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Saudi Arabia Registers Rise in Population to 34m

Saudi Arabia Registers Rise in Population to 34m
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Saudi Arabia Registers Rise in Population to 34m

Saudi Arabia Registers Rise in Population to 34m

The General Authority for Statistics (GaStat) has registered an increase in population to 32.4 million in H1 of 2019 with Saudis representing 61.7 percent of them.

(GaStat) saw a rise in the total of non-Saudis in H1 of 2019 of 460,000 with a growth of 3.5 percent at 13.10 million compared to 12.64 million in 2018.

The rise of non-Saudi residents in the kingdom coincides with the departure of more than 1.6 million foreigners after the introduction of fees on dependants in July 2017 according to Saudi Jadwa Investment.

It also comes after the kingdom announcing giant projects in various regions as well as launching Saudi Arabia's Premium Residency.

In the same context, the kingdom revealed in June that it started receiving applications for the Premium Residency (Special Privilege Iqama) through the electronic platform "Saprc".

The holders of Premium Residency enjoy several privileges: they can invest in real estate units in Makkah and Madinah for periods not more than 99 years, they can work in any private establishment and freely switch jobs, they can exit and enter the Kingdom freely, they can practice commercial activities, they can obtain visit visas for their relatives, they can recruit domestic workers, they can own real estate units for residential, and others.

Since launching Saudi Vision 2030, the kingdom initiated huge projects such as NEOM, Qiddiya, and Red Sea project in addition to other entertainment projects to develop the cities.

NEOM is located in an area of about 26.5 thousand square kilometers. NEOM's economic prospects will focus on 16 sectors such as energy, tourism, and others in addition to Qiddiya that would be inaugurated in 2023. More than 50 firms will contribute to building it, knowing that it consists of 5 hotels to be announced later on.

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Iranian Official to Asharq Al-Awsat: Committed to Peace and Stability with Saudi Arabia

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi (Reuters)
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi (Reuters)
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Iranian Official to Asharq Al-Awsat: Committed to Peace and Stability with Saudi Arabia

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi (Reuters)
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi (Reuters)

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi reaffirmed Iran and Saudi Arabia’s mutual determination to establish lasting peace and stability in the region.
Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat during his visit to Riyadh, Ravanchi emphasized that achieving this goal requires sustained bilateral and regional cooperation to address current threats and build a foundation for prosperity and security.
During his meetings with the Saudi Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Eng. Waleed ElKhereiji, Ravanchi discussed strengthening bilateral relations in political, economic, and consular fields, and explored key regional and international issues.
He described Saudi-Iranian efforts as a “successful model of bilateral and multilateral cooperation,” aimed at fostering peace, security, and development on both regional and international levels. Ravanchi underscored the importance of historical ties and the principle of good neighborliness as the basis for advancing this relationship.
Following the second meeting of the Saudi-Chinese-Iranian trilateral committee in Riyadh, both Saudi Arabia and Iran reiterated their full commitment to implementing the Beijing Agreement, according to a statement by the Saudi foreign ministry. The accord, mediated by China, aims to restore diplomatic ties and promote mutual respect for sovereignty and security in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and international law.
China praised the progress achieved since the agreement’s signing, including the reopening of embassies and increased bilateral engagement. It pledged to continue supporting Saudi-Iranian efforts to deepen their cooperation and maintain regional stability.
Ravanchi, who previously served as Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations and was a member of the Iranian nuclear negotiating team with the P5+1, described the atmosphere of the meetings as “cordial and transparent.” He added that the three nations exchanged views on topics of mutual interest and stressed the importance of continuing this “positive and forward-looking process.” He also revealed “constructive and friendly” meetings held by the Iranian delegation with their Saudi hosts and Chinese counterparts, during which they discussed enhancing bilateral and trilateral cooperation and reviewed developments in relations over the past year.
One significant development has been the improvement in consular services. Over 87,000 Iranian pilgrims performed Hajj, and more than 52,000 completed Umrah in the past year, demonstrating enhanced coordination. Additionally, the first meeting of the Saudi-Iranian Joint Media Committee and the signing of an MoU between Saudi Arabia’s Prince Saud Al-Faisal Institute for Diplomatic Studies and Iran’s Institute for Political and International Studies further strengthened institutional ties.
The trilateral meeting also tackled pressing regional challenges, particularly the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The participants condemned Israel’s aggression in Palestine, Lebanon, and Iran, calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the continuation of humanitarian aid to affected regions. They warned that ongoing violence poses significant risks to regional and global security, including threats to maritime safety.
On Yemen, the parties reiterated their support for a comprehensive political solution under United Nations auspices. They emphasized the importance of dialogue and diplomacy to achieve lasting peace in the war-torn country.
Saudi-Iranian relations have undergone a remarkable transformation since the signing of the Beijing Agreement. The reopening of embassies, including Iran’s embassy in Riyadh in June after a seven-year hiatus, marked a turning point in their ties.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Consular Affairs Alireza Bigdeli described the day as a “historic milestone” in Saudi-Iranian relations. He expressed confidence that the renewed relationship would reach its peak, emphasizing that the restoration of ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia opens a new chapter in bilateral and regional relations, aimed at greater cooperation and stability.