SUSTG.com / Research

Discover stories, topics, and more about Saudi Arebia faster.

Recent stories from sustg

  • Jadwa Chartbook June 2012: Sectoral Performance
     

    Riyadh-based Jadwa Investments recently released its June, 2012 Saudi ‘Chartbook’ which includes updates on the Saudi economy, trade, oil metrics as well as assessments of various sectors including banking, trade, and sectoral performance. Below is a snapshot of Jadwa’s analysis of the performance of Saudi Arabia’s main economic sectors. For the full Jadwa report, click […]

     
  • In Major Shift, Saudi Aramco Dabbles in Oil Trading
     

    Saudi Arabia has long been a dominant force in global oil markets, “but has never been an oil trader.” That changed on January 1st, 2012, when Saudi Aramco began operations at Aramco Trading, a wholly owned company subsidiary. The new Aramco Trading marks an expansion in Aramco’s downstream investment portfolio in the Kingdom and overseas, […]

     
  • Riyadh among lowest risk cities in Mideast
     

    Riyadh is among the lowest risk cities in the region, with a rating that puts it ahead of international business hubs such as Milan, Lisbon, Istanbul and Moscow, according to the findings from the 2012 People Risk Index, created by Aon Hewitt, the global human resources business of Aon plc. The Aon Hewitt 2012 People […]

     
  • Jadwa Chartbook June 2012: Trade
     

    Riyadh-based Jadwa Investments recently released its June, 2012 Saudi ‘Chartbook’ which includes updates on the Saudi economy, trade, oil metrics as well as assessments of various sectors including banking. Below is a snapshot of Jadwa’s analysis of Saudi imports and exports and letters of credit. 

     
  • The Middle East fights the Flame, but virus spreads anyway
     

    Two years ago there was Stuxnet, a virus that targeted Iranian uranium-enrichment infrastructure. Now Flame, a mutating piece of malware, is continuing to spread, infecting more than 1,000 Windows-powered computers across the Middle East. It’s centered on Iran, but has also spread to Israel and Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and even Sudan. Flame is a huge virus — 20 megabytes […]

     
  • Jadwa Chartbook June 2012: Banking
     

    Riyadh-based Jadwa Investments recently released its June, 2012 Saudi chartbook which includes updates on the Saudi economy, trade, oil metrics as well as assessments of various sectors including banking. Below is a snapshot of Jadwa’s banking sector analysis.

     
  • Saudi Construction Sector: A Sleeping Giant Awakes
     

    Deloitte’s recently released report, “GCC powers of construction 2012: Five lessons to learn” assesses the current prospects of Saudi Arabia’s construction sector.  Deloitte paints a very optimistic picture noting Saudi Arabia’s leading position in the GCC with regard to population and GDP.  It also highlights the ambitious spending plans established in the latest 5-year development plan announced in […]

     
  • Saudi, Kuwait, UAE lead Q1 GCC corporate earnings growth
     

    Earnings of Saudi Arabian companies totalled $6.7 billion, an increase of 15 per cent YoY and 28 per cent QoQ. SABIC, which reported $1.9 billion in Q1 profits, saw its bottom-line decline by five per cent YoY due to softening of global petrochemical prices when compared to Q1 2011. Saudi Banks continued its stable growth […]

     
  • Key to the kingdom
     

    2012 is likely to be the tipping point for the Gulf’s most ambitious real estate project. If the good results continue, and companies carry on signing up to take advantage of the transport infrastructure coming online in 2013, then KAEC looks set to snowball. But when will the city be fully completed? “Our target is […]

     
  • Oil Prices Fall Below Break-Even for Several Nations
     

    Citibank expects that Russia will have a very turbulent next five years, given their estimate that Brent crude prices will likely settle close to $85 over that time period. Oil producers are beginning to feel the future threat of peak demand for oil caused by multiple factors — including unconventional liquid fuels — breathing down […]

     

MUST-READS

  • McDonald’s says Middle East turmoil is hurting its business

    The burger chain, reporting growing overall sales and earnings for fourth quarter, noted that the overseas tensions were weighing on the region’s sales, and the company is monitoring the evolving situation. The Middle East doesn’t make up a huge part of its overall business. McDonald’s for the most part licenses its brand to independent companies in the region, and McDonald’s said it provided some financial assistance in the form of royalty relief or deferred cash collection.

  • AlUla Arts Festival turns Saudi Arabia’s ancient city into open-air, living museum

    The AlUla Arts Festival will transform Saudi Arabia’s ancient city into a place of creative inspiration and cultural exchange, turning it into an open-air living museum, AlUla Moments announced. Running from February 9 to 24, the multi-form arts festival returns for the third time with a program that features flagship events, immersive exhibitions, and creative initiatives for a city-wide celebration of all things art.

  • Alstom Wins $540M Contract for Saudi Battery-Power Tramway

    Alstom has won a $540 million contract to construct the world's longest battery-powered tramway in Saudi Arabia. The catenary-free, 22.4-km project will feature 20 Citadis B battery trams manufactured by the French rolling stock manufacturer, and 17 new stations.  Alstom’s contract includes designing a comprehensive system for the tram project as well as integrating, installing, testing and commissioning its battery-powered system. The firm will deliver power supply, signaling, communication and depot equipment as well as providing full tram maintenance for at least 10 years.

  • Saudi Arabia joint venture heralds big sea farming expansion

    The aquaculture industry in Saudi Arabia is set for significant growth following the announcement of a new joint venture between NEOM, Saudi Arabia’s development organisation, and fish farming business Tabuk Fisheries Company. Trading as Topian Aquaculture, the new venture will include a hatchery that is expected to become the largest in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region by the end of 2024. The hatchery has a planned capacity of 42 million fingerlings and marine-pen production facilities, with production of finfish in the pens projected to reach 20,000 tonnes per year. The strategic agreement was unveiled at the Saudi International Marine Exhibition (SIMEC) in Riyadh.

  • Saudi Tourism Fund Enlists Local Bank for $346.7 Million Project

    Saudi Arabia’s Tourism Development Fund will help finance a 1.3 billion-riyal ($346.7 million) project in the holy city of Medina together with Riyad Bank, as the kingdom steps up fundraising for a key part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s program to diversify the economy. The 15 billion-riyal TDF signed an agreement with Medina-based Knowledge Economic City Co. and Public Investment Fund-backed Riyad Bank to finance a hub it called “the biggest of its kind.” TDF and Riyad Bank will each provide 391 million riyals in funding, according to a statement Thursday.

  • Abu Dhabi Wealth Fund ADIA Considers Stake in Wanda Mall Unit

    Abu Dhabi Investment Authority is considering buying a minority stake in Dalian Wanda Group Co.’s mall operator, people familiar with the matter said, as the unit revamps its shareholding structure. ADIA, as the Abu Dhabi wealth fund is known, has held initial discussions over the potential stake purchase in Zhuhai Wanda Commercial Management Group Co., the people said. ADIA may buy shares from existing holders, said the people, who asked not to be identified as the information is private.

  • LuLu Seeks Pitches for $1 Billion IPO in Second Half of 2024

    LuLu Group International, which operates one of the Middle East’s largest hypermarket chains, has invited banks to pitch for roles on a potential initial public offering that could raise at least $1 billion, people familiar with the matter said. The conglomerate is considering plans for a dual listing in Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, the people said, asking not to be identified discussing confidential information.

  • Djokovic, Nadal to headline ‘Six Kings Slam’ in Saudi Arabia

    Saudi Arabia will host a new elite tennis exhibition featuring Novak Djokovic and Rafa Nadal with three other Grand Slam winners in October, the country's General Entertainment Authority has announced. Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Daniil Medvedev and Holger Rune will also play at the 'Six Kings Slam', which will form part of the Saudi cultural and entertainment festival Riyadh Season, organisers said. With Sinner having recently won the Australian Open, Dane Rune is the only player on the six-man roster without a Grand Slam title. Spaniard Nadal, who signed up as an ambassador for the Saudi Arabian Tennis Federation last month, said he was looking forward to the event.

  • Saudi Arabia pushes for US defense pact as 2024 presidential election looms

    To create some wiggle room in talks about recognizing Israel and to get the U.S. pact back on track, Saudi officials have told their U.S. counterparts that Riyadh would not insist Israel take concrete steps to create a Palestinian state and would instead accept a political commitment to a two-state solution, two senior regional sources told Reuters.

  • Turkey Names Fatih Karahan Central Bank Chief, Hafize Gaye Erkan Resigns

    Turkey’s central bank Governor Hafize Gaye Erkan abruptly resigned late Friday night, and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan quickly appointed Deputy Governor Fatih Karahan to replace her, signaling a continuation of the transition to more investor-friendly, orthodox economic policies that Erkan helped to spearhead. Karahan has been a member of the central bank’s rate-setting Monetary Policy Committee since July, and had previously worked at the New York Fed and as a principal economist at Amazon.com, according to his biography on the central bank website. Prior to the announcement, Bloomberg reported that he was being considered for the central bank’s top job. Erdogan’s decision was published in the Official Gazette at midnight.