Saudi to Provide $300m Export Funding for Bahrain's Noga

The signing of the agreement between the Saudi Fund for Development and the National Oil and Gas Authority. Asharq All-Awsat Arabic
The signing of the agreement between the Saudi Fund for Development and the National Oil and Gas Authority. Asharq All-Awsat Arabic
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Saudi to Provide $300m Export Funding for Bahrain's Noga

The signing of the agreement between the Saudi Fund for Development and the National Oil and Gas Authority. Asharq All-Awsat Arabic
The signing of the agreement between the Saudi Fund for Development and the National Oil and Gas Authority. Asharq All-Awsat Arabic

The Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) has signed a financing agreement worth USD300 million (SAR1.11 billion) with the National Oil and Gas Authority (NOGA).

The agreement was signed, in a ceremony held under the patronage of Oil Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al-Khalifa, to fund Saudi exports of NOGA for projects in oil and gas sectors. It was signed by NOGA holding acting chief executive Dr. Dhafer al-Jalahma and SFD vice-president and managing director Dr. Khalid bin Sulaiman al-Khudairi.

Under the agreement, the fund will provide export credit and insurance for Saudi national exports to encourage domestic economic diversification and contribute to development within Bahrain. The minister said the agreement aims to finance the needs of Saudi manufacturing companies to participate in supplying to the oil and gas industry and projects in Bahrain.

Sheikh Mohammed said that the past period witnessed restless efforts and several initiatives by oil companies affiliated with NOGA that resulted in many oil projects, including updating Bahrain oilfield refinery that is considered the biggest with a capacity of 358,000 barrels worth USD6 billion.

Khudairi affirmed that Saudi-Bahraini ties are solid, hailing strong relations between SFD and Bahrain in development and commercial fields.



Moody's Upgrades Saudi Arabia's Credit Rating

Moody's indicated that the rating upgrade and stable outlook are results of the Kingdom's ongoing progress in economic diversification. Reuters
Moody's indicated that the rating upgrade and stable outlook are results of the Kingdom's ongoing progress in economic diversification. Reuters
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Moody's Upgrades Saudi Arabia's Credit Rating

Moody's indicated that the rating upgrade and stable outlook are results of the Kingdom's ongoing progress in economic diversification. Reuters
Moody's indicated that the rating upgrade and stable outlook are results of the Kingdom's ongoing progress in economic diversification. Reuters

The credit rating agency “Moody’s Ratings” upgraded Saudi Arabia’s credit rating to “Aa3” in local and foreign currency, with a “stable” outlook.
The agency indicated in its report that the rating upgrade and stable outlook are results of the Kingdom's ongoing progress in economic diversification and the robust growth of its non-oil sector. Over time, the advancements are expected to reduce Saudi Arabia’s exposure to oil market developments and long-term carbon transition on its economy and public finances.
The agency commended the Kingdom's financial planning within the fiscal space, emphasizing its commitment to prioritizing expenditure and enhancing the spending efficiency. Additionally, the government’s ongoing efforts to utilize available fiscal resources to diversify the economic base through transformative spending were highlighted as instrumental in supporting the sustainable development of the Kingdom's non-oil economy and maintaining a strong fiscal position.
In its report, the agency noted that the planning and commitment underpin its projection of a relatively stable fiscal deficit, which could range between 2%-3% of gross domestic product (GDP).
Moody's expected that the non-oil private-sector GDP of Saudi Arabia will expand by 4-5% in the coming years, positioning it among the highest in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, an indication of continued progress in the diversification efforts reducing the Kingdom’s exposure to oil market developments.
In recent years, the Kingdom achieved multiple credit rating upgrades from global rating agencies. These advancements reflect the Kingdom's ongoing efforts toward economic transformation, supported by structural reforms and the adoption of fiscal policies that promote financial sustainability, enhance financial planning efficiency, and reinforce the Kingdom's strong and resilient fiscal position.