Saudi Catering Inks $2.4 Bn Concession Deals with Red Sea Global

The Red Sea Global project in Saudi Arabia. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Red Sea Global project in Saudi Arabia. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT

Saudi Catering Inks $2.4 Bn Concession Deals with Red Sea Global

The Red Sea Global project in Saudi Arabia. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Red Sea Global project in Saudi Arabia. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Airlines Catering Company (SACC) signed two contracts with Red Sea Global (RSG) at a total value of $2.4 billion.

The Saudi Tadawul announced a one-day trading halt on Saudi Catering's stock, which came under the company's request before disclosing a material event. Trading on the shares will resume on Tuesday.

The first contract included designing, building, operating, and transferring a central laundry to serve hotels, resorts, and other facilities and sectors at the Red Sea project, valued at $720 million.

The second includes designing, building, operating, and transferring a central production unit for catering and facilities management services.

It will serve RSG's employees at hotel establishments and resorts and other facilities and sectors across the Red Sea destination at an estimated value of $ 1.6 billion.

Each contract is valid for 20 years, said Saudi Catering, adding that it expects a positive contribution to be shown in its accounts by Q3 2025.

The contracts are set to boost the company's business sustainability by increasing its cash flow and strengthening its business.

Furthermore, they come as part of Saudi Catering's strategic plan to attract investment opportunities in new industrial and tourist cities.

The statement said that the two contracts, subject to the RSG board's final sign-off, are part of the strategic plan implemented by Saudi Airlines Catering to attract investment opportunities in new industrial and tourist cities.



Gold Gains as Dollar Slips on Trump Tariff Uncertainty

Gold bullion displayed in a store in the German city of Pforzheim (dpa)
Gold bullion displayed in a store in the German city of Pforzheim (dpa)
TT

Gold Gains as Dollar Slips on Trump Tariff Uncertainty

Gold bullion displayed in a store in the German city of Pforzheim (dpa)
Gold bullion displayed in a store in the German city of Pforzheim (dpa)

Gold prices rose on Tuesday as the US dollar eased due to uncertainty around President-elect Donald Trump's tariff plans, with further support coming from top consumer China's central bank adding to its gold reserves for a second straight month.

Spot gold was up 0.5% at $2,648.75 per ounce, as of 1218 GMT. US gold futures also rose 0.5% to $2,660.20.

"The main factor is the softening of the US dollar over the last two sessions, which has provided some relief for the precious metal," said Ricardo Evangelista, senior analyst at ActivTrades.

The dollar index eased towards a one-week low versus major peers as traders considered whether President-elect Donald Trump's tariffs would be less aggressive than promised following a report in the Washington Post, Reuters reported.

Trump however denied the report, deepening uncertainty about future US trade policies.

A stronger dollar makes bullion more expensive for other currency holders.

Traders are setting their sights on Friday's US jobs report for Fed policy clues, along with job openings data due later in the day, ADP employment and the minutes from the Fed's December meeting on Wednesday.

Fed Governor Lisa Cook on Monday said that the Fed can be cautious about any further rate cuts given a solid economy and inflation proving stickier than previously expected.

Bullion is considered a hedge against inflation, but high rates reduce the non-yielding asset's appeal.

Meanwhile, China's gold reserves stood at 73.29 million fine troy ounces at the end of December as the central bank kept buying gold for a second straight month, official data showed.

"By re-entering the market in December, Beijing signaled that its gold acquisition program remains active—a development likely to lend continued support to the precious metal's price," Evangelista added.

Gold prices gained about 27% in 2024, mainly boosted by robust central bank purchases and Fed rate cuts.

Spot silver gained 0.8% to $30.19 per ounce, platinum added 1.2% to $944.39 and palladium rose 0.9% to $928.38.