Investor Business Services Transferred to the Saudi Business Center

A general view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
A general view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Investor Business Services Transferred to the Saudi Business Center

A general view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
A general view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Saudi government has stopped referring investors to its unified national platform after transferring all the Kingdom’s services to the Saudi Business Center (SBC). The shift comes to ease procedures for starting and conducting business for enterprises that intend to enter the Saudi market.

In 2019, the Saudi Cabinet approved the transfer of all documents, property, financial credits, obligations, and rights of the unified national platform to the SBC.

Economic business sector services will be provided to the beneficiaries through the centers of the SBC and its unified e-platform.

The center is concerned with facilitating the procedures for starting, practicing, and concluding economic works and providing all services in accordance with international best practices. It has 12 branches in ten cities across the Kingdom.

The SBC aims to make the Kingdom one of the ten leading countries in the world in the quality, smoothness and efficiency of services directed to the business sector.

It also looks to create an attractive environment that enhances the Kingdom’s competitiveness and encourages investment and growth through government services under a unified institutional interface.

Raising productivity of companies operating in Saudi Arabia through reducing time and costs is also one of the SBC’s objectives.

The center seeks achieving this by improving the quality of policies, investing in big data, and issuing specialized studies and reports.

The Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) had announced the completion of connectivity to the SBC utilizing the “Tanfeeth” program.

The solution aims at optimizing system connectivity and integration between Saudi government entities and banks operating in the Kingdom with a view to promoting automation of processes and acceleration of workflows to realize Saudi Vision 2030 objectives.

SAMA highlighted that the “Tanfeeth” program seeks to promote operational efficiency by overcoming procedural hurdles in coordination with government entities.

It is also a step towards achieving the strategic objectives of SAMA by upgrading its IT infrastructure and optimizing administrative processes including speed, quality, and integration with the financial institutions operating in the Kingdom.



US and Saudi Firms Leverage Trump’s Visit for Strategic Deals

File photo shows Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and US President Donald Trump during the latter’s visit to the Kingdom (SPA)
File photo shows Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and US President Donald Trump during the latter’s visit to the Kingdom (SPA)
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US and Saudi Firms Leverage Trump’s Visit for Strategic Deals

File photo shows Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and US President Donald Trump during the latter’s visit to the Kingdom (SPA)
File photo shows Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and US President Donald Trump during the latter’s visit to the Kingdom (SPA)

In a high-stakes display of economic ambition, US and Saudi corporate leaders are seizing the opportunity presented by former President Donald Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to announce major deals and partnerships.

The visit coincides with the Saudi-US Investment Forum, drawing top American officials and executives, and highlighting Riyadh’s growing prominence on the global investment and trade stage.

Executives from both nations have confirmed the unveiling of a wide array of strategic collaborations in critical sectors including defense, aerospace, energy, artificial intelligence, and technology. The forum is expected to serve as a launchpad for initiatives that signal a new phase of intensified cooperation between the two countries.

The Saudi-US Investment Forum, convening in Riyadh, is addressing a broad agenda spanning energy and sustainability, finance, AI, manufacturing, aerospace, healthcare, and venture capital. Five senior US government officials and ten prominent American CEOs are participating, among a crowd of more than 2,000 influential attendees.

Among the notable American officials attending are US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and White House Advisor on AI and digital currencies David Sacks. Business leaders include Elon Musk of SpaceX and Tesla, Mark Zuckerberg of Meta, Larry Fink of BlackRock, Jane Fraser of Citigroup, Cristiano Amon of Qualcomm, Arvind Krishna of IBM, Stephen Schwarzman of Blackstone, Sam Altman of OpenAI, Kelley Otteberg of Boeing, Alex Karp of Palantir, and Ruth Porat of Google and Alphabet.

Neil Bush, Chairman of Sky Tower Global and a key figure in the green economy technology sector, emphasized the significance of Trump’s visit. He described it as a catalyst for real and impactful economic outcomes, referencing the Crown Prince’s commitment to investing $600 billion in the US.

Bush anticipates the forum will strengthen strategic ties and explore transformative opportunities in vital sectors. He stressed the forum’s role in connecting high-ranking officials, top business leaders, and global investors, all converging to exchange forward-looking ideas that promote technological and economic cooperation.

Former EPA Administrator and Trump cabinet member Edward Scott Pruitt said the visit will revitalize US-Saudi economic ties, especially in energy and technology, during a pivotal time of global energy transition. He pointed out that the forum offers fertile ground for strategic partnerships in AI, innovation, and next-generation energy. These collaborations, he said, will support the evolution of a resilient financial infrastructure and bolster industrial cooperation, setting a foundation for the future.

Abdullah bin Zaid Al-Meleihi, chairman of Saudi firm Al-Tamayuz, stated that Trump’s visit has triggered a surge of investor interest in launching new joint ventures. He emphasized the alignment of these partnerships with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 initiative, which aims to diversify the economy beyond oil.

Al-Meleihi confirmed that the forum will introduce several new partnerships, particularly in defense, aerospace, and AI. His company plans to announce energy-related deals with US investors.

Al-Meleihi expects both Saudi and American business sectors to capitalize on Trump’s visit, which he described as opening unprecedented opportunities. He stressed that the visit marks a new chapter in economic cooperation, one that will deepen bilateral ties in advanced technologies and vital industries.

He concluded by highlighting the broader implications of this cooperation, particularly in localizing supply chains, developing data infrastructure, and building a high-tech, flexible industrial base.