RIYADH: Visiting European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil Hogan said on Wednesday that there is a positive trend to develop businesses with the Kingdom since it is a growing and dynamic country, which has recorded a high volume of trade with the EU.
Hogan was speaking to Saudi businessmen on “Doing Business in the Saudi Arabian Agri-food sector” at the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry during a business event chaired by its chairman, Ahmed Al-Rajhi.
The visiting minister met GCC Secretary-General Abdul Latif bin Rashid and Minister of Water, Environment and Agriculture, Abdul Rahman Al-Fadli on Wednesday. The meeting was also attended by EU Ambassador to the Kingdom Michele Cervone D’urso.
Hogan is currently leading a 40-member EU delegation to promote quality food and beverage products from Europe.
Speaking on the occasion, Hogan said that Saudi Arabia is a dynamic country whose population is 32 million and many of them are young and urban. “We believe that this growing generation of consumers will be happy to choose our high-quality EU food and agricultural products,” he said, pointing out that EU agri-food exports to Saudi Arabia had increased from €1.5 billion to €4.6 billion between 2009 and 2016.
Describing Saudi consumers, Hogan said they are well informed and demanding, and the delegation wants to tell them how safe and healthy EU products and the raw materials that are supplied to the Kingdom from EU countries are.
“From farm to fork, at each stage of the food production chain, the EU sets a series of rules to ensure that our 500 million citizens enjoy the safest food in the world.”
Saudi Arabia is a dynamic country with a high volume of trade with EU
Saudi Arabia is a dynamic country with a high volume of trade with EU
AlUla’s vision based on strong partnerships, holistic development, says royal commission official
- Ben Hudson highlights pacts with global investors and nations
- Plan includes $31.9bn contribution to Kingdom’s GDP by 2035
DAVOS: Taking a socially and economically responsible approach to development and working closely with committed partners is the key to fulfilling AlUla’s potential.
This is according to the Royal Commission for AlUla’s Chief Development and Construction Officer Ben Hudson, who spoke to Arab News at the World Economic Forum in Davos this week.
Hudson also emphasized the commission’s commitment to cultural preservation in transforming AlUla into a global destination.
Hudson underscored the RCU’s alignment with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 reform program. “(The) RCU is unlocking AlUla’s economic, investment, and touristic potential through comprehensive regeneration, integrated partnerships, and inclusive sustainable development.”
Highlighting the AlUla Sustainability Charter as a blueprint for the organization’s initiatives, he said the RCU was also focused on revitalizing the built environment, community empowerment, and light-touch tourism.
Citing the example of the Dar Tantora The House Hotel, he said this was tangible proof of its plan in action, where the blending of traditional materials with local expertise has created new socio-economic opportunities while preserving the cultural heritage of the area.
Hudson was keen to highlight the RCU’s plans to contribute SR120 billion ($31.9 billion) to Saudi Arabia’s gross domestic product by 2035, driven by sustainable tourism and investment.
In Davos, Hudson said the RCU was looking to foster global partnerships to accelerate AlUla’s regeneration.
“We are building on AlUla’s position as an ancient crossroad of civilizations, transforming AlUla into the world’s largest living museum, and a place for our community to thrive, (and this) can only be achieved when we work together,” he said.
“Our first strategic partnership was established with France, almost at RCU’s inception. Since then, we’ve grown our network, establishing partnerships with China, Italy, the UK, and world-class partners from the US, among others.
“We continue to make progress in evolving our partnership portfolio by working with UNESCO, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the World Bank, and many others,” he said.
These collaborations enable billions of dollars in private sector investment across hospitality, real estate, cultural conservation, and infrastructure.
Hudson emphasized the importance of co-investment, inviting partners to join in developing key infrastructure, such as power and water, and creating vibrant public spaces. “This gives our partners confidence and provides a platform for sustained engagement, be it with our community or across the business landscape,” he said.
Preserving AlUla’s rich cultural heritage remains central to the RCU’s mission. Hudson described the area as a “hidden gem,” now revealed to the world, with strategies in place to balance conservation with growth.
Collaboration with organizations including the International Council on Monuments and Sites has enabled the creation of Heritage Impact Assessments to protect cultural areas while facilitating new construction, he said.
“Our goals are shaped by community feedback, from the people who stand to benefit the most, whose culture and heritage make AlUla what it is,” he explained.
The RCU’s short-term goals focus on making AlUla a livable destination that embodies the Quality-of-Life Program of Vision 2030, by attracting investment, enhancing infrastructure, and creating opportunities for local and global stakeholders.
Looking to the future, Hudson said the RCU’s commitment was to “creating a destination built around a vibrant culture and ancient heritage —somewhere to live, work, invest, and grow.”
AlUla strengthens global presence with LeBron James, UIM E1 World Championship
- Team AlUla championed by LeBron James will take part in the UIM E1 World Championship presented by PIF
- Title partnership centers around AlUla’s ambition as a premier sports and adventure hub, dedication to supporting high-profile international events
ALULA: AlUla has strengthened its global sporting presence with LeBron James launching a new team in the UIM E1 World Championship presented by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund PIF in the world’s first all-electric race boat championship.
Named after the ancient oasis city in northwestern Saudi Arabia, Team AlUla Championed by LeBron James will compete in the 2025 E1 season, beginning with the E1 Jeddah GP on Jan. 24-25, and will be piloted by talented racers Rusty Wyatt and Catie Munnings.
The partnership centers around AlUla’s ambition as a premier sports and adventure hub, and its dedication to supporting high-profile competitions and sportspeople across the world, a press release issued on Friday said.
Central to AlUla’s development as a destination is the enrichment of its local community — a commitment that closely aligns with LeBron James’ philanthropic efforts in his hometown of Akron, Ohio.
The E1 all-electric race boat series is also in line with AlUla’s commitment to sustainability and comprehensive regeneration, evident in the city’s approach to holistic tourism, which manages visitor numbers, boosts environmental awareness and engages the community in conservation.
Core to its strategy is the AlUla Sustainability Charter, which guarantees the preservation of the natural and historical integrity of the area amid ongoing development.
This commitment is highlighted by initiatives such as designating 50 percent of AlUla as nature reserve and investing in eco-friendly infrastructure.
Rami AlMoallim, vice president of destination management and marketing at the Royal Commission for AlUla, said: “Our partnership with E1 and LeBron James marks a significant moment for AlUla, built on a shared commitment to conservation and community, spanning our desert landscapes to the world’s seas.”
“This collaboration highlights the deep interconnectedness of our environments and the power we all have to make a change. As a champion of regeneration and wildlife conservation, AlUla sees electric boat racing as an opportunity to redefine the future of sports and innovation and we are thrilled to be part of such a visionary partnership,” AlMoallim said.
As a growing heritage luxury boutique destination, and home to Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, AlUla has become known for blending history with innovation as it champions world-class home-grown sporting events such as Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo, AlUla Trail Race, AlUla Tour and more.
Through AlUla’s partnership, Team AlUla Championed by LeBron James will visit iconic host cities such as Doha, Monaco and Miami, reinforcing its status as a premier global destination.
Saudi authorities foil attempt to smuggle $35m worth of captagon pills
RIYADH: The Saudi Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority has thwarted an attempt to smuggle over 1.4 million captagon pills into the Kingdom through the Jeddah Islamic Port.
According to the authority, the pills were found inside a shipment during customs procedures and live detection.
Coordination with the General Directorate of Narcotics Control led to the arrest of the intended recipients of the seized items in the Kingdom.
Captagon, a type of amphetamine, is used predominantly by young men and teenage boys across the Middle East and has a street value of between $10 and $25 a pill, according to research by the International Journal of Addiction Research.
Davos 2025 concludes with regular WEF meeting in Riyadh announced starting spring 2026
- Saudi Arabia hosted its first two-day WEF special meeting in late April last year,
DAVOS: As the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting came to a close, the announcement of a new, regular meeting in Saudi Arabia from spring 2026 ushered in applause from a full congress hall.
Building on the success of the WEF Special Meeting in April last year, “Saudi Arabia and the World Economic Forum are happy to announce that we will host a regular World Economic Forum global meeting in the Kingdom,” said the country’s Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Alibrahim in Davos on Friday.
“This is a testament to the global platform for dialogue, collaboration and innovation that Saudi Arabia has become and the World Economic Forum continued to be,” he added. “This meeting continues to be an opportunity to further unite the world in capturing the immense potential that lies ahead.”
Saudi Arabia hosted its first two-day WEF special meeting in late April last year, which focused on global collaboration, growth and energy.
Responding to US President Donald Trump’s comments yesterday asking Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman to increase the Kingdom’s investments from $600 billion to $1 trillion, Alibrahim said this figure would also include procurement from the public and private sectors.
“What we’ll spend in the economy from the start of Vision 2030 to 2030 is 12 times that number,” Alibrahim said.
Alongside Alibrahim on the final panel of the conference were Singapore’s president, International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde, and BlackRock CEO Larry Fink.
“There is too much pessimism around Europe, and it could be time to be investing back in the region,” Fink said, adding there was still progress to be made in areas such as capital markets union.
Saudi foreign minister calls for ending Syria sanctions during talks in Damascus
- Prince Faisal is in Syria for his first official visit there since the downfall of Bashar Assad
- Foreign minister meets Syrian leader Ahmed Al-Sharaa and discusses support to help Syria during its transition
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Syrian leader Ahmed Al-Sharaa held talks in Damascus on Friday including the Kingdom's efforts to remove international sanctions from Syria.
Prince Faisal traveled to Syria for his first official visit there since the downfall of Bashar Assad to meet top officials in the new Syrian administration.The talks with Al-Sharaa focused on “supporting Syria's security, stability and unity,” the foreign ministry said.
“The talks also addressed efforts to support Syria's political, humanitarian, and economic aspects, emphasizing the ongoing efforts to lift the sanctions imposed on Syria and provide all forms of assistance and support to Syria during this critical phase to restore stability across its entire territory and revive its national institutions in a manner that aligns with the aspirations and hopes of the Syrian people,” the statement said.
Speaking at a press conference alongside the Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan Al-Shaibani, Prince Faisal said it was important to accelerate the “lifting and freezing of all sanctions."
He said Saudi Arabia was engaged in "active dialogue with all relevant countries, whether the United States or the European Union, and we are hearing positive messages.”
The EU and the US placed an extensive sanctions regime on Syria during the rule of Assad, who was toppled from power by Al-Sharaa’s Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) group and its allies in December.
The US said earlier this month that it would ease sanctions on transactions with Syrian government institutions to help the flow of humanitarian assistance.
The EU is reported to be close to agreeing to ease sanctions on certain sectors.
During his meeting with Al-Sharaa, Prince Faisal passed on the greetings of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The new Syrian administration chose Saudi Arabia for its first foreign visit when Al-Shaibani led a delegation to Riyadh earlier this month.
The Kingdom has stepped up humanitarian aid supplies to Syria since the start of the year.
Prince Faisal arrived in Syrian after a visit to Lebanon on Thursday, where he met the new President General Joseph Aoun.
