AVIATION-

Saudia launched new direct flights to Al Alamein in Egypt and Salalah in Oman, according to a press release published on Sunday. The airline now runs three weekly flights to Al Alamein from Jeddah and another three from Riyadh, making it its fourth destination in Egypt. It also added three weekly flights between Jeddah and Salalah, its second stop in Oman after Muscat. Both routes are operated using Airbus A320s.

ICYMI- Saudia Group signed a 13-year agreement with Air France-KLM Group to maintain and service 86 GE90 engines powering its Boeing 777 fleet. The long-term agreement follows an MoU signed last December, under which Saudia is responsible for assembling and disassembling the engine modules locally while awarding 50% of the order to Air France-KLM.

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M&A WATCH-

#1- Etihad Atheeb Telecom Company (Go Telecom) completed its acquisition of a 51% stake in IT firm Ejad Tech for SAR 86.7 mn, it said in a disclosure to Tadawul yesterday. The company paid SAR 40 mn upfront, while the remaining SAR 46.7 mn will be settled in two performance-linked installments, with SAR 23.7 mn due by the end of 2025 and SAR 23 mn by the end of 2026.

REFRESHER- Go Telecom and Ejad Tech signed a binding MoU agreement to acquire the 51% stake last September, with shareholders approving the acquisition three months later.

#2- Jadwa acquires majority stake in Makhazen Alenaya: Investment management firm Jadwa Investment acquired a majority stake in beauty and personal retailer Makhazen Alenaya through its GCC Diversified Private Equity Fund, it said in a press release on Sunday. This marks Jadwa’s fourth investment through the fund, following Gissah Perfumers, Blackspoon Group, and Tikkaway. No investment ticket was disclosed.

About Makhazen Alenaya: Founded in 2019, Makhazen Alenaya is a retail chain with 15 branches across the Kingdom, offering a wide range of items like skincare, haircare, and cosmetics at affordable prices, using a multi-category store format that combines different product types under one roof.

EXPANSION-

Egyptian real estate developer Paragon Developments opened its first regional office in Riyadh to tap into the Kingdom’s real estate market, set to deliver 360k sqm of mixed-use space, according to a press release published on Sunday. The developer seeks to deliver 200k sqm of office space by 2027, targeting to reach 500k sqm by 2030 in cities like Riyadh and Jeddah.

REAL ESTATE-

Banan’s unit to build another two Optimo gyms in Riyadh: Banan Real Estate ’s subsidiary Qimam Nashaz Real Estate Development sealed a SAR 244.1 mn, 20-year contract to develop two gyms for Armah Sports in Riyadh’s Al Rahmaniyah district under the Optimo brand, according to disclosures to Tadawul from Banan and Armah released yesterday.

Not the first time: In January 2025, Banan’s subsidiary landed a SAR 224 mn contract to develop two gyms for Armah Sports in Riyadh’s Al Wadi district, also under the Optimo brand.

STARTUP WATCH-

Homegrown automotive services platform Morni secured an undisclosed investment from STV's new USD 100 mn NICE fund, according to a press release published yesterday. The funding will support Morni’s expansion beyond roadside assistance and into a comprehensive platform offering vehicle auctions, ins. third-party administration, and a nationwide network of garages and spare parts facilities.

About Morni: Founded in 2014 by Salman Al Suhaibaney (LinkedIn), Morni is an automotive services company operating in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt. It specializes in roadside assistance, transportation, online auctions, and end-of-life vehicle solutions, delivered through its app using SAAS technology.

SAUDIZATION-

HRDF signs three training agreements exceeding SAR 100 mn: The Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF) signed three training agreements worth over SAR 100 mn with PIF-backed Lucid, the National Industrial Training Institute (NITI), and the Maharat Construction Training Center to enhance national workforce capabilities in advanced industrial sectors, state news agency SPA reported yesterday.

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