PIF’s assets under management rise, with a greater share of Saudi equities

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WHAT WE’RE TRACKING TODAY

THIS MORNING: It’s back-to-school season

Good morning, friends. We’re rounding out the week with a rather busy Thursday issue, filled to the brim with updates from the Kingdom’s busy IPO pipeline, a roundup of PIF’s 2024 performance — courtesy of its annual report — and a look at the banking sector in 2Q 2025. Let’s dive right in.

WEATHER- Take care out there, folks: We’re still in for more heavy rain, hail, strong winds, and potential flashfloods particularly in the southwestern parts of the country. Authorities are urging residents to be cautious, avoid driving on wet roads, and stay away from valleys and low-lying areas prone to flash flooding.

Riyadh is expected to see a high of 46°C and a low of 35°C today, while Jeddah’s mercury will go as high as 40°C and as low as 32°C. Makkah will see a 41°C high and 35°C low.

PSAs-

#1- Back-to-school season is right around the corner: The new academic year is kicking off, with some schools starting their first semester next Sunday, 18 August, while students at public schools across 11 regions will return to class on Sunday, 24 August. Kids in Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah, and Taif will be back at school a week later on 31 August, the Saudi Gazette reported.

#2- Applications for the second batch of the Standard Incentives for the Industrial sector are now open until 9 November, the Industry and Mineral Resources Ministry said on X on Tuesday. The program offers up to 35% of a project’s initial investment cost — capped at SAR 50 mn — split evenly between construction and production phases, with support lasting up to seven years. Applications can be submitted via the S Senaei platform.

#3- Billboards are now required to match local architectural styles and be removed immediately when licenses expire, according to updated rules (pdf) from the Municipalities and Housing Ministry, which came into effect yesterday. The new rules also stipulate that sites have to be restored to their original condition after billboards are removed. Advertisers and business owners in the Kingdom can know more about the new regulations on the Balady platform.

#4- Companies’ unreasonably high or low basic wage will trigger a violation alert under the Wage Protection Program, Saudi Gazette reported yesterday, citing a compliance guide from the Human Resources and Social Development Ministry. Alerts will also be issued if salary deductions exceed 50% of wages or if a basic wage is not recorded on the Mudad compliance platform for over 90 days.

The enforcement process: Companies that delay wage protection file submissions will receive reminders and a final warning before an inspection request is automatically issued after 20 days.

For delayed salary payments, employers have 10 days to justify the delay on Mudad, and employees have three days to accept or reject the explanation. Firms delaying payments for two months will face partial service suspension, while delays of three months will result in full suspension and allow employees to transfer to a new employer without their current employer’s consent.

WATCH THIS SPACE-

#1- A joint venture between Saudi Aramco and freight giant DHL is reportedly shopping for investors to back a USD 267 mn distribution center project in the Kingdom, Ashraq Business reports, citing sources it says are familiar with the matter. The JV — Advanced Supply Management Operations (ASMO) — has reportedly presented the project to several family businesses in the Gulf, as well as Canadian investment management firm Brookfield Asset Management.

The pitch: The JV is looking to offer potential investors permanent ownership in the Dammam-based facility, which will be developed on a build-to-order (BTO) model where future tenants secure spots pre-construction.

BACKGROUND- ASMO was initially set up in 2023 to develop new end-to-end procurement and logistics hubs in the Kingdom before expanding across the region. ASMO launched operations at its first warehouse in Riyadh back in January — its first project in a network planned across six locations in the Kingdom.

Warehousing, distribution, and fulfillment spaces in the Kingdom are expected to be in hot demand, as the country’s e-commerce and B2C markets continue their upward trend. In 1Q 2024, Saudi Arabia was ranked among the top 10 fastest-growing e-commerce markets, standing at 41.3k existing registrations, up 6% y-o-y.

#2- Paramount is the “front-runner” to securing rights to newly launched Zuffa Boxing, Front Office Sports reported on Tuesday, citing unnamed sources it says are familiar with the matter. Under the arrangement, US-based media conglomerate TKO Group Holding, Zuffa’s parent company, would handle two to three major fights in the Kingdom annually, including the Canelo Álvarez–Terence Crawford fight on Netflix on 13 September. The talks follow Paramount’s recent seven-year, USD 7.7 bn rights agreement to air UFC events.

REFRESHER- PIF’s entertainment and investments arm Sela, Saudi General Entertainment Authority Chairman Turki Al Alshikh, and TKO Group Holdings entered a multi-year partnership in March to launch a new boxing venture that will serve as a platform for top boxers and emerging talent.

#3- The Sports Boulevard Foundation has invited bids to build its 130 m Global Sports Tower in Riyadh, Meed reported on Tuesday. The tender was released on 31 July with submissions due by 30 September. Located in the Athletics District of the 135 km Sports Boulevard development, the tower will house over 30 sports facilities, including a 98 m indoor climbing wall (the world’s tallest) and a 250 m running track.

REMEMBER- The first phase of Sports Boulevard opened its doors in February, marking a 40% completion rate for the project. The phase includes Wadi Hanifa, the Promenade, Al Rimal Sports Park, as well as the internal track at the Princess Nourah University.

#4- PIF subsidiary Expo 2030 Riyadh Company (ERC) is expected to issue the tender for initial infrastructure works on the Expo 2030 site by September, Meed reported on Monday. The works will be divided into three packages covering major utilities and civil construction. ERC had received contractors’ interest on 24 July for Expo 2030’s initial infrastructure works after the expression of interest was issued on 17 July.

REMEMBER- US engineering firm Bechtel was appointed as Expo 2030 project manager last month to oversee infrastructure works across the 6 sq km site, including roads, utilities, and public spaces, as well as transforming the venue into a sustainable urban district.

IN CONTEXT- PIF launched the ERC last June to manage the construction and operation of the Expo 2030 facilities, which is forecast to contribute approximately USD 64 bn to the Kingdom’s GDP during its development and another USD 5.6 bn while operational.

DATA POINTS-

#1- Consumer spending via point-of-sale (PoS) transactions in the Kingdom fell 12.3% w-o-w in the week ending 9 August, reaching nearly SAR 13.7 bn, according to the Saudi Central Bank’s weekly report (pdf). The number of weekly transactions also dropped 6.4% w-o-w to around 228.5 mn during the week.

The details: Food and beverages made up the bulk of consumers’ spending during the week in terms of value, despite dipping 17.8% w-o-w to just above SAR 1.9 bn. Restaurants and cafés came in second place, falling 7.9% w-o-w to just under SAR 1.8 bn, followed by transportation, and professional and business services, each of which came in just above SAR 1 bn.

Riyadh had the highest value of PoS transactions at about SAR 4.6 bn, followed by Jeddah at around SAR 1.9 bn.

#2- Commercial ins. prices fell 5% in India, the Middle East, and Africa (IMEA) in 2Q 2025, with Saudi Arabia and the UAE seeing sharper drops on the back of strong reins. capacity, according to Marsh’s 2Q 2025 IMEA Ins. Market Index. Globally, commercial ins. prices fell 4% — the fourth straight quarterly drop.

The breakdown: Property ins. rates in the UAE and Saudi saw the sharpest falls, supported by competition from regional players and multinational reinsurers. Casualty ins. rates were stable in the UAE, while financial and professional lines dropped 15-20% in both countries. Financial institutions in the Middle East saw reductions of 10-15% thanks to increased London and Dubai capacity. Cyber ins. fell 5% overall, with some Middle East clients seeing over 15% of declines on news excess and primary layer capacity.

#3- The Kingdom has imported 2.4 mn video game consoles since the beginning of 2024, including 1.7 mn units in 2024 and 684.5k units YTD, state news agency SPA reported yesterday. China topped the list of suppliers in both years, followed by Japan, the US, Hong Kong, Vietnam, and the UK. Smart devices were in the lead, capturing 24.2% of all users, followed closely by PlayStation at 23.8%. Other platforms trailed behind, with Xbox at a 2.8% share, Nintendo Switch at 0.9%, and Steam at 0.8%.

OIL WATCH-

The International Energy Agency (IEA) expects global oil demand to grow by 700k bbl/d in 2026, according to the IEA’s August oil market report. The agency kept its 2025 demand forecast unchanged at 104.4 mn bbl/d, with growth of 680k bbl/d, despite weaker-than-expected consumption in China, India, Egypt, and Brazil in recent months.

REMEMBER- Opec is more bullish on demand next year: Opec raised its forecast for oil demand growth in 2026 to 1.4 mn bbl / d — 100k bbl / d higher than previously expected — on the back of strong economic activity in its monthly outlook earlier this week.

Global oil supply was flat in July at 105.6 mn bbl/d, as a 230k bbl/d fall in Opec+ output to 42.72 mn bbl/d was offset by gains from non-Opec+ producers. Higher Opec+ targets for September are set to lift global supply growth to 2.5 mn bbl/d this year and 1.9 mn bbl/d in 2026, with non-Opec+ accounting for half.

This means it’s on track for a surplus: “While oil market balances look ever more bloated as forecast supply far eclipses demand towards year-end and in 2026, additional sanctions on Russia and Iran may curb supplies from the world’s third and fifth largest producers,” the Paris-based agency said.

SPORTS-

#1- RSL fixtures are here: The 2025-26 Roshn Saudi League season will kick off on Thursday, 28 August, with 306 matches scheduled over 34 rounds, according to a press release.

Al Ittihad and Al Hilal set for early showdowns: Defending champions Al Ittihad will start away to Al Okhdood, then face Al Fateh, Al Nassr, and promoted Al Najma, before hosting Al Hilal in the first Classico in Round 6. Al Hilal begin with a derby against Al Riyadh, meet Al Qadsiah in Round 2, visit Al Ahli in Round 3, and play Al Ittihad in Round 6.

Al Nassr and Al Ahli brace for big matches: Al Nassr will open the season in an away game with last season’s surprise Al Taawoun, visit Al Ittihad in Round 4, host Neom in Round 8, and face a tough late-season run against four top sides. Al Ahli will host Neom in their opener, meet Al Hilal in Round 3, and take on Al Ittihad in the Sea Derby in Round 8.

Key derby dates:

Al Hilal vs Al Nassr (Capital Derby): Rounds 15 (Al Hilal home) & 32 (Al Nassr home).
Al Ittihad vs Al Ahli (Sea Derby): Rounds 8 (Al Ittihad home) & 25 (Al Ahli home).
Al Qadsiah vs Al Ettifaq (Eastern Province Derby): Rounds 9 (Al Qadsiah home) & 26 (Al Ettifaq home).
Al Hilal vs Al Ittihad (Saudi Clasico): Rounds 6 & 23 (Al Hilal home).

#2- Al Nassr has entered talks to sign Brentford’s Congolese striker Yoane Wissa, whose contract runs until 2026, French newspaper L’Équipe reported last week. The 28-year-old — Brentford’s all-time top-Premier League scorer with 45 goals and 11 assists in 137 games — had his best season last year with 19 goals and one assist, Asharq Al Awsat reports. Newcastle, Tottenham, and Neom FC have also shown interest, but Newcastle’s reported GBP 25 mn bid was rejected. Brentford, known for its tough stance in transfers, hasn’t revealed its asking price, but reports suggest Al Nassr is ready to meet it.

Al Shabab reached an agreement on contract terms with Nice midfielder Pablo Rosario, with transfer talks in advanced stages, French outlet Foot Mercato reported on Tuesday. The 28-year-old Dominican international — left out of Nice’s squad for their Champions League qualifier against Benfica — made 35 appearances and scored four goals last season, after joining from PSV Eindhoven in 2021, according to TransferMarkt.

#3- Defending champion Judd Trump fell out of the 2025 Snooker Masters in Jeddah after losing 5-3 to Oliver Lines in the opening round, Arab News reports. World No.4 John Higgins was also eliminated, falling 5-4 to Elliot Slessor.Mark Williams and Ronnie O’Sullivan reached the last 16 with victories over Yuan Sijun (5-3) and Joe O’Connor (5-0), while Shaun Murphy overcame Thepchaiya Un-Nooh 5-1, and Zhao Xintong swept Steven Holworth 5-0.

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THE BIG STORY ABROAD-

It’s much less of a business-focused morning in the international press this morning as US President Donald Trump’s upcoming summit with Russia’s Vladimir Putin dominates headlines. Trump threatened Russia with “severe consequences” if Putin doesn’t agree to a ceasefire during their upcoming meeting, and has agreed with the leaders of Ukraine and other European countries that he would not enter territory negotiations with Putin on Friday. The Wall Street Journal and Reuters have more.

IN THE BUSINESS AND FINANCE WORLD- Crypto exchange Bullish saw its shares close up 83.8% on its first day of trading on the NYSE, after rising as much as 219% in intraday trading. The crypto player — which had priced its IPO above its price guidance — raised c. USD 1.1 bn in the IPO, and now has a market value of USD 9.9 bn. (Bloomberg | WSJ)

AND- Succession plans at the US Federal Reserve are beginning to take form ahead the end of Fed Chairman Jerome Powell’s second term next May. The US Treasury has selected a list of 11 candidates for Trump to select, including Jefferies Chief Market Strategist David Zervos, BlackRock CIO of Global Fixed Income Rick Rieder, and a handful of current and former Fed governors. CNBC and the Financial Times have the story.

CIRCLE YOUR CALENDAR-

Security exhibition Intersec Saudi Arabia will kick off on Monday, 29 September at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center. The three-day event features the Future Security Summit and the Fire Protection and Technology Summit, covering topics such as AI-driven surveillance, critical infrastructure security, smart city firefighting, and safeguarding giga-projects.

PIF’s AUM surge to SAR 3.4 tn in 2024, but portfolio returns slips to 7.2%

The Public Investment Fund (PIF) reported an annualized portfolio return of 7.2% since 2017 as of the end of 2024, down from 8.7% a year earlier, according to its 2024 annual report (pdf). The fund said performance was supported by domestic investments, expansion of its international portfolio, and strategic partnerships aimed at long-term value creation.

Assets under management AUM rose 19.3% y-o-y to SAR 3.4 tn, with 82% deployed locally, 17% internationally, and 2% in treasuries. Some 87% of assets were managed in-house, with the remainder overseen by external managers.

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Saudi equity holdings accounted for 36% of AUM, or SAR 1.2 tn, up 11 percentage points y-o-y, making it the only portfolio segment to increase its share of total assets. That aligns with PIF’s strategy to trim overseas exposure from 30% to the 18-20% range while doubling down on domestic diversification projects and attracting co-investment from foreign firms in the Kingdom.

Sector development projects fell to 30% of AUM at SAR 1 tn, from 33% in 2023. International strategic investments dipped to 8% at SAR 277 bn and giga projects to 6% at SAR 211 bn.

Where the money is: Energy made up the largest slice of PIF’s portfolio at 32.3%, followed by real estate at 13.8%, multi-sector funds and money markets at 12.7%, IT at 8.7%, and communications at 8.6%.

Looking ahead, PIF is targeting SAR 4 tn in AUM by the end of 2025, with 21% of that in new sectors and 24% in international assets. The fund also aims to contribute SAR 1.2 tn to Saudi Arabia’s non-oil GDP by year-end, creating 1.8 mn jobs. Its 2025 focus will span 13 strategic sectors, including aerospace and defense, automotive, real estate, entertainment, leisure, and sports.

Global bragging rights: Brand Finance named PIF the most valuable sovereign wealth fund brand globally in 2025, with its brand valuation rising 11% y-o-y to USD 1.2 bn from USD 1.1 bn. The fund also earned a perfect 100% score in the Governance, Sustainability, and Resilience (GSR) rankings, making it one of only nine state-owned investors globally to achieve a triple-digit rating.

Saudi bank credit increases 16% y-o-y in 2Q

Total bank credit in the Kingdom reached SAR 3.2 tn in 2Q 2025, rising 15.7% y-o-y, according to the Saudi Central Bank’s (Sama) latest monthly statistical bulletin (pdf). This growth was evident across all credit terms, with long-term credit— the largest component— expanding by just less than 20% y-o-y to around SAR 1.6 tn. Meanwhile, short-term credit increased 10.7% y-o-y to just above SAR 1.1 tn, and medium-term credit saw a 16.7% rise, reaching SAR 490.4 bn.

Economic activity breakdown of bank credit: Wholesale and retail trade led the way in the second quarter, hitting SAR 213.1 bn. This was followed by electricity, gas, and water supplies at SAR 199.3 bn, and manufacturing, which came at SAR 192.2 bn. Other key sectors included construction with SAR 142.1 bn, transportation and storage at SAR 69.5 bn, accommodation and food services activities at SAR 54.3 bn, mining and quarrying with SAR 48.6 bn, information and communications at SAR 28.5 bn, while agriculture, forestry, and fishing came in at around SAR 11.4 bn.

Consumer loans — excluding real estate financing, finance leasing, and margin lending — hit SAR 469.8 bn during the quarter. The largest share came from vehicles and private transportation, with around SAR 12.5 bn. Furniture and durable goods reached nearly SAR 8.9 bn, renovation and home improvement came at SAR 8.3 bn, while education reached just above SAR 8 bn. Meanwhile, total credit card loans came in at SAR 30.6 bn.

Bank claims on the private sector increased 13.8% y-o-y, reaching around SAR 3.06 tn during the 2Q this year. Credit claims — including loans, advances, overdrafts, and bills discounted — reached just above SAR 2.9 tn, while investments in private securities hit SAR 98 bn during the period.

MEANWHILE- Bank claims on the public sector expanded 20.7% y-o-y to reach SAR

863.2 bn. Government and quasi-government bonds reached SAR 636.3 bn, while bank credit to the public sector enterprises hit SAR 226.8 bn by the end of the second quarter.

ALSO- Expatriate remittances grew 15% y-o-y to SAR 13.8 bn in June 2025, Argaam reported yesterday, citing central bank data. On a m-o-m basis, remittances fell 9%. Remittances by Saudis rose 22% y-o-y to SAR 6.3 bn over the same month.

Marketing Home Group prices its Tadawul IPO following strong institutional investor demand

Marketing Home Group set the final price for its IPO at SAR 85 per share, pricing at the top of the marketed range, after the institutional offering was nearly 10x oversubscribed, according to a bourse disclosure. At this price, the selling shareholders are set to rake in SAR 408 mn in total proceeds from the secondary offering, giving the company an implied market cap of SAR 1.36 bn at listing, according to our math.

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IN CONTEXT- The company is taking a 30% stake — good for 4.8 mn shares — to market as the local IPO market remains busy despite global volatility, with recent offerings drawing solid demand. Marketing Home Group will join peers in the home and lifestyle segment already listed on Tadawul, tapping into a sector that benefits from strong household consumption trends.

What’s next? The subscription window for individual investors opens on Tuesday, 19 August and runs through Wednesday, 20 August. Some 960k ordinary shares — or 20% of the total on offer — are earmarked for the retail tranche.

ADVISORS- Alinma Capital is quarterbacking the transaction as the financial advisor, lead manager, bookrunner, and underwriter, with Stat Law Firm providing counsel. PwC Public Accountants is acting as the financial due diligence advisor, while Euromonitor International is serving as the market consultant.

Receiving agents include our friends at EFG Hermes KSA, Alrajhi Capital, SNB Capital, Saudi Fransi Capital, Riyad Capital, AlBilad Investment, AlJazira Capital, Derayah Financial, ANB Capital, Yaqeen Capital, and Al Khabeer Capital, among others.

ALSO IN THE PIPELINE-

Dar Al Majed Real Estate (aka Almajdiah) will start receiving subscriptions from retail investors tomorrow for its IPO, after the institutional tranche was 107x oversubscribed;
IT firm Ejada Systems, which missed its six-month IPO window, is set to resubmit an IPO application to the CMA;
Coldchain manufacturer Consolidated Grunenfelder Saady Holding got the regulators’ all-clear to float a 30% stake on Tadawul;
PIF-backed Saudi Global Ports, Tabreed District Cooling, Medical procurement firm Nupco, Riyad Capital, and BNPL platform Tabby are among companies that tapped banks for potential IPOs;
F&B players Barns, Half Million, Deemah, and Hashi Bashi are said to be sounding out banks for potential debuts on the main market;
Almosafer is preparing for a public listing on Tadawul by late 2025 or early 2026;
PIF-backed CloudKitchens is reportedly eyeing an IPO in the Kingdom or the UAE (or both);
Meal subscription startup Calo is also said to be eyeing an IPO here at home by 2027.

Jamjoom Fashion Trading to offer 30% on Tadawul’s parallel market Nomu

Jamjoom Fashion Trading — the retail brand creator behind Nayomi and Mihyar — is gearing up to list a 30% stake on Tadawul’s parallel market Nomu, according to its prospectus (pdf). The offer will see selling shareholder Kamal Osman Jamjoom Trading (KOJ Trading) offload 2.38 mn shares to qualified investors between 1-4 September. Investors can subscribe to a minimum of 10 shares and a maximum of 396.6k shares each. The final allocation of shares will be announced on 9 September.

No new capital: The IPO is a pure secondary sale, with all proceeds going to KOJ Trading, minus SAR 12 mn in offering expenses. KOJ will retain a 70% stake in the company post-IPO and is barred from selling additional shares for 12 months following the listing.

About Jamjoom: The company operates two flagship brands — women’s apparel brand Nayomi and men’s national wear brand Mihyar. Jamjoom claims that Nayomi leads the local underwear and nightwear market with an 8.2% share, operating 101 local stores as of September 2024. Meanwhile, Mihyar operates 49 stores in 20 cities nationwide and a total of 216 stores across the GCC as of the end of 2024.

A booming market: According to Jamjoom, the domestic womenswear market was worth SAR 29.1 bn in 2023 and is forecast to hit SAR 35.4 bn by 2029, while the national wear segment was valued at SAR 5.6 bn and is on track to hit SAR 6.5 bn by 2029.

Earnings snapshot: Jamjoom Fashion saw its net income rise 149.5% y-o-y in 4Q 2024 to SAR 17 mn, while its revenue increased 15.2% y-o-y during the quarter to SAR 146.2 mn. Stronger sales and improved margins underpinned the company’s quarterly performance.

Peer comparison: Fashion retailer Fad International made its Nomu debut in November 2023 at SAR 84 per share. Since then, it has traded as high as SAR 117 and as low as SAR 67, currently changing hands below its IPO price at SAR 76.6.

No dividends distribution in sight: The company distributed SAR 50 mn in dividends for its last fiscal year, which ended on 30 September 2024. The offer shares are not entitled to any dividends announced prior to the date of the prospectus, and there are no declared or outstanding dividends as of that date.

ADVISORS- EFG Hermes KSA is serving as the financial advisor and lead manager on the transaction, while Zeyad Sameer Khoshaim Law Firm is providing counsel. PwC is the financial due diligence advisor, and Euromonitor International is the market consultant.

Receiving agents: Qualified investors can subscribe to the offering through a network of receiving agents that includes Al Rajhi Capital, SNB Capital, BSF Capital, Riyad Capital, Al Bilad Investment, Al Jazira Capital, Alistithmar Capital, Derayah Financial, Alinma Capital, Arab National Bank Financial, Yaqeen Capital, Al Khabeer Capital, Al Awwal Investment (Sab Invest), Saham Capital, GIB Capital, EFG Hermes KSA, Musharaka Capital, and Awaed Alosool Capital.

ALSO IN THE NOMU PIPELINE- The Capital Market Authority has recently approved the listing of online supplement store Alwazn Almithaly for Trading, medical equipment supplier Wajd, Qudra for Communications and IT, and two new equity funds to list on the parallel market. Property developer Hammad Mohammed Bin Saedan Real Estate issued its prospectus earlier this week, after Sign World issued its own prospectus last month.

IN OTHER IPO NEWS-

National Signboards Company for Industry (Sign World) is guiding on a price range of SAR 12-15 per share for its 20% stake offering on Tadawul’s parallel market Nomu, the transaction’s financial advisor Yaqeen Capital said in a disclosure to Tadawul yesterday.

Proceeds + market cap: At the top of the range, the pricing would see Sign World raise SAR 22.5 mn in proceeds, and would give it a market cap of SAR 112.5 mn at listing, according to our calculations. Sign World intends to allocate all the offering’s proceeds to funding its SAR 37 mn expansion plan, new metal structures, machinery upgrades, and vehicle purchases, minus SAR 6 mn for listing-related expenses.

REMEMBER- This is the first primary issuance on the parallel market since Anmat Technology’s IPO in May — an uncommon structure for Nomu listings, which are more commonly designed to facilitate shareholder exits. Al Mohandess Group Holding, Sign World’s sole owner, will see its share diluted to 80% post-listing and will be restricted by a 12-month lockup period from the first day of trading.

What’s next? Qualified investors can book a minimum of 10 shares and a maximum of c.375k apiece between Sunday, 17 August and Sunday, 24 August. Final allocations are set for Wednesday, 27 August.

Saudi Arabia grabs four bronze medals in its first IOAI participation in Beijing

#1- The Kingdom’s debut at the International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence (IOAI) in Beijing brought home four bronze medals, King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba) said on X on Friday. Representing Saudi Arabia for the first time, the students competed among 284 students from 85 countries, with support from Mawhiba in partnership with the Education Ministry and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, state news agency SPA reports.

About IOAI: The IOAI, which ran between 2-9 August, is a global competition for top high school students in the field of AI that selects four to six students from each country through national contests. It featured a week of academic challenges, cultural exchange, and networking.

#2- The Kingdom’s national team ranked first in the 10th Arab Chemistry Olympiad in Amman, landing two gold medals, one silver, and one bronze, state news agency SPA reported on Sunday. The event brought together 44 students from 11 Arab countries and included both theoretical and practical chemistry exams. With this, the Kingdom’s medal tally at the competition now stands at 12 — nine gold, two silver, and one bronze.

#3- National flag carrier Saudia received the Best in Class for Service-Guest Experience title for 2025 from the Airline Passenger Experience Association ’s (Apex) World Class ranking, it said in a statement on Sunday. The company beat all other airlines in its categories this year. The awards are one of the three core pillars in the Apex global classification, alongside safety and wellbeing, and sustainability.

#4- Real estate marketing company Bayut KSA went home with three titles at the Employee HappinessAwards KSA in Riyadh, it said in a statement. The company was named Best Company to Work For and was recognized for Best Workspace Design and Best Use of Social Media to Attract and Hire Talent. The awards highlight initiatives that promote wellness, inclusive workplaces, and stronger employee engagement across Saudi businesses.

Leejam Sports gets SAR 960 mn financing package from SAB for expansion

DEBT WATCH-

Leejam Sports lined up SAR 960 mn in shariah-compliant credit facilities with Saudi Awwal Bank to help cover its working capital spending for expansions, according to a disclosure to Tadawul. Backed by a promissory note, the package includes a SAR 794 mn medium-term Murabaha loan with a five-year term and one-year grace period, a SAR 50 mn six-month working capital loan, and SAR 116 mn for bank guarantees and letters of credit with terms of one to three years.

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Perfect Presentation for Commercial Services (2P) renewed a SAR 95 mn shariah-compliant facility with the National Bank of Bahrain, set to mature August 2026, according to a disclosure to Tadawul. The funding, secured by promissory notes, will support new projects through letters of guarantee, letters of credit, and invoice financing.

EV-

Schneider Electric introduced two EV chargers designed for the local market, according to a press release published yesterday. The two additions are the EVlink Pro DC 60 kW, a fast charger for commercial, industrial, and public use, and the Schneider Charge Pro, a medium-speed AC charger for residential and corporate fleet-at-home applications.

INFRASTRUCTURE-

AWPT to implement Al-Kharj sewage networks in SAR 214.6 mn contract: Alkhorayef Water and Power Technologies was awarded a SAR 214.6 mn contract by National Water Company to construct the seventh phase of sewage networks in Al-Kharj Governorate over 36 months, according to a disclosure to Tadawul.

Investors shift bns of USD out of US equities amid growth concerns, weakening USD

Global investors are increasingly shifting capital away from US stock markets, funneling USD 13.6 bn into global equity funds outside the US in July — the biggest inflow since December 2021, Reuters reports, citing data from LSEG Lipper. Meanwhile, US-focused equity funds saw USD 6.3 bn in outflows, marking the third consecutive month of net withdrawals. The exodus comes amid mounting investor macro concerns, worries of overvalued stocks, and a weakening greenback.

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The shift began earlier this year, as investors grew wary of President Donald Trump’s protectionist economic agenda and its effect on US assets. “While tariff de-escalation was a tailwind in the second quarter, unresolved trade negotiations and policy deadlines approaching in the early third quarter pose ongoing risks,” said Shelton Capital Management CIO Derek Izuel. He warned that persistent uncertainty “could reignite flows out of US equities, particularly if growth differentials continue to narrow or the Federal Reserve maintains restrictive monetary policy.”

Investors are now turning to markets with lower valuations, easier monetary conditions, and improved growth prospects. Both the MSCI Emerging Markets EMEA Index and MSCI Europe Index are up over 19% YTD, while the MSCI Asia Pacific ex-Japan Index is up 14% — both outperforming the S&P 500, which is up just over 7.2% so far this year.

Adding to the pressure to relocate capital outside the states is a weakening greenback, which is down around 10% YTD. This has, in turn, boosted returns from overseas investments for USD-based investors.

Valuation gaps are also hard to ignore, with the 12-month forward price-to-earnings ratio for the MSCI US Index standing at 22.6, compared to 14.4 for MSCI Asia, 14.2 for MSCI Europe, and 19.7 for the MSCI World Index, further underlining the appeal of non-US markets.

But some say it’s just a rebalance, not a retreat. While the scale of July’s shift is significant, not all analysts see it as a fundamental reversal of the US equity story. “We see this recent trend as more of a strategic rebalancing to neutral positioning from a geographic perspective and less of an adoption of any underweight to the US,” SEI CIO Jim Smigiel told the newswire.

MARKETS THIS MORNING-

Asian markets are mixed in early trading this morning — Japan’s Nikkei is in the red, down 1.4%, while the Shanghai Composite and Hang Seng are in the green, looking at gains of 0.5% and 0.4%, respectively. South Korea’s Kospi is flat.

TASI	10,763	-0.1% (YTD: -10.6%)
MSCI Tadawul 30	1,392	0.0% (YTD: -7.8%)
NomuC	26,333	+0.7% (YTD: -16.3%)
USD : SAR (SAMA)	USD 3.75 Sell	USD 3.75 Buy
Interest rates	5.0% repo	4.5% reverse repo
EGX30	3,633	-0.3% (YTD: +17.7%)
ADX	10,283	-0.1% (YTD: +9.2%)
DFM	6,091	-0.4% (YTD: +18.1%)
S&P 500	6,467	+0.3% (YTD: +10.0%)
FTSE 100	9,165	+0.2% (YTD: +12.1%)
Euro Stoxx 50	5,388	+1.0% (YTD: +10.1%)
Brent crude	USD 65.75	-0.6%
Natural gas (Nymex)	USD 2.83	+0.7%
Gold	USD 3,408	+0.3%
BTC	USD 123,388	+2.7% (YTD: +32.0%)
Sukuk/bond market index	909.51	+0.1% (YTD: +0.8%)
S&P MENA Bond & Sukuk	147.90	0.0% (YTD: +5.7%)
VIX (Volatility Index)	14.49	-1.6% (YTD: -16.5%)

THE CLOSING BELL: TADAWUL-

The TASI fell 0.1% yesterday on turnover of SAR 4.2 bn. The index is down 10.6% YTD.

In the green: Liva (+8.8%), Nice One (+7.3%) and Sasco (+6.3%).

In the red: Chemanol (-8.7%), Sidc (-7.2%) and Nahdi (-4.8%).

THE CLOSING BELL: NOMU-

The NomuC rose 0.7% yesterday on turnover of SAR 45.6 mn. The index is down 16.3% YTD.

In the green: Future Care (+29.7%), Academy of Learning (+24.0%) and Mayar (+14.6%).

In the red: Balady (-5.9%), Edarat (-5.6%) and Taqat (-4.5%).

CORPORATE ACTIONS-

Middle East Pharma Industries’ (Avalon Pharma) board approved a SAR 22 mn dividend payout for 1H 2025 at SAR 1.1 per share, it said in a disclosure to Tadawul yesterday. The distribution date is set for 15 September.

Cenomi Centers’ board greenlit a SAR 178.1 mn dividend payout for 1Q 2025 at SAR 0.375 apiece, it said in a disclosure to Tadawul yesterday. The distribution is slated for 15 October.

Saudi Top for Trading’s top brass approved a SAR 3.6 mn dividend payout for 1Q 2024 at SAR 0.3 per share, set to be distributed on 14 September, it said in a disclosure to Tadawul yesterday.

Naba Alsaha Medical Services’ board recommended a 100% capital increase to SAR 210 mn through bonus share issuance, it said in a disclosure to Tadawul yesterday. The SAR 105 mn increase will be funded by tapping SAR 93 mn from retained earnings and SAR 12 mn from reserves, with shareholders receiving one bonus share for every share they own.

Eligible Acwa Power rights holders who have not yet received compensation can now collect their funds from any Saudi National Bank branch, the company said in a disclosure to Tadawul yesterday. The compensation is for subscribers whose initial bank transfers for Acwa Power’s SAR 7.1 bn rights issue failed due to incorrect or incomplete banking information.

CALENDAR

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

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

19-20 August (Tuesday-Wednesday): Marketing Home Group IPO retail subscription period for investors to request 10k-250k shares each.

24 August (Sunday): Final allocations are due for Marketing Home Group IPO.

3Q 2025

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

SEPTEMBER

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

8-12 February (Sunday-Thursday): World Defense Show, 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.
5-7 February (Thursday-Saturday): LIV Golf 2026 season opener, Riyadh Golf Club, 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.

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