Author: Editorial Team

RIYADH — The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, Indonesia, Türkiye, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates strongly condemned Israel’s escalation at Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif, warning that recent actions threaten the historic and legal status quo at the holy site. In a joint statement, the ministers condemned continued incursions by Israeli settlers into the mosque compound under the protection of Israeli forces, including visits led by Israeli ministers, the raising of the Israeli flag inside the compound, the erection of two police tents and other provocative actions. The ministers said such measures constitute a flagrant violation of international…

RIYADH — Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has signed financing agreements worth up to $24.5 billion with the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) and two World Bank Group institutions. The agreements include a memorandum of understanding with EXIM establishing a framework for up to $15 billion in long-term financing for eligible PIF portfolio companies to procure U.S.-origin goods and services. PIF also signed separate memorandums of understanding with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), worth up to $6 billion and $3.5 billion, respectively, to expand investment opportunities and support economic development…

MANILA — Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its commitment to dialogue, diplomacy and regional cooperation during the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) Conference in Manila, while condemning Iranian attacks on Gulf infrastructure and rejecting Houthi allegations against the Kingdom. Representing Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji addressed the conference, titled “Conflict Prevention and Preventive Diplomacy,” emphasizing the importance of strengthening dialogue, building mutual trust and expanding regional cooperation. Al-Khuraiji said Saudi Arabia recognizes ASEAN’s vital role in promoting peace, stability and prosperity and welcomed progress made through recent ASEAN summits in advancing economic integration and addressing…

The General Directorate of Passports continues to receive pilgrims arriving for Umrah through Saudi Arabia’s air, land, and sea ports, utilizing advanced technology, electronic gates, and dedicated staff to ensure smooth entry.  The directorate reaffirmed its commitment to providing high-quality services so pilgrims can perform their rituals with ease. It also reminded visitors to adhere to the Kingdom’s regulations and respect the validity periods of their visas. Source: Riyadh Daily

Tarik Erk, Head of MENAT and Senior Executive Officer, Binance. ABU DHABI – The Middle East and North Africa is emerging as one of the world’s most dynamic markets for stablecoin adoption, as users increasingly incorporate stablecoins into a broader range of financial activities, including trading, savings, value preservation and access to digital financial products, according to new findings from Binance Research. The report, Stablecoins: Transforming the Financial Landscape, identifies MENA as the fastest-growing region for stablecoin savings on Binance Earn. The region’s share of global stablecoin balances held through Binance Earn increased from 5.53% to 9.21%, reflecting growing participation in digital…

RIYADH — Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan has approved seven new regulations governing contracting, procurement and quantities as part of efforts to enhance the government procurement system. The regulations were prepared by the Government Expenditure and Projects Efficiency Authority (EXPRO) as specialized regulatory documents covering specific government procurement services. Government entities subject to the Government Tenders and Procurement Law are required to use them when preparing tender documents and procurement specifications. The new framework is designed to provide government entities with unified technical standards and procedures to help accurately identify procurement needs, improve planning and purchasing efficiency, enhance the quality of…

RIYADH — King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) hosted Saudi Nobel Prize-winning chemist Prof. Omar Yaghi on Thursday for a scientific discussion with students participating in the 2026 Mawhiba Research Enrichment Program. The event was attended by KACST President and Acting Governor of the Research, Development and Innovation Authority Munir Al-Desouki, along with senior officials from the Kingdom’s research and innovation sector. Yaghi reflected on key milestones in his scientific career, describing how he chose early on to pursue research problems that many considered impossible to solve. Despite skepticism from parts of the scientific community, he said he…

This summer Source: Riyadh Daily

Selin Bahadirli. Mastercard’s Cyber Pulse Report reveals the region’s threat landscape ahead of an exclusive interview with Selin Bahadirli Cyberattacks across Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa climbed 13% over the past year, according to Mastercard’s inaugural Cyber Pulse Report, with a 198% surge recorded on the first day of the recent Middle East conflict alone. Government, technology and financial services organisations bore the brunt of this activity, together accounting for 44% of all targeted sectors, while the Middle East emerged as the most targeted geography, absorbing 49% of regional attacks. The financial toll is steep too: the average cost…

RIYADH — Saudi Arabia has approved a new General Education Law under a royal decree, establishing a comprehensive framework to strengthen governance across the general education sector, improve educational outcomes and support the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 objectives. Minister of Education Yousef Al-Benyan expressed his appreciation to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman for approving the law, describing it as a significant step in advancing general education and enhancing the sector’s regulatory and operational efficiency. The law defines the roles and responsibilities of the Ministry of Education, the General Education…