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Saudi Arabia’s Real Estate Transformation Attracts Foreign Investments

Visitors on the third day of Cityscape Global, currently held in Riyadh. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Visitors on the third day of Cityscape Global, currently held in Riyadh. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia’s Real Estate Transformation Attracts Foreign Investments

Visitors on the third day of Cityscape Global, currently held in Riyadh. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Visitors on the third day of Cityscape Global, currently held in Riyadh. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

On its third day, Cityscape Global saw the signing of a number of investment agreements and deals between local and international parties, reflecting the extent of global interest in Saudi Arabia’s real estate sector.

The Cityscape Global exhibition, which is currently being held in Riyadh, brought together more than 350 companies from 21 countries to conclude major investment deals.

CEO of Select Property Group Adam Price told Asharq Al-Awsat that the event facilitated communication opportunities with new partners and investors in the Kingdom and provided valuable insights into the local real estate market.

He stated that Saudis represented 30 percent of the total investors in One Port Street, the latest project by Select Property in the city of Manchester, United Kingdom.

He added that cooperation with Saudi real estate development companies will give his company the opportunity to benefit from their valuable expertise and to learn about emerging consumer trends and market dynamics.

He revealed the company’s ambitions to take part in Saudi projects, especially as the Kingdom has become the largest construction market in the Middle East.

Price emphasized that Riyadh was ready to transform into a global investment hub, making it one of the most prominent real estate destinations. He added that the Saudi real estate sector was about to witness a significant transformation.

CEO of Thabat Almaskan Company Yousef Al-Saleh told Asharq Al-Awsat that the real estate sector constituted a large part of the Vision 2030 programs and initiatives, pointing out the importance of the exhibition in building partnerships and alliances with foreign establishments.

Meanwhile, the Royal Commission for the Holy City of Makkah and the Holy Sites signed an agreement to launch a real estate fund worth SAR 11 billion ($2.93 billion) to develop Al-Kidwa area, located south of the Grand Mosque in Makkah.

According to a press statement, the fund has been launched in partnership with Thakher Development Co. and Albilad Capital. It will develop 2,614 properties in Al-Kidwa, spanning an area of 686,056 square meters.

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Oil Slips as Iran-Israel Conflict Enters Sixth Day

FILE PHOTO: A view shows an oil pump jack outside Almetyevsk in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, June 4, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A view shows an oil pump jack outside Almetyevsk in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, June 4, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo
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Oil Slips as Iran-Israel Conflict Enters Sixth Day

FILE PHOTO: A view shows an oil pump jack outside Almetyevsk in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, June 4, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A view shows an oil pump jack outside Almetyevsk in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia, June 4, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Manzyuk/File Photo

Oil prices fell on Wednesday, after a gain of 4% in the previous session, as markets weighed up the chance of supply disruptions from the Iran-Israel conflict and as they ponder a direct US involvement.

Brent crude futures fell 93 cents, or 1.2%, to $75.52 a barrel by 0918 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures fell 88 cents, also 1.2%, to $73.96 per barrel.

US President Trump warned on social media on Tuesday that US patience was wearing thin, and called for an "unconditional surrender" from Iran.

While he said there was no intention to kill Iran's leader Ali Khamenei "for now," his comments suggested a tougher stance toward Iran as he weighs whether to deepen US involvement.

A source familiar with internal discussions said one of the options Trump and his team are considering included joining Israel on strikes against Iranian nuclear sites.

A direct US involvement threatens to widen the confrontation further, putting energy infrastructure in the region at higher risk of attack, analysts say.

"The biggest fear for the oil market is the shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz," ING analysts said in a note.

"Almost a third of global seaborne oil trade moves through this chokepoint. A significant disruption to these flows would be enough to push prices to $120 [a barrel]," the bank added.

Iran is OPEC's third-largest producer, extracting about 3.3 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil.

Meanwhile, Iranian ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva Ali Bahreini said on Wednesday that Tehran has conveyed to Washington that it will respond firmly to the United States if it becomes directly involved in Israel's military campaign.

Markets are also looking ahead to a second day of US Federal Reserve discussions on Wednesday, in which the central bank is expected to leave its benchmark overnight interest rate in the range of 4.25% to 4.50%.

However, the conflict in the Middle East and the risk of slowing global growth could potentially push the Fed to cut rates by 25 basis points in July, sooner than the market's current expectation of September, said Tony Sycamore, market analyst with IG.

Lower interest rates generally boost economic growth and demand for oil.

Confounding the decision for the Fed, however, is the Middle East conflict's potential creation of a new source of inflation via surging oil prices.

US crude stocks fell by 10.1 million barrels in the week ended June 13, market sources told Reuters, citing American Petroleum Institute figures on Tuesday. Official Energy Information Administration data is due later on Wednesday.