Closing Bell: Saudi stock market ends the week in green 

Sport Clubs Co. led the gainers on Thursday, climbing 9.97 percent to SR11.25. Shutterstock
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Updated 31 July 2025
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Closing Bell: Saudi stock market ends the week in green 

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index ended the week on Thursday with a slight gain, rising 5.89 points, or 0.05 percent, to close at 10,920.27. 

The total trading turnover reached SR4.38 billion ($1.16 billion), with 417.32 million shares traded. A total of 111 stocks advanced while 136 declined. 

The MSCI Tadawul 30 Index also edged higher, adding 2.66 points, or 0.19 percent, to finish at 1,409.74. 

On the Kingdom’s parallel market Nomu, the index advanced by 115.90 points, or 0.43 percent, closing at 26,924.98. Of the listed companies, 47 gained while 31 declined. 

Sport Clubs Co. led the gainers, climbing 9.97 percent to SR11.25. They were followed by Al Babtain Power and Telecommunication Co., which rose 5.03 percent to SR56.40, and Bupa Arabia for Cooperative Insurance Co., which added 4.27 percent to close at SR168.60.

Miahona Co. and Saudi Azm for Communication and Information Technology Co. were also among the top performers, gaining 4.23 percent and 3.85 percent, to close at SR27.10 and SR29.66, respectively. 

Saudi Steel Pipe Co. recorded the steepest decline of the session, falling 4.02 percent to SR51.30. It was followed by Yamama Cement Co., which dropped 3.8 percent to SR32.88, and Halwani Bros. Co., down 3.19 percent to SR42.42. 

Arab Insurance Cooperative Co. and Astra Industrial Group also posted losses of 2.92 percent and 2.57 percent, respectively. 

On the announcement front, Umm Al-Qura Cement Co. reported a 6.6 percent year-on-year decline in revenue for the first half of 2025, with sales amounting to SR122.5 million compared to SR131.2 million in the same period last year. 

Net profit also dropped, falling 30.8 percent to SR20.8 million from SR30.1 million over the same period. 

The company attributed the decline in revenue to a decrease in the average selling price per tonne. 

The fall in net profit was linked to the lower sales value and a reduction in other revenues, despite a decline in general and administrative expenses, financing costs, and zakat. 

Shares of Umm Al-Qura Cement Co. closed at SR15.61 on Thursday, down 0.32 percent. 

Almarai Co. confirmed the completion of its acquisition of Pure Beverages Industry Co., following its initial agreement signed on June 15. 

The company stated that the transaction reinforces its strategy to expand its beverage portfolio and strengthen its market presence, while supporting future growth plans. 

Almarai added that the acquisition was finalized with no change to the previously disclosed cost of SR1.04 billion. 

Shares of Almarai Co. closed at SR47.90 on Thursday, down 0.04 percent. 


Education spending surges 251% as students return from autumn break: SAMA

Updated 12 December 2025
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Education spending surges 251% as students return from autumn break: SAMA

RIYADH: Education spending in Saudi Arabia surged 251.3 percent in the week ending Dec. 6, reflecting the sharp uptick in purchases as students returned from the autumn break.

According to the latest data from the Saudi Central Bank, expenditure in the sector reached SR218.73 million ($58.2 million), with the number of transactions increasing by 61 percent to 233,000.

Despite this surge, overall point-of-sale spending fell 4.3 percent to SR14.45 billion, while the number of transactions dipped 1.7 percent to 236.18 million week on week.

The week saw mixed changes between the sectors. Spending on freight transport, postal and courier services saw the second-biggest uptick at 33.3 percent to SR60.93 million, followed by medical services, which saw an 8.1 percent increase to SR505.35 million.

Expenditure on apparel and clothing saw a decrease of 16.3 percent, followed by a 2 percent reduction in spending on telecommunication.

Jewelry outlays witnessed an 8.1 percent decline to reach SR325.90 million. Data revealed decreases across many other sectors, led by hotels, which saw the largest dip at 24.5 percent to reach SR335.98 million. 

Spending on car rentals in the Kingdom fell by 12.6 percent, while airlines saw a 3.7 percent increase to SR46.28 million.

Expenditure on food and beverages saw a 1.7 percent increase to SR2.35 billion, claiming the largest share of the POS. Restaurants and cafes retained the second position despite a 12.6 percent dip to SR1.66 billion.

Saudi Arabia’s key urban centers mirrored the national decline. Riyadh, which accounted for the largest share of total POS spending, saw a 3.9 percent dip to SR4.89 billion, down from SR5.08 billion the previous week.

The number of transactions in the capital settled at 74.16 million, down 1.4 percent week on week.

In Jeddah, transaction values decreased by 5.9 percent to SR1.91 billion, while Dammam reported a 0.8 percent surge to SR713.71 million.

POS data, tracked weekly by SAMA, provides an indicator of consumer spending trends and the ongoing growth of digital payments in Saudi Arabia. 

The data also highlights the expanding reach of POS infrastructure, extending beyond major retail hubs to smaller cities and service sectors, supporting broader digital inclusion initiatives. 

The growth of digital payment technologies aligns with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 objectives, promoting electronic transactions and contributing to the nation’s broader digital economy.