Get EnterpriseAM daily

Banks tap debt markets with fresh issuances

1

WHAT WE’RE TRACKING TODAY

THIS MORNING: Saudi-Egypt interconnection’s first phase 91% completed

Good morning, everyone, and happy THURSDAY. August is almost over, and banks are racing to the debt markets to shore up their offers, with Banque Saudi Fransi closing a USD 1 bn issuance, while Alinma Bank and Saudi Awwal Bank wrap up their issuances later today.


WEATHER- Thunderstorms and heavy rain are to continue over Jazan, Asir, Al Baha, and Makkah today, with light to moderate showers expected in Najran and Madinah. Riyadh is expected to see a high of 42°C and a low of 31°C today, while Jeddah’s mercury will peak at 37°C and bottom out at 30°C. Makkah will see a 39°C high and 29°C low.

WATCH THIS SPACE-

#1- Saudi Arabia and Egypt are moving closer to launching their long-planned electricity interconnection, with more than 91% of the project’s first phase completed, AlArabiya Business reports, citing an unnamed Egyptian government official. Testing is now underway on cables, control units, towers, and communications. Trial operations of the interconnection were originally slated for April.

The USD 1.8 bn project will enable the exchange of up to 3 GW of power between the two countries once fully operational, with phase one seeing 1.5 GW of capacity flowing across the link. By exploiting differences in peak demand times between the two countries, the link is expected to reduce fuel consumption and allow for more efficient operations.

Three high-voltage transformer stations anchor the project, two in the Kingdom — in Medina and Tabuk — and one in Egypt’s Badr City. Power will flow along a 1.35k km route through overhead power lines and a 22 km subsea cable in the Red Sea.

.

The project also paves the way for a future Arab Electricity Market, by connecting the two largest electricity networks in the Middle East.


#2- Industry minister probes potential US investments: Industry and Mineral Resources Minister Bandar Alkhorayef sat down with a number of US industrial and mining companies to explore potential joint investments during his official visit to the US, state news agency SPA reported yesterday.

The details: Alkhorayef met with the vice president of global emerging markets at General Mills to discuss food processing and manufacturing technologies and met with Lilac Solutions ’ CEO to discuss lithium extraction. He also held talks with RTX ’s senior vice president of international government affairs on defense and aerospace collaboration and with the CEO of International Flavors and Fragrances to explore prospects in specialty chemicals and flavor production.


#3- Saudi Arabia’s rapidly growing non-oil sector is poised to be a magnet for global emerging markets investors, Franklin Templeton’s Head of Investment for MENA Salah Shamma said in a CNBC interview (watch, runtime: 4:46). While the Saudi stock market slipped 10% YTD due to headwinds from lower oil prices, the non-oil economies — supported by maturing debt markets and Vision 2030 — continue to gain momentum, primarily in consumer-facing sectors like healthcare, infrastructure, and education, Shamma said.

Diversification is paying off: Market developments have increased its weight in the MSCI Emerging Markets index to about 4%, which is expected to further increase, driven by structural changes in the market and upcoming IPOs, Shamma added.

DATA POINTS-

The Saudi Pro League’s market value hit EUR 1.09 bn, with five clubs — Al Hilal (EUR 234.3 mn), Al Nassr (EUR 174.3 mn), Al Ahli (EUR 158.1 mn ), Al Qadsiah (EUR 135.2 mn), and Al Ittihad (EUR 111.5 mn) — making up 81.3% of the total value, according to Transfermarkt.

OIL WATCH-

Goldman Sachs expects Brent crude futures to slide into the low USD 50s / bbl by late 2026, citing a widening oil surplus that could average 1.8 mn bbl / d between 4Q 2025 and 4Q 2026, Reuters reports, citing a client note. The surplus could lead to an estimated 800 mn bbl rise in global stocks by the end of next year.

Chinese demand could drive growth: A potential increase in Chinese stock growth to 800k bbl / d — up from 400k bbl / d so far this year — would lift its 2026 Brent forecast by USD 6 / bbl to USD 62 / bbl.

REMEMBER- Goldman lowered Brent crude forecasts by USD 2-3 a barrel to average USD 60 / bbl for this year and USD 56 / bbl in 2026. This came before Opec’s decision to fully unwind its voluntary cuts by September.

***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-

Nvidia beat analyst expectations yesterday, with revenue increasing 56% y-o-y to USD46.7 bn in the second quarter of FY2026, while net income was also up 59% to USD 26.4 bn. The company expects growth to remain above the 50% level this quarter too, with USD 54 bn in sales.

BUT- The chipmaker’s stock price slipped 1.5% in extended trading despite the bumper quarter, as data center revenue came short of analyst expectations, declining 1% q-o-q.

OVER IN THE WHITE HOUSE- US and Israeli officials met yesterday to discuss “post-warGaza,” with President Trump set to chair a separate meeting for a “comprehensive plan” for the next day, US envoy Steve Witkoff said. The meetings come amid a stall in negotiations and an imminent planned evacuation of Gaza City that is expected to compound the humanitarian situation and famine in the strip.

ALSO WORTH READING-

  • TikTok-owner ByteDance is reportedly eyeing a USD 330 bn valuation in the latest employee share buyback, citing sustained revenue growth. (Reuters)
  • How China’s electric vehicle juggernaut is reshaping the global car market. (CNBC)

This publication is proudly sponsored by

Easier life with Tasheel
From OUR FAMILY to YOURS
2

DEBT WATCH

Fresh capital issuances from BSF, Alinma, Sab hit the market

The deluge of regulatory capital issuances in the Kingdom continues as Banque Saudi Fransi (BSF), Alinma, and Saudi Awwal Bank (Sab) tap global and regional debt markets to shore up their buffers. All of the issuances are Reg S-compliant and are listed on the International Securities Market of the London Stock Exchange.

#1- BSF closed a USD 1 bn T2 issuance with a 5.761% annual return, according to adisclosure. The bond, which was open to both local and international investors and carried a 10-year maturity and a five-year call, falls under the bank’s medium-term note program.

SOUND SMART- AT1 instruments are designed to absorb losses, while the bank continues to operate normally, strengthening core capital. T2 notes, which usually carry fixed maturities, provide an extra layer of protection by absorbing losses if a bank becomes non-viable. AT1 and T2 issuances are central to meeting Basel III capital adequacy standards, helping Saudi banks maintain resilience as credit demand and regulatory expectations rise.

ADVISORS- BSF tapped our friends at HSBC and Mashreq, alongside Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Citigroup Global Markets, DBS Bank, Emirates NBD Bank, Mizuho International, and Saudi Fransi Capital as joint lead managers on the transaction.


#2- Alinma Bank kicked off the offering of its USD-denominated sustainable AT1 capitalnotes, according to a disclosure. The issuance falls under the bank’s AT1 program and is open to eligible investors in the Kingdom and abroad. This comes a little over a month after Alinma closed a USD 500 mn sukuk issuance.

About the bonds: The offering closes today and will see the size and pricing determined based on market conditions. The certificates carry a minimum subscription rate of USD 200k, with increments of USD 1k thereafter, and are structured as perpetual instruments callable after 5.5 years.

ADVISORS- Alinma tapped Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, Alinma Capital, Dubai Islamic Bank, Emirates NBD, Goldman Sachs International, JP Morgan Securities, and Standard Chartered as joint lead managers.


#3- Sab launched the offering of its USD-denominated T2 green notes, according to adisclosure. The issuance comes under the bank’s medium-term note program and is open to eligible investors in Saudi Arabia and abroad. This comes a little under a month after Sab closed a SAR 2 bn local AT1 offering.

The deets: The offering closes today, with the size and pricing set to be determined in line with market conditions. The 10-year notes carry a minimum subscription rate of USD 200k, with increments of USD 1k thereafter, and are callable after five years.

ADVISORS- The bank appointed our friends at HSBC and Mashreq as joint lead managers, alongside Goldman Sachs International, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Citigroup, DBS, Emirates NBD, Mizuho International, and Société Générale.

3

ENERGY

China’s HiTHIUM to supply two energy storage systems in Tabuk and Hail

4 GWh of BESS secured: Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) tapped China’s HiTHIUM to supply two large-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) projects with a combined capacity of 4 GWh in the northern provinces of Tabuk and Hail, according to a press release. The projects will be developed in partnership with Alfanar Projects and are slated to come online by 2026.

(** Tap or click the headline above to read this story with all of the links to our background and outside sources.)

The price tag: HiTHIUM’s two supply contracts were valued at SAR 686.4 mn and SAR 671 mn for Hail and Tabuk, respectively, with its maintenance contract worth SAR 6.1 mn, Saudi Gulf Projects reported. Meanwhile, Alfanar’s two construction packages came in SAR 441 mn and SAR 436 mn

The details: HiTHIUM will handle system design, equipment supply, installation supervision, and ongoing maintenance, while Alfanar will lead construction. The systems will be built on HiTHIUM’s 6.25 MWh long-duration battery cells, deployed in containerized units engineered for local climate conditions.

BESS everywhere: SEC launched the second phase of its BESS project with a 2.5 GW capacity last April, comprising 500MW/2GWh BESS projects across five locations — Riyadh, Al Qaisumah, Al Jawf, Al Dawadmi, and Rabigh. SEC was reportedly tapping Alfanar Projects and BYD for the projects.

REMEMBER- Ramping up investments in BESS is necessary to maintain grid stability due to the intermittency of renewable energy supply, which relies on external sources such as solar or wind. BESS capacity is expected to reach 8 GWh — four times the current capacity — by the year-end, with the Kingdom targeting 48 GWh by 2030.

Tags:

4

CAPITAL MARKETS

Fund managers bullish on banks, healthcare as Tadawul seen undervalued -SNB Capital

Nearly half of Saudi fund managers now believe Tadawul is undervalued, Argaam reports, citing SNB Capital’s latest fund managers report. Some 47% of managers said the market is trading below fair value in 3Q — up sharply from 29% in 1Q, marking the highest reading on record.

Overall sentiment toward market performance was mostly neutral, with 58% of managers expecting the market to move sideways in the current quarter. Bearish views declined, with only 16% of managers forecasting a drop in 3Q, compared with 32% earlier this year.

Fund managers continue to see oil prices, interest rates, and inflation as the main drivers of the market. Most expect oil to hover in the USD 65-69.9 range through 2025-2026, while anticipating two rate cuts in each of those years.

The sector outlook: Optimism toward technology and banking remains strong, while healthcare saw the biggest jump in sentiment, with 56% of managers bullish compared with 29% in 1Q. The petrochemicals sector continues to attract the most pessimism. Healthcare companies and banks are expected to be the best performers in 2026, while petrochemicals are to perform the weakest.

Liquidity remains tight: 53% of managers reported cash-holdings of less than 5% of AUM, suggesting institutional capital is largely deployed.

Room for higher valuation multiples: Managers said they are willing to pay a premium for earnings quality and strong growth potential, with growth investing still their preferred strategy.

On the Nomu side, managers generally view the parallel market as attractive but hampered by liquidity constraints. Some 47% said their interest in Nomu remains low, while 41% reported strong or growing interest. Looking ahead, 27% of managers plan to increase allocations to Nomu, while 70% expect to keep exposure unchanged. Software and technology remain the most attractive sectors.

5

REAL ESTATE

Residential sector drives SAR 123.8 bn in real estate transactions in 1H 2025 -Knight Frank

Housing dominated real estate activity in the Kingdom in 1H 2025, driving around 63% of a total transaction value of SAR 123.8 bn, according to Knight Frank’s latest Saudi Arabia Residential Market Overview (pdf). Nearly 93.7k housing transactions were recorded nationwide, a 7% increase y-o-y, with a combined value of SAR 77.5 bn. The uptick was supported by higher mortgage activity, government-backed initiatives, and the delivery of new residential supply in key urban centers.

(** Tap or click the headline above to read this story with all of the links to our background and outside sources.)

Riyadh’s housing transactions went against the national trend, dropping 31% y-o-y in 1H 2025, with total value declining 20% to SAR 29 bn, in what Knight Frank considered to be a phase of recalibration rather than a fundamental weakness. Despite the slowdown, prices remained resilient, with average apartment prices rising 10.6% y-o-y in 2Q to SAR 6.2k per sqm, supported by strong demand in central and transit-connected districts. Villa prices across the capital rose 8.2% y-o-y in 2Q to SAR 5.5k per sqm, with northern Riyadh remaining the most expensive district for villas.

Jeddah’s housing market strengthened, with transactions up 19% over the past 12 months, with total value rising 28% y-o-y to SAR 17.3 bn. Apartment prices rose 2.7% to SAR 4.3k per sqm in 2Q, led by central and western districts. Meanwhile, villa prices increased 3.2% over the past 12 months to SAR 5k per sqm, with demand concentrated in the city’s northern districts.

Madinah saw the sharpest growth in residential transaction values across the Kingdom in 1H 2025, climbing 49% y-o-y to SAR 3.4 bn, while stronger demand from both investors and end-users pushed transaction volumes up 38% y-o-y. Apartment prices in the city averaged SAR 3.8k per sqm in 2Q, up 2.5% y-o-y, while villa prices held broadly steady at SAR 3.5k per sqm.

In Makkah, transaction values dropped 33% in 1H despite an 11% rise in volumes, reflecting a shift toward smaller or more affordable units. Apartment values slipped 0.5% in 2Q to SAR 3.7k per sqm, while villa prices edged up 0.4% to SAR 3.4k per sqm over the same period.

Looking ahead: Knight Frank expects new housing supply in the holy cities to continue expanding — Makkah’s stock is forecast to reach 462k units by 2028 from 428k in 2Q 2025, while Madinah’s is projected to hit 381k units by 2028, up from 353.4k in 2024. The rollout of the new foreign ownership law in January 2026, alongside large-scale projects such as Masar Destination in Makkah and Rua Al Madinah, is expected to deepen the market liquidity and boost investor sentiment across the Kingdom.

6

ALSO ON OUR RADAR

Ma’aden subsidiary taps Masder-EDF JV to power Al Baitha Bauxite Mine via solar energy

ENERGY-

Ma’aden to tap solar power for its Al Baitha mine: Ma’aden Bauxite and Alumina Company, a Ma'aden subsidiary, signed a 30-year power purchase agreement with Emerge, a JV between Masdar and EDF power solutions, to build a solar power plant for the Al Baitha Bauxite Mine, according to a press release (pdf).

(** Tap or click the headline above to read this story with all of the links to our background and outside sources.)

More details: The off-grid facility will include an 8 MW solar array and a 30 MW battery system and is expected to generate about 17.3k MWh of capacity annually and cut 13.8k tons of CO2 emissions. This will allow the mine to run almost fully on renewable energy.

DEBT WATCH-

Amlak International Finance Company secured SAR 250 mn in a shariah-compliant loan from Emirates NBD KSA, it said in a disclosure to Tadawul yesterday. The four-year facility — backed by receivables assignments and a promissory note — will support Amlak’s operations and boost finance to clients.

REAL ESTATE-

The National Housing Company opened registration of interest for its new residential project Wahaj, located south of Riyadh, it said on X yesterday. The 270k sqm project will include 956 villas and townhouses of different sizes, with access to main roads and nearby services, according to the project’s page.

STARTUP WATCH-

Riyadh-based mobile gaming studio Sheba Joy raised around SAR 1.1 mn in a pre-seed funding round led by Merak Capital, according to a press release published yesterday. The company will use the fresh funds to expand production capacity, attract talent, and develop commercial games.

About Sheba Joy: Established in 2021 by Ebrahim Al Hossam (LinkedIn) and Faisal Al Hamed (LinkedIn), the gaming studio also has a UAE office and a creative studio in India, in addition to the Riyadh headquarters. Using talents from both regions, the company has created mobile games such as Ludo Chat and Town Stars.

EDUCATION-

Third-year secondary school students will be studying tourism and hospitality, after the National Curriculum Center added them as subjects in collaboration with the Education Ministry and Tourism Ministry, the Saudi Gazette reported on Tuesday. The curriculum uses a self-training approach to teach basic concepts and practical skills in these fields, covering topics such as the Kingdom’s tourism resources, careers in the sector, marketing, sustainable tourism, and innovation.

7

PLANET FINANCE

Trump’s battle with the Fed could reshape financial markets for years to come

While markets barely blinked when US President Donald Trump said he was going to fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook, the damage may already be done, Wall Street Journal Chief Economics Commentator Greg Ip warned in his weekly — and EnterpriseAM fan favourite — Capital Account column. Analysts cited by Ip say that the attempt — the first of its kind in the Fed’s 111-year history — may be a turning point. If Trump succeeds, he would effectively draw the curtains on the central bank’s independence from presidential control, a principle that has underpinned US monetary policy since 1951.

(Tap or click the headline above to read this story with all of the links to our background as well as external sources.)

The markets “are not properly priced for what increasingly seems likely to be a rupture in Fed independence,” Evercore ISI analysts noted. So far, optimism around rate cuts has helped keep stock markets buoyant, driven by Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s recent comments stating that tariffs are unlikely to stoke sustained inflation.

But if the Fed becomes more beholden to political pressure, investors will quickly have to adapt to a very different economic future. Trump’s broader strategy seems aimed at stacking the Fed board with loyalists, with the purpose of letting future rate decisions be informed not just by data, but by campaign cycles, potentially diluting the Fed’s core focus on inflation.

If Cook is successfully replaced off the back of fraud allegations — a topic Trump has a lot of experience in — Trump appointees would hold four of seven governor seats, giving him leverage over monetary policy even without directly removing Fed Chair Jerome Powell. “Once we have a majority, housing is gonna swing and it’s gonna be great,” Trump said on Tuesday.

Trump’s current and prospective Fed nominees are openly political — a major break from past practice. His candidates now signal clear policy stances aligned with his administration. Take Stephen Miran, who, while serving as an investment strategist last year, warned against cutting rates with inflation around 3%. Now, however, as chair of Trump’s Council of Economic Advisers and a contender to Powell, Miran has embraced Trump’s view that rates are too high. Another potential appointee by Trump, former World Bank president David Malpass, has recently written that the Fed should cut rates to support the USD, even though, by his logic, the greenback’s steady decline this year impedes such cuts.

MARKETS THIS MORNING-

Major Asian benchmarks are mostly in the green in early trading this morning, with the Nikkei, Shanghai Composite, and Kospi all in the green, and the Hang Seng in the red, down almost 1%.

TASI

10,808

-0.6% (YTD: -10.2%)

MSCI Tadawul 30

1,394

-0.8% (YTD: -7.7%)

NomuC

26,182

0.0% (YTD: -16.8%)

USD : SAR (SAMA)

USD 3.75 Sell

USD 3.75 Buy

Interest rates

5.0% repo

4.5% reverse repo

EGX30

35,676

+0.9% (YTD: +20.0%)

ADX

10,182

+0.1% (YTD: +8.1%)

DFM

6,127

+0.4% (YTD: +18.8%)

S&P 500

6,481

+0.2% (YTD: +10.2%)

FTSE 100

9,256

-0.1% (YTD: +13.2%)

Euro Stoxx 50

5,393

+0.2% (YTD: +10.2%)

Brent crude

USD 68.05

+1.2%

Natural gas (Nymex)

USD 2.87

+5.5%

Gold

USD 3,452

+0.1%

BTC

USD 111,203

-0.5% (YTD: +18.9%)

Sukuk/bond market index

911.38

+0.03% (YTD: +10.3%)

S&P MENA Bond & Sukuk

148.30

-0.1% (YTD: +6.0%)

VIX (Volatility Index)

14.85

+1.6% (YTD: -14.4%)

THE CLOSING BELL: TADAWUL-

The TASI closed down 0.6% yesterday on turnover of SAR 4 bn. The index slipped 10.2% YTD.

In the green: SIIG (+5.0%), Fipco (+4.6%) and Seera (+3.6%).

In the red: Sal (-4.4%), Saib (-3.3%) and BSF (-3.2%).

THE CLOSING BELL: NOMU-

The NomuC was almost flat yesterday on turnover of SAR 35 mn. The index fell 16.8% YTD.

In the green: Asas Makeen (+8.9%), Balsam Medical (+6.9%) and Wsm (+6.8%).

In the red: Aqaseem (-15.4%), Tharwah (-9.5%) and ASG (-8.8%).

CORPORATE ACTIONS-

Emaar, the Economic City extended the term of its capital increase agreement with the Public Investment Fund (PIF), now set to end on 31 December, instead of 7 September, it said in a disclosure to Tadawul yesterday. The agreement allows the company to convert the PIF’s debt into shares, following an amendment in March that raised the conversion amount to SAR 4.12 bn. No additional costs were reported related to this extension.

8

DIPLOMACY

Al Falih is shoring up Chinese investments in Beijing

Investment Minister Khalid Al Falih met Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao in Beijing, Reuters reports, citing an announcement by the Chinese Commerce Ministry. The ministers discussed scaling bilateral trade, capital markets cooperation, and joint ventures in new energy and industrial supply chains. Talks also touched on aligning China’s Belt and Road Initiative with Vision 2030.

Beijing is seeking Riyadh’s support to revive trade talks with the Gulf Cooperation Council, where progress has stalled amid concerns that cheap Chinese imports could disrupt Saudi’s strategy to build up domestic industry. For China, tightening commercial ties with Gulf partners is increasingly strategic as it faces trade frictions on two fronts with the US and European Union, both of which have raised tariffs on Chinese exports over cost and oversupply fears.

ICYMI- Saudi Arabia pulled in USD 35.5 bn in BRI energy investments in the first half of 2025,the largest globally, and another USD 7.2 bn in construction investments, ranking second worldwide. Earlier this year, The Saudi-Chinese Forum for Product Export and Agricultural Sustainability produced 57 agreements worth SAR 14 bn (USD 3.7bn). Aramco Asia Singapore established a USD 4 bn JV with Sinopec and Fujian Petrochemical to support port operations and crude flows, while Tencent Cloud put USD 150 mn toward launching the Middle East’s first AI-powered cloud region in Saudi.

9

My morning routine

My Morning Routine: Zuhair Khayyat, Chief Technology Officer of Lucidya

Zuhair Khayyat, Chief Technology Officer at Lucidya: My Morning Routine looks at how a successful member of the community starts their day — and then throws in a couple of random business questions just for fun. Speaking to us this week is Chief Technology Officer of Lucidya Zuhair Khayyat (LinkedIn). Below are edited excerpts from our conversation:

I’m Zuhair Khayyat, and I serve as the Chief Technology Officer of Lucidya. My journey began with a strong academic background in computer science, focusing on Big Data, cloud computing, and large-scale data systems. My research has been published in international conferences such as EuroSys, VLDB, and SIGMOD, where I explored how to make data-intensive systems faster and more scalable.

Since joining Lucidya in 2017, I’ve helped grow the company from an early-stage concept to a multi-mn USD SaaS platform, now employing a team of over 80 professionals. Along the way, I’ve been deeply involved in everything — from product strategy to engineering leadership. My longer-term goal is to guide Lucidya to become the first AI unicorn in MENA to go public.

We are currently focusing heavily on agentic AI technologies. The goal is to move Lucidya beyond just delivering insights and transform it into a system that can be integrated directly into our clients’ workflows, allowing businesses to automate repetitive tasks, reduce manual effort, and achieve efficiency at scale.

I stay on top of market changes by keeping one eye on global technology trends and another on the regional market. This involves engaging with our customers, working closely with our sales, marketing, and customer success teams, and debating best practices with fellow leaders. I also encourage my teams to bring forward new ideas so that we remain proactive, rather than reactive.

I like to start my mornings with a quick three-minute podcast or TED Talk — unrelated to technology — to clear my mind before diving to work. Then I clean up my inbox, reprioritize my to-do list, check Slack messages, and review our systems’ health. My day is then split between operations and long-term thinking — about 70% on operational work (meetings, syncs, problem-solving, and one-on-one check-ins with leads and managers) and the remaining 30% on research and strategy.

My approach to work-life balance has shifted over time. I used to be fully immersed in growth and treated everything like a race. In my 30s, I began structuring my work into sprints followed by short breaks to recharge. Now, in my 40s, I see work-life balance as a daily discipline, with clear boundaries between my work and family life.

Part of that discipline is knowing when to slow down. Sometimes that’s as simple as taking a quick shower in the middle of the day, while other times it’s going on a spontaneous trip, catching a movie, or unwinding with a video game.

I also find rest in hobbies that keep my mind engaged, like online chess or listening to podcasts on economics. These moments of pause not only reset my energy but often spark new ideas that I can bring back to my work.

Curiosity is the constant that has shaped my journey. I am always asking why and what if, which drives me to challenge assumptions on how we design products, build teams, and shape strategy. I also view failures as lessons for improvement and rarely accept that something is impossible.

The best advice I have received is to never stop learning. The moment you stop learning is the moment your mind begins to die.


26-28 August (Tuesday-Thursday): Franchise Go Forum, Siraj Convention Center, Riyadh.

24 August-27 November: Title deed registration for 8.7k properties in Jeddah’s Al Sheraa and Al Amwaj neighborhoods.

27 August-3 September (Wednesday-Wednesday): Rawabi Marketing International IPO retail subscription period.

31 August (Sunday): Deadline for companies with SAR 40 mn in revenues from goods and services during July 2025 to integrate e-invoicing solutions.

3Q 2025

The National Water Company is expected to award a construction contract for the Hail Region Water Networks project.

SEPTEMBER

1-3 September (Monday-Wednesday): Saudi Drone Exhibition, Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center.

3-4 September (Wednesday-Thursday): Sustainable Maritime Industry Conference (SMIC), Ritz-Cartlon, Jeddah.

3-4 September (Wednesday-Thursday): The first International Forum for Talent in Higher Education, Jeddah University’s Conference Center.

5 September (Friday): The Visual Arts Commission will hold two public dialogues in Seoul during Frieze Seoul Week under its Art & Ideas program.

7 September (Sunday): Final allocations are due for Rawabi Marketing International IPO.

9-11 September (Tuesday-Wednesday):The Saudi Food and Drug Authority and the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization’s Hack4safeFood, Riyadh.

9-11 September (Tuesday-Thursday): International Beauty Expo 2025, Jeddah Superdome.

9-11 September (Tuesday-Thursday): Seredo Real Estate Development and Ownership Exhibition, Jeddah Superdome,

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

15-17 September (Monday-Wednesday): Global Infrastructure Forum, Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center.

16-18 September (Tuesday-Thursday): Kids & Toys Expo, Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center.

16-18 September (Tuesday-Thursday): Gifts & Homeware Expo, Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center.

16-18 September (Tuesday-Thursday): Stationery & Paper Expo, Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center.

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

23 September (Tuesday): Saudi National Day.

29 September-1 October (Monday-Wednesday): Intersec Saudi Arabia, Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Riyadh.

OCTOBER

1 October (Wednesday): Electronic salary transfer via the Musaned platform to include employers with two or more domestic workers.

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

1-3 October (Wednesday-Friday): FIBO Arabia 2025, Riyadh Front Exhibition & Conference Center.

5 October-8 January 2026: Title deed registration for 3.2k properties in Al Yasmin district, Hail.

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

12 October-15 January 2026: Title deed registration for 31.7k properties in 14 neighborhoods in the Eastern Province.

15 October (Wednesday): Russian-Arab Summit.

16 October (Thursday): Aviation Impact Middle East, Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya .

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

21 October (Tuesday): The Visual Arts Commission will hold a public talk and a live performance in Paris through Asia NOW under its Art & Ideas program.

21-23 October (Tuesday-Thurday): Global Internet of Things Congress 2025 (GIoTC 2025), the Arena Venue, Riyadh.

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

23-25 October (Thursday-Saturday): Zenos Wellness Summit, Bab Samhan Hotel, Riyadh.

24 October-1 November (Friday-Saturday): AlUla Wellness Festival.

26-27 October (Sunday-Monday): The Global Proptech Summit 2025, Mandarin Oriental Al Faisaliah, Riyadh.

27-30 October (Monday-Thursday): Global Health Exhibition, Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Center, Riyadh.

27-30 October (Monday-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

2 November (Sunday): Naming ASICS Innovation Pitch competition’s six finalists.

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

7-8 November (Sunday-Monday): The Visual Arts Commission will conclude its Art & Ideas program with a two-day symposium in Riyadh.

8-9 November (Saturday-Sunday): Del Monte Superleague Supercup, Jeddah.

9 November (Sunday): The deadline for applications for the second batch of the Standard Incentives for the Industrial sector deadline.

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

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

19-22 November (Wednesday-Saturday): PIF Saudi International Golf Championship, Riyadh Gold Club.

20 November (Thursday): Deadline for title deed registration for 14.6k properties across 21 neighborhoods in Qassim.

22 November (Saturday): The Ring IV, ANB arena, 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.

24-26 November (Monday-Wednesday): Metropolis Madinah Conference for civilizational capitals, King Salman International Convention Centre (KSICC), Al Madinah.

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

28-30 November (Friday-Sunday): UIM F1H2O World Championship, Jeddah.

30 November (Sunday): Zatca 21st E-invoicing 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.

7-9 December (Sunday-Tuesday): CoMotion Global 2025, 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 22nd E-invoicing integration wave deadline.

31 December (Wednesday): Cancellation of Fines and Exemption of Financial Penalties Initiative by the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (Zatca) deadline.

December: Made in Saudi exhibition, Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center, Riyadh

2026

JANUARY

1 January (Thursday): Electronic salary transfer via the Musaned platform becomes mandatory for all domestic workers in the Kingdom.

13-15 January (Tuesday-Thursday): Future Minerals Forum, King Abdul Aziz International Conference Center, Riyadh.

20 January (Tuesday): SuperReturn Saudi Arabia, Hotel Fairmont, Riyadh.

18-21 January (Sunday-Wednesday): Saudi Hospital Design and Build Expo, Riyadh.

26-27 (Monday-Tuesday): GPRC Summit, Riyadh.

26-28 (Monday-Wednesday): Saudi Franchise Expo (SFE), Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Centre, Riyadh.

26-28 (Monday-Wednesday): Real Estate Future Forum, Four Seasons Hotel, Riyadh.

27-28 (Tuesday-Wednesday): SkyMove Air Cargo MENA, Riyadh.

28 (Wednesday): Data Center Nation Riyadh, Riyadh.

28-30 (Wednesday-Friday): Jeddah International Travel and Tourism Exhibition (JTTX), Jeddah.

FEBRUARY

2-4 (Monday-Wednesday): Saudi Media Forum, Riyadh.

2-4 (Monday-Wednesday): Women Leaders Summit and Awards KSA, Riyadh.

3-4 (Tuesday-Wednesday): RLC Global Forum Annual Meeting, Riyadh.

5-7 February (Thursday-Saturday): LIV Golf 2026 season opener, Riyadh Golf Club, Riyadh.

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

9-14 February (Monday-Saturday): Asian Racing Conference, Crowne Plaza Riyadh RDC Hotel & Convention Centre, Riyadh.

11 (Wednesday) Digital Transformation Summit Saudi Arabia (DTS), Riyadh.

11-14 (Wednesday-Saturday): JeddaDerm, Jeddah.

13-14 February (Friday-Saturday): Jeddah E-Prix 2026, Jeddah.

MARCH

31 March (Tuesday): Zatca’s 23rd E-invoicing integration wave deadline.

APRIL

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

OCTOBER

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

Signposted to happen sometime in 2026:

  • UN Trade and Development Global Supply Chain Forum to take place in Saudi Arabia.
  • November: The Esports Nations Cup, Riyadh.

Signposted to happen sometime in 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.

Signposted to happen sometime in 2Q 2027:

  • The Hail Region Water Networks Project is expected to be completed.
Now Playing
Now Playing
00:00
00:00