
Saudi Energy Firm Expands US Ties with $500 Million Agreements
Acwa Power has formalised Memorandums of Understanding valued at $500 million with several US companies, reinforcing its strategic collaborations in the energy sector. These agreements were signed during the Saudi-US Investment Forum held in Riyadh, aiming to bolster innovation and investment in renewable energy and infrastructure.
The new MoUs build upon Acwa Power's existing partnerships with American firms, which now collectively exceed $6 billion. The latest agreements focus on reducing energy costs and enhancing local production capabilities in solar energy projects. Additionally, Acwa Power is collaborating with GE Vernova to test and implement innovations in core equipment for combined-cycle gas turbine projects and electricity transmission and distribution systems within the Kingdom.
GE Vernova's involvement includes the deployment of advanced gas turbines and the provision of maintenance services to support the operations of power plants in Saudi Arabia. This collaboration aligns with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 initiative, which seeks to diversify the economy and promote sustainable energy solutions.
The Saudi-US Investment Forum served as a platform for strengthening economic ties between the two nations, with a focus on energy, technology, and infrastructure development. The agreements signed by Acwa Power and its American counterparts signify a mutual commitment to advancing energy efficiency and sustainability in the region. Notice an issue? Arabian Post strives to deliver the most accurate and reliable information to its readers. If you believe you have identified an error or inconsistency in this article, please don't hesitate to contact our editorial team at editor[at]thearabianpost[dot]com. We are committed to promptly addressing any concerns and ensuring the highest level of journalistic integrity.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Arabian Post
10 hours ago
- Arabian Post
Adani Faces U.S. Inquiry Over Alleged Iran LPG Imports
U.S. prosecutors are investigating whether companies linked to Gautam Adani imported Iranian liquefied petroleum gas into India, potentially violating American sanctions. The probe focuses on shipments received at the Adani-controlled Mundra port in Gujarat, with tankers suspected of using deceptive practices to obscure their origin. This development follows a prior indictment against Adani and associates for alleged bribery and securities fraud. The U.S. Department of Justice, through its Eastern District of New York office, is examining maritime activities involving tankers that may have transported Iranian-origin LPG to Adani Enterprises. Investigators are scrutinizing whether these vessels employed tactics such as falsified automatic identification system data and forged documentation to mask the true source of the shipments. A Wall Street Journal investigation suggests that LPG shipments imported by Adani from Oman may have actually originated from Iran, using complex third-party logistics to mask the true source. A spokesperson for the Adani Group has denied any deliberate involvement in sanctions evasion or trade with Iranian-origin LPG, stating the company is unaware of any U.S. investigation. The group maintains that it conducts thorough due diligence on all imports and complies with applicable laws. ADVERTISEMENT This inquiry adds to the legal challenges facing Adani. In November 2024, U.S. authorities indicted Gautam Adani and his nephew, Sagar Adani, alleging they paid over $250 million in bribes to Indian government officials to secure power supply contracts and misled U.S. investors during fundraising activities. The indictment also accuses other individuals, including former employees of a Canadian institutional investor, of obstructing investigations by deleting evidence and providing false information to authorities. The Adani Group has dismissed those accusations as 'baseless' and committed to pursuing all legal remedies. The Adani Group, integral to India's economy with a valuation of around $150 billion, has faced multiple allegations, including a 2023 report from Hindenburg Research accusing it of securities violations. Despite seeking legal avenues to dismiss the charges and leveraging political support from Republican legislators amid Trump's relaxed foreign bribery enforcement, the ongoing sanctions-related probe poses a significant risk to Adani's efforts to clear his and his conglomerate's name. The investigation into potential sanctions violations underscores the complexities of international trade compliance, especially for conglomerates operating across multiple jurisdictions. As the U.S. continues to enforce sanctions on Iran, companies engaged in global trade must navigate a landscape fraught with legal and regulatory challenges.


Zawya
13 hours ago
- Zawya
Swissport scales up in Saudi Arabia with groundbreaking 13-airport launch
Marking one of its largest coordinated go-lives in recent years, Swissport has expanded operations to 13 airports across Saudi Arabia, reinforcing its strategic growth in the Middle East and strengthening its alignment with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030. Swissport, the world's leading provider of airport ground services and air cargo handling, has launched coordinated ground handling operations across the Kingdom on June 1, welcoming inaugural flights from Air Arabia with celebration events at each location. The new stations—Hail, Al Jouf, Tabuk, Yanbu, Taif, Abha, and Jizan—join Swissport's existing network of six airports: Jeddah, Riyadh, Madinah, Dammam, Al-Qassim, and Al-Ula. This milestone also marks the beginning of a new collaboration with Air Arabia, one of the region's leading low-cost carriers. The execution of such a marvellous expansion plan in such a short span of time is attributed to the successful conclusion and signing of the ground handling agreement with Air Arabia that operates to all these airports. "This launch marks a critical step in Swissport Saudi Arabia's growth strategy, aligning with Saudi Arabia's ambitious Vision 2030. Expanding our ground operations to 13 airports reflects both our long-term commitment to the Kingdom and our readiness to deliver operational excellence at scale," says Dirk Goovaerts, CEO of Continental Europe, Middle East, Africa & India, and Global Cargo Chair at Swissport. "Our investments in innovation, sustainability, and talent are clear signals of our continued focus on safety, reliability, and world-class service. Together with our trusted partners, we are proud to be shaping the future of aviation in the region." After having received the license from the authorities on 24 April 2025 for the opening of these airports, it was a great deal of challenge to be ready for the delivery of quality services to the client on 01 June 2025. It included successfully completing the training process of 400+ staff in addition to transporting the fleet of heavy GSE to remotely scattered apart airports. In less than merely a forty (40) days of time span, the target was effectively achieved. The entire team at Swissport KSA worked tirelessly and meticulously under the professional and devoted leadership of its CEO Mr. Hamad Alhemede together with the effective support of Swissport global and ensured all the seven newly added locations were fully equipped and operationally ready ahead of schedule. This included setting up infrastructure, recruitment and training of local staff, and the deployment of Swissport's proven global processes and standards. Swissport's on-time performance in the Kingdom consistently exceeds 99%—the highest in the country and among the best across its global network. This outstanding performance reflects Swissport's operational discipline and its commitment to delivering punctual, high-quality service for airline partners. The dedication, hard work and the passion are the driving force behind the management of SP KSA and its team in achieving such an exciting result in OTP. "This is a proud moment for our teams across the Kingdom. Our expansion to 13 airports was made possible thanks to the dedication of our local talent and the strength of our Swissport training programs," says Hamad Alhemede, CEO of Swissport Saudi Arabia. "Our operations are locally led and supported by global experts and international best practices. Together, we are building a future-ready operation that reflects the highest standards of safety, efficiency, and service." Swissport's continued expansion is further supported by its strategic partnership with Asyad Holding Group and its close collaboration with key stakeholders, including GACA, Matarat, and the Air Connectivity Program. With operations now live across 13 airports, Swissport is exploring the introduction of additional services—such as cargo handling, aircraft cleaning, and lounge operations—to offer a comprehensive ground service solution for airline partners. As demand in Saudi Arabia's aviation market accelerates, Swissport is well positioned to support this growth with a scalable, safe, and reliable operation. In 2024, Swissport International AG provided best-in-class airport ground services for some 247 million airline passengers (2023: 232 million) and handled roughly 5 million tons of air freight (2023: 4.7 million) at 117 air cargo centers worldwide. Several of its warehouses have been certified for pharmaceutical logistics by IATA's CEIV Pharma and by the British MHRA. At the end of December 2024, the world's leader in airport ground services and air cargo handling, with currently around 62,000 employees, was active at 276 airports in 45 countries on six continents. Media contacts Swissport International AG, Group Communications, Silvia Garrido, P.O. Box, 8058 Zurich Airport, Switzerland media@


Zawya
14 hours ago
- Zawya
Venture debt finds a new home in the Middle East: Stride Ventures doubles down on Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia, Riyadh - In a striking signal of the Middle East's rapid financial maturation, Stride Ventures, a leading player in the global venture debt market, has announced significant expansion of its presence across the Gulf Cooperation Council- with Saudi Arabia at the epicentre of its ambitions. The move, which includes doubling its local team and opening a second regional office, is emblematic of a broader shift: the Kingdom is not just attracting capital, but fundamentally redefining the region's approach to startup financing. Stride Ventures' announcement coincides with the publication of the inaugural Global Venture Debt Report 2025, produced by team Stride in partnership with global consultancy Kearney. The report paints a compelling picture: while the global venture debt market has grown at a robust 14% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the past five years, the GCC—led by Saudi Arabia—has outpaced this by a factor of nearly four, clocking an extraordinary 54% CAGR. The regional venture debt market reached $500 million in 2024, up from a mere $60 million in 2020, underscoring both the scale and speed of change. Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, a sweeping reform agenda aimed at diversifying the economy away from hydrocarbons, is at the heart of this transformation. The government's proactive stance is evident in initiatives such as the Jada Fund of Funds (with $1.07 billion in assets under management), and strategic partnerships with global asset managers including Goldman Sachs and Franklin Templeton. Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi's ADGM and Abu Dhabi's Hub71 are providing the regulatory and infrastructural backbone for private credit and venture activity across the region. Traditional banks in the GCC have long been risk-averse, often shying away from lending to early-stage, asset-light startups. Venture debt- a non-dilutive, flexible, and tailored to the needs of high-growth companies- has stepped into this void. The region's fintech and e-commerce champions, such as Tabby and Tamara, have already closed venture debt deals exceeding $100 million each, providing a template for other sectors including logistics, healthtech, and climate tech. Stride's expansion is timed to capture this momentum. The firm has increased its GCC team by over 60% in the past year, with a stated goal of tripling its regional assets under management by 2026. Stride is targeting a half a billion dollar commitment in the region over the next three to five years, while its latest fund has already attracted strong investor interest- on track to be oversubscribed within just a few months. Stride Ventures now boasts an active investment pipeline of up to $110 million across the region, with an average cheque size of $10 million per transaction. This robust pipeline signals both the scale of opportunity and the growing appetite among Middle Eastern founders for strategic, founder-friendly debt capital. Stride's approach- offering sizable and flexible financing to ambitious startups- positions it as a critical enabler of the region's next wave of unicorns. Perhaps most telling is the influx of global talent. Senior executives from Silicon Valley, London, and Singapore are relocating to Riyadh, lured by the region's capital abundance and policy stability. 'Saudi Arabia is shaping the future of venture capital and private credit with intention and scale,' says Fariha Ansari Javed, Partner at Stride Ventures. 'We are seeing a new generation of founders who understand the value of non-dilutive capital to scale responsibly and an equally ambitious set of investors in the region ready to fuel their growth' The implications are profound. The Middle East, long seen as a passive capital provider, is repositioning itself as an active hub for innovation finance. As Fariha puts it: 'Saudi Arabia is moving from being a capital source to becoming a capital magnet. Stride is proud to be part of this next chapter.' The question now is not whether venture debt will take root in the GCC, but rather how quickly it will scale- and how the region's regulatory and institutional frameworks can keep pace with the ambitions of its entrepreneurs and financiers. About Stride Ventures Founded in 2019, Stride Ventures has deployed over $1Billion in venture debt across 180+ companies globally (17 of which are unicorns). With its latest expansion, the firm cements its status as a pioneer in the Middle East's rapidly evolving financial and entrepreneurial landscape. Know more: