$14.2bn earned from record summer tourism

$14.2bn earned from record summer tourism
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$14.2bn earned from record summer tourism

$14.2bn earned from record summer tourism
  • The success underscores ’s ongoing efforts to develop its tourism sector in line with Saudi Vision 2030

RIYADH: ’s Ministry of Tourism has announced record-breaking results for the “Saudi Summer” program, welcoming over 32 million domestic and international tourists, a 26 percent increase compared to the 2024 summer season.

Tourist spending also hit new heights, with total expenditures reaching SR53.2 billion ($14.2 billion), marking a 15 percent year-on-year rise. The southern Asir region saw remarkable growth, particularly from Gulf Cooperation Council visitors, with arrivals surging 49 percent over last summer. The success underscores ’s ongoing efforts to develop its tourism sector in line with Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to establish the Kingdom as a premier global travel destination.

Launched in June by Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb, the Saudi Summer program — under the theme “Color Your Summer” — highlighted six diverse destinations, including coastal escapes in Jeddah and the Red Sea, and mountainous retreats in Taif, Al-Baha, and Asir.  Major events included the Esports World Cup, along with Jeddah and Asir Seasons, offering a wide array of activities and cultural shows.

Building on this momentum, the Kingdom is already preparing for the Saudi Winter season, promising more global events and innovative tourism experiences for visitors year-round.


Closing Bell: Saudi main index slips to 10,433

Closing Bell: Saudi main index slips to 10,433
Updated 14 September 2025

Closing Bell: Saudi main index slips to 10,433

Closing Bell: Saudi main index slips to 10,433

RIYADH: ’s Tadawul All Share Index slipped on Sunday, losing 19.08 points, or 0.18 percent, to close at 10,433.98.

The total trading turnover of the benchmark index stood at SR2.76 billion ($738 million), with 85 stocks advancing and 171 declining.

The Kingdom’s parallel market Nomu also fell, shedding 113.37 points, or 0.45 percent, to close at 24,912.85, as 31 stocks advanced while 51 retreated.

The MSCI Tadawul Index edged down 0.83 points, or 0.06 percent, to 1,362.04.

Al Majed Oud Co. was the best-performing stock of the day, surging 9.97 percent to SR120.20. Other top gainers included Fawaz Abdulaziz Alhokair Co., up 3.67 percent to SR23.72, and n Mining Co., which rose 2.85 percent to SR55.95.

On the other hand, Dar Al Majed Real Estate Co. posted the steepest loss, dropping 8.35 percent to SR11.64. Alandalus Property Co. fell 6.19 percent to SR18.48, while Tamkeen Human Resource Co. declined 4.40 percent to SR54.30.

On the announcements front, Saudi Azm for Communication and Information Technology Co. reported its annual financial results for the year ending June 30. According to a Tadawul filing, the company’s net profit rose 30.03 percent to SR39.2 million, driven by higher gross profit, stronger income from associates, increased other income, and lower zakat and tax expenses. This came despite higher operating and finance costs.

Revenue grew 16.32 percent to SR253.16 million, supported by new projects and stronger returns from ongoing operations. Shares of Saudi Azm closed at SR25.12, down 1.09 percent.

Saudi Fisheries Co. announced board approval to establish a limited liability company with 100 percent ownership and a capital of SR100,000. Its stock ended the session at SR92.50, up 0.38 percent.

Meanwhile, Tabuk Agricultural Development Co. disclosed it had signed a SR5 million contract with East Asia Agricultural Development and Investment Co. for onion crop production, sales, and marketing. The 10-month agreement is expected to positively impact the company’s 2026 financial results. Shares of Tabuk closed at SR9.69, down 0.10 percent.


UAE hotels welcome over 16m guests in H1

UAE hotels welcome over 16m guests in H1
Updated 14 September 2025

UAE hotels welcome over 16m guests in H1

UAE hotels welcome over 16m guests in H1

RIYADH: The UAE’s hospitality sector continues to show robust growth, with hotel establishments welcoming more than 16.1 million guests in the first six months of 2025, marking a 5.5 percent increase compared to the same period last year, the Emirates News Agency, WAM, reported, citing Minister of Economy and Tourism Abdullah bin Touq Al-Marri.
Speaking at the third meeting of the Hospitality Advisory Council for 2025, Al-Marri highlighted the sector’s strong performance as a testament to its resilience and competitiveness. 
“Thanks to the wise leadership’s directives, our hospitality sector continues to achieve increasing growth rates, reflecting its attractiveness at both regional and global levels,” he said.
The council, which included representatives from both public and private sectors as well as directors of major national and international hotel chains, reviewed key performance indicators for the first half of the year and discussed initiatives to further develop the industry.
Data presented during the meeting showed that the total number of hotel nights reached 56 million, a 7.3 percent increase over H1 2024. The average length of stay was 3.5 nights, with 1,243 hotel establishments in the UAE offering more than 216,000 rooms.
Al-Marri emphasized that the sector’s success is the result of close public-private sector collaboration, which underpins the sustainability and competitiveness of the UAE’s tourism landscape.


processes 524 chemical clearance requests in August  

 processes 524 chemical clearance requests in August  
Updated 14 September 2025

processes 524 chemical clearance requests in August  

 processes 524 chemical clearance requests in August  

RIYADH: ’s Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources processed 524 requests for chemical clearance services in August, underscoring the Kingdom’s efforts to boost industrial investment and streamline regulatory processes. 

The requests included 510 permits for importing unrestricted chemical materials and 14 applications for importing restricted substances, the ministry said on social media platform X, adding that 838 export permit requests were also submitted during the same period. 

The chemical clearance service is part of a broader strategy to enhance operational efficiency and facilitate access to critical raw materials, supporting the growth of ’s industrial sector. 

Mohammed Al-Kharaj, director general of industrial and mineral licenses at the ministry, said the chemical clearance service enables industrial investors to apply for import or export permits for chemical substances through the comprehensive industrial services platform. 

He explained that the service aims to streamline clearance procedures for chemical substances and provide a fully electronic process for industrial facilities, ensuring smooth and timely operations. 

Al-Kharaj stressed that the service enhances competitiveness in the chemical sector and contributes to strengthening its role in supporting the national economy. 

He added that chemical clearance services form part of the ministry’s digital transformation strategy, which focuses on improving operational efficiency and simplifying procedures for investors, thereby creating a more attractive investment environment in the Kingdom. 

According to the ministry, these measures reflect its commitment to enabling industrial facilities to access essential raw materials and chemical inputs in a timely manner. It said this plays a key role in supporting the growth and expansion of ’s industrial ecosystem. 

’s industrial sector has shown steady growth in recent months, driven particularly by the chemicals segment. The Kingdom’s industrial output in July rose significantly, with the chemicals sub-sector alone increasing by about 8.9 percent year over year. 

In 2024, manufacturing sectors expanded by 4.7 percent, with the output of chemicals and chemical products forming part of that growth, along with refined petroleum goods and coke. 

These improvements are occurring in the context of broader government policies like the standardized industrial incentives program, which aims to boost competitiveness, attract high-value investment, and position the Kingdom as a global hub for manufacturing and chemicals.  


Oman’s non-oil exports jump 9.1% in H1 despite falling trade surplus 

Oman’s non-oil exports jump 9.1% in H1 despite falling trade surplus 
Updated 14 September 2025

Oman’s non-oil exports jump 9.1% in H1 despite falling trade surplus 

Oman’s non-oil exports jump 9.1% in H1 despite falling trade surplus 

JEDDAH: Oman's non-oil exports rose 9.1 percent in the first half of 2025, climbing to 3.26 billion rials ($8.48 billion), as the Sultanate’s diversification efforts gained traction despite a sharp decline in its trade surplus, preliminary data showed. 

The country’s trade surplus dropped 34.3 percent to 3.09 billion rials by the end of June, down from 4.70 billion rials in the same period last year. The decrease was largely attributed to a 16.1 percent fall in oil and gas exports, which amounted to 7.42 billion rials, compared with 8.85 billion rials in the first half of 2024, according to the National Centre for Statistics and Information. 

Oman’s Vision 2040 strategy is driving structural reforms aimed at reducing the economy’s reliance on hydrocarbons and fostering private sector growth. The government has promoted investments and eased regulations to strengthen non-oil sectors, including logistics, manufacturing, and services. 

“Total merchandise exports fell 9.5 percent to 11.499 billion rials, while re-exports decreased 5.9 percent to 815 million rials. Non-oil merchandise exports grew to 3.26 billion rials, up from 2.989 billion rials in the same period last year,” the Oman News Agency reported, citing the NCSI. 

It added: “The data showed that the total value of merchandise imports into the Sultanate of Oman rose 5.1 percent to 8.411 billion rials by the end of June 2025, compared with 8.004 billion rials in the same period of 2024.” 

The UAE led Oman’s non-oil trade, with exports reaching 593 million rials, a 29.8 percent increase from the first half of 2024. The UAE also ranked first in receiving Omani re-exports, valued at 348 million rials, and was the top source of Oman’s imports at 1.98 billion rials. 

followed as the second-largest destination for Oman’s non-oil exports at 538 million rials, with India third at 335 million rials.  

In re-exports, Iran came second at 129 million rials and third at 57 million rials. China and Kuwait were the second and third-largest sources of imports at 854 million rials and 795 million rials, respectively. 

In late 2024, oil and gas exports surged 22 percent year on year to 12.40 billion rials, supported by a 7.6 percent rise in crude oil and a 151.6 percent jump in refined oil exports, offsetting a 7 percent drop in liquefied natural gas, according to an NCSI report. 

Meanwhile, total merchandise exports grew 10 percent to 18.24 billion rials, and imports climbed 10.9 percent to 12.17 billion rials. However, non-oil exports contracted 14.1 percent to 4.53 billion rials, dragged down by a 27.3 percent decline in mineral products, even as plastics and rubber shipments rose 6.9 percent. 

Re-exports expanded 18.1 percent to 1.3 billion rials, supported by transport equipment, food, and mineral goods. 


Riyadh leads ’s industrial rental growth with 9.3% jump in Q2 

Riyadh leads ’s industrial rental growth with 9.3% jump in Q2 
Updated 14 September 2025

Riyadh leads ’s industrial rental growth with 9.3% jump in Q2 

Riyadh leads ’s industrial rental growth with 9.3% jump in Q2 

RIYADH: Riyadh’s industrial and logistics sector recorded an annual rental growth of 9.3 percent in the second quarter of 2025, reinforcing the Saudi capital’s role as a regional industrial hub, according to a JLL report.  

The analysis by the real estate advisory firm showed that annual rental growth rates in Riyadh ranged from 4.7 percent to 25 percent across warehouses in all industrial submarkets, reflecting broad-based demand fundamentals as the city benefits from ongoing economic diversification initiatives. 

Strengthening the industrial sector is one of the key pillars of ’s Vision 2030 agenda, with the Kingdom steadily reducing its reliance on crude oil revenues. 

The growth in rental rates across the industrial and logistics segment also underscores the expansion of ’s real estate market, as the Kingdom strengthens its position as a business hub in the region.  

The Kingdom’s Real Estate General Authority forecasts the property market will reach $101.62 billion by 2029, with a compound annual growth rate of 8 percent from 2024. 

Taimur Khan, head of research at JLL Middle East and Africa, said: “The overall healthy rental growth across ’s industrial markets reflects the impact of ongoing industrial development and logistics infrastructure improvements, driven by Vision 2030’s ambitious agenda.”   

He added: “Well-positioned submarkets, located along major transportation corridors, are primed for stronger performance in the months ahead. As industrial occupiers continue to focus on modern facilities and strategic locations, this will further shape the market’s trajectory and drive demand, supporting the Kingdom’s economic transformation goals.”  

Industrial Gate City in Riyadh retained its premium position with rental rates amounting to SR300 ($79.97) per sq. meter per annum, followed closely by Tharawat Logistics at SR285 per sq. meter per annum.  

Taybah emerged as the city’s standout performer with a 25 percent annual rental increase, while Al Fawzan Industrial City recorded a 17.8 percent rise. 

In Jeddah, the industrial markets posted a healthy 4.5 percent rental growth in the second quarter. Jeddah Islamic Port maintained its status as ’s most premium industrial location, commanding SR450 per sq. meter per annum with a 7.1 percent annual increase. 

“Rental levels in this (Jeddah Islamic Port) top-tier location significantly outpaced both Riyadh and Dammam, reinforcing its strategic value for trade-dependent operations. Despite rental increases in the majority of Jeddah’s submarkets, growth rates were more moderate than in the Saudi capital,” JLL said.  

The Dammam Metropolitan Area saw headline rents increase by 10.8 percent in the second quarter, although submarkets experienced a fragmented performance.  

Al Khalidiyah Shamaliyah posted the highest rates at SR235 per sq. meter per annum with 9.3 percent growth. Indus-Comm was an exceptional outlier, delivering the strongest rental growth at 32.4 percent. 

King Abdulaziz Road demonstrated strong momentum with 20 percent annual growth despite offering the most affordable rates at SR180 per sq. meter per annum. 

Al Taawun was the only submarket across all three major cities to record a rental decline, with a 6.3 percent annual drop.