Egypt Ranks 20th on Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index

Renewable energy plants - REUTERS
Renewable energy plants - REUTERS
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Egypt Ranks 20th on Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index

Renewable energy plants - REUTERS
Renewable energy plants - REUTERS

Egypt has advanced from 26th place in 2020 to the 20th among the world’s top 40 markets in the Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index for 2021, the cabinet’s information center announced.

“Egypt’s success in the field of transformation and the use of renewable sources of energy continue to take place,” the center noted on the sidelines of Egypt Energy exhibition and conference.

“Egypt advanced twice in a row during 2021, which affirms its target to transform into a sustainable and green economy,” it added.

Under Egypt’s 2030 Vision, the country plans to increase the supply of electricity generated from renewable sources to 20% by 2022 and up to 42% by 2035, which would enhance Egypt’s use of its potential as the largest country capable of generating electricity from solar and wind energies, the center explained.

The three-day Egypt Energy exhibition and conference kicked off on Monday in Cairo and reviewed the developments in Egypt’s energy market.

The sessions held tackled the importance of Hydrogen and expansion in its uses, especially green hydrogen, which depends on environmentally friendly sources.

Participants pointed to the energy transition measures and their importance in attaining sustainable development in accordance with Egypt’s Vision 2030 and enhancing the potential of cleaner energy use.

The New and Renewable Energy Authority has allocated eight billion pounds (about $510 million) in the 2021/22 fiscal year’s budget, which ends in June 2022.

The authority’s total financial budget during the fiscal year 2020/21 amounted approximately 7.5 billion pounds ($480 million), of which 66 percent were allocated for new investments, and the rest for existing projects.



Saudi Arabia Boosts Appeal as Foreign Investment Inflows Surge 44%

The Saudi capital, Riyadh (SPA) 
The Saudi capital, Riyadh (SPA) 
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Saudi Arabia Boosts Appeal as Foreign Investment Inflows Surge 44%

The Saudi capital, Riyadh (SPA) 
The Saudi capital, Riyadh (SPA) 

Saudi Arabia is advancing rapidly toward its Vision 2030 goals, recording a notable surge in foreign direct investment (FDI) during the first quarter of this year. Inflows rose 44% year-on-year to SAR 22.2 billion ($6 billion), up from SAR 15.5 billion ($4 billion) in the same period of 2024. The growth comes amid government efforts to attract investors and position the Kingdom as a global economic hub.

Attracting more FDI is central to Vision 2030, which seeks to diversify the economy beyond oil, stimulate private sector growth, and create jobs. Saudi Arabia aims to draw $100 billion in FDI by 2030, expand spending on “giga-projects,” and develop sectors including tourism, sports, and entertainment.

According to data from the General Authority for Statistics, total inbound FDI reached about SAR 24 billion ($6.4 billion) in the first quarter of 2025, marking a 24% increase compared to the same quarter in 2024. However, it dipped 6% from the previous quarter’s SAR 25.6 billion ($6.8 billion).

Outbound FDI dropped sharply, totaling SAR 1.8 billion ($480 million) in Q1 2025, a 54% decrease from SAR 3.9 billion ($1 billion) in the prior-year period. Compared to the previous quarter, outbound flows rose slightly by 7%.

Since 2021, Riyadh has required international companies seeking government contracts to establish regional headquarters in the Kingdom. Authorities have also pledged to modernize investment regulations to improve the business environment.

According to the Vision 2030 annual report, FDI as a share of GDP hit its 2023 target, with inflows reaching SAR 96 billion ($25.6 billion), up 50% from 2022 (excluding the exceptional Aramco transaction). However, the indicator declined by 1.31 percentage points between 2021 and 2023 due to weaker net inflows in 2021 and 2022 as global investors faced liquidity pressures from rising interest rates.

Despite this, data shows steady progress toward sustainable growth. FDI is becoming more diverse, spreading across industries and regions rather than concentrating solely in oil or the eastern provinces. This trend reflects greater investor confidence and supports efforts to attract long-term capital.

In 2023, Saudi Arabia adopted a new methodology for calculating FDI statistics in collaboration with the International Monetary Fund to improve data quality and transparency. As a result, historical figures were updated, with 2020 set as the reference baseline.