Saudi Awwal Bank reports 16 percent growth in Q1 net profit at SR2 bn

Lubna S. Olayan, chair of the board of directors of Saudi Awwal Bank
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Updated 06 May 2024
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Saudi Awwal Bank reports 16 percent growth in Q1 net profit at SR2 bn

Lubna S. Olayan, chair of the board of directors of Saudi Awwal Bank, announced the bank’s financial results for the period ending March 31.

SAB recorded a net profit after zakat and income tax of SR2.04 billion ($543.9 million) for the period ending March 31, representing an increase of 16 percent compared to the same period of 2023. The total operating income rose 7 percent to SR3.44 billion.

Commenting on the financial results, Olayan said: “I am delighted to share with you the highlights of our achievements in the first quarter of 2024. It has been an exceptional period for SAB, marked by achieving significant milestones and continued success.

“Our loan growth has been remarkable, outpacing the market with a solid 6 percent year-to-date increase. This growth has been primarily driven by institutional and large corporate businesses, showcasing the strength of our offerings in these segments. Notably, our mortgage growth has also been a key component of growth, with a commendable 16 percent origination market share.”

She said SAB’s trade-related business has experienced a similar upward trajectory, rising by 6 percent, with multinational activity continuing to expand, underscoring the bank’s global reach and influence.

Olayan added: “In addition, I am pleased to announce that we have achieved record revenue of SR3.4 billion, representing an impressive 8 percent quarter-on-quarter growth. This exceptional performance has contributed to a return on tangible equity of 16.5 percent, reflecting a 16 percent year-on-year increase in net income.

“Our commitment to excellence underlies these results and has garnered industry recognition, as we were honored with the esteemed ‘Best Trade Finance Provider in Saudi Arabia’ award by Global Finance and the prestigious ‘Best Domestic Private Bank in Saudi Arabia’ award by Euromoney Private Banking Awards. These accolades highlight the strength and diversity of our services and our unwavering dedication to meeting our customers’ needs with efficiency and innovation.”

She said that amidst a challenging global environment, SAB has also experienced success in furthering its sustainability agenda.

“As we look toward the next three years from a business perspective, we have strengthened our ESG governance, sustainable finance practice, and focus on climate change. Our commitment to sustainability has been recognized by Global Finance designating SAB the ‘Best Bank for Sustainable Finance in Saudi Arabia.’“

Olayan said that the bank’s strategy positions it as a future-ready institution, a leader in the digital and ESG realms, and a clear leader outpacing the lending market. 

“We also aim to be a formidable player in corporate banking and treasury, while continuing to enhance our reputation as the bank of choice for an even broader range of customers.

“Lastly, our partnership with HSBC remains instrumental to our success and journey, further solidifying our position as one of the leaders in the banking industry in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” she added.

Olayan thanked the bank’s board members, senior management committees, and the entire SAB staff. “I extend my sincerest gratitude to them for their contributions. I would also like to express our appreciation to HSBC for their unwavering support and to the Saudi leadership and our regulators, the Saudi Central Bank and the Capital Market Authority, for their continued guidance and assistance,” she added.


Al-Gharbia Company launches ‘Roshan’ project in Jeddah

Updated 3 min 22 sec ago
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Al-Gharbia Company launches ‘Roshan’ project in Jeddah

Al-Gharbia Development and Investment Company, the development arm of real estate company Tatweer Group in the western region, announced the launch of its first project in Jeddah at a ceremony in the city. The event was attended by real estate developers, businessmen and investors.
The project, named Roshan, is an ambitious urban and commercial development project located in the north of Jeddah. It consists of residential and commercial buildings and will be constructed in accordance with the highest design and engineering standards.
Boasting a strategic location, Roshan, to be built on a total area of 1 million square meters, will be located close to urban development projects, hotels, residential and commercial complexes, and government facilities.

Mohamed Habes, CEO of Al-Gharbia Development and Investment Company

Expressing delight at the launch of the new project, Mohamed Habes, CEO of Al-Gharbia Development and Investment Company, said Roshan represents “a wonderful start for the company.” He said: “The project embodies the company’s ambitious standards in construction and real estate development, which take into account the creation of a comprehensive and integrated community environment that guarantees its customers the enjoyment of quality of life in a balanced and harmonious society.”

The (Roshan) project supports the company’s ambitions to contribute to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

Mohamed Habes, CEO of Al-Gharbia Development and Investment Company

Habes added: “The project supports the company’s ambitions to contribute to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which aims to improve the quality of life, enhancing real estate development projects, playing a pivotal role in shaping a vibrant society and a thriving economy.”
Comprising 20 commercial plots and 614 residential plots, Roshan will also include green spaces and a central park built on an area of 29,000 square meters, offering an enjoyable healthy environment for its residents.

HIGHLIGHT

Roshan, to be built on a total area of 1 million square meters, will be located close to urban development projects, hotels, residential and commercial complexes, and government facilities.

Habes said the project’s infrastructure facilities, such as electricity, water and sewage networks, and communication and internet services, will be developed to guarantee comfort and luxury for the residents. Roshan will also include seven public parks, seven schools, seven mosques, a health center, and a main park in the heart of the project, consisting of sports areas and cycling tracks.

 


Petal Ads and talabat partner to boost regional expansion

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Updated 49 sec ago
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Petal Ads and talabat partner to boost regional expansion

Huawei has announced its partnership with talabat, a regional platform for everyday deliveries. Through this partnership, talabat will use Petal Ads, Huawei’s digital advertising platform, to propel its business expansion through cutting-edge targeting capabilities.
The collaboration was officially initiated with a signing ceremony, which took place on May 7 at the Petal Ads booth during the Arabian Travel Market 2024 in Dubai. This alliance between two industry leaders signifies a commitment to revolutionizing digital advertising and enhancing user engagement.
talabat will integrate targeted advertising initiatives powered by Petal Ads. Furthermore, the talabat app will be featured in Virtual Preload, a unique lifestyle folder on all Huawei devices. This first-of-its-kind initiative for talabat will ensure faster access to the app for Huawei users.
“Partnering with talabat, a leader in the food delivery and q-commerce industry, is a significant step for Petal Ads,” said William Hu, managing director of Huawei Consumer Business Group, Middle East and Africa Eco Development and Operation. “This collaboration offers an exciting opportunity to leverage our digital advertising expertise and contribute to the success of the talabat platform, creating new avenues for businesses to connect with their audiences.”
Stefano Vecchio, vice president, strategy and innovation at talabat, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration: “We’re excited to partner with Petal Ads to utilize Huawei’s media and third-party channels, as well as have the talabat app pre-installed onto millions of Huawei mobile devices across the region. This partnership will help us further simplify the everyday life of customers in the region by delivering food, groceries and more to their doorstep.”
This collaboration will empower talabat and Petal Ads to leverage the strengths of both platforms, providing a unique opportunity to connect with their respective target audiences in a more personalized and effective manner. Additionally, users and businesses alike can expect an enhanced experience from this partnership.

 


Dyson unveils first dedicated wet floor cleaner

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Updated 7 sec ago
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Dyson unveils first dedicated wet floor cleaner

Dyson has unveiled its latest floorcare technology, designed to pickup wet and dry debris in one go to deliver a hygienic clean on hard floors, across large spaces. With 1-liter clean water tank to cover flooring up to 290 square meters, the Dyson WashG1 uses a combination of hydration, absorption, and extraction technologies to remove wet and dry debris in one go — automatically separating it out, so maintenance is more hygienic.
Charlie Park, vice president of Dyson Home Engineering at Dyson, said: “Wet cleaning is considered a necessary chore globally and the perceived burden has been the target of a vast array of wet floor cleaning formats. Despite this, users’ expectations are often left unfulfilled when it comes to stain removal, pickup performance, and floor finish. Dyson engineers solve the problems others ignore and we thrive on the challenge of creating better technology. The Dyson WashG1 is the result of this; our first dedicated wet machine to wash hard floors, properly and hygienically.”
Two individually powered rollers counter-rotate whilst a pulse-modulated pump distributes water evenly across 26 precisely positioned hydration points, along the full width of each roller.
Each roller is made up of a highly absorbent microfiber, with 64,800 filaments per cm2. This combination of high-density microfiber and consistent application of clean water ensures liquid spills are absorbed, whilst dry dirt, debris, and hair is enveloped by the millions of filaments. By positioning two rollers at the front and back of the machine, Dyson engineers also achieved longer dwell time on stains with each pass, for powerful and fast stain removal.
Dyson’s unique separation technology divides debris and dirty water at source, for hygienic, no-touch disposal. Dirty water is extracted from the rollers by durable extraction plates, whilst secondary nylon-bristled inner brush bars remove dirt and debris from the microfiber rollers, flicking it straight into a removable debris tray.
The debris tray has been designed with a 500-micron mesh to separate dirty water from the large debris. Powered by an extraction pump, dirty water is immediately collected in a 0.8 liter capacity dirty water tank, without allowing large debris to pass through the machine. Keeping the dirt and debris in the head of the machine, and the dirty water in a separate tank allows for easy and hygienic disposal.
The Dyson WashG1 wet floor cleaner is available from August priced at SR2,799 ($746) exclusively through Dyson Direct.

 


ILF Saudi Arabia: Improving quality of life in Kingdom for over 40 years

Managing Directors Christian Nunner and Saleh AlNajdi
Updated 16 May 2024
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ILF Saudi Arabia: Improving quality of life in Kingdom for over 40 years

It has been more than four decades since ILF Consulting Engineers first set foot on Arab soil. Originally known as Ingenieurgemeinschaft Lässer-Feizlmayr, ILF was a modest sized company when it was first commissioned by the Saline Water Conversion Corporation to engineer a revolutionary pipeline system. 

This system, stretching 467 km from Jubail on the Arabian Gulf to Riyadh, heralded the world’s inaugural closed high-pressure pipeline system for water transportation. With the start of this pioneering project, the journey of ILF in the Gulf region began.

Since then, ILF has continued to expand its presence in Saudi Arabia, winning contracts for some of the region’s largest and most ground-breaking water transfer projects with a total length of close to 15,000 km. 

Today, in the face of climatic challenges, the creation of sustainable infrastructure and utilities is one of the country’s most important tasks.

Building on its impressive history in the provision of excellent engineering services in the Kingdom for many decades as well as its global expertise in the fields of energy and climate protection, water and environment, transportation and urban spaces as well as resources and sustainable industry, ILF is able to provide both engineering and advisory services to help meet current and future challenges for today’s society and future generations.

The introduction of Saudi Vision 2030 serves as a strategic framework aimed at diversifying the country’s economy and reducing its dependency on oil revenue. The core objectives encompass economic diversification, privatization, promotion of investment, enhancement of education, social and cultural development, and governance reform, and include significant public and private investments in sustainable infrastructure and utilities.

In alignment with Vision 2030, and through its commitment to its core values of improving the quality of life through the provision of excellent engineering and advisory services, ILF Saudi Arabia not only supports the Saudization, localization and regional headquarters initiatives but also provides its services to a wide range of public and private clients for projects in the following fields: 

•     Water and environment (water treatment, sewage treatment, industrial waste water treatment, water transmission, water storage, water distribution, water reuse, urban irrigation, irrigation, greening initiatives, parks and natural reserves.)

•     Energy and climate protection (renewable power generation — solar, wind and geothermal, battery energy systems, energy storage — pumped storage, power transmission and distribution)

•     Transportation and urban development (urban infrastructure)

•     Resources and sustainable industry (mining infrastructure, carbon capture) 

ILF’s commitment to sustainability is reflected not only in the company’s project portfolio, where they support their clients in their efforts to achieve sustainable development through a wide range of projects, but also in the local training program the company has been running for over 10 years, something ILF regards as a sustainable contribution to society. ILF is also a member of the global movement of companies that measure and disclose their environmental, social, economic and governance impacts in accordance with international reporting standards, helping them to evolve in a sustainable way.

“At ILF Consulting Engineers in Saudi Arabia, we take great pride in our contributions to current and future projects. Our commitment to improving the quality of life permeates our daily endeavors and drives our continued growth in both staff and project scope,” the company said in a statement.


A ‘floating resort’: Bookings open for Saudi Arabia’s first cruise line ‘AROYA Cruises’

Updated 16 May 2024
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A ‘floating resort’: Bookings open for Saudi Arabia’s first cruise line ‘AROYA Cruises’

Cruise Saudi, a 100 percent Public Investment Fund owned business, responsible for the creation and development of the cruise industry in the Kingdom, has announced the commercial launch of its owned cruise line, AROYA Cruises, with trips now available to purchase via its website.

As the first Arabian cruise line, AROYA Cruises is leading the way offering remarkably Arabian experiences for guests at sea and onshore. Pioneering in its design, AROYA Cruises reflects Arabian generosity and Saudi Arabia’s famous “hafawa” (hospitality), providing a unique experience with passenger comfort at its heart.

With the ability to accommodate 3,362 passengers, AROYA Cruises is a floating resort, 335 meters in length, with 1,678 cabins, including stunning balcony and sea view cabins, suites, and villas. The entertainment concept has been curated to offer activities for all passenger groups. The ship has 20 entertainment venues across 18 decks that will allow passengers to indulge in an array of experiences, including shopping in the Souq AROYA retail area, and enjoy performances in the 1,018-seater AROYA Theater, which will captivate guests with headline entertainment, movies, and dedicated shows for children. Families can connect in the Atrium Area, which will host “Gathering Hubs” and “Variety Acts,” and enjoy the 1,858-square-meter “kids zone,” with a splash area equipped with water slides.

For those looking to relax and unwind whilst onboard, the “Blossom by AROYA” spa will have all passenger wellness needs covered. With a focus on immersion of the five senses — sound, sight, taste, aroma and touch — the facilities include a thermal suite, snow room, relaxation room, and treatment room, as well as a beauty clinic, beauty salon, men’s barbers and gym.

With five complimentary restaurants, 11 specialty restaurants, and 12 cafés and lounges, Aroya offers a wide variety of F&B options from across the globe, spanning Lebanese, Italian and Asian. Amongst these dining outlets is IRTH, the first Saudi restaurant at sea, featuring traditional Arabian dining.

Dr. Joerg Rudolph, president of AROYA Cruises, said: “The launch of our cruise line to commercial markets is an important milestone for both AROYA Cruises, and for the tourism landscape in Saudi. We are thrilled that the public can now book sailings with us as we strive to reinvent the meaning of holidays in Arabia. We have been steadfast in our mission to create a ‘Remarkably Arabian’ cruise line offering for guests at sea and onshore, commercially and sustainably, and we look forward to sharing this with our passengers.”

For an elevated offering, the AROYA VIP package provides exclusive designated areas for a premium experience. With spacious and unique accommodation, outdoor lounges and exceptional dining, the AROYA exclusive experience provides the very best amenities and services for guests.

With inaugural sailings scheduled in the Red Sea for December 2024, itineraries will include time at the Cruise Saudi-owned private island, as well as visits to major destinations along the Red Sea, including Egypt and Jordan.

Cabins fares start from SR558 ($150) per person, per night.