NEOM Kicks off Work on First Phase of Residential Complexes

Visitors watch a 3D presentation during an exhibition on NEOM in Riyadh, October 25. (Reuters)
Visitors watch a 3D presentation during an exhibition on NEOM in Riyadh, October 25. (Reuters)
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NEOM Kicks off Work on First Phase of Residential Complexes

Visitors watch a 3D presentation during an exhibition on NEOM in Riyadh, October 25. (Reuters)
Visitors watch a 3D presentation during an exhibition on NEOM in Riyadh, October 25. (Reuters)

The NEOM company on Tuesday started construction work on the first phase of residential complexes dedicated to project workers’ housing. The first phase will house 30,000 workers who will be moving to NEOM to develop different areas of the project.

Building work kicked off with the attendance of NEOM Chief Executive Nadhmi al-Nasr as well as heads of the two Saudi companies who won contracts for the construction of the complexes, Al-Tamimi Group and Saudi Arabian Trading & Construction Co. ( SATCO).

The contracts allow the companies to operate the housing for 10 years. This is considered the first investment opportunity listed by NEOM.

Nasr urged developers to focus on the local content and increase the quantity of manufactured products and inputs in Saudi Arabia in support of the local economy and in tandem with the Saudi approach to boost local content in giant projects.

This meets guidelines of NEOM board of directors, chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense.

NEOM Chief Executive demanded firms to create job opportunities to residents of NEOM, pledging to back these firms in all means to achieve human development.

The residential region consists of several complexes in which Al-Tamimi Group has contracts to build two residential complexes with each fitting to 10,000 workers, while SATCO would construct a similar complex with the same capacity.

The project workers’ housing would provide a life-pattern that seeks to prepare an adequate business environment that goes in tandem with the goals of NEOM and the best world practices.

NEOM is located in an area of about 26.5 thousand square kilometers in the north-west of the kingdom. The project would be a pillar of economic transformation within Saudi Vision 2030 to provide various income sources through NEOM economic sectors and real estate investments.



Oil Trims Gains on Dollar Strength, Tight Supplies Provide Support

FILE PHOTO: An oil pump jack is seen at sunset near Midland, Texas, US, May 3, 2017. REUTERS/Ernest Scheyder/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: An oil pump jack is seen at sunset near Midland, Texas, US, May 3, 2017. REUTERS/Ernest Scheyder/File Photo
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Oil Trims Gains on Dollar Strength, Tight Supplies Provide Support

FILE PHOTO: An oil pump jack is seen at sunset near Midland, Texas, US, May 3, 2017. REUTERS/Ernest Scheyder/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: An oil pump jack is seen at sunset near Midland, Texas, US, May 3, 2017. REUTERS/Ernest Scheyder/File Photo

Oil prices trimmed earlier gains on Wednesday as the dollar strengthened but continued to find support from a tightening of supplies from Russia and other OPEC members and a drop in US crude stocks.

Brent crude was up 21 cents, or 0.27%, at $77.26 a barrel at 1424 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude climbed 27 cents, or 0.36%, to $74.52.

Both benchmarks had risen more than 1% earlier in the session, but pared gains on a strengthening US dollar.

"Crude oil took a minor tumble in response to a strengthening dollar following news reports that Trump is considering declaring a national economic emergency to provide legal ground for universal tariffs," added Ole Hansen, analyst at Saxo Bank.

A stronger dollar makes oil more expensive for holders of other currencies.

"The drop (in oil prices) seems to be driven by a general shift in risk sentiment with European equity markets falling and the USD getting stronger," said UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo.

Oil output from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries fell in December after two months of increases, a Reuters survey showed.

In Russia, oil output averaged 8.971 million barrels a day in December, below the country's target, Bloomberg reported citing the energy ministry.

US crude oil stocks fell last week while fuel inventories rose, market sources said, citing American Petroleum Institute figures on Tuesday.

Despite the unexpected draw in crude stocks, the significant rise in product inventories was putting those prices under pressure, PVM analyst Tamas Varga said.

Analysts expect oil prices to be on average down this year from 2024 due in part to production increases from non-OPEC countries.

"We are holding to our forecast for Brent crude to average $76/bbl in 2025, down from an average of $80/bbl in 2024," BMI, a division of Fitch Group, said in a client note.