http://www.zawya.com/middle-east/countries/saudi-arabiaen-usCopyright 2012 Zawya Ltd. All rights reserved.Tue, 14 Feb 2012 03:23:00 GMT5014476http://www.zawya.com/middle-east/countries/saudi-arabiahttp://www.zawya.com/images/newsletter_zawya_logo.gifhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120214032346/Saudi_ministry_halts_cement_exports The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has stopped export of cement and clinker to meet growing local demand and stabilize prices, its spokesman Ahmed Al-Abdali said.Tue, 14 Feb 2012 06:55:29 GMTArab News ZAWYA20120214032346Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120214032512/Riyadh_backs_Tunisias_plan_to_host_friends_of_SyriaThe Council of Ministers on Monday called for drastic measures to end the bloodbath in Syria and welcomed Tunisia's plan to host a conference of Syria's friends on Feb. 24.Tue, 14 Feb 2012 06:54:20 GMTArab News ZAWYA20120214032512Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120214032650/Saudi_Shoura_debate_on_AC_standard_put_offThe Shoura Council on Monday postponed a debate on imposing a uniform standard on air conditioners sold in the Kingdom.Tue, 14 Feb 2012 06:53:49 GMTArab News ZAWYA20120214032650Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120214032831/Saudi_King_approves_three_new_collegesCustodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has approved the establishment of three new colleges and an institute, Higher Education Minister Khaled Al-Anqari announced Monday.Tue, 14 Feb 2012 06:52:46 GMTArab News ZAWYA20120214032831Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120214032939/GCC_Turkey_eye_deeper_tiesGulf hydrocarbon producers and Turkey are considering creating a $10-million company to undertake joint investment in the two regions as part of an agreement to expand commercial and investment ties.Tue, 14 Feb 2012 06:49:52 GMTEmirates 24|7 ZAWYA20120214032939Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120214033019/Women_not_quite_on_top_in_GCC_firms_surveyDespite all the talk about a reducing gender gap in corporate board rooms, women still continue to be in minority across the world.Tue, 14 Feb 2012 06:49:09 GMTEmirates 24|7 ZAWYA20120214033019Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120214033204/Travelers_through_Riyadh_airport_rise_to_1527mThe number of passengers who traveled through King Khaled International Airport (KKIA) in Riyadh during 2011 rose by 10.2 percent to 15.27 million compared to the previous year when the figure was 13.87 million.Tue, 14 Feb 2012 06:48:53 GMTArab News ZAWYA20120214033204Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120214033205/Insurance_sector_dominates_Tadawul_trading_index_rises The Tadawul All-Share Index (TASI) closed at 6,831.56 points on Monday, up 28.62 points at a growth rate of 0.42 percent over the close of the previous day. On an YTD basis TASI registered a positive return of 6.45 percent. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 06:48:28 GMTArab News ZAWYA20120214033205Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120214035014/Dammam_school_may_get_into_Guinness_recordsThe International Indian School in Dammam (IISD) might be listed as a Guinness World Record as the largest educational institution with 16,000 students, 800 teachers and 600 nonteaching staff.Tue, 14 Feb 2012 06:37:02 GMTArab News ZAWYA20120214035014Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120214035016/Festival_a_gateway_for_cultural_cohesion_says_Saudi_health_ministerHealth Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah said on Monday that the National Festival for Heritage and Culture at Janadriyah is one of the gateways for intellectual and cultural cohesion that connects the Kingdom's glorious past with the present.Tue, 14 Feb 2012 06:36:47 GMTArab News ZAWYA20120214035016Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120214040123/Deported_by_Malaysia_Kashghari_detained_on_arrival_in_RiyadhSaudi blogger Hamza Kashghari, who had fled to Kuala Lumpur on Thursday after tweeting insulting comments about Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), was taken into custody as he arrived in Riyadh on Sunday night. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 06:32:22 GMTArab News ZAWYA20120214040123Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120214040231/Six_Jubail_expansion_projects_approvedThe Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu has approved six mega industrial expansion projects at a cost of SR21.2 billion at the Jubail Industrial City. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 06:30:24 GMTArab News ZAWYA20120214040231Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120214040720/Foster_Wheeler_awarded_deal_for_propylene_oxide_unit_in_JubailFoster Wheeler has announced that subsidiaries of its Global Engineering and Construction Group have been awarded an engineering, procurement and construction management contract by Aramco Overseas Company B.V. (AOC), a subsidiary of Saudi Aramco, and by Dow Europe Holding B.V. (Dow) for a propylene oxide (PO) unit. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 06:28:04 GMTArab News ZAWYA20120214040720Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120214040722/SR33bn_for_power_projects_in_Makkah_regionThe Saudi Electricity Company is currently executing projects worth more than SR33 billion in Makkah region, its CEO Ali Al-Barrak said Monday. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 06:27:16 GMTArab News ZAWYA20120214040722Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120214030903/KFUPM_from_Jabal_Al_Dhahran_to_Pasadenas_JPLOn Sept. 23, 1965, a group of 67 Saudi students became the nucleus of what would be the most influential educational institute in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 06:12:14 GMTArab News ZAWYA20120214030903Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120214030844/Saudi_boost_to_defense_ties_with_Indian_ministerCustodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah held wide-ranging talks with Indian Defense Minister A.K. Antony here Monday.Tue, 14 Feb 2012 06:11:27 GMTArab News ZAWYA20120214030844Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidpdf_130212133701/NCB_Market_Review__Outlook_13Feb12This is a PDF report. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 13:34:00 GMTNational Commercial Bank pdf_130212133701Subscriptionhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidANA20120213T103953ZIFS62/Deported_Saudi_blogger_faces_blasphemy_charge_reportA Saudi journalist wanted in the kingdom for comments deemed insulting to the Prophet Mohammed was arrested after being deported from Malaysia and will face charges of blasphemy, a report said.Mon, 13 Feb 2012 11:09:24 GMTAFP ANA20120213T103953ZIFS62Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120213014426/Shortterm_solution_found_to_cement_shortage_in_MakkahThe acute shortage of cement in Makkah province might be on its way to be solved with the daily injection of 10,000 tons of cement (200,000 bags) into the region, sources at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said.Mon, 13 Feb 2012 09:21:10 GMTArab News ZAWYA20120213014426Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZW20120213000041/Gulf_states_havent_formally_mulled_plan_if_Hormuz_shutSourceGulf oil producers aren't formally considering a contingency plan to mitigate the impact of any blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the sea route through which about a fifth of the world's oil is shipped, a Kuwait oil official said Monday, downplaying threats from Tehran.Mon, 13 Feb 2012 09:15:26 GMTZawya Dow Jones News ZW20120213000041Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidpdf_130212075730/OAB_Al_Arabi_GCC_Virtual_Portfolio_13Feb12This is a PDF report. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 07:55:00 GMTOman Arab Bank SAOC pdf_130212075730Subscriptionhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120213031410/Saudi_banks_2011_profits_at_5year_highSaudi Arabia's banks earned nearly SR30.9 billion in 2011 to net their highest income since 2006 as a result of a pick up in domestic credit and lower loan loss provisions, according to official data.Mon, 13 Feb 2012 07:49:45 GMTEmirates 24|7 ZAWYA20120213031410Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120213014902/SR10bn_Mobily_loan_deal_to_boost_data_services_revenuesEtihad Etisalat (Mobily) signed a SR10 billion loan agreement with seven local banks to boost its revenues and invest in its broadband and data services business.Mon, 13 Feb 2012 07:48:43 GMTArab News ZAWYA20120213014902Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120213014827/Young_Saudis_trained_in_construction_tradesMakkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal attended the graduation ceremony of the first batch of 300 Saudi youths who have completed training in various vocations in the construction industry such as plumbers, electricians, carpenters and technicians.Mon, 13 Feb 2012 07:48:32 GMTArab News ZAWYA20120213014827Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120213031825/Older_Gulf_hotels_look_to_renovateOlder properties across the Gulf will undergo major renovations to keep pace with the quality of new supply, with some even closing for complete refurbishment, according to a new report by hospitality business property advisor Christie + Co.Mon, 13 Feb 2012 07:47:19 GMTEmirates 24|7 ZAWYA20120213031825Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120213014322/Six_Jubail_expansion_projects_approvedThe Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu has approved six mega industrial expansion projects at a cost of SR21.2 billion at the Jubail Industrial City.Mon, 13 Feb 2012 06:32:30 GMTArab News ZAWYA20120213014322Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120213014508/33_of_Saudi_firms_definitely_hiring_in_the_next_3_monthsThe latest Job Index survey conducted by Bayt.com and YouGov has shown that Saudi Arabia's hiring expectancy in the coming months is slightly lower than it was in the fourth quarter of 2011.Mon, 13 Feb 2012 06:27:11 GMTArab News ZAWYA20120213014508Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120213014615/TASI_falls_slightly_turnover_at_SR87bnThe Saudi stock market (Tadawul) retreated to 6,802.94 on Sunday, which was roughly where it started the day. The Tadawul All-Share Index (TASI) lost about 28 points during the day but bounced up and down to close at 6,802.94 levels, just 1.09 points down. General perception of the investors remained negative and Saudi stocks declined a little from earlier levels.Mon, 13 Feb 2012 06:25:25 GMTArab News ZAWYA20120213014615Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120213014648/Malaysia_draws_over_87000_Saudi_touristsMore than 24.7 million tourists Arabia arrived in Malaysia during 2011, Tourism Malaysia officials told Arab News. A spokesperson at Tourism Malaysia office in Dubai said Saudi Arabia topped from the Gulf with 87,693 tourists.Mon, 13 Feb 2012 06:18:49 GMTArab News ZAWYA20120213014648Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120213015115/Sattam_inaugurates_halal_food_event_in_RiyadhRiyadh Gov. Prince Sattam opened an international conference on halal food in the capital here on Sunday. The Saudi Food and Drugs Authority organized the three-day conference focusing on monitoring halal food.Mon, 13 Feb 2012 06:16:53 GMTArab News ZAWYA20120213015115Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120213015535/Brazilian_commercial_mission_in_Riyadh_to_spur_SaudiThe Brazilian Trade And Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil) and the Brazilian Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade are lunching a commercial mission at Riyadh Mariott.Mon, 13 Feb 2012 06:15:44 GMTArab News ZAWYA20120213015535Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120213015503/Reliable_and_continuous_power_supply_is_our_aim_says_Saudi_Electricity_chiefSaudi Electricity Company President and CEO Ali S. Al-Barrak estimates that more than SR450 billion ($120 billion) of capital investment will be required over the next 10 years.Mon, 13 Feb 2012 06:15:03 GMTArab News ZAWYA20120213015503Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120213051614/Malaysia_deports_controversial_Saudi_tweeterMalaysia on Sunday deported controversial Saudi former columnist Hamza Kashgari after Riyadh requested his extradition following the outrage caused by comments deemed blasphemous and insulting to Prophet Mohammad on his Twitter account.Mon, 13 Feb 2012 05:18:21 GMTGulf News ZAWYA20120213051614Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZW20120212000023/SABICSinopec_in_talks_with_Trinidad_to_build_53b_methanol_complexSaudi Basic Industries Corp., or Sabic, and China Petrochemical and Chemical Corp., or Sinopec, have agreed to start negotiations with Trinidad and Tobago to possibly build a $5.3 billion methanol complex in that country, according to the world's largest petrochemical maker by market value.Sun, 12 Feb 2012 12:16:40 GMTZawya Dow Jones News ZW20120212000023Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120212105955/Mobile_operators_to_lower_rates_for_roaming_in_GCC_countriesWith the consumers' interest in mind, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) of Bahrain in coordination with the Gulf Cooperation Council countries (GCC) has issued an instruction to all mobile operators to implement reduced tariffs for international calls made to GCC countries while roaming in GCC countries.Sun, 12 Feb 2012 11:07:55 GMTPress Release ZAWYA20120212105955Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidANA20120212T101451ZICS81/Iran_speaker_warns_Gulf_Arab_states_not_to_side_with_USIran's parliamentary speaker Ali Larijani warned Iran will not forgive Gulf Arab nations if they continue backing US "plots" against Tehran, local media reported.Sun, 12 Feb 2012 10:27:49 GMTAFP ANA20120212T101451ZICS81Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120212041855/UAE_takes_lions_share_of_1t_projects_in_GCCThe UAE ranked top among GCC countries with its lion's share of $636 billion construction projects while the region has more than $1 trillion worth of major projects.Sun, 12 Feb 2012 08:06:06 GMTKhaleej Times ZAWYA20120212041855Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120212042551/Saudi_Airlines_Cargo_boosts_charter_activitySaudi Airlines Cargo has announced it is continuing to increase its activity in the global charter market, marking the company's definitive return to this sector.Sun, 12 Feb 2012 06:41:57 GMTThe Saudi Gazette ZAWYA20120212042551Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120212042723/Saudi_Arabia_accounts_for_57_of_locally_domiciled_fundsIn terms of locally domiciled funds, Saudi Arabia accounted for 57% of the count, but 73% of assets were based on the selected data (solely indicative given its incomplete nature), the GCC Mutual Fund Industry Survey 2011 showed.Sun, 12 Feb 2012 06:41:15 GMTThe Saudi Gazette ZAWYA20120212042723Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120212042835/STC_selects_Ericsson_as_main_vendor_for_4GLTESaudi Telecom Company (STC) has selected Ericsson as one of the main vendors in the company's deployment of its LTE network in Saudi Arabia.Sun, 12 Feb 2012 06:39:47 GMTThe Saudi Gazette ZAWYA20120212042835Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120212032349/Riyadh_meeting_to_clarify_the_concept_of_halal_foodSaudi Arabia will host the first ever international conference on halal food in the Saudi capital on Sunday, Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) Chairman Mohammed Al-Kanhal announced in Riyadh Saturday .Sun, 12 Feb 2012 06:38:24 GMTArab News ZAWYA20120212032349Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120212033545/Some_schools_in_KSA_barred_from_setting_exam_papersThe Ministry of Education in Saudi Arabia has prevented around a fifth of private secondary schools in the Kingdom from setting their own questions for final examinations starting from the second semester of the current academic year.Sun, 12 Feb 2012 06:37:48 GMTArab News ZAWYA20120212033545Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120212033452/National_Guard_chief_hands_rare_artifacts_to_SCTAPrince Miteb bin Abdullah, minister of state, Cabinet member, and commander of the National Guard, has handed a number of rare antiques and heritage pieces to the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA).Sun, 12 Feb 2012 06:37:08 GMTArab News ZAWYA20120212033452Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120212033642/Prince_Abdul_Aziz_launches_portal_for_translated_booksDeputy Foreign Minster Prince Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah, who is also member of the board of directors of the King Abdul Aziz Public Library launched on Saturday a portal for the translated books on the sidelines of the function to announce the winners of the fifth King Abdullah International Prize for Translation.Sun, 12 Feb 2012 06:36:39 GMTArab News ZAWYA20120212033642Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120212034015/Tadawul_up_further_volume_improvesThe Tadawul All-Share Index (TASI) gained nominal 6.94 points and closed at 6,804.03 points on Saturday.Sun, 12 Feb 2012 06:33:48 GMTArab News ZAWYA20120212034015Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120212034713/Saudi_Arabia_offers_scholarships_to_Filipino_undergraduatesSaudi Minister for Higher Education Khalid Al-Anqari announced recently that Saudi Arabia has allocated 150 graduate courses for Filipinos in various universities in the Kingdom, according to Philippine Ambassador Ezzedin H. Tago.Sun, 12 Feb 2012 06:33:13 GMTArab News ZAWYA20120212034713Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120212035040/Saudi_visitors_major_spenders_in_SwitzerlandThe Saudi market is important for Switzerland tourism promoters because visitors from the Kingdom spend SR2,000 per day on average, a Swiss official said.Sun, 12 Feb 2012 06:32:38 GMTArab News ZAWYA20120212035040Openhttp://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidZAWYA20120212035220/Hotel_industry_booming_in_Eastern_Province_MelhemA hospitality industry veteran says business is booming like never before in Saudi Arabia and 2013 will see the launch of many new hotels.Sun, 12 Feb 2012 06:32:02 GMTArab News ZAWYA20120212035220Open