#Saudi Arabia

US inflation

Oil extends losses as investors weigh US inflation, China demand

US inflation accelerated to a fresh 40-year high last month, raising the likelihood of more aggressive interest-rate hikes from the Federal Reserve

HSBC boosts Saudi investment banking team amid flurry of deals

International banks including Citigroup and Bank of America have been expanding in the kingdom

Saudi Wealth Fund

Saudi wealth fund makes second $1bn bet on Swedish gaming

The Public Investment Fund’s Savvy Gaming Group will become the second largest owner in Embracer Group after acquiring almost 100 million shares

HPE Alrehaili

HPE hires Mohammad Alrehaili as managing director for Saudi Arabia and the Gulf

Alrehaili brings over 15 years of experience working in the technology industry in both the public and private sectors

Jordan

Saudi wealth fund’s $3bn Jordan unit aims to ramp up deals

The investment is expected to create more than 5,000 jobs and will be the first of several deals announced by the fund over the next year

valU EFG-Karim-Awad

FAS Labs, valU partner to offer digital consumer finance services in Saudi Arabia

The agreement will accelerate the geographical expansion of valU and provide digital finance solutions to consumers in Saudi Arabia through FAS Finance

Saudi Arabia

Saudi raises oil prices amid Asia rebound

Saudi Arabia sends more than 60 per cent of its crude exports to Asia, with China, Japan, South Korea and India being the biggest buyers

Flydubai

Flydubai to resume flights to Abha in Saudi Arabia

Flights will commence with a daily service, from Dubai International’s Terminal 2

Electronic visa for Umrah available now

Saudi Arabia launches electronic visa processing app for Umrah pilgrims

The visit visa for Umrah will be issued now within 24 hours and applications can be submitted from outside Saudi Arabia through the app

Google Cloud

Google Cloud appoints Bader Almadi as country manager for Saudi Arabia

With 16 years of expertise, Almadi joins from Dell Technologies where he was country enterprise director for telecom, cloud and financial services’ industries

Middle East IPOs

Middle East IPOs on track for best ever first half as oil surges

IPOs in the Middle East have fetched $11.4bn in the first five months of the year

Open banking

Open banking platform Tarabut Gateway partners with four banks in Saudi

Traditional financial institutions and fintechs can connect and build their own apps using Tarabut’s solutions

Healthcare

Special report: How digital technologies have upped the game for healthcare across GCC

As technologies drive the future of most industries, digital solutions are also reshaping the healthcare sector

SAUDI-ARABIA-alcohol

Saudi tourism official clarifies country’s stand on alcohol consumption

Princess Haifa Mohammed Al-Saud, the kingdom’s assistant minister of tourism, spoke on the subject at the World Economic Forum in Davos

Saudia qatar

Saudia to operate hundreds of extra flights during FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

From November 21, the airline will operate 60 special daily flights for fans which will run from both Riyadh and Jeddah to Doha

STC Alibaba

Saudi’s stc Group announces launch of Alibaba Cloud in Riyadh

Alibaba will offer a wide range of cloud computing services and solutions, a step that will enable local companies to digitise their businesses

FOO Fintech

Fintech solution provider FOO expands operations into Saudi Arabia

FOO works with banks, fintech companies and retailers across the MENA region to provide digital products that enhance business models and customer experience

Nujuma, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve Saudi Arabia

The Middle East’s first Ritz-Carlton Reserve to be established in Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea project

Apart from the property in Saudi, there are only five other Ritz-Carlton Reserves worldwide

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia to use oil windfall to boost private sector

Saudi Arabia’s posted a $15.3bn budget surplus in the first quarter

Prince Alwaleed

Saudi Arabia buys $1.5bn stake in Prince Alwaleed’s firm

The Public Investment Fund acquired a 16.9 per cent stake in Kingdom Holding Company

Saudi food delivery firm Jahez seeks to acquire rival Chefz

Jahez is the biggest locally owned food delivery group in Saudi Arabia

Image courtesy- ACWA Power

ACWA Power reports net profit of SAR152m in Q1 2022

ACWA Power earned an operating income before impairment loss and other expenses of SAR517m, which was 19.5 per cent higher than the same period in 2021

Lucid’s Saudi EV factory to receive $3.4bn in incentives

The factory will be located in the King Abdullah Economic City

Saudi Arabia’s PIF adds to games push with 5% Nintendo stake

The filing shows the purchase was made for investment purposes

Bravado Gaming

Bravado Gaming announces its debut in Middle East, Africa

The Bravado expansion will include the establishment of bases in South Africa, Egypt, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia

Dubai’s GII buys 51% of Saudi Arabia’s Almeswak for $530m

Almeswak operates more than 80 centres across 20 cities in Saudi Arabia

Detasad technology

Saudi’s Detasad unveils new technology at Satellite 2022 conference

Dynamic bandwidth optimisation technology is one of the four solutions patented by the infrastructure provider in 2022

saudi coffee

Sovereign wealth fund PIF launches Saudi Coffee Company

Domestic annual Saudi coffee consumption is forecast to reach 28,700 tons by 2026

Landmarks Of The City Of Riyadh, Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia posts $15bn surplus on soaring oil income

The boost was mainly driven by oil revenue, which rose 58 per cent compared to last year