Alternative Investments
From The Report: Saudi Arabia 2018
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Saudi Arabia’s investment environment as a whole is undergoing an overhaul, with Vision 2030 promoting private sector growth, economic diversification, improved infrastructure and a stronger legislative framework for investors. The alternative investment segment in particular should benefit from this, with enhanced rules relating to VC and PE, and a broadening range of targets likely to emerge in the coming years, while greater confidence in the country’s economic future will support fundraising. The government’s involvement through public sector company funds and support for innovation is an important element, and the symbiotic relationships being formed with international investors should benefit local players as well as global targets.

This chapter contains an interview with Khaled Al Aboodi, CEO, Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Other options: Positive economic outlook enhances venture capital and private equity opportunities
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Building on decades of experience, Saudi Arabia’s mutual fund segment continues to flourish, while opportunities are opening up for private equity (PE) and venture capital (VC), both of which are gaining increasingly strong government backing. Dealmaking is expected to continue accelerating in 2018 as investors seek new opportunities and exit options broaden. New Opportunities Investment in Saudi Arabia has traditionally focused on real estate, which remains the single most popular asset…

Analysis

Changing the game: The GCC’s first parallel equity market is expected to support business growth
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On February 26, 2017 Saudi Arabia became the first country in the Gulf region to launch a parallel equity market – Nomu, named after the Arabic word for “growth”. The new exchange is expected to attract small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and support their growth. It could be a game-changer both for budding regional businesses and investors. Objectives The main objectives of Nomu are two-fold: broaden access to capital for issuers while deepening and increasing the diversification…

Interview

Level playing field: Khaled Al Aboodi, CEO, Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD), on achieving economic diversification, and financing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
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Interview:Khaled Al Aboodi What international experiences can be applied to Saudi Arabia’s current economic challenges? KHALED AL ABOODI: Shifting the Saudi economy away from its dependence on hydrocarbons presents an immense but not insurmountable challenge. By focusing on more innovation-intensive goods and services, other states have successfully created fully diversified and internationally competitive economies. History shows that firm political commitments, consistent policy and substantial…

Analysis

Start me up: Promoting entrepreneurship, particularly technology start-ups, is a top priority for the Kingdom
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With Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 placing a strong emphasis on innovation and technology, the Kingdom’s tech start-up sector is beginning to come of age. The past decade has seen the ecosystem evolve quickly, and the recent launch of a range of new funding programmes should see it gain momentum in the coming years. Recent Performance According to ArabNet, a Beirut-based tech business platform, Saudi Arabia accounted for 18% of “digital” (i.e., technology) start-up investors in the…