Closing Bell: Saudi main market ends lower at 10,670 

The total trading turnover reached SR3.87 billion ($1.03 billion), with 208.26 million shares changing hands, as 61 stocks advanced while 186 declined. Shutterstock
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Updated 01 September 2025
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Closing Bell: Saudi main market ends lower at 10,670 

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index closed lower on Monday, slipping 26.33 points, or 0.25 percent, to end at 10,670.56.

The total trading turnover reached SR3.87 billion ($1.03 billion), with 208.26 million shares changing hands, as 61 stocks advanced while 186 declined.

The MSCI Tadawul 30 Index edged down 0.56 points, or 0.04 percent, to 1,381.50.

The Kingdom’s parallel market Nomu also fell, losing 9.80 points, or 0.04 percent, to settle at 25,933.23, with 36 gainers against 45 losers.

Among the top performers, Electrical Industries Co. rose 4.02 percent to SR9.31, followed by Etihad Atheeb Telecommunication Co., which gained 3.74 percent to SR111. SABIC Agri-Nutrients Co. added 3.14 percent to close at SR118.40, while Al Masane Al Kobra Mining Co. increased 2.94 percent to SR63.10. Saudi Industrial Investment Group also climbed 2.89 percent to SR19.60.

On the losing side, Rabigh Refining and Petrochemical Co. dropped 5.71 percent to SR6.61, while Arab National Bank slipped 4.58 percent to SR23.10. Development Works Food Co. retreated 4.35 percent to SR118.60, Qassim Cement Co. fell 3.30 percent to SR41.64, and AYYAN Investment Co. declined 3.15 percent to SR11.69.

In corporate announcements, Red Sea International Co. reported the results of its ordinary general assembly meeting held on Aug. 31, 2025. Shareholders approved a major transaction involving its subsidiary, the Fundamental Installation for Electric Work Co., in which Red Sea holds a 51 percent stake.

The deal includes offering 12 million ordinary shares of the subsidiary — equivalent to 30 percent of its share capital — through an initial public offering on the Saudi Exchange. Red Sea will retain its 51 percent holding. 

Shares of Red Sea closed 2.84 percent lower at SR43.80.

Separately, the Saudi Exchange confirmed the listing and trading of Marketing Home Group for Trading Co. on the main market effective Sept. 2, 2025. The company’s shares will have daily price fluctuation limits of 30 percent and static limits of 10 percent during the first three days, reverting to 10 percent thereafter.

Obeikan Glass Co. announced it had signed a sale and purchase agreement to acquire all shareholder stakes in Obeikan AGC Co., a joint venture in which it previously held 19 percent. The SR22.9 million deal covers shares held by AGC France Holding, Obeikan Investment Group, and Saudi Advanced Industries Co. Following the acquisition, Obeikan Glass will assume full ownership of Obeikan AGC. 

Its shares ended the session down 0.57 percent at SR28.10.

Meanwhile, Jamjoom Fashion Trading Co., the Saudi apparel and lifestyle group behind brands Nayomi and Mihyar, announced the price range and launch of its initial public offering on Nomu.

The IPO price range has been set between SR140 and SR145 per share, valuing the offering at SR334 million to SR346 million and giving the company a market capitalization at listing of SR1.11 billion to SR1.15 billion.

The offering comprises 2,384,340 shares, or 30 percent of the company’s capital, owned by Kamal Osman Jamjoom Trading Co. The subscription period for qualified investors runs from Sept. 1 to 4, with allocation expected by Sept. 9 and refunds by Sept. 11.


Philippines in talks to add flights, develop joint tourism promotion with Saudi Arabia

Updated 14 November 2025
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Philippines in talks to add flights, develop joint tourism promotion with Saudi Arabia

  • Philippines developing halal travel as part of its tourism strategy
  • Saudi market is one of Philippines’ most dynamic and high-value markets

MANILA: Philippine officials are in talks with Saudi tourism players to add more flights between their countries and develop a joint travel promotion campaign, the department of tourism said as Manila seeks to strengthen tourism ties with the Kingdom. 

Tourism Undersecretary Verna C. Buensuceso led the Philippine delegation at the 26th UN Tourism General Assembly earlier this month in Riyadh. On the sidelines of the event, she met with Saudia Airlines’ sales general manager, Abdulrahman Alabdulwahab, and Riyadh Air Vice President for Network Planning and Partnerships Wolfgang Reuss.  

They held “separate discussions … on the expansion of air connectivity and the development of joint tourism promotion initiatives,” the tourism department said in a statement. 

With tourism being a key sector for the Philippines, its government has been trying to attract more Middle Eastern visitors by creating Muslim-friendly destinations and ensuring that they have access to halal products and services. 

Saudi travelers are among those contributing to a recent surge in international tourism arrivals from countries in the Middle East and the GCC.

“Saudi Arabia has emerged as one of the world’s fastest-growing outbound tourism markets, driven by a young and affluent population with high disposable income for travel. It represents one of our most dynamic and high-value markets in the Middle East,” Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said in a statement. 

“As a destination, the Philippines continues to gain ground among Saudi travelers, recognized for its warm hospitality, competitive value, English-speaking service culture, and growing halal-friendly tourism infrastructure.”

Tourism receipts from the Kingdom were more than $37 million last year, a 46 percent rise from 2023, ministry data showed. While Manila continues to be a top destination for Saudi travelers, Cebu, Boracay, and Pampanga are also among their top choices. 

The predominantly Catholic country — where Muslims constitute about 10 percent of the almost 120 million population — last year also launched a beach dedicated to Muslim women travelers in Boracay, the country’s top resort island and one of the world’s most popular.

Last month, the Philippines launched a “Muslim-Friendly Travelogue,” an official guide for tourists planning trips to the country, covering its Islamic history and heritage, recommendations for destinations, and halal culinary products available in all parts of the archipelago.

In 2024, the Philippines was recognized as a rising Muslim-friendly non-Organization of Islamic Cooperation Destination by the Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index, an annual report benchmarking destinations in the Muslim travel market. 

Known for its white-sand beaches, diving spots and rich culture, the Philippines received a similar recognition in 2023.