Saudi AZM gets independent director
Omar bin Fahd Al-Sunaidi's term will extend until Jun 2026.
Business
Cornerstone laid for $40 million logistics park at King Abdulaziz Port
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- The cornerstone was laid for an integrated SAR150 million ($39.99 million) Logistics Park at Dammam's King...
Business
Business
Chinese tourism bookings to Saudi surge 277% after mega promotional campaign
Shanghai, China -- In a bid to attract Chinese tourists, the Saudi Tourism Authority recently concluded its first, and the...
- Saudi Market Festival, a celebration of heritage, culture and nature, held at the iconic Bund Waterfront in Shanghai drew a crowd of over 80,000.
- The impact of the campaign has been substantial, with over 500 million Chinese reached, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Business
JABEEN signs contracts with Retal, Abyatna
The firms will build primary and secondary infrastructure works.
- Under the contract, a total of 897 residential units will be built in the Jubail industrial city.
- The $319 million contract, which was awarded on Nov. 26, 2023, extends for 40 months, starting on the date of the land handover from JABEEN to Retal.
Business
Bank of Sharjah joint lead manager for $350m Ittihad sukuk
SHARJAH, UAE - Bank of Sharjah announced its selection as joint lead manager and bookrunner in the debut US$350 million...
- The Sukuk issuance was 1.7 times oversubscribed, with the orderbook reaching approximately US$600 million.
- “This demonstrates Ittihad’s solid business fundamentals and confirms its strong credit appetite,” CEO of Bank of Sharjah said.
Business
SEVEN to build $347m entertainment destination in Saudi Arabia’s Aseer
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Entertainment Ventures (SEVEN), a PIF subsidiary, has announced the fifth entertainment destination in the Kingdom,...
- Designed by Gensler, a global architecture, design, and planning firm, the architecture was inspired by the ancient stone buildings of the area to highlight the identity of Aseer.
- SEVEN, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), has appointed Modern Building Leaders to undertake the construction works.
Business
ADDED launches program to improve SMEs’ access to financial services
Abu Dhabi, UAE -- The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) has launched a program to improve the access...
- The program was launched in partnership with the Emirates Classification Society “Tasneef” and support of Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ADCCI), and leading banks.
- Small and Medium Enterprises are one of the vital sectors in Abu Dhabi’s economy, accounting for 98 percent of businesses.
Geostrategy
56% Saudi consumers willing to pay premium for green transportation
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- An overwhelming 80 percent of consumers across 16 diverse nations now identify climate change as the...
- An overwhelming 80 percent of consumers across 16 diverse nations now identify climate change as the foremost global challenge.
- 60 percent of respondents in Saudi Arabia conveyed their readiness to accept a lower salary if it meant working for an organization committed to reducing its carbon footprint.
Geostrategy
International migration flows to OECD countries at record highs in 2022
Paris, UAE -- Permanent migration to OECD countries reached 6.1 million in 2022, a 26 percent increase compared with 2021,...
- Fifteen 15 out of the 38 OECD countries registered in 2022 their highest levels of permanent migration over the past 15 years.
- Over two million new asylum applications were lodged in OECD countries in 2022, well above the previous record of 1.7 million in 2015.
Economy
ADB plans to invest US$100bn to maximize climate impact
MANILA, PHILIPPINES - Setting the scene for a low-carbon and climate-resilient Asia and the Pacific, the Asian Development Bank (ADB)...
- By 2030, more than 55 percent of the population of Asia and the Pacific will live in urban areas, driving up demand for urban-related services.
- If urban areas continue along the same growth trajectory, Asian cities could contribute over half of the rise in global GHG emissions in the next 20 years.
Business
Dubai records weeklong real estate deals worth $2.45 billion
Dubai, UAE -- A total of1,852 real estate transactions valued at more than AED 9 billion ($2.45 billion) were conducted...
- The DLD weekly report said that 384 plots were sold for AED 2.54 billion, 1,468 apartments and villas were sold for AED 3.38 billion.
- A total of 139 properties were granted between first-degree relatives worth AED507 million.
Arts & Culture
Jeddah Program named cultural destination of FIFA Club World Cup
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- The Historic Jeddah Program has secured sponsorship rights as the official cultural destination and main supporter...
- This prestigious tournament will be hosted in Jeddah from December 12 to 22, 2023, marking the first time it will be held in the Kingdom.
- The program's sponsorship of this tournament is part of its efforts to showcase the historic Jeddah region, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Saudi AZM gets independent director
Omar bin Fahd Al-Sunaidi's term will extend until Jun 2026.
Business
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UAE central bank cash deposits up by 10.2% in Oct to $187 billion
Abu Dhabi, UAE -- The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) said Thursday cash deposits surged to AED 687.2 billion...
Business
Saudi Arabia’s holdings of US Treasuries up $399 million in Oct 2023
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia’s holdings of US Treasuries reached $117.5 billion in October 2023, up $399 million month-on-month...
Business
ADIB, Aldar close $272m financing deal
Aldar's total ESG financing facilities reach $1.30 billion.
Business
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Economy
Qatar expects 11.4% revenue dip in 2024 budget on lower oil prices
Finance Minister Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari attributed the decrease in revenues to the adoption of an average oil price...
- Expenditures are expected to increase by 1 percent from 2023 to reach QR 200.9 billion, due to a rise in the allocations for salaries and wages.
- Allocations for both current expenditures and secondary capital expenditures also increased by 6.4 percent and 27.5 percent respectively, compared to 2023.
Business
Saudi fund assets dip slightly in Q3 but subscribers surge
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- The total value of assets held by public and private investment funds in Saudi Arabia decreased...
- Public funds focus on local money markets, while private funds favor equity and real estate.
- The value of assets held by equity and real estate funds made up 84 percent of the private funds’ total assets.
Business
DIFC Innovation Hub 2023 graduates raise $600 million in funding
Dubai, UAE -- More than 200 start-ups graduating from the programs of DIFC Innovation Hub in 2023 have collectively raised...
- In 2023, the program also saw a record-breaking number of participants with over 700 applicants for a single cohort, out of which 19 start-ups graduated.
- DIFC Innovation Hub is home to the first and largest financial technology accelerator in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region.