DUBAI: Saudi state oil giant Saudi Aramco remains committed to meeting future oil demand through continued investments, the kingdom’s Energy Minister Khalid Al Falih said in a company report on Friday.
Aramco, which is slated for a public share sale, “continued to prepare itself for the listing of its shares, a landmark event the company and its board anticipate with excitement,” Al Falih, who is also chairman of Saudi Aramco, said.
Despite an improved market picture, the oil industry’s preparedness for the future remained in question as the sector had lost an estimate $1 trillion in planned investments since the start of the market downturn, Al Falih wrote.
“Significant new investments are required in additional capacity and expended and upgraded infrastructure, as well as the development of pioneering technology to make petroleum energy more sustainable and accessible,” he said.
The company discovered two new oil fields, Sakab and Zumul, and a gas reservoir in the Sahba field, Aramco said in the report.
Aramco said “it will maintain its position as the world’s leading crude oil producer by production volume by tempering production from mature fields, accelerating younger fields and secondary reservoirs, and developing fresh reserves from new increments.”
The world’s top oil exporter is boosting its output of the natural gas needed to meet rapidly rising domestic power demand and supply raw materials to its strategically important petrochemical industry.
In gas, Aramco “commenced projects to expand production and processing capacity, and brought online the first unconventional gas in Saudi Arabia,” Aramco’s Chief Executive Amin Nasser said in the report.
Aramco was preparing the Midyan non-associated gas field last year to produce 75 million standard cubic feet per day (scfd) of non-associated gas and 4,500 barrels of condensate per day, it said in the report.
Midyan is one of the new gas fields in northwest Saudi Arabia to produce gas for power plants and potentially supply other industries in a region rich in iron ore deposits. It was discovered in the 1980s and has significant reserves.
Aramco committed to meeting future oil demand, says Saudi energy minister
Aramco committed to meeting future oil demand, says Saudi energy minister
- Aramco has discovered two new oil fields, Sakab and Zumul, and a gas reservoir in the Sahba field
- World’s top oil exporter is also boosting its output of the natural gas needed to meet rapidly rising domestic power demand
RLC Global Forum highlights role of Saudi youth in retail digital shift
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s young and highly digital population is reshaping how the Kingdom’s retail sector adopts new technologies and artificial intelligence, advancing faster than many global competitors, industry leaders told Arab News.
Speaking on the sidelines of the RLC Global Forum in Riyadh, executives told Arab News that the intersection of a youthful population and strong investment in AI is driving a shift in the industry’s priorities.
From understanding consumer behavior to leveraging the Kingdom’s growing status as a global AI leader, Saudi Arabia is becoming as a unique destination for the retail sector to thrive, learn, and evolve in the digital sphere.
Abdullah Al-Tamimi, CEO of commercial real estate company Hamat Holding, told Arab News that the firm is keen to analyze and understand consumer behavior, with a particular focus on the younger generation as a key part of that insight.
“Actually, it’s a big part of our day-to-day operation,” he said, adding that the company invests heavily in understanding customer needs and behavior and works to correct any missteps.
Al-Tamimi emphasized paying close attention to small details, noting that younger consumers are especially sensitive to the overall experience and “deserve that we work around the clock in order to improve it.”
He added that this focus “can be a competitive advantage for Saudi Arabia as well.”
Al-Tamimi said that as the younger generation grows accustomed to new technology shaping retail customer experiences, Hamat Holding is leveraging AI to enhance them further.
“We started a couple of initiatives improving digitalization,” he said, adding that the company sees digital tools as a way to enhance its work by automating day-to-day operations and allowing teams to focus on bigger-picture and more complex tasks.
While the firm has expanded its use of technology, he stressed it has not replaced human workers, emphasizing the continued importance of human capital for creativity and interaction. “AI is a big part of our strategy,” Al-Tamimi added.
Amit Keswani Manghnani, chief omnichannel and AI officer at luxury goods retailer and distributor Chalhoub Group, told Arab News that bridging a younger customer base with continuous digital development is key to advancing the Kingdom’s retail strategies.
On Saudi Arabia’s demographics, he said: “We look at 2030 as really building products which serve especially the younger population, which is growing and very digitally savvy.”
Manghnani underscored the unique characteristics of the Kingdom’s retail market as a tool for developing effective products and customer experiences.
“So it’s very digitally savvy, much more than in other markets,” he said, noting that e-commerce penetration is rising not only through online purchases but also via digital catalogs that drive in-store visits.
Manghnani said investment is focused on making products more digitally accessible and easier to use, while strengthening customer service to meet the expectations of what he described as a demanding but welcome consumer base. “Service excellence, digital — all these things together are how we are tapping into the younger population, which again is extremely savvy.”
Manghnani reinforced Al-Tamimi’s point that the Kingdom holds a competitive advantage, citing the speed at which its retail and technology industries are aligning.
“As a market, we’re tending to see the adoption of digital,” he said, referring to AI, data and other forms of digital interaction, adding that these tools are increasingly being combined.
He noted that this market is moving “much quicker than the other markets.”
The two-day RLC Global Forum brought together more than 2,000 global leaders, policymakers, and innovators from over 40 countries over the two-day event to define the next chapter of growth across retail, consumer, and lifestyle industries.
