Cruise Saudi and Al-Madinah Development Authority sign MoU to drive tourism

The MoU signing took place at this year’s Saudi Tourism Forum in Riyadh. Supplied
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Updated 29 January 2024
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Cruise Saudi and Al-Madinah Development Authority sign MoU to drive tourism

RIYADH: The tourism and economic sectors of the Al-Madinah region are expected to develop following the signing of an agreement between Cruise Saudi and the Al-Madinah Region Development Authority.

Cruise Saudi, a company wholly owned by the Public Investment Fund, signed a memorandum of understanding with the region’s authority to foster growth and social impact on the sidelines of the Saudi Tourism Forum in Riyadh. 

The agreement aims to enrich visitors’ experiences, create jobs, improve facilities, and drive economic prosperity. It operates within the Kingdom’s broader objective of welcoming 150 million tourists annually by 2030. 

As part of the deal, both parties will utilize their capabilities and experiences to achieve this joint goal. 

According to a company release, the entities share a vision to advance and aid access to Al-Madinah, develop the region, and expand facilities to accommodate an increased number of tourists.

Executive Director of Destinations Development and Management at Cruise Saudi, Mashhoor Baeshen, said: “Unique in history and culture, Al-Madinah has so much to offer tourists seeking an authentic Saudi experience.

“Cruise Saudi’s signing of the MoU with Al-Madinah Region Development Authority marks our commitment to showcasing the most significant historical sites of Saudi through a carefully curated array of onshore experiences.” 

The PIF subsidiary works alongside ministries and regulatory authorities to build the offshore and onshore cruise ecosystem and has recently completed its third season, welcoming more than 300,000 passengers. 

Operating within the broader context of Saudi’s Vision 2030 to diversify the economy, Cruise Saudi plans to welcome 1.3 million passengers annually by 2035 and support the country’s tourism industry. 

With port facilities in Jeddah, Yanbu and Dammam, Cruise Saudi enables cruise lines from around the globe to include Saudi as a port of call on their itineraries and add new destinations that reveal the Kingdom’s rich cultural heritage, history, and natural wonders, the release said.


Saudi Maaden reports 156% profit surge to $2bn on strong commodity prices, record production

Updated 05 March 2026
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Saudi Maaden reports 156% profit surge to $2bn on strong commodity prices, record production

RIYADH: Saudi mining and metals company Maaden has reported a 156 percent jump in its net profit attributable to shareholders for 2025, driven by higher commodity prices, record production volumes, and a one-off bargain purchase gain.

The state-backed giant posted a net profit of SR7.35 billion ($1.95 billion) for the full year 2025, an increase from SR2.87 billion in the previous year. The firm’s revenue surged by 19 percent to SR38.58 billion, up from SR32.55 billion in 2024.

This comes as Saudi Arabia steps up efforts to expand its mining sector as a pillar of economic diversification, encouraging international participation and private investment to unlock the Kingdom’s estimated $2.5 trillion in untapped mineral resources under Vision 2030.    

In a statement on Tadawul, the company said: “Performance was led by record phosphate production, near record aluminum production, an increase in all three of Maaden’s main output commodity prices.”

The performance was also fueled by a 60 percent increase in gross profit, which reached SR14.79 billion. In its annual results announcement, Maaden attributed the top-line growth to “higher commodity market prices for phosphate, aluminum and gold business units,” as well as increased sales volumes in its phosphate and aluminum segments. This was partially offset by slightly lower sales volume in the gold unit.

Maaden’s CEO, Bob Wilt, hailed 2025 as a transformative year for the company, marked by strategic growth and operational excellence. “This was a great year for Maaden’s strategic growth. We delivered strong financial results and sustained operational excellence across the business,” he said in a statement.

“This was driven by growth in production across all businesses, including record-breaking DAP (di-ammonium phosphatevolumes), disciplined cost control across and a clear commitment to our role as a cornerstone of the Saudi economy,” Wilt added.

Profitability was further bolstered by an increased share of net profit from joint ventures and an associate. This included a one-off bargain purchase gain of SR768 million related to Maaden’s investment in Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. The company also benefited from lower finance costs.

The fourth quarter of 2025 was strong, with Maaden swinging to a net profit of SR1.67 billion, compared to a loss of SR106 million in the same period of the prior year. Quarterly revenue rose 7 percent to SR10.64 billion.

The firm achieved record production of di-ammonium phosphate, reaching 6.72 million tonnes for the year, a 9 percent increase. Aluminum production remained near-record levels, while the company added a net 7.8 million ounces to its reportable gold mineral resources through discovery and resource development.

The phosphate division saw sales jump 17 percent to SR20.77 billion, with the earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization margin expanding to 47 percent. The aluminum business reported a 9 percent increase in sales to SR10.99 billion, with EBITDA more than doubling in the fourth quarter.

Looking ahead, Wilt emphasized that the pace of growth will accelerate as the company advances key initiatives, including the Phosphate 3 Phase 1 and Ar Rjum projects, which remain on budget and schedule. Maaden has also secured a gas supply for its future Phosphate 4 project.

“This pace of growth will only accelerate. Not only as we advance projects and increase the scale of our exploration program, but as we continue to grow production and implement technology that will further modernize, streamline and unlock value,” Wilt added.

Earnings per share for the year rose sharply to SR1.91, up from SR0.78 in 2024. Total shareholders’ equity increased by 18.7 percent to SR61.59 billion.