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Saudi Inflation Expected To Stabilise At 4.5% In 2013

Saudi’s inflation rate has been dropping for the last four months after touching a 14-month high in February.

Deutsche, HSBC Face Deadlock With Saudi’s STC On $1.2bn Loan

Saudi Telecom wants the banks to restructure a $1.2 billion loan taken for Axis Telekom.

Camels Are Prime Suspects In Deadly Saudi Virus Outbreak

The World Health Organisation says 46 people have died out of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus.

Saudi Offers Russia Deal To Scale Back Assad Support

Sources say Saudi Arabia wants Moscow to ease its strong support of Assad and agree not to block any future Security Council Resolution on Syria.

Saudi Activist Freed After Two Years In Detention

Mohammed al-Bajadi, a founding member of the banned Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association, was sentenced to four years in prison last year.

Saudi’s Prince Salman Named Deputy Defence Minister

Prince Salman bin Sultan is a son of the late Crown Prince Sultan, a veteran defence minister until his death in 2011.

Saudi Arabia Says Barred Sudanese President’s Plane For Lack Of Permit

Omar Hassan al-Bashir’s plane was barred from entering the Kingdom’s airspace this week while on a flight to Iran.

Siemens Wins $966.8m Contract From Saudi Aramco

The company will supply gas and steam turbines and other equipment for the upcoming Jazan power plant.

Job Creation Up In Saudi’s Non-Oil Private Sector

Despite a rise in raw material prices, the Kingdom’s non-oil sector has seen slight growth.

Dubai Hotel Occupancy Falls As Peak Season Winds Down

As the peak season for hospitality winds down, average occupancy across UAE and Saudi hotels witness a slight decline.

Saudi Arabia Bars Sudan’s Bashir From Entering Airspace

It was not clear whether Bashir was on his way to the inauguration of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

Saudi Electricity Signs $3.4bn Contract With S.Korea’s HHI

Hyundai Heavy Industries will build a power plant with 2,640 megawatts of capacity in Shuqaiq.

Saudi Arabia To Spend $800m On Land For Riyadh Metro

Last week the government awarded $22.5 billion in contracts to three foreign-led consortia for the metro system.

BAE Sees Multi-Billion Dollar Saudi Jet Deal Agreed In Second Half

BAE has been locked in pricing negotiations with Saudi Arabia over the Gulf state’s order of 72 jets since 2007.

Saudi’s Prince Alwaleed Loses UK Court Battle Over Gaddafi Jet

A British court ordered the Prince to pay a $10-million commission to Daad Sharab, who brokered the sale of the jet.

Rights Group Condemns Lashing, Jailing Of Saudi Blogger

Raif Badawi, who started the ‘Free Social Liberals’ website to discuss the role of religion in Saudi Arabia, was sentenced on Tuesday.

MENA CEOs Confident About UAE and Saudi Growth

Despite a bullish outlook on sales growth by MENA CEOs, employment levels are expected to remain flat with businesses adopting a cautious approach.

Saudi Website Editor Sentenced To Seven Years In Prison, Lashes

Raif Badawi started the “Free Saudi Liberals” website to discuss the role of religion in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi’s $22.5bn Metro Project Aims To Shift Economy Beyond Oil

Six rail lines carrying electric, driverless trains and extending 176 kilometres in Riyadh are to be completed by 2019.

Salini Impregilo Team Wins $6bn Saudi Metro Project

The firm’s attributable net income from the deal will equal around 29 per cent of the $4.9 billion estimated for civil works.

Prince Alwaleed Says Saudi’s Oil Dependence Is Cause For “Worry”

In an open letter to Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi, Prince Alwaleed said oil demand from OPEC states was declining.

Saudi Arabia Awards $22.5bn Contracts To Build Riyadh Metro

The project is the world’s largest public transport system currently under development, said Saudi officials.

Saudi Food Sales To Hit $70bn By 2016

A growing population and increased consumer spending are expected to drive the Kingdom’s food and agricultural sectors.

Jeddah Tourist Numbers Drop 75% During Ramadan

Officials attribute the low visitor numbers to lack of adequate tourism promotion.

Saudi Local Salaries Decline 10% Due To Inflation

Survey finds that male salary levels fell by SAR 371, while female salaries dropped by SAR 211.

Saudi Man Dies In Kingdom From MERS Coronavirus

The death toll from the SARS-like virus in the Kingdom has now reached 39.

Shale Gas Will Not Affect GCC Oil Demand – Report

The latest developments in fracking technology will not affect GCC oil demand negatively.

Saudi Aramco Plans New Gas Plant At Fadhili

The plant is estimated to have a processing capacity of 1 billion standard cubic feet per day of sour gas.

Saudi Could Face Higher Unemployment – IMF

The Kingdom’s private sector may be unable to accommodate all the Saudi nationals who are unemployed.

Saudi Dairy Firm Almarai Eyes Hybrid Sukuk

The offering, which is not imminent, is likely to be denominated in Saudi riyals.