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Diverse Foreign Investments Drive Growth in Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah Economic City

Emaar the Economic City, the main developer of KAEC, is moving in various directions with a focus on planning and developing the city. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Emaar the Economic City, the main developer of KAEC, is moving in various directions with a focus on planning and developing the city. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Diverse Foreign Investments Drive Growth in Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah Economic City

Emaar the Economic City, the main developer of KAEC, is moving in various directions with a focus on planning and developing the city. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Emaar the Economic City, the main developer of KAEC, is moving in various directions with a focus on planning and developing the city. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), which was established more than 17 years ago, is witnessing remarkable growth, thanks to the influx of diverse foreign investments in different sectors.

The city enjoys unique features, mainly its location in the western part of the Kingdom, on the most beautiful coastline in the city of Rabigh, and with easy access to international markets.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, Managing Director of Emaar the Economic City Mansour Al Salem said the city was open to developers and investors, pointing to the launch of new projects, with the cooperation of government entities.

According to Al-Salem, while the majority of applications submitted for investment in KAEC previously came from the local sector, the vision and incentives provided by the government have recently attracted foreign and investments in diverse fields, including the automobile industry.

Asharq Al-Awsat toured the King Abdullah Economic City and saw the gradual changes on various paths, with the increasing number of companies - estimated at about 100 multinational and Saudi firms - which have established their headquarters in the city to follow up on their ongoing projects.

Despite the huge projects being implemented on the ground, the visitor is initially surprised when they cross the main gate, as the white spaces appear vast in their eyes. Then one realizes how smartly planned the city is, with factories located on one side, hotels on another, tourist and entertainment areas on the coast, and headquarters and residences in another area.

The visitor is impressed by the smooth design of parks and beaches on pristine coasts extending over a distance of 40 square kilometers and the extensive spread of green areas near the beaches. The city has also allocated entertainment areas suitable for families and children of all ages, with large terrains for golf.

Al-Salem said the King Abdullah Economic City boasts many features that are not found elsewhere, including its geographical location on the Red Sea coast and short distance north of the city of Jeddah, which is an important commercial hub. The city also includes King Abdullah Port and the Industrial Valley, in addition to recreational sites.

Emaar the Economic City, the main developer of KAEC, is moving in various directions with a focus on planning and developing the city. The Economic Cities Authority, the regulatory body for King Abdullah City, provides investors and residents with a comprehensive set of incentives and benefits, including 100 percent foreign ownership for companies and individuals, a sea port and a cargo area, as well as facilitations for obtaining permits and licenses related to residence, work, operational affairs, and ownership and management of real estate.

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Saudi Ministers Highlight Resilience, Adaptability of the Kingdom’s Economy at Budget Forum

Finance Minister Mohamed Al-Jadaan speaks in the first dialogue session of the 2025 Budget Forum. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Finance Minister Mohamed Al-Jadaan speaks in the first dialogue session of the 2025 Budget Forum. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Ministers Highlight Resilience, Adaptability of the Kingdom’s Economy at Budget Forum

Finance Minister Mohamed Al-Jadaan speaks in the first dialogue session of the 2025 Budget Forum. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Finance Minister Mohamed Al-Jadaan speaks in the first dialogue session of the 2025 Budget Forum. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi ministers reaffirmed the continued success of Vision 2030 and the economy’s ability to overcome challenges while achieving diversification.

Speaking at the 2025 Budget Forum, organized by the Ministry of Finance, they underscored the importance of fiscal policies in driving sustainable economic growth and emphasized the integration of various sectors to enhance Saudi Arabia’s global standing.

The forum followed the Cabinet’s approval of the 2025 budget, which projects revenues of SAR 1.184 trillion ($315.7 billion), expenditures of SAR 1.285 trillion ($342.6 billion), and a deficit of SAR 101 billion ($26.9 billion).

Sustainable Spending and Economic Diversification

Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan highlighted that sustainable spending has enabled Saudi Arabia to provide high-quality services. He emphasized that fiscal policies focus on sectors with a direct impact on economic development and diversification.

Al-Jadaan noted that ensuring fiscal sustainability is crucial to reducing reliance on oil revenues.

“Structural reforms under Vision 2030 have transformed the economy,” he said, adding that non-oil revenues have reached SAR 472 billion due to the significant progress in diversification efforts.

He further explained: “Previously, Saudi Arabia’s growth depended heavily on oil revenues. Today, through diversified economic resources and sustainable fiscal policies, our economy is more resilient.”

He also stressed the role of government borrowing in balancing revenues and expenditures, benefiting both public and private sectors.

Progress Toward Economic Diversification

Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Al-Ibrahim highlighted that one of Vision 2030’s key objectives is to unlock the potential of citizens while reducing reliance on oil. He noted that in its eighth year, the vision continues to advance steadily and with strong momentum, addressing previous challenges such as dependence on government spending and oil revenues.

“Non-oil activities have grown by 6% over the last three years,” Al-Ibrahim said, “now contributing 52% of real GDP.” He added that non-oil sector growth is projected to reach 3.9% by year-end and 4.8% in 2024.

Al-Ibrahim stressed the importance of sustainable, high-quality growth driven by private sector dynamism and productivity. He also highlighted Saudi Arabia’s increasing global competitiveness in sectors like healthcare, citing breakthroughs such as robotic heart surgeries.

Additionally, he noted the Kingdom’s demographic advantage, stating: “We have a young population, and now is the time to invest in their capabilities, as envisioned under Vision 2030.”

Employment and Reducing Unemployment

Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Ahmed Al-Rajhi announced a new unemployment target of 5% for Saudis by 2030. This follows the Kingdom’s early achievement of its previous unemployment target of 7%, reached seven years ahead of schedule.

Industrial Growth and Export Expansion

For his part, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Al-Khorayef reported significant progress in the industrial sector, with 1,100 new industrial licenses expected in 2024 and 900 factories entering production.

Non-oil exports grew by 15% in 2024, rising from SAR 458 billion ($121.9 billion) to SAR 528 billion ($140.5 billion). Al-Khorayef highlighted that the Saudi Industrial Development Fund financed projects worth SAR 12 billion ($3.2 billion) this year, contributing to total investments exceeding SAR 60 billion ($16 billion).

“The industrial sector is now a central part of government agendas,” he said, adding that export growth was driven by new product development.

Digital Transformation and a Cashless Economy

Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah Al-Swaha outlined Saudi Arabia’s strategy to become a technology exporter, which is a key part of its digital economy goals. He highlighted that over 70% of transactions in the Kingdom are now cashless, supported by the emergence of more than 200 fintech companies.

Al-Swaha emphasized that the next phase will focus on exporting technology and establishing Saudi Arabia as a global leader in the tech sector.

Transportation Growth

Minister of Transport and Logistics Services Saleh Al-Jasser reported that the sector created 122,000 jobs in Q3 2024, with women comprising 29% of the workforce.

He also noted that the transport sector aims to achieve 60% local content in its spending by 2030. The current figure stands at 50%, up from 39% in the baseline year.

Education, Tourism, and Sports

Minister of Education Yousef Al-Benyan highlighted the establishment of the National Center for Curriculum Development as a major achievement in 2023. He also noted that education spending in the 2025 budget exceeds SAR 200 billion.

Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khatib reported that the tourism sector now contributes 5% to GDP, up from previous years, with a goal of reaching 10% by 2030. He added that Saudi Arabia surpassed its Vision 2030 target of 100 million visitors, reaching 109 million tourists in 2023.

In the sports sector, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, Minister of Sports, revealed that 25 local and international companies have shown interest in investing in privatized sports clubs, with projected revenues of SAR 500 million ($133 million).