Saudi Arabia Seeks to Build Integrated Space Sector In Cooperation With International Entities

A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying NASA's Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover vehicle. (File photo: Reuters)
A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying NASA's Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover vehicle. (File photo: Reuters)
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Saudi Arabia Seeks to Build Integrated Space Sector In Cooperation With International Entities

A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying NASA's Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover vehicle. (File photo: Reuters)
A United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying NASA's Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover vehicle. (File photo: Reuters)

Official information revealed serious efforts by Saudi Arabia to build an integrated space sector aimed at transferring and indigenizing technologies in cooperation with international entities.

The King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) said that there were seven main areas of fundamental importance within the strategic goals of Vision 2030, mainly space and aviation, environment, water and agriculture, digital technologies, urban transformation and logistical services.

A report on the prospects for future technologies in the Kingdom, issued by KACST, revealed the state’s efforts to establish a strong and sustainable national space sector and transfer and indigenize technologies through cooperation with international centers and entities.

The Kingdom’s Vision 2030 also aims to make Saudi Arabia a global center for logistics services, the report added.

Moreover, KACST underlined that with the increase in the population and the frequency of climatic shocks to which the agricultural and water systems are exposed, it has become important for the Kingdom to improve the sustainability of its agricultural, water and environmental resources in a way that benefits the national economy as a whole and helps Saudi Arabia track its performance towards its international commitments

The report said that KACST supports development activities in the field of environment, water and agriculture, through active research projects to combat agricultural and animal pests and desertification, in addition to continuous measuring of environmental pollution and projects to preserve wildlife.

It also works in partnership with the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program to develop technologies pertaining to vertical and hydroponic farming and soil improvement.

The Ministry of Energy is the competent authority in charge of the sector’s strategies and activities, which are aimed at reducing carbon emissions, the report noted, adding that the National Industry Development and Logistics Program promotes the use of renewable energy to generate power by developing more than 35 projects throughout the Kingdom.

The report stated that Saudi Arabia was seeking to build national industries that are able to compete locally and globally through national exports, in line with the national vision that aims to develop the industries of equipment, mining, chemicals and industrial machinery to meet the rapidly growing local and regional demand.



OPEC, Non-OPEC Ministers Stress Critical Importance of Safeguarding Int’l Maritime Routes

Saudi Minister of Energy and Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz (L) at the Riyadh meeting on Monday. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Energy and Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz (L) at the Riyadh meeting on Monday. (SPA)
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OPEC, Non-OPEC Ministers Stress Critical Importance of Safeguarding Int’l Maritime Routes

Saudi Minister of Energy and Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz (L) at the Riyadh meeting on Monday. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Energy and Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz (L) at the Riyadh meeting on Monday. (SPA)

Ministers of OPEC and non-OPEC Participating Countries in the Declaration of Cooperation (DoC) met on the sidelines of the 17th IEF ministerial meeting and the 25th WPC Energy Congress in Riyadh on Monday.

The ministers reviewed market conditions and agreed to continue consultation with all OPEC+ countries, through already established mechanisms, including the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC) and the OPEC and Non-OPEC Ministerial Meetings (ONOMM).

They reaffirmed their commitment to the decisions made on June 7, 2026 (41stONOMM) to achieve and sustain a stable oil market.

The ministers stressed the critical importance of safeguarding the international maritime routes to ensure the uninterrupted flow of energy.

They noted that the current interruption of energy flows has elevated the cost of shipping and insurance, which have reached unprecedented levels of more than one third of the commodity value, impeding the timely and efficient movement of crude oil and products, and placing additional inflationary pressures on the global economy.

These exceptionally elevated costs are ultimately transmitted across the oil value chain, increasing and prolonging the cost burden on producing and consuming countries and impacting global economic growth, they remarked.

The ministers will continue monitoring the situation and will engage with governments, industry stakeholders, and international organizations such as the IEF, IEA, and others to improve global shipping conditions.


Saudi Energy Minister Signs MoUs on Energy Cooperation with Mongolia, Tanzania, Cyprus, and Mauritius

Saudi Minister of Energy and Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz and Cyprus’s Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry Michael Damianos during the signing ceremony in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Energy and Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz and Cyprus’s Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry Michael Damianos during the signing ceremony in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)
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Saudi Energy Minister Signs MoUs on Energy Cooperation with Mongolia, Tanzania, Cyprus, and Mauritius

Saudi Minister of Energy and Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz and Cyprus’s Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry Michael Damianos during the signing ceremony in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Energy and Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz and Cyprus’s Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry Michael Damianos during the signing ceremony in Riyadh on Monday. (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Energy and Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz signed in Riyadh on Monday four memoranda of understanding with ministers from Mongolia, Tanzania, Cyprus and Mauritius to strengthen cooperation across a range of energy fields.

The MoUs were signed on the sidelines of the 25th WPC Energy Congress, hosted by Saudi Arabia through October 15 under the theme “Pathways to an Energy Future for All."

Prince Abdulaziz and Mongolia’s Deputy Prime Minister Togmid Dorjkhand signed an MoU to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in oil and gas and their derivatives, refining, petrochemicals, electricity, power interconnection, renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy storage, and technologies and solutions related to climate change mitigation, including Circular Carbon Economy solutions.

Saudi Minister of Energy and Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz and Tanzania’s Minister for Energy Juma Zuberi Homera during the signing ceremony. (SPA)

The MoU covers cooperation in digital transformation, innovation, cybersecurity applications and artificial intelligence in the energy sector. It seeks to develop strategic partnerships between the two countries to secure materials, products and services across energy sectors and their supply chains and technologies; promote the development and use of sustainable petrochemical materials in construction and other sectors; strengthen cooperation between energy companies; and support them in implementing large-scale electricity projects and harnessing renewable energy in both countries.

Prince Abdulaziz signed an MoU with Tanzania’s Minister for Energy Juma Zuberi Homera to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in the supply of refined petroleum products and explore opportunities related to associated infrastructure, assess opportunities in liquefied natural gas, exchange technical expertise in oil and gas exploration, and explore opportunities in petrochemical production.

The MoU covers electricity, renewable energy, energy efficiency, and the exchange of technologies and solutions related to climate change mitigation, including clean cooking solutions and Circular Carbon Economy technologies and solutions. It further includes exploring opportunities related to the Oil Sustainability Program and transport and fuel infrastructure, as well as cooperation in digital transformation, innovation, cybersecurity applications and artificial intelligence in the energy sector.

Saudi Minister of Energy and Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz and Mauritius’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade Dhananjay Ramful during the signing ceremony. (SPA)

Prince Abdulaziz and Cyprus’s Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry Michael Damianos signed an MoU establishing a framework for cooperation in oil and gas and their derivatives, refining, petrochemicals, electricity, clean hydrogen and its derivatives, renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy storage, and technologies and solutions related to climate change mitigation, including Circular Carbon Economy technologies and solutions.

The MoU covers cooperation in digital transformation and cybersecurity applications in the energy sector, as well as efforts to advance and support shared international policy priorities through relevant multilateral negotiations, including under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Paris Agreement and the international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution.

It further provides for cooperation on the development and use of sustainable petrochemical materials in construction and other sectors, the development of appropriate infrastructure to expand energy access, and cooperation between companies operating in energy-related fields.

Saudi Minister of Energy and Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz and Mongolia’s Deputy Prime Minister Togmid Dorjkhand. (SPA)

Prince Abdulaziz signed an MoU with Mauritius’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade Dhananjay Ramful covering cooperation in oil and gas and their derivatives, refining, petrochemicals, electricity, clean hydrogen and its derivatives, renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy storage, and technologies and solutions related to climate change mitigation, including Circular Carbon Economy technologies and solutions.

The MoU also covers cooperation in digital transformation and cybersecurity applications in the energy sector.

It provides for efforts to advance and support shared international policy priorities through relevant multilateral negotiations, including under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Paris Agreement and the international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution.

It covers cooperation on the development and use of sustainable petrochemical materials in construction and other sectors, as well as the development of appropriate infrastructure to expand energy access.


Minister of Finance Leads Saudi Delegation to 2026 IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings

Saudi Minister of Finance Mohammed Aljadaan. (SPA file)
Saudi Minister of Finance Mohammed Aljadaan. (SPA file)
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Minister of Finance Leads Saudi Delegation to 2026 IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings

Saudi Minister of Finance Mohammed Aljadaan. (SPA file)
Saudi Minister of Finance Mohammed Aljadaan. (SPA file)

Minister of Finance Mohammed Aljadaan is leading Saudi Arabia's delegation to the 2026 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Group (WBG) in Bangkok from October 12-17.

The Saudi delegation includes Governor of the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) Ayman Alsayari; Deputy Chair of the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) Dr. Ryadh Alkhareif; Deputy Minister of Finance for International Relations Khalid Bawazier; CEO of the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) Sultan Almarshad; CEO of the National Debt Management Center (NDMC) Hani Almedaini; and experts from the Ministry of Finance, SAMA, SFD, NDMC, and the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA).

Aljadaan will participate in the IMF and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) High-Level Seminar; the IMF Managing Director's meeting with the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan; and the Arab Governors' meeting with the President of the WBG.

Aljadaan and Alsayari will participate in the Third G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) Meeting, held under the US Presidency. Discussions will focus on key developments in the global economy, emerging challenges, and ways to strengthen international economic cooperation.

Aljadaan will chair the IMFC meeting, where members will exchange views on developments in the global economy, including growth prospects and emerging risks. Discussions will cover global economic policy priorities and the IMF's role in addressing these challenges through financial assistance, advice, and capacity development for its members.

He will also take part in the WBG Governor's Development Committee meeting to discuss the latest updates in the WBG's development strategies, including its role in helping to create jobs as a key economic driver, enabling the private sector, and supporting countries in reforming policies that attract investments and promote economic growth.

The Annual Meetings serve as a global platform that brings together finance ministers, central bankers, senior officials from international organizations, private sector executives, representatives from civil society organizations, and academics to discuss global issues, including the global economy, sustainable development, poverty eradication, and other economic and financial topics.