Giga-projects spark $1.22bn boom in Saudi real estate market

NEOM has emerged as the most sought-after destination, with 41 percent of respondents earning over SR80,000 per month expressing an intent to spend more than SR20 million on homes in such large-scale developments. Supplied
NEOM has emerged as the most sought-after destination, with 41 percent of respondents earning over SR80,000 per month expressing an intent to spend more than SR20 million on homes in such large-scale developments. Supplied
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Updated 12 March 2025
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Giga-projects spark $1.22bn boom in Saudi real estate market

Giga-projects spark $1.22bn boom in Saudi real estate market

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s residential real estate market is set for a significant surge, with private buyers expected to invest SR4.58 billion ($1.22 billion) this year, according to an analysis.

The Saudi Report 2025 by global property consultancy firm Knight Frank, conducted in collaboration with YouGov, highlights that investors are willing to pay substantial premiums for homes within the Kingdom’s mega-development projects.

The study, which surveyed 1,037 households, including 100 expatriates based in Saudi Arabia, found that SR2.75 billion of potential private capital, including SR2.62 billion from Saudi nationals and SR133.7 million from expatriates, is ready to be deployed into the Kingdom’s giga-projects.

NEOM has emerged as the most sought-after destination, with 41 percent of respondents earning over SR80,000 per month expressing an intent to spend more than SR20 million on homes in such large-scale developments.

The findings underscore the growing demand for premium residential offerings in these transformative projects, which align with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 economic diversification agenda.

“While NEOM continues to take pole position in the hearts and minds of Saudi nationals as a location they would like to live in, its popularity has decreased from 84 percent in 2023 to 17 percent this year,” Faisal Durrani, partner and head of research for MENA at Knight Frank, said.

He continued: “There are likely to be a range of reasons for this, including the emergence of other giga-projects over the last two years, perceptions around households’ ability to afford to own a home in any of NEOM’s subprojects, a lack of ready-to-move-into homes, a lack of homes actually on the market to purchase, or a combination of the above. These factors present a clear blueprint for how NEOM’s developers can boost absorption rates once homes are made available to purchase.”

According to Knight Frank, NEOM was found to be the most desirable giga-project among Saudi nationals, although those on monthly incomes of SR10,000 to SR50,000 showed a higher level of interest in living in the Belgium-sized super-city than those with incomes in excess of SR50,000.

For the latter group, Jeddah Central had greater appeal, representing 14 percent, with NEOM following in second place.

While expats with a monthly income of over SR30,000 also favor NEOM as their most preferred location to own a home, it is notable that 20 percent of all the expats surveyed have no desire to purchase residential real estate in any of the giga-projects.

“The relatively low appetite among expats to purchase a home in any of the giga-projects likely stems from a lack of understanding of what will eventually be available, a lack of proof of concept, difficulty in navigating expat ownership rules, financing challenges, or indeed a combination of the above,” Susan Amawi, general manager at Knight Frank  Saudi Arabia said.

She added: “We expect this to change over time, especially once details of the much-anticipated change to foreign ownership laws are unveiled.”

NEOM has awarded construction contracts worth $28.7 billion as of early 2025, with $100 million allocated to Magna and an additional $10.5 billion for The Line, according to an analysis by Knight Frank.

Saudi nationals and expatriates earning SR10,000 to SR20,000 per month showed the highest level of interest, followed by those with incomes between SR20,000 and SR30,000.

Meanwhile, 29 percent of respondents earning SR40,000 to SR50,000 also expressed a desire to buy a home in The Line.

However, Durrani noted a shift in preferences among higher-income groups.

“The apparent tapering in the desirability of The Line as a place to live and own a home as incomes grow could be a reflection of the perception of The Line as a ‘mass-market project,’ with those on higher incomes perhaps in favour of somewhere more exclusive,” he explained.

Durrani added: “Indeed, our results have shown that the largest proportion of those on monthly incomes of between SR70,000 and 80,000 would prefer to own a home at the Red Sea Project and King Salman Park. For this group, NEOM overall trails at just 5 percent.”

Saudi Arabia’s leading residential developer, ROSHN, has also emerged as a key player in the Kingdom’s giga-projects.

According to Knight Frank, ROSHN’s SEDRA development in Riyadh is the most sought-after project, with 39 percent of respondents selecting it as their top choice.

ROSHN’s focus on affordable homes in integrated community settings has played a pivotal role in its widespread appeal.

Other highly sought-after ROSHN developments include Warefa in Riyadh and Marafy in Jeddah.

Tariq de Jong, regional head of residential research at Knight Frank, emphasized ROSHN’s rising prominence among Saudi homebuyers.

“Away from NEOM, Saudi nationals and Saudi-based expats are actively targeting projects by ROSHN, which ranks alongside Jeddah Central as the second most popular giga project home purchase location,” Harmen de Jong, partner and regional head of Strategy & Consulting for Saudi Arabia at Knight Frank, said.

He concluded: “ROSHN has positioned itself as the Kingdom’s leading residential community developer and is working toward setting new benchmarks in creating integrated neighborhoods that blend modern living with traditional Saudi heritage, all crucially anchored by community facilities and amenities which are in high demand and in short supply.”


Saudi gold investment demand up 9% in 2024 as bar purchases surge 

Saudi gold investment demand up 9% in 2024 as bar purchases surge 
Updated 14 sec ago
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Saudi gold investment demand up 9% in 2024 as bar purchases surge 

Saudi gold investment demand up 9% in 2024 as bar purchases surge 

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s demand for gold bars and coins rose 9 percent in 2024 to 15.4 tonnes, reaffirming the Kingdom’s position as the Gulf region’s largest investment market for the precious metal, a new report showed. 

The World Gold Council’s Gold Demand Trends Full Year 2024 report attributed the increase to heightened investor appetite for safe-haven assets amid economic uncertainty, despite a slowdown in jewelry purchases. 

The document highlighted that Saudi Arabia’s performance in the gold market aligns with a broader regional trend, with countries like the UAE and Kuwait also showing strong growth. 

Saudi investors responded to fluctuations in gold prices, taking advantage of opportunities in the market. 

In particular, demand for bars surged, while the sale of coins saw a slight decrease. The report noted that this robust performance was not limited to the first three quarters of 2024 but continued in the final quarter, with a 20 percent year-on-year increase in bar and coin purchases to 4.3 tonnes. 

Despite the strong growth in investment demand, gold jewelry consumption in the Kingdom experienced a decline, falling by 8 percent to 35 tonnes in 2024. 

This decrease reflects the impact of high gold prices, which have limited the purchasing power of consumers. 

The report indicated that the demand for gold jewelry saw a slight recovery in the fourth quarter of 2024, driven by a price dip that prompted buying. 

The World Gold Council also observed a regional trend where gold remained a key asset class for investors, particularly in the face of rising inflation and geopolitical instability. 

As the global gold price reached record highs in 2024, Saudi investors increasingly turned to gold as a hedge against these challenges. 

The UAE also registered an increase in bar and coin demand, rising 15 percent annually to 13.3 tonnes in 2024. Fourth-quarter demand in the UAE climbed to 3.4 tonnes, up from 3.1 tonnes a year earlier. 

However, jewelry consumption in the Emirates declined 13 percent over the year, totaling 34.7 tonnes, reflecting similar affordability challenges seen across the region. 

Looking ahead, the World Gold Council expects the Kingdom’s gold market to remain resilient, supported by strong investor interest in gold and its role as a hedge in uncertain times. 

The report came as gold extended its record run on Tuesday, breaching $3,500 per ounce, as weakness in the dollar, US President Donald Trump’s attacks on the Federal Reserve and trade war fears boosted demand for the safe-haven asset.

Spot gold was up 0.5 percent at $3,440.51 an ounce by 3:21 p.m. Saudi time , after rising as much as 2.2 percent to $3,500.05 earlier in the session. US gold futures climbed 0.9 percent to $3,454.60.


Saudi Arabia posts 66.7% rise in industrial licenses in February

Saudi Arabia posts 66.7% rise in industrial licenses in February
Updated 12 min 18 sec ago
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Saudi Arabia posts 66.7% rise in industrial licenses in February

Saudi Arabia posts 66.7% rise in industrial licenses in February

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia issued 105 new industrial licenses in February, marking a 66.7 percent increase compared to January, supporting the Kingdom’s drive for economic growth and diversification. 

A total of 113 factories also commenced production during the second month of the year, representing a 9.7 percent increase in comparison with the previous month, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources.

According to a report from the ministry’s National Industrial and Mining Information Center, the new licenses represent investments exceeding SR1.02 billion ($272 million) and are expected to create 1,504 jobs.

These developments are part of a broader trend in the sector. An official study revealed that 1,346 new industrial permits were issued in the first quarter of 2024, paving the way for over 44,000 new job opportunities and attracting investments surpassing SR50 billion ($13.3 billion). 

They also align with Saudi Arabia’s National Industrial Strategy, unveiled by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in October 2022, which seeks to accelerate sector growth and raise the number of factories across the Kingdom to approximately 36,000 by 2035.

The strategy targets 12 sub-sectors and outlines over 800 investment opportunities, valued at SR1 trillion, with the goal of tripling the nation’s industrial gross domestic product. 

The issuance of permits also correlates with the Kingdom’s National Industrial Development and Logistics Program, launched in 2019, to support the industrial sector and drive sustainable development. 

The ministry added in its statement that factories entering the production phase attracted investments totaling SR900 million and generated 4,114 new jobs, underscoring the continued growth and expansion of the country’s industrial base as these establishments reach full operational capacity. 

Saudi Arabia’s Industrial Production Index recorded a 1.3 percent year-on-year increase in January, driven by sustained growth in manufacturing and waste management, according to the General Authority for Statistics. Monthly, the index remained steady at 103.9, unchanged from December. 

The manufacturing sub-index posted a 4 percent annual rise, supported by a 4.3 percent increase in the production of coke and refined petroleum products, as well as a 4.2 percent uptick in chemicals and chemical products. 

The report, which monitors key industrial indicators, also revealed that investments linked to newly issued industrial licenses reached SR1.197 billion, with the associated projects expected to create more than 2,500 job opportunities across the Kingdom.


IMF projects 3% growth for Saudi economy in 2025

IMF projects 3% growth for Saudi economy in 2025
Updated 21 min 18 sec ago
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IMF projects 3% growth for Saudi economy in 2025

IMF projects 3% growth for Saudi economy in 2025

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s real gross domestic product is expected to grow by 3 percent in 2025, with further acceleration to 3.7 percent in 2026, according to the latest World Economic Outlook released by the International Monetary Fund.

The forecast marks a downward revision of 0.3 percentage points for 2025 and 0.4 percentage points for 2026 compared to the IMF’s projections issued in January. Despite the slight adjustment, the Kingdom’s anticipated economic performance continues to outpace the global average, which the IMF estimates at 2.8 percent for 2025 and 3 percent for 2026.

“The swift escalation of trade tensions and extremely high levels of policy uncertainty are expected to have a significant impact on global economic activity,” the IMF noted in its report.

Regionally, Saudi Arabia is expected to outperform several of its Gulf neighbors. The IMF projects Bahrain’s GDP to grow by 2.8 percent in 2025, followed by Qatar at 2.4 percent, Oman at 2.3 percent, and Kuwait at 1.9 percent.

The UAE is forecast to lead the Gulf Cooperation Council with a 4 percent growth rate in 2025 and 5 percent in 2026.

The IMF also predicts that inflation in Saudi Arabia will remain contained, with the average annual rate holding steady at 2.1 percent in 2025 and easing slightly to 2 percent the following year.

In a separate analysis released in December, Mastercard Economics estimated a 3.7 percent expansion for the Saudi economy in 2024, driven largely by growth in non-oil sectors.

Underscoring the Kingdom’s economic momentum, ratings agency S&P Global upgraded Saudi Arabia’s sovereign credit rating to “A+” from “A” in March, citing the country’s ongoing social and economic transformation as a key factor for the stable outlook.

Across the broader Middle East and North Africa region, the IMF anticipates economic growth to average 2.6 percent in 2025, before climbing to 3.4 percent in 2026.

Globally, the US is forecast to record GDP growth of 1.8 percent in 2025 and 1.7 percent in 2026.

Among emerging markets, India is expected to lead with projected growth of 6.2 percent in 2025 and 6.3 percent the following year. China’s economy, meanwhile, is expected to expand by 4 percent annually during the same period.


Closing Bell: Saudi main index rebounds to close at 11,586

Closing Bell: Saudi main index rebounds to close at 11,586
Updated 22 April 2025
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Closing Bell: Saudi main index rebounds to close at 11,586

Closing Bell: Saudi main index rebounds to close at 11,586

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index rebounded on Tuesday, as it gained 37.74 points or 0.33 percent to close at 11,586.40. 

The total trading turnover of the main index was SR5.41 billion ($1.44 billion), with 101 stocks advancing and 136 declining. 

The Kingdom’s parallel market, Nomu, edged down by 1.24 percent to close at 28,281.76. 

The MSCI Tadawul Index gained 8.09 points to 1,474.60. 

The best-performing stock on the benchmark index was Saudi Fisheries Co. The firm’s share price increased by 10 percent to SR112.20. 

The share price of AlJazira REIT also rose by 9.91 percent to SR15.52. 

Alistithmar AREIC Diversified REIT Fund also saw its stock price increase by 9.90 percent to SR8.77. 

Conversely, the share price of Jahez International Co. for Information System Technology declined by 3.33 percent to SR27.55. 

On the announcements front, Aldrees Petroleum and Transport Services Co. revealed that its net profit for the first quarter of this year reached SR100.1 million, representing a rise of 29.32 percent compared to the same period in 2024. 

Compared to the fourth quarter of 2024, Aldrees’ net profit increased by 6.94 percent. 

In a press statement, Aldrees attributed the rise in profit to higher sales from the company’s petrol and transport division. 

The share price of Aldrees edged up by 1.81 percent to SR135. 

In a Tadawul statement, the Saudi National Bank said that its net profit for the first three months of this year witnessed a year-on-year rise of 19.48 percent to reach SR6.02 billion. 

The financial institution said that the rise in profit was driven by a 7.56 percent rise in operating revenue during the first quarter compared to the same period of the previous year. 

The stock price of SNB increased by 3.98 percent to SR35.25.

Al Rajhi Bank said that its net profit for the first quarter of this year reached SR5.9 billion, representing a rise of 34.07 percent compared to the same period in 2024. 

In a Tadawul statement, the bank added that its total operating revenue for the first three months of this year stood at SR9.2 billion, marking a 27.26 percent year on year rise. 

Al Rajhi Bank’s share price increased by 0.41 percent on Tuesday to reach SR98. 


ACWA Power secures $119m loan facility from Alinma Bank for new headquarters

ACWA Power secures $119m loan facility from Alinma Bank for new headquarters
Updated 22 April 2025
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ACWA Power secures $119m loan facility from Alinma Bank for new headquarters

ACWA Power secures $119m loan facility from Alinma Bank for new headquarters

RIYADH: Saudi utility giant ACWA Power has secured an SR750 million ($119 million) Shariah-compliant term loan facility from Alinma Bank to fund its new headquarters in Riyadh.

The seven-year agreement reflects the bank’s confidence in the world’s largest private water desalination company, recognizing its strong financial position and strategic role in supporting the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and energy transition goals, according to a statement.

This also aligns with the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture’s goal to meet 90 percent of Saudi Arabia’s water needs through desalination and the remaining 10 percent from ground and surface water by 2030.

In the statement, Abdulhameed Al-Muhaidib, chief financial officer of ACWA Power, said: “This financing from ALINMA Bank highlights our strong financial position and the confidence the market has in our vision.”

He added: “Our new headquarters will be more than just a building; it will be a symbol of our commitment to innovation, sustainability, and the Kingdom’s ambitious goals for a cleaner, more prosperous future.”

Chief Corporate Banking Officer of Alinma Bank Jameel Al-Hamdan said his firm was proud to announce its role as the sole financier of the new office.

Al-Hamdan added: “This landmark project aligns with both organizations’ commitment to driving sustainability and innovation in the corporate sector and with the Kingdom’s net-zero strategy.” 

The statement added that ACWA Power’s new headquarters in Riyadh reflects its role as a national leader in the energy transition, offering a cutting-edge space designed to centralize operations and foster teamwork and innovation.

It is also set to offer an eco-conscious workspace that supports employees in fulfilling their roles while fostering sustainability.

ACWA Power reported a net profit of SR1.75 billion in 2024, representing an annual increase of 5.74 percent, according to a Tadawul statement released in February.

This growth in profit was driven by increased revenue from operations and maintenance, as well as higher earnings from electricity sales. 

The company revealed the rise was attributed to a higher share in net results of equity-accounted investees, gains from capital recycling, and increased net finance income.

The firm’s overall revenue for 2024 was SR6.29 billion, marking a 3.32 percent increase compared to the previous year, according to the statement at the time.

During the same month, ACWA Power signed two agreements with Aramco to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy projects and evaluate the performance of vanadium flow batteries in the Kingdom’s climate.