Closing Bell: Saudi main index closes in green at 11,438

The best-performing stock was MBC Group Co., with its share price surging by 6.01 percent to SR45.
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Updated 20 May 2025
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Closing Bell: Saudi main index closes in green at 11,438

  • MSCI Tadawul Index increased by 0.40 points, to close at 1,460.79
  • Parallel market Nomu rose 28.91 points, to end at 27,528.56

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index rose on Tuesday, gaining 32.90 points, or 0.29 percent, to close at 11,438.18.

The total trading turnover of the benchmark index was SR4.85 billion ($1.29 billion), as 132 of the listed stocks advanced, while only 106 retreated.

The MSCI Tadawul Index increased by 0.40 points, or 5.86 percent, to close at 1,460.79.

The Kingdom’s parallel market Nomu rose, gaining 28.91 points, or 0.11 percent, to end at 27,528.56. This comes as 31 of the listed stocks advanced, while 42 retreated.

The best-performing stock was MBC Group Co., with its share price surging by 6.01 percent to SR45.

Other top performers included National Gypsum Co., which saw its share price rise by 4.49 percent to SR21.42, and Zamil Industrial Investment Co., which saw a 4.19 percent increase to SR46.05.

The worst performer of the day was Etihad Atheeb Telecommunication Co., whose share price fell by 4.55 percent to SR100.80.

Saudia Dairy and Foodstuff Co. and CHUBB Arabia Cooperative Insurance Co. also saw declines, with their shares dropping by 2.66 percent and 2.53 percent to SR285 and SR36.60, respectively.

On the announcements front, Alinma Bank has confirmed the commencement of its offering of US dollar-denominated Sustainable Additional Tier 1 Capital Certificates under its Additional Tier 1 Capital Certificate Issuance Program. 

The offering, which began on May 20, is directed at eligible investors in the Kingdom and internationally, according to a Tadawul statement. The certificates, with a minimum subscription of $200,000, are perpetual and callable after 5.5 years, with terms and pricing subject to market conditions. 

The statement added that the certificates will be listed on the London Stock Exchange’s International Securities Market.

In today’s trading session, ALINMA’s share price traded 0.55 percent higher on the main market to reach SR27.55.

Moreover, Asas Makeen Real Estate Development and Investment Co. continued receiving subscription requests for 1 million ordinary shares, equivalent to 10 percent of its capital, at a price of SR80 per share. The offering, approved by the Capital Market Authority, runs from May 19 to 25 on the Nomu parallel market. The company aims to expand its investor base and attract capital to support sustainable growth, with its managed projects exceeding SR3.75 billion in value. 

Meanwhile, Al-Khozama Investment Co. is accepting subscription requests for 422,400 ordinary shares, which is equivalent to 10.71 percent of its shares on Nomu until May 22, priced between SR99 and SR107 per share. The offering targets qualified investors and supports the company’s long-term expansion in Saudi Arabia’s hospitality and food and beverage sector. 


Oman’s Islamic banking assets rise to $24bn on credit growth 

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Oman’s Islamic banking assets rise to $24bn on credit growth 

JEDDAH: Oman’s Islamic banking assets climbed to about 9.2 billion Omani rials ($23.9 billion) by the end of October, underscoring steady expansion in the sultanate’s financial sector as credit growth remains robust. 

Assets held by Islamic banks and Islamic windows accounted for 19.5 percent of Oman’s total banking system, up 10.8 percent from a year earlier, the Oman News Agency reported. 

Oman’s banking sector performance reflects steady progress toward Vision 2040, which prioritizes economic diversification, private sector growth, and financial resilience. 

“As for the total financing provided by institutions engaged in this activity, it also rose by 10.4 percent, reaching around 7.4 billion Omani rials,” the ONA reported, adding that deposits with Islamic banks and Islamic windows grew 11.9 percent to roughly 7.3 billion rials by the end of October. 

Rising credit flows, particularly to non-financial corporates and households, are fueling the development of small and medium-sized enterprises and domestic investment in Oman, supporting efforts to reduce reliance on hydrocarbons and build a more diversified economy. 

“Total deposits held with ODCs registered a Y-o-Y significant growth of 7 percent to reach 33.3 billion rials at the end of August 2025. Total private sector deposits increased by 7.5 percent to OMR 22.4 billion,” the Central Bank of Oman said in a statement issued in October. 

The broader banking sector also saw solid credit growth in 2025. By the end of August, total credit across commercial banks increased by 8.6 percent year on year to 34.1 billion rials, driven mainly by lending to non-financial corporates and households, which accounted for 46.7 percent and 44.7 percent of total credit, respectively. 

Private sector lending alone rose by 6.5 percent, supporting SME activity and domestic investment. 

Meanwhile, aggregate deposits at conventional banks climbed 5.5 percent to 26.1 billion rials at the end of August, with private sector deposits accounting for 67 percent, or 17.5 billion rials, of the total. 

Islamic banking entities mirrored this momentum, with total financing reaching 7.3 billion rials and deposits standing at 7.2 billion rials by the end of August, underscoring steady expansion throughout 2025. 

Islamic banking in Oman was introduced after the Central Bank of Oman issued preliminary licensing guidelines in May 2011, allowing full-fledged Islamic banks and Islamic windows to operate alongside conventional institutions. 

The framework was formalized in December 2012 through a Royal Decree amending the Banking Law, mandating Shariah supervisory boards and authorizing the central bank to establish a High Shariah Supervisory Authority.