Saudi Arabia Interviews - MarcoPolis

What is interesting about doing business in Saudi Arabia is the continuous growth pattern in the economy; that’s what makes it interesting, not only in the short-term, but in the long-term. Saudi Arabia’s economic growth is driven by its demographics: we are a young and growing population, a big and spacious country (around the size of Western Europe), and relatively undeveloped in many infrastructure areas.

Saudi Arabia Insurance Saudi Arabia Interviews

Number one challenge in the insurance sector in Saudi Arabia is awareness

May 11, 2015

Insurance market in Saudi Arabia continues to face challenges.

Saudi Arabia Interviews Saudi Arabia Real-Estate Saudi Retail

Commercial Real Estate Market in Saudi Arabia: Shortage of 1 mln GLAs

May 11, 2015

The Saudi Arabian commercial real-estate market has been booming in the last decade. There has been an increase in the value of commercial properties and malls. Every year, there are almost 200,000 GLAs in major cities like Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam. There is a lot of demand since 2004 and right up to 2017.

Saudi Arabia Agriculture Saudi Arabia Industry Saudi Arabia Interviews

Saudi Arabia agriculture: developing high-tech farming

May 6, 2015

Due to the water scarcity, there has been a drop in the development of the agricultural sector in Saudi Arabia. Over the past 12 years, cereal production in Saudi Arabia has almost dropped to zero. The export of open field agriculture has been banned. Farmers can no longer export open field fruits or vegetables.

Saudi Arabia Industry Saudi Arabia Interviews

AJA Pharma Investing SAR 230 million in Saudi Arabia

May 6, 2015

Our group has been in the pharma industry for more than 25 years. We have been quite successful. We have partners who have contributed a lot to the pharma industry. In 2014, our turnover was almost SAR 2 billion. Recently we realized there was a need in the market, and among our partners, for local manufacturing.

Saudi Arabia Banking Saudi Arabia Economy Saudi Arabia Interviews Saudi Arabia Regional Role

Saudi Fund for Development: Implemented 500 Projects worth US$ 8bn

May 6, 2015

The Saudi Fund started in 1975. We are now dealing with more than 80 countries. So far, we have successfully implemented 500 projects. Our capital value is 30 billion Saudi Riyal, which is equivalent to 8 billion dollars.

Saudi Arabia Infrastructure Saudi Arabia Interviews Saudi Arabia Utilities

Desalination market worth SAR 70 bn over the next 5 years

May 5, 2015

The figures can be deceiving. You might hear figures like 300 or 400 billion. Desalination is a very tough business that requires a lot of engineering. Even if you have resources, you have what are called ‘technical capacity limitations’ and you need to do an environmental impact study. So there are other factors that dictate the uncontrolled expansion of the desalination market. Several issues need to be taken into consideration including environmental impact, engineering capabilities, the availability of first class EPC contractors etc.

Saudi Arabia Interviews Saudi Arabia Services

Environmental Awareness has Improved but Implementation of Regulations still Weak

May 5, 2015

In 2006, I brought a solution to Jeddah Municipality – where they produce 7,000 tons of waste per day – and said we’re going to generate electricity and power from that waste. And now, we’re still in negotiations with other authorities to approve this innovation. It takes time, especially talking about mega projects that cost $500 million. We’ll give solutions and generate waste into 100 megawatts can easily give electricity to almost 10,000 households (depending on how big the house is). It’s amazing and good, but it still takes time and investment.

Saudi Arabia Construction Saudi Arabia Interviews

Contracting in Saudi Arabia: Housing Projects a Priority

May 5, 2015

Rabya was established in 1974 by Sheikh Abdul Kader Alfadl. At the beginning, the goal of the company was to only do landscaping. At that time, the Arabic concept of landscaping was only ‘pure greenery’. The American consultants like Parsons, Vector and Corporate Engineer came in in 1976/77, the word landscaping came to be associated with every construction activity done outside the house.