#Saudi Arabia

Saudi Aramco appoints presidents for upstream and downstream businesses

Saudi Aramco promotes upstream, downstream heads to new president roles

Nassir Al-Naimi remains in charge of Aramco’s oil and gas production while Mohammed Al Qahtani will continue to run the refining and chemicals business

Port of NEOM open for business photo courtesy NEOM

Saudi Arabia’s Duba Port is now called Port of NEOM

When completed, the port will operate at net carbon zero levels with 100 per cent renewable energy at source

IHG to open 12 Holiday Inn Express hotels across Saudi Arabia (Image: Supplied by IHG)

IHG reaches deal for 12 Holiday Inn Express hotels in Saudi Arabia

It has signed a master development agreement with Tashyid for Hotel Operations to develop the hotels totaling 2,500 keys

Saudia

Saudia and Kuwait Airways sign codeshare agreement

Guests may expect to gain all the benefits of codeshare flights including connectivity, baggage transfer and the convenience of having their entire journey managed by one airline

Arabian Drilling operations

Arabian Drilling’s Q1 revenue surges by 4% to SAR779m

The drilling company’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation in Q1 2023 reached SAR323m, with a margin of 41.5 per cent

Saudi Real Estate Refinance Company

Saudi Real Estate Refinance Company announces credit rating and outlook upgrades

Moody’s Investor Services affirmed Saudi Real Estate Refinance Company’s ‘A2’ long-term issuer ratings and upgraded its outlooks to ‘positive’

visa

Saudi Arabia restricts entry to Makkah without permit

The move comes as part of the kingdom’s efforts to organise Hajj effectively

Morabaha Financing will list on Saudi Exchange

Saudi Arabia’s Morabaha Financing set to raise $83.4m in IPO

The company plans to use the net proceeds from the share sale to strengthen its capital base to support future growth

Astronauts

Saudi space mission to launch on May 21, crew includes first Arab woman at ISS

The mission is part of the kingdom’s astronauts’ programme, which was launched on September 22 last year

Cityscape Global Saudi Arabia Edition

Cityscape Global to debut in Saudi Arabia this year

Over 180,000 domestic and international attendees will attend the debut edition of Cityscape Global

IsDB annual meet concludes in Jeddah

Financing agreements worth $5.4bn signed at annual IsDB meet

The four-day event attracted 4,452 participants from 90 countries as well as 89 organisations working in the field of sustainable development

ADNOC Distribution

ADNOC Distribution’s Q1 net profit jumps 5.5% to Dhs551m

The energy provider said its net profit soared 19.4 per cent quarter-on-quarter and free cash flow stood at Dhs1.04bn

Rua Al Madinah (Image: Supplied by Accor)

Accor signs deal for three properties in Madinah

A Fairmont, Swissôtel and Novotel will cumulatively add over 1,000 keys to Accor’s portfolio in Saudi Arabia

Rotana's Guy Hutchinson signs the agreement at the FHS in Riyadh. (Image: Supplied by Rotana)

Rotana signs agreement for five new properties in Riyadh

The openings will cumulatively add 618 keys to its portfolio and includes four Edge by Rotana hotels as well as one Rayhaan by Rotana property

Chalhoub group to operate centre from Riyadh Integrated

Chalhoub Group to open fulfillment centre at Riyadh Integrated

Set to open in mid-2025, the fulfillment centre located in the kingdom’s first special integrated logistics zone will serve as a flagship centre for the region

Transformers

World’s first Transformers-themed attraction to be launched in Saudi Arabia

Spanning over 10,000 square metres, the indoor entertainment centre will open at Al Hamra district of Riyadh

Flyadeal

Online travel marketplace Wego joins forces with flyadeal to enable direct flight bookings

The airline currently operates scheduled flights to 17 domestic destinations across Saudi Arabia and six in Europe, Middle East and Africa

CISOs

Over 60% CISOs in UAE, Saudi Arabia voice concerns over cyber resilience preparedness

New research from Trellix highlights the critical resource gaps reported by two in three CISOs surveyed across the UAE and Saudi Arabia

Cloud7 Residence AlUla (Image: Supplied by Kerten Hospitality)

Kerten Hospitality’s project size in Saudi to reach SAR1.5bn in 2023

The group has launched The Collective by Kerten Hospitality initiative to unify its efforts across all the projects in the kingdom

Flynas A320 new aircraft (Image: Supplied by flynas)

Saudi’s flynas receives three Airbus aircraft

It includes two new A320 neo and one widebody A330 aircraft

Aramco’s Abha bulk plant

Saudi Aramco Q1 profit drops to $31.9bn on lower oil prices

Global crude oil prices declined in the first quarter of 2023 mainly driven by macroeconomic events contributing to market volatility

Red Sea

Saudi Red Sea developer weighs public offering as soon as 2026

The firm is in early talks with banks and stakeholders, John Pagano, chief executive of Red Sea Global, said in an interview, without disclosing details on advisers, banks or valuation

Kimpton Riyadh Saudi Arabia signing ceremony (Image: Supplied by IH Hotels and Resorts)

IHG to debut Kimpton brand in Saudi Arabia by 2024

The new-build Kimpton Riyadh will be located within the King Abdullah Financial District

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia’s economy grew 3.9% in Q1 of 2023

Economic expansion was driven by a 5.8 per cent increase in non-oil activities

Saudi Arabia banking sector

How Saudi Arabia’s banking system is building a solid future

Saudi banks stand to remain on a profitable path in 2023 with corporate lending continuing to drive credit growth in the sector

Abdulla Almoayed, founder and CEO of Tarabut Gateway

Tarabut Gateway raises $32m to fund Saudi expansion

The open banking platform plans to use the proceeds of the Series A funding round to accelerate growth in Saudi Arabia

CBUAE - interest rate

Most GCC central banks raise interest rates tracking US Fed move

Central banks in the GCC usually track the Fed’s policy rate moves as their currencies are pegged to the US dollar

Saudi tourism

From ancient history to modern luxury, Saudi Arabia’s tourism offerings continue to expand

Saudi tourism is set to surge with significant investments being made throughout the kingdom to enhance both religious and non-religious tourism 

Amsa Hospitality

Amsa Hospitality, Accor join forces to bring 18 new hotels to Saudi by 2032

The agreement will see Amsa Hospitality develop a range of Accor’s economy and midscale brands while also acting as the third-party operator by leasing and franchising the assets

Aramco, PIF and China’s Baosteel steel JV

Aramco and PIF set up JV to build steel plant with China’s Baosteel

The steel manufacturing base has a designed annual capacity of 2.5 million tonnes of direct reduced iron and 1.5 million tonnes of steel plate