UAE's Salik Aims to Raise $817 Mn in Dubai IPO

Salik said its business model requires low capital expenditures (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Salik said its business model requires low capital expenditures (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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UAE's Salik Aims to Raise $817 Mn in Dubai IPO

Salik said its business model requires low capital expenditures (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Salik said its business model requires low capital expenditures (Asharq Al-Awsat)

vDubai's exclusive tollgate operator, Salik Company, announced the offer price and subscription period for its Initial Public Offering (IPO) on the Dubai Financial Market (DFM), expecting to raise $817 million.

The price offering has been set at $0.5 per share, implying a market capitalization at a listing of $4 billion.

The company plans to offer a total of 1,500,000,000 ordinary shares, representing 20 percent ​​of Salik's total issued share capital, with the Selling Shareholder reserving the right to increase the size of the Offering at any time before the end of the subscription period at its sole discretion, subject to applicable laws and approval of the Securities & Commodities Authority (the SCA).

All shares to be offered shall represent the sale of existing shares held by the Government of Dubai.

Emirates' WAM news agency explained that the Offering is available to individuals and other investors in the UAE as defined in the prospectus in Arabic and referred to as "First Tranche" subscribers.

Certain eligible employees (the Eligible Employees) as defined in the UAE prospectus and referred to as "Third Tranche" subscribers; an offering to professional investors and other investors in several, including in the UAE, outside the United States in reliance on Regulation S and referred to as "Second Tranche" subscribers.

As part of the Qualified Investor Offering, and following both the Companies Law and the Dubai Law, five percent of the Offering will be reserved for the offer to the Emirates Investment Authority (EIA), and five percent of the Offering will be reserved for providing to the Pensions and Social Security Fund of Local Military Personnel.

The IPO subscription period runs until Sept. 20 for the UAE Retail Offering and Sept. 21 for the Qualified Investor Offering.

The Offering and Admission completion is expected to take place on Sept. 29, subject to market conditions and obtaining relevant regulatory approvals in the UAE, including support of Admission to listing and trading on the DFM.

Salik CEO, Ibrahim al-Haddad, said the company plays a vital role in Dubai's urban development plans.

Haddad explained that Salik's growth is coupled with the city's growth in general, and this Offering provides an essential opportunity for investors to be part of that journey.

"We are delighted by the strong interest we have received since announcing our intention to float."

Haddad indicated that investing in the company represents a unique opportunity for institutions and individuals alike, as a technologically advanced core infrastructure asset positioned to benefit from Dubai's expansion plans and given its unique capex-light business model.



Saudi Arabia Raises its Non-Oil Economic Growth Forecast to 6.2% in 2026

 A view of a logo during the 54th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, in Davos, Switzerland, January 19, 2024. (Reuters)
A view of a logo during the 54th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, in Davos, Switzerland, January 19, 2024. (Reuters)
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Saudi Arabia Raises its Non-Oil Economic Growth Forecast to 6.2% in 2026

 A view of a logo during the 54th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, in Davos, Switzerland, January 19, 2024. (Reuters)
A view of a logo during the 54th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, in Davos, Switzerland, January 19, 2024. (Reuters)

Saudi Arabia has raised its forecast for non-oil economic growth in 2026 to 6.2%, marking a jump from previous estimates of 5%.

Saudi Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Alibrahim revealed that the Kingdom is targeting 4.8% non-oil economic growth in 2024, increasing to 6.2% by 2026, while emphasizing the long-term importance of investing in human capital.

Speaking during a panel discussion titled “The Future of Growth” at the World Economic Forum 2025 in Davos, Alibrahim stated that economic transformation and sustainable growth require bold, inclusive leadership and a long-term vision. He cited Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 as a model for reducing dependency on oil and diversifying investment portfolios.

Global economic growth rates currently stand at 3.2–3.3%, significantly below the historical average of 4%, he noted.

He stressed the importance of building institutional capacities and investing in human capital as foundational elements for sustainable economic growth, emphasizing that these factors are essential for any successful economic strategy.

On US economic policies with Donald Trump returning for a second term as president, the minister stated they would not have an immediate impact on the global economy, as they involve long-term restructuring. He added that Saudi Arabia maintains strong relations with the United States.

Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan reiterated the need to improve global methodologies for measuring gross national income (GNI) to better reflect the realities of emerging economies. He emphasized that enhancing measurement frameworks would improve the efficiency of international institutions, support sustainable development in emerging markets, and contribute to global economic equity.

Meanwhile, Saudi Tourism Minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb outlined plans to transform Riyadh into a global business hub by hosting around 25 major international conferences, including the Future Investment Initiative and the LEAP Technology Conference.

Al-Khateeb also announced the launch of the largest travel and tourism event of its kind, set to take place in November. He invited global stakeholders to participate, describing the forum as a significant attraction for the international tourism sector.

Speaking during a panel discussion titled “The Role of Tourism and Travel in Building Trust” at Davos, Al-Khateeb highlighted the rapid growth of Saudi Arabia’s travel and tourism sector, which outpaced global growth rates last year with an increase of over 70%, the highest among G20 nations.

This growth, he explained, is linked to Saudi Arabia’s efforts to open its borders to encourage tourism, a key part of Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the Kingdom’s economy.

The minister noted that Saudi Arabia offers a wide range of attractions, from the scenic mountains of the south to the Red Sea coastline in the west. He emphasized that the Kingdom is investing in human capital to strengthen the sector, pointing to the ambition of young Saudis eager to join the tourism industry.