Eastern Province signs $1.35bn investment deals at Cityscape Global 2025 

The signing ceremony, overseen by Eastern Province Mayor Fahad bin Mohammed Al-Jubair, featured several strategic investment agreements for high-profile projects. SPA
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Updated 18 November 2025
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Eastern Province signs $1.35bn investment deals at Cityscape Global 2025 

DAMMAM: Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province Municipality signed 14 investment and development deals, including memoranda of understanding worth over SR5 billion ($1.35 billion), during its participation in Cityscape Global 2025 in Riyadh. 

The signing ceremony, overseen by Eastern Province Mayor Fahad bin Mohammed Al-Jubair, featured several strategic investment agreements for high-profile projects, according to the Saudi Press Agency. 

The deals reflect the municipality’s efforts to attract local, Gulf, and international investors, underscoring the Eastern Province’s growing appeal as a destination for private-sector-led development, enhanced quality of life, economic growth, and job creation for Saudi citizens. 

The agreements included contracts to establish and develop mobile vendor incubator sites under the “Roaming Seller” initiative, in partnership with Princess Nojoud bint Hathloul Al Abdulaziz, general supervisor of the Street Vendors Support, Empowerment, and Development file at the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, and the Economic Families Association. 

An investment contract was also signed with Center3, a subsidiary of Saudi Telecom Co., to establish digital data centers supporting digital transformation and technological infrastructure for smart cities. 

The deals further include investments in entertainment, tourism, and retail projects in Half Moon Bay with local, Gulf, and European investors. These involve amusement parks in partnership with a Kuwaiti investor and the launch of the first outlet shopping complex in the Eastern Province. 

A soon-to-be-announced flagship project in Half Moon Bay will bring together Saudi, Gulf, and British partners to develop a global outlet featuring more than 100 international brands, amusement parks, children’s play areas, a themed “Last Exit” food park, art and fashion academies, multi-use facilities, and a mini-golf course. 

The project is expected to significantly boost the region’s tourism and entertainment sectors. 

Additional agreements include developing coastal resorts and open beaches to meet Blue Flag environmental standards, alongside air pollution monitoring stations and carbon credit initiatives to support sustainability. 
 
Tourism resorts in Al-Khafji Governorate were also agreed upon with Gulf investors. MoUs were signed with GCC Lab Co. for Technical Services to study inspection and certification mechanisms and with the Saudi Technology and Security Comprehensive Control Co. to digitally manage construction waste, contributing to improved quality of life and regional economic growth. 

An agreement between a local recycling company and GIB Capital was signed to finance the company’s environmental projects with the municipality, focusing on renewable energy production. 

Another investment deal was finalized for the management and operation of Marjan Island Resort on Dammam Corniche, supporting tourism, entertainment, and luxury hospitality. 


Saudi Arabia’s international trade hits $144.3bn in Q3  

Updated 07 December 2025
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Saudi Arabia’s international trade hits $144.3bn in Q3  

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s total international trade reached SR540.5 billion ($144.3 billion) in the third quarter of 2025, marking annual growth of 8.6 percent, or SR43 billion, compared with SR497.5 billion in the same period last year, according to the General Authority for Statistics’ latest international trade bulletin. 

Merchandise exports accounted for 56.1 percent of the total at SR303.3 billion, while imports made up 43.9 percent, valued at SR237.2 billion, resulting in a trade surplus of SR66.1 billion. 

Non-oil domestic exports, excluding re-exports, totaled SR57 billion, or 18.8 percent of total merchandise exports, down 0.4 percent year-on-year — a decline of SR0.2 billion. However, they rose 3.1 percent quarter-on-quarter, an increase of SR1.7 billion compared with the second quarter of 2025. 

Petroleum exports reached SR207.8 billion, representing 68.5 percent of total exports. Re-exported goods rose sharply by 69.6 percent year on year, increasing by SR15.8 billion to SR38.5 billion, or 12.7 percent of total exports, with quarterly growth of 17.4 percent, equal to SR5.7 billion. 

By region, Asian countries led Saudi exports with SR217.4 billion, accounting for 71.7 percent of the total. 

European nations followed with SR44.7 billion, or 14.8 percent, African countries with SR22.4 billion, or 7.4 percent, and the Americas with SR18.3 billion, representing 6 percent of exports. 

China remained the top destination for Saudi exports, receiving SR45.2 billion, or 14.9 percent of the total, followed by the UAE with SR32.7 billion, or 10.8 percent, and India with SR29 billion, or 9.5 percent. 

Non-oil exports, including re-exports, passed through 34 land, sea, and airports, totaling SR95.5 billion. King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah led with SR17.3 billion, followed by Jeddah Islamic Port at SR10.8 billion.