Company Insights Riyad Bank Banking and Finance Riyad Bank Overview Riyad Bank, established in 1957, is one of the largest financial institutions in Saudi Arabia, ranked fourth in assets. It has more than 300 branches in the kingdom, and a presence in London, Singapore and the US. Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is a major shareholder. Riyad Bank provides sharia-compliant services to both individual and corporate customers, and arranges financing for oil and petrochemical projects as well as for Saudi Arabia’s infrastructure projects. Its fully owned subsidiary Riyad Capital provides guidance on the process of initial public offerings. Riyad Bank runs various projects to support Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals. “We Finance, You Manufacture” for example is a joint effort initiative with the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program to encourage local manufacturing and support Saudi Arabia’s non-oil economy. The Tourism Partners Program, meanwhile, supports private projects to boost Saudi Arabia’s tourism goals. Riyad Bank News Economy Growth for Saudi Arabia, but challenges emerge Saudi Arabia raised its economic growth estimate for the first quarter, driven by expansion in the non-oil sector. The General Authority for Statistics (Gastat) said on Monday that real GDP grew by 3.4 percent in the three months to March 31, compared with the same period last year. That also compared with its earlier estimate of […] June 9, 2025 Economy Saudi, Kuwaiti and Qatari bosses report hiring sprees Employment growth has accelerated in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar despite economic uncertainty, but hiring momentum remains uneven in other Mena markets, according to the latest purchasing managers’ index surveys. In Saudi Arabia, job creation was “one of the fastest seen in over a decade” in May, the Riyad Bank PMI report said. The Saudi index’s […] June 4, 2025 Analysis Banking and Finance Corporate borrowing swells Saudi banks’ Q1 profits Saudi Arabia’s big banks prospered in the first quarter thanks to soaring borrowing demand from companies. However, lending growth is likely to slow and margins are shrinking because of rising fund costs and intensifying competition. The kingdom’s six largest banks by assets are Saudi National Bank, Al Rajhi Bank, Riyad Bank, Saudi Awwal Bank, Banque […] June 3, 2025 Employment Trade tensions may stifle expatriate employment in Saudi Arabia A global economic downturn is likely to result in fewer jobs for expatriates in Saudi Arabia, a local bank has said. Instead, policies aimed at incentivising the hiring of more nationals are increasingly putting Saudis in pole position for jobs, according to Jadwa Investment, an advisory group and investment bank in Riyadh. Last year, expatriate […] May 1, 2025 Banking and Finance Al Rajhi Bank reports 34% rise in quarterly profit Al Rajhi Bank, the world’s largest Islamic bank by capital, has reported a 34 percent increase in net profit for the first quarter of 2025, to SAR5.9 billion ($1.5 billion). The Saudi bank’s total assets have risen by 22 percent to SAR1.02 trillion, marking the first time Al Rajhi has surpassed the trillion-riyal mark. Its […] April 23, 2025 Banking and Finance Lending income underpins record Q1 for Saudi banks Three of Saudi Arabia’s five biggest banks by assets have reported record first-quarter profits after generating more income from loans and on lower operating costs. Saudi National Bank, the kingdom’s largest lender, reported a 19 percent jump in profit in the three months to March 31 to SAR6 billion ($1.6 billion), compared with the same […] April 22, 2025 Employment GCC hiring gains pace as non-oil sector expands Employment levels picked up in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar as the non-oil private sector expanded in March, according to the latest monthly business sentiment surveys by S&P Global. Saudi Arabia recorded its best quarter for job creation in more than 12 years as hiring activity was driven by a demand upturn and output expansion. […] April 7, 2025 Employment Saudi jobs market buoyant as Egypt and Kuwait struggle Staffing levels in Saudi Arabia surged in February as companies prepare for growth opportunities ahead. But it was a different story in neighbouring Kuwait and Egypt where jobs were lost in the face of a slowdown in new orders, according to the latest business sentiment surveys. Employment numbers in Saudi Arabia increased at the quickest […] March 4, 2025 Banking and Finance Saudi Arabia’s biggest bank wants wealthy depositors back Saudi Arabia’s largest bank by assets is trying to woo back wealthy customers after losing many since a merger in 2021. SNB, or Saudi National Bank, is a merger of National Commercial Bank and Samba Financial Group, formerly known as the Saudi American Bank. It has underperformed against its major domestic rivals, reporting comparatively lower […] February 14, 2025 Editor's Insight Economy Navigating volatility: The impact on GCC economies The optimism is welcome – but it may be misplaced. This week the Riyad Bank Purchasing Managers’ Index in Saudi Arabia hit its highest level in more than 10 years – a significant vote of confidence in the Arab world’s largest economy. There was positive news too on jobs in the kingdom. Employment rose “solidly” last year, […] February 7, 2025 Posts navigation 1 2 … 8 Next
Economy Growth for Saudi Arabia, but challenges emerge Saudi Arabia raised its economic growth estimate for the first quarter, driven by expansion in the non-oil sector. The General Authority for Statistics (Gastat) said on Monday that real GDP grew by 3.4 percent in the three months to March 31, compared with the same period last year. That also compared with its earlier estimate of […] June 9, 2025
Economy Saudi, Kuwaiti and Qatari bosses report hiring sprees Employment growth has accelerated in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar despite economic uncertainty, but hiring momentum remains uneven in other Mena markets, according to the latest purchasing managers’ index surveys. In Saudi Arabia, job creation was “one of the fastest seen in over a decade” in May, the Riyad Bank PMI report said. The Saudi index’s […] June 4, 2025
Analysis Banking and Finance Corporate borrowing swells Saudi banks’ Q1 profits Saudi Arabia’s big banks prospered in the first quarter thanks to soaring borrowing demand from companies. However, lending growth is likely to slow and margins are shrinking because of rising fund costs and intensifying competition. The kingdom’s six largest banks by assets are Saudi National Bank, Al Rajhi Bank, Riyad Bank, Saudi Awwal Bank, Banque […] June 3, 2025
Employment Trade tensions may stifle expatriate employment in Saudi Arabia A global economic downturn is likely to result in fewer jobs for expatriates in Saudi Arabia, a local bank has said. Instead, policies aimed at incentivising the hiring of more nationals are increasingly putting Saudis in pole position for jobs, according to Jadwa Investment, an advisory group and investment bank in Riyadh. Last year, expatriate […] May 1, 2025
Banking and Finance Al Rajhi Bank reports 34% rise in quarterly profit Al Rajhi Bank, the world’s largest Islamic bank by capital, has reported a 34 percent increase in net profit for the first quarter of 2025, to SAR5.9 billion ($1.5 billion). The Saudi bank’s total assets have risen by 22 percent to SAR1.02 trillion, marking the first time Al Rajhi has surpassed the trillion-riyal mark. Its […] April 23, 2025
Banking and Finance Lending income underpins record Q1 for Saudi banks Three of Saudi Arabia’s five biggest banks by assets have reported record first-quarter profits after generating more income from loans and on lower operating costs. Saudi National Bank, the kingdom’s largest lender, reported a 19 percent jump in profit in the three months to March 31 to SAR6 billion ($1.6 billion), compared with the same […] April 22, 2025
Employment GCC hiring gains pace as non-oil sector expands Employment levels picked up in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar as the non-oil private sector expanded in March, according to the latest monthly business sentiment surveys by S&P Global. Saudi Arabia recorded its best quarter for job creation in more than 12 years as hiring activity was driven by a demand upturn and output expansion. […] April 7, 2025
Employment Saudi jobs market buoyant as Egypt and Kuwait struggle Staffing levels in Saudi Arabia surged in February as companies prepare for growth opportunities ahead. But it was a different story in neighbouring Kuwait and Egypt where jobs were lost in the face of a slowdown in new orders, according to the latest business sentiment surveys. Employment numbers in Saudi Arabia increased at the quickest […] March 4, 2025
Banking and Finance Saudi Arabia’s biggest bank wants wealthy depositors back Saudi Arabia’s largest bank by assets is trying to woo back wealthy customers after losing many since a merger in 2021. SNB, or Saudi National Bank, is a merger of National Commercial Bank and Samba Financial Group, formerly known as the Saudi American Bank. It has underperformed against its major domestic rivals, reporting comparatively lower […] February 14, 2025
Editor's Insight Economy Navigating volatility: The impact on GCC economies The optimism is welcome – but it may be misplaced. This week the Riyad Bank Purchasing Managers’ Index in Saudi Arabia hit its highest level in more than 10 years – a significant vote of confidence in the Arab world’s largest economy. There was positive news too on jobs in the kingdom. Employment rose “solidly” last year, […] February 7, 2025
