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Pre-qualification Stage of Licensing for Five Exploration Sites Kicks off in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia continues to advance exploration of the mining sector and grant licenses to compete for exploration in the regions of the country. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia continues to advance exploration of the mining sector and grant licenses to compete for exploration in the regions of the country. (SPA)
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Pre-qualification Stage of Licensing for Five Exploration Sites Kicks off in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia continues to advance exploration of the mining sector and grant licenses to compete for exploration in the regions of the country. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia continues to advance exploration of the mining sector and grant licenses to compete for exploration in the regions of the country. (SPA)

The Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources announced on Sunday the launch of the pre-qualification stage for the tender of five metals exploration sites in the Kingdom.

This follows the signing of the Ministry and Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) a memorandum of understanding to assess the requirements for sustainable investment in the mining sector in the Kingdom, as per the objectives of Vision 2030.

The ministry invited local and international mining companies to participate and obtain an exploration license for these sites.

The exploration tenders are distributed among Muhaddad, located on the Bisha belt in Aseer province, covering 138.69 square kilometers (sqm) and including copper, zinc, lead, and gold. This is besides Al-Amar belt’s Ar Radainiyah site, Riyadh, which covers 75.86 sqm and contains zinc, the ministry said in a statement.

Umm Hadid site is also on the list, covering 246.35 sqm and including copper, zinc, lead, and silver within the Nabetah belt in Riyadh, alongside Jabal Sayid belt’s Bir Umq site in Madinah, which covers 187.37 sqm and includes copper and zinc. This is in addition to Jabal Al-Sahaiba site, located within Al-Shayb belt in Aseer, extending over 283,810 sqm and comprising copper, zinc, and lead.

Bidding for the five sites will be over two stages of pre-qualification and presentation, in which qualified bidders will be invited to present the work program and social and environmental impact management plans, according to the ministry.

The ministry also indicated plans to complete the tendering processes for the five sites by the third quarter of 2023. The expected completion date for the exploration of the Muhaddad and Ar Radainiyah sites is the second quarter of 2023, while the tendering for Umm Hadid, Bir Umq, and Jabal Al-Sahaiba sites will end in the third quarter of 2023.

The success of the first two licensing rounds (Umm Ad Damar and Al Khunayqiyah) represents ‘proof points’ for the mining sectors transformation efforts in the Kingdom, in which the Ministry ensured an efficient and transparent process throughout all stages, and demonstrates the Kingdom’s commitment to ensure maximizing the benefits of mining activities.

The Kingdom offers unparalleled incentives to attract investors. These financial incentives include co-funding up to 75 percent of CAPEX through the Saudi Industrial Development Fund (SIDF), a five-year royalty holiday for miners, and royalty discounts for downstream projects.

In another context, the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP) launched in cooperation with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) Awareness Initiative.

This initiative aims to raise the level of awareness and adoption of various techniques of 4IR in NIDLP sectors, namely energy, mining, industry, and logistics.

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Aljadaan: Emerging Markets Account for 70% of Global Growth

Al-Jadaan speaking to the attendees at the "AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies" (Asharq Al-Awsat
Al-Jadaan speaking to the attendees at the "AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies" (Asharq Al-Awsat
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Aljadaan: Emerging Markets Account for 70% of Global Growth

Al-Jadaan speaking to the attendees at the "AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies" (Asharq Al-Awsat
Al-Jadaan speaking to the attendees at the "AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies" (Asharq Al-Awsat

Saudi Minister of Finance Mohammed Aljadaan stressed Sunday that the world economy is going through a “profound transition,” saying emerging markets and developing economies now account for nearly 60 percent of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in purchasing power terms and over 70 percent of global growth.

In his opening remarks at the AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies, organized by the Saudi Ministry of Finance and the IMF in AlUla, the minister said these economies have become an increasingly important driver of global growth with their share of global economy more than doubling since 2010.

“Today, the 10 emerging economies in the G20 alone account for more than half of the world growth. Yet, they face a more complex and fragmented environment, elevated debt levels, slower trade growth and increasing exposure to geopolitical shocks.”

“Unfortunately, more than half of low income countries are either in or at the risk of debt distress. At the same time global trade growth has slowed at around half of what it was pre the pandemic,” Aljadaan added.

The Finance Minister stressed that the Saudi experience over the past decade has reinforced three lessons that may be relevant to the discussions at the two-day conference, which brings together a select group of ministers and central bank governors, leaders of international organizations, leading investors and academics.

“First, macroeconomic stability is not the enemy of growth. It is actually the foundation,” he said.

“Structural reforms deliver results only when institutions deliver. So there is no point of reforming ... if the institutions are unable to deliver,” he stated.

Finally, he said that “international cooperation matters more, not less, in a fragmented world.”

Business

Georgieva from AlUla: Growth Still Lacks Pre-pandemic Levels

Kristalina Georgieva speaking to attendees at the second edition of the AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Kristalina Georgieva speaking to attendees at the second edition of the AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Georgieva from AlUla: Growth Still Lacks Pre-pandemic Levels

Kristalina Georgieva speaking to attendees at the second edition of the AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Kristalina Georgieva speaking to attendees at the second edition of the AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies (Asharq Al-Awsat)

International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said Sunday that world growth still lacks pre-pandemic levels, expressing concern as she expected more shocks amid high spending and rising debt levels in many countries.

Georgieva spoke at the AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies, organized by the Saudi Ministry of Finance and the IMF in AlUla.

The two-day conference brings together a select group of ministers and central bank governors, leaders of international organizations, leading investors and academics to deliberate on policies to global stability, prosperity, and multilateral collaboration.

Georgieva said that the conference was launched last year in recognition of the growing role of emerging market economies in a world of sweeping transformations.

“I came out of this gathering .... With a sense of hope for the pragmatic attitude and determination to pursue good policies and build strong institutions,” she said.

Georgieva stressed that “good policies pay off,” and said that growth rates across emerging economies reached four percent this year, exceeding by a large margin those of advanced economies that are around 1.5 percent.

Business

Saudi Arabia’s flynas, Syrian Civil Aviation Authority Partner to Launch 'flynas Syria'

The new airline will operate commercial air transport services in accordance with approved regulations and standards (flynas)
The new airline will operate commercial air transport services in accordance with approved regulations and standards (flynas)
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Saudi Arabia’s flynas, Syrian Civil Aviation Authority Partner to Launch 'flynas Syria'

The new airline will operate commercial air transport services in accordance with approved regulations and standards (flynas)
The new airline will operate commercial air transport services in accordance with approved regulations and standards (flynas)

Saudi budget carrier flynas has signed an agreement with the Syrian General Authority of Civil Aviation and Air Transport to establish a new commercial airline under the name "flynas Syria," with operations scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Saturday’s agreement comes within the framework of bilateral cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Syria, as well as the strategic investment agreements between the two countries, coordinated with the Saudi Ministry of Investment and the Syrian General Authority of Civil Aviation and Air Transport.

The new airline will operate commercial air transport services in accordance with approved regulations and standards, meeting the highest safety and aviation security requirements. All licensing and operational procedures will be completed in coordination with the relevant authorities.

The carrier will be established as a joint venture, with 51% ownership held by the Syrian General Authority of Civil Aviation and Air Transport and 49% by flynas.

The new airline will operate flights to several destinations across the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. This expansion aims to bolster air traffic to and from Syria, enhance regional and international connectivity, and meet growing demand for air travel.

"This step is part of our commitment to supporting high-quality cross-border investments. The aviation sector is a key enabler of economic development, and the establishment of 'flynas Syria' serves as a model for constructive investment cooperation,” said Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih.

“This partnership enhances economic integration and market connectivity and supports development goals by advancing air transport infrastructure, ultimately serving the mutual interests of both nations and promoting regional economic stability,” he added.

President of the Syrian General Authority of Civil Aviation and Air Transport Omar Hosari also stated that the establishment of flynas Syria represents a strategic step within a comprehensive national vision aimed at rebuilding and developing Syria's civil aviation sector on modern economic and regulatory foundations.

“This will be achieved while balancing safety requirements, operational sustainability, investment stimulation, and passenger services. The partnership reflects the state's orientation toward smart cooperation models with trusted regional partners, ensuring the transfer of expertise, the development of national capabilities, and the enhancement of Syria's air connectivity with regional and international destinations, in line with global best practices in the air transport industry."

flynas Chairman Ayed Al-Jeaid stated that the company continues to pursue strategies aimed at growth and international expansion, describing the agreement as a historic milestone in the company's journey and a promising investment model in partnership with Syria.

flynas CEO Bander Al-mohanna said the step represents a qualitative leap in the company's strategy and financial performance, highlighting the transfer of the company's low-cost aviation experience to the Syrian market to support regional and international air connectivity.

flynas currently operates 23 weekly flights from Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam to Damascus, including two daily direct flights from Riyadh, one daily flight from Jeddah, and two weekly flights from Dammam.

The airline made history on June 5, 2025, by adding the Syrian capital to its network, becoming the first Saudi carrier to resume scheduled flights to Damascus.