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Al Khateeb: Tourism Sector Tops Agenda at WEF Annual Meeting 2025 in Davos

A landmark is lit up in the colors of the national flag in Diriyah on the occasion of Saudi National Day. (SPA file photo)
A landmark is lit up in the colors of the national flag in Diriyah on the occasion of Saudi National Day. (SPA file photo)
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Al Khateeb: Tourism Sector Tops Agenda at WEF Annual Meeting 2025 in Davos

A landmark is lit up in the colors of the national flag in Diriyah on the occasion of Saudi National Day. (SPA file photo)
A landmark is lit up in the colors of the national flag in Diriyah on the occasion of Saudi National Day. (SPA file photo)

Saudi Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al Khateeb stressed on Monday that Saudi Arabia's participation in the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2025 in Davos, Switzerland, underscores its steadfast commitment to shaping the global dialogue on travel and tourism as key drivers of economic growth and cultural exchange.

Speaking to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Al Khateeb highlighted that tourism is a central focus at this year’s forum, with Saudi Arabia showcasing its achievements and fostering partnerships to drive the sector’s global growth.

He emphasized that Saudi Arabia's tourism sector is experiencing unprecedented expansion under Saudi Vision 2030 and the National Transformation Program, positioning the Kingdom as a leading global destination with an ambitious goal of welcoming 150 million tourists annually.

The minister noted that tourism currently contributes 5% to Saudi Arabia's GDP, with projections to double to 10% by 2030. This growth is fueled by strategic investments in groundbreaking projects such as the Red Sea Project, Diriyah, and Qiddiya, alongside numerous private-sector initiatives that are boosting tourism across the Kingdom.

Saudi Arabia is leveraging its natural and cultural assets to establish a global benchmark for tourism-led economic development, he added.

Al Khateeb also highlighted tourism's vital role in the global economy, citing the 2023 Economic Impact Report (EIR) by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), which revealed that the global travel and tourism sector contributed 9.1% to global GDP—a 23.2% increase from the previous year.

He described Saudi Arabia's participation in Davos as an opportunity to amplify its achievements through collaboration with global leaders, strengthen public-private partnerships, and reinforce its role as a hub for international cooperation.

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Business

European Oil and Gas Stocks Hit Record High, Surpassing 2007 Level

The chimneys of the Total Grandpuits oil refinery are seen just after sunset, southeast of Paris, France, March 1, 2021. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann
The chimneys of the Total Grandpuits oil refinery are seen just after sunset, southeast of Paris, France, March 1, 2021. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann
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European Oil and Gas Stocks Hit Record High, Surpassing 2007 Level

The chimneys of the Total Grandpuits oil refinery are seen just after sunset, southeast of Paris, France, March 1, 2021. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann
The chimneys of the Total Grandpuits oil refinery are seen just after sunset, southeast of Paris, France, March 1, 2021. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann

The European oil and gas stocks index hit a record high on Monday, surpassing a previous record hit in 2007, helped in recent weeks by a rise in the price of oil, Reuters reported.

At 1450 in London the basket was up 1.5%. Oil and gas names have added 17% year-to-date versus a 6.5% rise for the pan-European STOXX 600 index.

Brent rose as high as $72.44 a barrel on Monday a six month high. It has risen nearly 19% so far in 2026 as investors worry about US military action in Iran.

Business

Oil Hovers Near Six-month High with Nuclear Talks and US Tariffs in Focus

Oil platforms and pumpjacks at Lake Maracaibo, in Cabimas, Venezuela, January 26, 2026. REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/File Photo
Oil platforms and pumpjacks at Lake Maracaibo, in Cabimas, Venezuela, January 26, 2026. REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/File Photo
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Oil Hovers Near Six-month High with Nuclear Talks and US Tariffs in Focus

Oil platforms and pumpjacks at Lake Maracaibo, in Cabimas, Venezuela, January 26, 2026. REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/File Photo
Oil platforms and pumpjacks at Lake Maracaibo, in Cabimas, Venezuela, January 26, 2026. REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/File Photo

Oil prices steadied near a six-month high on Monday as the US and Iran prepared for a third round of nuclear talks while increased economic uncertainty was also in focus after the latest US tariff upheaval.

Brent crude futures were up 9 cents at $71.85 a barrel by 1308 GMT while US West Texas Intermediate crude gained 15 cents to $66.63, Reuters reported.

Growing concern over potential military conflict between the US and Iran pushed Brent prices up more than 5% last week to their highest since July 2025 at $72.34.

"With the next, and possibly last, round of the Iranian nuclear talks not until Thursday, focus is on the US Supreme Court’s decision to strike down import tariffs and the subsequent reaction from the government," said PVM Oil Associates analyst Tamas Varga.

The US Customs and Border Protection agency said it would halt collections of tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act at 12:01 a.m. EST (0501 GMT) on Tuesday.

However, Trump said on Saturday that he would raise a temporary tariff from 10% to 15% on US imports from all countries, the maximum allowed under the law, after the US Supreme Court struck down his previous tariff program.

"This morning’s weakness is a defensive move, and needless to say, with the uncertainty surrounding a US military intervention in Iran, the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war and now the US Supreme Court’s decision, oil price direction is not (clear), but volatility is guaranteed," PVM's Varga said.

Iran has indicated it is prepared to make concessions on its nuclear program in return for the lifting of sanctions and recognition of its right to enrich uranium, a senior Iranian official told Reuters ahead of Thursday's third round of nuclear talks between the two nations.

While prices on paper had moved higher, softer prompt spreads and weaker physical differentials pointed to pricing being based on geopolitical concerns rather than an actual lack of oil in the market, Morgan Stanley analysts said in a note.

Business

Chevron, Iraq Agree to Exclusive Talks Over West Qurna 2 Oilfield 

A view of West Qurna oilfield is seen in Basra, southeast of Baghdad, March 29, 2014. (Reuters)
A view of West Qurna oilfield is seen in Basra, southeast of Baghdad, March 29, 2014. (Reuters)
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Chevron, Iraq Agree to Exclusive Talks Over West Qurna 2 Oilfield 

A view of West Qurna oilfield is seen in Basra, southeast of Baghdad, March 29, 2014. (Reuters)
A view of West Qurna oilfield is seen in Basra, southeast of Baghdad, March 29, 2014. (Reuters)

Chevron has entered into exclusive talks with Iraq over the giant West Qurna 2 oilfield, moving closer to acquiring the field from sanctioned Russian oil firm Lukoil.

The talks, which Chevron said will include the exchange of confidential data, could expand the US oil major's footprint in ‌Iraq after ‌the country decided to nationalize the West ‌Qurna 2 ⁠field and unwind ⁠Lukoil's interest in the project.

Iraq nationalized the field last month after the US imposed sanctions on Lukoil to put pressure on Russia to end its war in Ukraine.

EXCLUSIVE NEGOTIATION RIGHTS FOR ONE YEAR

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani's office confirmed the signing of the deal between Chevron and the Basra Oil Company.

The agreement between ⁠BOC, Lukoil and Chevron allows for the temporary ‌transfer of the West Qurna ‌2 contract to BOC, which will subsequently assign it to Chevron after ‌terms of the new contract are agreed, al-Sudani's office said in ‌a statement.

Chevron will have exclusive negotiation rights for one year, al-Sudani's office said.

Iraq's government must approve the agreements, and certain steps are contingent upon other approvals including from the US Office of Foreign ‌Assets Control, Chevron said.

Competitive economic terms will be essential to upcoming negotiations, Chevron added.

'AMICABLE SETTLEMENT' WITH ⁠LUKOIL

The Iraqi ⁠cabinet approved last week an "amicable settlement" with Lukoil over the transfer of operations of the oilfield to BOC. Lukoil has until February 28 to sell its assets under the sanctions.

West Qurna, one of the world's largest oilfields, accounts for about 0.5% of global oil supply and nearly 10% of Iraq's output.

A deal for Chevron in West Qurna 2 would mark a further push into Iraq for the US oil major.

It has agreed to develop several fields in the country as part of an international expansion since completing a deal to acquire US oil producer Hess for $53 billion in 2025.