Saudi Real Estate Fund boosts homeownership with $257m for Sakani program

The Sakani program facilitates homeownership by providing affordable housing options and financing assistance, particularly targeting individuals facing challenges in accessing the housing market. Shutterstock
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Updated 24 March 2024
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Saudi Real Estate Fund boosts homeownership with $257m for Sakani program

RIYADH: Homeownership in Saudi Arabia is set to increase as the Real Estate Development Fund deposited SR963 million ($256.7 million) into the accounts of Sakani beneficiaries for March. 

The funds were disbursed to beneficiaries through the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing, as per the Saudi Press Agency.

The Sakani program facilitates homeownership by providing affordable housing options and financing assistance, particularly targeting individuals facing challenges in accessing the housing market. 

Mansour bin Madi, the CEO of the fund, clarified that the total support for the current month of March was allocated to bolster profits of various housing support contracts.  

He highlighted that the total amount deposited into the Sakani beneficiaries’ accounts since the announcement of the transformation scheme in June 2017 until March reached approximately SR57.5 billion. 

Bin Madi explained that the continuity of housing support confirms the ongoing efforts to assist beneficiaries in owning suitable housing in partnership with financial institutions.  

This comes in line with achieving the targets of the housing program — one of the components of Vision 2030 — to raise the citizens’ housing ownership rate to 70 percent and provide sustainable housing and financial solutions through building supportive systems and legislation. 

REDF offers housing aid services through over 43 digital platforms via the fund’s electronic portal.  

Additionally, it provides the “Design Your Support” service within the Real Estate Advisor platform, allowing beneficiaries to tailor their housing support and access optimal financial and housing recommendations.  

Moreover, the unified call center and social media channels address beneficiaries’ inquiries and questions. 

The Sakani scheme has transformed Saudi Arabia’s housing market by offering financing options such as rent-to-own and mortgages, enabling citizens to achieve their homeownership aspirations. 

It assists first-time buyers by providing guidance throughout the process and facilitating financing. 

Moreover, the initiative addresses citizen housing needs and promotes nationwide community development, showcasing the impact of the housing program. 

Through innovative services and financing options, Sakani not only transforms the housing market but also contributes to broader community development initiatives, demonstrating its pivotal role in shaping the future of Saudi Arabia's residential landscape. 


Saudi Aramco, ExxonMobil, Samref ink deal to study Yanbu refinery upgrade

Updated 08 December 2025
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Saudi Aramco, ExxonMobil, Samref ink deal to study Yanbu refinery upgrade

RIYADH: Energy giants Saudi Aramco, ExxonMobil, and Samref have signed a venture framework agreement to upgrade the Yanbu refinery and expand it into an integrated petrochemical complex.

As a part of the deal, the companies will explore capital investments to upgrade and diversify production, including high-quality distillates that result in lower emissions and high-performance chemicals, according to a joint press statement.

The agreement will also see the parties explore opportunities to improve the refinery’s energy efficiency and reduce environmental impacts from operations through an integrated emissions-reduction strategy.

Samref is an equally owned joint venture between Aramco and Mobil Yanbu Refining Co. Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corp.

The refinery currently has the capacity to process more than 400,000 barrels of crude oil per day, producing a diverse range of energy products, including propane, automotive diesel oil, marine heavy fuel oil, and sulfur.

“This next phase of Samref marks a step in our long-term strategic collaboration with ExxonMobil. Designed to increase the conversion of crude oil and petroleum liquids into high-value chemicals, this project reinforces our commitment to advancing Downstream value creation and our liquids-to-chemicals strategy,” said Aramco Downstream President, Mohammed Y. Al Qahtani.

He added that the deal will help position Samref as a key driver of the Kingdom’s petrochemical sector’s growth.

The press statement further said that companies will commence a preliminary front-end engineering and design phase for the proposed project, which would aim to maximize operational advantages, enhance Samref’s competitiveness, and help to meet growing demand for high-quality petrochemical products in Saudi Arabia.

The firms added that these plans are subject to market conditions, regulatory approvals, and final investment decisions by Aramco and ExxonMobil.

“We value our partnership with Aramco and our long history in Saudi Arabia. We look forward to evaluating this project, which aligns with our strategy to focus on investments that allow us to grow high-value products that meet society’s evolving energy needs and contribute to a lower-emission future,” said Jack Williams, senior vice president of Exxon Mobil Corp.