Emaar The Economic City Submits Capital Cut Request to CMA

Emaar The Economic City is tasked with developing King Abdullah Economic City (official website)
Emaar The Economic City is tasked with developing King Abdullah Economic City (official website)
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Emaar The Economic City Submits Capital Cut Request to CMA

Emaar The Economic City is tasked with developing King Abdullah Economic City (official website)
Emaar The Economic City is tasked with developing King Abdullah Economic City (official website)

Saudi Arabia’s Emaar The Economic City (EEC) said on Sunday it submitted an application to the Capital Market Authority (CMA) to lower its capital, based on the recommendations of its Board of Directors.
In a statement to Tadawul, the company said that the proposed capital decrease is one component of its recently announced capital optimization plan, designed to stabilize the company’s financial and operational positions and optimize its capital structure to enhance its ability to move forward with its growth plans.
The request stipulates reducing the capital from 11.33 billion riyals to 5.7 billion riyals, by canceling 563.116 million shares of the company’s shares, representing a value of 5.6 billion riyals.
The company is responsible for master planning the entire King Abdullah Economic City.
Key points of the restructuring plan include:
On September 5, the Saudi Ministry of Finance transferred the remaining 2.9 billion riyals of a loan from Emaar The Economic City to the Public Investment Fund (PIF).
Emaar The Economic City (EEC) has signed a non-binding agreement with PIF for a potential new loan of up to 1 billion riyals ($266 million).
The company, the ministry, and PIF have agreed to transfer existing mortgages from the ministry to PIF, eliminating any debt owed to the ministry.
In September 2021, PIF acquired a 25% stake in Emaar The Economic City by converting part of a 2.8 billion riyal loan into shares.
The Ministry of Finance agreed to extend the loan's grace period by one year, to June 2025, and to add 192 million riyals in interest for 2024 to the loan.
The board recommended reducing the company’s capital by 5.63 billion riyals by canceling 563 million shares to cover losses. It also suggested increasing capital by converting 3.97 billion riyals of debt into new shares.
The company has also signed agreements to reschedule loans with several banks, totaling 3.47 billion riyals, and secure additional credit of 301.5 million riyals.

 

 



Turkmenistan, China Launch Expansion of World’s Second-largest Gas Field

Former Turkmen president Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov and Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang applaud during a ceremony launching the fourth of seven planned development phases at Galkynysh gas field, the world's second-largest gas field in the Karakum desert about 400 kilometres (250 miles) east of the capital Ashgabat, on April 17, 2026. (Photo by AFP)
Former Turkmen president Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov and Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang applaud during a ceremony launching the fourth of seven planned development phases at Galkynysh gas field, the world's second-largest gas field in the Karakum desert about 400 kilometres (250 miles) east of the capital Ashgabat, on April 17, 2026. (Photo by AFP)
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Turkmenistan, China Launch Expansion of World’s Second-largest Gas Field

Former Turkmen president Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov and Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang applaud during a ceremony launching the fourth of seven planned development phases at Galkynysh gas field, the world's second-largest gas field in the Karakum desert about 400 kilometres (250 miles) east of the capital Ashgabat, on April 17, 2026. (Photo by AFP)
Former Turkmen president Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov and Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang applaud during a ceremony launching the fourth of seven planned development phases at Galkynysh gas field, the world's second-largest gas field in the Karakum desert about 400 kilometres (250 miles) east of the capital Ashgabat, on April 17, 2026. (Photo by AFP)

Turkmenistan and China broke ground Friday on works to expand production at the giant Galkynysh gas field, strengthening Beijing's already dominant position in the secretive Central Asian nation's energy sector.

The former Soviet republic, which holds the world's fourth-largest gas reserves, has exported nearly all its production to China since 2009, when the Central Asia-China pipeline opened.

In the middle of the desert, former president Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov -- who effectively runs the country alongside his son, President Serdar Berdymukhamedov -- formally inaugurated the launch of the fourth of seven planned development phases at Galkynysh.

The ceremony was attended by Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, an AFP correspondent saw.

"Turkmen gas is a symbol of happiness -- it is present in every Chinese household," Ding said.

The event featured songs and dances celebrating Turkmen-Chinese friendship, staged with the lavish pomp typical of Turkmenistan's state-sponsored events.

Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, officially titled "Hero-Protector" and vested with sweeping powers, presided over the gathering.

Galkynysh, in the Karakum desert about 400 kilometers (250 miles) east of the capital Ashgabat, has been producing gas since 2013 and is the world's second-largest gas field, according to the British consulting firm GaffneyCline.

Expansion works are being carried out by the state-owned China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC).

On a visit to Ashgabat the day before the ceremony, CNPC chairman Dai Houliang said "the friendship between China and Turkmenistan is as deep as the roots of a tree."


$27 Billion City to be Built East of Cairo

The project covers approximately 2.4 million square meters of land. Asharq Al-Awsat
The project covers approximately 2.4 million square meters of land. Asharq Al-Awsat
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$27 Billion City to be Built East of Cairo

The project covers approximately 2.4 million square meters of land. Asharq Al-Awsat
The project covers approximately 2.4 million square meters of land. Asharq Al-Awsat

Egypt's Talaat Moustafa Group (TMG) will build a new 1.4 trillion Egyptian pound ($27 billion) mixed-use city east of Cairo, CEO and Managing Director Hisham Talaat Moustafa said at a press conference on Saturday.

The project, called The Spine, is to be developed in partnership with ⁠the National Bank ⁠of Egypt, with a paid-up capital of 69 billion Egyptian pounds ($1.3 billion).

The project, to be built as a Special Investment ⁠Zone with TMG's Madinaty, covers approximately 2.4 million square meters of land, combining residential, commercial, hospitality, retail, entertainment, and public green space within a single continuous urban environment.

The investment is equivalent to roughly 1% of Egypt's GDP, according to Moustafa, and is ⁠projected ⁠to generate approximately 818 billion Egyptian pounds in tax revenues for the state budget over time.

The project is expected to create more than 55,000 direct jobs and hundreds of thousands of indirect positions.


Türkiye Says Iran Gas Pipeline Contract Nearing Expiry, No Talks Yet on Extension

Türkiye's Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar -  REUTERS/Umit Bektas
Türkiye's Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar - REUTERS/Umit Bektas
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Türkiye Says Iran Gas Pipeline Contract Nearing Expiry, No Talks Yet on Extension

Türkiye's Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar -  REUTERS/Umit Bektas
Türkiye's Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar - REUTERS/Umit Bektas

Türkiye's long-term contract for importing natural gas from Iran is due to expire in the coming months, and the two countries could hold talks on a possible extension, though no negotiations are under way yet, Türkiye's energy minister said on Saturday.

The agreement, due to expire in July, provides for delivery of 9.6 billion cubic metres of gas a year, but actual flows have often fallen short, Reuters reported.

Türkiye imported 7.6 bcm from Iran last year, accounting for 13% of total gas imports. Regulator data show the pipeline last hit the contracted volume in 2022.

"According to our forecast, we might need this gas pipeline or the gas flow from Iran for the security of supply of Türkiye. There is no negotiation right now ongoing. I think they are busy with so many other things. But we might sit and discuss a potential extension," Alparslan Bayraktar told reporters on the sidelines of a diplomacy forum in the southern Turkish province of Antalya.

"But we haven't started a negotiation during the current circumstances in the region," Bayraktar said, referring to the Iran war.

Bayraktar also said Türkiye was seeking to diversify natural gas supplies, including through Russian liquefied natural gas.