Search form

You are here

  • Home
  • Federation of Saudi Chambers a catalyst for economic growth and international cooperation, experts agree


Federation of Saudi Chambers a catalyst for economic growth and international cooperation, experts agree

A meeting at the Federation of Saudi Chambers’s headquarters in January. File/SPA
Short Url

https://arab.news/w8sdy

Updated 12 July 2024
MIGUEL HADCHITY 
Follow

Federation of Saudi Chambers a catalyst for economic growth and international cooperation, experts agree

Updated 12 July 2024
MIGUEL HADCHITY 

RIYADH: Reestablishing a business council with Canada after a five-year hiatus is the latest example of the pivotal role the Federation of Saudi Chambers is playing in facilitating international trade, experts have insisted.

On July 7 it was announced that Mohammed bin Nasser Al-Duleim would be chairman of the Saudi-Canadian Business Council – six months after the two nations inked an agreement to restart the body.

The reestablishment of the council is the latest in a plan spearheaded by the Federation of Saudi Chambers to boost the Kingdom’s international trading relationships as part of the Vision 2030 economic diversification plan. 

In January, the federation’s president, Hassan Al-Huwaizi, announced that the number of Saudi foreign business councils had reached 70, including with major global economic players such as China, the US, Japan, and the UK, as well as South Korea, Bahrain, and the UAE.

Other countries with whom councils are established include Germany, Italy, and France.

In an interview with Arab News, economist Mahmoud Khairy said these organizations allow enhanced communication by providing a platform for continuous dialogue between participating nations, help facilitate a better understanding of each other’s economic policies and interests, and promote transparency and trust in trade relationships.

He added: “Through these platforms, countries can work together on various trade-related issues such as tariff reduction, standardization of regulations, and investment facilitation.

“Collaborating with various countries through these platforms can attract foreign investors looking to tap into the Saudi market, driving investment inflows and supporting the country’s economic development goals.”

Reflecting on the latest move involving Canada, Khairy said: “The Federation of Saudi Chambers plays a pivotal role in facilitating international trade and economic cooperation, particularly highlighted by the announcement to restart the business council with Canada.”

In 2022 Saudi Arabia was Canada’s leading two-way trading partner in the Middle East and North Africa region and ranked 23rd globally. 

The merchandise trade between the two countries totaled approximately $5.1 billion, with Canadian exports at $1.3 billion and imports from Saudi Arabia at $3.8 billion.

Established in 1980, the Federation of Saudi Chambers is the umbrella and only legitimate representative of the Saudi business community – and 28 chambers – in all its various groups, sectors and regions, according to its website.

It facilitates bilateral trade, business dialogues, and policy advocacy, promoting investment and collaboration in energy, technology, healthcare, and education to enhance economic ties and streamline processes for foreign investors..

The objectives of the international councils include enhancing awareness among Saudi and foreign private sectors about economic environments and investment opportunities across their respective countries. 

They aim to foster communication with stakeholders to enhance cooperation and address obstacles, facilitate amicable resolutions of commercial disputes, and emphasize training programs, technical transfers, and knowledge rights. 

The councils also focus on identifying tax laws, publishing annual investment climate reports, and promoting mutual business visits, conferences, exhibitions, and economic projects to strengthen bilateral economic relations.

Saudi-based economist Talat Hafiz echoed the sentiments of Khairy, saying that expanding the Kingdom’s businesses’ through councils will support its non-oil gross domestic product by improving exports.

He flagged potential problems to expanding business networks abroad that are common to any international growth plan, such as cost of export and imports and currency fluctuations.

“However, these challenges can be easily managed by examining the economic viability of any expansion to ensure its viability and success,” he concluded.

Hafiz emphasized that the FSC plays a crucial role in enhancing and taking the trading relationships between Saudi Arabia and other countries to the next level.

Saudi-Canada trade

The Saudi-Canadian Business Council will serve as a platform for business leaders from the countries to showcase and promote their activities. It will facilitate the establishment of trade partnerships, exploration of new areas of economic cooperation, and exchange of information on opportunities and markets in both countries, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

“Bilateral relations between Canada and Saudi Arabia include common interests on many peace and security issues, including energy security, humanitarian affairs, and counter-terrorism,” said Ahmed Samir Islam, president and executive director at Canada Saudi Business Council – a Toronto-based organization that operates in partnership with the Riyadh-located Saudi Canadian Business Council.

Islam emphasized that the Canadian society is “very proud of the contribution it is making to educate some of the future leaders of Saudi society, including its very talented group of Saudi physicians as well as exceptional students of other disciplines.”

Khairy flagged other areas where both countries can learn from each other, including digital healthcare, artificial intelligence, and energy, as well as venture capital, and consultancy.

The economist went on to note that while Saudi Arabia has become the second largest market for Canadian exports in the Middle East, there is “huge room for the economic and trading relationship to grow further in the future.”

Hafiz also highlighted specific areas of the economy that are set to benefit, citing the industrial, tourism, technologies, education, and health sectors.

“This in turn will over time reflect positively on the two countries’ economy and bilateral trade,” he added.

The trade relationship between the Kingdom and the northern American country included significant arms exports, with Saudi Arabia being the top non-US destination for Canadian military goods in 2022. These exports were primarily composed of light-armored vehicles equipped with machine guns and anti-tank cannons.

Topics: main Federation of Saudi Chambers

Related

Business & Economy
Saudi-Canadian Business Council resumes after 5-year hiatus

Saudi Arabia leads MENA startup funding in April with $158.5m  

Updated 05 May 2025
Nour El-Shaeri
Follow

Saudi Arabia leads MENA startup funding in April with $158.5m  

Updated 05 May 2025
Nour El-Shaeri

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia led startup funding across the Middle East and North Africa in April 2025, attracting $158.5 million across eight deals — accounting for more than two-thirds of the region’s total investment for the month. 

The Kingdom’s dominant performance was largely driven by iMENA Group’s $135 million pre-initial public offering round, placing it ahead of the UAE, which followed with $62 million raised across nine startups. 

In total, MENA startups secured $228.4 million in April through 26 deals, marking a 105 percent increase from March and nearly triple the amount raised in April 2024, according to Wamda’s monthly report.  

Notably, the month’s funding activity featured no debt financing.

“Interestingly, the absence of debt-financed deals in April highlights growing investor confidence in equity-based funding — a trend reflecting a healthier capital environment,” the report stated.  

Morocco ranked third regionally, raising $4 million across two startups, while Egypt lagged behind with just $1.5 million secured by four companies. 

Early-stage ventures led in deal volume, bringing in $49 million through 20 transactions. Late-stage activity was concentrated entirely in iMENA’s pre-IPO round. 

By sector, fintech remained the top draw for investors, attracting $44 million across seven transactions. Traveltech also gained momentum, driven by HRA Experience’s deal, while e-commerce startups raised $2.5 million across three deals. 

Software-as-a-service ventures made a comeback after a quiet first quarter, securing $1.8 million from three transactions.  

In terms of business models, business-to-business startups dominated, raising $180 million across 12 deals.  

Business-to-consumer ventures followed with $43 million from seven transactions, while six companies operating both B2B and B2C models accounted for the rest of the disclosed funding. 

Gender disparities in startup funding persisted in April. Female-led startups secured less than $500,000 in total, while male-founded ventures captured 97 percent of all disclosed capital. Startups co-founded by men and women raised an additional $6.5 million. 

Topics: Investment MENA Saudi Arabia

Closing Bell: Saudi main index closes in green at 11,422 

Updated 05 May 2025
Miguel Hadchity
Follow

Closing Bell: Saudi main index closes in green at 11,422 

Updated 05 May 2025
Miguel Hadchity

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index rose on Monday, gaining 11.45 points, or 0.10 percent, to close at 11,422.95. 

The total trading turnover of the benchmark index was SR5.21 billion ($1.39 billion), as 153 stocks advanced, while 84 retreated. 

The Kingdom’s parallel market, Nomu, also rose, gaining 129.67 points, or 0.46 percent, to close at 28,142.99. This comes as 41 of the listed stocks advanced, while 33 retreated. 

The MSCI Tadawul Index increased by 4.27 points, or 0.29 percent, to close at 1,455.44. 

The best-performing stock was Mouwasat Medical Services Co., with its share price surging 9.97 percent to SR78.30. 

Other top performers included Fawaz Abdulaziz Alhokair Co., which saw its share price rise 9.92 percent to SR14.18, and Saudi Reinsurance Co., which posted a 9.71 percent gain to reach SR53.10. 

Umm Al Qura for Development and Construction Co. recorded the day’s steepest decline, with its share price slipping 3.47 percent to SR25.05.   

Sahara International Petrochemical Co. and Saudi Steel Pipe Co. also saw declines, with their shares dropping by 2.82 percent and 2.58 percent to SR17.90 and SR52.90, respectively.   

On the announcements front, Ades Holding Co. reported interim financial results for the first three months of the year, posting a net profit of SR196.6 million — a 6.3 percent decline compared to the previous quarter. It said that the drop in net profit reflects an increased ratio of depreciation and tax costs to revenue in this period.   

The company’s total comprehensive income saw a 45.7 percent quarter-on-quarter decrease in the first quarter of 2025 to reach SR170.8 million.  

Ades Holding Co.’s share price traded 0.94 percent lower on the main market during today’s session to reach SR14.78.   

In another announcement, Makkah Construction and Development Co. reported a 32.7 percent year-on-year increase in net profit for the same period, reaching SR150 million.   

The company credited the growth to higher revenues from the hotel and towers this quarter, driven by the inclusion of the last nine days of Ramadan, increased mall revenues, and gains from financial assets classified at fair value through profit or loss.   

Similarly, the company’s total comprehensive income rose to SR758 during the quarter, up from SR576 last year.   

The MCDC’s share price traded 1.5 percent higher to reach SR108.20. 

Topics: TASI MSCI NOMU stocks

Saudi Arabia posts $15.6bn budget deficit in Q1 with resilient non-oil growth

Updated 05 May 2025
Dayan Abou Tine
Follow

Saudi Arabia posts $15.6bn budget deficit in Q1 with resilient non-oil growth

Updated 05 May 2025
Dayan Abou Tine

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia recorded a deficit of SR58.7 billion ($15.65 billion) in the first quarter of 2025, driven by declining oil revenues and increased spending to support Vision 2030 development initiatives, according to the Finance Ministry.

According to the quarterly budget performance report, total revenues reached SR263.61 billion, marking a 10.16 percent decline compared to the same period last year.

The drop is primarily attributed to reduced oil revenues, which fell 17.65 percent year on year to SR149.81 billion, driven by ongoing OPEC+ production cuts that curbed export volumes despite relatively steady global oil prices.

Oil income accounted for 56 percent of total government revenues, down from 62 percent in Q1 2024.

In contrast, non-oil revenues continued to grow modestly, rising 2.06 percent to SR113.81 billion, underpinned by structural economic reforms and the Kingdom’s diversification agenda under Vision 2030.

Taxation on goods and services remained the largest contributor to non-oil income, generating SR71.56 billion—up 2.37 percent year on year. Other non-oil revenue sources, including fees and investment returns, added SR25.41 billion, making up 22.3 percent of the non-oil total.

Total government expenditures in the quarter rose 5.39 percent year on year to SR322.32 billion. The increase reflects Saudi Arabia’s continued investment in strategic initiatives and priority development projects aligned with Vision 2030 goals.

Compensation for government employees remained the largest expenditure category, totaling SR146.09 billion—an annual increase of 6.24 percent—and accounting for 45.3 percent of total spending.

Expenditures on goods and services amounted to SR64.63 billion, or 20 percent of the quarterly total, while capital spending represented 8.6 percent. Other operational costs comprised 10.6 percent.

The first quarter deficit was entirely financed through debt instruments, pushing Saudi Arabia’s total public debt to SR1.33 trillion—up 19.08 percent from a year earlier.

Of this, 60 percent was sourced domestically, with the remainder attributed to external borrowing, in line with the Kingdom’s debt diversification strategy.

Despite the fiscal shortfall, the ministry noted that the quarterly figures remain consistent with the government’s 2025 budget plan. Revenues in the first quarter represent 22.3 percent of the full-year target, while expenditures account for 25 percent of the planned annual spend.

Looking ahead, Saudi Arabia’s fiscal outlook may receive a boost from higher oil output. OPEC+ recently announced plans to accelerate the unwinding of prior production cuts, including a June increase of 411,000 barrels per day. Combined with earlier boosts in April and May, the group plans to restore a total of 960,000 barrels per day—reversing 44 percent of the 2.2 million bpd reduction agreed upon in December 2024.

Topics: deficit budget Saudi Arabia Oil revenue non-oil income

Saudi Aramco raises June oil prices for Asian markets

Updated 05 May 2025
Arab News
Follow

Saudi Aramco raises June oil prices for Asian markets

Updated 05 May 2025
Arab News

RIYADH: Saudi Aramco has increased its official selling price for crude oil destined for Asia in June, ending a two-month streak of price cuts, the company confirmed in an official statement on Sunday.

The state-owned oil giant raised the price of its benchmark Arab Light crude by $0.20, setting it at $1.40 per barrel above the average of Oman and Dubai crude prices.

The adjustment comes despite persistent downward pressure on global oil markets due to concerns over rising supply and a fragile demand outlook.

The move follows Saturday’s announcement from the OPEC+ alliance, which agreed to boost oil production for a second consecutive month. The group, which includes both OPEC members and key allies like Russia, plans to increase output by 411,000 barrels per day in June.

Market observers are now closely watching the outcome of the next OPEC+ meeting, scheduled for May 5, which will further clarify the group’s production strategy heading into summer.

Saudi Aramco prices its crude oil across five density-based grades: Super Light (greater than 40), Arab Extra Light (36-40), Arab Light (32-36), Arab Medium (29-32), and Arab Heavy (below 29).

The company’s monthly pricing decisions impact the cost of around 9 million barrels per day of crude exported to Asia and serve as a pricing benchmark for other major regional producers, including Iran, Kuwait, and Iraq.

In the North American market, Aramco set the May OSP for Arab Light at $3.40 per barrel above the Argus Sour Crude Index.

Aramco determines its OSPs based on market feedback from refiners and an evaluation of crude oil value changes over the past month, taking into account yields and product prices.

Topics: Aramco OSP

UAE, Kuwait, and Qatar sustain non-oil growth in April: S&P Global

Updated 05 May 2025
Nirmal Narayanan
Follow

UAE, Kuwait, and Qatar sustain non-oil growth in April: S&P Global

Updated 05 May 2025
Nirmal Narayanan

RIYADH: The non-oil private sectors of the UAE, Kuwait, and Qatar continued their expansion in April, supported by strong demand, improving output, and stable employment conditions, according to the latest Purchasing Managers’ Index surveys released by S&P Global.

In the UAE, the headline PMI held steady at 54 for a second consecutive month, reflecting continued momentum in the country’s non-oil economy. While output growth eased to a seven-month low, firms ramped up hiring at the fastest rate in nearly a year to manage capacity pressures. New orders surged, underpinned by the strongest international demand in five months.

This robust performance aligns with a wider regional trend of economic diversification, as Gulf nations—including Saudi Arabia—work to reduce their long-standing reliance on oil revenues.

“The April PMI results signaled a notable uptick in hiring activity across the non-oil private sector,” said David Owen, senior economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence.

“After several months of mild increases in payroll numbers, despite robust sales growth, job creation rose to its highest level in 11 months.”

Owen noted that the hiring push was largely aimed at easing backlogs, which, while still rising, did so at the slowest pace in six months. “That said, employment growth was still modest overall, adding to suggestions that some firms may be struggling to recruit,” he added.

Any PMI reading above 50 indicates expansion in the non-oil private sector, while a figure below 50 denotes contraction.

Business confidence in the UAE climbed to its highest level so far in 2025, as firms cited strong demand pipelines and positive expectations. Input purchases rose again in April, though at a slower pace than March, which had marked a 68-month high.

“Firms are hopeful that elevated demand levels and strong pipelines, as characterized by steeply rising backlogs, should propel activity higher in the coming months,” Owen said.

Despite increased purchasing and faster supplier delivery times, stock levels remained largely unchanged for the second consecutive month. Business optimism also rose for the third straight month in April.

In Dubai, operating conditions in the non-oil private sector improved at a slower pace due to weaker growth in new business inflows. Nonetheless, order books continued to expand sharply, driving strong overall business activity. Employment rebounded in April after a brief dip in March, as companies aimed to boost capacity. However, firms in Dubai expressed subdued confidence about future activity, with sentiment among the lowest on record.

Kuwait sees strongest output

Kuwait's non-oil private sector saw significant gains in April, with the country’s PMI rising to 54.2 from 52.3 in March—marking one of the sharpest expansions on record since the survey began in 2018.

“It was a bumper start to the second quarter of 2025 for non-oil companies in Kuwait, with a further influx of new orders leading companies to expand output at one of the sharpest rates since the survey began,” said Andrew Harker, economics director at S&P Global Market Intelligence.

The expansion was driven by robust new order growth, supported by competitive pricing and strategic marketing efforts. However, firms faced rising input costs that made it harder to maintain price stability.

While employment rose only marginally, the minimal hiring contributed to a further buildup in outstanding work.

“It remains to be seen, however, whether firms will be able to keep restricting selling prices in a scenario where input costs are rising sharply,” Harker noted. “The coming months will illustrate the extent to which companies are happy to see margins come under pressure in order to keep orders flowing in.”

Kuwaiti firms also reported a notable increase in export orders. Optimism about future output remained high, supported by competitive strategies, product development, and marketing.

Qatar growth slows slightly

Qatar’s non-oil sector saw a slight dip in overall momentum in April, with its PMI falling to 50.7 from 52 in March. Despite the decline, the index stayed above the neutral 50 mark for the 16th consecutive month, reflecting continued—if slower—growth.

Output among Qatari non-energy firms rose for the first time in 2025, but the sector faced a drop in new business and a cooling labor market.

“The PMI indicated continuing growth of the non-energy private sector economy at the start of the second quarter, but there was a loss of momentum owing mainly to a renewed reduction in new business and slower employment growth,” said Trevor Balchin, economics director at S&P Global Market Intelligence.

“The latest figure of 50.7 was the lowest in three months and below the long-run trend level of 52.3, as weaker demand offset an increase in total output.”

Growth was led by the manufacturing, services, and wholesale and retail sectors, while construction activity remained weak despite signs of stabilization.

Job creation remained positive across sectors, although April saw the slowest employment growth since August 2024.

“The employment component remained elevated in April, indicating further strong jobs growth. That said, there was evidence that the recent labor market boom was easing, with the rate of job creation down at an eight-month low,” Balchin said.

Wage growth also slowed to a five-month low but remained among the strongest since the survey’s inception in 2017.

Looking ahead, Qatari businesses maintained optimism for the year ahead, citing growth in real estate, infrastructure development, tourism, and a rising expatriate population as key drivers.

Topics: GCC PMI non-oil Growth GDP

Latest updates

Trump official says Harvard banned from federal grants
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ says he’s ‘a little nervous’ as sex trafficking trial gets underway
Ukraine’s drone attack on Moscow forces airports’ closure, officials say
Nottingham Forest draws at Crystal Palace as Champions League hopes fade
18 British student groups support legal action to remove Hamas from UK terror list

Search form

Print Edition
Read pdf version Subscribe now
© 2025 SAUDI RESEARCH & PUBLISHING COMPANY, All Rights Reserved And subject to Terms of Use Agreement.