The Tadawul All Share Index in Saudi Arabia saw a positive shift, gaining 102 points to close at 12,271.77, helped by Riyad Bank’s successful $750 million sukuk listing on the London Stock Exchange and Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Services Group’s SR1.3 billion financing agreement with Al Rajhi Bank. Interestingly, the MSCI Tadawul Index recorded a slight drop, closing at 1,532.

Following this financial update, Saudi Arabia is also making headlines for its call to united global action on climate change at the Rio Trio Initiative event during the UN General Assembly — leading up to its hosting of COP16 in December, focusing efforts on restoring vast areas of degraded land by 2030.

Speaking of major initiatives, Saudi Arabia’s SPARK has attracted a remarkable $3 billion in investments, positioning itself as a sustainable energy hub and planning to host 300 industrial and service facilities over a substantial 50 square kilometers, under the management of Saudi Aramco.

Additionally, reinforcing its environmental agenda, Saudi Arabia, alongside Colombia and Azerbaijan, launched the "Rio Trio Initiative" at the UN General Assembly, aiming to integrate and intensify global efforts in combating climate change, biodiversity loss, and land degradation — reflecting the trio’s commitment for collaborative environmental solutions.

In another significant effort, KSrelief and UNDP signed a $3.5 million agreement at the UN General Assembly, targeting improvements in water and sanitation for over 5 million residents in Sudan’s Kassala and Gedaref states by constructing and refurbishing water stations and distributing essential supplies.

Turning to international conflict, tensions escalated as Ukraine launched a large-scale drone offensive targeting Russia, resulting in the interception of 125 drones across seven regions. Meanwhile, Russian airstrikes injured 16 civilians in Zaporizhzhia, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy decrying these attacks on the anniversary of the Babyn Yar massacre.