Saudi Arabia

17 October 2023; MEMO: The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is set to hold an urgent meeting tomorrow to discuss the rapidly deteriorating situation in Gaza, amid Israel’s ongoing bombardment of the Strip and its efforts to ethnically cleanse it.

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — President Joe Biden on Saturday spoke with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging the leaders to allow humanitarian aid to the region and affirmed his support for efforts to protect civilians.

RIYADH, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia is putting U.S.-backed plans to normalise ties with Israel on ice, two sources familiar with Riyadh's thinking said, signalling a rapid rethinking of its foreign policy priorities as war escalates between Israel and Palestinian group Hamas.

The conflict has also pushed the kingdom to engage with Iran. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman took his first phone call from Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi as Riyadh tries to prevent a broader surge in violence across the region.

12 October 2023; MEMO: Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi yesterday discussed with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman the latest developments in Gaza.

This came in the first phone call between them since they restored ties in March, according to a post by the Deputy Head of the Iranian President’s Office for Political Affairs, Mohammad Jamshidi, on X.

Jamshidi said that “Raisi and Mohammed Bin Salman’s call lasted for 45 minutes.”

RIYADH, Oct 8 (Reuters) - OPEC heavyweights said on Sunday oil and gas should not be stigmatised in the climate debate and that the industry had a role to play in an orderly energy transition.

Energy ministers from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Iraq, the three largest members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), have gathered in the Saudi capital Riyadh for the U.N. MENA climate week.

04 October 2023; MEMO: Saudi Arabia and Russia today said they were continuing voluntary oil cuts to year-end as tightening supply and rising demand support oil prices, Reuters reports.

The Saudi and Russian statements come hours before a ministerial monitoring panel of the OPEC+ group of leading oil producers convenes online.

RIYADH, Oct 3 (NNN-SPA) – The China-Arab States Publishing Cooperation and Exchange Forum was held yesterday, in the Saudi Arabian capital, Riyadh.

Under the theme of “Deepening China-Arab Publishing Cooperation and Exchanges, Promoting Mutual Learning between Chinese and Arab Civilisations,” publishers from China and Arab countries reviewed their cooperation in translation, publishing, copyright trade, book fair platforms and online publishing.

30 September 2023; MEMO: Iranian Deputy Minister of Cultural Heritage and Tourism Maryam Jalali Dehkordi announced the continuation of Iranian and Saudi efforts to develop tourism relations and cancel visa requirements between the two countries.

01 October 2023; MEMO: The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Pakistan have signed a preliminary deal on a free trade agreement (FTA), as both seek to boost trade and ties with one another.

According to a press release issued by Pakistan’s Ministry of Commerce, the Interim Commerce Minister Gohar Ejaz and GCC Secretary General Jassem Mohamed Albudaiwi concluded the final round of negotiations on Thursday at the GCC headquarters in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh,

Sept 29 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia is determined to secure a military pact requiring the United States to defend the kingdom in return for opening ties with Israel and will not hold up a deal even if Israel does not offer major concessions to Palestinians in their bid for statehood, three regional sources familiar with the talks said.