Saudi projects to take spotlight at 15th Real Estate Development Summit in Spain 

Saudi projects to take spotlight at 15th Real Estate Development Summit in Spain 
A panel discussion at the Real Estate Development Summit held in November 2023. Screenshot
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Updated 01 July 2024
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Saudi projects to take spotlight at 15th Real Estate Development Summit in Spain 

Saudi projects to take spotlight at 15th Real Estate Development Summit in Spain 

RIYADH: Saudi real estate projects will take center-stage at a two-day summit in Spain featuring over 100 companies, showcasing major developments and new business opportunities in the Kingdom.     

Hosted by consultancy firm GBB Venture, the 15th Real Estate Development Summit Saudi Arabia: Europe Edition is scheduled for July 4 and 5 at Palau de Congressos, Palma de Mallorca, aiming to bring together decision-makers overseeing major Saudi projects with global suppliers. 

This comes as the Saudi real estate market rapidly advances with ambitious urban development projects and substantial infrastructure investments, attracting global interest while emphasizing sustainability and innovation.   

The Kingdom’s property market is estimated to be worth $69.51 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach approximately $101.62 billion by 2029, according to India-based Mordor Intelligence. 

Ravi Kumar Chandran, managing director at GBB Venture, said: “Saudi Arabia is transitioning to one of the historic moments of the time and (will) reposition itself as one of the most progressive, high-tech, sustainable and luxurious countries in the world.”      

Moreover, the event’s agenda emphasizes not only networking opportunities but also integrating purposeful networking activities. 

The summit will feature signature meetings, pre-matched and arranged based on a comprehensive list of specific business requirements from all participants, ensuring the highest quality and delivering genuine networking value, according to a press release. 

These meetings aim to foster networking opportunities and encourage participants to explore new possibilities in the property sector. 

The topics of discussion on the first day cover a wide array of themes, such as “The Use of Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Reality in Business Information Modeling Design Processes” and “Designing Sustainable Urban Communities with Direct Manufacturing Partnerships.”  

Other topics include “Reimagine Luxury Design with 3D Printed Ceramic Tiles,” “Designing with Water – Going Beyond Technology,” “Innovation beyond Surface,” and "The Dawn of the Biotech City.” 

Another panel scheduled for the first day is titled “Setting Saudi Above the Competing Boundaries.” This session will feature a panel of experts discussing how the Kingdom’s real estate projects distinguish it from others in the region.  

The second day of the summit will feature discussions on various topics, including “Procurement Beyond Boundaries.” This panel will explore how procurement leaders in Saudi Arabia manage global purchases amidist rising demand for innovative international products in the real estate industry. 

Other topics on the agenda for the second day include “Design Defying Boundaries,” featuring presentations by prominent architects and designers working in Saudi Arabia, and “Business Buddies,” offering a session to discover unique businesses and projects in the industry and foster connections.   

Furthermore, suppliers at the event will showcase a wide range of products and services focusing on sustainability, luxury, innovation, and more.  

The Kingdom has identified housing, tourism and commercial as some of its key projects under Vision 2030. 

As demand in these sectors consistently outstrips supply, stakeholders such as owners, developers, contractors, as well as architects, designers, and consultants are actively engaged in pioneering projects. These endeavors aim to redefine industry standards by pushing the boundaries of what’s achievable in the market. 

The Real Estate Development Summit aims to facilitate valuable knowledge exchange, offer guidance from thought leaders, and connect relevant parties with the right people and resources. 

This comes as real estate transactions are set to surge in Saudi Arabia in 2024 thanks to Vision 2030 investments, according to an S&P Global report. 

In a report titled “GCC Real Estate How Credit Stories Have Evolved,” S&P believes the Kingdom’s property sector will also benefit from the 3 percent economic growth anticipated across the Gulf Cooperation Council region in the current year.  

The rise was attributed to sustained oil-related expansion and an increase of up to 5 percent in non-oil economic activity, particularly in Saudi Arabia and the UAE. 

The Saudi government has been prioritizing the real estate sector by enacting over 18 pieces of legislation to drive its growth and significantly boost the country’s gross domestic product.  

These legislations include real estate systems, executive regulations, and regulatory rules, reflecting the government’s commitment to this sector as part of Vision 2030. 


Fitch affirms Saudi Arabia rating at ‘A+’; outlook stable

Fitch affirms Saudi Arabia rating at ‘A+’; outlook stable
Updated 01 February 2025
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Fitch affirms Saudi Arabia rating at ‘A+’; outlook stable

Fitch affirms Saudi Arabia rating at ‘A+’; outlook stable

RIYADH: Fitch Ratings has affirmed Saudi Arabia’s Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating at ‘A+’ with a Stable Outlook, the agency said on Friday.
Fitch indicated the rating reflects the Kingdoms strong fiscal and external balance sheets. It said: “government debt/GDP and sovereign net foreign assets considerably stronger than both the ‘A’ and ‘AA’ medians, and significant fiscal buffers in the form of deposits and other public sector assets”.
The agency also noted the Kingdom’s reform program, Saudi Vision 2030, has diversified economic activity in one of the Middle East strongest economies.
And there is positive outlook for growth this year.
“Headline economic growth is set to rebound in 2025 after being held back by cuts to oil production agreed by OPEC+,” a note by the agency said.
In addition Fitch also said that the Kingdom now faces less geopolitical risk.
“Saudi Arabia is exposed to geopolitical risks, but Fitch judges that these have lessened recently, given the dynamics of the regional conflicts.”


Startup Wrap — MENA startups raise $2.3bn in 2024 as deal volume grows

Startup Wrap — MENA startups raise $2.3bn in 2024 as deal volume grows
Updated 31 January 2025
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Startup Wrap — MENA startups raise $2.3bn in 2024 as deal volume grows

Startup Wrap — MENA startups raise $2.3bn in 2024 as deal volume grows

RIYADH: Startup funding deals across the Middle East and North Africa saw an annual increase of 3.5 percent in 2024, with 610 agreements recorded across the region.

According to a report from Wamada, fintech remained the dominant sector, attracting 30 percent of total funding, or $700 million. 

Software-as-a-service saw strong traction in Saudi Arabia, while Web 3.0 saw $256.8 million and e-commerce also gained momentum with $253 million in funding. 

Despite the strong showing in these sectors, the overall funding value across the startup ecosystem of $2.3 billion represented a 42 percent year-on-year drop.

When excluding debt financing, the decline stood at just 11 percent.

The UAE led with $1.1 billion raised across 207 deals, followed by Saudi Arabia at $700 million from 186 deals, and Egypt securing $334 million across 84 deals. 

Oman ranked fourth with $41.5 million, while Morocco and Tunisia led in North Africa, raising $20.8 million and $13.1 million, respectively. Emerging ecosystems in Jordan, Qatar, and Lebanon also showed modest growth. 

Early-stage startups accounted for over $1.2 billion in investments, while later-stage and pre-IPO rounds saw limited activity. Female-founded startups raised $27.6 million, or 1.2 percent of total funding, with mixed-gender founding teams securing $192 million. 

Ebana secures $2.66m to expand fintech solutions 

Saudi-based fintech startup Ebana has raised $2.66 million in a pre-series A round led by Esnad Legal Consulting and Business Governance. 

Founded in 2020 by Ali Al-Shareef, Ebana provides digital services and technical infrastructure for corporate governance affairs. 

The newly raised capital will be used to enhance Ebana’s investor relations tools, expand its fintech solutions, and strengthen its services for both public and private enterprises. 

Nabeeh secures investment from Ibtikar Fund to grow user base 

Saudi-based e-services platform Nabeeh has raised an undisclosed investment from Ibtikar Fund. 

Originally founded in Palestine in 2021 by Saber Samara and Fawaz Samara, Nabeeh provides an online platform for booking housekeeping, maintenance, and renovation services. 

“Property owners and businesses often struggle with unreliable maintenance and cleaning providers and a lack of transparency. Nabeeh bridges this gap by offering seamless, tech-enabled solutions that prioritize quality, speed, and trust,” Samara said. 

With this funding, Nabeeh plans to double its user base, expand its business-to-business portfolio, and introduce new platform features. 

Silkhaus raises growth funding to expand into Saudi Arabia 

Silkhaus leadership team — left to right: Ankit Shah, co-founder and chief financial officer, Sabine El Najjar, KSA managing director and vice president commercial, Aahan Bhojani, CEO and co-founder, and Peter May, vice president.

UAE-based proptech startup Silkhaus has closed a seven-figure growth funding round led by Nuwa Capital and Oraseya Capital, with participation from Impulse International, Yuj Ventures, Nordstar, and other investors. 

Founded in 2021 by Aahan Bhojani, Silkhaus operates a marketplace for short-term rentals across the UAE. 

The new funding will support its expansion into Saudi Arabia, where it is now open for bookings. This follows a multi-million-dollar pre-Series A round secured last year by Partners for Growth. 

“With the support of our investors and team, we are excited to scale our operations in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, offering innovative solutions to property owners and premium experiences to guests. The short-term rental economy of the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) is experiencing a significant growth surge, and we are proud to be leading this growth,” Bhojani said. 

UpLevel raises pre-seed funding to enhance corporate coaching 

Saudi-based education tech startup UpLevel has closed an undisclosed pre-seed funding round backed by a group of angel investors. 

Founded in 2024 by Idris Al-Shayea and Hamad Al-Luhaidan, UpLevel connects companies with professional coaches to enhance employee performance.  

The fresh funding will help UpLevel scale its operations and further develop its coaching network for corporate clients. 

BioSapien extends pre-Series A round to $7m 

The BioSapien team. Supplied

UAE-based health tech startup BioSapien has extended its pre-Series A round to $7 million, with new participation from Golden Gate Ventures, marking the first deployment of its MENA-focused fund. 

Founded in 2018 by Khatija Ali, BioSapien is developing MediChip, a 3D-printed, slow-release drug delivery platform designed to attach to tissue with minimal systemic side effects. 

The extension follows the company’s $5.5 million pre-series A round in December, led by Global Ventures and joined by Dara Holdings. 

Retailhub raises funding to expand SaaS platform 

UAE-based retail SaaS provider Retailhub has secured an undisclosed investment from Angelspark. 

Founded in 2022 by Daniel Alimov and Roman Tikhonov, Retailhub provides an automated platform that synchronizes stock updates from point-of-sale systems to aggregators and consolidates orders into a single application. 

The new funding will enable Retailhub to enhance its platform capabilities, strengthen partnerships, and scale operations within the UAE and beyond. 

Maalexi secures $3m debt financing from Citi 

UAE-based agriculture fintech startup Maalexi has secured a $3 million debt financing facility from Citi to expand its sourcing operations. 

Founded in 2021 by Azam Pasha and Rohit Majhi, Maalexi provides a risk management platform that enables small food and agribusinesses to access cross-border trade. 

The facility will help build a technology-enabled supply chain linking origin markets to the UAE. This follows a $1 million venture debt round secured in July from Stride Ventures. 

Fincart.io raises pre-seed funding to expand logistics platform 

Egypt-based logistics startup Fincart.io has raised an undisclosed pre-seed funding round led by Plus VC, with participation from Plug and Play, Orbit Startups, Jedar Capital, and other regional investors. 

Founded in 2023 by Mostafa El-Masry and Nihal Ali, Fincart.io provides e-commerce retailers with access to a marketplace of delivery providers and an operations dashboard. 

The new funds will support platform improvements, courier network growth, and expansion into the African and Middle Eastern markets. 

Dsquares acquires majority stake in Prepit 

Egypt-based loyalty solutions provider Dsquares has acquired a majority stake in Prepit, an Egyptian B2B SaaS loyalty platform, for an undisclosed amount. 

Founded in 2012 by Ayman Essawy, Marwan Kenawy, and Momtaz Moussa, Dsquares specializes in B2B loyalty programs for industries such as banking, telecom, fast-moving consumer goods, and retail. 

Prepit, founded in 2022 by Karim Hussein and Tarek Afia, provides AI-driven tools to streamline food and beverage operations. 

The acquisition strengthens Dsquares’ presence in the loyalty sector across key Middle Eastern markets, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the UAE.


Oil Updates — crude set for weekly decline as Trump tariff threat looms large

Oil Updates — crude set for weekly decline as Trump tariff threat looms large
Updated 31 January 2025
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Oil Updates — crude set for weekly decline as Trump tariff threat looms large

Oil Updates — crude set for weekly decline as Trump tariff threat looms large

LONDON: Oil prices were steady on Friday but on course for weekly declines as markets waited to see if US President Donald Trump will follow through on his threat to impose tariffs on Mexico and Canada on Saturday.

Brent crude futures for March, which expire on Friday, were down 9 cents at $76.78 a barrel by 5:20 p.m. Saudi time. US West Texas Intermediate crude declined 2 cents to $72.71.

For the week, the Brent and WTI benchmarks were set for declines of 2.2 percent and 2.6 percent respectively.

Oil came under pressure from the potential negative economic impact of US tariffs against Canada, Mexico and China, said PVM analyst Tamas Varga, adding that potential dollar appreciation as a result of tariffs also weighed on oil.

Trump has threatened to impose a 25 percent tariff on Canadian and Mexican exports to the US if those two countries do not clamp down on shipments of fentanyl and on illegal migration across US borders.

Canada and Mexico are the two largest crude oil exporters to the US, but it is unclear if oil would be included among the tariffs. Trump said on Thursday he would soon decide whether to exclude Canadian and Mexican oil imports from the tariffs.

Tariffs would likely result in large US refinery run cuts, said Energy Aspects analyst Livia Gallarati.

“Our base case has been that, if tariffs are announced, they will include a grace period for negotiations and that oil is likely eventually to be carved out from any tariffs,” Gallarati added.

The market is also awaiting the OPEC+ meeting scheduled for Monday.

Kazakhstan’s energy minister said on Wednesday that the group is set to discuss Trump’s plans to raise US oil production and take a joint stance on the matter at next week’s OPEC+ meeting.

“OPEC will likely comply with the US demand to increase production to avoid Trump’s ire. And they might announce a gradual unwinding of voluntary cuts, if not from April, then from the second half of the year,”


Saudi Arabian Military Industries appoints new CEO

Saudi Arabian Military Industries appoints new CEO
Updated 30 January 2025
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Saudi Arabian Military Industries appoints new CEO

Saudi Arabian Military Industries appoints new CEO

RIYADH: The Saudi Arabian Military Industries has announced the appointment of Thamer M. Al-Muhid as its new chief executive officer, effective Feb. 1, according to a statement released on Thursday.

The decision was confirmed during a meeting of SAMI’s board of directors, chaired by Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman.

With over 30 years of global leadership experience, Al-Muhid brings extensive expertise in driving organizational transformation, operational excellence, and international expansion.

The newly appointed CEO of SAMI, Thamer M. Al-Muhid. Supplied

His diverse background encompasses strategic initiatives, mergers and acquisitions, research and development, and forging key international partnerships—all of which equip him to lead SAMI into a new phase of growth and innovation.

Before his appointment, Al-Muhid served as group CEO and managing director of Saudi Chemical Co. Holding, and has held senior leadership roles at prominent organizations such as SABIC, Almarai, and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Replacing Walid Abu Khaled, Al-Muhid will oversee the company’s efforts to advance cutting-edge technologies, produce world-class defense products, and strengthen strategic partnerships.

His leadership is expected to expedite Public Investment Fund-owned SAMI’s progress toward achieving its ambitious objectives, including localizing 50 percent of the Kingdom’s defense spending and fostering national talent in the defense sector.

This appointment underscores SAMI’s ongoing commitment to positioning Saudi Arabia as a global leader in defense manufacturing and innovation.


Saudi crowdfunding platform Lendo secures $690m warehouse facility led by J.P. Morgan

Saudi crowdfunding platform Lendo secures $690m warehouse facility led by J.P. Morgan
Updated 30 January 2025
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Saudi crowdfunding platform Lendo secures $690m warehouse facility led by J.P. Morgan

Saudi crowdfunding platform Lendo secures $690m warehouse facility led by J.P. Morgan

RIYADH: Lendo, a debt crowdfunding platform in Saudi Arabia, has secured a SR2.6 billion ($690 million) warehouse facility, with J.P. Morgan serving as the lead arranger.

According to an official statement, the facility will support increased job creation within the Kingdom, underscoring Lendo’s commitment to fostering domestic economic growth and employment opportunities.

Endorsed by Fintech Saudi, this achievement highlights the rapid expansion of Saudi Arabia’s fintech sector and signals the substantial potential for small and medium-sized enterprise financing within the economy, it added.

The initiative also aligns with Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to raise SME lending from 4 percent in 2018 to 20 percent by 2030.

“This landmark facility represents a transformative moment for Lendo and the Saudi fintech ecosystem,” said Osama Alraee, CEO and co-founder of Lendo.

“The strong backing from global financial institutions such as J.P. Morgan validates our innovative approach to SME financing and positions us to significantly expand our impact in the Saudi market. This facility will accelerate our mission of driving SME growth while contributing to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals.”

The statement said the facility will be strategically allocated to enhance Lendo’s lending capacity, introduce innovative financial products, and broaden the company’s coverage of SMEs across the Kingdom.

George Deves, co-head of Northern European Asset-Backed Securities at J.P. Morgan, remarked: “We are pleased to collaborate with Lendo on this landmark transaction. A robust and rapidly expanding SME sector is crucial to the local economy, and this financing will contribute to the strategic goal of boosting SME lending in Saudi Arabia.”

Moreover, the deal underscores the growing confidence of international investors in the Kingdom’s fintech sector, particularly in the strength of its regulatory framework.

Lendo has successfully completed two rounds of investment to date, with its most recent Series B funding round, raising $28 million, led by Sanabil Investments, a wholly owned subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.