NEOM CEO: We Will Be Model for New Economy Modern Projects, Cities

NEOM CEO Nadhmi Al-Nasr participates at the 2nd Municipal Investment Forum “FURAS” (Asharq Al-Awsat)
NEOM CEO Nadhmi Al-Nasr participates at the 2nd Municipal Investment Forum “FURAS” (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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NEOM CEO: We Will Be Model for New Economy Modern Projects, Cities

NEOM CEO Nadhmi Al-Nasr participates at the 2nd Municipal Investment Forum “FURAS” (Asharq Al-Awsat)
NEOM CEO Nadhmi Al-Nasr participates at the 2nd Municipal Investment Forum “FURAS” (Asharq Al-Awsat)

NEOM will be a model for modern projects and cities that represent the focus of the new economy, said CEO Nadhmi Al-Nasr. It will do so by embracing many different companies and industries while attracting qualitative foreign investments.

Al-Nasr pointed to NEOM’s efforts in implementing a circular economy based on model future thinking that enacts change at the level of production sectors and the standard of living. This enhances the contribution to the GDP.

He stressed that the giga project would produce 100 % clean energy on a large scale sufficient to operate at the level of NEOM’s energy needs while achieving net zero carbon emissions.

Al-Nasr pointed out that NEOM’s ambition is to build human-centered cities, which will change the global concept of traditional cities, which are usually built for cars and streets without any consideration for nature and people.

Speaking at the 2nd Municipal Investment Forum “FURAS,” Al-Nasr added that the NEOM project will redefine the concept of the city by embracing a 9 million population, and employing the city's resources, in addition to creating a new concept of environmentally friendly tourism.

He added that the project will offer several investment opportunities, various types of projects with different volume levels.

NEOM city is considered a gift from Saudi Arabia to humanity, affirmed al-Nasr.

During the Forum, Mayor of the Riyadh Region Prince Faisal Bin Abdulaziz Bin Ayyaf announced that Remat Al-Riyadh Development Company — the developmental arm of Riyadh Region Municipality — has offered the most significant investment opportunity of its kind in the region to invest in outdoor advertising in Riyadh city, in partnership with the private sector.

This investment opportunity includes building, operating, and maintaining outdoor billboards of different formats, in addition to the development of a number of digital zones.

It also focuses on operational excellence by including the highest technical, environmental, security, and safety standards; as well as comprehensive evaluation criteria to measure the expertise and capabilities of the potential investors in order to manage and operate the project with quality and efficiency, in accordance with the best international practices followed in the sector.

This is to contribute to unleash the potential of the Riyadh region by upgrading the level of municipal services and projects that aim to improve the urban landscape, raise the level of quality of life for the residents and visitors of Riyadh region, and achieve sustainability in the urban development of the region.

It is also considered the first in a series of investment opportunities launched by Remat Al-Riyadh Development Company, as it comes within the framework of what the company announced upon its launch by offering many possible investment opportunities to enable private sector participation.



EU, US Reportedly Near Critical Minerals Deal to Combat Chinese Control

FILE PHOTO: A block with the symbol, atomic number and mass number of Dysprosium (Dy), a heavy rare earth, in this illustration taken January 21, 2026. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A block with the symbol, atomic number and mass number of Dysprosium (Dy), a heavy rare earth, in this illustration taken January 21, 2026. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
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EU, US Reportedly Near Critical Minerals Deal to Combat Chinese Control

FILE PHOTO: A block with the symbol, atomic number and mass number of Dysprosium (Dy), a heavy rare earth, in this illustration taken January 21, 2026. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A block with the symbol, atomic number and mass number of Dysprosium (Dy), a heavy rare earth, in this illustration taken January 21, 2026. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

The European Union and Washington are closing in on an agreement to coordinate on producing and securing critical minerals, Bloomberg News reported on Friday.

The potential deal would include incentives such as minimum price guarantees that could favor non-Chinese suppliers, the report said, citing an "action plan".

The EU and US would also ⁠cooperate on standards, investments ⁠and joint projects, along with increased coordination on any supply disruptions by countries like China, the report added.

The European Commission declined to comment on the report. The office of the ⁠US Trade Representative did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment.

EU trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic said in March he had a "very positive" meeting with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on the sidelines of a World Trade Organization ministerial meeting in Cameroon, where the two sides agreed to further advance work on ⁠critical ⁠minerals and also discussed tariffs.

The EU-US deal would cover “critical minerals along the entire value chain and life-cycle management, including exploration, extraction, processing, refining, recycling and recovery,” Bloomberg reported, citing a non-binding memorandum of understanding.

The US has been scrambling to get access to critical mineral reserves, especially rare earth supply chains currently dominated by Chinese players.


Gold Set for Third Weekly Gain as US Rate Outlook Offsets Dollar Strength

FILE PHOTO: Customers crowd around a jewelry showroom during Akshaya Tritiya, a major gold-buying festival, in Kochi, India April 28, 2017. REUTERS/Sivaram V/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Customers crowd around a jewelry showroom during Akshaya Tritiya, a major gold-buying festival, in Kochi, India April 28, 2017. REUTERS/Sivaram V/File Photo
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Gold Set for Third Weekly Gain as US Rate Outlook Offsets Dollar Strength

FILE PHOTO: Customers crowd around a jewelry showroom during Akshaya Tritiya, a major gold-buying festival, in Kochi, India April 28, 2017. REUTERS/Sivaram V/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Customers crowd around a jewelry showroom during Akshaya Tritiya, a major gold-buying festival, in Kochi, India April 28, 2017. REUTERS/Sivaram V/File Photo

Gold steadied on Friday as US-Iran ceasefire uncertainty lingered, but the metal stayed on course for a third consecutive weekly climb as investors priced in earlier and deeper US rate cuts, supporting non-yielding bullion.

Spot gold held its ground at $4,764.54 per ounce by 0532 GMT. The metal, however, has gained 1.8% so far this week.

US gold futures for June delivery fell 0.6% to $4,787.80.

The ‌dollar index strengthened, ‌making greenback-priced bullion more expensive for holders of other currencies, Reuters said.

"There's ‌a ⁠lack of clarity ⁠about the way that the ceasefire is evolving in the Middle East and what that means to energy markets... so we're in sort of a little bit of a holding pattern (with gold) going into the final session of the week," said Kyle Rodda, senior financial market analyst at Capital.com.

Spot gold has fallen about 10% since the US-Israel conflict with Iran ⁠erupted on February 28, with elevated energy prices sparking ‌inflation concerns and the prospect of ‌higher US interest rates.

The fragile two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran showed further ‌strain on Friday, as Washington accused Tehran of breaching promises on ‌the Strait of Hormuz.

Brent crude, however, has slid more than 11% this week on optimism that the ceasefire could reopen the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas passes.

"If things break down, (gold) ‌could end up back in mid-$4,000's pretty quickly. But if the ceasefire holds and the peace deal starts ⁠to look more ⁠likely, then we could push through $5,000," Rodda added.

On the data front, the US Personal Consumption Expenditures index, the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge, advanced 2.8% in the 12 months through February, in line with estimates, and likely rose further in March.

Investors are now looking out for March's US Consumer Price Index data, due later in the day, for further clues on Fed's monetary policy direction.

Markets are pricing in a 31% chance for a US rate cut of at least 25 basis points at the Fed's December meeting, according to CME's FedWatch Tool, up from 20% in the prior session.

Among other metals, spot silver rose 1.3% to $76.03 per ounce, platinum lost 2% to $2,061.10, and palladium fell 0.2% to $1,553.92.


Saudi Business Confidence Index Remains Optimistic

A street in the Saudi capital, Riyadh (Reuters)
A street in the Saudi capital, Riyadh (Reuters)
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Saudi Business Confidence Index Remains Optimistic

A street in the Saudi capital, Riyadh (Reuters)
A street in the Saudi capital, Riyadh (Reuters)

Saudi Arabia’s Business Confidence Index remained in optimistic territory at 52.1 points in March, underscoring private sector resilience despite geopolitical challenges.

The index fell from 60.7 in February but stayed above the neutral 50 threshold, reflecting continued confidence in stable economic activity and sustained growth across key sectors, according to the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT).

A statement released by GASTAT said that the BCI for the industrial sector recorded 50.8 points, maintaining an optimistic level despite a decline of 15.8 percent compared to February.

The BCI for the services sector recorded 52.0 points, maintaining an optimistic level despite a decline of 14.9 percent compared to February, it said.

Regarding the BCI in the construction sector, the data revealed that in March, it recorded an optimistic level at 53 points, confirming the continued positive confidence among establishments in the sector, the statement added.