Episode 70! Dr. Aziz Alghashain joins The 966 to talk about Saudi-Israel relations in 2023, the status of the Abraham Accords, and his view on Saudi foreign policy going forward. Before the conversation with Dr. Aziz, the hosts discuss the upcoming Future Minerals Forum 2023 in Riyadh, major developments in Saudi Arabia's water sector and how the Kingdom is getting more mature about water management, and much more in the program's Yallah! segment.

3:06 - Richard's one big thing is the upcoming Future Minerals Forum 2023

14:54 - Lucien's one big thing is water! Rain has fallen across Saudi Arabia in recent weeks. That lead Lucien to thinking about the recent maturity of Saudi Arabia's water sector, including innovative techniques in desalination and opportunities for the private sector in the coming years. The subject also ties in with Saudi Arabia's national farming policies, including a recent story from Arizona about a Saudi-owned company, Almarai, and its local subsidiary using groundwater for alfalfa production.

30:45 - The 966 welcomes Dr. Aziz Alghashian, a Saudi researcher and writer focused on Saudi-Israel relations. Dr. Aziz is often quoted in media outlets like the NYT, France24, Sky, BBC about the developments in this interesting area of Saudi foreign policy. The hosts also talk with Dr. Aziz about his story growing up just out of Washington, D.C. and his studies and work in the UK.

1:41:00 - Yallah! 6 top storylines to get you up to speed headed into the weekend...

Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo joins Saudi Arabia club Al Nassr

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has joined Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr on a 2-1/2 year deal, a month after the 37-year-old forward became a free agent when his contract with Premier League club Manchester United was terminated. Al Nassr said the five-time Ballon d’Or winner will join on a deal until 2025 but did not disclose any financial details. Ronaldo’s contract with the team has been estimated by media to be worth more than 200 million euros ($214.5m).

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Industry has signed a memorandum of understanding with the South Korean company “Hyundai Motors” to build a factory for the complete assembly of electric cars in the Kingdom. The memorandum of understanding stipulates planning to build a complete assembly plant with the “CKD” system for electric cars and internal combustion engine cars, to be located in Saudi Arabia.

Hiring at companies in Saudi Arabia's non-oil sector increased at its strongest pace in about five years in December, driven by "robust” business activity. The acceleration in sales growth drove businesses in the kingdom to increase hiring in December to boost operating efficiency. The rate of job creation was the fastest recorded since January 2018, while the increase in staffing capacity helped companies to reduce outstanding work for the seventh month running.

Saudi Arabia has taken majority share of the US-based augmented reality company Magic Leap, The Telegraph reports, widening the stake via its state-owned sovereign wealth fund with a deal amounting to $450 million. The investment puts the country’s ownership of Magic Leap over 50 percent, giving it overall majority control. To date, Magic Leap has raised $4 billion, with minority investors including Google, Alibaba, Qualcomm, AT&T, and Axel Springer.

From Jan. 6-19, the southern city of Basra will host the 25th edition of the Arabian Gulf Cup (AGC), a biennial football tournament amongst Gulf Arab states first held in 1970 in Bahrain. Iraq will be the venue of a major international football competition for the first time since it both hosted and won the AGC in 1979. Eight regional teams—Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen—will participate in the tournament. Matches will take place at the Basra International Stadium and the Al-Minaa Olympic Stadium, venues with capacities of 65,000 and 30,000 spectators respectively.

Saudi Arabia is to allow its citizens to operate Airbnb-style property rentals after the kingdom announced a new portal similar to the global lettings marketplace. Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al Khateeb approved the tourism law this week. Properties will be advertised through an official tourism service provider in line with the regulations set by the ministry, which will publish prices inclusive of taxes. Strict guidelines have been issued on maintaining tourists' privacy, with constant surveillance of authorities on security, health and safety measures, including ambulance and evacuation procedures.