Diriyah seeing strong real estate growth, planning mid-level housing units: Group CEO

Diriyah seeing strong real estate growth, planning mid-level housing units: Group CEO
Jerry Inzerillo, group CEO of Diriyah Co., speaking at the Real Estate Future Forum. Screenshot
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Updated 29 January 2025

Diriyah seeing strong real estate growth, planning mid-level housing units: Group CEO

Diriyah seeing strong real estate growth, planning mid-level housing units: Group CEO

RIYADH: The Diriyah project is experiencing strong success in residential real estate sales and is now targeting mid-level buyers, said a top executive. 

On the final day of the Real Estate Future Forum, Jerry Inzerillo, group CEO of Diriyah Co., highlighted the rapid growth of the area’s residential and commercial property market, emphasizing the strong demand for homes.

He also spoke about the continued expansion of Diriyah’s business landscape, with plans to open Zallal in April, which will feature 23 new businesses, further boosting the area’s appeal. 

These developments are a key part of a strategy to position the destination — one of ’s five giga-projects supported by the Public Investment Fund — as both a residential and commercial hub, contributing to the Kingdom’s economic transformation under Vision 2030. 

“I’m thrilled to say that we’re selling a lot of our residential real estate,” Inzerillo said, adding that Diriyah will offer “several hundred units for the mid-level buyer” at the upcoming Cityscape event in November, catering to a broader range of potential homeowners. 

Beyond real estate, Inzerillo talked up the area’s historical and cultural importance to , saying: “Diriyah is the house of Al-Saud, the source of our national identity and pride. 

“What makes us unique is that we are the celebration of culture and heritage.” 

Inzerillo also discussed Diriyah’s spiritual importance, noting that one of its crowning achievements is providing a welcoming environment for religious travelers from around the world. 

“One of the greatest things in the world is to allow 2 billion Muslims to feel welcomed to fulfill pilgrimage to the two holy cities,” he said. 

The CEO shared that 14 percent of his workforce, now totaling 3,200 employees, are from Diriyah’s local community. 

Inzerillo noted the completion of 9 km of parks, which contributes to the area’s green spaces and makes it more attractive to residents and visitors. He also highlighted construction safety milestones, stating that Diriyah had logged 209 million construction man-hours without a fatality. 

Reflecting on the Kingdom’s increasing international appeal, Inzerillo said: “People from all over the world are coming to see Saudi, and they’re going back happy.” 

The CEO concluded by expressing confidence in the Kingdom’s future capabilities, stating: “What I would say for sure by 2030, even though I believe it now, is that the Kingdom, with its leadership now, is capable of hosting any global event in any way and be the best host for that thing.”


ADNOC Gas signs 10-year LNG deal with India’s Hindustan Petroleum 

ADNOC Gas signs 10-year LNG deal with India’s Hindustan Petroleum 
Updated 04 August 2025

ADNOC Gas signs 10-year LNG deal with India’s Hindustan Petroleum 

ADNOC Gas signs 10-year LNG deal with India’s Hindustan Petroleum 

RIYADH: Abu Dhabi’s ADNOC Gas has signed a 10-year agreement with Hindustan Petroleum Corp. to supply 500,000 metric tonnes of liquefied natural gas annually, expanding its footprint in key Asian energy markets. 

Under the agreement, LNG will be sourced from ADNOC Gas’ Das Island liquefaction facility, which has a production capacity of 6 million metric tonnes per year. 

While financial details of the transaction were not disclosed, the deal further strengthens the Abu Dhabi company’s growing ties with Indian energy companies amid rising demand for cleaner fuel. 

The deal also underscores ADNOC Gas’ partnership with major Indian players, building on recent agreements with Indian Oil Corp. and GAIL India to support the country’s energy security. 

Fatema Al-Nuaimi, CEO of ADNOC Gas, said: “This long-term agreement with HPCL, our third with Indian companies in the past year, reflects the robust energy partnership between the UAE and India.” 

She added: “This milestone underscores ADNOC Gas’ ability to reliably meet rising global demand for LNG and support India’s ambition to increase natural gas to 15 percent of its primary energy mix by 2030.” 

The Das Island facility, one of the world’s longest-operating LNG plants, has shipped over 3,500 cargoes since it began operations. 

“ADNOC Gas is a key player in ADNOC’s strategy to enhance its natural gas production capacity and expand global LNG exports,” the company said in a statement. 

In April 2024, the company announced plans to invest more than $13 billion through 2029 to scale up LNG production both domestically and internationally. 

It signed a 14-year deal in February with Indian Oil valued between $7 billion and $9 billion to supply up to 1.2 million tonnes per annum. This was followed by a 15-year deal in September 2024 with Indian Oil for 1 million tonnes annually, and a 10-year agreement with GAIL India in January 2024.


Abu Dhabi’s non-oil foreign trade rises 34.7% to $53.2bn in H1

Abu Dhabi’s non-oil foreign trade rises 34.7% to $53.2bn in H1
Updated 04 August 2025

Abu Dhabi’s non-oil foreign trade rises 34.7% to $53.2bn in H1

Abu Dhabi’s non-oil foreign trade rises 34.7% to $53.2bn in H1

RIYADH: Abu Dhabi’s non-oil foreign trade saw an annual rise of 34.7 percent during the first half of 2025 to reach 195.4 billion dirhams ($53.2 billion).

The increase from 145 billion dirhams over the same period in 2024 reflects the strength and resilience of Abu Dhabi’s economy, driven by the efficiency of its infrastructure, advanced logistics services, and strategic investments across key sectors, according to a statement from Abu Dhabi Media Office.

These factors have helped facilitate trade flows and ensure the smooth movement of goods through border crossings.

This comes as the UAE aims to hit a 4 trillion dirhams target for non‑oil foreign trade by 2031, but officials say it is now poised to reach that milestone within two years, four years ahead of schedule.

Non-oil exports surged 64 percent to 78.5 billion dirhams from 47.9 billion dirhams in the first half of 2025, while imports rose 15 percent to 80 billion dirhams compared to 70 billion dirhams in the first half of 2024, according to figures released by the General Administration of Abu Dhabi Customs.

Re-exports recorded a 35 percent growth, reaching over 36 billion dirhams, up from 26.6 billion dirhams in the same period last year.

“Our consistent growth, amid the challenges in international trade and the global economy, reflects the strength of our long-term economic planning, decisive policy execution, and our commitment to enabling the free and fair exchange of goods, services, and innovations,” Ahmed Jasim Al-Zaabi, chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, said in the media office report.

He added: “We are doubling down our efforts to position Abu Dhabi among the world’s most business-ready economies by streamlining trade procedures, deploying smart systems, and integrating services to enhance flow and accelerate efficiency, cementing Abu Dhabi’s position as a global trade and investment center, and a key node on international supply chains.”

Rashed Lahej Al-Mansoori, director general of Abu Dhabi Customs, explained how the growth in non-oil foreign trade reflects the success of the emirate’s economic strategies.

He added: “Abu Dhabi Customs remains dedicated to delivering best-in-class services and procedures that accelerate customs clearance and promote integration with both local and international partners, thereby supporting sustainable growth, enabling the future economy, and reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s position on the global trade map.”


Oil Updates — prices little changed after OPEC+ proceeds with September output hike

Oil Updates — prices little changed after OPEC+ proceeds with September output hike
Updated 04 August 2025

Oil Updates — prices little changed after OPEC+ proceeds with September output hike

Oil Updates — prices little changed after OPEC+ proceeds with September output hike
  • OPEC+ to raise output by 547,000 bpd in September
  • Healthy economy, low stocks support production hike, OPEC+ says
  • Latest Trump tariffs unlikely to budge, top negotiator says

SINGAPORE: Oil prices edged higher on Monday, paring earlier losses, as traders expect the market to absorb another large output hike by OPEC+ in September, while worries about disruptions to Russian oil shipments to major importer India also provided support.

Brent crude futures climbed 11 cents, or 0.16 percent, to $69.78 a barrel by 8:47 a.m. Saudi time, and US West Texas Intermediate crude was at $67.52 a barrel, up 19 cents, or 0.28 percent. Both contracts closed about $2 a barrel lower on Friday.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and their allies, known as OPEC+, agreed on Sunday to raise oil production by 547,000 barrels per day for September, the latest in a series of accelerated output hikes to regain market share. It cited a healthy economy and low stockpiles as reasons behind its decision.

The move, in line with market expectations, marks a full and early reversal of OPEC+’s largest tranche of output cuts, plus a separate increase in output for the UAE, amounting to about 2.5 million bpd, or about 2.4 percent of world demand. “

This additional production appears to have little impact because it was so well flagged ahead of time,” said Michael McCarthy, chief executive officer of online trading platform Moomoo Australia.

It appeared that traders focused on the comments from state OPEC producers that previous additions were easily absorbed, particularly across Asia, he said.

Analysts at Goldman Sachs expect that the actual increase in supply from the eight OPEC+ countries that have raised output since March will be 1.7 million bpd, because other members of the group have cut output after previously overproducing.

Still, investors remain wary of further US sanctions on Iran and Russia that could disrupt supplies. US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose 100 percent secondary tariffs on Russian crude buyers as he seeks to pressure Moscow into halting its war in Ukraine.

At least two vessels loaded with Russian oil bound for refiners in India have diverted to other destinations following new US sanctions, trade sources said on Friday and LSEG trade flows showed.

This puts about 1.7 million bpd of crude supply at risk if Indian refiners stop buying Russian oil, ING analysts led by Warren Patterson said in a note.

This would potentially erase the expected surplus through the fourth quarter and 2026 and provide OPEC+ the opportunity to start unwinding the next tranche of supply cuts totalling 1.66 million bpd, they added.

However, two Indian government sources told Reuters on Saturday the country will keep purchasing oil from Russia despite Trump’s threats.

Concerns about US tariffs impacting global economic growth and fuel consumption are also hanging over the market, especially after US economic data on jobs growth on Friday was below expectations.

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on Sunday that the tariffs imposed last week on scores of countries are likely to stay in place rather than be cut as part of continuing negotiations. 


Closing Bell: Saudi main index ends lower at 10,833

Closing Bell: Saudi main index ends lower at 10,833
Updated 04 August 2025

Closing Bell: Saudi main index ends lower at 10,833

Closing Bell: Saudi main index ends lower at 10,833
  • Parallel market Nomu fell 0.63% to close at 26,755.84
  • MSCI Tadawul Index lost 0.79% to end at 1,398.65

RIYADH: ’s Tadawul All Share Index slipped on Sunday, falling 87.17 points, or 0.80 percent, to close at 10,833.10.

The total trading turnover of the benchmark index stood at SR3.39 billion ($904 million), with 62 stocks advancing and 187 declining.

The Kingdom’s parallel market Nomu fell 169.14 points, or 0.63 percent, to close at 26,755.84, as 30 stocks advanced while 50 retreated.

The MSCI Tadawul Index also dropped, losing 11.09 points, or 0.79 percent, to end at 1,398.65.

The best-performing stock of the day was Sport Clubs Co., whose share price rose 9.96 percent to SR12.37.

Other top performers included Thimar Development Holding Co., which increased 6.67 percent to SR38.68, and Nama Chemicals Co., which gained 5.72 percent to SR26.24.

Saudi Aramco Base Oil Co., or Luberef, recorded the most significant decline, dropping 9.96 percent to SR94.

Jabal Omar Development Co. saw its share price fall 5.39 percent to SR18.96, while Dar Alarkan Real Estate Development Co. declined 4.35 percent to SR18.27.

On the announcements front, Saudi Basic Industries Corp. reported its interim financial results for the period ending June 30. According to a Tadawul statement, the company recorded a net loss of SR5.28 billion during the first six months of the year, compared to a net profit of SR2.43 billion in the same period a year earlier. 

The decline was primarily due to impairment charges, provisions, a strategic restructuring initiative, lower results from associates and non-integral joint ventures, and a zakat expense of SR694 million in 2025 versus a positive non-cash benefit of SR214 million in 2024.

SABIC also announced the board of directors’ recommendation to distribute SR4.5 billion in cash dividends to shareholders for the first half of 2025. A bourse filing revealed that the total number of shares eligible for dividends amounted to 3 billion, with a dividend per share of SR1.5, representing 15 percent of the share’s par value.

SABIC’s share closed the session at SR54.45, down 1.19 percent.

Luberef released its interim financial results for the first half of the year. According to a Tadawul statement, the company posted a net profit of SR446 million, down 13.2 percent year-on-year, mainly due to lower crack margins for by-products and a decline in base oil sales volumes, despite an improvement in base oil crack margins.

The company also announced the board’s recommendation to distribute SR168 million in cash dividends for the first half of 2025.

A bourse filing said the number of shares eligible for dividends was 168 million, with a dividend per share of SR1, equivalent to 10 percent of the share’s par value.


opens August ‘Sah’ savings sukuk window with 4.97% return

 opens August ‘Sah’ savings sukuk window with 4.97% return
Updated 03 August 2025

opens August ‘Sah’ savings sukuk window with 4.97% return

 opens August ‘Sah’ savings sukuk window with 4.97% return
  • Subscription for issuance will remain available until Aug. 5
  • Minimum subscription amount set at SR1,000, with maximum cap of SR200,000

RIYADH: has announced the opening of the August subscription window for its government-backed savings sukuk, offering an annual return of 4.97 percent, marking an increase from July’s 4.88 percent. 

The “Sah” sukuk is part of the 2025 issuance calendar overseen by the National Debt Management Center under the Ministry of Finance. 

The initiative is aligned with the Financial Sector Development Program, a key pillar of Vision 2030, which aims to elevate the national savings rate from 6 percent to 10 percent by the end of the decade. 

Subscription for the issuance opened at 10 a.m. Saudi time on Aug. 3 and will remain available until 3 p.m. on Aug. 5. The sukuk remains Shariah-compliant, denominated in Saudi riyals, and structured with a one-year maturity, offering fixed returns upon redemption. 

The minimum subscription amount is set at SR1,000 ($266.58), with a maximum cap of SR200,000 per investor. 

Individual investors aged 18 and above can participate through approved digital channels, including SNB Capital, Aljazira Capital, Alinma Investment, SAB Invest, and Al-Rajhi Capital. 

As the Kingdom’s first retail-oriented, government-backed savings instrument, “Sah” is designed to enhance personal financial planning and encourage disciplined savings habits among individuals. 

The product offers several features to make savings accessible, including zero subscription fees, a simplified digital onboarding process, and flexibility in redemption, allowing subscribers to withdraw their funds during specified windows without penalties on the principal amount. 

The sukuk is issued in the form of lease-based structures, ensuring compliance with Shariah principles, and does not qualify as a tradable security on the Saudi financial market. 

The NDMC said the return rate for each issuance is determined based on prevailing market conditions, which may vary month to month. 

“Sah” sukuk are considered low-risk, government-guaranteed instruments, contributing to the Kingdom’s broader strategy of expanding the range of domestic savings products available to individuals. 

The NDMC said the sukuk supports the development of a more robust savings culture while fostering collaboration between public institutions and private financial entities.