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.



Saudi House at Davos: The Kingdom to Set a Global Standard for Defining Industrial Cities

Part of the first session of the Saudi House in Davos 2025 (X platform)
Part of the first session of the Saudi House in Davos 2025 (X platform)
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Saudi House at Davos: The Kingdom to Set a Global Standard for Defining Industrial Cities

Part of the first session of the Saudi House in Davos 2025 (X platform)
Part of the first session of the Saudi House in Davos 2025 (X platform)

Participants in the first session of the Saudi House initiative at the annual World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, emphasized the importance of sustainable urban planning in addressing the challenges of global population growth. They highlighted Saudi Arabia’s ambition to set a global benchmark for defining industrial cities.
The Saudi House pavilion, organized by the Ministry of Economy and Planning, is held from January 20-24. Several government entities are participating, including the Ministry of Transport and Logistics Services, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, and the Ministry of Investment. The initiative will host a series of dialogue sessions addressing key trends in social and economic transformation both locally and globally.
In the opening session titled, “Transforming Industrial Cities into Smart Hubs,” Dr. Basma Al-Buhairan, Executive Director of the Fourth Industrial Revolution Center in Saudi Arabia, stressed the urgent need for sustainable and resilient urban planning to manage rapid global population growth.
She noted that Saudi Arabia is on the verge of redefining the concept of industrial cities, aiming to establish a new global standard, while also highlighting the Kingdom’s futuristic vision for industrial city development.
Similarly, Dhafer Al Amri, General Manager of Mega Projects and Real Estate at Mobily, underscored the pivotal role of integrating technology into infrastructure to drive industrial development. Venugopal Pai, Vice President of Global Accounts and Global 2000 at Nutanix, lauded Saudi Arabia’s rapid transformation, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between the government, private sector, and organizations in turning the Kingdom’s vision into reality.
On the sidelines of the forum’s first day, Saudi Minister of Economy and Planning, Faisal Al-Ibrahim, met with Kisun Chung, Vice Chairman and CEO of HD Hyundai. The discussion focused on industrial innovation, marine sustainability, and opportunities under Saudi Vision 2030.
Saudi Arabia’s participation at Davos is marked by a high-level delegation led by Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Minister of Foreign Affairs, alongside several other ministers and officials. The delegation’s aim is to collaborate with the international community under the theme “Working Toward a Prosperous Future for the World.” Key goals include discussing innovative solutions to global challenges, sharing best practices to stimulate economic growth, and showcasing Saudi Arabia’s success stories across various fields.
Additionally, the delegation plans to emphasize the Kingdom’s role in fostering international dialogue through effective diplomacy aimed at building common ground. The team will also highlight Saudi Arabia’s practical, realistic, and equitable approach to achieving ambitious climate goals, as well as its contributions to advancing clean energy transitions that support sustainable development.
During its participation, Saudi Arabia will focus on promoting international dialogue, accelerating sustainable development transitions, driving transformative innovation, empowering human potential, and showcasing its leadership in achieving global prosperity.