Report: Saudi Aramco to Sell More Assets

A view shows branded oil tanks at Saudi Aramco oil facility in Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia October 12, 2019. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File Photo
A view shows branded oil tanks at Saudi Aramco oil facility in Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia October 12, 2019. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File Photo
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Report: Saudi Aramco to Sell More Assets

A view shows branded oil tanks at Saudi Aramco oil facility in Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia October 12, 2019. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File Photo
A view shows branded oil tanks at Saudi Aramco oil facility in Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia October 12, 2019. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov/File Photo

The world’s largest oil company, Saudi Aramco, is planning to raise tens of billions of dollars by selling more stakes in its businesses, Bloomberg reported this week.

The Saudi Arabian state-controlled firm created a new team to review its assets last year, soon after the coronavirus pandemic triggered a plunge in energy prices and strained its balance sheet, it said.

Aramco raised $12.4 billion by selling leasing rights over oil pipelines to a US-led group of investors in April.

The sales will continue in the next few years, according to Abdulaziz Al Gudaimi, senior vice president for corporate development.

They will happen “irrespective of any market conditions” and Aramco aims to generate “double-digit billions of dollars,” Al Gudaimi said in an interview.

“It’s a strategy meant to create value and create efficiency, it’s not about a specific capital target or financing the dividends of the company.”



Aramco’s Investment Arm Allocates $100 Million to Artificial Intelligence

Aramco fully owns the Wa’ed Ventures Fund, valued at $500 million.
Aramco fully owns the Wa’ed Ventures Fund, valued at $500 million.
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Aramco’s Investment Arm Allocates $100 Million to Artificial Intelligence

Aramco fully owns the Wa’ed Ventures Fund, valued at $500 million.
Aramco fully owns the Wa’ed Ventures Fund, valued at $500 million.

The investment arm of Saudi Aramco has allocated $100 million to invest in startups in the field of artificial intelligence, with the aim of accelerating Saudi Arabia’s ambitions to become a leading global force in AI, according to Bloomberg.

Wa’ed Ventures, Aramco’s venture capital arm, has established an advisory board comprising former employees from companies such as Meta and Amazon to explore early-stage investments in this sector. The $100 million will be deployed over the next three years.

Wa’ed Ventures is a venture capital fund with a total value of $500 million and is fully owned by Saudi Aramco.

“Our strategic decision to allocate funds to AI investments is rooted in a deep understanding of the Kingdom’s growing ecosystem,” said Anas Al-Gahtani, acting CEO of Wa’ed Ventures.

“By fostering innovation and supporting AI startups, we aim to accelerate the development of cutting-edge technologies that will drive economic growth, improve quality of life, and position Saudi Arabia as a global leader in artificial intelligence. This investment will not only incentivize local entrepreneurs but also support the localization of global talent, ultimately unlocking the immense potential of AI,” Al-Gahtani added.

This year, Aramco’s investment arm has doubled its investments in artificial intelligence. Recently, Wa’ed invested $15 million in South Korean chip manufacturer Rebellion and participated in funding rounds for the AI platform aiXplain and Tenderd, a company supported by Peter Thiel, one of the most prominent names in tech investment.