MOSCOW: King Salman’s historic and unprecedented visit to Russia, which concluded on Saturday, has paved the way for new solutions to regional issues, analysts told Arab News.
“It is good that Russia and Saudi Arabia have finally met,” said Igor Delanoe, deputy director of the Moscow think tank Observo. “It is also good that the Saudis understand that Russia is not part of the problem in the Middle East, but rather part of the solution.”
If military cooperation continued as both countries wished, the results would be positive, he said. “This visit has proved that Russia is not an ally of Iran and that it does not support the Iranian regime, but keeps a balanced policy in the Middle East.”
On the Syrian conflict, he said, Russian successes such as the Astana de-escalation process made Russia an important and needed partner for Saudi Arabia.
Nickolay Soukhov, senior researcher at the Institute of Oriental Studies in the Russian Academy of Sciences, said much depended on how agreements signed between the two countries were turned into real steps and actions.
“This visit of King Salman gives a signal that Saudi Arabia has its own independent foreign policy to decide for itself who to cooperate with,” he said.
“The two countries still have some contradictory perceptions of many issues. Some have a long history, others are new ones. However, this visit has already paved the way to find compromises and to bring both countries closer in terms of perceptions of regional issues.”
Vasiliy Kuznetsov, head of the Department for Arab and Islamic Studies at the academy, said such visits were important in themselves, regardless of the outcome.
“Throughout my experience I don’t remember a visit of a foreign leader that was so eagerly awaited as the visit of King Salman,” he said.
“This visit is not only a sign of continuous rapprochement between Russia and Saudi Arabia, but also a strong signal to the Muslim community of the Middle East that Russia is a close friendly to them.”
It was important to point out that leaders of the Muslim republics had taken part in the summit between King Salman and the Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“Russia is building up strategic relations with Iran, and Turkey is far from constructing alliances,” he said. “It is impossible to build a regional system without Saudi Arabia.
“The rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Russia signals that the United States has lost its credibility in the Middle East region, and that the Kingdom is looking for diversification of its strategic relations.”
During King Salman’s visit the two countries signed 15 agreements, including one for Saudi Arabia to buy Russia’s S-400 missile defense system.
The Russian Direct Investments Fund (RDIF) and Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) approved investments of more than $1 billon and launched a dozen projects in petrochemicals, energy, logistics, technology and transport infrastructure, including rail. The PIF said that it would take part in the development of Rostec City on the site of the former Tushino airfield in Moscow. The funds will also examine more than 25 projects with a total value of more than $10bn.
The two countries have also agreed to establish a new joint fund to invest in high-tech energy companies. This new structure will provide investments for fast-growing successful companies in e-commerce.
RDIF, with SIBUR, the leading Russian gas processing and petrochemicals company, and Saudi Aramco have also signed an agreement of cooperation in Saudi Arabia.
Politically, the visit of the king has given momentum to bilateral relations and put both countries on a roadmap to solve the issues of the region.
Another highlight of the visit was the Saudi cultural week in Moscow, which featured important panel discussions involving Russian and Saudi scholars and officials.
King Salman’s visit to Russia hailed a success on trade, investment and solving regional issues
King Salman’s visit to Russia hailed a success on trade, investment and solving regional issues
Green initiative launched in Eastern Region
- Goal is to plant more than 500,000 trees and 3 million flowers throughout Dammam’s streets and parks
- Scheme, in line with Vision 2030’s goal of increasing green spaces, also aligns with the broader national afforestation campaign
DAMMAM: The Eastern Region Municipality has announced a special initiative involving 30 volunteers to mark National Greening Season, launched by Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Al-Fadley.
The goal is to plant more than 500,000 trees and 3 million flowers throughout Dammam’s streets and parks in a bid to improve air quality, reduce heat and enhance biodiversity, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The scheme, in line with Vision 2030’s goal of increasing green spaces, also aligns with the broader national afforestation campaign under the Saudi Green Initiative, which aims to promote sustainable environmental development and enhance vegetation cover.
The municipality emphasized the initiative would help combat desertification and promote the achievement of environmental balance through the use of locally suitable plants.
It highlighted how collaboration with various institutions will raise awareness about afforestation and support green infrastructure, thereby improving the quality of life in the Eastern Region.
Madinah research center releases map of 50 prominent archaeological sites
- Map includes documented historical landmarks, their current locations, and their association with the life of the Prophet Muhammad
- Forms part of the center’s scientific and cultural documentation efforts, with the map featuring an interactive barcode for each historical landmark
RIYADH: The Madinah Research and Studies Center has released an updated version of the Innaha Taybah map, which features 50 historical and archaeological sites in the region.
The map includes documented historical landmarks, their current locations, and their association with the life of the Prophet Muhammad.
This comes as part of the center’s scientific and cultural documentation efforts, with the map featuring an interactive barcode for each historical landmark that introduces the place and allows users to view the historical site’s details.
It contains significant landmarks that tourists can visit, starting with the Prophet’s Mosque, the most prominent site in Madinah and a destination for Muslim visitors throughout the year.
Also featured are Baqi’ Al-Gharqad, Al-Safiyyah Museum and Park, the Architecture of the Prophet’s Mosque Exhibition and the International Fair and Museum of the Prophet’s Biography.
The map also includes prominent historical mosques that were built during the Prophet’s era and are still standing, such as the Mosque of Al-Ghamama, Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq Mosque, Omar bin Al-Khattab Mosque, Ali ibn Abi Talib Mosque, Al-Sajdah Mosque, Al-Ijabah Mosque, Al-Suqya Mosque, Al-Manaratain Mosque, Bani Haram Mosque, Al-Fatah Mosque, Al-Rayah Mosque, Bani Harithah Mosque, Al-Shaikhain Mosque, Al-Jumu’ah Mosque, and Quba Mosque.
The Innaha Taybah map includes numerous archaeological landmarks, notably the Sela Mountain, Jabal Aynayn (Al-Rumat), the Martyrs of Uhud Cemetery, and ancient wells that have been rehabilitated as part of a project to restore historical sites in the region. These include Bir Al-Khatam (Well of Arees), Athq Well, Al-Ihn Well, the Well of Ghars and Al-Foqair Well. Other sites include the Urwa Palace, Al-Jamawat, the King Fahd Complex for the Printing of the Holy Qur’an, and natural landmarks connected to events that took place in Madinah during the time of the Prophet Muhammad and subsequent eras.
Saudi cabinet calls for Arab-Islamic summit, urgent political solutions amid regional crises
RIYADH: The Saudi cabinet discussed the Kingdom’s call for an Arab-Islamic summit to address ongoing Israeli aggression in Palestinian territories and Lebanon, in a session chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday.
The cabinet also stressed the urgent need for a political resolution to the crisis in Sudan, urging all parties to honor the commitments outlined in the "Jeddah Declaration" of May 2023. It emphasized the importance of an immediate ceasefire in Sudan, a cessation of hostilities, and the unobstructed delivery of humanitarian aid to those in need.
The cabinet also reviewed the Kingdom’s recent hosting of the inaugural meeting of the Global Alliance to Implement the Two-State Solution, which brought together representatives from 90 countries and international organizations.
Understanding fans key to building sports brands, says football marketing guru
- Manchester United connects with audiences and “converts followers to fans”
- Saudi clubs should find their own unique point of view
RIYADH: Understanding your fan base is a key element of successfully marketing your sports brand, Manchester United’s director of marketing told the audience at the Athar Festival of Creativity in Riyadh.
During his keynote speech, “Cultural Connection, Unbreakable Bonds and the Power of Stories: Lessons Learnt From a Career in Sports Marketing,” Matt McKie talked about his experience working in notable roles for the Olympics, Nike and EA Sports.
Whether you are a football fan or not, there is no denying that Manchester United is one of the most well-known clubs in the world. But how did it gain its reputation?
Like many popular teams, it is about connecting with your audience and Manchester United has a unique way of “converting followers to fans,” McKie told Arab News.
“I would say the absolute key to finding an audience and growing is really understanding your fans and, in the UK and in Europe, football clubs are bigger than just sports assets, than community assets, they mean more,” he said. “There will be generations of families that have gone to watch the team and support them, so honoring that and respecting that is absolutely key.”
An important marketing tactic for McKie involves researching the upbringing and backgrounds of athletes before their rise to stardom. This is a way to humanize them and create campaigns with a personal touch.
“I think humanizing athletes is an important marketing tactic (and) I think it’s an important human tactic,” he said. “These are individuals in the public eye, there are millions and millions of people watching them, expecting things from them. They have the same problems we have ... so it’s incredibly important that we understand that.”
McKie highlights unique brand identities for emerging football clubs, such as FC Como and Venezia, in Italy, and Forest Green Rovers in England. Venezia is known for its love of fashion while the latter has claimed the title of becoming the first fully vegan football club.
“It’s really about building a profile and understanding who the audience is and then you can serve them the things that will drive them down towards being a fan, and a committed fan, that comes to games etc.
“It’s very important in women’s sports because of the very high proportion of fandom that exists there. It’s important as marketers that we actually bring them closer, we understand them, we give them content that’s going to engage them and not just bring the ideas of men’s football across and expect it to work.”
For Saudi teams, McKie’s advice is to “have a point of view.”
“Within Saudi, a lot of these teams are new or relatively new in the grand scheme of football. So there’s an opportunity to have a point of view and stand for something … to form a team that plays a certain way and isn’t bound by baggage that can come from being a really big heritage brand.”
KSA showcases urban initiatives at Cairo forum
- The pavilion highlights Saudi Arabia’s initiatives in urban development and sustainable city planning
RIYADH: Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf, head of the Kingdom’s delegation, visited Saudi Arabia’s pavilion at the 12th World Urban Forum in Cairo, which began on Monday and ends on Nov. 8.
The pavilion, organized by the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, features spaces for meetings, workshops and dialogue sessions. It includes over 40 interactive activities and hosts 150 representatives from various Saudi entities.
The pavilion highlights Saudi Arabia’s initiatives in urban development and sustainable city planning, showcasing innovative projects and successful experiences, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.
It also showcases the Kingdom’s achievements under Vision 2030, including sustainable transport networks, infrastructure improvements, and enhanced municipal services in cities.
On the sidelines of the forum, Prince Faisal met with several delegation heads to discuss enhancing cooperation and exchanging expertise.
He discussed potential collaboration between Riyadh and Istanbul with Ekrem Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul, focusing on the exchange of skills.
He also met with Anar Guliyev, a member of the cabinet and chairman of the State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture in Azerbaijan, to discuss cooperation.
