Gulf Stevedoring Contracting Company (GSCCO), part of the Gulftainer group of companies, recently hosted a Jubail Value Proposition event to identify new business opportunities and examine the investment outlook in the rising import and export destination.
Held at the InterContinental Al-Jubail on Jan. 15, the event drew the participation of more than 100 government stakeholders and maritime industry professionals including representatives of major exporters and importers, logistics companies, transporters and shipping lines from across Saudi Arabia. Among the high-profile attendees were Ali Nasser Al-Khater, deputy director general of Jubail Commercial Port (JCP), Abdul Aziz Al-Rayees, representative of Saudi Ports Authority (SEAPA), Omar Mosaid Al-Subaiee, captain at Jubail Coast Guard, and Nasser Al-Dossary, deputy director general of Jubail Customs.
The one-day flagship event featured a series of interactive presentations and discussions that highlighted the value proposition that JCP presents to industrial and commercial entities in the region. Saleem Kadernani, group commercial manager at Gulftainer, delivered a presentation on Jubail’s capabilities and the benefits the port can offer to shipping lines, exporters and importers. Other distinguished speakers included Mohammed Abdul Aziz bin Battal, director of MEA Solids Supply Chain at SABIC, and Ahmed Hassan Gomaa, logistics and customs coordinator at Técnicas Reunidas.
Ranked the Middle East’s fastest-growing port in 2017, JCP serves as an ideal hub not only for industrial exports but also for imports to the dynamic markets of Saudi Arabia’s eastern and central provinces. It is currently a port of call for almost all global shipping lines with direct weekly services and has one of the fastest customs clearance processes in the country.
In his keynote address, Iain Rawlinson, group commercial director of Gulftainer, said: “The Jubail Value Proposition event aligns with our vision of developing world-class port infrastructure that is critical for economic development and trade activity in the region. The Saudi government’s concerted efforts to diversify the economy and its commitment to innovation have catalyzed growth in the country’s ports and logistics sectors. I hope that today’s discussions provide you with innovative insights that encourage new ways of doing business in Jubail so that we can leverage the city’s unique status as a logistical gateway and prominent trade hub for the region.”
Richard James, managing director of GSCCO, said: “Jubail’s strategic geographic location has enabled it to evolve into a pivotal gateway for international trade and industrial activity, enhancing Saudi Arabia’s economic and trade potential. The city is home to our flagship facilities, including the Jubail Container Terminal (JCT), that contribute significantly to the region’s economic activity.”
GSCCO hosts Jubail Value Proposition event
GSCCO hosts Jubail Value Proposition event
Al-Saedan launches $400m investment platform for real estate, digital infrastructure
Al-Saedan Real Estate Company of Saudi Arabia, in collaboration with Serpentine Lake Capital of the UK and SGI Real Estate of Canada, have announced the establishment of a joint development and investment platform under the name SL Property. The platform will develop commercial, residential, and hospitality projects, alongside infrastructure and data center projects, across the Kingdom. It reflects the growing international interest in Saudi Arabia’s real estate and digital infrastructure markets and supports the development of high-quality, long-term assets within the Kingdom.
The agreement signing ceremony was held under the patronage of Minister of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing and Chairman of the Real Estate General Authority Majid bin Abdullah Al-Hogail, as part of the Future of Real Estate Forum, in which Al-Saedan Real Estate participated as a strategic sponsor. The ceremony was attended by Dr. Badr bin Ibrahim bin Saedan, chairman of the board of Al-Saedan Real Estate; Ahmed bin Ibrahim bin Saedan, vice chairman of the board of Al-Saedan Real Estate; Ben Mikola, representative of Serpentine Lake Capital and SL Property; and Hassan Al-Shawwa, representative of SGI Canada.
The attendance reflects the strategic importance of the initiative and the continued support of the authority in facilitating the attraction of high-quality international investments into the Kingdom’s real estate and digital infrastructure sectors.
This development follows the issuance of the Regulation on Real Estate Ownership by Non-Saudis in Saudi Arabia, which came into effect in January. The updated regulatory framework is expected to expand access to international investment, facilitate foreign investor participation in strategic sectors, and increase the depth of institutional capital flowing into the real estate, infrastructure, and data center sectors in the Kingdom.
The platform is targeting initial joint investments of SR1.5 billion ($400 million) in partnership with Al-SaedanReal Estate, representing the first phase of a broader, multi-stage investment program. In its initial phase, SL Property — Al-Saedan intends to invest in six to eight projects across real estate, infrastructure, and data centers, with additional opportunities anticipated as the platform’s activities expand in the future.
The initial projects will be concentrated in Riyadh and Jeddah, and will include mixed-use developments, commercial assets, residential projects, and infrastructure related to data centers. These projects are designed to be scalable, sustainable, and aligned with national development priorities, including housing expansion, enhancement of urban quality of life, hospitality sector growth, and strengthening the Kingdom’s digital services capabilities.
Al-Saedan Real Estate is one of the oldest private real estate development companies in Saudi Arabia, with more than 80 years of operational experience and a strong track record that includes the development of seven major integrated urban communities, in addition to numerous commercial, hospitality, and associated infrastructure projects.
The SL Property platform will serve as a dedicated investment vehicle for this initiative, with Serpentine Lake Capital contributing its asset management expertise, and SGI Real Estate providing its specialized real estate sector experience. The platform’s structure is intended to combine local development capabilities with disciplined international investment practices and robust governance standards.
This initiative aligns with the Kingdom’s economic diversification objectives and reflects growing confidence in the updated regulatory framework governing the real estate and digital infrastructure sectors. As the platform evolves, it is expected to provide both local and international investors with access to high-quality investment opportunities across the real estate and data center sectors throughout the Kingdom.
Dr. Badr bin Ibrahim said: “At Al-Saedan, we are pleased to be among the first beneficiaries of the promising new foreign investment system. Following our success in raising several local investment funds, we look forward to expanding our expertise and partnerships at a global level.”
Mikola added: “We are pleased to partner with Al-Saedan, whose strong track record provides a solid foundation for this collaboration. As the platform develops, we expect to explore opportunities to expand into real estate and infrastructure projects within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and beyond. The Kingdom represents a fast-growing market driven by clear structural factors, and we look forward to developing high-potential opportunities through a disciplined and focused approach.”
