This month, Saudi Arabia marks six years of movie screenings after a 35-year gap. Back then, the idea of a flourishing domestic film industry seemed improbable. Today, it has become a reality. Since cinemas reopened on April 18, 2018, multiplexes have prospered, with accumulative box office revenues hitting almost $1 billion. Even the closures of…
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received his Bahraini counterpart Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani in Riyadh on Tuesday. During the meeting, the close relations between their countries and ways to strengthen them in various fields were reviewed. The ministers also discussed the latest regional and international developments and efforts made with regard to them.
Dubai: A Saudi court has sentenced an expatriate to five years in prison and imposed a fine of SR150,000 for harassing a woman. The Public Prosecution, after concluding its investigation with its Public Morality wing, referred the case to the judiciary, advocating for the maximum penalties allowable under the law. The accused was arrested and…
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia will host the annual meetings and golden jubilee celebrations of the Islamic Development Bank Group in Riyadh between April 27 and 30, under the patronage of King Salman. This year’s meetings will take place under the theme “Taking Pride in Our Past and Shaping Our Future: Authenticity, Solidarity and Prosperity,” the Saudi…
RIYADH: The World Bank has raised its expectations for Saudi Arabia’s economic growth to 5.9 percent in 2025 from 4.2 percent predicted earlier in January. In its latest report the bank, however, revised its 2024 forecast for the Kingdom’s gross domestic product growth downward to 2.5 percent from an earlier forecast of 4.1 percent. Concurrently,…
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman discussed the military escalation in the Middle East on Sunday with his US counterpart during a phone call. The call comes after Iran launched a wave of missiles and attack drones against Israel overnight Saturday to Sunday. Prince Khalid and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin…
RIYADH: Payments made through point-of-sale terminals in Saudi Arabia experienced a notable 20 percent annual increase in February, totaling SR53.72 billion ($14.33 billion), the latest data showed. According to data released by the Saudi Central Bank, the largest portion of POS spending in February was allocated to beverages and food, comprising 15.7 percent of the…
RIYADH: Just a few short years ago, visitors to Saudi Arabia could never have imagined feasting on a plate of vegan tuna nigiri or a meatless shawarma. Thanks to new investments in agritech, these plant-based alternatives are now firmly on the menu. With the movement towards meatless eating gaining momentum in response to mounting environmental…
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on Thursday received a phone call from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the Kingdom’s ministry said. The parties reviewed regional developments and ways to reduce the escalation of tensions in the Middle East. They also focused on issues of common interest, most notably Sudan, developments…
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday sent cables of congratulation to leaders of Islamic countries for Eid Al-Fitr. The cables were sent “based on the keenness” of the leadership to “communicate annually with the leaders of the Islamic countries on the blessed holiday,” the Saudi Press Agency reported. In…
