Saudi NHC teams up with Chinese firm to construct 20k residential units

In a recent agreement signed in Beijing, the two companies joined forces to address housing needs more effectively by constructing apartments in suburban and residential areas within the Kingdom. Supplied
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Updated 12 May 2024
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Saudi NHC teams up with Chinese firm to construct 20k residential units

RIYADH: Residential supply is set to improve as the Saudi National Housing Co. and China Machinery Engineering Corp. signed a deal to build 20,000 units in the Kingdom. 

In a recent agreement signed in Beijing, the two companies joined forces to address housing needs more effectively by constructing apartments in suburban and residential areas within the Kingdom, directly benefiting individuals and families, the Saudi Press Agency reported. 

The deal was signed during the official visit of the Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing and the Chairman of the Housing Program Committee, Majid Al-Hogail, to China as part of the broader efforts to contribute to achieving the targets of the Housing Program — one of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 programs.  

This initiative aims to partner with leading global companies and attract international investments in the real estate sector. 

At the signing ceremony, CEO Mohammed Al-Buty represented NHC. 

The company emphasized that this agreement complements its qualitative projects with major global construction companies, SPA reported.  

It added that this initiative would be implemented in various areas within the suburbs and urban communities under NHC, distinguished by integrated facilities and services, including health, education, commercial, and public services. 

NHC, one of the largest real estate firms in the Middle East, aims to develop housing communities and improve living spaces in the Kingdom by creating nine integrated residential suburbs and delivering 300,000 units by the end of 2025.  

The company plans to implement integrated urban projects according to the highest standards at affordable prices, as well as enhance the sustainability of residential projects in various regions in Saudi Arabia.  

This comes as the Kingdom aims to elevate services for citizens and unify all efforts across sectors to achieve the targets of the Housing Program in line with the nation’s Vision 2030. This is part of its efforts to increase the homeownership rate for Saudi families to 70 percent. 

Last week, NHC signed a deal with China’s CITIC Construction Group to establish an industrial city and logistic zones for building materials. The undertaking will comprise 12 factories aimed at securing supply chains for the Saudi firm’s housing projects. 

In a statement, the NHC said the agreement with the Chinese construction group is part of its efforts to secure supply chains for its housing initiatives and ensure their timely completion and high quality. 

The Saudi company said the deal entails the construction of 12 factories specializing in building materials, harnessing Chinese expertise, and an uplift in business standards by local factories.  

It added that the agreement also aims to draw top-tier service providers across various company sectors, its subsidiaries, and other projects. 


QIA, Franklin Templeton launch $200m Qatar equity fund 

Updated 17 sec ago
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QIA, Franklin Templeton launch $200m Qatar equity fund 

RIYADH: Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund has teamed up with Franklin Templeton to launch a $200 million equity fund focused on the local stock market, part of efforts to deepen liquidity and attract institutional investors to Qatar’s capital markets. 

The Qatar Investment Authority and the US asset manager said the Franklin Templeton Qatar Equity Fund will operate as a day-traded mutual fund investing in companies listed on the Qatar Stock Exchange, according to the Qatar News Agency. 

The launch comes after a PwC report earlier in February highlighted growing optimism among CEOs in Qatar, with companies increasing investment, pursuing acquisitions and expanding operations as the country pushes toward innovation-led growth. 

Mohammed Saif Al-Sowaidi, CEO of QIA, said: “With the launch of Franklin Templeton Qatar Equity Fund, QIA is further expanding our Active Asset Management Initiative to support Qatar’s financial markets.”  

He added: “As one of the largest global asset managers, Franklin Templeton brings a wealth of experience and resources to QSE and the broader Qatari economy and we look forward to working closely together on this initiative.” 

The fund aims to give investors exposure to Qatar Stock Exchange-listed equities, allowing local and international institutions to access an actively managed portfolio in the domestic market, QNA reported. 

QIA is the fund’s lead investor, contributing cash and shares, underscoring its commitment to the Qatari stock market. The reallocation of QSE-listed shares is intended to support the domestic economy and enhance market liquidity, it added. 

Franklin Templeton manages about $1.68 trillion in assets as of Dec. 31, 2025, making it one of the world’s largest investment firms. 

“Through our partnership with QIA, we aim to contribute meaningfully to the continued development of the Qatari financial ecosystem. We see this collaboration as the beginning of a long-term strategic partnership and part of a broader, multi-asset collaboration between Franklin Templeton and QIA,” said Jenny Johnson, CEO of Franklin Templeton. 

The Franklin Templeton Qatar Equity Fund represents a key step in QIA’s active asset management strategy and highlights its partnership with Franklin Templeton in supporting Qatar’s capital markets through global investment expertise.