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Saudi Arabia Revamps Payroll Deduction and Financing Services Through Etimad

Saudi banknotes in 500-riyal and 100-riyal denominations (Reuters) 
Saudi banknotes in 500-riyal and 100-riyal denominations (Reuters) 
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Saudi Arabia Revamps Payroll Deduction and Financing Services Through Etimad

Saudi banknotes in 500-riyal and 100-riyal denominations (Reuters) 
Saudi banknotes in 500-riyal and 100-riyal denominations (Reuters) 

Saudi Arabia has introduced a new regulatory framework for payroll deduction, financing, and the sale of receivables through the Etimad platform, in a move aimed at improving financial services, expanding competition, and strengthening the Kingdom’s digital financial ecosystem.

According to information obtained by Asharq Al-Awsat, the Cabinet approved the new framework, replacing Cabinet Decision No. 490. Under the new rules, the National Center for Government Resources Systems will provide payroll deduction services for government employees in favor of lenders, as well as financing and the sale of receivables for public and private sector entities through Etimad, subject to compliance with the requirements and regulations of the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA).

The reform supports the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 by advancing the digitalization of government services, improving access to finance, and developing the government receivables financing market. It is also expected to enhance liquidity and enable financial institutions to offer a broader range of financing products.

The new framework replaces Cabinet Decision No. 490, under which the Ministry of Finance was responsible for payroll deduction services, financing, and the sale of receivables, as well as collecting service fees and annual subscription charges.

Beyond reallocating responsibilities, the decision establishes a more advanced regulatory framework that combines Etimad’s digital infrastructure with SAMA’s oversight. It is expected to improve the efficiency of the receivables financing market, boost competition among financing providers, and encourage the development of more flexible financing products.

Etimad, the Ministry of Finance’s digital platform, provides financial and procurement services to government entities, businesses, and individuals. It is designed to enhance transparency, improve efficiency, streamline government transactions, and support the Kingdom’s digital transformation agenda.

Under the new framework, the National Center for Government Resources Systems will coordinate with the National Development Fund to determine the fees it will receive for providing the two services to the fund and its affiliated development funds and development banks, ensuring their long-term sustainability under a clear financial and regulatory framework.

The reform also strengthens SAMA’s supervisory role by requiring all payroll deduction and financing services offered through Etimad to comply with its regulatory requirements. The move is expected to enhance customer protection and reinforce financial sector stability while opening the market to a wider range of banks and financing companies operating under unified rules, fostering greater competition and potentially improving both pricing and service quality.

 

 

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Business

Egyptian Central Bank Issues Regulations for Digital Financial Identity Services

The headquarters of the Central Bank of Egypt in downtown Cairo (Photography: Abdul Fattah Faraj)
The headquarters of the Central Bank of Egypt in downtown Cairo (Photography: Abdul Fattah Faraj)
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Egyptian Central Bank Issues Regulations for Digital Financial Identity Services

The headquarters of the Central Bank of Egypt in downtown Cairo (Photography: Abdul Fattah Faraj)
The headquarters of the Central Bank of Egypt in downtown Cairo (Photography: Abdul Fattah Faraj)

Egypt's central bank has approved regulations for a digital financial identity platform that will enable remote customer verification and identification, it said on Sunday, as it seeks to expand access to ⁠financial services.

According to Reuters, it said ⁠the move was part of efforts to support digital transformation, promote financial inclusion ⁠and modernize the banking sector's digital infrastructure.

Governor Hassan Abdalla said the platform will enable more citizens to open bank accounts and access banking products and services online without visiting branches.

The ⁠regulations set out a governance framework, defining the roles and responsibilities of relevant parties, along with technical, data protection, and cybersecurity requirements, the central bank said.

Business

Sinopec's Half-year Profit Grew 19.3% on Year Despite Iran War

Oil storage tanks and facilities of a Sinopec plant in Shanghai, China, March 26, 2026. REUTERS/Go Nakamura
Oil storage tanks and facilities of a Sinopec plant in Shanghai, China, March 26, 2026. REUTERS/Go Nakamura
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Sinopec's Half-year Profit Grew 19.3% on Year Despite Iran War

Oil storage tanks and facilities of a Sinopec plant in Shanghai, China, March 26, 2026. REUTERS/Go Nakamura
Oil storage tanks and facilities of a Sinopec plant in Shanghai, China, March 26, 2026. REUTERS/Go Nakamura

China's Sinopec reported an unexpected 19.3% year-on-year increase in net profit for the first half of 2026, despite a litany of issues including the Middle East conflict and falling demand for fuel domestically, but said it had to write down its inventories by 16 billion yuan.

Net profit over the January-June period stood at 25.63 billion yuan ($3.81 billion) under Chinese accounting standards, versus the 21.48 billion yuan a year earlier, Sinopec said in a filing at the Shanghai stock exchange on Sunday.

In a separate filing, the company said it set aside provisions for asset impairment of 16 billion yuan as a result of the volatility in oil and fuel prices in the first six months of this year.

Sinopec, ⁠the world's biggest ⁠refiner, relies on the Middle East for half of its crude oil needs, making it vulnerable to the worst supply crisis in history as the Strait of Hormuz - through which it usually imports large quantities of oil - has remained largely closed since March.

It also processed 5.6% less crude oil between January and June versus the same year-ago period, at 113.31 million metric tons, or 4.57 million barrels per day (bpd), according to the filing.

The company said its refining margin was up 44.1% on ⁠the year in the first half of 2026 - up 139 yuan per metric ton to 453 yuan per metric ton - a surprising jump given domestic fuel price hikes lagged the surges in crude oil cost.

Its refining segment reported a 381.5% growth in operating profit by "broadening crude oil sourcing outside the Middle East, closely managing the timing of purchases in line with market conditions, and optimizing its product mix based on product profitability," the filing showed, according to Reuters.

China has drastically cut oil imports since the war began in March, freeing up barrels for others and keeping a lid on global prices. Sinopec's result is all the more surprising given how exposed it was to the Strait and the way in which Beijing has forced the refiner, and others like it, to ⁠absorb the oil price shock ⁠by limiting their ability to pass higher oil prices through to fuel consumers

Conflict in the Middle East caused "sharp volatility in international crude oil prices and a substantial increase in imported crude procurement costs", while the domestic refined product and chemicals markets remained weak, the management stated in the filing.

But the company said it "closely monitored changing conditions, dynamically adjusted production and operating arrangements, and effectively responded to unexpected shocks and challenges on multiple fronts."

The chemicals segment remained loss-making, recording an operating loss of over 200 million yuan, but losses narrowed sharply by around 4 billion yuan, it said.

Output of ethylene, a key building block for petrochemicals, sank 15.5% on the year to 6.4 million tons in the first half, as the company faced industry over-capacity and competition from the private sector.

Sinopec projects crude throughput for July–December at 113 million metric tons, roughly flat versus the amount processed in the first half.

Business

ECB Chief Lagarde Reportedly 'Ready to Serve' WEF

President of European Central Bank Christine Lagarde addresses the media in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, July 23, 2026, after a meeting of the ECB's governing council. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
President of European Central Bank Christine Lagarde addresses the media in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, July 23, 2026, after a meeting of the ECB's governing council. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
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ECB Chief Lagarde Reportedly 'Ready to Serve' WEF

President of European Central Bank Christine Lagarde addresses the media in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, July 23, 2026, after a meeting of the ECB's governing council. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
President of European Central Bank Christine Lagarde addresses the media in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday, July 23, 2026, after a meeting of the ECB's governing council. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

Christine Lagarde, chief of the European Central Bank, could take over the presidency of the World Economic Forum at some point in 2027, Swiss newspaper NZZ reported on Sunday.

At a board meeting near Geneva this week, Lagarde was reportedly described as a "putative candidate" to lead the organization behind the annual Davos gathering of political and business leaders.

According to sources cited by the newspaper, she also said she was "ready to serve.”

The WEF's board ⁠is currently co-chaired ⁠by Roche vice-chairman André Hoffmann and BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, who are navigating a leadership transition after founder Klaus Schwab stepped down last year.

At the board meeting, Singapore's President Tharman Shanmugaratnam said that the succession to Fink ⁠and Hoffmann should be resolved internally as suitable candidates were available, NZZ reported.

Lagarde, who has been a member of the WEF's board for several terms, thanked the members of the 28-strong body for their confidence in her, according to the paper's reporting.

The board did not determine exactly when Lagarde should take over the presidency, NZZ said, based on sources, adding that the ⁠only point ⁠of agreement was that Fink and Hoffmann should still chair the annual meeting in Davos in January 2027.

The WEF did not immediately reply to a Reuters request for comment.

Christine Lagarde said last year she was determined to complete her term at the ECB, following speculation she might leave early to take up a role leading the WEF.

Her eight-year presidential term at the ECB runs out at the end of October 2027.