Several news articles and opinion pieces from Saudi Arabian sources are compiled here. One cluster of articles details strong Arab condemnation of recent Israeli statements regarding Palestine and Saudi sovereignty. Another section focuses on the record profits of Saudi banks and their implications for the economy, along with analyses of global food prices and Saudi mining investments. Further articles cover the formation of a new Lebanese government, a Saudi urology conference, and various sports and astronomical events. Finally, several opinion pieces discuss the importance of transparency, the distortion of Saudi sports history, the need for improved driving culture, and the controversy surrounding Al Hilal football club.

Source Material Review Guide

Quiz

Instructions: Answer each question in 2-3 sentences.

How did Saudi Arabia respond to the recent Israeli statements concerning Palestine?
What was the primary focus of the Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources’ meetings with Indian mining companies?
What were the main factors contributing to the decline in global food commodity prices in January?
According to Hussein bin Hamad Al-Raqib, what is the potential downside of Saudi banks achieving record profits?
What are the key priorities of the newly formed government in Lebanon, as stated by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam?
What was the main purpose of the 36th Urology Conference held in Riyadh?
What activities did the Saudi Boxing Federation engage in during the “Sports for All Expo” and the “Riyadh Marathon”?
What does the article by Nasser Al-Jedaie suggest about a recent reclassification of Saudi football championships?
How does the author Abdulrahman Al-Sultan characterize the driving culture in Saudi Arabia?
According to Badr bin Saud, what is a common misunderstanding about learning disabilities such as dyslexia?

Quiz Answer Key

Saudi Arabia responded with a firm rejection of the Israeli statements, condemning any attempt to alter the map of Palestine or displace its people. They also criticized what they described as “ethnic cleansing” in Gaza, signaling a political escalation in their stance towards Israel.
The meetings focused on exploring mining investment opportunities in both countries, specifically in areas of critical mineral exploration, production, and processing. They also aimed to enhance joint cooperation, exchange expertise, and transfer knowledge within the mining sector.
The decline was mainly due to sharp decreases in sugar and vegetable oil prices, attributed to improved supply prospects. Sugar prices fell because of favorable weather in Brazil and India, while vegetable oil saw declines in palm and rapeseed oil.
Al-Raqib argues that while the profits are positive for the banks, they are negative for the Saudi economy. The high profits are achieved at the expense of companies, which face high costs for debt servicing, leading to postponed expansion plans and decreased overall profits.
The Lebanese government’s main priorities are financial reforms, reconstruction, and the implementation of UN Resolution 1701, which is crucial for maintaining stability on the Lebanese-Israeli border and the ceasefire agreement.
The conference served as a platform to enhance cooperation and the exchange of advanced knowledge and expertise in the field of urology, attracting experts from around the world to discuss the latest developments and challenges in the field.
The Saudi Boxing Federation participated by creating an informational booth about the sport of boxing and created an interactive “Try it without friction” corner where the public could learn and engage in the sport.
The author suggests that a recent reclassification of Saudi football championships has improperly re-written history, suggesting a lack of competence and bias among the documentation team and distorting the legacy of Saudi football.
The author suggests there are significant gaps in the Kingdom’s driving culture. This is evidenced by actions such as excessive speed, disregard for pedestrians and cyclists, and use of mobile phones while driving.
The article suggests that people often mistake learning disabilities for mental disabilities. They are not the same. Those with learning disabilities have a normal IQ but struggle with memorization, a key component of typical education systems.

Essay Questions

Instructions: Respond to each question in a well-organized essay with a clear thesis statement, supporting evidence from the source material, and effective analysis.

Analyze the various responses to the Israeli statements regarding Palestine, focusing on the degree of unity and the underlying motivations of different Arab nations, and explain the historical context of the unified Arab stance, noting Saudi Arabia’s role in this political landscape.
Discuss the interplay between Saudi Arabia’s economic aspirations, specifically Vision 2030, and its mining sector partnerships with India, focusing on the potential benefits and challenges of this international collaboration. How does it tie into the Kingdom’s long-term economic goals and the challenges to that strategy?
Examine the relationship between governmental/institutional transparency and individual narcissism, citing examples from both the articles provided and real-world events, and analyze the short-term and long-term effects that a lack of transparency or excessive narcissism can have on organizational culture and performance.
Compare and contrast the impacts of infrastructure development in the 19th century (railroads) with the current advancements in AI technology, paying special attention to the roles of both private enterprise and government support, and project what the long-term impact might be on the socioeconomic landscape, both in Saudi Arabia and on the global stage.
Discuss the concept of “open-ended local urbanism” in relation to Riyadh, analyzing how the city’s architectural landscape has evolved and the interplay between independent structures and the overall urban fabric, examining how the concept of place influences architectural development and innovation within Saudi Arabia, in general.

Glossary of Key Terms

Ethnic Cleansing: The systematic and forceful removal of an ethnic or religious group from a territory by another group, often involving violence or displacement.
UN Resolution 1701: A United Nations Security Council resolution that called for the cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, mainly concerned with the border between Israel and Lebanon.
Vision 2030: Saudi Arabia’s strategic plan to diversify its economy, reduce dependence on oil, and develop various public service sectors.
Money Supply (M3): A measure of the total amount of money in an economy, including cash, checking accounts, and some savings and money market accounts.
Saibor: The Saudi Interbank Offered Rate, which is the benchmark interest rate at which banks lend to each other in Saudi Arabia.
Basis Points: A unit of measure used in finance to describe the change in an interest rate, with one basis point equal to 0.01 percent.
Learning Difficulties: A range of conditions that affect a person’s ability to learn, including dyslexia, dyspraxia, and dyscalculia.
Dyslexia: A learning disorder that affects reading, writing, and spelling abilities, often related to differences in processing language.
IQ: Intelligence Quotient, a score derived from standardized tests designed to assess human intelligence.
Organizational Narcissism: A condition where an organization overly focuses on past successes and achievements, becoming resistant to change, outside evaluation, or objective feedback.
Star Architecture: Refers to buildings that are designed by famous architects and intended to be iconic and stand out, often with unique and attention-grabbing designs.
Open-Ended Local Urbanism: An approach to urban design that emphasizes the creation of flexible and adaptable spaces and incorporates local cultural and historical context.
Gibbous Moon: A phase of the moon in which more than half but less than the entire disc is illuminated.
Conjunction (Astronomical): A celestial event where two or more astronomical objects appear close to each other in the sky.
Tariff: A tax or duty to be paid on a particular class of imports or exports.
Trade Deficit: An economic measure where a country’s imports exceed its exports.
Post-Brexit: Refers to the period following the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union.
Cereals: Grains such as wheat, corn, and rice that are used as food.

Saudi Arabia: A Nation in Transition

Okay, here is a detailed briefing document synthesizing the main themes and important ideas from the provided sources:

Briefing Document: Review of Recent Saudi Arabian News and Related Topics

Date: February 11, 2025 (based on the dates mentioned in the articles)

Overview: This document provides a synthesis of various news articles and opinion pieces, focusing on key themes impacting Saudi Arabia, including its foreign policy, economic activities, social trends, and internal affairs. The information spans a range of topics, from international relations and trade to sports and social commentary.

Key Themes and Ideas:

Saudi Arabia’s Firm Stance on Palestine and Rejection of Israeli Statements:

Theme: A strong and unified Arab response against perceived Israeli provocation regarding Palestinian land and rights.
Key Points: Saudi Arabia has issued a firm condemnation of Israeli statements seen as attempting to “redraw the map of Palestine or displace its people.” This response was not merely a political statement but also included strong condemnation of Israeli actions in Gaza, described as “ethnic cleansing” that resulted in a large number of Palestinian casualties, including women and children.
Quote: “this extremist occupying mentality does not understand what the Palestinian land means to its people, and does not recognize their historical and legal rights.”
Quote: “the ethnic cleansing that the Palestinians are being subjected to in Gaza,” noting that the Israeli occupation “completely destroyed the Strip, killing and injuring more than 160,000 people, the majority of whom were women and children.”
Arab Support: The Kingdom received widespread support from Arab and Islamic countries, including the Gulf Cooperation Council, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, all rejecting the Israeli statements and reasserting their support for the Palestinian cause. They viewed the Israeli statements as “a desperate attempt to impose illegal solutions at the expense of Arab countries”
Quote: The Gulf Cooperation Council… completely rejected the Israeli statements, noting that they reflect “Israel’s disrespect for international laws,”
Saudi Position: This strong stance underscores Saudi Arabia’s consistent support for a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital. The Kingdom is positioning itself as a leader in defending Palestinian rights and rejects attempts to undermine the cause.
Quote: “The message that came out of Riyadh, Cairo, Amman, Abu Dhabi, Baghdad, and all the Arab capitals was clear: Palestine is not a land for displacement, and the sovereignty of Arab countries is not an area for bargaining.”

Saudi Arabia’s Growing Mining Investment and Cooperation with India:

Theme: Strategic partnerships and investments in the mining sector to diversify the Saudi economy in line with Vision 2030.
Key Points: The Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources met with major Indian mining companies to explore investment opportunities in copper, iron, and aluminum, among other metals. India, with a 170-year history and significant mineral wealth, is seen as a key partner. Saudi Arabia is aiming to develop its $2.5 trillion mineral reserves to establish mining as a third pillar of its industry.
Quote: “The Republic of India has a long history in the mining and minerals sector spanning more than 170 years, and unique expertise in all areas of mining…it and the Kingdom, which is going through a transformational phase in the mining sector, to develop it and exploit the latent mineral wealth in its lands estimated at about $2.5 trillion, to achieve the goals of Vision 2030”
Focus: The meetings revolved around cooperation in mineral exploration, production, processing, technology transfer, and innovation.

Global Food Commodity Price Declines:

Theme: A report on the recent drop in global food prices, signaling potential relief after a period of inflation.
Key Points: The FAO index reported a decrease in global food prices in January, driven by significant drops in sugar and vegetable oil prices due to improved supply conditions, particularly in Brazil and India.
Quote: “Global food commodity prices fell in January, led by sharp declines in sugar and vegetable oil prices”
Exceptions: Cereal prices rose slightly, but were still lower than the previous year. Dairy prices also rose.
Overall Trend: Despite the recent decline, the index remains above the previous year’s levels, highlighting a continued concern for global food affordability.

Saudi Banks’ Record Profits and Economic Implications:

Theme: Analysis of Saudi banks’ record profits and its potential impact on the broader economy.
Key Points: Saudi banks have achieved record profits of nearly 80 billion riyals. While these profits seem positive for the banking sector, it comes at a cost to the broader economy. Companies face higher costs for debt servicing, impacting their profits and leading them to postpone expansion plans. There was a significant increase in loan portfolios, outpacing deposit growth, which led to loans exceeding deposits by 105%.
Central Bank Data: The Saudi Central Bank states that with its calculations the loan to deposit ratio was 83.24% in December 2024
Quote: “The latest statistical bulletin of the Central Bank showed that the ratio of loans to deposits in December 2024 was 83.24%.”
Liquidity & Saibor: Increase in the money supply (M3) may bring liquidity to banks and support the decline of Saibor, impacting interest rates and loan pricing
Profit Distribution: Al-Ahli Bank and Al-Rajhi Bank accounted for more than half of the profits, the loan portfolio, deposits, and net special commission income.
Credit Loss Provisions: Some banks have reduced provisions for credit losses, a potentially risky move considering the growth of their loan portfolios.
Quote: “Some banks’ resorting to reducing the provision for credit losses may be due to improving the financial statements at the expense of maximizing creditworthiness, even if the coverage ratios of provisions for non-performing loans exceed 150%, but this does not justify the banks’ resorting to reducing their provisions in light of the growth of their financing portfolios.”
Al-Rajhi Bank Advantage: Al-Rajhi Bank benefited from increased demand deposits, reduced time deposits, and maintained high interest rates on individual loans, thereby increasing profits.
Quote: “First: The bank succeeded in increasing demand deposits by 27%, while reducing time deposits by 20%, which are the deposits on which the bank pays returns.”

Lebanon’s New Government and Reform Priorities:

Theme: The formation of a new Lebanese government tasked with financial reforms and regional stability.
Key Points: The newly formed government, led by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, has prioritized financial reforms, reconstruction, and the implementation of UN Resolution 1701, which is central to the ceasefire agreement with Israel. The government faces the daunting task of reforming the country after a political and financial crisis.
Quote: “Now that we have announced the government, which I hope will be a government of reform and rescue… I would like to emphasize… that reform is the only path to real rescue.”

Saudi Urology Conference:

Theme: A platform for medical professionals to discuss the latest advances in urology.
Key Points: The 36th Urology Conference in Riyadh aims to foster international cooperation, exchange advanced knowledge and expertise, and showcase modern robotic surgical technologies. It involves both international and local experts with more than 150 scientific papers presented. The conference will feature an exhibition of medical devices, including surgical robots.

Saudi Sports Events and Activities

Theme: Promotion of sports and community engagement.
Key Points: The Saudi Boxing Federation participated in the “Sports for All Expo” and the “Riyadh Marathon,” aiming to raise awareness about boxing and engage the community in sporting events.

Saudi-Argentinian Bilateral Relations:

Theme: Diplomatic efforts to strengthen relations and cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Argentina.
Key Points: The Foreign Ministers of Saudi Arabia and Argentina met to discuss enhancing bilateral relations and cooperation in various fields.

Astronomical Phenomenon:

Theme: The conjunction of the moon and Mars, visible in the night sky.
Key Points: A gibbous moon will be in conjunction with Mars, offering a visually appealing sight that can be observed with the naked eye. It highlights the dynamic nature of the solar system.

Oman Rejects Israeli Statements:

Theme: Oman’s strong show of support for Saudi Arabia and the Palestinian cause.
Key Points: The Sultanate of Oman expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia by rejecting the statements made by the Israeli Prime Minister and reiterated support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Somalia’s Fight Against Al-Shabaab:

Theme: Military operations against Al-Shabaab in central Somalia.
Key Points: The Somali army has reportedly killed around 100 Al-Shabaab militants, including leaders, in the Hiraan region and liberated towns and villages in the region.
Quote: “the Somali army and clan militias inflicted heavy losses on Al-Shabaab, killing about 100 militants, including leaders, pointing to the liberation of towns and villages located on the banks of the Shabelle River in Hiraan region in central Somalia.”

Saudi Stock Market Closure:

Theme: A brief summary of market activity at close
Key Points: The Saudi Stock Market Main Index closed higher, with an increase of 35.56 points, and the Saudi Parallel Stock Index (Nomu) also closed higher. Trading volume is reported to be high

Debate Over Reclassification of Saudi Football Championships:

Theme: Controversy surrounding the reclassification of past football tournaments.
Key Points: A team tasked with documenting Saudi football championships has caused controversy by reclassifying past King’s Cup tournaments as league championships. This move has been met with criticism, with many fans and analysts accusing the team of altering historical facts. The debate revolves around the proper recognition of championships and whether to keep King’s Cup and League titles separate and how to define the beginning of the official Saudi league.
Quote: “This inventive team was right when it ignored the demands of some evaluators to count the regional qualifiers as league championships; but it surprised everyone with this new invention that made it no less fanatical, distorting and tampering with sports history than those!”

Need for Improved Driving Culture in Saudi Arabia:

Theme: Analysis of driving habits and a call for better safety measures and increased traffic regulations.
Key Points: There is a noted disregard for traffic regulations, including speeding, ignoring pedestrians, and using mobile phones while driving. This requires a multi-pronged approach which involves reactivating traffic awareness programs, enforcing strict traffic laws, increasing smart camera monitoring, creating point systems to track violations, and leveraging technological advancements in vehicles to improve safety.
Quote: “However, the most important thing is the need to tighten the regulations and implement them strictly, with high fines imposed on serious violations, such as running a red light and dangerous overtaking.”

Trade Tensions Between the US and Other Countries:

Theme: The impact of US tariff policies on global trade relationships.
Key Points: President Trump’s decision to impose new customs duties has led to retaliatory measures from countries such as China and the EU. There is a fear that these policies could disrupt economic stability by increasing prices, raising business costs, and impacting the competitiveness of US exports.
Quote: “It is true that customs duties may create opportunities for a certain local industry, but at the same time they may raise prices for the American consumer and increase business costs, which may ultimately lead to higher inflation and slower economic growth”

Learning Difficulties, Including Dyslexia:

Theme: Understanding the challenges and potential of individuals with learning difficulties and the need for educational reform.
Key Points: Learning difficulties, such as dyslexia, are not mental disabilities and often exist in individuals with above-average intelligence. Traditional educational systems based on memorization are not suitable for them, highlighting a need for more appropriate educational methods that nurture their unique talents (inventing, creativity). The article also cites statistics for students with learning disabilities and dyslexia from around the globe. A study from Cambridge University suggests that these individuals have advanced skills in discovery, invention, and creativity. The existing systems in Saudi Arabia measure performance based solely on the curriculum, with a noted lack of standardized measurements. The author argues for more robust educational opportunities in Saudi Arabia for these individuals either through specific institutions or specialized sections in existing schools.
Quote: “Learning difficulties, including dyslexia, are not considered mental disabilities, and the IQ of those with them in IQ tests is not less than 100, and mental disabilities are those whose scores fall below 70, but as a result of their weak memory, they do not fit into educational systems based on indoctrination and memorization…”
Quote: “a study conducted by the University of Cambridge in Britain in 2022 showed that people with dyslexia have advanced skills in discovery, invention and creativity, and that they are comprehensive in their vision of things, and their thinking is futuristic…”

Transparency vs. Narcissism in Organizations:

Theme: The importance of transparency in organizational culture and the pitfalls of organizational narcissism.
Key Points: Transparency is essential for organizational growth and effectiveness; it is also crucial for individual development. Narcissism is defined as an organization or individual that is overly satisfied with past achievements and resists evaluation or new ideas. True transparency involves welcoming external feedback. Narcissism leads to a lack of participation, communication, and change.
Quote: “The common factor between organizational narcissism and individual narcissism is the failure to apply the principle of transparency, in other words, the failure to accept evaluation from outside and to be satisfied with self-evaluation or self-transparency, which in some organizations and individuals reaches the level of narcissism, which means stopping at the ruins of previous achievements and not welcoming anything new or evaluation.”

Historical Parallels Between Railroads and AI:

Theme: Drawing parallels between the impact of 19th-century railroads and 21st-century AI technologies
Key Points: The article compares the transformative effects of railroads in the 19th century to the potential impact of AI in the present day. Private enterprise and government support were critical for railroad development and might be needed for the successful growth of AI. Just as the Pacific Railroad Act connected the United States from coast to coast, AI may be a similar unifying transformational technology.
Quote: “Just as railroads redefined communication and commerce in the nineteenth century, AI today is poised to reshape the socioeconomic landscape.”

Urbanism and Architecture in Riyadh:

Theme: Examination of the relationship between urban planning and architectural design in the city of Riyadh
Key Points: The article explores the role of independent places in shaping architectural ideas. Historically, Riyadh’s unique architectural character developed in specific areas like the Diplomatic Quarter, due to their independence from general urban fabric. The article raises a question about whether this trend continues in the current century and also raises the issue of “star architecture”. The focus on iconic buildings may be limiting interaction with surrounding space, and the author asks if this new approach will lead to an open-ended local architecture.
Quote: “Can we say that the beginnings of open-ended local architecture were formed through spatial experiences similar to what happened in Riyadh in Al-Murabba, Al-Malaz, the Diplomatic Quarter, the Government Palace area, and the King Abdulaziz Historical Center?”
Quote: “It seems that the large projects that presented an architecture that was harmonious with each other and at the same time worked to confirm a specific intellectual trend are no longer present in the new architectural experiments, especially with the dominance of star architecture that made individual iconic buildings an important goal.”
Protecting Al-Hilal Football Club from Internal Conflict:Theme: A plea to protect the Al-Hilal football club from internal conflicts.
Key Points: Calls for unity within the Al-Hilal community, including players, management, and the media, to avoid internal conflict, which may affect the team’s performance. The author emphasizes that the team’s culture is one of solidarity and that the focus should be on supporting players and not inciting controversy, particularly at a critical stage in the season.
Quote: “We are with Al Hilal, whether it is unjust or wronged.. and with its players, whether they are creative or negligent..!”

Conclusion:

These articles provide a snapshot of Saudi Arabia’s current landscape, from its firm stance in international politics to its active engagement in economic diversification and internal development. The documents highlight the tensions and opportunities in the modern era, the importance of the Kingdom’s international role, the ambition to move into the future, and a desire for thoughtful evolution. The breadth of topics underscores the complexity of the issues facing Saudi Arabia as it navigates the global stage.

Global Affairs and Economic Trends

FAQ:

What is Saudi Arabia’s stance on recent Israeli statements regarding Palestine, and how has the Arab world responded? Saudi Arabia has firmly rejected recent Israeli statements that it views as provocative attempts to alter the Palestinian issue, including redrawing borders and displacing people. The Kingdom has condemned what it describes as ethnic cleansing in Gaza. This stance has garnered significant support from across the Arab and Islamic world, with countries like Egypt, Jordan, and others, along with organizations like the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, expressing their categorical rejection of the Israeli position and support for Saudi Arabia. This unified response underscores a strong Arab consensus in defense of Palestinian rights and a rejection of attempts to undermine the established framework for a resolution based on international law.
What are some key areas of focus in the growing economic partnership between Saudi Arabia and India? The economic partnership between Saudi Arabia and India is expanding, particularly in the mining sector. Discussions are centered on joint investment opportunities in mining exploration, production, and processing of critical minerals like copper, iron, and aluminum. Both countries aim to exchange expertise and knowledge, given India’s long history and expertise in the mining sector, as well as Saudi Arabia’s rich mineral wealth. This partnership also aims to achieve Saudi Vision 2030 goals of diversifying the national economy by making the mining sector a third pillar of its industry.
What are the current trends in global food commodity prices, according to the FAO? Global food commodity prices experienced a decrease in January, primarily driven by significant drops in sugar and vegetable oil prices. However, despite this monthly decline, the overall index remains higher than the previous year but below the peak it reached in March 2022. Sugar prices fell due to improved global supplies, while vegetable oil prices saw a decline in palm and rapeseed oils. Cereal prices increased slightly, with maize prices rising due to production issues in the U.S., while rice prices fell due to ample supply. Dairy prices, particularly cheese, rose.
What concerns have been raised regarding the recent record profits of Saudi banks, and the loan-to-deposit ratio? While Saudi banks have achieved record profits, there are concerns that this comes at the expense of the wider economy. The high profits are driven by significant lending, resulting in large costs for companies to service their debts and leading to some companies postponing expansion plans. The rapid growth of loans, exceeding the growth of deposits, is also a cause for concern, with loans exceeding deposits, though the Saudi Central Bank’s calculations show a more controlled loan to deposit ratio. There are also concerns that some banks are reducing provisions for credit losses to improve financial statements, which could impact the long term financial health of these institutions.
What are the main goals of the new Lebanese government, and how will it address the country’s challenges? The newly formed Lebanese government, led by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, has prioritized financial reforms and reconstruction as its main goals. It is also committed to implementing UN Resolution 1701, which is crucial for stability on the Lebanese border with Israel. The government emphasizes that reform is the only path to true recovery, and it aims to secure security and stability in Lebanon through these measures.
How is the understanding and treatment of learning difficulties evolving, particularly in the context of dyslexia? Learning difficulties, such as dyslexia, are increasingly being recognized as a cognitive difference rather than a mental disability. Research suggests that individuals with dyslexia often possess advanced skills in areas like discovery, invention, and creative thinking. Despite their challenges with rote learning and memory, common in many educational systems, it is important to identify and accommodate their unique needs by developing systems that cater to how these individuals learn and provide support beyond simply measuring performance based on the traditional curriculum. In western countries it is now recognized that standard diagnostic tools need to be used to help these students, while this is not currently the case in Saudi Arabia.
What is the concept of “organizational narcissism,” and how does it relate to transparency and development? Organizational narcissism refers to an organization’s tendency to rely on past achievements and to reject external evaluations, hindering its ability to adapt and develop. It’s characterized by a lack of transparency and a resistance to change, fueled by a focus on self-flattery. This, combined with individual narcissism within the organization can be detrimental as both hinder genuine participation, communication, and the acceptance of criticism that are necessary for growth.
What is the significance of the historical comparison between the 19th-century railroad expansion and modern investments in AI? The article draws a parallel between the 19th-century railroad expansion and today’s investments in AI to highlight the transformative potential of innovation in both eras. Just as the railroads reshaped communication and commerce, AI is poised to redefine the socioeconomic landscape. The Pacific Railroad Act of 1862, with government support through financial incentives and land grants, is likened to the Stargate AI project, underscoring the role of both private enterprise and government support in fostering transformative progress.

Saudi Arabia: Recent Developments

Saudi Arabia has recently been active in several areas, including international relations, economic development, and cultural events.

International Relations and Diplomacy:

Saudi Arabia has firmly responded to what it considers offensive Israeli statements, which were seen as attempts to alter the Palestinian issue. The Saudi response included a rejection of any attempts to redraw the map of Palestine or displace its people, and it condemned what it described as the “ethnic cleansing” of Palestinians in Gaza.
This firm stance by Saudi Arabia was supported by many Arab and Islamic countries, including the Gulf Cooperation Council, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. These countries expressed their rejection of the Israeli statements, with some describing them as incitement and a violation of international law.
The unified Arab response, particularly the Saudi position, was intended to send a message that such attempts will not be tolerated, and that Palestinians have a right to their land. Saudi Arabia has consistently supported the Palestinian cause, advocating for a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The Sultanate of Oman also expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia, rejecting Israeli statements against the Kingdom and its territorial integrity.
Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs met with the Argentine Foreign Minister to discuss bilateral relations and regional and international developments.

Economic Development and Investment:

Saudi Arabia is exploring mining investment opportunities with India, focusing on cooperation in exploration, production, and processing of critical minerals. Meetings were held with Indian mining companies to discuss opportunities in copper, iron, and aluminum.
The Kingdom is undergoing a transformational phase in its mining sector, with the goal of developing its mineral wealth, estimated at $2.5 trillion, to diversify its economy.
Saudi banks have achieved record profits, but there are concerns about the high costs for companies to service their debts, which has led to some companies postponing expansion plans. The demand for bank financing was very large in 2024, with loans outpacing the growth in deposits.
The Saudi Central Bank has its own calculation ratio for loans to deposits, which includes long-term bank debts, and the ratio of loans to deposits was within the permissible range.

Cultural and Social Activities:

The Saudi Boxing Federation concluded its participation in the “Sports for All Expo” and the “Riyadh Marathon” events, which attracted a large turnout of participants. The federation also provided information about boxing and offered an opportunity for visitors to try the sport in a safe environment.
The Saudi Urology Association is scheduled to hold its 36th Urology Conference in Riyadh, which will serve as a platform for exchanging expertise and advanced technologies. The conference will feature scientific lectures, discussion panels, and workshops on modern robotic surgeries, among other topics.
A new government has been formed in Lebanon, which will prioritize financial reforms, reconstruction, and implementing a UN resolution to ensure stability on the Lebanese border with Israel.

Other Points:

Global food commodity prices fell in January, with sugar and vegetable oil prices declining due to improved supply prospects. Cereal prices slightly rose, while meat and rice prices fell.
The Saudi Stock Market Main Index closed higher at 12469.14 points.
The sky of the Kingdom and the Arab world will witness the conjunction of the waxing gibbous moon with the planet Mars, which will be visible with the naked eye.
There is discussion about the documentation of Saudi sports history, specifically around the King’s Cup and league championships, with some concern that a documentation team is inventing history instead of documenting it accurately.
There is a need to improve driving culture in Saudi Arabia and to implement stricter traffic regulations, while also utilizing new technologies to improve road safety.
There are global tariff tensions arising from US President Donald Trump’s decisions to impose new customs duties.
There is a discussion about learning difficulties, including dyslexia, which are not considered mental disabilities. There are calls for better educational support for students with learning difficulties.
Transparency is an important value for organizations and individuals, but it can be undermined by narcissism, which prevents evaluation and change.
The concept of “open-ended local urbanism” and its impact on the architectural identity of Riyadh is discussed.
There are discussions in the media about internal conflicts and the need for unity to protect Al-Hilal, a major football team.

Arab and Islamic Support for Saudi Arabia on Palestine

Saudi Arabia has received significant support from Arab and Islamic countries in response to what they view as offensive Israeli statements. This support reflects a broad consensus on the importance of the Palestinian issue and the need to protect the sovereignty of Arab nations.

Key aspects of this support include:

Categorical rejection of Israeli statements: Numerous Arab and Islamic countries have explicitly rejected the Israeli statements, viewing them as a provocation and an attempt to undermine the Palestinian cause.
Condemnation of actions in Gaza: The Saudi response included a strong condemnation of “the ethnic cleansing that the Palestinians are being subjected to in Gaza,” which reflects a shift in the Saudi approach towards Israel.
Support for Palestinian rights: There is a strong emphasis on the rights of the Palestinian people to their land and a rejection of any attempts to displace them.
Rejection of altering the map of Palestine: Arab nations have united in their opposition to any attempts to redraw the map of Palestine or displace its people, emphasizing the historical and legal rights of the Palestinians.
Emphasis on a unified Arab position: The support for Saudi Arabia is intended to demonstrate a unified Arab stance against Israeli actions and to ensure that attempts to disrupt a just solution to the Palestinian issue will fail.
Specific expressions of support:The Gulf Cooperation Council completely rejected the Israeli statements and emphasized Saudi Arabia’s role in defending the Palestinian cause.
Egypt viewed the statements as a violation of diplomatic norms and an infringement on the rights of the Palestinian people, considering any tampering with Saudi sovereignty a “red line”.
Jordan described the Israeli statements as incitement and a clear violation of international law.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation labeled the Israeli statements as “dangerous incitement and a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of states”.
The UAE, Kuwait, and Iraq also expressed their categorical rejection of the Israeli statements, seeing them as a political maneuver aimed at disrupting a just solution to the Palestinian issue.
Oman expressed its full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and rejected the Israeli statements.
Support for a Two-State Solution: Many Arab countries are aligned with Saudi Arabia’s stance that the only solution to the Palestinian issue is the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Rejection of Displacement: Arab capitals have made it clear that Palestine is not a land for displacement, and the sovereignty of Arab countries is not up for negotiation.
Palestinian support: The Palestinian Foreign Ministry responded in support of the Kingdom, condemning the Israeli statements as a “desperate attempt to impose illegal solutions at the expense of Arab countries”.

In conclusion, the sources highlight a strong and unified Arab and Islamic support for Saudi Arabia’s stance on the Palestinian issue, underscoring a commitment to Palestinian rights, rejection of Israeli actions, and a unified front against attempts to alter the status quo.

Saudi Arabia Condemns Israeli Statements on Palestine

The sources discuss Israeli statements that have provoked strong reactions from Saudi Arabia and other Arab and Islamic countries. These statements are viewed as offensive and a challenge to the established understanding of the Palestinian issue. Here’s a breakdown of the key points:

Provocative Nature: The Israeli statements are not considered mere slips of the tongue or political viewpoints, but rather a “provocative attempt to change the course of the Palestinian issue”. They are seen as an attempt to redraw the map of Palestine and displace its people.
Rejection of Actions: The Saudi response included a strong condemnation of “the ethnic cleansing that the Palestinians are being subjected to in Gaza,” and noted that the Israeli occupation “completely destroyed the Strip, killing and injuring more than 160,000 people, the majority of whom were women and children”.
Saudi Arabia’s Firm Response: Saudi Arabia responded to the Israeli statements with a clear and unambiguous rejection. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed its absolute rejection of any attempt to redraw the map of Palestine or displace its people, stating that the “extremist occupying mentality does not understand what the Palestinian land means to its people, and does not recognize their historical and legal rights”.
Condemnation and Shift in Approach: The Saudi response was not limited to rejection, but also included a strong condemnation of what it described as “the ethnic cleansing that the Palestinians are being subjected to in Gaza”. This strong language reflected a shift in the Saudi approach towards Israel, indicating that the Kingdom was moving towards political escalation in confronting the occupation.
Arab and Islamic Support: Saudi Arabia’s position received broad support from Arab and Islamic countries. The Gulf Cooperation Council, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, among others, all expressed their categorical rejection of the Israeli statements.
Violation of International Norms: Many countries view the Israeli statements as a violation of diplomatic norms, an infringement on the rights of the Palestinian people, and a violation of international law. Some have described them as “dangerous incitement” and a “flagrant violation of the sovereignty of states”.
Attempts to disrupt a just solution: The statements are seen as a political maneuver aimed at disrupting a just solution to the Palestinian issue.
Testing Arab Cohesion: Some analysts believe that Israel may be seeking to test the Arab position and its cohesion towards the Palestinian issue. However, the unified Arab response, particularly the decisive Saudi position, sent a strong message that such attempts would not succeed, and that the Palestinians have a right to their historical land.
Distraction from Gaza: The statements may be an attempt to redirect attention from the crimes committed in Gaza and the increasing international condemnation Israel faces due to its military escalation in the Strip.
Rejection of Displacement: The Arab nations have made it clear that “Palestine is not a land for displacement, and the sovereignty of Arab countries is not an area for bargaining”.
Commitment to a Two-State Solution: Arab nations are aligned with Saudi Arabia’s stance that the only solution to the Palestinian issue is the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. Oman also expressed its support for this solution.

In summary, the Israeli statements are seen as a serious provocation, leading to a unified and strong response from Saudi Arabia and other Arab and Islamic nations, who view these statements as an attempt to undermine Palestinian rights and disrupt a just resolution to the conflict. The situation has highlighted the importance of the Palestinian cause for the Arab world and the need to maintain a unified front against any actions that are seen as a threat to regional stability.

Global Food Commodity Price Report: January 2024

Global food commodity prices experienced a decline in January, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Here’s a breakdown of the changes:

Overall Decrease: The FAO index, which tracks the prices of the world’s most traded food commodities, averaged 124.9 points in January, down from 127 points in December.
Year-on-Year Increase: Despite the monthly decline, the index remained 6.2 percent higher than a year earlier, but was still 22 percent below its peak in March 2022.
Sugar Prices: Sugar prices fell significantly, by 6.8 percent month-on-month and 18.5 percent year-on-year. This decline was primarily due to improved global supply prospects, including favorable weather conditions in Brazil and India, which have resumed sugar exports.
Vegetable Oil Prices: Vegetable oil prices also decreased, falling 5.6 percent last month, with global palm and rapeseed oil prices falling, while soy and sunflower oil prices remained stable. Despite the January decrease, the index for vegetable oils remained up 24.9 percent year-on-year.
Meat Prices: Meat prices saw a decrease of 1.7 percent last month.
Cereal Prices: In contrast to the other categories, cereal prices rose slightly by 0.3 percent from December. However, they remained 6.9 percent lower than in January 2024.
While wheat export prices eased slightly, maize prices increased due to lower revised production and stock forecasts in the United States.
Rice prices fell by 4.7 percent, reflecting ample export supplies.
Dairy Prices: Dairy prices increased by 2.4 percent month-on-month and 20.4 percent year-on-year, driven by a monthly rise in cheese prices, which offset declines in butter and milk powder prices.

In summary, global food commodity prices experienced a general decrease in January, primarily driven by declines in sugar and vegetable oil prices, while cereal and dairy prices showed mixed trends. Despite the recent monthly decline, the food commodity index remains higher than the previous year.

Saudi Banks: Record Profits and Economic Concerns

Saudi banks have achieved record profits, but there are concerns about the health of the economy. Here’s a breakdown of the key points:

Record Profits: Saudi banks achieved historic profits of nearly 80 billion riyals by the end of 2024. This amount accounts for more than half of the profits of companies, excluding Aramco, listed on the Saudi financial market.
Impact on the Economy: While these profits are positive for banks, they may be negative for the Saudi economy. The high profits of the banks are correlated to large costs borne by companies to service their debts, leading to a decline in their profits. Additionally, many companies have been forced to postpone expansion plans due to weak economic feasibility amid high interest rates.
Shift in Investment: Companies with cash liquidity have shifted it to investments in debt instruments or kept it as term deposits.
Increased Demand for Financing: There was a very large demand for bank financing in 2024, with the banks’ loan portfolio increasing by more than 354 billion riyals, compared to 236 billion riyals in 2023.
Loans Exceeding Deposits: The growth in deposits did not keep pace with the growth in loans, causing loans to exceed deposits by 105%, compared to 99% in 2023. The gap between loans and deposits widened by about 158 billion riyals. However, the Saudi Central Bank has a different calculation ratio that includes long-term bank debts, which places the ratio of loans to deposits within the permissible range of 90%. The latest statistical bulletin from the Central Bank showed that the ratio of loans to deposits in December 2024 was 83.24%.
Liquidity Injection Needed: There is a suggestion that banks need to inject liquidity from the Central Bank in line with monetary policy. The money supply at the end of January 2025 exceeded 2,957 billion riyals, which may indicate new liquidity entering the Saudi economy. This could potentially lead to a decrease in the interest rate between Saudi banks (Saibor) and may lead to a reduction in interest rates on loans.
Profit Concentration: Al-Ahli Bank and Al-Rajhi Bank accounted for 51% of the banks’ combined net profits, 48% of the loan portfolio, 45% of deposits, and 47% of net special commission income.
Credit Loss Provisions: Six banks reduced their provisions for credit losses despite the growth of their financing portfolios by 23%. Some banks reduced provisions for credit losses, potentially due to improving financial statements at the expense of maximizing creditworthiness. However, the coverage ratios of provisions for non-performing loans exceed 150%. Al-Rajhi Bank increased their credit loss provisions by 41% and Al-Ahli Bank increased theirs by 11%.
Net Special Commission Income: This is the main source of banks’ income, constituting 78% of their revenues. Al Rajhi Bank achieved the highest growth rate of 17% in 2024, while other banks combined had a growth rate of 4.8%. This is due to the bank’s success in increasing demand deposits by 27% while reducing time deposits by 20%, which helped in not increasing costs to customers. The bank also maintains loans to individuals with financing rates of up to 7%.
Impact of Interest Rates: Al Rajhi Bank benefited from reducing interest rates by 100 basis points in the last quarter, and interest rates will support the bank’s profits if they continue to decline over the next two years, because individual financing constitutes 69% of the total financing portfolio. Banks exposed to companies, whose loans are mostly at variable interest, will have income affected by lower interest rates.

In summary, while Saudi banks are experiencing high profits, there are concerns about the economic impact, including increased debt for companies and the potential need for liquidity injection from the central bank. The relationship between loan growth and deposit growth is also a point of concern.

The Original Text

Summary

This text is a compilation of news articles and opinion pieces from various Saudi Arabian publications. The main themes revolve around Saudi Arabia’s strong condemnation of Israeli statements concerning Palestine, demonstrating a unified Arab response and a shift in Saudi policy toward Israel. Another key theme is the exceptional profitability of Saudi banks in 2024, prompting discussion about its economic implications and potential future adjustments in monetary policy. Further articles cover diverse topics including mining investments with India, a decline in global food prices, the formation of a new Lebanese government, a urology conference in Riyadh, and various sports and cultural events. A recurring sub-theme is the importance of transparency and the dangers of narcissism in both organizational and individual contexts. Finally, the collection includes analyses of Saudi sports history revisions, concerns regarding driving culture, US-China trade tensions, and a debate surrounding player criticism at a prominent Saudi football club. The overall purpose seems to be to provide a snapshot of current events and opinions within Saudi Arabia, touching upon both domestic and international issues.

The Kingdom faces the Israeli statements firmly and enjoys broad Arab support

In a firm and clear position, the Kingdom responded strongly to the offensive Israeli statements, which were not just a slip of the tongue or a political vision, but a provocative attempt to change the course of the Palestinian issue, which Saudi Arabia faced with a strict response, supported by a wave of broad Arab and Islamic condemnations.

From the first moment the Israeli statements appeared, the Saudi response was clear and unambiguous, as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement in which it affirmed its absolute rejection of any attempt to redraw the map of Palestine or displace its people. The statement indicated that “this extremist occupying mentality does not understand what the Palestinian land means to its people, and does not recognize their historical and legal rights.”

The Saudi response was not limited to rejection, but included a strong condemnation of what it described as “the ethnic cleansing that the Palestinians are being subjected to in Gaza,” noting that the Israeli occupation “completely destroyed the Strip, killing and injuring more than 160,000 people, the majority of whom were women and children.” This strong language reflected a shift in the Saudi approach towards Israel, as it became clear that the Kingdom was no longer content with condemning the occupation’s violations, but was moving towards political escalation in confronting it.

Arab consensus: categorical rejection and unconditional support

Saudi Arabia was not alone in this diplomatic battle, as it received an unprecedented wave of support from Arab and Islamic countries. The positions came in succession, starting with the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, passing through Egypt, Jordan and Iraq, and reaching the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, which described the Israeli statements as “dangerous incitement and a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of states.”

The Gulf Cooperation Council, through its Secretary-General Jassim Mohammed Al-Badawi, completely rejected the Israeli statements, noting that they reflect “Israel’s disrespect for international laws,” and stressed that Saudi Arabia plays a major role in defending the Palestinian cause, and that these attempts will not succeed in dispersing the unified Arab position.

In Palestine, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry responded in support of the Kingdom, condemning the Israeli statements and describing them as “a desperate attempt to impose illegal solutions at the expense of Arab countries,” stressing that “the Palestinian people will not be victims of the occupation’s policies, and will not be displaced from their land.”

As for Egypt, it saw these statements as “a violation of all diplomatic norms, and an infringement on the rights of the Palestinian people,” stressing that tampering with Saudi sovereignty is “a red line that cannot be crossed.” For its part, Jordan stressed that the Israeli statements are “incitement, and represent a clear violation of international law,” considering that the occupation government “continues its provocative escalation that reflects an exclusionary ideology hostile to peace.”

The positions of the UAE, Kuwait, Iraq, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation were similar, as they all expressed their categorical rejection of the Israeli statements, considering them a “political maneuver aimed at disrupting a just solution to the Palestinian issue,” and renewed their commitment to support Saudi Arabia in the face of any threats to its sovereignty.

Dimensions and repercussions of the Israeli position

The Israeli statements were not just a diplomatic slip, but perhaps an attempt to provoke Arab reactions, or to redirect attention from the crimes committed in Gaza. While Israel is facing increasing international condemnation due to its military escalation in the Strip, this strange proposal came to try to create a new crisis in the region, perhaps to distract attention from the deteriorating conditions in the occupied territories.

Some analysts believe that Israel may be seeking to test the Arab position and its cohesion towards the Palestinian issue. However, the unified Arab response, especially the decisive Saudi position, sent a strong message that such attempts will not pass easily, and that the Palestinians will not be “guests” in any other country, but rather have a right to their historical land.

Saudi Arabia: A Consistent Voice in Support of Palestine

For decades, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been a major supporter of the Palestinian cause, and its position has not changed despite regional and international political challenges. This position is not new, but rather an extension of a clear Saudi approach, which is based on the fact that the only solution to the Palestinian issue must be in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions, and the two-state solution that guarantees the Palestinians the establishment of their independent state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.

The Saudi position this time was not just a political statement, but rather carried a clear message that the Kingdom will not accept any projects aimed at liquidating the Palestinian cause or displacing its people, and that it will remain at the forefront of countries defending the rights of the Palestinians.

In light of the ongoing Israeli escalation, the Saudi position came to confirm that the Palestinian issue remains at the heart of Arab priorities, and while Israel is trying to find new outlets to escape the requirements of a just peace, the unified Arab position has proven that any solutions outside the framework of international legitimacy will not succeed.

The message that came out of Riyadh, Cairo, Amman, Abu Dhabi, Baghdad, and all the Arab capitals was clear: Palestine is not a land for displacement, and the sovereignty of Arab countries is not an area for bargaining.

The Kingdom and India discuss mining investment opportunities

His Excellency the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Mr. Bandar bin Ibrahim Al-Khorayef, held a series of fruitful bilateral meetings with leaders of the most prominent Indian mining companies, focusing on discussing promising mining investment opportunities in the two countries, enhancing joint cooperation in the field of mining exploration, production and processing of critical minerals, in addition to exchanging expertise, transferring knowledge and innovation in the mining sector, in the presence of the CEO of the Local Content and Government Procurement Authority, Mr. Abdulrahman Al-Samari, and the CEO of the National Center for Industrial Development, Eng. Saleh Al-Salmi.

His Excellency discussed with “Vedanta” company, investment opportunities in the value chains of copper metal, which opens new horizons for cooperation in developing this vital metal, while he discussed with “BAHARAT Forge” company, promising investment opportunities in the iron sector.

In a meeting with Aditya Birla, a copper and aluminum company, the Minister of Industry discussed opportunities for cooperation in the field of exploration and processing of important minerals. During the meeting, the Indian company expressed its desire to establish a framework that defines areas of joint cooperation between the two sides in the sectors of natural resources and mineral wealth. The meeting also discussed mutual opportunities in aluminum manufacturing. The meeting of Minister Al-Kharif with Essar Company also witnessed a review of joint opportunities in the iron and steel sector, and developments in the company’s project in the Kingdom to produce iron plates used in construction and building. The Republic of India has a long history in the mining and minerals sector spanning more than 170 years, and unique expertise in all areas of mining. It has a rich and diverse mineral wealth, ranking second in the world in aluminum production, and fourth in iron ore production. It is considered one of the five major countries that have coal reserves, which opens up broad prospects for building a strategic partnership in the sector between it and the Kingdom, which is going through a transformational phase in the mining sector, to develop it and exploit the latent mineral wealth in its lands estimated at about $2.5 trillion, to achieve the goals of Vision 2030 for mining to become a third pillar of Saudi industry and an important tributary to diversifying sources of income in the national economy.

Global food commodity prices fall in January

Global food commodity prices fell in January, led by sharp declines in sugar and vegetable oil prices, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said on Friday.

The FAO index, which tracks the prices of the world’s most traded food commodities on a monthly basis, averaged 124.9 points in January, down from 127 points in December.

Despite the monthly decline, the index remained 6.2 percent higher than a year earlier but still 22 percent below its peak in March 2022.

Sugar prices fell 6.8 percent month-on-month and 18.5 percent year-on-year. The decline was largely due to improved global supply prospects, including favorable weather in Brazil and India, which have resumed sugar exports.

Vegetable oil prices fell 5.6 percent last month, with global palm and rapeseed oil prices falling, while soy and sunflower oil prices remained stable. Despite the January decline, the index remained up 24.9 percent year-on-year.

Meat prices also fell 1.7 percent last month.

By contrast, cereal prices rose slightly by 0.3 percent from December but remained 6.9 percent lower than in January 2024. While wheat export prices eased slightly, maize prices rose due to lower revised production and stock forecasts in the United States. Rice prices fell 4.7 percent, reflecting ample export supplies.

Dairy prices rose 2.4 percent month-on-month and 20.4 percent year-on-year, driven by a monthly rise in cheese prices, which offset declines in butter and milk powder prices.

What is the impact of loans exceeding deposits on future bank results?

Saudi banks achieve record profits.. Is it healthy for the economy?

Hussein bin Hamad Al-Raqib

Saudi banks achieved historic profits of nearly 80 billion riyals by the end of 2024. This number recorded for 10 banks listed on the Saudi financial market constitutes more than half of the profits of companies without Aramco. These numbers may be positive for banks, but they are actually negative for the Saudi economy, because in return for these gains achieved by banks, there are large costs borne by companies to service their debts and caused a decline in their profits. Not only that, but many companies were forced to postpone their expansion plans due to weak economic feasibility in light of high interest rates. Also, companies that had cash liquidity transferred it to investment in debt instruments or kept it as term deposits. The demand for bank financing was very large in 2024, as the banks’ loan portfolio increased by more than 354 billion riyals compared to 236 billion riyals in 2023. The growth in deposits did not keep pace with the growth in loans, as the gap widened by about 158 billion riyals, causing loans to exceed deposits by 105% compared to 99% in 2023. These percentages It is a comparison between loans and deposits only and does not include debt instruments issued by banks. The Saudi Central Bank has a different calculation ratio that includes long-term bank debts that are added to deposit figures and also weights deposits and loans according to their time periods, which leads to a completely different reading that places the ratio of loans to deposits within the permissible range of 90%. The latest statistical bulletin of the Central Bank showed that the ratio of loans to deposits in December 2024 was 83.24%. With our full confidence in the Central Bank’s figures and our knowledge of its keenness to apply the highest regulatory standards to maintain the financial safety of Saudi banks, we believe that banks need to inject liquidity from the Central Bank in line with monetary policy. The money supply at the end of January 2025 recorded a historic number according to Central Bank data that showed that the money supply (M3) exceeded 2,957 billion riyals. This number is an indication that there is new liquidity entering the Saudi economy, perhaps some of the government debt instrument issues in US dollars. If expectations are correct, the liquidity of banks will rise and support the decline (Saibor) is the interest rate between Saudi banks, which is usually affected by the decline in liquidity and the need for banks to borrow among themselves to cover their obligations. Saibor is the indicator on which banks base the pricing of their loans, which may push banks in the coming months to reduce interest rates on loans. Al-Ahli Bank and Al-Rajhi Bank accounted for 51% of the banks’ combined net profits, 48% of the loan portfolio, 45% of deposits, and 47% of net special commission income. These percentages give us an indication of the banks’ ability to achieve profits from banking services fees, currency exchange, and other operations, despite the increase in the provision for credit losses by 41% at Al-Rajhi Bank and 11% at Al-Ahli Bank. Six banks reduced their provisions for credit losses despite the growth of their financing portfolios by 23%. Some banks’ resorting to reducing the provision for credit losses may be due to improving the financial statements at the expense of maximizing creditworthiness, even if the coverage ratios of provisions for non-performing loans exceed 150%, but this does not justify the banks’ resorting to reducing their provisions in light of the growth of their financing portfolios. Net special commission income is the difference between what banks receive in interest on loans and what they pay for their debts, time deposits and savings, which is the main source of banks’ income, as it constitutes 78% of banks’ revenues. Therefore, monitoring the growth of this item is important for investors to know the impact of interest rates on banks. In 2024, Al Rajhi Bank achieved the highest growth rate of 17%, while the other banks combined had a growth rate of 4.8%. This is due to two reasons: First: The bank succeeded in increasing demand deposits by 27%, while reducing time deposits by 20%, which are the deposits on which the bank pays returns. This reduction contributed to not increasing the costs of returns it pays to customers. Second: The bank maintains loans to individuals with financing rates of up to 7% according to the annual financing costs (ABR). The bank benefited from reducing interest rates by 100 basis points in the last quarter, and interest rates will support the bank’s profits if they continue to decline over the next two years, because individual financing constitutes 69% of the total financing portfolio, while banks exposed to companies Most of its loans are at variable interest and its income will be affected by lower interest rates.

Lebanon: Salam announces formation of reform and rescue government

Lebanon announced the formation of a new government on Saturday, and new Prime Minister Nawaf Salam told reporters from inside the presidential palace: The government, which includes 24 ministers, will prioritize financial reforms, reconstruction, and implementing a UN resolution that is considered the cornerstone of stability on the Lebanese border with Israel.

In his speech, he said, “Now that we have announced the government, which I hope will be a government of reform and rescue… I would like to emphasize… that reform is the only path to real rescue.”

He added that the government will work to “secure security and stability in Lebanon by completing the implementation of Resolution 1701 and the ceasefire agreement.”

The announcement came after more than three weeks of talks with political parties in Lebanon, where government positions are distributed according to a quota system.

The Lebanese presidency said in a statement yesterday that President Joseph Aoun signed a decree accepting the resignation of the caretaker government headed by Najib Mikati.

On January 13, the Lebanese president tasked Nawaf Salam with forming the Lebanese government, after he won the confidence of the Lebanese parliament.

Urology Conference … A platform for exchanging expertise and advanced technologies

Riyadh – Turki bin Mansour

The Saudi Urology Association intends to hold its 36th Urology Conference in Riyadh at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Digital City, during the days of February 12-14, 2025.

Dr. Ahmed Yahya Al-Zahrani, Chairman of the Conference and the Organizing Committee, explained that this conference is a platform to enhance cooperation and exchange advanced knowledge and expertise, as it brings together leading experts in the field of urology from all over the world who are united by a common commitment to developing urology care.

It is worth noting that the conference includes scientific lectures and discussion panels on the latest developments, challenges and opportunities in the field of urology. The conference is attended by more than (25) doctors from outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and more than (100) local speakers participate, in addition to more than (150) doctors participating with scientific papers, and workshops are held on modern robotic surgeries, scientific research and other branches of the specialty.

The conference is accompanied by an exhibition that includes, for the first time in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, more than one surgical robot and modern medical devices and supplies in various branches of urology.

The Saudi Boxing Federation concludes its participation in the “Sports for All Expo” and the “Riyadh Marathon”

Yesterday, the Saudi Boxing Federation concluded its participation in the “Sports for All Expo” and the “Riyadh Marathon” events, in cooperation with the Sports for All Federation, as the events continued for four days, from February 5 to 8, 2025.

The events witnessed great turnout and enthusiasm from participants and athletes, amid an atmosphere full of passion, as thousands of people of different ages and nationalities participated in one of the most prominent sporting events that attract sports fans from inside and outside the Kingdom.

The Federation’s participation was represented in an introductory pavilion for boxing, through which comprehensive information about this sport and its importance was provided, in addition to an interactive corner entitled “Try it without friction”, which gave visitors the opportunity to try boxing and learn its basics in a fun and safe way, which contributes to raising awareness of this sport and expanding the base of its practitioners.

Foreign Minister receives Argentine Foreign Minister

His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, Minister of Foreign Affairs, received at the Ministry’s headquarters in Riyadh today, His Excellency the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Religions of the Argentine Republic, Gerardo Verthin.

During the reception, they discussed strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries, ways to develop areas of joint cooperation, in addition to discussing the most prominent developments on the regional and international arenas, and the efforts made in this regard.

The reception was attended by the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Political Affairs, Ambassador Dr. Saud Al-Sati.

Gibbous conjunction with Mars today

The sky of the Kingdom and the Arab world will witness the conjunction of the waxing gibbous moon with the planet Mars this evening. It can be seen with the naked eye, as Mars appears as a red dot of light next to the moon. It can be seen more clearly using binoculars or a small telescope, but it is not necessary to enjoy the beauty of this event.

The head of the Jeddah Astronomical Society, Eng. Majed Abu Zahra, said: “Although the moon and Mars are physically far apart, they appear close to each other from our perspective, making it a beautiful sight. The moon is 383,000 kilometers away from us, while Mars is 109 million kilometers away, or about 280 times,” noting that Mars is known as the red planet, one of the brightest objects in the night sky due to the red color resulting from the iron oxide on its surface. During this conjunction, Mars and the moon will be separated by only 0.5 degrees.

Abu Zahra considered this conjunction as part of the moon’s monthly journey across the sky, and such conjunctions are exciting for observers, as the moon moves quickly through its orbit, while Mars takes longer to cross the sky. He added that the conjunctions highlight the dynamic nature of the solar system, as the moon revolves around the Earth and Mars revolves around the sun.

The Sultanate of Oman expresses its rejection of Israeli statements against the Kingdom

The Sultanate of Oman expressed its full solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and its rejection of the statements of the Israeli Prime Minister against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its territorial integrity.

In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it affirmed its firm and supportive position for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on all its sovereign lands in Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital and on the 1967 borders in accordance with international resolutions and the principles of international law and in a manner that ensures the achievement of permanent stability in the region.

About 100 Al-Shabaab militants killed in central Somalia

About 100 Al-Shabaab militants were killed in Hiraan region in central Somalia, after clashes that the army fought against the movement’s militants in recent days.

Somali Deputy Minister of Information Abdirahman Yusuf Al-Adala said in a press conference in the capital Mogadishu yesterday that the Somali army and clan militias inflicted heavy losses on Al-Shabaab, killing about 100 militants, including leaders, pointing to the liberation of towns and villages located on the banks of the Shabelle River in Hiraan region in central Somalia.

Abdulrahman Yusuf pointed out that the Somali government defeated the movement in the media after blocking its platforms and media outlets.

Saudi Stock Market Closes Higher at 12469 Points

The Saudi Stock Market Main Index closed today higher by 35.56 points to close at 12469.14 points, with trades worth 4.7 billion riyals.

The volume of traded shares – according to the Saudi Press Agency’s daily economic bulletin for the Saudi Stock Market – amounted to 227 million shares, in which the shares of 94 companies recorded an increase in their value, while the shares of 134 companies closed in decline.

The shares of Burgerizer, Raoum, Rasen, Nice One, and Al-Babtain companies were the highest risers, while the shares of Leva, Nama Chemicals, Investment REIT, Solutions, and Sinomi Centers companies were the lowest in the transactions, as the percentages of increase and decrease ranged between 5.62% and 3.31%.

While the shares of Al Baha, Anaam Holding, Shams, Americana, and Baazeem were the most active in terms of quantity, the shares of Nice One, Al Rajhi, Maaden, Al Ahli, and Saudi Aramco were the most active in terms of value. The Saudi Parallel Stock Index (Nomu) closed today up 28.38 points to close at 31414.65 points, with trades worth 45 million riyals, and the volume of traded shares exceeded 6 million shares.

Documenting history or inventing it?!

Nasser Al-Jedaie

After more than 67 years of the first King’s Cup in Saudi sports, the Al-Wehdawi fan discovered that his team did not win the King’s Cup, but rather won the league that his fathers and grandfathers did not mention to him and were not happy about, and the successive Al-Wehdawi generations did not boast about it; the same happened to the Al-Ahly fan who went to sleep with (3 leagues) and woke up at dawn to find that they had become 9 league championships; as for the Ittihad fan, he was happy overnight with 5 league championships added to his team, so that the total league championships achieved by Al-Ittihad became 13 leagues instead of 8, and the Al-Hilal fan discovered that his team is (the fortress of cups) and his team is not only the most successful in achieving championships in general, as it was and still is, and not only the most successful in achieving league championships as it was and still is; but it is also the most successful in achieving King’s Cup championships!.

Imagine that there are teams that have a (league championship) consisting of two teams and one match, with no promotion or relegation, and you will be counted as a number in the list of Saudi league championships alongside the Premier League championships that were officially launched, as all wise people and history trustees know, in 1976 AD, and Al-Hilal won its first edition!

Thus, the Championship Documentation Team submitted its recommendations; and decided after 7 decades to invent history rather than document it as it is and as the great historians of the Saudi sports movement recorded it, and to change the name of the King’s Cup championships that were held before the official launch of the Saudi League in 1976 AD to league championships, so that this team, which included 11 members, including 6 Ittihad fans, turned into a team of inventions and innovations instead of its real mission, which is to document the championships as they are and as stated in the official documents and decisions issued by the sports authorities that succeeded in supervising the Saudi football championships, starting with the Ministry of Interior in the fifties of the last century, and ending with the Ministry of Sports in our current era!

This inventive team was right when it ignored the demands of some evaluators to count the regional qualifiers as league championships; but it surprised everyone with this new invention that made it no less fanatical, distorting and tampering with sports history than those!

The recommendations that the team raised, blessed by the foreign (fingerprinters), are tampering in the true sense of the word with the history of our sports championships, and approving it by the current Football Association would be an unforgivable mistake, and silence about it is either weakness, ignorance, fanaticism, or indifference; and every silent person should choose for himself from these or those what he wants!

The King’s Cup Championship was launched in 1957 and continued until 1990, then returned in 2008. These championships were, are, and will remain (King’s Cup) championships, whether they were played in a league system at the beginning or mostly in a knockout format. As for the Saudi Premier League Championship, it was launched in 1976, and will remain a league championship, whether it was played in a league system and decided by points, or even when it was decided in the (Golden Square) period in a semi-final and final and in a knockout format. These are axioms that should not be tampered with or touched, and do not accept diligence or invention, especially when it comes from a documentation team that was formed by nomination and voting, not by competence, ability, and CV!

Hunting

Driving Culture

Abdulrahman Al-Sultan

From driving at crazy speeds to disregarding pedestrians and cyclists, and from the lack of traffic discipline to the continued use of mobile phones while driving, some people reveal their continued disregard for traffic regulations, and their lack of awareness of the danger of this to them and to us!

It is not new to say that there are gaps in our driving culture, and that many people do not realize the danger of what they do not adhere to! There may be social and economic reasons for this, whether from the easy availability of cars, especially sports cars, and the habit of driving at an early age, or the failure of young drivers to adhere to the regulations, because they believe that they are restrictive for them, such as fastening the seat belt, or overtaking cars and not giving priority.

It is important to reactivate what we have succeeded in previously, in terms of enhancing traffic culture and raising community awareness, such as the Gulf TV program for traffic awareness “Stop”, which was broadcast on Gulf TV stations forty years ago, provided that it is compatible with the social and technical changes of the present era, while enhancing the role of influencers in spreading the culture of responsible driving, not to mention intensifying traffic safety information, importance and applications in school curricula.

However, the most important thing is the need to tighten the regulations and implement them strictly, with high fines imposed on serious violations, such as running a red light and dangerous overtaking. This includes intensifying the monitoring of smart cameras on the most important axes and roads. Adopting the concept of recording violation points for those who hold a driver’s license may help, as activating the points that lead to the withdrawal of the license when violations are repeated will prevent many from violating, and lead them towards strict commitment, and intensifying monitoring using smart cameras and mobile patrols.

The wonderful thing is that the future holds tremendous development in technology applications to improve safety, such as the widespread use of vehicles with advanced safety systems such as automatic brakes and smart warnings, and the development of applications that help drivers improve their behavior, such as applications that limit the use of the phone while driving, and the exploitation of artificial intelligence applications, including the development of smart systems for violations that link the vehicle to the mobile phone.

Although the greatest responsibility lies with us, the drivers ourselves, improving the driving culture requires a joint effort between the regulatory authorities, community members, and relevant parties, and it is not a luxury, but rather necessary to reduce accidents and protect lives.

Article

Tariff Tensions

Fahd bin Saad Al-Qathami

Last week was indeed full of reactions between the United States and some countries, regarding US President Donald Trump’s decisions to impose new customs duties that caused the countries concerned to take countermeasures, as it is clear that Trump sees these duties as a means through which he can achieve his goal of reducing the trade deficit and regaining economic dominance.

China did not need much time to respond, as it imposed counter-tariffs, and the European Union did not stand by as a spectator, as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed that Europe would not hesitate to defend its economic interests, stressing that imposing any arbitrary duties would be met with a firm response.

Britain, despite its close alliance with Washington, is trying to avoid slipping into that, and this was clearly evident in the statements issued by London that reflected its desire to maintain trade relations with the United States without entering into an open conflict. It seems that the British government realizes that any escalation could lead to disruption in its economy, which is already suffering from post-Brexit challenges.

The US moves are not limited to China and Europe only, as even Canada and Mexico found themselves under unprecedented pressure, while Washington succeeded in pushing the governments of the two countries to make concessions in exchange for temporarily suspending customs duties, which reflects the maximum pressure strategy adopted by Trump. However, these concessions may be just a short-term calm before things escalate again.

But the question is, do these policies achieve what Trump aspires to? The answer, from my point of view, is not that simple. It is true that customs duties may create opportunities for a certain local industry, but at the same time they may raise prices for the American consumer and increase business costs, which may ultimately lead to higher inflation and slower economic growth. In addition, the affected countries will not stand idly by, and will look for alternatives to American goods, which may weaken the competitiveness of American exports in the long term.

What concerns us from this is to monitor global markets carefully, as these tensions may contribute to reshaping trade relations between countries, which opens the way for new opportunities and challenges at the same time, which requires flexibility in adapting to global economic changes.

Their difference is required. Badr bin Saud

Learning difficulties, including “dyslexia”, are not considered a mental disability, and the IQ of those with them in the (IQ) tests is not less than 100 degrees, and mental disability is in those whose scores fall below 70 degrees, but as a result of their weak memory, they do not fit into educational systems based on indoctrination and memorization, which is a method used in many Arab countries, including the Kingdom..

In a Saudi study published by King Saud University in 2021, Dr. Ibrahim Abu Nayan stated that the percentage of those suffering from learning difficulties in the Kingdom reaches about 7%, and in 2018, the King Salman Center for Disability Research revealed the presence of 200,000 children suffering from these difficulties, in more than 28,000 schools, and Saudi specialists confirm that their percentage currently reaches 46% of the total disabilities in Saudi Arabia, and I did not understand the absence of numbers from the Saudi Statistics Authority on the subject, despite its importance, but it is not the first time, as it has previously recorded its absence in similar cases.

The number of students with this problem, aged between three and 21 years, is estimated, based on data from the American Center for Learning Statistics for the years 2019 and 2020, at about seven million and 300 thousand students, in all American states, and in Australia and France, 10% suffer from dyslexia specifically, according to figures from 2018 and 2019, while in Canada, they are estimated at 3.5% of public education students, and 11% of university students, in 2015 and 2016, and the suffering is global in the opinion of specialists, as there is one in five children who suffer from dyslexia, or about a billion people around the world, which is a large number that requires special treatment, and for your information, all the statistics related to them only represent students enrolled in programs to treat learning difficulties, meaning that those outside this circle do not enter it. Dyslexia is not new, and it was taken from two Greek words, the first (dis) meaning difficulty, and the second (lexia) meaning the word read, and the first to use this term was the French neuroscientist Rudolf Berlin in 1872, and a study conducted by the University of Cambridge in Britain in 2022 showed that people with dyslexia have advanced skills in discovery, invention and creativity, and that they are comprehensive in their vision of things, and their thinking is futuristic, and I believe in the validity of this result, and examples include Leonardo da Vinci, who presented a schematic drawing of a helicopter, four hundred years before the invention of the airplane, or in the fifteenth century AD, although he has severe difficulties in reading and writing, and writes a sentence in reverse, and with him Pablo Picasso, the famous cubist artist and painter, and his difficulty in understanding the number seven, because it resembles his uncle’s nose upside down, and even the author and writer Agatha Christie, the author of detective novels, could not write and read in her childhood, in addition to the chef The dazzling British Jamie Oliver, whose learning difficulties did not prevent him from completing more than thirty cookbooks, at the age of forty-eight.

Dyslexia is not a single form, and its forms include dyspraxia or difficulty coordinating movements, and dyscalculia or difficulty performing mathematical operations from memory. In Western countries, public schools do not provide free diagnostic services, the reason being its cost, estimated at $700, although it is important and necessary in determining the student’s path in life, the most appropriate way to deal with him, and the educational assistance he needs, especially since 40% of these people have difficulty making friends, even within their family circles.

Learning difficulties, including dyslexia, are not considered mental disabilities, and the IQ of those with them in IQ tests is not less than 100, and mental disabilities are those whose scores fall below 70, but as a result of their weak memory, they do not fit into educational systems based on indoctrination and memorization, which is a method used in many Arab countries, including the Kingdom. There are certainly attempts to change this reality at the local level, but it may take time, and therefore it is unlikely to soon obtain innovators of the previous types, because the educational system stands against them, or sometimes deprives them of the opportunity to learn under the pretext that they are lazy, stubborn or negligent, and bullies them in the school environment, while in reality they think outside the box, and understand more than memorizers, whose information expiration date is linked to specific purposes such as tests, and the idea of reducing the mind to memory needs to be reviewed, because it does not provide pioneers and innovators, but rather imitators. There is no dispute that what a healthy person accomplishes in two minutes may take someone with a learning disability 30 minutes, but the quality of the output in the second case is not comparable to the first, especially in the secondary and university stages. In America, there are standardized measures for dealing with people with learning disabilities, which work to test their academic, social and emotional performance, their linguistic and cognitive abilities, and their motor functions, regardless of who bears the cost. In contrast, the Saudi Ministry of Education only measures their academic performance based on the curriculum alone, and a consensus formula must be approved to fix what is happening, either by establishing educational institutions for people with learning disabilities, or by allocating classes and sections for them in schools and universities, in a way that prevents them from being excluded from the educational process entirely, or forcing them to travel to neighboring countries that provide learning opportunities that respect their difficulties.

Transparency and Narcissism

Yousef Al-Qablan

Transparency is one of the values that organizations adhere to as part of their organizational culture. It is working in an environment that is clear in terms of culture, goals, procedures and systems. It is the principle that contributes to motivation and objective evaluation. The absence of transparency opens the door to rumors.

Transparency is also important for individuals as it is important for organizations. It is a principle that helps in evaluation and development.

The organization benefits from transparency in self-evaluation and identifying strengths and aspects that need development. However, if it relies on the past and the successes and achievements achieved in it and drawing a positive mental image in society without changing to adapt to changing circumstances, this is a situation that can be called organizational narcissism. This narcissism is present in the individual when he stands in front of the mirror all the time and flatters himself.

Narcissism does not welcome evaluation from the outside. The narcissistic organization feeds on success from the past and therefore does not take a step towards the future. Individual narcissism is the lukewarm relationship between the individual and self-evaluation. The narcissist demands transparency and does not apply it to himself.

The common factor between organizational narcissism and individual narcissism is the failure to apply the principle of transparency, in other words, the failure to accept evaluation from outside and to be satisfied with self-evaluation or self-transparency, which in some organizations and individuals reaches the level of narcissism, which means stopping at the ruins of previous achievements and not welcoming anything new or evaluation.

Transparency in the work environment means trust and applying the principle of participation and welcoming comments, suggestions and objective criticism. If narcissism is present, participation, communication, interaction and harmony in the work environment are absent, and the result is the absence of change towards development. The narcissistic individual will turn the organization into a narcissistic organization.

Transparency is of great importance in the world of education. Educational narcissism means the absence of transparency. Then the children or students form that the father or teacher is a human case without mistakes.

Contexts

The Nineteenth Century Railroad

Dr. Ziad bin Abdulaziz Al-Sheikh

In the paleness of dawn, you hear the rhythm of steam engines striking the rugged terrain where the iron rails meandered, changing their course and the course of history forever. The spirit of bold innovation that was behind the hustle and bustle of early railroads, today pulsates in the quiet hum of modern data centers. Today’s massive AI investments reflect the ambition of eternal transformation as pioneers like their predecessors build new paths paved with electronic circuits into the future. Just as railroads redefined communication and commerce in the nineteenth century, AI today is poised to reshape the socioeconomic landscape.

The construction of railroads in the United States was one of the most important infrastructure projects in its history. Private enterprise was crucial to building and operating railroad networks, and government involvement was essential in providing financial support, land grants, and regulatory oversight. Over time, the relationship between railroads and government evolved, from stimulating their expansion to regulating their monopolistic tendencies and later trying to revive them in the face of competition from other modes of transportation.

In the early 19th century, transportation in the United States relied on canals, which, while effective in some areas, were slow and expensive. Inspired by the British experience, American entrepreneurs and policymakers began to consider the potential of railroads to connect the country’s vast regions. The first American railroad, the Granite Railroad, was built in Massachusetts in 1826, followed a year later by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, chartered in 1827, which became the first combined railroad to carry passengers and freight. State governments played an important role during this period, granting charters and in some cases directly funding railroad projects. However, many state-funded projects failed due to poor management, leading to a shift toward private investment. The railroad network expanded rapidly in the 1850s, especially in the North and Midwest. The real breakthrough came when Abraham Lincoln signed the Pacific Railroad Act of 1862, a project that would connect the United States from coast to coast. The law provided federal bonds and large land grants to private railroads, primarily the Federal Pacific Railroad, building west from Nebraska, and the Central Pacific Railroad, building east from California. For each mile of track, the railroads received thousands of acres of federal land that they could sell to settlers and businesses to finance construction. Donald Trump’s announcement of the Stargate project seems like a historic moment reminiscent of President Lincoln’s decision in the Pacific Railroad Act. With Biden’s decision to reverse the export restrictions on artificial intelligence technologies and launch Stargate, the future of government support looks bright, albeit fraught with reservations that still cast doubt on the feasibility of the project.

Questions of place and future architecture.. Riyadh as an example

Dr. Mishari Al-Naeem

If we agree that there is what we can call “open-ended local urbanism” presented by some projects that “surpassed the box” and presented new concepts of place, then we can say that Riyadh can present a controversial urban experience and perhaps it will drag behind it Saudi cities and cities of neighboring countries..

Is the correlation between the creation of independent places and the development of new architectural ideas a necessity for the city of Riyadh? The city was in the process of creating its modern identity, and the places independent of the general urban fabric represented special experiences for the maturation of new architectural ideas.

In our opinion, they were unique experiences, especially those that developed from the seventies until the end of the last century, and the correlation represented special cases in which urbanism was linked to architecture at the level of the modern city. One of the phenomena that we can link to the mechanism of forming the urban mental image in the city of Riyadh is that the general urban fabric of the city was unable to generate architectural trends that are reliable except in independent places such as the embassy district and some other places, and the architectural discourse was often linked to the other independent place that always formed the architectural and urban laboratory in which the architectural ideas that distinguished Riyadh were matured. This result directs a direct question to the local architectural activity and to the local architectural practice that seems to have been unable to form intellectual transformations independent of the governmental and semi-governmental architectural activity, and to a lesser extent some projects presented by the private sector. Did this correlation between architecture and “possible” urbanism continue in the current century, or did the city of Riyadh begin to develop parallel urban and architectural trends? Can we say that the beginnings of open-ended local architecture were formed through spatial experiences similar to what happened in Riyadh in Al-Murabba, Al-Malaz, the Diplomatic Quarter, the Government Palace area, and the King Abdulaziz Historical Center? This question constitutes an important detail for understanding the relationship between architecture, as an intellectual discourse, and new urbanism in the first quarter of the third millennium in the city of Riyadh. The question about the connection of any architectural discourse that develops in the city of Riyadh with governmental architectural experiences and not private projects remains valid and raises controversy about the future of architectural practice in Saudi Arabia and the extent of its ability to provide local experiences outside governmental architectural experiences. It can be said that the relationship between place and open-ended local architecture is not clear enough in Riyadh, the twenty-first century. It seems that the large projects that presented an architecture that was harmonious with each other and at the same time worked to confirm a specific intellectual trend are no longer present in the new architectural experiments, especially with the dominance of star architecture that made individual iconic buildings an important goal. It is very difficult to see the King Abdullah Center for Petroleum Studies within an urban complex linked to it. Even the metro station in the King Abdullah Financial District seems independent and separate from the urban mass of the center. The station is located on the edge of the complex and is not linked to it architecturally but spatially. However, we cannot say that a divorce has occurred between architecture and place. However, we must point out here that star architecture does not tend to be linked to the urban fabric. It is a “sculptural, showy” architecture. When it is isolated and independent from its surroundings, it becomes at its best. The question is to what extent does this separation between star architecture and the urban environment affect the discourse of open-ended localism? To what extent can this intellectual discourse develop within the general urban fabric of the city and become a “way of thinking” and not just a “way of formation”? Answering these two questions requires continuing to diagnose the state of architecture and urbanism in the city of Riyadh in recent years, and perhaps raising some questions about the outcomes of the architectural and urban initiatives launched by the state in recent years. Because this discourse is in the process of formation and may mature in the coming years, some hypothetical theoretical proposals can be put forward that monitor the urban and architectural movement in the city of Riyadh with great care and caution at the same time. We must also point out that the separation of the architecture of stars from its urban surroundings is an expression of this architecture’s desire to appear as a work of art that is supposed to be seen at a 360-degree angle. This architecture, in fact, creates its own urban surroundings that make those who see it move around it. It needs an open space that allows movement around it because its visual composition changes with movement, and its attractiveness depends on the changing or moving form with the movement of people around it. If we know that some of Riyadh’s most contemporary architecture belongs to this architecture that depends on the movement of people around it, this will increase our study of the characteristics of the open-ended locality that worked to employ all these features that characterize the architecture of stars to create an architecture with initially free forms. But with its freedom, it is an architecture with forms that change with the movement around it, and some of it has pentagonal facades, meaning that its upper surfaces are part of the moving visual system of this architecture. This means that there is an increasing trend to separate architecture from the spatial urban fabric so that the place becomes an arena for viewing rather than interaction. We can also draw attention to the fact that the open-ended local architecture does not necessarily consist of independent iconic buildings. There are examples, such as the King Abdullah Financial Center and “Via Riyadh” that can be understood as open-ended “potential foci” that provide new interpretations of the local place that differ from the traditional urban thinking system. The system of ideas that the open-ended local places refer to enhances the spatial environment, at the level of spatial organization and at the level of visual formation. This result is still early, but it can be relied upon to understand and analyze the architecture and urban development of Riyadh in the last two decades. If we agree that there is a

Opinion

Who protects Al Hilal from this bickering..?!

Khaled Al Batli

In the midst of the media bickering, and amidst the noise of conflicting voices, Al Hilal stands tall as we have known it, not shaken by storms or affected by stumbling blocks. However, we need a wise man to come out and stop all this fighting, as Al Hilal’s culture and environment are too noble and greater to be swept away by the vortex of controversy that never helps or enriches..!

We are with Al Hilal, whether it is unjust or wronged.. and with its players, whether they are creative or negligent..!

Al Hilal has never been just a team, but a large entity, whose glories are built by the solidarity of everyone, and their belief that the blue shirt is above all considerations.

What happened to player Ali Al Bulayhi in more than one match is unfortunate, and does not resemble the culture of Al Hilal fans.

We may criticize inside the Blue House, reproach, and demand more, but when we are facing competitors, we are one hand, we do not allow anyone to break one of our pillars, and we do not be a pressure tool on our players at the moments when they need support more than ever.

We are now in an important time, and we do not need anything to spoil our strength on the field, as the real battle is decided on the field, not in the media corridors or through platforms.

Jesus must put an end to his statements, as Al Hilal does not need justification or incitement, but rather needs work that befits the size of its ambitions. The management is required to be more firm in controlling the Al Hilal scene, as nothing should disturb the focus at this critical stage. And Ali Al-Bulaihi, whom we have known as brave and whose famous focus forgives him for his past and future shortcomings in his game, must come out to the fans and restore confidence between him and them, as he is from them and for them, and they are happier and more accomplished with him..

As for the Al-Hilal media, it must support the team, not a burden on it. Support does not come through useless pressure, but by rallying around the team, protecting it, and standing behind it so that it always remains at the top, where it belongs..

Al-Hilal is not defeated except when its sons are divided.. So be of one heart, and let the team move towards glory as we are used to from it!

By Amjad Izhar
Contact: amjad.izhar@gmail.com
https://amjadizhar.blog

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Saudi Arabia: News, Analysis, and Commentary 09-Feb-2025

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