Via Megha Merani in agbi.com: “Four or five years ago the region began focusing more on PPPs, announcing pipelines of projects,” says Sami Neffati, managing partner of Investcorp Infrastructure Partners, part of Bahrain’s Investcorp (part-owned by Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund Mubadala). But when you look at the delivery, “you would have seen delays, process [challenges] and cancellations.” The region is still “teething”, Neffati says, and learning about the discipline of PPPs. While most countries have PPP offices, often housed within finance ministries, Neffati says the authorities, who own the assets, still struggle to delegate project management and “intervene too much”.  “They feel they need to control the process, but they don’t know how,” he says. “Very often, that leads to a failed or delayed process.” Progress is being made, Neffati says, but “delivery needs to accelerate”.

in mailchi.mp: Much has been written about how Donald Trump’s election will affect the political and security outlook for the Middle East, including with regard to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Iranian nuclear program, and U.S. ties with Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey. But how will a second Trump term affect the economic and business outlook for the region? While President-elect Trump is defined most by his unpredictability, we believe a few themes are likely to play out over the next four years partly as a result of the U.S. presidential election: 1) Continued downward pressure on oil prices, and therefore on Gulf budgets and government spending; 2) Greater openness to and appeals for foreign direct investment in the U.S. from Middle Eastern sovereigns and others from the region; and 3) A more complicated landscape of controls on exports to the region of sensitive U.S. technology such as artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductors, weapons and advanced fighter jets, and civilian nuclear energy.

Via Rachel Ziemba in fdiintelligence.com: While the fund is still investing abroad, especially via its subsidiaries like Alat, new flows are smaller and tend to have local economic development goals and technology transfer as a priority. The biggest shift has come in portfolio flow rather than FDI, with  PIF pulling back on some of its foreign portfolio holdings, including those in the US gaming industry. Some of these sales are just profitable exits, but prioritisation is underway. The country’s efforts to attract FDI have sparked an uptick in project announcements (according to fDi Markets) and actual inflows according to government data. However, coming close to the ambitious goal of $100bn in FDI per year by 2030 will be tough. As a result, local public capital may continue to be deployed to try to attract foreign capital. An area of recent success is in artificial intelligence and cloud computing, with Google recently signing a deal with PIF subsidiaries to help develop data centres in the country. Beyond this, Saudi Arabia mandates that foreign companies seeking government contracts set up regional offices within the country, hoping these will be a vehicle for FDI and other investment. Some of these offices manage local wealth or advise the government, but the government hopes others will lead to FDI.

Via Kate Abnett and Alison Withers in reuters.com: The world just experienced the first full year in which global temperatures exceeded 1.5C above pre-industrial times, scientists said on Friday. The milestone was confirmed by the European Unions Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), which said climate change is pushing the planets temperature to levels never before experienced by modern humans. The trajectory is just incredible, C3S director Carlo Buontempo told Reuters, describing how every month in 2024 was the warmest or second-warmest for that month since records began.

Via Basma AlBuhairan and Arunima Sarkar in weforum.org: Quantum technology, based on quantum mechanics principles, promises transformative capabilities in computation, communication and sensing. These capabilities can lead to breakthroughs across multiple domains, including secure communication networks, advanced materials discovery, improved climate modelling and more efficient drug development. Acknowledging these immense benefits, Saudi Arabia is actively integrating the Forum’s Quantum Economy Blueprint to support in positioning the Kingdom among global leaders as it formulates a comprehensive national quantum roadmap. Saudi Arabia’s quantum priorities span multiple areas, including talent development, research and development, hardware innovation, commercialization and raising awareness, reflecting a multi-faceted approach to building a robust quantum ecosystem.

in lenovo.com: The global technology powerhouse Lenovo Group Limited (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) and Alat, a PIF company, have announced the completion of the US$2 billion investment (via three-year zero-coupon convertible bonds) alongside reaching the strategic collaboration agreements that were initially announced in May 2024. The deal has received shareholders’ approval and all regulatory approvals required for completion. Following the completion, Lenovo will establish a regional Middle East and Africa headquarters (RHQ) in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), and a sustainable manufacturing facility in the Kingdom to serve customers in the region and beyond. The factory will manufacture millions of PCs and servers every year using local research and development (R&D) teams for fully end-to-end ‘Saudi Made’ products and is expected to begin production by 2026. The factory will join Lenovo’s extensive footprint of 30+ manufacturing sites around the world, spanning Argentina, Brazil, China, Germany, Hungary, India, Japan, Mexico, and the USA.  

in argaam.com: Saudi Arabia closed investor requests for international bond issuance, as part of the Saudi Government International Bond program, the National Debt Management Center (NDMC) announced. Total subscription requests reached approximately $37 billion, exceeding three times the total issuance of $12 billion (SAR 45 billion), divided into three tranches, NDMC said in a statement. The first tranche amounted to $5 billion (SAR 18.75 billion) for three-year bonds maturing in 2028. The second tranche was $3 billion (SAR 11.25 billion) for six-year bonds maturing in 2031, while the third tranche was $4 billion (SAR 15 billion) for 10-year bonds maturing in 2035.

Via Maya Mehrara in newsweek.com: Satellite images show that Mecca, a holy city according to Islam, has flooded after Saudi Arabia was hit with torrential rains due to a storm on Monday that swept away cars and caused havoc, the Saudi Gazette reported. The countrys National Center for Meteorology has issued red alerts due to heavy rain in regions including Al Qunfudhah, Al Ardiyat and Adam, and it has predicted the rain in Mecca will continue on Friday and Sunday. Photos and videos shared on social media show cars and roads being submerged in water. Like Mecca, another holy city, Medina, in Saudia Arabia has also flooded after the rainfall, in addition to Jeddah, a port city on the Red Sea. The Medina region received the most rainfall, at 49.2 millimeters, while Jeddah had 38 millimeters of rain. Hussein al-Qahtani, the spokesman for the National Center for Meteorology, wrote in a post on X that the rainy season that began tonight and will continue until Wednesday has begun to affect the northern regions, and will gradually extend to Qassim, Riyadh, the Eastern Province, Al-Baha, Asir, and the regions of Madinah and Makkah Al-Mukarramah and their coasts.

Via Megha Merani in agbi.com: Funding for startups in Saudi Arabia dropped 44 percent to $750 million last year, the sharpest decline in the Middle East and North Africa, according to data analyst Magnitt. Across Mena, venture capital was down 29 percent to just under $2 billion, reflecting global trends of high interest rates and investor caution. Saudi Arabia was the region’s leader for funding value, Magnitt said, but late-stage dealmaking – a significant driver of growth – was noticeably absent.  The UAE’s funding total dropped by 8 percent in 2024, to $613 million. The Emirates still led the region in deal count with 188 transactions – a 9 percent rise on 2023. “The decline broadly has been led by the removal of cheap money, which led to overvaluations and too much rubbish in startup portfolios,” said Bhaskar Dasgupta, chairman of the board at financial services provider Apex Middle East & India.

Via Matt Swayne in thequantuminsider.com: Experts from The Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution in Saudi Arabia recently released its Quantum Economy Landscape in Saudi Arabia report, which outlines the country’s progress, challenges and future roadmap for building a robust quantum ecosystem. The plan is guided by its Vision 2030 blueprint, which sets the Kingdom on a path to better diversify its economy and establish itself as a global innovation hub. “This report marks a pivotal step towards charting a course for a national quantum roadmap harnessing quantum advancements, fostering innovation, and bolstering productivity across diverse industries, potentially revolutionizing the country’s technological and economic landscape,” the report states.

in wwe.com: WWE, in partnership with The General Entertainment Authority (GEA), on behalf of HE Turki Alalshikh, announced that the 39th annual Royal Rumble will be held in January 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This landmark event marks the first time the Royal Rumble will be hosted outside of North America. Royal Rumble is an annual WWE Premium Live Event that includes both a men’s and women’s match with the winners eliminating all opponents and securing a Championship opportunity at WrestleMania. In a statement, HE Turki Alalshikh said, “Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the Royal Rumble for the first time outside North America reflects the General Entertainment Authority’s ongoing commitment to bringing the world’s largest and most important entertainment events to the Kingdom. Through this partnership with WWE, we aim to enhance the entertainment sector and deliver a transformative experience that attracts a wide audience.”

Via Dermot Davitt in moodiedavittreport.com: Jeddah King Abdulaziz International Airport and Riyadh King Khalid International Airport each posted record passenger traffic in 2024, reflecting the continuing strong performance of aviation in Saudi Arabia. King Abdulaziz International Airport served 49.12 million passengers, a leap of +14% year-on-year and a new annual high for any airport in the Kingdom. Jeddah Airports Company hailed the figure as a “historic milestone”, noting that the busiest day was 31 December when it hosted 174.600 travellers. With 4.7 million passengers, December was also the busiest month of the year. In a statement, Jeddah Airports CEO Eng. Mazen Johar attributed the record-breaking performance to the airport’s accelerated operational growth, enabled by the support of the Kingdom’s leadership and oversight of the Ministry of Transport and Logistics. He saluted infrastructure development, emphasising the company’s vision to position the airport as a global hub.

Via Valentina Pasquali in agbi.com: Saudi officials have signed a preliminary deal this week to issue residential mortgage-backed securities, a first for the Gulf. The Saudi Real Estate Refinance Company (SRC), which is owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), and the Hassana Investment Company, which manages the assets of the national social security and pension fund, signed the memorandum of understanding on January 1. “Our partnership with Hassana marks a significant milestone in supporting the evolution of the housing finance landscape and fostering the development of Saudi Arabia’s capital markets,” SRC’s chief executive Majeed Al Abduljabbar said in a statement. Mortgage-backed securities are investments like bonds. Each is a share in a bundle of home loans and other real estate debt bought from the banks or government entities that issued them. Investors in mortgage-backed securities receive periodic payments like bond coupon payments.

in saudigazette.com: The Line 3 (Orange Line) covering Madinah Road would connect the east of Riyadh to its west, and extends from Jeddah Road in the west to the second eastern ring road adjacent to the Khashm Al-Aan area in the east with a total length of 41 km. This marks the completion of the phased operation of the six lines of the Riyadh Metro network according to the plan previously announced when the project was inaugurated by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman on Nov. 27, 2024. The RCRC said in a statement that at 6:00 am on Sunday, passengers will be received on the Orange Line at the following five stations: Jeddah Road Station, Tuwaiq Station, Douh Station, Harun Al-Rashid Road Station, and Al-Naseem Station, which is one of the transfer stations that connects the Orange Line and the Purple Line. The commission also announced the operation of three new stations on the Blue Line that connects the Olaya Street to Batha and these are Al-Morooj Station, Bank Al-Bilad Station, and King Fahd Library Station. Three lines that started operations in the initial phase on Dec. 1 were the 1st line (Blue Line); 4^th line (Yellow Line); and the 6^th line (Purple Line). In the second phase, two more lines — Line 2 (Red Line) and Line 5 (Green Line) — became operational on Dec. 15.

in insideworldfootball.com: Adding another tournament to a busy decade of football events, Saudi Arabia will host the 2026 Gulf Cup.  The news was confirmed on the sidelines of the current Gulf Cup in Kuwait where the tournament’s general assembly unanimously awarded the finals to Saudi Arabia next year. A prestigious prize in the region, the Gulf Cup was first played in 1970. It’s the fifth time that Saudi Arabia will organise the tournament, having welcomed the regional finals in 1972, 1988,2002 and 2014. The staging represents another boost to the country’s hosting credentials. Last year, Saudi Arabia welcomed the Club World Cup, the first FIFA tournament on Saudi soil since the Confederations Cup in 1997.