Federation of Saudi Chambers Launches Employee Leasing Initiative with 50 Financing Entities

Initiatives to improve the market of HR companies and expand their business. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Initiatives to improve the market of HR companies and expand their business. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Federation of Saudi Chambers Launches Employee Leasing Initiative with 50 Financing Entities

Initiatives to improve the market of HR companies and expand their business. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Initiatives to improve the market of HR companies and expand their business. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Federation of Saudi Chambers (FSC) launched an initiative to encourage banks and various financial institutions to provide finance products and installment services for employee leasing in the Saudi market. This comes in light of the high demand for manpower and the increase in the volume of investments and projects.

The initiative was revealed during an extensive meeting held by the National Committee for Human Resources Companies at the headquarters of the Federation of Saudi Chambers, in the presence of the Saudi Central Bank and more than 50 representatives of banks and financing entities operating in the Kingdom.

Human resources companies presented studies indicating the clients’ need for employee leasing finance and installment services.

They pointed to their reliance on stable and sustainable products and industry that constitute an investment opportunity for all in light of the volume of the labor market in the Kingdom.

According to a statement by the FSC, the discussed studies pointed out that human resources companies provide various advanced services and products, including leasing by the hour.

They have also invested millions of riyals in advanced technologies and systems to manage their various processes.

The FSC, represented by the National Committee for Human Resources Companies, underlined its demand for financing entities to provide financing solutions for employee leasing sector by reviewing the components, market size and the available opportunities.

The global HR market is estimated at about $400 billion, while the Kingdom's share of this amount does not exceed 0.4%, with investments estimated at more than SAR6 billion ($1.6 billion), despite being ranked the third globally in terms of attracting foreign labor.

The companies’ share at the Saudi labor market, which includes 10.5 million workers, is about 8% in the private sector and domestic workers.



Saudi Arabia Begins Marketing International Bonds Following 2025 Borrowing Plan Announcement

Riyadh (Reuters)
Riyadh (Reuters)
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Saudi Arabia Begins Marketing International Bonds Following 2025 Borrowing Plan Announcement

Riyadh (Reuters)
Riyadh (Reuters)

Saudi Arabia has entered global debt markets with a planned sale of bonds in three tranches, aiming to use the proceeds to cover budget deficits and repay outstanding debt, according to IFR (International Financing Review).

The indicative pricing for the three-year bonds is set at 120 basis points above US Treasury bonds, while the six- and ten-year bonds are priced at 130 and 140 basis points above US Treasuries, respectively, as reported by Reuters.

The bonds, expected to be of benchmark size (typically at least $500 million), come a day after Saudi Arabia unveiled its 2025 borrowing plan. The Kingdom’s financing needs for the year are estimated at SAR 139 billion ($37 billion), with SAR 101 billion ($26.8 billion) allocated to cover the budget deficit and the remainder to service existing debt.

The National Debt Management Center (NDMC) announced that Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan had approved the 2025 borrowing plan following its endorsement by the NDMC Board. The plan highlights public debt developments for 2024, domestic debt market initiatives, and the 2025 financing roadmap, including the Kingdom’s issuance calendar for local sukuk denominated in Saudi Riyals.

The NDMC emphasized that Saudi Arabia aims to enhance sustainable access to debt markets and broaden its investor base. For 2025, the Kingdom will continue diversifying its domestic and international financing channels to meet funding needs efficiently. Plans include issuing sovereign debt instruments at fair prices under risk management frameworks and pursuing specialized financing opportunities to support economic growth, such as export credit agency-backed funding, infrastructure development financing, and exploring new markets and currencies.

Recently, Saudi Arabia secured a $2.5 billion Sharia-compliant revolving credit facility for three years from three regional and international financial institutions to address budgetary needs.

In 2024, Saudi Arabia issued $17 billion in dollar-denominated bonds, including $12 billion in January and $5 billion in sukuk in May. Rating agencies have recognized the Kingdom’s financial stability. In November, Moody’s upgraded Saudi Arabia’s rating to “AA3,” while Fitch assigned an “A+” rating, both with stable outlooks. S&P Global rated the Kingdom at “A/A-1” with a positive outlook, reflecting its low credit risk and strong capacity to meet financial obligations.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimated Saudi Arabia’s public debt-to-GDP ratio at 26.2% for 2024, describing it as low and sustainable. The IMF projects this ratio to reach 35% by 2029, with foreign borrowing playing a significant role in financing fiscal deficits.