Flynas IPO Falters Amid Regional Tensions

Saudi Arabia's budget carrier Flynas debuted on the Tadawul at SAR 80, raising SAR 4.1 billion, but shares closed at SAR 77.30—down over 3 %—despite an opening high of SAR 84.10 and a low of SAR 69.90.
Investors responded nervously to heightened regional instability following military activity between Iran and Israel. Across Gulf markets, risk aversion sharply impacted airline stocks: Flynas dropped roughly 3.4 % on debut, ACWA Power slipped 3.3 %, and Saudi Aramco eased by 0.3 %. Regional airspace closures disrupted operations, forcing Gulf carriers to reroute flights and ramping up costs. Earlier trading saw Flynas plunge nearly 13 % to SAR 69.90 before recovering amid volatile swings capped by Tadawul's three-day fluctuation limit.
Flynas marks the region's largest initial offering so far this year and the first by a Gulf airline in nearly two decades. The institutional tranche drew orders nearly 100 times publication, with the retail portion oversubscribed by 350 %, drawing 666,069 individual investors.
ADVERTISEMENT
Despite initial jitters, analysts stress Flynas's underlying strength. Its IPO pricing at the SAR 80 range reflects strong demand, and the airline's Saudi domestic base offers cost insulation from international fuel swings. SICO Bank remarked that while valuations were premium, the carrier's growth narrative remains compelling, even amid geopolitical uncertainty.
The IPO's success adds momentum to the kingdom's capital markets, with six main‑market offerings this year raising over $2.8 billion and four others awaiting approval. Legal advisors note that despite market turbulence, appetite for public listings in the region remains robust.
Operationally, Gulf airlines continue facing disruption. Several regional countries have closed airspace in response to conflict escalation, forcing airlines to reroute flights via longer corridors over Egypt and the Red Sea—pressuring operational efficiency. Fuel costs have jumped in tandem with the conflict, further squeezing airline margins.
Gibson Dunn LLP acted as lead counsel, coordinating across global and local underwriting teams that included Goldman Sachs Saudi Arabia and Morgan Stanley Saudi Arabia. The combined institutional and retail interest helped the offering exceed $100 billion in orders.
Flynas's Istanbul IPO arrives at a pivotal moment. The airline's strategic plan, backed by Kingdom Holding and the Public Investment Fund, aligns with Saudi Vision 2030's aim to transform the kingdom into a travel destination. Having ordered 160 aircraft from Airbus—including narrow-body A320s and its first wide-body A330s—the carrier is expanding fleet and network rapidly.
Industry analysts caution that policy and geopolitical risks will continue to shape investor sentiment. While some entrants have postponed their floatings, many are proceeding quickly—optimising pricing and timing to counter valuation headwinds. The flight path for new listings in the Gulf may be turbulent, but Flynas's performance suggests that well-structured IPOs with strong fundamentals can still attract robust interest.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Zawya

11 hours ago

• Zawya

Galaxy Macau Celebrates an Array of Award Wins Ranking it Macau's Most-Awarded Luxury Resort

Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific 2025 and Tatler Best Hong Kong and Macau Awards 2025 Recognise Galaxy Macau with Top Honours MACAU SAR - Media OutReach Newswire – 20 June 2025 - Galaxy Macau™ ("Galaxy Macau") the World-class Luxury Resort, celebrates a glittering array of award wins in the Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific 2025, and the Tatler Best Hong Kong and Macau Awards 2025. Galaxy Macau and four of its distinguished hotels, including Galaxy Hotel™; Banyan Tree Macau; Andaz Macau and Raffles at Galaxy Macau, have been recognized across five award categories in the Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific 2025, as a testament to exceptional hospitality, unparalleled design, and unforgettable guest experiences. The editors, expert contributors and readers at Travel + Leisure, were generous in their praise, bestowing a suite of top honours. With Galaxy Hotel crowned the "Best Hotel in Macau", reaffirming its dedication to best-in-class excellence, Banyan Tree Spa Macau secured the top spot for the " Hotel Spas in Macau" category for the third consecutive year. With Ms. Joanne Chan of Banyan Tree Macau, ranked best-in-class in the"Hotel General Managers of the Year" category for her standout dedication to guest experience. The Grand Resort Deck at Galaxy Macau, home to the world's longest Skytop Aquatic Adventure River Ride and the world's largest Skytop Wave Pool, led the way for "Best Hotel Pools" in Macau, reinforcing its leading positioning as the ultimate resort experience in Macau. The stunning pools at Banyan Tree Macau and Raffles at Galaxy Macau also ranked within the top ten on the esteemed list. Not to be outdone, Andaz Macau shone brightly as one of the " Best Hotels in Macau" for the second year in a row; with Banyan Tree Macau securing a place on the winner's list for " Best Hotels in Macau." Galaxy Macau continued its winning streak, topping four of the five categories in the Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific 2025 in a testament to exceptional hospitality, design, and guest experience; ranking as the successive "Best Integrated Resort in Asia Pacific." These prestigious awards underscore Galaxy Macau's dedication to offering unparalleled luxury and world-class experiences to travelers seeking unforgettable guest experiences that are recognised as second to none. "We are truly honored to receive these awards from the Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific 2025 and Tatler Best Hong Kong and Macau Awards 2025," said Kevin Kelley, Chief Operating Officer (Macau) at Galaxy Entertainment Group. To receive such a raft of accolades is a firm nod to the quality and considered level of impactful hospitality we strive for. The editors, expert contributors and readers at Travel + Leisure were generous in their praise, bestowing on Galaxy Macau a suite of top honors. The expert industry judges at the Tatler Best Hong Kong and Macau Awards 2025 recognised the best-in-class excellence of our restaurants, bars, hotels and teams at Galaxy Macau, as well as StarWorld, with a long list of awards. Our commitment to delivering exceptional luxury service continues apace, as we strive to support the Macau SAR Government's goal of positioning Macau as Asia's leading global tourism and leisure destination." As Galaxy Macau continues to set new benchmarks in hospitality, these accolades reaffirm its position as Asia's leading luxury resort for discerning travellers seeking the finest, best-in-class accommodation, dining, and entertainment; all in one unparalleled destination. For more information, visit [Galaxy Macau's official website] ( Hashtag: #GalaxyMacau The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. ABOUT GALAXY MACAU INTEGRATED RESORT Galaxy Macau™, The World-class Luxury Integrated Resort delivers the "Most Spectacular Entertainment and Leisure Destination in the World". Developed at an investment of HK$43 billion, the property covers 1.1 million-square-meter of unique entertainment and leisure attractions that are unlike anything else in Macau. Eight award-winning world-class luxury hotels provide close to 5,000 rooms, suites and villas. They include Banyan Tree Macau, Galaxy Hotel™, Hotel Okura Macau, JW Marriott Hotel Macau, The Ritz-Carlton, Macau, Broadway Hotel, Raffles at Galaxy Macau, Andaz Macau. Unique to Galaxy Macau, the 75,000-square-meter Grand Resort Deck features the world's longest Skytop Adventure Rapids at 575-meters, the largest Skytop Wave Pool with waves up to 1.5-meters high and 150-meters pristine white sand beach. Two five-star spas from Banyan Tree Spa Macau and The Ritz- Carlton Spa, Macau help guests relax and rejuvenate. As the dining destination in Asia, Galaxy Macau offers a wide variety of gastronomic delights, exquisite experiences and ingredients of the finest quality with over 120 dining options from Michelin dining to authentic delicacies; Galaxy Promenade is the hottest shopping destination featuring the latest in fashion and curated experiences in Macau. Spanning over 100,000-square-meter, luxury flagship stores, lifestyle boutiques and our selection of labels are among the more than 200 world-renowned brands for a world-class shopping journey; Galaxy Cinemas, immersive thrills and luxurious comfort go hand in hand at Galaxy Cinemas. All 10 theaters are equipped with the latest audio-visual technology; CHINA ROUGE, one-of-a-kind deluxe lounge that evokes the glitz and glamor of Shanghai's golden era with entertainment in luxury and style; and Foot Hub presents the traditional art of reflexology to make you feel more relaxed and revitalized. For Authentic Macau Flavours & Vibrant Asian Experiences, Broadway Macau – just a 90-second walk via a bridge from Galaxy Macau, has over 35 Authentic Macau & Asian Flavours at its Broadway Food Street. The 2,500-seat Broadway Theatre plays host to world-class entertainers and a diverse array of cultural events. Meeting, incentive and banquet groups are also well looked after with a portfolio of unique venues in Galaxy Macau and a professional service staff. Galaxy International Convention Center (GICC) is the latest addition to the Group's ever-expanding integrated resort precinct and will usher in a new era for the MICE industry in Macau. GICC is a world- class event venue featuring 40,000-square-meter of total flexible MICE, and a 16,000-seat Galaxy Arena – the largest indoor arena in Macau. For more details, please visit , and Galaxy Macau

Zawya

14 hours ago

• Zawya

Asian refiners seek more Mideast oil after spot premiums jump on Israel-Iran conflict

SINGAPORE/NEW DELHI - Asian refiners have requested more term crude oil supplies loading in August and September from producers in the Middle East after spot premiums jumped, six trade sources said on Friday. Spot premiums for Middle East benchmarks rose above $3 a barrel on Thursday, the highest levels in four months, on fears of supply disruption after fighting broke out between Israel and Iran last week. "We are receiving additional interest from our customers in Asia," a source at a Middle East crude supplier said, adding that the requests are for cargoes loading in August and September. A source at an Asian refiner said the official selling prices (OSPs) for Middle East crude are lower than spot levels, making it more economical to seek more term supplies. Two sources at Indian refineries said they will be receiving more July-loading term crude supply from Middle East suppliers as they anticipate lower supplies from Russia. The sources declined to be named as they are not authorised to speak to the media. Producers such as Saudi Aramco, Abu Dhabi National Oil Co (ADNOC) and Iraq's SOMO typically notify term customers on their allotted volumes a month before cargoes are due to load. It is not immediately clear if the producers will supply more oil, three sources said, although one of them pointed to rising output from the bloc. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and their allies, a group known as OPEC+, are unwinding supply cuts, planning to increase output by 1.37 million barrels per day between April and July.

Arabian Post

15 hours ago

• Arabian Post

OPEC+ Emerges as Pillar of Oil Market Stability

Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman told delegates at the St Petersburg Economic Forum on 19 June that OPEC+ has evolved into a 'key guarantor' of global oil prices and market stability. The alliance's capacity to respond to evolving economic and geopolitical realities distinguishes it as an effective and trustworthy instrument for safeguarding the sector. At the forum, Prince Abdulaziz emphasised that OPEC+ adapts proactively to prevailing conditions. He was clear that any action by Riyadh or Moscow to offset potential disruptions in Iranian oil exports will be guided strictly by actual developments. 'We only react to realities,' he stated, declining to engage in hypotheticals—a stance aligned with OPEC+'s collective decision-making framework. Analysts say his comments come amid a sharp surge in crude prices, driven by escalating tensions following an Israeli assault on Iranian nuclear infrastructure. According to Reuters, Brent crude has climbed more than $10 per barrel in just one week, inflating the geopolitical risk premium. Despite this volatility, there has been no significant disruption to Middle Eastern oil exports to date. ADVERTISEMENT Prince Abdulaziz underscored the cohesive nature of OPEC+, which comprises 22 member countries. He affirmed that decisions are taken collectively rather than unilaterally by dominant players, a principle reaffirmed by his preference to 'react to realities' rather than speculation. The alliance's next meeting is scheduled for 6 July, when eight core producers—including Saudi Arabia, Russia, the UAE, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Algeria and Kazakhstan—will discuss production levels for August and beyond. Global demand forecasts also featured prominently in forum discussions. OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais noted increasing consumption in developing economies, especially during the northern hemisphere summer, reinforcing the need for calibrated production policies. Meanwhile, Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia's RDIF, suggested that Russia, Saudi Arabia and the United States might reprise their 2020-era role in stabilising oil markets, citing historical precedents from the pandemic response. Despite the ability to moderate price swings, the alliance faces internal tensions. In May, Saudi Arabia and Russia spearheaded a 411,000 barrels‑per‑day production increase, despite earlier preferences among some members for a pause. Leaks from the meeting revealed discontent with non-compliant producers, prompting Riyadh to push through the increase to protect its market interests. Analysts suggest this indicates a strategic pivot: reclaiming market share over propping up prices alone. Meanwhile, geopolitical variables are influencing OPEC+ strategy. Rising tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, following conflict between Israel and Iran, have elevated concerns of supply disruption. However, as of mid‑June, the vital maritime route continues to operate without incident. The U.S. is reportedly weighing deeper engagement in the region, a development that could further complicate supply dynamics and pricing. The energy minister also highlighted collaboration beyond output quotas. Saudi Arabia and Russia are advancing joint efforts to create investor-friendly environments through joint ventures in energy and related sectors. Prince Abdulaziz confirmed plans for Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak to visit Riyadh later this year, accompanied by a large business delegation. He said the initiative aims to 'deepen bilateral economic ties and foster diversified investment opportunities,' affirming both countries' commitment to mutual investment facilitation. These comments reinforce the perception of OPEC+ as a stabilising force comparable to a central bank's role in financial markets. Prince Abdulaziz described the alliance as 'the central bank and regulator of the global oil market,' emphasising its flexibility and responsiveness to global economic shifts. He further noted the Kingdom's support for Russia amid external pressures, affirming Riyadh's diplomatic solidarity. Looking ahead, OPEC+ is poised to navigate the balance between maintaining price stability and managing production share. The upcoming 6 July meeting will be pivotal in determining whether the group confirms further increases or holds current output steady amid signal mixed signals from demand forecasts and geopolitical uncertainty.