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January 2, 2026 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Saudi Arabia ranked second globally in the World Bank Group’s GovTech Maturity Index (GTMI) 2025 and placed first, for the third consecutive time, in the 2024 Government Electronic and Mobile Services (GEMS) Maturity Index issued by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), according to a statement on the Kingdom’s digital government performance. Digital government services continued advancing in

SPA MADINAH, Dec. 29 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Princess Sarah bint Bandar bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Executive Director of the International Dates Council, toured several date factories in Madinah, reviewing operations and production lines as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the Kingdom’s dates sector. During the tour, Princess Sarah reviewed production stages, technologies used for sorting and packaging, quality control standards, and product development initiatives al

RIYADH, Dec. 29 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – The National Cybersecurity Authority has launched the “Tahqaq” service, aimed at enabling members of the public to safely and proactively verify the reliability of circulated links before accessing them. The authority said the initiative forms part of its strategic programs to empower individuals to strengthen cybersecurity awareness and protection. According to the authority, the “Tahqaq” service allows users to scan suspicious

RIYADH, Dec. 28 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – The Board of Grievances has opened registration for its inaugural Judicial Intelligence Hackathon, an initiative aimed at developing innovative solutions to enhance judicial efficiency, streamline workflows and improve judicial outcomes through modern technology. Registration will run from December 28, 2025, to January 9, 2026. The hackathon is open to specialists, experts and university students, who are required to participate

SPA RIYADH, December 25 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Saudi Arabia’s non-oil exports, including re-exports, rose by 32.3% in October 2025 compared with the same month a year earlier, official data showed. Figures released by the General Authority for Statistics showed that national non-oil exports increased by 2.4%, while total merchandise exports grew by 11.8% over the same period. The data also indicated that the Kingdom’s trade balance surplus expanded by 47.4% in October

SPA DAMMAM, December 23 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah Alswaha met on Monday with investors and business leaders in the Eastern Region to discuss expanding private sector partnerships and supporting growth in technology investments. The meeting focused on opportunities offered by the region in the digital economy and artificial intelligence, with discussions covering advanced computing, the internet

Riyadh, December 22, 2025 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) has called on business establishments subject to Value-Added Tax (VAT) with annual revenues from goods and services exceeding SAR 40 million to submit their tax returns for November no later than December 31, 2025. ZATCA urged taxpayers to file promptly through its website or via its mobile application, noting that late filing triggers penalties ranging from a minimum of 5% t

SPA RIYADH, December 21, 2025 (SABN) – Saudi Coffee Company, a subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund, has launched the third edition of the Saudi Sip of Excellence (Gems of Saudi) in cooperation with the Alliance for Coffee Excellence (ACE), the company said. The competition aims to support Saudi coffee farmers, raise crop quality and strengthen the Kingdom’s standing in specialty coffee production, the company said. Saudi Coffee Company said the initiative builds on two e

A general view of Kuwait City buildings, Kuwait, December 23, 2024. REUTERS /Mohamed Abd El Ghany KUWAIT CITY, December 19, 2025 (SABN) – Kuwait will sign an agreement next week with China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) for work on the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Port project, Public Works Minister Noura Al-Mashaan said on Thursday, adding that the prime minister will attend the ceremony with the Chinese side. The contract, cleared on Dec. 1 by Kuwait’s Central Agency for P

The Via Montenapoleone tony shopping thoroughfare. Courtesy of Montenapoleone District Milan, December 18 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton will stage the seventh edition of LVMH Watch Week in Milan from January 19 to 21, according to Women’s Wear Daily. Nine brands will take part in the event: Bulgari Horlogerie, Daniel Roth, Gérald Genta, Hublot, clockmaker L’Épée 1839, Louis Vuitton, TAG Heuer, Tiffany & Co. and Zenith. Jean-Christophe Babin,

A World Trade Organization (WTO) logo is pictured on their headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, June 3, 2016. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse GENEVA, December 18 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Saudi Arabia has proposed to host a major ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2028, according to a WTO document. The proposal was included on the agenda of a WTO meeting held in Geneva on December 16–17. Twenty-two countries welcomed the request, although a final decisi

ABU DHABI, December 18 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – The United Arab Emirates’ tourism sector recorded strong growth in 2025, with the industry contributing AED 257.3 billion to gross domestic product, equivalent to 13% of the national economy, according to official data. Hotel establishments received 23.27 million guests in the first nine months of the year, an increase of 4.9% compared with the same period in 2024, while total hotel nights exceeded 79.3 million. Hotel reve

RIYADH, December 18 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Saudi Arabia ranked second worldwide in the Digital Regulatory Maturity Index 2025, according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), placing behind Germany among 193 countries and remaining in the highest “Leading” category of the global assessment. The ranking was announced in a press release issued by the Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST). CST Acting Governor Eng. Haitham bin Abdulrahman Alo

SPA RIYADH, December 17 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – The General Authority for Competition (GAC) announced that Saudi Arabia will host, in partnership with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the Regional Competition Capacity-Building Programme (RCCBP) for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. According to a GAC statement, the programme is being launched under the framework of a memorandum of understanding between Saudi Arabia and th

SPA RIYADH, December 15 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Minister of Transport and Logistic Services Saleh Al-Jasser inaugurated the seventh edition of the Supply Chain and Logistics Conference in Riyadh, underscoring the importance of reshaping supply chains through new strategic partnerships amid fundamental transformations in the sector. The event was attended by several ministers, senior officials, industry leaders, and chief executives from the supply chain and logistics s

RIYADH, December 15 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Saudi Arabia’s annual inflation rate, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), reached 1.9% in November 2025 compared to the same month a year earlier, while prices remained relatively stable on a monthly basis, according to data released by the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT). On a month-on-month basis, the CPI rose by 0.1% compared to October 2025. The Wholesale Price Index (WPI) recorded an annual increase of

SPA RIYADH, December 15 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) – Deputy Assistant Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Competitiveness and Advanced Manufacturing Dr. Ahmed Al-Zawawi held a bilateral meeting with Kyriakos Triantafyllidis, Head of Growth and Strategy at the Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and Supply Chains at the World Economic Forum. The two sides discussed areas of cooperation to support the Kingdom’s industrial transformation on the sidelines of the Indust

SPA Jeddah, December 15 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — King Abdulaziz International Airport recorded a historic milestone in 2025, handling 50 million passengers over the year, the highest number ever registered by a Saudi airport since the launch of civil aviation in the Kingdom. The passenger figure places the Jeddah airport among the world’s major international airports by traffic volume and reflects its growing role as a regional hub and a key national gateway connecting

The Prada Made in India x Inspired by Kolhapuri chappals. Courtesy of Prada Milan, December 12 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News) — Prada Group has announced the global launch of a new collection developed in collaboration with LIDCOM and LIDKAR, as part of an initiative focused on cultural exchange and skills development within the fashion industry. The project was developed through cooperation between the Italian luxury group and Indian partners, with an emphasis on craftsmanship

WAM Riyadh, December 11, 2025 (Saudi Arabia Breaking News)  – Her Royal Highness Princess Lamia bint Majed Al Saud emphasized the importance of media, long-term engagement and structured partnerships in philanthropic work during a session titled “The End of Media’s Philanthropic Whiplash”  at the BRIDGE Summit 2025. Princess Lamia, Secretary-General and Board Member of Alwaleed Philanthropies and a Board Member of BRIDGE Alliance, said philanthropy is deeply rooted in the reg