Arab-British economic summit with focus on bilateral relations set for November

Around 600 economic, financial and business experts are expected to participate in this year’s summit (Supplied)
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Updated 19 October 2022
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Arab-British economic summit with focus on bilateral relations set for November

LONDON: The Arab British Chamber of Commerce is set to host the second Arab-British Economic Summit next month as part of its ongoing activities to enhance cooperation between the UK and the Arab world, organizers said.

The summit, which will be held on Nov. 2 at the Hilton London Metropole, will be held under the patronage of Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit, and includes 34 speakers, among them Nayef Al-Hajjraf, secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Bahraini Minister of Industry and Commerce Zayed Al-Zayani, and UK Trade Commissioner for the Middle East Simon Penney.

“The event will bring together government officials, senior executives, thought leaders and decision-makers from across the UK and the Arab world to share their ideas and debate the diverse trade and investment opportunities that are emerging in the new emerging technology based industries,” ABCC said.

Around 600 economic, financial and business experts are expected to participate in this year’s summit, which was set to be held on Sept. 15 but was postponed out of respect to the 10-day national mourning period in the UK following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Sept. 8.

The summit, which will be held under the theme “Shaping a Shared Vision,” will highlight the strategic partnership between the UK and the Arab countries, with a focus on how to reshape trade relations between both sides in light of the technological and climate changes that are transforming business priorities and reshaping commercial relationships, ABCC said.

The high-level event “will seek to identify practical initiatives that can strengthen transnational trade ties and bilateral investment flows in the post-pandemic, post-Brexit low-carbon economy (and) discussions will concentrate on health care, education, financial services, hospitality, real estate, transport and other key sectors,” it added in a statement.

The sessions will include rebooting Arab-British trade, renewable energy, innovative education, accelerating health, the banking and fintech revolution and promoting digital cooperation.

The inaugural Arab-British Economic Summit was held in July 2019 and attracted hundreds of senior business executives, diplomats, government officials and investors, highlighting the enormous potential for closer UK-Arab cooperation and the keenness of both sides to strengthen their historic partnership, the chamber had said.


Closing Bell: Saudi main index closes in red at 10,414 

Updated 17 December 2025
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Closing Bell: Saudi main index closes in red at 10,414 

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index closed lower on Wednesday, shedding 38.85 points, or 0.37 percent, to finish at 10,414.06. 

Total trading turnover on the benchmark index reached SR3.46 billion ($920 million), with 123 stocks advancing and 134 declining. 

The Kingdom’s parallel market Nomu also shed 41.61 points, or 0.18 percent, to close at 23,428.67. 

The MSCI Tadawul Index edged down 0.45 percent to 1,368.36. 

Arabian Drilling Co. was the best-performing stock on the main market, with its share price rising 6.8 percent to SR102.90. 

Naqi Water Co. gained 4.30 percent to SR58.25, while Saudi Ground Services Co. advanced 3.78 percent to SR38.42. 

Tihama Advertising, Public Relations and Marketing Co. saw its share price fall 4.95 percent to SR16.31. 

AlAhli REIT Fund 1 also declined 3.53 percent to SR6.29. 

On the announcements front, United Mining Industries Co., listed on the parallel market, said it has begun commercial production of gypsum board at its plant in Yanbu. 

In a Tadawul statement, the company said the financial impact of the project’s commercial production will be reflected in the first quarter of 2026. 

United Mining Industries Co.’s share price was unchanged, closing at SR42.54.  

Dkhoun National Trading Co. said its shareholders approved the board’s recommendation to distribute interim dividends on a semi-annual or quarterly basis for 2025. 

According to a Tadawul statement, shareholders also approved transferring the balance of the company’s statutory reserve, valued at SR2.43 million, to retained earnings. 

Dkhoun National Trading Co.’s shares saw no trades and closed at SR65.