AlJazira Capital ranked first among 30 brokerage firms in the Saudi capital market in 2014, by acquiring 17.29 percent of the total number of trades in the market. The total traded value of AlJazira Capital reached SR742,425 billion in 2014, representing almost a 50 percent increase from the SR494,645 billion traded in 2013. "Tadawulcom", AlJazira Capital's high tech digital trading platform, is the main contributor to the successful acquisition of 21.94 percent of the total online trades in the Kingdom for 2014, especially after launching Tadawulcom application available on smartphones, thus allowing AlJazira Capital customers to trade anywhere in the world. AlJazira Capital's strategy adopts the culture of innovation and continuous improvement, hence creating a benchmark in applying new concepts and Shariah-compliant investment solutions. This was reflected by the outstanding performance of AlJazira Capital diverse funds, which recorded more than 20 percent assets increase in 2014, reaching SR2.3 billion— surpassing the 12 percent increase of the overall market performance. The company's star fund Al Taiyebat Saudi Markets Fund rose by 18.47 percent in 2014, despite a decline in the performance of the indicative index of the Fund by 7.91 percent. Alongside brokerage and asset management, the research department at AlJazira Capital provides detailed periodic and ad hoc reports on the local economy and the performance of listed companies. It also provides specialized corporate finance and custody services. Eng. Ziad Aba Al-Khail, Managing Director and CEO of AlJazira Capital, said: “Securing the first place for 2014 strengthens the leading position occupied by AlJazira Capital among brokerage firms for more than 8 years. This achievement is in line with our vision to remain in the forefront of innovation and growth and remain the broker of choice of our clients in the region.” Moving forward, the Saudi market is getting ready for the entrance of the foreign investors, Al Khail added. “This decision is a positive step toward enhancing the quality and the efficiency of the market, since only the largest and most experienced foreign investment companies will be driven to the market, given the strict and precise entry criteria imposed by the CMA, including a minimum of SR5 billion assets under management and a minimum of 5 years' experience. These regulations come in line with market expectations of attracting niche investors, given the solid Saudi economy and the demographic factors supported by the huge governmental expenditure on infrastructure, are some of the many incentives to foreign investors,” he averred. — SG
