Saudi Arabia’s PIF Makes Efforts to Enhance Local Investors’ Participation in its Projects

Diriyah Project of the Saudi Public Investment Fund (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Diriyah Project of the Saudi Public Investment Fund (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia’s PIF Makes Efforts to Enhance Local Investors’ Participation in its Projects

Diriyah Project of the Saudi Public Investment Fund (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Diriyah Project of the Saudi Public Investment Fund (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) has been making strong efforts to enhance the participation of local contractors in the projects of the fund’s affiliates, to enable establishments to carry out development work in accordance with the highest quality standards.

In June, the Saudi Contractors Authority, in cooperation with the fund, launched the contractor pre-qualification program for the fund’s units.

The program aims to provide various services and facilities, enabling contractors to pre-qualify under the applicable technical standards. It will also provide a highly reliable indicator for PIF’s affiliates to implement construction projects with the local private sector.

According to official information, PIF is currently working with the Saudi Contractors Authority of the Federation of Saudi Chambers to hold a number of workshops across the Kingdom to introduce the fund’s projects and facilitate the registration mechanism.

The Saudi Contractors Authority (SCA) had urged all contractors to register in Muqawil portal to start pre-qualification for various projects under PIF’s affiliates program.

According to a statement by the SCA, the pre-qualification program enhances contractor opportunities by undertaking quality projects for the sovereign wealth fund’s affiliates. The service offers a platform that includes several of PIF’s units in a unified pre-qualification program.

The program also seeks to enhance competitiveness and transparency in the contracting sector and allows development of existing and future projects, in line with the highest quality standards, the statement added.

Meanwhile, the SCA and DMG Events concluded on Thursday an agreement to organize the Saudi Infrastructure Summit 2023 during the Saudi Infrastructure Exhibition on Sept. 11-13 in Riyadh.

The summit will focus on the revolutionary transformation of the infrastructure in the Kingdom with the participation of more than 60 influential speakers and 400 international and local experts.



Saudi Crown Prince Orders Measures to Balance Riyadh’s Real Estate Market

Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. SPA
Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. SPA
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Saudi Crown Prince Orders Measures to Balance Riyadh’s Real Estate Market

Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. SPA
Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. SPA

Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman has issued directives for a series of comprehensive measures aimed at stabilizing land and rental prices in Riyadh, following an in-depth study by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City.

The Crown Prince’s directives are in response to the significant surge in land and rental prices witnessed in recent years. The measures are designed to achieve balance in the real estate sector and increase access to affordable housing.

As part of the initiative, the Crown Prince ordered the lifting of restrictions on land transactions — including sales, purchases, subdivisions, and construction permits — in two key northern areas of Riyadh.

The first spans 17 square kilometers, bounded by King Khalid Road and Prince Mohammed bin Saad Road to the west, Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Jalawi Road to the south, Asmaa bint Malik Street to the north, and Al-Arid District to the east.

The second covers 16.2 square kilometers north of King Salman Road, bordered by Abi Bakr Al-Siddiq Road and Al-Arid District to the east, Prince Khalid bin Bandar Road to the north, and Al-Qirawan District to the west.

These areas are in addition to previously released areas totaling 48.28 square kilometers, bringing the total area released for development to 81.48 square kilometers.

The Crown Prince also instructed the Royal Commission for Riyadh City to provide between 10,000 and 40,000 fully planned and developed residential plots annually over the next five years, based on market demand.

These plots will be offered at prices not exceeding SAR1,500 per square meter to eligible Saudi citizens — specifically, married individuals or those aged 25 and above with no previous property ownership.

Conditions include a ten-year restriction on selling, renting, or mortgaging the land — except for loans to build on it. If construction is not completed within the decade, the land will be reclaimed and its value refunded.

Additional measures include the rapid implementation of proposed amendments to the White Land Tax Law within 60 days to enhance real estate supply, and regulatory actions within 90 days to ensure fair and balanced relationships between landlords and tenants.

Finally, the General Real Estate Authority and the Royal Commission for Riyadh City have been tasked with monitoring real estate prices in the capital and submitting regular reports to ensure transparency and market stability.