RIYADH, 1 December 2005 — The Saudi Arabia General Investment Authority (SAGIA) has given licenses to 126 investment projects worth SR3.6 billion. SAGIA revealed that the 3rd quarter of 2005 witnessed an increase of 223 percent in investments over the 3rd quarter of 2004. According to SAGIA, by adding the results of the 3rd quarter to the rest of the year, total investments in Saudi Arabia stood at SR68.8 billion ($18.3 billion).