Qiddiya Signs MoU with Samsung

Qiddiya Signs MoU with Samsung, Asharq Al-Awsat
Qiddiya Signs MoU with Samsung, Asharq Al-Awsat
TT

Qiddiya Signs MoU with Samsung

Qiddiya Signs MoU with Samsung, Asharq Al-Awsat
Qiddiya Signs MoU with Samsung, Asharq Al-Awsat

The Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC) and Samsung have signed an agreement to collaborate on a broad range of areas from engaging Samsung C&T for the design, engineering and construction of Qiddiya’s sports complex, to working with Samsung Electronics to become Qiddiya’s primary technology sponsor.

The extensive and powerful economic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed at The Future Investment Initiative, also includes co-branding and naming rights for some of Qiddiya’s anchor facilities and enables QIC to work with a number of businesses under the Samsung umbrella.

After detailed discussions, held both in Saudi Arabia and Samsung’s headquarters in South Korea, the MoU was signed by Michael Reininger, CEO of QIC, and Young Ho Lee, President & CEO of Samsung C&T.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, Reininger said that QIC is continuing its strategies, pointing out that everything they are building and designing today will be state-of-the-art when the project opens in 2023.

Reininger did not disclose the value of the contract with Samsung, but stressed that the work will provide recreational, sports and technical facilities at the highest level in Qiddiya.

“This year, Qiddiya been advancing steadily on our journey from design to execution. The signing of this milestone MoU between Qiddiya and Samsung C&T, an industry leader and global pioneer, demonstrates our commitment to achieving our dual goals of creating an unprecedented destination that enriches the lives of Saudi citizens while driving social and economic diversification within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” commented Reininger.

“Samsung is proud to be a strategic partner for QIC. With the signing of the MOU between Qiddiya and Samsung, we are confident to leverage the full capabilities from both partners to deliver the most technologically advanced Entertainment, Sports and the Arts destination in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” Wan Soo Kim, Senior Vice President of Samsung C&T said at the signing.



Gold Jumps, on Track for Best Week in Over a Year on Safe-haven Demand

FILE PHOTO: Gold bullions are displayed at GoldSilver Central's office in Singapore June 19, 2017. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Gold bullions are displayed at GoldSilver Central's office in Singapore June 19, 2017. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo
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Gold Jumps, on Track for Best Week in Over a Year on Safe-haven Demand

FILE PHOTO: Gold bullions are displayed at GoldSilver Central's office in Singapore June 19, 2017. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Gold bullions are displayed at GoldSilver Central's office in Singapore June 19, 2017. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo

Gold prices rose over 1% to hit a two-week peak on Friday, heading for the best weekly performance in more than a year, buoyed by safe-haven demand as Russia-Ukraine tensions intensified.

Spot gold jumped 1.3% to $2,703.05 per ounce as of 1245 GMT, hitting its highest since Nov. 8. US gold futures gained 1.1% to $2,705.30.

Bullion rose despite the US dollar hitting a 13-month high, while bitcoin hit a record peak and neared the $100,000 level.

"With both gold and USD (US dollar) rising, it seems that safe-haven demand is lifting both assets," said UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo.

Ukraine's military said its drones struck four oil refineries, radar stations and other military installations in Russia, Reuters reported.

Gold has gained over 5% so far this week, its best weekly performance since October 2023. Prices have gained around $173 after slipping to a two-month low last week.

"We understand that the price setback has been used by 'Western world' investors under-allocated to gold to build exposure considering the geopolitical risks that are still around. So we continue to expect gold to rise further over the coming months," Staunovo said.

Bullion tends to shine during geopolitical tensions, economic risks, and a low interest rate environment. Markets are pricing in a 59.4% chance of a 25-basis-points cut at the Fed's December meeting, per the CME Fedwatch tool.

However, "if Fed skips or pauses its rate cut in December, that will be negative for gold prices and we could see some pullback," said Soni Kumari, a commodity strategist at ANZ.

The Chicago Federal Reserve president reiterated his support for further US interest rate cuts on Thursday.

On Friday, spot silver rose 1.8% to $31.34 per ounce, platinum eased 0.1% to $960.13 and palladium fell 0.6% to $1,023.55. All three metals were on track for a weekly rise.