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Saudi Arabia’s 2034 World Cup: A Catalyst for Economic Transformation

Future designs of King Salman Stadium and its sports facilities, one of the largest sports stadiums in the world (Royal Commission for the City of Riyadh)
Future designs of King Salman Stadium and its sports facilities, one of the largest sports stadiums in the world (Royal Commission for the City of Riyadh)
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Saudi Arabia’s 2034 World Cup: A Catalyst for Economic Transformation

Future designs of King Salman Stadium and its sports facilities, one of the largest sports stadiums in the world (Royal Commission for the City of Riyadh)
Future designs of King Salman Stadium and its sports facilities, one of the largest sports stadiums in the world (Royal Commission for the City of Riyadh)

 

As the official announcement approaches on December 11 for the host of the 2034 FIFA World Cup, all eyes are on Saudi Arabia, as this monumental sporting event is poised to bring about a transformative economic shift, aligning with the Kingdom’s vision of fostering a diversified and sustainable economy.
The tournament is expected to have a significant impact on Saudi Arabia’s local economy, driving foreign investments and revitalizing sectors such as tourism, transportation, and infrastructure. Additionally, it will serve as a catalyst for major projects like NEOM and Qiddiya, reinforcing the Kingdom’s position as a global destination and supporting the goals of Vision 2030, which emphasizes economic diversification and the expansion of non-oil sectors.
On Saturday, FIFA announced that the Saudi bid to host the 2034 World Cup achieved a technical evaluation score of 419.8 out of 500, the highest score ever awarded in FIFA’s history for a World Cup bid. This milestone reflects Saudi Arabia’s leadership and ongoing transformation into a hub of innovation and development.
The Kingdom officially submitted its bid in July at a FIFA ceremony in Paris. Experts believe that hosting the World Cup will attract millions of visitors worldwide, boosting key sectors such as hospitality, transportation, and entertainment. Furthermore, it is expected to attract substantial foreign investments in large-scale projects, including sports infrastructure and urban development.
Major Projects
Economic policy expert Ahmed Al-Shehri told Asharq Al-Awsat that hosting the tournament will significantly enhance Saudi Arabia’s tourism economy. The influx of millions of visitors is expected to boost revenue across sectors such as hotels, restaurants, transportation, and entertainment. He also noted that major projects like the Red Sea Project and Qiddiya will benefit from infrastructure upgrades, solidifying Saudi Arabia’s status as a global destination for tourism and investment.
Al-Shehri added that the event will strengthen international confidence in Saudi Arabia’s economy, encouraging foreign investors to channel capital into sectors such as sports, entertainment, and technology. He highlighted that infrastructure improvements, including transportation systems and sports facilities, will yield long-term benefits for the local economy and citizens.
Investment Partnerships
Economic analyst Rawan Bin Rubayan described hosting the World Cup as a historic opportunity with multifaceted benefits for the Saudi economy. Global events of this magnitude, she explained, enhance the Kingdom’s reputation as a leading investment and tourism destination while unlocking growth opportunities across various industries.
She highlighted that hosting the World Cup will increase Saudi Arabia’s appeal to international investors, particularly in sectors like hospitality, entertainment, transportation, and infrastructure. Constructing state-of-the-art stadiums and facilities will foster major investment partnerships and position Saudi Arabia among the world’s top organizers of international sporting events.
Bin Rubayan emphasized how the event complements Vision 2030, which prioritizes economic diversification and supports flagship projects like NEOM, Qiddiya, and the Red Sea Project. These initiatives are expected to accommodate millions of visitors, ensuring their long-term sustainability through heightened global visibility and investment.
Boosting the Tourism Sector
Bin Rubayan pointed out that sectors such as tourism and hospitality—including hotels, restaurants, and local retail—are set to experience significant growth due to rising demand, which will stimulate the local economy and generate new job opportunities.
She also noted that infrastructure upgrades, including advanced road networks and mass transit systems, will leave a lasting legacy, benefiting future generations and improving overall quality of life, stressing that the event is expected to boost international confidence in the Saudi economy and create long-term strategic partnerships.
Bin Rubayan characterized the 2034 FIFA World Cup as a key driver of economic growth and a pivotal moment in Saudi Arabia’s journey toward achieving Vision 2030. She added that the tournament promises to foster a more diverse, resilient, and sustainable economy while reinforcing the Kingdom’s status as a global powerhouse in sports, tourism, and innovation.

 

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Business

LNG Tanker Orders Gain Pace Despite Mixed Outlook from Iran War

A drone view shows the Bahamas‑flagged LNG tanker Nohshu Maru sailing through the Panama Canal as it operates at top capacity, with the war in Iran boosting demand from owners and operators of liquefied natural gas vessels, in Gamboa City, Panama, March 24, 2026. (Reuters)
A drone view shows the Bahamas‑flagged LNG tanker Nohshu Maru sailing through the Panama Canal as it operates at top capacity, with the war in Iran boosting demand from owners and operators of liquefied natural gas vessels, in Gamboa City, Panama, March 24, 2026. (Reuters)
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LNG Tanker Orders Gain Pace Despite Mixed Outlook from Iran War

A drone view shows the Bahamas‑flagged LNG tanker Nohshu Maru sailing through the Panama Canal as it operates at top capacity, with the war in Iran boosting demand from owners and operators of liquefied natural gas vessels, in Gamboa City, Panama, March 24, 2026. (Reuters)
A drone view shows the Bahamas‑flagged LNG tanker Nohshu Maru sailing through the Panama Canal as it operates at top capacity, with the war in Iran boosting demand from owners and operators of liquefied natural gas vessels, in Gamboa City, Panama, March 24, 2026. (Reuters)

Global orders to build liquefied natural gas carriers (LNGC) are set to rebound this year after a 2025 slump as growing LNG output and vessel fuel efficiency drive demand, industry executives and analysts say.

The rise in orders is offsetting concerns that supply disruptions from the US-Iran war may reduce near-term shipping demand and pressure freight rates.

Since late last year, shipbuilders in South Korea and China have received more orders, with 35 new LNGC builds contracted in the first quarter, according to consultancies Poten & Partners and Drewry.

By comparison, 37 LNGCs were ordered in all of 2025, with a record 171 orders placed in 2022, Drewry data shows. Each tanker costs $250 million-$260 million, and takes over three years to build.

Upcoming LNG production in the US, Africa, Canada and Argentina will generate tanker demand, along with a push towards fuel efficiency and accelerated vessel demolitions, said Pratiksha ‌Negi, Drewry's lead ‌analyst for LNG shipping, with steam turbine and diesel-electric carriers expected to be phased out.

FLEXIBLE ‌US ⁠VOLUMES

The global LNGC ⁠fleet numbers over 700 vessels, which handle the more than 400 million tons per annum (mtpa) of LNG supply.

Some 72 mtpa of new LNG capacity was approved globally last year, and more than 120 mtpa of new US LNG supply is coming to market in the next 3-4 years, said Fraser Carson, principal analyst, global LNG at Wood Mackenzie.

The growth of US LNG and flexible LNG supply creates trading patterns that require more shipping, he said.

US LNG is typically sold on a free-on-board basis with destination flexibility, allowing mid-voyage diversions that can tie up vessels for longer.

Japan's Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, the ⁠world's largest LNGC fleet owner with 107 vessels, expects US LNG supply investment to spur ‌tanker orders, CEO Jotaro Tamura said.

The company plans to grow its ‌LNGC fleet to approximately 150 vessels by around 2035.

Meanwhile, the demolition of steam-propelled LNGCs has accelerated since 2022 to a record ‌15 vessels last year, Drewry data showed, due to poor economics and tighter emissions regulations.

A proposed framework by the ‌International Maritime Organization to cut shipping emissions is also driving demand for new builds, said Uma Dutt, vice president, LNG at global ship management firm Anglo-Eastern, as the industry switches to dual-fuel vessels that can run on LNG.

WAR COMPLICATES OUTLOOK

The Iran war, however, presents conflicting signals for LNG shipping. Supply disruptions are pushing Asian LNG buyers towards alternative sources like Atlantic basin supply, increasing travel distances ‌for ships. It could also boost demand for LNG projects elsewhere, lifting overall demand for more carriers, said Wood Mackenzie's Carson.

But on the other hand, the war ⁠has also disrupted LNG flows through ⁠the Strait of Hormuz and sidelined 12.8 mtpa of Qatari capacity for three to five years, which could curb shipping demand and weigh on freight rates at a time where an "avalanche" of ship supply is already coming, he said.

Qatar, which operates over 100 LNGCs, will add 70-80 new builds over the next 3-4 years while the UAE's ADNOC is expected to double its fleet to 18 within 36 months, said Carson.

"Most of these new build vessels were earmarked to serve under-construction LNG projects that are now facing delays," he said.

"The longer those delays persist, the more likely it is that these ships are offered to the market on sublet arrangements, softening rates considerably."

Poten & Partners and Drewry expect a record 90-100 LNGCs to be delivered this year, up from 79 in 2025.

However, Drewry's Negi said seven of nine LNGCs initially scheduled for delivery this year and now pushed back to 2027-28 are linked to QatarEnergy.

Poten & Partners senior LNG analyst Irwin Yeo said some firms may delay placing big new build orders due to uncertainties triggered by the war.

"Market uncertainty and rising shipbuilding costs, including labor and raw materials amid the current Middle East crisis could deter some from placing orders."

Business

Saudi Banks Post Record Quarterly Profits of $6.4 Billion

A view of the King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh. (SPA)
A view of the King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh. (SPA)
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Saudi Banks Post Record Quarterly Profits of $6.4 Billion

A view of the King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh. (SPA)
A view of the King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia’s banking sector reinforced its role as a pillar of the national economy, posting a record start to 2026 with unprecedented first-quarter profits.

The Kingdom’s 10 listed banks posted combined net profit of $6.4 billion (SAR 23.95 billion) in the first quarter, up 7.6 percent from a year earlier, underscoring the sector’s ability to convert momentum generated by Vision 2030 into sustained financial gains.

The performance was driven by strong results from major lenders including Saudi National Bank, Al Rajhi Bank, Riyad Bank, Saudi Awwal Bank, Banque Saudi Fransi, Arab National Bank, Alinma Bank, Bank Albilad, the Saudi Investment Bank and Bank AlJazira.

Al Rajhi Bank led the sector, with profit rising 14.3 percent to SAR 6.75 billion. The bank attributed the increase to an 18.4 percent rise in net financing and investment income, stronger returns on financing and investment, a 14.4 percent increase in operating income, higher banking fees and foreign exchange income, and lower depreciation expenses.

The Saudi National Bank ranked second, reporting net profit of SAR 6.42 billion, up 6.66 percent. It said growth was driven by a 3.1 percent rise in financing and investment income to SAR 14.8 billion, supported by expansion in its lending portfolio, higher operating income and lower operating expenses, including reduced expected credit-loss provisions.

Riyad Bank held third place with profit of nearly SAR 2.61 billion, up 5.1 percent. The lender cited higher trading income and stronger special commission income, along with lower losses on non-trading investment sales. Lower impairment charges also helped trim operating expenses.

On a quarterly basis, the sector also set a new high, with first-quarter profit up 1.26 percent from the fourth quarter of 2025, when earnings reached $6.31 billion (SAR 23.66 billion).

Structural drivers

Financial markets analyst and member of the Saudi Economic Association Sulaiman Al-Humaid Al-Khaldi told Asharq Al-Awsat the record performance was driven by four main factors: elevated interest rates supporting margins, growth in mortgage and corporate lending linked to mega-projects, improving asset quality and lower provisioning, and government spending tied to Vision 2030 that created new financing opportunities.

The results reflected the resilience of Saudi banking, led by the Al Rajhi and Saudi National Bank, he underlined.

“This performance confirms the strength of the Kingdom’s banking model and its ability to benefit from a positive economic environment, with financing demand from individuals and companies remaining strong,” Al-Khaldi stated.

The sector earned more than SAR 95 billion in 2025, up 16 percent from the previous year, and profits could top SAR 100 billion ($26.6 billion) in 2026, according to the financial analyst.

He added that while possible interest-rate cuts could pressure margins, stronger financing demand and government capital spending should remain key growth drivers.

Economic momentum

Economic analyst and Founder and CEO of G.WORLD Mohamed Hamdy Omar said the record profits reflected the banking sector’s role as a major beneficiary of domestic economic growth.

He told Asharq Al-Awsat that the 7.6 percent rise in profit was driven not by temporary cyclical factors but by sustainable structural trends, notably continued credit growth linked to Vision 2030 projects such as NEOM, alongside expanding mortgage and retail lending.

Banks had also benefited from stronger net interest margins, helped by faster asset repricing than liabilities in recent periods, Omar remarked.

Moreover, diversified revenue streams reduced reliance on interest income, particularly through fees from payments, asset management and digital services, while cost discipline and improving asset quality - reflected in lower defaults and reduced credit provisions - also supported profitability. Digital transformation was delivering measurable gains in operational efficiency, particularly at larger banks.

Omar expected the sector to maintain strong performance in 2026, supported by financing demand and government capital expenditure, although falling rates could gradually pressure profit margins.

Improving conditions in the non-oil economy should also support asset quality, leaving the sector in a position of strength even as growth shifts to a more sustainable pace.

Business

China Vows Countermeasures if EU Enacts ‘Made in Europe’ Plan

Visitors tour exhibition booths by Huawei at the Auto China 2026, in Beijing, Friday, April 24, 2026. (AP)
Visitors tour exhibition booths by Huawei at the Auto China 2026, in Beijing, Friday, April 24, 2026. (AP)
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China Vows Countermeasures if EU Enacts ‘Made in Europe’ Plan

Visitors tour exhibition booths by Huawei at the Auto China 2026, in Beijing, Friday, April 24, 2026. (AP)
Visitors tour exhibition booths by Huawei at the Auto China 2026, in Beijing, Friday, April 24, 2026. (AP)

Beijing slammed on Monday an EU plan aimed to bolster the bloc's industries against fierce competition from China, vowing countermeasures if it is enacted.

The EU unveiled in March new "Made in Europe" rules for companies trying to access public funds in strategic sectors including cars, green tech and steel, obliging firms to meet minimum thresholds for EU-made parts.

The proposal, held up for months by wrangling over the measures, is a key part of a European Union drive to regain its competitive edge, reduce its industrial decline and stave off hundreds of thousands of job losses.

Beijing's commerce ministry said on Monday that it had submitted comments to the European Commission on Friday, expressing China's "serious concerns" regarding the act it called "systemic discrimination".

"If the EU... presses ahead with the legislation, and thereby harms the interests of Chinese companies, China will have no choice but to take countermeasures to firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of its enterprises," the commerce ministry warned in a statement.

European businesses in many of the sectors concerned by the proposal have long lamented they face unfair competition from heavily subsidized Chinese rivals.

The EU proposal, formally known as the "Industrial Accelerator Act", implicitly targets Chinese makers of batteries and electric vehicles by requiring foreign firms to partner with European firms and pass on technological know-how when setting up shop in the bloc.

The Chinese Chamber of Commerce to the EU said this month the plan marked a shift towards protectionism that would affect trade cooperation between the EU and China.