Aramco CEO: We Continue to Explore Investment Opportunities in China

Amin Nasser, President and CEO of Saudi Aramco. (Aramco)
Amin Nasser, President and CEO of Saudi Aramco. (Aramco)
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Aramco CEO: We Continue to Explore Investment Opportunities in China

Amin Nasser, President and CEO of Saudi Aramco. (Aramco)
Amin Nasser, President and CEO of Saudi Aramco. (Aramco)

Amin Nasser, President and CEO of Saudi Aramco, underscored on Monday the company’s commitment to exploring new and additional investment opportunities in China, a key market and a central pillar of Aramco’s global strategy.

Speaking at the China Development Forum in Beijing, Nasser highlighted Aramco’s ongoing investments and operations in the country.

According to an official company statement, he noted that Aramco currently has investments in Fujian, Liaoning, Zhejiang, and Tianjin provinces and is actively exploring further opportunities in energy, chemicals, and technology development.

“China is one of our most important investment destinations,” Nasser said, adding that the country’s ambitious development plans, which focus on quality growth, require energy and industrial raw materials.

He emphasized Aramco’s role in supporting China’s energy security and chemical sector through multiple investments in refining, petrochemicals, and marketing projects.

Discussing China’s role in the global economy, Nasser pointed out that it is the world’s largest consumer and producer of petrochemicals, accounting for nearly half of global chemical demand.

China has emerged as a global hub for the entire petrochemical value chain, which will be crucial for future industries, he remarked.

“As long-term investors, we at Aramco remain excited about the vast and growing opportunities in China,” Nasser said. “In fact, we aim to strengthen our existing partnerships and take them to new heights.”

He also stressed that oil and gas will continue to be fundamental to China’s economic growth. Over time, however, he expects China’s oil demand to shift from use in light transportation to petrochemical production, driven by the increasing need for plastics, synthetic fibers, and advanced materials.

“A reliable supply of these materials will be essential to China’s high-quality critical growth industries – including wind and solar energy, automotive, aerospace, and construction,” he added.



Saudi Crown Prince Orders Measures to Balance Riyadh’s Real Estate Market

Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. SPA
Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. SPA
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Saudi Crown Prince Orders Measures to Balance Riyadh’s Real Estate Market

Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. SPA
Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. SPA

Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman has issued directives for a series of comprehensive measures aimed at stabilizing land and rental prices in Riyadh, following an in-depth study by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City.

The Crown Prince’s directives are in response to the significant surge in land and rental prices witnessed in recent years. The measures are designed to achieve balance in the real estate sector and increase access to affordable housing.

As part of the initiative, the Crown Prince ordered the lifting of restrictions on land transactions — including sales, purchases, subdivisions, and construction permits — in two key northern areas of Riyadh.

The first spans 17 square kilometers, bounded by King Khalid Road and Prince Mohammed bin Saad Road to the west, Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Jalawi Road to the south, Asmaa bint Malik Street to the north, and Al-Arid District to the east.

The second covers 16.2 square kilometers north of King Salman Road, bordered by Abi Bakr Al-Siddiq Road and Al-Arid District to the east, Prince Khalid bin Bandar Road to the north, and Al-Qirawan District to the west.

These areas are in addition to previously released areas totaling 48.28 square kilometers, bringing the total area released for development to 81.48 square kilometers.

The Crown Prince also instructed the Royal Commission for Riyadh City to provide between 10,000 and 40,000 fully planned and developed residential plots annually over the next five years, based on market demand.

These plots will be offered at prices not exceeding SAR1,500 per square meter to eligible Saudi citizens — specifically, married individuals or those aged 25 and above with no previous property ownership.

Conditions include a ten-year restriction on selling, renting, or mortgaging the land — except for loans to build on it. If construction is not completed within the decade, the land will be reclaimed and its value refunded.

Additional measures include the rapid implementation of proposed amendments to the White Land Tax Law within 60 days to enhance real estate supply, and regulatory actions within 90 days to ensure fair and balanced relationships between landlords and tenants.

Finally, the General Real Estate Authority and the Royal Commission for Riyadh City have been tasked with monitoring real estate prices in the capital and submitting regular reports to ensure transparency and market stability.