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![Five Saudi cities shine on IMD Smart City Index 2024: Report](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201024%20683'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Smart cities in the Kingdom have relied on AI and IoT technologies to enhance quality of life
![Arab Monetary Fund optimistic about UAE’s economic outlook, forecasts 6.2 percent growth in 2025](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201024%20684'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The report noted strong performance in the fuel and tourism sectors
![Saudi Arabia’s NEOM awarded $27.7 million cement supply deal with Al Jouf, Webuild](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201024%20683'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The contract duration is 41 months from the date of signing and is subject to increased quantities
![Türkiye terminates $5 billion deposit with Saudi Arabia to reduce external debt](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201024%20683'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The $5 billion deposit was made by Saudi Arabia before Türkiye's presidential and parliamentary elections last year
![stc Group net profit rises 7.73 percent to $1.76 billion in H1 2024, revenues up 4.79 percent](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201024%20683'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The group attributes this growth in revenues to the increase in stc KSA’s revenues by 0.6 percent
![Saudi Aramco’s Wa’ed Ventures invests $15 million in South Korean AI chipmaker Rebellions](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201024%20683'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Funding to accelerate company's expansion in Saudi Arabia and the development of AI chips globally
![New luxury resort slated to debut in Saudi giga-project NEOM](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201024%20683'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The resort will include a long, bridge-like structure that spans 450 meters and is suspended 40 meters above a lagoon
![IMF maintains global GDP growth forecast at 3.2 percent for 2024](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201024%20683'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
For the Middle East and Central Asia, oil production and regional conflicts continue to weigh on prospects
![flynas receives 53rd aircraft from its order of 120 Airbus A320neo planes](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201024%20581'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Fleet expansion falls in line with Saudi Arabia's National Civil Aviation Strategy
![Saudi Arabia’s annual inflation rate rises to 1.5 percent in June 2024: GASTAT](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201024%20683'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Food and beverage prices increased by 1.1 percent, driven by a 6.5 percent rise in vegetable prices
![Top 5 GCC IPOs by proceeds during H1 of 2024](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201024%20683'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
GCC region raised total proceeds of $3.6 billion from 23 IPOs during the first six months of 2024
![GCC companies raise $3.6 billion from 23 IPOs in H1 of 2024: Report](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201024%20684'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The Kingdom raised $2.1 billion from 19 offerings, making up 59 percent of total GCC IPO proceeds
![Saudi central bank launches new digital platform for streamlining government financial transactions](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201024%20683'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
This initiative is part of SAMA's strategy to provide banking services to government agencies and support digital development
![Why Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services are booming in UAE and Saudi Arabia](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201024%20683'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
BNPL services are outpacing credit cards in the region
![Saudi Arabia launches Carbon Capture and Utilization Challenge with UpLink](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201024%20683'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
This challenge aims to seek innovative solutions that accelerate the circular carbon economy
![Saudi Arabia’s airports see 17 percent rise in passenger numbers to 62 million in H1 2024](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201024%20683'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Number of flights saw a 12 percent increase to 446,000 in the first half of the year
![Saudia Group expands domestic network with eight new daily flights to Abha](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201024%20683'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Saudia has increased its daily flights to Abha from 14 to 19, marking a notable 35.71 percent growth
![Sustainable investments could unlock $2 trillion for GCC countries by 2030: Report](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201024%20614'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Green finance is surging in the GCC, with over $8.5 billion in green and sustainable bonds and Sukuk issued in 2022
![Expat remittances from Saudi Arabia surge 12 percent to $3.35 billion in May](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201024%20683'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Remittances sent abroad by the Kingdom's nationals also rose by 6 percent during this period, totaling $1.64 billion
![Saudi Arabia’s Diriyah Company signs $2 billion development contract to develop new mixed-use district](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201024%20683'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The project involves the construction of advanced educational institutions, cultural venues, modern offices, and a luxury hotel
![Saudi Arabia reveals designs for world’s tallest sports tower in Riyadh](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201024%20682'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The tower stands tall at 130 meters, encompassing 84,000 sqm of world-class facilities
![GCC tourism’s contribution to GDP to surge to $340 billion by 2030: Report](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201024%20682'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The GCC region already boasts some of the world's most modern airports
![Emirates inaugurates $5.4 million lounge at Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201024%20683'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Emirates' 900-square-meter lounge is located in the airport’s newest Terminal 1
![Saudi Aramco exercises greenshoe option, raises $12.35 billion from share sale](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%201024%20683'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
By exercising the greenshoe option, Aramco raised an additional $1 billion from the listing