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☆ Saudi sovereign wealth fund announces $2 billion deal for new Brookfield Middle East platform
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding with Brookfield Asset Management, under which the wealth fund will serve as a strategic anchor investor for the asset manager's newly announced private equity vehicle for the region, Brookfield Middle East Partners. Signed at the eighth edition of Future Investment Initiative, Saudi Arabia's flagship annual economic conference in Riyadh, the non-binding agreement marks the kingdom's latest push for financial partnerships that boost private equity investment and economic development within its borders. The move is in line with Saudi Arabia's recently-updated Investment Law, which seeks to attract more foreign direct investment — it's set itself a lofty target of $100 billion in annual FDI by 2030. Currently, that figure has averaged around $12 billion per year since Vision 2030 was announced in 2017, according to data from the kingdom's investment ministry — still a long way from that goal. The PIF, the kingdom's $925 billion sovereign wealth fund, has deployed billions in capital around the world as it aims to diversify Saudi Arabia's revenue streams away from oil, materializing the central goal of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030 campaign.

Persons: —, Prince Mohammed bin Salman's, Yasir al Rumayyan, Bruce Flatt Organizations: Saudi, Public Investment Fund, Wednesday, Brookfield Asset Management, Brookfield Middle East Partners, Future Investment Initiative, Saudi Arabia's, Brookfield, Brookfield Academy Locations: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saudi

☆ Saudi sovereign wealth fund allocates $5.2 billion in green bonds project amid diversification push
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-11 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The PIF became the first sovereign wealth fund to issue a green bond back in October 2022. The mammoth sovereign wealth fund, which oversees $925 billion in assets, has a capital expenditure requirement of $19.4 billion for what it deems "eligible green projects," according to the PIF's annual report. Saudi Arabia has a stated goal of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2060 and has poured billions of dollars into what it says are sustainable development projects. It describes a water sustainability project planned for Neom that will develop "a fully-circular system to achieve water positivity" enabling "100% wastewater recapture and energy-neutral recycling." Neom Green Hydrogen — a joint venture between Neom and Saudi firms ACWA Power, Air Products — will be the world's largest green hydrogen plant and will operate "entirely on renewable energy," according to the report.

Persons: Prince Mohammed bin Salman's, Philip Oldfield Organizations: Saudi, Public Investment Fund, Renewable Energy, Green, Sustainable Water Management, United Nations Sustainable, University of New, ACWA Power, Air Products Locations: Saudi Arabia, Saudi, University of New South Wales, Neom

Sovereign wealth funds out of the Middle East are emerging as key backers of Silicon Valley's artificial intelligence darlings. In the past year, funding for AI companies by Middle-Eastern sovereigns has increased fivefold, according to data from Pitchbook. Few venture funds have deep enough pockets to compete with the multibillion-dollar checks coming from the likes of Microsoft and Amazon . MGX was launched as a dedicated AI fund in March, with Abu Dhabi's Mubadala and AI firm G42 as founding partners. For the U.S., having sovereign wealth funds invest in American companies, and not in global adversaries like China, has been a geopolitical priority.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Prince Mohammed bin Salman's, Uber, LIV, UAE's Mubadala, MGX, Abu Dhabi's Mubadala, Anthropic, Andreessen Horowitz, Jamal Khashoggi, It's, Bpifrance, WeWork spiraled, Jared Cohen, there's Organizations: United, CNBC, Microsoft, Gulf Cooperation Council, Saudi Public Investment Fund, Abu, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, Qatar Investment Authority, BlackRock, Global Infrastructure Partners, Saudi, U.S, Saudi Company, Artificial Intelligence, Washington Post, SoftBank, Goldman Sachs Global Institute Locations: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Pitchbook, Abu Dhabi, Temasek, Singapore, China, UAE

☆ A Neom executive reportedly complained about having a meeting on a Sunday evening after 3 workers died
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-11 | by ( Tom Carter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewA Neom executive reportedly complained about having an emergency meeting on a Sunday evening following the deaths of three employees working on Saudi Arabia's megaproject estimated to cost between $500 billion and $1.5 trillion, according to a bombshell Wall Street Journal report. Wayne Borg, a former Fox Corp executive, reportedly described Neom's blue-collar workers from the Indian subcontinent as "f—ing morons" and said "that is why white people are at the top of the pecking order." This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Citing current and former Neom employees, the Journal reported that three workers were killed by a falling pipe, a collapsing wall, and mishandled explosives. Neom told the Journal it has a zero-tolerance policy toward inappropriate workplace behavior.

Persons: —, Wayne Borg, we've, Borg, Prince Mohammed bin Salman's, Neom Organizations: Service, Saudi, Fox Corp, Business, Journal, BBC, Neom Locations: Saudi Arabia, Saudi

☆ Many 'doubted the vision': Saudi investment minister touts 'green shoring' on path to diversification
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-08 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid al-Falih pushed back against skepticism over the country's economic diversification plan, as Riyadh touts "green shoring" investment opportunities to woo foreign financing. The Saudi minister on Saturday said that, eight years into manifesting Vision 2030, the kingdom is now "more committed, more determined" to the program and has already implemented or is about to complete 87% of its targets. The number of foreign investment licenses issued in Saudi Arabia nearly doubled in 2023, the IMF noted, with government data pointing to a 5.6% annual increase in net flows of foreign direct investment in the first quarter. Concerns have nevertheless lingered over the potential uncertainty and unpredictability of the kingdom's legal framework and its dispute resolution system for foreign investment. Al-Falih insisted that Saudi Arabia boasts predictability, as well as domestic political and economic stability.

Persons: Khalid, Falih, CNBC's Steve Sedgwick, Mohammed bin Salman's Organizations: International Monetary Fund, IMF Locations: Saudi, Riyadh, Cernobbio, Italy, U.S, Saudi Arabia

☆ Saudi Arabia's Neom dreams collide with financial reality as budgets reportedly face big cuts
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-12 | by ( Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Saudi Arabia is reportedly getting ready to slash Neom's budget. Saudi Arabia has been struggling to justify the enormous cost of megaprojects such as Neom. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . The kingdom is set to cut billions of dollars in spending on some of its Vision 2030 megaprojects amid rumors of spiraling costs, Bloomberg reported. Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman's Vision 2030 aims to transform Saudi Arabia both economically and politically by reducing its dependence on oil revenues and pivoting toward technology.

Persons: —, Prince Mohammed Bin Salman's Organizations: Bloomberg, Service, Business Locations: Saudi Arabia

☆ Saudi Arabia looking to China for a lifeline for its futuristic city could mean trouble for the US
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-14 | by ( Dan Defrancesco | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

In today's big story, we're looking at how Saudi Arabia is courting Chinese investors for help with its massive, futuristic city facing financial issues. NeomSaudi Arabia's dreams of a futuristic city are turning into a financial nightmare, and one of its solutions could spell trouble for the US. Since 2017, the Kingdom has touted big plans for the desert megacity Neom . AdvertisementThe city plans to heavily use renewable energy, a key area of focus for China as it digs itself out of its economic hole . But a soft real estate market and a trail of angry business partners and customers are threatening to thwart his big plans .

Persons: —, Prince Mohammed bin Salman's, Neom's, hasn't, Tom Porter, Prince, Aaron Weiner's, Weiner, Justin Sullivan, it's, they'd, Tyler Le, Giovanna Ventola, Michael Shvo, Shvo, Tesla, Jose Uribe, Sen, Bob Menendez, Dan DeFrancesco, Jordan Parker Erb, Hallam Bullock, George Glover, Annie Smith, Amanda Yen Organizations: Service, UEFA, Business, Neom, US, International Monetary Fund, Bank of America, Apple, Apple Intelligence, OpenAI, Amazon, Bonnaroo Music, Arts Festival, Post Malone Locations: Saudi Arabia, Neom, Saudi, Kingdom, China, Gaza, New York, London

☆ CNBC Daily Open: Far-right makes gains in EU elections
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-10 | by ( Abid Ali | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

This report is from today's CNBC Daily Open, our international markets newsletter. CNBC Daily Open brings investors up to speed on everything they need to know, no matter where they are. Populist, far-right parties also won record support in this year's European Parliament elections, exit polls indicated late on Sunday. No way, MuskNorway's $1.7 trillion sovereign wealth fund, Tesla's eighth-largest shareholder, will vote against Elon Musk's $56 billion pay package. Despite a recent 2% drop in Aramco's stock and pressures on global oil prices, the offering attracted strong international demand.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Pen, CNBC's Karen Gilchrist, Dow, Stocks, Musk, Kitty's, Keith Gill, Gill, Prince Mohammed bin, Aramco's, Morgan Stanley, there's Organizations: CNBC, Populist, Nasdaq, Dow Jones, Treasury, Elon Musk's, GameStop, Saudi, Nvidia Locations: Europe, freefall, Saudi Arabia, Aramco, Saudi

☆ Saudi oil giant Aramco's shares rise after stock sale set to raise $11.2 billion
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-09 | by ( Katrina Bishop | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Saudi Aramco logo and stock graph are seen through a magnifier displayed in this illustration taken September 4, 2022. Shares of Saudi Arabia's Aramco rose on Sunday following a stock sale that's set to raise the state oil company around $11.2 billion. Shares were trading around 28.25 Saudi riyals ($7.53) on the Tadāwul Saudi stock exchange at 11:30 a.m. local time (4:30 a.m. ET), above the stock sale offer price of 27.25 Saudi riyals. Citing sources, Reuters reported that demand for the offering topped $65 billion, and Aramco placed over half of the sale with foreign investors.

Persons: Prince Mohammed bin Salman's, —, Ruxandra Iordache Organizations: Saudi Aramco, Saudi, Aramco, Reuters, CNBC, U.S . Federal Locations: Saudi, Saudi Arabia, Neom

☆ Aramco share sale planned for summer could net Saudi Arabia a welcome $10 billion amid its Neom project struggles
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-27 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewSaudi Arabia looks set for a multibillion-dollar share sale in its state oil company, Saudi Aramco. AdvertisementThe government of Saudi Arabia remains the largest shareholder in Aramco, which is the world's largest oil company by market cap. AdvertisementThe kingdom has embarked on a number of "gigaprojects" as part of the 2030 plan, including its Neom megacity. But recent reports suggest Saudi Arabia has been seeking to borrow funds for the project, while also scaling back population estimates for The Line. In January, it said that its cash as of September had dropped to around $15 billion — the lowest level since December 2020, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Persons: —, Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Organizations: Service, Reuters, Business, Aramco, Saudi Aramco, Saudi, Public Investment Fund, Bloomberg, Street Journal Locations: Saudi Arabia, Saudi Aramco, Aramco, Saudi

☆ 7 quirky plans for Neom, from robot hotel clerks to swim lanes for commuters
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewSaudi Arabia has grand plans for its Neom megaproject. The city is part of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030 project , which plans to revolutionize the country's oil-dependent economy for a post-fossil fuel future. Swim lanes for commutersThe megacity is also considering including swim lanes for commuters, according to a Neom "style catalog" seen by Bloomberg. Neom planners are reportedly considering including canals with swimmable water, which would allow residents to swim to work or school. A robot and AI networkNeom has grand plans to be the most high-tech city in the world.

Persons: —, It's, Prince Mohammed bin Salman's, Jan Paterson, Neom's, Neom, Nadhmi Al, Nasr, Wayne Borg, Paul Marshall Organizations: Service, Business, Planners, Bloomberg, Wired, BBC Locations: Saudi Arabia, Saudi, Neom, Aqaba, Treyam, Neom's

☆ Brent oil gains after Iran's President dies, Saudi flags issue with King's health
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Brent crude futures extended gains on Monday, inching up amid political uncertainty in major producing countries after Iran's president died in a helicopter crash and the Saudi crown prince cancelled a Japan trip, citing health issues with the king. Brent gained 10 cents, or 0.1%, to $84.08 a barrel by 0454GMT, after rising to $84.30 earlier, its highest since May 10. He added that WTI prices may rebound further toward $83.50 after rising above the 200-day moving average of $80.02. Despite the volatility in the region, oil prices moved only slightly. "Continuity in Saudi strategy is expected regardless of this health issue," he added.

Persons: Brent, Ebrahim Raisi, Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, King Salman, Yoshimasa Hayashi, Tony Sycamore, Sycamore, Warren Patterson, Patterson, Saul Kavonic, Prince Mohammed Bin Salman's Organizations: Brent, . West Texas, Saudi, Saudi Arabian Crown, Iranian, IG, ING, The, of, Petroleum, Petroleum Reserve Locations: Fort Stockton , Texas, Saudi, Japan, East Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabian, China, U.S, United States, Washington

☆ Saudi Arabia's Neom is looking to fill 262 job vacancies. The roles show just how futuristic the megacity could be.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-12 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Saudi Arabia's sprawling megacity, Neom, is billed as a chance to live in the "new future." AdvertisementOfficials say Neom will be a "cognitive city." The chosen candidate will control and operate the fish laboratory, ensuring high standards of fish welfare and supporting surveillance and investigation activities into fish health and disease control. Developers have said they want the island resort Sindalah to act as an "exclusive gateway to the stunning Red Sea." An image showing a nighttime view of mountains in the region in northwest Saudi Arabia where planners say Neom will be built.

Persons: —, Neom, Prince Mohammed bin Salman's, Neom's Organizations: Service, Tech, NEOM Community School Locations: Saudi, Saudi Arabia, Tabuk, Sindalah, Gulf, Aqaba, Neom, Oxagon

☆ Neom wants to build a 1,500-foot infinity pool that's almost 4 times longer than one in Dubai
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-11 | by ( Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Saudi Arabia is planning to build the world's longest infinity pool in Neom's Treyam region. The plans dwarf Dubai's 393-foot-long infinity pool that's suspended between twin skyscrapers. AdvertisementSaudi Arabia is planning a spectacular infinity pool that will be almost 1,500 feet long. #Treyam #NEOM pic.twitter.com/syJG7hCZ34 — NEOM (@NEOM) March 20, 2024In a statement, Neom said the design "represents a harmonious fusion of contemporary design and minimal environmental impact while promising guests an unparalleled retreat to unwind and rejuvenate amidst breathtaking natural vistas." NeomIf completed, the pool would dwarf nearby Dubai's offering — a 393-foot-long infinity pool suspended between twin skyscrapers.

Persons: —, Neom, Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Organizations: Service, Planners Locations: Saudi Arabia, Treyam, Neom's Treyam, unwind, Aqaba, Neom's, Saudi

☆ Saudi Arabia wants big spenders for the first part of its Neom megaproject
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-28 | by ( Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Saudi Arabia plans to open the first part of its Neom megaproject this year. Saudi Arabia is pushing to distinguish itself in the high-end luxury market to compete with Dubai. AdvertisementSaudi Arabia plans to open the first region of its Neom megacity by the end of the year. Neom recently ended investor roadshows in China by confirming the luxury island resort would open this year, Arab News reported. A rendering of The Line, part of the Neom project planned by Saudi Arabia.

Persons: —, Neom, roadshows, It's, Marriott Bonvoy, Chadi, MDLBEAST, Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, Saudi Arabia hasn't, Ulrichsen, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Organizations: Dubai, Service, Arab News, Marriott, United, Rice, Baker Institute for Public Policy, Emirates, Saudi, Bloomberg, Business Locations: Saudi Arabia, Sindalah, China, Saudi, Vives, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Crown, Gulf Kingdom

☆ Saudi Arabia's $500 billion Neom megacity is reportedly seeking new sources of cash
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Saudi Arabia's Neom is planning its first bond sale, Bloomberg reported. The issuance could take place later this year and raise up to $1.3 billion, per the outlet. AdvertisementSaudi Arabia's Neom project is set to issue bonds for the first time as its developers seek new funding sources, Bloomberg reported. The $500 billion desert megacity could raise up to $1.3 billion by selling Islamic bonds, or sukuk, the outlet reported on Wednesday, citing unnamed sources. The sukuk issuance may take place later this year, according to Bloomberg.

Persons: Prince Mohammed Bin Salman's, — Organizations: Saudi, Bloomberg, Service, Business

☆ Saudi Arabia goes big in Davos as it looks to become a top AI tech hub for the Middle East
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Mackenzie Sigalos | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

A pop-up showcasing Saudi Arabia's Neom development features among the most prominent on the Davos promenade in 2024. But Saudi Arabia is keen to capture some of the limelight, and talent, from its neighbor on the Arabian Peninsula — an ambition laid bare on the Davos Promenade this year. "He's driving entrepreneurship, he's diversifying the economy ... And there are a lot of people that are really interested in working in Saudi Arabia," said Bremmer. "In the Emirates and in Saudi Arabia, you have millions of people that need upskilling, particularly Saudi Arabia which has a much larger population," Hidary said. Hidary, who was recently in Saudi Arabia, says that the UAE and Saudi Arabia are looking at countries like Singapore and Israel that have supported start-ups and are driven by technology.

Persons: Mohammed al, Jadaan, Prince Mohammed bin Salman's, Ian Bremmer, he's, Bremmer, Jamal Khashoggi, King Abdullah, KAUST, Harri Jarvelainen, Vera Futorjanski, Futorjanski, Israel Jack Hidary, Hidary, — CNBC's Karen Gilchrist Organizations: Saudi, CNBC, United Arab, prince's, —, Economic, Al, U.S, Eurasia Group, MBS, World Bank, Research Technology Centers, King, King Abdullah University of Science, Technology, UCLA, Riyadh's, Center, AI Research, AI, Artificial Intelligence Authority, Veritas Ventures, Emirates Locations: Davos, CNBC DAVOS, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Neom, Saudi, Riyadh, China, Istanbul, UAE, Singapore, Israel, Emirates

A huge billboard advertising Riyadh, Saudi Arabia as candidate of the World Expo 2030 is seen in Paris as the host country of The World Expo 2030 will be elected by BIE Member States that will gather in the 173rd General Assembly in Paris, France, November 25, 2023. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's Riyadh won the right to host the Expo 2030 world fair, vote results showed on Tuesday, in another diplomatic victory for a Gulf country after the Qatar soccer World Cup last year. South Korea's Busan and Italy's Rome were also in the running to host the world fair, a five-yearly event that attracts millions of visitors and billions of dollars in investment. The Saudi capital has proposed to host the event between October 2030 and March 2031. Saudi had in particular won French support, irking Rome.

Persons: Gonzalo Fuentes, Cristiano Ronaldo, Crown Prince Mohammed bin, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Prince Mohammed, Jamal Khashoggi, Emmanuel Macron, Elizabeth Pineau, Michel Rose, Christina Fincher, Richard Chang Organizations: BIE Member, 173rd, Assembly, REUTERS, Rights, Saudi Arabia's, Qatar, Korea's, Riyadh, Busan, Rome, Saudi, Al, Crown, Saudi Foreign, irking, Thomson Locations: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Paris, BIE, BIE Member States, France, Saudi, Saudi Arabia's Riyadh, Korea's Busan, Italy's Rome, irking Rome, Lebanon

A huge billboard advertising Riyadh, Saudi Arabia as candidate of the World Expo 2030 is seen in Paris as the host country of The World Expo 2030 will be elected by BIE Member States that will gather in the 173rd General Assembly in Paris, France, November 25, 2023. South Korea's southeastern city of Busan is competing against Saudi Arabia's Riyadh and Italy's Rome. More than one vote will be necessary if no country gets a majority at the first ballot. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni personally got involved in trying to persuade international leaders to back the Rome bid, giving it her full political backing. Rome is looking to use the Expo as a way of attracting investment, much as Milan did when it successfully hosted the 2015 Expo.

Persons: Gonzalo Fuentes, Roberto Gualtieri, Crown Prince Mohammed bin, Prince Mohammed, Jamal Khashoggi, Yoon Suk Yeol, Giorgia Meloni, Michel Rose, Elizabeth Pineau, Crispian Balmer, Giselda Vagnoni, Hyonhee, Christina Fincher Organizations: BIE Member, 173rd, Assembly, REUTERS, PARIS, Saudi, City, Crown, Paris . South, Thomson Locations: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Paris, BIE, BIE Member States, France, Busan, Saudi's Riyadh, Italy's Rome, Italy, South Korea, South, Rome, Saudi, Lebanon, Paris ., Korea, Italian, Milan, Europe, Dubai, Osaka, Japan, Seoul

☆ Saudi Arabia eyes stake in $30 bln Indian Premier League - Bloomberg News
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 3 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia has expressed interest in buying a multibillion-dollar stake in the Indian Premier League (IPL), the world's richest cricket league, Bloomberg News reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's advisers have spoken to Indian government officials about moving the IPL into a holding company valued at as much as $30 billion, the report said. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the custodian of the IPL, did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for a comment. IPL is one of the richest leagues in the world and has been attracting top players and coaches to India since its inaugural edition in 2008. Reporting by Nilutpal Timsina in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli and Shilpi MajumdarOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin, Nilutpal, Shinjini Ganguli, Shilpi Majumdar Organizations: Indian Premier League, Bloomberg, Saudi Arabian Crown, IPL, Control, Cricket, BCCI, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Saudi Arabia, Saudi, India, Bengaluru

The less-ambitious approach fit with Biden's determination to pivot his foreign-policy focus from Middle East hotspots to China. Arab leaders “are very aware this is going to keep blowing up. Then, Hamas's breakout from Gaza shattered what National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan had hailed as a period of Middle East calm. Brokering those alliances would stabilize the Middle East in themselves, no Israeli-Palestinian peace accord needed, supporters have argued. The nightmare unfolding now for Israeli and Palestinian civilians argues differently, when it comes to Biden's approach, critics say.

Persons: Biden, Richard Nixon, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Abdel Fattah el, Sissi, Antony Blinken, ”, Yezid Sayigh, Malcolm H, it’s, Sayigh, Netanyahu, Mahmoud Abbas, Donald Trump, Jake Sullivan, Prince Mohammed bin Salman's, “, Jonathan Lord, Yousef Munayyer, Sam Magdy Organizations: WASHINGTON, Camp David, Israeli, West Bank, United, Palestinian, Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center, U.S, Trump, United Arab, National, Biden, Hamas's, Center, New, New American Security, Arab, Associated Press Locations: Israel, China, Gaza, United States, Cairo, East, Jordan, Egypt, East Jerusalem, Saudi Arabia, Beirut, Lebanon, American, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, U.S, Iran, Saudi, New American, Palestine, Washington

☆ So many people want to attend a Middle East investment conference dubbed 'Davos in the desert' that they're charging $15,000 to get in the door
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

About 5,000 delegates are paying $15,000 each to attend an investment conference in Riyadh next month. Growing interest in the conference also underlines Saudi Arabia's rising global influence. The annual event is the largest investment and business conference in the Middle East, and has been compared to Davos – the Swiss ski resort that hosts the World Economic Forum each January. As well as being a forum for discussion, the event is also an accelerator for Saudi investment opportunities. At last year's conference, more than 28 investment deals worth over $9 billion were signed, according to the US-Saudi Business Council.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Sam Bankman, Jared Kushner, execs, Jamal Khashoggi, Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Organizations: Service, Future Investment Initiative, Street Journal, Economic, Bridgewater Associates, Saudi Business Council, Investment Initiative, FII Institute, Saudi Locations: Riyadh, Saudi, Wall, Silicon, Eastern, Davos, Saudi Arabian, Blackstone, BlackRock, Istanbul, FAYEZ, Saudi Arabia

☆ New Mideast corridor would include trains to India, Delhi says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman inspects the honour guard during his ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan presidential palace in New Delhi, India, September 11, 2023. Asked about the proposals, Ausaf Sayeed, a secretary in the Foreign Ministry, spelled out that the corridor would include trains to India and not just links by port. Saudi Arabia is among the top exporters of petroleum to India. Sayeed said that new corridor will include ports, railways, better roads and also power, gas grids and optical fiber network. During their talks earlier in the day the Indian leader and the Saudi crown prince also discussed cooperation in space, semiconductors and collaboration in defence manufacturing as well.

Persons: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Stringer, Ausaf, Khalid Al Falih, Prince Mohammed bin Salman's, Sayeed, Shivam Patel, Krishn Kaushik, Ed Osmond, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Saudi, Crown, REUTERS, Foreign Ministry, European Union, United Arab, Initiative, Saudi Investment, Gulf Cooperation Council, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, DELHI, East, South Asia, Indian, Delhi, United States, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Monday, Saudi

"I will match your offer and commit today to open an office," Saudi Investment Minister Khalid Al Falih said after India's trade minister Piyush Goyal invited Saudi Arabia to set up an office of its sovereign wealth fund, Public Investment Fund (PIF), in GIFT City. Goyal also said he would suggest that his ministry starts an investment promotion office in Riyadh. During the Crown Prince's visit India and Saudi Arabia signed 50 initial pacts in various fields and agreed to form a joint task force for $100 billion in Saudi investment in India, originally announced by the Crown Prince in 2019. Half of the planned $100 billion is earmarked for a delayed refinery project along India's western coast, an Indian foreign ministry official said. He said Saudi Arabia is looking to invest in sectors including oil, gas, petrochemicals, new energy, technology, manufacturing and defence.

Persons: Amit Dave, Narendra Modi, Khalid Al Falih, Piyush Goyal, Prince Mohammed bin Salman's, Goyal, Crown Prince, Falih, Shivangi Acharya, Nidhi Verma, Blassy Boben, Ed Osmond, Susan Fenton Organizations: Gujarat International Finance Tec, REUTERS, Indian, Saudi Investment, Public Investment Fund, Crown, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Aramco, Thomson Locations: Gujarat, Gandhinagar, DELHI, Saudi Arabia, New Delhi, Dubai, Hong Kong, City, Falih, Delhi, Saudi, Riyadh, India, Indian, Maharashtra

As Telefonica's rivals slashed prices to attract internet users, the Spanish company also borrowed to invest in new mobile and internet networks. But the secrecy with which STC (7010.SE) built its stake did catch some observers off guard, the person said. Telefonica said it was informed Tuesday about STC'S investment, after the companies had become more acquainted in recent months. STC sought to keep the stake under wraps until it could buy at least 9.9% of Telefonica, the person said. Middle Eastern investors have been taking stakes in Spanish companies for some time.

Persons: Violeta Santos Moura, Jose Maria Alvarez, Pallete, Alvarez, Prince Mohammed bin Salman's, UGT, Morgan Stanley, Linklaters, Motaz Al Angari, Al Angari, pare, EFG Hermes, Nadia Calvino, Inti Landauro, Tomas Cobos, Amy, Jo Crowley, Pablo Mayo, John O'Donnell, Anousha, Elisa Martinuzzi, David Gregorio, Ros Russell Organizations: Spanish Telecom, REUTERS, Rights, Telefonica, STC Group, STC, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Foresight, Saudi, United Arab, Vodafone, Thomson Locations: Madrid, Spain, Rights DUBAI, MADRID, Silicon Valley, Saudi, Riyadh, Telefonica, Saudi Arabia, Spanish, Latin America, theocracies, United Arab Emirates, Iberdrola, Davos, Gulf, London

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