Closing Bell: Saudi main index closes in red at 10,536 

The best-performing stock was Al Masar Al Shamil Education Co. Getty
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Updated 02 December 2025
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Closing Bell: Saudi main index closes in red at 10,536 

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index dipped on Tuesday, losing 6.72 points, or 0.06 percent, to close at 10,536.28. 

The total trading turnover of the benchmark index was SR3.75 billion ($1 billion), as 83 of the listed stocks advanced, while 172 retreated. 

The MSCI Tadawul Index increased, up 1.75 points, or 0.13 percent, to close at 1,384.13. 

The Kingdom’s parallel market Nomu lost 275.38 points, or 1.15 percent, to close at 23,719.27. This comes as 24 of the listed stocks advanced, while 58 retreated. 

The best-performing stock was Al Masar Al Shamil Education Co., with its share price surging by 18.41 percent to SR23.09. 

Other top performers included Al-Babtain Power and Telecommunication Co., which saw its share price rise by 3.59 percent to SR66.35, and ACWA Power Co., which saw a 3.33 percent increase to SR192.40. 

On the downside, Herfy Food Services Co. was the day’s weakest performer, with its share price falling 5.41 percent to SR15.75. 

CHUBB Arabia Cooperative Insurance Co. fell 4.72 percent to SR24.60, while Saudi Industrial Development Co. declined 4.61 percent to SR12.61. 

On the announcements front, First Milling Co. has completed its acquisition of a 60 percent stake in Al-Kenan Al-Arabia Trading Co., a single-person limited liability company. 

In a filing on Tadawul, the company said ownership had been transferred after all conditions were met, and the required regulatory approvals were obtained. 

The transaction, valued at SR48 million, matches the cost disclosed when the binding agreement was announced on Sept. 16. 

The move strengthens First Milling’s strategic expansion in the sector, the statement added. 

Its shares rose 3.07 percent on the main market to SR48.30. 


Saudi Aramco, ExxonMobil, Samref ink deal to study Yanbu refinery upgrade

Updated 08 December 2025
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Saudi Aramco, ExxonMobil, Samref ink deal to study Yanbu refinery upgrade

RIYADH: Energy giants Saudi Aramco, ExxonMobil, and Samref have signed a venture framework agreement to upgrade the Yanbu refinery and expand it into an integrated petrochemical complex.

As a part of the deal, the companies will explore capital investments to upgrade and diversify production, including high-quality distillates that result in lower emissions and high-performance chemicals, according to a joint press statement.

The agreement will also see the parties explore opportunities to improve the refinery’s energy efficiency and reduce environmental impacts from operations through an integrated emissions-reduction strategy.

Samref is an equally owned joint venture between Aramco and Mobil Yanbu Refining Co. Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corp.

The refinery currently has the capacity to process more than 400,000 barrels of crude oil per day, producing a diverse range of energy products, including propane, automotive diesel oil, marine heavy fuel oil, and sulfur.

“This next phase of Samref marks a step in our long-term strategic collaboration with ExxonMobil. Designed to increase the conversion of crude oil and petroleum liquids into high-value chemicals, this project reinforces our commitment to advancing Downstream value creation and our liquids-to-chemicals strategy,” said Aramco Downstream President, Mohammed Y. Al Qahtani.

He added that the deal will help position Samref as a key driver of the Kingdom’s petrochemical sector’s growth.

The press statement further said that companies will commence a preliminary front-end engineering and design phase for the proposed project, which would aim to maximize operational advantages, enhance Samref’s competitiveness, and help to meet growing demand for high-quality petrochemical products in Saudi Arabia.

The firms added that these plans are subject to market conditions, regulatory approvals, and final investment decisions by Aramco and ExxonMobil.

“We value our partnership with Aramco and our long history in Saudi Arabia. We look forward to evaluating this project, which aligns with our strategy to focus on investments that allow us to grow high-value products that meet society’s evolving energy needs and contribute to a lower-emission future,” said Jack Williams, senior vice president of Exxon Mobil Corp.