PIF Unveils Innovative Qiddiya Project Logo

The Qiddiya city logo.
The Qiddiya city logo.
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PIF Unveils Innovative Qiddiya Project Logo

The Qiddiya city logo.
The Qiddiya city logo.

The Saudi Public Investment Fund revealed the logo of the Qiddiya Project that plans to build the largest cultural, recreational and sports city in the Kingdom. The design of the innovative logo reflects the unique geography of the region where the city will be established.

The Qiddiya project was announced earlier this year.

The city will be constructed 40 kilometers away from central Riyadh in the Qiddiya region..

The design of the logo was inspired from the breathtaking Tuwaiq mountain range in the Qiddiya region that will overlook the city once it is complete. The lines of the logo reflect the abilities of the residents of the Kingdom and their vibrant colors represent the residents’ diverse capabilities and identities. The logo embodies the project’s goal of providing special recreational destination for Saudis where they will be able to unleash their talents in various fields.

The Qiddiya project highlights the heritage of the region and reflects the beauty of the location that will become an important landmark that will meet the demands of the Kingdom’s recreational, cultural and social needs.

Qiddiya city is one of the significant investment initiatives that provides a diverse number of recreational venues. It also supports the Saudi Vision 2030 that aims at diversifying the sources of national income, bolster the Kingdom’s economy and create job opportunities for the local youth.

Qiddiya city allows visitors to enjoy a number of recreational and educational activities through six main venues that include an amusement park, sports arenas, racing rings, water and snow games, gorgeous natural vistas and several cultural and heritage centers.

Construction of Qiddiya city is expected to begin in 2018 and the first phase of the city will be opened in 2022.



S&P Expects Saudi Issuances to Continue Domestically, Internationally Driven by Vision 2030

A view of the Saudi capital, Riyadh. (SPA)
A view of the Saudi capital, Riyadh. (SPA)
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S&P Expects Saudi Issuances to Continue Domestically, Internationally Driven by Vision 2030

A view of the Saudi capital, Riyadh. (SPA)
A view of the Saudi capital, Riyadh. (SPA)

S&P Global Ratings anticipates that Saudi issuers will continue to tap local and international capital markets to finance projects under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. The agency expects debt levels to remain manageable, with private sector debt-to-GDP ratios staying below 100% over the next 12 to 24 months.

According to S&P’s report, “Saudi Capital Market Overview: Rising Issuance Levels Are Just the Start”, Saudi companies have dominated issuance activity in recent years. Over the past five years, Saudi entities, including government-related entities, have accounted for roughly two-thirds of non-governmental US dollar-denominated issuances. However, the report predicted that banks will play an increasingly significant role in the future.

The report noted that Saudi issuers have raised over $130 billion in US dollar-denominated issuances over the last five years. This adds to $144 billion raised domestically in Saudi riyals during the same period, driven by Vision 2030 initiatives.

While the government accounts for about 60% of these issuances, the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 has created expansive opportunities in the non-oil economy and banking system, paving the way for future growth, the report underlined.

S&P highlighted the development of Saudi Arabia’s mortgage-backed securities market as a key factor to watch over the next two years. As of the end of September 2024, Saudi banks held more than $175 billion in mortgage financing, most of which carried fixed interest rates but were funded through short-term resources, primarily local deposits.

With declining interest rates, some of these mortgages could re-enter circulation, enabling banks to sell them in the secondary market without incurring losses. This would allow banks to offload mortgage financing from their balance sheets, provided legal challenges surrounding the mortgage-backed securities issuance are resolved or mitigated sufficiently to attract local and international investor interest.

According to the report, developing the mortgage-backed securities market could significantly enhance banks’ financial capacity, enabling them to better support the implementation of Vision 2030. This could occur through existing infrastructure, such as the Saudi Real Estate Refinance Company, or via direct issuances in the capital markets.