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Kearney: Saudi Cities Continue to Improve Global Performance Thanks to Infrastructure, Innovation

 Aerial view of Saudi capital, Riyadh (SPA) 
 Aerial view of Saudi capital, Riyadh (SPA) 
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Kearney: Saudi Cities Continue to Improve Global Performance Thanks to Infrastructure, Innovation

 Aerial view of Saudi capital, Riyadh (SPA) 
 Aerial view of Saudi capital, Riyadh (SPA) 

Management consultant Kearney’s Global Cities Report showed on Monday a significant improvement in the performance of Saudi cities on the international stage, underlining the rapid pace of transformation the Kingdom is witnessing under Vision 2030.

The report, based on the Global Cities Index (GCI) and Global Cities Outlook (GCO), highlighted the significant progress in Riyadh, Makkah, Madinah and Dammam, thanks to sustained investment in infrastructure, innovation, and livability.

GCI measures 158 cities across key dimensions like business activity, human capital, information exchange, cultural experience, and political engagement, ultimately evaluating a city’s ability to attract, retain, and generate global flows of people, capital, and ideas.

Foreign Direct Investment Inflows

The Index found that Riyadh advanced eight places to 56th, and posted strong gains in personal well-being and continues to lead in Foreign Direct Investment inflows, reinforcing its role as the leading national magnet for global investment.

Jeddah achieved a 1-rank increase and is placed 83rd worldwide, benefiting from its growing commercial and cultural activity, and its rising role as a commercial and entrepreneurship hub.

Meanwhile, other Saudi cities such as Makkah, Madinah and Dammam significantly improved their rankings—reflecting the success of efforts to diversify development beyond the capital, the report showed.

Along the Index, GCO offers a forward-looking assessment, evaluating how effectively the world's leading metros are creating conditions for future success. It seeks to measure future potential across four dimensions: personal well-being, economics, innovation, and governance.

At this level, Riyadh, up eight places in the ranks, continues to lead the kingdom’s modernization efforts.

Jeddah's ranking jumped 39 places to reach 61, according to Kearney’s report. This improvement is a result of the city's performance in the report's analysis of socio-economic and political developments.

Balanced Regional Development

The report said each Saudi city is advancing in distinct ways.

Riyadh posted strong gains in personal well-being and continues to lead in FDI inflows, reinforcing its role as the leading national magnet for global investment.

Meanwhile, other Saudi cities such as Makkah (+40), Madinah (+41), and Dammam (+28) significantly improved their rankings—reflecting the success of efforts to diversify development beyond the capital.

The results also confirm that Saudi cities are making progress in transforming Vision 2030 targets into urban achievements, and are reshaping regional and global competitiveness through a strategy of diversification, innovation, and sustainability.

Rudolph Lohmeyer, a partner based in the Middle East, where he leads Kearney’s National Transformations Institute (NTI) and the International Affairs platform of the Government and Economic Development Practice, stated that Saudi cities' improved rankings in the GCI and GCO, demonstrate the success of investments in the Kingdom’s infrastructure, talent, and innovation.

 

 

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Business

Saudi Arabia, France Discuss Enhancing Mining Sector Partnership

Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef has met with France’s Interministerial Delegate for Strategic Minerals and Metals Supplies Benjamin Gallezot. SPA
Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef has met with France’s Interministerial Delegate for Strategic Minerals and Metals Supplies Benjamin Gallezot. SPA
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Saudi Arabia, France Discuss Enhancing Mining Sector Partnership

Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef has met with France’s Interministerial Delegate for Strategic Minerals and Metals Supplies Benjamin Gallezot. SPA
Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef has met with France’s Interministerial Delegate for Strategic Minerals and Metals Supplies Benjamin Gallezot. SPA

Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef has met with France’s Interministerial Delegate for Strategic Minerals and Metals Supplies Benjamin Gallezot to discuss strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries in the mining and minerals sector.

The two sides affirmed the strength of bilateral relations and explored opportunities for cooperation in mineral exploration, mining investment, and the localization of mineral industries.

They also discussed ways to leverage advanced technologies and innovative solutions to improve sector efficiency and enhance sustainability, as well as the importance of integrating value chains for strategic minerals.

The meeting was held in Istanbul on the sidelines of the Critical Minerals Forum, organized on April 28 and 29 by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

The forum was attended by government and industry leaders, as well as international organizations, to discuss challenges and opportunities related to critical minerals supply chains.

Business

Shehbaz Sharif: We Repaid $3.5 Billion in Debt Thanks to Saudi Arabia’s 'Pivotal' Support

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman holding talks with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Jeddah on March 12, 2026 (SPA).
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman holding talks with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Jeddah on March 12, 2026 (SPA).
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Shehbaz Sharif: We Repaid $3.5 Billion in Debt Thanks to Saudi Arabia’s 'Pivotal' Support

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman holding talks with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Jeddah on March 12, 2026 (SPA).
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman holding talks with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Jeddah on March 12, 2026 (SPA).

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Wednesday that his country had successfully repaid $3.5 billion in mandatory bilateral debt, affirming that this achievement came thanks to the “pivotal” support of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

He clarified that this repayment did not affect the stability of foreign exchange reserves; rather, it strengthened market confidence in Pakistan’s ability to meet its international obligations.

The Kingdom had announced the provision of substantial financial support to Pakistan, including the extension of the term of a previous $5 billion deposit and the provision of an additional $3 billion deposit, aimed at enhancing economic stability and addressing global changes.

On Friday, the State Bank of Pakistan announced that Islamabad had completed the repayment of $3.45 billion in deposits to the United Arab Emirates, settling a final tranche worth $1 billion. The bank had also announced that it had received the Saudi deposit worth $3 billion.

This came after the United Arab Emirates requested that Pakistan return the funds it had deposited in the State Bank of Pakistan in 2018 to bolster its foreign exchange reserves.

This qualitative support aims to enable the Pakistani economy to confront global economic changes and strengthen its financial resilience, in a way that positively reflects on the living conditions of the Pakistani people. It also reaffirms the Kingdom’s consistent and ongoing position of standing alongside Pakistan under all circumstances, embodying the sincere bonds of brotherhood between the leaderships and the peoples.

In an address before the cabinet, the Pakistani Prime Minister clarified the current financial situation, stating: “We have repaid our mandatory external debts (amounting to approximately $3.5 billion in bilateral loans). Our foreign exchange reserves are stable at their current level, and we have fulfilled our obligations and repaid our debts.”

These developments constitute a key pillar in Pakistan’s relationship with international institutions; the stability of liquid reserves at around $20.6 billion (including $15.1 billion held by the central bank) contributes to strengthening Islamabad’s negotiating position with the International Monetary Fund. Pakistan’s success in repaying its bilateral debts, alongside adherence to the requirements of the Fund’s financing program, is seen as a vote of international confidence in the Pakistani economy’s ability to meet its immediate and future financial commitments.

The central bank indicated that its success in managing the outflows required to repay these billions was achieved without causing any shock to the value of the local currency, as the Pakistani rupee remained stable thanks to supportive deposits and cautious monetary policies.

For his part, Sharif explained that this repayment did not come at the expense of monetary stability; rather, it resulted from a coordinated plan between the Ministry of Finance and the central bank to ensure that foreign exchange reserves remained at safe levels, which strengthens Pakistan’s position in its ongoing negotiations with international financial institutions.

Regarding the role played by the Kingdom in securing this financial passage, the Prime Minister expressed his country’s deep appreciation, saying: “We are extremely grateful to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman; they played a pivotal role in this matter. I am confident that these major issues will also be resolved, and Pakistan’s peace efforts continue uninterrupted and without relent.”

Sharif noted that this Saudi support was not merely temporary financial assistance, but rather a reflection of the depth of historical ties, adding: “Just as we have strengthened mutual cooperation by removing obstacles at both the joint and institutional levels, positive results have emerged from this.”

It is worth noting that this new Saudi move is not unprecedented. In 2018, the Kingdom provided a $6 billion support package, which included a $3 billion deposit in the State Bank of Pakistan, in addition to deferred oil payment facilities of the same value.

Business

New Shipping Service Connects Jeddah Islamic Port with China, Malaysia and Egypt

Jeddah Islamic Port (Mawani)
Jeddah Islamic Port (Mawani)
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New Shipping Service Connects Jeddah Islamic Port with China, Malaysia and Egypt

Jeddah Islamic Port (Mawani)
Jeddah Islamic Port (Mawani)

The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) has announced the addition of China United Lines’ new SGX shipping service to Jeddah Islamic Port, enhancing the Kingdom’s connectivity with global markets, improving supply chain efficiency, and supporting trade flows through the Red Sea- one of the world’s most important maritime routes.

The new shipping service connects Jeddah Islamic Port with the ports of Shanghai and Nansha in China, as well as ports in Malaysia and Egypt, with a capacity of up to 2,452 TEUs.

This initiative forms part of Mawani’s ongoing efforts to improve the Kingdom’s performance in global logistics indicators, strengthen national exports, and support the objectives of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, which aims to position Saudi Arabia as a global logistics hub and a key link between three continents.