Saudi Real Estate Forum to Discuss Innovations in the Sector

The Saudi capital, Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi capital, Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Real Estate Forum to Discuss Innovations in the Sector

The Saudi capital, Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi capital, Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The sessions and activities of the Future of Real Estate 2024 Forum, which will be held in Riyadh on Jan. 22-24, will witness discussions on the real estate system and innovations in the sector.
300 speakers representing 85 countries from around the world will take part in the Forum.
The most important topics focus on innovations in the real estate industry, challenges facing the sector, new opportunities and emerging trends, and sustainable financing solutions, in addition to the impact of natural elements on the real estate industry, and the role of real estate in improving the quality of business.
The forum’s activities include strategies on the growth and sustainability of the real estate sector, the influence of technology on the future of real estate and technological developments, its impact on architectural creativity in cities and the enhancement of urban flexibility, the hidden wealth of cities and technical services in real estate, as well as the future of commercial real estate and its role in accelerating the growth of the real estate sector in general.
The third edition of the forum will witness the signing of many bilateral agreements and MoUs, covering various areas of real estate.
The real estate exhibition, which will be held on the sidelines of the forum, will highlight the role of local and international entities participating in the real estate sector, in addition to the work of relevant international consulting companies.



Saudi-Yemeni Business Council Looks Forward to Contributing to Reconstruction

The Saudi-Yemeni Business Council has met in Makkah. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi-Yemeni Business Council has met in Makkah. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Saudi-Yemeni Business Council Looks Forward to Contributing to Reconstruction

The Saudi-Yemeni Business Council has met in Makkah. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Saudi-Yemeni Business Council has met in Makkah. Asharq Al-Awsat

The Saudi-Yemeni Business Council is leading the initiative "Saudi Vision and Yemeni Development 2030," which aims to enhance economic ties between Saudi Arabia and Yemen by developing border crossings, establishing economic zones, and creating smart food cities. This contributes to facilitating the movement of goods and people, as well as increasing the volume of trade.

Official data indicates that the trade exchange between Saudi Arabia and Yemen reached approximately 6.3 billion riyals (1.6 billion dollars) in 2023, with Saudi exports accounting for the largest share. Despite this, Yemeni imports are still below the available potential, particularly in the agriculture, fisheries, and mining sectors.

The main projects of this initiative, which is led by the council under chairman of the Saudi-Yemeni Business Council Dr. Abdullah bin Mahfouz, include "the establishment of joint economic zones, development of infrastructure and logistics services, and strengthening investment in the agricultural and renewable energy sectors."

The project also involves creating advanced laboratories for testing livestock, fruits, and vegetables, contributing to improving the quality of goods and increasing Yemen's agricultural and livestock exports to Saudi Arabia.

These efforts aim to enhance food security for Saudi Arabia and achieve economic growth for Yemen.

As part of the future plans to enhance economic partnership, an exhibition titled "Reconstruction and Development of Yemen" will be held in Riyadh next year. This exhibition aims to attract investors from various sectors and strengthen partnerships between Saudi and Yemeni companies.

"Yemeni investments in Saudi Arabia have witnessed significant growth, reaching approximately 18 billion riyals (4.8 billion dollars) by the end of 2023, ranking 13th in terms of investment volume."

These investments focus on wholesale and retail trade, particularly in food products, clothing, and household goods, as well as in sectors such as construction, manufacturing, and logistics services.

Bin Mahfouz explained that "this investment expansion is due to the support provided by the Saudi government to Yemeni investors through streamlining licensing procedures, offering investment incentives, and ensuring a stable investment environment. These factors have contributed to attracting Yemeni capital to Saudi Arabia, while enhancing investors' benefits from available economic opportunities."

Despite the noticeable progress, Yemeni investments face significant challenges. According to bin Mahfouz, the main challenges include "the instability of the Yemeni local currency, the banking restrictions that hinder money transfers, the weak infrastructure in Yemen, and the ongoing armed conflicts that increase investment risks."

He said that the council’s future plans focus on promising projects, including the cultivation of agricultural land in Yemen, the establishment of packaging centers for agricultural products and fishery resources, in addition to developing livestock projects.

Bin Mahfouz emphasized that Yemen is considered a key market for Saudi Arabia in providing agricultural and livestock products that have comparative advantages over similar goods from other countries. According to economic data from 2022, animal production ranks second after agricultural production in terms of its contribution to Yemen's total GDP, accounting for more than 20 percent.