Of gigaproject reviews and tons of new spending

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WHAT WE’RE TRACKING TODAY

THIS MORNING: China is looking to boost trade, investment ties with Saudi

Good morning, wonderful people. We have a packed issue for you this morning, with news from massive projects in energy and real estate, word that a review of gigaprojects may be ongoing, and news that Donald Trump was lightly wounded in what appears to have been an assassination attempt.

Let’s jump right in:

WATCH THIS SPACE-

#1- China eyes more business with Saudi: PIF Governor Yasir Al Rumayyan sat down with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao on Thursday to discuss ramping up trade and investment between the two nations, Reuters reported, citing a statement from the Chinese ministry. Beijing has singled-out priority areas including infrastructure and energy as well as the digital and green economies.

Beijing Mayor Yin Yong called on the PIF to increase its investment in the Chinese capital during a meeting with the PIF boss the day before.

What one pundit said: “The Gulf region is very well positioned to capture this growing interest from China,” Edmond Christou, senior financials analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence said.

IN CONTEXT- Chinae is looking to boost its ties to the Middle East, Europe, and Africa at the same time as Saudi officials are looking at how to deepen ties with both Beijing and Washington. Oil giant Aramco is investing Chinese industries including petrochemicals and artificial intelligence, the Tadawul has run a series of events and roadshows in China, and Neom has been stumping for business and investment there, and more flights are connecting Riyadh to major Chinese centers.

PIF has been active in China: The sovereign wealth fund has been eyeing a USD 250 mn stake in Chinese electric car manufacturer Human Horizons and pulled the trigger on a an agreement with Chinese solar PV manufacturer LONGi Green Energy Technology back in January 2023.

#2- Are GCC trade talks with the UK on track after change in gov’t? The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is aiming to finalize a trade agreement with the United Kingdom before the end of this year, GCC Secretary General Jassim Al Budaiwi said after talks with UK Trade Secretary Jonathan Renolds in London last week, state news agency SPA reports. It was the first meeting on a trade agreement since the Labour Party’s landslide victory in the country’s general election on 4 July.

IN CONTEXT- Six rounds of talks have taken place so far, the last in February 2024. Officials are hoping London’s interest in a trade agreement, clear under Rishi Sunak’s Tory government, will survive now that Keir Starmer is in charge.

#3- New regulations will limit how names Makkah, Madina and others are used: The Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property has rolled out new guidelines on the registration of trademarks that include the names of Makkah, Madinah, the Grand Mosque, and the Prophet’s Mosque, Okaz reported. The regulations apply to filings in both Arabic and English. The regulations focus in particular on the use of the names in real estate developments and service projects.

DATA POINTS-

#1- The number of registered businesses across the Kingdom grew 85.3% y-o-y in 1H 2024 to 225.5k, Aleqtisadiah reported, citing data from the Commerce Ministry.

The e-commerce sector got the most traction, with some new 40.7k businesses licensed — that’s about 18% of all businesses registered in the first half of this year. The short-term accommodation sector came in second with 22.5k new registrations in 1H, followed by the arts, entertainment, and recreation sector with 20.5k businesses.

Zooming out: There were 1.5 mn registered businesses in the Kingdom at the end of June.

#2- Finance companies in Saudi saw their collective net income more than double y-o-y to SAR 761 mn in 1Q 2024, according to Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) figures (pdf). Net income in the sector grew 43.3% on a quarterly basis from SAR 531 in the preceding quarter. Also worth noting:

Total assets were up 9.6% y-o-y during the period at SAR 66.8 bn
Total finance extended by industry players rose 12.3% y-o-y to SAR 88.6 bn, led by personal finance, residential real estate, and vehicle finance.

#3- Passenger traffic at the nation’s airports rose 17% y-o-y to 62 mn during 1H 2024, while total flights climbed 12% y-o-y to 446k, the General Authority for Civil Aviation said in a post on X. Air cargo rose 41% y-o-y to 606k tons in the same period.

By the numbers:

King Abdulaziz International (Jeddah:) 24 mn passengers (+16% y-o-y);
King Khalid International (Riyadh): 17.7 mn passengers (+21% y-o-y)
King Fahd International (Dammam): 6 mn passengers (+15% y-oy);
Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International (Madinah): 5.6 mn (+20%);
All other airports: 8.8 mn travelers (+16%).

#4- Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) saw 9.2% y-o-y growth in cargo throughput in June, hitting 27.6 mn tons from 25.3 mn tons in the same month last year, according to a statement. Exported containers went up 7.8% to 228k TEU, while imports rose 9.9% to 245.6k TEU. Meanwhile, transshipment container volumes dropped 54.9% y-o-y to 121.3k TEUs.

OIL WATCH-

Fuel oil imports spiked in June to their highest level since late 2020 as demand for air conditioning rises in the summer, Bloomberg reported, citing data from market researchers Kpler and Vortexa. Imports of the fuel have grown fourfold since March to 350k barrels a day and look on track to break the 300k barrier again in July.

Fuel oil? The comparatively dirty fuel is effectively what’s left after the distillation of gasoline and diesel. It can be burned to produce power.

SPORTS-

#1- Neom and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have extended their multi-year partnership until 2029, according to separate statements (here and here). Neom will remain the official global partner of the AFC’s national and club competitions and will also support the inaugural AFC Women’s Champions League as its presenting partner for 2024-2025. Neom will also be the global presenting partner of the eight final matches of the fresh AFC Champions League Elite Finals, which will be played in Riyadh in 2025. Neom first signed on as an AFC sponsor in 2021.

#2- Hattan Alsaif continued her unbeaten run in the Professional Fighters League (PFL) MENA 2 after beating Egypt’s Iman Baraka in Riyadh, according to a post on X. Alsaif is the first-ever Saudi woman to be signed to a major MMA organization.

AND- Saudi national Mostafa Nada knocked out Algerian Abdel Rahmane Driai in the first round of a match that lasted just a hair over two an a half minutes, according to a post on X. This improves Nada’s PFL record to 2-0 and his overall record to 9-3.

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PSAs-

#1- Three individuals were fined a combined SAR 180k for violating the Capital Market Law after the Appeal Committee for Resolution of Securities Disputes issued a final verdict in their cases, the Capital Market Authority said in a statement. The breaches include “dealing as an agent” and providing investment advice without a license, the authority said.

#2- The General Authority for Competition has reached settlements with two companies accused of collusion on government tenders worth a combined SAR 63.8 mn, according to posts on X (here and here). Under the agreements, Mohammad Ibrahim Al Hussein General Contracting will pay SAR 56.5 mn, while Abdulaziz Al Hassan Al Muqbil Trading is set to pay SAR 7.4 mn.

#3-Researchers in healthcare, food, cosmetics or tobacco have until Saturday, July 27 to submit their abstracts for this year’s SFDA Research Day, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) said in a post on X. Participants must be affiliated with a government, academic, or medical body and can find more information here.

#4- Fresh graduates have a bit more time to apply for the PIF GraduateDevelopment Program, according to a post on X. The deadline is now 31 July. The program provides mentorship and on-the-job training to improve skills and increase employability. Applicants must be Saudi citizens holding a bachelor or master degree in business administration, finance and accounting, engineering, law, actuarial science, AI, cybersecurity and others with a GPA of at least 3.75 out of 5 or 2.74 out of 4 or equivalent.

Also from the PIF: Registration for Accelerated Manufacturing Program is now open. The program offers training in business, product development, and production management, as well as personalized mentorship and coaching sessions for emerging manufacturers.

#5- Citizens looking to renew their passports should ensure that their travel document has a validity of one year or less, Okaz reported, citing the Interior Ministry’s e-platform Absher.

THE BIG STORY ABROAD-

Donald Trump was wounded in what is being called an assassination attempt after a shooting at a rally during the early hours of today (local time). The Republican candidate was reported safe after being hit by a bullet in his right ear, while the suspected gunman and another attendee were reported dead and two others are in critical condition.

In typical Trump fashion: He was seen pumping his fist as he was being rushed offstage and into his car by the Secret Service and he is said to be in “great spirits” after the accident.

CLOSER TO HOME- At least 90 Palestinians were killed and 300 others were injured in the latest wave of Israeli attacks yesterday, said to have been targeting Hamas official Mohammed Deif. The Foreign Ministry denounced the strike as part of a series of “genocidal massacres against the Palestinian people by the Israeli war machine.”

AND ON THE BUSINESS FRONT- Rate cut incoming? The US Federal Reserve has sent its “strongest signal yet” that it will move forward with highly-anticipated rate cuts following easing inflation. Traders now see the Fed first cutting rates in September.

CIRCLE YOUR CALENDAR-

Aramco is set to release its 1H 2024 results on Tuesday, 6 August, according to its website. You can tune into the audio webcast of its earnings call here. The oil giant’s net income dipped a bit more than 14% in 1Q 2024 to SAR 102.3 bn.

The eight-week Esports World Cup runs until Sunday, 25 August Riyadh’s Boulevard City. The world’s top esports clubs are competing for a pool of USD 60 mn — the largest purse in esports.

This year’s edition of security-focused expo Intersec Saudi Arabia will run from Tuesday, 1 October to Thursday, 3 October at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center.

The Real Estate Brokerage Forum will open on Wednesday, 17 July at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center.

Cybersecurity training event SANS Riyadh Cyber Leaders August 2024 will run from Sunday, 18 August to Thursday, 22 August at the Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya.

The TotalEnergies CAF Super Cup Final 2024 between Egyptian rivals Al Ahly and Zamalek will be held in Riyadh on Friday, 27 September. The venue and kick-off time of the match will be announced at a later date.

Diriyah awards USD 2 bn contract to develop new mixed-use district in landmark project

PIF-backed master developer Diriyah has awarded its largest single contract to date: A joint venture comprising local contractor El Seif Engineering Contracting (Esec) and Chinese state-owned construction company China State Construction Engineering Corp (Cscec) were awarded a SAR 7.8 bn contract to develop a mixed-use district in the north of Diriyah, according to a statement by Diriyah.

What we know: The JV will build a new mixed-use district that will be home to educational institutions, cultural venues, offices and a luxury hotel, according to the statement. Construction work is set to begin starting Q3 this year.

About Diriyah: Established in 2022, the Diriyah Company was tasked with developing Diriyah — the ancestral home of the royal family at a cost of USD 63 bn. The development, which spans 14 square kilometers, is set to be home to 28 hotels, 18k residential units, 566k sqm in retail space in gross floor area and others.

The JV is well acquainted with Diriyah: The joint venture is implementing infrastructure work at the project, including building road tunnels and the world’s largest-ever single concrete pour of 6.1k cubic meters as part of the work. It is carrying out the work under an earlier USD 1.8 bn contract that was awarded to the JV in June 2021.

Al Jomaih unit reaches SAR 14.6 bn financial close achieved for Taiba 2, Qassim 2 power plants

A consortium led by Al Jomaih Energy and Water Company has reached financial close for the independent power plant projects Taiba-2 and Qassim-2, securing around USD 3.9 bn (SAR 14.6 bn) in funding, according to a statement (pdf). The consortium includes Ajlan & Bros Holding Group, Buhur Investment Company, and French state-owned power giant EDF.

Where’s the money coming from? The projects will be financed via bridge and senior debt from Riyad Bank, Saudi Awwal Bank, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Banque Saudi Fransi, Arab Petroleum Investment Corporation, Saudi Investment Bank, Bank AlJazira, Commercial Bank of Dubai, and First Abu Dhabi Bank.

About the projects: The combined cycle gas turbine plants will have a total capacity of nearly 4 GW and will be the first in the Kingdom to capture carbon emissions during electricity generation. They are set to be two of the world’s largest and most-advanced combined-cycle power plants. The Saudi Power Procurement Company signed a power purchase agreement with the consortium in November 2023.

The timeline: The plants will initially be connected to the grid in a simple cycle mode in 2026 and transition to combined-cycle mode in 2027.

BACKGROUND- The financial close comes just weeks after Siemens Energy said it received a USD 1.5 bn order from the Jomaih consortium for the plants, which are being built in the western and central regions of the Kingdom. The plants will provide additional energy to support the Kingdom’s growing population and economy — and replace parts of the existing oil-dependent power generation system.

IN CONTEXT- The Kingdom aims to reduce carbon emissions by 278 mn tons per annum (mtpa) by 2030 before reaching carbon neutrality by 2060.

SOUND SMART- What’s the difference between a combined-cycle and a single-cycle power plant? Basically, a combined-cycle plant is more efficient, allowing operators to generate more power from the same volume of feedstock. A single-cycle power plant burns fuel to turn a gas turbine that generates electricity. The leftover heat is typically vented as waste. A combined-cycle power plant captures the waste heat and uses it to create steam, which then drives a separate steam turbine to produce additional electricity.

Retailers feel the pinch as Riyadh rents rise

Retailers grapple with rising rents as Riyadh market heats up: Regional retailers and mall operators in the Kingdom are now facing higher rents, with average rental rates in Riyadh’s retail market increasing by 3% y-o-y to SAR 2.7k per sqm for regional and international malls, according to Knight Frank’s Summer 2024 Saudi Arabia Retail Market Overview (pdf).

The rationale: The growth in Riyadh’s retail market is tied to the expansion of the entertainment sector, including new cinemas, concert halls, theme parks, and sports complexes, contributing to non-oil GDP growth, the release read. “The rapidity of the evolution of the retail and food and beverage landscape in Saudi Arabia cannot be overstated and Riyadh sits at the heart of this phenomenal growth, which is also powering the Kingdom’s economic diversification efforts,” explained Knight Frank’s Partner and Head of Research for MENA, Faisal Durani.

ِDespite soaring rent prices, occupancy rates have risen to 90% y-o-y, thanks to a tourism boom, Knight Frank said in the report. Supply of retail spaces is growing, however, with 27.1 sq km added to the market in 1Q 2024, bringing Riyadh’s total retail space to 3.6 mn sqm. Retail space supply is expected to grow an additional 28% by 2026 to reach a total 4.6 mn sqm.

IN CONTEXT- The Kingdom saw a 56% y-o-y increase in tourist arrivals in 2023, on the back of government initiatives such as a USD 800 bn injection in developing fresh tourist destinations like Neom, The Red Sea, Diriyah and Qiddiyah. The Tourism Ministry recently doubled its 2030 targets to 150 mn tourist trips, split between 80 mn domestic and 70 mn foreign travelers.

The e-commerce market is to thank too: The sector grew 28% y-o-y to SAR 157 bn in 2023, on the back of digitalization, and gov’t support for digital retail infrastructure.

Jeddah and Dammam aren’t following the same trajectory: Each city’s retail occupancy rates declined 1 percentage point y-o-y, with Jeddah reaching 84% and Dammam 89%, in the last 12 months. Rent prices in these cities are lower compared to the Kingdom’s capital, with Jeddah’s rents dropping by 7% to reach SAR 2.5k per sqm and Dammam by 1.3% to SAR 2.3k per sqm in the same period.

Saudi set to host world’s first Olympic Esports Games in 2025

Saudi is set to host the first Olympic Esports Games in 2025 under a fresh partnership between the National Olympic Committee and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the IOC said in a statement. The 12-year partnership will see the Olympic Esports Games to be held “regularly” during the duration of the partnership.

Pending formalities: The proposal will be on the table at the upcoming IOC session which will be held on the eve of the Olympic Games in Paris; the Associated Press says the meeting will take place 23-24 July. This approval is typically a formality for projects proposed by the Olympic body’s leadership, according to The Guardian. The IOC will also create a new structure separate from the traditional Olympic Games’ organizational and financial models, the statement said.

Where will the Esports Olympics be held? Neither the IOC nor the Saudi Olympic committee have said. In the medium term, we’d expect the games to be relocated to Qiddiya , the multi-bn USD district that is set to be home to the world’s first gaming and esports community.

IN CONTEXT- The IOC has been exploring esports for several years in an effort to engage younger audiences as traditional Olympics fan bases age. It launched the Olympic Virtual Series in 2021 but faced criticism for including lesser-known games such as Tic Tac Bow and WBSC eBaseball: Power Pros, which were intended to mimic physical sports, according to Bloomberg.

Saudi is intent on becoming an esports powerhouse, seeing the sector contributing as much as SAR 50 bn to the economy by 2030. Riyadh is already hosting the first Esports World Cup, which runs through runs until Sunday, 25 August, and Saudi institutions including PIF have sunk big money into gaming investments.

By the numbers: About 67% of the local population (or about 23 mn people) consider themselves gamers, with 100 professional esports players pursuing full-time careers, according to the statement.

The story got ink everywhere: Bloomberg | Reuters | The Guardian | Associated Press.

IN OTHER SPORTS NEWS-

#1- PIF, Reuben brothers to consolidate control of Newcastle United: The Public Investment Fund and RB Sports and Media will raise their ownership of Newcastle United after the exit of Amanda Staveley and her firm, PCP Capital Partners, according to a statement by the club. The new ownership structure will see the sovereign wealth fund hold an 85% stake, with RB Sports and Media holding the remaining 15%. The transfer of ownership will be completed this month.

The transaction is “part of the long-term plan to make the club a consistently, credible competitor in domestic and European competitions,” according to the statement.

#2- A change of tactics at the Saudi Pro League (SPL)? League officials have reportedly asked clubs to focus on homegrown talent and luring promising young international players, Reuters reported, citing a document it says it has seen. "By focusing on attracting younger international talent, we aim to provide our youth with the opportunity to learn from the best globally," an SPL spokesperson told Reuters when asked about the document. "This strategic focus on youth players allows us to build long-term success, competitiveness, and sustainability for both the league and the clubs."

IN CONTEXT- The league made headlines after signing some of the world’s top football stars (think Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and others), with the league’s clubs collectively spending almost USD 1 trn in last year’s summer transfer window.

Is Saudi looking to recalibrate some of its gigaprojects?

No single story is dominating coverage of Saudi in foreign press, but Bloomberg is out with a piece suggesting a government committee led by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman is wrapping up a review of mega projects such as Neom, which could see its budget for this year getting a 20% trim. Bloomberg’s reporting relies on unnamed sources. The business information service said plans for downsizing were not concrete and were subject to further changes at any time.

REMEMBER- Officials have lately hammered the idea of preventing the economy from overheating on the back of its economic diversification push. Some have taken to calling gigaprojects modular and Neom has gone on a drive to underscore to contractors and bankers that everything is on track after reports suggesting a slower buildout earlier this year.

A sign of maturity: The “rightsizing” of projects show a sign of maturity by the Kingdom, Goldman Sachs Mena economist Farouk Soussa said. “What they’re doing in terms of adjusting these projects gives us a lot of comfort,” Soussa said. “They’re basically saying they’re not going to go for broke or bet the house on any one particular thing. If it’s possible, they’ll do it. If not, they won’t. They’re being quite sensible.”

Meanwhile, the New York Times is the latest to look into Saudi’s gaming scene, describing the inaugural Esports World Cup in Riyadh as a “coming-out party for Saudi Arabia’s growing video game industry.”

Ades secures ten-year extension of rig contract for SAR 1.3 bn

OIL AND GAS

Ades signs 10-year contract extension: Tadawul-listed oil and gas drilling company Ades Holding has extended a contract with an undisclosed national oil company for SAR 1.3 bn for the use of the standard jack-up rig Admarine 657, according to a filing to Tadawul (pdf). The 10-year extension will go into effect upon the expiry of the previous contract in 3Q 2024.

What they said: “The extension comes at a time when the offshore jackup market is witnessing severe tightness, and such a 10-year extension adds a considerable amount of backlog which further supports future revenue growth and extends backlog visibility in line with the Group’s strategy,” Ades Holding CEO Mohamed Farouk said.

EDUCATION-

Registration wrapped up yesterday for the IT skill development program ITXcelerate, which is offered under an agreement between Dell Technologies, Aramco, and the National IT Academy (NITA) for university graduates and senior students. The program is scheduled to take place from 21 July to 3 November.

About the program: ITXcelerate is a four-month course designed to prepare Saudi fresh grads and students for the IT job market by offering them training in the fields of data storage management, data science and big data analytics, and artificial intelligence. It also offers on-site job shadowing options.

AI-

SDAIA receives ISO certification for AI management: The Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA) became among the first bodies globally to be certified with ISO 42001:2023, the world’s first artificial intelligence (AI) management standard, it said on X. The certification stipulates requirements for managing risks, transparency, and ethical considerations regarding the implementation of AI systems.

REAL ESTATE-

Market intelligence real estate platform Suhail plans to feature properties worth more than SAR 2 bn for sale in the coming period, the platform’s CEO Ahmed Bukhamseen told Aleqtisadiah. Suhail leverages AI to generate market data for real estate investors, allowing them to compare different offer prices and gather insights to help them make informed decisions.

Emerging markets recover from post-pandemic lows despite high US interest rates

EMs show resilience in face of rising interest rates, stronger USD: Net capital inflows into emerging markets excluding China rose to USD 110 bn, or 0.6% of GDP in 2023, their highest level since 2018, the International Monetary Fund said in a blog post. The recovery from post-pandemic lows comes despite monetary tightening by the US Federal Reserve and a stronger greenback.

The breakdown: EM saw a decline in more volatile net portfolio inflows, but net inflows of foreign direct investment (FDI) remained resilient, the IMF said. The Washington-based lender partly attributed EM resilience to “stronger fundamentals. … Indeed, many countries are now benefiting from more robust fiscal, monetary, and financial policy frameworks, as well as more effective implementation of policies and tools,” it said.

Negatives for China: China saw net capital outflows, including net FDI outflows over 2022-2023, the IMF said. “Some of this may reflect multinational firms repatriating earnings. But it may also reflect shifting expectations about Chinese growth and geoeconomic fragmentation,” the IMF said.

Zooming out:

Global gross inflows fell to USD 4.4 trn (or 4.4%) of the world’s GDP during 2022-2023, down from USD 4.5 trn (or 5.8%) of global GDP in 2017-2019, according to the IMF.
The US saw its share of global gross inflows almost double to 41% during 2022-2023 from 23% in 2017-2019. Its share of global gross outflows also increased to 21% from 14%.

ALSO- A breather for Islamabad: The IMF reached a staff-level agreement with Pakistan on a USD 7 bn loan for the cash-strapped South Asian country, according to an IMF statement. The 37-month extended fund facility will still need to be signed off by the fund’s executive board (usually a formality) before the funds are disbursed. The facility comes as Pakistan struggles to meet some USD 24 bn in loan repayments due this fiscal year, according to Bloomberg.

TASI	11,792	+0.1% (YTD: -1.5%)
MSCI Tadawul 30	1,472	0.0% (YTD: -5.1%)
NomuC	25,776	+1.0% (YTD: +5.1%)
USD : SAR (SAMA)	3.75 Sell	3.75 Buy
Interest rates	6.0% repo	5.5% reverse repo
EGX30	28,288	-0.6% (YTD: +13.6%)
ADX	9,143	-0.1% (YTD: -4.5%)
DFM	4,104	+0.3% (YTD: +1.1%)
S&P 500	5,615	+0.6% (YTD: +17.7%)
FTSE 100	8,253	+0.4% (YTD: +6.7%)
Euro Stoxx 50	5,043	+1.3% (YTD: +11.5%)
Brent crude	USD 85.03	-0.4%
Natural gas (Nymex)	USD 2.33	+2.7%
Gold	USD 2,420.70	-0.1%
BTC	USD 58,655	+1.8% (YTD: +38.8%)

THE CLOSING BELL: TADAWUL-

The TASI rose 0.1% at Thursday’s close on turnover of SAR 6.4 bn. The index is down 1.5% YTD.

In the green: Saudi Re (+8.3%), Miahona (+7.2%) and Rasan (+5.3%).

In the red: Mouwasat (-2.1%), SGS (-1.9%) and NCLE (-1.8%).

THE CLOSING BELL: NOMU-

The NomuC rose 1.0% at Thursday’s close on turnover of SAR 24 mn. The index is up 5.1% YTD.

In the green: Gas (+6.1%), AlRasheed (+5.9%) and Bena (+5.8%).

In the red: Mayar (-7.4%), Ladun (-7.0%) and NGDC (-3.6%)

CORPORATE ACTIONS-

#1- Shareholders of Tadawul-listed Arabian Pipes have signed off the board’s recommendation to hike the company’s capital by 50% to SAR 150 mn, according to a disclosure to Tadawul (pdf). The move will see the company capitalize SAR 50 mn from its retained earnings by granting existing shareholders one share for every two shares they currently hold.

#2- Tadawul-listed Fitness Time has changed its trading name on Tadawul to Leejam Sports, it said in a disclosure to Tadawul. The gym operator said the change was made to “better align with the company’s vision of being the leader in the sports and fitness industry,” according to the statement.

#3- Alinma Investment will distribute SAR 17.7 mn in dividends to all unitholders of its Alinma Retail REIT Fund for 1H 2024, it said in a disclosure to Tadawul. Distribution will be completed within 15 working days of the eligibility date which was set for Monday, 22 July.

CALENDAR

JULY

4 July-25 August: (Thursday-Sunday): Esports World Cup, Boulevard Riyadh City, Riyadh.

17 July (Wednesday): Real Estate Brokerage Forum, Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center.

24 July (Wednesday): Stc shareholders to vote on PIF acquisition of Tawal.

21-30 July (Sunday-Tuesday): International Chemistry Olympiad, King Saud University, Riyadh.

AUGUST

4 August (Sunday): Last day to apply to the Digital Government Authority (DGA) awards.

12-15 August (Monday-Thursday): The Saudi Food Expo, Riyadh.

18 August (Sunday): New academic year begins.

18-22 August (Sunday-Thursday): SANS Riyadh Cyber Leaders August 2024, Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya.

27-29 August (Tuesday-Thursday): Saudi Fashiontex Expo, Riyadh.

SEPTEMBER

2-4 September (Monday-Wednesday): Saudi Warehousing & Logistics Expo, Riyadh.

2-4 September (Monday-Wednesday): Saudi Wood Expo, Riyadh.

3-5 September (Tuesday-Thursday): 24 Fintech, Front Exhibition & Conference Center, Riyadh.

9-11 September (Monday-Wednesday): International Manufacturing Congress, Riyadh.

10 September (Tuesday): Saudi Arabia Investors Forum, Riyadh.

10-11 September (Tuesday-Wednesday): SkyMove MENA, Riyadh.

10-12 September (Tuesday-Thursday): Saudi Sports Show, Riyadh.

10-12 September (Tuesday-Thursday): Global AI Summit, Riyadh.

11-12 September (Wednesday-Thursday): The Saudi Event Show, Riyadh.

16-19 September (Monday-Thursday): Foodex Saudi, Riyadh.

17-19 September (Tuesday-Thursday): EV Auto Show, Riyadh.

17-19 September (Tuesday-Thursday): Hotel & Hospitality Expo, Front Exhibition & Conference Center, Riyadh.

18-19 September (Wednesday-Thursday): Saudi Maritime & Logistics Congress, Dammam.

18-19 September (Wednesday-Thursday): IDC Saudi Arabia CIO Summit 2024, Riyadh.

24-26 September (Tuesday-Thursday) Saudi Infrastructure Expo, Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center, Riyadh.

23 September (Monday): National Day (national holiday).

27 September (Friday): CAF Super Cup Final 2024, Riyadh.

29 September (Sunday) - 1 October (Tuesday): Jeddah Construct Expo, Jeddah.

OCTOBER

1-3 October (Tuesday-Thursday): Intersec Saudi Arabia 2024, Riyadh.

5-7 October (Saturday-Monday): Middle East Education & Training Exhibition 2024, Jeddah.

15-16 October (Tuesday-Wednesday): Solar & Storage Live KSA, Riyadh.

16-17 October (Monday-Tuesday): Global Airport & Aviation Forum, Jeddah.

21-22 October (Monday-Tuesday): Smart Ports & Logistics Transformation Summit, Riyadh.

21-22 October (Monday-Tuesday): Aussie Expo, King Abdullah Financial District Conference Center, Riyadh.

29-31 October (Tuesday-Thursday): Future Investment Initiative Conference, Riyadh.

31 October (Thursday): No-visa travel for Saudis to Montenegro on charter flights expires.

NOVEMBER

2-9 November (Saturday- Saturday): WTA Finals, Riyadh.

4-7 November (Monday-Thursday): Saudi Build, Riyadh.

26-28 November (Tuesday-Thursday): Saudi Electricity Expo, Riyadh.

11-12 November (Monday-Tuesday): World Advanced Manufacturing Logistics Summit & Expo, Riyadh.

11-12 November (Monday-Tuesday): Saudi Airport Exhibition, Riyadh.

11-14 November (Monday-Thursday): Cityscape Global, Riyadh.

18-20 November (Monday-Wednesday): The Heavy Equipment and Truck Show, Dammam.

19-21 November (Tuesday-Thursday): Saudi International Maritime Forum, Dammam.

25-27 November (Monday-Wednesday): World Investment Conference, Riyadh.

26-28 November (Tuesday-Thursday): Future Power Expo, Riyadh.

DECEMBER

1 December (Sunday): Opec+ to meet.

2-3 December (Monday-Tuesday) Wings of Change Middle East, Riyadh.

2-13 December (Monday-Friday): Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, Riyadh.

11 December (Wednesday): FIFA Congress, which will decide the hosting countries for the FIFA World Cup 2030 and 2034

23-26 December (Monday-Thursday): Aqarat Expo, Riyadh.

Signposted to happen sometime in 2024:

The AFC Champions League Elite

2025

JANUARY 2025

28-29 January (Tuesday-Wednesday): Sustainability Forum Middle East, Riyadh.

FEBRUARY 2025

10-13 February (Monday-Thursday): Leap 2025, the Kingdom’s premier tech investment conference.

14-15 February (Friday-Saturday): Formula E, Diriyah.

JUNE 2025

26 June (Thursday): 2024-2025 academic year ends.

2026

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

2027

The World Water Forum takes place in Riyadh.

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