Saudi Housing Sector Reduces Real Estate Transactions by 32%

A general view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
A general view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Housing Sector Reduces Real Estate Transactions by 32%

A general view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)
A general view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The value of real estate transactions in Saudi Arabia has declined by 32% in a week due to the contraction in the housing sector, which has been significantly affected by the record drop in land and villa transaction values.

This has led to a decrease in transaction values to historically low levels, driven by the persistently high mortgage interest rates.

The Saudi real estate stock market index remained stable at 10,014 points last week, keeping the total value of real estate transactions at SAR 5 billion (approximately $1.3 billion).

This resulted in a 6.9% decrease in the overall number of real estate transactions to 5,100 transactions.

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Ahmed Al-Drees, the general manager at “Al-Mustaqbal” real estate construction company, pointed out that the main aim is to lower prices to make them more accessible to everyone.

The market has recently seen a slight decline in prices, which may be a precursor to a more substantial market downturn.
The cumulative decrease in transaction values will lead to price reductions, especially for investors looking to exit the market or those whose financial capacity has been affected by the recession, particularly those tied to previous financing contracts or facilities.

Al-Drees also believes that mortgage loans are no longer beneficial in the face of rising interest rates, emphasizing that the essence of the problem lies in the excessive increase in property values beyond the reach of a significant portion of aspiring property owners.

This is evident in the noticeable decrease in launching advanced real estate projects, which have significantly declined due to the market conditions.

Al-Drees pointed out that current real estate marketing campaigns are more focused on selling existing properties rather than launching new projects.

Over the past decade, the total market value of traded properties has reached approximately SAR 1.43 trillion (approximately $381 billion).

Within the local real estate market activity, the overall weekly value of real estate transactions has witnessed a 32% decline, influenced by the downturn in all major market sectors, particularly the housing sector.



Dollar Resumes Upward Trend, Euro Hits Lowest since Nov 2022

US Dollar and Euro banknotes are seen in this illustration taken July 17, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
US Dollar and Euro banknotes are seen in this illustration taken July 17, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
TT

Dollar Resumes Upward Trend, Euro Hits Lowest since Nov 2022

US Dollar and Euro banknotes are seen in this illustration taken July 17, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
US Dollar and Euro banknotes are seen in this illustration taken July 17, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

The dollar hit new multi-month highs against the euro and the pound on Thursday, the first day of 2025 trading, as it built on last year's strong gains on expectations US interest rates will remain high relative to peers.

The euro fell to as low as $1.0314, its lowest since November 2022, down around 0.3% on the day. It is now down nearly 8% since its late September highs above $1.12, one major victim of the dollar's recent surge.

Traders anticipate deep interest rate cuts from the European Central Bank in 2025, with markets pricing in at least four 25 basis point cuts, while not being certain of even two such moves from the US Federal Reserve, Reuters reported.

The dollar was hitting milestones across the board and the pound was last down 0.65% at $1.2443, its lowest since April, with its fall accelerating after it broke through resistance around $1.2475.

"It's more of the same at the start of the new calendar year with the dollar continuing to extend its advances in anticipation of Trump putting in place friendly policies at the start of his term," said Lee Hardman, senior currency analyst at MUFG.

US President-elect Donald Trump's policies are widely expected to not only boost growth but also add to upward price pressure. That will lead to a Fed cautious about cutting rates too much further, in turn underpinning US Treasury yields and boost dollar demand.

A weaker growth outlook outside the US, conflict in the Middle East and the Russia-Ukraine war have also added to demand for the dollar.

The dollar also reversed an early loss on Thursday to climb against the Japanese yen, and was last up 0.17% at 157.26.

It reached a five-month high above 158 yen in late December, potentially putting pressure on the Bank of Japan, which is expected to raise interest rates early this year, but possibly not immediately.

"If dollar/yen were to break above 160 ahead of the next BOJ meeting, that could be a catalyst for the BOJ to hike in January rather than wait until March," said Hardman.

"Though for now markets are leaning towards March after the dovish comments from (governor Kazuo) Ueda at his last press conference."

Even those who are more cautious about sustained dollar strength think it could take a long time to play out.

"The dollar may be vulnerable – but only if the US data confound market expectations that the Fed doesn’t cut rates more than once in the first half of this year, and not by more than 50bp in the whole of 2025," said Kit Juckes chief FX strategist at Societe Generale in a note.

"There's a good chance of that happening, but it seems very unlikely that cracks in US growth will appear early in the year – hence my preference for taking any bearish dollar thoughts with me into hibernation until the weather improves."

China's yuan languished at 14-month lows as worries about the health of the world's second-biggest economy, the prospect of US import tariffs from the Trump administration and sliding local yields weighed on investor sentiment.

Elsewhere, the Swiss franc, another victim of the recent dollar strength, gave back early gains to last trade flat at 0.90755 per dollar.

The Australian and New Zealand dollars, however, managed to break away from two-year lows touched on Tuesday. The Aussie was 0.36% higher at $0.6215 having dropped 9% in 2024, its weakest yearly performance since 2018.

The kiwi rose 0.47% to $0.5614.