SUSTG.com / Research

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

Browse Research Topics

Recent stories from sustg

MUST-READS

  • Eighth Saudi Relief Plane Departs for Lebanon with Essential Aid Supplies

    The eighth relief plane of the Saudi air bridge, operated by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), took off today for Lebanon, bound for Rafic Hariri International Airport with a cargo of food, shelter, and medical supplies.

  • More than money: The geopolitics behind Saudi Arabia’s sports strategy

    The conventional term for Saudi Arabia’s strategy is sportswashing, the practice of reputation-laundering in the hopes that a cleaner national image will translate into soft power on the world stage. But that explanation doesn’t go far enough. For bin Salman, the suite of sports investments and properties is only a small part of a larger strategy to prepare Saudi Arabia for a 21st century when global oil demand is expected to fall by mid-century and geopolitics will become more complicated.

  • Saudi foreign reserve assets fall to SAR 1.71T in September

    Saudi Arabia's foreign reserve assets declined by SAR 48.2 billion, or 3%, month-on-month (MoM) to SAR 1.71 trillion in September, according to the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA). Reserve assets include investments in foreign securities, foreign cash and deposits, reserve position in the International Monetary Fund (IMF), special drawing rights (SDRs), and monetary gold.

  • Saudi Arabia announces Shortlisted Bidders for 3,700 MW Round 5 Solar Projects

    The Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPPC) has announced the Shortlisted Bidders for the fifth round of solar projects under the National Renewable Energy Program (NREP) which is led and supervised by the Ministry of Energy. The projects will attract investments exceeding 8 billion Saudi riyals. Each will be developed on a build, own, and operate (BOO) basis by a project company, which will be 100% owned by the successful bidder. Furthermore, each project company will enter into a 25-year power purchase agreement with SPPC.

  • The Middle East’s IPO Boom Is No Longer a Tale of Three Cities

    The wave of listing activity that transformed the Middle East into a hotspot for new share sales over the past few years has so far largely been a tale of three cities — Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Riyadh. There are early signs of that wave broadening beyond the two biggest Gulf economies, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Oman’s state energy firm last week sold a 25% stake in its exploration and production business in a deal that raised about $2 billion. That means the region’s biggest initial public offering in well over a year has come from one of its smallest bourses.

  • GCC banks capable of handling potential funding outflows: S&P Global

    “Under high and severe stress, banks appear capable of handling potential funding outflows by using their liquid assets. Government support could be necessary if assets are less liquid than we expect. If asset quality stress is as severe as we project, many of the top 45 banks in the region could display losses,” said S&P Global in the latest report. It added: “The results of our hypothetical stress test show that most banking systems in our sample will be resilient if regional conflicts escalate and investor confidence declines.”

  • A Trump win would impact Gulf trade and oil markets

    Oxford Economics’ Global Scenarios Services has modelled the outcomes of these two scenarios. We find that a Harris presidency will provide a boost to the US economy over the next couple of years through the expansion of social benefits, but is unlikely to materially alter the economic outlook for the GCC. An alternative outcome is a full-blown Trump presidency in which he not only wins the White House and Republicans regain control of Congress, but a re-elected President Trump follows through in full on his election pledges.

  • Regional rail projects transforming urban development within the GCC

    “Rail infrastructure projects are more than just transportation solutions—they are economic catalysts. By creating efficient, interconnected transport systems, they unlock new opportunities for businesses, reduce congestion, and improve productivity. Such projects provide reliable, affordable mobility options, reducing commuting times and opening new doors for commerce, tourism, and industry.” “The construction phases of these large-scale rail projects generate thousands of jobs and supporting nationalisation, while their operational phases foster employment opportunities across multiple sectors. From retail to technology, robust transportation networks help cities become more attractive to investors and entrepreneurs, paving the way for economic diversification. This economic shift supports long-term ambitions for sustainable, thriving economies across the GCC.”

  • Premier League will not review Saudi Newcastle deal after Bin Salman claims

    Leaked WhatsApp ­messages from the former Newcastle minority co-owner Amanda Staveley obtained by the Telegraph suggest the buyout hinged on the approval of Bin ­Salman, the kingdom’s de facto leader. Although the £305m ­takeover led by Saudi’s Public Investment Fund in 2021 was approved only once the Premier League received “legally binding assurances” that the Saudi state would not control Newcastle, it is understood the governing body will not be re-examining its legitimacy.

  • What’s behind Algeria’s suspension of Saudi-owned Al Arabiya news?

    Algeria's recent move against Al Arabiya came just one day after Iraq’s Communications and Media Commission revoked the license and closed the office of Saudi media conglomerate MBC Group, the parent company of Al Arabiya. The decision came after MBC aired a controversial report on Friday calling recently slain Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Qasem Soleimani and others terrorists. The report has since been removed from all MBC platforms.