
Saudi: Two MEIRA's members collaborate to advance regional IR innovation, serve listed firms
Being members of the Middle East Investor Relations Association (MEIRA), both firms will launch a co-branded bilingual IR Platform tailored to clients in Saudi Arabia, according to a press release.
The new solution is themed as 'Powered by Sahmik × Elevare360' and will integrate real-time market data, ESG dashboards, and institutional-grade reporting tools into state-of-the-art IR websites.
Sahmik platform is already trusted by major GCC listed companies, and is expected to offer Saudi issuers a digital gateway to articulate their equity story, meet disclosure requirements, and actively engage shareholders. It will further support the region's digital transformation drive to attract long-term capital and position listed companies for global visibility.
Moreover, the partnership reflects the rising prominence of the Saudi stock market and the abundant opportunities it presents for regional and international investors.
Co-Founder and COO of Elevare360, Mishal Al Harbi, said: 'This partnership underscores our conviction that data-driven investor-relations (IR) solutions are essential for Saudi companies that want to attract and retain both institutional and retail investors.'
Al Harbi noted: 'By deploying these cutting-edge tools, we can help transform the Kingdom's capital market. Together with Sahmik, we're equipping issuers to be more transparent, investor-ready, and fully aligned with the ambitions of Vision 2030.'
It is worth noting that 2024 saw 44 new listings that raised the Saudi Exchange's (Tadawul) total to 353 companies compared with 247 Main-Market names at the end of 2023.
'Momentum is set to accelerate, with forecasts from Al Rajhi Capital, EY, and others projecting 50–60 IPOs across 2025–26,' according to the statement.
The partnership, meanwhile, is initially focused on Saudi Arabia and Qatar with plans to expand across the broader GCC in response to growing demand for digital IR tools and localized advisory services.
Syndigate.info).
Hashtags

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


Zawya
17 minutes ago
- Zawya
Union Properties reports 44% gross profit growth in H1 2025, signs AED 700mln sale agreement
Dubai, UAE – Union Properties PJSC ('Union Properties' or 'the Company') (DFM: UPP) today announced its financial results for the second quarter of 2025, showcasing continued momentum in its transformation journey and solid progress across key operational and financial indicators. The Company reported AED 152.4 million in gross revenue for Q2 2025, representing a 19% year-on-year increase from AED 128 million in Q2 2024. Gross profit surged to AED 32.9 million, up 77.84% compared to the same period last year, reflecting improved operational efficiency and margin recovery. For the first half of 2025, Union Properties recorded AED 316 million in total revenue, up from AED 266 million in H1 2024, and AED 75.6 million in gross profit - representing a 44% increase over the AED 52.6 million reported in the same period last year. Eng. Amer Khansaheb, Chief Executive Officer and Board Member of Union Properties PJSC, commented: 'We are pleased to report another quarter of meaningful progress in our transformation. The first-half results reflect the strength of our operating fundamentals and our ongoing commitment to long-term value creation. While we continue to invest in scaling up our development business and digitizing our operations, the financial impact of these strategic steps will unfold over the coming quarters.' The Company noted that its overhead expenses increased in H1 2025, primarily due to two factors: The early-stage nature of the real estate development cycle, where costs are incurred upfront while project revenues are expected to materialize progressively over the next three years. A significant investment in digital transformation, addressing legacy technology gaps and modernizing systems across the Group to support future growth. As part of its ongoing debt management plan, Union Properties announced in Q2 its intention to repay AED 150 million in bank debt. However, only AED 20 million was repaid prior to quarter-end, with the remaining AED 130 million scheduled for repayment in Q3 2025 due to the timing of cash receipts after the quarter's close. A key strategic highlight of Q2 was the signing of a conditional sale agreement worth AED 700 million for a major real estate asset in Motor City. This landmark transaction is expected to be financially recognized in Q4 2025 and forms a cornerstone of the Company's strategy to unlock value from its land bank and strengthen its balance sheet. While net profit for Q2 2025 stood at AED 8.74 million, lower than the same period last year, the decline is attributed to front-loaded investments in development activities and infrastructure upgrades. Notably, financial costs decreased to AED 14.28 million in the first half of 2025 from AED 15 million in H1 2024. Union Properties remains focused on executing its AED 5 billion+ development pipeline and delivering sustained value to shareholders through prudent capital allocation, revenue diversification, and operational transformation.


Khaleej Times
17 minutes ago
- Khaleej Times
Money Without Borders: How Visa is Powering the Future of Cross-Border Payments
Salima Gutieva, Visa's VP and Country Manager for UAE, shares insights on the money flows in the GCC region, revealing why UAE banks should pay closer attention In a region where economic ties transcend national borders, cross-border remittances have long been the financial backbone of both personal and business relationships. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), where billions of dollars move annually across countries, linking families, businesses, and entire economies. Yet despite their essential role, cross-border payments remain burdened by legacy infrastructure, regulatory complexity, and inefficiencies that no longer align with the expectations of today's digital-first consumers. According to the World Bank, the GCC is one of the most active remittance corridors in the world, and the demand for faster, more transparent, and more flexible payment solutions is only growing. In this evolving landscape, Visa is at the forefront of innovation. Salima Gutieva, Vice President and Country Manager for Visa UAE, offers insight into how solutions like Visa Direct and Visa+ are helping bridge longstanding gaps in the system, turning what was once a slow, opaque process into a seamless, user-centric experience. Question: The GCC region is among the most active remittance corridors globally, with billions of dollars transferred annually. Cross-border payments have been described as both a lifeline and a bottleneck. Why does something so essential remain so complex? Answer: It's a fair question. Moving money across borders should be as easy as sending a message, but legacy infrastructure, inconsistent regulations, and patchy connectivity make it harder than it needs to be. If you're a family trying to get funds to loved ones, or a business managing supplier payments across countries, delays and high fees are more than an inconvenience. They're a real strain. That's the gap we're trying to close. Question: The global payments space is becoming increasingly interconnected. From a user's point of view, how does that growing reach affect the way people send and receive money? Answer: It's a great question, and it really comes down to optionality. What people want is to choose how they send and receive funds, be it through a card, a bank account, or a mobile wallet and know it will work smoothly. That's where Visa Direct comes in. It enables that flexibility by connecting to more than 11 billion endpoints globally, whether cards, bank accounts, or digital wallets. It's designed to give people access on their terms, through the channels they already use and trust. So, for someone in the UAE, for instance, who wants to send money to a family member abroad, that could mean choosing the method that works best for both sides, without worrying about whether it'll land or how long it'll take. The goal is simplicity without compromise. Question: You've talked about flexibility and ease of use becoming the norm. What's made that shift possible in cross-border payments? Answer: That shift is being driven by a combination of evolving user expectations and foundational infrastructure improvements. Speed is just one part of it. Today, people want transparency, knowing when their money will arrive, and confidence that it won't get stuck in a multi-day process. We're enabling near real-time transfers across more than 190 countries and territories, but more importantly, we're making that process feel human. In the UAE, for example, many consumers now expect to send money using only a phone number, thanks to tools like Visa+. That kind of progress matters. It reduces errors, builds trust, and reshapes how we think about cross-border payments. Question: You mentioned Visa+ as an example of this evolution. What kind of impact is it having on how people think about sending money? Answer: Alias-based transfers are about ease and trust. They're particularly useful in regions like the GCC, where people are often sending money to friends, relatives, or partners within the same network. We started with UAE, Bahrain, and Qatar and we're seeing strong interest across other corridors. Eventually, we want this to be a standard across key remittance flows - send money to a name or phone number, not a string of account digits. Question: With evolving expectations and a digitally fluent population, how do you see remittance services adapting in the UAE? Answer: Money that moves quickly moves economies. Over half of intra-GCC remittances go toward business activities, from purchasing goods to real estate deals. When those transfers are slow or expensive, business slows too. But when they're fast, reliable, and affordable, they create momentum. They encourage trade, investment, and deeper economic ties across the region. In that sense, seamless payments aren't just a financial issue. They're a strategic advantage. In the UAE, we're seeing remittance services shift toward greater speed, flexibility, and responsiveness to individual user needs. It's not just about faster transactions. It's about smarter ones. Consumers want the ability to schedule transfers, receive real-time updates, and adjust payments on the go. Mobile-first platforms that offer intuitive interfaces and language preferences are becoming the norm. For UAE consumers - especially younger and digitally fluent users - the expectation is that sending money should feel like any other digital interaction – quick, secure, and controlled by the user. Regulation is also playing a role in enabling these innovations, helping create a space where trust and ease can coexist. What kind of ripple effects do you think that will have – on people's daily lives or on the broader financial system? Even small improvements can go a long way. When sending money to a friend or supplier in another country feels as simple as paying for coffee, it changes what people expect from financial services. These moments build resilience, strengthen relationships, and open up new opportunities both for individuals and the broader economy. That's the impact we're aiming for.

Emirates 24/7
17 minutes ago
- Emirates 24/7
Dubai Municipality conducts 34700 food inspections in the first half of 2025
Dubai Municipality has announced significant achievements in food safety and inspection efforts during the first half of 2025, conducting 34,700 inspection visits across food establishments throughout the emirate. These inspections ensured compliance with approved health regulations and safety standards, reaffirming the Municipality's pivotal role in protecting public health and ensuring the availability of safe, high-quality food in Dubai. These efforts form part of the Municipality's broader mission to build an integrated and sustainable food system that improves quality of life for residents and visitors alike, while supporting Dubai's vision of becoming one of the most liveable and future-ready cities in the world. The first half of 2025 also saw exceptional growth in the food sector, with the opening of approximately 2,336 new food establishments. This expansion reinforces Dubai's reputation as a leading destination for investment in the food and hospitality industries. At the same time, around 173,775 food shipments — totalling 4.9 million tons — were cleared through Dubai's ports, strengthening the city's strategic role as a global food trade gateway. In addition to these milestones, Dubai Municipality cleared approximately 940,000 food items following rigorous inspections and registered around 77,700 new food products in its approved databases. These figures reflect the efficiency of the Municipality's digital food registration and inspection systems, which are aligned with international best practices and evolving safety protocols. Commenting on the achievements, Dr Sultan Al Taher, Director of the Food Safety Department at Dubai Municipality, said: 'Safeguarding food safety is a cornerstone of enhancing quality of life in the emirate. These achievements reflect the ongoing efforts by Dubai Municipality to build a comprehensive and sustainable food ecosystem that promotes well-being and consumer trust in the quality of food available in our markets. We remain committed to enforcing the highest food safety standards and establishing a benchmark model that reinforces Dubai's regional and global leadership in food safety oversight.' Dubai Municipality continues to enhance its regulatory oversight by integrating smart tools and advanced technologies to ensure food integrity across the supply chain. These initiatives are essential in keeping pace with Dubai's rapid economic and trade growth and reaffirm the city's position as a global centre that prioritises the health, safety, and happiness of its communities.