Saudi Arabia’s Directorate of Public Security is to hire female soldiers for the first time. The directorate has opened the door to accept women in military posts for the rank of ‘soldier’ in Riyadh, Makkah, Madinah, Qassim and Asir, according…
Tag: Saudi
Saudis attend country’s first jazz festival
Men and women swayed to music at Saudi Arabia’s first-ever jazz festival on Friday, the second of a three-day outdoor event that showcases the Kingdom’s recent efforts of shedding its conservative image. Locals and foreigners flocked to the festival to…
Investcorp to fit out some Saudi gyms for women
Bahrain-based private equity firm Investcorp is turning some of the gyms it part owns in Saudi Arabia into women-only facilities in response to surging demand, its co-chief executive said. The move comes as the deeply conservative kingdom embarks on a…
Saudi Arabia raises fuel prices
Saudi Arabia raised local gasoline prices, state news agency SPA reported. The initiative, aimed at more efficient energy use, coincides with an ambitious reform plan to boost sources of revenue and wean the world’s top crude exporter away from oil.…
Two Saudi princes released from detention
Two sons of Saudi Arabia’s late King Abdullah have been released from detention at Riyadh’s Ritz-Carlton hotel, days after nearly two dozen other detainees in the kingdom’s two-month-old anti-corruption campaign were also freed. Saudi Arabia’s attorney general approved the release…
Saudi govt to increase electricity, fuel prices
The Saudi government has announced plans to increase prices of electricity, car and aviation fuel and diesel in the first quarter of next year. The announcement coincides with the first payments under a citizen’s account programme announced in December last…
Saudi Prince Miteb bin Abdullah released
Saudi Prince Miteb bin Abdullah has been released more than three weeks after he was detained on allegations of corruption, officials say. Prince Miteb, once seen as a contender to the throne, was freed after agreeing an “acceptable settlement” with…
Saudi govt wants up to 70pc of some individuals’ wealth for their release
Saudi officials are reportedly offering businessmen and royal family members detained under a corruption investigation freedom in exchange for their assets. The Financial Times cited sources as confirming the government is demanding up to 70 per cent of some individuals’…
Saudi king has no plans to abdicate
Saudi monarch King Salman has no plans to abdicate in favour of his son, Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, according to reports. “There is no possibility whatsoever that the king will abdicate,’’ the official said, citing the example of King…