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| Identifier | Subject | Date | Office | Classification | Tags |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09DHAHRAN116 |
SAUDI CENTRAL BANK FREEZES ASSETS OF THE KINGDOM'S SECOND [...] KEY POINTS: -- (C) The Saudi central bank froze assets of Ma'an al-Sanea, Saudi Arabia's second wealthiest citizen on May 30. -- (C) It appears the order was issued pursuant to a lawsuit the al-Gosaibi family has filed against al-Sanea for unpaid loans. -- (C) Al-Sanea is widely "known" [...] |
2009-06-01 09:15:00 | Consulate Dhahran | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ECON EFIN SA |
| 09DHAHRAN124 |
CASE OF H1N1 CONFIRMED IN DHAHRAN, SAUDI ARABIA [...] Consular Chief received a call from Emir Prince Mohammed's Chief of Staff Hussan AlJasser at around 11:30 this morning asking us to receive a five-member team from the Ministry of Health. The team, it was explained, was on the way to the Consulate as they had reports that a Saudi, Qutaibah F [...] |
2009-06-07 15:47:00 | Consulate Dhahran | UNCLASSIFIED | KFLU TBIO CASC SA |
| 09DHAHRAN125 |
UPDATE ON CASE OF H1N1 CONFIRMED IN DHAHRAN, SAUDI ARABIA [...] The local and national Saudi press reported a new case of H1N1 confirmed in Dhahran in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia (refetel). The "Saudi Gazette" reported in its September 8, 2009 edition that it is the second case of H1N1 in the kingdom and the first of a Saudi national to contract [...] |
2009-06-08 14:49:00 | Consulate Dhahran | UNCLASSIFIED | KFLU TBIO CASC SA |
| 09DHAHRAN14 |
SHI'A LEADERS MEET WITH KING AFTER MEDINA INCIDENT [...] (C) Key Points: ------------------ -- King Abdullah met with more than 100 Shi'a leaders from Qatif, al-Ahsa, and Medina related to the sectarian clashes at Baqi'a cemetery (ref A). -- Following the meeting, the King announced the immediate release of all 38 detainees involved in the [...] |
2009-03-04 15:44:00 | Consulate Dhahran | CONFIDENTIAL | SA PGOV PINR PHUM PREL KDEM KIRF KISL |
| 09DHAHRAN145 |
ARAMCO SKEPTICAL OF CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION [...] KEY POINTS: -- (S/NF) Saudi Aramco's Executive Management is skeptical of the presence of Ministry of Interior (MOI) critical infrastructure protection (CIP) forces near their oil and gas facilities. -- (S/NF) Aramco is currently undergoing a major upgrade to their perimeter surveillance [...] |
2009-06-17 13:43:00 | Consulate Dhahran | SECRET//NOFORN | PGOV EPET ENRG SA |
| 09DHAHRAN150 |
PUSHING WATER UPHILL - - SAUDI WATER SECTOR CHALLENGES [...] (U) SUMMARY. Saudi Arabia's per capita fresh water consumption is nearly double that of the European Union average. These high consumption rates stem from low water tariffs, leaking water distribution infrastructure, and agricultural subsidies. Water sector reforms have begun, though a long [...] |
2009-06-23 06:44:00 | Consulate Dhahran | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON SENV ENRG PGOV SA |
| 09DHAHRAN168 |
FINANCIAL TROUBLE AT TWO PROMINENT SAUDI BUSINESSES [...] (S/NF) Recent financial trouble at two prominent Saudi conglomerates has shaken public confidence in the solvency of some of the Kingdom's commercial families but poses no real threat to the economy. Two Saudi firms, Ahmad Hamad Al-Gosaibi and Brothers Co (AH Al-Gosaibi) and the Saad Group, ha [...] |
2009-07-13 11:40:00 | Consulate Dhahran | SECRET//NOFORN | ECON PINR SENV ENRG PGOV SA |
| 09DHAHRAN17 |
AGGRESSIVE INDUSTRIAL EXPANSION GOING FORWARD IN JUBAIL [...] (C) Key Points: ------------------ -- The massive industrial expansion plan for Jubail, known as Jubail II, is going forward despite the economic crisis and is currently nine years ahead of its original schedule. -- Concessions for cheap ethane and methane feedstock for petroche [...] |
2009-03-08 07:15:00 | Consulate Dhahran | CONFIDENTIAL | ENRG EPET ECON EINV SA PGOV |
| 09DHAHRAN187 |
SCENESETTER FOR AA/S FELTMAN'S VISIT TO THE EASTERN PROVINCE [...] (SBU) The U.S. Consulate General Dhahran welcomes you to the Eastern Province (EP) of Saudi Arabia. In addition to being the Kingdom's largest province, the EP also represents the industrial engine of Saudi Arabia and sits atop the world's largest oil reserves. Saudi Aramco, the well-run and [...] |
2009-07-24 16:16:00 | Consulate Dhahran | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV ENRG EPET SA |
| 09DHAHRAN201 |
SAUDI ARABIA IS KEY G-77 COUNTRY IN CLIMATE CHANGE TALKS [...] (C) In an August 2 meeting, Abdullah Khalid Talwah (protect), a member of the official Saudi delegation to UN climate change negotiations, told EconOff that five countries hold sway over the G-77 and are thus key to a consensus on climate change: China, India, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and South Af [...] |
2009-08-05 16:14:00 | Consulate Dhahran | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ENRG KGCC SENV SA |
| 09DHAHRAN210 |
SAUDI SHI'A CELEBRATE IMAM AL-MAHDI'S BIRTHDAY [...] (C/NF) The Shi'a of Qatif openly celebrated the birthday of Imam al-Mahdi -- who is recognized by most Shi'a as the twelfth and final (hidden) Imam -- on August 6 with impromptu public plays, free food, and candy for the children. PolOff and two EmbOffs from Riyadh visited Qatif during the fes [...] |
2009-08-10 16:02:00 | Consulate Dhahran | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | KIRF KISL PGOV PHUM SA |
| 09DHAHRAN217 |
SAUDI PROVINCIAL AUTHORITIES CLOSE SHIA MOSQUES IN [...] (C/NF) During the past year the provincial government in the Eastern Province (EP) has closed five Shia mosques (four Twelver Shia and one Ismaili Shia) in the commercial city of al-Khobar, with the last two being closed in the past two weeks. The provincial government reportedly carried out t [...] |
2009-08-15 11:25:00 | Consulate Dhahran | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | KIRF KISL PGOV PHUM SA |
| 09DHAHRAN219 |
SHIA BUSINESS LEADERS MAKE A STRONG SHOWING IN AL-AHSA [...] (SBU) In the July 25 al-Ahsa Chamber of Commerce elections, Shia candidates won five of the eight eligible board positions, with the remaining three going to Sunnis. In the previous elections in 2005, the ratio was the reverse in favor of Sunni candidates. One of the Shia victors attributed t [...] |
2009-08-19 11:40:00 | Consulate Dhahran | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM ECON KIRF KISL KDEM SA |
| 09DHAHRAN220 |
BANNED SAUDI WEBSITE LAUNCHES ENGLISH-LANGUAGE VERSION [...] No summary [...] |
2009-08-19 14:28:00 | Consulate Dhahran | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV KIRF KISL PHUM SA |
| 09DHAHRAN222 |
BANNED SAUDI WEBSITE LAUNCHES ENGLISH-LANGUAGE VERSION [...] (C/NF) Rasid.com, the popular Arabic-language news website run by a small group of Saudi Shia political activists, launched an English-language version on August 1. The managing editor of Rasid explained that they hope to reach a larger audience with the English-language version. Both the Ara [...] |
2009-08-19 15:38:00 | Consulate Dhahran | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV KIRF KISL PHUM SA |
| 09DHAHRAN228 |
SAUDI ARAMCO-DOW CHEMICAL $24 BILLION PETROCHEMICAL PROJECT [...] (SBU) Saudi Aramco project finance managers confirmed that the $24 billion joint venture (JV) with Dow Chemical is moving forward, despite the economic crisis. In return for access to cheap, discounted feedstock (primarily ethane and naphtha), Dow is sharing with Aramco a number of the "crown [...] |
2009-08-31 14:38:00 | Consulate Dhahran | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | ECON ENRG EPET PGOV SA CH |
| 09DHAHRAN234 |
FORMER SAUDI ARAMCO EXECUTIVE BULLISH ON OIL PRICES [...] (C/NF) Saudi Aramco's former Executive Vice President, Dr. Sadad al-Husseini (strictly protect), recently commented on the likelihood of oil prices rising sharply over the next couple of years. In his view, the bearish energy analysts arguing that the oil price shocks of last summer are not li [...] |
2009-09-02 13:39:00 | Consulate Dhahran | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | ENRG EPET ECON PGOV SA |
| 09DHAHRAN246 |
SAUDI AUTHORITIES CRACK DOWN ON SHIA IN AL-AHSA [...] (C) Saudi authorities have stepped up discriminatory actions against Shia citizens in the Eastern Province (EP) oasis of al-Ahsa over the past year. Contacts point to the governor of al-Ahsa, HH Prince Badr bin Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Saud, as the main force behind the most recent uptick in s [...] |
2009-09-16 13:30:00 | Consulate Dhahran | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | KIRF KISL PGOV PHUM SA |
| 09DHAHRAN258 |
NAJRAN'S NEW GOVERNOR OFF TO GOOD START BUT CHALLENGED BY [...] (C) The new governor of Najran province on the border with Yemen is viewed as being a serious, business-oriented leader looking to downplay the sectarian differences between the officially recognized Sunni interpretation of Islam and that of the province's majority Ismaili (specifically Sulaima [...] |
2009-10-14 07:45:00 | Consulate Dhahran | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV KIRF PHUM SA YM |
| 09DHAHRAN265 |
ARAMCO: KNOWLEDGE AND CULTURE CENTER PROGRESSES DESPITE [...] (U) Development of the King Abdulaziz Center for Knowledge and Culture (KACKC) continues. The Center aims to honor Arab heritage, connect Saudis to their culture, and bring world cultures to the Kingdom, all in the service of social progress and intellectual achievement. Nabih A. Al-Ibrahim ( [...] |
2009-10-31 12:22:00 | Consulate Dhahran | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET SA SCUL ENRG PGOV |
| 09DHAHRAN266 |
EASTERN PROVINCE SHIA FRUSTRATED [...] (C) Three prominent local Shia report that economic marginalization, combined with religious discrimination, are generating increased frustration in the Eastern Province (EP). This is compounded by a growing generation gap in the Shia community with an impatient younger generation inclined to [...] |
2009-11-01 07:34:00 | Consulate Dhahran | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV KIRF KREL PHUM SA |
| 09DHAHRAN275 |
WOMEN CANDIDATES TRY AGAIN IN EASTERN PROVINCE CHAMBER OF [...] (U) For the second time in the history of the Eastern Province Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EPCCI), the Government (SAG) will allow women to run for membership on the board of the EPCCI. Their previous attempt to obtain a seat on the board in 2005 was unsuccessful. This time around, wome [...] |
2009-11-21 05:56:00 | Consulate Dhahran | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM ECON SA |
| 09DHAHRAN295 |
SAUDI BORDER CONFLICT WITH YEMEN RAISES FEAR OF SECTARIAN [...] (C) Prominent members of the Eastern Province (EP) Shia community are growing increasingly worried that the conflict in Yemen will spur a backlash against their community. The attitude is prevalent among Shia youth as well. Statements by a Yemeni official, as well as a recent circular issued b [...] |
2009-12-19 12:06:00 | Consulate Dhahran | SECRET | PGOV KIRF PREL SA YM PINR PHUM |
| 09DHAHRAN299 |
MAJOR SAUDI OFFSHORE MANIFA FIELD COMPLETION DELAYED TWO [...] (U) Citing weak global demand, Saudi Aramco pushed back the tentative completion date of the last giant Saudi oilfield in its expansion plans by at least two years. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia is expected to announce its final plans to build the Kingdom's largest gas plant ever whose purpose is to [...] |
2009-12-28 12:25:00 | Consulate Dhahran | UNCLASSIFIED | EPET ENRG ECON PGOV SA |
| 09DHAHRAN40 |
SAUDI HEZBOLLAH LEADER WARNS OF SECTARIAN VIOLENCE [...] (C/NF) Key Points: --------------------- -- XXXXXXXXXXXX (strictly protect), a popular Shi'a cleric and alleged leader of Saudi Hezbollah, met with PolOff after years of refusing to meet with USG officials (ref A). -- XXXXXXXXXXXX declared that the USG could persuade the SAG to adopt se [...] |
2009-03-22 08:19:00 | Consulate Dhahran | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | SA LE IR PGOV PTER PHUM KIRF KISL KDEM |
| 09DHAHRAN45 |
SAUDIS DISCUSS LOCALIZING MANUFACTURING, TRANSFERRING [...] (U) KEY POINTS: -- The Eastern Province Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EPCCI) held its first-ever Local Content Forum on March 23, which discussed transferring foreign technology and manufacturing capabilities to Saudi Arabia. -- Training and educating Saudis was cited often as [...] |
2009-03-24 14:35:00 | Consulate Dhahran | UNCLASSIFIED | SA PGOV ECON ELAB |
| 09DHAHRAN46 |
SHI'A PROTESTS LEAD TO ARRESTS, INCLUDING TWO AMERICANS [...] (C/NF) Key Points: --------------------- -- On Thursday, March 19 Shi'a from the Awamiyya village in the Qatif oasis conducted a sit-in to protest the SAG's intention of arresting the radical Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, who has been in hiding since calling for possible secession from Saudi Arabia [...] |
2009-03-25 11:51:00 | Consulate Dhahran | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | SA KU PGOV PHUM PINR KIRF KISL KDEM |
| 09DHAHRAN74 |
SAUDI "GAS PRINCE" CONTROLS THE KINGDOM'S INDUSTRIAL [...] (C/NF) KEY POINTS -- HRH Prince Faisal bin Turki bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (FbT), Advisor to the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, controls the highly subsidized gas feedstock allocations for the petrochemical and power generation industries. -- The prince is known as being [...] |
2009-04-08 06:07:00 | Consulate Dhahran | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | SA QA PGOV ECON ENRG EPET |
| 09DHAHRAN8 |
SHI'A UNREST CONTINUES TO BUILD AFTER THE MEDINA INCIDENT [...] (C) Key Points: ----------------- -- The Shi'a clashes with Saudi security forces in Medina in February have set off a wave of demonstrations, protests, and calls on the government for justice. -- Members of the Shi'a communities from the Eastern Province were involved in the Baqi'a cemet [...] |
2009-03-02 16:22:00 | Consulate Dhahran | CONFIDENTIAL | KDEM KIRF KISL PGOV PHUM PINR PREL PTER SA IR LE |
| 09DHAHRAN89 |
SAUDI ARAMCO STILL AIMING FOR 12 MILLION BARREL PRODUCTION [...] (S/NF) KEY POINTS: -- Saudi Aramco's Senior Vice President for Exploration and Production, Amin Nasser (protect), says that Saudi Aramco will achieve 12 million barrels per day (bpd) of production capacity by June 2009. -- However, a long-serving Aramco employee does not believe that they [...] |
2009-04-20 06:27:00 | Consulate Dhahran | SECRET//NOFORN | SA EPET ENRG PGOV PINR |
| 09DHAHRAN99 |
KING ABDULLAH MAKES AN UNSCHEDULED VISIT TO THE EASTERN [...] (C) KEY POINTS: -- King Abdullah made a last minute, unscheduled visit to the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia from April 26 to May 1. -- During his visit he launched $14.4 billion worth of projects in Jubail, including the world's largest desalination plant. -- The King met [...] |
2009-05-11 07:57:00 | Consulate Dhahran | CONFIDENTIAL | SA PGOV ECON ENRG |
| 10DHAHRAN14 |
CALM PREVAILS IN THE EASTERN PROVINCE AS SHIA COMMEMORATE [...] (S/NF) An atmosphere of calm prevailed during the Islamic New Year as Shia of the Eastern Province celebrated Ashura. Moderate leaders such as Sheikh Hassan al-Saffar drew large audiences to their lectures during the run-up to Ashura, with a particularly strong showing by youth. Contacts note [...] |
2010-01-23 08:41:00 | Consulate Dhahran | SECRET//NOFORN | PGOV PHUM PREL INR SA YM BA |
| 10DHAHRAN18 |
SOLAR ENERGY PICKS UP MOMENTUM IN SAUDI ARABIA [...] (U) The First Energy Bank of Bahrain plans to build a polysilicon plant in Saudi Arabia to serve an increasing demand for solar energy power generation in the Middle East. The King Abdul Aziz City of Science and Technology (KACST) launched a major initiative to use its research facilities to d [...] |
2010-02-06 11:38:00 | Consulate Dhahran | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG ECON PGOV SA BA |
| 10DHAHRAN28 |
TWO WOMEN APPOINTED TO THE EASTERN PROVINCE CHAMBER OF [...] (U) For the first time in the history of the Eastern Province Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EPCCI), two women were appointed to the board. This follows disappointing results for the three different women candidates who ran unsuccessfully for the board in the recent elections. The appointm [...] |
2010-02-08 12:37:00 | Consulate Dhahran | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM ECON KWMN SA |
| 10DHAHRAN31 |
SAUDI ARAMCO IS TAPPED AGAIN TO BUILD MAJOR REFINERY [...] (C) On January 19, the Ministry of Petroleum announced that Saudi Aramco had been asked to build the estimated USD $10 billion Jazan refinery. This project was originally to be built by the Saudi private sector in a move to give them valuable experience in managing a big project. For now, it [...] |
2010-02-22 12:56:00 | Consulate Dhahran | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG ECON PGOV SA |