Brokerage Law Prompts Competitiveness in Saudi Real Estate Sector

 Real Estate Brokerage Law benefits the establishments, real estate brokerage, brokers, real estate auction owners, and property and facilities managers. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Real Estate Brokerage Law benefits the establishments, real estate brokerage, brokers, real estate auction owners, and property and facilities managers. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Brokerage Law Prompts Competitiveness in Saudi Real Estate Sector

 Real Estate Brokerage Law benefits the establishments, real estate brokerage, brokers, real estate auction owners, and property and facilities managers. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Real Estate Brokerage Law benefits the establishments, real estate brokerage, brokers, real estate auction owners, and property and facilities managers. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

CEO of Saudi Arabia's Real Estate General Authority (REGA) Abdallah al-Hammad said the adoption of the brokerage law will help create an attractive competitive environment in the sector according to governance that raises the quality of services, overcomes obstacles and preserves the rights of brokers.

He stressed that the sector will help achieve sustainable development, ensure good quality in its dealings and services, and support real estate establishments.

In late June, the Saudi cabinet approved the Real Estate Brokerage Law to regulate the services and reduce disputes.

The law helps govern transactions and ensures the brokerage contracts are reliable.

It covers all real estate activities and services and is exercised exclusively by licensed and qualified parties.

The regulation benefits the establishments, real estate brokerage, brokers, real estate auction owners, and property and facilities managers.

Hammad stressed that the law is a part of the legislation developed to maintain real estate rights.

It promotes the quality of services and reduces disputes, he remarked, adding that under the law, mediation is required by licensees.

The new law helps achieve Vision 2030, which aims to increase the Kingdom's global real estate indicators classification.

Hammad made the remarks during an event organized by the Real Estate Commission of the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Thursday.

The event was attended by businessmen and women who discussed the newly approved law.

Hammad underlined the role played by the Kingdom’s chambers to achieve the law’s objectives, namely supporting real estate establishments in various regions, raising the efficiency of human capital and the awareness of the target audience in the real estate sector, and striving to enable the sector to provide quality real estate services in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

All these goals aim to achieve the growth, sustainability and development of the real estate sector.



Revenue Growth, Improved Operational Efficiency Boost Profitability of Saudi Telecom Companies

A man monitors the movement of stocks on the Saudi Tadawul index. (AFP)
A man monitors the movement of stocks on the Saudi Tadawul index. (AFP)
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Revenue Growth, Improved Operational Efficiency Boost Profitability of Saudi Telecom Companies

A man monitors the movement of stocks on the Saudi Tadawul index. (AFP)
A man monitors the movement of stocks on the Saudi Tadawul index. (AFP)

Telecommunications companies listed on the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) achieved a 12.46 percent growth in their net profits, which reached SAR 4.07 billion ($1.09 billion) during the second quarter of 2024, compared to SAR 3.62 billion ($965 million) during the same period last year.

They also recorded a 4.76 percent growth in revenues during the same quarter, after achieving sales worth more than SAR 26.18 billion ($7 billion), compared to SAR 24.99 billion ($6.66 billion) in the same quarter of 2023.

The growth in the revenues and net profitability is the result of several factors, including the increase in sales volume and revenues, especially in the business sector and fifth generation services, as well as the decrease in operating expenses and the focus on improving operational efficiency, controlling costs, and moving towards investment in infrastructure.

The sector comprises four companies, three of which conclude their fiscal year in December: Saudi Telecom Company (STC), Mobily, and Zain Saudi Arabia. The fiscal year of Etihad Atheeb Telecommunications Company (GO) ends on March 31.

According to its financial results announced on Tadawul, Etihad Etisalat Company (Mobily) achieved a 33 percent growth rate of profits, bringing its profits to SAR 661 million by the end of the second quarter of 2024, compared to SAR 497 million during the same period in 2023. The company also achieved a 4.59 percent growth in revenues to reach SAR 4.47 billion, compared to SAR 4.27 billion in the same quarter of last year.

The Saudi Telecom Company achieved the highest net profits among the sector’s companies, at about SAR 3.304 billion in the second quarter of 2024, compared to SAR 3.008 billion in the same quarter of 2023. The company registered a growth of 4.52 percent in revenues.

On the other hand, the revenues of the Saudi Mobile Telecommunications Company (Zain Saudi Arabia) increased by about 6.69 percent, as it recorded SAR 2.55 billion during the second quarter of 2024, compared to SAR 2.39 billion in the same period last year.

Commenting on the quarterly results of the sector’s companies, and the varying net profits, the head of asset management at Rassanah Capital, Thamer Al-Saeed, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Saudi Telecom Company remains the sector leader in terms of customer base expansion.

He also noted the continued efforts of Mobily and Zain to offer many diverse products and other services.

Financial advisor at the Arab Trader Mohammed Al-Maymouni said the financial results of telecom sector companies have maintained a steady growth, up to 12 percent, adding that Mobily witnessed strong progress compared to the rest of the companies, despite the great competition which affected its revenues.

He added that Zain was moving at a good pace and its revenues have improved during the second quarter of 2024. However, its profits were affected by an increase in the financing cost by SAR 26.5 million riyals and a rise in interest, while net income declined significantly compared to the previous year, during which the company made exceptional returns.