
Saudi Stc Group's venture capital arm invests in Tarmeez Capital
Tarmeez Capital CEO Nasser Alsaadoun said the investment will enable the company to scale its offerings in the sukuk and debt markets. To date, Tarmeez has facilitated over 2 billion riyals ($ 533 million) in Sharia-compliant financing.
The financial details of the investment were not disclosed.
Last year, Tali Ventures, which focuses on strategic investments in high-growth companies from early to late stages, led a USD 10 million investment in NorthLadder, a leading device trade-in platform.
Saudi Arabia aims to expand its sukuk and debt market to SAR 954 billion by 2030, according to the Capital Market Authority.
(Writing by Brinda Darasha; editing by Seban Scaria)
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Arabian Business
16 minutes ago
- Arabian Business
Saudi Arabia's esports sector eyes $13.3bn GDP contribution by 2030
Saudi Arabia's esports industry is projected to contribute $13.3 billion to the Kingdom's GDP by 2030, according to analysis by PwC Middle East in collaboration with the Saudi Esports Federation. The sector could generate nearly 39,000 jobs as part of the country's Vision 2030 economic diversification strategy. The Kingdom's esports market is experiencing rapid growth, with revenue expected to exhibit an annual growth rate of 8.99 per cent from 2024 to 2029 and a projected market volume of $16.2 million by 2029. Media rights represent the largest segment, anticipated to reach $5.2 million in 2024. Saudi Arabia has 23.5 million gamers – around 67 per cent of the population, providing a substantial domestic base for esports growth. This demographic advantage, combined with government investment, has positioned the Kingdom as a key player in the regional gaming ecosystem. The Saudi Esports Federation, officially established on October 13, 2017, serves as the regulatory body for the sector. Since its establishment, the federation has organised multiple world-class national and international tournaments and events, attracted investment from local private sector actors, and worked with international developers on opportunities in the Saudi market. The Kingdom has established itself as a major tournament host, through the Esports World Cup. In October 2023, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman launched the Esports World Cup, an annual competition which includes the most popular games. The 2025 edition features 25 events with over $70 million in prize money. Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, Chairman of the Saudi Esports Federation, said: 'Hosting the Esports World Cup for the second year in a row reflects Saudi Arabia's and the MENA region's ambition to be at the forefront of the global gaming and esports ecosystem. It's proof that the region is no longer a spectator in the international gaming scene; it's a leader.' Previously known as Gamers8, the SEF-organised tournament announced the largest esports prize pool in history with $45 million for its 2023 event. Partnerships at the EWC include Moontoon, Secretlab, Logitech, Mastercard, Adidas, Pepsi, demonstrating significant commercial interest. Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation, said: 'The Esports World Cup exists to empower communities, create lasting economic opportunities and firmly position the MENA region as the global heart of esports. By bringing together the best games, the greatest players, and the world's top esports clubs, we don't just create the biggest esports tournaments – we invest in sustainable growth, accelerate job creation, fuel regional industries from entertainment to tourism, and showcase the region's unmatched talent, infrastructure, and passion for gaming.' The broader Gulf region is experiencing strong esports growth. IMARC estimates the GCC esports market to exhibit a CAGR of 12.88 per cent during 2025 to 2033, driven by government initiatives, such as Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, significant investments in gaming infrastructure, and the region's young, tech-savvy population. Globally, worldwide esports revenue is expected to grow to $1.86 billion by 2025, nearly doubling its revenue from $996 million in 2020. Global esports had its largest-ever audience in 2021, with a viewership of 465.1 million people – up 6.7 per cent year on year. The Kingdom's esports development includes domestic leagues such as Saudi eLeague, designed to nurture local talent and build a competitive ecosystem. These initiatives complement major international tournaments, creating pathways for Saudi players to compete at the highest levels. Falcons: Driving Saudi talent to the global stage A key part of the Kingdom's esports ecosystem is Team Falcons, the leading Saudi Arabian esports organisation founded in 2017 by world champion FIFA player Mosaad Al-Dossary. Falcons has become a powerhouse in the scene, with more than 200 players, the majority of whom are Saudi, and 18 teams competing across top games such as EA FC, Fortnite, Rocket League, and Valorant. In an exclusive interview with Arabian Business, Al-Dossary said the momentum of Saudi Arabia's esports scene is 'absolutely amazing,' adding, 'I'm really glad to be a small part of what's happening. The environment is strong, it's helping everyone — even globally.' He credits the Kingdom's massive base of 23 million gamers as the foundation: 'We're talking about a passion of people who play in general. Obviously, that number needs to be utilised in terms of champions and players.' Falcons plays a central role in this vision. 'We give opportunities for people to work either as employees doing what they love, or as players who want to go on the biggest stage. We provide a full ecosystem to support them and make sure they are in the best shape,' Al-Dossary said. Falcons also supports the development of female players through dedicated teams and runs an academy for Saudi players. Looking ahead, Al-Dossary outlined a bold vision: 'We want to continue being one of the best esports organisations — the best — and we want to consistently win titles. But we also have a bigger role to play in sending positive messages to our audience. We want to be a lifestyle brand for everyone.' He also emphasised the importance of nurturing local talent. 'It takes time to build players and help them achieve what can be achieved, but I'm confident we have very talented players. Falcons can help and support them.' On the Esports World Cup, Al-Dossary is equally enthusiastic: 'The concept is absolutely amazing — having everyone during the festival for seven or eight weeks. It's a 360 model which helps everyone — publishers, teams, players, clubs — and every year it gets better.' When asked about challenges, Al-Dossary said the field holds no real concerns for Falcons: 'I don't think there are challenges. I think the audience and the prize pool are growing bigger and bigger. From experience, we are on the right path — it's exciting.' The Kingdom's National Gaming and Esports Strategy projects the sector could contribute $13.3 billion (SAR 50 billion) to GDP and generate nearly 39,000 jobs by 2030. This represents a significant component of the Vision 2030 economic diversification program. The strategy encompasses the entire esports value chain, from tournament organisation and broadcasting to talent development and technology infrastructure. Local private sector investment is increasing, with companies recognising the commercial potential of the growing gaming community. Initiatives like the Esports World Cup and the upcoming Olympic Esports Games in 2025 showcase Saudi Arabia's commitment to becoming a hub for esports excellence. The Kingdom's investment in world-class facilities and tournament infrastructure has attracted major international competitions. Saudi Arabia's esports sector is positioned for continued growth, supported by strong demographics, government backing, and increasing international recognition.


Zawya
16 minutes ago
- Zawya
Cohesity Gaia integrates with Microsoft 365 Copilot
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The National
an hour ago
- The National
Egypt's National Printing plans to sell 10% stake to boost market share
National Printing, Egypt's leading printing and packaging platform, plans to sell a 10 per cent stake in the company in an initial public offering to enhance market share. The company is selling 21.17 million shares and plans to list on the Egyptian Exchange (EGX), it said on Monday. The offering will include a private tranche, to which Omran Mohammed Al Omran, a Saudi Arabian entrepreneur and anchor investor in the IPO, is fully committed, and a public portion open for public subscription. The 10 per cent combined offering includes 10.58 million shares allocated to the cornerstone investor in the private tranche, and 10.58 million shares in the public tranche. Both will be offered at the same price per share, the company said. Prospective investors will be able to subscribe to the public tranche from July 27 to 31, subject to obtaining the relevant regulatory approval and prevailing market conditions. The selling shareholders are National Printing International Holding, which holds 8.25 per cent of the share capital; Grandview Investment Holdings, which holds 1.75 per cent; and other minority investors, the company announced. 'This IPO marks a pivotal milestone in our journey, creating a platform to accelerate our strategic ambitions and enhance our market presence,' said Sherif El Moallem, the company's managing director. Watch: Egypt's wheat harvest - a struggle between tradition and survival 'National Printing is ideally positioned to capture new opportunities across local and export markets. We look forward to entering this next chapter as a public company, where we can continue to invest in our capabilities and expand our reach.' Equity markets in the Gulf and the broader Middle East and North Africa region have experienced a flurry of IPOs, with various government-owned companies listing their shares. The Mena region had its strongest IPO year in 2024, with 54 issuers raising more than $12.6 billion, start-up data platform Magnitt said. Egypt's capital market welcomed only two listings from the United Bank and investment company Act Financial on the EGX in 2024, an EY report on IPOs in the Mena region said. A strong line-up of companies, such as Ahli United Bank and Tabarak Developments, are poised to join the market in 2025, 'signalling a vibrant period for Egyptian IPOs', the report said. Egypt plans to list stakes in at least 10 state-owned companies in 2025, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said last December. The prime minister's office said that some of the companies which will float its shares include Wataniya, Safi, Silo Food, and wind farm Gabal El Zeit. Shares of state-owned Alexandria Bank and Banque du Caire will also be included in the offerings, the PM's office added. However, 2023 was a dry year for the Egypt IPO market, with only a single company making its EGX debut, Taqa Arabia. The Egyptian economy is projected to grow by 4.1 per cent in 2025, despite an anticipated continued depreciation of the Egyptian pound, EY said. Founded by the El Moallem family, paper and packaging industry veterans, National Printing operates through four main subsidiaries, Shorouk, Uniboard, El Baddar for Packaging and Windsor, serving 15 sectors, including fast-moving consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, white goods and education, the statement said. The company, which is one of Egypt's largest producers of packaging and printing products, is part of Cairo-based investment firm Qalaa Holdings and has grown through strategic acquisitions and partnerships. It is based in Obour and Sadat Cities and had achieved an annual output exceeding 230,000 tonnes as of last year. Export sales contributed about 25 per cent of total revenue in 2024. The company recorded revenue of 7.14 billion Egyptian pounds ($1.5 million) in 2024 and 1.7 billion Egyptian pounds in the first quarter of 2025, the statement added. National Printing is obtaining the required approvals for the IPO, including of the public subscription notice and others from the Financial Regulatory Authority. Egyptian investment bank EFG Hermes is the global co-ordinator for the combined offering, while Zulficar and Partners is serving as local counsel to the issuer.