Ahmed Al Omran

  • 🚨 NEW: Saudi companies seek to diversify and adapt their businesses as they brace for economic slowdown after geopolitical turmoil and trade tensions triggered a sharp drop in oil prices.

  • Neom climate adviser warns futuristic city could alter weather patterns.

  • Friends in France 🇫🇷🇸🇦 Saudi film “Night Courier” opens in French cinemas this week. Go see it!

  • 🚨 New: Wealth manager Stanhope Capital partners with PIF-owned GIB to expand into Saudi Arabia.

  • 🚨 New: Neom acting CEO launches a “comprehensive review” of the scope and priority of projects in the giga-development.

  • 🚨 New: Saudi Arabia and Qatar to repay Syria’s debts to World Bank.

  • 🚨 Saudi Arabia welcomes “reform measures” taken by the Palestinian leadership, including the appointment of a vice president —foreign ministry statement

  • 🚨 Saudi Arabia expresses sympathy with Iran following the Bandar Abbas explosion, saying the kingdom is ready to “provide any assistance requested by the brothers in the wake of this tragedy” —foreign ministry statement

  • My latest story on how big Saudi businesses are embracing solar power as they seek to save on energy costs after the government eliminated electricity subsidies in the world’s largest oil exporter.

  • The meteoric rise of Dubai chocolate has triggered a global pistachio supply crunch.

  • Saudi defence minister meets Khamenei and Pezeshkian days ahead of US-Iran nuclear talks.

  • 🚨 New by me: Weak oil prices are adding to pressure on Saudi Arabia’s vast spending programme as Riyadh prepares to unwind crude production cuts starting tomorrow.

  • Quick reminder that the word “tariff” originally comes from Arabic.

  • 🚨 Saudi crown prince orders authorities to provide more land for affordable housing in Riyadh and monitor real estate prices in the city. Earlier this year I wrote about how the property boom in the capital is making house and apartment prices unaffordable for many citizens.

  • Detained British bank analyst awaiting verdict in Saudi Arabia.

  • 🚨 New by me: Saudi Arabia establishes new “community security” unit to crack down on “immoral acts”.

  • 📺 Big budget Saudi TV series stirs controversy in Middle East.

  • Searching for a moment of peace in Mecca

    Is there a way to let as many pilgrims as possible visit Mecca while at the same time ensure they can perform their rituals in a graceful, spiritual atmosphere?

    I’ve been pondering this question after taking my mother to perform umrah a few weeks ago, and decided to write about it for the newspaper.

    Now I am fully aware that I speak from a position of privilege. I live next door to Mecca and I can visit basically anytime I want, while millions of Muslims around the world sometimes have to wait for years and save money for life just to make the journey once.

    Saudi Arabia has faced criticism for the perceived over commercialisation of Mecca. But both the government and the population of the kingdom take immense pride in welcoming and serving the pilgrims, and that includes making Mecca more accessible.

    There are religious and economic motivations to increase the number of umrah pilgrims, but the rapid growth poses questions about the experience, safety and infrastructure. Officials hope the use of AI and other technologies would help tackle those questions.

    This is particularly relevant during the holy month of Ramadan, which traditionally has been peak umrah season. Just last week authorities said that half a million pilgrims performed umrah in one day, a new record.

  • Saudi-owned Scopely buys Pokémon Go in $3.5 billion gaming deal.

  • Also new from Chloe Cornish and me 🇰🇼 Kuwait’s government defends the policy of revoking citizenship from more than 42,000 people after suspending the region’s only parliament last year. “Only God knows where Kuwait would be if we waited any longer,” interior minister said.

  • 🚨 New from me: Saudi box office earnings appear to have plateaued since 2022, but filmmakers are hopeful that local movies still have room to grow.

  • PIF and PwC clashed over the firm’s attempt to hire Neom’s chief internal audit officer.

  • 🚨 Saudi Aramco profits down 12% in 2024. Company to pay total dividend of just over $85 billion, compared with $124 billion in the previous year.

  • 🚨 New by me: Saudi Arabia quietly steps up releases of political prisoners.

  • Investors told of golden age of US-Saudi co-operation at Miami conference.

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