Saudi Arabia Seeks to Turn Financial Market into Global Investment Platform

The Saudi Capital Market Forum was held in Riyadh on Tuesday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi Capital Market Forum was held in Riyadh on Tuesday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Seeks to Turn Financial Market into Global Investment Platform

The Saudi Capital Market Forum was held in Riyadh on Tuesday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Saudi Capital Market Forum was held in Riyadh on Tuesday. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia announced its intention to launch a package of new enhancements to develop the post-trading infrastructure and increase its efficiency.

The enhancements are the largest in the history of the Saudi capital market and intend to provide investors with increased investment opportunities and access to a diverse range of financial instruments and new products.

The announcement was made at the Saudi Capital Market Forum, which was held in Riyadh by the Saudi Tadawul Group, under the patronage of Mohammed Elkuwaiz, the Chairman of the Capital Market Authority.

Elkuwaiz said that work was underway to transform the Kingdom into a global hub of Islamic and sustainable finance.

The new enhancements are introduced by three of Saudi Tadawul Group’s subsidiaries: the Saudi Exchange, Securities Clearing Center Company (Muqassa), and Securities Depository Center Company (Edaa).

Eng. Khalid Al-Hussan, CEO of the Saudi Tadawul Group, said that the launch of new improvements to the market infrastructure would contribute to supporting financial stability and integrity, as well as enhancing the group’s products and offerings.

In remarks on the occasion, Al-Hussan noted that the enhancements represent a new positive step in the development of the Saudi financial market.

“These enhancements mark a new chapter in the advancement of the Saudi capital market and align it with global best practices. Our aim is to provide local and international investors with a range of investment opportunities that benefit the Saudi economy and reinforce its position as an attractive global investment destination,” he underlined.

Mohammed Al-Rumaih, CEO of Saudi Exchange at Tadawul, stated that the market would witness a strong momentum from the initial public offering, revealing that 70 listings were currently underway in the financial market and the Capital Market Authority.

Wael Al-Hazzani, CEO of Muqassa, said the enhancements would enable Muqasaa to activate the central clearing services in the main market, parallel market, sukuk, bonds and exchange traded funds.

“Muqassa will enable the introduction of new products and services in the market and implement international practices clearing services for all products traded in Saudi Exchange, which is an essential step to develop the market and enhance its stability,” he added.



Saudi PIF Completes $7 bln Inaugural Murabaha Credit Facility

The Public Investment Fund (PIF) logo
The Public Investment Fund (PIF) logo
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Saudi PIF Completes $7 bln Inaugural Murabaha Credit Facility

The Public Investment Fund (PIF) logo
The Public Investment Fund (PIF) logo

Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) completed on Monday a $7 billion inaugural murabaha credit facility.
In a statement, PIF said the credit facility is supported by a syndicate of 20 international and regional financial institutions.
PIF head of the Global Capital Finance Division and head of Investment Strategy and Economic Insights Division Fahad AlSaif said: “This inaugural murabaha credit facility demonstrates the flexibility and depth of PIF’s financing strategy and use of diversified funding sources, as we continue to drive transformative investments, globally and in Saudi Arabia”, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.
This financing complements PIF’s successful sukuk issuances over the past two years, the statement added. It also underpins PIF’s strong financial position, as well as its best-practice approach to debt financing.
PIF is rated Aa3 by Moody’s with stable outlook and A+ by Fitch with stable outlook. PIF has four main sources of funding: capital injections from government, government asset transfers, retained earnings from investments, and loans and debt instruments.