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As global investors remain cautious about debt in emerging economies, Saudi Arabia is increasingly seen as a stable and attractive investment destination. This confidence stems from its strong financial foundation and ambitious economic transformation plans. Karine Kheirallah, Head of Investment Strategy and Research for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa at State Street Global Advisors, one of the world’s largest asset managers, highlighted Saudi Arabia’s compelling macroeconomic story. She noted that while many countries struggle with high debt and rising servicing costs, Saudi Arabia maintains a relatively low debt-to-GDP ratio of 29.9% as of December 2024. Even with planned increases…

Amid the euphoria over AI, ChatGPT and the latest twist in the “Magnificent Seven” tech saga, take note: US homebuilder shares are down 35-40 percent in 2025. This doesn’t surprise me. A sharp rise in Treasury yields since March has strained the most credit-sensitive corner of the economy, housing, just as Tariffmania under Trump 2.0 guts global trade and consumer credit markets. Housing, not AI, is the ultimate leading indicator of the US economy. And right now, it’s sending out a loud recession SOS. So how should GCC investors position for a potential US recession this autumn? First, consider buying…

48% have no succession strategy MAF situation highlights issue Contribute 40% of GDP Almost half of entrepreneurs in the UAE have no formal succession strategy in place to protect their business or family wealth, according to a report from HSBC. This failure to prepare points to a structural risk in one of the country’s most vital economic segments. While 98 percent of UAE respondents are optimistic about their businesses, 48 percent have not put in place a plan for transferring their wealth or business assets, according to HSBC’s Global Entrepreneurial Wealth Report released earlier this month.  The findings come amid…

Ankara funding borrowing Rolling over existing bonds Issues new securities Ankara faces a busy summer of funding its borrowing programme, rolling over existing bonds and issuing new securities to bridge a widening budget deficit, as it contends with high interest rates and persistent inflation. On Tuesday, the finance and treasury ministry conducted three lira-denominated auctions of bonds and treasury bills with a combined value of $2.5 billion. The three offerings – a seven-year floating rate note, a nine-month treasury-bill, and a four-year fixed coupon bond – attracted bids from both public institutions and the private sector, drawn by the high…

4,000 firms flouting rules June 10 deadline $3,300 fine due Kuwait is expected to net nearly KD4.1 million ($13.5 million) from financial penalties imposed on 4,000 companies flouting transparency rules related to their ownership. The government had given more than 150,000 businesses operating in Kuwait until June 10 to disclose what it terms as “the actual beneficiary or owner” as part of a crackdown on money laundering. Kuwait’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry warned that companies would be subject to a penalty of KD1,000 ($3,300) if they failed to disclose the ownership information before the deadline. Nearly 4,100 businesses have…

Circle starting dialogues in UAE Issues second-largest stablecoin President says ‘everyone can win’ Stablecoin issuer Circle, fresh off a $1 billion initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange, is in early talks with money-transfer houses in the UAE to plug its USD Coin (USDC) into one of the world’s busiest remittance corridors. Circle is the sole issuer of USDC, the world’s second-largest stablecoin, with a market cap of around $60 billion.  Stablecoins aim to hold a steady value, typically redeemable 1:1 for traditional currency, but they are not insured or protected like bank deposits. USDC is backed by cash…

Gold prices rose on Thursday, bolstered by rising tensions in the Middle East and a weaker dollar, while softer-than-expected US inflation data boosted expectations of Federal Reserve rate cuts. Spot gold was up 0.6% at $3,373.09 an ounce, as of 0552 GMT. US gold futures gained 1.5% to $3,393.80. The US dollar index fell to a near two-month low, making greenback-priced bullion more attractive to overseas buyers. The weakness in the dollar index serves as a strong catalyst, said Kelvin Wong, a senior market analyst, Asia Pacific at OANDA, adding that a “bullish breakout” of the $3,346 resistance triggered technical…

In a candid conversation with Saudi Gazette, Omar Malabarey, newly appointed Country General Manager for Becton Dickinson in Saudi Arabia, shares his vision for the company’s role in the Kingdom’s fast-evolving healthcare sector. With decades of experience across public and private healthcare, Malabarey discusses BD’s commitment to local talent development, digital transformation, and strategic partnerships aligned with Vision 2030.Q: Congratulations on your appointment as General Manager of BD in Saudi Arabia. Can you share your journey leading to this role and what it means to you?A: My journey in healthcare has been both dynamic and fulfilling. I graduated in Radiological…

US President Donald Trump touted ties with China as “excellent” on Wednesday, saying the superpowers reached a deal after two days of talks aimed at preserving a truce in their damaging trade war.   Trump said on his Truth Social platform that China would supply rare earth minerals and magnets — vital elements for American industries — while Washington would allow Chinese students to remain in US universities.   His post came after top United States and Chinese negotiators announced a “framework” agreement late Tuesday following two days of marathon talks in London.  “Our deal with China is done,” Trump wrote, adding…

Egypt is reportedly planning to issue the first tranche of the EGP25 billion ($504 million) local sovereign sukuk issuance in the third quarter of 2025. The Ijarah sukuk will be issued to test the market and gauge investor appetite, followed by remaining tranches, Ashraq News, an Arabic financial portal, reported quoting three unnamed government officials. Ijarah sukuk involves leasing assets to sukuk holders in exchange for rental income derived from those assets. The government issued its first Ijarah sukuk in March 2023 by transferring government assets to a special purpose vehicle and leasing back the assets to the state in…