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  • Saudi Arabia’s grim 2023 growth shows why oil’s price is so important

    One look at Saudi Arabia's latest growth figures explains why the Gulf giant has struggled mightily to boost global crude prices. Driving the news: With oil prices capped despite widespread geopolitical turmoil, Saudi Arabia's growth turned grim in 2023, with gross domestic product tumbling by -0.9 percent, compared with 8.7 percent in 2022. Why it matters: A core member of OPEC, the kingdom is one of the world's largest producers of crude, which plays a crucial role in its revenue picture. Oil accounts for 40 percent of Saudi's GDP, which saw a steep decline in oil activities.

  • Saudi Arabia launches second edition of The PIF Private Sector Forum in Riyadh

    Saudi Arabia on Tuesday launched its second edition of the “PIF Private Sector Forum,” the Kingdom’s premier event of its kind, alongside an exhibition at the King Abdulaziz International Convention Center in Riyadh. Spanning two days, February 6-7, 2024, the forum aims to foster enhanced partnerships and cooperation with the private sector. The initiative aligns with the Public Investment Fund’s strategic goal to boost the contribution of its projects and portfolio companies to the local content (PIF Projects) to 60 percent by the end of 2025, as stated in the Fund’s announcement on Monday.

  • 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.

  • Blinken Meets Saudi Crown Prince on Mideast Push for Pause in Gaza War

    Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken began a diplomatic push in the Middle East on Monday for a deal that would pause the war in the Gaza Strip and release the hostages there, even as a drone struck a military base used by American troops and allied forces in eastern Syria. Mr. Blinken, making his fifth trip to the region since the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, met in Riyadh with Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, in the first stop on a trip that will also include meetings in Egypt, Qatar, Israel and the West Bank.

  • Top US consultancies face scrutiny over role in Saudi Arabia’s sports push

    Major US consultancies who have advised Saudi Arabia on its global sports spending spree – including its proposed takeover of golf’s PGA Tour – are coming under fire in Washington for possible violations of federal disclosure laws. Four prominent consulting firms, including McKinsey, have been accused of refusing to fully comply with subpoenas for information about their work for the oil-rich kingdom by the Senate permanent subcommittee on investigations. The Senate panel has been conducting an inquiry into authoritarian governments’ efforts to deploy soft power and other influence strategies in the US.

  • 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.

  • Saudi Arabia’s investment ministry withdraws budget data

    Saudi Arabia's investment ministry removed fiscal data from a monthly bulletin published earlier on Monday on its website that showed the kingdom would record a budget surplus in 2023. There was no fiscal data in an updated version of the report on the website. A government official told Reuters that the numbers published earlier were not based on the latest 2023 fiscal data forecasts calculated by the finance ministry and were published in error.

  • 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.