عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Business

Saudi Arabia Seeks to Support Future Economies, Bridge Digital Divides

Eng. Abdullah Al-Swaha, Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology, at the event in Bali. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Eng. Abdullah Al-Swaha, Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology, at the event in Bali. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT
TT

Saudi Arabia Seeks to Support Future Economies, Bridge Digital Divides

Eng. Abdullah Al-Swaha, Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology, at the event in Bali. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Eng. Abdullah Al-Swaha, Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology, at the event in Bali. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Eng. Abdullah Al-Swaha, Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology, said on Thursday the Kingdom has taken bold steps to support future economies and innovation.

The minister revealed efforts to bridge the digital divide and to foster green energy projects in the northwestern NEOM region.

He stressed that the Kingdom’s presidency of the G20 in 2020 led to the transformation of the digital economy team into a permanent working group, to seize the opportunities provided by the sector and increase development and economic growth rates of the G20 members.

Al-Swaha made his comments during his participation in the meeting of digital economy ministers under Indonesia’s presidency of the G20 in Bali. The event saw the participation of ICT ministers and experts in group member states.

The minister noted that Saudi Vision 2030 was keen on supporting Saudi women as an important contributor to the development of the homeland.

In this regard, he said Saudi Arabia has improved women empowerment, from 7% in 2017 to over 30% in 2022, adding that his country was seeking to train more than 600 women in the Middle East and North Africa, as part of its cooperation with Apple Developer Academy.

Al-Swaha also pointed to innovative efforts in bridging the digital gap and enhancing green energy projects in NEOM.

He praised the outcomes of Saudi Arabia’s presidency for the G20, which resulted in changing the G20 Digital Economy Task Force (DETF) into the Digital Economy Work Group (DEWG), and “played an appreciated role in seizing opportunities provided by the digital economy and increasing development rates and economic growth for G20 countries.”

Most Viewed

 
 
Business

Riyadh to Add 94 New Trains to Boost Transport Capacity

A Riyadh Metro train travels through the Saudi capital. (SPA)
A Riyadh Metro train travels through the Saudi capital. (SPA)
TT
TT

Riyadh to Add 94 New Trains to Boost Transport Capacity

A Riyadh Metro train travels through the Saudi capital. (SPA)
A Riyadh Metro train travels through the Saudi capital. (SPA)

The Royal Commission for Riyadh City has signed contracts to procure and manufacture 94 new trains for the capital’s metro network, increasing its fleet to 277 from 183, with deliveries scheduled to begin in batches in 2028.

The new trains are expected to boost the network’s overall passenger capacity by 57%, with increases varying by line: 142% on the red line, 116% on the yellow line, 57% on the blue line, 27% on the orange line and 16% on the purple line. Additional capacity will be allocated according to ridership and projected demand.

The expansion comes as the Riyadh Metro has recorded about 275 million passenger trips since December 2024. Average monthly ridership in 2026 has risen by around 25% compared with the same period in 2025.

The investment is intended to accommodate anticipated growth in travel demand as Riyadh expands and prepares to host major international events, including Expo 2030 and the 2034 FIFA World Cup.

Germany’s Siemens and France’s Alstom are carrying out the contracts, which are worth more than $5 billion in total and cover train manufacturing, systems and equipment, maintenance, training and other technical and operational services.

The trains will be delivered in stages as manufacturing is completed, then undergo testing and operational trials before gradually entering service.

The investment is part of broader efforts to develop Riyadh’s transport infrastructure, including public transit, roads and intersections, to meet the needs of the capital’s growing population and urban expansion.

Business

Copper Steadies as Dollar Strength Counters Chile Supply Worries

Stacks of copper cathodes sit inside Glencore's Canadian Copper Refinery in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on October 3, 2026. (Photo by ANDREJ IVANOV / AFP)
Stacks of copper cathodes sit inside Glencore's Canadian Copper Refinery in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on October 3, 2026. (Photo by ANDREJ IVANOV / AFP)
TT
TT

Copper Steadies as Dollar Strength Counters Chile Supply Worries

Stacks of copper cathodes sit inside Glencore's Canadian Copper Refinery in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on October 3, 2026. (Photo by ANDREJ IVANOV / AFP)
Stacks of copper cathodes sit inside Glencore's Canadian Copper Refinery in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on October 3, 2026. (Photo by ANDREJ IVANOV / AFP)

Copper prices ‌held nearly steady on Tuesday as a strong US dollar countered support from supply concerns in top producer Chile.

Benchmark three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange was little changed at $14,628.00 a metric ton by 0700 GMT, after hitting a two-week high in the previous session, said Reuters.

The most-traded copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange edged 0.2% higher to 110,990 yuan a ton.

The dollar took ‌a breather ‌but hovered near an 18-month high, ‌underpinned ⁠by safe-haven demand ⁠amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. A stronger greenback makes dollar-denominated metals more expensive for holders of other currencies.

Supply concerns remained in focus after Chilean state miner Codelco partially suspended operations at its El Teniente mine following a landslide, ⁠while Antofagasta's Centinela copper mine and two ‌unions were set ‌to resume talks as a strike continued.

Copper inventories outside ‌the United States have declined in recent ‌months as shipments were diverted to the country ahead of potential tariffs on refined copper imports.

Analysts at BMI raised their average copper price forecast for 2026 ‌to $13,500 per ton from $12,700, citing tariff-related market distortions and persistent supply constraints.

"For the ⁠remainder ⁠of the year, prices are set to oscillate sharply in response to tariff-policy headlines, with the eventual US decision likely to dictate near-term price direction," BMI said.

Among LME metals, aluminium was down 0.4% at $3,039 after touching an eight-month low on Monday, zinc lost 0.7% to $3,729.50, lead rose 0.4% to $1,891, nickel gained 0.2% to $15,640 and tin eased 0.6% to $52,870.

Among SHFE metals, aluminium slipped 1.1%, zinc fell 1.7%, lead rose 1.3%, nickel dipped 0.1% and tin dropped 0.4%.

Business

IMF Forecasts Saudi Economy to Grow 7.9% in 2027

General view of the Kingdom Tower in downtown Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, October 12, 2026. Picture taken with a mobile phone. REUTERS
General view of the Kingdom Tower in downtown Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, October 12, 2026. Picture taken with a mobile phone. REUTERS
TT
TT

IMF Forecasts Saudi Economy to Grow 7.9% in 2027

General view of the Kingdom Tower in downtown Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, October 12, 2026. Picture taken with a mobile phone. REUTERS
General view of the Kingdom Tower in downtown Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, October 12, 2026. Picture taken with a mobile phone. REUTERS

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects the Saudi economy to record strong growth of 7.9 percent in 2027, reflecting a projected recovery in energy production and exports, as well as the gradual restoration of regional trade flows as war-related disruptions ease and the Strait of Hormuz reopens under the report’s baseline scenario.

The forecast highlights the Saudi economy’s ability to regain momentum after the pressures caused this year by disruptions to energy production and transportation. Saudi Arabia is expected to benefit from its diversified oil export routes and infrastructure, which allow part of its exports to be shipped via the Red Sea rather than through the Strait of Hormuz.

In its October World Economic Outlook, the IMF projected that Saudi Arabia’s economy would contract by 3.3 percent in 2026 before rebounding to 7.9 percent growth in 2027.

In its April forecasts, the Fund had expected growth of 3.1 percent in 2026 and 4.5 percent in 2027, reflecting a significant shift in projections due to developments in the conflict and assumptions regarding the resumption of economic activity.

Export Infrastructure Supports Economic Resilience

Saudi Arabia benefits from alternative oil-export outlets, most notably the East-West Pipeline, which transports crude oil from the Eastern Province to the Red Sea port of Yanbu with a capacity of approximately 7 million barrels per day.

The Kingdom aims to raise pipeline capacity to 10 million barrels per day, enhancing the flexibility of its export system in the face of maritime disruptions.

These alternatives strengthen Saudi Arabia’s ability to mitigate the impact of shipping interruptions on oil flows. Under the IMF’s forecasts, the gradual recovery of production and exports is expected to support economic activity next year.

Gulf Recovery Driven by Rebound in Energy Production

The strong growth forecast is not limited to Saudi Arabia. The IMF also expects several Gulf economies to recover sharply in 2027 as production, exports, and logistics services rebound.
Projected growth rates for 2027 are Qatar 18.8%, Kuwait 17.1%, Bahrain 13.9%, the United Arab Emirates 7.7% and Oman 2.2%.

These forecasts follow severe pressure during 2026, when the IMF expects Kuwait’s economy to contract by 16.7%, Qatar’s economy by 15.6%, Bahrain’s economy by 11.3% and the UAE economy to contract by 3.9%.

Meanwhile, Oman is expected to achieve growth of 4.1 percent in 2026.

The IMF’s baseline scenario assumes that the Strait of Hormuz will begin reopening in March 2027, with a broad return to pre-war conditions by October 2027. This would allow energy flows, shipping, insurance services, and payment systems to recover gradually.

The pace of this recovery remains dependent on the course of the conflict and the stability of maritime navigation. Nevertheless, Saudi Arabia’s diversified export routes provide an important buffer, enhancing the economy’s capacity to absorb shocks and restore growth as regional conditions improve.