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Middle East completes a dynamic decade of entrepreneurship

Careem’s three heads, Magnus Olsson, Abdullah Elyas and Mudassir Sheikha, were some of the biggest newsmakers of 2019. (Supplied photo)
Updated 13 July 2019
Rachel McArthur 
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Middle East completes a dynamic decade of entrepreneurship

  • Since 2009 the MENA region has steadily made its mark on the global entrepreneurship map
  • It will be difficult to beat ride-hailing app Uber acquisition of Careem for $3.1 billion this year
Updated 13 July 2019
Rachel McArthur 

BEIRUT:  Since 2009, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has come a long way in making its mark on the global entrepreneurship map. The following are some of the biggest milestones of the MENA ecosystem over the past decade as compiled by Arabnet, one of the region’s leading events and insights companies focused on technology business and innovation.

2009: Yahoo! buys Maktoob

In one of the region’s biggest transactions to date, Jordan’s Maktoob.com was acquired by Yahoo! in August 2009 for $164 million. Maktoob, founded in 1999 by Samih Toukan and Hussam Khoury, was the world’s first free Arabic/ English web-based email service, which grew to a major media portal with 16.5 million unique users.

 

2010: Middle East Venture Partners (MEVP) launches

Founded by Walid Hanna in Beirut, MEVP is a venture capital firm that invests in early and growth stages of companies, particularly focusing on start-ups in the Gulf and the Levant. It is known as the largest venture capital firm in MENA. MEVP has made 64 investments to date, including in The Luxury Closet, Magnitt and Volt Lines.

 

2010: Wamda goes live

Another very well-known name is Wamda, a MENA-based platform that accelerates entrepreneurship ecosystems throughout the Arab world. Launched by Fadi Ghandour and Habib Haddad, it also encompasses the venture capital fund Wamda Capital (launched in 2014), and the fellowship program Wamda X.

 

2011: Hello, Flat6Labs Cairo

Eight years on and Flat6Labs — a regional start-up accelerator program and seed investment company — has gone on to launch in Jeddah, Abu Dhabi, Tunis, Beirut and Bahrain, managing four seed funds worth a total $50 million. Flat6Labs has so far received more than 15,000 start-up applications from across the region and beyond.

 

2012: Anghami arrives

Beirut-based Eddy Maroun and Elie Habib decided to come up with a music streaming service to rival the likes of iTunes, but going a step further by providing unlimited Arabic and international music (Apple later stepped up its Arabic music portfolio). Anghami licenses music from major regional record labels such as Rotana, Platinum Records and Universal. It has so far raised $14.3 million in funding.

 

2012: Facebook comes to MENA

This was also the year Facebook arrived physically in the region, launching its first MENA office in Dubai. The move paid off. According to a report released two years ago, Facebook inccreased its active user base in the region by 264 percent from 45 million since opening its MENA base.

 

2013: RiseUp Summit launches in Egypt

Given the political instability, this was a year when many Egyptian youth had a pessimistic view of their future. Abdelhameed Sharara and Con O’Donnell wanted to change this, so they founded RiseUp Summit, dubbed the country’s largest entrepreneurship and innovation event. According to Entrepreneur ME magazine, RiseUp made 600,000 Egyptian pounds ($33,000) in revenue that first year. Six years on, that figure has grown to an estimated 23 million pounds ($1.25 million).

 

2014: A Lebanese success story

Before the Japanese recipe portal Cookpad announced its acquisition of Netsila, the Lebanese company behind Shahiya.com, it was worth $2.5 million. Post-announcement — in which Cookpad revealed it was buying it for $13.5 million — Netsila’s valuation jumped more than five times higher, resulting in an internal rate of return of almost 100 percent.

 

2015: Tweet, tweet MENA

Twitter’s MENA headquarters arrived in 2015, with the aim of increasing its ad sales and partnerships in the region. This month, CEO Jack Dorsey visited the UAE for the first time to launch — together with the UAE’s Youth Hub and Shamma Al-Mazrui, the minister of state for youth affair — the #YouthForGood philanthropic initiative. The meeting took place in the presence of Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, deputy ruler of Dubai.

 

2016: A year of firsts

This was quite a big year for the region, with many notable launches, including the Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority (Monsha’at) in Saudi Arabia, the Oman Technology Fund, MENA’s 500 Startups and the Dubai Future Foundation. To add to that, the UAE’s Careem raised $350 million, making it the Middle East’s first unicorn.

 

2017: Noon.com goes live

A local e-commerce giant to rival the likes of Amazon and Souq, Mohamed Alabbar, the Emaar Properties chairman, invested a mammoth $1 billion in Noon.com. “It’s the biggest risk in my life that I’ve taken,” said Alabbar at the 2019 edition of the TiE Dubai Summit. “For me to be able to even be brave enough, after making billions in my real estate business, I really (didn’t) have to go into digital. Why should I? (But) I cannot accept that our region will be taken over. I will not accept it.”

 

2017: Amazon completes its acquisition of Souq.com

Coincidentally, Alabbar had initially been interested in acquiring Souq.com, the online retailer founded in 2005. But it ended up going to Amazon for $580 million.

 

2018: Fintech goes mainstream

According to the business intelligence arm of Arabnet, MENA’s financial technology (fintech) start-ups exceeded 100 in 2018. The industry uses tech solutions to compete with traditional financial methods in delivering of financial services. Some of the region’s best-known fintech start-ups include PayTabs, Moneyfellows, Beehive and Yalla Compare.

 

2019

The top story to come out of 2019? It could well be March’s announcement that ride-hailing app Uber acquired its MENA counterpart Careem for $3.1 billion. This is to date the largest technology industry transaction in the Middle East.

 

• This report is being published by Arab News as a partner of the Middle East Exchange, which was launched by the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to reflect the vision of the UAE prime minister and ruler of Dubai to explore the possibility of changing the status of the Arab region.

 

 

Topics: MENA startups entrepreneurship

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Closing Bell: Saudi main index slips to close at 11,892

Updated 25 December 2024
REEM WALID 
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Closing Bell: Saudi main index slips to close at 11,892

  • Parallel market Nomu gained 86.66 points, or 0.28%, to close at 31,007.06
  • MSCI Tadawul Index lost 3.16 points, or 0.21%, to close at 1,493.74
Updated 25 December 2024
REEM WALID 

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index slipped on Wednesday, losing 21.63 points, or 0.18 percent, to close at 11,892.32.

The total trading turnover of the benchmark index was SR2.79 billion ($746 million), as 132 of the stocks advanced and 86 retreated. 

The Kingdom’s parallel market Nomu gained 86.66 points, or 0.28 percent, to close at 31,007.06. This comes as 49 of the listed stocks advanced, while 29 retreated. 

The MSCI Tadawul Index lost 3.16 points, or 0.21 percent, to close at 1,493.74. 

The best-performing stock of the day was Al-Baha Investment and Development Co., whose share price surged 8.33 percent to SR0.52. 

Other top performers included Red Sea International Co., whose share price rose 6.32 percent to SR60.60 and Saudi Industrial Development Co., whose share price surged 5.07 percent to SR30.05.

MBC Group Co. recorded the biggest drop, falling 3.31 percent to SR52.50.

Bawan Co. also saw its stock prices fall 3.05 percent to SR54.10.

Savola Group saw its stock prices drop 2.97 percent to SR35.90.

On the announcements front, Saudi Arabian Mining Co., also known as Ma’aden, has announced ‎acquiring a full stake of Mosaic Phosphate in Waad Al-Shamal Phosphate Co. 

According to a Tadawul statement, the financial impact of the acquisition will be reflected in the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ending Dec.31.

Ma’aden ended the session at SR49.20, up 0.61 percent.

Kingdom Holding Co. has announced the acquisition of an additional stake in xAI, with a total investment of SR 1.5 billion, as part of xAI’s Series C funding round. 

A bourse filing revealed that the transaction comes after KHC’s previous investment of the same amount in xAI during its Series B funding round. 

The move falls in line with KHC’s strategic collaboration with Elon Musk, and also follows its strategic stake in X, formerly known as Twitter, held since 2015. xAI is an artificial intelligence firm established by Elon Musk and a team of top-notch engineers to build AI to further accelerate human scientific discovery as a whole.

KHC ended the session at SR9.35, up 0.88 percent.

Bank Al-Jazira has announced its intention to issue Additional Tier 1 Sukuk under its SR 5 billion Additional Tier 1 Capital Sukuk Issuance Program by way of private placement in Saudi Arabia. 

According to a Tadawul statement, the bank has mandated Al-Jazira Capital, Al-Rajhi Capital and HSBC Saudi Arabia as joint lead managers and dealers for the potential offer. The filing further revealed that the purpose of the offer is to bolster the capital base of the bank, thereby backing its financial and strategic needs.

Bank Al-Jazira ended the session at SR18.64, up 0.21 percent.

Methanol Chemicals Co. has announced the approval of the Ministry of Energy’s request to renew the allocation of the required feedstock to produce several specialized petrochemical products. 

A bourse filing revealed that this follows the company’s Industrial Plot Allocation Agreement with Jubail and Yanbu Industrial Cities Services Co. in the PlasChem Park in Jubail (2) to establish and operate a Choline Chloride and Methyl Diethanolamine Methane plant.

Methanol Chemicals Co. ended the session at SR18.70, down 0.32 percent.

View United Real Estate Development Co. has signed a memorandum of understanding with Watheeq Capital to establish real estate funds to enhance investment opportunities.

According to a Tadawul statement, it will be valid from the date of its signature for one year, and will not be automatically renewed except by a written agreement signed between the two parties.

View United Real Estate Development Co. ended the session at SR68.50, down 0.70 percent.

Topics: Saudi Arabia Closing Bell TASI Tadawul MSCI Tadawul Index NOMU Saudi stock market Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) Tadawul All Share Index (TASI)

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MODON inks $453m in private sector deals to expand Saudi industrial cities

Updated 25 December 2024
Mohammed Al-Kinani 
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MODON inks $453m in private sector deals to expand Saudi industrial cities

Updated 25 December 2024
Mohammed Al-Kinani 

JEDDAH: Saudi industrial cities are set for further growth as the sector's authority revealed it has signed 23 development contracts with the private sector, valued at over SR1.7 billion ($453 million). 

The agreements, announced by the Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones, or MODON, encompass a wide range of projects aimed at boosting industrial capabilities.  

These include the expansion of industrial cities, the construction of ready-made factories, the enhancement of MODON’s safety and security systems, and initiatives aligned with the National Industry Strategy.  

Additionally, the projects will address water and irrigation needs, improve water treatment facilities, upgrade electricity services, and expand road networks. 

MODON’s latest contracts highlight the growing role of the private sector in supporting Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Vision 2030 goals, which emphasize economic diversification, local production, and the creation of an attractive environment for both domestic and foreign investment.  

The projects are expected to enhance the competitiveness of Saudi industrial cities, foster greater investment, and improve operational efficiency for businesses. 

The agreements will also contribute to regional development, improve environmental sustainability, and promote vegetation growth, MODON stated in a post on its X account. 

The development of these projects is in line with Saudi Arabia’s broader efforts to build a dynamic and innovative economy. 

This move follows a previous round of agreements in July, when MODON signed nine contracts valued at SR1 billion to enhance infrastructure and service facilities across various industrial hubs. Key initiatives from that round included the development of infrastructure in Makkah’s and Jeddah’s industrial cities and the installation of 132-kilovolt overhead power lines in Tabuk’s industrial city. 

Looking ahead, MODON plans further expansion with projects that will improve electrical services, such as the construction of 115-kV overhead power lines in Hafr Al-Batin’s industrial city. The authority is also focusing on enhancing infrastructure networks for the first and second phases of Dammam’s Third Industrial City. 

Since its establishment in 2001, MODON has overseen the development of 36 industrial cities and is responsible for managing both operational and under-construction industrial lands across the Kingdom.  

In the first quarter of 2024, MODON attracted SR3.4 billion in private sector investments, signed 142 new industrial contracts, and registered a total of 6,758 factories. 

As part of its commitment to sustainable growth, MODON also planted over 576,000 trees and finalized 335 logistics contracts, underscoring its broader environmental and economic development objectives.

Topics: MODON idustrial sector

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2.25m freelancers in Saudi Arabia join national economy

Updated 25 December 2024
MOHAMMED AL-KINANI
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2.25m freelancers in Saudi Arabia join national economy

  • The 25— 34 age group is particularly active in freelancing
  • 62% of freelancers hold bachelor’s degrees
Updated 25 December 2024
MOHAMMED AL-KINANI

JEDDAH: Freelancing is emerging as a key contributor to Saudi Arabia’s economy, with over 2.25 million individuals registered on the freelance platform by September.

This growth reflects the rising popularity of flexible work, supported by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development’s launch of the “Future Work” company in 2019 to enhance the freelancing ecosystem by promoting modern workstyles, including remote work and flexible-hour freelancing.

The company’s mission is to create more job opportunities, empower Saudi talent, and develop a labor market that complements traditional employment while aligning with global trends, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

Freelancers make a notable contribution to Saudi Arabia’s economy. In 2023, the sector contributed SR72.5 billion ($19 billion) to the gross domestic product, representing 2 percent of the Kingdom’s total output. This highlights its role in diversifying income sources and strengthening the national economy.

The initiative, along with other efforts, has contributed to reducing the Kingdom’s unemployment rates. Saudi Arabia has revised its unemployment target to 5 percent by 2030, down from the previous goal of 7 percent, as part of Vision 2030’s ambitions.

The progress was highlighted by Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Ahmed Al-Rajhi during a panel discussion at the Budget Forum 2024 in November, where he detailed the Kingdom’s strides in improving employment figures. Al-Rajhi said that the unemployment rate among Saudis was 12.8 percent in 2018, and it has recently dropped to 7.1 percent.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development issues freelance certificates to individuals specializing in specific fields, enabling them to work independently in activities approved by the ministry through the official freelance portal.

A recent report from Future Work highlights the sector’s rapid development and its alignment with Vision 2030. The report also emphasizes the diverse nature of freelance activities, with trade and retail leading at 38 percent, followed by industry at 13 percent and business services at 11 percent. The diversity demonstrates the sector’s adaptability to meet various economic needs.

Freelancing accommodates individuals with different educational backgrounds. According to the report, 62 percent of freelancers hold bachelor’s degrees, while 31 percent have high school diplomas or less, and 7 percent possess higher degrees.

Technology plays a pivotal role in the sector’s growth, with digital platforms becoming indispensable for freelancers, especially in fields like technology, information, and finance. These tools enhance productivity and connectivity, fostering sustainability and success in freelance careers.

Geographically, the Riyadh region accounts for the largest share of freelancers at 27 percent, followed by Makkah at 22 percent, and the Eastern Province at 14 percent.

The 25— 34 age group is particularly active in freelancing, reflecting the younger generation’s growing interest in this flexible career path.

The report said that 3.2 million women have expressed interest in joining the freelance market, underscoring the effectiveness of initiatives aimed at enabling women to balance professional and personal commitments.

Government programs like Reef, the Social Development Bank, and the Human Resources Development Fund further support freelancers by fostering an environment conducive to their growth and success, SPA reported.

Topics: Saudi Arabia freelancers Saudi freelance workforce Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD) Saudi employment

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Saudi Arabia’s food & beverage sales drive $3.14bn in consumer spending

Updated 25 December 2024
Nour El-Shaeri  
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Saudi Arabia’s food & beverage sales drive $3.14bn in consumer spending

  • Restaurants and cafes topped the list with SR1.69 billion in transactions: SAMA data
Updated 25 December 2024
Nour El-Shaeri  

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s consumer spending reached SR11.8 billion ($3.14 billion) in the week of Dec. 15 to Dec. 21, with the food and beverage sectors continuing to lead in sales, official data showed. 

Despite an overall decline of 8.1 percent from the previous week, key sectors, especially dining and food, showed consistent performance, according to data from the Saudi Central Bank, also known as SAMA.  

The restaurants and cafes sector topped the list with SR1.69 billion in transactions, despite a 13.9 percent weekly dip. Food and beverage spending followed closely, settling at SR1.69 billion as well, reflecting a 9 percent decrease. These categories, however, maintained their dominance in consumer expenditure. 

The overall decrease in consumer spending is attributed to the timing of salary disbursements, traditionally paid on the 27th of each month, which typically leads to lower spending in the preceding weeks.  

Additionally, the winter holiday season, during which many expatriates travel home, further influenced the dip in domestic spending. 

Other sectors saw more moderate drops. The value of clothing and footwear transactions fell by 5.2 percent to SR864.15 million, while construction and building materials recorded a small 0.9 percent decline, totaling SR355 million.  

The electronics and electric devices sector saw an 8.7 percent weekly decrease in value, while gas stations and health-related sales also experienced declines of 9.4 percent and 7.3 percent, respectively. 

Jewelry sales recorded a 14.4 percent drop in transaction volumes, with a slight 3.9 percent decrease in value. Miscellaneous goods and services saw a 9.1 percent reduction in sales, totaling SR1.4 billion. 

Regional breakdown  

Regionally, Riyadh remained the largest market with a POS value of SR4.2 billion, although this represented a 6 percent decrease compared to the previous week.  

Jeddah saw a 7.5 percent drop to SR1.6 billion, while Dammam recorded a slight 3.6 percent decline to SR617.5 million. 

Among smaller cities, Hail experienced the largest decrease, with spending down 14.8 percent to SR169.6 million, and a 12.2 percent reduction in transaction volumes. Makkah recorded a 4.4 percent decline in value, settling at SR502.8 million, while Tabuk saw a 12.8 percent decrease in transaction value to SR210.4 million. 

Despite the seasonal slowdown, the food and beverage sectors continue to drive the market, maintaining a steady pace as consumer behavior shifts with the winter season. 

Topics: SAMA point of sales

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Saudi Arabia leverages project management to achieve Vision 2030 milestones

Updated 25 December 2024
MANAL AL-BARAKATI
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Saudi Arabia leverages project management to achieve Vision 2030 milestones

Updated 25 December 2024
MANAL AL-BARAKATI

RIYADH: In Saudi Arabia’s pursuit of the ambitious goals set out in Vision 2030, project management has emerged as a key enabler, ensuring that planning aligns seamlessly with execution to achieve transformative outcomes.

This vital discipline is playing a crucial role in turning visionary ideas into reality, as highlighted during a prominent forum held on Tuesday.

The event emphasized the central role of project management in realizing Vision 2030, a comprehensive framework launched in 2016 by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The vision aims to diversify the economy and reduce the Kingdom’s dependence on oil. Currently, over 5,000 projects, valued at $5 trillion, are underway, signaling Saudi Arabia's substantial progress in reshaping both its economic and social landscapes.

“Project management is the bridge where vision meets ambition, converting plans into tangible results,” said Badr Burshaid, chairman of the Global Project Management Forum.

He also pointed to the Kingdom's significant investment in human capital, particularly through initiatives such as the Human Capability Development Program, which has placed Saudi Arabia among the top 10 nations globally in equipping professionals with essential business skills.

The forum highlighted the importance of strategic execution in driving economic transformation.

Badr Al-Dulami, deputy minister of transport and logistics services for roads affairs, described project management as the “pulse of transformation,” underscoring its role in fostering competitiveness and innovation.

“This summit is not just an event but a platform for uniting expertise and driving collaboration,” Al-Dulami said.

During the forum, excellence awards were presented to pioneering projects that exemplify Vision 2030’s focus on innovation, sustainability, and impactful outcomes.

Al-Dulami noted that these awards serve as an invitation to explore new horizons of creativity while staying aligned with national objectives.

Saudi Arabia’s success under Vision 2030 is evident across several key sectors. With 87 percent of initiatives either completed or on track, the Kingdom has made significant strides in improving its business environment, generating employment, and advancing major projects like NEOM and the Red Sea Project.

These achievements not only demonstrate Saudi Arabia’s strategic capabilities but also highlight its leadership in executing large-scale initiatives.

In closing, Burshaid urged participants to harness the insights and momentum gained from the forum to ensure continued progress.

“The seeds planted today will grow into achievements that inspire future generations,” he said, encouraging stakeholders to prioritize innovation and collaboration as Saudi Arabia moves forward.

With project management at the heart of Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia is setting a global benchmark for strategic execution and sustainable development, solidifying its role as a leader in transformative growth.

Topics: project management SaudiVision2030

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