LONDON: Emaar Malls has recorded an 11 percent increase in its 2017 full-year profits compared to the previous year, on the back of rising visitor numbers to its Dubai shopping centers.
Total net profit reached 2.08 billion dirhams ($566 million), compared to 1.874 billion dirhams in 2016, according to a company filing.
A total of 130 million shoppers visited Emaar’s retail centers in 2017, marking a 4 percent increase on visitor turnout from the year before. Dubai Mall, the company’s flagship development, welcomed 80 million visitors in 2017 for the fourth consecutive year.
“The sustained growth of Emaar Malls highlights the robust performance of our nation’s retail sector, a key contributor to the gross domestic product,” said Mohamed Alabbar, chairman of Emaar Properties and board member of Emaar Malls, in a statement.
Emaar Malls’ revenue reached 3.63 billion dirhams in 2017, a 12 percent increase on the previous year.
Emaar Malls said it was pushing forward with its expansion plans, confirming that work on the new Dubai Hills Mall has started and the development is scheduled to open in late 2019. The shopping center is expected to have more than 750 retail outlets.
The company said work has begun on the expansion of Dubai Mall’s Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard. It is also developing a new retail center in the Springs Village. Both developments are due to open this year.
Emaar Malls has expanded online as well, completing the acquisition of the web-based fashion retailer Namshi last year.
Visitors lift Emaar Malls profit
Visitors lift Emaar Malls profit
Closing Bell: Saudi main market edges up to 10,745 points
RIYADH: Saudi equities closed higher on Monday, with the Tadawul All Share Index finishing up 135.69 points, or 1.28 percent, at 10,745.45.
The MSCI Tadawul 30 Index also advanced, rising 22.21 points, or 1.57 percent, to close at 1,436.31, while the Nomu Parallel Market Index slipped 31.80 points, or 0.13 percent, to 23,586.94.
Market breadth was positive on the main market, with 216 gainers against 42 decliners, while Nomu saw 42 stocks advancing and 36 declining.
Trading activity picked up, with 261.7 million shares changing hands, while total turnover reached SR5.10 billion ($1.3 billion).
Among the top performers, Saudi Fisheries Co. led the gains, closing at SR63.90, up SR5.80, or 9.98 percent. Naseej International Trading Co. rose to SR34.94, gaining SR3.16, or 9.94 percent, while Dar Al Arkan Real Estate Development Co. ended at SR16.74, up SR1.16, or 7.45 percent.
Zahrat Al Waha for Trading Co. added 6.84 percent to close at SR2.50, and Alamar Foods Co. climbed 5.75 percent to SR42.70.
On the losing side, Al Masar Al Shamil Education Co. fell 4.36 percent to SR23.90, while Saudi Paper Manufacturing Co. declined 2.82 percent to SR62.05.
United International Holding Co. slipped 2.36 percent to SR153.40, Saudi Aramco Base Oil Co. dropped 2.09 percent to SR98.60, and United Electronics Co. eased 1.90 percent to SR85.00.
On the announcement front, Mouwasat Medical Services Co. announced that its board has approved the establishment of a new hospital in Riyadh’s Al-Narjis District, with a planned capacity of 280 beds and a total investment cost of SR900 million.
The project will be financed through a mix of self-funding and long-term Shariah-compliant bank facilities, with further details on timelines and financial impact to be disclosed at a later stage.
Shares of Mouwasat Medical Services Co. closed at SR67.95, gaining SR1.40, or 2.10 percent.
Saudi Arabian Mining Co. reported a net addition of 7.8 million ounces of new gold resources following extensive exploration and drilling activities across multiple sites, alongside the identification of new mineralization opportunities in gold and base metals.
The company noted that the financial impact of these discoveries has yet to be determined and will be assessed in due course.
Shares of Saudi Arabian Mining Co. closed at SR67.50, up SR3.05, or 4.73 percent.
