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Saudi Arabia to Produce 100 Mln Tons of Waste by 2035

Investment opportunities to be offered by the Saudi waste management sector over coming years. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Investment opportunities to be offered by the Saudi waste management sector over coming years. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia to Produce 100 Mln Tons of Waste by 2035

Investment opportunities to be offered by the Saudi waste management sector over coming years. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Investment opportunities to be offered by the Saudi waste management sector over coming years. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

A Saudi research paper has predicted that around 106 million tons of waste will be produced by the Kingdom by 2035. A labor force of 77,000 workers and around 1,329 facilities and landfills are needed to manage the waste.

The findings of the study were reviewed by CEO of the Saudi Waste Management Center Dr. Abdullah Al Sebaei during a meeting organized by Asharqia Chamber on Monday.

Sebaei noted that the waste management sector in Saudi Arabia continues to offer attractive investment opportunities.

The greatest challenge facing it is found in the production and storage branches of the sector, he added.

More so, the study goes over the six main stages of developing the Kingdom’s waste management sector.

According to researchers, the current stage involves analysis on multiple levels, followed by drafting a regulatory system and attracting investors.

“There is a lack of control and supervision in the various stages of the value chain, a lack of general environmental awareness at the level of individuals and waste producers, and a lack in human qualifications and experiences in the workforce in the sector,” said Sebaei, stressing that the recycling sector is unorganized.

Furthermore, he remarked that the participation of the private sector remains limited.

Farah al-Gharib, a member of Asharqia Chamber’s environmental committee, told Asharq Al-Awsat that real awareness must be raised among investors around the material and developmental benefits of investing in the waste management sector.

Saudi Arabia has carried out a number of structural economic reforms and launched a group of emerging sectors that included waste management which aims at achieving integrated economic and environmental sustainability.

The waste management sector is being developed through increasing its efficiency, establishing comprehensive projects for recycling and reducing all types of pollution.

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Arab Financial Markets Improve Amid Trump Inauguration

A Saudi dealer monitors the stock market in Riyadh. (Reuters)
A Saudi dealer monitors the stock market in Riyadh. (Reuters)
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Arab Financial Markets Improve Amid Trump Inauguration

A Saudi dealer monitors the stock market in Riyadh. (Reuters)
A Saudi dealer monitors the stock market in Riyadh. (Reuters)

Arab financial markets reacted positively to the inauguration of US President Donald Trump for a new term on Monday, despite concerns from some nations about the tariffs he plans to impose. The tariffs are expected to affect global trade flows and pricing.

Trump’s swearing-in also coincided with the start of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas on Sunday, which is set to have a favorable impact on market sentiment.

Experts told Asharq Al-Awsat that easing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East has played a role in boosting economic stability across Arab markets. They anticipate significant improvements in market performance throughout the region, particularly in the Gulf, in the near future—raising optimism for robust economic growth.

Mohammed Al-Farraj, Senior Head of Asset Management at Arbah Capital, noted that global economic forecasts point to noticeable improvement following Trump’s inauguration.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, Al-Farraj attributed this optimism to several key factors, including heightened political stability, strengthened supply chains, and supportive monetary and fiscal policies introduced by the new US administration.

The gradual reduction of tariffs on US imports is expected to have a major impact on the labor market and inflation, fostering a more stable and growth-friendly economic environment for Arab markets, particularly those in the Gulf, he went on to say. The Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) is poised to lead this growth.

Dr. Salem Baajajah, an economic expert and academic at King Abdulaziz University, told Asharq Al-Awsat that Trump’s inauguration is likely to generate substantial gains for US markets due to his pro-growth policies. This, in turn, will positively influence global financial markets, especially in the Gulf.

Reduced geopolitical tensions in the Middle East—along with the Gaza truce and prisoner exchange agreements—have further strengthened economic stability across Arab markets, he added.

Meanwhile, most Arab and Gulf stock markets closed higher on Monday, achieving varying levels of gains.

The Saudi Stock Exchange’s main index (TASI) ended Monday’s session up by 0.40%, closing at 12,379 points—its highest level since May 8. The increase was driven by a 4.4% rise in Aqua Power shares, while Aramco, the heaviest-weighted stock on the index, remained flat at SAR 28.15.

The Qatari index climbed 0.40% to close at 10,508 points, supported by a 2.2% rise in Industries Qatar shares. Kuwait’s index rose by 0.53%, while the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange saw a modest increase of 0.08%.

Dubai’s main index, however, declined by 0.30%, impacted by a 2.9% drop in Salik shares. Similarly, Bahrain’s index fell slightly by 0.08%.

Outside the Gulf, Egypt’s blue-chip index slipped 0.37%, weighed down by a 0.9% decline in shares of Commercial International Bank. Morocco’s Casablanca Stock Exchange index dropped by 0.33%. Conversely, Oman’s Muscat Stock Exchange posted a slight gain of 0.03%.