Saudi Economy Heads Towards New Stage to Face Global Changes

King Salman delivers his speech on Wednesday. (SPA)
King Salman delivers his speech on Wednesday. (SPA)
TT

Saudi Economy Heads Towards New Stage to Face Global Changes

King Salman delivers his speech on Wednesday. (SPA)
King Salman delivers his speech on Wednesday. (SPA)

Following Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz’s announcement of the start of the second phase of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, experts told Asharq Al-Awsat that the coming period would witness great development leaps in all sectors.

According to the experts, the Saudi economy has proven its strength during the coronavirus pandemic, which has cast a shadow over all developed countries.

They noted in this regard that the Kingdom continued to provide initiatives to ease the burdens on the national economy and the private sector in particular.

On Wednesday, King Salman inaugurated the works of the second year of the eighth session of the Saudi Shura Council, pointing to the start of the second phase of the Saudi Vision 2030, which seeks to create a solid and diversified economy that faces global changes.

King Salman stressed that the national investment strategy launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Oct. 11 was one of the important tributaries to achieve the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision. He added that investments exceeding 12 trillion riyals (USD 3.2 trillion) would be pumped into the local economy until 2030.

In this regard, Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing Majid Al-Hogail stated that King Salman's speech before the Shura Council reflected his keenness on the well-being and interests of the Kingdom’s citizens and residents.

Chairman of the General Authority of Civil Aviation Abdulaziz Al-Duailej stated that King Salman’s speech underlined the “determination to achieve the interests of the citizens and residents, and to bolster security, stability, prosperity in the Kingdom.”

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, economic expert Abdul Rahman Al-Jubeiry said King Salman's remarks “embodied Saudi Arabia’s pivotal role at the regional and international levels in all political, economic and development fields...”

Head of the Saudi Center for Governance, Nasser Al-Sahli told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques announced the completion of the first phase of Vision 2030 and the launch of the next stage to create a diversified and solid national economy that is abreast with global changes.

The Saudi private sector is witnessing a qualitative leap in terms of regulations and legislation that contribute to the growth of investments and attract foreign capital, Al-Sahli said, adding that this would have a positive impact on the gross domestic product and the achievement of the goals of Vision 2030.



Saudi E-Commerce Hits Record Monthly Sales over SAR30.7 Billion in October

A view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA file)
A view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA file)
TT

Saudi E-Commerce Hits Record Monthly Sales over SAR30.7 Billion in October

A view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA file)
A view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA file)

E-commerce sales in Saudi Arabia via "mada" cards soared to an all-time monthly high in October 2025, surpassing SAR30.7 billion.

The surge in sales represents a 68% year-on-year increase, totaling about SAR12.4 billion more than the SAR18.3 billion recorded in October 2024, according to the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) statistical bulletin on Wednesday.

E-commerce sales for the third quarter (Q3) of 2025 hit SAR88.3 billion, up 15.2% from the previous quarter, representing an increase of about SAR11.6 billion over the SAR76.6 billion recorded in Q2.

On a monthly basis, e-commerce sales in October rose 6%, gaining approximately SAR1.6 billion over September’s total of SAR29.1 billion.

From January to October, "mada" data showed e-commerce sales grew 47.3%, rising by around SAR9.9 billion over the SAR20.9 billion recorded in January.

These figures cover transactions made via "mada" cards on e-commerce websites, apps, and digital wallets, and do not include credit-card payments.


Jeddah's King Abdulaziz Airport Launches First Direct Flight to Moscow

The expansion supports Jeddah Airports Company’s goal of broadening travel options and increasing air traffic revenue, leveraging the Kingdom's strategic location. (SPA)
The expansion supports Jeddah Airports Company’s goal of broadening travel options and increasing air traffic revenue, leveraging the Kingdom's strategic location. (SPA)
TT

Jeddah's King Abdulaziz Airport Launches First Direct Flight to Moscow

The expansion supports Jeddah Airports Company’s goal of broadening travel options and increasing air traffic revenue, leveraging the Kingdom's strategic location. (SPA)
The expansion supports Jeddah Airports Company’s goal of broadening travel options and increasing air traffic revenue, leveraging the Kingdom's strategic location. (SPA)

Jeddah's King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) celebrated the launch of its first direct flynas flight to Moscow, operating three weekly flights between Jeddah and Vnukovo International Airport.

This initiative, in partnership with the Saudi Tourism Authority and the Air Connectivity Program, boosts air links between Saudi Arabia and Russia.

It marks KAIA's third direct Russian destination, following Makhachkala and Mineralnye Vody, which were inaugurated earlier this month by Azimuth Airlines.

The expansion supports Jeddah Airports Company’s goal of broadening travel options and increasing air traffic revenue, leveraging the Kingdom's strategic location.


China Widens Foreign Investment Incentive List to Stem Falling Inflows

People visit a shopping center in Beijing on December 20, 2025. (AFP)
People visit a shopping center in Beijing on December 20, 2025. (AFP)
TT

China Widens Foreign Investment Incentive List to Stem Falling Inflows

People visit a shopping center in Beijing on December 20, 2025. (AFP)
People visit a shopping center in Beijing on December 20, 2025. (AFP)

China on Wednesday listed more sectors eligible for foreign investment incentives, from tax breaks to preferential ​land use, in its latest effort to stem a prolonged decline in overseas capital inflows.

Under the 2025 edition of the catalogue of industries for encouraging foreign investment, China added more than 200 and revised about 300, with a ‌focus on ‌advanced manufacturing, modern services and ‌green ⁠and ​high-tech ‌sectors, the list jointly issued by the National Development and Reform Commission and the commerce ministry showed.

The new catalogue, which takes effect on February 1, 2026, replaces the 2022 version and continues a policy framework ⁠that offers foreign-invested enterprises tariff exemptions on imported equipment, preferential ‌land pricing, reduced corporate income ‍tax rates in ‍designated regions and tax credits for reinvestment ‍of profits.

The catalogue also extends incentives to central and western regions, as well as the northeast and Hainan, as Beijing seeks to attract ​more foreign investment into less developed areas.

China has in recent months ⁠taken a raft of measures to boost foreign investment, including pilot programs in Beijing, Shanghai and other regions to expand market access in services such as telecoms, healthcare and education, amid trade tensions with the United States.

Foreign direct investment in China totaled 693.2 billion yuan ($98.84 billion) from January to November this year, down 7.5% from the ‌same period last year, data from the commerce ministry showed.