Analysis Giga-projects The huge ambitions of PIF come at vast expense The scale of the holdings is vast and the ambition is huge. Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund was the world’s highest-spending state-owned investor in the first half of 2024, according to Global SWF, a consultancy. It is due to raise its annual spending to $70 billion in 2025, a year earlier than previously announced, according […] September 20, 2024
Finance QIA looks at investments in Australia and Asia Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) is looking at expanding into Australia, South Korea and Southeast Asia as part of its growth strategy, a senior fund official has said. The sovereign fund is starting to hire locally in Australia and South Korea, Abdulla Ali Al-Kuwari, head of Asia Pacific at QIA Advisory, told a panel at the […] September 20, 2024
Economy Saudi Vision 2030 projects ‘to pick up’ on growth optimism Saudi Arabia is expected to see a pick up in construction for its Vision 2030 projects and the services sector, driven by rising consumer demand and a growing workforce, S&P said in a report. However, the vast scale and size of projects – estimated to be in excess of $1 trillion – suggest large funding […] September 16, 2024
Video length: 05:07 VIDEO Gaming Saudi Arabia plays the long game in a high-stakes market Saudi Arabia has so far channeled $38 billion into the esports sector through its Public Investment Fund subsidiary Savvy Games Group. This includes high-profile acquisitions such as the $4.9 billion purchase of the Monopoly Go developer Scopely and the $1.5 billion buyout of ESL FaceIt Group, one of the world’s largest esports companies. Critics have […] September 13, 2024
Artificial Intelligence Saudi Arabia sets 12% target for AI’s contribution to GDP Saudi Arabia wants artificial intelligence to account for 12 percent of its GDP by 2030, the government has said. The Public Investment Fund will lead its efforts to build “a robust AI ecosystem”, the Saudi Data and AI Authority said in a report published this week. The State of AI paper said the country was […] September 11, 2024
Business of Sport Tiger Woods joins LIV Golf-PGA Tour merger talks Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) is reported to be due to meet Tiger Woods and officials from the PGA Tour this week in New York as negotiations continue to bring the fractured sport of golf together under one umbrella. The PIF-sponsored LIV Golf series, which this month completes its third season, turned the sport […] September 11, 2024
Finance Oman wealth fund to launch IPOs in divestment push The Oman Investment Authority has framed a new five-year divestment plan, which includes initial public offerings in key sectors. Companies in the energy, services and logistics sectors will be floated under the 2024-28 strategy, the OIA said in a post on X. In addition to the IPOs, the sovereign wealth fund will launch private placements, […] September 11, 2024
Banking & Finance Adia takes stake in Bajaj Housing Finance IPO The biggest sovereign wealth fund in Abu Dhabi has strengthened its position in India as one of several anchor investors in the imminent listing of the home loans company Bajaj Housing Finance. Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (Adia), which has assets under management totalling $968 billion, has taken a $5.6 million stake in the initial public […] September 9, 2024
Markets Emaar EC’s new strategy to steer financial recovery Emaar the Economic City (Emaar EC), the master developer of King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) in Saudi Arabia, has initiated a SAR8.7 billion ($2.3 billion) turnaround plan a month after its first-half 2024 losses showed an almost five-fold increase from 2023. A capital optimisation plan will allow the Saudi-listed company to restructure its SAR3.8 billion in bank facilities. […] September 9, 2024
Infrastructure ADQ takes control of Abu Dhabi’s toll and parking systems The Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund ADQ has taken over the management, operation and development of the emirate’s toll and parking systems. The move intends to provide high-quality services to customers and generate sustainable financial returns, the Abu Dhabi Media Office said in a statement. The Darb and Mawaqif – the toll and parking systems, respectively […] September 9, 2024
Finance Mubadala applies to take full control of Turkey’s Getir The Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund Mubadala has formally applied to take full control of the Turkish grocery delivery startup Getir. Mubadala had taken a majority controlling stake in the company in June this year as part of a restructuring programme, with a capital injection of $250 million. The filing to take over Getir was […] September 6, 2024
Banking & Finance PIF spending to hit $70bn a year early, says IMF Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund will raise its annual spending to $70 billion in 2025, a year earlier than previously announced, according to an International Monetary Fund official. PIF’s governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan told a Saudi investment summit in February that the sovereign wealth fund would increase its annual capital spending from around $50 billion a […] September 6, 2024
Opinion Finance Home is where the heart is for GCC wealth funds The Gulf's SWFs are stepping up domestic investment September 5, 2024
Infrastructure Adia part of fund aiming to raise $4bn for India upgrade The National Investment & Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) in India, which is backed by Abu Dhabi, is aiming to raise $4 billion, according to reports. The fund, which counts the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (Adia), the Indian government, AustralianSuper and Singapore’s Temasek Holdings among its investors, is raising the money in the early part of next […] September 5, 2024
Analysis Markets Saudi Arabia leads international bond issuance Saudi Arabia is the leading emerging market issuer of sovereign and quasi-sovereign international bonds, and experts predict the kingdom will expand its borrowings further to help fund infrastructure spending. Saudi Arabia, the Middle East’s largest economy despite a 0.8 percent decline in real GDP last year, sold $26.8 billion of international bonds from January 1 […] September 5, 2024
Banking & Finance Mubadala-backed Tabby prepares for Saudi IPO Tabby, the buy-now-pay-later startup backed by Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund Mubadala, is on track to prepare for its initial public offering, the company’s CEO confirmed on Wednesday. The fintech unicorn – a startup worth more than $1 billion – was originally founded in the UAE but is now headquartered in Saudi Arabia. It is […] September 4, 2024
Video length: 04:08 VIDEO Gaming Prince Faisal: growth, not profit, is focus for esports Cost-intensive spectator events are not going to be a “serious profit generator”, Prince Faisal bin Bandar Al Saud told AGBI, as Saudi Arabia concluded the first Esports World Cup last week. The event was watched by more than 500 million people but Prince Faisal, president of the Arab Esports Federation, said: “In esports, sustainability is […] September 4, 2024
Finance Saudi wealth fund raises $2bn to support mega-projects The Public Investment Fund has raised $2 billion through a combination of sukuk (Islamic bond) and green bond offerings to support its mega-project pipeline. The Saudi wealth fund issued $1.5 billion in three-year sukuk and $500 million in green notes maturing in October 2032, Reuters said, citing a bank document. PIF has tapped into the global […] September 4, 2024
Economy Egypt’s private sector begins to feel impact of reforms Egypt’s non-oil private sector economy expanded for the first time in three years as the impact of the government’s currency strategy and international investment drive begins to trickle down to the business community. The country’s economic outlook was transformed in February following a $35 billion investment deal for Emirati sovereign wealth fund ADQ to develop […] September 3, 2024
Opinion Business of Sport Gulf sports wins are sidelined by the summer season An uncertain global economy has dampened sports investments fervour across the region August 29, 2024
Banking & Finance PIF expands $15bn credit facility to 23 banks Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) has renewed a $15 billion credit facility with 23 global and regional banks for up to five years. Lower government oil revenues have put pressure on PIF’s funding of the country’s vast development projects, estimated to be worth $1.25 trillion. The sovereign wealth fund has $978 billion assets under […] August 28, 2024
Analysis Telecoms Saudi Telecom’s share surge raises prospect of PIF stake sale Saudi Telecom Co’s surprise dividend increase announcement has propelled its stock to a 13-month high and increased the likelihood that majority shareholder the Public Investment Fund may sell some of its stake in the former telecom monopoly. On Sunday, STC said it would pay SAR0.55 ($0.15) per share each quarter for three years starting from […] August 28, 2024
