عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Business

Saudi Ministry of Energy: Localization of Products Reached 60%

Officials signing deal on sidelines of Saudi Electricity Forum (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Officials signing deal on sidelines of Saudi Electricity Forum (Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT
TT

Saudi Ministry of Energy: Localization of Products Reached 60%

Officials signing deal on sidelines of Saudi Electricity Forum (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Officials signing deal on sidelines of Saudi Electricity Forum (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Localization of products associated with the industry of electricity reached 60 per cent and prices of domestic energy are very close to current global levels, according to an official at the Ministry of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources in Saudi Arabia.

Deputy Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) Saleh al-Awaji stated the past years witnessed the localization of heavy industries in cooperation with the entities related to the energy sector.

He pointed out that there are factories specialized in assembling gas turbines of capacity exceeding 300 megawatts.

During a press conference on the sidelines of the announcement of the meeting of Saudi Electricity Forum scheduled for October 10 to 12, Awaji confirmed that high-tension sectors will be localized in Saudi Arabia. He added that the process of localizing industries related to electricity will continue until needs of local markets have been met, noting that increasing energy efficiency will be reflected on the prices.

During the Forum, achievements of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques program which was launched a year ago, will be presented, stated Awaji. He said that the Forum will see a number of investment opportunities related to renewable energy and the settlement of services.

The Deputy said that renewable energy is a primary and important source for electricity and will help enhance electric energy. 

"Reconstructing sector of electricity is developing properly, and within a year, the general features of the structure of it will be completed," Awaji said.

He pointed that some developments came up which required a revision of the structure with an inclination towards privatization of the electricity sector.

The Deputy explained that the forum will discuss challenges facing the sector and propose the appropriate solutions within the framework of Vision 2030. It will also review incentives and appropriate legislation aiming to introduce additional revenues to the national economy.

Awaji stressed that the ministry is concerned with encouraging and enhancing the localization of the electrical industries supporting these sectors, especially with industries related to the equipment, materials, electrical spare parts used in generating, transmitting, and distributing electric power. 

The forum and its associated Exhibition provide great opportunities for the local and international companies to directly market their innovative technologies and expertise to decision-makers, participants, and visitors. Also, they present a good chance to conduct meetings with companies, businessmen, and officials during the event.

International and local specialists will attend and give speeches in this Forum which represents an opportunity for senior officials, experts and investors to exchange experiences and enrich knowledge in the field of electricity, in addition to identifying investment opportunities in the Saudi market within the framework of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

Most Viewed

 
 
Business

HUMAIN Secures $667 Million Infra Financing to Advance Saudi Arabia’s AI Infrastructure

A photo taken during the signing ceremony of the two agreements in Riyadh (SPA) 
A photo taken during the signing ceremony of the two agreements in Riyadh (SPA) 
TT
TT

HUMAIN Secures $667 Million Infra Financing to Advance Saudi Arabia’s AI Infrastructure

A photo taken during the signing ceremony of the two agreements in Riyadh (SPA) 
A photo taken during the signing ceremony of the two agreements in Riyadh (SPA) 

The National Infrastructure Fund (Infra) and HUMAIN, a PIF company delivering full-stack artificial intelligence capabilities globally, signed on Monday two financing agreements totaling up to SAR 2.5 billion ($667 million) to support AI computing deployment and the development of critical power infrastructure in Saudi Arabia.

The agreements were signed in Riyadh in the presence of Governor of the Public Investment Fund, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Minister of Economy and Planning and Chairman of Infra’s Board of Directors, Faisal bin Fadhil Alibrahim and Governor of the National Development Fund, Abdulaziz Alarifi.

The facilities are the first transactions announced under Infra’s AI Data Center Financing Program. They build on the strategic financing framework announced by Infra and HUMAIN at Davos in January 2026, which outlined non-binding financing terms of up to SAR 4.5 billion ($1.2 billion) to support AI and digital infrastructure projects in the Kingdom.

The GPU financing facility, of up to SAR 1.1 billion ($293.3 million), will support the procurement and deployment of graphics processing units (GPUs), representing approximately 25 MW of IT load.

A second facility of up to SAR 1.4 billion ($373.3 million), will finance the development of substations, transmission infrastructure and grid connections to support HUMAIN’s AI data centers in Saudi Arabia.

The planned power infrastructure is designed to support future data center development with up to 1 GW of IT capacity, helping create the conditions for investment by developers, hyperscalers and institutional investors.

“Through these agreements, we aim to unlock investment well beyond Infra’s own commitment,” said Chief Executive Officer of Infra, Engineer Esmail bin Mohammed Alsallom.

He noted that supporting HUMAIN’s computing deployment alongside essential power infrastructure helps prepare a broader pipeline of data center projects for investment.

“Our role is to strengthen project readiness and bankability, with commercial viability and economic value guiding how we deploy our capital,” Alsallom said, adding that this partnership connects Infra’s priorities with commercial discipline, helping build a financing market that can attract a broader pool of private and institutional capital and sustain the local AI infrastructure growth.

For his part, Chief Executive Officer of HUMAIN, Tareq Amin, said that AI infrastructure is becoming foundational to the next generation of computing, and scaling it requires both significant investment and the infrastructure to support it.

“These facilities with Infra will help accelerate the deployment of advanced computing capacity and the power infrastructure required to support it. At HUMAIN, we are focused on building and operating AI infrastructure at scale, while developing the technologies and platforms that enable organizations and customers globally to put AI to work,” he added.

Business

Lucid Gets Crucial $1.75 Billion Liquidity Boost From PIF

A Lucid Air Grand Touring electric car is displayed during the New York International Auto Show in New York City, US, April 1, 2026. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon/File Photo 
A Lucid Air Grand Touring electric car is displayed during the New York International Auto Show in New York City, US, April 1, 2026. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon/File Photo 
TT
TT

Lucid Gets Crucial $1.75 Billion Liquidity Boost From PIF

A Lucid Air Grand Touring electric car is displayed during the New York International Auto Show in New York City, US, April 1, 2026. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon/File Photo 
A Lucid Air Grand Touring electric car is displayed during the New York International Auto Show in New York City, US, April 1, 2026. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon/File Photo 

Lucid Group, an American electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, said on Monday a $1.75 billion increase in a loan facility from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), its largest investor, would help fund the ‌electric-vehicle maker into the fourth quarter of 2027, according to Reuters.

The larger delayed-draw term loan lifts the company’s pro forma liquidity to $3.75 billion, strengthening new CEO Silvio Napoli's hand as he seeks to turn around the company facing an industry-wide demand weakness following the expiry of a federal ⁠tax credit last year.

Lucid said it expects its liquidity to fund operations until production of its midsize vehicle begins in the second half of 2027.

The company’s shares were down about 5% in extended trading.

Lucid cut its third-quarter cash outflow to $1.04 billion from $1.48 billion in the previous quarter by cutting production, including eliminating a second shift at its Arizona factory and reducing inventory and operating costs.

“These actions are already showing through in Q3, ‌with ⁠free cash flow consumption 30% lower sequentially,” CFO Alexander De Bock said.

Lucid said it would provide 2027 guidance and a mid-term plan with its year-end results. It had withdrawn its annual production forecast earlier this year amid a sweeping operational ⁠review by its newly appointed CEO.

The company said headcount fell about 28% between the first and third quarters. It said it had achieved $800 million of a targeted $1.4 ⁠billion cash flow improvement this year through lower inventory, operating costs and capital spending.

New chief technology, finance, customer and transformation officers joined early in ⁠the third quarter, the company said. Lucid is also cutting management layers and tying incentives to four priority projects.

Business

Saudi Real Estate Market Maintains Investment Momentum Despite War Fallout

Residential developments in Saudi Arabia (Ministry of Municipalities and Housing)
Residential developments in Saudi Arabia (Ministry of Municipalities and Housing)
TT
TT

Saudi Real Estate Market Maintains Investment Momentum Despite War Fallout

Residential developments in Saudi Arabia (Ministry of Municipalities and Housing)
Residential developments in Saudi Arabia (Ministry of Municipalities and Housing)

Saudi Arabia's real estate market continues to attract investment despite geopolitical challenges weighing on economic activity worldwide, supported by new housing developments and efforts to expand residential supply.

The Ministry of Municipalities and Housing announced that more than 15,000 residential land plots had been made available through the Sakani platform across the Kingdom between the beginning of 2026 and the end of October, alongside additional projects launched by private-sector developers.

The developments underscore the sector's continued momentum and its importance to the Saudi economy.

Government initiatives and private-sector projects aim to expand housing supply and meet growing demand, reinforcing real estate's position as a key driver of economic growth and diversification.

Strong domestic demand and ongoing urban development projects continue to underpin the market's appeal, attracting investment from both Saudi and international investors.

Against a backdrop of geopolitical uncertainty and war-related disruptions to trade, supply chains, financing costs and construction expenses, the real estate sector has gained importance as an industry driven largely by domestic demand and capable of sustaining economic activity.

Private-Sector Investment

Despite mounting global economic volatility and geopolitical tensions, Saudi Arabia's real estate market continues to attract international investment, supported by clear economic policies, expanding development opportunities and strong housing demand.

Real estate developer Arada recently announced its entry into the Saudi market through a partnership with local company XTOPIA, backed by a SAR 50 billion ($13.3 billion) portfolio of land and development opportunities.

The partnership's first project is a SAR 14 billion residential development in Riyadh's Al Rimal district.

Riyadh Region Municipality, the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, and the National Center for Privatization & PPP also recently announced the launch of the expression of interest, prequalification and proposal submission stages for a joint land investment project.

The initiative involves developing a municipal land plot in northern Riyadh through a 50-year partnership with the private sector, marking the municipality's first project under the joint investment model.

Real estate specialists described the initiative as an important step toward enabling private investors to develop property assets into sustainable projects with significant economic value.

They said the extended investment period would encourage developers to improve construction quality and services, strengthen project feasibility, diversify real estate offerings and increase supply in one of the capital's most expensive neighborhoods.

Balancing the Real Estate Market

The importance of releasing more residential land lies in achieving greater balance in the property market, a government objective outlined by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman.

The strategy seeks to increase housing supply by making more land available, broadening the options accessible to Saudi citizens and enabling more households to move from searching for a home to building and owning one.

Increasing the availability of residential land, particularly in cities and governorates experiencing rising demand, could ease pressure on land prices over the medium term, provided that plot locations and sizes correspond to actual market needs.

The release of additional land also creates opportunities for real estate developers, contractors, engineering firms and building materials suppliers to benefit from anticipated demand for construction projects.

As a result, businesses across the real estate and construction supply chain could see stronger activity despite the impact of the geopolitical crisis on other economic sectors in the region.

The initiative also expands housing choices, supports efforts to increase homeownership rates and improve quality of life, and encourages urban development beyond major metropolitan centers.

Lowering Prices

Real estate developer Ahmed Omar Basoudan believes the main challenge facing Saudi Arabia's property market in the coming period will not simply be increasing the number of land plots and housing units available.

Rather, he said, the priority must be ensuring that homes reach buyers at prices they can afford, while providing adequate infrastructure and services and keeping development and construction costs under control.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Basoudan explained that genuine balance in the real estate market depends on the availability of housing that meets buyers' needs in terms of price, location and quality, rather than simply increasing overall supply.

He said the release of more than 15,000 residential land plots during the first 10 months of the year, together with recently announced private-sector projects, reflected the government's continued commitment to expanding housing supply and providing more residential options.

Basoudan stressed that the latest real estate developments represent an important step toward addressing one of the market's most pressing challenges: achieving a sustainable balance between supply and demand, particularly amid the Kingdom's population growth and continued urban expansion.