His Excellency Mr Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), stated that the "Gulf Smart Investor Award" is not merely an honour for the winners, but rather a message to society that smart investment begins with knowledge, is enhanced through planning, and flourishes within a healthy and aware financial environment.
This statement was made during His Excellency's patronage of the 3rd edition of the Gulf Smart Investor Award ceremony, which is one of the initiatives of the Gulf Investment Awareness Programme "Mulim". The event was attended by His Excellency Mr Mohammed bin Abdullah El Kuwaiz, Chairman of the Board of the Saudi Capital Market Authority, along with a number of officials from the GCC countries, on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, in the city of Riyadh.
At the beginning of his address, His Excellency escalated his utmost gratitude, appreciation, and recognition to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and to His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's patronage of this award, and for the facilities and support extended to ensure the success of the Council's work.
Moreover, His Excellency acknowledged the support and attention given to joint Gulf efforts by them and Their Majesties and Highnesses, the leaders of the GCC countries.
Furthermore, His Excellency expressed his pride and honour in the initiatives of the "Mulim" programme for investment awareness in the GCC countries, recognising its pivotal role in promoting financial literacy and raising investment awareness among individuals and Gulf societies.
Besides, His Excellency pointed out that amidst the incredible acceleration and profound transformations occurring in financial markets globally and regionally, and with the opening of GCC countries to the global economy, financial literacy is no longer just marginal knowledge or an intellectual luxury.
"Instead, it has become a protective shield and an essential necessity for anyone seeking financial security and sustainable growth. Anchoring the foundations of financial awareness in our society serves as the cornerstone for building a secure and stable financial future, not only at the individual level but for the entire societal structure," His Excellency said.
His Excellency Mr Albudaiwi affirmed that this awareness empowers individuals to make informed and conscious financial decisions, contributing to the efficient management of their resources and directing them towards optimal choices.
"It also protects them from uncalculated financial risks that could undermine their financial stability. Furthermore, awareness contributes to charting clear paths towards achieving their ambitions and financial goals, whether short-term or long-term. Therefore, investing in enhancing financial literacy is truly an investment in the very core of the future of our nations and peoples. A society armed with financial knowledge is better equipped to withstand economic challenges, more dynamic in seizing opportunities, and more firmly grounded in achieving comprehensive development and desired prosperity," His Excellency stated.
Additionally, His Excellency mentioned that the Gulf financial markets witnessed positive performance in the past year, reflecting the strength of the economic structures in the GCC countries.
"The total market value of the Gulf financial markets exceeded approximately $4.2 trillion US dollars by the end of 2024. The year 2024 also saw an increase in both the number of shares traded and the value of trading; with 336.3 billion shares traded, an increase of 20.9% compared to the number of shares traded in 2023.
"The value of shares traded during 2024 amounted to approximately $682.2 billion US dollars, an increase of 28.4% compared to the previous year. This reflects the confidence of local and international investors in our countries' economies and underscores the importance of investing in spreading awareness and enhancing financial literacy to preserve the gains that have been achieved," His Excellency explained.
His Excellency concluded his speech by reiterating his thanks and appreciation to the Capital Market Authority in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its patronage and annual hosting of this award, and to its partners in this purposeful initiative.
