Saudi Arabia offers 4.58% return in new retail sukuk round 

For the second round of 2026, the minimum subscription amount is SR1,000 ($266.59) per sukuk, while the maximum allocation allows investors to subscribe to up to 200 sukuk, equivalent to SR200,000. Shutterstock
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Updated 01 February 2026
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Saudi Arabia offers 4.58% return in new retail sukuk round 

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s government-backed savings sukuk program, “Sah,” has opened subscriptions for its second savings round of 2026, offering an annual return of 4.58 percent. 

The subscription window is available through approved digital channels of accredited financial institutions, as the Kingdom continues its efforts to encourage household savings, according to an announcement published by the program’s official account on X, 

The product gives individual investors access to government-backed instruments with a one-year maturity and fixed return. 

The second tranche follows the first savings round of 2026, which offered an annual return of 4.73 percent. Subscriptions for that period were open in early January and closed after several days, underscoring continued demand for government-backed savings products among individual investors. 

For the second round of 2026, the minimum subscription amount is SR1,000 ($266.59) per sukuk, while the maximum allocation allows investors to subscribe to up to 200 sukuk, equivalent to SR200,000. 

Sah is structured with a one-year savings period and a fixed return, with accrued profits disbursed at the bond’s maturity. 

Returns for future rounds are expected to be influenced by market conditions on a month-to-month basis. 

Subscriptions run from Feb. 1 until Feb. 3, starting at 10:00 a.m. on the first day and closing at 3:00 p.m. on the final day. 

The sukuk are issued by the Ministry of Finance and organized by the National Debt Management Center as Saudi Arabia’s first savings product designed specifically for individuals. Eligible investors must be Saudi nationals aged 18 or older and hold accounts with participating institutions including SNB Capital, Aljazira Capital, Alinma Investment, SAB Invest and Al Rajhi Capital. 

The Sah program forms part of a broader effort to strengthen domestic savings and expand access to low-risk investment options, supporting financial stability and citizen participation in local markets.  

The offering comes as international credit assessors signal confidence in the Kingdom’s financial position. Fitch Ratings recently affirmed Saudi Arabia’s sovereign rating at A+ with a stable outlook, citing comparatively strong debt metrics and large sovereign financial assets. 

Fitch expects the economy to grow 4.8 percent in 2026 and projects the fiscal deficit will narrow to 3.6 percent of gross domestic product by 2027, helped by rising non-oil revenues and improved efficiency. 

The agency also pointed to reform momentum, including investment rule changes and continued opening of real estate and equity markets to foreign investors. 


Saudi Arabia leads outcome-based education to prepare future-ready generations: Harvard Business Review

A Harvard sign is seen at the Harvard University campus in Boston, Massachusetts, on May 27, 2025. (AFP)
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Saudi Arabia leads outcome-based education to prepare future-ready generations: Harvard Business Review

  • The Riyadh-based school group developed a strategy that links every classroom activity to measurable student competencies, aiming to graduate learners equipped for the digital economy and real-world contexts

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s education system is undergoing a sweeping transformation aligned with Vision 2030, shifting from traditional, input-focused methods to outcome-based education designed to equip students with future-ready skills, Harvard Business Review Arabic reported.

The transformation is being adopted and spearheaded by institutions such as Al-Nobala Private Schools, which introduced the Kingdom’s first national “learning outcomes framework,” aimed at preparing a generation of leaders and innovators for an AI-driven future, the report said.

Al-Nobala has leveraged international expertise to localize advanced learning methodologies.

The Riyadh-based school group developed a strategy that links every classroom activity to measurable student competencies, aiming to graduate learners equipped for the digital economy and real-world contexts. The school’s group approach combines traditional values with 21st-century skills such as critical thinking, communication, innovation and digital fluency.

According to the report, the shift addresses the growing gap between outdated models built for low-tech, resource-constrained environments and today’s dynamic world, where learners must navigate real-time information, virtual platforms, and smart technologies.

“This is not just about teaching content, it’s about creating impact,” the report noted, citing how Al-Nobala’s model prepares students to thrive in an AI-driven world while aligning with national priorities.

The report noted that Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Education has paved the way for this shift by transitioning from a centralized controller to a strategic enabler, allowing schools such as Al-Nobala to tailor their curriculum to meet evolving market and societal needs. This is part of the long-term goal to place the Kingdom among the top 20 global education systems.

Al-Nobala’s work, the report stated, has succeeded in serving the broader national effort to link education outcomes directly to labor market demands, helping to fulfill the Vision 2030 pillar of building a vibrant society with a thriving economy driven by knowledge and innovation.

Last February, Yousef bin Abdullah Al-Benyan, Saudi Arabia’s minister of education, said that the Kingdom was making “an unprecedented investment in education,” with spending aligned to the needs of growth and development. He said that in 2025, education received the second-largest share of the state budget, totaling $53.5 billion.