This is the 966, the podcast that focuses on ALL things Saudi Arabia from the two guys who produce the most widely-read daily newsletter on the Kingdom. This week, The 966 hosts talk about another big week for oil, Saudi-Iran diplomacy gathers steam, and the hosts talk about Saudi Arabia’s purchase of Newcastle United.

0:15 — Saudi Arabia keeps ranking high in Covid mitigation indices, recently ranking second for recovery from the Pandemic by Nikkei
2:49 —  Saudi Arabian authorities have imposed a permanent ban on planting of palm trees – the symbol of Saudi Arabia – along roads as well as in parks and gardens across the Kingdom. This is part of measures to prevent the spread of the red palm weevil.  The proportion of Saudi Arabia’s land area covered by forest has remained unchanged since 1990 at about 0.5%.
4:33 — It’s been another big week for the price of oil. Saudi Arabia is making more money on oil, – a lot more money – and that’s good news for Vision 2030.  And now, with oil prices rising, Aramco’s value is approaching the $2 Trillion mark.
17:23 – Saudi and Iran continue talks. The Biden Administration said it welcomes the news of direct communication between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Saudi Arabia confirmed on Sunday it had held its first round of direct talks with Iran’s new government last month. But Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said the talks were still in the exploratory phase. Saudi and Iranian officials reportedly met in Iraq last month,
but the number of situations that Saudi Arabia and Iran find themselves at opposing ends, in Yemen, Syria, and elsewhere, is significant. 
20:53 – The end of a piracy dispute between Saudi Arabia and Premier League broadcaster beIN Sports, which is based in Qatar, clears the way for a PIF-led group to buy the Newcastle United for $400 million. This is over a year after Saudi Arabia first tried, but failed, to acquire the team.