. • Dr. Hatem Alzahrani is a writer, cultural adviser, and academic specializing in Middle Eastern cultures. He holds an MA from Yale University and a Ph.D. from Georgetown University. He is a member of the International Arts Advisory Committee at the Middle East Institute. X: @HoYalieOfArabia
Bloomberg
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Saudi Arabia Plays Trump Card in US-China Dance
A 1945 meeting between President Franklin D. Roosevelt and King Abdulaziz Al Saud might be regarded as something of interest only to modern-history buffs. But this week, images of that pivotal tête-à-tête between the US and Saudi leaders circulated in news and social media as President Donald Trump visited the Middle East. While Trump's tour — his first major overseas trip since taking office for the second time — was consequential, it would be a challenge to put it on par with Roosevelt's rendezvous with Ibn Saud on the cruiser USS Quincy, after which the Americans provided for Saudi security and the Saudis provided oil. But Riyadh, and other governments in the region, had every interest in playing up Trump's visit as momentous. It's part of a broader strategy of balancing between the US and China.
Leaders
15-05-2025
- Science
- Leaders
Saudi Delegation Awaits ISEF 2025 Results
With judging now complete at the 2025 Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), the 40 student representatives from Saudi Arabia eagerly await the announcement of special awards tomorrow, followed by the grand awards on Friday. ISEF, the world's largest science competition for pre-college students, provides a global stage for young innovators to present their research to leading scientists and experts. This year's fair featured hundreds of projects evaluated by international judges, with more than 1,700 participants from over 70 countries. Since 2007, Saudi Arabia—through the efforts of the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba) in collaboration with the Ministry of Education—has earned 160 awards at ISEF, highlighting the nation's growing influence and excellence in scientific research on the global stage. Related Topics: Over 400 Students Showcase Scientific Projects at Ibdaa 2025 Regional Exhibitions Saudi Arabia's Transformative Triumphs in 2023: A Tapestry of Innovation & Global Impact Mawhiba Launches Preparatory Program for Global Scientific Competitions National Olympiad for Scientific Creativity Concludes its Activities 'Creativity 2025' Short link : Post Views: 106 Related Stories
The National
13-05-2025
- Business
- The National
The relationship between the US and Saudi Arabia goes back to the kingdom's earliest days
Live updates: Follow the latest on Trump's Gulf trip The relationship between the US and Saudi Arabia is as old as the Middle East country itself. Even before King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud established the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1932, the US had joined the UK in extending diplomatic recognition to the new ruler. The heart of the relationship was oil, with the world realising fossil fuels would drive 20th century economies, and with Saudi Arabia a likely source of massive reserves. Indeed a year later, in 1933, a concession agreement was signed between Standard Oil of California and Saudi Arabia, to create the California Arabian Standard Oil Company. Oil was discovered in 1938, with the venture renamed Aramco, or the Arab American Oil Company, and in 1988 Saudi Aramco, one of the largest and wealthiest companies in the world. Although Saudi Arabia remained neutral during all but the last months of the Second World War, bombing attacks by Fascist Italy on targets in the Arabian Gulf saw Washington increasingly concerned about the vulnerability of such a strategic economic asset. By 1943, US President Franklin Roosevelt was offering King Abdulaziz military assistance, which was formalised in an agreement signed by the two leaders in 1945 on an America warship moored in the Suez Canal. The deal would see the US provide military protection for Saudi Arabia, with American oil supplies guaranteed in return. The creation of this long standing security agreement began with training of Saudi Arabian troops and the establishment of American airforce bases in the kingdom. In 1963, US President John F Kennedy sent a squadron of fighter jet to protect Saudi Arabia from attacks by Yemen during its civil war. Both Washington and Riyadh have long shared similar concerns about global and regional stability and the dangers of extremism, whether political or religious. The influence of the Soviet Union in the Gulf topped the list in the 1960s and '70s, to be replaced by the rise of groups like Al Qaeda and Islamic State in more recent decades. The fall of the Shah of Iran in 1979 saw the US lose its other main regional ally in the region, with military aid massively increased to Saudi Arabia. This was despite tension created by American support of Israel during the 1973 October War, when an oil embargo was declared by Opec on the US and petrol prices surged. One aspect of the embargo, and the rapid price rise of oil, was that Saudi Arabia's income surged, and when the embargo was lifted the following March, the kingdom embarked on a massive purchase of weapons, worth $2 billion to American companies. The relationship has endured, despite challenges like America's close relationship with Israel, which saw the US Congress vote against arms sales to Saudi Arabia several times in the 1980s. The first Gulf War that followed the invasion of Kuwait in 1990 saw King Fahd authorise the posting of more than 600,000 US troops to Saudi Arabia. While Kuwait was swiftly liberated, the arrangement saw increasing home grown discontent among religious extremists like Osama bin Laden, who had fled to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan to establish a global terrorist network, with the US and rulers of Saudi Arabia as its targets. This came to a head on September 11, 2001, when it emerged that 15 of the 19 hijackers responsible for the worst terrorist attack on American soil were from Saudi Arabia. The complexity of Saudi Arabian and US relations was illustrated when prominent Saudi Arabian citizens, unconnected with the attacks, were allowed to return home despite the closure of American airspace, and the hostility of many ordinary Americans towards the kingdom. The Al Qaeda attacks underlined the importance of the relationship between the two countries and the joint threat they both shared, strengthened by a series of terrorist incidents inside Saudi Arabia, which turned public opinion away from extremist groups. The nuclear deal reached with Iran by then US President Barack Obama saw the relationship with the US weaken over Arab fears of Tehran's regional ambitions, but strengthened with the first presidency of Donald Trump and the reaffirmation of America's desire for joint security and economic co-operation. In 2017, Mr Trump made Riyadh his first stop overseas after becoming president, where he famously touched a glowing orb to launch Saudi Arabia's new Global Centre for Combating Extremist Ideology. The war in Gaza has been another test, with the harsh treatment of Palestine civilians during Israel's military response to the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023 effectively ending any prospect of Saudi Arabia joining the Abraham Accords brokered by Mr Trump during his first term. Mr Trump's decision to revisit Riyadh so early in his second term is a reminder that, after nearly a century, the relationship with Saudi Arabia still features large on Washington's agenda.
