SAMI to Showcase Cutting-Edge Innovations at Saudi Pavilion at IDEX 2025

12:05-16 February 2025 AD ـ 17 Sha’ban 1446 AH

SAMI to Showcase Cutting-Edge Innovations at Saudi Pavilion at IDEX 2025

The Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI), a Public Investment Fund company, announced on Sunday its participation in the International Defense Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) 2025 under the Saudi Pavilion led and organized by the General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI).

The exhibition is scheduled to take place from February 17 to 21 in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

The Saudi Pavilion will bring together leading Saudi government agencies and companies specialized in the field of military industries, where SAMI will showcase its latest products across its various divisions.

In a statement, SAMI said key exhibits will feature SAMI Land’s upgraded SAMI Light Armored Tactical Vehicle (SLTV) with new and improved specifications, and ROAYA, the Remote Turret—both cutting-edge products designed and built entirely in Saudi Arabia.

SAMI AEC will showcase its innovations in command, control, communications, and intelligence (C4I) systems, alongside other advanced systems and products.

As Saudi Arabia’s leading national defense partner, SAMI's presence at IDEX 2025 underscores its commitment to supporting Vision 2030’s goal of localizing 50% of the Kingdom’s defense spending.

"Through its participation, SAMI highlights the remarkable growth and transformation within the Kingdom’s defense sector, fostering innovation, empowering national talent, and strengthening Saudi Arabia’s position on the global stage," said the statement.

Mawani, Arabian Chemical Terminals Sign Land Lease for Jubail Port Storage Tanks

Asharq Al Awsat

13:32-30 December 2025 AD ـ 10 Rajab 1447 AH

Asharq Al Awsat

13:32-30 December 2025 AD ـ 10 Rajab 1447 AH

Mawani, Arabian Chemical Terminals Sign Land Lease for Jubail Port Storage Tanks

The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) signed a contract with Arabian Chemical Terminals Ltd. to establish storage tanks for chemical and petrochemical materials at Jubail Commercial Port, with an investment exceeding SAR500 million on an area of 49,000 square meters.

The project will contribute to enhancing operational efficiency and increasing handling capacity in line with the objectives of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy to consolidate the Kingdom’s position as a global logistics hub, SPA reported.

This step is part of Mawani’s efforts to strengthen the role of the private sector in supporting the gross domestic product and to reinforce the position of Jubail Commercial Port as a driver of commercial activity. The project’s storage capacity will reach 70,000 cubic tons, boosting the competitiveness of the Kingdom’s ports at both regional and international levels.

The project aims to develop and expand storage capacity and the export of chemical and petrochemical materials in accordance with the highest international standards while supporting supply chains. It includes the establishment and development of specialized facilities for storing and exporting chemical and petrochemical products, as well as the provision of storage and distribution services for local and international import and export of chemicals in line with global quality and safety standards.

The project will contribute to supporting national supply chains, boosting the Kingdom’s chemical logistics capabilities, and raising operational efficiency and capacity, thereby improving customer competitiveness. It also supports the achievement of Saudi Vision 2030 objectives by promoting the development of infrastructure to advance the energy, industry, and supply chain sectors in the Kingdom.

Business

Oil Prices Stable as Investors Seek Clarity on Russia-Ukraine Talks

A view shows the crude oil terminal Kozmino on the shore of Nakhodka Bay near the port city of Nakhodka, Russia August 12, 2022. REUTERS/Tatiana Meel

Asharq Al Awsat

13:30-30 December 2025 AD ـ 10 Rajab 1447 AH

Asharq Al Awsat

13:30-30 December 2025 AD ـ 10 Rajab 1447 AH

Oil Prices Stable as Investors Seek Clarity on Russia-Ukraine Talks

A view shows the crude oil terminal Kozmino on the shore of Nakhodka Bay near the port city of Nakhodka, Russia August 12, 2022. REUTERS/Tatiana Meel

Oil prices were little changed on Tuesday as investors took stock of dented hopes of a Russia-Ukraine peace deal and rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East around Yemen, Reuters reported.

Brent crude futures for February delivery, which expire on Tuesday, were up 15 cents at $62.09 a barrel as of 0918 GMT. The more active March contract was at $61.61, up 12 cents.

US West Texas Intermediate ‌crude gained 14 ‌cents to $58.22.

The Brent and ‌WTI ⁠benchmarks settled ‌more than 2% higher in the previous session as Saudi Arabia launched airstrikes against Yemen and after Moscow accused Kyiv of targeting Putin's residence, denting hopes of a peace deal.

Kyiv dismissed Moscow's accusation as baseless and designed to undermine peace negotiations. After a phone call ⁠with Putin, US President Donald Trump said he was angered by details ‌of the alleged attack.

"I think the ‍markets are sensing that ‍a deal is going to be very hard ‍to come by," said Marex analyst Ed Meir.

Traders also watched other Middle East developments after Trump said the United States could support another major strike on Iran were Tehran to resume rebuilding its ballistic missile or nuclear weapons programs.

Despite renewed fears of potential supply disruptions, perceptions of an oversupplied global market remain and could cap prices, analysts say.

Marex's Meir said prices would trend downwards in the first quarter of 2026 due to ‌a "growing oil glut".

Business

Meta Buys China-founded AI Agent Manus

FILE PHOTO: The logo of Meta is seen at Porte de Versailles exhibition center in Paris, France, June 11, 2025. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/File Photo/File Photo

Asharq Al Awsat

08:16-30 December 2025 AD ـ 10 Rajab 1447 AH

Asharq Al Awsat

08:16-30 December 2025 AD ـ 10 Rajab 1447 AH

Meta Buys China-founded AI Agent Manus

FILE PHOTO: The logo of Meta is seen at Porte de Versailles exhibition center in Paris, France, June 11, 2025. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/File Photo/File Photo

Facebook owner Meta has agreed to acquire Manus, an artificial intelligence agent created by a company founded in China but now based in Singapore, the two firms said.

However, analysts warned the deal could fall foul of regulators at a time of fierce technological rivalry between Washington and Beijing.

Exceeding the capabilities of AI chatbots like ChatGPT, AI agents can autonomously perform complex tasks for users, and are seen as having huge potential.

Manus, created by startup Butterfly Effect, can for example sift through and summarize resumes or create a stock analysis website, according to its website.

Meta said Monday that the deal -- the financial details of which were not disclosed -- will "bring a leading agent to billions of people and unlock opportunities for businesses across our products".

"The era of AI that doesn't just talk, but acts, creates, and delivers, is only beginning," Manus chief executive Xiao Hong said on X.

"And now (with Meta), we get to build it at a scale we never could have imagined."

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is making a huge push into AI, spending billions of dollars on acquisitions, hiring engineers and building data centers.

Bloomberg Intelligence analysts said the purchase is likely aimed at expanding Meta's AI agent task capabilities, and that it could be worth more than $2 billion.

However, "it could draw regulatory scrutiny given that Singapore-based Manus was founded in China", the analysts said.

SAMI to Showcase Cutting-Edge Innovations at Saudi Pavilion at IDEX 2025