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Riyadh Air teams up with noon payments to enhance digital transactions

Riyadh Air teams up with noon payments to enhance digital transactions
The agreement aims to provide travelers with benefits such as card acceptance, alternative payment options, and enhanced features. Supplied
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Updated 01 October 2024

Riyadh Air teams up with noon payments to enhance digital transactions

Riyadh Air teams up with noon payments to enhance digital transactions
  • Deal aims to provide travelers with benefits such as card acceptance, alternative payment options, and enhanced features
  • Partnership highlights Riyadh Air’s commitment to improving the passenger experience

JEDDAH: Passengerson Riyadh Air will benefit from a more seamless digital transaction experience as the soon-to-be-operational Saudi carrier has partnered with noon payments.

The collaboration between the Public Investment Fund-owned companies will integrate the transaction gatewayinto the airline’s system,boosting processing capabilities and ensuring secure, efficient transactions, according to a press release.

The agreement aims to provide travelers with benefits such as card acceptance, alternative payment options, and enhanced features. The partnership highlights Riyadh Air’s commitment to improving the passenger experience.

The movecomes amid the Saudi government’s push for a cashless society by encouraging consumers to switch to cards for financial transactions, with data from the Saudi Central Bank showingdigital wallet usage surged from 315,000 in 2018 to 17 million in 2022, covering over half of the population.

Adam Boukadida, chief financial officer at Riyadh Air, said: “We are dedicated and focused on providing a seamless and elevated travel experience from booking flights to landing. Our attention to detail and laser focus on digitally enhancing our guests’ travel experience will only be strengthened by this new partnership.”

He added: “Our agreements with noon payments allow us to tap into their expertise in digital solutions, which will optimize our operational efficiency while offering guests a familiar and trusted payment method.”

Boukadida noted that this would be another step in changing how global travelers book and pay for flights, while also demonstrating their commitment to fostering local innovation and contributing to Ƶ's broader economic goals.

This partnership reflects Riyadh Air’s ongoing commitment to innovation since its launch in March 2023.

The airline has worked with global partners like Lufthansa Systems, IBM Consulting, and Accenture, as well as Swiss AS, CAE, and Microsoft to improve its services and operations, aiming to set new standards in aviation sustainability and passenger experience.

“At noon payments, we’re all about using innovation and technology to create standout experiences. Partnering with Riyadh Air lets us take this commitment to the next level, bringing world-class payments service, security, and care to every guest,” said Dhruv Paul, general counsel, at noon.

This deal comes on the backdrop of Riyadh Air’s agreement with CellPoint Digital in June to integrate advanced payment technology.

Based at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, the airline is set to support its digital-first strategy and prepare for commercial operations scheduled to start in 2025.

Under the agreement, Riyadh Air will employ CellPoint Digital’s Payment Orchestration platform to manage local and cross-border transactions efficiently.


Oil Updates — prices little changed after OPEC+ proceeds with September output hike

Oil Updates — prices little changed after OPEC+ proceeds with September output hike
Updated 13 sec ago

Oil Updates — prices little changed after OPEC+ proceeds with September output hike

Oil Updates — prices little changed after OPEC+ proceeds with September output hike
  • OPEC+ to raise output by 547,000 bpd in September
  • Healthy economy, low stocks support production hike, OPEC+ says
  • Latest Trump tariffs unlikely to budge, top negotiator says

SINGAPORE: Oil prices edged higher on Monday, paring earlier losses, as traders expect the market to absorb another large output hike by OPEC+ in September, while worries about disruptions to Russian oil shipments to major importer India also provided support.

Brent crude futures climbed 11 cents, or 0.16 percent, to $69.78 a barrel by 8:47 a.m. Saudi time, and US West Texas Intermediate crude was at $67.52 a barrel, up 19 cents, or 0.28 percent. Both contracts closed about $2 a barrel lower on Friday.

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and their allies, known as OPEC+, agreed on Sunday to raise oil production by 547,000 barrels per day for September, the latest in a series of accelerated output hikes to regain market share. It cited a healthy economy and low stockpiles as reasons behind its decision.

The move, in line with market expectations, marks a full and early reversal of OPEC+’s largest tranche of output cuts, plus a separate increase in output for the UAE, amounting to about 2.5 million bpd, or about 2.4 percent of world demand. “

This additional production appears to have little impact because it was so well flagged ahead of time,” said Michael McCarthy, chief executive officer of online trading platform Moomoo Australia.

It appeared that traders focused on the comments from state OPEC producers that previous additions were easily absorbed, particularly across Asia, he said.

Analysts at Goldman Sachs expect that the actual increase in supply from the eight OPEC+ countries that have raised output since March will be 1.7 million bpd, because other members of the group have cut output after previously overproducing.

Still, investors remain wary of further US sanctions on Iran and Russia that could disrupt supplies. US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose 100 percent secondary tariffs on Russian crude buyers as he seeks to pressure Moscow into halting its war in Ukraine.

At least two vessels loaded with Russian oil bound for refiners in India have diverted to other destinations following new US sanctions, trade sources said on Friday and LSEG trade flows showed.

This puts about 1.7 million bpd of crude supply at risk if Indian refiners stop buying Russian oil, ING analysts led by Warren Patterson said in a note.

This would potentially erase the expected surplus through the fourth quarter and 2026 and provide OPEC+ the opportunity to start unwinding the next tranche of supply cuts totalling 1.66 million bpd, they added.

However, two Indian government sources told Reuters on Saturday the country will keep purchasing oil from Russia despite Trump’s threats.

Concerns about US tariffs impacting global economic growth and fuel consumption are also hanging over the market, especially after US economic data on jobs growth on Friday was below expectations.

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on Sunday that the tariffs imposed last week on scores of countries are likely to stay in place rather than be cut as part of continuing negotiations. 


Closing Bell: Saudi main index ends lower at 10,833

Closing Bell: Saudi main index ends lower at 10,833
Updated 16 min 14 sec ago

Closing Bell: Saudi main index ends lower at 10,833

Closing Bell: Saudi main index ends lower at 10,833
  • Parallel market Nomu fell 0.63% to close at 26,755.84
  • MSCI Tadawul Index lost 0.79% to end at 1,398.65

RIYADH: Ƶ’s Tadawul All Share Index slipped on Sunday, falling 87.17 points, or 0.80 percent, to close at 10,833.10.

The total trading turnover of the benchmark index stood at SR3.39 billion ($904 million), with 62 stocks advancing and 187 declining.

The Kingdom’s parallel market Nomu fell 169.14 points, or 0.63 percent, to close at 26,755.84, as 30 stocks advanced while 50 retreated.

The MSCI Tadawul Index also dropped, losing 11.09 points, or 0.79 percent, to end at 1,398.65.

The best-performing stock of the day was Sport Clubs Co., whose share price rose 9.96 percent to SR12.37.

Other top performers included Thimar Development Holding Co., which increased 6.67 percent to SR38.68, and Nama Chemicals Co., which gained 5.72 percent to SR26.24.

Saudi Aramco Base Oil Co., or Luberef, recorded the most significant decline, dropping 9.96 percent to SR94.

Jabal Omar Development Co. saw its share price fall 5.39 percent to SR18.96, while Dar Alarkan Real Estate Development Co. declined 4.35 percent to SR18.27.

On the announcements front, Saudi Basic Industries Corp. reported its interim financial results for the period ending June 30. According to a Tadawul statement, the company recorded a net loss of SR5.28 billion during the first six months of the year, compared to a net profit of SR2.43 billion in the same period a year earlier. 

The decline was primarily due to impairment charges, provisions, a strategic restructuring initiative, lower results from associates and non-integral joint ventures, and a zakat expense of SR694 million in 2025 versus a positive non-cash benefit of SR214 million in 2024.

SABIC also announced the board of directors’ recommendation to distribute SR4.5 billion in cash dividends to shareholders for the first half of 2025. A bourse filing revealed that the total number of shares eligible for dividends amounted to 3 billion, with a dividend per share of SR1.5, representing 15 percent of the share’s par value.

SABIC’s share closed the session at SR54.45, down 1.19 percent.

Luberef released its interim financial results for the first half of the year. According to a Tadawul statement, the company posted a net profit of SR446 million, down 13.2 percent year-on-year, mainly due to lower crack margins for by-products and a decline in base oil sales volumes, despite an improvement in base oil crack margins.

The company also announced the board’s recommendation to distribute SR168 million in cash dividends for the first half of 2025.

A bourse filing said the number of shares eligible for dividends was 168 million, with a dividend per share of SR1, equivalent to 10 percent of the share’s par value.


Ƶ opens August ‘Sah’ savings sukuk window with 4.97% return

Ƶ opens August ‘Sah’ savings sukuk window with 4.97% return
Updated 03 August 2025

Ƶ opens August ‘Sah’ savings sukuk window with 4.97% return

Ƶ opens August ‘Sah’ savings sukuk window with 4.97% return
  • Subscription for issuance will remain available until Aug. 5
  • Minimum subscription amount set at SR1,000, with maximum cap of SR200,000

RIYADH: Ƶ has announced the opening of the August subscription window for its government-backed savings sukuk, offering an annual return of 4.97 percent, marking an increase from July’s 4.88 percent. 

The “Sah” sukuk is part of the 2025 issuance calendar overseen by the National Debt Management Center under the Ministry of Finance. 

The initiative is aligned with the Financial Sector Development Program, a key pillar of Vision 2030, which aims to elevate the national savings rate from 6 percent to 10 percent by the end of the decade. 

Subscription for the issuance opened at 10 a.m. Saudi time on Aug. 3 and will remain available until 3 p.m. on Aug. 5. The sukuk remains Shariah-compliant, denominated in Saudi riyals, and structured with a one-year maturity, offering fixed returns upon redemption. 

The minimum subscription amount is set at SR1,000 ($266.58), with a maximum cap of SR200,000 per investor. 

Individual investors aged 18 and above can participate through approved digital channels, including SNB Capital, Aljazira Capital, Alinma Investment, SAB Invest, and Al-Rajhi Capital. 

As the Kingdom’s first retail-oriented, government-backed savings instrument, “Sah” is designed to enhance personal financial planning and encourage disciplined savings habits among individuals. 

The product offers several features to make savings accessible, including zero subscription fees, a simplified digital onboarding process, and flexibility in redemption, allowing subscribers to withdraw their funds during specified windows without penalties on the principal amount. 

The sukuk is issued in the form of lease-based structures, ensuring compliance with Shariah principles, and does not qualify as a tradable security on the Saudi financial market. 

The NDMC said the return rate for each issuance is determined based on prevailing market conditions, which may vary month to month. 

“Sah” sukuk are considered low-risk, government-guaranteed instruments, contributing to the Kingdom’s broader strategy of expanding the range of domestic savings products available to individuals. 

The NDMC said the sukuk supports the development of a more robust savings culture while fostering collaboration between public institutions and private financial entities. 


OPEC+ to raise oil output by 547,000 bpd in September

OPEC+ to raise oil output by 547,000 bpd in September
Updated 03 August 2025

OPEC+ to raise oil output by 547,000 bpd in September

OPEC+ to raise oil output by 547,000 bpd in September
  • Group said gradual phase-out of voluntary production cuts could be paused or reversed
  • It ensures alliance’s ability to respond swiftly and maintain balance in global oil markets

RIYADH: The OPEC+ alliance has agreed to increase oil production by 547,000 barrels per day in September, citing improved global economic prospects and stable market fundamentals.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the group emphasized its continued flexibility, noting that the gradual phase-out of voluntary production cuts could be paused or reversed depending on evolving market conditions.

This approach, it said, ensures the alliance’s ability to respond swiftly and maintain balance in global oil markets.

The decision marks the final stage of a phased reversal of the 2.2 million bpd voluntary production cuts implemented by eight OPEC+ members in 2023, a move initially aimed at stabilizing prices amid economic uncertainty.

“The eight OPEC+ countries also noted that this measure will provide an opportunity for the participating countries to accelerate their compensation,” the statement read.

The producers also reaffirmed their commitment to full compliance with the group’s Declaration of Cooperation, and said that the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee would continue to supervise the voluntary adjustments, as agreed during its 53rd meeting on April 3, 2024.

The alliance had earlier approved smaller monthly increases—138,000 bpd in April, and 411,000 bpd each for May, June and July. In July, it announced a larger-than-expected increase of 548,000 bpd for August.

The latest hike will bring Ƶ’s output to 9.97 million barrels per day in September. Russia is set to produce 9.44 million bpd, Iraq 4.22 million, and the UAE 3.37 million. Production levels for Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria, and Oman are projected at 2.54 million, 1.55 million, 959,000 and 801,000 bpd, respectively.

OPEC+ also said it would continue holding monthly meetings to review market conditions, compliance, and compensation, with the next gathering scheduled for Sept. 7.

In a speech at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in June, Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman described OPEC+ as the “central bank” of the global oil market, highlighting the alliance’s stabilizing role amid ongoing economic volatility.


GCC’s constant GDP grows 3.3% to $456.3bn in Q4 2024

GCC’s constant GDP grows 3.3% to $456.3bn in Q4 2024
Updated 03 August 2025

GCC’s constant GDP grows 3.3% to $456.3bn in Q4 2024

GCC’s constant GDP grows 3.3% to $456.3bn in Q4 2024
  • Non‑oil activities accounted for% of region’s GDP at constant prices
  • Oil activities contributed 29.4%

RIYADH: The gross domestic product of Gulf Cooperation Council countries rose 3.3 percent at constant prices to $456.3 billion by the end of 2024, according to a new report.

Non‑oil activities accounted for 70.6 percent of the region’s GDP at constant prices in the final quarter, while oil activities contributed 29.4 percent, Oman News Agency reported, citing the Gulf Statistical Center.

“The contribution of non‑oil activities to the GCC GDP at constant prices reached 70.6 percent by the end of the fourth quarter of 2024,” ONA said.

The GDP growth aligns with broader trends across the Gulf, where nominal GDP reached $587.8 billion, growing 1.5  percent year on year, with non-oil sectors contributing 77.9  percent of the total growth.

Qatar recorded the highest real GDP increase at 4.5  percent, followed by the UAE at 3.6  percent, and Ƶ at 2.8  percent, highlighting non-oil expansion as the main driver across the bloc.

Real GDP across the GCC rose 2.4 percent, with non‑oil GDP expanding by 3.7 percent and oil GDP contracting by 0.9 percent due to voluntary OPEC+ production cuts.

Non‑oil sectors such as manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, construction, finance, real estate, and public administration collectively underpinned this growth, with manufacturing alone contributing 12.5 percent and retail trade nearly 9.9 percent of nominal GDP.

Ƶ’s economy grew 1.3 percent, with fourth‑quarter real growth of 4.4 percent compared to the same period in 2023. Non‑oil activities grew 4.6 percent, outpacing a 4.5 percent contraction in oil output as government spending increased by 2.6 percent, Reuters reported.

Strategic programs like the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program contributed SR986 billion ($262.8 billion) to non‑oil GDP in 2024, representing 39  percent of the nation’s non‑oil output, with overall non‑oil activities accounting for 55  percent of total GDP.

The GCC’s pivot away from hydrocarbon dependence is supported by major investments in tourism, logistics, manufacturing, and finance, combined with regulatory reforms and infrastructure expansion.

National reforms such as Saudi Vision 2030, the UAE’s Economic Vision, Qatar’s National Vision 2030, and Oman’s Vision 2040 are all central to this shift.