Saudi Arabia inks 6 MoUs to enhance education, investment, and sustainability

An MoU was signed between Riyad Capital and E Fund, a Chinese asset management firm, to foster knowledge sharing on local investment expertise. AN.
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Updated 20 February 2024
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Saudi Arabia inks 6 MoUs to enhance education, investment, and sustainability

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is set to enhance its education, investment, securities trading, and sustainability landscape with the signing of six agreements, aligning with Vision 2030 goals. 

In the first deal, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development and Saudi Exchange signed a new cooperation agreement on the sidelines of the third Saudi Capital Market Forum to launch a Social Responsibility Index.  

The pact will serve as a vital tool to assess and promote corporate social responsibility practices within listed companies on the Saudi Exchange.  

The launch aligns with national sustainability standards being developed by the Ministry of Economy and Planning, the Capital Market Authority, and the Saudi Tadawul Group.  

Additionally, the Index will provide valuable insights into companies’ dedication to social responsibility, featuring a rating system to assist investors and stakeholders supporting sustainable businesses.   

During the event, five additional agreements were signed, addressing key sector drivers such as education, investment, securities trading, sustainability, and tree planting.  

Furthermore, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Saudi Tadawul Group and Atrum, supporting artistic initiatives, educational programs, and cultural exchanges within the Kingdom.   

This will happen through a strategic alliance leveraging both parties’ strengths and reach. The MoU underlines five key highlights: artistic collaboration, educational outreach, art investment, public art projects, and cultural exchange.  

The MoU highlights bringing art into public spaces, aiming to beautify Saudi cities with engaging installations. Atrum will take the creative lead, while Saudi Tadawul Group will provide logistical and promotional support.  

It will also prioritize educational outreach, nurturing local talent through art education programs, training, and creative workshops.   

Overall, this partnership reflects a shared commitment to cultivating a dynamic and diverse artistic landscape in Saudi Arabia.  

An MoU was signed between Riyad Capital and E Fund, a Chinese asset management firm, to foster knowledge sharing on local investment expertise and stimulate collaboration on developing future investment products.  

The agreement will serve as the foundation for any anticipated binding agreements related to the sharing of local investment expertise.   

Meanwhile, the Saudi Capital Market, Muqassa and Swiss cash management company Instimatch Global signed an agreement to launch a Repo Trading Platform for the Kingdom’s market.  

Under the terms of the MoU, Muqassa will play a crucial role as the central clearing entity for all Repo transactions on the new platform, ensuring a secure and efficient process for market participants.  

With Muqassa’s support, Instimatch Global AG will be responsible for continuously enhancing the trading platform to adapt to the ever-changing needs of its consumers.   

The MoU’s broad scope paves the way for future cooperation between the two parties in launching new goods and services on the Saudi capital market.  

In the realm of sustainability, Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Co., wholly owned by the Public Investment Fund, has inked an MoU with the Saudi Exchange. The collaboration aims to delve into opportunities for sustainability, encompassing joint initiatives such as educational programs, awareness campaigns, and investor outreach activities. 

The agreement outlines a cooperative strategy to coordinate strategic activities, share knowledge through educational initiatives, and enhance transparency in sustainability efforts. 

To underscore the significance of sustainable development and its integration into corporate operations, both parties will engage in regular communications and collaborative marketing initiatives.  

The signing session concluded with an MoU between the Saudi Tadawul Group and Shatlat to support forestation in the Kingdom.  

This joint endeavor aims to address critical environmental issues and promote sustainable practices in Saudi Arabia.  

Tadawul Group will plant 300 trees for each occurrence of the Saudi Capital Market Forum and 50 trees for every company listing on the main market.   

The tree planting initiative extends to 10 trees for each company listing on the Nomu-Parallel market, among other initiatives in Riyadh to enhance the local ecosystem. Meanwhile, Shatlat will oversee the maintenance, irrigation, and provision of seeds. 

To enhance environmental sustainability, data and information will be shared between the Saudi Tadawul Group and Shatlat. The parties will collaborate on programs to enhance environmental preservation efforts across the Kingdom.


Oman inflation at 1.6%, latest figures show

Updated 26 January 2026
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Oman inflation at 1.6%, latest figures show

RIYADH: Oman’s consumer price index rose by 1.6 percent in December compared with the same month a year earlier, reflecting moderate inflationary pressures at year’s end.

Average inflation for the January–December 2025 period increased by 1 percent, according to official data.

Figures released by the National Center for Statistics and Information showed that miscellaneous personal goods and services recorded the sharpest price increase, rising by 10 percent year on year. 

This was followed by transport at 2.8 percent, restaurants and hotels at 2.6 percent, and furniture, household equipment and routine maintenance at 2.4 percent, as well as education at 2.2 percent. 

Food and non-alcoholic beverages prices increased by 1.1 percent, while clothing and footwear rose by 0.2 percent and health by 0.1 percent. In contrast, prices in the culture and recreation group declined by 0.1 percent. 

Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, as well as tobacco and communications, remained unchanged over the period. 

Within the food and non-alcoholic beverages category, December prices compared with the same month of 2024 showed notable increases in fish and seafood at 6 percent and fruits at 4 percent. 

Sugar, jam, honey and confectionery rose by 3.5 percent, milk, cheese and eggs by 2.1 percent, and non-alcoholic beverages by 0.9 percent.

Meat prices increased by 0.8 percent, bread and cereals, oils and fats by 0.7 percent, and other unclassified food products by 0.4 percent, while vegetable prices fell by 5.8 percent. 

Regionally, Al Dhahirah governorate recorded the highest inflation rate at 2.5 percent by the end of December compared with a year earlier. 

Inflation also rose by 2.1 percent in Al Dakhiliyah, 1.7 percent in Muscat and Al Buraimi, and 1.5 percent in South Al Batinah. 

South Al Sharqiyah and Musandam each posted increases of 1.1 percent, while North Al Sharqiyah and North Al Batinah rose by 0.9 percent. Al Wusta and Dhofar recorded inflation of 0.8 percent. 

The report highlights the relative importance of expenditure groups within the consumer price index basket, underscoring why movements in certain categories have a greater impact on overall inflation.

Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels carry the largest weight at 31.7, followed by food and non-alcoholic beverages at 20.6 and transport at 14.5.

Together, these three groups account for more than two-thirds of the CPI basket, meaning price stability in housing and utilities can significantly moderate headline inflation even when sharper increases are recorded in smaller-weight categories such as miscellaneous goods and services. 

The analysis also notes that around 56,640 individual price quotations were collected from 3,907 sources across the Sultanate during the reference period. 

In addition, rental data were gathered from a dedicated sample of 1,509 rented housing units, providing a detailed and representative measure of housing costs, which remain the most heavily weighted component of the inflation basket.