News

Saudi Arabia Set To Invest $1 Trillion In The Real Estate Sector

Backed by a young population and expanding urbanization, the property sector has impressive future growth potential.

Published

3 years ago

December 12, 2022

saudi arabia set to invest $1 trillion in the real estate sector

S&P Global Ratings, a major US credit rating agency, has forecast sustained market growth for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as $1 trillion is set to be pumped into infrastructure and real estate projects over the coming decade.

As well as a young and growing population, expanding urbanization is a significant reason for S&P’s promising predictions, with at least eight new cities being planned along the Red Sea coast by 2030. During the Distinguished Cities Projects Exhibition in Riyadh, nine agreements worth $533 million were signed by the National Housing Company and other national strategic partners.

Saudi Arabia’s large-scale real estate programs will provide 1.3 million new homes overall, invigorating the business and financial sectors, and pumping money into both commercial and residential building via investments.

Saudi Arabia’s economy has also benefited from government initiatives to attract multinational companies, with tech startups, in particular, gravitating to the Kingdom and boosting the occupancy rates of commercial and office real estate across the region.

Also Read: Metaverse Will Bring $15B Annually To Gulf Economies By 2030

S&P also noted that many new programs had been initiated to scale up local housing and revitalize the financial sector, potentially benefiting commercial real estate across the country. As the tourism sector continues to grow rapidly, even more real estate investment opportunities will present themselves as companies and private individuals seek to relocate to Saudi Arabia.

As well as experiencing a dramatic flourishing of the commercial and residential real estate sectors, Saudi Arabia’s 2030 vision is also bringing a boost to energy, healthcare and the wider digital economy.

News

Lebanon Ministers Meet Visa Over National Digital Payment Platform

Finance and technology ministers say a comparative study and roadmap will follow before any decision on adopting a model.

Published

23 hours ago

May 5, 2026

Joanna Melki

lebanon ministers meet visa over national digital payment platform

Lebanon’s finance and technology ministers met representatives from Visa last week to discuss a proposed unified national digital payment platform for government services, according to a readout from the Ministry of Finance.

The meeting brought together Finance Minister Yassin Jaber, Minister of State for Technology and Artificial Intelligence Kamal Shehadeh, a Visa delegation, and experts from both ministries. Discussion focused on whether Lebanon could establish a single platform through which citizens and institutions would pay taxes, fees, fines and other official transactions electronically, using mobile phones and other digital channels.

The Visa delegation presented examples from countries that have adopted unified government payment platforms, including the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Estonia and Jordan. According to the readout, the examples were presented as having increased collection rates and expanded financial inclusion.

Talks covered settlement mechanisms, direct transfer to the treasury account, financial reconciliation, risk management, cybersecurity, fees, and an operational model that would involve the private sector. The parties agreed to continue technical and institutional consultations, prepare a comparative study, and develop an implementation roadmap before any decision on adopting a model for Lebanon.

Jaber said the Ministry of Finance had already enabled citizens to pay using credit cards and e-wallets through transfer companies, but described the proposed platform as a further step. He framed the development of electronic payment and collection systems as a priority within the ministry’s modernization plan.

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Shehadeh outlined the citizen-facing concept as a single mobile application through which users could settle obligations to ministries, government institutions and other bodies.

“The idea, in short, is that any citizen downloads an application on their mobile phone, through which they can pay all service obligations for all ministries, government institutions, or those owned by the Lebanese state, and others as well, as the platform is not limited only to state institutions,” he said.

Shehadeh added that the platform would not displace banks and money transfer companies that currently provide collection services to the state, calling it complementary to their work.