Banking & Finance Saudi Fund for Development deal supports SMEs in Oman The Saudi Fund for Development signed an agreement in Oman this week to provide $53.33 million of funding for small and medium enterprises in the sultanate. State news agency SPA said that the money, provided to the Oman Development Bank, was part of a $150 million Saudi aid programme for Oman, which has struggled to […] September 8, 2023
Banking & Finance Saudi banks face slowdown as giga-projects take toll Saudi banks are witnessing a slowdown, impacting liquidity, net profits and share price across the sector, as the pressure of funding the kingdom’s giga-projects takes its toll, analysts say. Growth in net profit at the top ten banks slowed to 0.3 percent in the second quarter and the Saudi index of bank stocks fell 18.8 […] September 8, 2023
Economy Saudi GDP grows 1.2% in second quarter Saudi Arabia’s GDP grew 1.2 percent year-on-year in the second quarter of this year, while oil activities decreased by 4.3 percent, the government said on August 7. Saudi Arabia’s oil production cuts are set to continue to the end of the year. The kingdom’s GDP at current prices was valued at 970 billion Saudi riyals […] September 7, 2023
Renewable Energy Aramco and Dutch car maker make low-carbon fuel Saudi oil major Aramco and Dutch car maker Stellantis have developed an e-fuel that will work without modifications in the engines of some 24 million vehicles already on European roads and using conventional petrol. Recent tests showed the low-carbon fuel could reduce carbon dioxide emissions from existing internal combustion vehicles by at least 70 percent, […] September 6, 2023
Renewable Energy UK company strikes Mideast deal for hydrogen generators UK hydrogen fuel cell company AFC Energy has signed an agreement with a leading Saudi marketer to sell its hydrogen generators in the Middle East and Central Asia. The deal gives Saudi Arabia’s The Machinery Group (Tamgo) exclusive rights to market AFC Energy’s alternative to diesel-powered generators in 16 countries including Saudi Arabia, United Arab […] September 5, 2023
Finance Pakistan reveals Saudi investment of $25 billion Saudi Arabia will invest up to $25 billion over two years in Pakistan, according to a statement from Pakistan’s caretaker prime minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar. The announcement was made to journalists at Mr Kakar’s residence in Islamabad, citing mining, agriculture and information technology as the main sectors to benefit. There was no Saudi statement about the […] September 5, 2023
Economy Saudi defence spending to rise further despite Iran detente Saudi Arabia is set to maintain one of the highest defence expenditures relative to the GDP in the world, according to a leading data analysis firm, despite the current trend towards de-escalation with Iran. Defence spending will grow 4.5 percent a year to $86.4 billion in 2028, from $65.3 billion in 2022 and a defence […] September 4, 2023
Renewable Energy Saudi company invests in US battery maker Pure Lithium Saudi Arabian investment company Energy Capital Group has announced a collaboration with US tech startup Pure Lithium to develop renewable batteries. The batteries will use lithium extracted from oilfield brines, giving a further boost to Saudi Arabia’s plans to dominate in green industries. Based in Riyadh, Energy Capital Group did not disclose how much it […] September 1, 2023
Oil & Gas Saudi Arabia has highest fuel subsidies per capita in G20 Saudi Arabia is by far the highest provider of fuel subsidies per capita among the G20 advanced economies, the IMF said this month as it called for fossil fuel price reforms to reduce carbon emissions. The IMF Fossil Fuel Subsidies Data: 2023 Update working paper said Saudi Arabia spent almost $7,000 per person in 2022. […] August 30, 2023
Analysis Finance Saudi Arabia pushes easy mortgage financing scheme Saudi Arabia has increased funding for home ownership for citizens over the past year in an effort to reach Vision 2030 targets. The kingdom’s sluggish mortgage market has been affected by high US interest rates. The Saudi riyal is pegged to the US dollar, tying the Saudi mortgage market to US interest rate fluctuations. Residential […] August 29, 2023
Analysis Business of Sport Saudi football sells TV rights in hope of net profit Saudi Arabia’s professional football league has sold broadcast rights to 12 networks across 130 countries for coverage of the 2023-24 season, following a spending spree on players that has captured global attention. But wary of previous experience with China, broadcasters will be following closely to see if a global appetite exists for Saudi Arabia. “The […] August 27, 2023
Trade New Saudi bid to turn around sliding non-oil trade Saudi Arabian non-oil trade exports, which have declined in the wake of oil production cuts, could get a boost via a credit insurance deal agreed this week with an affiliate of petrochemicals company National Industrialization Co (Tasnee). The initiative, provided by the Saudi Export-Import Bank (Saudi EXIM Bank) through Evonik Tasnee Marketing, protects against the […] August 25, 2023
Analysis Trade New Middle East members expand Brics reach Four Middle East countries are to join the Brics bloc of developing countries, bridging regional political divides and signaling increased Chinese influence around the world. The new memberships of Saudi Arabia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, as well as those of Argentina and Ethiopia, will be effective from 2024. The decision to add […] August 24, 2023
Oil & Gas Saudi gas boost to benefit petrochemicals and oil trade Saudi Arabia is likely to use an enormous shale gas play due to come into production next year to develop upstream petrochemicals and divert lucrative crude oil into exports, analysts say. Saudi Aramco, the state oil giant, says that the Jafurah field contains an estimated 200 trillion standard cubic feet (scf) of natural gas, which […] August 24, 2023
Tourism Emaar to invest in Egypt tourism Emaar Properties, the Dubai developer behind the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall, is looking to expand into the hotel sector in Egypt, the company’s founder said in an interview. Gulf tourism is surging on Egypt’s Mediterranean north coast despite the country’s economic crisis. “The north coast in Egypt has reached development levels in recent years […] August 22, 2023
Banking & Finance Saudi tribunal fines investors over stock market violations A stock market tribunal has issued a final ruling and fined three investors in construction firm Al Kathiri Holding. The trio were penalised for withholding the size of their share ownership over a four-month period before the company listed on the main stock exchange in 2019. An appeal committee of the Resolution of Securities Disputes […] August 18, 2023
Banking & Finance Saudi insurance market braces for more mergers Saudi insurance companies expect an increase in mergers and acquisitions once a new independent insurance authority is fully operational by early next year, a spokesman said this week. On August 16 the Saudi cabinet gave its authorisation for the body’s creation, which central bank (Sama) governor Ayman Al-Sayari said would help improve efficiency in the […] August 18, 2023
Finance Saudi anti-corruption body arrests 107 officials Saudi Arabia’s anti-corruption agency arrested 107 government officials during the Islamic month of Muharram, a sharp jump from 65 during the previous month but down from this year’s high of 159 in February. The Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority announced the latest statistics on social media app X (formerly Twitter), where it said the detainees were […] August 17, 2023
Finance Insurers to get independent body in Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia is to create an insurance authority independent from their central bank, as the sector undergoes a wave of consolidation that the government hopes will help make it a significant player in non-oil economic growth. The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said on Wednesday that a cabinet meeting chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman […] August 16, 2023
Construction Saudi Arabia first choice for China’s BRI investment Saudi Arabia remains one of China’s strongest global trade partners, leading Chinese engagement in the construction sector during the first half of 2023, according to the latest Belt and Road Initiative investment report issued by a leading think tank. Of 45 countries receiving Chinese financing and investment in the first six months of 2023, Saudi […] August 16, 2023
Industry Saudi Arabia announces eight mining tenders Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources has designated eight zones in the Riyadh region and the Eastern Province to be opened to tender, the Saudi Press Agency has said. The mining zones were listed as Ghunan, Al-Masnat, Al-Summan, Ras Al-Qarya, and eastern and western Salwa in the Eastern Province, the gravel stone complex […] August 16, 2023
Construction Court rules against Binladin Group in crane tragedy The Saudi Supreme Court has affirmed a ruling against the Binladin Group, fining the construction company SAR20 million ($5.33 million) for a 2015 accident in which a crane collapsed in Mecca during the hajj pilgrimage season. The court found that safety violations caused the deaths of more than 100 people. The Okaz newspaper reported on […] August 14, 2023
