MANILA: The Philippines’ wealthiest man Henry Sy, who rose from being a penniless Chinese immigrant to leading a multi-billion dollar business empire, died on Saturday, his conglomerate has announced.
The 94-year-old, from the Chinese city of Xiamen, made his fortune with a Philippine shopping center conglomerate that has put up some of the largest malls in the world.
However his holdings also included banks, hotels and real estate in the Philippines, as well as shopping centers in China.
He had a net worth of $19 billion as of Friday, according to Forbes.com.
Forbes said he was the 52nd richest person in the world last year, beating out bold name tycoons like Elon Musk, Rupert Murdoch and George Soros.
“Henry Sy ... passed away peacefully in his sleep early Saturday morning. There are no further details at the moment,” his SM group said in a statement.
Sy put up his first shoe store in downtown Manila in 1956, a business which later grew into a diversified empire.
He stepped down as chairman of his holding firm in 2017, assuming the title of “chairman emeritus” and leaving trusted allies as well as his children in charge of his empire.
It was a long journey for a man who came to the Philippines as a boy to work in his immigrant father’s variety store.
“Our store was so small it had no back or second floor, we just slept on the counter late at night after the store was closed,” he told the Philippine Star newspaper in 2006.
After their shop was destroyed during World War II, Sy’s father returned to China but Henry chose to stay in the Philippines.
He got a commerce degree from a Manila university and started selling shoes in a shop which would later grow into a chain named “ShoeMart.”
By 1972, his shops had branched out into selling all manner of goods, prompting the name to be changed to SM Department Store.
But it was in 1985 that Sy made history when he opened his first “Supermall” in Manila.
Spanning over 424,000 square meters (4.6 million square feet), the mall included dozens of stores, numerous cinemas, restaurants, banks and other attractions that made it a one-stop shop for millions of Filipinos.
This was just the start, as more of Sy’s mammoth malls popped up across the country, some even containing ice skating rinks, a rarity in the tropical country.
Sy helped create mall culture in the Philippines, where steamy temperatures and the regular threat of torrential downpours can make outdoor shopping uncomfortable.
Sy’s holding company, SM Investments Corp. opened its first mall in China in 2001 and has been expanding there as well.
By 2018, SM said it had 70 malls in the Philippines and seven in China as well as six hotels and eight office buildings.
Sy’s empire has earned its share of criticism from labor groups, who say it uses thousands of contractual hires to avoid paying higher wages and benefits that permanent workers are entitled to.
SM officials have insisted that they do not engage in so-called “contractualization,” but say they hire “seasonal” workers for peak periods like Christmas, back-to-school and even weekends.
Philippines’ richest man Henry Sy dead at 94
Philippines’ richest man Henry Sy dead at 94
- Henry Sy had a net worth of $19 billion as of Friday, according to Forbes.com
- Sy helped create mall culture in the Philippines
Riyadh Air orders up to 50 Airbus A350 jets to expand long-haul fleet
- Deal includes 25 firm orders and purchase rights for an additional 25 aircraft
- A350-1000s will enable long-haul connections ahead of high-profile events
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Air has signed a deal to acquire up to 50 Airbus A350-1000 aircraft as it gears up to launch operations later this year.
The agreement, signed at the 55th Paris Air Show, includes 25 firm orders and purchase rights for an additional 25 aircraft. The deal supports Riyadh Air’s plan to build a wide-body fleet capable of serving over 100 destinations globally by 2030.
Owned by the Public Investment Fund, Riyadh Air was unveiled in March 2023 by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as part of Saudi Arabia’s strategy to become a global aviation hub by expanding connectivity to over 250 destinations and tripling annual passenger traffic to 330 million.
In a statement, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, PIF governor and chairman of Riyadh Air, said: “Our new national carrier is set to take to the skies in the near future, and as a fundamental element of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s infrastructure, will connect our capital city to over 100 international destinations around the globe by 2030.
He added: “With its outstanding range, adding the Airbus A350-1000 to our fleet demonstrates the strategic contribution of Riyadh Air in positioning Saudi Arabia as a global aviation hub.”
The A350-1000s, with an operational range exceeding 16,000 km, will enable long-haul connections ahead of high-profile events such as Riyadh Expo 2030 and the FIFA World Cup 2034.
In April, the airline received its Air Operator Certificate from the General Authority of Civil Aviation, authorizing it to commence flight operations after meeting all regulatory, safety, and operational requirements.
“Riyadh Air is making significant progress as we move towards our first flight later this year and agreeing this deal for up to 50 Airbus A350-1000 aircraft is an important statement of intent,” said Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air.
The airline’s launch supports Saudi Arabia’s broader efforts to diversify its economy. According to the General Authority for Civil Aviation, the aviation industry generated $32.2 billion in tourism receipts and supported more than 958,000 jobs in 2023 — 241,000 in aviation and 717,000 in tourism-related sectors.
“We play an important role in the evolution of the Saudi aviation ecosystem with the aim to create 200,000 direct and indirect jobs and contribute almost $20 billion to the Kingdom’s non-oil GDP,” added Douglas.
The sector is a key pillar of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, which aims to raise its gross domestic product contribution from 6 percent to 10 percent by 2030.
Christian Scherer, CEO of commercial aircraft at Airbus, said: “This partnership reflects our shared commitment to innovation and decarbonization whilst connecting the vibrant Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the world!”
Closing Bell: TASI gains 135 points after positive market breadth
- Market breadth was strongly positive with 223 gainers and 23 fallers
- Trading activity remained robust with a total value of SR4.87 billion
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index closed higher on Monday, advancing 135.45 points, or 1.26 percent, to end at 10,867.04.
Market breadth was strongly positive with 223 gainers and 23 fallers. Trading activity remained robust with a total value of SR4.87 billion ($1.2 billion), supported by optimism across key sectors.
Among the top gainers, Red Sea International Co. rose 10 percent to SR36.85, while CHUBB Arabia Cooperative Insurance Co. added 9.98 percent to end at SR33.60.
National Gypsum Co. and Saudi Enaya Cooperative Insurance Co. gained 9.97 percent and 8.02 percent, respectively, closing at SR19.42 and SR9.29.
ACWA Power Co. also rose 6.94 percent to close at SR262.00.
Among the worst performers, MBC Group Co. led losses with a decline of 3.11 percent to close at SR35.80.
Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Services Group followed, shedding 2.30 percent to settle at SR255, while Gulf Union Alahlia Cooperative Insurance Co. fell 1.63 percent to SR14.52.
Middle East Specialized Cables Co. ended the session down 1.13 percent at SR30.55, and Dr. Soliman Abdel Kader Fakeeh Hospital Co. edged 0.75 percent lower to SR39.85.
On the announcement front, ASAS Makeen Real Estate Development and Investment Co. began trading on the Nomu-Parallel Market on June 16, with shares priced at SR80 each.
The company’s stock rose 14.38 percent to close at SR91.50 after it confirmed the signing of an SR240 million real estate development agreement with the National Housing Co.
The stock is subject to daily and static price fluctuation limits of plus or minus 30 percent and 10 percent, respectively.
The 42-month project includes the construction of 470 residential units in Riyadh and is expected to impact financial results in the fourth quarter following the issuance of the required license.
ASAS Makeen offered 10 percent of its SR100 million capital, or one million shares, in an initial public offering that was nearly 1,949 percent oversubscribed.
Tabuk Agricultural Development Co. closed 1.90 percent higher at SR10.18 after announcing it had received the full SR14.85 million operational financing loan from the Agricultural Development Fund.
The two-year facility is secured by a mortgage on the company’s land and investment shares.
PIF’s AviLease to acquire up to 77 Airbus jets in expansion drive
- Order marks first direct deal with Airbus as PIF-owned lessor targets global growth
- Agreement announced at Paris Air Show
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund-owned AviLease has signed a deal to purchase up to 77 Airbus aircraft, further expanding its next-generation, fuel-efficient fleet to meet rising global demand across passenger and cargo operations.
The agreement, announced at the Paris Air Show, includes 55 A320neo Family aircraft and 22 A350F freighters, with deliveries scheduled through 2033, according to a press release.
This marks AviLease’s first direct order with Airbus. The move aligns with the goals of the Saudi Aviation Strategy, which targets a rise in annual passenger capacity to 330 million and cargo throughput to 4.5 million tonnes by 2030, while enhancing the Kingdom’s status as a regional aviation hub.
“This dual order reinforces AviLease’s credentials as a leading lessor, and it demonstrates the broad appeal of our products among lessors and their airline customers,” said Benoit de Saint-Exupéry, executive vice president of sales for Airbus Commercial Aircraft.
Edward O’Byrne, CEO of AviLease, said: “We are proud to establish an Airbus order book, strengthening our position as a full-service, investment grade global lessor. The addition of these latest generation aircraft enhances our ability to offer modern, fuel-efficient fleet solutions to our airline partners in Saudi Arabia and around the world.”
The A350F freighters were selected following consultations with local stakeholders and will support Saudi Arabia’s expanding air cargo requirements. O’Byrne noted that AviLease has secured delivery slots in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals.
“We thank our local partners and Airbus for the strong long-term partnership we have established and look forward to placing these aircraft across our valued customer base,” he said.
The A350F, according to Airbus, offers at least 20 percent lower fuel consumption, improved loading capabilities, and extended range.
The new order follows AviLease’s purchase of 30 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in May—its first direct deal with a manufacturer—bringing its total new aircraft orders within two months to 107.
“In less than two months, AviLease has signed two major deals, reflecting its long-term ambition to become a top 10 global player in aircraft leasing and to strengthen its position as a national champion,” said Fahad Al-Saif, chairman of AviLease.
As of March 31, AviLease had a portfolio of 200 aircraft leased to 48 airlines around the world.
In April, the firm secured a $1.5 billion unsecured revolving credit facility to support its global expansion. The three-year facility attracted commitments from 20 international banks, including eight new lenders from Europe, Asia, and North America.
The company holds investment-grade ratings of Baa2 (stable) from Moody’s Ratings and BBB (stable) from Fitch Ratings.
OPEC sees solid 2nd-half of 2025 for world economy, trims 2026 supply
LONDON/MOSCOW: OPEC said on Monday it expected the global economy to remain resilient in the second half of this year despite concerns about trade conflicts and trimmed its forecast for growth in oil supply from producers outside the wider OPEC+ group in 2026.
In a monthly report, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries left its forecasts for global oil demand growth unchanged in 2025 and 2026, after reductions in April, saying the economic outlook was robust despite trade concerns.
“The global economy has outperformed expectations so far in the first half of 2025,” OPEC said in the report.
“This strong base from the first half of 2025 is anticipated to provide support and sufficient momentum into a sound second half of 2025. However, the growth trend is expected to moderate slightly on a quarterly basis.”
OPEC also said supply from countries outside the Declaration of Cooperation — the formal name for OPEC+ — will rise by about 730,000 barrels per day in 2026, down 70,000 bpd from last month’s forecast.
Lower supply growth from outside OPEC+, which groups the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries plus Russia and other allies, would make it easier for the wider group to balance the market. Rapid growth from US shale and from other countries has weighed on prices in recent years. (
PIF earns perfect score on Global SWF Index
- Saudi fund led the group within EMEA
- It was the only Middle Eastern institution to reach a perfect score
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund earned a perfect score in the 2025 Global SWF Index, ranking it among just nine sovereign wealth funds worldwide for top governance, sustainability, and resilience.
The report from the sovereign investor benchmarking firm evaluates 200 of the world’s largest state-owned investment institutions across 25 indicators.
PIF’s flawless score this year marks a major milestone in its institutional development, following steady progress from 92 percent in 2023 to 96 percent in 2024. In contrast, the Saudi fund scored just 28 percent in 2020, according to Global SWF data.
In 2025, only nine sovereign investors globally achieved a full 100 percent score. Of those, three were based in the Europe–Middle East–Africa region: PIF, Ireland’s National Treasury Management Agency, and Nigeria’s Sovereign Investment Authority.
The Saudi fund led the group within EMEA and was the only Middle Eastern institution to reach a perfect score.
The 2024 report described PIF as “continuing to lead the charge,” highlighting that the fund voluntarily publishes an allocation and impact report as well as a self-assessment aligned with the Santiago Principles, despite not being a member of the International Forum of Sovereign Wealth Funds.
PIF’s sustainability strategy operates within the Kingdom’s broader drive for spending efficiency, a theme highlighted in a March analysis by PwC and Consultancy ME.
The report noted that public funds, anchored by institutions like PIF, are now being redirected toward high-impact sectors such as healthcare, tourism, and logistics, as well as artificial intelligence, combining fiscal prudence with strategic vision.
Moreover, a Strategy& whitepaper outlined how the nation is investing heavily in its energy transition — targeting approximately $235 billion toward renewables by 2030 and embedding efficiency mandates for state utilities — to support its net-zero ambitions and long-term economic resilience.
This alignment of sustainable investment and cost discipline reinforces PIF’s role in delivering value-driven transformation in line with Vision 2030.
The fund’s elevation to the top tier was driven by enhanced climate-risk disclosures, the launch of a dedicated sustainability report, strengthened board oversight, and the implementation of comprehensive business continuity frameworks.
These changes helped it secure full marks in all 25 areas of the GSR Scoreboard — 10 for governance, 10 for sustainability, and 5 for resilience.
With over $925 billion in assets under management, PIF is a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, investing across strategic sectors, including tourism and logistics, as well as AI and renewable energy. Its strong transparency credentials and environmental, social and governance alignment have helped it build trust with global partners and signal its readiness for large-scale cross-border investment.
According to the 2024 PIF Effect report, the fund’s strategic projects, ranging from green bond issuances to renewable energy infrastructure, have generated a significant impact throughout Saudi Arabia and the world, enhancing local job creation, technology transfer, and environmental outcomes.
A February analysis by Consultancy ME underscored how the Kingdom’s broader focus on “spending efficiency is driving growth and building resilience,” with PIF playing a central role by prioritizing cost-effective, high-impact initiatives aligned with Vision 2030 objectives.
The full 2025 GSR report will be released on July 1.
