Overview of key Saudi economic events in H1 2025
The most notable was the Crown Prince's launch of the Saudi Architecture Characters Map and new measures to balance the real estate sector in Riyadh city.
Additionally, the Public Investment Fund (PIF) launched Al Waha, a company specialized in duty-free retail, and another company to build and operate the facilities of Expo 2030 Riyadh. It also established its first commercial paper program.
Moreover, the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources rolled out incentives for the industrial sector, with SAR 10 billion allocated for their activation. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Investment announced that 600 global companies opened headquarters in Saudi Arabia.
Expo 2030 Riyadh's registration dossier received final approval during the Bureau International Des Expositions (BIE) general assembly in Paris, marking the final step in confirming Saudi Arabia as the official host country for the upcoming Expo.
The US Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged between 4.25-4.50% for the fourth consecutive time since the beginning of the year.
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