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Saudi Arabia

Development projects worth $306.5m launched in Makkah’s Kamil and Khulais

The projects relate to flood prevention, water drainage, construction of cultural centres and other areas

US to transfer Guantanamo Bay detainees to Saudi, Oman and UAE

Four detainees are expected to be sent to Saudi within 24 hours

New music video on Saudi women’s rights goes viral

The clip, called ‘Hwages’, has racked up over 2.5 million views on YouTube

Expats blamed for failings of Saudi mobile market Saudisation

Mobile shop owners report being undercut by illegal expat traders

Saudi court sentences rioting Binladin workers to jail and flogging

Workers from the construction company protested last year after their salaries were delayed

Saudi approves new regulations to boost its sports sector

Saudi is looking to improve its sporting capabilities and increase investment in the sector

Saudi staff suspended for alleged $100m land deed fraud

Justice minister Walid Al-Samaani has ordered the accused be put on trial

Saudi Q3 GDP growth slowest in over three years

Saudi’s GDP, adjusted for inflation, grew 0.9 per cent from a year earlier

New Saudi expat fees to impact private sector – official

A new fee for expats with dependents have been introduced this year

Seven Saudis killed in Istanbul nightclub attack

The attack at the Reina nightclub on New Year killed 39 people

Saudi truck drivers call for their profession to be nationalised – report

The Saudi government has been urged to penalise those who hire expatriates to work as truck drivers

Two people die of MERS in Saudi

The kingdom reported 10 additional MERS cases last month

Saudi wealth fund PIF denies plans to buy stake in UAE’s Utico

On Wednesday, Utico CEO said that PIF planned to buy a “significant minority stake” in the utility

Oman joins Saudi-led Islamic coalition to fight terrorism

Saudi Arabia announced the alliance in December 2015

Saudi bank deposits rise to their highest this year in November

Deposits fell earlier this year as the government placed less money with domestic banks

Saudi sovereign fund to buy stake in UAE utility firm Utico

Public Investment Fund (PIF) has entered into a binding agreement with the private utility provider

Saudi appoints board for newly created entertainment entity

The new entity will develop, promote, regulate and fund Saudi’s entertainment industry

Saudi’s Sadara to start maintenance on mixed-feed cracker

The shutdown of the facility is expected to last six weeks

Over 2,000 Saudis fighting abroad as part of terrorist groups

Officials confirmed that 73 Saudis are presently detained outside the country on charges related to terrorism

Saudi launches campaign to collect funds for Syrians displaced by war

More than 11 million Syrians – around half of the population – have been displaced by the fighting

Saudi carrier flynas begins flights between Dammam and Abu Dhabi

An Airbus A320 aircraft with business and economy seats will operate the route

Saudi budget likely to raise labour costs for corporates

The introduction of various taxes on expat visas will increase labour costs in the kingdom, says report

Saudi has no immediate plans to tax expat remittances

The kingdom is reportedly discussing plans to impose a tax of between 2 to 6 per cent on remittances

Etisalat, Saudi’s Mobily discuss new alliance after ending management deal

UAE telecom operator Etisalat owns 27.4 per cent of Mobily

Saudi soldier dies in cross-border firing from Yemen

Sultan bin Ayed Farhan Al-Sharari died of injuries on Saturday

Haramain train between Mecca and Madinah to begin operations in 2017

In its first trip, the train will depart from Mecca to Madinah via Jeddah and King Abdullah Economic city in Rabigh

Saudi newspaper says report on 49% Aramco stake sale was wrong

The report claimed Aramco planned to sell 49 per cent of its shares over the next 10 years

Saudi Prince Badr bin Salman bin Saud dies

His funeral prayers will be held on Sunday

Saudi telecom operator Mobily says agreement with Etisalat has ended

Mobily said its management agreement with Etisalat had expired on Friday

Saudi plans to pump $53bn into the private sector to boost diversification

An investment fund will be established to provide the capital