RIYADH: Finance Minister Ibrahim Al-Assaf said Sunday the Kingdom will continue to pump money into the economy even as it rebounds from last year’s stagnation. The minister was delivering the keynote address at the Global Competitiveness Forum here. “At one point, there will be a curbing of spending, but in my view 2010 is a year that needs continuous stimulus to the economy,” said Al-Assaf, on the second day of the forum. “Stimulus packages shouldn’t be withdrawn prematurely nor should they be extended more than required so as not to produce inflationary pressures.” Saudi Arabia expects growth of over 4 percent in 2010, said the minister. The country’s economy expanded by 0.15 percent in 2009.
Saudi Arabia and China called on Israel on Wednesday to comply with UN resolutions and create a conductive atmosphere to restart peace talks.
Saudi Arabia and Germany called on Israel to break the current stalement with the Palestinians, to cease settlement activity in occupied lands and to accept East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state.
Riyadh: Saudi Arabia is set to receive its first women-only spa. The local five-star Al-Faisaliah Hotel has received preliminary approval from regulatory authorities for its “Sence Spa”, which will hopefully open in line with the hotel’s 10th anniversary in May, when a new wing of 106 room will also be unveiled.
KUWAIT/RIYADH: GCC leaders attending an annual summit here have opposed any military action by Western countries against Iran over its nuclear program, Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammad Al-Sabah said on Tuesday. “We do not accept any military action against Iran,” he told reporters. As the Gulf leaders ended the two-day talks, a GCC monetary union pact took effect on Tuesday, a major achievement of the summit that would bring the Gulf Cooperation Council states closer toward launching a single GCC currency. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah led the Saudi delegation to the summit.
Riyadh: Custodian to the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullag is to lead the Kingdom’s delegation to the summit of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which is scheduled to start in Kuwait today.
RIYADH: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah received Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, at the royal terminal of King Khaled International Airport here Friday night amid flag-waving and fanfare. Prince Sultan, who came back to the Kingdom after fully recovering from a prolonged illness, was met at the airport by Prince Naif, second deputy premier and minister of interior, princes and a large number of officials. “A huge number of royal family members and almost all key government officials were present at (the royal terminal),” said Abdulrahman Al-Hazza, deputy minister at the Ministry of Culture and Information.
RIYADH: Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior Prince Naif said on Thursday the return of Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, to Riyadh after full recovery from a prolonged illness would be the happiest moment for the Kingdom and its people. The crown prince is due to arrive in Riyadh today. Prince Sultan was convalescing in the Moroccan city of Agadir after undergoing surgery at a New York hospital in February. Despite his illness, the crown prince was keeping himself abreast with the news and developments in the Kingdom, while closely following up on the affairs of the homeland, Prince Naif said.
A $60 billion railway project to connect Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE and eventually Oman will be on the agenda of the summit of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) heads of state.
RIYADH, 27 November 2007 — New cases of bird flu virus have been found at a poultry farm in Al-Kharj, 150 km south of Riyadh, the Agriculture Ministry announced yesterday. While the Ministry of Agriculture was announcing the news of the detection of this deadly virus, another attempt to smuggle two truckloads of live birds into the capital city was foiled by the municipal officials yesterday.