Business leaders discuss post-pandemic inflation, SPACs, Metaverse at Top CEO forum

Today’s event is set to be dominated by wide-ranging topics. (AN Photo)
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Updated 19 May 2022
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Business leaders discuss post-pandemic inflation, SPACs, Metaverse at Top CEO forum

DUBAI: Post-pandemic inflation, raising capital, and the growing popularity of special purpose acquisition companies are among the topics set to be discussed by business leaders on the second day of the Top CEO Forum in Dubai.

The second day of the event comes after the an opening salvo which saw leading Arab businesswomen and industry stalwarts discuss challenges and the role of women in driving the global economy.   

Other topics pencilled in for day two include include digitization, blockchain and metaverse. 

Education helping Vision 2030




Sarah Al-Tamimi, deputy president of Human Rights Commission (AN)

Education, reskilling and upskilling are driving Saudi Arabia’s future growth as the country currently focuses more on the development of the non-oil sectors, said Sarah Al-Tamimi, deputy president of Human Rights Commission. 

Al-Tamimi noted that the human capital development program in Saudi Arabia looks at society as a whole, and it aims to create skilled employees for the future. 

Inflation on the rise




The L’azurde CEO revealed that his company is investing in technology and 3D printing to reduce manpower costs. (AN Photo)

The issue of inflation increasing across the global is a recurrent theme in the forum. Sélim Chidiac, CEO of L’azurde Co. for Jewelry, said inflation is a long-term issue and a short-term solution is not sufficient enough to combat this problem.

Chidiac pointed out that consumers who reach the stores are thoroughly checking the prices of different retailers before making the buying decision. 

Mega projects

Arab News reporters at the event are live-tweeting through some of the sessions. Here's a thread from a session on mega projects.

 

 

 

 

Path of transformation




Mohammed H A Abudawood, executive chairman of M Abudawood Group (AN Photo)

Saudi Arabia is currently going through a huge transformation when it comes to women’s inclusion, according to Mohammed H A Abudawood, executive chairman of M Abudawood Group.

The business leader suggested people across the world are not realizing the trajectory of change in Saudi Arabia, as the Kingdom is now opening up in terms of diversification.

Creative financing 




Mohamed Khammas, CEO of Al Ahli Holding Group, spoke during the Top CEO forum in Dubai on May 18. (AN Photo)

Banks are hesitant to provide funds for creative media ideas, said Mohamed Khammas, CEO of Al Ahli Holding Group. 

He noted that the Middle East region lacks a collaborative effort between banking systems and creative projects. 

Venture Rising




Ahmad Belhoul Al-Falasi, UAE’s Minister of State for Entrepreneurship and SMEs, at the Top CEO forum in Dubai. (AN Photo)

The average size of venture capital investment in the UAE has tripled since 2016, according to Ahmad Belhoul Al-Falasi, UAE’s Minister of State for Entrepreneurship and SMEs.

While speaking at the forum in Dubai, Al-Falasi revealed that the foundation of entrepreneurship is about having access to talent, and the UAE is the best place to tap talent as the country has “always been the labor market of choice in the region.”


PIF-backed EV maker Lucid hits 16k 2025 deliveries, sets sights on robotaxi deployment

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PIF-backed EV maker Lucid hits 16k 2025 deliveries, sets sights on robotaxi deployment

RIYADH: Electric vehicle manufacturer Lucid Group, majority-owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, announced a surge in deliveries in 2025 with volumes reaching 15,841 units, a 55 percent increase year-on-year.

According to a statement, the EV maker also provided an optimistic production outlook for 2026, signaling confidence in its operational turnaround and strategic shift toward autonomy.

In September 2023, the group opened its first-ever international car manufacturing facility in the Kingdom. The hub serves as the company’s second Advanced Manufacturing Plant and its first outside of the US.

According to the earnings report, the company delivered 5,345 vehicles in the fourth quarter of 2025, up 72 percent from the same period in the previous year, marking its eighth consecutive quarter of record deliveries.

Interim CEO Marc Winterhoff said that 2025 “was all about execution and strategy adjustment to set Lucid up for long-term success. Against a challenging macro backdrop, we nearly doubled production, gained market share, reduced unit costs, and strengthened our financial position.”

This commercial momentum translated directly into financial gains. Lucid’s fourth-quarter revenue soared 123 percent to $522.7 million, while full-year 2025 earnings climbed 68 percent to $1.35 billion. The company ended the quarter with a robust liquidity position of approximately $4.6 billion.

A key driver of the improved performance was the ramp-up of production, including the launch of the Lucid Gravity SUV. Despite facing supply chain and tariff headwinds, Lucid nearly doubled its total production for the year.

The company clarified its final production figures for 2025, reporting a total of 17,840 vehicles. This aligns with its previous guidance of approximately 18,000 units.

Lucid explained that a preliminary estimate of 18,378 units, announced in early January, was revised after 538 vehicles were found not to have completed the final internal validation procedures required to be classified as “produced.”

These vehicles are expected to be finalized in 2026, and the company stressed the revision does not impact previously reported financial results.

The manufacturer expects to produce between 25,000 and 27,000 vehicles in 2026, representing growth of up to 51 percent compared with 2025.

Chief Financial Officer Taoufiq Boussaid said: “Q4 marked a clear step-change in production and unit economics. The progress we made is structural, creating a more repeatable and stable operating cadence heading into 2026.”

Beyond the production numbers, Lucid outlined a pivot toward software and autonomy. Winterhoff highlighted the company’s ambition to become an “early mover in the emerging robotaxi market” by leveraging its industry-leading EV technology and strategic partnerships.

To fund these future growth platforms while maintaining financial discipline, the company is making targeted adjustments to its workforce.

“As we prepare for the next stage of our product and volume expansion, we are making targeted adjustments to our US-based, non-manufacturing workforce to reallocate resources to support the next stage of our growth and margin progression,” Boussaid added.

He reiterated the company’s commitment to “financial rigor, operational efficiency, and thoughtful capital allocation.”

In January 2025, the EV maker became the first global automotive company to join the Kingdom’s “Made in Saudi” program, granting it the right to use the “Saudi Made” label on its products, symbolizing the nation’s focus on quality and innovation.

Lucid’s facility, located in King Abdullah Economic City, can currently assemble 5,000 vehicles annually during its first phase. Once fully operational, the complete manufacturing plant, including the assembly line, is expected to produce up to 155,000 electric cars per year. 

This comes as the Kingdom is promoting the adoption of electric vehicles as part of its Vision 2030 strategy, which aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2060.
A critical target of the initiative is for 30 percent of all vehicles in Riyadh to be electric by 2030, contributing to a broader goal of reducing emissions in the capital by 50 percent.