Saudi Arabia sees 14% spike in remittances amid digital transformation
Updated 01 October 2024
Dayan Abou Tine
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia saw a 14 percent annual increase in remittances by expatriates in April, with the total amount reaching SR11.35 billion ($3.03 billion), the latest data showed.
Meanwhile, payments from Saudis, which constitute 30 percent of total personal transfers, saw a 30 percent increase during this period, totaling SR4.94 billion, according to the Saudi Central Bank, known as SAMA.
This increase can be attributed to several factors, primarily the launch of new development projects leading to higher employment rates, improved economic conditions resulting in greater disposable income, and the digitalization of transfer platforms.
Moreover, regulatory reforms, including the digitization of employment contracts, virtual court hearings, and online government services, have modernized legal governance and enforcement practices.
These initiatives are part of broader efforts aimed at positioning the Kingdom as a leader in ease of doing business.
Remittances refer to cross-border payments to family or friends and are often associated with migrant workers sending money back to their communities of origin.
The Saudi remittance market is experiencing a transformation driven by the rise of digital payment companies and fintech startups.
Among the fastest-growing cross-border money transfer entities, stc pay and several other firms have received digital banking licenses for the first time in the country.
Additionally, regulatory bodies in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East and North Africa region have played a crucial role in fostering the growth of such services. They have introduced supportive policies to ensure consumer protection, promote competition, and create an enabling environment for digital financial services.
A February study by IBS Intelligence also shed light on the growing demand for purpose-driven remittances, highlighting a shift toward specialized money transfer services that cater to specific needs rather than generic cash transfers.
According to the findings, Prepay Nation occupies a central position in integrating billions of customers from emerging economies into the formal financial system, facilitated by the burgeoning prepaid market.
This market expansion, according to the research, not only fosters financial inclusion but also ensures a stable income stream and mitigates risks for both customers and businesses.
Closing Bell: Saudi main index slips to close at 12,372
Updated 10 sec ago
Reem Walid
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index slipped on Sunday, losing 12.93 points, or 0.10 percent, to close at 12,372.07.
The total trading turnover of the benchmark index was SR4.1 billion ($1.09 billion), as 85 of the stocks advanced and 137 retreated.
However, the Kingdom’s parallel market, Nomu, gained 121.76 points, or 0.39 percent, to close at 31,737, as 44 stocks advanced while 40 declined.
The MSCI Tadawul Index lost 1.11 points, or 0.07 percent, to close at 1,537.16.
The best-performing stock of the day was AYYAN Investment Co., whose share price surged 4.67 percent to SR17.48.
Other top performers included Tanmiah Food Co., which climbed 4.27 percent to SR132, and Ash-Sharqiyah Development Co., which surged 4.16 percent to SR22.52.
Saudi Reinsurance Co. declined 3.28 percent to SR56.00, while Savola Group slipped 2.84 percent to SR37.65.
On the announcements front, Dr. Sulaiman Al-Habib Medical Services Group reported its annual financial results for the period ending Dec. 31. According to a Tadawul statement, the company posted a net profit of SR2.3 billion in 2024, marking a 13.16 percent increase from 2023. The growth was driven by higher revenue, attributed to a surge in patient numbers and increased inpatient occupancy.
The firm also announced its board of directors’ recommendation to distribute SR430.5 million in cash dividends to shareholders for the fourth quarter of the 2024 fiscal year.
A bourse filing showed that 350 million shares are eligible for dividends, with a payout of SR1.23 per share. The statement further noted that the dividend-to-par value ratio stood at 12.3 percent.
Dr. Sulaiman Al-Habib Medical Services Group closed at SR300, down 0.87 percent.
Umm Al-Qura for Development and Construction Co. announced the start of the institutional book-building period for its initial public offering, which comprises 130.7 million new ordinary shares for public subscription, representing 9.09 percent of the company’s shares post-capital increase.
A Tadawul statement revealed that the price range for the offering has been set between SR14 and SR15 per share. The minimum subscription for participating parties is 100,000 ordinary shares, while the maximum allocation is 71.9 million shares.
Meanwhile, Tanmiah Food Co. reported its annual financial results for the period ending Dec. 31. A bourse filing showed the company recorded a net profit of SR95.8 million in 2024, marking a 26.2 percent increase from the previous year. The rise in profit was primarily driven by operational efficiencies and cost optimization.
Gulf economies more resilient amid high energy prices: QCB governor
Updated 12 min 47 sec ago
Reem Walid
RIYADH: High energy prices have strengthened the economies of Gulf Cooperation Council countries, making them less vulnerable compared to other regions, according to the governor of the Qatar Central Bank.
Speaking at a panel discussion titled “Resilience of the Financial System in Emerging Markets” on the first day of the AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies, Bandar bin Mohammed bin Saoud Al-Thani attributed this resilience to sovereign wealth funds, disciplined fiscal policies, and ongoing economic diversification efforts.
The remarks align with projections that the region’s gross domestic product growth will nearly double to 3.6 percent in 2025, compared to a global forecast of 2.8 percent, according to Oxford Economics. Credit ratings agency S&P Global also expects GCC banks to maintain strong asset quality, profitability, and liquidity through 2025.
“In our region, which is the Middle East and North Africa, I look at it in two parts. The first part is GCC countries. GCC countries are less vulnerable, and they’re more resilient because of several factors,” Al-Thani said.
He noted that strong oil and gas revenues have allowed Gulf nations to build financial buffers over the past few decades, supporting their economies in times of uncertainty. “The third is the fiscal disciplines. Most of the GCC countries have a disciplined fiscal policy. Fourth, in my point of view, is that most of the GCC countries came up with a plan of diversifying their economies and they started to execute this plan,” he said.
Al-Thani also provided a global comparison, noting that while the US economy remains strong, with robust job markets and contained — but still elevated — inflation, other regions face different challenges.
The panel also explored financial sector trends in the Arab region, with Fahad Al-Turki, director general chairman at the Arab Monetary Fund, highlighting the dominance of banks.
“The financial sector within the Arab region is dominated by the banking sector — around 93 percent of the financial sector is banking, which represents around 145 percent of the GDP from the region; this compares to 220 percent in advanced economies,” Al-Turki said.
He noted that in the GCC, the banking sector’s contribution reaches about 240 percent of GDP. “There are three countries that account for almost two-thirds of the banking sector in the whole Arab region, and these countries are Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar,” he said.
The governor of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan, Taleh Kazimov, addressed the broader economic implications of geopolitical tensions, citing inflation, changes in international settlements, and regulatory shifts as key concerns.
Meanwhile, Andriy Pyshnyi, governor of the National Bank of Ukraine, underscored the distinct challenges facing his country’s financial system.
“Their activity and operations of the National Bank of Ukraine are defined by the war. The country that has been resisting a full-scale invasion for three years and therefore all processes that in one way or another define the logic of our actions, our policies, decisions, position are determined with the aim to ensure macro financial stability in the conditions of the full-scale war,” Pyshnyi said.
The AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies, organized by the International Monetary Fund and Saudi Arabia, aims to tackle global economic challenges. The two-day event brings together finance ministers, central bank governors, policymakers, and leaders from the public and private sectors, alongside international institutions and academic experts.
Iran ready to strengthen economic ties with Saudi Arabia, says minister
Updated 16 February 2025
Nadin Hassan
RIYADH: Iran is prepared to enhance its economic and investment ties with Saudi Arabia, including the potential for joint projects. However, progress is contingent upon mutual willingness, according to a senior Iranian official.
In an interview with Arab News on the sidelines of the AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies, Abdolnaser Hemmati, Iran’s minister of economic affairs and finance, emphasized that specific agreements would be necessary to facilitate trade between the two nations.
“We are ready to boost our economic relation and investment relation between two countries and joint investment projects between two countries. But this depends on them, and I think the situation of the region is going to that era. We must start to have good relations with all together,” Hemmati said.
He added: “For starting and upgrading trade between two countries, we need to have some agreements. The main agreements is about eliminating double tax, bilateral investment, and also custom rules.”
Hemmati also emphasized Iran’s commitment to strengthening ties with neighboring countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman.
The aim is to bolster both political and economic relations, with a strong focus on enhancing trade and commerce.
He added: “The first important matter is that growing political relations needs to upgrade our economic relations especially in the field of commerce and trade between two countries.”
Hemmati stressed the importance of fostering economic relations among countries in the region to safeguard against external interference. He highlighted that strong economic cooperation is essential for maintaining regional autonomy and stability.
At the conference, a key topic of discussion was the challenges and opportunities facing regional nations, with a particular emphasis on building economic resilience.
Hemmati reiterated that robust economic ties between neighboring countries are vital in order to prevent outside influence in their affairs.
Economic resilience, according to the minister, depends on strengthening cooperation among neighboring countries.
“The future of the region needs to have good economic relations between the member countries of the region,” Hemmati concluded.
Therefore, the future of the region depends on fostering strong economic ties between member countries to ensure long-term stability, security, and prosperity.
China’s central bank governor highlights key challenges for emerging markets at AlUla conference
Pan Gongsheng emphasized need for proactive policy measures and strengthened multilateral cooperation to enhance economic resilience
He said increasing geopolitical conflicts and protectionism disrupt international value chains and restrict flow of capital, technology, and labor
Updated 16 February 2025
NOUR EL-SHAERI
RIYADH: Emerging market economies are facing escalating challenges, including geopolitical tensions, sluggish global growth, financial volatility, and increasing public debt, according to the governor of the People’s Bank of China.
Speaking at the two-day AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies, organized by the Saudi Ministry of Finance and the International Monetary Fund, Pan Gongsheng emphasized the need for proactive policy measures and strengthened multilateral cooperation to enhance economic resilience.
“In my view, emerging markets face four key challenges,” Gongsheng said. “The first challenge is geopolitical tension.” He highlighted how increasing geopolitical conflicts and protectionism disrupt international value chains and restrict the flow of capital, technology, and labor.
“There has been a drop in global growth and productivity gains and the rising divergences in key industries across countries, mainly due to uneven development and resource misallocation,” he said.
Pan Gongsheng, the governor of the People’s Bank of China, speaks during the AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies. AN Photo
Gongsheng’s remarks align with the IMF’s recent report, which warns that friendshoring — the practice of countries trading primarily with geopolitical allies — could reduce global economic output by up to 1.8 percent.
Emerging markets, particularly in Asia, may experience up to 6 percent declines due to this shift.
Despite these warnings, a Financial Times report said China has intensified its control over technology and resources, including restricting key battery technology exports, disrupting global value chains, and escalating geopolitical tensions.
Gongsheng identified the second challenge as the slower medium-term growth of the international economy.
“We are now facing policy uncertainties in some economies. If protectionism escalates, rising trade fluctuations will drive up inflation expectations and undermine medium-term growth,” he added.
Pan Gongsheng, the governor of the People’s Bank of China, warned that growing investor concerns over fiscal sustainability could trigger government bond market volatility. AN Photo
Citing IMF forecasts, he said global economic growth is projected to hover at just 3 percent in the medium term, the lowest level since 2000.
Financial market volatility and capital outflows represent the third major challenge.
“The trajectory of the interest rate in major advanced economies remains highly uncertain,” Gongsheng said.
“Markets have become particularly sensitive to unexpected economic data. If rates differ and rise significantly from market expectations, market repricing may increase asset price volatility in emerging markets.”
This aligns with a recent Reuters report, which said emerging markets are facing significant challenges due to a strong US dollar and high treasury yields.
— AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies (@AlUlaCEME) February 16, 2025
These factors have led to weaker local currencies, increased costs for servicing dollar-denominated debt, reduced capital inflows, and dampened economic growth.
Policymakers in these regions find it difficult to counteract these pressures effectively, which are further heightened by new US tariff and trade policies.
The fourth issue Gongsheng discussed was the burden of high public debt and its implications for financial stability.
“The IMF points out that global public debt risk has risen significantly due to political and other factors. Those risks not only exist in developing countries — the level of public debt in some advanced economies also merits close attention,” he said.
He warned that growing investor concerns over fiscal sustainability could trigger government bond market volatility, with potential spillover effects on other asset classes, liquidity risks, and financial stability.
According to a report by the Institute of International Finance, the global debt stock increased by over $12 trillion in the first three quarters of last year, reaching nearly $323 trillion.
Pan Gongsheng, the governor of the People’s Bank of China, stressed the importance of multilateralism and global financial governance reform. AN Photo
The IIF attributes the rise to declining borrowing costs and a heightened risk appetite among investors, underscoring concerns similar to those expressed by the governor.
To address these challenges, Gongsheng outlined key policy responses for emerging markets.
“First, we should continue improving monetary policy frameworks, enhancing the efficiency of monetary policy transmission, increasing policy transparency, and improving policy communication,” he said.
He also advocated for increased exchange rate flexibility, stronger public debt management, improved macroprudential regulations, and the development of local currency markets to mitigate capital flow risks.
Gongsheng stressed the importance of multilateralism and global financial governance reform.
“The IMF has made great progress in surveillance and governance reform. At the same time, there is still more work to be done for us to advance global financial governance reform,” he said.
He called on the IMF to enhance support for developing countries, promote trade and investment liberalization, and establish comprehensive policy tools to help emerging markets address capital flow risks and external shocks.
“The current quota shares can no longer reflect the actual position of emerging markets in the global economy,” Gongsheng said, urging the IMF to establish a “concrete and binding timetable” for future quota realignments, with discussions on fiscal realignment plans set by June.
Ministers urge fiscal discipline, smart investment to tackle debt challenges at Saudi forum
Discussion underscored need to maintain fiscal discipline while ensuring targeted investments that drive sustainable economic growth
Panelists agreed careful financial oversight, efficient resource allocation, and strategic investment remain central to overcoming debt challenges in emerging markets
Updated 24 min 50 sec ago
Miguel Hadchity
RIYADH: Effective debt restructuring requires a thorough understanding of its root causes, said the Russian finance minister at the AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies.
Speaking during a panel titled “High Debt-Low Fiscal Space—Fiscal Consolidation and Multilateral Solutions to Debt Restructuring,” Anton Siluanov said that fiscal prudence and policy monitoring are essential in addressing economic challenges.
“When we restructure the debt, we must be fully cognizant of the underlying causes,” Siluanov said, stressing the importance of careful analysis before implementing financial adjustments.
He further underscored the responsibility of finance ministries to adopt prudent fiscal policies, ensuring that governments do not exacerbate their debt situations. “If it’s difficult to cut costs, don’t blow them, don’t increase them,” he warned.
H.E. the #Saudi Minister of Finance, Mr. Mohammed Aljadaan @MAAljadaan highlights that it is essential for nations to enlarge their economy by dismantling the silos within the government and making sure they have a very clear vision to achieve progress.#AlUlaCEME2025pic.twitter.com/0xwIOcZJsd
— AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies (@AlUlaCEME) February 16, 2025
The panelists highlighted the need for efficient and targeted financial measures. Mauricio Cardenas, a professor at Columbia University and former Colombian finance minister, argued against indiscriminate budget cuts, saying: “I don’t believe in across-the-board cuts in government expenditures because governments have priorities, countries also have priorities.”
Instead, he called for channeling financial resources more effectively to stimulate economic growth and stability. “In essence, channeling more financing, making sure that financing is more efficient is crucial.”
Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan reinforced the importance of strategic financial planning, urging countries to “utilize your fiscal space in the most optimal way.”
His remarks were particularly relevant in the context of Saudi Arabia’s economic positioning, as the Kingdom continues to lead major financial initiatives in the region.
Professor of Columbia University and Former Colombian Minister of Finance Dr. Mauricio Cárdenas @MauricioCard، emphasizes that countries should carefully prioritize their policies to drive economic growth. #AlUlaCEME2025pic.twitter.com/WhlpKeiGkb
— AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies (@AlUlaCEME) February 16, 2025
Zambian Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane pointed to investment opportunities in resource-rich nations, particularly critical minerals necessary for global decarbonization efforts.
“Countries like Saudi Arabia, with a lot of financial capital, the good news is that with the efforts to decarbonize the materials—copper, manganese, nickel, and so forth—they’re in my country, so come and invest,” he said.
The discussion underscored the necessity of maintaining fiscal discipline while ensuring targeted investments that drive sustainable economic growth.
H.E. the #Saudi Minister of Finance, Mr. Mohammed Aljadaan @MAAljadaan emphasizes that we can achieve more and accelerate progress by establishing a more structured approach for the Common Framework for debt relief, restructuring, and reforms. #AlUlaCEME2025pic.twitter.com/O9YaW2i4cC
— AlUla Conference for Emerging Market Economies (@AlUlaCEME) February 16, 2025
The panelists agreed that careful financial oversight, efficient resource allocation, and strategic investment remain central to overcoming debt challenges in emerging markets.
The two-day summit, held in the Arabian oasis of AlUla, aims to generate actionable recommendations to strengthen financial stability and promote sustainable growth in emerging economies.
Key discussions will focus on the role of artificial intelligence and digital transformation in driving economic progress. Participants will explore strategies for enhancing economic resilience and fostering stronger cooperation between emerging and advanced economies to promote a more equitable and sustainable future.
