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RIYADH: �������� and Norway are set to deepen economic cooperation in logistics, advanced manufacturing, and digitization following a two-day business forum in Oslo. 

A delegation led by ��������’s Minister of Commerce Majid bin Abdullah Al-Kassabi included 30 senior officials from key government entities and the private sector, and engaged in a series of ministerial meetings and business sessions to strengthen bilateral trade and investment ties, the Saudi Press Agency reported. 

The talks took place against the backdrop of a 360 percent surge in bilateral trade between the countries from 2020 to 2024, reaching $828 million. 

During the forum, Al-Kassabi highlighted the economic transformation driven by Saudi Vision 2030.  

On his official X account, he said: “I discussed with my friend His Excellency the Minister of State for Labor and Social Integration, Kjetil Vevle, and the Minister of State for Fisheries and Ocean Affairs, Even Tronstad Sagbakken, areas of cooperation between the business sectors to develop skills that meet the aspirations of future labor markets, maritime logistics services, and smart mobility systems.” 

He noted that the Kingdom has implemented more than 900 legislative and regulatory reforms to build a competitive economy, helping to propel ��������’s gross domestic product to over $1.3 trillion, making it the largest economy in the Middle East.    

The minister told more than 130 government and private-sector leaders that Norwegian companies are already active in the Kingdom, with plans to expand cooperation in logistics, advanced manufacturing, and digitization. 

The ministerial agenda included meetings with Norwegian officials, including Minister of Trade and Industry Cecilie Myrseth on trade and reform experiences, Minister of Labour and Social Inclusion Kjetil Vevle on skills development, and Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy Even Tronstad Sagebakken on port development, maritime logistics, and smart mobility systems. 

The business segment featured a meeting with Svein Tore Holsether, president of the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise. Holsether said Saudi Vision 2030 has encouraged many Norwegian companies to collaborate with Saudi partners, noting that over 100 Norwegian companies visited the Kingdom in the past year. 

The forum also held three specialized workshops focused on maritime technology, innovation in aquaculture and fish farming, and promoting circular economy and industrial decarbonization solutions. 

Delegates visited leading Norwegian companies on the second day, including DNV, a global leader in maritime risk management and quality assurance; TOMRA, a circular economy solutions provider through reverse vending and sorting systems; and Fishglobe, which specializes in sustainable aquaculture technology. 

The visit concluded with a celebration of ��������’s 95th National Day at the Saudi Embassy in Oslo, attended by Norwegian officials and members of the diplomatic corps. 

RIYADH: Dubai secured the top global spot for greenfield foreign direct investment projects in the first half of 2025, with 643 new ventures, extending its lead for an eighth straight half-year, a new ranking showed. 

The emirate drew the highest half-year tally since records began in 2003, according to Financial Times’ fDi Markets data cited by the Emirates News Agency, or WAM. That was nearly 500 more than the second-ranked city. 

This inflow of investment reflects confidence in the emirate’s long-term economic plans, including the Dubai Economic Agenda, which targets doubling its economy by 2033. 

This follows broader regional trends, with �������� and Qatar posting notable gains. The Kingdom’s FDI inflows rose 24 percent to SR119 billion ($31.7 billion) in 2024, while Qatar attracted $2.74 billion through 241 projects, creating 9,348 jobs last year. 

Crown Prince of Dubai, Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, attributed this achievement to the city’s futuristic development vision. “The strength and resilience of Dubai’s economy continues to inspire confidence among global investors in its ability to reimagine the future and unlock emerging global technological trends and sustainable sectors,” he said, as reported by WAM. 

Al-Maktoum linked the success to the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33, which aims to double the size of Dubai’s economy by 2033. 

Key highlights from the first half of 2025 showed that Dubai advanced to second place worldwide for total FDI capital, a jump from its fourth-place position in the first half of 2024. 

The city also climbed to third place globally for jobs created by FDI. 

The city ranked first globally in several growth sectors, including technology — with strengths in artificial intelligence and fintech — along with creative industries, life sciences, and financial services. 

This was accompanied by growth across the board, with FDI capital rising 62 percent to 40.4 billion dirhams ($11 billion), projects increasing 28.7 percent to 1,090, and new jobs up 46.7 percent to more than 38,400. 

Investment covered sectors such as business services, construction, retail, and logistics, with the US as the largest source of capital, followed by the UK, France, and India. 

Helal Saeed Al-Marri, director general of Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, said the results reflect the city’s “resilience, agility and capacity to keep pace with global economic transformations.” 

He added: “It is also a reflection of the trust that international investors, multinational corporations and start-ups continue to place in Dubai.”