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KAPSARC Warns of Challenges Hindering Investments in Oil, Gas

KAPSARC warns of the repercussions of a drop in investment in oil and gas. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
KAPSARC warns of the repercussions of a drop in investment in oil and gas. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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KAPSARC Warns of Challenges Hindering Investments in Oil, Gas

KAPSARC warns of the repercussions of a drop in investment in oil and gas. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
KAPSARC warns of the repercussions of a drop in investment in oil and gas. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Industry investment should increase during the next two years, otherwise, the world risks a significant deficit of oil and gas supply by 2025 and beyond, found a report by the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC).

It also warned of a high probability of the price of oil increasing to over 100$ per barrel for a prolonged period.

The report, "Investment Challenges Affecting the Oil and Gas Industry," revealed that investment rates and oil and gas capital expenditure (capex) dropped 30 percent in 2020 due to the pandemic.

These oil and gas price downfalls reduced the industry's investment attractiveness, resulting in global upstream oil and gas investment cuts of around 43 percent between 2014 and 2016.

The report noted that the OPEC+ interventions helped market predictability, thus assuring many investors.

Using Rystad UCube, KAPSARC's internal analysis shows the difference between global oil production under the required upstream capex to satisfy demand versus a situation with no upstream capex investment. Each case is analyzed under three different price scenarios.

The results showed a significant drop in oil production if the industry did not get the necessary investment.

In the short term, price volatility is the most critical investment challenge in the oil and gas market.

"However, there are other factors to consider in the long term, such as the 2040 outlook projections or the actions of environmental defenders that tarnish the reputation of the oil and gas industry, combined with new ESG practices that are not standardized. The latter also affects the sector's attractiveness for potential financiers," read the report.

Several factors have limited the three elements that determined the ability of OPEC+ to bring stability to the market and ease investors' decisions for long-term investments.

They include non-OPEC producers' behavior, such as shale producers producing without limits, COVID-19, and the geopolitical agenda against using fossil fuels.

Researchers Julio Arboleda and Hamid al-Sadoon highlighted four key challenges facing the oil and gas industry that generate concerns among policymakers and investors regarding the industry's investment attractiveness.

The challenges are price volatility, uncertainties due to significantly diverging long-term forecasts, increasing climate change concerns, and the lack of regulation on environmental, social, and governance (ESG).

The report pointed to another problem facing the oil and gas industry: attracting and retaining human cadres.

A survey prepared by the Red Sea Development Company showed that young Saudis are more interested in careers related to technology or tourism than traditional industries, such as oil and gas or petrochemicals. These traditional industries have fallen to the bottom of young Saudis' career preferences.

KAPSARC is an advisory think tank within global energy economics and sustainability providing advisory services to entities and authorities in the Saudi energy sector to advance Saudi Arabia's energy sector and inform international policies through evidence-based advice and applied research.

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Business

Saudi Air Navigation: Virtual Towers Boost Efficiency, Open Control and Maintenance Roles to Saudi Women

Virtual tower operations center – Air Navigation Services (Asharq Al-Awsat) 
Virtual tower operations center – Air Navigation Services (Asharq Al-Awsat) 
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Saudi Air Navigation: Virtual Towers Boost Efficiency, Open Control and Maintenance Roles to Saudi Women

Virtual tower operations center – Air Navigation Services (Asharq Al-Awsat) 
Virtual tower operations center – Air Navigation Services (Asharq Al-Awsat) 

Saudi Arabia is accelerating digital transformation in aviation as virtual air traffic control towers enter live operations, marking a first for the Middle East. Saudi Air Navigation Services Company said the technology is among its flagship digital initiatives to enhance air traffic efficiency and prepare Saudi airspace for rapid growth.

The company has also successfully enabled Saudi women to work in air traffic control and navigation systems maintenance after completing specialized training programs.

Eng. Ahmed Al-Zahrani, Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer, told Asharq Al-Awsat that virtual towers are a cutting-edge global technology adopted as part of the company’s broader transformation drive.

Al-Zahrani explained that a virtual tower replaces the traditional structure with a digital system built on high-definition cameras and advanced target-tracking technologies at the airport. Controllers can perform their duties without direct line-of-sight, using zoom and data overlays unavailable in conventional towers, such as flight number, passenger count, origin, and destination.

The initiative has moved beyond theory: the company has already launched the region’s first virtual tower at AlUla International Airport, operated remotely from King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah. The project has also won the Ministry of Transport and Logistics Services’ Innovation Award.

Al-Zahrani said that virtual towers raise controller efficiency by enabling oversight of multiple airports from a single center, while improving safety and operational performance through clearer imagery and richer data.

Beyond technology, readiness depends on continuity. The company operates two primary air traffic control centers in Riyadh and Jeddah; if one is disrupted, the other can seamlessly manage Saudi airspace without service interruption.

Since its launch in June 2016, the company has aimed to rank among regional leaders in air traffic management. Today, it is one of the region’s foremost providers and is pursuing global leadership.

Air traffic continues to expand. By the end of November, flights totaled 921,095, up 5.7% year on year. A daily record was set on June 19, 2025, with 3,673 flights, averaging 153 per hour.

On workforce development, Al-Zahrani said women have begun work as controllers and maintenance specialists, demonstrating strong performance. The company employs about 2,000 staff, over 97% Saudi nationals, and 100% Saudis in air traffic control roles.

Sustainability underpins operations across environmental efficiency, social impact through national talent empowerment, and governance via integrity and compliance. On cybersecurity, the company adheres to top international standards and recently earned the global SOC-CMM certification, measuring operations readiness across people, processes, technology, services, and business integration.

 

 

Business

Delayed US Data Expected to Show Solid Growth in 3rd Quarter

Investment in artificial intelligence is expected to be a source of continued momentum for the US economy in 2026. ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP/File
Investment in artificial intelligence is expected to be a source of continued momentum for the US economy in 2026. ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP/File
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Delayed US Data Expected to Show Solid Growth in 3rd Quarter

Investment in artificial intelligence is expected to be a source of continued momentum for the US economy in 2026. ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP/File
Investment in artificial intelligence is expected to be a source of continued momentum for the US economy in 2026. ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / AFP/File

The US economy is expected to post another solid economic growth reading Tuesday, but the much-delayed figures likely will not settle debate on the labor market, AI and other variables.

Forecasters expect Tuesday's third-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) report to show 3.2 percent growth, according to consensus estimates from MarketWatch and Trading Economics.

That represents a bit of a moderation from the 3.8 percent second-quarter gain following a first-quarter with negative growth. Tuesday's release comes nearly two months after it was originally scheduled due to the US government shutdown, Reuters reported.

The report reflects a much improved US macroeconomic outlook compared with earlier in 2025, when worries about President Donald Trump's aggressive trade policy changes weighed on sentiment.

But by the latter stages of 2025, Trump's administration had negotiated agreements with China and other major economies that prevented enactment of the most onerous tariffs.

Meanwhile, an AI investment boom by Chat GPT-maker OpenAI, Google and other tech giants continued to pick up momentum, keeping the US stock market near record levels.

Pantheon Macroeconomics estimates that US growth in the third quarter came in at a "brisk-looking" 3.5 percent that nonetheless "will overstate the economy's true condition," the research firm said in a note.

A slowing job market and muted retail sales trends are among the factors consistent with "steady but unspectacular GDP growth" looking ahead to 2026, said Pantheon, which predicted the Federal Reserve would cut interest rates further in the new year.

"The risks remain skewed towards a faster cadence or larger decline in rates," said Pantheon, pointing to the Fed's impending leadership change with the 2026 departure of Chair Jerome Powell.

Consumer caution?

The US central bank on December 10 announced an interest rate cut for the third straight meeting.

While inflation remains well above the Fed's two percent target, Powell and other policymakers have described the weakening employment market as the greater concern at the moment.

The Fed's median 2026 GDP forecast is 2.3 percent, up from 1.7 percent projected in 2025, according to a summary of the central bank's outlook.

White House officials have said Trump could nominate Powell's successor in January.

Polling shows declining support for Trump as consumer prices have stayed at an elevated level.

But Kevin Hassett, a White House economic advisor considered the favorite for the Fed post, told Fox News over the weekend that consumers would soon see better times.

"I think that the American people are going to see it in their wallets... they're going to see that President Trump's policies are making them better," said Hassett, who mentioned an expected boost from higher tax refunds in 2026.

But Pantheon argued the economic benefit from tax refunds may be contained, noting that "the relatively low level of consumer confidence suggests many households will save a high share of the windfall."

A December 18 outlook piece from S&P Global Ratings said AI investment would likely buoy the economy but could be offset by political uncertainty under Trump.

"US trade policy uncertainty has settled down, but not US policy drama overall," S&P said.

"Statutory US tariff rates may not move much in 2026, but uncertainty around laws, norms, investment rules, military actions and geopolitics more generally will remain elevated," S&P said. "This uncertainty will likely dampen investment and discretionary consumption."

Business

Cluster2 Company Launches Direct Flights from Muscat to Saudi Arabia's Taif

Three direct flights will take place per week between Muscat and Taif via Oman Air - SPA
Three direct flights will take place per week between Muscat and Taif via Oman Air - SPA
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Cluster2 Company Launches Direct Flights from Muscat to Saudi Arabia's Taif

Three direct flights will take place per week between Muscat and Taif via Oman Air - SPA
Three direct flights will take place per week between Muscat and Taif via Oman Air - SPA

The Cluster2 Company, operator of Taif International Airport, announced the launch of three direct flights per week between Muscat and Taif via Oman Air, starting January 31, SPA reported.

The launch of international flights through the cluster’s airports comes as part of its ongoing commitment to improving the passenger experience and expanding international travel options, while continuing to build strategic partnerships with global airlines to enhance air connectivity in the Kingdom.