
Arabian Cement votes June 15 on SAR 500M reserve transfer to retained earnings; 150,000 share buyback
They will further discuss transferring the entire general reserve of SAR 95 million as per financial statements for 2024, to the retained earnings.
Additionally, shareholders will vote on developing the employee shares program, while authorizing the board of directors to determine the terms and conditions of the program, including the offering price for each share allocated to employees, if applicable.
They will also discuss the buyback of 150,000 shares maximum of common stocks to be retained as treasury shares, and to be allocated to the employees shares program as per regulations, provided that the share repurchase will be financed from the company's own resources.
The board will be authorized to complete the share repurchase within a maximum period of 18 months from the date of the EGM decision, and that the repurchased shares will be maintained for a period not exceeding five years from the date of the EGM approval.
The company, after the end of this period, will follow the procedures and controls stipulated in relevant laws and regulations.
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In February, the government passed a new Investment Law establishing a unified framework for foreign and domestic investors, with enhanced protections and simplified procedures. At the same time, a revised Companies Law introduced the Simple Joint Stock Co., designed to make it easier to incorporate and operate a startup. Companies were required to update their Articles of Association by Jan. 18, marking a nationwide effort to align corporate governance with international norms. These changes coincide with record-breaking momentum in the broader startup ecosystem. In 2025, Saudi Arabia was recognized as the fastest-growing startup environment in the world, according to the Global Startup Ecosystem Index, which reported Riyadh had climbed 60 places to rank 23rd globally. Venture funding has accelerated sharply, achieving a 49 percent compound annual growth rate from 2020 through 2024, with artificial intelligence startups emerging as a priority. Riyadh's growth was catalyzed by a policy-driven approach that prioritized both scale and specialization. According to the 2025 Global Startup Ecosystem Report by Startup Genome, more than 200 fintech companies now operate in the Kingdom, supported by the Saudi Central Bank's regulatory sandbox and Fintech Saudi's market-building efforts. The report highlighted startups such as Lean Technologies, Rasan, and Tamara as examples of companies attracting substantial regional and international capital, with major financial institutions serving as early adopters and anchor clients. In addition to fintech, the report praised the Kingdom's progress in cybersecurity, noting that Riyadh-based firms like Mozn and sirar by stc are developing artificial intelligence-powered solutions for identity verification, fraud detection, and compliance. 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To complement the regulatory overhaul, the government has introduced new compliance mandates around ultimate beneficial ownership disclosures, enhanced anti-money laundering protocols, and environmental, social, and governance reporting, reinforcing transparency and investor confidence. The Digital Government Authority reported that digital transformation readiness exceeded 74 percent in 2025, underscoring a push to digitize public services and reduce administrative delays. For founders, this shift is not merely regulatory — it is cultural. Al-Falih said that collaborative policymaking has become a defining characteristic of the Saudi tech sector. 'We've been working closely with the Central Bank and the associated parties in the ecosystem to provide our feedback, our notes on how their framework is being written, and to obviously engage with them in a productive way,' he said. In the view of many entrepreneurs, these conditions are creating fertile ground for growth. 'I would argue that the region has some of the best regulations and infrastructure set up,' Al-Falih said. 'And so we will be one of the more successful parts of the world to introduce these technologies.' Still, legal experts caution that unresolved issues — such as the enforcement of intellectual property rights, clarity in employment law, and the efficiency of dispute resolution — remain on investors' radar. Mousilli observed that, despite the progress, Saudi Arabia will need to maintain its momentum to consolidate its gains. 'The frameworks are improving, but clarity and consistency, especially in implementation, remain key areas to watch and develop,' he said. Yet for those building the next generation of technology companies, the convergence of regulatory ambition and economic transformation is unmistakable. As Al-Falih put it: 'This is one of the best times to be alive and one of the best times to be a member of the tech community in the GCC.'