World Bank keeps our GDP growth forecast unchanged. PLUS: Saudi-India power interconnection worth USD 5 bn is on the way

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WHAT WE’RE TRACKING TODAY

THIS MORNING: Riyadh Air, AviLease to finalize major Airbus orders in Paris + King Street will reportedly expand into the Kingdom

Good morning, ladies and gents. Our issue for today is packed with news of inbound and outbound investments, from the likes of Acwa Power, Aviagen and DHL. We also have the latest update on our (and the world’s) growth prospects from the World Bank. Let’s dive in.

BUT FIRST: IN MEMORIAM- Prince Faisal bin Turki bin Saud Al Kabeer Al Saud passed away, state news agency SPA reports. The funeral prayer was held yesterday at Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh. Prince Faisal actively participated in a official and social engagements, frequently representing the royal family at community and religious events.

WEATHER- Riyadh is expected to see a high of 44°C and a low of 28°C today, while Jeddah’s mercury will go as high as 36°C and as low as 28°C. Makkah will see a 46°C high and 32°C low.

WATCH THIS SPACE-

#1- Riyadh Air + AviLease expected to finalize major Airbus orders: PIF-backed Riyadh Air is poised to finalize an order for 25 Airbus A350-1000 jets at next week’s Paris Airshow, Reuters reports, citing industry sources it says are in the know. PIF’s AviLease is also expected to close an agreement with Airbus for 40 airplanes, the sources said.

We knew this was coming: Riyadh Air was reportedly in talks with Boeing and Airbus for months, for an order of up to 50 additional widebody jets as it looks to expand its fleet. The airline is looking to secure scarce delivery slots for Airbus A350-1000 and Boeing 777X aircraft.

Take off is approaching: Saudi Arabia’s newest carrier pushed back its launch to 3Q 2025 from earlier this year, after facing delays in Boeing aircraft deliveries. The airline expects to receive as many as four Boeing 787 Dreamliners this year.

#2- PIF receives offers for Riyadh’s Project Rise: The Public Investment Fund (PIF) received bids for a project management contract to oversee a planned central business district and a proposed 2 km-tall tower near Riyadh, Meed reported last Monday.

The contract is issued by PIF’s Tower District Real Estate Development Company, and includes both the tower — expected to be more than double the height of Dubai’s Burj Khalifa and cost some USD 5 bn — and the wider district, known as Project Rise.

We knew this was coming: The PIF invited companies to submit bids for the project management consultancy in March. US-based firms Aecom, Bechtel, Jacobs, Parsons, and Turner, along with UK-based Mace were among those invited to bid. British architecture studio Foster + Partners is leading the tower’s design.

#3- US asset manager King Street Capital Management plans to expand into the Kingdom, Bloomberg reported, citing sources it said are familiar with the matter. The firm is currently applying for a license from the Capital Market Authority to operate and manage client funds locally. The USD 28.5 bn firm focuses on credit, real estate, and structured finance, including hedge and drawdown strategies.

REMEMBER- King Street has already established a foothold in the kingdom through an MoU with the Saudi Real Estate Refinance Co. to boost liquidity and diversify financing solutions in the secondary real estate market, including the securitization of Shariah-compliant residential mortgage loans.

Asset managers are flocking to the Kingdom this year: Goldman Sachs Asset Management inked an agreement for PIF to anchor new private credit and public equity strategies in Saudi Arabia and the GCC. The PIF also teamed with BlackRock to explore investment opportunities and launch a new investment vehicle, and with Northern Trust Asset Management to potentially launch a USD 1 bn investment mandate in the kingdom.

#4- Anmat Technology for Trading’s stock gained 4.74% to close at SAR 9.71 on its Nomu debut yesterday, bucking a trend of slumping Nomu IPOs. The company’s shares will be allowed to fluctuate within a 30% band, with a static fluctuation band of 10% on the first three trading days. Starting from the fourth day, shares will be allowed to trade at a 10% volatility as circuit breakers take effect, and the static fluctuation limit will be removed.

REMEMBER- Anmat sold an 11.6% stake on the parallel market, good for 5 mn new shares at SAR 9.50 apiece, raising SAR 47.5 mn. The multi-sector operator saw strong investor demand for its primary offering, which was nearly 3x oversubscribed. Net proceeds were earmarked to finance two of its already-awarded projects.

#5- Our ins. market is expected to enter an “accelerating” consolidation wave, driven by stricter capital regulations and falling margins from price competition — especially in medical and motor ins. — according to a Fitch Ratings report. Agreements under discussion — which are mainly driven by regulatory pressure and financial strain — include potential mergers between Liva and Malath, Salama Cooperative and Saudi Enaya, and MedGulf and Buruj.

BACKGROUND- These developments follow a broader regulatory overhaul after the Saudi Ins. Authority took over sector supervision in 2023. It is set to implement a risk-based capital regime by 2027, introducing strict reporting and underwriting oversight.

The rationale: While Fitch views the consolidation trend and regulatory push as a positive development for the industry in the long run, short-term risks remain. Smaller ins. players are likely to face rising compliance costs and income pressure during the transition, due to limited economies of scale. Meanwhile, medical ins. — the largest segment — is expected to remain under pressure from earnings until the market consolidates and strict regulatory oversight begins to lift pricing.

The market remains dominated by large players, with Tawuniya and Bupa Arabia holding a combined 52% share of the market at the end of 2024.

#6- Al Mozaini Real Estate plans to list shares on Nomu: Hamad & Ahmad Mohammed Al Mozaini Real Estate Company signed an agreement with Yaqeen Capital to IPO its shares on Tadawul’s parallel market Nomu, Yaqeen said in a bourse disclosure. The move, which adds to Nomu’s hefty pipeline, is pending Capital Market Authority approval.

MARKET WATCH-

Foreign investors were net sellers on Tadawul’s main market last week before Eid, with net sales worth SAR 63.7 mn, according to the exchange’s weekly ownership and trading activity report (pdf). However, the value of shares under foreign ownership in Tadawul increased to SAR 400 bn supported by qualified investors.

Saudi + GCC Investors: Saudi investors were net sellers of Saudi equities at the week ending June 4, with a value of SAR 42.21 mn. Saudi investors also saw their ownership shed SAR 41.3 bn in value to SAR 8.69 tn, while Gulf investors recorded net purchases worth SAR 105.9 mn and their ownership decreased to SAR 68.97 bn.

Foreigners were net buyers on Tadawul’s parallel market Nomu, with net purchases worth SAR 1.3 mn. Local investors were net sellers of Saudi equities on Nomu, with net sales amounting to SAR 2.2 mn. GCC investors were net buyers with net purchases of SAR 888.1k.

Institutional investors dominated the main market, holding 86.75% of the freefloat, while retail investors led Nomu, controlling 66.24% of the freefloat.

DATA POINTS-

Voice calls in Makkah, Madinah, and the holy sites topped 181.2 mn during the 2025 hajj season, including 155 mn local and 25 mn international calls, the Communication, Space, and Technology Commission said in a post on X last Sunday. Mobile internet speeds rose 32% y-o-y to 297 Mbps, with daily data usage per person reaching 1.3k Mbit, nearly three times the global average, the commission said.

ALSO- STC’s network in Arafat recorded its highest traffic ever during this year’s hajj, with peak-hour data usage up 40% from last year and 5G traffic increasing by more than 98%, the telecommunication company said in a press release on Thursday. The company deployed over 80 mobile communication vehicles and more than 1k Wi-Fi access points across key sites.

OIL WATCH-

Opec still expects oil to dominate the energy mix past mid-century: Oil cartel Opec expects global crude consumption to exceed 120 mn bbl/d by 2050 as the world’s population expands and total energy demand rises by 24%, Reuters reports, citing statements by Opec’s Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais at the Global Energy Show in Canada.

Mind the investment gap: Opec pegs the financing bill for energy investments at some USD 17.4 tn over the next 25 years, noting that it has long flagged the dangers of underinvestment given its bullish demand outlook. Al Ghais warned that failing to inject enough capital into upstream projects risks supply shortfalls, volatility, and broader energy security risks.

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THE BIG STORY ABROAD-

Our corner of the world is once again topping the global press’ digital front pages with the US pulling embassy staff from the region amid rising tensions with Iran, after nuclear talks between the two nations appeared to break down ahead of the Trump administration’s 60-day deadline to come to an agreement ends today. All non-essential embassy staff in Baghdad were ordered to leave, while non-essential staff and family members were given the green light to leave Bahrain and Kuwait.

“They are being moved out because it could be a dangerous place,” Trump told reporters yesterday in comments that expressed his pessimism that Iran would agree to stop enriching uranium. In reference to repeated threats that the US could bomb Iran if the talks fall apart, Iranian Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh warned that Tehran would respond to any strikes with attacks on US bases in the region.

Escalation fears drove Brent crude prices up over 5% and past the USD 70 a barrel mark during trading, before paring back gains to end the day 4.3% up at USD 69.77 a barrel. Safe-haven asset gold also saw an uptick in investor appetite, rising 1.3% to USD 3385.90 per troy ounce. (Bloomberg | Financial Times | Reuters | Associated Press | Wall Street Journal | Washington Post)

World Bank keeps Saudi economic growth forecast unchanged at 2.8% in 2025

The World Bank maintained its GDP growth forecasts for Saudi Arabia at 2.8% in 2025 and 4.5% in 2026 in its Global Economic Prospects report (pdf), leaving them unchanged from its previous forecast back in April. The forecast for the current year reflects the gradual expansion of oil production.

Fiscal deficits are set to widen in the next two years: Saudi Arabia — and GCC countries at large — are expected to see fiscal deficits widening in 2025, with declines in revenue that are set to stem from “lower global oil prices outweighing reductions in expenditure,” the bank wrote. Deficits are expected to remain in 2026 despite oil revenues being expected to increase in 2026, which is partly “owing to spending pressures, including in Saudi Arabia,” the report reads.

The bank had earlier trimmed its growth forecasts for this year by 0.6 percentage points, due to “expected lower oil prices and fiscal revenues leading to lower export proceeds, as well as heightened uncertainty curbing investment.”

REFRESHER- In early April, Opec+ announced a long-delayed plan to gradually release 2.2 mn bbl /d of oil to the market over 18 months and then proceeded to accelerate these output hikes at triple the initially expected rate, with that last hike agreed on during the group’s meeting late last month.

How this compares to other forecasts: The International Monetary Fund opted to cut its growth forecast for the Kingdom’s GDP by 0.3 percentage points to 3% in 2025 and by 0.4 percentage points to 3.7% in 2026. S&P Global earlier expected our GDP to grow by 2.8% in 2025, while Fitch Ratings, more optimistic than most, penciled in growth of 3.4% in 2025 and 4.6% in 2026.

The region as a whole, however, has not fared trade tensions and a slump in oil prices as well as Saudi, with the World Bank’s latest forecasts for the Middle East and North Africa coming in at 2.7% y-o-y for the current fiscal year. Despite a marginal 0.1 percentage point upgrade from its April projection on the back of “an expansion of oil activity in oil exporters,” forecasts are still 0.7 percentage points below the World Bank’s pre-trade war January forecast and a whole 1.5 percentage points below the bank’s 2025 forecast before that.

Saudi-India interconnection worth USD 5 bn on the way + Acwa Power is mulling USD 5 bn agreement with Uzbekistan

India will invest some USD 5.5 bn to build a 1.7k km undersea power transmission line linking its power grid to Saudi Arabia, according to a statement (pdf) by India’s Power Ministry. The 2 GW line is part of Indian Prime Minister Modi’s One Sun, One World, One Grid initiative.

This has been in the works for some time: The two sides were working on feasibility studies as recently as April. The project builds on a 2023 MoU to establish a framework for grid interconnection, among a broader energy cooperation.

The UAE is getting one too: A similar 2 GW line connecting India and the UAE is also in the pipeline. The 1.4k km project comes with an estimated price tag of some USD 5.1 bn.

Zooming out: India currently trades some 4.1 GW of electricity with its neighbors — Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Myanmar.

ALSO- Acwa Power is mulling a USD 5 bn agreement with the Uzbek government as part of its strategy to increase total commitments in the country to USD 15 bn, UZ Daily reports, quoting the Avwa’s Uzbekistan Country head Soumendra Rout as saying at the Tashkent Int’l Investment Forum. No further details were disclosed.

Acwa is already the largest foreign investor in Uzbekistan’s energy sector, with 19 projects totalling USD 5 bn, Rout added. The country will start producing green hydrogen this month from Acwa’s project with 3k tonnes in annual capacity, Abid Malik, President of Acwa Power for Central Asia, said at the forum.

Aviagen to invest over USD 200 mn in Saudi poultry hub. PLUS: DHL plans to invest over EUR 500 mn in the Middle East

US poultry company Aviagen plans to invest over USD 200 mn to expand operations into Saudi, Al Arabiya reports, citing sources it says are familiar with the matter. The company also plans to open a head office in Riyadh.

The investment will support the establishment of a major poultry production and distribution hub aimed at serving the GCC, broader MENA region, and select Asian markets. Aviagen will issue pre-approved health certificates in cooperation with neighboring countries to facilitate export and import operations.

The first phase will include 11 grandparent farms across three sites in the Al Jouf region, with a targeted annual production capacity of 15 mn parent chicks. The project allows for future expansion to meet rising regional demand.

The Environment Ministry will allocate land in Al Jouf for the project, which will also include essential supporting infrastructure, such as a dedicated feed mill, a central laboratory, an isolated hatchery, and centralized management and service units at each site, the sources said.

ALSO- DHL Group plans to invest over EUR 500 mn in the Middle East between 2024 and 2030, with a focus on Saudi Arabia and the UAE, according to a press release (pdf). The investment spans the company’s four divisions — DHL Express, DHL Global Forwarding, DHL Supply Chain, and DHL eCommerce.

Here’s The breakdown:

DHL Express is planning to upgrade hub and gateway infrastructure, paired with enhanced air fleet capacity.
DHL Global Forwarding’s plans include fleet expansion (including electric trucks) and partnerships formation to boost connectivity.
DHL Supply Chain will scale up warehousing capacity in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, modernize equipment, and deploy advanced technologies to boost efficiency.
DHL eCommerce’s recent investment in Saudi-based delivery company Ajex will help boost last-mile delivery services amid a surge in online retail.

The logistics giant ❤️ Saudi: DHL Supply Chain and Aramco formed a JV (ASMO), securing SAR 300 mn in agreements to develop the kingdom’s supply chain sector. DHL Global Forwarding also partnered with Hyperview Saudi to pilot hydrogen-powered trucks in Jubail.

Awarded projects value reaches SAR 1.7 bn in May

The Kingdom awarded a total of 15 projects in May 2025, with a value of SAR 1.7 bn, significantly down from SAR 13.8 bn in April, the Saudi Contractors Authority said in its Contracting Sector Overview report (pdf).

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May’s project awards were largely split between two categories — building and construction, which secured nine projects valued at SAR 1.3 bn (77.5% of the total value), and infrastructure, which accounted for the remaining six contracts worth SAR 375 mn (22.5%).

Regional breakdown: Madinah recorded the highest number of awarded projects in May, with six contracts valued at SAR 356.3 mn, while Riyadh topped the chart in terms of value, driven by a single SAR 487.5 mn project. The Eastern Province followed, with three projects worth a total of SAR 468.8 mn, while Aseer’s three project awards were valued at SAR 225 mn.

Major project owners in May included Misk Foundation, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), and the Diriyah Gate Development Authority, which own Riyadh’s Diriyah Project. Meanwhile, Madinah’s six projects were wholly owned by its Municipality, including Jawharat Uhud Project.

Other owners include Saudi Entertainment Ventures (Seven), which is building its SAR 262.5 mn Entertainment Complex in the Eastern Province, and King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, which is developing its SAR 187.5 mn Stadium in Al Khobar.

The timeline: Ten of the projects awarded in May 2025 are expected to be delivered within 2027, four are expected in 2028, and one project next year.

Looking forward: June is expected to see 20 projects awarded by the PIF, Aramco, Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic), Al Madina Development Authority, Royal Commission for the Riyadh City, and AlUla Development Company. Over half of these will be dominated by the building and construction sector, with most of them spread across Riyadh, Madinah, and the Eastern province, the report said.

Saudi, GCC construction markets take a big hit in the first five months of 2025 -Meed

Saudi Arabia’s construction market recorded the largest overall y-o-y decline in the GCC, dropping by USD 34 bn, according to Meed projects data.

The decline is most visible in Saudi gigaprojects, where only USD 4 bn in contracts were awarded in the first five months of 2025, down from USD 25 bn in the same period last year, after it peaked in the first five months of 2023 at USD 33 bn. Only Diriyah Company and Roshn Group have awarded major contracts so far this year, Meed added.

The market is now struggling to absorb more than USD 600 bn of work awarded over the past three years, along with cost overruns and weak foreign investment, prompting the government to reassess its priorities, particularly as it focuses on delivering time-sensitive events like Expo 2030 and the 2034 Fifa World Cup.

Part of a regional trend: The GCC construction market fell by c. 40% y-o-y over the same period, with only USD 67 bn awarded contracts across the Gulf, down 39% from USD 110 bn in the first five months of 2024. The sharpest y-o-y declines were found in the construction and oil sector, with all sectors, except power and petrochemicals, also down. The UAE slightly fell below its 2024 figures, while Kuwait was the only Gulf country not to experience a decline.

The drivers: The decline is attributed to the completion of the planned large-scale oil and gas projects and the reported reforms and recalibration of the other gigaprojects. Falling oil prices and new US tariffs have also contributed to a loss of momentum following two years of record spending, the financial publication added.

DATA POINT- Bloomberg estimates that gigaprojects like Neom and major events like the World Expo 2030 and the Fifa World Cup in 2034 could cost nearly USD 2 tn. Rising deficits, falling oil revenues, and mounting borrowing might curb the Kingdom’s ability to meet targets, the business news service argued.

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Saudi players ink slew of agreements at Transport Logistics 2025

The Transport Logistics 2025 Forum — which concluded last week in Munich — brought in a slew of agreements between Saudi players and global logistics giants in several sectors, including supply chain, manufacturing, localization, and tech. Meetings with global companies were overseen by the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP) and Invest Saudi, according to a statement.

#1- SAL + GCL to support entertainment sector: Saudi Logistics Services (SAL) inked an agreement with US-based Global Critical Logistics (GCL) to boost logistics services for several key sectors, including arts, sports, entertainment, according to a statement.

#2- GFS Express eyed China: Homegrown freight solution firm GFS Express inked an MoU with China’s Hefei Logistics Group to bolster cooperation in logistics and establish innovative supply chain solutions, according to a statement.

#3- Modon tapped infrastructure improvements: Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones (Modon) signed an MoU with Chinese logistics infrastructure developer JD Property to build advanced logistics infrastructure in the Kingdom and propel the localization of tech solutions, according to a statement.

#4- Asasat to form a JV with Silk Mile, JTM: Riyadh-based real estate firm Asasat, US-based transport firm JTM Group, and Lebanese logistics services company Silk Mile signed an MoU to establish a joint venture to expand logistics solutions and draw FDI into the Kingdom, according to a statement.

#5- NIDLP + Köppern collaborate on machine development: The National Industrial Development Logistics Program (NIDLP) and German transport firm Köppern agreed to explore ways to localize roller press systems and compaction machines in the Kingdom, according to a statement.

#6- Saudi Post partnered up with Maersk, Scan Global: Saudi Post (SPL), Danish shipping giant Maersk, Turkish freight forwarder Scan Global are collaborating to enhance air freight operations, delivery solutions, and digital logistics infrastructure in the Kingdom, according to a statement.

Zatca grabs three int’l awards at Berlin’s ContactCenterWorld conference

The Zakat, Tax, and Customs Authority (Zatca) received three international awards at the ContactCenterWorld conference held recently in Berlin, it said in a statement last week. The authority received gold for Best Outbound Campaign and Best Help Desk in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), as well as silver for Best Government Contact Center in Customer Service.

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Mawani adds shipping service from CMA CGM in Jeddah

LOGISTICS-

The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) added CMA CGM’s MEDEX shipping service to Jeddah Islamic Port, it said in a statement last Tuesday. The new service — with a capacity of 10k TEUs — will connect the port with 12 regional and global ports, including Abu Dhabi and Jebel Ali in the UAE, Karachi in Pakistan, Mundra and Nhava Sheva in India, Colombo in Sri Lanka, Piraeus and Malta in Greece, Genoa in Italy, Fos in France, and Barcelona and Valencia in Spain.

ICYMI- Mawani has recently added three new Sealead shipping services, including WARM with a handling capacity of up to 600 TEUs, 5CX with a 1.5k standard container capacity and RESIN with a 1k standard container capacity.

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HEALTHCARE-

Saudi German Health renewed its 2021 contract with Megamind for another five years: The Middle East Healthcare Company (Saudi German Health) approved a five-year extension of an IT operations and management services contract worth SAR 382.9 mn with Afkar Al Holoul Consulting (Megamind), according to a disclosure to Tadawul. The extension is subject to shareholders’ and regulatory approvals and will have no preferential benefits.

The details: Of the total contract value, SAR 264.7 mn will be paid directly for technical and operational works, while SAR 118.3 mn will be paid by Megamind to third parties that will provide licenses and services. The remaining value of the work on the contract stands at SAR 134.5 mn.

World Bank sees global growth slowing to a near two decade low in 2025

Global growth to slow down to lowest rate since 2008 on the back of trade conflicts: The World Bank expects GDP growth to weaken to 2.3% in 2025 on a global level, in what would mark the slowest rate of growth in almost 17 years, without counting outright global recessions, the bank wrote in its latest Global Economic Prospects report (pdf). The forecast for 2025 represents a drop of 0.4 percentage points from the bank’s previous forecast in January, while its forecast of 2.4% growth in 2026 is 0.3 percentage points lower than the bank’s prediction at the start of the year.

The rationale: The bank sees global growth deteriorating on the back of a “substantial rise in trade barriers and the pervasive effects of an uncertain global policy environment,” with the outlook largely depending on how trade policy evolves globally. “Growth could turn out to be lower if trade restrictions escalate or if policy uncertainty persists, which could also result in a build-up of financial stress,” the report reads.

The risks don’t end there: Other risks to growth include “adverse global spillovers, worsening conflicts, and extreme weather events,” as well as the possibility of lower-than-expected growth in major economies.

Some hope? However, the outlook could improve should major economies sign “lasting agreements that address trade tensions,” the bank said.

^^This is already happening: The US and China have finally reached a trade agreement that could end a long and heated tit-for-tat that started with the US’ imposition of a 145% tariff on Chinese imports, though few details have emerged and the final agreement still requires sign-offs from the countries’ leaders.

The US is now expected to see its GDP growth slow to 1.4% in 2025, before seeing a slight uptick to 1.6% in 2026. The forecast for 2025 is 0.9 percentage points lower than it was in the bank’s forecast in January, while that of 2026 is 0.4 percentage points lower than the previous forecast.

The bank also trimmed the Euro Area’s growth forecast, expecting growth to slow to 0.7% in 2025 (0.3 percentage points lower than the previous forecast) before rising slightly to 0.8% in 2026 (0.4 percentage points lower than the previous forecast).

As for China, the World Bank kept its forecast for the country unchanged at 4.5% growth in 2025, and 4.0% in 2026, “as the impact of higher trade barriers and weaker external demand is assumed to be offset by the boost from additional fiscal policy support,” it wrote.

REGIONALLY- Growth in the MENA region is expected to strengthen to 2.7% in 2025 — up 0.1 percentage points from its previous forecast in April — before strengthening further to 3.9% in 2026-27, on the back of “an expansion of oil activity in oil exporters, which more than offsets the adverse effects of weakening external demand and lower oil prices.”

Growth in GCC economies is expected to increase to 3.2% in 2025 (unchanged from its April forecast), 4.5% in 2026, and 4.8% in 2027. “The phase-out of OPEC+ oil production cuts starting in April 2025 is expected to lead to rising oil production, despite projected lower oil prices amid weakening global demand,” according to the report.

MARKETS THIS MORNING-

Asian markets are mixed this morning, with Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index and Japan’s Nikkei leading losses. South Korea’s Kospi, on the other hand, is up 0.3%. Over on Wall Street, futures are subdued despite news of a trade agreement between the US and China and positive May inflation data.

TASI	11,005	+0.0% (YTD: -8.6%)
MSCI Tadawul 30	1,405	-0.1% (YTD: -6.9%)
NomuC	27,224	-0.3% (YTD: -13.5%)
USD : SAR (SAMA)	USD 3.75 Sell	USD 3.75 Buy
Interest rates	5.0% repo	4.5% reverse repo
EGX30	32,935	+0.1% (YTD: +10.7%)
ADX	9,805	+0.1% (YTD: +4.1%)
DFM	5,596	-0.1% (YTD: +8.5%)
S&P 500	6022	-0.3% (YTD: +2.4%)
FTSE 100	8864	+0.1% (YTD: +8.5%)
Euro Stoxx 50	5393	-0.4% (YTD: +10.2%)
Brent crude	USD 69.77	+4.3%
Natural gas (Nymex)	USD 3.52	+0.4%
Gold	USD 3385.90	+1.3%
BTC	USD 108,919.50	-0.9% (YTD: +16.5%)
Sukuk/bond market index	912	-0.1% (YTD: +1.2%)
S&P MENA bond & sukuk	144	+0.2% (YTD: +3.0%)
VIX (Volatility Index)	17.26	+1.8% (YTD: -0.5%)

THE CLOSING BELL: TADAWUL-

The TASI remained unchanged yesterday on turnover of SAR 5.6 bn. The index is down 8.6% YTD.

In the green: Cenomi Retail (+9.9%), Miahona (+6.1%) and Americana (+5.7%).

In the red: Elm (-6.7%), Acwa Power (-5.3%) and Sadafco (-3.5%).

THE CLOSING BELL: NOMU-

The NomuC fell 0.3% yesterday on turnover of SAR 25.5 mn. The index is down 13.5% YTD.

In the green: Meyar (+20.7%), Knowledgenet (+10.0%) and Rawasi (+7.2%).

In the red: Aqaseem (-9.4%), Alrazi (-8.5%) and Nbm (-7.7%).

CORPORATE ACTIONS-

KnowledgeNet’s BoD recommended a 50% capital increase to SAR 52.5 mn via a bonus share issuance, it said in a disclosure to Tadawul yesterday. The SAR 17.5 mn capital hike will be funded via the outfit’s retained earnings, with shareholders receiving one bonus share for every two shares held. The raised capital is earmarked for supporting the company’s strategic growth, funding future expansion, and strengthening its financial position. The move is pending shareholders’ and regulatory approvals.

Zahrat Al Waha for Trading (Oasis) will distribute SAR 10.1 mn in dividends for FY 2024 at SAR 0.45 per share, it said in a disclosure to Tadawul yesterday. Distribution is set for Thursday, 19 June.

CALENDAR

JUNE

17-18 June (Tuesday-Wednesday): US Federal Reserve Open Market Committee meeting and Summary of Economic Projections.

24-25 June (Tuesday-Wednesday): Tech-ecO-System Summit (ToSS), Riyadh.

30 June (Monday): Cancellation of Fines and Exemption of Financial Penalties Initiative by the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (Zatca) deadline.

JULY

July (Second week): World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Global Awards 2025 awards ceremony, Geneva.

7 July-24 August (Monday-Sunday): Esports World Cup, Riyadh.

29-30 July (Tuesday-Wednesday): US Federal Reserve Open Market Committee meeting.

31 July (Thursday): Deadline for companies with SAR 2.5 mn or more in 2022/2023 revenues to integrate e-invoicing solutions with Fatoora.

AUGUST

7 July-24 August (Monday-Sunday): Esports World Cup, Riyadh.

5-17 August (Tuesday-Sunday): 2025 Fiba Asia Cup, Jeddah.

SEPTEMBER

15-17 September (Monday-Wednesday): Money 20/20 Middle East, Riyadh.

17-18 September (Wednesday-Thursday): US Federal Reserve Open Market Committee meeting and Summary of Economic Projections.

23 September (Tuesday): Saudi National Day.

OCTOBER

1-3 October (Wednesday-Friday): Saudi Green Building Forum, Riyadh.

7-8 October (Tuesday-Wednesday): Global EV & Mobility Technology (GEMTECH) Forum, Riyadh.

15 October (Wednesday): Russian-Arab Summit.

17 October (Friday): Saudization for private healthcare roles enters its second phase.

22-23 October (Wednesday-Thursday): Private Capital Forum, Riyadh.

28-30 October (Tuesday-Thursday): Future Investment Initiative (FII9), King Abdulaziz International Conference Center (KAICC) and the Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh.

28-29 October (Tuesday-Wednesday): US Federal Reserve Open Market Committee meeting.

NOVEMBER

3-9 November (Monday- Sunday): WTA Tour Finals, Riyadh.

11-13 November (Tuesday-Thursday): TouriseSummit, Riyadh.

17-20 November (Monday-Thursday): Cityscape Global, Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Centre, Riyadh.

23-26 November (Sunday-Wednesday): Saudi Food Exhibition and Conference, Riyadh.

24-26 November (Monday-Wednesday) The World Advanced Manufacturing & Logistics Saudi Expo, Riyadh.

27-30 November (Thursday-Sunday): World Rally Championship Saudi Arabia 2025, Jeddah.

30 November (Sunday): Zatca 21st E-invocing integration wave deadline.

DECEMBER

1-4 December (Monday-Thursday): International Conference on Nuclear and Radiological Emergencies, Riyadh.

1-4 December (Monday-Thursday): 61st ISOCARP World Planning Congress, Riyadh.

9-10 December (Tuesday-Wednesday): Federal Open Market Committee meeting and Summary of Economic Projections.

25-27 December (Saturday-Monday): The Fortune Global Forum 2025, Riyadh.

31 December (Wednesday): Zatca 22st E-invoicing integration wave deadline.

2026

UN Trade and Development Global Supply Chain Forum to take place in Saudi Arabia.

8-12 February (Sunday-Thursday): World Defense Show, Riyadh.

26-29 October (Monday-Thursday): World Energy Congress, Riyadh.

27-29 April (Monday-Wednesday): Aluminum Arabia, The Arena, Riyadh.

2027

The World Water Forum takes place in Riyadh.

The Ocean Race finishes in Amaala on the Red Sea.

Riyadh-Kudmi transmission line to be completed.

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