Sabic is almost out of Europe

Brussels has cleared the sale of Sabic’s European petrochemicals arm. The European Commission approved Germany’s Aequita taking sole control of Sabic Europe, finding no competition concerns under its simplified review, clearing the way for the sale to close.

It is the second leg of Sabic’s European exit: the company completed the sale of its engineering thermoplastics (ETP) business to Germany's Mutares in August, and the two divestments are worth a combined SAR 3.6 bn (USD 950 mn).

Why it matters: Sabic is shedding loss-makers to lift returns and focus on higher-margin chemicals, in step with parent Aramco’s cost-cutting. The overhaul, running since 2022, has already exited Functional Forms, Hadeed, and Alba; the petrochemicals sale is due to close in 4Q 2026, with the National Industrial Gases Company, possibly via IPO, next on the list.

Camel trade gets its fine print

The Environment, Water and Agriculture Ministry has approved Camel Trade Regulations for anyone buying, selling, leasing, or bartering a camel in the Kingdom. Transactions now need proper contracts, full disclosure, and documented ownership transfers, logged digitally no less.

Passing off a poorly camel is off the table: Transporting, selling, or displaying a sick one draws a fine under the Agriculture Law, and markets and auctions have to meet animal-welfare standards, with a formal channel for reporting mistreatment.

More Masar land changes hands

Umm Al Qura for Development and Construction has sold two more plots in its Masar Destination project in Makkah. Umm Al Qura and an SPV of its Al-Inma Makkah Development Fund II signed agreements to sell two boulevard-facing plots in Zone 2, covering 4.9k sqm in total to Abdulmohsin Al Rossais & Sons Group for SAR 310.4 mn, according to a Tadawul filing. The buyer plans to build two residential towers on the land.

REMEMBER- This follows Umm Al Qura’s SAR 603.8 mn sale of four Zone 3 plots to Al-Diyar Al-Arabia last week, as it steadily parcels out Masar land to developers.