China’s Xi gets a grand welcome to Saudi Arabia and promises a ‘new era’ in Chinese-Arab relations
Chinese President Xi Jinping was welcomed by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman with a lavish reception in the capital Riyadh on Thursday. The two countries are heading for a number of summits to discuss China’s relations with Arab countries. The reception was at Al-Yamamah Palace. Shortly after arriving,
New Phishing Campaign Targets Saudi Government Service Portal
Phishing domains impersonating the Saudi government service portal Absher have popped up online, CloudSEK says. The phishing portals are designed to provide fake services to citizens and steal credentials. CloudSEK published an advisory concerning the threat last Thursday. The threat actors are sending phishing SMS messages containing a link to
Phishing Campaigns Target KFC, McDonald’s in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Singapore
According to security researchers at CloudSEK, customers at KFC and McDonalds in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Singapore were targeted by phishing campaigns that successfully stole payment details. The security researchers found that the phishing campaigns impersonated the Google Play store to exhibit malicious browser-based applications for Chrome. The individuals

Cyber Matters Draw Israel and Saudi Arabia Closer Together
Recent reporting indicates that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been investing substantially in Israeli cyber companies that produce offensive cyber tools and weapons. Per these findings, its presumed that the use of such technology with help Saudi Arabia identify, track, and surveil dissidents and opponents of the government. A website called Saudi Leaksdedicated to exposing Saudi-related scandals cited inside confidential sources that Saudi officials signed contracts with several Israeli firms in order to obtain highly advanced technologies to support cyber spying. These initiatives are believed to coincide with the Kingdom’s CyberIC plan, a strategy designed to protect the country’s cybersecurity sector. This plan is integral to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, a strategic implantation that has digital transformation as one of its pillars.
Executions spiked in Iran in Saudi Arabia in 2021
Amnesty International says there was a concerning rise in executions in 2021 as Covid-19 restrictions were lifted. There were spikes seen in Iran and Saudi Arabia in the year of 2021. At least 579 executions were carried out in 18 countries, reflecting a 20% increase to 2020 and Iran accounted
As the Iran nuclear deal nears, Saudi Arabia is rebuilding its stake in Lebanon
In the first trip to Saudi Arabia by a Lebanese Prime Minister in almost four years, Najib Mikati will visit Saudi Arabia in the next two weeks. The last visit was in 2018 by Prime Minister Saad Hariri who stepped down in 2021. Saudi Arabia is one of Lebanon’s biggest
Yemen’s President Cedes Power Amid International Efforts to End Civil War
Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi has ceded his powers to a leadership council in a Saudi-backed move aimed at re-establishing negotiations with Houthi rebels. The negotiations seek to end the country’s sever-year civil war that has wreaked havoc on Yemen’s political and economic stability. Before leaving his own position,
Saudi-led coalition to halt military operations in Yemen as UN urges truce
Late on Tuesday, the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthi group in Yemen said it would stop military operations on Wednesday. The announcement followed a UN call for a truce during the holy month of Ramadan. The UN has been working with the two groups, who have been at war since
U.S. Sends Patriot Missiles to Saudi Arabia, Fulfilling Urgent Request
This past month, the Biden administration has transferred a significant number of Patriot antimissile interceptors to Saudi Arabia, reportedly fulfilling the country’s urgent request for a resupply amid tensions in the relationship. The transfers ensure that Saudi Arabia is supplied with defensive munitions necessary to fend off drone and missile
Saudi Arabia executes 81 men in one day, the biggest mass execution in decades
On Saturday, Saudi Arabia executed 81 men in its largest mass execution in decades. Among those executed includes seven Yemenis and one Syrian. The individuals were executed for crimes related to terrorism and deviant beliefs, according to authorities. In all of 2021, only 67 executions were reported in the kingdom.