Recent stories from sustg

  • Top Think Tank in Saudi Arabia Studying ‘Hypothetical World Without OPEC’
     

    Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center in Riyadh is studying what happens to oil markets in a hypothetical world without OPEC, according to the Wall Street Journal and other reports. The study does not represent government thinking or any active discussions about OPEC within the Saudi government. “We’re looking at what happens if […]

     
  • Severe Weather, Rains Across Saudi Arabia Kill 14
     

    Damaging rains and floods have killed 14 people in Saudi Arabia in recent days as officials say the weather across the Kingdom this year has been among the most severe in decades. The heavy rain has affected 13 areas of the Kingdom, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Since Oct. 19, the Command and Guidance Center in […]

     
  • Blackstone Establishes Energy Investment Vehicle for MENA Region
     

    Blackstone, the world’s largest buyout group with over $15 billion of equity globally with the energy industry has established Zarou, a company designed to develop, finance, construct and operate energy-related projects in the MENA region. According to the Financial Times, Blackstone will team with Sameh Shenouda, former head of infrastructure equity investments at the UK’s development finance […]

     
  • Global Advisory Board for NEOM Includes Diverse Experts
     

    The Saudi government has appointed a global advisory board for Neom, the kingdom’s $500 billion city of the future planned for Saudi Arabia’s northwest coast near Egypt on the Red Sea. The board is composed of experts in a variety of sectors – including urban planning, architecture, design, technology, sustainability, energy and manufacturing – to provide […]

     
  • Oil Reaches Four Year High after OPEC+ Downplays Calls for Increased Production
     

    Oil rose to its highest price in four years on Tuesday, to above $81 on Brent, after Saudi Arabia and Russia appeared to downplay calls from the US to increase production. Saudi Arabia said it will boost its crude oil production “in the coming months” as it expects stronger demand, according to recent comments made by […]

     
  • Saudi Energy Minister Khalid Al-Falih in Washington Today to Meet with Secretary Perry
     

    Saudi Arabia’s Energy Minister Khalid Al-Falih is in Washington D.C. on Monday to meet with Secretary of Energy Rick Perry, according to a Reuters report which cited a Trump administration official and the Department of Energy. Saudi Arabia has markedly increased oil exports to America in recent months, according to Bloomberg. This weekend, the energy minister […]

     
  • Aramco Officials Begin Early Talks with Banks for SABIC Stake Financing, Report Says
     

    Saudi Aramco officials began early talks with banks about a potential debt financing of up to $70 billion to back its acquisition of a majority stake in Saudi petrochemical firm Sabic, Reuters reports, citing banking sources. JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley were picked to advise on Saudi Aramco’s plan in July. Aramco is looking at the 70% strategic stake in Sabic which […]

     
  • MSCI, Tadawul Sign Agreement to Launch a Tradeable Index Later This Year
     

    Global index provider MSCI announced the signing of an agreement with the Saudi Stock Exchange Co (Tadawul) to jointly launch a tradeable index later this year, Reuters reports, a “move that could spur the growth of derivatives and exchange-traded funds.” The Tadawul said it would introduce exchange-traded derivatives in the first half of 2019. According to a […]

     
  • Saudi Arabia Taps Aradhana Khowala for NEOM Tourism Chief
     

    Aradhana Khowala, former CEO and founder of Aptamind, a global private client advisory firm, has been appointed as NEOM’s managing director of tourism, according to reports. “We will be working alongside Aradhana to make NEOM an exceptional global tourism destination looking ahead to the future,” said NEOM’s CEO Nadhmi Al-Nasr in a tweet on NEOM’s official […]

     
  • SAMI CEO Gives Interview to DefenseNews.com: ‘SAMI itself is acting as a kind of active holding company’
     

    The CEO of Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) recently gave an interview with DefenseNews.com about how the organization works within Vision 2030 to develop the Kingdom’s future defense industry. Localizing Saudi Arabia’s military industry is a key part of the Kingdom’s ambitious social and economic reform plans. “SAMI itself is acting as a kind of active […]

     

MUST-READS

  • Saudi Arabia Building New City of ‘Smart Homes’ for 120,000 People

    Potential buyers can choose from six types of villas ranging from 216 to 413 sq meters. There are also plans to build four apartment blocks with one- to three-bedroom units. According to specialized news outlet Construction Briefing, the foundation for the project was laid in May. Saudi news outlet Asharq Al-Awsat reported that on July 9 the Talaat Moustafa Group told the Egyptian stock exchange that Banan City had achieved unprecedented sales and surpassed its year one target in just two months.

  • Can Saudi Arabia become a “new playground” for energy storage?

    For photovoltaic giants, shifting production capacity to the Middle East is an act of necessity. On June 7, 2024, the US International Trade Commission passed preliminary rulings on the anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigations of photovoltaic products from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. This signifies the end of the duty-free policy for some photovoltaic products imported from these four Southeast Asian countries, which began in June 2022, as of June 6 this year. Subsequently, Chinese photovoltaic manufacturers exporting to the US from Southeast Asia will face tariffs.

  • FedEx Appoints Abdulrahman Al-Mubarak as Managing Director Operations of Saudi Arabia

    Federal Express Corporation, the world’s largest express transportation company, has appointed Abdulrahman Al-Mubarak as its new Managing Director Operations of Saudi Arabia. Based in Riyadh, Abdulrahman holds a regional role in the Middle East and is responsible for the company’s strategic direction and operations for Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Jordan.

  • Saudi focuses on global economy at G20 development meeting

    Saudi Arabia’s Economy and Planning Minister Faisal bin Fadel Alibrahim has been holding talks with officials from several nations on the state of the global economy at the G20 Development Ministerial Meeting in Brazil. On the sidelines of the G20 meeting, which began on Monday and ends on July 24, Alibrahim held discussions with Brazil’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mauro Vieira on the latter’s agenda while holding the presidency of the G20.

  • Over 2,000 Local Factories Linked to Saudi Mega Projects

    Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources has added over 200 products to the national mandatory list and localized the production of vaccines and biological drugs for around 214 priority treatments. Additionally, more than 2,000 local factories are now linked to major projects like NEOM, ROSHN, and the Diriyah Gate Development Authority. A recent report reviewed by Asharq Al-Awsat reveals that the industrial sector saw substantial growth last year, with over 1,300 new licenses issued, attracting more than 81 billion riyals ($21.6 billion) in investments.

  • Opinion: Biden’s Legacy and Netanyahu’s Missed Moment?

    While there is already much to discuss regarding Biden’s presidential legacy in the Mideast, an interesting question emerges. If Biden no longer needs to focus on the campaign, can he do something to enhance his legacy before the end of his term? Moreover, could this intersect with Netanyahu’s visit?

  • Saudi Arabia’s Wealth Fund Taps Insider to Run Investment Strategy

    Fahad Al Saif will start in his new role immediately, according to a statement from the $925 billion Public Investment Fund on Tuesday. He will continue to lead the PIF’s global capital finance unit, overseeing government asset transfers and fundraising.

  • Saudi Arabia eyes $100bn bet on shale gas revolution at home

    Saudi Arabia, the world's largest crude oil exporter, plans to invest more than $100 billion to become the world's third-largest shale gas producer after the U.S. and Russia as its economy braces for a decarbonized society. Crucial to Riyadh's plans is the Jafurah gas field in the country's east. It is the largest shale gas field in the Middle East with confirmed reserves of 229 trillion cubic feet, equivalent to about 70 years of Japan's liquid natural gas imports. Shale gas is natural gas extracted from shale rock formations.

  • Foreign investments in Saudi Arabia rise to SAR 2.55T in Q1 2024

    Foreign investments in Saudi Arabia stood at SAR 2.55 trillion by the end of Q1 2024, up 6% from Q4 2023, according to data from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA).

  • Nationalisation in Saudi’s Engineering Sector

    The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, in partnership with the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing, has announced the decision to nationalise 25% of engineering professions in the private sector effective from 21 July 2024. This will be applicable to all private sector establishments that employ five employees in the engineering professions.