Saudi Electricity Seeks $1 Billion Loan Amid New Projects
The lending facility will carry a five-year tenor, with Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. acting as the sole mandated lead arranger and bookrunner for the deal, said the people, who asked not to be identified as the matter is private.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Academic & Research Collaboration Across the GCC Building Knowledge Economies
"A Strategic Insight into How the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Other Gulf Nations Are Advancing Innovation, Economic Diversification, and Global Competitiveness Through Higher Education, R&D Investments, and Cross-Border Institutional Partnerships" BOSTON, Aug. 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the latest study from BCC Research, the "Academic & Research Collaboration in GCC" is projected to be $109.4 billion by the end of 2025, with a CAGR of 1.8% from 2022 to 2025. This report provides a comprehensive overview of the education and research landscape in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, analyzing key economic indicators, education system structures, and collaborative opportunities. It highlights each country's GDP and population trends, investment in education, and the diversity of educational institutions. The study also explores student enrollment patterns, including local and expatriate populations, and assesses regional and international academic collaborations. Finally, it estimates the total addressable market (TAM) for the education sector through 2025, offering insights for policymakers, investors, and education technology providers into the region's growth and innovation potential. This report is especially relevant now as GCC countries are actively shifting toward knowledge-based economies, reducing reliance on oil and investing strategically in education, research, and innovation. Visionary national strategies like Saudi Vision 2030 and UAE's Higher Education Strategy 2030 are driving reforms in R&D and global academic partnerships. The region is witnessing a surge in international university collaborations, strategic R&D funding in emerging fields like AI and renewable energy, and a strong push for STEM and future-ready skills. With an increasingly young population and shared regional challenges such as climate change and water scarcity, the GCC is prioritizing collaborative research and human capital development to secure a sustainable and competitive future. The factors driving the market's growth include: Digital Transformation and Technological Integration: GCC countries are rapidly adopting digital technologies in education, including AI, cloud computing, and e-learning platforms. These innovations enable seamless collaboration between institutions, enhance research capabilities, and support remote learning and virtual academic exchanges. Strategic Government Policies and National Visions: National strategies like Saudi Vision 2030 and UAE Centennial 2071 prioritize education and research as pillars of economic diversification. Governments are actively promoting international academic partnerships, investing in research infrastructure, and reforming regulations to attract global institutions. Shifting Demographics and Growing Demand for Quality Education: With a young and expanding population, the GCC faces rising demand for high-quality education. Students and families are seeking globally recognized degrees and advanced research opportunities, prompting institutions to collaborate internationally to meet these expectations and align with future workforce needs. Growing Role of Private Higher Education and Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs): Private universities and PPPs are increasingly shaping the academic landscape by bringing in global expertise, funding, and innovation. These collaborations help bridge gaps between academia and industry, enhance research output, and improve the relevance and quality of education. Request a sample copy of the academic and research collaboration across the GCC region report. Report Synopsis Report Metric Details Forecast period considered 2022-2025 Base year market size $109.4 billion Growth rate CAGR of 1.8% for the forecast period of 2022-2025 Countries covered Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain Market drivers • Digital transformation and technological integration. • Strategic government policies and national visions. • Shifting demographics and growing demand for quality education. • Growing role of private higher education and Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs). Interesting facts: Rising R&D Investment Targets: Saudi Arabia aims to increase its R&D spending from less than 1% to 2.5% of GDP by 2030, a level comparable to developed nations, fueling collaborative research projects. Young Researcher Demographics: More than 60% of researchers in the GCC are under 40 years old, highlighting a young, dynamic scientific community poised for innovation. Cross-Border Academic Networks: The GCC has established regional platforms connecting over 100 universities and research centers, facilitating joint PhD programs, faculty exchanges, and multi-institution research initiatives. Emerging startups: Acadox: Based in Saudi Arabia, Acadox is a cloud-based academic management platform designed to enhance collaboration between students, faculty, and institutions. It streamlines course planning, academic advising, and research coordination across universities in the GCC. Ureed: Founded in the UAE, Ureed is a freelance marketplace with a growing focus on academic and research services. It connects researchers and institutions with expert linguists, editors, and subject matter specialists, supporting scholarly publishing and knowledge dissemination. Taibah Valley: An innovation hub affiliated with Taibah University in Saudi Arabia, Taibah Valley invests in tech startups that advance education, research, and artificial intelligence. It supports academic entrepreneurship and promotes university-industry R&D collaboration in the Kingdom. Mawdoo3 Research Hub: Headquartered in Jordan with growing GCC ties, Mawdoo3's research arm is building AI-powered tools to support Arabic-language academic research and knowledge sharing. The platform aids regional institutions in conducting and publishing accessible, high-impact research. Labayh Academy: Originally developed to support mental health professionals in Saudi Arabia, Labayh Academy is expanding its e-learning and academic training modules across GCC universities. The platform fosters interdisciplinary collaboration through virtual academic courses and professional development. The report addresses the following questions: What are the GCC Education industry market's projected growth rate and market size?- The estimated market size of the GCC education industry is estimated to be $109.4 billion by the end of 2025, with a CAGR of 1.8%. Which factors are driving the growth of the MENA renewable energy market?- National transformation agendas emphasizing education, innovation, and knowledge-based economies (e.g., Saudi Vision 2030, UAE Centennial 2071).- Government funding and strategic investments in higher education, R&D, and innovation hubs across the region.- Growing international partnerships between GCC universities and top global academic institutions.- Focus on future-ready skills and STEM education to meet evolving workforce demands.- Shared regional challenges (e.g., climate change, water security, food sustainability) requiring collaborative research solutions.- Rising global rankings and academic reputation goals of GCC universities, driving the need for high-impact research output.- Public-private partnerships and industry-academia collaboration foster applied research and innovation. Which market segments are covered in the report?- The education industry in the GCC is analyzed based on GDP, population, education expenditure, total number of educational institutions, total number of students by grade, and total addressable market size for each country. Which country will be dominant through 2030?- Saudi Arabia dominates the education industry in the GCC with a market share of 61.3% in 2024. Saudi Arabia has the most extensive education system in the GCC, driven by a rapidly growing population and substantial government investments under Vision 2030. The Kingdom emphasizes modernizing its curriculum, integrating digital learning, and enhancing vocational and higher education to meet market needs. Institutions such as King Saud University and KAUST are fostering research and innovation. The government is also promoting PPPs and expanding international collaborations to raise quality and diversify educational offerings. Related reports: GCC Country-Level Market Entry Guidelines: This report provides a concise yet comprehensive analysis of market entry opportunities in the GCC region, highlighting each country's economic scale, regulatory environment, infrastructure readiness, and sector-specific opportunities. It offers strategic insights into investment conditions, operational risks, and entry strategies to help international stakeholders navigate the region's unique business landscape and unlock growth potential. Purchase a copy of the report direct from BCC Research. For further information on any of these reports or to make a purchase, please get in touch with info@ About BCC Research BCC Research market research reports provide objective, unbiased measurement and assessment of market opportunities. Our experienced industry analysts' goal is to help you make informed business decisions free of noise and hype. Contact Us Corporate HQ: 50 Milk St., Ste. 16, Boston, MA 02109, USA Email: info@ Phone: +1 781-489-7301 For media inquiries, email press@ or visit our media page for access to our market research library. Any data and analysis extracted from this press release must be accompanied by a statement identifying BCC Research LLC as the source and publisher. Logo - View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE BCC Research LLC Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Bloomberg
25 minutes ago
- Bloomberg
Bowman Says ‘Change Is Coming' to How Fed Views AI and Crypto
Banks and regulators must embrace the benefits of new technologies such as artificial intelligence and crypto or risk diminishing their role in the economy, said US Federal Reserve Governor Michelle Bowman. 'Change is coming,' said Bowman, the central bank's top bank watchdog, in prepared remarks for the Wyoming Blockchain Symposium. Ideally, regulators will allow new uses to 'proliferate in a way that benefits the banking system,' she said. 'If this is not our approach, then we risk the banking system becoming less relevant to consumers, businesses and the overall economy.'
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Finance industry bodies call for changes to crypto rules for banks
By Elizabeth Howcroft (Reuters) -A group of finance industry bodies is calling for a rethink on looming regulatory standards that they say will make it difficult for banks to participate in crypto markets. The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, which comprises regulators and central banks from the world's main financial centres, agreed a set of standards in 2022 for how banks should manage and disclose risks around their exposure to crypto assets. In an open letter to the committee, various finance industry groups said that the crypto market has changed since 2022, making the proposed standards too conservative. While the crypto market remains a small part of the overall financial system, it has grown rapidly in recent years, with cryptocurrency prices reaching record highs. It has also become increasingly connected to mainstream financial markets. Banks are trying to tap into a shift in the regulatory environment in the U.S., where President Donald Trump has taken a pro-crypto approach. U.S. regulators this year made it easier for banks to engage in crypto-related activities. "The Cryptoasset Standard's restrictive qualification standards, combined with otherwise punitive market and credit risk capital treatments, effectively make it uneconomical for banks to meaningfully participate in the cryptoasset market," the letter said. The letter called for the committee to "temporarily pause" implementation of the new standards, seek new information and consider making changes. Signatories included the Global Financial Markets Association, the Institute of International Finance and the International Swaps and Derivatives Association - which lobby for the mainstream financial sector - as well as crypto industry groups. The Basel Committee has no enforcement powers, but its members agree to apply its standards to international banks in their jurisdictions. The standards around crypto are due to come into effect in January 2026. The Bank for International Settlements, where the Basel Committee is based, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A series of collapses at major crypto companies in 2022 left millions of investors out of pocket and revealed widespread misconduct in the industry, prompting calls for regulation.
