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Three Factors Drive Record Profits for Saudi Banks

The National Commercial Bank (NCB) continued to hold the largest share of the total net profits among banks listed on the Tadawul (AFP)
The National Commercial Bank (NCB) continued to hold the largest share of the total net profits among banks listed on the Tadawul (AFP)
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Three Factors Drive Record Profits for Saudi Banks

The National Commercial Bank (NCB) continued to hold the largest share of the total net profits among banks listed on the Tadawul (AFP)
The National Commercial Bank (NCB) continued to hold the largest share of the total net profits among banks listed on the Tadawul (AFP)

Saudi banks posted their highest-ever quarterly profits in Q2 2024, with net earnings up 13% from the same period last year.

Analysts attribute this boost to three main factors: a rebound in lending and financing, increased deposits, and lower credit provisions. They expect this strong performance to continue in future quarters.

The ten listed Saudi banks reported a 13% rise in net profits, reaching SAR19.54 billion ($5.2 billion) for Q2 2024, up from SAR17.27 billion ($4.6 billion) in Q2 2023.

The National Commercial Bank (NCB) led with the highest share of profits, earning SAR5.23 billion, a 4.3% increase from the previous year. Al-Rajhi Bank came second with SAR4.69 billion, a 13.2% rise year-on-year.

Riyad Bank reported SAR 2.33 billion in profits for Q2 2024, a 17.93% increase from the same quarter last year. Alawwal Bank saw the highest growth rate, with profits up over 30% to SAR 2.02 billion.

Thamer Al-Saeed, Head of Asset Management at Rasana Financial, cited three key reasons for the record profits: The return of active lending, increased deposit volumes, and reduced credit provisions. He believes these trends will continue to boost bank profits in the coming quarters.

Mohamed Hamdy Omar, CEO of G-World, noted that the banking sector is likely to see further profit growth due to rising income from commissions and loans.

He highlighted the positive outlook for the sector, driven by ongoing projects and government initiatives to support business and infrastructure development in Saudi Arabia.

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Saudi Oil Giant Expands Investments Through Local, International Acquisitions

Saudi Aramco signed agreements to acquire a 10% equity interest in HORSE Powertrain Limited, the new global powertrain solutions company, alongside Renault Group, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, and Geely Automobile Holdings Limited (“Geely”). (Photo: Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Aramco signed agreements to acquire a 10% equity interest in HORSE Powertrain Limited, the new global powertrain solutions company, alongside Renault Group, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, and Geely Automobile Holdings Limited (“Geely”). (Photo: Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Oil Giant Expands Investments Through Local, International Acquisitions

Saudi Aramco signed agreements to acquire a 10% equity interest in HORSE Powertrain Limited, the new global powertrain solutions company, alongside Renault Group, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, and Geely Automobile Holdings Limited (“Geely”). (Photo: Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Aramco signed agreements to acquire a 10% equity interest in HORSE Powertrain Limited, the new global powertrain solutions company, alongside Renault Group, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, and Geely Automobile Holdings Limited (“Geely”). (Photo: Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Aramco has made a series of local and international acquisitions to expand its business and fulfill its commitment to its partners to achieve its long-term strategy.
On Wednesday, the company announced its acquisition of an additional stake of 22.5% in Rabigh Refining and Petrochemical (Petro Rabigh), a refining and petrochemical complex located on Saudi Arabia’s west coast, in a $702 million (SAR 2.63 billion) transaction.
Aramco also signed a definitive agreement to purchase the shares, worth SAR 7 per share, from Tokyo-based Sumitomo Chemical. Both companies currently each own 37.5% of the shares in Petro Rabigh, which was listed on the Saudi Exchange in 2008.
In March, Aramco successfully completed the acquisition of a 100% equity stake in Esmax Distribución SpA (“Esmax”), a leading diversified downstream fuels and lubricants retailer in Chile. Esmax has a national presence that includes retail fuel stations, airport operations, fuel distribution terminals and a lubricant blending plant.

In September 2023, Aramco signed definitive agreements to acquire a strategic minority stake in MidOcean Energy for $500 million. MidOcean Energy is a liquefied natural gas (LNG) company formed and managed by EIG, a leading institutional investor in the global energy and infrastructure sectors.
This strategic partnership with MidOcean Energy marked Aramco’s first international investment in LNG.
Moreover, in May 2024, Aramco made further progress in its global retail expansion by completing the acquisition of a 40% equity stake in Gas & Oil Pakistan Ltd. (“GO”).
GO is a diversified downstream fuels, lubricants and retail store operator in Pakistan with a network of more than 1,200 retail fuel stations. The acquisition, first announced in December 2023, represented Aramco’s first downstream retail investment in Pakistan and signaled the company’s growing retail presence in high-value markets.
In June this year, Saudi Aramco signed agreements to acquire a 10% equity interest in HORSE Powertrain Limited, the new global powertrain solutions company, alongside Renault Group, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, and Geely Automobile Holdings Limited (“Geely”).
HORSE Powertrain Limited was formed on May 31, 2024, by Renault Group and Geely and is incorporated and headquartered in London.
Commenting on the signing of the recent agreement with Petro Rabigh, Hussain Al-Qahtani, Aramco Senior Vice President of Fuels, said: “Aramco continues to identify opportunities to strengthen its downstream value chain, secure placement of its upstream crude oil with affiliated refineries, and convert more of its hydrocarbons into high-value materials.”
He continued: “By increasing our shareholding, we expect to achieve even closer integration with Petro Rabigh and facilitate its turnaround strategy. We look forward to building on our existing relationship with Petro Rabigh, in alignment with our strategic goals.”