RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has staked its position as the leading force behind the growth of the Middle East’s sports industry, according to a report by the US-Saudi Business Council.
The contribution of sports to Saudi Arabia’s gross domestic product grew from SR2.4 billion ($640 million) in 2016 to SR6.5 billion in 2019, driven by the Kingdom’s status as the largest and most populous country in the GCC, with more than two-thirds of the population under 35, along with its Vision 2030 commitment to develop sports as a key non-oil industry.
That figure is expected to grow to SR18 billion by 2030, according to the Kingdom’s Ministry of Sports.
The latest figures released in 2020 before the pandemic showed participation of Saudi citizens in sports rose from 13 percent to 20 percent following the launch of the Quality of Life program, according to the General Authority for Statistics (GAStat).
The government aims to raise this to 40 percent by 2030 through investment in sporting facilities, expansion of women’s and children’s sports education and training, and raising the national profile of Saudi Arabia as a sporting destination.
Saudi Vision 2030 has opened new opportunities in the sports industry for local and international firms as part of efforts to boost Saudi youth participation in sports, utilize the private sector to address infrastructure and knowledge gaps, and pursue a national reputation for leadership in sports.
The Kingdom currently has SR11 billion of major sports projects planned or under construction. These include mega-projects such as NEOM, Qiddiya, AMAALA, AlUla, and the Riyadh City project as well as municipal projects that include a new motor park at King Abdullah Economic City and construction of new recreational and university fitness facilities.
These projects employ a range of companies, including local construction firms, international design and consulting firms, international EPC firms, and leading sports bodies with specific domain knowledge.
“Most of the economic benefits will flow to Saudi companies, which do the majority of business associated with sports in the Kingdom. This includes construction, facilities management and project logistics. However, foreign companies and associations are actively partnering with Saudi firms to elevate specific sports domains,” said Albara’a Alwazir, director of economic research at the US-Saudi Business Council.
“Saudi Arabia’s mega-project pipeline will continue to provide numerous projects and job opportunities for sports infrastructure. As talent identification and development programs become more established, demand for sporting goods, facilities and international investment will increase. Large developments such as Qiddiya and the Riyadh Sports Boulevard are expected to produce tens of thousands of jobs during construction, and also provide permanent job opportunities in sports and tourism for Saudi nationals.”
Women’s sports, in particular, represent a significant economic opportunity for local and international firms to address a growing and underdeveloped market segment. The sports ministry estimates that female participation in sports has increased by nearly 150 percent in the past five years. According to a 2019 GAStat survey, 10 percent of men who did not take part in sports cited lack of facilities as a reason compared with 25 percent of women, highlighting a market opportunity for sports and fitness companies.
Saudi Arabia also launched a SR15 billion Tourism Development Fund in June 2020 to develop the sector in collaboration with private and investment banks. With tourism envisioned as a new pillar of the Kingdom’s non-oil economy, sports tourism will be a key element of this strategy from smaller scale amenity development to multibillion-dollar mega-projects.
Since 2016, the Kingdom has actively bid to host major international sporting events and sought to attract international investment by developing venues for sports that are popular with Saudi audiences. Soccer, boxing and wrestling are particularly popular with Saudi audiences and have been among the top international events held in Saudi Arabia.
The Kingdom is expected to continue pursuing opportunities to host sporting events as well as sports that cater to the natural advantages of the Saudi landscape such as desert sports in AlUla and water sports at NEOM and the Red Sea project.
While Saudi Arabia holds high ambitions for its competitiveness in professional sports under Vision 2030, recreational and tourism-related sports represent a broader array of activities and a sustainable market opportunity to build a new pillar of the country’s non-oil economy.
Saudi Arabia leads region with surge in sporting investment
https://arab.news/g5jss
Saudi Arabia leads region with surge in sporting investment
- Sector’s value will soar to SR18 billion by 2030, ministry figures reveal
Riyadh Air signs 11 deals to boost global reach and promote Saudi culture and hospitality
- The airline, which is preparing to begin operations, plans to connect with more than 100 cities by 2030 and contribute $20bn to the Kingdom’s economy between now and then
- Senior VP Osamah Al-Nuaiser said the deals will help deliver exceptional travel experiences across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Australia and New Zealand
JEDDAH: New Saudi airline Riyadh Air signed 11 strategic agreements this week it said will expand its global footprint, elevate the travel experience, and help promote the Kingdom’s culture and hospitality.
The deals, finalized during the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai, which began on Monday and concluded on Thursday, involve sales and distribution service providers in more than 125 countries.
Riyadh Air, which is owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, aims to connect with more than 100 international cities by 2030, and contribute more than $20 billion to the Kingdom’s economy between now and then, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.
The airline said it plans to enhance the travel experience by leveraging digital technologies to streamline bookings and airport procedures, thereby catering to the country’s young, tech-savvy population, as previously highlighted by CEO Tony Douglas.
Osamah Al-Nuaiser, senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications at Riyadh Air, said the agreements signed this week reflect the airline’s commitment to becoming a global leader in aviation.
They are designed to build long-term, mutually beneficial relationships that help deliver exceptional travel experiences across Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, he added.
As authorities in the Kingdom continue to invest billions into massive development projects as they work to diversify the national economy and reduce its reliance on hydrocarbons, one of their goals is to gain a larger share of the global travel market, including business travel.
Riyadh Air received approval from the Kingdom’s General Authority of Civil Aviation in April to begin flight operations. It was granted its Air Operator Certificate after fulfilling all regulatory, safety, and operational requirements, marking a key milestone in the run-up to the official launch of commercial flights.
Riyadh Air said the flexibility offered by the adoption of the most modern technologies, free from the constraints of legacy systems, will enable the airline to innovate with agility and offer seamless booking, distribution and other services across its global network.
Douglas said recently that the startup is ready to purchase Boeing aircraft originally ordered by Chinese airlines, should they become available as a result of the escalating US-China trade dispute.
The fledgling airline has also placed major orders of its own with manufacturers, including a deal in October last year for 60 narrow-body A321-family jets from Airbus, and another in March 2023 for up to 72 Boeing 787 Dreamliners.
PIF announces pricing of $1.25 billion international sukuk offering
- The sukuk will be listed on the London Stock Exchange’s International Securities Market
- PIF’s Ahmed Alrobayan said: ‘The strong investor demand for this new sukuk offering underscores PIF’s robust credit profile’
RIYADH: The Public Investment Fund on Thursday announced the pricing of a $1.25 billion sukuk offering, with the proceeds of the dollar-denominated offering to be used for PIF’s general corporate purposes.
The seven-year sukuk was more than 6.5 times oversubscribed, with orders exceeding $9 billion, according to a media statement.
The sukuk will be listed on the London Stock Exchange’s International Securities Market as part of PIF’s international sukuk issuance program.
Ahmed Alrobayan, head of public markets, global capital finance, at PIF, said: “The strong investor demand for this new sukuk offering underscores PIF’s robust credit profile, along with its role as a key driver of Saudi Arabia’s economic transformation.”
The transaction represents a continuation of the established and diversified financing strategy, which draws strong support from international investors, Alrobayan said.
PIF’s long-term capital-raising strategy includes a diverse range of instruments, including sukuk and bond programs.
PIF has completed its inaugural murabaha credit facility since earlier this year, and last August renewed a revolving credit facility.
PIF is rated Aa3 by Moody’s with a stable outlook, and A+ by Fitch, also with a stable outlook.
Qassim region sees 25% growth in business sector over 7 years: Ministry of Commerce
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s Qassim region has experienced 25 percent growth in its business sector over the past seven years, reflecting increased economic activity and contributing to the Kingdom’s goal of balanced development.
The number of commercial records in the central region rose from 68,000 in 2018 to 85,000 by the end of the first quarter of this year, the Ministry of Commerce reported in a post on its official X account.
The latest figures showed that the Qassim region saw 1,342 e-commerce registrations, contributing to the overall 6 percent year-on-year increase in the sector.
The increase comes as the Kingdom pushes ahead with its economic diversification strategy, aiming to increase the private sector’s share of the gross domestic product from 40 percent to 65 percent by 2030.
This effort is reflected in a 60 percent increase in commercial registrations in 2024 across the Kingdom, with a total of 521,969 records issued, according to the Ministry of Commerce.
Business registrations continued to rise in early 2025, with 154,638 commercial records issued in the first quarter alone, representing a 48 percent year-on-year increase.
The ministry report highlighted “critical sectors” for the Kingdom include technology, tourism, and entertainment, as well as research and development.
The report added: “These sectors offer businesses significant opportunities to grow and expand partnerships.”
According to the Ministry of Commerce, a commercial registration certificate verifies a business’s official status within Saudi Arabia. These records are essential for operating in the Kingdom, as they are required to open a bank account, hire employees, sign contracts, and conduct other business activities.
The data also showed that 71 percent of the total commercial records issued were concentrated in three key regions: Riyadh, Makkah, and the Eastern Province.
This surge in registrations aligns with recent reforms to Saudi Arabia’s business registration system, including the introduction of the new Commercial Register Law and Trade Names Law.
Subsidiary registers have also been abolished, meaning that one commercial register now covers all businesses, and companies no longer need to specify the city of registration, as a single enrollment is now valid nationwide.
The bulletin also revealed that 45 percent of the total commercial records issued to institutions are owned by women.
In an interview with Arab News in April on the sidelines of the Human Capability Initiative held in the capital, Zeger Degraeve, dean of Prince Mohammed Bin Salman College of Business & Entrepreneurship, emphasized that ensuring balanced regional development is crucial as Saudi Arabia accelerates its economic diversification efforts under Vision 2030.
The rise in business registrations in Qassim is aligning with its growing industrial sector, supported by its rich mineral resources, which are a key focus of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 diversification plan.
The region’s SR122 billion ($32.5 billion) in untapped mineral wealth, including significant deposits of gold, copper, zinc, and phosphate, contributes to the area’s industrial development, which has seen substantial growth.
Closing Bell: Saudi main index closes in red at 11,543
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index dipped on Thursday, losing 127.90 points, or 1.10 percent, to close at 11,543.67.
The total trading turnover of the benchmark index was SR5.09 billion ($1.35 billion), as 52 stocks advanced, while 193 retreated.
The MSCI Tadawul Index decreased by 16.97 points, or 1.14 percent, to close at 1,471.91.
The Kingdom’s parallel market Nomu also dipped, losing 147.4 points, or 0.52 percent, to close at 28,129.77. This came as 32 stocks rose, while 41 fell.
The best-performing stock on the main index was Saudi Printing and Packaging Co., with its share price surging by 6.18 percent to SR13.06.
Saudi Cement Co. saw the steepest decline on the main index in Thursday’s session, with its share price slipping 5.75 percent to SR43.40.
In a bourse filing, Banque Saudi Fransi announced that it has completed its $650 million offering of US dollar-denominated Additional Tier 1 capital notes.
The issuance, conducted under the bank’s Additional Tier 1 Capital Note Programme, was offered to eligible investors in Saudi Arabia and internationally, with settlement set for May 7.
The notes were issued at a return of 6.375 percent per annum and are perpetual in nature, with a call option exercisable after six years. A total of 3,250 notes were issued, each with a par value of $200,000.
According to the bank, the instruments may be redeemed prior to the scheduled call date under certain conditions outlined in the base offering circular.
The notes will be listed on the International Securities Market of the London Stock Exchange and were offered in reliance on Regulation S under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
The bank’s share price traded 0.54 percent lower on the main market to reach SR18.30.
Halwani Bros. Co. also announced its interim financial results for the first three months of the year, with net profit amounting to SR11.51 million, a 4.58 percent decline compared to the previous quarter last year.
The company attributed the decrease to higher general and administrative expenses, as well as increased selling and distribution costs. It also said that this was due to an increase in other income as a result of the reversal of provisions that are no longer needed.
Halwani Bros. Co’s share price traded 0.52 percent lower on the main market to reach SR47.95.
In the first quarter of 2025, Fourth Milling Co’s net profit rose 25.154 percent quarter on quarter to SR52.6 million, according to a filing on the stock exchange.
The group attributed the increase to sales growing by 2 percent, amounting to an increase of SR3.4 million, and zakat and tax payments decreasing by SR1.4 million.
The company’s share price traded 0.25 percent lower on the main market to reach SR3.97.
Saudi Steel Pipe Co. also announced its interim financial results for the first three months of the year, with net profit amounting to SR69 million, an 81.57 percent surge compared to the previous quarter.
The company attributed the increase to higher volume, improved efficiency and product mix of products sold, and administrative expenses decreased to SR14 million in the first quarter 2025 from SR19 million in the fourth 2024.
The company’s share price traded 0.18 percent higher on the main market to reach SR56.10.
Arab Monetary Fund reports 4.3% annual gains across region’s stock markets
RIYADH: Stock markets across the Middle East and North Africa began 2025 on a strong note, with the Arab Monetary Fund Composite Index rising 4.37 percent year over year, according to a new report.
On a quarterly basis, the index — which tracks the performance of 16 Arab stock markets— posted a 1.55 percent increase, reflecting investor confidence amid shifting global monetary policy and geopolitical headwinds.
The figures were released as part of the AMF’s quarterly bulletin, which noted that sectors such as banking, real estate, and basic materials, as well as transportation, and financial services performed well, contributing to gains in several markets.
The strong performance comes amid reforms across Arab markets to deepen liquidity and attract foreign investment. Saudi Arabia’s Capital Market Authority is advancing its 2024-2026 strategy to elevate its global market position and enhance investor safeguards, while Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange recently launched the “New ADX Group”— a market infrastructure overhaul aligned with the emirate’s long-term economic vision.
In its report, the AMF said: “This performance unfolded amid a tightening global monetary policy environment during the first quarter of 2025, as most central banks, both globally and across the Arab region, adopted a cautious approach to monetary easing following the US Federal Reserve’s decision to keep interest rates steady.”
The fund highlighted that while some Arab exchanges saw notable gains, others experienced declines.
Casablanca Stock Exchange led the region with a 20.19 percent rise in its index, driven by strong performances in the banking and telecommunications sectors.
Tunisia and Kuwait followed with increases of 10.25 percent and 9.66 percent, respectively, while Egyptian Exchange and Amman Stock Exchange posted gains of 7.68 percent and 6.12 percent.
However, not all markets fared as well. Saudi Stock Exchange, the largest in the region by market capitalization, saw a slight decline of 0.10 percent, while Abu Dhabi Securities Market and Palestine Exchange recorded drops of 0.53 percent and 0.46 percent, respectively.
Beirut Stock Exchange faced the steepest decline, plummeting by 12.69 percent, attributed to ongoing economic challenges in Lebanon.
Despite Lebanon’s ongoing economic crisis since 2019, recent data from the Central Administration of Statistics shows signs of easing inflationary pressures.
The annual inflation rate dropped sharply to 14.2 percent in March, down from 70.36 percent a year earlier — a notable improvement attributed largely to the stabilization of the Lebanese pound, which has held steady at approximately 89,500 Lebanese pounds per US dollar since mid-2023.
Market capitalization and trading activity
The total market capitalization of Arab stock markets decreased by 1.45 percent in the first quarter of 2025, reaching $4.32 trillion, down by $63.77 billion compared to the last quarter of 2024.
This decline was primarily due to significant losses in the Abu Dhabi and Saudi markets, which shed $18.23 billion and $75.06 billion, respectively.
In contrast, Casablanca Stock Exchange added $21.26 billion to its market value, while Kuwait Stock Exchange saw an increase of $13.77 billion.
Trading values also reflected this mixed performance. Total trading value across Arab markets fell by 2.60 percent to $250.53 billion.
Kuwait Stock Exchange stood out with a 45.09 percent surge in trading value, reaching $21.95 billion. This strong performance builds on 2024’s momentum, when 113 out of 142 listed companies reported profits, as highlighted in an Al-Shall Consulting report.
Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi Securities Market saw a 31 percent drop in trading value.
Sectoral performance and global influences
Global factors played a significant role in shaping market trends, with sectors scuh as insurance, consumer services, and media faced declines. “The cautious monetary policies of most global and Arab central banks, following the US Federal Reserve’s decision to stabilize interest rates, positively impacted lending and financing stability,” the study stated.
However, it also warned that “the escalation of US trade policies, including new tariffs, has raised concerns about slowing international trade and rising production costs, which could directly affect global growth expectations, inflation rates, and investor confidence.”
Geopolitical tensions and fluctuations in oil prices further influenced market dynamics. “Oil prices experienced significant volatility during the first quarter of 2025 due to escalating geopolitical tensions and increased production from some countries, impacting markets closely tied to oil and affecting liquidity and the performance of the energy sector,” the AMF explained.
Individual market highlights
Saudi Stock Exchange, which accounts for 61.13 percent of the total market capitalization of Arab exchanges, saw its value drop to $2.64 trillion. The media and utilities sectors were among the worst performers, declining by 31 percent and 13 percent, respectively.
Despite the recent dip, Saudi Arabia’s capital markets remain a regional powerhouse.
Speaking at February’s Capital Markets Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Exchange CEO Mohammed Al-Rumaih said: “2024 was a great year for us. We did more than 55 listings; around 45 in the equity market, 13 on the main market, which doubled compared to 2023, and the rest in the parallel market. It put us as No.1 not just in the region, but globally as the fastest-growing exchange in the world.”
Egyptian Exchange rose by 7.68 percent, with trading volumes surging by 27.28 percent, reflecting renewed investor confidence.
Kuwait Stock Exchange outperformed other Gulf markets, with its index climbing 9.66 percent, supported by robust activity in the banking sector.
Casablanca Stock Exchange’s 20.19 percent jump was fueled by gains in electricity, mining, and telecom stocks, with firms like Attijariwafa Bank and Maroc Telecom leading the charge.
Risks and outlook
The report cautioned that several risks could destabilize Arab and global markets in the coming months.
“Potential risks include trade-related pressures linked to tariffs, a possible global economic slowdown, rising inflation, fluctuations in oil prices, high debt levels in some Arab economies, and geopolitical tensions,” it stated.
Despite the relative stability of Arab exchanges in the inaugural quarter of 2025, these factors could pose challenges to future performance.
The AMF also emphasized the importance of continued cooperation among Arab markets to enhance integration and support economic growth in the region.
“The Fund hopes that these efforts will contribute to developing cooperation and integration among Arab financial markets, serving common interests and promoting economic growth in the Arab region,” the analysis concluded.
