{"id":98691,"date":"2025-07-14T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-14T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/ksa\/2025\/07\/14\/bonuses-advertising-and-a-promised-stake-reportedly-sweetened-ronaldos-al-nassr-contract\/"},"modified":"2025-07-14T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2025-07-14T00:00:00","slug":"bonuses-advertising-and-a-promised-stake-reportedly-sweetened-ronaldos-al-nassr-contract","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/enterpriseam.com\/ksa\/2025\/07\/14\/bonuses-advertising-and-a-promised-stake-reportedly-sweetened-ronaldos-al-nassr-contract\/","title":{"rendered":"Bonuses, advertising and a promised stake reportedly sweetened Ronaldo\u2019s Al Nassr contract"},"content":{"rendered":"

Good morning<\/strong>. Acwa Power is all over our issue this morning, after a consortium alongside Badeel and Aramco Power landed a whopping SAR 31 bn in power purchase agreements to develop over 15 GW of solar and wind projects in the Kingdom.<\/p>\n

The renewables giant <\/strong>is advancing its <\/strong>SAR 7.1 bn rights issue<\/a><\/strong> to fuel its expansion, and <\/strong>we talked to CEO Marco Arcelli <\/strong>to get a reading on how the big capital raise fits in the company\u2019s strategy, where Acwa intends to deploy the proceeds, and more.<\/p>\n

ALSO- Good news on investor appetite: <\/strong>Sport Clubs\u2019 retail offering was more than 5x oversubscribed, signaling worries over regional escalation are already subsiding. The rate is better than Specialized Medical Company\u2019s recent 1.5x, but we\u2019ll still have to wait and see if the first-day performance will buck the recent trend of muted main market debuts.<\/p>\n

And on an even more lighthearted note: <\/strong>Your ultimate guide to Riyadh Season\u2019s summer events is here, from live concerts to food festivals, art shows and esports.<\/p>\n

^^ We have all of this and more below and in this morning\u2019s news well. <\/p>\n

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WEATHER- Riyadh <\/strong>is will see another expectedly hot day, with a high of 45\u00b0C and a low of 32\u00b0C, while Jeddah<\/strong>\u2019s mercury will go as high as 41\u00b0C and as low as 30\u00b0C. Makkah<\/strong> will see a 43\u00b0C high and a 32\u00b0C low. <\/p>\n

PSAs- <\/p>\n

Over 108k<\/strong> propert<\/strong>y owners can now submit the first registration request for their properties in Makkah, <\/strong>Madinah, and the Eastern Province via the Real Estate Registry <\/strong>platform<\/a><\/strong>, according to a post on X<\/a>. The properties covered in this phase include some 50.3k plots in Makkah, 40.5k plots in Madinah, and 17.5k plots in the Eastern Province.<\/p>\n

WATCH THIS SPACE-<\/p>\n

<\/a> <\/strong>Saudi Arabia is w<\/strong>orking with GCC countries on anti-<\/strong>dumping measures to protect the region\u2019s <\/strong>markets from countries facing US tariffs<\/strong>, Industry and Mineral Resources Minister Bandar Al Khorayef told Aleqtisadiah<\/a> last week on the sidelines of the Innoprom<\/a> exhibition held in Russia last week. <\/p>\n

What\u2019s the concern? <\/strong>Countries with a production surplus are eyeing selling prospects in the Kingdom, after tariffs made it harder to access the US market. A specialized committee is working on monitoring competition and addressing violations, Al Khorayef added.<\/p>\n

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DATA POINTS-<\/p>\n

Nati<\/strong>on<\/strong>al flag carrier Saudia has kept its title as the most recommended brand in<\/strong> the Kingdom for the second consecutive year<\/strong>, UK market research firm YouGov said in its latest report for Most Recommended Brands in 2025 (pdf)<\/a>. Adidas came in fourth place, followed by Qiddiya, Almarai, Qatar Airways, Hilton, Emaar, and Nike.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a good day for the airline:<\/strong> Saudia also topped the global charts as the most punctual airline in June, with an on-time arrival rate of 91.33% and an on-time departure rate of 90.69% across more than 16.7k flights, according to the Cirium On-Time Performance Monthly Report (pdf)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

ALSO- <\/strong>Saudia\u2019s low-cost subsidiary Flyadeal led the Middle East and Africa ranking, with a 91.77% on-time arrival rate and 93.65% on-time departure rate over 5.9k flights.<\/p>\n

AND- Riyadh\u2019s King Khalid International Airport topped the global punctuality ranking <\/strong>among large airports for the third <\/strong>month <\/strong>in a row<\/strong>, with a 90.41% on-time departure rate and 86.99% on-time arrival across 22.2k flights. Meanwhile, the Dammam King Fahd International Airport came in seventh place among medium airports, with an 86.18% on-time departure rate over 8.2k flights.<\/p>\n

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SPORTS-<\/p>\n

<\/a> #1- <\/strong>Cristiano Rona<\/strong>ldo is set to earn between USD 120-140 mn a year<\/strong> under his new <\/strong>two-year contract with Al Nassr<\/strong>, Asharq Business<\/a> reports, citing a source it says is familiar with the matter. The Portuguese soccer legend will reportedly get up to USD 5 mn if Al Nassr clenches the Saudi Pro League title, and will rake in revenues from advertising the Kingdom\u2019s projects and events.<\/p>\n

A stake is in the cards? <\/strong>Ronaldo will be prioritized for a stake in Al Nassr if that door ever opens, the source added without providing further details.<\/p>\n

REFRESHER-<\/strong> Al Nassr secured The Don\u2019s signature at the end of last month<\/a>, ending speculations about his future with the club. The 40-year old player\u2019s contract appears to be much sweeter than his previous 2023 contract, with the British Sun putting contract terms at some EUR 208 mn a year, plus a EUR 28.7 mn signing bonus and a 15% stake in Al Nassr.<\/p>\n

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<\/a> #2-<\/strong> Roberto F<\/strong>irmino is set to leave Al Ahli for <\/strong>Qatar\u2019s Al Sadd<\/strong>, with the transfer valued at some EUR 7 mn, unnamed sources told Asharq Al Awsat<\/a>. The 33-year-old Brazilian striker played 65 games for the Saudi club, making 38 goal contributions (21 goals and 17 assists) and leading Al Ahli to conquer the AFC Champions League.<\/p>\n

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MORNING MUST READ- <\/p>\n

We have for you two offerings this morning<\/strong>, depending on the kind of mood you\u2019re in. <\/p>\n

FIRST- Drop that vape. <\/strong>New evidence is emerging that vaping is (shockingly\u2026) probably not all that good for you. Data on long-term health effects is still limited, but scientists point to high concentrations of heavy metals in some vapes (to make you stupid, impotent, and infertile) while regular use of all of them puts constant strain on your heart and the rest of your cardiovascular system. The New York Times wants to scare you straight in Just how harmful is vaping? More evidence is emerging<\/a>.<\/p>\n

NEED A PALATE CLEANSER? <\/strong>We point you to menswear columnist \/ thinker Derek Guy\u2019s recent (and richly illustrated) thread on men\u2019s suiting<\/a>. <\/p>\n

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THE BIG STORY ABROAD- <\/p>\n

There\u2019s no single story dominating global headlines this morning \u2014 but tensions are sti<\/strong>ll high on the transatlantic trade front:<\/strong> The European Commission said it would extend its suspension of retaliatory tariffs on the US until early August, keeping the door open for a negotiated solution to Donald Trump\u2019s latest protectionist threats. Trump is pushing ahead with a 30% blanket tariff on EU imports starting 1 August unless better offers are made, according to White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett. <\/p>\n

Europe isn\u2019t exactly staying quiet:<\/strong> EU leaders are pushing to avoid escalation, but they do plan to ramp up engagement with other US trading partners affected by the tariffs for potential coordination. Some \u2014 like France\u2019s Emmanuel Macron \u2014 are calling for the implementation of countermeasures, including the potential use of the anti-coercion instrument, the bloc\u2019s most powerful trade tool, though EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said there are no plans to use it at this point. (Reuters<\/a> | Bloomberg<\/a> | FT<\/a> | Politico<\/a> | Guardian<\/a>)<\/p>\n

CLOSER TO HOME- At least eight Palestinians, most of them children, were killed in <\/strong>central Gaza on Sunday<\/strong> when an Israeli missile struck a water distribution point in the Nuseirat refugee camp. The Israeli army said the missile had malfunctioned and \u201cmissed its target,\u201d which it claimed was an Islamic Jihad militant. Seventeen others were wounded, including multiple children.<\/p>\n

This comes as talks for a ceasefire stall<\/strong>, despite the US\u2019 Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff saying he is still hopeful ahead of a meeting with Qatari officials on the sidelines of the Club World Cup Final. (Reuters<\/a> | CNN<\/a> | BBC<\/a> | Guardian<\/a>)<\/p>\n

ON THE SPORTS FRONT- <\/strong><\/p>\n