Saudi Arabia, UAE issuers represented 68% of total ESG sukuk issuance in 9M 2025

Saudi Arabia and the UAE represented 68% of all ESG sukuk issuance at the end of nine-months 2025, with GCC countries holding over half of all outstanding ESG sukuk at the end of the same period, according to a new report by Fitch. Aside from the...

Saudi Arabia Abolishes Decades-Old Kafala System, Granting Greater Freedom to Migrant Workers

Saudi Arabia has officially abolished its 50-year-old Kafala labour sponsorship system, announced as part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 reforms. The historic move grants approximately 13 million migrant workers, primarily from...

AI Delivers Early Returns in Saudi Arabia

Kyndryl released its second annual Readiness Report, drawing on responses from 3,700 senior leaders across 21 countries. The data reveals a moment of both momentum and reflection — as businesses in Saudi Arabia report growing returns from AI...

Bahrain, Saudi Arabia sign deal to ease flow of goods

Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have signed an agreement to facilitate certification of origin procedures for Bahrain’s industrial exports to the Saudi Arabia. The signing took place under Phase Two of the In-Country Value Certificate (Takamul)...

Commentary: Even Saudi Arabia is focused on solar energy. Will the US be left behind?

While the Trump administration has effectively declared war on wind and solar energy — blocking all permitting of projects on federal lands and pushing through a rollback of federal subsidies and tax credits — other nations are embracing renewable...

Bahraini-Saudi goods agreement signed

Abdullah bin Adel Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce, attended the signing of an agreement to facilitate certification of origin procedures for the Kingdom of Bahrain’s industrial exports to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The signing took...

High-profile comedians paid handsomely to not offend Saudi royals at Riyadh comedy fest

Last year, FIRE launched the Free Speech Dispatch, a regular series covering new and continuing censorship trends and challenges around the world. Our goal is to help readers better understand the global context of free expression. Want to make...

Saudi Arabia scraps Kafala labour system, 13 million foreign workers to benefit

Riyadh: Saudi Arabia has abolished the five-decade old Kafala labour sponsorship system that allowed Kafala (employers) to have inhuman control over employees, including seizing travel documents and taking decision on when they could change their...

Trump envoys deliver secret messages from Israel to Saudi Arabia

The US is trying to calm Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates and bring them back on board with Donald Trump's Gaza plan. As part of this effort, Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and advisor, and envoy Steve Witkoff recently met in Jeddah...

Stella McCartney Closed Out Riyadh Fashion Week

Stella McCartney brought her star power, her most recent designs — and a message of solidarity and sustainability — to help close out Riyadh Fashion Week Tuesday night on a high note. Guests were ferried in high-speed elevators to the vacant 49th...

SR20,000 fine: Saudi bars employers from charging domestic workers for recruitment, residency permit

Saudi government has barred employers from charging domestic workers any fees, including recruitment, work permit, iqama, and change of profession, offering a major relief to employees, according to Saudi Gazette report. The provisions are...

Saudi Arabia Scraps Decades-Old Kafala System, Easing Restrictions for 13 Million Migrant Workers

Riyadh, October 22: Saudi Arabia has abolished the five-decade old Kafala labour sponsorship system that allowed Kafala (employers) to have inhuman control over employees, including seizing travel documents and taking decision on when they could...

World Bank Urges Region’s States to Turn Climate, Tech Challenges into Opportunities

The World Bank has warned that countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) face a critical crossroads, requiring “urgent” reforms to turn major challenges, aging populations, climate change, and technological transformation, into real...

Riyadh outlaws recruitment and work permit fees on domestic workers

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has banned employers from charging domestic workers any fees for recruitment, work permits or residency documents, introducing penalties of up to 20,000 Saudi riyals and a three-year ban on hiring for violations. According to...

Saudi abolishes Kafala System. How it could help millions of Indian migrant workers

In a welcome relief for millions of migrant workers, Saudi Arabia has officially ended the Kafala System, giving them more rights and freedom to work in the kingdom. The Kafala System (sponsor system) had been in place in Saudi Arabia and much of...

Saudi Arabia bans employers from charging domestic workers for recruitment, work permit

Saudi Arabia has banned employers from charging any fees to their domestic workers, including for recruitment and work permits, setting maximum penalties of a fine worth 20,000 riyals (SR) and a three-year ban on hiring, according to Saudi...

Saudi Arabia prohibits employers from charging domestic workers for recruitment, iqama

Saudi Arabia has barred employers from charging domestic workers any fees, including recruitment, work permit, iqama, and change of profession, offering a major relief to employees. The provisions are outlined in the newly released Guide to the...

Saudi Arabia bars employers from charging domestic workers any fees

In a major relief for workers, Saudi Arabia has barred employers from charging domestic staff any fees, including recruitment, work permit, service transfer, and change of profession. The provisions are outlined in the newly released Guide to the...

Saudi Arabia: KAFD, Samsung ink smart city infrastructure collaboration deal

The King Abdullah Financial District Development and Management Company (KAFD DMC), Riyadh’s premier business and lifestyle destination, and Samsung Electronics today announced the signing of a MoU to explore areas for collaboration on the...

Saudi Arabia postpones October housing support disbursement: Check new date and conditions

In Saudi Arabia, the official weekend is Friday and Saturday, making Sunday a regular working day for postponed disbursements Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Housing has announced that the monthly housing support grant for October 2025 will be...