#Saudi Arabia

PIF-owned SRC extends refinancing deal with Alrajhi Bank - GettyImages-1667969985

PIF’s SRC extends refinancing deal with Alrajhi Bank, total value hits SAR10.8bn

The extension of this agreement is aimed at advancing the goals of the Vision 2030 Housing Program

flynas carries 11 million passengers in 2023

Saudi Arabia’s flynas carries 11 million passengers in 2023

The budget carrier launched 57 new destinations and inaugurated its fourth operations base at Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah

BRICS SUMMIT-SOUTH AFRICA

Russia’s Vladimir Putin officially welcomes UAE, Saudi into BRICS

Two GCC nations, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, are now formally part of the BRICS bloc

Saudi Arabia e visa

Saudi wealth fund PIF splashes $31.6bn in 2023

Big-ticket purchases included $4.9bn for US gaming company Scopely, $3.6bn to buy Standard Chartered’s aircraft leasing division and $3.3bn for steelmaker Hadeed

Shareek programme to suppport Saudi Arabia's private sector

Saudi Arabia’s new regional headquarters mandate goes into effect

Saudi Arabia has officially activated its new mandate for companies with large tenders to host their regional offices in the country

Saudi Arabia’s foreign reserves fell from SAR1.57tn the previous month

Unemployment for Saudis rises slightly to 8.6% in Q3

The unemployment rate for Saudis is still lower than the 9.9 per cent recorded in the same period a year ago, according to data from the kingdom

Saudi Arabia’s NEOM launches lifestyle community Norlana

Saudi Arabia’s NEOM unveils plans for lifestyle community Norlana

Located on the coastline of the Gulf of Aqaba, the lifestyle community will have a 120-berth marina that will serve as an international hub for superyachts

Saudi’s Mawani inks four contracts worth SAR1bn

Saudi Arabia’s Mawani signs four contracts worth SAR1bn

The authority signed the contracts with Zamil Marine Services and Naghi Marine Company to provide diverse maritime services

GCC region M&A blazes trail as global deals decline

GCC region M&A blazes trail as global deals decline

The GCC region has proven to be one of the most kinetic deal markets in the world in 2023, with dealmakers expected to remain relatively active in the near future

Masdar

Top marks for GCC nations in digital connectivity index

Countries in the GCC are ranking among the highest in the world when it comes to the state of their digital connectivity in 2023

The Lynas Rare Earths Ltd. processing plant in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022. Lynas, the only key supplier of the critical minerals outside China, has won further financial backing from Washington to build a plant in the US. Photographer: Carla Gottgens/Bloomberg

Saudi Arabia studies graphite, rare earths trading platform

The kingdom has been studying setting up the trading platform in the second half of 2023 but a decision is not expected any time soon

ACWA Power and Dutch Companies sign MoU Image Acwa Power

Saudi’s ACWA Power inks $4bn green hydrogen deal with Egypt

The initial phase of the project will generate 3,000 tonnes of green hydrogen annually, with the subsequent phase harnessing 2.4 GW of wind energy to produce 500,000 tonnes of green ammonia

Oracle generative AI

Oracle targets training 50,000 Saudis in AI, latest tech

The training is set to form part of an initiative called ‘Mostaqbali’ (My Future), and will be supervised by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development.

flynas takes delivery of 3 A320neo aircraft

Saudi budget carrier flynas takes delivery of 3 A320neo aircraft

The airline has taken delivery of 18 out of 19 new A320neo aircraft scheduled for delivery in 2023

BNPL startup Tamara raises $340m, now valued at $1bn

BNPL startup Tamara now valued at $1bn after raising $340m

With this transaction, the BNPL platform will have raised a total of $500m in equity funding, and well above $400m in debt financing

Saudi Arabia's first opera house is being built in Diriyah

Saudi Arabia’s first opera house is being built here

Designed by the world-renowned architectural firm Snøhetta, the Royal Diriyah Opera House will be built in the heart of Diriyah

NEOM - UTAMO

Saudi’s Neom announces new destination for art and entertainment

Set to be built along the Gulf of Aqaba, Utamo, is crafted as an immersive destination for art and entertainment

MBC Group sets price range for IPO, seeks to raise $222m

Saudi Arabia’s MBC Group gets $14.5bn orders for IPO

The pricing of SAR25 per share implies a market valuation of around SAR8.3bn at listing

SAXO BANK OUTRAGEOUS PREDICTIONS - 2024

Outrageous Predictions 2024: Saxo Bank picks 8 global events to keep an eye out for

Looking ahead to 2024, Saxo Bank sees a world at an inflection point, with the familiar road of the last decade coming to an end

NEOM launches new food company Topian

Saudi Arabia’s NEOM unveils new food company Topian

The company will spearhead the kingdom’s efforts to ensure food security, mitigate climate change and achieve net-zero emissions by 2060

QIDDIYA CITY

Qiddiya City megaproject brand unveiled by Saudi Crown Prince

Qiddiya City expects to attract an anticipated 48 million visits per year with its never-built-before array of world-class attractions and venues

Archit Gupta, CEO of Cleartax with insights on tools to aid tax compliance KSA and GCC

Getting tax-ready: Navigating compliance in Saudi Arabia, GCC

Embracing tools such as VAT Filing Reconciliation and Assistance and Accounts Payable Automation becomes crucial to ensure efficient, accurate tax operations and compliance

Saudi Arabia allots $100m for Sudan humanitarian crisis

Saudi Arabia approves 2024 state budget, forecasts SAR79bn deficit

The budget estimates expenditures of SAR1.3tn in 2024 and total revenues of SAR1.2tn

President Putin in rare foreign visit to UAE, Saudi Arabia

President Putin visits UAE and Saudi Arabia, to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman

The Russian President is due to hold talks with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman

UAE ransomware

Hackers are targetting UAE, Saudi businesses’ cloud services — survey

The targetting of cloud infrastructure among corporates in these two countries is on the rise, according to a new survey.

siranna new destination launched by NEOM Image NEOM

Saudi Arabia: What NEOM’s new destination, Siranna, has to offer

Situated on the Gulf of Aqaba coastline, this ultra-luxurious destination will be home to a 65-key hotel, as well as 35 exclusive residences

Cop28 Saudi Arabia clean energy focus Saudi Green Initiative Forum

Saudi Arabia sees 300% rise in installed renewables capacity

The Saudi Green Initiative aims to improve the quality of life and protect future generations by increasing reliance on clean energy

PIF to acquire 49% stake in Rocco Forte

Saudi wealth fund PIF to acquire 49% stake in Rocco Forte Hotels

The wealth fund’s investment will include an element of primary equity, and the completion of the deal is subject to regulatory approval

saudi arabia - riyadh - traffic fine discount

Here’s why Saudi’s IT services growth is fastest in MEA – IDC

Mega projects in the kingdom, together with renewed digitalisation efforts, are spurring on a whole new era of IT services growth for the country, says the IDC.

Oil output freeze by Saudi, Russia to have 'miniscule' impact on oversupply

OPEC+: GCC’s Saudi, UAE, Kuwait and Oman to cut oil outputs

Members of OPEC+ agreed to make additional voluntary outputs in reduction, but the announced cuts were not as deep as expected.