Stories from Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Public Investment Fund has lost over one billion US dollars according to reports. The fund's aggressive investment strategies have caused friction within the professional golf community, specifically regarding the PGA and LIV Golf. The fund is expected to appoint an independent board of members following the departure of its Governor. Liv Golf has confirmed that it will no longer receive funding from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. The cessation of funding is scheduled to take effect at the end of the current season. Liv Golf is expected to lose funding from the Saudi Kingdom's public investment funds by the end of this season. The loss of support comes from the Kingdom's public investment funds. The source did not specify the exact date of the funding cessation beyond the end of the current season.

Mexican boxer Canelo Alvarez has been contracted for four fights in a deal worth $900 million. The agreement follows previous tensions between the boxer and a Saudi Arabian sheikh. The sheikh reportedly retracted previous criticisms of Alvarez's skills to secure the deal.

The General Transport Authority reported that more than 45 million passengers were transported via the Kingdom's aviation sector during the first quarter of this year. Saudi Arabia has massively scaled back the planned desert city of Neom. Construction of a 50 billion skyscraper over Riyadh was also suspended in January. Cook of the Council on Foreign Relations discussed these developments regarding Saudi Arabian spending. These developments follow discussions regarding the kingdom's financial capacity, according to the BBC World Service. The kingdom must fund major upcoming events including the World Expo and the World Cup. The source noted that the country cannot print money to meet these obligations and is currently prioritizing projects. This reassessment follows the Crown Prince's previous commitment to these large-scale developments.

Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Medina has achieved operational and service readiness ahead of the Hajj season. Services at the airport will be provided 24 hours a day throughout the Hajj period.

The fourth phase of implementing residential and commercial design guidelines for Saudi architecture began today. The guidelines include 19 architectural styles inspired by the kingdom's geographic and cultural characteristics. Implementation will extend to several cities and provinces across the Riyadh, Makkah, and Northern Borders regions, as well as the city of Tabuk. The project is based on urban and cultural studies to enhance innovation. The implementation was initiated via video conference at King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh. This move is part of the broader Saudi Architecture Map framework.

The condition of Filipino conjoined twins has stabilized seven days after a successful separation surgery. The procedure took place at King Abdulaziz Medical City under the Ministry of National Guard in Riyadh. Dr. Abdul Rabia, the medical and surgical team leader, confirmed the stability of the children. The surgery took place at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre. Abdullah Rabia, head of the medical and surgical team for the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program, provided the update. The procedure was conducted as part of the Saudi program's efforts to assist pilgrims. The separation procedure was performed last Thursday at King Fahd Hospital. The conjoined twins, Kyelia and Maurice Anne, are reported to be in stable condition.

Saudi authorities reported a 99 percent satisfaction rate among Hajj pilgrims. The 'Hajj Without a Bag' initiative has reduced the time from pilgrim arrival to the departure of the last bus to 35 minutes. Electronic tracking and service company compliance contributed to these improved processing speeds. Security forces in Mecca arrested a Yemeni resident for violating Hajj regulations. The incident occurred during a period where total pilgrim numbers reached approximately 5 million for the year 1447 AH. The initiative aims to enhance digital transformation and the pilgrim experience. The King Abdulaziz International Airport has integrated over 27 government and private entities to serve Hajj pilgrims. The Haramain High-Speed Railway has also increased its departing trips to provide pilgrims with the best travel experience.

The Mawhiba organization announced the results for the Kangaroo 2026 competition. A total of 1,981 male and female students won in the competition. These winners were selected from a pool of 3,519 total participants who took the tests.

King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre has been named the most valuable health brand in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East for the fourth consecutive year. The brand value exceeds 1.7 billion USD, which is more than 6.3 billion Saudi riyals.

Jazan Commercial Port exported its first shipment of bagged Portland cement. The shipment exceeded 8,000 tons in volume. This move aims to expand the port's operational capacity and support national exports. The export is intended to enhance commercial activity through the port.