Edmund Bower

Beirut

Journalist at Freelance

Saudi Arabia Editor at AGBI

Articles

AI classes to prepare Saudi pupils for the new world

6 days ago | agbi.com | Edmund Bower

Analysis Artificial Intelligence AI classes in Saudi schoolsBenefit of young population Education budget of $50bnSaudi secondary school pupils will soon have classes on artificial intelligence (AI) added to their curriculum.
Affordability is the key for Saudi hotel expansion

1 week ago | agbi.com | Edmund Bower

Analysis Tourism Ahmad Faizal/Shutterstock 362,000 rooms due by 2030Opportunities in middle marketTarget of 150 million touristsAl Farhan Group, a family-owned company with 16 three to four-star hotels across Saudi Arabia, plans to open at least one hotel every year for the next several years.
Paper firm plans first Saudi IPO since global stock rout

1 week ago | agbi.com | Edmund Bower

Markets UCIC makes paper packaging30% of company for sale$357m revenue in 2024Saudi Arabia’s United Carton Industries Company (UCIC), the largest paper packaging company in the Middle East by sales, plans to sell shares to the public to fund expansion.
Saudi Arabia's expanding food sector faces high costs

1 week ago | agbi.com | Edmund Bower

Analysis Food & Drink Food sector growing with populationDemand for full-service restaurantsOverheads prove challenging As the population grows and the economy swells, the food and beverage service industry in Saudi Arabia is expanding.
Inflation in Saudi Arabia hits 20-month high

1 week ago | agbi.com | Edmund Bower

Economy Rise from 2% to 2.3%Housing still biggest driverFood price rises add to hikeHeadline inflation in Saudi Arabia hit a 20-month high in March, the General Authority for Statistics has revealed, although at 2.3 percent, up from 2 percent in February, it remains low by international standards.
US and Saudi agree 'pathway' to nuclear power deal

1 week ago | agbi.com | Edmund Bower

Energy Mohammed Benmansour/Reuters US energy secretary shows supportSaudi Arabia keen to develop capacityDetails to be announced this yearThe US and Saudi Arabia – the world’s second-largest oil producer – are on a “pathway” towards co-developing a civilian nuclear programme for the kingdom, visiting US energy secretary Chris Wright has told reporters.
Tesla trumpets Saudi launch but China is waiting

1 week ago | agbi.com | Edmund Bower

Analysis Transport Reuters/Mohammed Benmansour EV maker opens Riyadh showroomCharging infrastructure lackingUS tariffs can benefit ChinaTesla’s well-publicised launch event in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, last week attracted a large and boisterous crowd.
Special purpose companies proposed to boost Saudi IPOs

2 weeks ago | agbi.com | Edmund Bower

Markets Saudi regulator unveils ‘Spacs’ proposalsConsultations to run for 30 daysLaunch would be on NomuConsultations on introducing special purpose acquisition companies to the Saudi stock exchange’s junior market in an effort to encourage initial public offerings and listings have been announced by Saudi Arabia’s Capital Markets Authority regulator.
Oil price raises $1 trillion infrastructure question for Saudi Arabia

2 weeks ago | agbi.com | Edmund Bower

Analysis Infrastructure Vision 2030 spending may be hitBut near-term change ‘unlikely’Crude prices have fallen to 4-year lowsQuestions are being raised about the long-term future of Saudi Arabia’s trillion-dollar infrastructure strategy as oil prices hit a four-year low and global stock markets tumble, according to economists.
Aramco losses mirror wider Saudi stock plunge

2 weeks ago | agbi.com | Edmund Bower

Economy Saudi stocks fall to 17-month lowMore than SAR850bn wiped off pricesAramco value down SAR350bnThe Saudi stock market opened at more than 2 percent lower on Monday to a 17-month low, following its biggest single one-day drop since the 2008 financial crisis.