Saudi Private Sector Abroad: New Database in the Works

The Saudi government provides all facilitations for expanding national companies abroad (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi government provides all facilitations for expanding national companies abroad (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Private Sector Abroad: New Database in the Works

The Saudi government provides all facilitations for expanding national companies abroad (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi government provides all facilitations for expanding national companies abroad (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Saudi Ministry of Investment is currently compiling information on foreign investments by private companies and creating a database for investment data in the Kingdom.

This initiative aims to be a central platform for relevant information.

All Saudi companies are urged to provide data on their foreign investments to support Saudi investors and enhance national investments globally.

The Ministry, responsible for regulating local and foreign investment, encourages private sector participation in shaping future policies and identifying opportunities to strengthen the Kingdom's global economic standing.

The collected data will be used for research and policy-making, guiding the nation's foreign investments for greater success.

The Ministry requests information on the invested country, city, sector, investment value, partnership details, and feedback on foreign investment from the private sector.

The Public Investment Fund (PIF) is actively expanding its investment portfolio locally and globally, aiming for significant financial returns to benefit the Kingdom.

In October 2022, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announced the establishment of five regional companies targeting investments in Jordan, Bahrain, Sudan, Iraq, and Oman.

The Federation of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry is developing Saudi-Foreign Business Councils, increasing their number to 70 and enhancing trade and investment relations with over 124 countries.

Hassan Al-Huwaizi, the Chairman of the Federation of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry, said that this initiative aims to activate the role of these councils in achieving the goals of Saudi Arabia’s national transformation plan, “Vision 2030.”

The expansion project involves quarterly meetings, attracting major companies and investors, increasing the representation of women, entrepreneurs, and small to medium-sized enterprises in council memberships, along with enhancing financial resources and providing technical, logistical, informational, and human support.

It is noteworthy that Saudi Arabia’s Investment Ministry issued over 2,100 investment licenses in Q3 2023, reflecting the Kingdom’s attractiveness for investment with a stable business environment.



Saudi Mortgage Loans Reach Record Highs

The Cityscape International Real Estate Exhibition 2024 in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Cityscape International Real Estate Exhibition 2024 in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Mortgage Loans Reach Record Highs

The Cityscape International Real Estate Exhibition 2024 in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Cityscape International Real Estate Exhibition 2024 in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Mortgage lending provided by financing companies has reached an all-time high by the end of the third quarter of 2024 amid developments in Saudi Arabia’s real estate sector.

According to data from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), the companies issued approximately SAR 28 billion ($7.4 billion) in real estate loans.

The data indicates that corporate borrowers accounted for SAR 5 billion, while individuals received SAR 23 billion. Additionally, financing companies in the Kingdom reported their highest net income since 2022 during the third quarter, amounting to SAR 768 million ($204.5 million).

Mortgage loans from commercial banks also rose for both individuals and companies, recording a 13% year-on-year increase to SAR 846.48 billion ($225 billion) by the end of Q3, compared to SAR 747 billion ($199 billion) during the same period in 2023. Of this, individual loans comprised 77.6% of the total, amounting to SAR 657 billion—an 11% annual increase—while corporate loans represented 22.4%, growing by 22%.

Commenting on the market’s growth, Mohammed Al-Farraj, Senior Director of Asset Management at Arbah Capital, told Asharq Al-Awsat that “the Saudi real estate market is experiencing unprecedented momentum, driven by a significant increase in mortgage lending to individuals by financing companies. Last year witnessed record growth in this type of lending.”

Al-Farraj predicts the upward trend in the mortgage financing market will continue into 2025, with a projected 12% growth. He attributes this to reduced interest rates, rapid economic growth, rising purchasing power, increased consumer confidence, successful government housing policies, a broader variety of real estate products, and growing demand for housing. He also anticipates that this growth will stimulate economic activity and increase demand for various goods and services.

The US Federal Reserve has played a significant role in the global economic climate by cutting interest rates three consecutive times between September and December 2024, reducing them by approximately 100 basis points to a range of 4.25%-4.5%.

Saudi Arabia has placed considerable emphasis on the mortgage market to enhance liquidity in the real estate financing sector. Several agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) have been signed to develop and strengthen this vital sector.

The Saudi Real Estate Refinance Company (SRC), wholly owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), recently signed an MoU with Hassana Investment Company to develop the market, attract local and international investors, and expand the secondary real estate market.

Additionally, SRC signed an agreement with US-based BlackRock to enhance mortgage financing programs in the Kingdom and increase institutional participation in capital markets. In November, it entered an MoU with King Street, a capital management firm, to activate initiatives aimed at creating a sustainable ecosystem for mortgage refinancing.