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Wasta to bring curated business network app to Saudi Arabia and UAE

Lalita Chopra and Shyam Visavadia, co-founders of Dubai-based Wasta, a technology start-up leading the path to purposeful connections. (Supplied)
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Updated 02 November 2022
Nour El-Shaeri
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Wasta to bring curated business network app to Saudi Arabia and UAE

  • Wasta is redefining its name to make it accessible and impactful for everyone
Updated 02 November 2022
Nour El-Shaeri

CAIRO: Wasta, the Middle Eastern tech startup leading the path to purposeful connections, is getting ready to roll out its official launch in Saudi Arabia and the UAE within the next month.

“Wasta” in Arabic means influential or powerful social and professional connections to gain a career boost or proficiency.

Sometimes perceived as nepotism, the word is ubiquitous within Arab societies, and Shyam Visavadia, the co-founder of Wasta.ai, believes everyone should have the chance to utilize and build meaningful connections.

“Wasta wants to truly build a network designed to reflect the multifaceted nature of what people need to move forward in their entrepreneurial journey,” Visavadia told Arab News exclusively.

He further explained that the company is redefining its name to make it accessible and impactful for everyone.

Currently an invite-only platform, the company is planning to roll out its official mobile app to pre-registered users within the next month, where they will have access to a vast community of professionals.

Users can simply download the app, identify their interests and objectives and availability, and Wasta will curate a weekly 30-minute video call with professionals who share the same interests.

Stimulating conversations

The app uses client interests and objectives to automatically match users together, creating an easy way for professionals to connect with each other and expand their network.

“We aspire to build social capital by stimulating conversation, creating cross-border communities and promoting collaboration and problem-solving in high-growth markets. By breaking down the fear of networking, we facilitate casual conversations that lead to not-so-casual professional impact,” Visavadia explained. 




The app uses client interests and objectives to match users together. (Supplied)

The company will charge its users a monthly subscription fee of $10 to get access to one new match every week as it plans to launch other premium packages with more features in the future.

Founded in 2021, Wasta managed to tackle a large market with an innovative way to support the rise of entrepreneurship in the region.

With 1,500 vetted members, the company has users ranging from students to senior executives from international companies like LinkedIn, SWVL, Careem, MEVP and Venture Souq, as well as thousands of other members currently on their waitlist.

“We help users meet professionals in the same industry, plant seeds for future clients and referrals, and simply make new connections,” Visavadia added as he shared multiple success stories through their platform.

Enabling businesses

Wasta managed to support a recruiter to make over $90,000 by utilizing connections through the platform; in addition, a founder was able to raise an initial seed investment for his company by meeting an angel investor on the app.

Other users have also used the platform with business owners and entrepreneurs, initiating conversations to support their expansion plans.

According to Visavadia, 75 percent of users have made meaningful connections with Wasta, as 40 percent state that they network online more than in person.

“Networking alone is responsible for filling as many as 85 percent of all jobs. Furthermore, 80 percent of professionals believe they can elevate their career success through professional networking,” he added.

Seeing huge momentum since its inception, Wasta has been operating without raising any funding as the founders managed to bootstrap their way into building a user-focused product.

Wasta was built on a no-code solution that supports the company’s movement to respond quickly to user feedback. Visavadia also stated that the company plans to build a diverse remote team.

He added that the company’s mantra for success is to listen to the customer and solve everyday problems affecting people’s lifestyles.

“Our goal is to make meeting people more fun, relevant, and meaningful. It’s not about aggregating connections but building a strong personal and professional network,” Visavadia added.

Wasta is aiming to fortify its presence in Saudi Arabia, gaining as much as 50 percent of its user base from the Kingdom. “Our plans are to go to high-growth markets like Saudi Arabia and address the issues of the growing need for entrepreneurial talent and startup companies,” Visavadia added.

The company currently has a user presence in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon, with expansion plans to reach other markets in the Middle East and North African region.

“Wasta aspires to be the leading networking site in the Middle East, India and Africa for curating meaningful conversation, building professional connections, and forming new communities,” Visavadia stated.

Visavadia was a former senior manager at Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and has worked across the UK, UAE, and USA.

Lalita Chopra is the co-founder of Wasta and a former software engineer at Cognizant, an American multinational information technology services and consulting company.

Topics: wasta SAUDI ARABIA AND UAE Start-up of the Week

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Materials sector dominates TASI trading in first quarter of 2024

Updated 42 sec ago
Dayan Abou Tine
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Materials sector dominates TASI trading in first quarter of 2024

  • Saudi Aramco topped the list with a market capitalization of SR7.47 trillion: report
Updated 42 sec ago
Dayan Abou Tine

RIYADH:  The materials sector led trading on Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index, accounting for approximately SR87 billion ($23.2 billion) or 15.11 percent of the market, according to TASI’s 2024 first-quarter report.

SABIC, the largest component of this sector, boasted a market capitalization of SR234.9 billion, with trading value reaching nearly SR7 billion.
The banking sector trailed with transactions valued at SR71.22 billion, comprising 12.37 percent of the market. Al-Rajhi Bank took the lead in market capitalization within the sector and secured the second spot in trade value totaling SR23.62 billion.
In a February report by Bloomberg, Al-Rajhi Bank, seen as an indicator of Saudi Arabia’s growth strategies, exceeded the performance of JPMorgan Chase & Co., exhibiting nearly a 270 percent surge in shares since the initiation of Vision 2030. It has outpaced both local and global competitors, including state-supported banks, emerging as the largest bank in the Middle East and Africa, boasting a market cap of around $95 billion.
According to Morgan Stanley analysts led by Nida Iqbal, as reported by Bloomberg, “We see it as a long-term winner in the Saudi bank sector … While Al-Rajhi is best placed for a rate-cutting cycle, we believe current valuation levels reflect this.”
Gulf central banks, including Saudi Arabia’s, frequently align their policies with those of the Federal Reserve to maintain their currency pegs to the dollar. According to Bloomberg Intelligence senior analyst Edmond Christou, a reduction in Fed rates could potentially bolster Al-Rajhi Bank’s profitability and expansion, as it will encourage gathering cheap deposits while enabling it to issue debt at more attractive levels.
In this period, the energy sector secured the third position in terms of value traded, reaching SR55.4 billion. Saudi Aramco topped the list with a market capitalization of SR7.47 trillion and registered the highest value among companies traded on the index, totaling SR28.82 billion.
In March of this year, Aramco announced a net income of $121.3 billion for its full-year 2023 financial results, marking the second-highest in its history. Aramco credited these results to its operational flexibility, reliability, and cost-effective production base, underscoring its dedication to delivering value to shareholders.
Tadawul’s quarterly report also indicated that the transportation sector recorded the fourth-highest value traded at SR39.25 billion, equivalent to 6.82 percent of the market. Among the top performers in this sector was cargo firm SAL Saudi Logistics Services, ranking third in value traded on the TASI during this period, following Aramco and Al-Rajhi Bank, with a total value of SR22.74 billion.
SAL debuted on the main market of the Saudi Exchange in November last year. With aspirations to manage 4.5 million tonnes of air cargo by 2030, Saudi Arabia is empowering its logistics sector from a supportive role to a pivotal driver of economic growth.
SAL, in which the Saudi government holds a 49 percent stake through the Saudi Arabian Airlines Corp., experienced a 30 percent surge in its share price during its initial public offering, raising $678 million and becoming Saudi Arabia’s second-largest IPO of the year.
In a January report by Forbes, SAL’s CEO and Managing Director Faisal Al-Beddah emphasized the company’s potential to shape the future of logistics in Saudi Arabia and beyond. He stated: “Logistics is the backbone of any economy. Now we are ready. We have the rotation, we have the infrastructure, we have the regulations, and most importantly, we have the mindset and the technology for Saudi Arabia to be the leading connecting logistics hub in the region.”
The top gainer during this period in terms of price appreciation was MBC Group, with a quarter-to-date percentage change of 127.6 percent, according to Tadawul.
Saudi Arabia’s MBC Group, a media conglomerate, debuted as the first new listing on TASI in 2024. Its trading began on Jan. 8. The company raised SR831 million through its initial public offering.
Saudi Steel Pipes Co. in the materials sector was the second highest gainer, with price appreciating by 88.15 percent.
Etihad Atheeb Telecommunication Co. had a QTD price percentage change of 81.91
percent making it the third-highest gainer on the exchange during this period.
TASI concluded the first quarter of 2024 with a 3.6 percent increase, climbing by 435 points to reach 12,402 points.

Topics: Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) TASI Saudi Arabia

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Saudi banks’ funding profile changing on rising mortgage demand: S&P Global

Updated 5 min 2 sec ago
Arab News
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Saudi banks’ funding profile changing on rising mortgage demand: S&P Global

Updated 5 min 2 sec ago
Arab News

RIYADH: Saudi banks are expected to pursue alternative funding strategies to deal with the rapid expansion in lending, fueled by the demand for new mortgages, according to S&P Global.
In its latest report, the credit-rating agency stated that the funding profiles of financial institutions in the Kingdom are set to undergo changes, primarily driven by a state-backed initiative to boost home ownership.
According to the analysis, mortgage financing represented 23.5 percent of Saudi banks’ total credit allocation at the end of 2023, compared to 12.8 percent in 2019.
“The ongoing financing needs of the Vision 2030 economic initiative and relatively sluggish deposits growth, is likely to incentivize banks to seek alternative sources of funding, including external funding,” said S&P Global.  
The report also predicted that this pursuit of external funding could potentially impact the credit quality of Saudi Arabia’s banking sector.
According to the US-based rating agency, lending growth among Saudi banks has outpaced deposits, with the loan-to-deposit ratio exceeding 100 percent in 2022, up from 86 percent at the end of 2019.
S&P Global expects this trend to persist, particularly with corporate lending playing a more significant role in growth over the next few years. “We consider Saudi banks are likely to turn to alternative funding strategies to fund that expansion,” the report said.  

HIGHLIGHTS

100%

According to the US-based rating agency, lending growth among Saudi banks has outpaced deposits, with the loan-to-deposit ratio exceeding 100 percent in 2022, up from 86 percent at the end of 2019.

It added: “We consider, however, that the risk created by the maturity mismatch is mitigated by the relative stability of Saudi deposits.”   The agency also predicted that Saudi banks’ foreign liabilities will continue to increase, rising from about $19.2 billion at the end of 2023 to meet the funding requirements of strong lending growth, particularly amidst lower deposit expansion.
The report highlighted that Saudi banks have already tapped international capital markets, and the credit rating agency expects this trend to continue for the next three to five years.
According to S&P Global, the Saudi banking system could transition from a net external asset position of SR42.9 billion, or 1.6 percent of lending, at the end of 2023 to a net external debt position within a few years.
In April, S&P Global, in another report, stated that banks in the Kingdom are anticipated to experience robust credit growth ranging between 8 to 9 percent in 2024.
The agency noted that this credit expansion will be propelled by corporate lending, fueled by increased economic activities driven by the Vision 2030 program.
Moreover, the report added that the Saudi government and its related entities are expected to inject deposits into the banking system, thereby supporting the credit growth of financial institutions in the Kingdom.

 

Topics: Saudi banks Saudi Arabia

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NEOM, Saudi Red Sea Authority sign MoU to develop marine tourism regulations

Updated 03 May 2024
Arab News
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NEOM, Saudi Red Sea Authority sign MoU to develop marine tourism regulations

  • The MoU’s goal is to enhance research, deliver innovation, and improve the visitor experience for tourists
  • The agreement reflects SRSA’s commitment to attracting investment in coastal tourism activities
Updated 03 May 2024
Arab News

NEOM: The Saudi Red Sea Authority and NEOM signed a memorandum of understanding on Friday to cooperate on developing legislation, regulations, and technology in marine tourism, reported the Saudi Press Agency.
The MoU’s goal is to enhance research, deliver innovation, and improve the visitor experience for tourists in Saudi Arabia’s existing, emerging, and future Red Sea coastal destinations.
SRSA Acting CEO Mohammed Al-Nasser and NEOM’s CEO Nadhmi Al-Nasr signed the partnership, which they hope will promote an exchange of expertise and enable the implementation of joint initiatives.
The agreement also reflects SRSA’s commitment to attracting investment in coastal tourism activities.
The partnership will further assist small and medium enterprises in the sector through administrative, technical, and advisory support.
Via this agreement, SRSA aims to integrate with relevant public, private, and third-sector entities to achieve one of the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, which is to develop coastal tourism as a valuable sector of the Kingdom’s economy.

Topics: Saudi Red Sea Authority NEOM

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World food prices up in April for second month: UN agency

Updated 03 May 2024
Reuters
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World food prices up in April for second month: UN agency

Updated 03 May 2024
Reuters

PARIS: The UN food agency’s world price index rose for a second consecutive month in April as higher meat prices and small increases in vegetable oils and cereals outweighed declines in sugar and dairy products.

The Food and Agriculture Organization’s price index, which tracks the most globally traded food commodities, averaged 119.1 points in April, up from a revised 118.8 points for March, the agency said on Friday.

The FAO’s April reading was nonetheless 7.4 percent below the level a year earlier.

The indicator hit a three-year low in February as food prices continued to move back from a record peak in March 2022 at the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

In April, meat showed the strongest gain in prices, rising 1.6 percent from the prior month.

The FAO’s cereal index inched up to end a three-month decline, supported by stronger export prices for maize. Vegetable oil prices also ticked higher, extending previous gains to reach a 13-month high due to strength in sunflower and rapeseed oil.

The sugar index dropped sharply, shedding 4.4 percent from March to stand 14.7 percent below its year-earlier level amid improving global supply prospects.

Dairy prices edged down, ending a run of six consecutive monthly gains.

In separate cereal supply and demand data, the FAO nudged up its estimate of world cereal production in 2023/24 to 2.846 billion metric tonnes from 2.841 billion projected last month, up 1.2 percent from the previous year, notably due to updated figures for Myanmar and Pakistan.

For upcoming crops, the agency lowered its forecast for 2024 global wheat output to 791 million tonnes from 796 million last month, reflecting a larger drop in wheat planting in the EU than previously expected.

The revised 2024 wheat output outlook was nonetheless about 0.5 percent above the previous year’s level.

Topics: FAO UN Food global prices

Material sector dominates TASI trading in first quarter of 2024

Updated 03 May 2024
Dayan Abou Tine
Follow

Material sector dominates TASI trading in first quarter of 2024

Updated 03 May 2024
Dayan Abou Tine

RIYADH: The materials sector led trading on Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index, accounting for approximately SR87 billion ($23.2 billion) or 15.11 percent of the market, according to TASI’s 2024 first-quarter report.

SABIC, the largest component of this sector, boasted a market capitalization of SR234.9 billion, with trading value reaching nearly SR7 billion.

The banking sector trailed with transactions valued at SR71.22 billion, comprising 12.37 percent of the market. Al-Rajhi Bank took the lead in market capitalization within the sector and secured the second spot in trade value totaling SR23.62 billion.

In a February report by Bloomberg, Al-Rajhi Bank, seen as an indicator of Saudi Arabia’s growth strategies, exceeded the performance of JPMorgan Chase & Co., exhibiting nearly a 270 percent surge in shares since the initiation of Vision 2030. It has outpaced both local and global competitors, including state-supported banks, emerging as the largest bank in the Middle East and Africa, boasting a market cap of around $95 billion.

According to Morgan Stanley analysts led by Nida Iqbal, as reported by Bloomberg, “We see it as a long-term winner in the Saudi bank sector… While Al-Rajhi is best placed for a rate-cutting cycle, we believe current valuation levels reflect this.” 

Gulf central banks, including Saudi Arabia’s, frequently align their policies with those of the Federal Reserve to maintain their currency pegs to the dollar. According to Bloomberg Intelligence senior analyst Edmond Christou, a reduction in Fed rates could potentially bolster Al-Rajhi Bank’s profitability and expansion, as it will encourage gathering cheap deposits while enabling it to issue debt at more attractive levels.

In this period, the energy sector secured the third position in terms of value traded, reaching SR55.4 billion. Saudi Aramco topped the list with a market capitalization of SR7.47 trillion and registered the highest value among companies traded on the index, totaling SR28.82 billion.

In March of this year, Aramco announced a net income of $121.3 billion for its full-year 2023 financial results, marking the second-highest in its history. Aramco credited these results to its operational flexibility, reliability, and cost-effective production base, underscoring its dedication to delivering value to shareholders.

Tadawul’s quarterly report also indicated that the transportation sector recorded the fourth-highest value traded at SR39.25 billion, equivalent to 6.82 percent of the market. Among the top performers in this sector was cargo firm SAL Saudi Logistics Services, ranking third in value traded on the TASI during this period, following Aramco and Al-Rajhi Bank, with a total value of SR22.74 billion.

SAL debuted on the main market of the Saudi Exchange in November last year. With aspirations to manage 4.5 million tonnes of air cargo by 2030, Saudi Arabia is empowering its logistics sector from a supportive role to a pivotal driver of economic growth.

SAL, in which the Saudi government holds a 49 percent stake through the Saudi Arabian Airlines Corp., experienced a 30 percent surge in its share price during its initial public offering, raising $678 million and becoming Saudi Arabia’s second-largest IPO of the year.

In a January report by Forbes, SAL’s CEO and Managing Director Faisal Al-Beddah emphasized the company’s potential to shape the future of logistics in Saudi Arabia and beyond. He stated: “Logistics is the backbone of any economy. Now we are ready. We have the rotation, we have the infrastructure, we have the regulations, and most importantly, we have the mindset and the technology for Saudi Arabia to be the leading connecting logistics hub in the region.”

The top gainer during this period in terms of price appreciation was MBC Group, with a quarter-to-date percentage change of 127.6 percent, according to Tadawul.

Saudi Arabia’s MBC Group, a media conglomerate, debuted as the first new listing on TASI in 2024. Its trading began on Jan. 8. The company raised SR831 million through its initial public offering.

Saudi Steel Pipes Co. in the materials sector was the second highest gainer, with price appreciating by 88.15 percent.

Etihad Atheeb Telecommunication Co. had a QTD price percentage change of 81.91 percent making it the third-highest gainer on the exchange during this period.

TASI concluded the first quarter of 2024 with a 3.6 percent increase, climbing by 435 points to reach 12,402 points.

Topics: TASI trading performance Quarterly report

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