In fact, the oil price later rose to more than $100 a barrel, but not before the government had introduced a hiring freeze and a nationwide slowdown in construction projects. Consulate/Visa Section:(202) 944-3126 Saudi Arabia carries out regular arrests and deportations of undocumented migrant workers, including major arrest campaigns in November 2013 and August 2017. After registering a stronger-than-expected recovery in 2021, the Saudi Arabian economy is on an accelerated path to growth in 2022, driven by higher oil prices and non-oil activities, as oil production strengthens and pandemic pressures fade. A process of Saudization will see an estimated 1.2m foreign workers leave the kingdom by the end of 2020, opening up opportunities for locals but only if businesses can survive the pandemic and its economic consequences, and are prepared to pay higher wages. Pouille said: Cultural cooperation is expanding. We also had a dozen Saudi ministers there, who were able to meet with their counterparts. In the first quarter of this year there is a budget deficit of $9bn. Saudi Arabia's Quality of Life Program participates in UN High Level It also has Saudi Aramco, the majority state-owned oil company, valued last year at $1.7 trillion - equivalent to the combined worth of Google and Amazon at the time. The joint decision to create the Villa Hegra, a Franco-Saudi cultural and artistic hub, will place AlUla at the top of contemporary creation in the Middle East, the ambassador added. This is their fourth meeting in less than a year. A Senate hearing on Tuesday is just one part of Washingtons scrutiny of the PGA Tours deal with Saudi Arabias sovereign wealth fund. Even the Saudi ambassador to London called it "a stain on our reputation". On the mens side of the stadium, hundreds of men jumped to their feet, chanting and clapping for the players. The resolution, Countering religious hatred constituting incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence, was adopted at the 53rd session of the Human Rights Council following a request by the OIC group of countries in Geneva. One indication of Saudi Arabias declining standard of living are falling vehicle sales, which having skidded off a cliff since the last big oil price drop in 2015, when there were 800,000 car sales that year, to 400,000 in 2018. Saudi Arabias position in the world oil market and its membership in the OPEC require the country to conduct a deep political reform to enhance its international position. For your average citizen in Saudi Arabia, that means only one thing - more belt tightening. We face big challenges to help the worlds poorest people and ensure that everyone sees benefits from economic growth. On June 1112th Saudi Arabia hosted the tenth ArabChina Business Conference in its capital, Riyadh. To learn more about cookies, click here. Yet Saudi Arabia remains one of the worlds leading exporters of fossil fuels. Dutch government falls as ministers clash over migration Najiba, 34, and her friends said that they were seeing far more Saudi women working at the hospital in recent years, and that the idea of women in medical careers had become more palatable to families who might previously have considered a mixed-gender working environment problematic. But for human rights activists around the . Recently it has been looking to acquire strategic stakes in high-profile investments such as its current bid to acquire 80% of Newcastle United Football Club, a move strongly opposed by Khashoggi's widow, Hatice Cengiz, on ethical grounds. Another setback is the decision to limit the annual Hajj to 1,000 domestic pilgrims. Al-Hogail invited Gul to visit the Kingdom and attend the Cityscape Global real estate exhibition in September. Upon return to Ethiopia, deportees were arbitrarily arrested, mistreated, and forcibly disappeared. Monday - Friday 9:00am5:00pm, Main Number:(202) 342-3800 However much things have changed, the culture remains sufficiently conservative and cautious of angering the authorities that Marwa, like many of the Riyadh residents interviewed for this article, declined to give her full name. He has the backing of his 84-year old father, King Salman, and he has systematically removed any potential rivals to the throne. But tensions came to a head this week when two coalition parties refused to . A clutch of men encircled the player, some with children hoisted on their shoulders. Saudi Arabia's position in the world oil market and its membership in the OPEC require the country to conduct a deep political reform to enhance its international position. Now you can have free choice, but limited. Vehicle sales are now forecast to drop by a third again in 2020 because of the latest VAT hike. Participants from medical specialties represented 35.2%, surgical specialties 23.1%, and general and family medicine specialties 30.1%. The main political issues in modern Saudi Arabia are the upcoming political reform, religious freedom, women's rights, minority right, and economic reform (CDHR). Saudi Arabia's global reputation was critically damaged by the Khashoggi murder and the initial botched cover-up. Its not like you are showing parts of your body.. Minorities in Saudi Arabia also face severe discrimination in education and employment. The Yemen War, prosecuted in part from the air by Saudi warplanes supplied by the US and Britain, has seen alleged war crimes committed by all sides. Examining the metrics of the Kingdom, from GDP to literacy rates, one finds ever-present success. Read about our approach to external linking. Current issues facing disaster nursing education in Saudi Arabia Those numbers seem optimistic, given the global industry is predicting a fall of 58-78 percent this year. Several female spectators said they never missed a match. Were so excited, she said. Within a year it has significantly changed. But concerns may linger, analysts say. At the conference Chinese and Arab delegations signed more than 30 agreements at a total value of about US$10bn, across sectors including renewable energy, tourism and healthcare. (PDF) English Education Policy in Saudi Arabia: English Language Pouille said: The crown prince participated in the summit for a global financial pact, organized by the French President Emmanuel Macron. With high vaccination rollout reaching 68% of the population, from January 2022 new cases were on a downward trajectory. Picnicking at Wadi Hanifa park in Riyadh. Middle East Eye. Almost two-thirds of the population are under 30 - and most of them are unemployed university graduates. 601 New Hampshire Avenue, NW "The private sector in particular will be hardest hit" by the austerity measures, says Michael Stephens. The majority of participants (76.2%) received their knowledge of ethics in medical college, 59.3% through self-teaching means, and 78.5% felt confident about . Vision 2030 was announced in 2016 with three main pillars to create a "vibrant society, a thriving economy, and an ambitious nation." This year, lower oil prices and Covid-19 prompted Saudi Arabia to borrow $26.6bn after it burned through foreign reserves and announced a stimulus package of $32bn. Every year, France celebrates the anniversary of a historical incident known as the storming of the Bastille, when revolutionaries seized control of the medieval armory, fortress, and political prison in the center of Paris known as the Bastille on July 14, 1789. The Embassy of The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Pouille noted that Saudi Arabia has become a crucial partner in the transformation thanks to the shared priorities of the two countries. Al-Attiyah said the donation is part of Saudi Arabias efforts to support initiatives designed to enhance international cooperation in efforts to ban chemical weapons and prevent their proliferation, in compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention and the role it plays in enhancing international peace and security. In July, US President Joe Biden visited MBS in Jeddah, a move allegedly motivated by a desire to lower global fuel prices but which did not translate into a public request on the matter nor significantly increase Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries Plus (OPEC+) oil output, in which Saudi Arabia is a key decision-maker in the oil market cartel. Emergency Contact Numbers. For Saudi Arabia, playing host this weekend - albeit virtually - to the G20 group of the world's leading economies is a moment of great national pride. Women can attend certain sporting events at stadiums, which was forbidden until a few years ago. All of this means that while Saudi Arabia remains a huge player in the international economy - it is due to host the next G20 summit in November - its allies see it as an awkward and sometimes embarrassing partner. Read about our approach to external linking. Challenges and Opportunities for the Saudi Economy But a large part of it also rests on a widespread optimism that he can deliver them a golden economic future. Freedom of expression and association The Specialized Criminal Court (SCC) convicted and sentenced at least 15 individuals, both citizens and foreign nationals, to between 15 and 45 years in prison after grossly unfair trials for their peaceful expression or association, including peaceful online speech on Twitter. Share this via Printer. The use of chemical weapons or toxic substances by anyone, anywhere, under any circumstances is reprehensible and a violation of the conventions provisions, said Al-Attiyah. The Saudi delegation is led by Ziyad Al-Attiyah, the Kingdoms ambassador to the Netherlands and its permanent representative to the OPCW. It gives employers excessive power over migrant workers mobility and legal status in the country and underpins their vulnerability to a wide range of abusesfrom passport confiscation to delayed wageswhich can amount to forced labor. Issues | The Embassy of The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia On March 12, authorities executed 81 people, including 41 people from the Shia community, in the countrys largest mass execution in decades. When Riyadh first introduced VAT and reduced fuel subsidies in 2018, it dampened the economic hit by introducing a cost of living allowance for about one million public employees, budgeted at 1,000 Riyals ($267) a month. Judicial beheadings continue apace and the country is still one of the most heavily criticised by human rights groups. Saudi Arabia - World Health Organization (WHO) They discussed Istanbuls experience in balancing efforts to preserve its culture and heritage with the need for urban development in the city, and the challenges it faces. Visit GHO for more country information The current COVID-19 situation Data reported to WHO in the last 24 hours. Saudi Arabia: Current Issues and U.S. Relations. While men can unilaterally divorce women, women can only petition a court to dissolve their marriage contract on limited grounds and must establish harm as a prerequisite. 2 Despite existing efforts, there are several . The Kenyan foreign ministry reported that 89 Kenyansmore than half of them female domestic workersdied in Saudi Arabia between 2020 and 2021 under suspicious circumstances. These are the key threats. Abusive practices in detention centers, including torture and mistreatment, prolonged arbitrary detention, and asset confiscation without any clear legal process, remain pervasive. Seventy-five years ago, Saudi Arabia did not exist; today, it is a nation marked by sophisticated political, legal, and financial systems, with a culture rich in history and deep in faith. COVID-19 has further devalued oil and wreaked havoc on the non-energy sectors Saudi Arabia is trying to develop in the name of diversification. Out of the 33 headings in the Vision, 14 deal with the economy, 11 with social issues, and eight with adminstration. Once famous for being tax-free, Saudi Arabia has announced it is trebling its Value Added Tax (VAT) from 5% to 15% and cancelling the monthly living subsidy from next month. The Saudi government isnotoriousfor repressing public dissent and has a well-established record of attempting toinfiltratetechnology platforms and use advanced cyber surveillance technology to spy on dissidents. Coronavirus and oil price collapse have torpedoed projects all across the kingdom, calling into question whether the crown prince's much-vaunted Vision 2030 programme can still be achieved. Audio, 15 minutes, Danny Beard On Same Sex Love and Marriage. It requests that the council identify drivers and manifestations of religious hatred and outline gaps in laws, policies, practices and law enforcement that impede the prevention and persecution of public and premeditated acts, and that it propose measures aimed at countering acts of religious hatred that hinder the enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms. The Specialized Criminal Court brought charges against them in September 2021. His once-powerful cousin Prince Mohammed Bin Nayef, whom he replaced as crown prince in a palace coup in 2017, is just one of many senior figures to have been detained and disempowered. In addition, he highlighted the fact that the Kingdom has donated 50,000 ($56,000) to help establish a new Center for Chemistry and Technology, which will help to boost technology transfers and technical assistance among the organizations member states. Information on influential people within the government. But the civilian death toll caused by those air strikes has led to mounting criticism in Washington and elsewhere. On Friday, the Executive Director of the Quality of Life Program Center, Khalid bin Abdullah Al-Bakr, will participate in a dialogue session on Sustainable Development Goal No. In January, Human Rights Watch reported on the horrific detention conditions of thousands of ethnic Tigrayan people deported between December 2020 and September 2021 from Saudi Arabia to Ethiopia. Share this via Reddit Article 42(3) states that neither spouse may abstain from sexual relations or cohabitation with the other without the other spouses consent, implying a marital right to intercourse. 4. Stronger oil output is the main driver behind the recovery, which is expected to grow by 13% in 2022 following the end of the OPEC+ production cuts in December 2022. In addition to changes in the workplace, public space is becoming less strictly segregated by sex. PDF Saudi Arabia: Current Issues and U.S. Relations - DTIC Article 9 declares the legal age of marriage as 18 but allows courts to authorize the marriage of a child under 18 if they have reached puberty and if it can be proved that the marriage provides an established benefit to the child. Only England and Wales jurisdiction apply in all legal matters. Football 23 Jun 2468 Neves joins Saudi's Al-Hilal for club. Over the last five years, the percentage of women working outside the home has almost doubled, according to official statistics, to 32 percent from nearly 18 percent. Nicholas Kristof The Wannabe Putin in Saudi Arabia Why would Biden reset relations with a crown prince who seeks a nuclear program?