Riyadh Development Company wins GIPS compliance and independent verification

Riyadh Development Company said July 13, 2026, that it has achieved compliance with the Global Investment Performance Standards for asset owners and completed an independent verification. The move is meant to strengthen transparency, governance and comparability for investors, lenders and regulators as the Saudi firm expands its institutional framework.

Why it matters: - GIPS compliance is designed to improve how investment performance is reported, making results easier to compare across firms and markets. - For Riyadh Development Company, the milestone supports efforts to build credibility with international institutional investors, lenders and regulators. - The verification adds another layer of confidence in the consistency of the company’s performance reporting.

What happened: - Riyadh Development Company, also known as ARDCO, said it has established compliance with the Global Investment Performance Standards for Asset Owners. - The company said the compliance was completed alongside an independent verification of investment performance policies and procedures. - ARDCO made the announcement in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on July 13, 2026. - Chief Investment Officer Dr. Wael Jundi said the achievement fits the company’s 2023 corporate strategy, “Invest for Growth.”

The details: - ARDCO manages about SAR 9 billion in assets. - The company develops integrated urban destinations and says its portfolio is focused on long-term sustainable value creation. - ARDCO’s GIPS transition happened in two phases. - The first phase focused on building reporting infrastructure and a performance measurement framework with ACA Group. - That work included specialized policies and performance calculation methodologies. - The second phase was conducted by The Spaulding Group, also known as TSG Performance. - TSG Performance carried out the independent GIPS verification and tested selected performance-related data. - Chris Spaulding, managing director and chief growth officer at TSG Performance, said the firm was proud to partner with ARDCO on its first GIPS verification. - CFA Institute said the adoption of GIPS standards reflects ARDCO’s focus on transparency, consistency and global best practices in performance reporting. - CFA Institute also said the compliance and verification help raise standards in the region and build confidence among international investors. - ARDCO said its institutional framework now covers governance, risk management, quality, sustainability, information security and operational excellence through multiple global ISO standards.

Between the lines: - The announcement signals that ARDCO is positioning itself more like an institutional asset owner than a traditional property developer. - GIPS compliance can matter most when a firm wants outside capital or stronger standing with cross-border stakeholders. - The ISO and governance efforts suggest ARDCO is trying to link performance reporting with a broader credibility and controls story.

What's next: - ARDCO said the GIPS milestone is part of its broader institutional excellence journey. - The company said it will continue adopting internationally recognized standards across its operations. - ARDCO framed the move as a step toward stronger transparency, efficiency, accountability and stakeholder confidence. - The company said those efforts are aimed at supporting long-term value creation.