The Ritz-Carlton hotel in the diplomatic quarter of Riyadh, seen here on November 5, 2017. Faisal Al Nasser / File Photo / Reuters
The Ritz-Carlton hotel in the diplomatic quarter of Riyadh, seen here on November 5, 2017. Faisal Al Nasser / File Photo / Reuters
The Ritz-Carlton hotel in the diplomatic quarter of Riyadh, seen here on November 5, 2017. Faisal Al Nasser / File Photo / Reuters
The Ritz-Carlton hotel in the diplomatic quarter of Riyadh, seen here on November 5, 2017. Faisal Al Nasser / File Photo / Reuters

Saudi anti-corruption settlements reach $107 billion


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Saudi Arabia said on Tuesday it had arranged to recover almost $107 billion in settlements from businessmen and officials detained in the country's months-long corruption crackdown.

The sum comprises assets including property, commercial entities, stocks and cash, though the investigation has not concluded.

Announcing the monies recovered, the kingdom's attorney general Sheikh Saud Al Mojeb said of 381 people originally detained 56 remain in custody.

He has refused to settle with them "due to other pending criminal cases". He said those inquiries would continue to be probed by the public prosecution office.

Some cases are expected to go to trial, authorities have said previously.

The other 325 detainees had been released — either because there was insufficient evidence to support the allegations against them, or because they had reached financial settlements with the government and admitted to the allegations against them, the attorney general added.

The huge sum — 400bn Saudi riyals ($106.67bn) — will be a financial boost for the government, which has seen its finances strained in recent years by low oil prices. The state budget deficit this year is projected at 195bn riyals.

The announcement also appeared to represent a political victory for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who launched the purge in November and predicted at the time that it would net about $100bn in settlements.

Dozens of top officials and businessmen were detained, many of them confined and interviewed at Riyadh's opulent Ritz-Carlton Hotel.

Earlier, a Saudi official said the kingdom had released all remaining detainees being held at Riyadh's opulent Ritz-Carlton Hotel.

Some suspects are believed to have been moved from the Ritz to prison.

Among the high-profile businessmen held in the probe were Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, owner of global investor Kingdom Holding. He is ranked among the richest people in the world, with Forbes once estimating his fortune to be worth $18.7bn.

Waleed Al Ibrahim, who controls influential regional broadcaster MBC, had also been detained.

Both men were released at the end of last week.

MBC said the investigation found Mr Al Ibrahim completely innocent of wrongdoing, while Prince Alwaleed has insisted he is innocent, although Saudi officials said both men agreed to settlements after admitting unspecified "violations".

In an interview with Reuters at his suite in the Ritz-Carlton, hours before he was released on Saturday, Prince Alwaleed said he had been well-treated in custody and described his case as the result of a misunderstanding.

Part of the suite where billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal was detained at the Ritz-Carlton in Riyadh, seen here on January 27, 2018. Katie Paul / File Photo / Reuters
Part of the suite where billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal was detained at the Ritz-Carlton in Riyadh, seen here on January 27, 2018. Katie Paul / File Photo / Reuters

He showed off the comfort of his suite's gold-accented private office, a dining room and a kitchen which was fully stocked with his preferred vegan meals.

The hotel has 492 guest rooms and suites and 21 hectares of landscaped gardens, according to its website. It has said it will reopen to the public in mid-February, with a nightly rate for its cheapest room of 2,439 rials.

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Saudi authorities say the anti-corruption drive is aimed at improving the kingdom's business environment and that sums recovered will be used to fund a cash assistance programme for middle and lower-income citizens estimated to cost $8.5bn this year.

The 12 Syrian entities delisted by UK 

Ministry of Interior
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General Intelligence Directorate
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General Organisation of Radio and TV
Al Watan newspaper
Cham Press TV
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Name: Kumulus Water
 
Started: 2021
 
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
 
Based: Tunisia 
 
Sector: Water technology 
 
Number of staff: 22 
 
Investment raised: $4 million 
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In numbers

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China’s investment in the MIddle East in 2016 was... $29.5bn

The world’s most valuable start-up in 2018, TikTok, is valued at... $75bn

Boost to the UAE economy of 5G connectivity will be... $269bn 

Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Key developments

All times UTC 4

Five hymns the crowds can join in

Papal Mass will begin at 10.30am at the Zayed Sports City Stadium on Tuesday

Some 17 hymns will be sung by a 120-strong UAE choir

Five hymns will be rehearsed with crowds on Tuesday morning before the Pope arrives at stadium

‘Christ be our Light’ as the entrance song

‘All that I am’ for the offertory or during the symbolic offering of gifts at the altar

‘Make me a Channel of your Peace’ and ‘Soul of my Saviour’ for the communion

‘Tell out my Soul’ as the final hymn after the blessings from the Pope

The choir will also sing the hymn ‘Legions of Heaven’ in Arabic as ‘Assakiroo Sama’

There are 15 Arabic speakers from Syria, Lebanon and Jordan in the choir that comprises residents from the Philippines, India, France, Italy, America, Netherlands, Armenia and Indonesia

The choir will be accompanied by a brass ensemble and an organ

They will practice for the first time at the stadium on the eve of the public mass on Monday evening 

PRESIDENTS CUP

Draw for Presidents Cup fourball matches on Thursday (Internationals first mention). All times UAE:

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Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
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Based: Abu Dhabi

Founded: January 2019

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Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

2.

China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

8.

Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea