MUST-READS

• DHL eCommerce enters Saudi Arabian market by acquiring equity stake in parcel logistics company AJEX

  DHL eCommerce and AJEX Logistics Services, have entered into an agreement in which DHL will acquire a minority stake in the Saudi Arabian parcel logistics company. For DHL eCommerce, whose core business is domestic parcel transport in selected European countries, the United States, and certain key Asian countries, this agreement represents an expansion into the rapidly growing Saudi Arabian e-commerce parcel market. Although AJEX only began its operations in 2021, it has already established itself as a leading parcel service provider in the rapidly evolving domestic market, with robust growth and an extensive distribution network.

• Saudi Arabia tightens corporate ownership rules to boost transparency

  Set to take effect on April 3, the measures coincide with the enforcement of the updated Commercial Registry System and were developed in collaboration with experts to align with international best practices, according to the Commerce Ministry. The decision was issued by Minister of Commerce Majid Al-Qasabi as part of efforts to strengthen regulatory oversight. The regulations, developed in line with Financial Action Task Force guidelines, require companies to disclose individuals who ultimately control or benefit from their operations. The new rules also reinforce the Kingdom’s adherence to international standards, particularly those set by FATF, which works to protect the global financial system from illicit activities through policy development and enforcement. The rules apply to all businesses operating in Saudi Arabia, including foreign entities, but exempt publicly listed firms, state-owned enterprises, and companies undergoing bankruptcy liquidation.

• Saudi Arabia may be expanding ballistic missile force, satellite images show

  Saudi Arabia may be quietly modernising and expanding its long-range missile capabilities, according to newly published satellite imagery. Fabian Hinz, a defence and military researcher at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), analysed the images in a report published on Thursday. Riyadh first established long-range surface-to-surface missiles in the 1980s in response to the Iran-Iraq war and the broader proliferation of missile capabilities in the region. Details about the development of its missile programme since then have been scarce, as the Gulf kingdom rarely displays its long-range weaponry openly. The IISS report found what appears to be the construction of an underground missile base near the town of al-Nabhaniyah in central Saudi Arabia. Construction began in 2019 and was mostly complete by early 2024, it added.

• Saudi Arabia amends labor law, extends maternity leave

  announced new amendments to its labor law, including implementing a longer maternity leave period. The new amendments, which came into effect on Thursday, allow female employees to take up to 12 weeks of maternity leave. Six weeks are mandatory after delivery, and the remaining six can be taken at their discretion, according to the ministry. Another update provision allows employees to have three days of leave upon the death of a sibling. Moreover, employers may now offer days off as compensation for overtime, subject to the employee’s consent. Termination notice periods for indefinite contracts have also been updates and now state that employees must provide at least 30 days’ notice, while employers must give 60 days’ notice. The probation period has also been standardized at 180 days, allowing either party to terminate the contract during this period.

• From Oil to Hydrogen: Saudi Arabia’s Journey to Net-Zero by 2060

  As of 2024, the NGHC has achieved an impressive 60% completion across key infrastructure elements, including a state-of-the-art hydrogen production plant, a wind farm, a solar energy facility, and an integrated transmission grid. These advancements position the project well on its path to producing up to 600 tonnes of green hydrogen daily. Among the critical milestones recently accomplished is the preparation of “Electrolyser 1,” a pivotal component expected to commence operations in 2025. The integration of cutting-edge technologies and innovative design is set to revolutionize green hydrogen production. The facility’s ability to generate clean hydrogen for applications such as powering buses, heavy trucks, and industrial processes underscores its potential to significantly decarbonize traditionally high-emission sectors.

• Kingdom of Saudi Arabia confirms US$ 500 million commitment to global polio eradication effort

  The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia today reaffirmed its US$ 500 million pledge to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) in a signing event during the fourth Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum. H.E. Dr. Abdullah al Rabeeah, Supervisor General of King Salman Relief and Humanitarian Centre, was joined by Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization; Catherine Russell, Executive Director of UNICEF; Dr. Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance; Dr. Chris Elias, President of Global Development at the Gates Foundation and Chair of the Polio Oversight Board; and Aziz Memon, Pakistan Polio Plus Chair, Rotary International, to sign an agreement that will help the GPEI and its partners to reach 370 million children with polio vaccines each year and stop transmission of the virus for good. The funds were initially pledged in April 2024 at the first-ever World Economic Forum Special Meeting hosted in Riyadh.

• Olam to sell 44.6% stake in agribusiness to Saudi Arabia for $1.8bln, shares jump

  Singapore-based Olam Group on Monday said it will sell a 44.58% stake in its agricultural products business Olam Agri for $1.78 billion to state-owned Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Company (SALIC). Shares of the company jumped as much as 8.9% in early trading to S$1.230, their highest level since January 6. The transaction values Olam Agri at $4 billion, higher than the $3.5 billion valued at the transaction in December 2022 when it sold a 35% stake, and will give SALIC an 80% controlling stake in the business. It will result in a gain of $1.84 billion for Olam Group, the firm said in an exchange filing. Olam Group will divest its remaining 19.99% stake in the unit three years after the completion of the first phase, giving SALIC full control of Olam Agri, it said.

• Would an end to the Ukraine war be bad news for Saudi Arabia and oil prices?

  The US’s whirlwind bid to resume relations with Russia and end the war has left Europe reeling. The Arab Gulf will be closely watching what that could mean for energy prices and the oil trade. Oil-rich Gulf states were directly impacted by the US’s and European Union’s decision to sanction Russia, which, along with Saudi Arabia, leads an alliance of oil producers dubbed Opec+. A rapid end to the war in Ukraine could mean cheaper commodities, from oil to metals and everything in between, like fertiliser, which requires natural gas for production. “Russian normalisation is a huge boost to get any commodity cheaper than it was before. Vast chunks of the commodity market will be made easily available again,” Viktor Katona, the head of oil analysis at the intelligence firm Kpler, told Middle East Eye.

• Top 30 FAQ about investing in Saudi Arabia

  The legal framework governing foreign investment in Saudi Arabia has traditionally been based on the Foreign Investment Law of 2000. However, on August 11, 2024, the Kingdom introduced a new Investment Law, which repealed the existing Foreign Investment Law. This New Investment Law has taken effect six months after its publication in the official gazette, in February 2025, marking a significant shift in the regulatory landscape. The new law streamlines the investment process by replacing complex licensing requirements with a simplified registration system, creating a more inclusive and transparent environment for domestic and international investors. Key features of the New Investment Law include guarantees of equal treatment for investors, protections against expropriation, and the free transfer of capital. Additionally, it addresses national security concerns through a transparent and internationally compliant framework.

• Saudi Arabia: Businesses put on notice over Saudisation
  The Saudi Ministry of Human Resources has asked establishments to comply with rules employing Saudis and ensure they make up no less than 75% of their overall workforce. The ministry said establishments must attract Saudis, employ them, and provide them with appropriate work opportunities. The ministry has already set up the “Nitaqat” (Ranges) programme to calculate the job localisation rates and automatically classify establishments. The programme comprises the “Platinum Range”, a category which includes businesses that excel in localisation; and the “High Green Range” which includes establishments that are average in terms of Saudization rates within the top third. There are, moreover, the “Yellow Range”, a category covering entities that have not achieved the required localisation rates, and the “Red Range” covering entities with the lowest percentage of localisation.

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