RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is facing a huge housing shortage as demand continues to outstrip supply requiring SR 500 billion in financing to construct 1.25 million houses by 2014. Total real estate financing is also forecast to reach SR 60 billion by 2013, as a result of growth in total real estate lending by SR 17 billion in the second quarter of this year alone, leading experts to comment that the implementation of the Kingdom's newly approved mortgage law may be a prime solution to the housing crisis.
"With the landmark approval of the Saudi mortgage law in July, the Kingdom's population quadrupling over the last four decades, requiring 4.6 million houses by 2020, I expect that the mortgage law will have a moderating effect on the Saudi real estate market over the short-to-medium-term, allowing up to 80 percent of Saudi citizens to become first-time homeowners," said Hasan Al-Yamani, director at Abdul Latif Jameel (ALJ) Real Estate Installments at the Riyadh Urban Development and Real Estate Investment Event 2012.
He further stated that due to the rapid increase of real estate prices in recent years, particularly within the major cities, both Saudis and non-Saudi residents are in urgent need of financing in order to own property. This is why Abdul Latif Jameel Company has introduced real estate financing for both Saudis and residents in order for them to be able to own their desired homes through a trustworthy and Shariah-compliant company, while offering peace of mind to its customers.
Customers can now enter into a lease agreement with ALJ Real Estate Installment Co. with the promise of ownership at the end of the agreed term, which can be up to 15 years.
In response to the housing crisis, the Saudi government has taken a resolute approach in investing in the housing sector through the implementation of the newly established Ministry of Housing and the allocation of SR 250 million ($ 67 billion) to build an initial 500,000 new housing units.
Saudi housing projects need SR 500 billion by 2020
Saudi housing projects need SR 500 billion by 2020
First EU–Saudi roundtable on critical raw materials reflects shared policy commitment
RIYADH: The EU–Saudi Arabia Business and Investment Dialogue on Advancing Critical Raw Materials Value Chains, held in Riyadh as part of the Future Minerals Forum, brought together senior policymakers, industry leaders, and investors to advance strategic cooperation across critical raw materials value chains.
Organized under a Team Europe approach by the EU–GCC Cooperation on Green Transition Project, in coordination with the EU Delegation to Saudi Arabia, the European Chamber of Commerce in the Kingdom and in close cooperation with FMF, the dialogue provided a high-level platform to explore European actions under the EU Critical Raw Materials Act and ResourceEU alongside the Kingdom’s aspirations for minerals, industrial, and investment priorities.
This is in line with Saudi Vision 2030 and broader regional ambitions across the GCC, MENA, and Africa.
ResourceEU is the EU’s new strategic action plan, launched in late 2025, to secure a reliable supply of critical raw materials like lithium, rare earths, and cobalt, reducing dependency on single suppliers, such as China, by boosting domestic extraction, processing, recycling, stockpiling, and strategic partnerships with resource-rich nations.
The first ever EU–Saudi roundtable on critical raw materials was opened by the bloc’s Ambassador to the Kingdom, Christophe Farnaud, together with Saudi Deputy Minister for Mining Development Turki Al-Babtain, turning policy alignment into concrete cooperation.
Farnaud underlined the central role of international cooperation in the implementation of the EU’s critical raw materials policy framework.
“As the European Union advances the implementation of its Critical Raw Materials policy, international cooperation is indispensable to building secure, diversified, and sustainable value chains. Saudi Arabia is a key partner in this effort. This dialogue reflects our shared commitment to translate policy alignment into concrete business and investment cooperation that supports the green and digital transitions,” said the ambassador.
Discussions focused on strengthening resilient, diversified, and responsible CRM supply chains that are essential to the green and digital transitions.
Participants explored concrete opportunities for EU–Saudi cooperation across the full value chain, including exploration, mining, and processing and refining, as well as recycling, downstream manufacturing, and the mobilization of private investment and sustainable finance, underpinned by high environmental, social, and governance standards.
From the Saudi side, the dialogue was framed as a key contribution to the Kingdom’s industrial transformation and long-term economic diversification agenda under Vision 2030, with a strong focus on responsible resource development and global market integration.
“Developing globally competitive mineral hubs and sustainable value chains is a central pillar of Saudi Vision 2030 and the Kingdom’s industrial transformation. Our engagement with the European Union through this dialogue to strengthen upstream and downstream integration, attract high-quality investment, and advance responsible mining and processing. Enhanced cooperation with the EU, capitalizing on the demand dynamics of the EU Critical Raw Materials Act, will be key to delivering long-term value for both sides,” said Al-Babtain.
Valere Moutarlier, deputy director-general for European industry decarbonization, and directorate-general for the internal market, industry, entrepreneurship and SMEs at European Commission, said the EU Critical Raw Materials Act and ResourceEU provided a clear framework to strengthen Europe’s resilience while deepening its cooperation with international partners.
“Cooperation with Saudi Arabia is essential to advancing secure, sustainable, and diversified critical raw materials value chains. Dialogues such as this play a key role in translating policy ambitions into concrete industrial and investment cooperation,” she added.
