
Saudi Arabia Achieves 66% Grape Self-Sufficiency
This production has contributed to a 66% self-sufficiency rate, strengthening national food security and reducing reliance on imports, according to SPA.
The Kingdom's grape industry comprises over 7.1 million grape trees, with more than 6.1 million bearing fruit, underscoring the sector's productive capacity. The diversity and quality of local grape varieties have made them highly competitive in domestic markets.
This variety also supports processing industries, enabling the production of natural juices, jams, raisins, and other food products, thereby enhancing the agricultural sector's economic value in line with Vision 2030 goals.
The ministry continues to support farmers by providing access to modern technologies such as smart irrigation and organic farming practices to improve productivity, quality, and water resource efficiency.
The growth in grape production is a result of initiatives aimed at developing agricultural production chains and stimulating investment in competitive crops.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Asharq Al-Awsat
7 hours ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Syrian-Saudi Investment Forum Begins in Damascus
Under the patronage of Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, the Syrian-Saudi Investment Forum kicked off on Thursday in Damascus, attended by various ministers and officials from both countries. Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih delivered the opening speech, expressing gratitude for the hospitality extended by Syria and its people since their arrival, SPA reported. He conveyed greetings from Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, along with hopes for security and prosperity for Syria. Al-Falih emphasized that the directive from the Crown Prince to visit Syria with a delegation, comprising representatives from both the government and private sectors of Saudi Arabia, highlights the Kingdom's strong support for Syria in its journey towards economic growth, prosperity, and sustainable development. He stated, "We are not here to build new relationships; strong social, cultural, and economic ties have long connected our two countries. Historically, the Arabian Peninsula and the Levant were vital links in global trade through the Silk, Spice, and Incense Routes. Saudi Arabia and Syria have shared strong social, economic, and political ties. Recent meetings between the Crown Prince and the Syrian President aimed to strengthen this bond and create new opportunities for cooperation, highlighting the Kingdom's commitment to enhancing economic and investment relations with Syria." The minister noted that over 20 government entities and 100 leading private sector companies from Saudi Arabia are present at the forum, investing in various sectors, including energy, infrastructure, financial services, healthcare, agriculture, as well as communications and information technology. He announced that 47 agreements, valued at approximately SAR24 billion, will be signed, covering various fields including real estate, finance, and tourism. Al-Falih also stressed that the forum reflects the belief that the private sector is a key partner in achieving mutual goals between the two countries. It encourages Saudi and international investors to explore opportunities in Syria and contribute to its strategic projects, thereby fostering mutual benefits across vital sectors. He highlighted that agreements exceeding SAR11 billion will be signed in infrastructure and real estate. This includes the establishment of over three new cement factories, aimed at securing essential raw materials for construction and enhancing self-sufficiency in this critical area. In the telecommunications sector, Al-Falih stated that the forum marked the beginning of cooperation between the Syrian Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and Syrian tech companies on one side, and leading Saudi companies—such as Elm, stc, GO Telecom, Cipher, Classera—on the other. This collaboration aims to develop digital infrastructure, enhance cybersecurity capabilities, and build advanced ecosystems in artificial intelligence, data centers, and educational academies. Agreements in this sector are estimated to be worth approximately SAR4 billion. Al-Falih described Syria's agricultural sector as rich with potential in modern farming, grain production, organic products, and food supply chains. He expressed eagerness to collaborate with the Syrian side to develop innovative joint projects, including model farms and processing industries, as well as knowledge and technology exchange. He also addressed the financial services and remittance sector, which will witness, at the event, the signing of a memorandum of understanding today between the Saudi Tadawul Group and the Damascus Securities Exchange. This agreement aims to enhance cooperation in financial technologies, dual listings, data exchange, and the establishment of investment and transfer funds that will stimulate investment in Syria. The minister commended the positive and active role played by over 2,600 Syrian entrepreneurs in the Kingdom, noting that direct investments by Syrian investors in Saudi Arabia have reached nearly SAR10 billion. He emphasized their major role in building the new Syria and its growing economy. He said, "These figures are only the beginning and do not reflect our ambitions. We must work together, closely and cohesively, to grow and elevate these figures in line with the efforts of our two nations to build a better future for our peoples." Al-Falih also praised the positive steps taken by the Syrian government to improve the investment climate, foremost among them the amendment of the Investment Law on June 24, 2025, which grants investors more guarantees and incentives, facilitates procedures, and enhances transparency. As a reflection of the Kingdom's commitment to fostering investment in Syria, Al-Falih announced the establishment of the Saudi-Syrian Business Council, composed of a select group of business leaders. The council aims to drive economic cooperation, activate partnerships among private sector institutions in both countries, and boost Saudi investment presence in Syria's promising market. Al-Falih reiterated that the strong interest and presence of successful and pioneering Saudi companies across diverse investment sectors at the forum, along with the enthusiasm, engagement, and responsiveness witnessed from all sides in Syria. The resulting agreements across critical and high-value fields—capped by the commitment shown by the Syrian leadership and officials—are promising signs. These signs affirm that the path of cooperation and integration being launched today marks the beginning of a future filled with prosperity, growth, and development for both countries and their peoples across all fields, under the guidance and support of the leadership of both nations.


Argaam
10 hours ago
- Argaam
NDF inks SAR 5.5B credit facilities with Riyad Bank, SAB
Logo of National Development Fund (NDF) The National Development Fund (NDF) signed two credit facility agreements with Riyad Bank and Saudi Awwal Bank (SAB), at a value of SAR 5.5 billion. The facilities aim to provide more support for development projects in the Kingdom and enable its 12 development funds and banks to achieve their development goals, reinforce economic growth, and accelerate the pace of national transformation, the bank said, in a statement. It added that these partnerships represent a fundamental pillar for driving development and accelerating the achievement of the goals of Vision 2030 by supporting major projects and financing development initiatives that contribute to building a prosperous and sustainable economy for future generations.


Saudi Gazette
12 hours ago
- Saudi Gazette
Hamah joins ONE Communications and Marketing Group to advance AI-powered marketing solutions
As part of its strategic expansion, ONE Communications and Marketing Group has announced the integration of Hamah, a creative agency specializing in AI-driven marketing campaigns, into its growing ecosystem. This move reinforces the Group's commitment to consolidating its position as a leading provider of advanced communication and marketing solutions. The integration of Hamah reflects ONE's vision of building a comprehensive network of specialized services designed to deliver smart, creative solutions that leverage the power of modern technologies and artificial intelligence. This approach aims to enhance operational efficiency and effectiveness, aligning with rapid market changes and the acceleration of digital transformation. Hamah operates through its dedicated research and development arm, Hi Lab, which focuses on creating innovative solutions and applications that utilize AI to boost business performance and improve customer experiences. Eng. Tariq Almegren, Chief Investment Officer at ONE Communications and Marketing Group, commented: 'The addition of Hamah is a strategic asset to the ONE ecosystem. It strengthens our capability to deliver marketing solutions that combine human expertise with cutting-edge technology. We believe the future of marketing lies in intelligence and hyper-personalization, and this step is a confident move toward that vision.' This expansion aligns with the objectives of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, which emphasizes the adoption of modern technologies to drive business development and enhance competitiveness in key sectors, particularly communications and marketing.