Good morning, wonderful people. We’re nearing mid-July, and the summer heat is extending to the Kingdom’s accelerated pace of regulatory reforms.

Leading this morning’s news well: The real estate market saw the new regulations for the White Land Tax law published for community feedback, proposing a base 2.5% fee on undeveloped lands, in a bid to incentivize development and drive down the rising prices of properties all over the Kingdom.

Meanwhile, capital markets are bustling with the news of the CMA approving new regulation amendments and products, including an overhaul of investment fund regulations, and the introduction of Saudi Depositary Receipts, opening up investment opportunities in foreign companies. PLUS: GCC-based investors can now invest in TASI directly.

ALSO- The Energy Ministry and the International Energy Agency are at odds about the Kingdom’s oil output in June. The agency claims we’re above quota, while the Ministry is reaffirming compliance and calling for using an alternative market to reflect which barrels actually hit the oil markets.

^^ Details on all of these , and more, are in today’s issue. Let’s dive in.

WEATHER- Riyadh is expected to see a high of 45°C and a low of 30°C, while Jeddah’s mercury will go as high as 41°C and as low as 31°C. Makkah will see a 42°C and a 32°C low.

NEWS TRIGGERS-

Gastat set to roll out fresh inflation data: The Consumer Price Index for June is to be released by the General Authority for Statistics (Gastat) on Tuesday. Inflation fell slightly to 2.2% y-o-y in May, down 0.1 percentage points from April.

ALSO- The Renewable Energy Statistics report for the years 2023 and 2024 is due on Monday.

PSAs-

#1- The Kingdom will introduce a national AI curriculum across all public education levels, starting in the 2025–2026 school year, Saudi Gazette reports. The move aims to give students practical AI skills from an early age through interactive, age-appropriate lessons. The new curriculum will apply to all stages of learning, from primary school to university and vocational programs, and will be included in national student assessments.

ALSO- Citizens are invited to join the “One Million Saudis in AI” initiative, offering free and remote training on AI principles, state news agency SPA reports. The program will be offered in Arabic, and participants will receive a certificate upon completion. Interested? Register at the Samai website.

#2- Businesses subject to excise taxes must submit May and June tax returns by 15 July, the Zakat, Tax, and Customs Authority (Zatca) said on X. Missing the deadline will lead to a 5% late penalty on the unpaid taxes for every 30 days of delay. Excise tax applies to products associated with health risks or harming the environment, including soft and energy drinks, and tobacco products.

WATCH THIS SPACE-.

#1- Aramco is in talks to buy 2 mn tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) per year from US-based Commonwealth LNG, which plans to build an export facility in Cameron, Louisiana, Reuters reported on Wednesday, citing unnamed sources it says are in the know. No financial details were disclosed.

This comes as Aramco expands its LNG business in the US, which is expected to maintain its spot as the largest exporter of LNG worldwide by almost doubling its capacity over the next four years. The oil giant is exploring possible partnerships with other American projects, including Delfin LNG and Energy Transfer’s proposed Lake Charles facility, the sources added.

ICYMI- Aramco inked a 20-year LNG sale and purchase agreement (SPA) with US-based LNG development firm NextDecade Corporation in April for the offtake of 1.2 mn mtpa from its Rio Grande Train four LNG facility.

#2- Cenomi brings in Rothschild ahead of sukuk maturity: Tadawul-listed mall operator Cenomi Centers tapped Rothschild & Co to explore funding options ahead of a USD 875 mn sukuk repayment due in October of next year, Bloomberg reports, citing people it says are familiar with the matter.

The details: The company is said to be weighing a mix of debt and equity solutions, as it navigates credit pressure and a liquidity crunch tied to delayed payments from a key related tenant — Alhokair Fashion Retail (Cenomi Retail).

More room below: S&P downgraded Cenomi deeper into junk territory last month, citing rising receivables and related-party risk. The agency called the sukuk refinancing “manageable,” but warned that delays in executing a funding plan could erode liquidity, the business information service wrote.

#3- Chinese tech giant Huawei Technologies is fishing for customers in the Middle East, with Saudi Arabia and the UAE on the list of potential client, Bloomberg reports, citing sources it says are familiar with the matter. Huawei is offering small quantities of its older Ascend 910B processors to the region, with one source describing discussions with the Saudi Data & AI Authority (Sdaia) as “advanced” for a quantity of chips in the “low thousands.”

Washington is watching closely: Saudi Arabia’s engagement with Huawei is expected to remain under scrutiny, despite USD bns in agreements with US AI chip makers,. The US has previously voiced concerns about China’s growing influence in the Middle East.

AND- Setting the record straight: Elon Musk shot down news on a potential USD 170-200 bn fundraising round for xAI reportedly involving the Public Investment Fund (PIF), saying on X yesterday that “xAI is not seeking funding right now. We have plenty of capital.”

The potential fundraising was expected to see the PIF play a significant role, sources had earlier told the Financial Times. The sovereign fund already holds an indirect interest in xAI through its stake in Kingdom Holdings Company, which has an USD 800 mn investment in the AI firm.

#4- Non-oil GDP is expected to grow by 4.3% in 2025, pushed by a strong domestic demand and loan growth, Al Arabiya reports, citing a report by Jadwa Investment. The firm expects growth to reach 4.4% in 2026, driven by lower interest rates and further economic diversification.

MEANWHILE- Jadwa forecasts Brent oil prices to average USD 67/bbl in 2025 and USD 65 in 2026, while oil production is expected to rise to 9.45 mn bbl / d on average. Lower oil income is forecast to widen the budget deficit to 4.3% of GDP, still manageable thanks to low debt exposure and strong foreign reserves, the firm expects.

#5- Two-state solution conference is back on? The Saudi-French co-chaired UN conference in on the two-state solution for Israel and Palestine has been rescheduled for 28-29 July, with details set to come out soon, unnamed diplomats told Arab News. The meeting — originally scheduled for mid-June — was postponed last month following major Israeli military strikes on Iran.

BACKGROUND- The meeting is intended to address post-ceasefire security in Gaza, reconstruction, and establishing a Palestinian state. French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to move forward with recognizing a Palestinian state during the high-level conference, having urged the UK government this week to follow suit.

#6- Sequoia under fire after partner’s anti-Muslim remarks: Prominent investors and startup founders from the Middle East have joined a public petition against Shaun Maguire, a partner at US-based venture capital firm Sequoia Capital, who is facing intense criticism after he posted on X that NYC politician Zohran Mamdani is promoting an “Islamist agenda” and comes from a “culture that lies about everything.”

More and more business leaders are joining in: An open letter demanding his removal from client-facing roles and a zero-tolerance anti-discrimination policy has gathered almost 1.1k signatories from founders, investors, and operators across the tech world, including Tabby’s Hosam Arab, Lean Tech’s Hisham Al Falih, and Careem CEO Mudassir Sheikha.

Maguire later posted a 30-minute video attempting to clarify the comment, saying his critique was aimed at “political Islamism, not Islam.”

Where’s Sequoia in all this? So far, silent. The letter gives the firm until 14 July to issue a public response or face broader public and media escalation.

The story has gotten attention from the foreign press: CNBC | WSJ

DATA POINTS-

The government offered over 85k tenders valued at SAR 336.3 bn via the Etimad platform by the end of 2024, with some 34k tenders being awarded for a combined value of SAR 151.7 bn, according to the latest report (pdf) by the Local Content and Government Procurement Authority. High-value tenders amounted to 1.4k, representing 66.5% of total awarded tenders at a combined value of SAR 233.7 bn.

SPORTS-

#1- Liv Golf putts in with HSBC: Liv Golf signed a multi-year full-season partnership with HSBC, according to a statement. The contract includes support for community programs, financial literacy initiatives, and two teams — Crushers GC and Majesticks GC — in addition to sponsorship for LIV Golf’s “9 to Play” broadcast segment.

ALSO- Liv Golf reached an agreement for PIF-owned Roshn Group to become a Global Pillar Partner for the remainder of the current fixture and the 2026 season — totaling 19 events, according to a press release. The partnership focuses on youth golf programs, including the launch of the Rising Stars initiative to train 20 young Saudi players.

AND- Climbing back: LIV Golf submitted a new application to the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) for players to earn world ranking points, with the application currently under review, according to a statement. OWGR rejected a first bid two years ago, citing the “unconventional 54-hole format with no cuts while the events featured the same 48 players all season,” Reuters reports.

#2- A new star joins the Roshn league: Al Hilal signed French left-back Theo Hernandez from AC Milan on a three-year contract, paying some EUR 25 mn for the transfer, according to sports journalist Fabrizio Romano. The 27-year-old started his youth career at Atletico Madrid, making his professional debut at Deportivo Alaves (on loan) in 2016, later playing for Real Madrid, Real Sociedad, and AC Milan.

#3- UK-based BMW M Team Redline won its second Esports World Cup title at Rennsport, earning a USD 200k prize bag and 1k points in the overall club rankings to reach the top of the table, BMW Group said in a press release. The team was made up of Luke Bennett (GBR), Sebastian Job (GBR), Jeffrey Rietveld (NED), and Kevin Siggy (SLO), with 20-year-old Bennett named best player.

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THE BIG STORY ABROAD-

Trump’s latest tariff threats are once again dominating the foreign front pages: US President Donald Trump is threatening to slap new tariffs on imports from the EU and Mexico, escalating his protectionist drive ahead of the 1 August deadline for sweeping new trade measures. “Starting on 1 August 2025, we will charge the European Union a tariff of only 30% on EU products sent into the US, separate from all sectoral tariffs," Trump said in a letter on his Truth Social media. He also accused Mexico of failing to stop “the Cartels who are trying to turn all of North America into a narco-trafficking playground,” and threatened a similar 30% levy.

All eyes on 1 August: Trump last week sent letters to trade partners warning of new tariffs, with his administration saying the reciprocal measures could take effect as early as 1 August. The sweeping threat includes a 50% levy on copper imports, a potential 200% tariff on pharma products, and a 35% hike on Canadian exports. (Reuters | Bloomberg | FT | New York Times | CNBC | Associated Press)

CLOSER TO HOME- Talks in Doha aimed at brokering a 60-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas are faltering over Israeli troop withdrawal terms, sources from both sides told Reuters. Hamas has rejected Israeli-proposed maps that would keep 40% of Gaza — Rafah and areas in the north and east — under Israeli control. Israel, for its part, blames Hamas for “stubborn” negotiating. Two Israeli sources told the newswire that Hamas wants Israel instead to withdraw to the lines that it had occupied before resuming their military aggression in March.

CIRCLE YOUR CALENDAR-

The Real Estate Brokerage Forum kicks off at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center on 20 July, the Real Estate General Authority said in a statement. The forum will feature discussions on legislative updates, empowerment prospects, and the role of real estate brokers. Registration is now open at the Rega website.

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