Billy FitzHerbert: ALL BLOG POSTS
The city of Medina plays an important role in the cultural and historical make-up of Saudi Arabia. It is the final resting place of the Prophet Muhammad and is home to the Prophet’s Mosque, which the Prophet helped build after his flight from Makkah in 622 AD. Today, the Prophet’s Mosque is one of the largest mosque in the world and is the second-holiest site in Islam after the Great Mosque in Makkah. As such, Medina is an important religious centre for the world’s 1.9bn Muslims, with millions of pilgrims visiting the city and its holy sites annually. Saudi Arabia’s far-reaching development strategy, Vision 2030, has earmarked tourism – specifically Islamic heritage tourism – as an engine for growth in the Kingdom’s non-oil economy, with Medina set to play a central role in these efforts.
On July 23, 2020 Oman celebrates its 50th Renaissance Day. Exactly half a century ago, His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said acceded to the throne and established the Sultanate of Oman. On the death of Sultan Qaboos in January 2020 Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said acceded the throne, and he has been responsible for successfully navigating the country through the early challenges associated with the Covid-19 pandemic in the first half of 2020.
Although Saudi Arabia's economy has been affected by the slump in the oil price, its economic response to the Covid-19 pandemic has been aided by low public and private debt, a strong credit rating and high foreign exchange reserves.