Saudi Arabia, Turkiye sign MoUs to boost economic ties 

The deals are aimed at strengthening Saudi-Turkish cooperation, encouraging direct investments and exploring opportunities in building and construction (Shutterstock)
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Updated 20 July 2023
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Saudi Arabia, Turkiye sign MoUs to boost economic ties 

RIYADH: Just days after the Saudi-Turkish Investment Form concluded in Jeddah, the Saudi Ministry of Investment has announced it has signed memorandums of understanding with Turkiye to further stimulate economic cooperation between the two countries.  

The agreements were in the education and real estate sectors. 

The signing parties, in addition to the Investment Ministry, included representatives from Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Ozkar Construction, and Limak, the Turkish company behind the Kingdom’s largest water transmission system.

The deals are aimed at strengthening Saudi-Turkish cooperation, encouraging direct investments and exploring opportunities in building and construction.  

Reflecting the growing economic ties between the two countries, real estate agreements worth more than SR2.3 billion ($610 million) were signed on the sidelines of the Saudi-Turkish Business Forum, which was held in Ankara earlier this month, in the presence of Saudi Minister of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing Majid bin Abdullah Al-Hogail, along with Turkish Minister of Trade Omer Polat.  

Some 16 cooperation agreements were reached at the event, and included deals with companies specializing in construction, engineering consultancy and investment.   

Furthermore, Jeddah hosted the Saudi-Turkish Investment Forum earlier this week in a further boost to economic relations between the two countries.  

The meeting was attended by more than 400 business leaders and officials and discussions were held around further investment opportunities. A number of agreements were signed covering manufacturing, tourism and mining as well as food and agriculture, defense and military industries.   

The forum was attended by Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih and Turkish Minister of Trade Omar Polat, with the participation of representatives from companies of both sides.  

In December 2022, the Turkiye-Saudi Forum, organized in partnership with the Turkish Ministry of Treasury and Finance, Turkiye’s Investment Office of the Presidency, and the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkiye, was held in Istanbul to highlight promising investment opportunities.  

Addressing that forum, Al-Falih had said: “The manufacturing, tourism, construction and biotechnology, and healthcare sectors are some of the key sectors that have the potential to drive areas for mutually beneficial investment opportunities.”  

He went on to stress the importance of private-sector partnerships and business-to-business relations to strengthen economic ties between the two nations. 


Saudi Arabia among top states in tech security with 99% score, says official  

Updated 21 December 2025
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Saudi Arabia among top states in tech security with 99% score, says official  

RIYADH: Programs and security initiatives launched by the Ministry of Interior have contributed significantly to improving quality of life in Saudi Arabia by generating high-quality data that supports planning and enables faster responses, placing the Kingdom in the global spotlight, Khalid Al-Bakr, CEO of the Quality of Life Program, told Al-Eqtisadiah. 

He noted that the Unified Security Operations Centers 911 in Riyadh, the Eastern Province, Madinah, and Makkah are among the Quality of Life Program’s initiatives implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Interior, producing data that helps develop plans and ensure swift responses to incidents. 

Al-Bakr added that technology has been integrated into security capabilities, including the use of body cameras for security personnel, which has helped maintain high levels of public safety. 

He highlighted that reporting violations or crimes via 911 has an average response time of just two seconds, describing it as a technological leap that serves residents and visitors alike and enhances trust in security services. 

The CEO of Saudi Arabia’s Quality of Life Program said the Kingdom ranks among the top countries globally in security technology, with a 99 percent rating, emphasizing that Saudi Arabia is a leader in leveraging advanced security technologies to serve residents and visitors, making it an attractive place to live and visit. 

Al-Bakr explained that the major transformation in the use of technology — particularly in services provided by the Ministry of Interior — has had a significant impact on quality of life, noting that accessing services such as passport or national ID renewal has become faster and more convenient, often available at the click of a button.