MUST-READS

• Saudi Finance Firm’s $264 Million IPO Sells Out in Minutes

  Saudi Arabian financial services firm United International Holding Co. had demand for all shares in its up to 990 million riyal ($264 million) initial public offering minutes after subscriptions opened, indicating continued demand for listings in the region. Books were covered throughout the price range of 120 to 132 riyals per share, according to the terms of the deal seen by Bloomberg News. Its parent United Electronics Co. — known as Extra — is selling 7.5 million shares, or a 30% stake in the firm. Local funds agreed to subscribe to 15.6% of the offer, according to a separate announcement Monday.

• $50 Billion Saudi Debt Drive Reflects Rising Financial Strain

  The Saudi government and entities like its Public Investment Fund have issued around $50 billion in bonds in 2024, according to data compiled by Bloomberg, which includes corporate and sovereign sales in US dollars and euros. That flurry of activity has made the oil-rich country one of the biggest issuers of international debt in emerging markets this year. It’s likely to borrow tens of billions of dollars more in 2025, according to Nadim Amatouri, director of fixed income research at Arqaam Capital.

• Saudi Arabia’s Largest PropTech Hackathon Set for Cityscape Global 2024

  ROSHN Group, Saudi Arabia’s premier real estate developer and a Public Investment Fund (PIF) company, has unveiled plans for Hackathon 24, the Kingdom’s largest property technology competition. Aimed at strengthening Saudi Arabia’s position as a leader in PropTech, the event will be a highlight at this year’s Cityscape Global in Riyadh from November 11th to 14th.

• Is FIFA’s sponsorship deal with a Saudi-owned oil giant really ‘a middle finger’ to women’s soccer?

  It is easy to claim, as many have done, that this is purely an exercise in sportswashing. But that ignores that soccer is also helping to facilitate a fast-moving cultural shift in Saudi Arabia, and the region more broadly, while being careful not to attract the attention of some of the ultra-conservative religious leaders who remain committed to the region’s more traditional ways. One of the teams in the Saudi Women’s Premier League is the Eastern Flames. It was originally established in 2006 with players from the Aramco  community. Despite significant hurdles for women to play sport at all, the team survived and flourished and has been elevated into the professional league.

• Saudi-UAE trade soars 25% to $30bn amid strengthened economic ties

  Saudi Arabia’s trade with the UAE has experienced a 25 percent increase, highlighting a significant boost in economic collaboration between the two nations. By the end of 2023, the trade volume reached SR113 billion ($30 billion), up from SR90 billion in 2019. During the third Saudi-Emirati Economic Forum held in Riyadh, Saudi Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Al-Ibrahim announced that direct Emirati investments in Saudi Arabia have also grown, reaching SR111 billion by the end of 2023—a 15 percent increase compared to the previous year.

• Saudi-UAE Economic Forum’s Third Edition Draws Over 400 Investors, Highlights Growth and Cooperation

  The Federation of Saudi Chambers hosted the third edition of the Saudi-UAE Economic Forum in Riyadh today, gathering more than 400 investors from both nations. The event was attended by Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Alibrahim, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar bin Ibrahim Alkhorayef, and UAE Minister of Economy Abdullah bin Touq Al-Marri, along with other key officials and investors.

• US consul general praises plan to link Iraq and GCC electricity grids at international forum

  In an interview with Arab News, James Sindle said the plan to link Iraq’s grid with that of the GCC “is a vital step toward greater regional interdependence.” “It will not only provide critical power to the Iraqi people but also pave the way for deeper economic cooperation in the years to come.” Sindle went on to say: “As President Biden emphasized during the April 2023 Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate, addressing the climate crisis requires ambitious efforts, including reducing emissions and investing in multilateral solutions. The United States is proud to support these global efforts through contributions to the Green Climate Fund and other initiatives aimed at empowering developing countries to take climate action.”

• Harris vs. Trump on the War and Crisis in the Middle East

  The Middle East Institute has tracked the positions of both main candidates during the past three months. This policy assessment examines the statements and positions staked out by Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate for president, and former President Donald Trump, the Republican candidate, as well as their respective running mates, Tim Walz and J. D. Vance. The spotlight is on the past few weeks, with a stronger focus on two main issues that are likely to dominate the regional agenda of the next US administration: Iran and Israeli-Palestinian affairs.

• Iran emphasizes ‘right to respond’ after Israeli attack

  Iranian officials have reserved the right to respond to Israel’s Oct. 26 aerial attack, but stopped short of explicitly vowing vengeance. This comes as Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says the attack should neither be exaggerated nor downplayed. Meanwhile, the UN Security Council is set to convene for an emergency session at Iran’s request. Of further note, Arab states have widely condemned the attack—although Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) avoided naming Israel.

• High expectations, new players expected to take part in Saudi Arabia’s FII

  “We see some new big players coming to FII for the first time, and these people are the tech guys. So, you see people from Google, Microsoft, and IBM who were not really present before because they thought that FII would be just a world of bankers and private equities. Now we see the tech companies coming, which is great for us,” Attias said.

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