UAE’s Burjeel Holdings to Invest $1 Billion in Saudi Arabia Health Sector

 Part of the signing event of the MoU between the UAE-based Burjeel Holding and the Saudi Ministry of Investment. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Part of the signing event of the MoU between the UAE-based Burjeel Holding and the Saudi Ministry of Investment. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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UAE’s Burjeel Holdings to Invest $1 Billion in Saudi Arabia Health Sector

 Part of the signing event of the MoU between the UAE-based Burjeel Holding and the Saudi Ministry of Investment. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Part of the signing event of the MoU between the UAE-based Burjeel Holding and the Saudi Ministry of Investment. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The UAE-based healthcare provider Burjeel Holdings signed on Wednesday a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Saudi Ministry of Investment that includes working with local institutions.

The company, which owns and operates hospitals and other healthcare facilities, will invest up to SAR3.75 billion ($1 billion) in the Kingdom by 2030.

The operator of 39 hospitals and medical centers will seek investment opportunities through joint ventures and public, private, partnership (PPP) models to establish and expand various healthcare offerings across Saudi Arabia, it said in a statement.

These offerings comprise an industry-leading healthcare network that will include specialty medical centers, day surgery capability, digital health ventures, comprehensive super specialty hospitals and clinical research programs.

Its research commitments also include exploring innovation in areas of cancer prevention, screening and therapy.

In addition to healthcare services delivery, Burjeel will also work through the Investment Ministry in areas of humanitarian aid and international healthcare volunteering.

The Group is currently holding talks with various private sector providers and leading public sector hospitals in the Kingdom to deliver these services and expects to begin formalizing collaboration agreements over the coming months.

Founded in 2007, Burjeel Holdings is the leading private healthcare services provider in the UAE, with a growing presence in the Gulf Cooperation Council States.

The group continues to set new benchmarks for healthcare delivery and patient outcomes, with state-of-the-art facilities and world-class service standards.

Founder and CEO Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil said: “Saudi Arabia is a key focus market for Burjeel Holdings and we are proud to commit to this MoU with the Ministry of Investment – a significant step in our entry to the Kingdom.”

“We are excited about the many opportunities to support the Kingdom’s healthcare ambitions and to bring our expertise to a sector which is integral to the delivery of Vision 2030,” he added.

The company recorded more than AED3.3 billion ($898 million) in revenue for 2021, representing an 18% compound annual growth rate over the three-year period 2019-2021.



Oil Prices Held Down by Trump Tariff Uncertainty

FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown)
FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown)
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Oil Prices Held Down by Trump Tariff Uncertainty

FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown)
FILE - Pump jacks extract oil from beneath the ground in North Dakota, May 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthew Brown)

Oil prices were little changed on Thursday, maintaining almost all of the previous session's losses on uncertainty over how US President Donald Trump's proposed tariffs and energy policies would affect global economic growth and energy demand.

Brent crude futures were up 18 cents at $79.18 a barrel by 1315 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) rose 14 cents to $75.58.

"Oil markets have given back some recent gains due to mixed drivers," said Priyanka Sachdeva, senior market analyst at brokerage Phillip Nova.

"Key factors include expectations of increased US production under President Trump's pro-drilling policies and easing geopolitical stress in Gaza, lifting fears of further escalation in supply disruption from key producing regions."

The broader economic implications of US tariffs could further dampen global oil demand growth, she added, Reuters reported.

Trump has said he would add new tariffs to his sanctions threat against Russia if the country does not make a deal to end its war in Ukraine.

He also vowed to hit the European Union with tariffs and impose 25% tariffs against Canada and Mexico. On China, Trump said his administration was discussing a 10% punitive duty because fentanyl is being sent from there to the United States.

On Monday he declared a national energy emergency intended to provide him with the authority to reduce environmental restrictions on energy infrastructure and projects and ease permitting for new transmission and pipeline infrastructure.

There will be "more potential downward choppy movement in the oil market in the near term due to the Trump administration's lack of clarity on trade tariffs policy and impending higher oil supplies from the US", OANDA senior market analyst Kelvin Wong said in an email.

On the US oil inventory front, crude stocks rose by 958,000 barrels in the week ended Jan. 17, according to sources citing American Petroleum Institute figures on Wednesday.

Gasoline inventories rose by 3.23 million barrels and distillate stocks climbed by 1.88 million barrels, they said.