King Abdullah Economic City Awards Over $300 Mln Contracts

Part of King Abdullah Economic City in Jeddah. (File photo / AFP)
Part of King Abdullah Economic City in Jeddah. (File photo / AFP)
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King Abdullah Economic City Awards Over $300 Mln Contracts

Part of King Abdullah Economic City in Jeddah. (File photo / AFP)
Part of King Abdullah Economic City in Jeddah. (File photo / AFP)

King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) has awarded new contracts worth over SAR1.2 billion (USD320 million) for the construction and development of several sectors in the city during the year 2018.

KAEC acting Chief Executive Officer Ahmed Bin Ibrahim Linjawy said that 20 percent of the value of the contracts was for the development of the industrial valley, residential areas and facilities. About 80 percent of the value of the contract was for the development of a range of projects, services, and products in a number of areas, notably the tourism sector, entertainment, and sports. He said the development plans for the city are continuing so as to develop strategic sectors, like the logistics and industrial sectors.

Linjawy noted that the industrial valley has attracted more than 110 national and international companies so far.

The King Abdullah Port can handle 3.4 million containers annually. Investments are continuing as more than 10,000 housing units and plots of land distributed among six residential districts are being developed.

KAEC is giving priority to the empowerment of Saudi youth by launching quality initiatives and projects in cooperation with a number of partners. Foremost among these is the Prince Khaled Faisal Project which aims to train some 10,000 male and female pupils by the end of 2020. Till now 3,800 students have been trained.



Gold Edges Higher in Holiday Trade; Eyes on Fed's 2025 Plan

Gold bars from the vault of a bank are seen in this illustration picture taken in Zurich November 20, 2014. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File Photo
Gold bars from the vault of a bank are seen in this illustration picture taken in Zurich November 20, 2014. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File Photo
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Gold Edges Higher in Holiday Trade; Eyes on Fed's 2025 Plan

Gold bars from the vault of a bank are seen in this illustration picture taken in Zurich November 20, 2014. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File Photo
Gold bars from the vault of a bank are seen in this illustration picture taken in Zurich November 20, 2014. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann/File Photo

Gold inched higher on Thursday in holiday-thinned trade, as investors focused on the US Federal Reserve's interest rate strategy and anticipated tariff policies under President-elect Donald Trump, both of which could influence the metal's direction in the coming year.

Spot gold rose 0.2% to $2,619.59 per ounce, as of 0023 GMT.

According to Reuters, bullion has surged approximately 27% so far this year, scaling multiple record highs, fueled by significant Fed rate cuts, including a jumbo reduction in September, and heightened geopolitical uncertainties.

Meanwhile, US gold futures steadied at $2,637.10.

In a holiday-curtailed week, trading volumes will likely thin out as the year-end approaches, and Markets are eyeing jobless claims data due later in the day, while preparing for major policy shifts, including tariffs, deregulation and tax changes, in 2025 as Trump returns to the White House in January.

On the geopolitical level, the Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israel traded blame on Wednesday over their failure to conclude a ceasefire agreement despite progress reported by both sides in past days.

Gold is considered a safe investment option during economic and geopolitical turmoil and tends to thrive in a low interest rate environment.