Mizuho to launch Saudi ETF with sovereign fund PIF

Mizuho Financial Group is partnering with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund to create a Tokyo-listed exchange-traded fund. (AFP)
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Updated 14 November 2024
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Mizuho to launch Saudi ETF with sovereign fund PIF

TOKYO: Japan’s Mizuho Financial Group is partnering with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund to create a Tokyo-listed exchange-traded fund featuring Saudi shares, providing retail investors easier access to a promising emerging market.

A report from leading Japanese business publication Nikkei says Asset Management One, a joint venture between Mizuho and Dai-ichi Life Holdings, plans to create an ETF this fiscal year, linked to the FTSE Saudi Arabia Index.

The fund will mainly track large, creditworthy stocks such as banks and Saudi Aramco, making it accessible for inexperienced retail investors. The minimum investment is expected to be in the thousands to tens of thousands of yen, putting it under $1,000.

The goal is to attract capital for the fund from a wide range of investors, with PIF and Mizuho Bank as the anchors. Mizuho also will aid PIF’s efforts to raise capital overseas as it aims to strengthen ties with the Saudi finance sector. The Japanese bank will use its fundraising expertise to coach personnel from the sovereign wealth fund, as well as provide support for the country’s transition away from oil.

In April, PIF announced a partnership with BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, under which the fund will contribute up to $5 billion to an investment platform that aims to draw money for domestic and overseas investment. Mizuho is the first Japanese private-sector financial institution to partner with PIF.

Nikkei describes Saudi Arabia as “increasingly appealing as an investment destination,” noting how the country’s stock market ranked eighth in the world by market capitalization last year.

This article also appears on Arab News Japan


Saudi Dar Al Arkan, Trump Organization unveil 1st Riyadh project in Wadi Safar 

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Saudi Dar Al Arkan, Trump Organization unveil 1st Riyadh project in Wadi Safar 

RIYADH: Saudi developer Dar Al Arkan and its international unit Dar Global have unveiled the first of two Trump-branded projects planned for Riyadh, launching a 2.6 million-sq.-meter Trump International Golf Club in Wadi Safar.  

The project follows a joint announcement in December 2024 by Dar Al Arkan, Dar Global and The Trump Organization to develop two Trump-branded assets in the Saudi capital. It marks The Trump Organization’s first venture within the Diriyah development, one of the Kingdom’s flagship giga-projects, according to a press statement. 

The development aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals to diversify the economy away from oil and attract foreign direct investment. 

It also comes as Saudi Arabia plans to allow foreigners to own property in designated areas for the first time, starting this month.   

In a statement, Eric Trump, executive vice president of The Trump Organization, said:  

“We are proud to expand our presence with this landmark development in Wadi Safar. Trump International Golf Club, Wadi Safar will redefine luxury and excellence in the region, setting a new standard that reflects the brand’s enduring commitment to quality, prestige and timeless elegance.”  

He added: “We look forward to creating a destination that complements the rich heritage of the region while delivering a global standard of luxury living.”  

The Trump International Golf Club, Wadi Safar, will be developed as a gated community featuring a championship golf course, a luxury hotel and premium residential units overlooking surrounding wadis and fairways. 

“This new project represents a vision to deliver a destination that captures the prestige and the legacy of the Trump brand. With Dar Global leading the development, we are confident this will become a flagship destination not just for Saudi Arabia, but for the world,” said Yousef Al Shelash, chairman of Dar Al Arkan. 

The project will combine top-tier hospitality, design, and lifestyle offerings in a setting that reflects Saudi Arabia’s cultural and natural heritage. 

Ziad El Chaar, CEO of Dar Global, said the company is proud to collaborate with Diriyah Co. and Dar Al Arkan on the development of the new site. 

“We have delivered landmark projects across Europe and the Gulf Cooperation Council in partnership with globally recognized luxury brands. Bringing this experience to the Diriyah project, we will deliver a destination that combines heritage, elegance, and world-class standards, making Trump International Golf Club, Wadi Safar a truly iconic address,” El Chaar said.

Saudi Tourism Minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb said in a post on X that the project represents a milestone partnership and reflects momentum in developing destinations to international standards. 

“From Wadi Safar in Diriyah, we laid the cornerstone for the Trump International Wadi Safar project within the Rayana Wadi Safar masterplan, which includes the launch of the Trump International Golf Club, alongside a Trump-branded hotel and a collection of luxury mansions,” he said. 

Al-Khateeb added: “A milestone reflecting strong delivery momentum in developing destinations to global standards, underscoring Saudi Arabia’s growing appeal as a leading destination for tourism and investment through high-calibre international partnerships.” 

Located on the outskirts of Riyadh, Wadi Safar in Diriyah is among Saudi Arabia’s most scenic and strategically important areas. It is envisioned as an upscale enclave that aligns with the wider Diriyah master plan, a central pillar of Vision 2030 aimed at economic diversification and enhancing the Kingdom’s global standing.