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Saudi Arabia, Morocco Sign MoU to Boost Sustainability in Tourism Industry

Saudi Arabia signs an agreement for sustainable development in the tourism industry with Morocco. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia signs an agreement for sustainable development in the tourism industry with Morocco. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
    Riyadh - Marrakesh - Asharq Al-Awsat
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Saudi Arabia, Morocco Sign MoU to Boost Sustainability in Tourism Industry

Saudi Arabia signs an agreement for sustainable development in the tourism industry with Morocco. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi Arabia signs an agreement for sustainable development in the tourism industry with Morocco. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia and Morocco signed on Friday a memorandum of understanding to promote cooperation in tourism and coordinate efforts to achieve sustainable development of the tourism industry.

The ceremony was attended by Saudi Tourism Minister Ahmed bin Aqil Al-Khatib, and his Moroccan counterpart, Fatima Zahra Ammor, on the sidelines of the 117th session of the Executive Council meeting of the UN’s World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

In a statement, Al-Khatib said: “Saudi Arabia and Morocco enjoy a joint commitment to protect rich heritage sites, marine, mountainous and desert natural areas, in addition to their keenness on giving priority to youth in their development plans.”

He emphasized that the Kingdom’s tourism goals paid great attention to the importance of sustainability.

For her part, the Moroccan minister of Tourism noted that the new MoU reflected the “strong ties between the two countries and the common vision towards consolidating partnership and improving prospects for cooperation in the tourism sector...”

“It will lead to more joint initiatives and the exchange of experiences and best practices, allowing the two countries to develop their capabilities in the tourism field,” she added.

The Executive Council of the World Tourism Organization (WTO) opened on Wednesday in Marrakesh a three-day meeting, with the participation of over 250 representatives of UNWTO member countries, including tourism ministers, public and private investors, travel agents, and hotel and travel industry professionals.

The agenda focuses on the current turn in international tourism, the financial situation of the organization, a report on human resources, a proposal to create a study group to rethink future tourism, and a report on the progress of the legal and practical framework for the creation of regional and thematic offices of the UNWTO.

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Revenue Growth, Improved Operational Efficiency Boost Profitability of Saudi Telecom Companies

A man monitors the movement of stocks on the Saudi Tadawul index. (AFP)
A man monitors the movement of stocks on the Saudi Tadawul index. (AFP)
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Revenue Growth, Improved Operational Efficiency Boost Profitability of Saudi Telecom Companies

A man monitors the movement of stocks on the Saudi Tadawul index. (AFP)
A man monitors the movement of stocks on the Saudi Tadawul index. (AFP)

Telecommunications companies listed on the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) achieved a 12.46 percent growth in their net profits, which reached SAR 4.07 billion ($1.09 billion) during the second quarter of 2024, compared to SAR 3.62 billion ($965 million) during the same period last year.

They also recorded a 4.76 percent growth in revenues during the same quarter, after achieving sales worth more than SAR 26.18 billion ($7 billion), compared to SAR 24.99 billion ($6.66 billion) in the same quarter of 2023.

The growth in the revenues and net profitability is the result of several factors, including the increase in sales volume and revenues, especially in the business sector and fifth generation services, as well as the decrease in operating expenses and the focus on improving operational efficiency, controlling costs, and moving towards investment in infrastructure.

The sector comprises four companies, three of which conclude their fiscal year in December: Saudi Telecom Company (STC), Mobily, and Zain Saudi Arabia. The fiscal year of Etihad Atheeb Telecommunications Company (GO) ends on March 31.

According to its financial results announced on Tadawul, Etihad Etisalat Company (Mobily) achieved a 33 percent growth rate of profits, bringing its profits to SAR 661 million by the end of the second quarter of 2024, compared to SAR 497 million during the same period in 2023. The company also achieved a 4.59 percent growth in revenues to reach SAR 4.47 billion, compared to SAR 4.27 billion in the same quarter of last year.

The Saudi Telecom Company achieved the highest net profits among the sector’s companies, at about SAR 3.304 billion in the second quarter of 2024, compared to SAR 3.008 billion in the same quarter of 2023. The company registered a growth of 4.52 percent in revenues.

On the other hand, the revenues of the Saudi Mobile Telecommunications Company (Zain Saudi Arabia) increased by about 6.69 percent, as it recorded SAR 2.55 billion during the second quarter of 2024, compared to SAR 2.39 billion in the same period last year.

Commenting on the quarterly results of the sector’s companies, and the varying net profits, the head of asset management at Rassanah Capital, Thamer Al-Saeed, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Saudi Telecom Company remains the sector leader in terms of customer base expansion.

He also noted the continued efforts of Mobily and Zain to offer many diverse products and other services.

Financial advisor at the Arab Trader Mohammed Al-Maymouni said the financial results of telecom sector companies have maintained a steady growth, up to 12 percent, adding that Mobily witnessed strong progress compared to the rest of the companies, despite the great competition which affected its revenues.

He added that Zain was moving at a good pace and its revenues have improved during the second quarter of 2024. However, its profits were affected by an increase in the financing cost by SAR 26.5 million riyals and a rise in interest, while net income declined significantly compared to the previous year, during which the company made exceptional returns.