Saudi Arabia
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Saudi Arabia 2013|2014 Discovering Business in association with Copyright © Allurentis Limited 2013. All rights reserved. Allurentis is delighted to have been involved in association with UK Trade & Investment and the Committee for International Trade on this, the first edition of Saudi Arabia - Discovering Business, and would like to thank all sponsoring organisations for their kind contributions. Saudi Arabia is a hugely exciting market and with our deep rooted relationship the potential for business is vast. We are confident that this publication will raise awareness with all readers and prove to be an invaluable resource. Electronic copies of this publication may be downloaded from Allurentis Limited's website at www.allurentis.com, provided that the use of any copy so downloaded, complies with the terms and conditions specified on the website. Except as expressly stated above, no part of this publication may be copied, reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior permission in writing from Allurentis Limited. To enquire about obtaining permission for uses other than those permitted above, please contact Allurentis by sending an email to [email protected] Photos courtesy of: www.istockphoto.com | www.shutterstock.com Contents Messages USINESS HRH Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf Al Saud: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to the UK 4 B Sir John Jenkins KCMG LVO: British Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 5 Introduction Saudi Arabia - a story of continuing economic development 6 Map of cities & provinces 10 ISCOVERING Facilitating Organisations How UK Trade & Investment can help 12 The Saudi Committee for International Trade: Building bridges and expanding trade 14 D : 2013 Business - Legal - Finance Saudi Arabia: Creates major opportunities for investors - PwC 16 RABIA A Doing business in Saudi Arabia - Squire Sanders 23 UK plays major role in liberalisation of Saudi financial sector 28 AUDI Risk and reward: the Saudi Arabian challenge - Kroll Advisory Solutions 32 S Energy New energy investment focuses on value added refinery capacity 36 Renewables are essential to bridging the Saudi energy gap 40 Industry and Manufacturing Broadening industrial strategy is vital 44 Pioneering development of new economic cities continues 48 Infrastructure - Construction - Civil Engineering 150 years of engineering excellence - Hyder Consulting 52 Wide ranging opportunities from port expansion programme 57 Looking to the future in Saudi Arabia - Parsons Brinckerhoff 60 Huge investment in water infrastructure is crucial 63 Environmental Management For environmental management BeeA’h means business 66 Mining Major development of mineral wealth 70 Transport New rail lines herald Saudi transport revolution 74 Air traffic growth fuels major airport expansion programme 77 Retail Retail expansion reflects rapid economic growth 81 Healthcare Investment targets improve healthcare provision 85 Education Education spending rises to meet needs of youthful population 89 Defence & Security UK remains a strong partner in Saudi defence needs 93 Telecoms Telecoms market undergoes rapid expansion 97 Tourism Tourism strategy for both international and domestic markets 101 Trade Organisations The Arab-British Chamber of Commerce 105 British Expertise 106 The Middle East Association 107 Key Facts 108 Featured Contacts 111 3 SAUDI ARABIA: 2013 DISCOVERING BUSINESS HRH Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf Al Saud: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to the UK Saudi Arabia is the United Kingdom’s largest trading largest producer and exporter of oil and holds the largest partner in the Middle East and North Africa region proven oil reserves. We are continually growing and (MENA). Our long standing good friendship is developing plans to expand and diversify our economic underpinned by a thriving historic trading relationship and industrial base. It is an exciting time to be doing as well as our common interests in international business in Saudi Arabia. We are already involved in stability and security. more than 200 joint ventures with UK companies. They This new publication Discovering Business in Saudi include a growing number of 'blue chip' British Arabia highlights this trading relationship and the huge companies working in law, mining, the railway sector, opportunities for British business in the Kingdom in all water and engineering and there is room for more. sectors: from oil, gas, construction and finance to The figures speak for themselves, ours is already a education, health, and housing. proven business relationship; we want it to be even Saudi Arabia is the largest economy in the MENA better. As the Saudi Committee for International Trade region and a member of the G20, OPEC and, since (SCIT) recently told a delegation of businessmen and 2005, of the WTO. According to the World Bank we are parliamentarians visiting the Kingdom, we want to see the 13th most economically competitive country in the more British involvement in the large scale projects in world. We are an emerging regional market in the the Kingdom. midst of a massive development programme, building Alongside the SCIT the Embassy will provide you with new industrial cities as well as further developing our the bridge to doing business in the Kingdom. The current infrastructure to meet the needs of the 21st Commercial Office at the Embassy of the Kingdom of century and of our growing young population. Saudi Arabia in London welcomes enquiries from We want to see UK businesses and investment at the new and long standing business partners. Come heart of that development. Our industry is focused and do business with us and you will be welcomed around our natural resources. Saudi Arabia is the world’s as friends. 4 ESSAGES M Sir John Jenkins KCMG LVO: British Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia I am delighted to have been invited to provide a I am pleased that many new UK companies are now foreword to the 2013 edition of Discovering Business setting up operations here in response to the in Saudi Arabia. opportunities available. Maximising local content and employment of Saudi nationals is increasingly the The UK has a strong and historic relationship with route to successful business here. Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom remains our largest trading partner in the Middle East. With a population ‘Discovering Business in Saudi Arabia 2013’ will reach of some 28 million and GDP increasing by some 6% a strong target audience of companies and individuals a year, the Saudi market is an important source of high interested in doing business in the Kingdom. This value opportunities. publication will be distributed at major conferences, trade missions and road shows relating to Saudi Arabia UK companies are already pursuing a wide range of and will also be available online. The overviews of key investment opportunities in Saudi Arabia in a range of sectors and business opportunities provide up to date sectors including education, healthcare, infrastructure information about high value projects and signpost and financial services. readers to sources of information, advice and support. Britain is the Kingdom’s second largest cumulative I also encourage companies to contact my investor, with approximately 200 joint ventures worth experienced UK Trade & Investment team in Saudi an estimated £11.5 billion. UK exports of goods to Arabia which is well equipped to advise British Saudi Arabia amounted to some £3.26 billion in 2012: companies wishing to enter and compete in the Saudi an increase of 6% on the previous year: with an market, as well as to help Saudi companies looking for estimated further £3 billion in exports of services. UK partners. There is considerable Saudi investment in the UK. Saudi exports to the UK rose by 42% to £1.75 billion I hope you will find this Guide useful. Good luck in during the same period. your endeavours here! 5 SAUDI ARABIA: 2013 DISCOVERING BUSINESS Saudi Arabia - a story of continuing economic development Fortified by record hydrocarbon revenues and massive financial plans include thousands of kilometres of new roads and railways, as reserves of more than US$500 billion, Saudi Arabia has the ability to well as airport expansion, new urban transport systems, investments in continue spending heavily on developing its economy for many years water, sewerage, electricity plants, telecoms and the IT sector and the ahead, regardless of the price of oil. construction of four million new homes. Within the next three years new phosphates, aluminium and iron Leading investment areas also include development of oil & gas smelting industries will add billions of dollars annually to the facilities, the petrochemicals sector, mining and the development of economy. Much of this new industrial and business development in the new economic cities. Kingdom is intended to be led or achieved in partnership with both The non-oil economy is of growing importance, with petrochemical domestic and foreign investors. sales at around US$12 billion a year. Saudi Basic Industries Prospects for increased trade and investment between the UK and Corporation (SABIC) has achieved production in excess of 50 million Saudi Arabia are significant and growing as a result. The Kingdom is tonnes a year of chemicals and intermediates, industrial polymers, ranked eighth among the world’s ten high growth economies by the fertilisers and metals and is a significant force in the global International Monetary Fund (IMF). petrochemicals market. Regular visits at Prime Ministerial and Ministerial level underline the SABIC, is 70% government owned and the Kingdom’s biggest and importance of the bilateral relationship, while continuing close contact most diversified manufacturing company, active in chemicals and between the British and Saudi Royal families highlights the depth of intermediates, industrial polymers, fertilisers and metals. the relationship. A joint venture of the country’s oil producer, Saudi Aramco and Dow The country’s 2013 national budget illustrates the need for Saudi Chemical, will add to petrochemical output when a US$20 billion Arabia to remain a key target for British export efforts.