Saudi real estate boom lifts mortgage financing to record $240bn: minister 

Majid Al-Hogail speaking during a ministerial session at the third Qatar Real Estate Forum in Doha. Ministry of Municipalities and Housing
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Updated 13 October 2025
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Saudi real estate boom lifts mortgage financing to record $240bn: minister 

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s mortgage financing portfolio has exceeded SR900 billion ($240 billion) so far in 2025, reflecting the Kingdom’s accelerating real estate transformation under Vision 2030, the minister of municipalities and housing said.

Speaking during a ministerial session at the third Qatar Real Estate Forum in Doha, where Saudi Arabia served as the guest of honor, Majid Al-Hogail reviewed the sector’s progress driven by regulatory reforms, digital transformation, and new investment models. 

The surge in mortgage lending is a direct result of ongoing reforms and institutional strengthening under Vision 2030, which targets a 70 percent homeownership rate for citizens. 

In a release, the ministry stated: “Al-Hogail stressed that real estate financing has become the cornerstone for the success and sustainability of real estate development, noting that its volume in the Kingdom has increased from about SR200 billion to more than SR900 billion in 2025.” 

He added that it now accounts for 27 percent of Saudi banks’ portfolios, supported by the Saudi Real Estate Refinance Co., which has issued sukuk on the London Stock Exchange to deepen capital market integration. 

The minister noted that the government has built a comprehensive real estate ecosystem that integrates landowners, developers, service providers, and facility managers into a more efficient and collaborative system. 

According to the statement, Al-Hogail attributed this growth to a shift in the sector, driven by the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. He added that the challenge in the past was to provide housing. “Today, the challenge is to provide happiness for those living within these communities,” the statement added. 

Highlighting the institutional framework behind the boom, Al-Hogail detailed the pivotal role of the National Housing Co., established in 2016 as the primary executive arm for urban development. 

Alongside the regulatory “Wafi” program for off-plan sales, these initiatives have enabled over 100 national developers to execute massive projects to global standards. 

The minister also confirmed a new agreement with Qatar’s Diyar Co. to expand its presence in the Saudi market, underscoring a strategic push for Gulf partnerships. 

Al-Hogail also outlined the “Saudi Architecture” initiative, launched by the Crown Prince, which marks a transition from physical construction to building a national identity. The initiative has formulated 19 distinct architectural identities reflecting the cultural diversity of the Kingdom’s regions. 

Furthermore, Saudi cities are making significant strides in digital transformation, with six now ranked among the top 100 smart cities globally, according to the IMD Index. 

This robust digital infrastructure has enabled the complete digitization of real estate transactions, transforming property into a liquid investment and savings asset. 

The minister emphasized that Gulf integration in the real estate sector is a fundamental pillar for building a more mature and sustainable regional market, praising Qatar for organizing the forum as a platform for enhanced cooperation.


Saudi Maaden reports 156% profit surge to $2bn on strong commodity prices, record production

Updated 05 March 2026
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Saudi Maaden reports 156% profit surge to $2bn on strong commodity prices, record production

RIYADH: Saudi mining and metals company Maaden has reported a 156 percent jump in its net profit attributable to shareholders for 2025, driven by higher commodity prices, record production volumes, and a one-off bargain purchase gain.

The state-backed giant posted a net profit of SR7.35 billion ($1.95 billion) for the full year 2025, an increase from SR2.87 billion in the previous year. The firm’s revenue surged by 19 percent to SR38.58 billion, up from SR32.55 billion in 2024.

This comes as Saudi Arabia steps up efforts to expand its mining sector as a pillar of economic diversification, encouraging international participation and private investment to unlock the Kingdom’s estimated $2.5 trillion in untapped mineral resources under Vision 2030.    

In a statement on Tadawul, the company said: “Performance was led by record phosphate production, near record aluminum production, an increase in all three of Maaden’s main output commodity prices.”

The performance was also fueled by a 60 percent increase in gross profit, which reached SR14.79 billion. In its annual results announcement, Maaden attributed the top-line growth to “higher commodity market prices for phosphate, aluminum and gold business units,” as well as increased sales volumes in its phosphate and aluminum segments. This was partially offset by slightly lower sales volume in the gold unit.

Maaden’s CEO, Bob Wilt, hailed 2025 as a transformative year for the company, marked by strategic growth and operational excellence. “This was a great year for Maaden’s strategic growth. We delivered strong financial results and sustained operational excellence across the business,” he said in a statement.

“This was driven by growth in production across all businesses, including record-breaking DAP (di-ammonium phosphatevolumes), disciplined cost control across and a clear commitment to our role as a cornerstone of the Saudi economy,” Wilt added.

Profitability was further bolstered by an increased share of net profit from joint ventures and an associate. This included a one-off bargain purchase gain of SR768 million related to Maaden’s investment in Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. The company also benefited from lower finance costs.

The fourth quarter of 2025 was strong, with Maaden swinging to a net profit of SR1.67 billion, compared to a loss of SR106 million in the same period of the prior year. Quarterly revenue rose 7 percent to SR10.64 billion.

The firm achieved record production of di-ammonium phosphate, reaching 6.72 million tonnes for the year, a 9 percent increase. Aluminum production remained near-record levels, while the company added a net 7.8 million ounces to its reportable gold mineral resources through discovery and resource development.

The phosphate division saw sales jump 17 percent to SR20.77 billion, with the earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization margin expanding to 47 percent. The aluminum business reported a 9 percent increase in sales to SR10.99 billion, with EBITDA more than doubling in the fourth quarter.

Looking ahead, Wilt emphasized that the pace of growth will accelerate as the company advances key initiatives, including the Phosphate 3 Phase 1 and Ar Rjum projects, which remain on budget and schedule. Maaden has also secured a gas supply for its future Phosphate 4 project.

“This pace of growth will only accelerate. Not only as we advance projects and increase the scale of our exploration program, but as we continue to grow production and implement technology that will further modernize, streamline and unlock value,” Wilt added.

Earnings per share for the year rose sharply to SR1.91, up from SR0.78 in 2024. Total shareholders’ equity increased by 18.7 percent to SR61.59 billion.