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The Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (Sama) has announced plans to launch a real estate refinancing company with SR5bn ($1.3bn) of capital to help develop the kingdom's mortgage market. The company will be launched through the government's Public Investment Fund (PIF) or its subsidiaries, said Sama governor, Fahad al-Mubara.

Ernst & Young conducted an analysis of housing affordability, as measured by “residual income” (household budget available after paying for housing) across the Middle East. The report shows that UAE and Qatar achieve higher levels of housing affordability for nationals, while citizens of Saudi Arabia have lower residual incomes. The report suggests that it is time for governments to make step changes in their delivery models, and in particular, to shift into a more outsourced and collaborative approach with the private sector on both the supply side (new homes) and the demand side (financing products).

Fitch Ratings has assigned Saudi Electricity Company's (SEC) upcoming international Sukuk issue a 'AA-(EXP)' expected rating. The rating is in line with SEC's 'AA-' Long-term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) and senior unsecured rating and SEC's 2012, 2010, 2009 and 2007 Sukuks' ratings. The Sukuk will be issued on an unsecured and unsubordinated basis. Among other aspects, the Sukuk benefits from a negative pledge and a cross default clause. Proceeds of the issuance will be used for general corporate purposes.

Tarek Ali Fadaak, a member of the Shoura Council, said the Kingdom is in need of 143,000 housing units annually. He commended the "constructive steps" taken to end the housing problem with the 500,000-unit free housing project and the adoption of a housing strategy that seeks to facilitate every citizen owning a house, in addition to the launch of the mortgage law and the Real Estate Development Fund facility. By contrast, Tunisia's Housing Minister Shahida Faraj Bouraoui said that the Tunisian government's efforts in the housing sector focuses on encouraging private companies to invest in the housing sector. Jaime Lerner, former governor of the state of Parana, Brazil, warned decision makers that their housing strategies should consider people's tastes.

Saudi Electricity Co has chosen Deutsche Bank and HSBC Holdings to schedule meetings with fixed income investors from Europe and North America for possible debt agreements. The meetings would be considered as road shows, with the first to be held on March 19 in Los Angeles, CA and would end in London, UK by March 25 of this year. After these road shows, a dollar denominated bond issue would then follow depending on market conditions.

The GAVI Alliance and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to help save children’s lives by accelerating the introduction of life-saving vaccines in IDB member countries. The MoU was signed by Dr Seth Berkley, GAVI Alliance CEO, and Dr Ahmad Mohamed Ali, Islamic Development Bank Group Chairman. By 2020, GAVI plans to vaccinate more than 400 million children in at least 29 member countries. An estimated US$ 7 billion will be required to reach this target. IDB will work closely with GAVI to help secure sufficient funds for immunisation.

Azeemeh Zaheer, vice president at the London-based Gatehouse Bank, has called on Saudi businesswomen to invest funds that are kept frozen in banks. According to the expert, with the accumulation of wealth, globalization and openness, women have begun to invest their funds and try to overcome all traditional barriers which limit their (financial) independence. She said women in GCC countries retain more than 300 billion and if 15 percent of that money, or 45 billion, invested in London, it would be a big success for shariah-compliant Gatehouse Bank.

The Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (Sama) has decided to allow foreign financing firms to operate in the kingdom in order to boost the real estate financing sector, Saudi Gazette has reported. This will be in accordance with the provisions of the land mortgage law, said Sama governor, Fahad al-Mubarak.

The Turkish Economy Minister Zafer Ça?lyan signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the members of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) on March 2 during a recent visit to Saudi Arabia. Through the MoU, he is aiming to form new trade and investment ties with the Islamic world. It includes the detection of fields of cooperation between the countries to encourage bilateral trade and investments. Moreover, Ça?layan called for Turkish contractors to take a share from Saudi Arabian infrastructure investments in order to reach $1 trillion in 20 years.

Saudi Almarai Co picks NCB Capital to arrange local currency sukuk. The dairy group Almarai is going to hold meetings with the Saudi investors over next two weeks.

Aljazira Capital Co., the investment arm of Saudi Arabia’s Bank Al-Jazira (BJAZ), hired Samer Al-Jaouni as head of institutional brokerage and assistant general manager. He will start at the bank after regulatory approval. Aljazira Capital is one of about 30 brokerages in Saudi Arabia.

The markets for Islamic banking, insurance and sukuk bonds have all seen solid growth in recent years, but the sharia-compliant fund industry remains tiny. According to Hasan Al Jabri, chief executive of Saudi Arabia’s Sedco Capital, the growth of sharia-compliant investment has been stunted by a reputation for a lack of diversity, poor performance and high fees. Since May 2012, Sedco Capital has been building what is believed to be the largest sharia-compliant fund platform in Luxembourg. Its five vehicles hold $900m of assets. Sedco is currently launching two more vehicles. Mr Al Jabri emphasized that their investments are responsible, help creating value for the economy and jobs.

The CMA Board has issued its resolution approving Bank Albilad’s request to increase its capital from SAR (3,000,000,000) to SAR (4,000,000,000) through issuance of bonus shares. One bonus share will be issued for every (3) existing shares owned by the shareholders who are registered in the shareholders registry at the close of trading on the day of the extraordinary general assembly. Such increase will be paid by transferring an amount of SAR (1,000,000,000) from retained earnings account to the Company's capital. Consequently, increasing the Company's outstanding shares from (300,000,000) shares to (400,000,000) shares, by an increase of (100,000,000) shares.

Saudi Arabia issued final regulations on real estate financing, leasing and supervision of financial companies. The regulations outlining three of the five laws were posted Sunday on the website of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency. Rules on the enforcement of foreclosures and mortgage registrations have yet to be completed. The package goes into effect when regulations for the two remaining laws are finished and once the final version of the legislation are publicized in the official newspaper, which should be in the next few weeks. The regulations bar mortgage lenders from providing loans for other purposes and prohibit home-financing providers from developing property.

The selection meeting for the 8th edition of the Islamic Development Bank prize for "Women's Contribution to Development" was held on February 18-20 2013 at the bank's head office in Saudi Arabia. The annual IDB Prize for Women's Contribution to Development is one of the many activities the bank engages in for the purpose of socio-economic development of societies. Effat University (EU) was entrusted to be the Academic Consultant hence handle the screening and short listing of candidates. There were two categories of prizes, one for individuals that carries a cash award of 50,000 US dollars, and another for organisations with a 100,000 US dollars award. For this year, the Panel received 108 files.

Women are starting to play an increasingly influential role in the family businesses of the Gulf region that account for approximately 90 percent of commercial activity there. As women become more economically independent, the decision-making process has shifted to incorporate women's interests and motivations. However, it is essential that women are fully equipped with the right knowledge, tools and skills. Therefore, Gatehouse Bank has initiated a corporate social responsibility project to promote financial literacy among women in the GCC. The bank shares its skills and knowledge with women in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar.

Al Rajhi Bank has launched a new online banking portal to provide its customers with online self-service tools. The new internet banking platform is built using Backbase's Bank 2.0 Portal technology and implemented by Al Rajhi's IT department in partnership with Thales. Backbase allows the banking client to be in control of their portal and makes it possible for Al Rajhi customers to customize their banking interface to their personal needs and preferences. For the e-business side, Backbase allows for cross- and up-sell capabilities along with the ability to target relevant content and functionality to the right customer segments and individual customers.

Saudi Arabia has appointed Mohammad al-Sheikh to head the Capital Market Authority, replacing Abdulrahman al-Tuwaijri, who had been at the helm of the agency since 2006. Mr Sheikh’s financial and legal background should help with his new role as the kingdom pushes forward with its plans to open up its nearly $400bn stock market to direct international buyers for the first time. This appointment is the latest in a series of reshuffles in the financial and political teams in Saudi Arabia, shifting towards private sector expertise.

The Saudi Capital Market Authority (CMA) has said the number of real estate investment funds in the kingdom has so far reached 58 funds and there has been tremendous turnout among real estate developers and investors to float more funds. The market regulator has issued guidelines to regulate investments in this sector to avoid non-organised real estate investment, which has had a negative impact on many citizens in a bid to streamline group investment on the real estate sector and allow investors, especially young and small categories.

Saudi Arabia has led the way in developing pristine new cities devoted to specialized industries through a proposed public/private endeavor. Under development are four Economic Cities, Each of the them has a different private developer. The Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) is consigned the role of attracting and processing foreign direct investment. The Economic Cities Authority is designed to regulate but not develop the new cities. The projects are intended to bring in modern technology, management skills, corporate governance and new industries so that the Kingdom is no longer dependent on oil and gas.