OTTAWA: In September, two months after China’s state-owned CNOOC Ltd. made an unexpected $ 15.1 billion bid for Canadian energy company Nexen Inc, Canada’s spy agency told ministers that takeovers by Chinese companies may threaten national security.
The rare warning from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), which was disclosed to Reuters by intelligence sources, did not stop the takeover. That was approved by Canadian authorities recently.
But the intervention and an influential US lawmaker’s warning in October that Canadian companies should be careful about doing business with Chinese telecom equipment companies Huawei Technologies Co. and ZTE Corp. made the approval process for the deal more difficult than initially expected.
“CSIS did not like the Nexen bid and thought it was a bad idea for Chinese firms to be investing in the oil sands. It all played into their greater fears about firms like Huawei,” said one person familiar with the agency’s concerns. “They do not want to wake up one day and realize a crucial sector of the economy is under the control of foreign interests.”
And after listening to the spy service, which usually keeps a low profile, Canada drew up surprisingly tough foreign investment rules that were unveiled when approving the Nexen deal, China’s biggest-ever successful foreign takeover. In a clampdown on companies it deems influenced by foreign governments, Canada will block similar purchases in the future.
CSIS has been silent about what it said to Ottawa on the Nexen transaction, and it declined to comment for this story. It didn’t specifically recommend the CNOOC deal be blocked, but rather warned more generally about such deals with Chinese entities, the person said.
In reality, the government was unlikely to want to block the CNOOC bid, given a high-profile push by Prime Minister Stephen Harper earlier in the year to boost ties with China, and given that a lot of Nexen’s assets are outside Canada, and it has underperformed other energy companies.
By pushing back aggressively, CSIS ensured that it got foreign investment policy tightened significantly to deter similar such takeovers by companies under the sway of foreign governments.
“I think people at CSIS and elsewhere are going ‘Good. That was a very good response by the government’,” said Ray Boisvert, a former CSIS assistant director of intelligence, who retired this year after almost three decades at the agency.
“It did reflect some of those deep strategic concerns that practitioners have had about this kind of investment.”
Specific worries include theft of Canadian intellectual property, espionage, computer hacking and foreign companies gaining too much influence over crucial sectors of the economy, said the person familiar with the agency’s views.
The government could, in theory, nationalize assets if it thought foreign control was problematic. But the pro-business Conservatives would likely find it politically unpalatable to take such a step.
“To be blunt, Canadians have not spent years reducing the ownership of sectors of the economy by our own governments, only to see them bought and controlled by foreign governments instead,” Harper said as he announced the new investment rules.
In October, the US House of Representatives’ Intelligence Committee urged US firms to stop doing business with Huawei and another Chinese telecom equipment company ZTE on the grounds that Beijing could use products made by the two companies to spy.
The House Intelligence Committee’s chairman, Rep. Mike Rogers, a Michigan Republican, urged Canada to take a similar stance, and two days later, the Canadian government indicated it would not let Huawei help build a secure government communications network because of possible security risks.
“The Huawei business caused a lot of political complications for the CNOOC bid,” another person familiar with the CNOOC deal said of the US committee’s report.
Both Huawei and ZTE have repeatedly denied the allegations in the report, and China’s foreign ministry dismissed as “baseless” the idea that security concerns could impede commercial ties.
“We hope that the relevant party can objectively and justly treat Chinese companies’ overseas investment and cooperation plans, and stop actions which harm Chinese companies’ image and do more to benefit the promotion of bilateral trade and business cooperation,” said ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying.
In its annual report, released in September, CSIS noted risks that included espionage and illegal technology transfers, and said some foreign state-owned enterprises had “pursued opaque agendas or received clandestine intelligence support for their pursuits” in Canada.
The agency did not give details, but added: “When foreign companies with ties to foreign intelligence agencies or hostile governments seek to acquire control over strategic sectors of the Canadian economy, it can represent a threat to Canadian security interests.”
CSIS, hit by controversy in 2010 after its head suggested China had too much influence over some Canadian provincial politicians, did not mention any country or firm in its report.
It is unclear how much, if any, influence the US had on the Canadian authorities’ foreign investment policy.
Fen Hampson, head of the global security program at the Center for International Governance Innovation in Waterloo, Ontario, said he had learned that a US official visited Ottawa in the last few months to discuss mutual concerns about foreign state-owned enterprises.
US Ambassador David Jacobson said he was not aware of such a meeting, but he said officials from the two countries met constantly.
“I would be surprised if almost any issue you could think of has not come up in one or more of those conversations,” he said.
“The US has not sought to influence Canada’s decision with respect to that (CNOOC’s bid)... We respect that decision.”
The Canadian government did not respond to a request for a comment.
Chinese companies have bought up smaller Canadian energy firms before, but the July 23 bid for Nexen was their first attempt to buy one of the larger players.
Nexen has assets in Canada, the North Sea, Nigeria and the Gulf of Mexico. Technology that Nexen and its partners use for deep sea drilling could interest CNOOC.
Asked about the CSIS concerns, a spokeswoman for Industry Minister Christian Paradis replied: “The government has the authority to take any measures it considers necessary to protect national security.”
Yet two people close to the deal noted that the Canadian government did not exercise its option to do a separate review of the potential security risks of the CNOOC-Nexen bid, again signaling its concerns were tied to overall Chinese investment rather than to this particular deal.
Under the new rules, which Paradis is responsible for enforcing, foreign state-owned enterprises can no longer buy controlling stakes in assets in the oil sands, the biggest reserve of crude oil outside Saudi Arabia and Venezuela.
Such enterprises can buy minority stakes in the oil sands, or majority stakes in companies outside the oil sands. Companies deemed to have strong government links will be treated with particular caution wherever they propose to invest.
“When it comes to our security and intelligence services, they would rather pull up the drawbridge than let it down,” said Hampson, co-author of a report on trade ties between Canada and emerging nations that he discussed with Harper in June.
Security fears dogged Canada debate on China energy bid
Security fears dogged Canada debate on China energy bid
Closing Bell: Saudi TASI closes lower at 11,163 amid mixed performance
- MSCI Tadawul 30 Index slipped 0.36% to end at 1,428.86
- Parallel market Nomu rose 0.34% to finish at 27,341.63
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index fell 0.35 percent to close at 11,163.96 on Monday, weighed by losses in several blue-chip stocks.
Trading activity remained robust, with turnover reaching SR7.3 billion ($1.9 billion), with the market recording 118 advancers versus 133 decliners.
The MSCI Tadawul 30 Index slipped 0.36 percent to end at 1,428.86, while the parallel market Nomu rose 0.34 percent to finish at 27,341.63.
Fawaz Abdulaziz Alhokair Co. led the main market gainers with a 9.96 percent rise to SR24.62.
National Metal Manufacturing and Casting Co. followed with a 9.29 percent gain, closing at SR16.83.
Other notable performers included Buruj Cooperative Insurance Co., which advanced 7.40 percent to SR18.00, and The Mediterranean and Gulf Insurance and Reinsurance Co., up 7.16 percent at SR20.06.
On the downside, Al Maather REIT Fund recorded the steepest decline, falling 3.33 percent to SR9.01.
Etihad Etisalat Co. dropped 3.10 percent to SR59.30, while MBC Group Co. slipped 2.99 percent to SR35.70. Rasan Information Technology Co. also retreated 2.69 percent to close at SR86.90.
On the announcement front, ACWA Power Co. released details regarding its planned capital increase through a rights issue.
The company set the offering price at SR210 per share, with a total of 33,928,570 new shares to be issued.
Following the offering, ACWA Power’s capital will rise from SR7.33 billion to SR7.66 billion, increasing the total number of shares to 766,490,498.
The transaction represents 4.63 percent of the issuer’s existing capital and is valued at SR7.12 billion.
ACWA Power said the proceeds will support its strategy to triple the assets under management by 2030 and strengthen its financial position.
Eligibility for the rights issue will apply to shareholders registered at the end of the second trading day following the date of an extraordinary general assembly.
ACWA Power shares closed up 4.07 percent on Monday at SR256.00, with over 1.1 million shares traded.
Saudi Arabia’s PIF assets rise 18% to $1.15tn as portfolio firms drive growth
- Sovereign wealth fund reported gross revenues of SR413 billion for 2024
- It reported a net profit of SR26 billion in 2024
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund boosted its total assets to SR4.32 trillion ($1.15 trillion) by the end of 2024, an 18 percent increase compared to the previous year, according to a disclosure filed with the London Stock Exchange.
The sovereign wealth fund reported gross revenues of SR413 billion for 2024, reflecting a 25 percent year-on-year rise. This growth was fueled by solid performance across several portfolio companies, including Savvy, Ma’aden, stc, Saudi National Bank, AviLease, and Gulf International Bank, as well as dividend income from Saudi Aramco.
PIF, often described as the financial engine of Saudi Arabia, plays a central role in advancing the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals to diversify the economy and reduce dependency on oil income.
“Long-term projects, that are beginning to mature, are also now generating significantly more revenue,” the disclosure document stated.
Despite global macroeconomic challenges such as high interest rates, inflationary pressure, and select asset impairments, the fund reported a net profit of SR26 billion in 2024.
The filing clarified that the impairments were “primarily related to changes to operational plans and increases in budgeted costs and represent less than a 2 percent reduction in total assets.”
PIF’s cash reserves held steady at SR316 billion, while loans and borrowings rose modestly to SR570 billion, reflecting continued diversification of its funding sources via international capital markets.
In 2024, the fund issued $2 billion in dollar-denominated sukuk and launched its first-ever sterling bond worth £650 million ($825.5 million). It also refinanced a $15 billion revolving credit facility, underlining market confidence in its creditworthiness and long-term investment outlook.
PIF’s debt ratio remained unchanged at 13 percent by the end of the year, the disclosure noted.
“Over 2024, PIF continued to advance its position as one of the world’s most impactful investors, while driving economic transformation in Saudi Arabia,” the document added.
It highlighted strategic progress in sectors such as leisure and tourism, industrial capabilities, capital markets, and the development of new industries.
Among standout performers, AviLease recorded a 350 percent surge in net profit to SR228 million and a 306 percent rise in revenue to SR2.1 billion. The aircraft leasing company expanded its fleet to 189 aircraft, comprising 163 owned, 22 managed, and four on order.
Meanwhile, Alat — another PIF-backed firm — invested SR401 million to establish an AI-driven robotics manufacturing facility in the Kingdom through a joint venture with SoftBank Robotics.
Riyadh leads Saudi Arabia’s commercial real estate growth with 23% rise in office rents
- Average rents for office spaces in Riyadh saw an annual rise of 23%
- Jeddah’s total office stock is expected to rise 1.8 million sq. meters by 2027
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s commercial real estate sector is witnessing exponential growth, with rents for Grade A office spaces in the Kingdom’s capital reaching SR2,700 ($719.95) per sq. meter by the end of March, an analysis showed.
In its latest report, global real estate consultancy Knight Frank said average rents for office spaces in Riyadh witnessed an annual rise of 23 percent by the end of the first quarter, driven by the success of government-led initiatives, including the ambitious regional headquarters program.
Strengthening the real estate sector is one of the key goals outlined in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 agenda, as the nation aims to position itself as a leading business and tourism destination by the end of the decade.
The Kingdom’s Real Estate General Authority expects the property market to reach $101.62 billion by 2029, with an anticipated compound annual growth rate of 8 percent from 2024.
“Saudi Arabia’s economic momentum continued to strengthen across key sectors in 2024, underpinned by rising private sector activity,” said Faisal Durrani, partner — head of research for the Middle East and North Africa at Knight Frank.
According to the report, the Kingdom’s Grade A office rents witnessed an occupancy level of 98 percent by the end of March.
Grade B rents grew by 24 percent year on year by the end of the first quarter, while the occupancy level of these spaces stood at 97 percent.
Grade A office spaces command higher rents than the area average, thanks to their prime locations, modern infrastructure, and newer construction.
In contrast, Grade B office spaces are more affordable, offering a lower-cost alternative to Grade A units.
The report further said that around 600 companies have announced plans to establish their regional headquarters by the end of February, significantly boosting demand for prime office spaces.
Saudi Arabia’s regional headquarters program offers benefits to international firms, including a 30-year exemption from corporate income tax and withholding tax on headquarters activities, as well as discounts and support services.
“A total of 14,303 foreign business investment licenses were issued during 2024, a 67 percent increase from 2023, marking the highest annual figure on record and underscoring the sustained appeal of Saudi Arabia to global corporates and investors,” said Durrani.
The analysis added that Jeddah is also experiencing significant growth in the commercial real estate sector, with both Grade A and Grade B occupancies reaching 95 percent by the end of March.
Knight Frank said Grade A office rents in Jeddah reached SR1,280 per sq. meter, marking a 4 percent year-on-year growth, while Grade B office rents grew by 6 percent to reach SR845 per sq. meter.
Jeddah’s total office stock is expected to rise from 1.6 million sq. meters this year to 1.8 million sq. meters by 2027.
“As more companies expand their footprint across Saudi Arabia, Jeddah is attracting a growing number of regional and local firms. This rising interest is being supported by a healthy office development pipeline,” said James Hodgetts, partner — occupier strategy and solutions at Knight Frank.
He added: “Upcoming projects include Jeddah Gate, which is expected to deliver 230,000 sq. meters between 2025 and 2028, and Jeddah Rose, a mixed-use development bringing 25,000 sq. meters of office space to the market by the end of 2025.”
In May, Jeddah Municipality announced 29 new investment opportunities spanning over 1.4 million sq. meters, targeting sectors including commercial, industrial, residential, and recreational.
The package includes 13 commercial opportunities featuring the development and operation of retail shops and commercial complexes across various districts.
In April, a separate report released by credit rating agency S&P Global said that the Kingdom’s retail real estate market is poised for growth in the near term, driven by population growth, expanding tourism, and economic diversification efforts under the Vision 2030 initiative.
S&P Global added that ongoing mega projects and the expansion of international brands are expected to propel further demand for retail space nationwide.
Hospitality overview
According to the study, the average daily rate in Saudi Arabia’s hospitality sector increased by 10.8 percent year on year by the end of March, while revenue per available room increased by 12.3 percent during the same period.
The report said the growth of the Kingdom’s hospitality sector was largely driven by gains in the nation’s holy cities and Riyadh.
In the first quarter of 2025, ADR in Makkah rose by 28.9 percent year on year to SR859, while RevPAR was up by 35.7 percent to SR673.
Citing data from the Ministry of Hajj, Knight Frank said the surge in performance in Makkah reflected heightened demand linked to the rise in issued Umrah visas, which grew by 8.3 percent.
With more than 8,500 rooms under construction across 12 hotel developments, Makkah’s total inventory is set to increase from 63,428 to 71,643 rooms by 2027, the report added.
According to the analysis, ADR in Madinah reached SR891 by the end of the first quarter, representing an 11.8 percent year-on-year rise, while RevPAR rose by 15.1 percent to SR724.
Madinah currently has 20,673 hotel rooms, and an additional 2,100 keys are expected to be delivered by 2027. Major international operators continue to expand their presence, including Hilton and Marriott, with planned openings totaling over 6,000 rooms.
Rua Al-Madinah, a new giga-project situated east of the Prophet’s Mosque, is also poised to reshape the hospitality landscape, with over 47,000 planned hotel rooms.
“These latest figures point to resilient demand amid limited new supply and further highlight Madinah’s pricing strength,” said Amar Hussain, associate partner — research, Middle East at Knight Frank.
He added: “Pilgrim arrivals in the city are expected to reach 30 million by 2030, up from 17.3 million in 2025, reflecting the city’s growing role as a global hub for religious tourism.”
Data Centers
Knight Frank said Saudi Arabia is positioning itself as the Middle East’s leading data hub, with plans to grow its data center market from $1.78 billion in 2023 to $3.2 billion by 2029, representing a compound annual growth rate of 10.1 percent.
The report noted that Saudi Arabia’s total IT capacity is expected to increase from around 250-300 megawatts in 2024 to more than 1,000-MW by 2030, driven by strategic government initiatives and substantial investment in digital infrastructure.
During the LEAP 2025 conference in February, Cathy Mauzaize, US-based software firm ServiceNow’s president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, said that the company is set to launch data centers in the Kingdom in 2026.
In the same month, Alfanar Global Development also announced a $1.4 billion investment plan to develop four world-class data centers in Saudi Arabia.
Knight Frank added that all tier-one US cloud providers, including Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, and Oracle, have either launched operations or announced further expansions in the Kingdom.
Amazon Web Services alone has committed $5.3 billion to scale up its cloud services across key cities.
Chinese firms such as Alibaba Cloud and Huawei Cloud have also established a local presence.
“Saudi Arabia is now the fastest growing market for data centers as the country continues its drive toward national digitalization,” said Stephen Beard, global head of data centers at Knight Frank.
He added: “The Kingdom’s development of data center infrastructure has been driven largely by adoption of public cloud and sustained public and private investment, transforming it into one of the top five global AI superpowers — evident in the recent launch of the $100 billion Transcendence AI Initiative.”
Saudi Arabia launched Project Transcendence in November, a $100 billion AI initiative aimed at building data centers, supporting startups, and developing infrastructure.
The initiative promises to bring together expertise, infrastructure, and innovation to position the Kingdom at the forefront of AI advancements.
Saudi banks post 5.4% loan growth in Q1 as lending accelerates
- Alvarez & Marsal report says growth primarily driven by 7.5% increase in corporate lending
- Loan-to-deposit ratio climbed to 106.1%, up from 104.7% in the previous quarter
RIYADH: Net loans and advances across the Saudi Arabia’s 10 largest listed banks rose by 5.4 percent in the first quarter of 2025, underscoring robust lending momentum at the start of the year.
According to Alvarez & Marsal’s latest KSA Banking Pulse report, this growth was primarily driven by a 7.5 percent increase in corporate lending, which continues to represent more than half of total gross loans.
The banking sector’s strong start reflects the wider strength of Saudi Arabia’s economic transformation efforts. Resilient credit growth signals sustained confidence among borrowers, particularly within the corporate sector, where demand for financing remains high amid ongoing large-scale infrastructure and development projects.
Meanwhile, the loan-to-deposit ratio climbed to 106.1 percent, up from 104.7 percent in the previous quarter, marking its highest level in recent times as credit expansion outpaced deposit growth.
Deposits rebounded by 4 percent after a decline in the prior quarter, supported by an 8.1 percent increase in time deposits.
The report also noted a 3.2 percent rise in operating income quarter on quarter, buoyed by a 9.6 percent surge in non-interest revenue from trade finance, foreign exchange, and investment gains.
Sam Gidoomal, managing director and head of Middle East Financial Services at A&M, commented: “Saudi banks are entering a new strategic phase marked by stronger capital stewardship and a focus on unlocking liquidity through innovation — from potential mortgage securitization to targeted portfolio rebalancing.”
“This financial agility, combined with solid credit growth and cost control, positions the sector to actively support Vision 2030 priorities and channel capital toward infrastructure and giga-projects,” he added.
Cost discipline was evident across the sector, as operating expenses fell by 1.7 percent, contributing to a 149 basis point improvement in the cost-to-income ratio to 29.8 percent.
Aggregate net income increased 6.3 percent to SR22.2 billion ($5.9 billion), while return on equity strengthened by 44 basis points to 15.3 percent and return on assets edged up to 2.1 percent.
The strong quarterly performance detailed in A&M’s KSA Banking Pulse coincides with a broader surge in credit expansion across the sector.
According to data from the Saudi Central Bank, the Kingdom’s bank outstanding loan portfolio rose to SR3.13 trillion at the end of April, reflecting a 16.51 percent increase over the past year and marking the fastest annual growth rate since mid-2021.
The data shows that approximately SR443 billion in new credit was issued over the past 12 months, highlighting how the Kingdom’s project-driven growth model is reshaping bank balance sheets. Real estate developers remain the largest borrowers, accounting for 21.77 percent of total corporate credit.
The analysis further underscored that impairment charges declined by 15.8 percent, alleviating margin pressures associated with interest rate normalization.
Non-interest income rose to 23 percent of total operating income in the first quarter, signaling progress in revenue diversification.
The cost of risk improved to 0.27 percent, down from 0.34 percent in the prior quarter, while the capital adequacy ratio remained robust at 19.3 percent.
Yield on credit moderated to 8 percent in the first quarter, down from 8.4 percent in the prior period, while the cost of funds declined to 3.3 percent.
The net interest margin edged slightly lower to 2.87 percent from 2.94 percent, reflecting ongoing margin pressures amid interest rate normalization.
The coverage ratio decreased to 154.8 percent, and operating income relative to total assets remained stable at 3.6 percent. Return on risk-weighted assets was unchanged at 2.7 percent quarter on quarter.
Asad Ahmed, A&M managing director, Financial Services, added: “The uptick in lending and deposit mobilization reflects improving business confidence and a rebalancing of liquidity across the sector.”
“While margin pressures persist amid interest rate normalization, the decline in impairments and growth in fee-based income indicate that banks are diversifying their revenue streams and adapting effectively to the evolving environment,” he added.
Saudi Ministry of Energy, UN ink deal to propel regional emissions cooperation
- Deal seeks to support MENA nations promote clean energy technologies
RIYADH: Middle East and North Africa countries are set to benefit from enhanced clean energy cooperation following an agreement between Saudi Arabia and the UN Environment Programme to accelerate emissions reduction.
The memorandum of understanding, signed in Riyadh by Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman and UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen, seeks to support MENA nations through the promotion of clean energy technologies, development of climate policy frameworks, and knowledge exchange to advance sustainable development, according to an official release.
The initiative aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Middle East Green Initiative, a regional platform launched to combat climate change and reduce emissions by over 60 percent from hydrocarbon production across participating countries. The initiative aims to cut 670 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, equivalent to 10 percent of global nationally determined contributions when first announced in 2021.
The ministry release stated: “The MoU reflects shared goals to enhance resource efficiency and lower carbon emissions through a comprehensive, balanced and sustainable approach.”
It added: “Areas of cooperation include policy research and recommendations, partnerships with international organizations, participation in climate and CCE-related events, exchange of knowledge and best practices, and the development of climate policy frameworks, supported by regional and global climate networking activities.”
During the meeting, the two sides also held talks over advancing the objectives of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement.
“The two sides also discussed Saudi Arabia’s climate initiatives, including the Saudi Green Initiative and the Middle East Green Initiative, as well as other efforts undertaken by the Kingdom to expand renewable energy and reduce emissions through the Circular Carbon Economy framework,” the release added.
The MoU supports wider regional efforts to unlock renewable potential. MENA currently contributes less than 8 percent of global emissions from power and heat generation and is aiming to grow its clean energy capacity from under 50 gigawatts in 2022 to 200 GW by 2030, according to a June 2024 report by the International Energy Agency.
The IEA report also highlighted that the region — led by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Algeria — is experiencing the fastest relative growth in renewable energy, scaling at 4.5 times its current base due to ambitious national targets.
The MENA region holds substantial hydrocarbon reserves alongside significant renewable energy potential, positioning it as a strategically important player in the global shift toward sustainable energy, according to the Natural Resource Governance Institute.
Governments across the region are adopting a dual-energy strategy — leveraging both fossil fuels and renewables — to reduce emissions while bolstering energy security.
Enhanced regional collaboration is critical to developing interconnected energy systems, boosting economic competitiveness, and securing reliable access to international energy markets.
