Investments in Kingdom’s special economic zones reach $12.6bn
Investments in Kingdom’s special economic zones reach $12.6bn /node/2312261/business-economy
Investments in Kingdom’s special economic zones reach $12.6bn
The Saudi Special Economic Zones Investment Forum in Riyadh on Monday also saw new investment pledges for projects in zones established in King Abdullah Economic City, Ras Al-Khair, Riyadh, and Jazan.
Investments in Kingdom’s special economic zones reach $12.6bn
Updated 29 May 2023
Nirmal Narayanan
RIYADH: Affirming Saudi Arabia’s evolution into a global trade hub, total anchor investments in its four special economic zones reached SR47.2 billion ($12.6 billion) to date, it was disclosed at a forum.
Apart from the existing investments made by companies like Lucid and Seera, the Saudi Special Economic Zones Investment Forum in Riyadh on Monday also saw new investment pledges for projects in zones established in King Abdullah Economic City, Ras Al-Khair, Riyadh, and Jazan.
It was announced that Himmah Projects will invest SR2.15 billion in King Abdullah Economic City to establish an automotive and mobility export hub catering to the Middle East and Africa.
SIAC Construction also pledged to invest SR200 million in the special economic zone in King Abdullah Economic City. The company announced establishment of a specialized building materials hub to support infrastructure projects in the region.
McDermott Arabia Co. will invest SR375 million in Ras Al-Khair to develop fully integrated engineering construction solutions for the energy industry. Another investment worth SR2.14 billion will be made by Makeen Energy in Ras Al-Khair.
China-based Baosteel pledged SR15 billion to establish an integrated steel plate manufacturing facility in Ras Al-Khair.
In Jazan, aquaculture company Pure Salmon will invest SR2 billion to sustainably produce salmon locally, while Masharaq announced investments worth SR33 million to establish a food facility in the special economic zone.
China-based industrial investor Wangkang will invest SR5 billion in Jazan special economic zone to produce a range of glass products.
The Kingdom’s General Authority for Civil Aviation signed an agreement with Swiss-based Valcambi and Ajlan and Brothers to establish a precious metal refinery in the Riyadh integrated special logistics zone.
Saudi Arabia’s Communications, Space and Technology Commission signed a memorandum of understanding with Microsoft to discuss potential collaboration in cloud computing at the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology special zone.
The commission also signed an MoU with Oracle to explore cloud computing opportunities at the Cloud Computing SEZ located at the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology.
Saudi carrier flynas to expand operations across 4 hubs, official says
Updated 6 sec ago
Reem Walid
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s low-cost carrier flynas is set to expand operations across its four main hubs — Riyadh, Jeddah, Madinah, and Dammam — as part of an ambitious growth plan, according to a top official.
In an interview with Al-Eqtisadiah, Waleed Ahmed, the company’s official spokesperson, said that flynas holds the largest aircraft order in the Kingdom and one of the biggest in the Middle East, with a total of 280 aircraft set to be received.
This follows a major deal signed in July with Airbus to acquire 160 new aircraft — including 30 wide-body A330neo and 130 single-aisle jets across A320neo, A321neo, and A321LR models.
The airline has seen a sharp rise in passenger traffic, with volumes climbing from around 11 million in 2023 to more than 14.7 million in 2024, reflecting the low-cost carrier’s rapid expansion in line with Saudi Arabia’s push to position itself as a leading global hub for tourism and business.
“These numbers reinforce the company’s role in supporting Vision 2030, which aims to increase the number of passengers to 330 million and attract more than 150 million international passengers by that year.” Ahmed said, as quoted by Al-Eqtisadiah.
He also highlighted that, as part of its ambitious strategic plan, flynas has expanded its summer schedule by launching four new destinations for the first time: Krakow in Poland, Geneva in Switzerland, Milan in Italy, and Rize in Turkiye, in addition to its usual summer routes.
Last week, flynas finalized its initial public offering at SR80 ($21) per share — the top of its indicated price range — following strong demand from both institutional and retail investors.
The pricing values the airline at an estimated market capitalization of SR13.6 billion at listing.
The offering followed the company’s announcement last month of its intention to float 30 percent of its share capital on the Saudi Exchange, making flynas the first airline in the Kingdom to go public and the first Gulf airline IPO in nearly two decades.
In line with its ongoing fleet expansion, flynas recently took delivery of its fourth Airbus A320neo of 2025, bringing the total number of A320neo aircraft in its all-Airbus fleet to 57. The current fleet includes 63 aircraft — 57 A320neo, four A320ceo, and two A330neo wide-body jets.
Al-Habtoor Group chairman to lead high-level delegation to Syria, exploring investment opportunities
Group said visit reflects its ongoing strategy to explore new cooperation with Syrian government
Khalaf Al-Habtoor to visit Syria in coming days
Updated 8 min 59 sec ago
Miguel Hadchity
RIYADH: The head of Dubai conglomerate Al-Habtoor Group is set to visit Syria with a delegation of senior executives to discuss potential investments and partnerships with the new government.
According to a statement, the visit reflects the group’s ongoing strategy to explore new avenues of cooperation with the Syrian government and to assess potential investment opportunities across multiple sectors.
It added that the trip stems from “a firm belief” in Syria’s ability to recover its strength and regional standing and the importance of public-private partnerships in the country’s rebuilding phase.
The move comes as Syria’s transitional government, led by President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, pushes economic reforms to attract foreign investment, including privatizations, relaxed trade policies, and major infrastructure deals.
Speaking ahead of the trip, the group’s Chairman Khalaf Ahmad Al-Habtoor said: “Syria is a country rich in culture, history, and capable people. We believe in its future potential and are eager to play a role in its revival through meaningful projects that generate employment.”
He added: “We look to Syria with great confidence. Its people possess the energy and resilience needed to shape a strong and prosperous future. As an Arab group with deep regional roots, we consider it both a moral and economic responsibility to stand as a partner in rebuilding stable and thriving societies.”
Al-Habtoor Group, a UAE-based multinational with a strong presence in the hospitality, real estate, and automotive industries, has a history of large-scale investments in the Middle East. The move follows the organization’s recent withdrawal from Lebanon, where it cited instability as a barrier to business.
Jordan’s foreign exchange reserves hold steady at $22.76bn in May
Gold holdings at the end of May were valued at $7.76 billion
Qatar Central Bank recorded a 3.6% increase in its foreign currency reserves and liquidity
Updated 44 min 40 sec ago
Reem Walid
RIYADH: Jordan’s foreign exchange reserves remained largely unchanged in May, standing at $22.76 billion, as per new data released by the Central Bank of Jordan.
The slight month-on-month dip — about 0.2 percent from April — reflects broad stability in the Kingdom’s external buffers.
Jordan’s foreign exchange figures are broadly in line with trends observed across other Middle East and North African countries.
The Qatar Central Bank recorded a 3.6 percent increase in its foreign currency reserves and liquidity, reaching 258.135 billion Qatari riyals ($70.9 billion) in May, up from 249.165 billion riyals in May 2024.
Jordan’s long-term foreign-currency issuer default rating was affirmed at “BB-” with a stable outlook by Fitch Ratings. File/AFP
Egypt’s foreign exchange reserves rose to $48.525 billion by the end of May, compared to $48.144 billion in April, marking an increase of $381 million.
“The Central Bank of Jordan stated in a statement today that its total foreign reserves are sufficient to cover the country’s imports of goods and services for approximately nine months,” the Qatar News Agency reported.
The central bank also reported that gold holdings at the end of May were valued at $7.76 billion, totaling 2.345 million ounces, underscoring the role of bullion in Jordan’s reserve composition.
“It added that the presence of comfortable levels of foreign reserves enhances the ability to influence exchange rates, provides a stable economic environment, and enhances the confidence of foreign creditors and investors,” the QNA report stated, citing the Jordan Central Bank.
The Central Bank of Jordan said its total foreign reserves are sufficient to cover the country’s imports of goods and services for approximately nine months. File/AFP
In May, Jordan’s long-term foreign-currency issuer default rating was affirmed at “BB-” with a stable outlook by Fitch Ratings, citing the country’s macroeconomic stability and progress on fiscal and economic reforms.
The US-based credit rating agency noted that the rating and stable outlook also reflect Jordan’s resilient financing sources — including a liquid banking sector, a robust public pension fund, and sustained international support.
Despite the stable outlook, Jordan’s credit rating remains below that of several other countries in the region. In February, Fitch affirmed Saudi Arabia’s IDR at “A+” with a stable outlook, while the UAE was rated “AA-.”
Fitch said the ratings are constrained by high government debt, moderate growth, risks from domestic and regional politics, as well as current account deficits and net external debt levels that exceed those of rating peers.
Jordan’s foreign exchange figures are broadly in line with trends observed across other Middle East and North African countries. Central Bank of Jordan
A “BB” rating indicates elevated vulnerability to default risk, particularly in the event of adverse shifts in business or economic conditions. However, it also suggests some degree of financial or operational flexibility in meeting commitments.
Fitch also noted that Jordan’s government remains committed to advancing its three-pillar reform agenda — spanning economic, public administration, and political sectors — despite external pressures.
The agency added that the pace of reforms will continue to be shaped by the need to preserve social stability, resistance from vested interests, and institutional capacity limitations.
Syria’s central bank plans currency unification and return to global payment system SWIFT
Governor Abdulkader Husrieh said reforms aim to eliminate role of unauthorized money changers
Reintegration into SWIFT marks milestone in new government’s economic liberalization efforts
Updated 09 June 2025
Miguel Hadchity
RIYADH: Syria will adopt a unified exchange rate before transitioning to a managed float system as it seeks to stabilize a currency that has lost nearly all its value against the US dollar.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Central Bank of Syria’s Governor Abdulkader Husrieh confirmed the reforms, emphasizing efforts to eliminate the role of unauthorized money changers in the country’s foreign exchange market as part of broader financial reconstruction.
Syria is also set to be fully reintegrated into the SWIFT international money transfer system within weeks, reconnecting the country to global finance after 14 years of war and sanctions.
The country is working to revive its economy after years of conflict, with its transitional government, led by President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, implementing reforms such as privatizing state-owned firms, easing import restrictions, and attracting foreign investment.
An armed member of Syria’s security forces stands guard outside the Damascus Securities Exchange as the stock market opens in the Ya’fur area near Damascus. AFP
“We aim to enhance the brand of the country as a financial hub given the expected foreign direct investment in rebuilding and infrastructure — this is crucial,” Husrieh told the FT.
Key developments in Syria include a $7 billion energy deal with Qatar, the reopening of the Damascus Securities Exchange, and a $300 million fiber-optic project with Gulf telecom companies. These initiatives come as Saudi Arabia and Qatar pledge financial support to help stabilize Syria’s economy amid a gradual easing of Western sanctions.
SWIFT reconnection to boost trade and investment
The reintegration into SWIFT marks a milestone in the new government’s economic liberalization efforts following the lifting of US sanctions last month.
The Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications is a global cooperative that facilitates secure international money and security transfers through a vast messaging network, enabling banks and financial institutions to exchange information and instructions for financial transactions.
Husrieh, who took office in April, said that significant progress has been made but acknowledged that there’s still much work ahead.
A money changer waits for customers on a street in Damascus. AFP
Post-war economic challenges
Since 2011, Syria has been isolated from global markets due to war and sanctions. The economy collapsed under ex-President Bashar Assad and when Al-Sharaa took power last December, his government swiftly introduced free-market reforms to revive the economy and reassure wary foreign investors.
Last month, President Donald Trump’s announcement of lifting sanctions provided a major boost, but Husrieh stressed that “a full policy shift is still needed,” calling for comprehensive sanctions removal rather than selective measures.
“The central bank previously micromanaged the financial system, overregulated lending, and restricted withdrawals,” he said. “We’re reforming through recapitalization, deregulation, and re-establishing banks as intermediaries between households and businesses.”
Reconnecting to SWIFT will reduce import costs, facilitate exports, and curb reliance on informal financial networks. Husrieh said all foreign trade will now go through formal banks, cutting out money changers who took a 40 percent cut on dollar transactions.
Before Assad left the presidency, the Syrian pound plummeted. While it has since strengthened, volatility remains. Husrieh aims to unify official and black-market rates before transitioning to a managed floating exchange rate system.
Gulf nations are actively supporting the reforms in Syria, and Saudi Arabia and Qatar cleared the country’s World Bank debt and pledged to cover public sector salaries for three months.
“Effective May 12, 2025, the arrears of approximately $15.5 million due to the International Development Association by the Syrian Arab Republic have been cleared,” the World Bank confirmed on May 16.
Non-oil sector drives Saudi Arabia’s GDP growth to 3.4% in Q1: GASTAT
Wholesale and retail trade, restaurants, and hotels lead at an 8.4% annual increase
Oil activities contracted by 0.5% year on year
Updated 09 June 2025
Miguel Hadchity
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s economy expanded by 3.4 percent year on year in the first quarter of 2025, propelled by robust growth in non-oil activities, according to official data.
The estimates released by the General Authority for Statistics showed that the seasonally adjusted real gross domestic product also saw a quarterly rise of 1.1 percent, signaling sustained economic momentum.
The non-oil sector emerged as the primary engine of growth, increasing by 4.9 percent compared to the first quarter of 2024. In contrast, oil activities contracted by 0.5 percent year on year, reflecting ongoing volatility in the energy sector.
Saudi Arabia’s GDP growth aligns with the broader Middle East trend, where countries are steadily advancing economic diversification.
Reforms under Vision 2030 are gradually reducing Saudi Arabia’s dependence on the hydrocarbon sector, fostering more sustainable and long-term growth. Shutterstock
The UAE’s Ministry of Economy forecasts a 5-6 percent growth rate in 2025, fueled by robust performance in key sectors such as technology, renewable energy, trade, financial services, and infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Fitch Ratings has lowered Qatar’s 2025 real GDP growth forecast from 2.9 percent to 2.6 percent, citing the effects of US tariffs on global growth, weaker energy prices, and heightened investor caution amid rising international uncertainty.
In a release covering the latest Saudi Arabia figures, GASTAT stated: “The main driver of growth in real GDP was non-oil activities, which contributed 2.8 percentage points. Government activities and net taxes on products also contributed positively adding 0.5 and 0.2 PP respectively.”
Sectoral performance
According to the GASTAT report, several non-oil sectors posted strong growth across the quarter, with the wholesale and retail trade, restaurants, and hotels sector leading at an 8.4 percent annual increase.
The transport, storage, and communication sector also showed robust performance, growing by 6 percent year on year.
Saudi Arabia’s exports rebounded sharply, rising by 12.3 percent quarter on quarter, while imports fell by 10 percent. Shutterstock
Meanwhile, finance, insurance, and business services expanded by 5.5 percent despite experiencing a slight 0.1 percent quarterly dip.
These gains highlight the diversification and resilience of the economy beyond the oil industry.
Gross fixed capital formation jumped by 8.5 percent annually, underscoring confidence in the economy, while government spending rose by 5.2 percent. Private consumption grew by 4.5 percent year on year, though it declined slightly from the previous quarter.
Trade balance improvement
Saudi Arabia’s exports rebounded sharply, rising by 12.3 percent quarter on quarter, while imports fell by 10 percent over the same period, narrowing the trade deficit.
The data highlights the Kingdom’s progress in diversifying its economy under Vision 2030, with non-oil sectors increasingly offsetting fluctuations in oil revenues.
In its latest World Economic Outlook report, the International Monetary Fund projected Saudi Arabia’s GDP to grow by 3 percent in 2025, a downward revision from its January estimate of 3.3 percent. The IMF also trimmed its projection for 2026, reducing the expected growth rate by 0.4 percentage points to 3.7 percent.
Saudi Arabia’s transport, storage, and communication sector showed robust performance, growing by 6 percent year on year. SPA
These forecasts reflect broader trends in the global economic environment, where shifts in energy markets and oil production adjustments continue to play a pivotal role in shaping near-term growth prospects.
The Kingdom’s economic performance remains closely tied to hydrocarbon sector dynamics, but ongoing reforms under Vision 2030 are gradually reducing this dependence, fostering more sustainable, long-term growth.
Further reinforcing this outlook, a December 2024 report from Mastercard Economics emphasized the accelerating expansion of Saudi Arabia’s non-oil sector, which has become a key driver of economic resilience.
The analysis projected that the Kingdom’s GDP will grow by 3.7 percent year on year in 2025, a figure slightly higher than the IMF’s estimate, largely due to strong performance in non-oil industries such as tourism, entertainment, technology, and manufacturing.
The Mastercard report also noted that economic diversification will remain a top priority in 2025, with Saudi authorities leveraging the country’s strong fiscal buffers to fund ambitious infrastructure projects and attract private investment.
Key initiatives include mega-developments like NEOM, the Red Sea Project, and Qiddiya, alongside investments in renewable energy and digital transformation.
“Population growth is an important driver of economic activity, and particularly private consumption,” the report added.
