Ahmed Al Omran
@alomran.me
Saudi correspondent for @financialtimes.com. @ahmed on Twitter and Instagram.
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Ahmed Al Omran
@alomran.me
· May 15
A $1tn-plus pivot to tourism is unfolding across Saudi Arabia. Can it keep up?
https://www.ft.com/content/50d8dad7-38b2-489c-82d3-04cff274c0c5
https://www.ft.com/content/50d8dad7-38b2-489c-82d3-04cff274c0c5
A $1tn-plus pivot to tourism is unfolding across Saudi Arabia. Can it keep up?
The FT’s Saudi Arabia correspondent revists a homeland in the grip of seismic change
www.ft.com
✈️ Saudi Arabia is spending $1 trillion over 10 years to make tourism a pillar of a diversified economy away from dependence on oil revenues. My long read on how the kingdom’s tourism revolution is unfolding will run in HTSI magazine this weekend
🚨 Saudi AI firm Humain leads $900 million funding round in US video startup Luma AI.
November 19, 2025 at 5:53 PM
🚨 Saudi AI firm Humain leads $900 million funding round in US video startup Luma AI.
🚨 US and Saudi Arabia reach deal for rare earths facility in the kingdom.
November 19, 2025 at 3:49 PM
🚨 US and Saudi Arabia reach deal for rare earths facility in the kingdom.
🚨 Trump says he will approve unprecedented sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia during the crown prince visit to the White House today. Other deals covering defence, AI and nuclear energy also on the agenda.
November 18, 2025 at 6:42 AM
🚨 Trump says he will approve unprecedented sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia during the crown prince visit to the White House today. Other deals covering defence, AI and nuclear energy also on the agenda.
🚨 Saudi royal court confirms that the crown prince has traveled to the US. Talks with Trump to focus on bilateral relations and issues of common concern, statement says.
سياسي / الديوان الملكي: بناءً على توجيه خادم الحرمين الشريفين واستجابة للدعوة المقدمة لسمو ولي العهد من الرئيس الأمريكي فقد غادر سموه متوجهًا إلى الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية في زيارة عمل رسمية
الرياض 26 جمادى الأولى 1447 هـ الموافق 17 نوفمبر 2025 م واس
صدر عن الديوان الملكي اليوم البيان التالي:
"بيان من الديوان الملكي"
بناءً على توجيه خادم الحرمين الشريفين الملك سلمان بن عبدالعزيز آل سعود -حفظه الله-، واستجابة للدعوة المقدمة لصاحب السمو الملكي الأمير محمد بن سلمان بن عبدالعزيز آل سعود ولي العهد رئيس مجلس الوزراء -حفظه الله- من فخامة رئيس الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية / دونالد ترمب، فقد غادر سموه -بحفظ الله ورعايته- اليوم الاثنين 26 / 5 / 1447هـ الموافق 17 / 11 / 2025م، متوجهًا إلى الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية، في زيارة عمل رسمية يلتقي خلالها بفخامة رئيس الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية / دونالد ترمب، لبحث العلاقات الثنائية وسبل تعزيزها في مختلف المجالات، ومناقشة القضايا ذات الاهتمام المشترك.
حفظ الله سموه في سفره وإقامته.
// انتهى //
18:35 ت مـ
0172
www.spa.gov.sa
November 17, 2025 at 3:50 PM
🚨 Saudi royal court confirms that the crown prince has traveled to the US. Talks with Trump to focus on bilateral relations and issues of common concern, statement says.
Trump’s family business and its Saudi partner Dar Global unveil plan for luxury Maldives resort that uses blockchain technology to attract investment.
November 17, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Trump’s family business and its Saudi partner Dar Global unveil plan for luxury Maldives resort that uses blockchain technology to attract investment.
My latest story: Saudi PIF cuts US equity holdings to $19.4 billion in Q3, down from $23.8 billion in Q2 as the fund exits positions in 9 companies, including Visa and Pinterest.
November 16, 2025 at 1:12 PM
My latest story: Saudi PIF cuts US equity holdings to $19.4 billion in Q3, down from $23.8 billion in Q2 as the fund exits positions in 9 companies, including Visa and Pinterest.
Saudi women sign up for belly dancing classes at fitness studios — an activity that many feel compelled to keep secret.
Saudi belly dancers break taboos behind closed doors
In a fitness studio in Saudi Arabia, dozens of women sway to Arabic music as they practise belly dancing -- an activity that many feel compelled to keep secret.In Arab communities, belly dancing has played many roles.
www.yahoo.com
November 11, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Saudi women sign up for belly dancing classes at fitness studios — an activity that many feel compelled to keep secret.
Saudi Aramco steps up gas push to power fleets of AI data centres, new industrial hubs and fast-growing cities.
November 11, 2025 at 7:28 AM
Saudi Aramco steps up gas push to power fleets of AI data centres, new industrial hubs and fast-growing cities.
🚨 Saudi king appoints Sheikh Salih al-Fawzan as the kingdom’s Grand Mufti —royal decree
October 22, 2025 at 7:40 PM
🚨 Saudi king appoints Sheikh Salih al-Fawzan as the kingdom’s Grand Mufti —royal decree
🚨 Saudi Arabia in talks with US for defence pact ahead of the crown prince’s visit to the White House next month.
October 17, 2025 at 5:55 AM
🚨 Saudi Arabia in talks with US for defence pact ahead of the crown prince’s visit to the White House next month.
🚨 My latest: Western cultural institutions are re-embracing Saudi Arabia as their quest for fresh funding and expansion aligns with the kingdom’s ambitions to grow its art and culture sectors as part of wider economic diversification plans.
October 8, 2025 at 6:24 AM
🚨 My latest: Western cultural institutions are re-embracing Saudi Arabia as their quest for fresh funding and expansion aligns with the kingdom’s ambitions to grow its art and culture sectors as part of wider economic diversification plans.
🚨 “The glory days are over”: consultants in Saudi Arabia curb expansion plans as the kingdom reviews its priorities.
October 7, 2025 at 6:33 AM
🚨 “The glory days are over”: consultants in Saudi Arabia curb expansion plans as the kingdom reviews its priorities.
In case you missed it >>
🚨 My latest: How the Saudi crown prince irreversibly changed the relationship between the state and the kingdom’s religious establishment.
September 30, 2025 at 6:26 PM
In case you missed it >>
🚨 Saudi real estate developer to build $1 billion Trump-branded project in Jeddah.
September 29, 2025 at 11:01 AM
🚨 Saudi real estate developer to build $1 billion Trump-branded project in Jeddah.
🚨 My latest: How the Saudi crown prince irreversibly changed the relationship between the state and the kingdom’s religious establishment.
September 29, 2025 at 4:39 AM
🚨 My latest: How the Saudi crown prince irreversibly changed the relationship between the state and the kingdom’s religious establishment.
🚨 Saudi Arabia freezes Riyadh rents for 5 years as property costs soar.
September 25, 2025 at 5:44 PM
🚨 Saudi Arabia freezes Riyadh rents for 5 years as property costs soar.
🇸🇦 Our latest long read: Can Vision 2030 uplift Saudi Arabia’s rural areas?
September 24, 2025 at 8:08 AM
🇸🇦 Our latest long read: Can Vision 2030 uplift Saudi Arabia’s rural areas?
🚨 Scoop: Saudi Arabia to shift management of Sindalah island from Neom to Red Sea Global after delayed opening.
September 19, 2025 at 12:24 PM
🚨 Scoop: Saudi Arabia to shift management of Sindalah island from Neom to Red Sea Global after delayed opening.
PwC culls jobs of 60 partners and 1,500 staff in the Middle East after Saudi clash.
September 19, 2025 at 11:11 AM
PwC culls jobs of 60 partners and 1,500 staff in the Middle East after Saudi clash.
🚨 Saudi Arabia and Pakistan sign strategic defence pact.
September 17, 2025 at 6:54 PM
🚨 Saudi Arabia and Pakistan sign strategic defence pact.
🔝 This is the most-read story on FT right now >>
🚨 My latest story: Saudi authorities shut down two dozen music “lounges” in recent weeks over violations to public health and hygiene codes, but their existence has been controversial for years as conservatives see them as signs of the rapid decay of morals and social norms.
September 17, 2025 at 11:23 AM
🔝 This is the most-read story on FT right now >>
🚨 My latest story: Saudi authorities shut down two dozen music “lounges” in recent weeks over violations to public health and hygiene codes, but their existence has been controversial for years as conservatives see them as signs of the rapid decay of morals and social norms.
September 17, 2025 at 6:14 AM
🚨 My latest story: Saudi authorities shut down two dozen music “lounges” in recent weeks over violations to public health and hygiene codes, but their existence has been controversial for years as conservatives see them as signs of the rapid decay of morals and social norms.
September 16, 2025 at 6:39 AM
🚨 Qatar calls for “concrete steps” against Israel at Arab-Islamic summit in Doha after the missile strikes.
September 15, 2025 at 7:23 PM
🚨 Qatar calls for “concrete steps” against Israel at Arab-Islamic summit in Doha after the missile strikes.