SIDF concludes participation in Momentum 2025

The conference provided a platform to explore the future of development finance and its role in supporting sustainable growth. SPA.
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Updated 11 December 2025
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SIDF concludes participation in Momentum 2025

RIYADH: The Saudi Industrial Development Fund concluded its participation in the Development Finance Conference Momentum 2025 organized by the National Development Fund under the patronage of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, prime minister and chairman of the NDF board.

The event was held from Dec. 9 to 11 at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh.

The conference provided a platform to explore the future of development finance and its role in supporting sustainable growth. It brought together leading thinkers, investors, and decision-makers from around the world to discuss key challenges and opportunities, and to exchange experiences that enhance financing tools and maximize their developmental impact.

SIDF participation underscored its active role in supporting economic development through its financing advisory and knowledge-based programs as well as its diverse initiatives designed to meet the needs and aspirations of manufacturers and investors, aligning with the Kingdom's objectives and Vision 2030 targets.

In a panel discussion on the sidelines of the conference, Prince Sultan bin Khalid bin Faisal, CEO of SIDF, highlighted that the fund has, for more than 50 years, continued to develop its financing and advisory tools to empower national industries and enhance their global competitiveness.

He noted that SIDF has supported more than 4200 projects with total disbursements exceeding SR150 billion ($40 billion), attracting investments of nearly SR800 billion.

Prince Sultan added that the fund is currently focused on creating new financing channels in collaboration with government and private entities to provide sustainable funding for the private sector through mechanisms that attract capital and investors.

He said: “We recently launched the world’s largest supply chain financing program in collaboration with Saudi Aramco and the Saudi Electricity Co., benefiting thousands of suppliers and factories.”

SIDF participation culminated in signing a cooperation agreement with the Saudi Arabia Railways to identify opportunities for industrial sector support and to assist investors in localizing goods and services to increase domestic content.

The Momentum 2025 conference reflects the Kingdom's leading role across various development sectors, highlighting the contributions of its development ecosystem in shaping a sustainable developmental future that delivers economic and social impact in line with Vision 2030 objectives.

The conference serves as a platform for collaboration that advances the implementation of development finance solutions, bringing together leaders from government entities, development finance institutions, investors and innovators from within the Kingdom and abroad.

It aims to strengthen partnerships that align capabilities across the system and translate developmental priorities into actionable initiatives, fostering inclusive and sustainable growth.


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.