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Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Climate Envoy Adel Al-Jubeir said that Saudi Arabia is striving to develop its nuclear program to generate nuclear energy in order to benefit from its uranium reserves, which are estimated at ranging between one percent and four percent of global reserves. He ruled out any intention to produce nuclear weapons.

Speaking at a dialogue session hosted by the Saudi House at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Al-Jubeir said that Saudi Arabia is one of the largest energy producers in the world. “We want to convert uranium into fuel that is sold at a higher price, and this includes all the stages of converting uranium from raw material to energy,” he said.

Referring to the Kingdom’s mining and uranium enriching programs, the minister emphasized that Saudi Arabia wants to benefit from industries related to it as well as from jobs and profits resulting from it.

“We believe that we can achieve this in a way that has nothing to do with producing nuclear weapons as our main goal is to produce energy and make profits,” he said.

Al-Jubeir said Saudi Arabia wants to export various energy products including oil, gas, electricity, solar energy, water energy and even nuclear energy to the world.

“We do not want to be a country where mining companies come to extract minerals and transport them abroad for processing, refining and producing energy outside the country, so that we end up with a hole in the ground and benefit from only 10 percent of the value,” he said.

Source:https://www.zawya.com/en/business/energy/saudi-arabia-is-developing-nuclear-program-for-energy-purposes-al-jubeir-whbu5ajw

ADNOC announced today that its onshore Shah Field has achieved an industry-leading carbon intensity of 0.1 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent per barrel of oil equivalent (kgCO2e/boe), setting a benchmark among global oil fields.

This milestone achievement underscores ADNOC’s commitment to producing some of the world’s least carbon-intensive oil and gas.

ADNOC’s Shah oil field, which is located 230 kilometers south of Abu Dhabi, has a production capacity of approximately 70,000 barrels of crude oil per day (kpbd), enough to fuel more than one million cars in the UAE.

The field reached this milestone through optimised field development, deployment of digitalisation, artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced technologies to maximise efficiencies and minimise emissions. The field also benefits from ADNOC’s electrification of its onshore assets, which are powered by nuclear and solar energy sources.

Musabbeh Al Kaabi, ADNOC Upstream CEO, said, “Technology is essential to ADNOC’s journey towards net zero, and this milestone at Shah demonstrates our commitment to sustainability and innovation.

By leveraging advanced solutions including AI, digitalisation, remote operations and predictive data analytics, we are optimising operational performance while significantly reducing emissions, reinforcing our position as provider of some of the world’s least carbon-intensive oil and gas. We will continue to innovate to decarbonise our operations and future-proof our business while ensuring a reliable energy supply to meet global demand.”

Technologies deployed at the field include liquid ejector technology – an advanced system designed to recover and reuse gas that would otherwise be wasted, saving power and reducing emissions – and ADNOC’s AI-enabled Centralised Predictive Analytics Diagnostics (CPAD) programme, which reduces maintenance and downtime while enhancing operational efficiency and safety.

ADNOC achieved an upstream carbon intensity of ~7kgCO2e/boe in 2023 – placing the company in the top tier of the lowest-carbon-intensity oil and gas producers in the world – and a 6.2 million tonnes CO2e reduction in scope 1 and 2 emissions, including approximately 4.8 million tonnes from using clean grid energy from solar and nuclear power.

Source:https://www.zawya.com/en/business/energy/adnoc-achieves-industry-leading-carbon-intensity-at-shah-oil-field-enabled-by-ai-h360gpuv

Saudi Arabia’s largest telecoms operator, STC Group, will seek a seat on Telefonica’s board, it told the U.S. markets regulator in a filing, six days after the Spanish company unexpectedly replaced its chief executive.

STC told the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission late on Thursday it now owns 9.97% of Telefonica and was planning “to engage in discussions with the issuer to seek a board seat”.

Telefonica, which has American Depositary Receipts listed in the U.S., did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Spanish telecoms giant has undergone an ownership shake-up since STC announced it intended to become a major shareholder in September 2023.

Since Telefonica is considered a defence service provider and therefore strategic, the Spanish government reacted to the STC announcement by buying its own 10% stake through state holding company SEPI, while Spanish holding company Criteria also raised its stake to 9.99%.

After the two moves, the government eventually authorised STC to raise its stake to close to 10% in Telefonica in November 2024.

STC’s intention to get a representative on Telefonica’s board comes after the Spanish company held an extraordinary meeting on Saturday to replace CEO Jose Maria Alvarez-Pallete with Marc Murtra, until then chairman of defence company Indra , following a request by SEPI.

Telefonica’s shares have fallen 4.3% since the management shake-up was announced, with investors wary of political interference.

Source:https://www.zawya.com/en/business/technology-and-telecom/saudi-arabias-stc-seeks-seat-on-telefonica-board-gilp568o

Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion (MoCIIP) introduced a programme on Wednesday to integrate Fourth Industrial Revolution or 4IR technologies into the sultanate’s industrial sector.

The move aims to enhance global competitiveness of Omani industries and drive sustainable digital transformation in manufacturing.

It seeks to assist factories in adopting smart production technologies to improve efficiency, lower costs and create skilled job opportunities. By embracing these advancements, Oman aspires to position itself as a regional leader in modern industrial practices.

According to Idris bin Hassan al Sinan, Head of Knowledge-Based Industries in Directorate General of Industries, the first phase of the programme involves selecting factories for digital transformation. “Specialised teams, including experts from the Gulf Organization for Industrial Consulting (GOIC), are conducting field visits to assess factory readiness and develop tailored plans,” he said.

The programme aligns with Oman’s Industrial Strategy 2040, which focuses on enhancing competitiveness and sustainability of the industrial sector. Factories adopting smart technologies are expected to see improvements in productivity, operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness, while creating job opportunities.

Dr Mohammed bin Abdullah al Buraiki, Head of Industrial Studies and Policies at GOIC, informed that the programme will employ an advanced evaluation matrix covering three core pillars and 16 dimensions. This framework helps factories assess readiness for digital technologies and provides actionable recommendations for enhancement.

“The evaluation process has shown promising results, highlighting strengths and areas for improvement in participating factories,” Buraiki noted. “The feedback has been positively received, with factories demonstrating a strong commitment to enhancing performance and competitiveness.”

The programme is a key step in building a smart and sustainable industrial base in line with Oman Vision 2040. By supporting factories in their digital transformation journey, the sultanate aims to consolidate its position as a leading industrial hub in the region.

MoCIIP has encouraged all factories to participate in the programme to access technical and technological support. Those joining the programme will benefit from a comprehensive digital transformation, enabling them to compete in both local and regional markets.

Source:https://www.zawya.com/en/business/technology-and-telecom/oman-plans-to-transform-industrial-sector-with-4ir-tech-ume6j2qf

Sharjah real estate developer Arada has announced the sales launch of Safa, a new cluster of high-end apartment buildings located within the Aljada megaproject.

In total, the five buildings in the Safa complex will contain 660 premium apartments, all characterised by contemporary design, impressive facilities and direct access to Aljada’s main sports complex.

Ranging from one- to three-bedroom apartments, each Safa home contains smart home features and white goods added as standard, while owners will also benefit from the presence of an indoor gym and a shared swimming pool.

Safa real estate development in Sharjah
In addition, Safa residents have direct access to West Boulevard, a tree-lined promenade filled with shopping and dining outlets, and will live just two minutes walk from Raffles Aljada, an American curriculum international school with capacity for 2,000 students that is set to open in 2026.

Located right next to the Safa buildings is a set of world-class outdoor sports facilities, spread across a 400,000sq ft landscaped park.

The complex includes:

Full-size football pitch
Five-a-side football pitches
Basketball
Padel tennis court
Volleyball court
Squash court
Badminton court
Cycling and jogging tracks
Adventure play areas
Ahmed Alkhoshaibi, Group CEO of Arada, said: “The Safa community is superbly placed within the Aljada master plan, offering an exceptional range of amenities within just a few minutes’ walk.

“With well over 10,000 homes sold at Aljada so far, this progressive destination is already setting the bar for urban living throughout the UAE, and we’re looking forward to delivering another 1,400 homes in Aljada this year.”

Homes in Safa are being launched for sale during the Acres real estate exhibition taking place in Sharjah Expo Centre between January 22-25.

Investors wishing to purchase a home during the period of the exhibition will benefit from a 50 per cent reduction in property registration fees.

Spread over a 24 million square foot area and featuring 25,000 homes in total, Aljada is a transformational destination for Sharjah.

Aljada contains numerous residential districts, as well as extensive retail, hospitality, entertainment, sporting, educational, healthcare components and a business park, all set within a green urban master plan.

More than 7,500 homes in Aljada have already been handed over, with a further 2,000 currently under construction in Sharjah.

Also completed are two phases of the Madar family entertainment district, the Nest student housing complex and the SABIS International School-Aljada, along with a host of shopping, dining, sports and leisure facilities.

Source:https://www.arabianbusiness.com/industries/real-estate/sharjah-real-estate-arada-launches-sales-of-660-home-safa-project-in-aljada

CEOs in the UAE and Saudi Arabia are among the most confident globally about revenue growth in 2025, as revealed in PwC’s 28th Annual CEO Survey.

Yet the survey also finds that regional chief executives are acutely aware of the huge wave of disruptive change, primarily driven by AI, climate challenges and an intensifying competition over new domains of growth as industry lines blur.

In summary, the survey reveals that the region’s CEOs are striking a difficult balance between capturing the significant market opportunities today while also reinventing their businesses for tomorrow.

UAE and Saudi CEOs confident

PwC’s annual survey of CEOs globally and across the Middle East reflects the collective voice of business leaders, offering valuable insights into the opportunities they see, the challenges they face and the path forward.

This year the survey captured more Middle East responses than ever before, with almost 300 chief executives sharing their views.

The regional findings reveal strong confidence amongst CEOs in their companies’ revenue growth, with those in the GCC particularly optimistic about revenue growth in 2025 (at 90 per cent).

61 per cent of GCC CEOs also expect to increase headcount this year, compared to just 42 per cent of their global peers, and up from 55 per cent in 2024.

However, one third (34 per cent) cited skills shortages as a major concern.

Hani Ashkar, PwC Middle East Senior Partner, said: “The Middle East’s optimism reflects a remarkable ability to adapt and innovate in the face of global challenges. CEOs in the region are adopting bold strategies to drive growth and competitiveness, advance sustainability and integrate AI into their businesses.

“These efforts are reinforcing the region’s role as a dynamic hub for business and investment, ensuring long-term value creation for stakeholders and communities alike.”

For our CEOs the urgency to reinvent is clear. A striking 60 per cent of regional CEOs now believe their businesses will not survive “within the next 10 years or less” without significant adaptation.

This is a notable increase from last year, when less than half expressed similar concerns.

CEOs in the Middle East recognise that traditional models of business are increasingly unsustainable in the face of transformative catalytic shifts, primarily driven by AI, the climate crisis and industry convergence.

A notable 88 per cent of GCC CEOs have adopted GenAI in the last 12 months, exceeding global averages and reflecting greater confidence in the technology’s potential.

70 per cent of GCC CEOs also believe that GenAI will increase profitability in 2025. On climate, 79 per cent of regional CEOs have initiated climate-friendly investments in the last five years.

Also, CEOs recognise that there is fierce competition over new domains of growth as industry lines blur.

This is highlighted by 43 per cent of regional CEOs indicating that they are already competing in new sectors or industries, 53 per cent have targeted a new customer base within the last five years and 72 per cent expect to do a deal outside of their industry or sector in the next three years.

Stephen Anderson, Partner, Middle East Strategy Leader, PwC Middle East said: “Middle East CEOs are more confident than their global peers, capturing the significant market opportunities in our region, while also proactively reinventing their businesses.

“Our confident CEOs are embracing AI, adapting their businesses for the opportunities and threats associated with climate change and fiercely competing outside of their industry to capture new value domains.”

CEOs in the Middle East cite cyber risks, geopolitical conflict, tech disruption and a shortage of skilled workers among their main concerns for 2025.

Alongside growth and reinvention, regional CEOs remain vigilant over the increasing threat landscape.

GCC CEOs cited cyber security as their main concern, closely followed by geopolitical risk, macroeconomic volatility and technological disruption.

UAE CEOs are confident and increasingly active on the global stage

90 per cent of CEOs are confident of revenue growth in 2025
60 per cent of CEOs expect to increase headcount within 12 months
Global CEOs rank the UAE as the seventh most attractive destination for investment, further solidifying its position as a key player in the global economy
93 per cent of CEOs have adopted AI in the last 12 months
63 per cent of UAE CEOs plan to make at least one acquisition over the next three years
Saudi CEOs have a vision for sustained growth

98 per cent of CEOs are confident of revenue growth in 2025
70 per cent of CEOs expect to increase headcount within 12 months
81 per cent of CEOs have adopted AI in the last 12 months
64 per cent of CEOs plan to make at least one acquisition over the next three years
Qatar CEOS are focussing on emerging opportunities

87 per cent of CEOs are confident of revenue growth in 2025
53 per cent of CEOs expect to increase headcount within 12 months
90 per cent of CEOs have adopted AI in the last 12 months
33 per cent of CEOs have begun competing in new industries or sectors in the past five years
Oman CEOs are working for positive economic growth and climate action

87 per cent of CEOs are confident of revenue growth in 2025
69 per cent of CEOs expect to increase headcount within 12 months
87 per cent of CEOs have adopted AI in the last 12 months
36 per cent of CEOs have begun competing in new industries or sectors in the last five years
Egypt CEOs expect a strong recovery and have an optimistic outlook

88 per cent of CEOs are confident of revenue growth in 2025
69 per cent of CEOs expect to increase headcount within 12 months
78 per cent of CEOs have adopted AI in the last 12 months
56 per cent of CEOs have begun competing in new industries or sectors in the last five years
Jordan CEOs want economic resilience amid regional challenges

75 per cent of CEOs are confident of revenue growth in 2025
50 per cent of CEOs expect to increase headcount within 12 months
82 per cent of CEOs have adopted AI in the last 12 months
54 per cent of CEOs have begun competing in new industries or sectors in the last five years

SOURCE:https://www.arabianbusiness.com/ceo/pwc-ceo-survey-2025-uae-and-saudi-bosses-planning-new-hires-and-expecting-more-revenue-amid-optimism-despite-ai-and-climate-disruption