Forbes magazine said on Thursday it was excluding all Saudi Arabian tycoons from its annual list of the world&#39;s richest people after dozens of top businessmen from the oil-rich kingdom were detained in a crackdown on corruption last year. 
 
Most detainees were released after reaching settlements with the authorities, who say they arranged to seize more than $100 billion in assets through such deals. But the government has provided few details about who was netted in the sweep, what they were accused of and how much they gave up. 
 
Forbes said earlier in the week that it was &quot;impossible to know definitively who gave how much to whom when&quot;. 
 
The magazine said it had removed the 10 Saudi billionaires who made the cut last year, including detained in the crackdown like Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, with wealth previously valued at $18.7 billion, and Mohammed al-Amoudi whose treasure stood at $8.1 billion. 
 
&quot;With greater clarity regarding their wealth, some might eventually return to the ranking,&quot; Forbes said. 
 
The magazine&#39;s Middle East edition said in a separate statement on Thursday that the wealth of Saudi billionaires was believed to have increased from $42.1 billion last year due to the rise in oil prices and capital markets globally, but would be excluded due to the reported asset seizures.

Alwaleed, who told Reuters in an interview hours before his release in January that he did not expect to give up any assets to the government, sued Forbes in 2013 alleging the magazine had undervalued his wealth.

The magazine listed 2,208 billionaires worldwide in 2018, up from 2,043 in 2017.

Forbes said earlier in the week that it was “impossible to know definitively who gave how much to whom when”

Forbes magazine said on Thursday it was excluding all Saudi Arabian tycoons from its annual list of the world's richest people after dozens of top businessmen from the oil-rich kingdom were detained in a crackdown on corruption last year. Most detainees were released after reaching settlements with the authorities, who say they arranged to seize more than $100 billion in assets through such deals. But the government has provided few details about who was netted in the sweep, what they were accused of and how much they gave up. Forbes said earlier in the week that it was "impossible to know definitively who gave how much to whom when". The magazine said it had removed the 10 Saudi billionaires who made the cut last year, including detained in the crackdown like Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, with wealth previously valued at $18.7 billion, and Mohammed al-Amoudi whose treasure stood at $8.1 billion. "With greater clarity regarding their wealth, some might eventually return to the ranking," Forbes said. The magazine's Middle East edition said in a separate statement on Thursday that the wealth of Saudi billionaires was believed to have increased from $42.1 billion last year due to the rise in oil prices and capital markets globally, but would be excluded due to the reported asset seizures. Alwaleed, who told Reuters in an interview hours before his release in January that he did not expect to give up any assets to the government, sued Forbes in 2013 alleging the magazine had undervalued his wealth. The magazine listed 2,208 billionaires worldwide in 2018, up from 2,043 in 2017.

Forbes keeps Saudis off billionaires' list after corruption purge

The luxury Riyadh hotel used as a prison during Saudi Arabia&#39;s crackdown on corruption will reopen for business next month, according to a company employee and its website, suggesting authorities are close to settling the cases of many suspects.

Dozens of princes, senior officials and top businessmen were detained and confined in the opulent Ritz-Carlton Riyadh as the government launched the purge in early November. The hotel was closed to normal business.

On Monday, an employee at the office taking bookings for the hotel, who declined to be named, told by telephone that bookings by the public would be accepted from Feb. 14,&nbsp; Reuters reported.

The hotel&#39;s website now accepts bookings from Feb. 14, quoting a rate for its cheapest room of 2,439 riyals ($650) a night.

Official sources told Reuters earlier that Saudi authorities were close to winding up a major part of the crackdown, which would allow them to return the Ritz-Carlton to normal operations.

(With inputs from Reuters)&nbsp;

Dozens of princes, senior officials and top businessmen were detained and confined in the opulent Ritz-Carlton Riyadh as the government launched the purge in early November.

The luxury Riyadh hotel used as a prison during Saudi Arabia's crackdown on corruption will reopen for business next month, according to a company employee and its website, suggesting authorities are close to settling the cases of many suspects. Dozens of princes, senior officials and top businessmen were detained and confined in the opulent Ritz-Carlton Riyadh as the government launched the purge in early November. The hotel was closed to normal business. On Monday, an employee at the office taking bookings for the hotel, who declined to be named, told by telephone that bookings by the public would be accepted from Feb. 14, Reuters reported. The hotel's website now accepts bookings from Feb. 14, quoting a rate for its cheapest room of 2,439 riyals ($650) a night. Official sources told Reuters earlier that Saudi authorities were close to winding up a major part of the crackdown, which would allow them to return the Ritz-Carlton to normal operations. (With inputs from Reuters)

Saudi hotel to reopen after being used as prison in corruption purge

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