China advances renewable energy projects

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Updated 01 November 2021
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China advances renewable energy projects

  • A Chinese solar power project with an installed capacity of 2 million kilowatts began work on October 16 in Kubuqi, a desert region in Inner Mongolia

DUBAI: China stated that it would increase wind and solar power capacity to more than 1,200 gigawatts and increase non-fossil fuels to 25 percent of primary energy use. 

A practical move in anticipation of COP26, where world leaders will discuss policies to fight climate change, China has begun building major wind and photovoltaic (PV) bases in sandy, rocky and desert areas. 

"As a developing country, China has done its best to make commitments and put them into practice, so as to achieve its environmental protection goals," Shi Dinghuan, chairman of the World Green Design Organization and a former advisor to China's State Council, told the Global Times on Sunday.

A Chinese solar power project with an installed capacity of 2 million kilowatts began work on October 16 in Kubuqi, a desert region in Inner Mongolia that enjoys more than 3180 hours of daily sunlight annually on average.

China's top economic planner, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), announced in mid-October that construction on solar and wind power plants with a combined capacity of 30 million kilowatts has begun.

These stations are in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of North China, the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region of Northwest China, and the Qinghai Province of Northwest China.

In the article, Shi suggested that China's combined installed capacity of new-energy power plants, which include hydro, wind and solar, would surpass all countries around the world, demonstrating that the largest developing country has been stepping up its efforts to pursue renewable energy and adjust its industrial and energy structures.

"China has established many ultra-high voltage transmission lines, which can achieve cross-regional power transmission more effectively," Shi said, adding that the country could further speed up the construction of distributed power stations, reducing long-range power transportation losses.


Reforms target sustained growth in Saudi real estate sector, says Al-Hogail

Updated 26 January 2026
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Reforms target sustained growth in Saudi real estate sector, says Al-Hogail

RIYADH: The Real Estate Future Forum opened its doors for its first day at the Four Seasons Riyadh, with prominent global and local figures coming together to engage with one of the Kingdom’s most prospering sectors.

With new regulations, laws, and investments underway, 2026 is expected to be a year of momentous progress for the real estate sector in the Kingdom.

The forum opened with a video highlighting the sector’s progress in the Kingdom, during which an emphasis was placed on the forum’s ability to create global reach, representation, as well as agreements worth a cumulative $50 billion

With the Kingdom now opening up real estate ownership to foreigners, this year’s Real Estate Future Forum is placing a great deal of importance on this new milestone and its desired outcomes and impact on the market. 

Aside from this year’s forum’s unique discussions surrounding those developments, it will also be the first of its kind to launch the Real Estate Excellence Award and announce its finalist during the three-day summit.

Minister of Municipalities and Housing and Chairman of the Real Estate General Authority Majed Al-Hogail took to stage to address the diverse audience on the real estate market’s achievements thus far and its milestones to come.

Of those important milestones, he underscored “real estate balance” as a key pillar of the sector’s decisions to implement regulatory tools “with the aim of constant growth which can maintain the vitality of this sector.” He pointed to examples of those regulatory measures, such as the White Land Tax.

On 2025’s progress, the minister highlighted the jump in Saudi family home ownership, which went from 47 percent in 2016 to 66 percent in 2025, keeping the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goal of 70 percent by the end of the decade on track.

He said the opening of the real estate market to foreigners is an indicator of the sector’s maturity under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. He said his ministry plans to build over 300,000 housing units in Riyadh over the next three years.

Speaking to Arab News,  Al-Hogail elaborated on these achievements, stating: “Today, demand, especially local demand, has grown significantly. The mortgage market has reached record levels, exceeding SR900 billion ($240 billion) in mortgage financing, we are now seeing SRC (Saudi Real Estate Refinance Co.) injecting both local and foreign liquidity on a large scale, reaching more than SR54 billion”

Al-Hogail described Makkah and Madinah as unique and special points in the Kingdom’s real estate market as he spoke of the sector’s attractiveness.

 “Today, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has become, in international investment indices, one that takes a good share of the Middle East, and based on this, many real estate investment portfolios have begun to come in,” he said. 

Al-Ahsa Gov. Prince Saud bin Talal bin Badr Al-Saud told Arab News the Kingdom’s ability to balance both heritage sites with real estate is one of its strengths.

He said: “Actually the real estate market supports the whole infrastructure … the whole ecosystem goes back together in the foundation of the real estate; if we have the right infrastructure we can leverage more on tourism plus we can leverage more on the quality of life … we’re looking at 2030, this is the vision … to have the right infrastructure the time for more investors to come in real estate, entertainment, plus tourism and culture.”