Saudi Exchange targets Indonesian firms with Jakarta Futures MoU 

The agreement was signed during the fifth Capital Market Forum. AN
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Updated 18 February 2025
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Saudi Exchange targets Indonesian firms with Jakarta Futures MoU 

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s stock market is set to attract Indonesian firms following a new memorandum of understanding with the Jakarta Futures Exchange. 

Signed during the fifth Capital Market Forum, the agreement will see JFX members promoting the Kingdom’s trading platforms to both retail and institutional investors, strengthening financial ties between the two markets. 

In another step to bolster Saudi Arabia’s financial infrastructure, Fidelity Information Services Global inked an MoU with Muqassa, a subsidiary of the Saudi Tadawul Group, to enhance the Kingdom’s derivatives market. The partnership aims to integrate advanced technologies that improve market efficiency and liquidity. 

These deals were among eight agreements signed during the conference, underscoring Saudi Arabia’s continued push for financial sector expansion and technological advancement. 

The Financial Academy and Saudi Tadawul Group also joined forces to launch specialized training programs tailored for the financial industry. 

The initiative, developed in collaboration with leading universities, will introduce the Sustainability Specialist in the Financial Sector certification and host workshops to deepen industry expertise. 

Awqaf Investment has signed two key agreements. The first, with SNB Capital, is aimed at serving the SR8 billion ($2.1 billion) Awqaf market, with a focus on developing improved investment products that cater to the sector’s needs. 

The second, an investment advisory agreement with Ehsan, will see Awqaf Investment Co. providing strategic advisory services for the Ehsan Waqf Fund, further strengthening the Kingdom’s philanthropic investment landscape. 

Saudi Arabia’s real estate market is also set to benefit from a new collaboration between Aljazira Capital and Target, as the two entities launch the Wahat Alnakheel Real Estate Fund — a major initiative with a fund size exceeding SR1 billion. 

Meanwhile, Dalipal Holdings Limited has partnered with Saudi investment firm BMG Financial Group to strengthen Dalipal’s presence in the Kingdom’s energy sector. The MoU leverages BMG’s regulatory expertise and investor network with Dalipal’s specialization in high-end energy pipes and seamless steel products. The collaboration could pave the way for a potential Dalipal listing on the Saudi Exchange. 

A significant trilateral partnership was also unveiled, with Wamid, Google Cloud, and Deloitte teaming up to develop and launch new capital market data products. The initiative positions Saudi Tadawul Group as a leader in financial innovation and digital transformation. 

Additionally, the Saudi Securities Depository Center Co., known as Edaa, has launched EDAA CONNECT, a centralized platform for mutual fund investments across the Saudi capital market. 

The initiative, developed in partnership with 11 financial firms — including Albilad Capital, AlRajhi Capital, and Rassanah Capital, as well as Saudi Awwal Bank Invest, and SNB Capital — aims to streamline fund access and enhance investment efficiency. 

Saudi Tadawul Group and its subsidiaries announced a series of strategic initiatives aimed at advancing the Saudi financial market.

The group unveiled the launch of the STG App, an integrated platform designed to unify all group services, streamline processes for investors, companies, and market participants, and simplify market access.


Saudi tourism employment surpasses 1m as hospitality sector expands 

Updated 08 January 2026
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Saudi tourism employment surpasses 1m as hospitality sector expands 

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s tourism workforce surpassed 1 million in the third quarter of 2025, underscoring the sector’s rapid expansion as the Kingdom continues to develop its hospitality infrastructure and visitor economy. 

According to the latest Tourism Establishments Statistics report released by the General Authority for Statistics, the total number of employees in tourism activities reached approximately 1,009,691 in the third quarter of 2025, marking a 6.4 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024, when employment stood at 948,629. 

The growth in employment comes alongside a significant rise in the number of licensed tourism hospitality facilities, which increased by 40.6 percent year on year to reach 5,622 in the third quarter. Of these, serviced apartments and other hospitality facilities accounted for 52.6 percent, while hotels represented 47.4 percent. 

The robust growth reflected in the latest tourism statistics aligns directly with the goals of Vision 2030, as the Kingdom aims to double tourism’s gross domestic product contribution to 10 percent. The sector is also seeking to create 1.6 million jobs, and attract 150 million visitors annually by 2030.

The report showed that non-Saudi employees made up the majority of the tourism workforce, numbering 764,520 and accounting for 75.7 percent of the total. Saudi nationals employed in the sector reached 245,171, representing 24.3 percent of all tourism workers. 

In terms of gender distribution, male employees dominated the sector with 875,658 workers, while female employees totaled 134,033, making up just 13.3 percent of the workforce. 

Hotel performance showed positive momentum, with the average room occupancy rate rising to 49.1 percent during the quarter, an increase of 2.9 percentage points from 46.1 percent in the same period a year earlier. 

In contrast, serviced apartments and other hospitality facilities experienced a slight dip in occupancy, recording 57.4 percent compared to 58 percent in the same quarter of 2024. 

The average daily room rate in hotels decreased by 3.6 percent to SR341 ($90.9), down from SR354 in the third quarter of 2024. Meanwhile, serviced apartments and similar facilities saw their average daily rate rise by 4.1 percent to SR208, up from SR200 a year earlier. 

The average length of stay in hotels was 4.1 nights, down 1 percent from 4.2 nights in the third quarter of 2024. For serviced apartments and other hospitality facilities, the average stay was 2.1 nights, reflecting a marginal decrease of 0.2 percent year-on-year. 

The statistics draw on administrative records, surveys and secondary data to capture activity across the Kingdom’s tourism sector, GASTAT said.