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RIYADH: �������� and Panama have signed a bilateral air services agreement to enhance air connectivity between the two countries and expand access to global aviation markets.

The deal was signed during the 55th edition of the Paris Air Show by Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, president of the General Authority of Civil Aviation, and establishes a regulatory framework for safe, efficient, and fair air services, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

The deal reflects the Kingdom’s broader efforts to expand its global aviation footprint in line with Vision 2030. As part of its National Aviation Strategy, the country is building international partnerships, strengthening regulatory frameworks, and increasing air connectivity to link to 250 global destinations and transport 330 million passengers annually by 2030.

The new agreement complements the 1944 Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation, the legal foundation for global air travel. It includes provisions on traffic rights, airline designation, and licensing, as well as the enforcement of international safety and security standards.

It is also designed to promote fair competition and support the long-term commercial interests of national carriers in both countries.

The deal aims to serve the common economic interests of national carriers and enhance their participation in the air transport market by applying modern market-entry models and supporting all forms of air traffic, SPA reported.

“The organization’s participation aims to highlight the role of the civil aviation sector in the Kingdom as an important driver of the national economy, the promising investment opportunities it offers, and to learn more about the latest innovative global technologies in the sector,” the report added.

��������, represented by GACA, concluded its participation at the Paris Air Show with a wider range of strategic announcements aimed at bolstering its aviation sector. Key outcomes included a memorandum of understanding with Airbus on environmental sustainability and aviation safety, a leasing deal for 77 new aircraft by Avilease, and Riyadh Air’s order for 50 Airbus A350-1000 jets, increasing its future fleet to 182 aircraft in line with Vision 2030’s goal of positioning Riyadh as a global air hub.

The Saudi delegation was led by Saleh Al-Jasser, minister of transport and logistic services and chairman of GACA, accompanied by GACA president and senior executives from across the Kingdom’s aviation ecosystem. Their participation focused on strengthening partnerships with leading aerospace companies, attracting investment into the Saudi aviation sector, and advancing bilateral cooperation.

During the show, Al-Jasser and the delegation toured various pavilions showcasing innovations in advanced air mobility, aerospace, sustainability, and smart manufacturing.

They observed emerging solutions featuring high levels of automation and digitization across both commercial and military aircraft.

In addition to the MoU with Airbus, the show saw key commercial signings. Avilease, a Public Investment Fund-owned leasing firm, agreed to purchase 77 new-generation aircraft, including A350 freighters and A320 narrow-body jets. Riyadh Air confirmed an order for 50 A350-1000 aircraft, part of its plan to turn Riyadh into a global aviation hub.

A separate agreement was signed between Cluster 2 Airports Co. and Airbus to explore collaboration opportunities in training, development, and investment.

Al-Duailej also met with several global aviation leaders, including Damien Caze, director general of the French Civil Aviation Authority; Arjan Meijer, CEO of Embraer; and Bahrain’s Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications Sheikh Abdulla Al-Khalifa, to discuss regional cooperation.

The Kingdom’s presence at the Paris Air Show underscored its commitment to civil aviation as a driver of economic growth, innovation, and international connectivity. The event is one of the world’s most prominent in the aerospace industry, attracting thousands of participants and showcasing the latest in aviation, defense, and space technologies.

RIYADH: Foreign investors held SR394.58 billion ($105.2 billion) in Saudi equities as of June 12, marking an annual decline of 1.1 percent, although their market share rose amid a broader downturn. 

According to the latest data from Saudi Exchange, the dip in foreign ownership comes as the total value of holdings in the main market fell to SR9.14 trillion, down from SR9.95 trillion in June 2024, as valuations across key sectors — including financials, materials, and energy — softened. 

The increase in foreign investors’ market share — from 4.01 percent to 4.32 percent — is attributed to the overall decline in market size. 

Saudi nationals remain dominant in the market, holding SR8.68 trillion, or 94.94 percent of total ownership, down from SR9.48 trillion, or 95.28 percent, a year earlier.

Investments from Gulf Cooperation Council countries also dipped, with holdings falling from SR70.17 billion to SR67.46 billion, despite their share slightly increasing to 0.74 percent. 

The drop in market capitalization coincided with a 1.5 percent decline in the Tadawul All Share Index on June 12, driven by losses in heavyweight stocks such as Al Rajhi Bank and ��������n Mining Co. The selloff came amid renewed geopolitical tensions in the region. 

“While solid fundamentals offer a hopeful outlook, the market’s reaction was more heavily influenced by geopolitical tensions,” said Milad Azar, a market analyst at XTB MENA, in comments to Reuters. 

His statement followed the US decision to reposition diplomatic staff in the region, stoking concerns over escalating tensions with Iran. The move added pressure to already cautious markets, where investors have been rebalancing portfolios in response to rising interest rates and shifting risk appetite. 

Despite recent volatility, the long-term outlook for foreign participation remains strong. ��������’s inclusion in global emerging market indices — such as MSCI, FTSE Russell, and S&P Dow Jones — continues to support passive fund flows. 

Reforms under Vision 2030, including enhanced transparency, stronger corporate governance, and an expanding privatization pipeline, are widely viewed as central to boosting long-term investor engagement in ��������’s capital markets.

The government’s commitment to diversifying the economy has opened new sectors for investment, while regulatory upgrades have helped align local practices with international standards. 

As part of these reforms, Tadawul has undergone a transformation in recent years to enhance its global appeal. The market’s inclusion in major emerging market indices between 2018 and 2019 helped unlock billions in passive fund inflows. Since then, Tadawul has focused on improving disclosure quality, streamlining Qualified Foreign Investor registration, and modernizing its trading and post-trade systems. 

This evolution continues to attract international capital through a growing pipeline of sector-diverse initial public offerings. Recent listings in health care, technology, and consumer goods have provided foreign investors with broader exposure to non-oil growth areas, further supporting portfolio diversification. 

Meanwhile, ongoing efforts to enhance post-trade infrastructure and environmental, social, and governance reporting are expected to improve overall market competitiveness and strengthen the exchange’s appeal to long-term institutional investors.