Renewable Energy Gulf companies win slice of $32bn Morocco hydrogen projects The Moroccan government has selected companies from the UAE and Saudi Arabia to help develop hydrogen projects worth MAD319 billion ($32 billion) in the country’s southern province, the prime minister’s office has announced. A government committee finalised five local and global investors to build six projects, said a statement from the office of Aziz Akhannouch, […] March 7, 2025
Retail Ramadan sharply boosts Saudi consumer spending Saudi consumers increased spending to one of its highest ever weekly levels as they rushed to build up food supplies ahead of the fasting month of Ramadan, local figures show. Consumer spending in the largest Arab economy soared by 35 percent to 17.6 billion riyals ($4.7 billion) in the period February 23 to March 1, […] March 6, 2025
Business of Sport Saudi Arabia signs deal with TKO for boxing promotion Saudi Arabia could land a blow to boxing traditionalists after the launch of a new promotion. TKO Group, the US media conglomerate that has World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) under its banner, has entered a multi-year agreement with the Saudi General Entertainment Authority, vowing to implement widespread changes to how boxing […] March 6, 2025
Business of Sport Saudi-backed Newcastle United narrows losses to $14m Saudi Arabia-backed Newcastle United Football Club has reported an £11 million ($14 million) loss for the last financial year, despite a 30 percent increase in revenues. The deficit at the Public Investment Fund majority owned English Premier League club was reduced by £60 million year on year, attributed largely to the money gained from qualifying […] March 6, 2025
EXCLUSIVE Aviation US startup Doroni to bring recreational flying cars to Gulf Doroni Aerospace, a US developer of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, last week secured an additional $150 million from a Saudi investor. The investment came only days after the company announced an initial $30 million deal with Kingdom Aero Industries (KAI). Florida-based Doroni was launched in 2017 and is working to manufacture US […] March 6, 2025
Oil & Gas Aramco explores potential bid for BP’s Castrol unit Saudi Aramco is in the early stages of considering a potential bid for BP’s lubricant business Castrol, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. BP has been exploring all options around its Castrol business, including a possible sale, as part of a strategic review. The business would be expected to be worth around $6 billion to […] March 6, 2025
Analysis Construction Saudi construction surge draws interest from around the world Brazil’s ProMarmo, a small family-owned supplier of marble, onyx and granite, has just two branches, both in the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sol. After more than 20 years in business, the company is considering opening its third branch in none other than distant Saudi Arabia. Growing numbers of small construction companies, contractors […] March 6, 2025
Energy Aramco slashes blue ammonia output to reduce costs Saudi Aramco has scaled down its low carbon ammonia production target by 80 percent because of high costs and low demand. The company has adjusted its production objective from 11 million tonnes per annum (mpta) by 2030 to 2.5 mpta, it has said. The new target is still subject to the availability of commercially viable […] March 6, 2025
Business of Sport PIF unit considers investment in World Athletics arm A Saudi Arabia-backed sports fund is considering investing in a new body that World Athletics may potentially set up to manage the sport’s commercial rights, two people with knowledge of the matter said. The sport’s governing body has been considering establishing a new company to manage rights and bring in cash from a new investor, the people said. […] March 5, 2025
Trade PIF signs $3bn deal with Italy’s export credit agency Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund said on Wednesday it had signed a memorandum of understanding worth $3 billion with Italy’s export credit agency, SACE. The sovereign wealth fund is working to boost finances to fund the country’s giga-projects. “The MoU focuses on providing financing support for co-operation between Italian companies in the private sector and […] March 5, 2025
Construction Middle East is top recipient of Chinese Belt and Road deals The Middle East was the top recipient of construction and investment deals under China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2024, with the total value reaching $39 billion. That may not go down well in Washington. Saudi Arabia and construction topped the list, according to a report by Griffith Asia Institute, based in Queensland, Australia. […] March 5, 2025
Analysis Oil & Gas Saudi deficit to rise after $40bn loss in Aramco oil dividends A projected 30 percent drop in Saudi Aramco’s oil dividends in 2025 is likely to force the government and state-owned Saudi Public Investment Fund to step up borrowing to fund infrastructure and other projects under the kingdom’s Vision 2030 economic and social strategy, analysts say. The world’s largest oil company intends to cut dividends to […] March 4, 2025
Opinion Renewable Energy Taxation can be a catalyst in the renewable energy revolution Saudi Arabia and the UAE can lead the transition if their fiscal policies align with their ambition March 4, 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
Oil & Gas Aramco pays $21bn dividend despite 2024 profit slip Saudi Aramco will distribute a dividend of SAR80 billion ($21.4 billion) for the fourth quarter of 2024 despite full-year net profit falling 12 percent year on year to $106 billion. The company declared a base dividend of $21 billion for the fourth quarter, a 4 percent year-on-year increase, which will be paid in the first […] March 4, 2025
Finance PIF to anchor Goldman Sach’s new GCC-focused funds Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) is to be an anchor investor in Goldman Sachs Asset Management’s new funds focused on Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, the Fund said in a statement. The two companies have signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) focusing on private credit and public equity. The new funds aim to […] March 4, 2025
Markets Saudi Tadawul profit surges 60% on higher trading value Saudi Tadawul Group, the owner and operator of the kingdom’s stock exchange, reported a 59 percent jump in 2024 profit, as annual trading value and listing services revenues rose by 38 percent and 27 percent, respectively. Net profit was SAR622 million ($166 million) compared to SAR390 million in 2023, the company said in a bourse […] March 3, 2025
Sovereign Wealth Funds PIF temporarily suspends PwC from advisory work Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has temporarily barred UK company PwC from securing advisory and consulting contracts until February 2026, according to a news report. The ban extends to the sovereign wealth fund’s more than 100 subsidiaries, Bloomberg reported citing informed sources. However, auditing projects continue as before. In May 2023, PwC received a license […] March 3, 2025
Analysis Markets Aramco dividend vital to big-spending Saudi Arabia Saudi Aramco’s 2024 full-year results due this week are likely to again underline the importance of the world’s largest listed oil company to big-spending Saudi Arabia’s economic development plans. Aramco has said it expects to announce fourth-quarter dividends – payouts to the Saudi government are a core source of state revenue – of SAR116.5 billion […] March 3, 2025
Mining Saudi Arabia turns to recycling to enhance mineral recovery As part of its push to make mineral mining a pillar of its otherwise hydrocarbon-dominated economy, Saudi Arabia is investigating how to increase extraction by recycling mining waste. This is providing a valuable opportunity for local startups and US technology companies. Since the start of the year, several startups in the critical minerals and rare […] February 28, 2025
