Abha, May 27, 2025 (29 Dhu al-Qa'dah 1446 AH) — Under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Turki bin Talal bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Asir region and Chairman of the Asir Development Authority, the second edition of the Asir Investment Forum opened this morning at King Khalid University's Al-Far'a campus, under the slogan "Asir Flourishes... Invest Now," with the participation of more than 1,500 guests including senior officials, investors, and local and international experts.

The forum aims to stimulate the region's investment environment and offer quality opportunities in tourism, technology, infrastructure and the creative economy, in line with Saudi Vision 2030's goals of diversifying the economy and promoting balanced development in promising regions.

At a Glance: Opening Ministerial Session

The opening ministerial session, titled "Asir Rises... An Investment Destination on the World Map," featured:

  • Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb.
  • Minister of Communications and Information Technology Eng. Abdullah Al-Swaha.
  • Qatari Minister of Municipality Abdullah Al-Attiyah. The session highlighted the role of digital infrastructure and major events — including Abha's candidacy to host the FIFA World Cup 2034 — in stimulating investment.

Notable Ministerial Participation

  • Minister of Commerce Dr. Majid Al-Qasabi addressed stimulating the business environment in Asir and the role of chambers of commerce.
  • Capital Market Authority Chairman Mohammed Elkuwaiz reviewed the role of financial markets in supporting regional development.

Forum sessions also discussed investment opportunities in areas such as sustainable tourism, digital transformation, real estate development and land planning, and cultural and creative industries.

Key Outcomes

  • The launch of "Summit of Sarawat" company as an investment arm for land development and investor engagement.
  • The unveiling of new projects presented for the first time, aimed at boosting the region's economic appeal.
  • Specialized workshops on tourism financing, legislation and investment opportunities.
  • An accompanying exhibition featuring pavilions for government bodies and major companies.
  • The signing of a number of public-private sector agreements.

The forum underscores Asir region's commitment to comprehensive development, distributing investment opportunities across governorates while preserving the region's cultural and natural character, and entrenching the principle of sustainable development and community partnership.