UAE In-Focus — Dubai-based Help AG launches first cybersecurity center in Saudi Arabia

CSOC analysts monitor complex information technology security infrastructures, analyze security events, and interpret abnormal behavior. (Supplied)
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Updated 06 October 2022
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UAE In-Focus — Dubai-based Help AG launches first cybersecurity center in Saudi Arabia

DUBAI: The cybersecurity arm of e& enterprise, Help AG, has launched an operation center in Riyadh to provide managed security services in compliance with local data regulations. 

The Cybersecurity Operations Center is also having 24/7 security monitoring and events management solutions, according to a statement.

Its launch coincides with Saudi Arabia’s accelerated digital transformation and focuses on developing a collaborative ecosystem to become a global investment powerhouse, a critical pillar of its 2030 Vision, it said.

“Featuring our next-generation security operations framework for enterprises and governmental entities, as well as offering flexible deployment through a cloud, on-premise or a hybrid model, the CSOC in Riyadh will enable our Saudi clients to take timely action based on threat intelligence feeds and through our security orchestration and automation platforms,” said Help AG’s CEO Stephan Berner.  

CSOC analysts monitor complex information technology security infrastructures, analyze security events, and interpret abnormal behavior.

DAE signs agreement to acquire Sky Fund I Irish, Ltd.

Dubai Aerospace Enterprise Ltd. announced that it signed a definitive agreement to acquire Sky Fund I Irish, Ltd. and its subsidiaries.

Sky Fund I owns and leases 36 aircraft to 14 airline customers in 11 countries, a statement said. More than 90 percent of the portfolio comprises next-generation technology aircraft.

DAE’s CEO Firoz Tarapore said: “We are delighted to acquire this unique portfolio of new technology, fuel-efficient aircraft on lease to 14 airlines, including six new airline customers for DAE.”

Subject to regulatory approvals, the transaction is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2022.

TAQA enters into agreement with Waldorf Energy Netherlands BV

Abu Dhabi National Energy Co. has entered into definitive agreements with Waldorf Energy Netherlands BV to sell 100 percent of its ownership in the upstream oil and gas business in the Netherlands through its wholly-owned subsidiary, TAQA Energy BV, according to a statement.

Approval by regulatory authorities and other third parties is still required for this transaction.

AI-based Realiste launched in UAE and Saudi Arabia

Realiste, an Artificial Intelligence-based real estate market development company, was launched in the UAE and Saudi Arabia as part of its Middle East North Africa expansion.

Using AI technology, investors from all over the world can sign up, and invest in real estate in major capital cities, including New York, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Riyadh, and London, according to a statement

Realiste customers can buy cheaper, up to 25 percent off market price, be notified when it’s the right time to buy or sell, and finally invest in properties abroad without having to travel or deal with third parties.

Since launching in December 2021, the company has established operations in Riyadh, Dubai, London, New York, and Moscow, and plans to expand further.

Abu Dhabi to host Middle East Blockchain Awards

The Middle East Blockchain Awards will be held in Abu Dhabi in November 2022 to recognize and reward outstanding efforts in the fields of blockchain and Web 3.0.

The Awards will be hosted by Hok Agency the Middle East, in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Global Market’s flagship platform, Abu Dhabi Finance Week, and the Middle East, Africa, and Asia Crypto and Blockchain Association, according to a statement.


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.