The UK’s Brexit vote was welcomed in Tehran and Moscow. The initial result was welcomed by Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs which said: “As a democratic establishment, the Islamic Republic of Iran respects the British people’s vote on leaving...
The sheikhly practice of pardoning prisoners on the occasion of Ramadan has seen large numbers in the Gulf set to be released – particularly in the UAE. This month Ras Al-Khaimah Ruler Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al-Qasimi ordered the release of 247...
Saudi Arabia’s more measured tones towards the kingdom’s Houthi enemies has given an opportunity to put into perspective claims that the Yemeni conflict can be reduced to just another chapter in the Arabian-Iranian proxy war. Riyadh and its...
Former Galfar Engineering and Contracting head Mohammed Ali was released in early June following a Ramadan amnesty-related pardon. Ali was sentenced in 2014 to lengthy jail terms for his part in two high-profile bribery cases, the ramifications...
Previous attempts at taxing the Saudi population have been derailed by local opposition. In 1950, the authorities introduced personal income, capital gains and corporate taxes on nationals and foreigners, but within six months the law was...
The imam of Islam’s first mosque, Qabbaa, has stirred public controversy with comments (accessible online) that according to Islamic teachings, non-Muslims are allowed to enter the holy city of Medina without restrictions; this is contrary to...
A 13 June cabinet meeting, chaired by King Salman, finally approved the Undeveloped Land Fees Regulation, a tax on undeveloped urban land, popularly known as ‘white land’. The 2.5% tax on the value of undeveloped land designated for residential...
The King Faisal Centre for Research and Islamic Studies, the Riyadh-based think-tank chaired by former ambassador to the US and the UK Prince Turki Al-Faisal, has become embroiled in accusations of lobbying the UK parliament, after signing up a...
The National Transformation Plan (NTP), unveiled on 7 June, helped to flesh out some of the broad aims in the recently published Vision 2030 programme, driven by Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman (MBS). But as is often the case, more...
Former Galfar Engineering and Contracting head Mohammed Ali was released in early June following a Ramadan amnesty-related pardon. Ali was sentenced in 2014 to lengthy jail terms for his part in two high-profile bribery cases, the ramifications...
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