The business community in Riyadh is waiting less than three hours for the final results of the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce board elections to be announced. Some candidates vying to lead the Chamber have expressed great optimism and confidence in their victory, while others remain silent and still others are feeling nervous about what lies ahead.

Despite the fierce and intense competition and the high voter turnout—which exceeded all expectations, reaching 4,500 voters by noon yesterday and expected to double throughout the day—some candidates were confident of their victory and began celebrating even before the official announcement of the results, based on the election committees formed by the candidates to tally their supporters and track those who voted for them in an electoral atmosphere charged with strength and determination to sweep the round.

Other candidates expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the election, despite their conviction that they would not win for various reasons, but they will regard this as a valuable experience to draw upon in future elections—particularly among young businesspeople who wish to prove their worth and eligibility to lead the Chamber, especially since the upcoming economic phase relies heavily on youth-led projects.

A small number of candidates are expected to compete for the presidency, and given that the composition of the Chambers of Commerce’s boards of directors consists of six seats for merchants, six for manufacturers, and six appointed by the Minister of Commerce and Investment, it is expected that contenders will vie for the presidency, a position that may be filled by the Minister of Commerce.