Riyadh Seeks to Achieve Recovery Plan for International Aviation Sector

The Saudi Energy Minister attends the Future of Civil Aviation conference in Riyadh on Monday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi Energy Minister attends the Future of Civil Aviation conference in Riyadh on Monday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Riyadh Seeks to Achieve Recovery Plan for International Aviation Sector

The Saudi Energy Minister attends the Future of Civil Aviation conference in Riyadh on Monday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi Energy Minister attends the Future of Civil Aviation conference in Riyadh on Monday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia has revealed plans to strengthen its capabilities in the aviation sector over the next ten years, with the aim to become a leading center for aviation and air transport in the Middle East and the world.

Under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, the Saudi General Civil Aviation Authority announced an international initiative to unify procedures and policies regarding health requirements, in order to support the sector’s recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.

This came during the launch of the Future of Civil Aviation conference in Riyadh on Monday.

In this regard, Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman underlined the efforts to face energy challenges in the aviation sector.

“We are focusing on two fronts; first, we work with the aerospace industry to develop engines, materials, and innovation; and second, on low-carbon aviation fuels that we believe will be the transitional fuels of the future,” he said.

Speaking during his participation in a dialogue session entitled, “Energy Transformation: How We Can Overcome the Sustainability Challenge”, the minister noted that energy security was the most important pillar, “without which the goals of economic growth and sustainability cannot be achieved, including dealing with climate change.”

He added: “We are not in a position to choose among the sustainability solutions; rather, we should take advantage of all available options, to achieve our goals realistically.”

Prince Abdulaziz stressed that these goals could be reached within the framework of the circular carbon economy, through carbon sequestration from the source, in addition to the use of captured gas in the production of industrial fuels.

According to the Saudi official, the aviation sector emissions do not exceed two percent of the total emissions.

“Whether this percentage is large or small, the world agrees on the importance of finding solutions to reduce emissions of all sectors,” he remarked.

The Saudi Energy Minister noted that the gap between crude oil prices and the prices of jet fuel, diesel and gasoline was about 60 percent in some cases, due to a lack of investment in refining capacity.

“The world needs to consider energy security, sustainability and overall affordability,” he said. “All types of mobility fuels have risen sharply, and the gap between crude oil prices and these products in some cases actually reaches 60 percent.”

On whether geopolitical events in Europe will accelerate or impede the transition to cleaner energy in the medium term, the Saudi minister said: “I think it brought us back to reality about how actual conditions in which we live can undermine aspirations.”

He said that even before the Ukraine crisis, the “dreamland scenario of net zero emissions was faced by many realities, including the cost.”

For his part, Salvatore Sciacchitano, President of the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), said that the number of passengers around the world was likely to constitute, by the end of 2022, 75 percent of the number achieved in 2019, before the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The number of travelers is growing in certain regions faster than others, such as Latin America and Europe, compared to regions that are still suffering from the effects of the pandemic, such as China, he noted.

Meanwhile, the Saudi Civil Aviation Authority said on Monday that it was working to develop a framework aimed at facilitating international travel, in cooperation with the ICAO.

The Saudi initiative will promote a policy of standardizing procedures to ease international travel, whether for passengers or airlines and government agencies, by creating a single digital platform that provides the latest information and developments with clarity and transparency, and identifies entry requirements for all participating countries.

If endorsed by the member states of the ICAO in October, the initiative will enable the unification of procedures and policies regarding health requirements to support the sector’s post-pandemic recovery.



Saudi ROSHN Group Reveals Rebranding

A ROSHN project in Saudi Arabia (ROSHN website)
A ROSHN project in Saudi Arabia (ROSHN website)
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Saudi ROSHN Group Reveals Rebranding

A ROSHN project in Saudi Arabia (ROSHN website)
A ROSHN project in Saudi Arabia (ROSHN website)

ROSHN Group, a pioneering real estate developer backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, has introduced on Sunday a new identity and strategic focus that expands its remit to include asset classes beyond its core residential offering.
This transformation into a multi-asset developer cements ROSHN's status as a trailblazer in the real estate sector and sets the stage for an innovative approach to developing mixed-use projects and multi-asset destinations, the Group said in a statement.
It said the launch of ROSHN Group’s fresh visual identity signifies a milestone in its commitment to broadening its real estate portfolio and establishing integrated destinations that cater to society’s diverse needs.
The new portfolio will encompass ROSHN’s core asset classes of 200 million square meters of residential property, alongside over four million square meters of gross leasable area across retail, commercial, and hospitality sectors.
Its enabling assets will include education, mosques, and healthcare, while opportunity assets span transport and logistics, including warehouses, industrial parks, and knowledge hubs, as well as leisure and entertainment, ranging from entertainment centers to fitness hubs.
These projects will showcase an exceptional diversity of assets, creating investment opportunities, elevating living standards, and driving economic growth, the Group said.
“Our growing portfolio now seamlessly integrates forward-thinking amenities and elevated connectivity, fostering opportunities for commercial partnerships, job creation, investment, and economic growth in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030,” said Chief Marketing and Communication Officer Ghada Al Rumayan of ROSHN Group.
She added, “With our own evolution, this vision becomes even more tangible as we introduce our expanded approach and dedication to improving quality of life through iconic new destinations across the Kingdom.”
Al Rumayan said that ROSHN takes pride in its role as a leading real estate developer in the Kingdom with a vision to transform urban living.