Home GCC Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia

Zain Saudi Q1 Net Loss Narrows, Beats Estimates

The company made a net loss of $84.8 million in the three months to March 31.

Saudi Intelligence Chief Prince Bandar Replaced By His Deputy-Royal Decree

Prince Bandar, a former ambassador to Washington, was appointed as the chief Saudi spy in July 2012.

Saudi Arabia: Reported Poison Gas Use By Syria Is Challenge To World

The reported gas attacks posed a clear challenge to the Security Council decision to dismantle Assad’s chemical arsenal, a senior official said.

Saudi Arabia’s Sahara Q1 Net Profit Drops 20.3% On Lower Sales

Sahara blamed the decline on lower sales, citing a planned shutdown of Al Waha plant as well as lower income from associates.

Saudi Warns Imams Against Talking Politics In Mosques

Religious clerics found preaching about politics during their Friday sermons could lose their jobs, the ministry said.

Saudi Samba Financial Group Q1 Profit Up 7%

The bank attributed the profit rise to a drop in operating expenses.

Saudi Cement Co Q1 Profit Falls 16% As Demand Sags

The firm made a profit of $76.3 million in the three months to March 31.

Saudi Arabia Imposes Fines, Jail Terms For Visa Lapses

Police raids and an amnesty on fines for immigration violations last year caused over a million foreigners to leave voluntarily.

Saudi Miner Ma’aden Q1 Profit Falls 48% As Metal Prices Drop

Ma’aden made a profit of 125.2 million riyals ($33.4 million) in the three months to March 31.

Gunmen Kill Saudi Guard Near Yemeni Border, Wound Another

The guards came under heavy fire from the Yemeni side of the border at about 3 a.m in the eastern part of Jizan province.

Saudi Banks Urged To Be Less Conservative

A conservative approach to lending has hampered the growth of the Kingdom’s banks, according to a new report.

Saudi’s Yansab Q1 Net Profit Drops 16.7% On Lower Prices

Yansab said the profit fall was due to lower prices and higher sales and maintenance costs.

Saudi Arabia Jails 13 For Aiding Overseas Fighters

They were all given travel bans to come into force after their sentences finish.

Saudi Arabia Seizes Drugs Worth $267m, Arrests Six

Police uncovered 22.6 million amphetamine pills hidden inside coils of barbed wire and rolls of plastic.

Saudi Liberal Website Closed By Jeddah Court

Local media reported that the website was shut down for publishing anti-Islamic material.

Saudi’s SAFCO Q1 Net Profit Drops 9.6%, Beat Estimates

The firm made a quarterly net profit of 843 million riyals ($224.8 million), compared to 932 million riyals in the corresponding period of last year.

German Tank Sale To Saudi Arabia Likely To Be Cancelled

German media have reported interest by Saudi Arabia in buying up to 800 Leopard 2 tanks from Germany.

Saudi Bourse Changes Closing Price Calculation For Shares

In future, the closing price will be the average of all trades in the final 15 minutes, weighted by the volume traded at each price.

Saudi Arabia May Close Shops Early To Boost Employment

From early July, shops may be required to close at 9pm instead of midnight.

Saudi’s Al Rajhi Bank Q1 Net Profit Slips 16.9%

The bank made SAR1.71 billion ($456 million) in the three months ended March 31.

Saudi’s Khodari Says Labour Reform Impact To Start Fading In H2

Labour reforms impact on the company will “drag on for a few more years”, but it is steadily decreasing, a top executive said.

TPG/Abraaj In Exclusive Talks For Saudi Fast-Food Chain Kudu

Riyadh-based Kudu operates more than 200 restaurants in the Kingdom.

Gunmen Kill Two Saudi Guards Near Yemen’s Border

The gunmen opened fire on a border patrol in Asir, SPA reported, but did not say who was behind the attack.

SABIC Plans To Lift Steel Capacity To 10m Tonnes By 2025

The company’s total steel production currently stands at six million tonnes per year.

Saudi’s Sipchem Q1 Net Profit Rises 6.5%

Sipchem made a profit of 68.7 million Saudi riyals ($18.3 million) in the three months to March 31.

Kuwait Hopes For Remedy To Gulf Row Over Qatar Soon

Kuwait, which offered to mediate in the dispute, is planning to present a solution to the two sides soon, a Gulf Arab diplomat said.

Saudi Arabia’s NCB Names Advisers For Share Sale

NCB chairman Mansour al-Maiman said earlier this week that the bank was preparing to list its shares on the Saudi stock exchange this year.

Saudi Telco Regulator To Re-Tender Piggyback Mobile Licence On Zain Saudi’s Network

Saudi’s Communications and Information Technology Commission named Dubai-based Axiom Telecom as the provisional winner last year.

Saudi Authorities Asked To Allow Sport For Girls In Public Schools

A ban on sports in private girls schools was officially lifted last year.

Second-In-Line To Saudi Throne Denounces Banks -Media

There were no indications that the comments by deputy crown prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz would be followed by any concrete policies against banks in Saudi Arabia.