SAMA’s Reserve Assets Rise to $467.7 Billion

The headquarters of SAMA (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The headquarters of SAMA (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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SAMA’s Reserve Assets Rise to $467.7 Billion

The headquarters of SAMA (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The headquarters of SAMA (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) reported an annual growth rate of 5.5 percent in its reserve assets, with an increase of approximately SAR 92.049 billion ($24.5 billion).
The growth brought the total reserve assets to SAR 1.754 trillion ($467.7 billion) by the end of the second quarter of the current year, compared to SAR 1.662 trillion ($443.2 billion) during the same period last year.
According to the Saudi Central Bank’s latest monthly statistical bulletin, reserve assets reached their highest levels at the end of June. On a quarterly basis, reserve assets grew by 2.7 percent, an increase of approximately SAR 46.724 billion, compared to the first quarter, which stood at SAR 1.707 trillion. On a monthly basis, the reserve assets grew by 0.1 percent, with an increase of about SAR 1.146 billion.
Reserve assets have seen a 6.6 percent increase from the beginning of the year until the end of June.
Reserve assets are composed of five main components. The largest of these is "Investments in Securities Abroad," which constitutes approximately 58 percent of the total, amounting to around SAR 1.016 trillion at the end of the second quarter of 2024.
The second largest component is "Foreign Exchange and Deposits Abroad," which represents about 37 percent of the total, amounting to approximately SAR 646.3 billion.
The third component, "Special Drawing Rights," accounts for around 4 percent of the total, amounting to SAR 77.2 billion.
The fourth item is the "Reserve Position with the International Monetary Fund," which totals SAR 13.3 billion.
Finally, "Monetary Gold" makes up the fifth component, with a value of approximately SAR 1.624 billion.

 

 

 



Saudi Arabia’s Restaurant Sector Growth Attracts Global Investment

Restaurants in the Riyadh City Boulevard. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Restaurants in the Riyadh City Boulevard. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia’s Restaurant Sector Growth Attracts Global Investment

Restaurants in the Riyadh City Boulevard. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Restaurants in the Riyadh City Boulevard. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The strength of consumer demand in Saudi Arabia’s food and beverage sector makes it an appealing market for international brands. The development of regulations and legislation has created an investment framework that facilitates foreign companies’ expansion and achievement of their goals in the Kingdom.

Point-of-sale operations using “Mada” cards in Saudi Arabia have shown a 13.6 percent annual growth in the restaurant and café sector, increasing from SAR 78 billion ($20.8 billion) in 2022, to SAR 89 billion (%23.7 billion) over the past year. The growth indicates a promising future for the market, which is experiencing strong consumer demand.

Amro Bagedo, the founder and CEO of Kraiv, said: "The continuous and remarkable growth in the food, beverage, and hospitality sector in the Kingdom is driven by the younger generation. Their desire to experience renowned international brands without traveling abroad has created opportunities for stakeholders from the America, Europe, and Asia to invest in Saudi Arabia. This has led to gradual and exponential growth in local business opportunities."

“The Kingdom’s hosting of the FIFA World Cup in 2034 has created an urgent need for its host cities -Riyadh, Jeddah, Al-Khobar, Abha, and NEOM - to expand their dining and hotel options to accommodate visitors attending the tournament,” Bagedo told Asharq Al-Awsat.

He added that tourism will be a major focus for the Kingdom in the coming years, and hospitality will play a crucial role in strengthening the sector.

The restaurant market in the Kingdom is expected to double annually, reaching approximately SAR 168 billion ($44.8 billion) by 2030.

This growth is driven by strong consumer demand and the increasing presence of renowned brands investing in the local market.

Recent rapid social and cultural changes in restaurant services, fueled by a booming economy, indicate that Saudi Arabia is on track to become a global hub for entertainment and tourism. This growth is supported by restaurants and outlets that cater to the high demand from both local and international visitors.