Egypt allows establishment of SPACs to facilitate acquisitions

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Updated 03 November 2021
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Egypt allows establishment of SPACs to facilitate acquisitions

The Egyptian Financial Regulatory Authority has agreed to allow the establishment and licensing of companies with the purpose of acquisition, known as SPAC.

FRA Chairman Mohamed Omran said the authority’s decision reflects its interest in creating financing solutions that would facilitate the access of investors, especially small and medium-sized companies, to financing in order to support Egypt’s Vision 2030.

He said the authority’s initiative will provide an opportunity for emerging companies especially in the field of technology and digital technologies and investors to achieve the desired investment goals by establishing a specialized company for this purpose whose shares are listed on the stock exchange.

“The proceeds of the subscription will then be used to acquire one or more companies or projects after the subscription,” Omran said.

Omran explained  such specialized companies obtain the required financing by offering shares through public subscription and/or a private offering, and the proceeds of the subscription are kept in a bank account under specific conditions until the required acquisition is made within the time period of up to two years, if the planned acquisition is not carried out then the SPAC is obligated to return the funds to the investors, after deducting the prescribed commissions and other expenses.

 


Saudi Arabia’s foreign reserves rise to a 6-year high of $475bn

Updated 22 February 2026
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Saudi Arabia’s foreign reserves rise to a 6-year high of $475bn

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s foreign reserves climbed 3 percent month on month in January to SR1.78 trillion, up SR58.7 billion ($15.6 billion) from December and marking a six-year high.

On an annual basis, the Saudi Central Bank’s net foreign assets rose by 10 percent, equivalent to SR155.8 billion, according to data from the Saudi Central Bank, Argaam reported.

The reserve assets, a crucial indicator of economic stability and external financial strength, comprise several key components.

According to the central bank, also known as SAMA, the Kingdom’s reserves include foreign securities, foreign currency, and bank deposits, as well as its reserve position at the International Monetary Fund, Special Drawing Rights, and monetary gold.

The rise in reserves underscores the strength and liquidity of the Kingdom’s financial position and aligns with Saudi Arabia’s goal of strengthening its financial safety net as it advances economic diversification under Vision 2030.

The value of foreign currency reserves, which represent approximately 95 percent of the total holdings, increased by about 10 percent during January 2026 compared to the same month in 2025, reaching SR1.68 trillion.

The value of the reserve at the IMF increased by 9 percent to reach SR13.1 billion.

Meanwhile, SDRs rose by 5 percent during the period to reach SR80.5 billion.

The Kingdom’s gold reserves remained stable at SR1.62 billion, the same level it has maintained since January 2008.

Saudi Arabia’s foreign reserve assets saw a monthly rise of 5 percent in November, climbing to SR1.74 trillion, according to the Kingdom’s central bank.

Overall, the continued advancement in reserve assets highlights the strength of Saudi Arabia’s fiscal and monetary buffers. These resources support the national currency, help maintain financial system stability, and enhance the country’s ability to navigate global economic volatility.

The sustained accumulation of foreign reserves is a critical pillar of the Kingdom’s economic stability. It directly reinforces investor confidence in the riyal’s peg to the US dollar, a foundational monetary policy, by providing SAMA with ample resources to defend the currency if needed.

Furthermore, this financial buffer enhances the nation’s sovereign credit profile, lowers national borrowing costs, and provides essential fiscal space to navigate global economic volatility while continuing to fund its ambitious Vision 2030 transformation agenda.