Saudi mining minister reveals Kingdom’s ‘most valuable asset’ at Future Minerals Forum

Bandar Alkhorayef speaking at the Future Minerals Forum. Screenshot
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Updated 16 January 2025
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Saudi mining minister reveals Kingdom’s ‘most valuable asset’ at Future Minerals Forum

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s wealth extends beyond its oil and gas reserves, with its human capital as its most valuable asset, according to the country’s minister of industry and mineral resources. 

Speaking at the Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh, Bandar Alkhorayef emphasized the Kingdom’s commitment to developing its citizens as part of Vision 2030, describing human capital as “the most important asset that we have in this country.” 

During the forum, he announced the inauguration of the Young Mining Professionals Association, a collaboration between the ministry and Saudi mining company Ma’aden, to further empower young talent in the sector. 

“Our Vision 2030 is very keen to ensure that everything we do, from an economic or sector development, is touching our people,” said Alkhorayef. 

“It is designed in a way that impacts people, people’s development, people’s opportunity for investment, entrepreneurs, and also job opportunities, quality job opportunities,” the minister said. 

He added: “I’m happy that our mining sector is very serious about ensuring that at the core part of what we are doing in our strategy, addressing how much impact we can bring to our people and especially to the youth of Saudi Arabia.” 

In a separate panel, Muhammad Al-Saggaf, president of King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, underscored the critical role of talent in driving the Kingdom’s economic diversification. 

“In very simple terms, the mandate of KFUPM is to help expand the economy of Saudi Arabia. That is the mandate. We want to do our part that is to push forward an expansion of the base of the economy of the Kingdom,” he said. 

“What do you need to create new sectors?” Al-Saggaf asked. “You need two things: you need investment, and you need talent, and many times, strategists and planners focus a lot on investment, getting FDI (foreign direct investment) agreements, and so on. 

“But talent is, as important, if not even more important, than the investment, and without it, you cannot actually achieve sector development in the way that the Kingdom and Vision 2030 wants.” 

He said the connection between investment and talent, describing it as “multiplicative” rather than additive. 

“If it were additive, you could make up for talent by adding investment, but that is not the case. In fact, the relationship between them is multiplicative. It is talent that amplifies and enables and allows the investment to achieve its goals, and without that talent, you will be multiplying by zero and you will be achieving nothing.” 

Al-Saggaf outlined three types of talent emerging from academic institutions. “The first type is the economy-burdening talent,” he said. 

“Those graduates who are unable to have the skills needed for today’s or tomorrow’s economy, and then they become a burden on the economy. They have to be re-skilled, or they take on menial jobs for which they spend years and they don’t need that training, if not, they become disgruntled because they are poor and unemployed and so on,” he added. 

“The second type, which is the largest type, is the economy-maintaining talent. Those are all the engineers and all the physicians, all the professors or the bankers or the lawyers who strive to maintain the progress of the current economy because the current economy has to continue to evolve and survive. And they are the largest portion of any economy this type, and they are essential and needed,” he explained. 

“But the most important type, as far as we are concerned. Our niche is type three. That’s the economy-creating talent. Those are the few who are going to go on to create the future jobs and create the future sectors,” he said. 

Al-Saggaf also said that KFUPM focuses on nurturing this talent. “This is why we tell all our students, and we have a number of our students in the audience today — when they get into KFUPM, you are not here to learn to get a job. If you get into KFUPM, it’s a very tough school to get into, you are implicitly guaranteed a job — that is not the objective. You are not here to learn to get a job. You are here to learn to create a job.” 

The university’s achievements in fostering diversity in engineering education. “KFUPM has the highest enrollment of females in engineering anywhere in the world with 50 percent, as opposed to 10-15 percent in global universities,” he said. 

FMF sees a flurry of agreements by local and international players 

On the announcement front, the FMF witnessed numerous deals forged by local and international participants, highlighting Saudi Arabia’s increasing influence in the global mining and industrial sectors.

Agreements ranged from large-scale industrial projects to innovation initiatives to bolster the Kingdom’s economic diversification under Vision 2030. 

One of the major deals signed was between the National Industrial Co. and China’s DHX Group to establish the first integrated tinplate production factory in Ras Al-Khair, eastern Saudi Arabia. 

The facility will have an annual production capacity of up to 400,000 tons, addressing local demand while enabling exports abroad.  

Another highlight was the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Mekyal Financial Tech, Marine Mining Co., and Atlantis Blu Mining GmbH to create a $1.44 billion fund. 

The fund will support deep-sea mineral exploration projects, reflecting a push toward harnessing untapped marine resources to meet the growing global demand for critical minerals. 

The forum also saw a partnership agreement between Deutsche Messe, ASAS Co., and Riyadh Exhibitions Co. to launch the Industrial Transformation Saudi Arabia event in December.

The gathering will be part of a global network of industrial transformation forums, further positioning the Kingdom as a hub for industrial innovation and showcasing advancements in technology and manufacturing. 

The Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu-International and Singaporean mining comapany Vale Global also signed a key industrial agreement to supply Saudi Arabia with Direct Reduction shaft furnaces. 

The deal aims to enhance the Kingdom’s national industrial capabilities and contribute to the development of cutting-edge infrastructure in its metals and mining sectors. 

The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources also unveiled the “Mining Innovation Studio” initiative during the FMF. 

This program, launched in collaboration with Newlab and in partnership with organizations such as the Saudi Geological Survey, the National Industrial Development and Logistics Services Program, Ma’aden, and Saudi Mining Services Co., seeks to position the nation as a leader in mining innovation. 

It aims to attract top talent and emerging companies worldwide to develop advanced technologies addressing key challenges in the sector. 

The Mining Innovation Studio focuses on securing supply chains for critical minerals, reducing carbon emissions across the mining value chain, and creating solutions that enhance the sector’s sustainability. 

It also seeks to support the transition to sustainable energy by developing new applications for metals and materials aligned with a low-carbon economy. 

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology also announced the launch of the Future Cement Initiative, a program aimed at decarbonizing Saudi Arabia’s cement industry. 

The initiative seeks to enhance the economic and environmental competitiveness of cement manufacturing by focusing on advanced research in production technologies, emission reduction, and strategies for sustainable cement making. 


PIF-backed AviLease delivers three A320neo aircraft to SDH Wings

Updated 18 March 2025
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PIF-backed AviLease delivers three A320neo aircraft to SDH Wings

RIYADH: AviLease, an aircraft leasing firm owned by the Public Investment Fund, has delivered three Airbus A320neo aircraft to SDH Wings.

SDH Wings is a joint venture between the Saudi firm and the Chinese sovereign fund, where the Kingdom holds a 10 percent stake.

According to a press release, the three new aircraft will be leased long-term to a Saudi-based airline. With this latest addition, SDH Wings now owns a total of 25 aircraft.

Launched in 2022 by PIF, AviLease was created to harness the potential of promising sectors within Saudi Arabia, aiming to drive economic diversification and contribute to the growth of the non-oil GDP.

“This delivery represents a significant milestone in our relationship with SDH Wings. We are proud to support their expansion with these state-of-the-art aircraft,” said AviLease CEO Edward O’Byrne.

This delivery also signals a new phase in the collaboration between AviLease and SDH Wings, following a broader memorandum of understanding to acquire 20 additional, predominantly next-generation aircraft.

Under this agreement, AviLease will further assist SDH Wings in expanding its fleet while strengthening its partnership with Sichuan Development International Holdings, the majority shareholder of SDH Wings.

“By leveraging AviLease’s expertise in leasing and financing modern, fuel-efficient aircraft, SDH Wings is well-positioned to capitalize on emerging opportunities in the aviation financing market,” said the press release.

In October 2024, AviLease acquired nine aircraft from global lessor Avolon, building on the successful purchase of 13 aircraft from Avolon in 2023.


Alphabet to buy cybersecurity startup Wiz for $32bn

Updated 18 March 2025
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Alphabet to buy cybersecurity startup Wiz for $32bn

NEW YORK: Google owner Alphabet will buy cybersecurity firm Wiz for $32 billion — in a deal set to boost the tech giant’s in-house cloud computing amid burgeoning artificial intelligence growth.

If closed, the-cash transaction, announced on Tuesday, will become Google’s most expensive acquisition in the company’s 25-year history. The purchase gives Google new momentum in its efforts to compete in the cloud-computing business by offering more security for its services.

“Wiz and Google Cloud are both fueled by the belief that cloud security needs to be easier, more accessible, more intelligent, and democratized, so more organizations can adopt and use cloud and AI securely,” Wiz CEO Assaf Rappaport said in a blog post.

The company says Wiz will join Google Cloud — and that this deal represents a company investment “to accelerate two large and growing trends in the AI era: improved cloud security and the ability to use multiple clouds.”

Google CEO Sundar Pichai said in a statement, Google Cloud and Wiz “will turbocharge improved cloud security and the ability to use multiple clouds.”

Assaf Rappaport, co-founder and CEO, added that the deal will “bolster our mission to improve security and prevent breaches by providing additional resources and deep AI expertise.”

Wiz, based in New York, was founded in 2020, makes security tools designed to shield the information stored in remote data centers from intruders.

Google has had its eyes on Wiz for some time. The purchase price announced Tuesday surpasses a reported $23 billion buyout proposal that Wiz rejected last July.

The proposed buyout will get a close look from antitrust regulators. While many expect the Trump administration to be more friendly to business deals, it has also shown skepticism of big tech.

Also, the new Federal Trade Commission Chair Andrew Ferguson has vowed to maintain a tough review process for mergers and acquisitions.


Closing Bell: Saudi main index closes in red at 11,792

Updated 18 March 2025
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Closing Bell: Saudi main index closes in red at 11,792

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index slipped on Tuesday, as it shed 90.64 points or 0.76 percent to close at 11,792.40. 

The total trading turnover of the benchmark index was SR5.94 billion ($1.58 billion), with 52 stocks advancing and 192 declining. 

The Kingdom’s parallel market, Nomu, also shed 315.76 points to close at 30,718.93. 

The MSCI Tadawul Index declined by 0.73 percent to 1,492.90. 

The best-performing stock on the main market was Aldawaa Medical Services Co. The firm’s share surged by 9.55 percent to SR78. 

The share price of Saudia Dairy and Foodstuff Co. also increased by 3.70 percent to SR313.60. 

Walaa Cooperative Insurance Co. also saw its stock price edging up by 3.62 percent to SR19.48. 

Conversely, the share price of Fawaz Abdulaziz Alhokair Co., also known as Cenomi Retail declined by 7.21 percent to SR11.84. 

On the announcements front, Derayah Financial Co., which debuted on Saudi Arabia’s main market on March 10, said that its net profit for 2024 reached SR443.9 million, representing a rise of 34.64 percent compared to 2023. 

The company attributed the rise in profit to significant growth across the company’s various business segments which include brokerage, asset and wealth management, as well as special commission income.

The share price of Derayah Financial Co. declined by 3.25 percent to SR38.70. 

Canadian Medical Center Co. announced that its net profit for 2024 stood at SR10.26 million, down by 34.63 percent from 2023. 

In a Tadawul statement, the firm said that the decline in net profit was due to higher operating and investment costs. 

Canadian Medical Center Co.’s board of directors also approved the payment of a cash dividend at 5 percent or SR0.05 per share for 2024. 

The company’s share price dropped by 0.58 percent to SR6.86. 

Elm Co. announced that its shareholders approved the firm’s acquisition of the shares held by the Public Investment Fund in Thiqah Business Services Co. for SR3.4 billion. 

The approval follows a share purchase agreement signed by Elm Co. and PIF in January to acquire the sovereign wealth fund’s entire stake in Thiqah, amounting to 45,000 shares. 

Elm Co. Saw its share price decline by 1.42 percent to SR971. 

Saudi Arabia’s Capital Market Authority approved the request of Marketing Home Group Co. to float 4.8 million shares in the Kingdom’s main market for an initial public offering. 

The offer shares amount to 30 percent of Marketing Home Group Co.’s share capital. 

The CMA also approved the application of Qudra Communications & Information Technology Co. to float 5 million shares, or 18.8 percent of the firm’s capital, on Nomu. 

Hawyia Auctions Co. also received approval from CMA to float 2.4 million shares, or 12 percent of the company’s capital, on Nomu. 

CMA added that the prospectus for these potential IPOs will be published well in advance of the offering’s start date. The authority’s approval is valid for six months from its resolution date.


How Saudi banks’ solid risk management counters liquidity pressures 

Updated 18 March 2025
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How Saudi banks’ solid risk management counters liquidity pressures 

  • Banks maintained profitability despite rising funding costs, fueled by intensified deposit competition and increased reliance on external borrowing
  • Alvarez & Marsal highlighted strong credit quality as a key factor supporting profitability in 2024

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s banking sector demonstrated resilience in 2024, supported by strong asset quality, improved cost efficiency, and disciplined credit management, according to Alvarez & Marsal. 

Arab News analysis of the A&M KSA Banking Pulse 2024 report found that banks maintained profitability despite rising funding costs, fueled by intensified deposit competition and increased reliance on external borrowing. 

This assessment relies on key financial ratios outlined in the report, including cost-to-income and loan-to-deposit, as well as net interest margin — indicators of how banks are navigating cost structures, liquidity pressures, and profitability. 

The A&M report came alongside a separate analysis from Fitch Ratings, which suggests that lower interest rates have had a mixed impact on earnings by banks in the Kingdom.

As Saudi Arabia accelerates economic diversification, the banking sector remains a key pillar of Vision 2030. Shutterstock

“Saudi banks’ performance metrics, particularly net interest margins, will see only limited improvement from the interest rate cuts that began in 2024, due to the prolonged tightening of liquidity conditions and strong competition for funding,” the agency said.

While rate cuts support loan growth, which boosts income from higher credit volumes, intense competition for liquidity is squeezing margins. Banks are reducing lending rates to stay competitive while maintaining attractive deposit rates to secure funding. 

Strong asset quality 

Alvarez & Marsal highlighted strong credit quality as a key factor supporting profitability in 2024. 

The non-performing loan ratio improved by 18 basis points to 1.1 percent, reflecting better risk management and healthier loan portfolios. Meanwhile, loan loss coverage remained solid at 161 percent, ensuring a strong buffer against defaults. The cost of risk also improved to 0.3 percent, indicating lower impairments and higher-quality lending. 

These improvements directly boosted bank earnings. Lower impairment charges allowed banks to retain more profits rather than setting aside funds for bad loans. 

With a larger share of performing loans and reduced provisioning costs, banks strengthened their bottom lines despite margin pressures.   

As Saudi Arabia accelerates economic diversification, the banking sector remains a key pillar of Vision 2030, driving financing for mega-projects, corporate expansion, and capital market growth. Banks are at the forefront of private sector investment, reinforcing their role as vital enablers of the Kingdom’s transformation. 

Beyond traditional lending, Saudi banks play a pivotal role in capital markets, contributing significantly to liquidity and investment activity. Banking stocks are among the most actively traded on the Saudi Stock Exchange, often driving market turnover. 

Saudi banks are also expanding their footprint in the debt market, with sukuk issuances and other financial instruments increasingly funding large-scale projects. 

Deposits rebounded by SR40 billion in January, fully offsetting the fourth-quarter drop. Shutterstock

Efficiency gains drive profitability 

Saudi banks demonstrated strong cost management in 2024, according to A&M, optimizing operational expenses while maintaining revenue growth. 

This resulted in a 63 basis point improvement in the cost-to-income ratio, which fell to 31.3 percent, reflecting greater efficiency in generating income relative to costs.  

The improvement reflects banks’ strategic focus on digital transformation, automation, and expense management — ensuring sustainable, long-term growth despite rising funding costs and liquidity pressures. 

Cost optimization efforts contributed to a 9.3 percent year-on-year growth in operating income, outpacing the 7.1 percent rise in operating expenses. This operational discipline boosted profitability, leading to a 13.5 percent rise in aggregate net income, reaching SR79.6 billion in 2024. 

Key contributors to this annual growth included a SR7.9 billion increase in net interest income, SR2.6 billion in net fee and commission income, and SR1.6 billion in other operating income, according to the report. 

However, net interest income growth slowed to 7.6 percent year-on-year in 2024, down from 11 percent in 2023, primarily due to higher funding costs.  

Despite narrowing net interest margins, banks leveraged rising fee-based income and cost efficiencies, maintaining a stable earnings outlook. The sector’s ability to navigate tightening liquidity while staying profitable underscores its strategic adaptability. 

Rising funding costs  

The rise in funding costs for Saudi banks is driven by both local liquidity constraints and global financial trends. As deposit growth lags behind credit expansion, banks are increasingly turning to alternative funding sources to sustain lending activity. 

A key factor behind this deposit gap is the dominance of government-related entity deposits, which account for about one-third of total sector deposits, according to Fitch Ratings. 

During the high-interest rate cycle, GREs moved funds into banks offering higher returns, rather than holding them at the Saudi Central Bank, also known as SAMA. 

Saudi banks play a pivotal role in capital markets, contributing significantly to liquidity and investment activity. Shutterstock

The introduction of SAMA’s deposit auction platform accelerated this shift, with GRE deposits at the central bank dropping from SR670 billion in 2023 to SR460 billion in early 2025. 

However, as rates began to decline, GRE inflows slowed. In the fourth quarter of 2024, Saudi banks saw a rare SR27 billion — or 1 percent — decline in deposits, the first drop since 2019, according to Fitch Ratings. The agency attributed this to seasonal budget and tax-related outflows from GREs.  

Despite this, deposits rebounded by SR40 billion in January, fully offsetting the fourth-quarter drop. 

While deposits recovered, their growth lagged behind lending expansion, which surged 14.4 percent year on year in 2024 — significantly outpacing the 7.9 percent rise in deposits, according to the A&M report. 

This pushed the loan-to-deposit ratio to 104.7 percent, surpassing the 100 percent mark for the first time in recent years.  

Corporate lending remains the primary driver, fueled by Vision 2030 mega-projects, infrastructure development, and private sector investments. 

With rising corporate financing needs, banks have diversified their funding sources, leaning more on sukuk issuances, external borrowings, and interbank lending to bridge liquidity gaps. While essential, these instruments come with higher costs than traditional deposits, pushing funding expenses higher.   

Impact of monetary policy  

The monetary policy shift has contributed to liquidity pressures. The US Federal Reserve’s 100 basis point rate cut in 2024 prompted SAMA to lower its repo rate to 5 percent, aligning with the riyal’s dollar peg. 

Despite this easing, funding costs remain high due to a lag effect — banks are still carrying higher-cost deposits and debt issued during the peak rate period. 

With loan growth projected to outpace deposits in 2025, Fitch forecasts banks will increase non-deposit funding, with debt issuance expected to exceed $20 billion. However, competition for liquidity and the dilution of current and savings accounts may offset the benefits of lower rates on net interest margins. Banks will need to carefully manage their funding mix to sustain profitability. 

Fitch also warned that tightening liquidity and increased reliance on external funding could pressure some banks’ funding and liquidity scores. However, a one-notch downgrade is unlikely to affect their overall Viability Ratings. 

As Saudi banks navigate these challenges, they are expected to focus on optimizing funding strategies, expanding capital market access, and leveraging long-term debt instruments to fuel lending growth while controlling funding costs.


$1.06bn deal signed to launch new logistics zone in Riyadh’s Falcon City

Updated 18 March 2025
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$1.06bn deal signed to launch new logistics zone in Riyadh’s Falcon City

  • Deal aims to strengthen the Kingdom’s position as a global logistics hub
  • Zone will serve as a comprehensive hub catering to the increasing demand for custom-designed warehouses

RIYADH: A new SR4 billion ($1.06 billion) logistics zone will be created within Falcon City in northern Riyadh, after a deal between Saudi firms SAL and Sela Co.

The development will provide integrated infrastructure combining Class A warehouses, multimodal connectivity, and smart logistics technologies to enhance supply chain efficiency and facilitate the faster movement of goods locally and regionally. 

The deal, which aims to strengthen the Kingdom’s position as a global logistics hub, is backed by the Private Sector Partnership Program, also known as Shareek.

The agreement comes as the Kingdom plans to invest more than SR1 trillion in the logistics sector by 2030, with the number of facilities already up by 267 percent since 2021.

Commenting on the Falcon City deal, Omar bin Talal Hariri, CEO of SAL, said: “The SAL Logistics Zone is not just a development project — it is a model for the future of integrated logistics services. 

“We are leveraging technology and sustainability to create an advanced operational environment that attracts investment and supports the Kingdom’s economic growth.” 

The partnership for the 1.5 million sq. meter logistics zone was signed in Riyadh in the presence of Minister of Transport and Logistics Services Saleh Al-Jasser, Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih, and CEO of the Shareek Program Center Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al-Arifi, along with senior officials, investors, and business leaders. 

The zone will serve as a comprehensive hub catering to the increasing demand for custom-designed warehouses.

“Falcon City is more than just a development project; it is an integrated economic destination aimed at providing a modern business environment that supports multiple industries,” Rakan Al-Harthy, managing director of Sela, said.

He further emphasized that the partnership with SAL Logistics Services will facilitate the establishment of state-of-the-art facilities that cater to local and international companies and enhance business and investment flow.

This logistics zone significantly enhances the company’s capabilities due to its strategic location near King Khalid International Airport, major highways, and railway networks. 

Falcon City spans 14.4 million sq. meters and will feature the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Center, as well as a modern logistics zone designed to attract major global companies, an aviation runway, and an aircraft maintenance hub.

The development also includes economic, commercial, and residential zones, as well as hospitality and entertainment areas and an outlet mall.

This strategic partnership directly supports Saudi Vision 2030 by enhancing logistics connectivity, stimulating local and international investments, and developing modern infrastructure to attract businesses and investors.

It also reinforces the Kingdom’s role in regional and international trade, driving sustainable economic growth and positioning the country as a leading logistics powerhouse.