Crown prince to Trump: Saudi Arabia seeks to push US investments to $600bn during second term

Crown prince to Trump: Saudi Arabia seeks to push US investments to $600bn during second term
The pair discussed bilateral cooperation to establish peace, security and stability in the Middle East, in addition to enhancing bilateral cooperation to combat terrorism. (SPA/Reuters)
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Updated 23 January 2025
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Crown prince to Trump: Saudi Arabia seeks to push US investments to $600bn during second term

Crown prince to Trump: Saudi Arabia seeks to push US investments to $600bn during second term

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia intends to broaden its trade and investment in the United States to at least $600 billion over the next four years, the Saudi Press Agency reported early on Thursday.

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told US President Donald Trump about the Kingdom's plan during a phone conversation late Wednesday, the report said.

With Trump's vow to carry out wide-ranging reforms in the world's largest economy, the Kingdom seeks to participate in opportunities for partnership and investment, SPA quoted the crown prince as saying.

The report did not indicate any details of the planned investments.

The two leaders also discussed ways for cooperation between their countries to promote peace, security and stability in the Middle East, in addition to enhancing bilateral cooperation to combat terrorism.

Trump assumed office on Monday and said he would restore American prestige and rebuild its economic power.

Trump made the Kingdom his first foreign visit during his first term and the countries signed a number of investment agreements worth about $400 billion.

The crown prince said in 2018 that part of the “armaments will be manufactured in Saudi Arabia, so it will create jobs in America and Saudi Arabia, good trade, good benefits for both countries and also good economic growth. Plus, it will help our security”.

Trump campaigned on his America First policy which seeks to prioritize the US economy and American citizens.

He signed an executive order on Monday to establish “a robust and reinvigorated trade policy that promotes investment and productivity, enhances our Nation’s industrial and technological advantages, defends our economic and national security”.

Prince Mohammed conveyed his and King Salman’s congratulations to Trump upon his return to the Oval Office and the Saudi leaders wished the American people further progress and prosperity.

Trump expressed his thanks to the king and crown prince for their congratulations, stressing his keenness to work with them on everything that would serve the common interests of both nations.

Trump was well received in the Kingdom in 2017 and attended a number of events in Riyadh with the king and crown prince. King Salman presented the US president with the Collar of Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Kingdom’s top civilian honor.

The king hosted a state dinner for Trump, where both took part in a traditional war dance ahead of the banquet.

The pair also opened the Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology, part of a broad initiative to tackle the root causes of extremism and stop terror financing.

 


How the public and private sector are navigating AI integration in the modern workplace

How the public and private sector are navigating AI integration in the modern workplace
Updated 1 min 31 sec ago
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How the public and private sector are navigating AI integration in the modern workplace

How the public and private sector are navigating AI integration in the modern workplace
  • AI is transforming how governments and businesses operate, streamlining services and boosting long-term efficiency
  • Saudi Arabia is advancing fast in AI adoption, aligning with its Vision 2030 goals for digital leadership and innovation

RIYADH: As artificial intelligence transforms the modern workplace, public and private sector organizations in Saudi Arabia are leaning into its potential to revolutionize how they operate.

From automating workflows to training digital employees, AI has moved from buzzword to backbone in national efforts to modernize systems and boost efficiency.

But with rapid innovation comes a familiar hurdle — adapting without breaking what already works.

“Every country has old systems that are doing important work. They can’t get rid of them, they need to continue, so they need to find a way to have a single pane of glass that connects them,” Casey Coleman, vice president of Global Public Sector at ServiceNow, told Arab News.

That challenge is particularly acute in government institutions, where outdated IT systems often clash with modern digital tools. Legacy infrastructure, varying data formats, and bureaucratic complexity can make large-scale upgrades difficult.

Still, Saudi Arabia is making notable progress.

ServiceNow — which has operated in the Kingdom since 2011 — has helped modernize operations in the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development.

More than 180 automated processes now support the Ministry of Justice, while an integrated portal for public-sector employees has streamlined communication and speeded up problem-solving.

The gains are real. But Coleman notes that transformation requires more than just new code.

“It’s hard to change the way that work gets done because it becomes kind of just your muscle memory,” she said. “To change that is like an athlete learning to change their golf swing or learning to change their basketball shot.”

The key, she says, is empathy. “It calls for empathizing with people and understanding their work from their perspective. It takes a human approach. It’s not just about the systems.”

Instead of replacing legacy systems outright, ServiceNow offers a way to integrate them, preserving existing structures while cutting down inefficiencies.

One major pain point is what Coleman calls “sneaker net” — employees manually switching between platforms and reentering information. Some 40 percent of productivity is lost due to these inefficiencies, she says — and likely more in the public sector.

“People who join government are there to make a difference. They’re not there to serve data between one system to another,” Coleman said.

“They’re there to help people, and by taking away the toil of the administrative work that is just a drain on our productivity, we can liberate their time to do the public-facing work.”

That liberation is also playing out on the industrial front. In one of ServiceNow’s largest partnerships, the firm is working with Saudi Aramco to modernize its operations safely using “digital twins” — virtual models of physical systems.

The approach allows engineers to simulate changes at oil refining plants before implementation. “ServiceNow has taken some part of the value chain in helping those companies to make safe changes to their systems and safe upgrades and modernization,” said Coleman.

This year, the company opened its first regional headquarters in Saudi Arabia, cementing its long-term commitment to a market it views as digitally mature and globally influential.

“Saudi Arabia has a very clear strategy, and that’s important,” Saif Mashat, area vice president for ServiceNow in the Middle East and Africa, told Arab News.

“Saudi Arabia is part of the G20, one of the biggest economies in the region, one of the biggest economies in the world. Saudi Arabia is a very influential country globally, and is very, very advanced when it comes to the digital era.”

Private tech leaders are also seeing an acceleration in AI adoption across the Kingdom.

According to IBM’s regional vice president Ayman Al-Rashed, more than 70 percent of CEOs in Saudi Arabia have already created entirely new AI-based roles — a higher figure than the global average.

“These are jobs that didn’t exist last year. These are new jobs,” he said. “This shows you that there’s a lot of interest in KSA, more than elsewhere around the globe, because the global average is between 50 and 60 percent.”

Al-Rashed explained that IBM has automated 95 percent of its internal HR functions, slashing costs by 40 percent — savings equivalent to $3.5 billion in productivity gains. That same tech, he said, is now being offered to clients.

“We came up with something we called the ‘watsonx Orchestrate,’” said Al-Rashed. “That’s a lot of agents, assistants, and tools. There are actually more than 80 enterprise applications out there, and they’re all out of the box. You can immediately go and use them and have the same experience.”

One standout example is “AskHR,” a virtual assistant that helps IBM staff navigate complex tasks like creating job requisitions or scheduling interviews.

“I used AskHR when I joined IBM. It was great. I always felt that someone was talking to me, but it was just AI,” said Al-Rashed.

These shifts align closely with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 plan, which prioritizes digital transformation and workforce upskilling as key pillars of national development.

“What we’ve done is we’ve looked at our operations in HR, and we wanted to do things such as enhance the efficiency of it, reduce the cost of it, free up the time of the employees themselves,” said Al-Rashed.

The message is clear: As Saudi Arabia races toward its digital future, the integration of AI is not just a competitive advantage — it is a national imperative.

For now, success lies not just in smart software, but in making technology work with, not against, the systems already in place.


Madinah Book Fair offers a literary haven of culture and creativity

Madinah Book Fair offers a literary haven of culture and creativity
Updated 31 July 2025
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Madinah Book Fair offers a literary haven of culture and creativity

Madinah Book Fair offers a literary haven of culture and creativity
  • Annual event is a showcase for local and international literature, alongside other creative offerings and engaging, immersive experiences
  • Bassam Al-Bassam: This year … we have introduced the Saudi publishing corner, which is focused on self-publishing authors, where they can present and sell their books

MADINAH: Literary and other creative offerings from more than 300 local, regional and international publishing houses and agencies are being showcased at the fourth annual Madinah Book Fair at King Salman International Convention Center.

Organized by the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission, the fair, which began on Tuesday and continues until Aug. 4, and features more than 200 pavilions, offers visitors a chance to explore a rich cultural and literary experience that reflects Saudi Arabia’s vibrant intellectual scene. Prince Salman bin Sultan, the governor of Madinah Region, was among the early visitors.

Bassam Al-Bassam, the general manager of publishing at the commission, told Arab News that the organization is committed to the continuing development and enhancement of the event.

“At the end of last year’s book fair, we collected feedback and comments from visitors and publishing houses, and based on them we introduced improvements,” he said.

“This year … we have introduced the Saudi publishing corner, which is focused on self-publishing authors, where they can present and sell their books.

“We (are) presenting rich and diverse cultural programs that will touch the people of Madinah. We also have a lot of activities and games for the kids. This comes from our belief that we need to invest in the love of books and a love of reading for the new generations.”

Abdul Latif Al-Wasel, the commission’s CEO, said: “This year’s Madinah Book Fair embodies the ongoing and unwavering support that the cultural sector in the Kingdom enjoys, further underscoring the importance of Madinah and its standing within the Saudi cultural landscape.”

The fair offers readers and cultural enthusiasts an opportunity to explore latest book releases while engaging with authors, intellectuals and industry experts. Organizers said this year’s event features a diverse cultural program designed to appeal to all interests, with the aim of fostering dialogue and strengthening Saudi Arabia’s role in the regional and global literary landscape.

Seminars, panel discussions and workshops cover a broad range of topics, from the power of language and the role of artificial intelligence in the advancement of knowledge, to the challenges of translation in efforts to bridge cultures. Other sessions explore the cultural impact of Hajj and Umrah, and historical stories about Madinah itself.

The fair shines a spotlight on other creative offerings besides books. UK publisher Harper’s Books and Creativity Products, for example, has been making waves this year among visitors looking for a creative outlet of their own. This is the third year the business has taken part in the event and its booth features a range of innovative products that combine art with relaxation.

“Everyone here is very nice, and every time we come we see great revenue,” said Motasem Abudahab, a representative of the company.

“We sell paintings that are easy to draw, or paint by numbers, allowing everyone to create their own art. It’s therapeutic and the joy on people’s faces is priceless.”

The Harper’s booth is once again proving popular this year, he added, attracting visitors looking for a way to unwind and engage in a fulfilling activity.

“There are a lot of happy people here. It’s wonderful to see them enjoy the process of creating art.”

Another booth attracting attention at the fair is that of Ana Al-Madinah, which specializes in virtual reality experiences that transport visitors 1,400 years back in time to the era of the Prophet Muhammad and his companions.

“Our participation offers a unique chance to live the experience of Madinah and Makkah as they were,” said company representative Ammar Mohammed.

The experience gives visitors a chance to embark on a seven-minute journey through Madinah and an 11-minute exploration of Makkah, during which they visit historical landmarks as they appeared at the time and get a taste of what daily life was like back then. The immersive experience offers education and engagement in a novel format that has captivated attendees.

The Ministry of Culture’s display, the theme for which is the “Year of Handicrafts,” has also been proving popular, officials said.

“This booth showcases traditional crafts from different regions of Saudi Arabia,” said Ghalya Kanaani. “Each craft exemplifies the rich and diverse culture of our Kingdom, with a particular focus on the contributions of women in handicrafts.

“The vibrant displays celebrate the artistry and heritage of Saudi craftsmanship, making it a must-visit for those interested in cultural traditions.”

Marvin Pepito, a representative of UAE-based publishing house Little Puffin, which specializes in English-language books, said: “Madinah Book Fair is attracting many people eager to explore our diverse range of genres, from self-help to fantasy.

“The audience here is respectful and engaged, which makes my first experience truly memorable.”

He noted a growing interest in English-language literature among attendees, adding: “There are so many people who love books and are eager for quality content.”

In line with the goals of the Saudi Vision 2030 plan for national development and diversification, the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission says it aims to build a solid and sustainable national publishing industry based on empowerment, rights exchanges, the marketing of Saudi content and its enhanced presence in international markets.

From this perspective, the Madinah Book Fair represents not only a significant cultural event but a milestone in a long-term project to build a cultural sector that believes in the power of words and invests in the future of knowledge.


First commercial food delivery robots launched in Saudi Arabia

First commercial food delivery robots launched in Saudi Arabia
Updated 31 July 2025
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First commercial food delivery robots launched in Saudi Arabia

First commercial food delivery robots launched in Saudi Arabia
  • Autonomous robots to deliver orders at ROSHN Front’s Business Area
  • Service will reduce delivery times, cut down on carbon emissions

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s first autonomous food delivery service has been launched in the ROSHN Front’s Business Area in Riyadh.

A partnership between housing developer ROSHN Group and delivery app Jahez, the service aims to reduce delivery times in addition to cutting carbon emissions, and is licensed by the Kingdom’s Transport General Authority.

Jayesh Maganlal, ROSHN Group’s chief information and digital officer, told Arab News that the launch aligned with the company’s strategy of “expansion, innovation and sustainability.”

Mohammed Al-Barrak, the chief technology officer at Jahez, said: “We’re happy that we officially launched autonomous delivery with ROSHN, as (we were) the first company to get the license from the sandbox (regulatory sandbox program) from the Transport General Authority.”

The initial stage of the launch will see five autonomous robots operating within ROSHN Front’s Business Area during working hours, as part of a wider initiative to test autonomous deliveries.

Maganlal said: “As of now, it is operating within our ROSHN business front. The next expansion will be within the ROSHN Front shopping mall areas. And then we will roll it out within our communities, across the ROSHN Group.”

The five autonomous robots begin operating this week and will deliver food orders from nearby restaurants between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Each robot is equipped with more than 20 sensors and six cameras to ensure safe and precise navigation. They operate via GPS with additional cooling systems tailored for the Kingdom’s climate.

Al-Barrak said the robots can handle most tasks without human intervention.

When asked how they can navigate walking paths that may have a lot of foot traffic, the engineers at Jahez said that the machines can communicate with pedestrians by displaying messages such as “I need help” and “Hello.”

The robots are also equipped with suspension that can help them navigate bumpy roads.

Maganlal highlighted expansion plans, and added: “We will also want to bring this closer to our customers and people who live in our communities, to help them get the same experience.”

This is not the first news of Jahez working with autonomous deliveries. On the sidelines of the LEAP 2024 Exhibition, Jahez announced that 10 self-driving vehicles would deliver orders.

Al-Barrak told Arab News: “Part of our strategy is to always optimize on automation, and this is part of the automation. To be innovative we chose to optimize in our key pillar, which is (logistics).

“So we decided to go with the autonomous delivery. And this is part of many upcoming technologies that will help with the automation of delivery, like within gated communities.”

ROSHN Group said the robots would operate within a green mobility framework, contributing to lower carbon emissions, reducing reliance on traditional vehicles, easing traffic congestion, and improving air quality within urban environments.


Saudi Arabia welcomes Canada, Malta’s intentions to recognize State of Palestine

Saudi Arabia welcomes Canada, Malta’s intentions to recognize State of Palestine
Updated 31 July 2025
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Saudi Arabia welcomes Canada, Malta’s intentions to recognize State of Palestine

Saudi Arabia welcomes Canada, Malta’s intentions to recognize State of Palestine
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs commended the Canadian and Maltese ‘positive decisions that establish the path of the two-state solution’
  • Kingdom welcomes Portugal’s announcement that it will consider whether to recognise the State of Palestine at the UN in September

LONDON: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the announcement made by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela regarding their countries’ intentions to recognize Palestinian statehood at the upcoming UN General Assembly in September.

Malta and Canada were among 15 Western countries that signed a statement following a high-level international conference, co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France this week.

The conference in New York aimed to advance efforts toward achieving a two-state solution to the long-standing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Riyadh commended the Canadian and Maltese “positive decisions that establish the path of the two-state solution, and affirms the agreement of the international community on the need to end the suffering of the brotherly Palestinian people.

“The Kingdom renews its call on the rest of the countries to take such serious steps in support of peace,” the ministry added.

Meanwhile, Portugal’s Prime Minister Luis Montenegro said on Thursday that the country’s centre-right government will consult the main political parties and conservative President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa about the potential recognition of a Palestinian state.

The Kingdom welcomed the consultation and said it is a positive step that would support the process of implementing the two-state solution and achieving peace.

Other countries that signed the New York Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine include Andorra, Australia, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia, and Spain. However, not all of these countries have officially recognized Palestinian statehood yet.


Taif governor orders probe into amusement ride collapse

Taif governor orders probe into amusement ride collapse
Updated 31 July 2025
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Taif governor orders probe into amusement ride collapse

Taif governor orders probe into amusement ride collapse
  • Chaos followed as people on the ground raced to help those injured in the horror incident

JEDDAH: An amusement park in the Al-Hada area of Taif has been shut down pending an investigation into the collapse of a ride that left 23 people injured.

The “360 Big Pendulum” ride collapsed while in operation on Wednesday evening.

In a statement posted on the regional government’s X account, Taif Gov. Prince Saud bin Nahar bin Saud bin Abdulaziz ordered the immediate closure of the resort, pending an investigation.

“Several injuries occurred; some were treated at the site, while others were transferred to hospital care,” the statement read. There were no fatalities reported.

According to eyewitness accounts and videos circulating on social media, the ride, which swings passengers in a large arc, experienced a structural failure in its central column, which split horizontally while in motion.

This caused the passenger-bearing arm of the pendulum to crash into the ground, while riders were strapped to their seats.

Footage shared by park visitors shows chaotic scenes moments after the collapse, with several passengers injured from the initial impact and others struck as components from the ride recoiled at high speed, hitting individuals seated on the opposite side.

Emergency teams described varying injuries, with three people in critical condition.

Authorities responded swiftly, with civil defense, emergency medical services, and security personnel arriving at the scene shortly after the incident was reported.

The injured were transported to nearby hospitals for treatment, while some received first aid on-site.

The incident has prompted public concern over safety regulations at recreational facilities, with calls for more stringent inspections and accountability.

The authorities are expected to release preliminary findings in the coming days.