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☆ Dubai is the economic jewel of the Middle East — now its Gulf neighbors are coming for a piece of the pie
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( Pete Syme | Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

According to Forbes' 2023 Travel Guide, Dubai has nine 5-star hotels , compared to Abu Dhabi's three and two in Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia has made it clear that it wants in on international travel, stating it aims to attract 100-150 million visitors by 2030. Saudi Arabia is catching up with a new airlineThe competition is perhaps the most heated in the aviation industry. On its double-decker Airbus A380, Dubai's airline, Emirates, has top amenities like a shower for business-class passengers, plus an on-board bar. AdvertisementAnd even if it succeeds in attracting tourists to Saudi Arabia, it is unlikely to knock Emirates off its perch.

Persons: —, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, Saudi Arabia hasn't, Abu, Abu Dhabi, Forbes, Abu Dhabi's, Faisal Alibrahim, Alibrahim, Mohammed Bin Salman, Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, Ulrichsen, Skytrax, Pete Syme, Tony Douglas, Douglas, That's, OAG Organizations: Service, United Arab Emirates, Business, Saudi Crown, Etihad, Bloomberg, CNN, Saudi, Economic, Rice, Baker Institute for Public Policy, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Qatari, Etihad Airways, Riyadh Air, Air, Riyadh Air's Boeing, Boeing, Dubai International Airport Locations: Dubai, Gulf, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Abu, UAE, Qatar, Davos, Neom, Emirates, Still, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Europe, Americas, Africa, Asia

☆ Saudi Arabia's directive for Aramco was 'prudent,' oil and gas consultancy says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-02 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailSaudi Arabia's directive for Aramco was 'prudent,' oil and gas consultancy saysSadad al-Husseini, founder of Husseini Energy Company, discusses Saudi Arabia's decision to order Aramco to halt its oil expansion plan.

Persons: Sadad al, Husseini Organizations: Saudi, Aramco, Husseini Energy Company Locations: Aramco

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Patrick Cantlay has spent about as much time on the phone as the golf course this week as a PGA Tour board member trying to nail down a deal for a $3 billion investment. It didn't seem to affect his day job at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Torrey Pines winner Matthieu Pavon had the best round at Pebble Beach, closing with four birdies over the last five holes for a 65. He became the first amateur in 33 years to win on the PGA Tour two weeks ago. In his pro debut, Dunlap opened with a 76 at Pebble Beach.

Persons: — Patrick Cantlay, Cantlay, Thomas Detry, Detry, Matthieu Pavon, Rory McIlroy, LIV, McIlroy, “, ” McIlroy, ” Detry, ” Cantlay, LIV Golf, Rickie Fowler, Rory, ”, ” Fowler, Nick Dunlap, Dunlap Organizations: Tour, Torrey Pines, PGA Tour, Hollywood, NFL, Saudi, Strategic Sports Group, SSG, Public Investment Fund, American Express, U.S, Amateur, PGA Locations: Calif, Spyglass, Belgium, Saudi, Pebble

☆ Saudi Arabia's economy contracts again, dragged by oil cuts
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Saudi Arabia's fourth-quarter real GDP fell 3.7% year-on-year, according to flash estimates published by the General Authority for Statistics on Wednesday. The drop was attributed to a 16.4% decline in oil activities, while non-oil activities and government activities expanded by 4.3% and 3.1%, respectively, year-on-year. For the full year, Saudi Arabia's economy shrank 0.9%, according to government data. Throughout last year, the world's largest crude exporter has been implementing output cuts in a bid to push up prices. The kingdom's economy is heavily reliant on its petroleum sector, which accounts for 42% of its GDP.

Organizations: Saudi, General Authority, Statistics, Organization of, Petroleum Locations: That's, Saudi, Saudi Arabia

McIlroy also said he would be opposed to any form of punishment for players who left the tour for the Saudi riches of LIV Golf and wanted to come back. Obviously, I've changed my tune on that because I see where golf is and I see that having a diminished PGA Tour and having a diminished LIV Tour or anything else is bad for both parties. Pebble Beach has a $20 million purse as a signature event, the same for the individual play of LIV Golf when it begins its third year on Friday in Mexico. Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesLIV announced Tyrrell Hatton is the latest PGA Tour member to join, having snagged Masters champion Jon Rahm nearly two months ago. But he stays in the loop and indicated the PGA Tour was on the verge of approving a deal with Strategic Sports Group, the private equity consortium.

Persons: — Rory McIlroy, McIlroy, LIV Golf, ” McIlroy, I've, LIV, Tyrrell Hatton, Jon Rahm, Rahm, Dustin Johnson, ”, Hatton, “, “ I've, I’m, “ I’ve, " McIlroy, Jordan Spieth Organizations: LIV, Daily Telegraph, PGA Tour, Saudi, Strategic Sports Group Locations: Calif, Saudi, Mexico, American

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Saudi Arabia's oil giant Saudi Aramco said Tuesday it will not try to increase its maximum daily oil production to 13 million barrels a day after receiving an order from the country's Energy Ministry. The firm, known formally as the Saudi Arabian Oil Co., said it would maintain its maximum output at 12 million barrels a day. However, crude oil prices globally have fallen over recent months as demand has been soft. Aramco reported earning $161 billion last year, claiming the highest-ever recorded annual profit by a publicly listed company and drawing immediate criticism from activists worried about climate change. Political Cartoons View All 253 Images

Organizations: United Arab Emirates, Saudi Aramco, country's Energy Ministry, Saudi Arabian Oil Co, Brent, Aramco Locations: DUBAI, United Arab, Saudi

Valvoline had last year decided to separate its retail services and global products divisions following a strategic review. Saudi Arabia's state-controlled Aramco on Tuesday announced it is pausing plans to raise its crude production capacity from 12 million barrels per day to 13 million barrels per day. At 7 a.m. London time, Brent crude prices for March delivery were up 0.24% from previous close price at $82.60 per barrel. The Tuesday announcement comes amid mounting concerns over the outlook for oil demand worldwide, given a progressing global transition toward decarbonization that casts a shadow over long-term investment projects in fossil fuels. Global oil demand is projected to have risen by 2.3 million barrels per day in 2023 to 101.7 million barrels per day, according to the International Energy Agency's annual report published in December.

Persons: Valvoline, Brent Organizations: Saudi Ministry of Energy, Aramco, International Energy Locations: Saudi Arabia's, Aramco, London

☆ ACWA Power to develop green hydrogen project in Indonesia
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailSaudi Arabia's ACWA Power to develop largest green hydrogen project in IndonesiaMarco Arcelli, ACWA Power CEO, says ACWA Power is responsible for delivering "70% of the renewable energy, new capacity" in Saudi Arabia, alongside the PIF and Aramco.

Persons: Indonesia Marco Arcelli Organizations: Saudi, ACWA Locations: Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Aramco

☆ Steve Cohen and other sports investors set to pump billions into the PGA Tour
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Aaron Mok | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A US sports consortium is set to pump billions into the PGA Tour, according to a new report. The PGA Tour didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider before publication. The major investment comes amid an ongoing rivalry between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. Families of the 9/11 terrorist attacks criticized the PGA Tour for the merger, classifying the decision as a demonstration of "hypocrisy and greed." "We cannot compete with a foreign government with unlimited money," Jay Monahan, the commissioner of PGA Tour, told The Wall Street Journal regarding the merger.

Persons: Steve Cohen, Cohen, Marc Lasry, LIV Golf, LIV, Phil Mickelson, Jay Monahan Organizations: PGA, Strategic Sports Group, Saudi Public Investment Fund, Bloomberg, Business, New York Mets, Cohen Private Ventures, Milwaukee Bucks, Fenway Sports, PGA Tour Enterprises, LIV Golf, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, PGA Tour, Wall

☆ Saudi Arabia's first alcohol store is a big step, but also aims to tackle a longstanding problem: Booze smuggling
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Saudi Arabia's first alcohol store has opened in the diplomatic quarter of its capital Riyadh, accessible to non-Muslim diplomats. Drinking is also forbidden under Islam, and most of Saudi Arabia's local population is religiously observant. From there, bottles are often sold on the black market at huge markups, according to expat and local residents of the country. A one-liter bottle of vodka, for instance, typically costs between $500 and $600 on the black market, sources said, while they described a single bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label going for between $1,000 and $2,000. At-home booze making has also taken place in the kingdom for decades, according to expats who've previously lived there.

Persons: Johnnie Walker Blue, expats who've Organizations: Saudi, CNBC Locations: Riyadh, Saudi, British, Dubai

JERUSALEM (AP) — A liquor store has opened in Saudi Arabia for the first time in over 70 years, a diplomat reported Wednesday, a further socially liberalizing step in the once-ultraconservative kingdom that is home to the holiest sites in Islam. The store sits next to a supermarket in Riyadh's Diplomatic Quarter, said the diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a socially sensitive topic in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia remains one of the few nations in the world with a ban on alcohol, alongside its neighbor Kuwait and Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. Saudi Arabia has banned alcohol since the early 1950s. As Saudi Arabia prepares for a $500 billion futuristic city project called Neom, reports have circulated that alcohol could be served at a beach resort there.

Persons: Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Jamal Khashoggi, King Abdulaziz, Prince Mishari, Cyril Ousman Organizations: JERUSALEM, Washington Post, Workers, Saudi, Arab News, Saudi Research, Media, U.S . State Department, United Locations: Saudi Arabia, Islam, Riyadh, Saudi, haram, Islam . Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, Jeddah, Mecca, Neom

☆ Saudi Arabia opens its first-ever alcohol store — but it's only accessible to a select group
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

According to a list of store rules seen by CNBC, the venue is only accessible to non-Muslim diplomats, and authorization must be validated through an app called Diplo. Saudi Arabia has opened its first alcohol store in the diplomatic quarter of its capital Riyadh, two sources told CNBC. "It's a baby step to opening up alcohol sales to non-Muslims in Saudi Arabia eventually, to hotels and other venues," said the consultant, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the topic. Foreign embassy staff, who are able to import alcohol to be kept on embassy premises, are known in Saudi Arabia to often import booze in large quantities and then sell it on the black market. Saudi Arabia has undergone seismic change both socially and economically in the years since the young Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, now the kingdom's de-facto ruler, came to power.

Persons: we've, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Organizations: CNBC, Foreign, Saudi, Crown Locations: Saudi, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Western

☆ Saudi Arabia, a country where you can be publicly whipped for drinking alcohol, is opening its first liquor store: report
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Read previewSaudi Arabia is to open its first store serving alcohol, Reuters reported, catering exclusively to non-Muslim diplomats. The store will open in Riyadh, the Saudi capital, the report said. AdvertisementThe move comes as Saudi Arabia's ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is seeking to liberalize the image of Saudi Arabia, whose laws derive from an ultra-conservative interpretation of Islam. Under Saudi law, alcohol is banned, and judges can hand out severe punishments including public flogging for those who violate them. Crown Prince Mohammed is trying to attract foreign tourism and billions in investment as he pivots the kingdom away from its reliance on fossil fuels as part of its Vision 2030 plan.

Persons: —, it'll, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Prince Mohammed Organizations: Service, Reuters, Business, Saudi, Wall Street Locations: Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Saudi

☆ Saudi Arabia's lavish sports push will now embrace snooker — and introduce a new golden ball
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Saudi Arabia will hold its first major invitational snooker event in March as the kingdom continues to make sizable investments into a growing number of sports. The "Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker" will take place between March 4 to March 6 at Boulevard Arena in the capital of Riyadh. Games of snooker — a cue sport like billiards that is very popular in the U.K. and China — will take place under current World Snooker rules but with the introduction of a 23rd ball referred to as the "Riyadh Season" ball. This golden ball will be worth 20 points but will only be pottable on completing a maximum break. "We are thrilled to be hosting our first-ever professional snooker tournament in the Kingdom," said Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority.

Persons: Ronnie O'Sullivan, Judd Trump, Ronnie O'Sullivan —, Luca Brecel, Turki Alalshikh, Alalshikh Organizations: Morningside Arena, Boulevard Arena, Saudi General Entertainment Authority Locations: Leicester, England, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, China

JERUSALEM (AP) — Saudi Arabia's foreign minister says the kingdom will not normalize relations with Israel or contribute to Gaza's reconstruction without a credible pathway to a Palestinian state. Prince Faisal bin Farhan's remarks in an interview with CNN broadcast late Sunday were some of the most direct yet from Saudi officials. It puts them at odds with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has rejected Palestinian statehood and described plans for open-ended military control over Gaza. In September, Netanyahu had said Israel was “at the cusp” of such a deal, which he said would transform the Middle East. Israel has only successfully rescued one hostage, while Hamas says several have been killed in Israeli airstrikes or during failed rescue operations.

Persons: Prince Faisal bin Farhan's, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Israel, “ CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, ”, ” Prince Faisal, “, Prince Faisal, we’re, NETANYAHU, —, ___ Shurafa Organizations: JERUSALEM, CNN, Israeli, Palestinian, West Bank, Hamas, Health Ministry Locations: Saudi, Israel, Palestinian, Gaza, United States, U.S, Saudi Arabia, Jerusalem, GAZA, U.N, Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Deir, israel

☆ Iranian and Hezbollah commanders help direct Houthi attacks in Yemen, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-21 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Luke Dray | Getty ImagesCommanders from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and Lebanon's Hezbollah group are on the ground in Yemen helping to direct and oversee Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping, four regional and two Iranian sources told Reuters. In his weekly news conferences, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani has repeatedly denied Tehran is involved in the Red Sea attacks by the Houthis. Houthi spokesperson Mohammed Abdulsalam denied any Iranian or Hezbollah involvement in helping to direct the Red Sea attacks. The person said Iranian commanders had travelled to Yemen as well and set up a command centre in the capital Sanaa for the Red Sea attacks which is being run by the senior IRGC commander responsible for Yemen. Mohammed Hamoud | Getty ImagesAccording to two former Yemeni army sources, there is a clear presence of IRGC and Hezbollah members in Yemen.

Persons: Luke Dray, Washington, Nasser Kanaani, Houthi, Mohammed Abdulsalam, Saleh al, Samad, Mohammed Hamoud, Abdulaziz al, Sager, Adrienne Watson, Abdulghani, Abdulsalam, Bashar al, Assad, Ali Khamenei Organizations: Getty, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, Hezbollah, Reuters, Hamas, Foreign, Guards, Gulf Research, White House, U.S, Sana'a Center, Strategic Studies, Iranian Guards Locations: Djibouti, Yemen, Iran, Gaza, Israel, Tehran, Sana'a, Saudi, Asia, Europe, Gaza ., Lebanese, Iraq, Syria, Iranian, Bab, Sanaa, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Washington, Gulf, Islam

☆ Exclusive-Iranian and Hezbollah Commanders Help Direct Houthi Attacks in Yemen, Sources Say
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-20 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +9 min

By Samia Nakhoul and Parisa HafeziDUBAI (Reuters) - Commanders from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and Lebanon's Hezbollah group are on the ground in Yemen helping to direct and oversee Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping, four regional and two Iranian sources told Reuters. In his weekly news conferences, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani has repeatedly denied Tehran is involved in the Red Sea attacks by the Houthis. Houthi spokesperson Mohammed Abdulsalam denied any Iranian or Hezbollah involvement in helping to direct the Red Sea attacks. The person said Iranian commanders had travelled to Yemen as well and set up a command centre in the capital Sanaa for the Red Sea attacks which is being run by the senior IRGC commander responsible for Yemen. According to two former Yemeni army sources, there is a clear presence of IRGC and Hezbollah members in Yemen.

Persons: Samia Nakhoul, Washington, Nasser Kanaani, Houthi, Mohammed Abdulsalam, Abdulaziz al, Sager, Adrienne Watson, Abdulghani, Abdulsalam, Bashar al, Assad, Ali Khamenei, Iryani, Mohammad Ghobari, Angus McDowall, David Clarke Organizations: Reuters, Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, Hezbollah, Hamas, Foreign, Guards, Gulf Research, White House, Sana'a Center, Strategic Studies, Iranian Guards Locations: Parisa, DUBAI, Yemen, Iran, Gaza, Israel, Tehran, Saudi, Asia, Europe, Gaza ., Lebanese, Iraq, Syria, Iranian, Bab, Sana'a, Sanaa, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Washington, Gulf, Islam, Lebanon, Aden

☆ Saudi Says Escalating Tensions Amid Houthi Attacks and US Strikes Are Dangerous
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-20 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Kanishka SinghWASHINGTON (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's foreign minister said the kingdom was "very worried" that tensions in the Red Sea amid attacks by Yemen's Houthis and U.S. strikes on Houthi targets could spiral out of control and escalate the conflict in the region. The Saudi foreign minister said the kingdom believed in freedom of navigation and wanted tensions in the region to be de-escalated. The Houthis, who control most of Yemen, say their attacks are in solidarity with Palestinians under attack from Israel in Gaza. Since last week, the United States has been launching strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, and this week returned the militia to a list of "terrorist" groups. President Joe Biden said on Thursday that air strikes would continue even as he acknowledged they may not be halting the Houthi attacks.

Persons: Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON, Yemen's Houthis, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Fareed Zakaria, Joe Biden, Kanishka Singh, Daniel Wallis Organizations: CNN Locations: Saudi, Red, Iran, Asia, Europe, Gaza, Yemen, Israel, United States, Hamas, Palestinian, Washington

☆ Saudi Arabia's soccer dream suffers a setback with high-profile departure
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Jordan Henderson acknowledges the crowd after the Saudi Pro League match between Al-Ettifaq and Damak at Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium on Sept. 2, 2023 in Ad Dammam, Saudi Arabia. England international Jordan Henderson abruptly ended his playing time in Saudi Arabia's Pro League, dealing a blow to the kingdom's ambitious plans to make its domestic league an international soccer hub. Former Liverpool captain Henderson on Thursday signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with Dutch side Ajax shortly after the 33-year-old agreed to mutually terminate his contract with Saudi Arabia's Al-Ettifaq. Henderson's U-turn on playing in the Saudi Pro League comes six months after his controversial decision to sign with the club. Henderson's hasty exit from Saudi Arabia marks the end of "a miserable episode in a previously exemplary career," according to BBC Sport's chief soccer writer, and raises questions about both the midfielder's reputation as well as the image of the Saudi Pro League.

Persons: Jordan Henderson, Prince Mohamed bin Fahd, Henderson, Saudi Arabia's, Henderson's, Al Ettifaq Organizations: Saudi Pro League, Al, England, Saudi Arabia's Pro League, Liverpool, Dutch, Ajax, Saudi, BBC Locations: Prince, Ad Dammam, Saudi Arabia

☆ Saudi Arabia goes big in Davos as it looks to become a top AI tech hub for the Middle East
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Mackenzie Sigalos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

A pop-up showcasing Saudi Arabia's Neom development features among the most prominent on the Davos promenade in 2024. But Saudi Arabia is keen to capture some of the limelight, and talent, from its neighbor on the Arabian Peninsula — an ambition laid bare on the Davos Promenade this year. "He's driving entrepreneurship, he's diversifying the economy ... And there are a lot of people that are really interested in working in Saudi Arabia," said Bremmer. "In the Emirates and in Saudi Arabia, you have millions of people that need upskilling, particularly Saudi Arabia which has a much larger population," Hidary said. Hidary, who was recently in Saudi Arabia, says that the UAE and Saudi Arabia are looking at countries like Singapore and Israel that have supported start-ups and are driven by technology.

Persons: Mohammed al, Jadaan, Prince Mohammed bin Salman's, Ian Bremmer, he's, Bremmer, Jamal Khashoggi, King Abdullah, KAUST, Harri Jarvelainen, Vera Futorjanski, Futorjanski, Israel Jack Hidary, Hidary, — CNBC's Karen Gilchrist Organizations: Saudi, CNBC, United Arab, prince's, —, Economic, Al, U.S, Eurasia Group, MBS, World Bank, Research Technology Centers, King, King Abdullah University of Science, Technology, UCLA, Riyadh's, Center, AI Research, AI, Artificial Intelligence Authority, Veritas Ventures, Emirates Locations: Davos, CNBC DAVOS, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Neom, Saudi, Riyadh, China, Istanbul, UAE, Singapore, Israel, Emirates

☆ The slowdown wasn't expected last year, Saudi minister Faisal AiIbrahim says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailThe slowdown wasn't expected last year, Saudi minister Faisal AiIbrahim saysFaisal Alibrahim, Saudi Arabia's minister of economy and planning, discusses how the non-oil economy has been growing steady in Saudi Arabia, "that is what we really care about."

Persons: Faisal AiIbrahim, Faisal Alibrahim Organizations: Saudi Locations: Saudi, Saudi Arabia

☆ A strong Saudi Arabia is important for the region, finance minister says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailA strong Saudi Arabia is important for the region, finance minister saysMohammed Al Jadaan, Saudi Arabia's minister of finance, says for the world and region’s economy to flourish, you need stability.

Persons: Mohammed Al Jadaan Organizations: Saudi Locations: Saudi Arabia

☆ Saudi Arabia nearly doubles estimate for the value of its mineral resources
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-10 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Saudi Arabia nearly doubled the estimate for the value of its mineral resources and is seeing lucrative deals signed during its Future Minerals Forum held in Riyadh this week, ministers told CNBC. Estimates for the kingdom's untapped mineral reserves have jumped from $1.3 trillion in a 2016 forecast to $2.5 trillion, according to Saudi Mineral Resources and Industry Minister Bandar Al Khorayef. The resources include gold, copper, phosphate and rare earth elements, offering new sources of subterranean wealth on top of Saudi Arabia's mammoth oil reserves. "We are very excited about this news ... it's really a result of what we have been doing in the last four years," Al Khorayef told CNBC's Dan Murphy on Wednesday. Saudi Arabia has developed 33 new exploration sites for mining, and aims to award foreign investors more than 30 mining exploration licenses in 2024, it announced at the forum.

Persons: Bandar, it's, Al Khorayef, CNBC's Dan Murphy Organizations: Minerals, CNBC, Saudi Mineral Resources, Industry, Saudi Locations: Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Bandar Al Khorayef, Africa

☆ Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund overtakes Singapore's GIC to top spending table
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-03 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) was the top spender among global sovereign wealth funds last year, accounting for about a quarter of the $124 billion splashed by state-owned investors, according to a preliminary report by research consultancy Global SWF. The Saudi fund boosted its deal activities from a total of $20.7 billion in 2022 to $31.6 billion in 2023, the research said, even as most other counterparts tapered down their spending. Overall, global sovereign wealth funds deployed 20% fewer funds compared with 2022, despite most major stock markets seeing a rally last year. "This may signal an overly cautious approach, as there is no shortage of capital to put to work among these institutions," the report, which tracks activities across the world's sovereign funds, noted. The Saudi fund has sought frequent deals and joint ventures in its pursuit toward Vision 2030 — a plan originally launched in 2016 which aims to increase economic diversification away from oil.

Persons: spender, Saudi's, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Organizations: Saudi, Public Investment Fund, Saudi Crown, Nintendo, Materials Locations: Saudi, Japan, Brazil

☆ PGA Tour and LIV Golf are working to extend merger deadline into 2024
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-01 | by ( Jessica Golden | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

PGA Tour and LIV Golf are working to extend their proposed merger deadline, which was originally set at Dec. 31, Commissioner Jay Monahan told players in a memo on Sunday. The delay is the latest update in a long and tumultuous saga between the PGA Tour and Saudi Public Investment Fund-backed LIV Golf that has divided players and could dramatically change professional golf if the merger is completed. PGA Tour and LIV are expected to make a formal decision on the combination ahead of the Masters tournament in April, according to The Telegraph, which first reported the extension. Under the structure of the agreement, PGA Tour would hold a permanent controlling interest in the new entity's board of directors. The agreement also includes the DP World Tour, also known as the PGA European Tour.

Persons: LIV Golf, Jay Monahan, LIV, Monahan Organizations: THE, Sawgrass, CNBC, PGA Tour, Saudi Public Investment Fund, Strategic Sports Group, Saudi, Public Investment Fund, PGA Tour Enterprises, U.S, Fenway Sports Group, The, PGA European, U.S . Federal Trade Commission, Justice Department Locations: Ponte Vedra Beach , Florida

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