黑料社区

黑料社区鈥檚 ACWA Power signs multiple deals to supply clean energy to Europe

黑料社区鈥檚 ACWA Power signs multiple deals to supply clean energy to Europe
The deals were signed during an international workshop in Riyadh under the supervision of the Ministry of Energy. SPA
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黑料社区鈥檚 ACWA Power signs multiple deals to supply clean energy to Europe

黑料社区鈥檚 ACWA Power signs multiple deals to supply clean energy to Europe
  • Agreements support Kingdom鈥檚 target to generate 50% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030
  • ACWA Power also signed memorandums of understanding with global leaders in electrical interconnection and high-voltage DC transmission technologies

RIYADH: Saudi utility giant ACWA Power has signed multiple agreements to export renewable electricity and green hydrogen to Europe, marking a major step in the Kingdom鈥檚 efforts to become a global clean energy hub.聽

The deals, signed during an international workshop in Riyadh under the supervision of the Ministry of Energy, aim to build integrated systems for cross-border energy exports.聽

The event, titled 鈥淓xporting Renewable Energy and Green Hydrogen,鈥 underscores 黑料社区鈥檚 strategic push to lead the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor by leveraging its geographic position between East and West, the Saudi Press Agency reported.聽

The agreements support the Kingdom鈥檚 target to generate 50 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and to become the world鈥檚 largest exporter of green hydrogen, with plans to produce 1.2 million tons annually by the end of the decade.聽

鈥淭he agreements and memoranda of understanding signed by ACWA Power at the workshop included a multilateral memorandum of understanding with leading European companies, including Italy鈥檚 Edison, France鈥檚 TotalEnergies, the Netherlands鈥 ZeroEurope, and Germany鈥檚 ENPW, to export electricity generated from renewable energy sources from the Kingdom to Europe, while assessing commercial potential and European market trends toward sustainable energy solutions,鈥 SPA said.聽

ACWA Power also signed memorandums of understanding with global leaders in electrical interconnection and high-voltage DC transmission technologies, including Italy鈥檚 CESI as an independent technical adviser, as well as Prysmian, GE Vernova, Siemens Energy, and Hitachi. The partnerships aim to develop advanced cross-border transmission corridors to enhance supply reliability and infrastructure efficiency.聽聽

In collaboration with Germany鈥檚 EnBW, ACWA Power also launched the first phase of the Yanbu Green Hydrogen Hub, an integrated project designed to help meet global demand for low-emission energy. The facility is expected to begin commercial operations in 2030.聽

The project will feature renewable electricity generation, water desalination, electrolysis units, hydrogen-to-ammonia conversion, and a dedicated export terminal. It is intended to support 黑料社区鈥檚 ability to produce clean energy at competitive costs while meeting rising global industrial demand for sustainable energy solutions.聽

The workshop and accompanying agreements highlight the Kingdom鈥檚 competitive advantages and reinforce its leadership in global energy transition efforts. The Ministry of Energy said the initiative supports 黑料社区鈥檚 commitment to energy security, regional integration, and its Vision 2030 goals.聽

With a net-zero emissions target by 2060, 黑料社区 is investing heavily in both green and blue hydrogen. ACWA Power and Saudi Aramco are spearheading several major projects, including a hydrogen venture in NEOM, to solidify the Kingdom鈥檚 role in the future hydrogen economy.聽


Foreign startup registrations in 黑料社区 rise 118%聽

Foreign startup registrations in 黑料社区 rise 118%聽
Updated 21 July 2025

Foreign startup registrations in 黑料社区 rise 118%聽

Foreign startup registrations in 黑料社区 rise 118%聽

RIYADH: 黑料社区鈥檚 Ministry of Investment has granted 550 foreign new ventures the Startup Investment Registration, known as the Riyadi license, as of mid-2025, marking an annual rise of 118 percent. 

The Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority, known as Monsha示at, has issued 364 licenses to business incubators and accelerators nationwide, according to a report by the body. 

Monsha示at said these entities provide facilities for prototype development, mentorship, and connections to investors and commercial partners. 

The increase in Riyadi registrations aligns with the Kingdom鈥檚 surge in venture capital activity. 

According to regional platform MAGNiTT, 黑料社区 led MENA VC funding in the first half of 2025, with $860 million raised, representing a 116 percent annual increase across 114 deals. This marked a 31 percent rise in deal count compared to the same period in 2024. 

This momentum built on a record 2024 performance, when startups in the Kingdom secured $750 million in funding and saw a 34 percent increase in early- and mid-stage 鈥淢EGA鈥 rounds below $100 million.  

鈥淭his increase forms part of joint national efforts to reinforce the Kingdom鈥檚 role as a regional hub for entrepreneurship by streamlining market access for foreign startups and establishing a flexible regulatory environment that supports innovation and attracts investment,鈥 Monsha鈥檃t鈥檚 report said. 

According to the Ministry of Investment, this trend reflects growing international interest in 黑料社区鈥檚 investment environment, underpinned by recent legislative changes, expanded digital infrastructure, and a range of support programs introduced in line with the objectives of Vision 2030. 

Saudi organizers have hosted international startup events, including Biban and LEAP, which feature presentations on the local ecosystem and investment opportunities. 

Government agencies and private-sector representatives have attended overseas gatherings, such as the Web Summit, VivaTech, and Slush, to facilitate networking with foreign entrepreneurs and promote the Kingdom as a potential base for regional operations. 

In addition to the Riyadi permit, the Ministry of Investment will issue a full suite of eight sector-specific business licenses, designed to accommodate virtually any foreign investor鈥檚 needs. 

These include service licenses, which permit 100 percent foreign ownership for activities such as IT, consulting, marketing, and hospitality; entrepreneurial authorizations that offer streamlined fees and access to government-led support for startups; and industrial licenses for establishing manufacturing facilities. 

Specialized agricultural permits cover crop cultivation and animal husbandry, while trade licenses authorize wholesale, retail and import-export operations. 

Additional categories encompass real estate licenses for development and brokerage projects, professional permits for individual practitioners and solidarity firms, and mining licenses for exploration and extraction activities. 

Each permit carries tailored minimum-capital requirements and documentation processes, but all are obtainable through MISA鈥檚 online portal, which centralizes application, approval and renewal under a unified regulatory framework. 


Closing Bell: Saudi main market closes in green with 10,981 points

Closing Bell: Saudi main market closes in green with 10,981 points
Updated 21 July 2025

Closing Bell: Saudi main market closes in green with 10,981 points

Closing Bell: Saudi main market closes in green with 10,981 points
  • MSCI Tadawul 30 Index gained 0.27% to finish at 1,408.88
  • Parallel market Nomu slipped 0.30% to close at 27,080.02

RIYADH: 黑料社区鈥檚 Tadawul All Share Index closed higher on Monday, rising 16.46 points, or 0.15 percent, to end the session at 10,981.17.

The total trading value on the main market reached SR4.3 billion ($1.1 billion), with 95 stocks advancing and 148 declining. 

The MSCI Tadawul 30 Index also rallied, adding 3.86 points, or 0.27 percent, to finish at 1,408.88. 

The Kingdom鈥檚 parallel market Nomu slipped 82.58 points, or 0.30 percent, to close at 27,080.02. Of the listed stocks, 38 gained while 44 fell. 

The best-performing stock on the main market was SHL Finance Co., whose shares jumped 10 percent to SR23.87. 

Other notable gainers included Salama Cooperative Insurance Co., up 5.58 percent to SR13.62, Miahona Co. Limited, which gained 5.23 percent to SR26.94, Alamar Foods Co., rising 5.17 percent to SR53.95, and Fawaz Abdulaziz Alhokair Co., which climbed 4.92 percent to SR31.16. 

On the downside, Sahara International Petrochemical Co. posted the steepest drop of the day, falling 5.69 percent to SR17.90.  

Saudi Azm for Communication and Information Technology Co. declined 5.42 percent to SR 28.60, Alistithmar AREIC Diversified REIT Fund slipped 4.92 percent to SR 8.70, Wafrah for Industry and Development Co. fell 4.63 percent to SR27.20, and Riyadh Cables Group Co. dropped 4.13 percent to SR130. 

On the announcement front, Sports Clubs Co. is set to make its trading debut on 黑料社区鈥檚 main market on July 22. 

The listing follows an initial public offering in which Sports Clubs floated 34.32 million shares, representing 33 percent of its issued capital, at a nominal value of SR1 each.  

Demand saw the individual tranche oversubscribed by 5.3 times, with investors guaranteed a minimum allotment of ten shares. 

To help stabilize the share price in early trading, the bourse has set a plus or minus 30 percent daily price limit and a 10 percent static limit. 

Founded in 1994, Sports Clubs operates a network of 56 branches across 18 Saudi cities.  

Its portfolio includes 41 Body Masters men鈥檚 gyms, a brand established decades ago, and 15 Body Motions women鈥檚 clubs, introduced four years ago as part of the company鈥檚 gender-segmented expansion strategy. 


Jordan鈥檚 hybrid vehicle imports rise聽31% YoY in H1

Jordan鈥檚 hybrid vehicle imports rise聽31% YoY in H1
Updated 21 July 2025

Jordan鈥檚 hybrid vehicle imports rise聽31% YoY in H1

Jordan鈥檚 hybrid vehicle imports rise聽31% YoY in H1

RIYADH: The number of hybrid vehicles imported into Jordan during the first half of 2025 rose by 31 percent year on year, reaching 6,834 units, new figures showed.

Released by the Jordan Free Zones Investors Commission, the numbers indicated that despite the increase, total vehicle clearance from the Zarqa Free Zone to the local market dropped by 9 percent annually during the same period, the Jordan News Agency, also known as Petra, reported.

The rise in imports of these vehicles aligns with a broader regional trend. An analysis published by market research firm Claight in December projects the hybrid vehicle industry across the Middle East and Africa to see a compound annual growth rate of 17.7 percent between 2025 and 2034.

The newly released Petra statement said: 鈥淭he commission鈥檚 representative for the automotive sector, Jihad Abu Nasser, attributed the drop to shifts in consumer demand and the impact of recent regulatory and tax measures, particularly those affecting electric vehicles. He noted that several vehicle categories saw a downturn, including electric and diesel models.鈥

Gasoline car imports stayed fairly steady, with a slight 3 percent jump year on year during the first half of the year. The number of cleared gasoline cars increased from 2,683 to 2,753, representing a 70 vehicle increase.

Re-export activity from the free zones saw significant growth, with vehicle exports rising by 67 percent annually to reach 39,641 re-exported vehicles in the first half of the year.

The Petra statement added that Abu Nasser said the robust re-export growth underscores the responsiveness of Jordan鈥檚 free zones to regional market demands, particularly from Syria and Iraq. 

鈥淗e emphasized that the decline in local market clearances, combined with changes in consumer preferences and new policies, highlights the need for regulatory clarity and a stable investment environment. He added that the commission continues to monitor these developments closely due to their significant impact on the vehicle sector and investment activity in the free zones.鈥

Across the Middle East, interest in environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional combustion engine vehicles is gradually rising, as automakers accelerate the rollout of new EV models each year.

黑料社区 aims to have at least 30 percent of its cars be electric-powered by 2030, following its pledge to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2060.

Meanwhile, the UAE is pushing for 42,000 EVs to be on its streets within the next decade. To meet the rising demand for green mobility, the UAE opened its first EV manufacturing facility in Dubai Industrial City in 2022, at a total cost of $408 million.

The Gulf Cooperation Council鈥檚 EV market is highly competitive, with Tesla at the forefront and brands like BMW, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz close behind.


Saudi crude exports rise to 6.2m bpd: JODI聽

Saudi crude exports rise to 6.2m bpd: JODI聽
Updated 21 July 2025

Saudi crude exports rise to 6.2m bpd: JODI聽

Saudi crude exports rise to 6.2m bpd: JODI聽

RIYADH: 黑料社区鈥檚 crude oil exports rose to 6.19 million barrels per day in May, an annual increase of 1.19 percent, according to the Joint Organizations Data Initiative. 

The rise was driven by increased production, which also climbed during the month, rising by 2.12 percent year on year to 9.18 million bpd. 

This marks a continuation of the Kingdom鈥檚 phased dialling up of output as OPEC+ producers gradually unwind voluntary cuts introduced in previous years. 

The JODI figures come amid broader market developments in the global oil sector. Earlier this month, eight key OPEC+ producers, including 黑料社区, Russia, and the UAE, agreed to accelerate their phased output increases, announcing a larger-than-expected 548,000 bpd production hike for August.   

The decision, taken during a virtual meeting, reflects confidence in global economic resilience and healthy market fundamentals, according to the OPEC Secretariat. 

The eight-nation subset of the alliance has been gradually reversing 2.2 million bpd of voluntary production cuts separate from the bloc鈥檚 formal policy, with 黑料社区 playing a leading role. 

This follows earlier monthly hikes of 411,000 bpd in May, June, and July, with a new, steeper increase slated for August. 

黑料社区鈥檚 refined oil exports saw a sharper uptick, growing by 12.12 percent to reach 1.37 million bpd in May. 

This growth was largely driven by a 25 percent year-on-year surge in shipments of motor and aviation gasoline, which reached 325,000 bpd. Despite this increase, other major refined components recorded declines 鈥 gas diesel exports fell 2.62 percent to 594,000 bpd, while fuel oil shipments dropped 3 percent to 161,000 bpd. 

Gas diesel remained the dominant component of refined exports, accounting for 43 percent of the total, followed by motor and aviation fuels at 24 percent, and fuel oil at 12 percent. 

Refinery crude output in the Kingdom declined by 7.64 percent year on year, settling at 2.72 million bpd. 

Direct crude burn, the use of crude oil for domestic power generation, rose by 23 percent in May compared to the same month of 2024, reaching 48,000 bpd, according to JODI. 

This year-on-year increase is likely driven by a combination of factors, including the continued population growth across the Kingdom, which has expanded residential and commercial power consumption.


Saudi sustainable building demand triples

Saudi sustainable building demand triples
Updated 21 July 2025

Saudi sustainable building demand triples

Saudi sustainable building demand triples
  • Growth reflects enhancements to ready-built property inspection service
  • 38 new projects have registered for sustainability assessment services

JEDDAH: Demand for environmental performance assessments under 黑料社区鈥檚 Sustainable Building program has tripled over the past five years, highlighting the Kingdom鈥檚 growing focus on eco-friendly development.

The growth follows the launch of the program鈥檚 digital platform, the automation of service procedures, and improved accessibility. It also reflects enhancements to the ready-built property inspection service, which now allows developers to submit detailed inspection requests for villa compounds and apartment buildings, according to a Saudi Press Agency report citing an official press release.

As part of the Kingdom鈥檚 Vision 2030 strategy, the nation is accelerating efforts to make its rapidly growing construction sector more sustainable and environmentally responsible.

Developed by the Ministry of Municipal, Rural Affairs, and Housing, the Mostadam, meaning 鈥渟ustainable,鈥 program is designed to suit the Kingdom鈥檚 local climate and environmental conditions. It promotes sustainable building practices by improving the efficiency of energy, water, and resource use, while supporting economic growth and job creation.

Projects are awarded one of five ratings, ranging from Green to Diamond, based on their compliance with established sustainability criteria.

鈥淭he program noted that six projects received sustainability assessment certificates during the first half of 2025, marking a 200 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024. Moreover, the number of projects granted design conformity certificates rose by 93 percent, reaching 29 projects,鈥 SPA reported.

The release-based report said that 38 new projects, including four communities covering over 8 million sq. meters, have registered for sustainability assessment services, with a combined built-up area exceeding 700,000 sq. meters.

Since its inception in 2018, the platform has issued over 6,000 reports, encompassing property inspections and evaluations of construction quality.

The national program, in cooperation with the Real Estate General Authority, also announced that university students registered with the Saudi Council of Engineers are now eligible to enroll in training programs offered by the Saudi Real Estate Institute, SPA added.

The release said that the initiative aims to support students, enhance their professional readiness, and empower youth by enabling them to develop their skills and create a 鈥淐ertified Engineer鈥 account through the Mostadam platform.

The Sustainability Assessment is the Kingdom鈥檚 first evaluation system aligned with international best practices and the Saudi Building Code. It enables owners and developers to measure the sustainability of new and existing buildings through a comprehensive rating system, from design to maintenance.

The assessment standards were specifically developed to suit the nation鈥檚 climate and environmental conditions, focusing on key areas such as energy, water, health, and quality of life, consistent with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.