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NDF Partners with SDB to Establish $120 Mln Venture Funds for Gaming, Esports Industry in Saudi Arabia

The National Development Fund (NDF), in collaboration with the Social Development Bank (SDB), announced on Tuesday the signing of two agreements to establish two venture funds with a total size of SAR450 million ($120 million) to bolster the gaming and Esports industry in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
The National Development Fund (NDF), in collaboration with the Social Development Bank (SDB), announced on Tuesday the signing of two agreements to establish two venture funds with a total size of SAR450 million ($120 million) to bolster the gaming and Esports industry in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
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NDF Partners with SDB to Establish $120 Mln Venture Funds for Gaming, Esports Industry in Saudi Arabia

The National Development Fund (NDF), in collaboration with the Social Development Bank (SDB), announced on Tuesday the signing of two agreements to establish two venture funds with a total size of SAR450 million ($120 million) to bolster the gaming and Esports industry in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
The National Development Fund (NDF), in collaboration with the Social Development Bank (SDB), announced on Tuesday the signing of two agreements to establish two venture funds with a total size of SAR450 million ($120 million) to bolster the gaming and Esports industry in Saudi Arabia. (SPA)

In an innovative move to bolster the gaming and Esports industry in Saudi Arabia, the National Development Fund (NDF), in collaboration with the Social Development Bank (SDB), announced on Tuesday the signing of two agreements to establish two venture funds with a total size of SAR450 million ($120 million).

The announcement was made during the LEAP 2024 technology conference in Riyadh, marking a significant step towards nurturing the thriving gaming and Esports industry.

The initiative is part of the Gaming and Esports Financing Program, cooperating with the Saudi Esports Federation.

Merak Capital and IMPACT 46, the entities managing the two funds, will provide development financing for gaming and Esports companies through equity investments to accelerate growth, boost local content development, and amplify the industry's economic and social impact to achieve the objectives of the National Gaming and Esports Strategy and the Digital Content Program (Ignite).

Merak Capital is set to manage the first investment fund, which will be SAR300 million ($80 million). The fund will focus on establishing a gaming accelerator backed by venture investment to spur growth and cultivate local talent in the gaming industry. The goal is to position Saudi companies as leaders in this vibrant sector.

The second fund, managed by IMPACT46 and with a total value of SAR150 million ($40 million), seeks to stimulate private sector investment in the local gaming and Esports industry. Additionally, it seeks to attract international firms and studios to establish a more substantial presence in the Kingdom, further enriching the sector's ecosystem.

Governor of NDF, Dr. Stephen Grove, stated: "The gaming and Esports industry has seen exponential growth globally, generating substantial revenue and job opportunities. With Saudi Arabia's young demographic and other attractive investment components, NDF and our partners are prioritizing innovative financing solutions for this industry. We aim to ensure its financial sustainability and contribute to the Kingdom's economic diversification and job creation efforts."

CEO of SDB, Eng. Sultan Al-Humaidi emphasized SDB's commitment to supporting the gaming and e-sports industry, recognizing its potential for growth within the Kingdom.

"Our objective is to cultivate the industry to self-sufficiency, positioning the Kingdom as a global hub. We provide the necessary support to ensure this venture succeeds, advancing the Saudi digital economy forward as a key component of the Kingdom's digital transformation goals aligned with Saudi Vision 2030," he added.

This comes as part of NDF's efforts to develop the promising Saudi sectors and bolster their contribution to the national economy. This goal can be accomplished through empowerment and financial development support to establish an environment that attracts local talent, delivers promising experiences, and targets top-tier game production and development projects.

Established on October 2, 2017, under the leadership of Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al-Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, NDF aims to drive the Kingdom's economic transformation and sustainable development. Overseeing 12 development funds and banks, NDF strives to boost performance, foster coordination, and amplify economic and social impacts, focusing on promising investment sectors that support the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.

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Business

Saudi Arabia Activates Major Investment Engines With Approval of Special Economic Zone Rules

 King Abdullah Economic City, located in western Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat). 
 King Abdullah Economic City, located in western Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat). 
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Saudi Arabia Activates Major Investment Engines With Approval of Special Economic Zone Rules

 King Abdullah Economic City, located in western Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat). 
 King Abdullah Economic City, located in western Saudi Arabia (Asharq Al-Awsat). 

Saudi Arabia has taken a pivotal step toward strengthening its standing as a global investment destination after the Cabinet approved the regulatory frameworks for four Special Economic Zones (SEZs): Jazan, Ras Al-Khair, King Abdullah Economic City, and the Cloud Computing Special Economic Zone.

The move marks the effective start of the operational and legal phase for the zones, offering investors a clear roadmap on how to benefit from the incentives and competitive advantages the Kingdom is rolling out.

Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid al-Falih said the regulations will come into force in early April 2026, calling the decision a major leap in developing the regulatory ecosystem for SEZs.

He said it underscores Saudi Arabia’s commitment to boosting investment competitiveness regionally and globally, while building an enabling environment that attracts high-quality investments and supports sustainable growth in line with Vision 2030.

The four zones are designed to serve strategic sectors that place the Kingdom at the heart of global supply chains. The Jazan zone is set to become a hub for food processing, mining, and manufacturing, leveraging its port and proximity to African markets.

Ras al-Khair is being developed into a global center for maritime and mining industries, providing an integrated platform for shipbuilding, offshore drilling rigs, and marine support services.

King Abdullah Economic City is positioned as an advanced hub for logistics, high-value manufacturing, and the automotive sector, while the Cloud Computing and Informatics Zone in Riyadh represents a major leap in the data economy, hosting global technology firms offering local data storage and processing services.

The new regulations introduce flexible licensing regimes, attractive tax and customs standards, and streamlined operating procedures, including flexible ownership structures.

Investors will be allowed to use multiple languages for trade names, and investments within the zones will be exempt from certain provisions of the traditional Companies Law, giving global firms greater operational freedom.

On workforce policy, Al-Falih said the regulations include tailored Saudization frameworks aligned with each zone’s economic activities, balancing national talent development with the rapid growth needs of major investors.

The frameworks are part of an integrated governance model that clarifies mandates and aligns government entities, accelerating licensing processes and creating a fast, flexible business environment aligned with Saudi Arabia’s economic ambitions.

 

 

 

Business

Turkish Manufacturing Nears Stabilization as PMI Rises in December

An employee works at an assembly line in the Toyota manufacturing plant in Sakarya October 10, 2013. REUTERS/Osman Orsal
An employee works at an assembly line in the Toyota manufacturing plant in Sakarya October 10, 2013. REUTERS/Osman Orsal
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Turkish Manufacturing Nears Stabilization as PMI Rises in December

An employee works at an assembly line in the Toyota manufacturing plant in Sakarya October 10, 2013. REUTERS/Osman Orsal
An employee works at an assembly line in the Toyota manufacturing plant in Sakarya October 10, 2013. REUTERS/Osman Orsal

Turkish manufacturing activity shrank at a slower pace in December, marking two consecutive months of improvement, signaling a slight moderation in operating conditions at the end of 2025, a business survey showed on Friday.

The Istanbul Chamber of Industry Turkiye Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), compiled by S&P Global, rose to a 12-month high of 48.9 from 48.0 in November thanks ‌to softer slowdowns ‌in output, new ‌orders, ⁠employment and purchasing activity.

Readings ‌below 50.0 indicate contractions in overall activity, while figures above that suggest growth, Reuters said.

"With PMI reaching its highest level for a year in December, the manufacturing sector takes some momentum into 2026, giving hope that we will ⁠see growth in the months ahead," said Andrew Harker, ‌Economics Director at S&P ‍Global Market Intelligence.

New ‍orders eased at the slowest pace ‍since March 2024, with some firms noting improvements in customer demand. However, both total new business and new export orders continued to moderate.

Production was scaled back, though at a slower rate than in November. Employment saw ⁠a marginal reduction, while purchasing activity also experienced a softer decline, according to the survey.

Input costs rose sharply, driven by higher raw material prices, leading manufacturers to increase selling prices, the survey said.

"While inflationary pressures rebounded following the recent lows seen in November, rates of increase in input costs and output prices were still comfortably below the highs ‌we have seen at times in recent years," Harker said.

Business

Asia Stocks Make Bright Start to 2026

Stock markets welcomed the New Year with healthy gains. Punit PARANJPE / AFP
Stock markets welcomed the New Year with healthy gains. Punit PARANJPE / AFP
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Asia Stocks Make Bright Start to 2026

Stock markets welcomed the New Year with healthy gains. Punit PARANJPE / AFP
Stock markets welcomed the New Year with healthy gains. Punit PARANJPE / AFP

Asian markets made a bright start to 2026 on Friday but volumes were thin with Tokyo and Shanghai still closed as investors awaited fresh direction from Wall Street.

Stocks had a bumper 2025, with the S&P adding 16.4 percent, the tech-rich Nasdaq 20.4 percent and London's FTSE enjoying its merriest Christmas in 16 years, said AFP.

In Asia, Seoul stocks whooshed 75 percent, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index bounced 28 percent and Tokyo's Nikkei 225 rocketed more than 26 percent.

"Naturally, the start of the new year comes with the question everyone asks moving from one year to the next: will this continue? The consensus is that, yes, it will," said Kyle Rodda at Australian brokerage Capital.com.

"When it comes to the all important US economy, Wall Street is pricing in growth will accelerate this year while inflation still moderates and interest rates get cut. Meanwhile, analysts predict that corporate fundamentals will improve," Rodda said.

Hong Kong was up 2.2 percent Friday with chip designer Biren Technologies roaring 80 percent higher after its initial public offering.

The Shanghai-based firm's listing raised more than $700 million, suggesting that investor appetite for anything related to artificial intelligence remains insatiable.

Biren "enjoys scarcity value and high market attention", said Kenny Ng, a strategist at China Everbright Securities.

"The industry is in a flourishing stage, with many firms striving for breakthroughs and significant growth potential," Ng said.

Search-engine giant Baidu jumped almost seven percent after saying its AI chip unit Kunlunxin had filed a listing application in Hong Kong.

Taipei, Sydney, Jakarta, Manila and Singapore also advanced while while Seoul's Kospi, which soared 76 percent in 2025 in large part due to AI boom, was up 1.7 percent.

Samsung Electronics added three percent after co-CEO Jun Young Hyun said customers had praised its high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips, some saying that "Samsung is back", Bloomberg News reported. 

After volatile recent days, following record highs for silver, precious metals started the new year on a bright note with gold up 0.64 percent per ounce and silver 1.5 percent shinier.