Good morning, wonderful people, and welcome to a new week. It’s not particularly busy as far as the local news cycle goes, but we may have hit peak earnings season. Leading this morning’s news well is the latest regional bond and sukuk issuance figures, as well as Wajd Life issuing its prospectus for its planned IPO on the Nomu.

ALSO- Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is reportedly due to visit US President Donald Trump in Washington in November, Bloomberg reports, citing people familiar with the matter. The Crown Prince’s visit — which will be his first to the White House since 2018, during Trump’s first presidential term — is designed to firm up a handful of investment plans between Washington and Riyadh announced during Trump’s regional tour in May.

HAPPENING TODAY-

The two-day EventTech meetup will kick off today at the Cultural House-Altaawun Public Library in Riyadh, bringing together tech enthusiasts, entrepreneurs, investors, and industry professionals. The event — organized by the National Events Center — will feature live demos, panel discussions, and networking sessions exploring how AI, data science, and other technologies are rephasing event experiences.

The Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters continues today and runs until 16 August at Green Halls in Jeddah. The event, which kicked off on Friday, the event sees 128 World Snooker Tour players and another 16 snooker players from Saudi Arabia playing for a pot worth more than GBP 2 mn. You can check out the schedule on the WST website.

Governor of Tabuk Prince Fahd bin Sultan will inaugurate 48 new environment, water, and agriculture projects today, worth over SAR 4.4 bn, the Tabuk Principal said on X yesterday. The projects include 23 ready initiatives valued at more than SAR 3.8 bn and 25 others about to kick off, with a combined cost of SAR 580 mn, state news agency SPA reports.

WEATHER- Riyadh is expected to see a high of 44°C and a low of 31°C today, while Jeddah’s mercury will go as high as 39°C and as low as 31°C. Makkah is expecting some showers amid a 42°C high and 31°C low.

PSAs-

Pilgrims can now use the Nusuk app without being connected to the internet, under a new partnership with telecom providers STC, Mobily, and Zain, the Hajj and Umrah Ministry said on X last week. The move lets citizens, residents, and visitors issue permits, book Haramain train tickets, navigate with maps, and chat with the app’s AI assistant while remaining offline.

WATCH THIS SPACE-

#1- An Arabic version of ChatGPT, built entirely by a Saudi team, will be launched at the end of this month, Humain CEO Tariq Amin told Al Arabiya on Thursday (watch, runtime: 14:33). Amin highlighted the capabilities of the local workforce, saying that Saudi talent is “amazing and just needs support and technology.” Amin aims for Humain to be one of the top five data center companies in the world.

Humain has a lot in the works: Since launching earlier this year, Humain has signed over USD 23 bn worth of agreements with US tech firms, including Nvidia, AMD, Amazon Web Services, and Qualcomm, Amin said in May. The company is also expected to launch a USD 10 bn venture capital fund this summer and has established in June a new division for advertising, video games, and film called Humain Create in partnership with US-based generative AI startup Luma A.

#2- The upside from Ades’ acquisition of Shelf Drilling: Ades International Holding ’s acquisition of Shelf Drilling will expand its operations to 19 countries from 13, upping its offshore rigs to 83 — 20% of world’s fleet — and boosting annual revenue by up to USD 900 mn by 1H 2026, CEO Mohamed Farouk told Al Arabiya (watch, runtime: 5:43). The transaction is expected to deliver a 13% return on investment over seven years.

IN CONTEXT- Ades International Holding, a subsidiary of Tadawul-listed Ades Holding, agreed to take over Dubai-based and Oslo-listed offshore drilling contractor Shelf Drilling last week in a SAR 1.4 bn (USD 379 mn) merger. The transaction is expected to close in 4Q, pending regulatory and customary clearances.

#3- The UAE’s Adnoc Distribution plans to add 160 new fuel stations in the Kingdom by 2026, bringing the total to 300, CEO Bader Al Lamki told Asharq Business on Thursday (watch, runtime: 8:42). This expansion, which has already seen its Saudi network double to 140 stations this year, is being achieved through a dealer-owned station model.

REMEMBER- Back in May, Adnoc Distribution said it plans to open 40-50 new fuel stations in the Kingdom this year, having already secured contracts for 15 stations in 1Q 2025.

#4- British creative design firm Territory Studio is launching its first Middle East studio in Riyadh, according to a press release. The studio will begin operations this year, with a larger, permanent facility scheduled to open next year. It will offer a wide range of services, including co-development, visual asset production, cinematic design, and UI/UX design. This expansion is backed by an MoU signed with Riyadh-based Savvy Games Group in July.

Cloud seeding has created its first summer rain in Riyadh over the Rumah area, the SaudiGazette reported yesterday. The operation, led by the National Center for Meteorology, used specially equipped aircraft to disperse eco-friendly materials into clouds to stimulate precipitation. The Cloud Seeding Program aims to boost rainfall by up to 20%, provide an alternative water source, expand green areas, and combat desertification.

#5- Spinneys remains on track to open two new stores in Saudi Arabia in 2025, after opening two stores in the Kingdom and seeing “encouraging” performance from these branches, Spinneys CEO Sunil Kumar told Bloomberg (watch, runtime: 6:16). The two stores are part of Spinneys’ plans to open a total of 10-12 stores across the UAE and Saudi Arabia in 2025.

DATA POINTS-

#1- The General Authority for Competition approved 147 merger and acquisition transactions so far in 2025, including two conditional approvals, with several more under review, Senior Director of Mergers and Acquisition in the authority Talal Alhogail told Al Arabiya on Thursday (watch, runtime: 4:20).

#2- King Khalid International Airport served a record 3.9 mn passengers across 26k flights in July, making it the busiest month in the airport’s history, according to state news agency SPA. The airport also reported a one-day record with 142,538 passengers served, surpassing its previous record of 131,691 passengers in a single day.

OIL WATCH-

Asia-bound crude price raised again: Aramco raised the price of its flagship Arab Light crude bound for Asia by USD 1/bbl for September deliveries, taking the premium to USD 3.20/bbl above the Oman-Dubai benchmark, Bloomberg reports citing a price list it saw. That’s higher than the USD 0.90 hike traders had expected — and marks the second month in a row the Kingdom hikes prices, signaling confidence in the strength of demand. Prices to Europe were cut USD 1.30 across the board while shipments to the US saw a slight increase.

Saudi continues to lead Opec+ in boosting supply in a bid to regain market share, banking on sustained demand to absorb the added barrels. So far, fuel consumption has kept refining margins healthy, helping the market digest increased output. Aramco’s CEO Amin Nasser struck a bullish tone on an earnings call this week, saying crude demand in 2H could be more than 2 mn bbl/d higher than in 1H this year.

But not everyone’s convinced the market can keep up: Analysts warn the output surge expected this month and the next could push prices down later this year. JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs both expect Brent to dip to around USD 60/bbl in 4Q, if supply overshoots demand, Bloomberg said.

SPORTS-

It’s been transfers galore this past weekend, with Saudi Pro League clubs making major moves ahead of the new season.

Al Nassr reached an agreement to sign Barcelona defender Iñigo Martínez on a freetransfer, with the 34-year-old expected to sign until June 2026 with an option for a one-year extension, according to sports reporter Fabrizio Romano. Al Nassr has also opened talks with Bayern Munich to sign French winger Kingsley Coman, Romano said on X. The club is also targeting Brentford’s Yoane Wissa, facing competition from Newcastle, Tottenham, and Neom, L’Équipe reports.

Uruguayan striker Darwin Núñez gave the verbal go-ahead to join Al Hilal on a three-year contract until June 2028, with final details being completed, according to Romano. Liverpool will receive EUR 53 mn plus bonuses that could raise the deal to EUR 65 mn, and Al Hilal has agreed to Núñez’s salary terms.

Meanwhile, Al Ittihad is in negotiations to renew French midfielder N’Golo Kanté’s contract, which expires after the upcoming season, Asharq Al Awsat reports, citing sources it says are in the know. Kanté is open to extending his contract with his current USD 25 mn annual salary, while the club seeks to retain him on reduced terms.

AND- Al Ettifaq has finalized its foreign squad for the season, retaining key players like goalkeeper Marek Rodák, defender Jack Hendry, midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum, and forward Moussa Dembélé, Ahsarq Al Awsat reports. New international additions include midfielder Ondrej Duda, Egyptian striker Ahmed Hassan Kouka, Costa Rican defender Francisco Calvo, and South African midfielder Mohau Nkuota — bringing the total number of foreign players to 11, including three naturalized.

Domestically, Al Ettifaq’s Mohamed Abdel Rahman was sold to Al Ahli while rising talent Ziyad Al Ghamdi joined the club. Clubs including Al Ahli and Al Nassr are showing interest in other players like Khalid Al Ghannam and Abdullah Madu, with Al Ettifaq open to high-value offers.

Outgoing Al Ettifaq players include Thamer Al Khaibari, who moved to Neom, and Demarai Gray, who joined Birmingham City. Coach Saad Al Shehri was given full authority over the squad and approved the release of Hamdan Al Shamrani following his loan spell.

***You’re reading EnterpriseAM Saudi, your essential daily roundup of business, economics, and must-read news about Saudi, delivered straight to your inbox. We’re out Sunday through Thursday by 7am Riyadh time.

EnterpriseAM Saudi is available without charge thanks to the generous support of our friends at Tas’heel and Hassan Allam Properties.

Want to send us a story idea, request coverage, ask for a correction, or otherwise get in touch? Reach out to us on saudi@enterpriseAM.com.

DID YOU KNOW that we also cover Egypt, the UAE, and the MENA logistics industry?

Were you forwarded this email? Tap or click here to get your own copy of EnterpriseAM Saudi delivered every weekday.
***

THE BIG STORY ABROAD-

It’s a slow morning in the international business press this morning, as is often the case on Sundays. In the absence of market-moving news, the latest developments between Russia and Ukraine are leading headlines, following a meeting between US Vice President JD Vance and officials from Ukraine, the UK, and others in Europe to discuss the latest push for peace from Washington — including a US proposal that would see “some swapping of territories” between Russia and Ukraine.” Russian President Vladimir Putin also put forth a proposal that would start with Ukraine ceding control of parts of Donetsk in exchange for a ceasefire. The story is getting ink in the Wall Street Journal, Reuters, and CNBC.

MEANWHILE- Market watchers will also be keeping an eye on US inflation data for June, due out on Tuesday, which economists think will indicate a slight uptick as the effects of higher tariffs are starting to be felt by consumers, Bloomberg says. The data will be an important indicator of how much room the Federal Reserve still has to play with before it enacts more rate cuts, which the market already expects to happen next month.

Tags: