Saudi Arabia Aspires for Real Estate Role in Attracting Foreign Investments

First edition of the Saudi Real Estate Future Forum (Asharq Al-Awsat)
First edition of the Saudi Real Estate Future Forum (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Aspires for Real Estate Role in Attracting Foreign Investments

First edition of the Saudi Real Estate Future Forum (Asharq Al-Awsat)
First edition of the Saudi Real Estate Future Forum (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Saudi Real Estate Future Forum keeps pace with the government's tendency to attract foreign companies to invest in the Kingdom's real estate sector, asserted Minister of Municipal, Rural Affairs, and Housing Majid al-Hogail on Monday.

Hogail described the forum as an "opportunity to exchange regional and international experiences and views to benefit from them, as it represents an intellectual platform at the local and international levels."

The second edition of the Real Estate Future Forum is set to be launched on Monday in Riyadh, with over 100 speakers and decision-makers from more than 30 countries representing local and international public and private sectors.

The forum is set to discuss the real estate sector's present and future, according to a practical and scientific concept and method based on dialogue and discussion and exchanging ideas and opinions that boost the industry.

The minister indicated that the success of the work and outputs of the forum in its first edition posed a significant challenge to continue this boom in the future.

The forum represents an excellent opportunity to present the Kingdom's experience and government efforts in developing and sustaining the real estate sector, especially the residential sector, said Hogail.

He also noted that it reflected the ministry's achievements in developing the urban environment and the smart and modern building technologies.

The minister named the private sector a "strategic partner" for the public sector in real estate.

He explained that the partnership is based on creating practical solutions to inject housing products that meet the needs of citizens and contribute to increasing the rate of Saudi families' home ownership to 70 percent in 2030, based on the objectives of Vision 2030.

The forum will address the importance of alternative means of settling real estate disputes instead of resorting to time-consuming means through the judiciary.

Participants in the forum sessions and workshops will discuss real estate disputes, arbitration, and the role of reconciliation mechanisms and centers in providing a fair and attractive environment in the Kingdom characterized by confidentiality, impartiality, speed, and high professionalism.

Saudi Arabia plays a significant role in spreading the culture of alternative means to settle real estate disputes following international norms and standards.

The settlement centers, namely the Reconciliation Center of the Justice Ministry and the Saudi Real Estate Arbitration Center, are legally licensed and characterized by a speedy and impartial settlement of real estate disputes, under complete confidentiality.



Oil Up, Heads for 4th Weekly gain as US Sanctions Hit Supply

FILE PHOTO: An oil pump jack is seen at sunset near Midland, Texas, US, May 3, 2017. REUTERS/Ernest Scheyder/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: An oil pump jack is seen at sunset near Midland, Texas, US, May 3, 2017. REUTERS/Ernest Scheyder/File Photo
TT

Oil Up, Heads for 4th Weekly gain as US Sanctions Hit Supply

FILE PHOTO: An oil pump jack is seen at sunset near Midland, Texas, US, May 3, 2017. REUTERS/Ernest Scheyder/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: An oil pump jack is seen at sunset near Midland, Texas, US, May 3, 2017. REUTERS/Ernest Scheyder/File Photo

Oil prices rose on Friday and headed towards a fourth consecutive weekly gain as the latest US sanctions on Russian energy trade hit supply and pushed up spot trade prices and shipping rates.
Brent crude futures rose 44 cents, or 0.5%, to $81.73 per barrel by 0443 GMT, US West Texas Intermediate crude futures were up 62 cents, or 0.8%, to $79.3 a barrel.
Brent and WTI have gained 2.5% and 3.6% so far this week.
"Supply concerns from US sanctions on Russian oil producers and tankers, combined with expectations of a demand recovery driven by potential US interest rate cuts, are bolstering the crude market," said Toshitaka Tazawa, an analyst at Fujitomi Securities.
"The anticipated increase in kerosene demand due to cold weather in the US is another supportive factor," he added.
The Biden administration last Friday announced widening sanctions targeting Russian oil producers and tankers, followed by more measures against Russia's military-industrial base and sanctions-evasion efforts.
Moscow's top customers China and India are now scouring the globe for replacement barrels, driving a surge in shipping rates.
Investors are also anxiously waiting to see any possible more supply disruptions as Donald Trump takes office next Monday.
"Mounting supply risks continue to provide broad support to oil prices," ING analysts wrote in a research note, adding the incoming Donald Trump administration is expected to take a tough stance on Iran and Venezuela, the two main suppliers of crude oil.
Better demand expectations also lent some support to the oil market with renewed hopes of interest rate cuts by the US Federal Reserve after data showed easing inflation in the world's biggest economy.
Inflation is likely to continue to ease and possibly allow the US central bank to cut interest rates sooner and faster than expected, Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said on Thursday.
Meanwhile, China's economic data on Friday showed higher-than-expected economic growth for the fourth quarter and for the full year 2024, as a flurry of stimulus measures came into effect.
However, China's oil refinery throughput in 2024 fell for the first time in more than two decades barring the pandemic-hit year of 2022, government data showed on Friday, as plants pruned output in response to stagnant fuel demand and depressed margins.
Also weighing on the market was that Yemen's maritime security officials said the Houthi militia is expected to announce a halt in its attacks on ships in the Red Sea, after a ceasefire deal in the war in Gaza between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas.
The attacks have disrupted global shipping, forcing firms to make longer and more expensive journeys around southern Africa for more than a year.