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UAE's ADQ Consortium to Invest $35 Bn in Egypt

Officials sign the Ras El-Hekma project agreements in the presence of Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly. (WAM)
Officials sign the Ras El-Hekma project agreements in the presence of Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly. (WAM)
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UAE's ADQ Consortium to Invest $35 Bn in Egypt

Officials sign the Ras El-Hekma project agreements in the presence of Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly. (WAM)
Officials sign the Ras El-Hekma project agreements in the presence of Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly. (WAM)

ADQ, an Abu Dhabi-based investment and holding company, has unveiled plans to invest $35 billion in Egypt.  

ADQ will acquire the development rights for Ras El-Hekma for $24 billion to develop the region into one of the most significant new city developments by a private consortium.  

ADQ will also convert $11 billion of deposits that will be utilized for investment in prime projects across Egypt to support its economic growth and development.  

Ras El-Hekma is a coastal region in Egypt located approximately 350 kilometers northwest of Cairo, spanning over 170 million square meters.

The significant investment marks a pivotal step towards establishing Ras El-Hekma as a leading first-of-its-kind Mediterranean holiday destination, financial center, and free zone equipped with world-class infrastructure to strengthen Egypt's economic and tourism growth potential.  

The Egyptian government will retain a 35% stake in the Ras El-Hekma development.  

Ras El-Hekma will be a next-generation city comprising mainly of tourism amenities, a free zone, and an investment zone combining, among others, residential, commercial, and recreational spaces with seamless connectivity domestically and internationally.  

ADQ is leveraging its expansive portfolio and partners, aiming to unlock the appeal of Ras El-Hekma as a premium international financial and tourism destination, adopting the latest cutting-edge digital and technological smart city solutions.  

The Holding Company will also benefit from Egyptian and international partners to support its development and investment plans.  

ADQ's experience in providing fully integrated infrastructure solutions across a broad range of services promises to bring significant benefits to the new development and Egypt's economy and is expected to attract over $150 billion in investments.  

ADQ CEO Mohamed al-Suwaidi said the company is a long-standing investment partner in Egypt and has demonstrated its ability to select opportunities aligned with its investment framework and benefit the Egyptian economy.  

"The investment underscores our commitment to developing Ras El-Hekma into one of Egypt's most attractive coastal destinations through the enablement of mega-infrastructure and development projects," Suwaidi was quoted by the UAE state news agency (WAM).  

He explained that the company will work with partners such as Modon Properties and Talaat Moustafa Group to deliver value across multiple sectors of Egypt's vibrant economy.

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Revenue Growth, Improved Operational Efficiency Boost Profitability of Saudi Telecom Companies

A man monitors the movement of stocks on the Saudi Tadawul index. (AFP)
A man monitors the movement of stocks on the Saudi Tadawul index. (AFP)
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Revenue Growth, Improved Operational Efficiency Boost Profitability of Saudi Telecom Companies

A man monitors the movement of stocks on the Saudi Tadawul index. (AFP)
A man monitors the movement of stocks on the Saudi Tadawul index. (AFP)

Telecommunications companies listed on the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) achieved a 12.46 percent growth in their net profits, which reached SAR 4.07 billion ($1.09 billion) during the second quarter of 2024, compared to SAR 3.62 billion ($965 million) during the same period last year.

They also recorded a 4.76 percent growth in revenues during the same quarter, after achieving sales worth more than SAR 26.18 billion ($7 billion), compared to SAR 24.99 billion ($6.66 billion) in the same quarter of 2023.

The growth in the revenues and net profitability is the result of several factors, including the increase in sales volume and revenues, especially in the business sector and fifth generation services, as well as the decrease in operating expenses and the focus on improving operational efficiency, controlling costs, and moving towards investment in infrastructure.

The sector comprises four companies, three of which conclude their fiscal year in December: Saudi Telecom Company (STC), Mobily, and Zain Saudi Arabia. The fiscal year of Etihad Atheeb Telecommunications Company (GO) ends on March 31.

According to its financial results announced on Tadawul, Etihad Etisalat Company (Mobily) achieved a 33 percent growth rate of profits, bringing its profits to SAR 661 million by the end of the second quarter of 2024, compared to SAR 497 million during the same period in 2023. The company also achieved a 4.59 percent growth in revenues to reach SAR 4.47 billion, compared to SAR 4.27 billion in the same quarter of last year.

The Saudi Telecom Company achieved the highest net profits among the sector’s companies, at about SAR 3.304 billion in the second quarter of 2024, compared to SAR 3.008 billion in the same quarter of 2023. The company registered a growth of 4.52 percent in revenues.

On the other hand, the revenues of the Saudi Mobile Telecommunications Company (Zain Saudi Arabia) increased by about 6.69 percent, as it recorded SAR 2.55 billion during the second quarter of 2024, compared to SAR 2.39 billion in the same period last year.

Commenting on the quarterly results of the sector’s companies, and the varying net profits, the head of asset management at Rassanah Capital, Thamer Al-Saeed, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Saudi Telecom Company remains the sector leader in terms of customer base expansion.

He also noted the continued efforts of Mobily and Zain to offer many diverse products and other services.

Financial advisor at the Arab Trader Mohammed Al-Maymouni said the financial results of telecom sector companies have maintained a steady growth, up to 12 percent, adding that Mobily witnessed strong progress compared to the rest of the companies, despite the great competition which affected its revenues.

He added that Zain was moving at a good pace and its revenues have improved during the second quarter of 2024. However, its profits were affected by an increase in the financing cost by SAR 26.5 million riyals and a rise in interest, while net income declined significantly compared to the previous year, during which the company made exceptional returns.