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Rafid initiative drives innovation in Saudi industry via academic partnerships

Led by the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, this comprehensive effort aims to enhance the Kingdom’s advanced national industry by engaging local universities and technical colleges to align with the National Industrial Strategy. SPA
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Updated 17 September 2024
MOHAMMED AL-KINANI
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Rafid initiative drives innovation in Saudi industry via academic partnerships

  • Effort aims to enhance the Kingdom’s advanced national industry by engaging local universities and technical colleges
  • Rafid program focuses on advancing digital manufacturing capabilities
Updated 17 September 2024
MOHAMMED AL-KINANI

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s industrial sector is poised for significant growth through the Rafid program, a strategic initiative that collaborates with academic institutions to spearhead innovation and research in manufacturing.

Led by the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, this comprehensive effort aims to enhance the Kingdom’s advanced national industry by engaging local universities and technical colleges to align with the National Industrial Strategy.

Anchored in the principles of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the Rafid program focuses on advancing digital manufacturing capabilities. It leverages cutting-edge technologies such as 3D printing, design and engineering analysis, and simulation to drive progress.

Saudi Arabia envisions expanding its factory count to 36,000 by 2035, with 4,000 of these being fully automated, thereby transforming the production landscape. The incorporation of advanced technologies—including artificial intelligence, 3D printing, and robotics—positions the Kingdom’s industries to emerge as global leaders in this industrial revolution.

“We have launched the Rafid program, aiming to establish strategic partnerships with leading Saudi universities and set up innovative factories on their campuses,” Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef wrote in a post on his X account.

The minister highlighted that the Rafid program is dedicated to leveraging research outcomes and innovations, particularly in key sectors outlined in the country’s national industrial strategy. The program will support various initiatives and accelerated adoption of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies. This includes the Future Factories Program, which aims to establish a robust technology ecosystem and modernize the manufacturing sector.

The launch event was attended by prominent figures from the industrial and mining sectors, university presidents, and representatives from private sector companies.

In his address at the official launch, Alkhorayef underscored the critical role of advancing the national industry in achieving Vision 2030 and fostering a diverse and sustainable economy. He stressed the need for technological progress, innovation, and the development of human resources, emphasizing that Rafid is a strategic solution to meet these challenges.

During the event, several pivotal agreements and memorandums of understanding were signed under the Rafid program. Among these was a partnership between Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University and Autonomous Technologies, aimed at advancing drone manufacturing capabilities. King Abdulaziz University also forged a deal with Haven Scientific to establish an advanced medical products factory. Meanwhile, Qassim University entered into a memorandum of understanding with United Defense to develop an advanced drone systems manufacturing facility. Additionally, Umm Al-Qura University, represented by Wadi Makkah Technology, signed an agreement with Abdullah Abuljadayel Company to set up a food production plant.

The agreements outlined the creation of four innovative factories at these local universities. Specifically, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University will host a drone manufacturing plant, Qassim University will develop an advanced drone systems facility, King Abdulaziz University will establish a medical products factory, and Umm Al-Qura University will set up a food production plant.

The event also announced the allocation of significant industrial lands. King Faisal University was granted 1.4 million sq. meters for food and environmental industries, while Umm Al-Qura University received 1.5 million sq. meters for industries related to pilgrimage.

The launch of the Rafid program was attended by an array of distinguished guests, including Mohammed Al Hayaza, President of Al-Faisal University; Khalid Al-Mudaifer, Deputy Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Mining Affairs; Abdullah bin Ali Al-Ahmari, Assistant Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Planning and Development; Inas Al-Issa, president of Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University; Bassam bin Abdullah Al-Bassam, secretary-general of the Council of University Affairs; Majed Rafed Al-Argoubi, CEO of the Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones; and Muhammad bin Fahd Al-Sharikh, president of Qassim University.

Officials from the signing entities were also present, underscoring the collaborative effort driving the Rafid program forward.

Topics: main Saudi Arabia

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Oil Updates — prices dip as demand optimism fades 

Updated 5 sec ago
REUTERS 
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Oil Updates — prices dip as demand optimism fades 

Updated 5 sec ago
REUTERS 

BEIJING/SINGAPORE: Oil prices eased on Tuesday, extending losses into a second consecutive session after last week’s rally, although concerns about tighter Russian and Iranian supply amid widening Western sanctions checked losses, according to Reuters. 

Brent futures edged down 8 cents, or 0.1 percent, to $76.22 a barrel by 07:52 a.m. Saudi time, while US West Texas Intermediate crude fell 15 cents, or 0.19 percent, to $73.42. 

Both benchmarks slid on Monday, after rising for five days in a row last week to settle at their highest levels since October on Friday amid expectations of more fiscal stimulus to revitalize China’s faltering economy. 

“This week’s weakness is likely due to a technical correction, as traders react to softer economic data globally that undermines the optimism seen earlier,” said Priyanka Sachdeva, senior market analyst at Phillip Nova, referring to bearish economic news from the US and Germany. 

Also dragging on oil prices is the rising supply from non-OPEC countries that, coupled with weak demand from China, is expected to keep the oil market well supplied this year. 

Market participants are waiting for more data this week, such as the US December nonfarm payrolls report on Friday, for clues on US interest rate policy and oil demand outlook. 

“The move higher in crude oil prices appears to be running out of momentum,” ING analysts wrote in a note. 

“While there has been some tightening in the physical market, fundamentals through 2025 are still set to be comfortable, which should cap the upside.” 

Worries over tightening Russian and Iranian supply amid sanctions, however, kept a floor under oil prices. 

The uncertainty has translated into better demand for Middle Eastern oil, reflected in a hike in Saudi Arabia’s February oil prices to Asia, the first such increase in three months. 

Money managers raised their net long US crude futures and options positions in the week to Dec. 31, the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission said on Monday. 

Topics: Oil OPEC

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Saudi Arabia issues $12bn three-part bond: NDMC

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Saudi Arabia issues $12bn three-part bond: NDMC

Updated 3 min 13 sec ago
Reuters

CAIRO: Saudi Arabia issued a $12 billion three-tranche bond, selling $5 billion, $3 billion and $4 billion in tenors of three, six and 10 years respectively, the National Debt Management Center said on Tuesday.
The total order book reached around $37 billion, equalling an over-subscription of three times the issuance, NDMC said in a statement.
The transaction is part of NDMC’s strategy to diversify the investor base and meet the Kingdom’s financing needs, it added. 

Topics: Saudi Arabia National Debt Management Center (NDMC) bonds NDMC

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Lucid beats estimates for EV deliveries as price cuts, cheaper financing spur demand

Updated 06 January 2025
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Lucid beats estimates for EV deliveries as price cuts, cheaper financing spur demand

  • Company handed over 3,099 vehicles in the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31
  • For 2024, production rose 7% to 9,029 vehicles, topping Lucid’s target of 9,000 vehicles
Updated 06 January 2025
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LONDON: Lucid Group beat expectations for quarterly deliveries on Monday, as the Saudi Arabia-backed maker of luxury electric vehicles lowered prices and offered cheaper financing to drive demand, sending its shares up more than 6 percent.
The company handed over 3,099 vehicles in the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, compared with estimates of 2,637, according to six analysts polled by Visible Alpha. That represented growth of 11 percent over the third quarter and 78 percent higher than the fourth quarter a year earlier.
Production rose about 42 percent to 3,386 vehicles in the reported quarter from a year earlier, surpassing estimates of 2,904 units.


For 2024, production rose 7 percent to 9,029 vehicles, topping the company’s target of 9,000 vehicles. Annual deliveries grew 71 percent to 10,241 vehicles.
Lucid, backed by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, started taking orders for its Gravity SUV in November, in a bid to enter the lucrative SUV sector and take some market share from Rivian and Tesla.
Rivian on Friday topped analysts’ estimates for quarterly deliveries and said its production was no longer constrained by a component shortage. But Tesla reported its first fall in yearly deliveries, in part due to the company’s aging lineup.
Demand for EVs, already squeezed by competition from hybrid vehicles, could face another challenge as President-elect Donald Trump is expected to reverse many of the Biden administration’s EV-friendly policies and incentives.
The company also raised $1.75 billion in October through a stock sale that CEO Peter Rawlinson believes will provide Lucid with a “cash runway well into 2026.”
Lucid, whose stock was down about 28 percent in 2024, is scheduled to report its fourth-quarter results on Feb. 25.

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Saudi Arabia’s PIF completes $7bn inaugural murabaha credit facility

Updated 06 January 2025
NOUR EL-SHAERI   
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Saudi Arabia’s PIF completes $7bn inaugural murabaha credit facility

  • Shariah-compliant financing is backed by a syndicate of 20 international and regional financial institutions
  • Facility builds on PIF’s recent success with sukuk issuances over the past two years
Updated 06 January 2025
NOUR EL-SHAERI   

RIYADH: The Saudi Public Investment Fund has closed its first Murabaha credit facility, securing $7 billion in funding. This is a key step in the fund's plan to raise capital over the next several years. 

The Shariah-compliant financing is backed by a syndicate of 20 international and regional financial institutions, according to a press release. 

A murabaha credit facility is a financing structure compliant with Islamic principles, where the lender purchases an asset and sells it to the borrower at an agreed profit margin, allowing repayment in installments. This structure avoids interest, adhering to Shariah laws. 

“This inaugural murabaha credit facility demonstrates the flexibility and depth of PIF’s financing strategy and use of diversified funding sources, as we continue to drive transformative investments, globally and in Saudi Arabia,” said Fahad Al-Saif, PIF’s head of the Global Capital Finance Division and head of Investment Strategy and Economic Insights Division. 

 

 

The facility builds on PIF’s recent success with sukuk issuances over the past two years, further bolstering its financial strength and commitment to best practices in debt management. 

Rated Aa3 by Moody’s and A+ by Fitch, both with stable outlooks, PIF continues to solidify its position as a global financial powerhouse. 

The fund’s capital structure is supported by four main funding sources, including contributions from the Saudi government, asset transfers, retained investment earnings, and financing through loans and debt instruments. 

PIF’s strategy focuses on financing initiatives that contribute to economic growth in Saudi Arabia and internationally. 

The $7 billion murabaha credit facility is expected to bolster PIF’s liquidity, supporting its investments both locally and globally. 

By diversifying its funding sources through a Shariah-compliant structure, PIF looks to enhance its financial partnerships while complementing its existing financing tools, such as sukuk issuances. 

 

 

This aligns with its medium-term capital strategy, ensuring flexibility, competitive financing terms, and risk mitigation. 

Earlier in January, the National Debt Management Center also secured a Shariah-compliant revolving credit facility worth SR9.4 billion ($2.5 billion). 

The three-year facility, supported by three regional and international financial institutions, is designed to meet the Kingdom’s general budgetary requirements. 

Aligned with Saudi Arabia’s medium-term public debt strategy, the arrangement focuses on diversifying funding sources to meet financing needs at competitive terms. 

It also adheres to robust risk management frameworks and the Kingdom’s approved annual borrowing plan. 

PIF has been actively engaging in credit arrangements to support its investment initiatives and the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 economic diversification plan. 

In August 2024, PIF secured a $15 billion revolving credit facility for general corporate purposes, replacing a similar facility agreed upon in 2021. 

In addition to the revolving credit facility, PIF has diversified its financing instruments by issuing a $2 billion seven-year Islamic sukuk earlier in 2024 and planning to issue bonds in pounds sterling. 

These efforts are part of PIF’s strategy to leverage a variety of funding sources to support its expansive investment activities. 

Topics: Saudi Arabia PIF murabaha Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF)

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Closing Bell: Saudi main market gains to close at 12,105 points

Updated 06 January 2025
Nour El-Shaeri 
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Closing Bell: Saudi main market gains to close at 12,105 points

  • MSCI Tadawul Index increased by 1.07 points, or 0.07%, to close at 1,510.91
  • Parallel market Nomu lost 190.29 points, or 0.61%, to close at 30,864.09
Updated 06 January 2025
Nour El-Shaeri 

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index edged up on Monday, gaining 34.87 points, or 0.29 percent, to close at 12,104.69. 

The total trading turnover of the benchmark index was SR6.43 billion ($1.71 billion), as 137 of the listed stocks advanced, while 94 retreated.  

The MSCI Tadawul Index also increased by 1.07 points, or 0.07 percent, to close at 1,510.91. 

The Kingdom’s parallel market Nomu dropped, losing 190.29 points, or 0.61 percent, to close at 30,864.09. This comes as 36 of the listed stocks advanced, while 43 retreated. 

Al Majed Oud Co. was the best-performing stock of the day, with its share price surging by 5.62 percent to SR158. 

Other top performers included SAL Saudi Logistics Services Co., which saw its share price rise by 5.42 percent to SR276, and Riyadh Cables Group Co., which saw a 5.17 percent increase to SR158.80. 

Al Mawarid Manpower Co. and Astra Industrial Group also saw a positive change, with their share prices surging by 5.17 percent and 5.05 percent to SR114 and SR195.40, respectively. 

United International Holding Co. saw the steepest decline of the day, with its share price easing 2.45 percent to close at SR183.40. 

Zamil Industrial Investment Co. and Nayifat Finance Co. both recorded falls, with their shares slipping 2.43 percent and 2.43 percent to SR36.15 and SR14.44, respectively. 

National Co. for Learning and Education and Saudi Electricity Co. also faced losses in today’s session, with their share prices dipping 2.27 percent and 2.25 percent to SR197.80 and SR16.54, respectively. 

On the announcement front, the Saudi Exchange announced the listing and trading of shares for Almoosa Health Co. on the main market starting Jan. 7. 

During the first three days of trading, daily price fluctuation limits will be set at plus or minus 30 percent, while static price fluctuation limits will also apply. 

From the fourth trading day onward, the daily fluctuation limits will revert to plus or minus 10 percent, and the static limits will no longer be enforced. 

In a separate development, Almujtama Alraida Medical Co. announced the signing of a credit facility agreement with Alinma Bank worth SR45 million. 

Alinma Bank saw a 0.17 percent decrease in its share price on Monday to settle at SR29.90.

The financing package includes an SR35 million revolving facility aimed at purchasing goods and an SR10 million revolving facility for capital expenditures. 

The credit facilities have a duration of three years and are secured by a promissory note. The objective of the financing is to support working capital requirements and fund capital expenditures, the company stated. 

Meanwhile, Mufeed Co. revealed the awarding of an SR41.5 million project focused on the development of concept, content, and execution of events aimed at reviving the Kingdom’s cultural and historical heritage. 

The contract, which is set to be signed on Jan. 20, will involve a legal entity as the counterparty. 

The project entails organizing unique activities designed to showcase and enhance the Kingdom’s rich historical and cultural narratives. 

Mufeed Co. saw a 2.93 percent increase in its share price by the close of Monday’s trading session to reach SR73.80. 

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

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