Saudi Arabian authorities freed Prince Alwaleed bin Talal and several of the kingdom’s most prominent men from detention this weekend as they cleared out the Ritz-Carlton hotel that served as a jail for the country’s elite during a crackdown on corruption.
Prince Alwaleed, the billionaire chairman of Riyadh’s Kingdom Holding Company, was allowed to return home on Saturday, according to two people with knowledge of the matter. The terms of his release and any settlement he negotiated weren’t immediately clear. Waleed al-Ibrahim, head of the Dubai-based Middle East Broadcasting Center, and Fawaz Al Hokair, the billionaire founder of one of the country’s largest retailers, were also among those sent home this weekend, a government official said on condition of anonymity.
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Detained Saudi billionaire Al Waleed says he expects to be released in days
Saudi Arabia releases two princes detained in anti-corruption probe
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The prince’s release came just hours after he told Reuters that he expected to go home soon and to retain ownership of his company. Alwaleed declined to discuss the terms of any financial settlement in that interview, though he expressed support for the kingdom’s rulers and said he was seeking to be fully vindicated. Kingdom Holding and Saudi government officials didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.
The departures from the hotel mark the end of the first phase of the anti-corruption campaign that was launched in November. Hundreds of suspects were arrested in the purge, including some of the country’s richest men and top officials. A senior Saudi official said a week ago that the kingdom expects to reap more than US$100 billion from settlements with detainees in exchange for their freedom. Others have been transferred to prison to face trial, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Several other high-profile detainees were also released this weekend after reaching deals, a government official said on condition of anonymity. Khaled al-Tuwaijri, head of the royal court under the late King Abdullah, and Prince Turki bin Nasser -- who was involved in a massive arms transaction that led to corruption probes in the UK and the US -- were also released.
Several of those released from detention appear to be returning to their lives as usual. Among them is former finance minister and minister of state, Ibrahim al-Assaf, who recently led Saudi Arabia’s delegation to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Mr Al Ibrahim will return to running the company as usual, one of the people said, and an official told Reuters that his ownership hasn’t changed. Mr Al Ibrahim is the brother-in-law of the late King Fahd and chairman of MBC, which has more than a dozen television channels including the news network Al Arabiya.
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Grubtech
Founders: Mohamed Al Fayed and Mohammed Hammedi
Launched: October 2019
Employees: 50
Financing stage: Seed round (raised $2 million)
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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If you go
The flights
There are various ways of getting to the southern Serengeti in Tanzania from the UAE. The exact route and airstrip depends on your overall trip itinerary and which camp you’re staying at.
Flydubai flies direct from Dubai to Kilimanjaro International Airport from Dh1,350 return, including taxes; this can be followed by a short flight from Kilimanjaro to the Serengeti with Coastal Aviation from about US$700 (Dh2,500) return, including taxes. Kenya Airways, Emirates and Etihad offer flights via Nairobi or Dar es Salaam.
Five expert hiking tips
Always check the weather forecast before setting off
Make sure you have plenty of water
Set off early to avoid sudden weather changes in the afternoon
Wear appropriate clothing and footwear
Take your litter home with you
COMPANY PROFILE
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
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
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Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
Price: From Dh147,000
Available: Now
The Bio
Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Favourite place to relax in UAE: the desert around Al Mleiha in Sharjah or the eastern mangroves in Abu Dhabi
The one book everyone should read: 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It will make your mind fly
Favourite documentary: Chasing Coral by Jeff Orlowski. It's a good reality check about one of the most valued ecosystems for humanity
KYLIAN MBAPPE 2016/17 STATS
Ligue 1: Appearances - 29, Goals - 15, Assists - 8
UCL: Appearances - 9, Goals - 6
French Cup: Appearances - 3, Goals - 3
France U19: Appearances - 5, Goals - 5, Assists - 1
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
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Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
