Banking & Finance Saudi Arabian banks see profits up 17.6% in first quarter Saudi Arabia’s top banks saw profitability increase by 17.6 percent quarter-on-quarter in the first three months of the year, on the back of a buoyant energy market, interest rate hikes in line with the US, and an increase in consumer spending. “The first quarter saw broad-based profitability improvement across the banking industry,” Asad Ahmed, managing […] June 8, 2022
Tourism Saudi to invest $100m in tourism training Saudi Arabia is planning to invest $100 million training around 100,000 young Saudis to work in the tourism sector, as the kingdom looks to attract over 70 million visitors per year. The Ministry of Tourism on Tuesday launched the Tourism Pioneers programme, which the Saudi Press Agency claimed was the “largest global programme” of its […] June 8, 2022
Retail Saudi mall reopens after blaze cost $6.67m Saudi retail operator Arabian Centres has reopened Mall of Dhahran, in the eastern province of the kingdom, and confirmed in a statement to the Saudi Exchange that the financial cost of a fire at the site last month will be roughly 25 million Saudi riyals ($6.67 million). In the bourse statement, Arabian Centres confirmed that […] June 8, 2022
Analysis Business of Sport Gulf riches has legacy sports events quaking in their boots Phil Mickelson’s self-imposed break from golf has ended with a $200 million golden handshake. The six-time major winner stepped down from the game in February after issuing a string of controversial comments about Saudi Arabia and the PGA Tour but has announced his return for the PIF-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series. In a statement on […] June 8, 2022
Energy Saudi GDP grows 9.9% in Q1, beating flash estimate Saudi Arabia’s gross domestic product grew 9.9 per cent in the first quarter, the fastest in a decade and more than a flash estimate last month of 9.6 per cent, official data showed on Tuesday. It was the fastest expansion since the third quarter of 2011 with the increase in oil production a key factor, […] June 7, 2022
Business of Sport Mickelson returns to play in Saudi golf series – for $200m Phil Mickelson ends his self-imposed break from golf this week to tee it up at the LIV Golf Invitational Series. The six-times major champion has been added to the field for the Saudi-backed league following a four-month hiatus amid a backlash over comments he made about the breakaway tour. “I am ready to come back […] June 7, 2022
Retail Saudi PIF ‘shortlisted as bidder for stake in Starbucks MENA’ Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has been shortlisted to buy a stake in the Middle East, North Africa and central Asia Starbucks franchise held by Alshaya Group, according to two sources. The franchise has several hundred coffee shops in 14 countries across the Middle East, Russia and central Asia. Kuwait-based Alshaya Group, the region’s […] June 6, 2022
Energy Biden should not shake MBS’ hand in Riyadh, says top Democrat President Joe Biden should not visit Saudi Arabia or meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the chairman of the US House intelligence committee said on Sunday. Rep. Adam Schiff was asked about reports that the president will travel to Riyadh in July and hold talks with the crown prince, Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler – […] June 6, 2022
Energy Saudi ramps up July oil prices for Asia buyers Saudi Arabia, the world’s top oil exporter, raised July crude oil prices for Asian buyers to higher-than-expected levels amid concerns about tight supply and expectations of strong demand in summer. The official selling price (OSP) for July-loading Arab Light to Asia was hiked by $2.1 a barrel from June to $6.5 a barrel over Oman/Dubai […] June 6, 2022
Business of Sport Can Lionel Messi’s left foot fire Saudi into the tourism big league? In the region's latest multimillion-dollar wager on football, Riyadh is hoping the player's global appeal will attract tourists June 4, 2022
Energy White House praises Saudi crown prince ahead of expected Biden trip The White House took the rare step of recognising the role played by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in extending a ceasefire in Yemen on Thursday ahead of what is expected to be a trip to Riyadh by President Joe Biden. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters that bin Salman and […] June 3, 2022
Media & Advertising Saudi’s leading cinema group to make films for Arabs by Arabs The kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced the lifting of its 35-year ban on cinemas four years ago. The industry has since seen exponential growth and Arabic language films have been the most popular among moviegoers. This trend has now prompted Muvi Cinemas, Saudi Arabia’s homegrown cinema brand and the country’s largest theatre operator, to launch […] June 3, 2022
Tourism Saudi’s Abdul Latif Jameel to invest $220m in Indian electric vehicle maker Saudi Arabian family conglomerate Abdul Latif Jameel is to invest $220 million in India’s Greaves Electric Mobility, as it looks to benefit from the country’s growing electric vehicle (EV) market. India is currently the world’s fourth-largest automotive market and Greaves Electric Mobility, a subsidiary of Indian engineering firm Greaves Cotton Ltd, produces two and three […] June 2, 2022
Business of Sport Canadian bank terminates sponsor deals over Saudi-backed rival golf tour Royal Bank of Canada said on Wednesday it decided to terminate sponsor agreements with Dustin Johnson and Graeme McDowell after the former major champions decided to play in the opening event of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series next week. World number 13 Johnson was both the highest-ranked and most surprising golfer named to the […] June 2, 2022
Energy Saudi to raise oil production if Russian output falls Saudi Arabia is prepared to raise its oil production if Russia’s output falls substantially because of the western sanctions imposed on it, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday, citing sources. Discussions had been held about an immediate increase in production from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which could be announced at Thursday’s OPEC+ meeting, […] June 2, 2022
Energy Saudi-led OPEC+ set for modest output rise, as oil hits $124, sources say Oil prices rally on future EU Russian oil ban OPEC experts didn’t discuss suspending Russia from quotas Russian oil output rising, Lavrov visits Middle East G7 again calls on OPEC to raise output US officials working on Biden’s visit to Riyadh OPEC+ is set to stick this week to its monthly modest oil output increases […] June 1, 2022
Energy Russia’s Lavrov to meet GCC ministers in Riyadh on Wednesday Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, Saudi state media said, on a visit that Gulf officials said would feature a meeting with foreign ministers from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. Lavrov, who also visited Bahrain earlier on Tuesday, is expected to meet ministers from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab […] June 1, 2022
Business of Sport Dustin Johnson to headline this month’s Saudi-backed golf tour in London Garcia and Westwood also included in the 48-man field Mickelson could still make it as six spots still open PGA Tour’s Canadian Open ‘disappointed’ with Johnson’s decision Former world number one Dustin Johnson and past major champion Sergio Garcia were listed among competitors for the opening LIV Golf Invitational Series event in a field released […] June 1, 2022
Analysis Food & Drink Saudis want the world to wake up and smell their coffee Did Arabica coffee originate in Arabia? Many say it hails from Ethiopia and then spread to Yemen and the rest of the Middle East. As coffee experts and aficionados continue to debate its history, Saudi Arabia is working to put a new stamp on the industry. Saudi Arabia has named 2022 the year of Saudi […] May 31, 2022
Energy If Aramco were a country, it would be richer than Italy The oil company’s market cap of over $1.8 trillion in 2021 is more than two-and-a-half times the GDP of its home country Saudi Arabia May 30, 2022
