海角直播

Saudi rail passenger volume jumps 335% in Q3

Saudi rail passenger volume jumps 335% in Q3
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Updated 21 min 11 sec ago

Saudi rail passenger volume jumps 335% in Q3

Saudi rail passenger volume jumps 335% in Q3

RIYADH: 海角直播鈥檚 rail transport sector recorded a 335 percent year-on-year surge in passengers to 39 million in the third quarter of 2025, fueled by the full launch of the Riyadh Metro, official data showed.聽

The metro system handled 25.2 million passengers during the quarter, the Saudi Press Agency reported, citing figures from the Transport General Authority. The Kingdom鈥檚 rail network carried 42.7 million passengers in 2024, a 41 percent increase from the previous year.聽

The growth aligns with the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, which seeks to raise transport鈥檚 contribution to gross domestic product to 10 percent by 2030 from 6 percent now.聽

鈥淎s for trains inside cities, the authority鈥檚 statistics showed that more than 36.3 million passengers used trains within cities. Riyadh Metro topped the list with over 25.2 million passengers, followed by the Automated People Mover at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah with more than 10.2 million passengers, and the Automated People Mover at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University in Riyadh with over 967,000 passengers,鈥 the SPA report stated.聽

Intercity rail services carried over 2.7 million passengers, led by the Haramain High-speed Railway with 2.07 million travelers. The North Train served 251,000 passengers, while the East Train handled 378,000, reflecting continued strong demand for long-distance travel.聽

鈥淭he authority also noted that more than 4.09 million tons of cargo and over 227,000 containers were transported via railways, underscoring the vital role trains play in supporting the Saudi economy and boosting supply chains, particularly in the industrial and mining sectors,鈥 according to SPA.聽

The data was released as Riyadh hosts the Saudi International Railways Exhibition and Conference 2025.聽

During the event, Transport and Logistics Minister Saleh Al-Jasser, who also chairs the Saudi Railways Co., reviewed investment opportunities and major rail projects underway across the Kingdom.聽

He said modern railway transport has become a key driver of development and a vital contributor to the national economy. 聽

Al-Jasser added that the sector supports trade and mining, enhances sustainable transport options, strengthens logistics and mobility, and helps improve quality of life while advancing environmental goals, preserving road infrastructure, and improving traffic safety.


Closing Bell: Saudi main index remains steady to close at 11,691

Closing Bell: Saudi main index remains steady to close at 11,691
Updated 2 min 11 sec ago

Closing Bell: Saudi main index remains steady to close at 11,691

Closing Bell: Saudi main index remains steady to close at 11,691

RIYADH: 海角直播鈥檚 Tadawul All Share Index was steady on Sunday, as it marginally declined by 0.05 percent or 5.97 points to close at 11,690.61
The benchmark index witnessed a total trading turnover of SR4.13 billion ($1.10 billion), with 84 stocks advancing and 168 declining. 
The Kingdom鈥檚 parallel market, Nomu, also shed 113.58 points or 0.44 percent to close at 25,484. 
The MSCI Tadawul Index edged down by 0.08 percent to 1,522.15. 
The best performing stock on the main market was Saudi utility giant ACWA Power. The company鈥檚 share price increased by 5.92 percent to SR248.70.
On Sunday, ACWA Power announced that its subsidiary Hajjar Two Electricity Co. achieved financial closure for the expansion of the Qurayyah Independent Power Plant in the Eastern Province of 海角直播, with a total capacity of 3,010 megawatts. 
Another top performer of the day was CHUBB Arabia Cooperative Insurance Co., as its share price advanced by 3.57 percent to SR31.90. 
Development Works Food Co. also saw its share price climb by 3.43 percent to SR144.90. 
Conversely, the stock price of Naseej International Trading Co. declined by 6.37 percent to SR67.05. 
On the announcements front, Banque Saudi Fransi said that it plans to issue an SR-denominated additional tier-1 sukuk under its SR8 billion AT-1 capital sukuk issuance program. 
In a press statement, the financial institution said that it has appointed Saudi Fransi Capital as the sole bookrunner, lead coordinator, and lead manager for the potential private placement offer. 
Banque Saudi Fransi added that the purpose of the potential offer is to strengthen the financial institution鈥檚 capital base. 
The statement further clarified that the number and the value of the sukuk to be offered will be determined based on market conditions. 
The share price of Banque Saudi Fransi edged up by 0.05 percent to SR18.60.
Al Moammar Information Systems Co. said that it signed a 36-month contract valued at SR42.93 million with the Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence. 
Under the deal, MIS will work on a Deem cloud security sustainability project, as well as providing IT services provision and development for SDAIA, according to a Tadawul statement. 
The company added that the impact of the contract will be visible in the financials of the firm by the fourth quarter of this year. 
The share price of MIS declined by 0.34 percent to SR144.50.


海角直播 to export 5,400 locally made AC units to Egypt

海角直播 to export 5,400 locally made AC units to Egypt
Updated 5 min 41 sec ago

海角直播 to export 5,400 locally made AC units to Egypt

海角直播 to export 5,400 locally made AC units to Egypt

RIYADH:海角直播 has signed an agreement to export 5,400 locally manufactured air conditioning units to Egypt throughout 2025, marking a significant step for the Kingdom鈥檚 non-oil exports.
Mohannad Al-Shaikh, CEO of Johnson Controls Arabia, told Al-Eqtisadiah that the 鈥淢ade in 海角直播鈥 units will supply a major real estate development project in Egypt, led by ORA Co. The initiative is in partnership with Raya Corp, he added.
All units are produced at the York Manufacturing Complex in King Abdullah Economic City under the 鈥淢ade in 海角直播鈥 label. The facility is Johnson Controls鈥 largest manufacturing plant in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, exporting over 30 percent of its output to 26 countries, including the US and China. Locally, production accounts for more than 80 percent of the company鈥檚 sales.
鈥淭his achievement goes beyond a commercial partnership; it underscores Saudi industry鈥檚 capability to expand globally and export innovation,鈥 Al-Shaikh said. 
鈥淚t positions the Kingdom as a hub for designing, manufacturing, and exporting advanced smart air conditioning technologies.鈥
The exported units are YORK Hi-End R32 Inverter Hi-Wall models, noted for high energy efficiency and integration of artificial intelligence and Internet of Things technologies for smart temperature and indoor air quality control. 
The systems were developed with support from Johnson Controls Arabia鈥檚 R&D Center in Jeddah to meet the needs of various regional markets.
Bassem Mojahed, CEO of Raya Corp., said: 鈥淲e take pride in this partnership. It is a strategic step in delivering advanced air conditioning solutions to the Egyptian market, aligned with the latest global technologies for residential and commercial spaces.鈥


Oman launches center to boost national cybersecurity industry

Oman launches center to boost national cybersecurity industry
Updated 19 October 2025

Oman launches center to boost national cybersecurity industry

Oman launches center to boost national cybersecurity industry

RIYADH: Oman has launched the Hadatha Center for Cybersecurity Manufacturing at Middle East College, marking a major step toward advancing the country鈥檚 digital economy.
The initiative 鈥 spearheaded by the Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology through the National Information Security Center, in collaboration with Middle East College 鈥 forms part of the National Executive Program for Cybersecurity Manufacturing.
According to the Oman News Agency, the Hadatha Center aims to strengthen innovation and entrepreneurship while building a robust research and development ecosystem in cybersecurity. It seeks to create an integrated framework connecting the government, private sector, investors, innovators, and academia to generate income-generating opportunities and drive technological self-reliance.
鈥淭he ministry believes in the importance of supporting the innovation ecosystem in cybersecurity in Oman, as innovation has become an urgent necessity in modern societies,鈥 said Aziza Sultan Al-Rashidia, assistant director general of cybersecurity programs at the ministry.
She added that innovation remains key to enhancing vital projects and ensuring they evolve in line with global developments.
Al-Rashidia noted that the Hadatha Center aspires to position Oman as a regional hub for cybersecurity and digital innovation by fostering a specialized national industry focused on developing local talent and encouraging creative solutions.
The center will collaborate closely with government agencies, private enterprises, and academic institutions to provide a platform for researchers and innovators to design and implement cutting-edge cybersecurity technologies. This collaboration is expected to cultivate national industries, support local startups, and create new economic opportunities for Omanis.
The center鈥檚 operational plan includes specialized training programs and applied workshops under the supervision of the National Information Security Center.
Key upcoming activities include the 鈥淗adatha Hackathon,鈥 aimed at driving innovation through real-world cybersecurity challenges, as well as accelerator and incubator programs to support promising startups.
In addition, the center will partner with Oman鈥檚 Fourth Industrial Revolution Center to promote the integration of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies into cybersecurity solutions, further strengthening the Sultanate鈥檚 digital economy.


Egypt鈥檚 exports hit $30bn in first 7 months of 2025

Egypt鈥檚 exports hit $30bn in first 7 months of 2025
Updated 19 October 2025

Egypt鈥檚 exports hit $30bn in first 7 months of 2025

Egypt鈥檚 exports hit $30bn in first 7 months of 2025

JEDDAH: Egypt鈥檚 exports rose to $29.9 billion during the first seven months of 2025, up 17.3 percent compared with the same period last year, according to official data..

The growth was largely driven by higher shipments of manufactured and semi-manufactured goods, which climbed to $23.7 billion from $19.4 billion a year earlier, the Egyptian Cabinet said, citing a report by the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics.

Exports increased 20.1 percent year on year in January to $4.36 billion, compared with $3.63 billion in the same month of 2024.

Amid a rapidly evolving global economy, Egypt is aligning its development strategy with Vision 2030 and its broader economic reform program, focusing on high-productivity sectors and expanding export capacity.

 In its official Facebook account, the Egyptian Cabinet stated: 鈥淭he value of exports from January to July 2025 rose to $29.9 billion compared to $25.5 billion during the same period of 2024.鈥

The rise in exports during the first seven months was supported by strong growth in several key categories: ready-made garments up 15 percent, pasta and food preparations up 31 percent, iron bars, rods, and wires up 24.7 percent, and dry pulses up 15.6 percent.

Some product categories, however, saw declines 鈥 including fresh fruits, down 0.2 percent; petroleum products, down 12.9 percent; fertilizers, down 25 percent; and primary plastics, down 16 percent. 

Egypt aims to strengthen its trade and investment sectors by promoting export-oriented industries and is working on activating free trade agreements with various economic blocs, such as the African Continental Free Trade Area, the COMESA agreement, and the South American free trade bloc Mercosur.

This focus was underscored by Deputy Finance Minister Yasser Sobhi in his meetings with international institutions, banks, and investors in Washington last week.

Sobhi affirmed that Egypt has executed a program of economic and structural reforms and balanced policies to maintain fiscal discipline, stimulate the private sector, and bolster production and export-led growth. 

He stated that these measures are contributing to increase the competitiveness of the Egyptian economy and attract more domestic and international investment flows.


MENA sovereigns stable as reforms, fiscal strength cushion risks: Fitch

MENA sovereigns stable as reforms, fiscal strength cushion risks: Fitch
Updated 19 October 2025

MENA sovereigns stable as reforms, fiscal strength cushion risks: Fitch

MENA sovereigns stable as reforms, fiscal strength cushion risks: Fitch

RIYADH: Sovereign ratings in the Middle East and North Africa remain resilient despite regional conflicts mainly supported by ongoing reforms and strong fiscal buffers, Fitch Ratings said. 

In its latest regional peer review, the credit rating agency said there are currently no sovereigns rated below CCC+ for the first time since July 2019, with only Bahrain carrying a negative outlook.  

The report also noted that the average rating for the region has slightly improved over the past year, with no downgrades recorded since early 2023. 

海角直播 is among the countries successfully advancing diversification efforts under Vision 2030 to reduce reliance on oil. Fitch rates the Kingdom A+ with a stable outlook, reflecting strong fiscal and external balance sheets. 

鈥淒eep and broad social and economic reforms implemented under Vision 2030 are diversifying economic activity, albeit at a meaningful cost to the balance sheets,鈥 Fitch said. 

The agency noted that oil prices have remained surprisingly stable amid geopolitical tensions, as OPEC+ spare production capacity continues to support the market despite higher output levels.  

Fitch expects oil to average $70 per barrel in 2025 and projects almost all Gulf Cooperation Council sovereigns to post fiscal surpluses next year. 

Egypt has also shown solid growth, driven by recovering domestic demand. Fitch affirmed the country鈥檚 B rating with a stable outlook. 

For Bahrain, the negative outlook reflects persistent large deficits, high and rising interest costs, elevated debt-to-gross domestic product levels, and a difficult environment for fiscal consolidation. 

Oman remains the only sovereign with a positive outlook in the region, underpinned by continued deleveraging by the government and state-owned entities, improved fiscal resilience to lower oil prices, and a stronger external balance sheet. 

Kuwait holds an AA- rating with a stable outlook, supported by exceptionally strong fiscal and external positions, though constrained by weaker governance, heavy oil dependence, and an expansive welfare system. 

Qatar is rated AA with a stable outlook, reflecting expectations that additional gas production will strengthen its public finances. 

Fitch cautioned that regional growth prospects could come under pressure if conflicts escalate.