Hariri: France Satisfied with Investment Plan Progress

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri visits Beirut Port on Friday September 6, 2019. Dalati and Nohra photo
Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri visits Beirut Port on Friday September 6, 2019. Dalati and Nohra photo
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Hariri: France Satisfied with Investment Plan Progress

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri visits Beirut Port on Friday September 6, 2019. Dalati and Nohra photo
Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri visits Beirut Port on Friday September 6, 2019. Dalati and Nohra photo

French President Emmanuel Macron is satisfied with Beirut's progress on starting an infrastructure investment program, Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri's press office said on Friday, a day after a French envoy criticized the speed at which Lebanon is reforming its economy.

Foreign governments and donor institutions last year pledged $11 billion in financing to Lebanon for a 12-year infrastructure investment program at the CEDRE conference in Paris, on condition that it carries out reforms.

Hariri’s office said in a statement Friday that the PM received a telephone call from Macron, who “expressed his satisfaction with the progress made towards launching the CEDRE investment projects.”

Macron called Hariri after French diplomat Pierre Duquesne concluded a four-day visit to Lebanon to assess Beirut's progress on starting work on the infrastructure projects and other reforms.

Duquesne himself said that the donors' funding offers still stand, but stressed that Lebanese authorities need to speed up reforms, pass a state budget for 2020 this year and decide which of the 250 infrastructure projects will take priority.

"Donors are still ready to help, provided that things happen in the required and right way," he said.

Funding has not yet begun to flow, he said, because Lebanon was without a government for nine months following elections last year.

"And even after (government) formation, donors continue to question the Lebanese government. This view is shared by all donors," Duquesne said.

He was also critical of how some Lebanese politicians were approaching the urgency of the economic problems in the country.

"Some people still believe that there is a miracle solution, a magical solution to solve all the problems. This does not exist."

"Time is running out and we cannot continue with the endless debates," he added.

On Monday Lebanese politicians declared a "state of economic emergency” and Hariri said the government would take emergency measures to speed up reforms, including holding more meetings.

With one of the world's highest debt burdens, low growth and crumbling infrastructure, Lebanon's economy is struggling and authorities are seeking to implement reforms to ward off a crisis.

During Thursday’s phone call, “Macron also stressed France's commitment to Lebanon's stability and security, the strengthening of its state and institutions and the importance of preserving calm on the southern border,” Hariri’s office said.

The frontier between the two countries has remained calm since Israel and Hezbollah traded fire on Sunday.



New Chapter for Saudi Real Estate Market as Foreign Ownership Allowed

Residential and commercial properties in Riyadh – Asharq Al-Awsat
Residential and commercial properties in Riyadh – Asharq Al-Awsat
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New Chapter for Saudi Real Estate Market as Foreign Ownership Allowed

Residential and commercial properties in Riyadh – Asharq Al-Awsat
Residential and commercial properties in Riyadh – Asharq Al-Awsat

Saudi Arabia has approved a new law allowing non-Saudis to own real estate across the Kingdom, a move officials say will stimulate foreign investment, increase the quality and availability of housing stock, and help bring balance to the property market.

The decision, announced by the Council of Ministers on Tuesday, marks a shift in the structure of the real estate sector and aligns with the Kingdom’s broader strategy to diversify investment and improve urban development under its Vision 2030 reform agenda.

Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing Minister Majid Al-Hogail said the new framework is expected to attract foreign developers and investors, increase competition in the domestic market, and ultimately help stabilize prices while improving housing options for Saudi citizens.

“A Strategic Restructuring”

“This step will encourage real estate supply and raise the quality of developments,” Al-Hogail said in a statement. “It supports the economic momentum and investment movement we are witnessing under Vision 2030.”

Khalid Al-Jasser, head of Amaken Group and a real estate specialist, said the updated system prioritizes Saudi citizens’ interests and will include mechanisms to regulate the market and achieve planned targets—chief among them, property market balance.

He added that the move would introduce global real estate standards to the Kingdom and draw capital to improve housing infrastructure, while creating jobs and lowering property prices.

“This is more than just an investment measure—it’s a structural shift,” Al-Jasser said.

Focus on Mega Projects and New Cities

Khaled Almobid, CEO of Menassat Realty Co., said the measure would allow foreign investors to buy properties in major development zones such as NEOM and the Red Sea Project—areas central to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s economic diversification efforts.

Almobid said the law is intended to protect Saudi homebuyers from being priced out of the market, while enabling high-value foreign investment that brings hard currency and supports large-scale development.

“The focus will be on strategic areas,” he said. “We expect foreign ownership will be restricted in districts designated for Saudi housing, with safeguards against speculation.”

He noted that details would become clearer once executive regulations are released.

Riyadh Housing Reforms

The foreign ownership law follows a series of housing reforms launched in March by Crown Prince Mohammed, aimed at curbing soaring land and rental prices in Riyadh.

As part of the measures, the government lifted bans on land sales, divisions, and permits, and instructed the Royal Commission for Riyadh City to develop 10,000 to 40,000 new residential plots annually over the next five years - priced at no more than 1,500 riyals ($400) per square meter - for eligible citizens.

Eligibility is limited to married Saudis or individuals over 25 years old with no prior property ownership.

The government also pledged to amend regulations governing undeveloped land fees and tenant-landlord relations within 60 to 90 days to boost supply and protect all parties’ rights.

The Real Estate General Authority and the Royal Commission were also tasked with monitoring Riyadh property prices and submitting regular reports.