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Saudi Arabia’s Maaden Successfully Raises $1 Billion Through 10-Year International Sukuk

The offering is an important step in Maaden's journey to enhance its financial flexibility. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The offering is an important step in Maaden's journey to enhance its financial flexibility. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia’s Maaden Successfully Raises $1 Billion Through 10-Year International Sukuk

The offering is an important step in Maaden's journey to enhance its financial flexibility. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The offering is an important step in Maaden's journey to enhance its financial flexibility. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Maaden) announced the successful completion of a dollar-denominated sukuk offering with a total value of $1 billion (approximately 3.75 billion riyals). This issuance is part of the company's international sukuk program, which aims to attract qualified investors from within the Kingdom and abroad to strengthen the company's financial position and support its strategic projects.

In its statement published on the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) website on Sunday, the company said the offering is a follow-up to its previous announcement on January 22 regarding the start of the subscription process.

The issuance witnessed strong demand, reflecting international investors' confidence in Maaden's financial solvency and the future of the mining sector as a fundamental pillar of Saudi Vision 2030.

According to the statement, the total number of sukuk issued is 5,000, with a nominal value of $200,000 per sukuk. The company set the sukuk yield at 5.250 percent per annum, with a maturity period extending to 10 years, reflecting the company's ability to obtain long-term financing at competitive costs in international markets.

Maaden indicated that these sukuk will be listed on the International Securities Market of the London Stock Exchange. It also confirmed that the sale process will be conducted in accordance with applicable international regulations, including “Regulation S” and “Rule 144A” of the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended, which are standards that ensure the issuance reaches a broad base of global investment institutions.

Regarding the redemption conditions, the company stated that the sukuk may be redeemed in certain pre-defined cases, in accordance with the terms and conditions detailed in the offering document for the issuance.

The offering is an important step in Maaden's journey to enhance its financial flexibility at a time when the company is experiencing rapid growth and expansion in its portfolio of mining assets inside and outside the Kingdom.

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Business

3rd Edition of Global Labor Market Conference to Kick off in Riyadh on Monday

The King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) during the early hours of the night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, August 29, 2025. (Reuters)
The King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) during the early hours of the night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, August 29, 2025. (Reuters)
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3rd Edition of Global Labor Market Conference to Kick off in Riyadh on Monday

The King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) during the early hours of the night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, August 29, 2025. (Reuters)
The King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) during the early hours of the night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, August 29, 2025. (Reuters)

Riyadh will host on Monday the third edition of the Global Labor Market Conference (GLMC) under the patronage of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. Held under the theme “Future in Progress,” the event will feature high-level participation from decision-makers, thought leaders, and experts from around the world.

Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Ahmed Al-Rajhi stressed that convening the third edition of GLMC under King Salman’s patronage reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to its international role in advancing global dialogue on the future of work and addressing the shared challenges reshaping labor markets worldwide.

The conference is a global platform that brings together key stakeholders to exchange expertise and build shared visions that contribute to the development of more flexible and inclusive policies, boost workforce readiness, and achieve a balance between economic growth and quality of life, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, he added.

This year’s conference will see broad international participation, with more than 10,000 participants from 100 countries, alongside more than 40 labor ministers, and representatives of international organizations, the private sector, and academic institutions. The conference will also feature more than 200 speakers across over 50 sessions.

The two-day conference is organized by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development in strategic partnership with a number of international organizations, including the International Labor Organization (ILO), the World Bank, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), UN Tourism, Labor Center of the Organization of Islamic Conference, and King’s Trust International (KTI), and the Mohammed bin Salman Foundation (Misk).

In its third edition, the conference will focus on six main pillars reflecting the major transformations taking place in global labor markets. These include trade transformations and their impact on employment, informal economies, the new global skills landscape, the real impact of artificial intelligence on jobs and productivity, building resilient labor markets in times of crisis, and boosting job quality, with particular attention given to youth as the foundation of the future economy.

The conference will include a number of milestones, most notably the Ministerial Meeting of labor ministers, bringing together ministers from more than 40 countries to discuss practical and immediate employment pathways in light of global transformations. Other activities include the signing of agreements and memoranda of understanding, the organization of bilateral meetings, and the launch of new initiatives.

The conference will also witness the graduation of the first cohort of the Labor Market Academy, as part of efforts to bolster capacity building for policymakers, develop specialized labor market competencies, and enhance international knowledge exchange in this field.

GLMC is one of the world’s leading platforms dedicated to labor market issues, aiming to translate international dialogue into practical policies and initiatives, strengthen cooperation among countries, and support the development of more resilient and sustainable labor markets, contributing to enhanced economic competitiveness at the local, regional, and global levels.

Business

Venezuela Hopes to Boost Its Oil Production by 18 Percent in 2026

A view of the installations at the Puerto La Cruz oil refinery of Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA in Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela, January 23, 2026. (Reuters)
A view of the installations at the Puerto La Cruz oil refinery of Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA in Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela, January 23, 2026. (Reuters)
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Venezuela Hopes to Boost Its Oil Production by 18 Percent in 2026

A view of the installations at the Puerto La Cruz oil refinery of Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA in Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela, January 23, 2026. (Reuters)
A view of the installations at the Puerto La Cruz oil refinery of Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA in Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela, January 23, 2026. (Reuters)

Venezuela wants to boost its oil production by 18 percent this year through planned reforms that will fully open the sector to private investors, the head of the state oil giant PDVSA said Saturday.

"We had a law...that was not up to date with what we needed as an industry," company CEO Hector Obregon said, adding the target for 2026 "is to grow by at least 18 percent."

Proposed reforms to the Organic Hydrocarbons Law would update the legal framework in the oil industry "to ensure that private investors can have legal certainty," Obregon said from the Puerto La Cruz refinery in eastern Venezuela.

Analysts say the law proposed by interim president Delcy Rodriguez and adopted in a first parliamentary reading on Thursday was drafted under pressure from Washington after the seizure of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro from Caracas by US forces during a raid and air strikes on January 3.

The law is expected to be passed next week.

The South American nation produces around 1.2 million barrels per day (bpd), according to authorities, and sits on about one-fifth of the world's oil reserves.

Years of mismanagement and corruption have driven production down from a peak of over 3 million bpd in the early 2000s to a historic low of 350,000 barrels daily in 2020.

If adopted, the bill would roll back decades of state control over Venezuela's oil sector, which were tightened by Maduro's late mentor, socialist firebrand Hugo Chavez, in the mid-2000s.

US President Donald Trump has made no secret of his interest in Venezuela's oil. His administration has stated bluntly that it is taking over sales of the country's crude petroleum.

Rodriguez this week announced that the country had received an initial transfer of $300 million after the sale of its oil by the United States.

Oil exploitation had until now been the preserve of the state or of joint ventures in which the state held a majority stake.

The bill stipulates that private companies domiciled in Venezuela would be able to exploit oil after signing contracts.

"The main idea behind the hydrocarbons law and its reform is for us to increase oil production," said National Assembly president Jorge Rodriguez, who is also the brother of the acting president.

"What is the primary objective? To adapt to a situation that allows us to extract the oil from the land that belongs to all Venezuelan women and men."

Business

Lenovo: Saudi Arabia Capable of Hosting High-Value Industries

A view of a Lenovo event in Saudi Arabia. (Lenovo)
A view of a Lenovo event in Saudi Arabia. (Lenovo)
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Lenovo: Saudi Arabia Capable of Hosting High-Value Industries

A view of a Lenovo event in Saudi Arabia. (Lenovo)
A view of a Lenovo event in Saudi Arabia. (Lenovo)

China’s Lenovo is betting big on Saudi Arabia, naming Riyadh as its regional base for the Middle East, Türkiye, and Africa as it ramps up manufacturing and research investments to boost the Kingdom’s non-oil economy.

The partnership is set to inject fresh momentum into Saudi Arabia’s non-oil gross domestic product through a large-scale manufacturing facility and an integrated research and development ecosystem aimed at localizing knowledge and building national talent capabilities.

This was outlined by Tareq Alangari, Senior Vice President and President of Lenovo for the Middle East, Türkiye, and Africa, who described the company’s investments in Saudi Arabia as among its most critical global commitments, reflecting a long-term partnership with the Kingdom in digital transformation and economic diversification.

The move is part of a strategic collaboration with “Alat”, covering advanced manufacturing, talent development, innovation, and strengthening regional presence, under a vision that extends beyond the local market to serve broader regional markets.

Market support

Alangari told Asharq Al-Awsat that this commitment rests on two main initiatives that underpin Lenovo’s strategy in the Kingdom.

The first is the establishment of an advanced manufacturing facility spanning 200,000 square meters in Riyadh’s Integrated Logistics Special Zone, scheduled to begin production in 2026. The facility will become a global site producing millions of devices annually, including laptops, smartphones, desktop computers, and servers manufactured in Saudi Arabia.

The second initiative is the establishment of Lenovo’s regional headquarters in Riyadh, which will serve as the leadership center for the Middle East, Türkiye, and Africa.

The headquarters will house leadership, research and development, marketing, retail strategy, and customer engagement functions to support government, commercial, and consumer markets across the region, streamlining decision-making and strengthening proximity to customers and partners.

The company has previously projected that these combined investments could contribute up to $10 billion to Saudi Arabia’s non-oil GDP by 2030, while creating extensive direct and indirect job opportunities and accelerating the development of local skills in advanced technologies and artificial intelligence.

Supply chain resilience

Alangari said the company’s approach in Saudi Arabia is not based on short-term deals, but on a transformational vision aimed at strengthening regional supply chain resilience, deepening local partnerships, and supporting Saudi Arabia’s ambition to become a global hub for innovation and the manufacturing of sustainable technologies and AI-driven solutions.

Assessing the investment environment, he said Saudi Arabia represents a high-growth market of exceptional strategic importance, driven by economic diversification, rapid adoption of modern technologies, and the expansion of advanced sectors.

This growth, he noted, aligns with Lenovo’s strengths in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, infrastructure modernization, and the digital sector.

In the supply chain, Lenovo’s factory in the Integrated Logistics Special Zone is expected to play a key role in enhancing resilience at the local and regional levels.

Having a production line in the Kingdom, at the heart of the Middle East and Africa, will help reduce delivery times, ease logistical complexities, and improve the ability to respond quickly to market needs, according to Alangari.

Technology localization

In parallel, Lenovo is seeking to localize advanced technologies by building local capabilities, transferring advanced manufacturing expertise, embedding sustainability standards, and developing a supplier ecosystem that supports the Kingdom’s long-term technological leadership.

The company places the development of Saudi talent at the core of its investments. It has launched a national program to develop capabilities in cooperation with Alat, the Human Resources Development Fund, and the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources.

The program aims to train Saudi graduates in advanced manufacturing, engineering, AI-enabled operations, and digital technologies through a mix of theoretical education and hands-on training inside the Kingdom and at global manufacturing sites.

As its operations expand, Alangari expects Lenovo’s investments to create thousands of direct and indirect jobs, supported by production growth and the expansion of research and development, manufacturing, and customer experience activities.

He said this integrated ecosystem would boost local innovation, expand the range of advanced technologies manufactured in Saudi Arabia, and help build a sustainable technology environment in line with the Kingdom’s economic and industrial ambitions.