Saudi Arabia Prepares to Launch Individual Savings Sukuk

The Riyadh Economic Forum discusses sectoral coherence in the issuance of tax, fees, and zakat. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Riyadh Economic Forum discusses sectoral coherence in the issuance of tax, fees, and zakat. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Prepares to Launch Individual Savings Sukuk

The Riyadh Economic Forum discusses sectoral coherence in the issuance of tax, fees, and zakat. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Riyadh Economic Forum discusses sectoral coherence in the issuance of tax, fees, and zakat. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Saudi Ministry of Finance and the National Debt Management Center (NDMC) are seeking to develop and launch individual savings Sukuk to motivate individuals to design better plans for the future and seek strategic partnerships with the private sector.

The two entities signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with SNB Capital to strengthen their collaboration.

The Ministry and NDMC aim to boost the concept of saving across the Kingdom by driving the expansion of savings products for individuals as part of the ongoing work under the Financial Sector Development Program to Promote and Enable Financial Planning.

The memorandum was signed by the Chairman of the Steering Committee Abdulaziz al-Furaih from the Ministry of Finance, the CEO of NDMC Hani al-Medaini, and the Executive Chairman and Board Member of SNB Capital Rashid Sharif.

Furaih explained that the memorandum reflects the Ministry and the Center's drive to develop the first government-supported savings product towards achieving Vision 2030 targets through pursuing the financial sector development program's goals.

It aims to increase the number of individuals who regularly make savings, increase the supply of saving products, and raise awareness of the importance of saving and its benefits in planning future objectives.

Medaini explained that the memorandum represents an invitation to the private sector to cooperate and participate in developing and launching several savings tools for specific purposes and benefiting different categories of individuals, whether through banks, fund managers, or fintech companies.

For his part, Sharif asserted that the MoU enables SNB Capital, along with the Ministry and the Center, to offer government-supported savings products and solutions that meet the needs of citizens and residents.

"This partnership reflects our keenness to share our experiences and collaborate to develop and launch new saving products to support further economic diversification, saving, financing, and investing," he said.

Meanwhile, the Riyadh Economic Forum discussed the study of "the importance of unifying and coherent sectors in legislation to issue taxes, fees, and zakat and standardizing the issuance reference."

The discussion is part of the executive sessions of the forum that will be held next November under the auspices of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz.

The Chairman of the Council, Khaled al-Rajhi, stressed the study's importance by defining the types of fees and taxes and their values, double taxation, and the possibility of unifying the reference.

The head of the advisory team implementing the study, Mohammad al-Abbas, pointed out that it aims to identify the concepts of fees and taxes, their issuance reference, and collection channels.



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.


Gold Breaks $4,400 for 1st Time on Fed Rate-cut Bets, Silver Hits New High

FILE PHOTO: UK gold bullion bars are stacked at Baird & Co in Hatton Garden in London, Britain, October 8, 2025. REUTERS/Hiba Kola/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: UK gold bullion bars are stacked at Baird & Co in Hatton Garden in London, Britain, October 8, 2025. REUTERS/Hiba Kola/File Photo
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Gold Breaks $4,400 for 1st Time on Fed Rate-cut Bets, Silver Hits New High

FILE PHOTO: UK gold bullion bars are stacked at Baird & Co in Hatton Garden in London, Britain, October 8, 2025. REUTERS/Hiba Kola/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: UK gold bullion bars are stacked at Baird & Co in Hatton Garden in London, Britain, October 8, 2025. REUTERS/Hiba Kola/File Photo

Gold jumped past the $4,400-per-ounce level for the first time on Monday, riding on growing expectations of further US rate cuts and strong safe-haven demand, with silver also joining the rally to hit an all-time high.

Spot gold was up 1.7% at $4,411.01 per ounce, as of 0822 GMT, having climbed down from the record high of $4,420.01 hit earlier in the day. Spot silver climbed 2.5% to hit $69.44, Reuters reported.

US gold futures for February delivery rose 1.3% to $4,444.00 per ounce.

Bullion has gained 67% ⁠so far this year, shattering multiple records and breaching the $3,000 and $4,000 per-ounce milestones for the first time. It is poised for its biggest annual gain since 1979.

Silver has surged 138% year-to-date, vastly outperforming gold, underpinned by robust investment inflows and persistent supply constraints.

"With December usually producing positive returns for gold and silver, seasonality is on their side," said StoneX ⁠senior analyst Matt Simpson.

"Given that gold has already risen 4% this month and we're nearing the end of the year, bulls may want to tread with caution as volumes are to deplete and odds of profit-taking are also likely on the rise."

Spot gold may extend gains to $4,427 per ounce, as it has broken a key resistance at $4,375, Reuters technical analyst Wang Tao said.

Traditionally viewed as a safe-haven asset, gold has been supported by heightened geopolitical and trade tensions, steady central bank buying and expectations of lower interest rates next year.

A ⁠softer dollar has provided an additional tailwind by making the metal cheaper for overseas buyers.

Markets are currently pricing in two US rate cuts for next year despite the Federal Reserve signaling caution. Non-yielding assets such as gold tend to benefit in lower interest rate environments.

Simpson said two Fed rate cuts were penciled in for 2026, with a faster US jobs slowdown and a shift to a more dovish Fed likely to add further upside to gold.

Elsewhere, platinum jumped 4.3% to $2,058.35, hitting its highest in more than 17 years, while palladium climbed 4.1% to $1,784.00, a near three-year high.


UK Growth Revised Down in Second Quarter 

Shoppers fill the pavement on Regent Street in central London on December 21, 2025. (AFP)
Shoppers fill the pavement on Regent Street in central London on December 21, 2025. (AFP)
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UK Growth Revised Down in Second Quarter 

Shoppers fill the pavement on Regent Street in central London on December 21, 2025. (AFP)
Shoppers fill the pavement on Regent Street in central London on December 21, 2025. (AFP)

Britain's economy expanded less than initially estimated in the second quarter, according to revised official data released Monday, dealing a fresh setback to the Labour government.

Gross domestic product was revised down to 0.2 percent in the April-June period from a previous estimate of 0.3 percent, the Office for National Statistics said in a statement.

Growth in the third quarter stood at an unrevised 0.1 percent, the ONS said, marking a sustained slowdown from the 0.7 percent expansion recorded in the first three months of the year.

"The economy is still pretty weak and is heading into 2026 with very little momentum," noted Alex Kerr, UK economist at Capital Economics.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has struggled to revive Britain's sluggish economy since his Labour party came to power in July 2024.

Finance minister Rachel Reeves raised taxes on businesses in her inaugural budget last year -- a decision widely blamed for causing weak UK economic growth and rising unemployment.

She returned in her November budget with fresh tax hikes to bring down government debt, this time hitting workers.

The Bank of England last week cut its key interest rate to 3.75 percent after UK inflation eased faster than expected and as the economy weakens.