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Saudi Arabia Plans to Establish Specialized Courts to Boost Investment Climate

King Abdullah Financial Center in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
King Abdullah Financial Center in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Plans to Establish Specialized Courts to Boost Investment Climate

King Abdullah Financial Center in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)
King Abdullah Financial Center in Riyadh (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia is exploring the establishment of specialized courts to enhance its investment environment, aligning with the goals of the National Investment Strategy and Vision 2030. This initiative aims to support development and improvement efforts tailored to the needs and aspirations of investors.
The Kingdom has undergone an unprecedented transformation, implementing over 800 reforms to date. These include the Civil Transactions Law, the Bankruptcy Law, the Public-Private Partnership Program, and the Government Tenders and Procurement Law, which have collectively positioned Saudi Arabia as the 16th most competitive nation globally, according to the IMD World Competitiveness Index.
According to information available to Asharq Al-Awsat, the Ministry of Investment is currently consulting public and private entities to assess the necessity of specialized investment courts. This initiative focuses on improving investors’ interactions with the Kingdom’s judicial system amidst rapid legislative advancements, with the aim of bolstering Saudi Arabia’s status as a leading regional and global investment destination.
To ensure effective planning, the Ministry is working closely with key government agencies operating in strategic sectors. It has requested detailed input from relevant bodies, involving decision-makers to contribute to the project.
In August 2024, Saudi Arabia announced an updated investment law set to take effect in early 2025. This framework is designed to attract global investments, enhance the competitiveness of the local investment climate, support economic diversification, and create job opportunities, all in alignment with Vision 2030 and the National Investment Strategy.
The updated law is a cornerstone of the National Investment Strategy launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. It aims to drive development, diversify the economy, and attract more than $100 billion annually in foreign direct investment by 2030.
The law enhances investor rights by ensuring fair treatment, protecting intellectual property, and allowing freedom in investment management and seamless capital transfers. It also provides transparency and clarity in processes, aligning with global best practices to foster a trustworthy investment environment. Simplified procedures now replace the previous licensing system, offering greater protection, flexibility, and confidence to investors conducting business in the Kingdom.
Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih emphasized that the updated law is part of broader reforms demonstrating the Kingdom’s commitment to creating a supportive and secure environment for both local and foreign investors. These efforts include adopting global best practices and revising the Foreign Investment Law, which was introduced 25 years ago, to develop a comprehensive investment framework that serves both Saudi and foreign investors.

 

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Business

Lebanon’s Central Bank Governor: 90% of Depositors Are a Priority, IMF Deal is ‘Last Credible Pathway’

Lebanese Central Bank Governor Kareem Said (AP)
Lebanese Central Bank Governor Kareem Said (AP)
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Lebanon’s Central Bank Governor: 90% of Depositors Are a Priority, IMF Deal is ‘Last Credible Pathway’

Lebanese Central Bank Governor Kareem Said (AP)
Lebanese Central Bank Governor Kareem Said (AP)

Lebanon’s central bank Governor Karim Souaid said on Sunday a prioritization of smaller depositors that make up mostly 90 percent of accounts is both economically rational and socially necessary, adding that an agreement with the International Monetary Fund is “the last credible pathway to anchor reforms.”

In an opinion piece for Britain’s Financial Times headlined “Lebanon needs help to secure its economic recovery,” Souaid wrote that the country’s “economic crisis is often described as complex. It is not. It is the predictable result of fiscal indiscipline by dilettante governments, monetary mismanagement by the central bank and the concentrated misallocation of private savings by the banking sector.”

Yet, he praised the government’s “policy adjustments,” which he said “are moving the country in the right direction.”

“Fiscal balances have improved, largely through higher tax collection and constrained spending. This is key, but not enough to resolve all impediments towards recovery,” he wrote.

Restructuring of banks

According to Souaid, the central bank’s proposed banking restructuring framework considers that “losses must be allocated between principal stakeholders — the state, the central bank and the commercial banks — before a turnaround can take shape.”

He stressed that “the prioritization of smaller depositors — the overwhelming majority of accounts at almost 90 percent — is both economically rational and socially necessary.”

Souaid added that “a banking system cannot be rebuilt on impaired assets and inadequate capital. It must be recapitalized with fresh equity or seriously downsized, to reflect economic reality. Anything in between merely prolongs stagnation.”

The cash economy and fighting corruption

Souaid warned against a cash-based economy, saying it weakens tax collection, damages growth and facilitates illegal financial activities. He called for restoring trust in the formal banking system by reversing this trend.

He added that the central bank is supporting criminal and civil actions, in Lebanon and abroad, against former officials and banking principals implicated in fraud. "The objective is clear — reclaim this misappropriated money and uphold the rights of depositors whose funds have long borne the cost of such abuses."

Armed conflict and the negotiations with the IMF

“There is still one factor that no economic model can easily absorb: armed conflict,” said Souaid. “War brings uncertainty that deters investment, accelerates capital flight and erodes gains from policy reforms. Under such conditions, even sound economic measures yield diminished returns.”

The governor wrote that “the IMF is deeply engaged with the government in negotiations that aim towards a constructive resolution plan — arguably the last credible pathway to anchor reforms and a sustainable recovery. Lebanon has little room to impose any counter-conditions so the chance of an accord is rather positive.”

Message to the international community

Souaid lamented that “international actors have provided sound advice in abundance. Friends and neighbors have offered support, in principle. However, financial support has been more limited.”

“This reflects a familiar hesitation: a preference for policy correction before capital commitment. Yet stabilization often requires both to proceed. Without a bridge, even well-designed reforms risk exhaustion before they take hold.”

Souaid said he was sending a “clear” message to the international community, by saying “support a reform-driven government now or defer assistance and risk a far more destabilized reality, after conflict has taken its toll and without the assurance of the institutional capacity needed to implement it.”

Business

Kuwait: Oil Production Expected to Reach 2.628 Million bpd in June

People sit on a bench on the Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad al-Sabah Causeway as a Zhonggu Shipping container ship sails past on its way towards the port of Shuwaikh in Kuwait City on February 28, 2026. (Photo by YASSER AL-ZAYYAT / AFP)
People sit on a bench on the Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad al-Sabah Causeway as a Zhonggu Shipping container ship sails past on its way towards the port of Shuwaikh in Kuwait City on February 28, 2026. (Photo by YASSER AL-ZAYYAT / AFP)
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Kuwait: Oil Production Expected to Reach 2.628 Million bpd in June

People sit on a bench on the Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad al-Sabah Causeway as a Zhonggu Shipping container ship sails past on its way towards the port of Shuwaikh in Kuwait City on February 28, 2026. (Photo by YASSER AL-ZAYYAT / AFP)
People sit on a bench on the Sheikh Jaber al-Ahmad al-Sabah Causeway as a Zhonggu Shipping container ship sails past on its way towards the port of Shuwaikh in Kuwait City on February 28, 2026. (Photo by YASSER AL-ZAYYAT / AFP)

Kuwait's oil production is expected to reach 2.628 million barrels per day in June, the state news agency (KUNA) quoted the country's oil minister as ⁠saying on Sunday.

Seven ⁠OPEC+ countries will raise oil output targets by 188,000 barrels per ⁠day in June, the third consecutive monthly increase, OPEC+ said in a statement after an online meeting.

The output targets are largely symbolic ⁠for ⁠now, as Gulf countries have had to curtail production while the Strait of Hormuz is shut during the Iran war.

Business

Maritime Alliances Propel Saudi Arabia Toward Building Global Logistics Influence

Containers assembled at a Saudi port (SPA)
Containers assembled at a Saudi port (SPA)
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Maritime Alliances Propel Saudi Arabia Toward Building Global Logistics Influence

Containers assembled at a Saudi port (SPA)
Containers assembled at a Saudi port (SPA)

In a short period, Saudi Arabia has moved into a phase of building global logistics influence through maritime alliances with major international companies. The latest step is the launch of a new shipping route linking the Kingdom with Europe, alongside 18 other maritime services currently in operation, supporting national exports, improving access to markets, and reinforcing the country’s position as a key logistics hub.

The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) announced on Saturday the addition of a new shipping service by MSC, the world’s largest container shipping company, named “Europe–Red Sea–Middle East,” to Jeddah Islamic Port and King Abdullah Port in Rabigh, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen maritime connectivity between the Kingdom and global ports and to support import and export flows in cooperation with leading global shipping lines.

MSC said in a statement on its X platform that the new fast shipping service is designed to meet growing demand and provide reliable and efficient connections in a complex operating environment.

The new service links Jeddah Islamic Port with several major global ports, including Gdansk, Klaipeda, Bremerhaven, Antwerp, Valencia, Barcelona, Gioia Tauro, and Abu Qir, extending to King Abdullah Port, Jeddah, and Aqaba, with a capacity of up to 16,000 TEUs.

The authority also revealed on Sunday the launch of 18 maritime shipping services at present, supporting the growth of national exports, improving their efficient access to international markets, and strengthening the Kingdom’s position as a central logistics hub.

Strategic Shift

Specialists told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Kingdom is undergoing a strategic transformation that strengthens its position as a logistics hub linking three continents and supports the goals of Vision 2030 to position Saudi Arabia as a global logistics platform. They said this reflects cumulative investments in port infrastructure, digital transformation, technical integration, and partnerships with leading global shipping lines.

They added that linking the Kingdom with Europe reduces time and cost and enhances the global reach of Saudi products.

Sovereign Tool

Zaid Al-Jarba, an expert in digital transformation and logistics services, told Asharq Al-Awsat that amid rapid shifts in global supply chains, efficient logistics connectivity is no longer merely an operational advantage but a sovereign tool reshaping economic power balances between countries. He said the launch of the new maritime route to Europe, alongside the addition of 18 services in a short period, signals the Kingdom’s transition to an advanced stage in building its logistics influence.

He added that what distinguishes this step is not only the expansion in the number of routes, but the quality of operational integration across Saudi ports, describing an interconnected system that begins at Jeddah Islamic Port and King Abdullah Port and extends through King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam via feeder vessels, reflecting a unified logistics network rather than separate gateways.

He said the move supports Vision 2030 and the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, which aims to establish the Kingdom as a global logistics platform by improving logistics hub performance, upgrading infrastructure, and adopting modern transport systems.

Operational Capacity

Al-Jarba said recent figures, including the launch of 18 new maritime services within a short timeframe with a total capacity of 123,552 TEUs, reflect high operational capacity and flexibility in responding to global changes.

He noted that the presence of global companies such as MSC, Maersk, and CMA CGM within the operating ecosystem reflects international confidence in Saudi Arabia’s logistics environment, indicating that the sector has moved beyond efficiency improvements toward maximizing economic and competitive impact.

He added that improved maritime connectivity not only supports imports but also serves as a key enabler for national exports by reducing delivery times to European markets, improving reliability, and lowering logistics costs, thereby enhancing the competitiveness of Saudi goods, particularly in industrial, food, and petrochemical sectors.

He said developments in Saudi ports go beyond expanding shipping routes to reflect a broader strategic shift toward building an integrated, globally competitive logistics system, adding that the Kingdom is steadily advancing toward cementing its position as a global logistics hub and a key link in international supply chains.

Logistics Integration

Khaled AlGhamdi, a supply chain and logistics expert, told Asharq Al-Awsat that adding these services expands alternative options that integrate with other logistics modes, including land, rail, and air, as part of broader efforts to enhance integration across the transport and logistics sector through multiple initiatives and international partnerships aimed at reducing time, lowering costs, and boosting productivity.

He said the new Europe link in particular will significantly accelerate cargo movement in both directions, from King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam to Jeddah Islamic Port and King Abdullah Port, reflecting efforts to enhance sector integration through expanded services, improved efficiency, and greater reliability, further cementing the Kingdom’s position as a global hub linking three continents.

He added that since the launch of Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia has seen broad progress in transport and logistics, including the rollout of a national strategy and projects exceeding 280 billion riyals, contributing to the Kingdom’s rise to 17th place in the Logistics Performance Index, underscoring the scale of progress achieved.