Real Estate Price Index Stabilizes in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia saw a slight increase in the real estate price index during Q2 (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia saw a slight increase in the real estate price index during Q2 (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Real Estate Price Index Stabilizes in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia saw a slight increase in the real estate price index during Q2 (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia saw a slight increase in the real estate price index during Q2 (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi real estate prices stabilized in the second quarter of this year compared to the first three months, while the real estate price index increased by 0.8% in the second quarter of 2023.

The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) issued a report on Tuesday attributing the annual increase in the index to residential property prices rising by 1.1 percent and commercial by 0.2 percent in the second quarter compared to last year.

The increase in the real estate prices in the residential sector is attributed to the rise in the prices of residential plots (1.2 percent) on an annual basis in Q2 of 2023.

The report also showed a 1.0 percent increase in the prices of apartments, a 0.9 percent decrease in the prices of buildings, a 5.0 percent drop in the prices of villas, and a 0.1 percent decline in the prices of houses.

According to the report, real estate prices in the commercial sector increased by 0.2 percent, affected by the increase in the prices of commercial plots of land (0.2 percent).

The prices of spaces for commercial exhibitions decreased by 1.1 percent, and the costs of commercial buildings and commercial centers stabilized in Q2 of 2023.

On a quarterly basis, commercial sector prices decreased by 0.1 percent, driven by the fall in land prices of 0.1 percent and exhibitions by 0.6 percent.

Among other residential real estate, the prices of apartments increased by 0.1 percent, while the prices of villas decreased by 1.7 percent and residential houses by 0.3 percent.

The report added that the prices of residential buildings were stable in the second quarter of 2023.

The GASTAT report further pointed out that real estate prices stabilized in the second quarter of this year compared to the first three months.

Compared to the first quarter, commercial sector prices decreased by 0.1 percent, driven by the fall in land prices by 0.1 percent and exhibitions by 0.6 percent.

The report revealed that prices of commercial buildings and centers were also stable in the second quarter of 2023.

The report showed a 0.3 percent decrease in the agricultural sector, attributed to the 0.3 percent decrease in agricultural land prices.



Saudi Arabia and Italy Boast Trade Volume of Around $10.9 Billion

Saudi and Italian officials meet during Meloni's visit to the Kingdom on Sunday. (SPA)
Saudi and Italian officials meet during Meloni's visit to the Kingdom on Sunday. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia and Italy Boast Trade Volume of Around $10.9 Billion

Saudi and Italian officials meet during Meloni's visit to the Kingdom on Sunday. (SPA)
Saudi and Italian officials meet during Meloni's visit to the Kingdom on Sunday. (SPA)

Economic affairs were the key focus of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s visit to Saudi Arabia, which began on Saturday and continues until Monday. During her first official trip to the Kingdom, Meloni aims to strengthen bilateral relations and boost trade ties before heading to Bahrain.

As members of the G20, Saudi Arabia and Italy share mutual economic interests. The establishment of the Saudi-Italian Joint Committee has played a pivotal role in advancing economic, trade, and investment relations between the two countries. It has also created effective governance frameworks to foster collaboration and elevate their relationship to the level of a strategic partnership.

Strategic partnerships

Saudi Arabia is Italy’s second-largest trading partner in the region. In 2023, the trade volume between the two countries reached around $10.8 billion. Saudi imports from Italy were valued at $5.875 billion, while exports to Italy amounted to $4.921 billion, including $737 million in non-oil exports. Globally, Italy ranks as the 10th largest exporter to the Kingdom.

Both nations are working to strengthen economic and investment ties by regularly convening the Saudi-Italian Joint Business Council, increasing official and trade delegation visits, encouraging joint ventures, and organizing trade and investment events.

Currently, more than 150 Italian companies operate in Saudi Arabia, with Italy’s foreign direct investment (FDI) stock in the Kingdom exceeding $4.6 billion.

Renewable energy cooperation

Saudi Arabia and Italy are collaborating in the renewable energy sector as the Kingdom focuses on its transition to carbon neutrality. Italy, with its extensive experience in renewable energy technologies, is seeking to establish a long-term partnership with the Kingdom, a potential future leader in green hydrogen production.

In September 2023, the Saudi-Italian Investment Forum, hosted in Milan by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Investment in partnership with Italy’s Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy, resulted in the signing of 21 agreements and memorandums of understanding. They covered sectors such as traditional and clean energy, healthcare, real estate, waste management, and more.

According to the Italian government, Italy views Saudi Arabia as a key partner, especially regarding investment opportunities tied to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. The transformative reform plan aims to diversify the Saudi economy, shifting its reliance from oil to a service-based model. It emphasizes tourism, startups, and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in high-value-added sectors.

Saudi Arabia ranks sixth globally in terms of the number of visas issued by Italy, underscoring Italy’s position as a leading destination for Saudi tourists.

Italy is also among the top 20 countries investing in Saudi Arabia, with over 150 Italian companies holding foreign investment licenses in the Kingdom. The Saudi-Italian Investment Forum in 2023 further solidified economic ties, with the signing of 21 agreements spanning a wide range of sectors.