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 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
🚨 Saudi Arabia in talks with US for defence pact ahead of the crown prince’s visit to the White House next month.
October 17, 2025 at 5:55 AM
🚨 Saudi Arabia in talks with US for defence pact ahead of the crown prince’s visit to the White House next month.
🚨 My latest: Western cultural institutions are re-embracing Saudi Arabia as their quest for fresh funding and expansion aligns with the kingdom’s ambitions to grow its art and culture sectors as part of wider economic diversification plans.
October 8, 2025 at 6:24 AM
🚨 My latest: Western cultural institutions are re-embracing Saudi Arabia as their quest for fresh funding and expansion aligns with the kingdom’s ambitions to grow its art and culture sectors as part of wider economic diversification plans.
🚨 “The glory days are over”: consultants in Saudi Arabia curb expansion plans as the kingdom reviews its priorities.
October 7, 2025 at 6:33 AM
🚨 “The glory days are over”: consultants in Saudi Arabia curb expansion plans as the kingdom reviews its priorities.
In case you missed it >>
🚨 My latest: How the Saudi crown prince irreversibly changed the relationship between the state and the kingdom’s religious establishment.
September 30, 2025 at 6:26 PM
In case you missed it >>
🚨 Saudi real estate developer to build $1 billion Trump-branded project in Jeddah.
September 29, 2025 at 11:01 AM
🚨 Saudi real estate developer to build $1 billion Trump-branded project in Jeddah.
🚨 My latest: How the Saudi crown prince irreversibly changed the relationship between the state and the kingdom’s religious establishment.
September 29, 2025 at 4:39 AM
🚨 My latest: How the Saudi crown prince irreversibly changed the relationship between the state and the kingdom’s religious establishment.
🚨 Saudi Arabia freezes Riyadh rents for 5 years as property costs soar.
September 25, 2025 at 5:44 PM
🚨 Saudi Arabia freezes Riyadh rents for 5 years as property costs soar.
🇸🇦 Our latest long read: Can Vision 2030 uplift Saudi Arabia’s rural areas?
September 24, 2025 at 8:08 AM
🇸🇦 Our latest long read: Can Vision 2030 uplift Saudi Arabia’s rural areas?
🚨 Scoop: Saudi Arabia to shift management of Sindalah island from Neom to Red Sea Global after delayed opening.
September 19, 2025 at 12:24 PM
🚨 Scoop: Saudi Arabia to shift management of Sindalah island from Neom to Red Sea Global after delayed opening.
PwC culls jobs of 60 partners and 1,500 staff in the Middle East after Saudi clash.
September 19, 2025 at 11:11 AM
PwC culls jobs of 60 partners and 1,500 staff in the Middle East after Saudi clash.
🚨 Saudi Arabia and Pakistan sign strategic defence pact.
September 17, 2025 at 6:54 PM
🚨 Saudi Arabia and Pakistan sign strategic defence pact.
🔝 This is the most-read story on FT right now >>
🚨 My latest story: Saudi authorities shut down two dozen music “lounges” in recent weeks over violations to public health and hygiene codes, but their existence has been controversial for years as conservatives see them as signs of the rapid decay of morals and social norms.
September 17, 2025 at 11:23 AM
🔝 This is the most-read story on FT right now >>
🚨 My latest story: Saudi authorities shut down two dozen music “lounges” in recent weeks over violations to public health and hygiene codes, but their existence has been controversial for years as conservatives see them as signs of the rapid decay of morals and social norms.
September 17, 2025 at 6:14 AM
🚨 My latest story: Saudi authorities shut down two dozen music “lounges” in recent weeks over violations to public health and hygiene codes, but their existence has been controversial for years as conservatives see them as signs of the rapid decay of morals and social norms.
September 16, 2025 at 6:39 AM
🚨 Qatar calls for “concrete steps” against Israel at Arab-Islamic summit in Doha after the missile strikes.
September 15, 2025 at 7:23 PM
🚨 Qatar calls for “concrete steps” against Israel at Arab-Islamic summit in Doha after the missile strikes.
🇸🇦 New Saudi riyal sign, first revealed in February, has now been officially added to the latest Unicode Standard, Version 17.0.
Unicode 17.0 Release Announcement
Announcing The Unicode® Standard, Version 17.0 The Unicode Standard is the foundation for all global digital communications, providing the e...
blog.unicode.org
September 11, 2025 at 3:48 PM
🇸🇦 New Saudi riyal sign, first revealed in February, has now been officially added to the latest Unicode Standard, Version 17.0.
🚨 My latest story: Saudi small-town brands are going national as economic reforms and SMEs support start to pay off.
September 7, 2025 at 6:03 AM
🚨 My latest story: Saudi small-town brands are going national as economic reforms and SMEs support start to pay off.
🎮 Saudi-backed Savvy Games Group is looking to China and other Asian markets for its next multibillion-dollar deal.
September 1, 2025 at 6:53 AM
🎮 Saudi-backed Savvy Games Group is looking to China and other Asian markets for its next multibillion-dollar deal.
🚨 My latest story: Saudi Arabia’s financial hub finally takes shape as KAFD comes to life.
Saudi Arabia’s financial hub finally takes shape
A glittering ghost town no longer: Riyadh’s King Abdullah Financial District is filling up
www.ft.com
August 28, 2025 at 7:15 AM
🚨 My latest story: Saudi Arabia’s financial hub finally takes shape as KAFD comes to life.
🇷🇺 Gulf tourists are flocking to Russia as the country deepens its ties with the region after years of western sanctions.
August 24, 2025 at 6:48 AM
🇷🇺 Gulf tourists are flocking to Russia as the country deepens its ties with the region after years of western sanctions.