
Saudi Crown Prince donates 1 billion riyals to support housing ownership
The donation on Monday came from his personal fund to the National Development Housing Foundation's Jood Eskan platform. It was ordered that the project should be completed within 12 months and implemented by national companies.
This reflects Prince Mohammed's ongoing commitment 'to ensuring a decent standard of living for all citizens', the official Saudi Press Agency reported.
It also underlines his 'dedication to the housing sector and his particular focus on supporting deserving families', added SPA.
He also directed authorities to submit monthly reports on the progress of home ownership in order to ensure that all housing units are completed within the one-year period, as well as for transparency and accountability.
Saudi Minister of Municipalities and Housing Majed Al Hogail thanked the Crown Prince for his generosity. 'A generous donation that embodies His Highness's awareness of the citizens' needs and his keenness to provide a dignified life and achieve social stability,' wrote Mr Al Hogail on X.
Jood Eskan also took to X to express gratitude for the donation, saying it reflected a 'deeply rooted approach to giving, and generous care for deserving families across various regions of the Kingdom'.
Last month, Prince Mohammed ordered measures aimed at stabilising the real estate sector, in response to rising land and rent prices in Riyadh.
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Ahmed Raza
UAE cricket captain
Age: 31
Born: Sharjah
Role: Left-arm spinner
One-day internationals: 31 matches, 35 wickets, average 31.4, economy rate 3.95
T20 internationals: 41 matches, 29 wickets, average 30.3, economy rate 6.28
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK's economic woes were blamed on 'increased global uncertainty', which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump's tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise '£6.5bn per year' for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
The specs
Engine: 4 liquid-cooled permanent magnet synchronous electric motors placed at each wheel
Battery: Rimac 120kWh Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (LiNiMnCoO2) chemistry
Power: 1877bhp
Torque: 2300Nm
Price: Dh7,500,00
On sale: Now
Long read
Mageed Yahia, director of WFP in UAE: Coronavirus knows no borders, and neither should the response
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
RESULTS
%3Cp%3E%0D%3Cstrong%3E6pm%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Marfa%20Deira%20%E2%80%93%20Conditions%20(PA)%20Dh80%2C000%20(Dirt)%201%2C200m%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EWinner%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Wadheha%2C%20Bernardo%20Pinheiro%20(jockey)%2C%20Majed%20Al%20Jahouri%20(trainer)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E6.35pm%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%20Creek%20%E2%80%93%20Maiden%20(TB)%20Dh82%2C500%20(D)%201%2C400m%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EWinner%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBarq%20Al%20Emarat%2C%20Bernardo%20Pinheiro%2C%20Ismail%20Mohammed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E7.10pm%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMina%20Hamriya%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(TB)%20Dh95%2C000%20(D)%201%2C600m%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EWinner%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Tahdeed%2C%20Dane%20O%E2%80%99Neill%2C%20Michael%20Costa%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E7.45pm%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Mina%20Rashid%20%E2%80%93%20Maiden%20(TB)%20Dh82%2C500%20(D)%201%2C900m%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EWinner%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeyaasi%2C%20Xavier%20Ziani%2C%20Salem%20bin%20Ghadayer%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E8.20pm%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAl%20Garhoud%20Sprint%20DP%20World%20%E2%80%93%20Listed%20(TB)%20Dh132%2C500%20(D)%201%2C200m%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EWinner%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Mouheeb%2C%20Ray%20Dawson%2C%20Michael%20Costa%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E8.55pm%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Mirdiff%20Stakes%20Jebel%20Ali%20Port%20%E2%80%93%20Conditions%20(TB)%20Dh120%2C000%20(D)%201%2C400m%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EWinner%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Seyouff%2C%20Antonio%20Fresu%2C%20Michael%20Costa%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E9.30pm%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Jebel%20Ali%20Free%20Zone%20%E2%80%93%20Handicap%20(TB)%20Dh95%2C000%20(D)%202%2C000m%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EWinner%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAjuste%20Fiscal%2C%20Jose%20da%20Silva%2C%20Julio%20Olascoaga%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Key facilities Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
Premier League-standard football pitch
400m Olympic running track
NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
600-seat auditorium
Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
Specialist robotics and science laboratories
AR and VR-enabled learning centres
Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
Jurassic%20Park
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESteven%20Spielberg%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sam%20Neill%2C%20Jeff%20Goldblum%20and%20Richard%20Attenborough%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%205%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Bio:
Favourite Quote: Prophet Mohammad's quotes There is reward for kindness to every living thing and A good man treats women with honour
Favourite Hobby: Serving poor people
Favourite Book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite food: Fish and vegetables
Favourite place to visit: London
Hashtags

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


Arabian Post
12 hours ago
- Arabian Post
Aramco Eyes Multi-Billion Dollar Asset Sale
Saudi energy giant Aramco is preparing to divest up to five gas-fired power plants as part of a broader strategic shift aimed at unlocking billions of dollars to bolster state revenues and maintain fiscal discipline amid softening global oil prices. The proposed sale, focused on gas-based plants supporting key refinery operations, is expected to yield approximately $4 billion, according to individuals familiar with the internal deliberations. These facilities play a critical role in Aramco's downstream network, supplying electricity and steam to refining complexes across the Kingdom. The move reflects a renewed push by the government to drive asset monetisation through its flagship energy enterprise, which remains the world's most valuable oil firm by profitability. This latest disposal initiative underscores efforts to diversify revenue streams, improve operational efficiency and maintain dividend flows to the state, despite tighter margins from subdued crude benchmarks. ADVERTISEMENT Saudi Arabia's sovereign reliance on Aramco remains substantial, with the state owning 81.5% of the company directly. Although the firm reported strong profitability metrics over the past few years, falling global oil prices have placed pressure on its balance sheet. In response, Aramco has announced plans to reduce its base dividend for the current year by nearly one-third. The payout trimming comes despite the company's earlier pledge to deliver sustainable shareholder returns through progressive dividend policy. The company's dividend obligations include a significant share payable to the government, in addition to royalties and taxes. These distributions remain a primary source of national income. Riyadh has been leaning on Aramco to continue funding major state-led economic programmes, including Vision 2030, which aims to transition the Kingdom's economy away from its overwhelming dependence on hydrocarbons. Selling power assets is part of a growing pattern of partial divestitures by Aramco, which has increasingly sought to monetise non-core infrastructure. Previous deals include the landmark $12.4 billion pipeline transaction with a global consortium led by EIG in 2021, followed by another multi-billion-dollar oil pipeline sale to a group including BlackRock and Hassana Investment Company. Both transactions highlighted investor appetite for high-yield energy assets linked to long-term supply contracts. The latest initiative follows that model, though it will likely target a different buyer segment, potentially including regional utility investors and global infrastructure funds. The plants earmarked for sale are considered stable cash generators due to their integration with Aramco's refinery operations and are expected to attract competitive bidding from international investors seeking predictable returns from energy infrastructure. The shift toward divesting energy-generating assets also aligns with broader energy market dynamics. Gas-fired plants in the Gulf region have been positioned as key transitional assets as the region adapts to climate targets while still ensuring reliable energy delivery to industrial operations. The plants in question are powered by domestically available natural gas, a relatively low-cost and lower-carbon option compared to crude-based combustion. Aramco's plans are advancing at a time when the company is carefully balancing capital expenditure with shareholder expectations and broader macroeconomic demands from the Saudi treasury. The pressure to maintain fiscal buffers amid fluctuating oil revenues has intensified scrutiny on state-owned entities to deliver higher financial returns and optimise asset portfolios. While final decisions on the number and timing of sales are yet to be made, internal planning is underway and advisory firms have been engaged to evaluate asset valuations and potential transaction structures. Analysts monitoring the Kingdom's privatisation efforts believe the deal could be structured as a sale-and-leaseback or include long-term offtake agreements that secure energy supply to Aramco's core refining assets while transferring ownership to private operators.


Middle East Eye
20 hours ago
- Middle East Eye
Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim condemns Gaza 'atrocities', expresses support for two-state solution
Malaysia on Friday expressed its "support" for France's efforts to revive the Israeli-Palestinian "two-state" solution, AFP reported. "We condemn the continued bombing and atrocities inflicted on civilians, women, and children. It is a shame that the international community is unable to put an end to them," Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said during his visit to France to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron. "I am of course interested in your initiative" to "try to resolve the ongoing conflict in Gaza", Ibrahim told Macron. Emmanuel Macron was scheduled to co-chair an international conference with Saudi Arabia at the United Nations in New York City on 17 June to revive a two-state solution, which he postponed. "The momentum we have initiated in preparation for the international conference for the implementation of the two-state solution, in conjunction with the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, must continue as quickly as possible," Macron said on Friday. Macron met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Thursday to discuss a new date. A new date is expected to be announced next week.


Gulf Today
a day ago
- Gulf Today
Trump says he expects Hamas decision in 24 hours on 'final' peace proposal
US President Donald Trump said on Friday it would probably be known in 24 hours whether the Palestinian group Hamas has agreed to accept what he has called a "final proposal" for an Israel-Hamas ceasefire in Gaza. The president also said he had spoken to Saudi Arabia about expanding the Abraham Accords, the deal on normalization of ties that his administration negotiated between Israel and some Gulf countries during his first term. Trump said on Tuesday Israel had accepted the conditions needed to finalise a 60-day ceasefire with Hamas, during which the parties will work to end the war. He was asked on Friday if Hamas had agreed to the latest ceasefire deal framework, and said: "We'll see what happens, we are going to know over the next 24 hours." A source close to Hamas said on Thursday the Islamist group sought guarantees that the new US-backed ceasefire proposal would lead to the end of Israel's war in Gaza. Two Israeli officials said those details were still being worked out. Dozens of Palestinians were killed on Thursday in Israeli strikes, according to Gaza authorities. The latest bloodshed in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict was triggered in October 2023 when Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,200 and taking about 250 hostages, Israeli tallies show. Gaza's health ministry says Israel's subsequent military assault has killed over 56,000 Palestinians. It has also caused a hunger crisis, internally displaced Gaza's entire population and prompted accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice and of war crimes at the International Criminal Court. Israel denies the accusations. A previous two month ceasefire ended when Israeli strikes killed more than 400 Palestinians on March 18. Trump earlier this year proposed a US takeover of Gaza, which was condemned globally by rights experts, the UN and Palestinians as a proposal of "ethnic cleansing." ABRAHAM ACCORDS Trump made the comments on the Abraham Accords when asked about US media reporting late on Thursday that he had met Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman at the White House. "It's one of the things we talked about," Trump said. "I think a lot of people are going to be joining the Abraham accords," he added, citing the predicted expansion to the damage faced by Iran from recent U.S. and Israeli strikes. Axios reported that after the meeting with Trump, the Saudi official spoke on the phone with Abdolrahim Mousavi, chief of Iran's General Staff of the Armed Forces. Trump's meeting with the Saudi official came ahead of a visit to Washington next week by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Reuters