Global financial leaders convene in Saudi Arabia to address emerging market risks

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IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva emphasized the importance of emerging markets in global economic stability. AN Photo
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Updated 16 February 2025
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Global financial leaders convene in Saudi Arabia to address emerging market risks

RIYADH: Sovereign debt risks, structural reforms, and trade policies take center stage as global financial leaders and policymakers convened in Saudi Arabia for the first AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies. 

The high-profile summit comes amid ongoing economic turbulence, with leaders seeking solutions to enhance financial stability and resilience. 

The two-day event, hosted by the Saudi Ministry of Finance in partnership with the International Monetary Fund, is being held from Feb. 16— 17 in AlUla. The historic site is fast becoming a venue for strategic economic dialogues, underscoring Saudi Arabia’s efforts to assert itself as a key player in shaping financial policies for developing economies. 

The conference aligns with the Kingdom’s broader efforts to solidify its role as a hub for global economic dialogue and under Vision 2030, it continues to lead economic diversification initiatives, emphasizing collaboration and innovation to navigate global economic shifts. 

Saudi Minister of Finance Mohammed Al-Jadaan highlighted the conference’s role in addressing common economic challenges and fostering a more inclusive and resilient global economy. 

“Today, we will explore ways to address our shared challenges so we can build a stronger global economy that is durable and inclusive for all nations,” he said. 

Al-Jadaan stressed the importance of international cooperation, adding: “There is no pathway more effective than broad multilateral cooperation, and that work starts with conversations like the ones we are having at this conference.” 

One of the key challenges addressed during the opening ceremony was sovereign debt, which Al-Jadaan described as a threat to economic progress. 

“Since we all share the benefits, we should also work together to address structural risks like sovereign debt, which threatens development gains,” he said, adding that innovative solutions, including improving global debt restructuring frameworks, are necessary. 

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva echoed Al-Jadaan’s statements, emphasizing the importance of emerging markets in global economic stability. “You, the leaders in this room, have weathered the shocks of the past few years remarkably well, and your economies have delivered two-thirds of global growth,” she said. 

Georgieva called for the need for agility and resilience in the face of economic uncertainty. “Emerging markets will need to be agile, adaptable, and resilient,” she added, pointing to key areas such as inflation, high debt, and structural reforms that require urgent attention to improve competitiveness and productivity. 

She also praised Saudi Arabia’s leadership in establishing a dedicated space for emerging markets to discuss critical policy issues. “Minister Al-Jadaan not only identified a gap in terms of space for emerging markets to discuss policy issues of common interest, but he decided to close it,” she said. 

Georgieva spoke of the IMF’s newly established regional office in Riyadh, emphasizing its pivotal role in realizing this vision. The office — the first of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa — was inaugurated on April 24 last year during the Joint Regional Conference on Industrial Policy for Diversification, co-hosted by the IMF and the Saudi Ministry of Finance. 

She stressed the importance of mobilizing more resources for the IMF’s Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust. “The IMF needs more capacity to help vulnerable countries and to continue to adapt to evolving challenges.” 

Looking ahead, Al-Jadaan called for global economic cooperation that benefits all stakeholders. “We should be laser-focused on improving the lives of our people.

“We must find common ground to serve the common good and seek win-win solutions, fostering productive cooperation between East and West, South and North, to create a positive spillover for our neighbors and trading partners.” 

On the sidelines of the conference, the Saudi Ministry of Finance signed key agreements to strengthen international economic cooperation. 

Saudi Minister of Finance Mohammed Al-Jadaan and Moroccan Minister of Economy and Finance Nadia Fettah signed a memorandum of understanding to enhance collaboration in the financial sector. Additionally, the Saudi ministry signed a joint declaration with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank to promote infrastructure investments across the Kingdom. 

The conference is expected to generate actionable recommendations that will support emerging economies in enhancing financial stability and sustainable growth. Discussions will also explore how artificial intelligence and digital transformation can drive economic progress in developing economies. 

Participants are set to discuss strategies for economic resilience, aiming to strengthen cooperation between emerging and advanced economies for a more equitable and sustainable future. 


Manufacturing, mining sectors drive Saudi industrial growth to 3.1 percent: GASTAT

Updated 20 sec ago
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Manufacturing, mining sectors drive Saudi industrial growth to 3.1 percent: GASTAT

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Industrial Production Index expanded by 3.1 percent year on year in April, driven by strong growth in the manufacturing, mining, and quarrying industries, official data showed. 

According to preliminary data from the General Authority for Statistics, the Kingdom’s IPI advanced to 108.6 in April, representing a 0.6 percent rise compared to the previous month. 

The latest IPI figures reinforce the progress of Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification journey, which aims to reduce the Kingdom’s decades-long dependence on crude revenues. 

“Preliminary results indicated a 3.1 percent increase in the IPI in April 2025 compared to the same month of the previous year, supported by the rise in mining and quarrying activity, manufacturing activity and water supply, sewerage and waste management and remediation activities,” the analysis stated.

GASTAT revealed that the sub-index of manufacturing activities advanced by 7.4 percent in April compared to the same month in 2024. 

The authority added that the index of oil activities saw an annual rise of 4.3 percent in the fourth month of the year, while non-oil activities edged up by 0.1 percent. Compared with March, oil activities rose by 1.6 percent, whereas non-oil activities declined by 2 percent.

GASTAT added that the growth in the manufacturing sector was driven by an increase in the production of coke and refined petroleum products, which grew by 22.6 percent year on year in April. 

The chemical manufacturing sector also contributed to the rise, increasing 9.1 percent annually. 

On a monthly basis, the sub-index of manufacturing activity witnessed a rise of 0.5 percent, driven by a 5.8 percent increase in the production of coke and refined petroleum products. 

The expansion of the manufacturing sector highlights the evolving structural transformation of the Saudi economy, with the Kingdom positioning itself as a key player in the global industrial landscape. 

In April, the sub-index of mining and quarrying activities increased by 0.2 percent compared to the same month in 2024. 

“Saudi Arabia increased its oil production to 9.01 million barrels per day in April 2025 compared to 8.99 million barrels per day in April 2024,” said GASTAT. 

On a monthly basis, the sub-index of mining and quarrying activity increased by 0.5 percent in April. 

According to the report, the electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply sector registered an annual decrease of 0.2 percent but saw a monthly rise of 4.3 percent. 

GASTAT further said that water supply, sewerage, and waste management activities increased by 8.8 percent year on year in April, while it declined by 0.7 percent compared to the previous month. 

Compared to March, the index for oil activities increased by 1.6 percent in April, while non-oil activities dropped by 2 percent. 

The Industrial Production Index measures changes in industrial output based on the International Standard Industrial Classification framework, covering mining, manufacturing, utilities, and waste management sectors.


Strategic reforms and cultural depth are driving Uzbekistan’s tourism boom, says official 

Updated 20 min 11 sec ago
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Strategic reforms and cultural depth are driving Uzbekistan’s tourism boom, says official 

TASHKENT: As Uzbekistan undergoes an economic transformation, tourism has emerged as both a cultural ambassador and a powerful growth engine.

At the forefront is Umid Rustamovich Shadiyev, chairman of the Tourism Committee under the Ministry of Ecology. 

Formerly Uzbekistan’s Permanent Representative to UNESCO, Shadiyev brings both diplomatic experience and a deep understanding of the nation’s rich heritage. 

Arab News spoke with Shadiyev during the Tashkent International Investment Forum 2025, a flagship platform bringing together global investors, policymakers, and innovators to explore Uzbekistan’s investment landscape. 

Now in its fourth edition, the forum has become a cornerstone of the country’s reform agenda, highlighting strategic sectors such as energy, infrastructure, agriculture, and tourism. 

This year’s event welcomed over 2,500 delegates from 70 countries, with tourism receiving special focus as a driver of inclusive and sustainable development. 

Saudi-Uzbek tourism ties deepen 

The conversation turned to Saudi Arabia, where tourism is undergoing a historic transformation under Vision 2030. Shadiyev praised the Kingdom’s diversification efforts, calling it “a new center of global tourism.” 

Uzbekistan sees an opportunity for synergy, and a memorandum of cooperation in tourism was signed in 2022, followed by joint forums and high-level meetings in 2023 and 2024. 

“Our relationship with Saudi Arabia is growing stronger each year,” said the official. 

The results are visible. Saudi tourist arrivals in Uzbekistan rose from 1,731 in 2022 to over 4,100 in 2024, reflecting growing interest in cultural, gastronomic, and mountain tourism. 

“There’s huge potential in developing family-oriented tours, heritage trails, and collaborative media campaigns,” Shadiyev noted.

Tourism university exchanges, journalist visits, and influencer collaborations are also being explored. 

In 2025, Uzbekistan is emphasizing sustainable tourism and aims to increase the average stay of foreign visitors to 10 to 12 days. Strategic partnerships — such as with Saudi Arabia — are seen as central to achieving this goal. 

Tourism emerges as economic pillar 

“Tourism is currently one of the key sectors of Uzbekistan’s economy,” Shadiyev noted. “In 2024, we saw a significant leap forward: the export of tourism services increased by 1.6 times, reaching $3.5 billion.”  

This performance is backed by a rise in entrepreneurship, with more than 2,000 new tourism businesses launched in the past year alone. From boutique hotels to eco-lodges and cultural tour operators, a new generation of investors is responding to supportive government policies and the sector’s strong profitability. 

The transformation is evident across the country. Over the past eight years, Uzbekistan has attracted $6.5 billion in tourism-related investments and added 130,000 new hotel beds. 

“These achievements reflect our commitment to building a world-class tourism ecosystem,” Shadiyev said. 

A major milestone came in April, when over 1 million foreign tourists visited Uzbekistan in a single month — a national record. 

Shadiyev attributes this growth to visa policy reforms, infrastructure upgrades, and active global engagement. “We’re not only opening our doors wider; we’re creating lasting experiences for visitors,” he said. 

Looking ahead, Uzbekistan aims to further increase both international arrivals and tourism export volumes in 2025. The government is systematically working toward these goals by investing in digital transformation, human capital, and diversified tourism offerings. 

Four seasons, one destination 

Positioned at the crossroads of the Great Silk Road, Uzbekistan has long served as a bridge between East and West. Shadiyev highlighted the country’s unique geographic and cultural positioning: “We’re the heart of Central Asia — no regional tour is complete without including Uzbekistan.”  

What makes Uzbekistan truly special, he said, is its year-round appeal. In spring, visitors celebrate Navruz, the festival of renewal, and explore blooming gardens, vibrant bazaars, and the historic cities of Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva.

Summer brings tourists to mountain resorts and natural lakes, rich fruit harvests, and traditional crafts festivals. 

Winter offers skiing and tranquil nature retreats, while autumn is ideal for cultural immersion and warm Uzbek hospitality.

“Every season offers a new story, a new flavor,” Shadiyev said.  

The country’s legacy is underscored by its many UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva. Uzbekistan is also witnessing a boom in niche tourism markets, including ziyarat, or pilgrimage tourism, ecotourism, domestic travel, and culinary tours. 

Uzbekistan’s rise on the global travel radar is also backed by international accolades.

The country was named the Most Desirable Emerging Destination by Wanderlust, UK; won the tourism in the CIS award from Russian Traveler; and was featured among the Top 25 Destinations of 2025 by both BBC Travel and The New York Times.  

Gulf travelers drawn to shared culture 

When asked about Uzbekistan’s appeal to Arab travelers, particularly from the Gulf region, Shadiyev emphasized deep-rooted cultural and spiritual ties. 

“Our shared Islamic heritage and atmosphere of religious respect make Uzbekistan especially attractive to Gulf visitors,” he said. 

Khiva’s designation as the 2024 Tourism Capital of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation reflects this connection. 

Other key events include the Economic Cooperation Organization’s tourism forum in Shakhrisabz, which spotlighted opportunities in religious and cultural travel. 

Uzbekistan is enhancing its appeal through substance and strategy. 

A 30-day visa-free regime now applies to citizens of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, as well as those of Oman, Bahrain, and Kuwait.

Direct flights from Gulf capitals are expanding, and tour operators are curating experiences tailored to Arab travelers. 

The country offers a rich mix of gastronomy — including signature dishes like plov, manti, and shurpa — as well as ethno-tourism experiences in traditional villages, and a vibrant calendar of music, art, and food festivals.

Uzbekistan is also rolling out a UN tourism platform and a unified tourist card integrating visa services, tickets, and discounts. 

“We’re not just promoting Uzbekistan; we’re building a seamless visitor experience,” Shadiyev added. 

Vision rooted in heritage and openness 

As the interview concluded, Shadiyev returned to a theme central to Uzbekistan’s tourism push: openness. “We are a country that welcomes the world — with history in our stones and hospitality in our hearts,” he said. 

The Tashkent International Investment Forum served as the perfect setting for this conversation, reflecting Uzbekistan’s economic momentum and its growing network of global partnerships — none more vibrant than those flourishing through tourism. 

As Shadiyev put it, quoting an old proverb: “It’s better to see something once than hear about it a hundred times.”


Oil Updates — prices rise as US-China talks counter OPEC supply worries

Updated 35 min 8 sec ago
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Oil Updates — prices rise as US-China talks counter OPEC supply worries

SINGAPORE: Oil prices climbed on Tuesday as investors awaited the outcome of US-China talks that could pave the way for easing trade tensions and improve fuel demand.

Brent crude futures rose 22 cents, or 0.3 percent, to $67.26 a barrel by 09:45 a.m. Saudi time. US West Texas Intermediate crude was up 18 cents, or 0.3 percent, at $65.47.

On Monday, Brent had risen to $67.19, the highest since April 28, buoyed by the prospect of a US-China trade deal.

US-China trade talks were set to continue for a second day in London as top officials aimed to ease tensions that have expanded from tariffs to rare earth curbs, risking global supply chain disruptions and slower growth.

Prices have recovered as demand concerns have faded with the trade talks between Washington and Beijing and a favourable US jobs report, while there are risks to North American supply due to wildfires in Canada, Goldman Sachs analysts said.

US President Donald Trump said on Monday that the talks with China were going well and he was “only getting good reports” from his team in London.

A trade deal between the US and China could support the global economic outlook and boost demand for commodities including oil.

Elsewhere, Iran said it would soon hand a counter-proposal for a nuclear deal to the US in response to a US offer that Tehran deems “unacceptable,” while Trump made clear that the two sides remained at odds over whether the country would be allowed to continue enriching uranium on Iranian soil.

Iran is the third-largest producer among members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and any easing of US sanctions on Iran would allow it to export more oil, weighing on global crude prices.

Meanwhile, a Reuters survey found that OPEC oil output rose in May, although the increase was limited as Iraq pumped below target to compensate for earlier overproduction and Saudi Arabia and the UAE made smaller hikes than allowed.

OPEC+, which pumps about half of the world’s oil and includes OPEC members and allies such as Russia, is accelerating its plan to unwind its most recent layer of output cuts.

“The prospect of further hikes in OPEC supply continues to hang over the market,” Daniel Hynes, senior commodity strategist at ANZ, said in a note.

“A permanent shift to a market driven strategy (in OPEC) would push the oil market into a sizeable surplus in H2 2025 and almost surely lead to lower oil prices.”


UAE shares end higher as outcome of US-China trade talks awaited

Updated 09 June 2025
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UAE shares end higher as outcome of US-China trade talks awaited

LONDON: Stock markets in the UAE ended higher on Monday, in step with Asian peers, as investors awaited the outcome of US-China trade talks in London in the hope that a deal could boost the global economic outlook.

Top US and Chinese officials will sit down in London on Monday for talks aimed at defusing the high-stakes trade dispute between the two super powers that has widened to export controls over goods and components critical to global supply chains.

Dubai’s benchmark index hit its highest levels since 2008 and settled up 1 percent, with almost all sectors in positive territory.

Tolls operator Salik Company gained 2.3 percent and Deyaar Development surged 14.6 percent.

In Abu Dhabi, the index was up for a third straight session and gained 0.1 percent, lifted by a 1.6 percent rise in blue-chip developer Aldar Properties and a 1.8 percent advance in Abu Dhabi’s flagship energy firm Abu Dhabi National Energy Company.

Most stock markets in the Gulf and Egypt including Saudi, Qatar, Kuwait are closed on Monday due to a public holiday.


Saudi commercial bank profits jump 16% in April, topping $2bn before zakat, tax

Updated 09 June 2025
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Saudi commercial bank profits jump 16% in April, topping $2bn before zakat, tax

  • Year-to-date earnings reached SR32.97 billion, an annual rise of 20%
  • Banks getting balance sheets ready for next investment wave

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s banking sector extended its winning streak in April, posting SR7.77 billion ($2.07 billion) in pre-zakat and tax profits, a 16 percent increase compared to the same month last year.

According to the Saudi Central Bank, also known as SAMA, this brought year-to-date earnings to SR32.97 billion, an annual rise of 20 percent, keeping the Kingdom firmly on course for another record-breaking period.

The sustained momentum is attributed to a robust mix of state spending on giga-projects, resilient consumer demand, and still-elevated interest rates.

Financing volumes continue to climb, driven primarily by corporate borrowers across a growing range of industries, including manufacturing, utilities, insurance, and private education. 

Speaking at the inaugural 24 Fintech conference in September, Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan said the Kingdom had licensed 224 fintech firms by the second quarter of 2024. File/SPA

Contractors are also racing to secure long-term credit for giga-projects such as NEOM, Diriyah, and the Jafurah gas field.

A wider Gulf picture

Strong as those local figures are, the broader region is also gaining momentum. A Kamco Invest report released in May showed that Gulf banks collectively earned a record $15.6 billion in the first quarter of 2025, an 8.6 percent increase from a year earlier.

Financial institutions in the UAE posted the largest absolute increase, adding $639.6 million, while Saudi lenders recorded the fastest annual growth at 17.2 percent.

Kamco added that fee income is rising, costs are under control, and loan-loss provisions fell sharply during the period, cushioning a small dip in net interest income.

Investor appetite is visible in market valuations. Forbes Middle East’s “30 Most Valuable Banks 2025” March list includes 10 Saudi lenders with a combined market cap of about $269 billion— roughly one-third of the entire ranking.

Al Rajhi Bank led the pack at $105.6 billion, with Saudi National Bank following at $54.7 billion.

Contractors are racing to secure long-term credit for giga-projects such as NEOM, Diriyah, and the Jafurah gas field. NEOM

Global Finance named Saudi Awwal Bank the Kingdom’s best lender in its May “World’s Best Banks in the Middle East 2025” release, highlighting its HSBC-backed mobile app upgrades, Visa Direct payments, and one-stop small and medium-sized enterprises lending platform.

Cleaning the books and raising cash

Banks are also getting balance sheets ready for the next investment wave.

Bloomberg reported in March that lenders are exploring sales of older non-performing loans to specialist investors to free up capital for upcoming mega project drawdowns.

They’re also tapping capital markets. By June, they had issued over $5.6 billion in Additional Tier-1 bonds, already a full-year record and the world’s second-largest AT1 issuance in 2025, according to Bloomberg.

The spree includes Al Rajhi Bank’s $1.25 billion deal in April, Banque Saudi Fransi’s $650 million perpetual at 6.375 percent in May, Saudi Awwal Bank’s $650 million inaugural issue, and Alinma Bank’s $500 million of sustainable sukuk, all heavily oversubscribed.

Saudi National Bank was ranked in the Forbes Middle East’s “30 Most Valuable Banks 2025” March list. Shutterstock

By tapping eager investors now, while margins remain healthy and global demand for Gulf paper is strong, lenders are bulking up capital buffers and keeping loan-to-deposit ratios in check. That leaves them better prepared to fund the fast-rising credit needs of projects like NEOM and Diriyah without tripping liquidity alarms later in the year.

Fintech role

Fintech is reshaping Saudi banking from the ground up. The Saudi Central Bank’s Open Banking Framework — most recently updated in September to cover payment-initiation services — sets common technical rules that let lenders and start-ups plug their systems together safely and at speed.

Speaking at the inaugural 24 Fintech conference in September, Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan revealed that the Kingdom had licensed 224 fintech firms by the second quarter of 2024, up from fewer than 100 just three years earlier.

One of the newest players is Riyadh-based Stitch, which closed a $10 million seed round on May 28. The company offers a single set of application-programming interfaces that lets banks, fintechs and even non-financial brands bolt on real-time payments and open-banking functions far faster than older systems.

Early adopters already include Lulu Exchange and point-of-sale platform Foodics. The founders say the fresh cash will go toward doubling the engineering team and expanding the product suite.

Saudi Arabia’s sustained momentum is attributed to a robust mix of state spending on giga-projects, resilient consumer demand, and still-elevated interest rates. File/AFP

Looking ahead

Riyad Capital’s first-quarter preview, released in April, expects another double-digit profit rise this year, about SR19 billion for the listed banks it tracks, as loan growth stays strong and rate cuts arrive slowly.

S&P Global, in its Saudi Arabia Banking Sector Outlook 2025 report, says a 10 percent increase in lending should outweigh a 20- to 30-basis-point dip in margins, keeping sector returns on assets near 2.1 percent to 2.2 percent.

Funding is the main watchpoint. Moody’s shifted its system outlook to stable on Feb. 25, saying strong credit growth is tightening liquidity, but capital buffers remain solid.

For now, asset-quality risks remain low. S&P expects non-performing loans to edge up to just 1.7 percent by the end of 2025, while loan-loss provisions are projected to stay around 50 to 60 basis points. Banks’ total capital ratios, hovering near 19 percent, provide a solid buffer to absorb potential shocks from falling oil prices or rising private-sector leverage.

Saudi lenders are still the region’s earnings workhorse. Profits are rising, market values are high, and fresh money — from bond buyers to venture capitalists — is flowing in. If they can keep gathering deposits quickly enough to fund a fast-growing loan book, the Kingdom’s banks look set to stay ahead of their Gulf neighbors in both profit and ambition well into next year.