Saudi National Bank Celebrates Largest Bank Merger

With assets exceeding 900 billion riyals and capital amounting to 44 billion riyals, the new entity is believed to be the Kingdom’s largest bank
With assets exceeding 900 billion riyals and capital amounting to 44 billion riyals, the new entity is believed to be the Kingdom’s largest bank
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Saudi National Bank Celebrates Largest Bank Merger

With assets exceeding 900 billion riyals and capital amounting to 44 billion riyals, the new entity is believed to be the Kingdom’s largest bank
With assets exceeding 900 billion riyals and capital amounting to 44 billion riyals, the new entity is believed to be the Kingdom’s largest bank

The National Commercial Bank, or NCB, concluded the final phases of a merger deal with Riyadh-based Samba Financial Group on Jan. 6, 2022, to form the Saudi National Bank.

With assets exceeding 900 billion riyals ($240 billion) and capital amounting to 44 billion riyals ($11.7 billion), the new entity is believed to be the Kingdom’s largest bank.

SNB concluded the last phase of the transaction in a record time, within nine months since the process started on April 1, 2021.

The bank has opened more than 1.4 million new accounts for individual customers, which is 100 percent of the total individual customers.

As for corporate customers, the bank opened accounts for more than 11,000 customers, making up 100 percent of small and midsized corporate customers.

It also completed opening and activating 100 percent of the large corporate customer accounts.

Moreover, SNB completed the procedures for migrating the treasury sector, NCB Capital, Samba Capital, and other administrative sectors and branches.

SNB Chairman Ammar AlKhudairy stated that reaching the finish line of the merger agenda paves the way for a new stage of work and a promising future for the Saudi banking industry.

He added that the new entity - backed by a market share of 31 percent and its real wealth of 12,000 employees in Saudi Arabia and more than 4,000 employees in its subsidiaries - will support social prosperity and economic transformation in Saudi Arabia.

It will also contribute to empowering citizens and national businesses and enhancing their growth opportunities, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, according to AlKhudairy.

Saeed bin Mohammed AlGhamdi, managing director and Group CEO of SNB, said that the merger – with its many phases, milestones, and complex requirements – wouldn’t have taken place with such excellence, accuracy, speed, and flexibility had it not been for the unique cooperation of all parties, including shareholders, executive, administrative, technical and logistical teams, as well as the positive engagement of the Bank’s customers and their responsiveness to the Bank’s directives and instructions.



Cluster2 Company Launches Direct Flights from Muscat to Saudi Arabia's Taif

 Three direct flights will take place per week between Muscat and Taif via Oman Air - SPA
Three direct flights will take place per week between Muscat and Taif via Oman Air - SPA
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Cluster2 Company Launches Direct Flights from Muscat to Saudi Arabia's Taif

 Three direct flights will take place per week between Muscat and Taif via Oman Air - SPA
Three direct flights will take place per week between Muscat and Taif via Oman Air - SPA

The Cluster2 Company, operator of Taif International Airport, announced the launch of three direct flights per week between Muscat and Taif via Oman Air, starting January 31, SPA reported.

The launch of international flights through the cluster’s airports comes as part of its ongoing commitment to improving the passenger experience and expanding international travel options, while continuing to build strategic partnerships with global airlines to enhance air connectivity in the Kingdom.


Oil Prices Rise as US Ramps up Action against Venezuela Tankers

A view shows an oil pump jack outside Almetyevsk, in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia July 14, 2025. REUTERS/Stringer
A view shows an oil pump jack outside Almetyevsk, in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia July 14, 2025. REUTERS/Stringer
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Oil Prices Rise as US Ramps up Action against Venezuela Tankers

A view shows an oil pump jack outside Almetyevsk, in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia July 14, 2025. REUTERS/Stringer
A view shows an oil pump jack outside Almetyevsk, in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia July 14, 2025. REUTERS/Stringer

Oil prices rose on Monday after the US intercepted ​an oil tanker in international waters off the coast of Venezuela and tensions in Russia's war against Ukraine remained high, with both developments raising fears of supply disruption.

Brent crude futures gained $1.31, or 2.17%, to $61.78 a barrel by 1316 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude rose by $1.25, or 2.2%, to $57.77.

Market participants now see a risk of disruption to Venezuelan oil exports because of the US ‌embargo, having previously ‌been complacent in that regard, said ‌UBS ⁠analyst Giovanni ​Staunovo.

Venezuelan crude ‌accounts for about 1% of global supply.

Growing supply from the US and the OPEC+ producer group have largely offset worries over supply disruption elsewhere to keep Brent futures around $65 a barrel in the second half of 2025, though prices have eased in the past month because of oversupply concerns.

Oil prices have been supported by developments off Venezuela while ⁠Russia-Ukraine tensions simmer in the background in an otherwise very bearish market, said June ‌Goh, analyst at Sparta Commodities.

The US Coast ‍Guard is pursuing an oil ‍tanker in international waters near Venezuela in what would be the ‍second such operation over the weekend and the third in less than two weeks if successful, officials told Reuters on Sunday.

A rebound in oil prices has been sparked by US President Donald Trump's announcement of a "total ​and complete" blockade of sanctioned Venezuelan oil tankers and subsequent developments there, followed by reports of a Ukrainian drone strike ⁠on a Russian shadow fleet vessel in the Mediterranean, said IG analyst Tony Sycamore.

The Brent and WTI benchmarks fell by about 1% last week.

US special envoy Steve Witkoff said on Sunday that talks between US, European and Ukrainian officials in Florida over the past three days in an effort to end Russia's war in Ukraine had focused on aligning positions. Those meetings and separate talks with Russian negotiators had been productive, he said.

However, the top foreign policy aide of Russian President Vladimir Putin said that changes made by the Europeans ‌and Ukraine to US proposals had not improved prospects for peace.


GASTAT: Construction Costs in Saudi Arabia Rose 1% in November

The monthly Construction Cost Index survey results showed price stability in November 2025 compared with October 2025. SPA
The monthly Construction Cost Index survey results showed price stability in November 2025 compared with October 2025. SPA
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GASTAT: Construction Costs in Saudi Arabia Rose 1% in November

The monthly Construction Cost Index survey results showed price stability in November 2025 compared with October 2025. SPA
The monthly Construction Cost Index survey results showed price stability in November 2025 compared with October 2025. SPA

The Construction Cost Index in Saudi Arabia rose 1% in November 2025 compared with the same month last year, driven by equal 1% increases in both residential and non-residential construction costs, according to data released by the Kingdom’s General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT).

The monthly Construction Cost Index survey results showed price stability in November 2025 compared with October 2025.

The Construction Cost Index bulletin is part of GASTAT’s ongoing efforts to develop statistical products for vital sectors and provide a reliable and effective reference with accurate estimates to support decision-making by contractors, real estate developers, and relevant entities.

These efforts contribute to drawing a clear roadmap for residential and non-residential construction projects in the building and construction sector.