RIYADH: In a bid to attract global talent and diversify its economy away from oil, Saudi Arabia has added five new products to its premium residency program. The program, launched in 2019, aims to allow eligible foreigners to live in the Kingdom and receive benefits such as exemption from paying expat and dependents fees, visa-free … Read more
‘Where the Wind Calls Home’: An intimate novel by gifted writer Samar Yazbek CHICAGO: Set for publication in February, a 19-year-old Syrian soldier named Ali is laying under a tree, teetering between life and death, and recalling memories in “Where the Wind Calls Home” by gifted novelist and journalist Samar Yazbek. Ali sees a body … Read more
RIYADH: The number of e-commerce firms in Saudi Arabia shot up 24 percent in the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to the same period of the previous year, official data showed. The latest data released by the Ministry of Commerce revealed that the total number of registered firms in the country reached 37,481 in the … Read more
Oil Updates – prices hold steady amid economic concerns despite Red Sea worries LONDON: Oil prices stabilized in early Asian trade on Wednesday after sharp moves earlier in the week, as markets weighed concerns about the US economy and potential supply disruptions from ongoing tensions in the Red Sea, according to Reuters. Brent crude slipped … Read more
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s marine sector is on course to witness a rise in high-speed engines and electric generator sets thanks to a new agreement. Signed by Saudi Engines Manufacturing Co. – also known as Makeen – and Rolls-Royce Power Systems, the framework licensing agreement aims to manufacture, test, sell, and maintain the products under the mtu … Read more
DUBAI: More than 230,000 people in countries neighboring Palestine and Israel could be pushed into poverty as the effects of the war ripples across the region, according to a UN-led assessment. Countries in the Arab region, particularly those that form the “ring of fire” around Israel and Palestine, face a grave economic downturn thanks to … Read more
PARIS: The controversial building of a tower to judge the surfing event at the Paris Olympics will go ahead despite the sport’s federation saying it is not required, chief organizer Tony Estanguet said on Wednesday. A proposal made by the International Surf Association (ISA) to Paris 2024 organizers and the Polynesian government suggested the use … Read more
RIYADH: Realizing a significant demand for high-skilled labor in the green energy sector and navigating an imminent economic transition can only be achieved through equipping the youth, as noted by the founder of ACWA Power. As the Kingdom embarks on its transition through Vision 2030, Mohammad Abunayyan said the past economic model becomes less relevant.