Periodical Briefing: Saudi Arabia Cements Global Leadership with Historic Nobel Win, Mega Season Launch, Peace Diplomacy

Riyadh, October 14, 2025, SPA -- The first two weeks of October included several developments in Saudi Arabia, such as a nation's first global win, large-scale cultural events, and new financial investments. Data from this period indicates activity related to the nation's scientific goals, economic diversification, and international relations.
   Top Stories:
   A New Era of Scientific and Intellectual Leadership
   Saudi scientist Professor Omar Yaghi has won the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, becoming the first Saudi national to receive the prestigious award. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences recognized Yaghi for his foundational contributions to reticular chemistry and the development of metal-organic frameworks, which have transformative applications in clean energy and water purification.
   Building a Global Entertainment and Cultural Powerhouse
   The General Entertainment Authority has launched Riyadh Season 2025, revealing that the annual event has become a global entertainment brand with an estimated value of $3.2 billion (SAR12 billion). This year's season features major international partnerships, including "Beast Land," a new zone created with YouTube star MrBeast, and will host WWE's Royal Rumble for the first time outside North America.
   Proactive Diplomacy
   Saudi Arabia continued its work to foster regional stability. The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and seven other key Arab and Islamic nations issued a joint statement welcoming steps taken by Hamas regarding a US proposal to end the war in Gaza. The Kingdom also participated in a ministerial meeting in Paris to discuss the next steps toward a ceasefire and the implementation of a sustainable peace plan
   The period by numbers:
   12,000+ Years: The estimated age of newly discovered life-size rock art engravings in Al-Nafud desert, the earliest scientifically dated in the Kingdom.
   SAR81 Billion: The amount allocated to cultural infrastructure investments since the launch of Vision 2030, a figure announced at the Cultural Investment Conference.
   28.4 Million: The number of extremist content items removed from Telegram in Q3 2025 through a partnership between the platform and the Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology (Etidal).
   357,708: The record number of student registrations for the "Ibdaa" National Scientific Creativity Olympiad, an increase of over 22% from last year.
   20 Million: The number of visitors who attended the previous Riyadh Season from over 130 countries, establishing its global appeal.
   $50 Million: The value of an agreement signed by the Saudi Fund for Development to build 14 new schools in Kyrgyzstan, benefiting thousands of students.
   2.8 Million: The number of calls handled by the unified emergency number (911) across four major regions during the month of September.
   115 Minutes: The average time it took a pilgrim to complete the rituals of Umrah at the Grand Mosque in Makkah during the month of Rabi Al-Awwal.
   2,400 Tons: The annual coffee production capacity in Saudi Arabia, highlighting the growth of a key cultural and agricultural product.
   In summary, the first half of October was a period of significant achievement and proactive engagement for Saudi Arabia. The nation celebrated a historic milestone with its first Nobel Prize, underscoring a growing emphasis on scientific research and innovation.
   Simultaneously, the launch of a new, larger-than-ever Riyadh Season highlighted the rapid expansion of the entertainment and tourism sectors as key drivers of economic diversification. These developments, spanning science, culture, and foreign policy, reflect a multifaceted approach to achieving long-term national objectives.
   -- SPA