Saudi Sovereign Fund Grows Assets 19% to $913 Billion

The Saudi capital, Riyadh (Reuters) 
The Saudi capital, Riyadh (Reuters) 
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Saudi Sovereign Fund Grows Assets 19% to $913 Billion

The Saudi capital, Riyadh (Reuters) 
The Saudi capital, Riyadh (Reuters) 

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has continued to cement its role as a driving force behind the Kingdom’s economic transformation, posting record growth in managed assets and strong financial results in its 2024 annual report.

The figures show the fund now contributes 10% of Saudi Arabia’s non-oil GDP, with managed assets reaching SAR 3.42 trillion ($913 billion) and more than $171 billion invested in priority sectors since 2021.

According to the report, released Wednesday, PIF’s managed assets rose 19% year-on-year to SAR 3.42 trillion by the end of 2024, generating an average annual shareholder return of 7.2% since 2017. Revenues climbed 25% over the same period. Liquidity and cash positions remained stable, with the fund maintaining a robust balance sheet.

The report highlighted substantial progress in delivering on the fund’s strategic investment targets, reinforcing its status as one of the largest and fastest-growing sovereign wealth funds in the world. PIF’s cumulative contribution to non-oil GDP from 2021 to 2024 reached SAR 910 billion, with an expected total impact of SAR 1.2 trillion by the end of this year.

PIF Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan said 2024 marked “a new and promising phase of exceptional performance and qualitative innovation,” characterized by the systematic integration of artificial intelligence, smart automation, and advanced digital capabilities across all operations. He noted that this shift represents not just technological advancement, but a “transformational approach” in how PIF invests, operates, and delivers economic and social impact globally.

For his part, Chief Financial Officer Yasir Alsalman reported that SAR 213 billion were directed to priority sectors in 2024 alone, bringing total investments in such sectors since 2021 to over 642 billion riyals.

In turn, Acting Chief Operating Officer and Board Secretary General Maram Al-Johani said PIF maintained its long-term vision while strengthening its influence locally and internationally, continuing to lead Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification and generate sustainable returns.

The fund’s international portfolio expanded further in 2024, targeting sustainable returns through long-term investments and strategic partnerships in key global markets. PIF’s overseas investments aim to diversify assets and income streams, secure partnerships with major corporations and investors, and back advanced technologies that support Saudi Arabia’s economic ambitions and shape the future global economy.

PIF diversified its funding base in 2024, securing SAR 36.855 billion ($9.83 billion) in public loans and nearly SAR 26 billion ($7 billion) in private loans. The fund’s stability has earned global recognition, with Moody’s upgrading its credit rating from A1 to Aa3 in 2024, and Fitch affirming its A+ rating with a “stable” outlook.

Governance standards also drew praise. PIF scored 96% in the 2024 Governance, Sustainability and Resilience Index from Global SWF — a sharp improvement over 2021 — and ranked first worldwide among 200 sovereign investors, achieving 100% compliance in 2025. It also topped the global list of most valuable sovereign wealth fund brands, with a valuation exceeding SAR 4.13 billion, earning an A+ rating from Brand Finance.

 

 

 



OPEC Secretary General: Oil Demand to Remain Robust, No Change to Estimates

OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais attends the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in Saint Petersburg on June 4, 2026. (Photo by Olga MALTSEVA / AFP)
OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais attends the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in Saint Petersburg on June 4, 2026. (Photo by Olga MALTSEVA / AFP)
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OPEC Secretary General: Oil Demand to Remain Robust, No Change to Estimates

OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais attends the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in Saint Petersburg on June 4, 2026. (Photo by Olga MALTSEVA / AFP)
OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais attends the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in Saint Petersburg on June 4, 2026. (Photo by Olga MALTSEVA / AFP)

OPEC expects robust oil demand growth and is not changing its estimates, Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais said on Thursday at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, despite the Middle East conflict and closure of the ⁠Strait of Hormuz.

"Despite ⁠all the commentary out there that oil demand is declining, we have not registered signs of that yet," ⁠Reuters quoted Al Ghais as saying.

"We still see robust demand growth at 1.2 million barrels a day for this year," he said.

He also said that investments in the oil industry should not be affected by "one-off events" that happen ⁠anywhere ⁠in the world.

"We need to invest well ahead of time to be prepared for the demand that we see in the future," he said.


Egypt Plans to List More State-owned Companies, Replace In-kind Subsidies with Cash

Headquarters of the Central Bank of Egypt in downtown Cairo (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Headquarters of the Central Bank of Egypt in downtown Cairo (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Egypt Plans to List More State-owned Companies, Replace In-kind Subsidies with Cash

Headquarters of the Central Bank of Egypt in downtown Cairo (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Headquarters of the Central Bank of Egypt in downtown Cairo (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Egypt aims to list four to five state-owned companies on the Cairo stock exchange before the end of the year as part of its state asset sales strategy, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said on Thursday.

The government also plans to shift from in-kind subsidies to cash subsidies during the coming financial year, as part of efforts to improve the targeting of social support, Madbouly said at a press conference, Reuters reported.

It does not aim to reduce the monetary value of subsidies but rather ensure they reach those entitled to receive them, he added.

More than 60 million people receive subsidised essential commodities through state-run outlets, while at least 10 million others benefit from subsidised bread.


St. Petersburg Forum Brings Together Energy Leaders to Discuss Hormuz Security, Future of Global Markets

Venue of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (the Forum)
Venue of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (the Forum)
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St. Petersburg Forum Brings Together Energy Leaders to Discuss Hormuz Security, Future of Global Markets

Venue of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (the Forum)
Venue of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (the Forum)

Global energy markets will turn their attention on Friday to the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, where a high-level panel discussion titled “Global Energy Systems: How Is the World’s Energy Sector Responding to Challenges and Risks?” will take place.

The 29th edition of the forum, being held this year under the theme “Shared Values: The Foundation of Growth in a Multipolar World,” opened on Wednesday. Saudi Arabia is participating as the forum’s principal guest of honor as the two countries mark 100 years of diplomatic relations.

Saudi government entities, national institutions and leading companies are taking part in the forum, including the ministries of energy, industry, transport, environment and investment, with the aim of strengthening cooperation and showcasing the goals and achievements of Vision 2030 in economic diversification and attracting high-quality investment.

The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, established in 1997, is Russia’s leading economic conference and attracts more than 10,000 participants annually.

The energy session carries exceptional significance given its timing, coming after five months of escalating disruptions to supply routes and rising oil prices. It also falls within the main theme of the forum’s 2026 edition, “The Global Economy: Between Confrontation and Cooperation.”

The session will bring together senior decision-makers from across the global energy industry, led by Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Secretary General of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Haitham Al Ghais, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, and Chief Executive Officer of the Russian Direct Investment Fund Kirill Dmitriev. Also participating are Egyptian Petroleum Minister Karim Badawi, Serbian Energy Minister Dubravka Djedovic, and Secretary General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum Philip Mshelbila.

According to the session agenda, discussions will focus on a series of strategic questions arising from the new reality facing global energy markets. Foremost among them is the impact of the current Middle East conflict on global oil and gas markets, and what current and future measures could reduce reliance on transporting energy resources through the Strait of Hormuz amid security tensions that have caused tangible shifts in traditional maritime shipping routes.

The session will also examine the strategy that major oil and gas producers should adopt under these circumstances and how the economic impact of OPEC+ measures should be assessed.

Participants will discuss the strategies that major oil and gas producers should pursue amid a complex environment shaped by six years of overlapping crises, beginning with the COVID-19 pandemic, continuing through Western sanctions imposed on Moscow, and extending to current military conflicts and their direct impact on international trade and the global economy. Discussions will also include an assessment of the economic impact of OPEC+ decisions and consideration of the alliance’s future plans.

The strategic dialogue comes ahead of a crucial oil-policy marathon on Sunday, when a series of meetings will begin with the OPEC’s conference, followed by the 66th meeting of the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee, which oversees compliance levels, coordination and current compensation plans for countries that previously exceeded their production quotas. The 41st ministerial meeting of OPEC and OPEC+ will also be held.

Sources familiar with the oil sector said OPEC+ is likely to approve an additional gradual increase in its production targets for July, in a move aimed at demonstrating the group’s ability to return to a “normal production path.”

The alliance has already increased production quotas by about 600,000 barrels per day between April and June.