Saudi-US ties ‘critical to cement political transitions in Mideast’
Source: Arab News (Read full story)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah held wide-ranging talks on Sunday with visiting US Secretary of State John Kerry, aiming to find common grounds over the US policy on the Israeli-Palestine conflict, Syria and Iran. Kerry also met Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal, said Johann Schmonsees, a spokesman of the US Embassy. After holding talks, Kerry said strengthening the US-Saudi partnership was critical to Middle Eastern security and stability and cementing tentative political transitions around the region. Kerry conveyed the greetings of US President Barack Obama to the king, who reciprocated.
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On Saudi Employment, The Numbers Do Not Lie
Source: Saudi-U.S. Trade Group (Read full story)
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According to a survey from Saudi Arabia’s Central Department of Statistics, a total number of 699,199 jobs were created between 2011 and 2013 for both Saudis and non-Saudis at an average growth of 6.6 percent. The fact that Saudis are entering the labor market at a faster rate than the total number of jobs being generated is a positive sign – the rate of job growth for Saudis in particular increased by 10.5 percent, according to the figures. However, of the 699,199 jobs that were created between 2011 and 2013, 488,046 of them went to Saudis – but 43 percent of those jobs were in the Saudi public sector!
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Shortage of healthcare professionals in GCC as demand set to soar 240% in 20 years
Source: The National (Read full story)
The Arabian Gulf states are producing too few medical graduates to meet soaring demand for health care. Up to 80 per cent of medical staff in some hospitals and clinics are from outside the region and have been trained in more than 50 different countries. The imbalance has led to inconsistencies in techniques and training standards across the region, a new study has found. “Without the right staff, the best equipment can stand unused and the most up-to-date techniques may not necessarily be in full practice,” says the report by the management consultants McKinsey & Company.
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The Saudi challenge to US Syria policy
Source: Al-Monitor (Read full story)
Saudi Arabia begins 2014 with plans for an assertive regional policy which include continuing the war in Syria until president Bashar al-Assad is deposed. Nawaf Obaid, a fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and a senior fellow at the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, and someone with deep knowledge of Saudi decision-making, writes this week: “Of utmost importance for stability in the Arab world is the creation of a military force that can successfully deter Iranian activities and assist the Syrian rebels in bringing down the Assad regime in Damascus. A military command based at its new headquarters in Riyadh will be established in 2014. The Gulf command will be built into a 100,000 standing military force with the Saudis contributing anywhere between 50,000 to 75,000 troops.”
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Prophet’s birthday brings day off for UAE government and private sector workers
Source: The National (Read full story)
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Humaid Al Qattami, Minister of Education and chairman of the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources, announced today that all ministries and federal government employees will have a paid holiday on Sunday, in celebration of the Prophet’s birthday – Mowled Al Nabawi. Mr Al Qatami wished the President, Sheikh Khalifa, and the Vice President and Dubai ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, a blessed holiday, reported Wam, the state news agency.
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