Saudi Housing Ministry Announces Achieving 2017 Targets

The Saudi Housing Ministry and the Real Estate Development Fund announced that it has achieved its 2017 targets. (SPA)
The Saudi Housing Ministry and the Real Estate Development Fund announced that it has achieved its 2017 targets. (SPA)
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Saudi Housing Ministry Announces Achieving 2017 Targets

The Saudi Housing Ministry and the Real Estate Development Fund announced that it has achieved its 2017 targets. (SPA)
The Saudi Housing Ministry and the Real Estate Development Fund announced that it has achieved its 2017 targets. (SPA)

The Saudi Housing Ministry and the Real Estate Development Fund announced on Saturday achieving 2017 targets on providing over 280,000 housing and financing products to Saudi families across the kingdom.

In a statement, the ministry announced on Saturday 36,798 housing and financing products as part of the 11th and the last batch of “Sakani” (My Housing) program for 2017.

The 36,798 residential and financing products include 24,207 housing units via sale on the map program, 4,591 free land plots and 8,000 backed financing.

The goal was set up by the national residential program launched in mid-January.

Among the 2017 objectives was having 120,000 housing units made ready for residence and the offering of 75,000 free land plots for construction.

More so, 85,000 funds were provided by the national fund for real estate development through banks and financial institutions, while the ministry revealed details of the second phase of the national initiative for 2018.

The program aspires to serve a greater number of citizens.

Mohamed Al-Bati, CEO of the national housing company, pointed out that achieving the 2017 goals drives the Housing Ministry to expand its services to citizens.

He positively recounted the active partnership with the private sector partook in with real-estate developers.

He also pointed out that these partnerships with real estate developers serving the national economy have resulted in realizing several projects, including the construction of thousands of housing units—a progress which empowered Saudi families and raised the percentage of housing ownership.

Bati pointed out that there is a clear plan and details to be announced on all future housing programs.

He pointed out that there were royal directives issued on a package of incentives.

Speaking on involving the private sector with the national housing projects, Bati said it stimulates real estate competition and results in producing many housing units at different rates.



Saudi Arabia’s Kingdom Holding Buys $400 Million Stake in xAI

xAI logo is seen near computer motherboard in this illustration taken January 8, 2024. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
xAI logo is seen near computer motherboard in this illustration taken January 8, 2024. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
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Saudi Arabia’s Kingdom Holding Buys $400 Million Stake in xAI

xAI logo is seen near computer motherboard in this illustration taken January 8, 2024. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
xAI logo is seen near computer motherboard in this illustration taken January 8, 2024. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

Kingdom Holding Company (KHC) said on Wednesday it has acquired a key stake in xAI Corporation, an artificial intelligence company founded by US billionaire Elon Musk for 1.5 billion Saudi Riyals ($400 million), becoming the second largest investor in X and xAI.

The acquisition of the new stake is part of xAI’s Series C funding round, said KHC in its filing to Saudi bourse Tadawul.

This transaction follows KHC's previous investment at the same value in xAI during its Series B funding round.

It further solidifies KHC's strategic partnership with Elon Musk, and follows its strategic stake in X (Twitter), held since 2015, KHC stated.

A post on X said Prince Alwaleed bin Talal became the second largest shareholders in Musk’s two companies, X & xAI.

In November 2022, the Saudi prince moved almost 35 million Twitter shares through the Kingdom Holding Company, worth about $1.9 billion at the $54.20 per share sale price. That made him the “second-largest investor” in the new parent company.
Funding Rounds

The funding rounds consist of several fundraising events in which startups or existing companies raise funds from investors to continue building their infrastructure and accelerate research and development.

The rounds start with a “seed round” of funding where a startup typically raises money from the owners to cover initial operating expenses and then expand to Series A, B, and C funding rounds as the company develops to raise additional capital.

In terms of risks, Series B funding is generally less risky than Series A funding, while Series C is less risky than Series B and is typically used by companies that are growing rapidly and need additional capital to fund their expansion.

Musk's xAI Series C funding round included the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) and the Oman Investment Authority (OIA).

Participants included Morgan Stanley and BlackRock, which were described as two of the major investors in the fundraising round.

KHC, in which Public Investment Fund (PIF) owns a 17% stake, said xAI has a $45 billion valuation with the latest funding round, indicating a significant increase from its $25 billion valuation during the Series B funding round, the filing showed.

Following the announcement of the acquisition, the shares of KHC, listed on the Saudi Stock Exchange, rose by 0.44% to 9.16 riyals.

xAI’s strategy focuses on developing leading AI models and working closely with other technology companies associated with its founder, including Tesla, SpaceX, and X, whose application has over 500 million users.

KHC said this transaction further solidifies KHC's strategic partnership with Elon Musk, and follows its strategic stake in X (Twitter), held since 2015.

It forms part of KHC’s business model of securing early stakes in emerging technologies and its ambition to lead and innovate within the AI industry, it added.