Ahmed Al Omran
@alomran.me
Saudi correspondent for @financialtimes.com. @ahmed on Twitter and Instagram.
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Ahmed Al Omran
@alomran.me
· May 15
A $1tn-plus pivot to tourism is unfolding across Saudi Arabia. Can it keep up?
https://www.ft.com/content/50d8dad7-38b2-489c-82d3-04cff274c0c5
https://www.ft.com/content/50d8dad7-38b2-489c-82d3-04cff274c0c5
A $1tn-plus pivot to tourism is unfolding across Saudi Arabia. Can it keep up?
The FT’s Saudi Arabia correspondent revists a homeland in the grip of seismic change
www.ft.com
✈️ Saudi Arabia is spending $1 trillion over 10 years to make tourism a pillar of a diversified economy away from dependence on oil revenues. My long read on how the kingdom’s tourism revolution is unfolding will run in HTSI magazine this weekend
☎️ Saudi Arabia will not allow its airspace or territory to be used for military actions against Iran, Crown Prince tells Pezeshkian in telephone call —SPA
January 28, 2026 at 6:50 AM
☎️ Saudi Arabia will not allow its airspace or territory to be used for military actions against Iran, Crown Prince tells Pezeshkian in telephone call —SPA
🚨 FT scoop — Neom review nears completion: The Line to be redesigned, region to shift focus to “industrial” sectors including AI data centres.
January 25, 2026 at 1:40 PM
🚨 FT scoop — Neom review nears completion: The Line to be redesigned, region to shift focus to “industrial” sectors including AI data centres.
🚨 Saudi media steps up attacks on UAE as Gulf rift deepens.
January 21, 2026 at 6:19 AM
🚨 Saudi media steps up attacks on UAE as Gulf rift deepens.
Unpacking some old boxes and found these two issues of Newsweek’s Arabic edition from more 20 years ago on the eve of the American invasion of Iraq.
January 15, 2026 at 3:48 PM
Unpacking some old boxes and found these two issues of Newsweek’s Arabic edition from more 20 years ago on the eve of the American invasion of Iraq.
🚨 Trump Organization announces golf course and hotel in Diriyah in first collaboration with PIF-owned company.
January 11, 2026 at 4:29 PM
🚨 Trump Organization announces golf course and hotel in Diriyah in first collaboration with PIF-owned company.
🎢 My latest story: Saudi Arabia opens $1 billion Six Flags theme park in Qiddiya as the kingdom pushes ahead with megaprojects.
January 11, 2026 at 11:05 AM
🎢 My latest story: Saudi Arabia opens $1 billion Six Flags theme park in Qiddiya as the kingdom pushes ahead with megaprojects.
🚨 Saudi Arabia launches new air strikes on southern Yemen as STC leader fails to travel to Riyadh for talks aimed at ending the crisis.
January 7, 2026 at 1:33 PM
🚨 Saudi Arabia launches new air strikes on southern Yemen as STC leader fails to travel to Riyadh for talks aimed at ending the crisis.
🚨 Saudi Arabia launches air strike on Yemen’s Mukalla port, accuses UAE of “pressuring” separatist southern group to conduct military operations on the kingdom’s borders.
December 30, 2025 at 8:57 AM
🚨 Saudi Arabia launches air strike on Yemen’s Mukalla port, accuses UAE of “pressuring” separatist southern group to conduct military operations on the kingdom’s borders.
Saudi complaints over social security benefits lead to arrests and fines: https://blog.alomran.me/2025/12/29/saudi-complaints-over-social-security.html
December 29, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Saudi complaints over social security benefits lead to arrests and fines: https://blog.alomran.me/2025/12/29/saudi-complaints-over-social-security.html
Saudi complaints over social security benefits lead to arrests and fines: https://blog.alomran.me/2025/12/29/saudi-complaints-over-social-security.html
December 29, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Saudi complaints over social security benefits lead to arrests and fines: https://blog.alomran.me/2025/12/29/saudi-complaints-over-social-security.html
🚨 Saudi Arabia calls moves by Yemen’s STC “unjustified escalation”, urges the group to withdraw forces from seized provinces —foreign ministry statement.
December 25, 2025 at 6:56 AM
🚨 Saudi Arabia calls moves by Yemen’s STC “unjustified escalation”, urges the group to withdraw forces from seized provinces —foreign ministry statement.
“While Saudi’s reinvention has left scars, in the form of budget overruns and scaled-back projects, the country has breezed through its own 2030 target and is set to generate an estimated 57 per cent of economic output from non-oil activities this year.”
December 24, 2025 at 10:15 AM
“While Saudi’s reinvention has left scars, in the form of budget overruns and scaled-back projects, the country has breezed through its own 2030 target and is set to generate an estimated 57 per cent of economic output from non-oil activities this year.”
Saudi writer Ahmed Abodehman dies at age 76. He was known for his semi-autobiographical novel “La Ceinture”, first published in French by Gallimard in 2000.
December 14, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Saudi writer Ahmed Abodehman dies at age 76. He was known for his semi-autobiographical novel “La Ceinture”, first published in French by Gallimard in 2000.
Saudi Arabia plans expanding access to alcohol with two more liquor stores in Jeddah and Dhahran catering to non-Muslim diplomats and Premium Residency holders.
November 26, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Saudi Arabia plans expanding access to alcohol with two more liquor stores in Jeddah and Dhahran catering to non-Muslim diplomats and Premium Residency holders.
🚨 Saudi AI firm Humain leads $900 million funding round in US video startup Luma AI.
November 19, 2025 at 5:53 PM
🚨 Saudi AI firm Humain leads $900 million funding round in US video startup Luma AI.
🚨 US and Saudi Arabia reach deal for rare earths facility in the kingdom.
November 19, 2025 at 3:49 PM
🚨 US and Saudi Arabia reach deal for rare earths facility in the kingdom.
🚨 Trump says he will approve unprecedented sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia during the crown prince visit to the White House today. Other deals covering defence, AI and nuclear energy also on the agenda.
November 18, 2025 at 6:42 AM
🚨 Trump says he will approve unprecedented sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia during the crown prince visit to the White House today. Other deals covering defence, AI and nuclear energy also on the agenda.
🚨 Saudi royal court confirms that the crown prince has traveled to the US. Talks with Trump to focus on bilateral relations and issues of common concern, statement says.
سياسي / الديوان الملكي: بناءً على توجيه خادم الحرمين الشريفين واستجابة للدعوة المقدمة لسمو ولي العهد من الرئيس الأمريكي فقد غادر سموه متوجهًا إلى الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية في زيارة عمل رسمية
الرياض 26 جمادى الأولى 1447 هـ الموافق 17 نوفمبر 2025 م واس
صدر عن الديوان الملكي اليوم البيان التالي:
"بيان من الديوان الملكي"
بناءً على توجيه خادم الحرمين الشريفين الملك سلمان بن عبدالعزيز آل سعود -حفظه الله-، واستجابة للدعوة المقدمة لصاحب السمو الملكي الأمير محمد بن سلمان بن عبدالعزيز آل سعود ولي العهد رئيس مجلس الوزراء -حفظه الله- من فخامة رئيس الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية / دونالد ترمب، فقد غادر سموه -بحفظ الله ورعايته- اليوم الاثنين 26 / 5 / 1447هـ الموافق 17 / 11 / 2025م، متوجهًا إلى الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية، في زيارة عمل رسمية يلتقي خلالها بفخامة رئيس الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية / دونالد ترمب، لبحث العلاقات الثنائية وسبل تعزيزها في مختلف المجالات، ومناقشة القضايا ذات الاهتمام المشترك.
حفظ الله سموه في سفره وإقامته.
// انتهى //
18:35 ت مـ
0172
www.spa.gov.sa
November 17, 2025 at 3:50 PM
🚨 Saudi royal court confirms that the crown prince has traveled to the US. Talks with Trump to focus on bilateral relations and issues of common concern, statement says.
Trump’s family business and its Saudi partner Dar Global unveil plan for luxury Maldives resort that uses blockchain technology to attract investment.
November 17, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Trump’s family business and its Saudi partner Dar Global unveil plan for luxury Maldives resort that uses blockchain technology to attract investment.
My latest story: Saudi PIF cuts US equity holdings to $19.4 billion in Q3, down from $23.8 billion in Q2 as the fund exits positions in 9 companies, including Visa and Pinterest.
November 16, 2025 at 1:12 PM
My latest story: Saudi PIF cuts US equity holdings to $19.4 billion in Q3, down from $23.8 billion in Q2 as the fund exits positions in 9 companies, including Visa and Pinterest.
Saudi women sign up for belly dancing classes at fitness studios — an activity that many feel compelled to keep secret.
Saudi belly dancers break taboos behind closed doors
In a fitness studio in Saudi Arabia, dozens of women sway to Arabic music as they practise belly dancing -- an activity that many feel compelled to keep secret.In Arab communities, belly dancing has played many roles.
www.yahoo.com
November 11, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Saudi women sign up for belly dancing classes at fitness studios — an activity that many feel compelled to keep secret.
Saudi Aramco steps up gas push to power fleets of AI data centres, new industrial hubs and fast-growing cities.
November 11, 2025 at 7:28 AM
Saudi Aramco steps up gas push to power fleets of AI data centres, new industrial hubs and fast-growing cities.
🚨 Saudi king appoints Sheikh Salih al-Fawzan as the kingdom’s Grand Mufti —royal decree
October 22, 2025 at 7:40 PM
🚨 Saudi king appoints Sheikh Salih al-Fawzan as the kingdom’s Grand Mufti —royal decree