JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (Reuters) – Democracy activists in Saudi Arabia say the government is closely monitoring social media to nip in the bud any protests inspired by uprisings that swept Arab countries, toppling leaders in Egypt and Tunisia.

Activists have set up Facebook pages calling for protests on March 11 and 20, with over 17,000 supporters combined, but police managed to stymie two attempts to stage protests in the Red Sea city of Jeddah last month, highlighting the difficulties of such mobilization in the conservative kingdom.

RIYADH, Feb 21 (Reuters) – World markets have plenty of oil,
top exporter Saudi Arabia said on Monday, as a wave of
revolution that has already toppled two presidents tightened its
grip on OPEC member Libya and drove prices to a 2-1/2 year-high.

Energy ministers arrived in the Saudi capital Riyadh on the
eve of talks designed to narrow the gap between producer and
consumer nations.

JEDDAH (Reuters) – Saudi teenager Abdulrahman Saeed lives in one of the richest countries in the world, but his prospects are poor, he blames his education, and it’s not a situation that looks like changing soon.

“There is not enough in our curriculum,” says Saeed, 16, who goes to an all-male state school in the Red Sea port of Jeddah. “It is just theoretical teaching, and there is no practice or guidance to prepare us for the job market.”

JEDDAH (Reuters) – Saudi teenager Abdulrahman Saeed lives in one of the richest countries in the world, but his prospects are poor, he blames his education, and it’s not a situation that looks like changing soon.

“There is not enough in our curriculum,” says Saeed, 16, who goes to an all-male state school in the Red Sea port of Jeddah. “It is just theoretical teaching, and there is no practice or guidance to prepare us for the job market.”

JEDDAH (Reuters) – Security guard Nadi Ali al-Din, like many Egyptian laborers in the Gulf Arab region, would rather be in Cairo than patrolling a lavish Saudi shopping mall.

But, like most Egyptians working in the oil-exporting Gulf to help their families make ends meet, all he could do was head in to work and wait anxiously for news from home.

JEDDAH (Reuters) – Torrential rainfall submerged streets and cut off electricity in parts of Saudi Arabia’s second largest city Jeddah on Wednesday, raising fears of a repeat of floods in 2009 which killed more than 120 people.

The last floods triggered a rare public debate about weaknesses in infrastructure in the top oil exporter, one of the world’s richest countries. Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy that has no elected parliament and tolerates no public protests.

JEDDAH/DUBAI (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia has taken in Tunisia’s fallen strong man, but the oil wealth of the kingdom and its neighbours should ensure the poverty-driven unrest which ousted Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali does not follow him to the Gulf.

Though the Saudi monarchy infuriated some critics for giving refuge to a deposed autocrat whom many Arabs see as typical of their own authoritarian rulers, it has swiftly moved Ben Ali out of sight, hoping that a quick — and quiet — resolution of his fate may calm popular anger, both in Tunis and closer to home.

JEDDAH/DUBAI (Reuters) – Saudi Arabia has taken in Tunisia’s fallen strong man, but the oil wealth of the kingdom and its neighbors should ensure the poverty-driven unrest which ousted Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali does not follow him to the Gulf.

Though the Saudi monarchy infuriated some critics for giving refuge to a deposed autocrat whom many Arabs see as typical of their own authoritarian rulers, it has swiftly moved Ben Ali out of sight, hoping that a quick — and quiet — resolution of his fate may calm popular anger, both in Tunis and closer to home.

JEDDAH, Jan 17 (Reuters) – Unexpected provisions for
loss-making units and asset write-offs almost wiped out
fourth-quarter profit at Saudi food company Savola 2050.SE.

Net profit fell to 2 million riyals from 268.6 million
($71.62 million) in the final quarter of the previous year,
while analysts surveyed by Reuters had on average expected 241
million. [ID:nLDE70C07O]

JEDDAH (Reuters) – Behind a high wall in a palace guarded by soldiers, Tunisia’s former President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali and his family have found a home in Saudi Arabia after being swept from power in Tunis.

Following weeks of violent protest, Ben Ali, president for more than 23 years, fled to the Red Sea port city of Jeddah on Friday, arriving late at night after France turned him away.