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Humain CEO Targets Dual IPO Within Three to Four Years

Humain CEO speaks at a session during the Future Investment Initiative conference (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Humain CEO speaks at a session during the Future Investment Initiative conference (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Humain CEO Targets Dual IPO Within Three to Four Years

Humain CEO speaks at a session during the Future Investment Initiative conference (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Humain CEO speaks at a session during the Future Investment Initiative conference (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi artificial intelligence company Humain plans to go public within the next few years, its Chief Executive Officer Tarek Amin said, outlining ambitious expansion goals during the Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference in Riyadh.

Responding to a question from Asharq Al-Awsat during one of the forum’s sessions, Amin said the company is targeting an initial public offering (IPO) in three to four years.

At the event, Humain launched “Humain One,” which Amin described as the first fully integrated AI operating system, adding that the service is currently available to government entities in Saudi Arabia.

He said the company’s financial roadmap includes a dual-listing plan, expressing hope that Humain shares will be traded both on the Saudi stock exchange and the Nasdaq in the United States.

The move aims to bolster the company’s global standing and advance its strategic goal of becoming the world’s third-largest AI provider, reflecting confidence in Saudi Arabia’s market potential and its competitiveness in advanced technology sectors.

Amin said Humain One has already been deployed across all Saudi government agencies and is being piloted with three entities affiliated with the Public Investment Fund (PIF). He added that the company also plans to launch an AI infrastructure fund to support its expansion.

He noted that Humain is building large-scale capabilities, including data centers and high-capacity systems, while ensuring that the facilities are pre-booked before construction begins. He added that the company’s governance framework requires it to achieve a specific internal rate of return before projects are approved by the board of directors.

Amin voiced strong optimism about the company’s future, crediting his highly skilled and gender-balanced team, which he said is made up of 50 percent women and 50 percent men, with advanced academic qualifications that strengthen his confidence in Humain’s prospects.

In May, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who also serves as Prime Minister and Chairman of the Public Investment Fund, announced the establishment of Humain as a national company positioned to compete globally in artificial intelligence.

The new venture aligns with the Kingdom’s vision to become a global hub for innovation, infrastructure, investment, and talent in AI. Operating from Saudi Arabia, Humain aims to cover the entire AI value chain, develop and manage AI solutions, and invest in the broader ecosystem of the sector.

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Business

Strait of Hormuz Blockade Drives up Costs at Panama Canal

Aerial view of the One Contribution container ship sailing under the Tokio flag as it enters the Panama Canal in Panama City on April 21, 2026. (EPA)
Aerial view of the One Contribution container ship sailing under the Tokio flag as it enters the Panama Canal in Panama City on April 21, 2026. (EPA)
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Strait of Hormuz Blockade Drives up Costs at Panama Canal

Aerial view of the One Contribution container ship sailing under the Tokio flag as it enters the Panama Canal in Panama City on April 21, 2026. (EPA)
Aerial view of the One Contribution container ship sailing under the Tokio flag as it enters the Panama Canal in Panama City on April 21, 2026. (EPA)

The war in the Middle East has boosted demand to move vital cargo through the Panama Canal to such an extent that one vessel carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG) paid $4 million to skip the line and avoid a wait that can take up to five days, according to an official report.

A surge in such payments has been recorded since the US-Israeli attacks on Iran began February 28, which led to the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for one-fifth of the world's oil and natural gas exports from Gulf countries.

To meet fuel demand, Asia's refineries are choosing to buy oil or gas from the United States and ship it through the transoceanic waterway instead of purchasing from Gulf countries who rely on the Strait of Hormuz, according to reports from the Panama Canal Authority.

The average number of ships passing through the canal on a daily basis has "remained strong," the authority told AFP in a statement Tuesday, with 34 ships in January and 37 ships in March. Some days exceeded 40 transits.

"The increase reflects changes in global trade patterns and market conditions, including geopolitical factors affecting key routes," the authority said.

Ships transiting the canal book their passage well in advance, and ships without bookings wait an average of five days to get through, but there is an auction where last-minute transits can be purchased.

The most recent auction included a $4 million bid for an LNG vessel, and in recent weeks two oil tankers exceeded bids of $3 million, the authority said.

Past average auction prices between October and February stood at around $130,000, and rose to $385,000 in March and April.

Five percent of global maritime trade passes through the Panama Canal, and its main users are the US and China. The route primarily connects the US East Coast with China, South Korea and Japan.

In the first half of the 2026 fiscal year, which runs October to September, the Panamanian waterway recorded passage of 6,288 ships, a year-on-year increase of 3.7 percent, according to official figures.

Business

UK Inflation Jumps in March as Middle East War Propels Energy Prices

Vehicles pass a petrol station as they make their way down the A3 during the morning rush hour near Ripley, south-west of London on April 22, 2026. (AFP)
Vehicles pass a petrol station as they make their way down the A3 during the morning rush hour near Ripley, south-west of London on April 22, 2026. (AFP)
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UK Inflation Jumps in March as Middle East War Propels Energy Prices

Vehicles pass a petrol station as they make their way down the A3 during the morning rush hour near Ripley, south-west of London on April 22, 2026. (AFP)
Vehicles pass a petrol station as they make their way down the A3 during the morning rush hour near Ripley, south-west of London on April 22, 2026. (AFP)

Britain's annual inflation rate jumped to 3.3 percent in March as the Middle East war sent oil and gas prices surging, official data showed Wednesday.

The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) increased from 3.0 percent in the 12 months to February, the Office for National Statistics said in a statement.

"Inflation climbed in March, largely due to increased fuel prices, which saw their largest increase for over three years," Grant Fitzner, chief economist at the ONS, said in a statement.

Finance minister Rachel Reeves reiterated the Labour government's opposition to a conflict that has increased the cost of living for millions of Britons.

"This is not our war, but it is pushing up bills for families and businesses. That's why it's my number one priority to keep costs down," Reeves said in a statement.

At 3.3 percent, the latest UK inflation figure matches the March print for the United States. But the pace of the CPI increase in the world's biggest economy was far sharper, having stood at 2.4 percent in February.

Britain's inflation rate is also much larger than in the eurozone, where annual inflation rose to 2.6 percent in March from 1.9 percent in February.

The US-Iran war began on February 28, sending energy prices rocketing.

They have since pulled back on a ceasefire that US President Donald Trump extended Tuesday. But oil and gas prices remain far above their pre-war levels as Gulf supplies remain largely blocked from transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

Business

Pakistan Receives Additional $1 Billion from Saudi Arabia Under $3 Billion Package

The State Bank of Pakistan logo is seen at a reception desk at its headquarters in Karachi (Reuters)
The State Bank of Pakistan logo is seen at a reception desk at its headquarters in Karachi (Reuters)
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Pakistan Receives Additional $1 Billion from Saudi Arabia Under $3 Billion Package

The State Bank of Pakistan logo is seen at a reception desk at its headquarters in Karachi (Reuters)
The State Bank of Pakistan logo is seen at a reception desk at its headquarters in Karachi (Reuters)

Pakistan’s central bank said Tuesday it had received $1 billion from Saudi Arabia’s finance ministry as a second tranche of a recently agreed $3 billion deposit package between the two countries.

In a post on its official X account, the State Bank of Pakistan said the funds were credited on April 20, 2026. The transfer comes just days after Islamabad received a first tranche of $2 billion, which was deposited on April 15.

With this latest payment, Saudi Arabia has completed the full transfer of the agreed $3 billion support in a short period, providing immediate liquidity that strengthens Pakistan’s monetary policy flexibility.

Ongoing Saudi support

The inflow caps a week of major Saudi financial moves aimed at supporting Pakistan’s economic stability and easing balance-of-payments pressures. In addition to the new $3 billion package, Riyadh last week renewed an existing $5 billion deposit held at the State Bank of Pakistan.

Analysts say the combination of rolling over existing deposits and injecting new funds lifts total Saudi deposits at the central bank, directly bolstering foreign exchange reserves and giving Islamabad a stronger footing in ongoing negotiations with international financial institutions.

Impact on Pakistan’s economy

Saudi support is seen as a key pillar of Pakistan’s efforts to restore macroeconomic stability. The funds are expected to help stabilize the rupee against the US dollar, improve the country’s financial position and its ability to meet external obligations, and provide a buffer against external shocks and high energy costs.

The financial measures underscore the depth of the strategic partnership between Riyadh and Islamabad, and reflect Saudi Arabia’s commitment to supporting Pakistan’s economic stability as part of its broader role in promoting regional and global financial stability.