DUBAI: Saudi Aramco will delay the release of its crude official selling prices (OSP) for May until April 10 to wait for the outcome of a meeting between OPEC and its allies regarding possible output cuts, a senior Saudi source familiar with the matter said on Sunday.
"It is an unprecedented measure that has not been taken by Aramco before. May OSPs will depend on how the OPEC+ meeting concludes. We are doing what we can to make it successful, including taking this extraordinary step to delay the OSPs," the Saudi source said.
Saudi Aramco typically issues its OSPs by the 5th of each month, setting the trend for Iranian, Kuwaiti and Iraqi prices and affecting more than 12 million barrels of oil per day bound for Asia.
OPEC and allies are due to meet on Thursday to discuss a possible new global crude supply cut to end a price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia which has prompted US President Donald Trump to intervene.
The Saudi source said that Riyadh wants to avoid a repeat of the outcome of a March meeting where oil talks collapsed between OPEC and allies "due to Russia's lack of cooperation with the rest of OPEC+ participants".
Coordinated cuts between OPEC members and others led by Russia expired on March 31 having helped support crude prices since they began in January 2017.
The OPEC+ meeting was initially due for Monday, but was postponed to April 9 "to allow for more time to reach out to all producers including OPEC+ and others," the Saudi source said.
Saudi Arabia delays May crude prices until after OPEC+ meeting
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Saudi Arabia delays May crude prices until after OPEC+ meeting
- OPEC and allies are due to meet on Thursday to discuss a possible new global crude supply cut
Saudi-led initiative restores Yemen’s iconic Seiyun Palace
- Kingdom’s program, UNESCO collaborate to preserve heritage, boost cultural tourism in Hadramout
RIYADH: After years of deterioration that threatened its survival as a historical and cultural symbol, Seiyun Palace in Hadramout, eastern Yemen, is regaining its original form through restoration led by the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen.
Seiyun Palace was once featured on Yemen’s national currency due to its importance, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Originally built as a fortified stronghold to protect Seiyun, the palace later became the residence of the sultans of the Kathiri state, who ruled Wadi Hadramout.
Despite its significance, the palace suffered damage over time, reaching a critical point in 2022 when a large part of its outer wall collapsed, raising concerns about its future. This led to calls for restoration, according to the SPA.
At the Yemeni government’s request, the Saudi development program launched a project to restore the palace.
Funded by the program and implemented by UNESCO, the effort involved Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture and Yemen’s General Organization of Antiquities and Museums, with support from Yemen’s Social Fund for Development.
Restoration included repairing the outer wall and mudbrick structures. Attention was given to restoring wooden ceilings, carved doors, and windows that showcase Yemeni craftsmanship.
The project also preserved the palace’s architectural features, including traditional decorations and wall inscriptions. Local engineers and technicians were trained in restoration techniques for ongoing maintenance.
This project supports development in Hadramout and the preservation of Yemen’s heritage. The palace can now receive visitors and host events, enhancing its role as a cultural and tourism site, the SPA reported.
The Seiyun Palace restoration is one of 264 projects by the Saudi development program across Yemen, covering education, health, transportation, energy, water, agriculture, fisheries, and institutional capacity building.
Saudi students honored for international success
- Meanwhile, the Generation Research and Innovation Enrichment Program was recently launched at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology
RIYADH: Students from Tuwaiq Academy enjoyed outstanding success at the International Invention, Innovation and Technology Exhibition in Malaysia, where they won 12 gold medals and 16 special awards.
Alrebdi bin Fahd Al-Rebdi, director of the Saudi Data and AI Authority’s National Data Management Office, said the students’ performance reflected their creativity and global competitiveness.
He praised them for positively representing the Kingdom, adding the achievement stemmed from ongoing investment in human capital, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
A ceremony honoring the students included a visual presentation on their participation and an exhibition highlighting their projects. Two winners also gave talks about their journeys, challenges and lessons learned.
Meanwhile, the Generation Research and Innovation Enrichment Program was recently launched at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, bringing together more than 90 gifted students from across Saudi Arabia.
Organized by King Abdulaziz City through Academy 32, in partnership with the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity, the program aims to introduce students to the basics of scientific research and promote innovation.
It connects participants with research centers and experts, offers practical training and encourages contributions to local scientific content.
Academy 32 CEO Amani Al-Shawi said the program helped develop young talent and prepare them for competition, citing recent successes by Saudi students including at the International Science and Engineering Fair and in Malaysia.
Saudi Arabia, China sign deal to boost cultural collaboration
- The program, aligned with the 2025 Saudi-Chinese Cultural Year, focuses on joint cultural initiatives
- Both sides will carry out research projects to improve quality of cultural studies and collaborate on identifying and compiling cultural materials from national archives
RIYADH: The Ministry of Culture and the China-Arab Cultural and Tourism Cooperation Research Center have signed an executive program in Diriyah to enhance cultural collaboration between Saudi Arabia and China.
The program, aligned with the 2025 Saudi-Chinese Cultural Year, focuses on joint cultural initiatives, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
It was signed by Deputy Minister for Research and Cultural Heritage Affairs Maha Abdullah Alsenan and Cheng Wei, vice president of Beijing International Studies University and member of the joint committee of the China-Arab research center.
Both sides will carry out joint research projects to improve the quality of cultural studies and collaborate on identifying and compiling cultural materials from national archives.
The ministry will also work with the Chinese to organize joint conferences and facilitate visits and exchanges between cultural researchers to discuss shared cultural topics.
The agreement supports research exchange activities, enabling Saudi researchers to visit Chinese universities and research centers and vice versa. It also provides access to cultural experts, supports fellowship programs and offers consultative assistance.
This initiative aligns with the ministry’s efforts to promote international cultural exchange, a goal of the National Culture Strategy under Vision 2030.
Ancient ruins in Al-Ardiyat tell timeless tales
- Al-Ruzqi pointed out that Al-Ardiyat is a testament to history, with numerous inscriptions adorning its mountains
JEDDAH: Al-Ardiyat, a governorate in the Makkah region, is home to many archeological sites dating from earlier periods, including the pre-Islamic Arab eras and the Stone Age.
These include ibex carvings and inscriptions continuing into later centuries, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Abdullah Al-Ruzqi, a researcher of archaeology and history in the governorate, said the inscriptions in Al-Ardiyat fall into three categories: ibex drawings; Nabataean and Thamudic writings; and funerary inscriptions from the first Hijri century, such as the tombstone of Maryam bint Qays.
He also noted several other known and unknown inscriptions and etchings, calling for attention to and protection of these sites.
Al-Ruzqi pointed out that Al-Ardiyat is a testament to history, with numerous inscriptions adorning its mountains, the SPA reported.
He added that the governorate is known for the Thumaidah mine, a 50-meter-long tunnel in rocky mountains containing antimony kohl and lead deposits.
This mine is in a mountainous area stretching from Abyan to Mount Tharban along the western slopes reaching Qanuna Valley, and the eastern slopes extending to Yabah Valley.
Saudi Arabia offers condolences to Sudan after 11 die in mine collapse
- The collapse of the gold mine in the remote desert area of Howeid, northeast Sudan killed 11 miners and wounded seven others
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia offered its condolences to Sudan on Sunday after a gold mine partially collapsed in the country, killing 11 miners and wounded seven others.
The mine is in the remote desert area of Howeid, northeast Sudan.
The Foreign Ministry said the Kingdom stands with Sudan during this tragedy and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
