Born Creators Group MENA appoints Fadi Saad as Chief Growth Officer.

Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), announced that construction of the Dubai Metro Blue Line has reached 10 percent completion, just five months after its groundbreaking ceremony in June 2025.

The AED56.5 billion project spans 30 km and includes 14 stations, linking the Red and Green Lines and connecting key residential, economic, and educational districts. Over 500 engineers and experts, along with 3,000 workers, are currently deployed across 12 sites to accelerate progress.

Al Tayer confirmed that work is proceeding on schedule, with 30 percent completion expected by the end of 2026 and operations set to begin on 9th September, 2029. “The Dubai Metro Blue Line is one of RTA’s most strategic projects, serving areas expected to house around one million residents by 2040 and offering direct journeys to Dubai International Airport in just 20 minutes,” he said.

He added that the line supports the Dubai Urban Plan 2040 and the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33) by promoting the ‘20-minute city’ concept and reducing traffic congestion by 20 percent. It is also projected to increase property values around stations by up to 25 percent.

RTA reported that over 3 million work hours have been completed without any fatalities, reflecting adherence to the highest international safety standards. More than 260 deep foundations and 400,000 cubic metres of excavation have been completed, while the consortium has established two ready-mix concrete plants and production yards in Al Ruwayyah 3 and International City to enhance construction efficiency.

The 30 km line will run in two directions: the first from Creek Interchange Station on the Green Line in Al Jaddaf to Dubai Academic City, and the second from Centrepoint Interchange Station on the Red Line in Al Rashidiya to International City.

The project’s architectural centerpiece will be the Emaar Station, set to become the world’s highest metro station at 74 meters, with capacity for 240,000 passengers per day by 2040. Designed to blend with the urban landscape, it will serve as a landmark symbolizing Dubai’s future-focused infrastructure vision.

RTA continues to engage local communities through proactive communication and public consultations, ensuring residents are informed of construction updates and planned traffic diversions.

The Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources has announced a new natural gas discovery in the Badr-15 area, located in the Western Desert — a region that continues to play a pivotal role in the country’s energy production map. According to the ministry, the newly discovered field has been swiftly brought into production, with an initial output estimated at 16 million cubic feet of gas per day.

Preliminary evaluations suggest that the field could contribute an estimated 15 billion cubic feet of gas to Egypt’s proven reserves, originating from the Lower Bahariya reservoir, one of the key productive layers in the area. This achievement underscores the ministry’s ongoing efforts to intensify exploration and drilling activities across Egypt’s Western Desert, leveraging modern technologies to enhance production and strengthen the country’s energy security.

The discovery comes as part of Egypt’s broader strategy to maximize the utilization of its natural resources, attract further investment into its oil and gas sector, and maintain its position as a regional energy hub. The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to supporting exploration partnerships with both local and international energy companies, ensuring the continuous growth of the petroleum industry and the sustainable development of Egypt’s economy.

Cityscape Global 2025 will welcome world leading developers at the forefront of sustainability and smart city technology when the event opens its doors on November 17 in Riyadh.

Ambitious projects such as NHC, Diriyah Company, ROSHN, New Murabba, Qiddiya City, Rua Alharam Almakki co, NEOM, KAFD, Red Sea Global, Masar Destination, Rua Al Haram and King Salman Park Foundation, are reshaping Saudi Arabia’s urban landscapes and setting new standards for sustainable, inclusive communities.

In the context of this rapid growth and reform, Cityscape Global 2025 will also explore the transformative impact of Saudi Arabia’s newly approved foreign home ownership law. Indeed, the foreign home ownership law has widely been reported as a pivotal milestone in Saudi Arabia’s real estate evolution and global investment strategy. This new policy is expected to drive a surge in international participation and capital inflows, presenting a significant opportunity for investors and developers to engage with the next chapter of Saudi Arabia’s urban transformation at Cityscape Global 2025, say organizers.

Homeowner opportunities at Cityscape Global 2025

Cityscape Global 2025 will feature an exceptional lineup of more than 200 of the region’s leading developers, showcasing a diverse range of projects, from large-scale master-planned communities to premium luxury developments and emerging investment destinations.

Attendees will also benefit from exclusive, event-only offers from both developers and financial institutions, including preferential pricing and competitive mortgage rates available exclusively during the show. These limited-time opportunities reinforce Cityscape Global’s position as a key driver of real estate investment, innovation, and market growth across the region.

In addition to these investment opportunities, Cityscape Global 2025 will offer attendees the chance to win exceptional prizes, including 2 x family villas in Riyadh, SAR2.2 million in prizes from Sakani, and four Black Land Rover Defenders courtesy of Dar wa Emaar. These once-in-a-lifetime rewards highlight the event’s commitment to creating value and excitement for both investors and future homeowners, a statement said.

Saudi developers leading Vision 2030 implementation

With Saudi developers playing a pivotal role in translating Vision 2030 into tangible communities, organizations like NHC and ROSHN are pioneering developments that balance economic growth with social, cultural, and environmental sustainability. Indeed, these developments are exemplified by Saudi Arabia’s commitment to build vibrant and inclusive neighborhoods which are technologically advanced.

“After an incredibly successful year at Cityscape Global 2024, we are proud to return in 2025 with even greater ambition. This year, we are bringing 100,000 new housing units to the market, each designed to reflect our vision of building not just homes but thriving, sustainable communities,” stated Mohammad Albuty, CEO of NHC.

“Investment in Saudi Arabia has caught the world’s attention, and NHC is at the forefront of this transformation. While global developers and investors seek growth and long-term stability, the Kingdom offers both, anchored in Vision 2030 and our commitment to creating vibrant, connected neighborhoods.”

Sabah Barakat, Acting Group Chief Executive Officer of ROSHN Group, added: “Our presence at Cityscape Global 2025 underscores ROSHN Group’s position as a national champion and a leader in shaping Saudi Arabia’s urban transformation. This year, we proudly spotlight our diverse portfolio of mixed-use developments, our ecosystem-driven approach, and our commitment to innovation and sustainability. From delivering iconic waterfront destinations to fostering vibrant cultural and commercial hubs, ROSHN Group is redefining what it means to build the cities of tomorrow – places that inspire, connect, and thrive.”

Pioneering the future of urban living

At the core of this transformation is the community-driven developments concept that prioritizes inclusivity, cultural integration, and technological advancement. Through the strategic placement of cultural and tech districts, along with data-led urban planning, experience-driven infrastructure, and systemic placemaking, these developments are set to fundamentally enhance the quality of life for residents.

Cityscape Global 2025 offers an outstanding platform to explore these trends, featuring insights from international experts such as Sam Cotton, CEO of Battersea Power Station Development Company; Sheela Maini Søgaard, CEO of Bjarke Ingels Group; Kristoffer Tamsons, Stockholm’s Former Regional Minister for Transport; Isabella Alveberg, Group CEO of Snøhetta; Vicente Guallart, Former Chief Architect of Barcelona, and Tom Sleigh, Chairman of London’s Planning and Transportation Committee.

“Climate-responsive urban design must become a priority,” said Surella Segú, Mexico’s First Chief Heat Officer. “We need to design cities with less air conditioning, less asphalt, less concrete – and more nature. People are used to heat, but they don’t realize how much it’s intensifying. Developers can make a real difference not only through materials but through the way cities are shaped – integrating greenery, creating shade, and reducing energy use wherever possible.”

Global participation highlights international interest

Cityscape Global 2025 will feature a diverse range of participants from influential developers, urban planners, and design innovators, highlighting Saudi Arabia’s emergence as a global hub for real estate and sustainable development.

From the UAE, leading firms – including Binghatti Properties and Sobha – will showcase advancements in luxury and smart living. Qatar’s delegation, including Qatari Diar Real Estate, will focus on how their sustainability plans align with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

Bahrain’s Kooheji Development and Grnata Real Estate will present projects promoting connected communities, while Egypt’s TMG and Mountain View will demonstrate expertise in large-scale planning. Turkey’s Emlak Konut will offer insights into sustainable housing, and Georgia’s Perta Group will showcase innovative investment approaches.

Azerbaijan’s Sea Breeze and Pasha Real Estate will blend coastal luxury with sustainability, and South Korea’s Naver Cloud, as well as UK’s RIBA, will emphasize digital innovation in architecture – reinforcing Cityscape Global’s role as a key platform for real estate innovation and collaboration in shaping urban living.

Rachel Sturgess, Senior Vice President of Tahaluf, stated that: “As Saudi Arabia embarks on a significant urban transformation, Cityscape Global provides a platform that fosters collaboration and knowledge exchange amongst stakeholders. Tahaluf aims to create impactful experiences, and Cityscape Global plays a key role in inspiring investment and innovation for the next generation of urban communities.”

The countdown is on — with less than two weeks to go until the SHIMA Annual Conference & Expo 2025, excitement is building across Saudi Arabia’s healthcare and technology sectors. Organized by the Saudi Health Information Management Association (SHIMA), this landmark event is set to become the Kingdom’s premier platform for digital health transformation, driving innovation, collaboration, and data-driven excellence across the healthcare ecosystem.

A Vision-Aligned Platform for Transformation

Anchored in Saudi Vision 2030, the conference underscores the Kingdom’s commitment to positioning itself as a global leader in digital health innovation. As healthcare continues to take center stage in the national transformation agenda, SHIMA 2025 will highlight how AI, data governance, and virtual care technologies are reshaping the delivery of care — making it smarter, more efficient, and more patient-centered.

The event will have King Saud University as Co-Host and Knowledge Partner, and NEOM as Strategic Partner, strengthening its position as the region’s most significant convergence of thought leaders and innovators in digital health.

Event Highlights: Innovation, Knowledge, and Collaboration

Over two days of keynotes, panel discussions, workshops, and exhibitions, SHIMA 2025 will bring together policymakers, hospital executives, IT professionals, academics, and investors to exchange knowledge and align on strategies that accelerate healthcare digitalization.

Key features include:

• Keynotes & Panels led by top policymakers and global experts, exploring AI integration, ICD-11, revenue cycle management, cybersecurity, and virtual health records.

• Pre-Conference Workshop (November 17) featuring deep dives into AI in Clinical Coding Guidelines, Health Information Management in HSTP, Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI), AI in Revenue Cycle Management, and Cybersecurity in Patient Safety.

• Exhibition & Innovation Showcase, the region’s most comprehensive display of Health Information Systems (HIS), Electronic Medical Records (EMR), population health analytics, and AI-powered RCM tools — all tailored to enhance efficiency and patient outcomes.

• Networking Forums connecting participants with policymakers, investors, and healthcare leaders to foster partnerships and collaborations that extend beyond the event.

Distinguished Speakers and Thought Leaders

The lineup features some of the most influential voices in global and regional digital health:

• Hussein Albish – President, Saudi Health Information Management Association (SHIMA)

• Sallyanne Wissmann – CEO, Health Information Management Association of Australia (HIMAA)

• Dr. Mahmoud Alyamani – Health, Wellbeing & Biotech Sector Head, NEOM

• Vicki Bennett – President, International Federation of Health Information Management Associations (IFHIMA)

• Dr. Louise Schaper – Founder, Digital Health Institute

• Dr. Julia Rehman – Principal Consultant, Kota Kompany

• Dr. Laila Yahya Alhubaishi – Consultant, UAE University

• Jobin Jose – Co-founder, HealthOrbit AI

• Dr. Waleed Al-Suhaymi – CDI Unit Supervisor, Dammam Health Network

• Atheer Alharbi – AI Expert, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, KSA

• Eng. Muhammad Mudassar – Head of Data & AI Health & Wellbeing, NEOM

More distinguished speakers will be joining in the coming days, reinforcing SHIMA’s role as a hub for expertise and collaboration.

Driving Innovation Across the Healthcare Value Chain

At its core, the SHIMA Annual Conference & Expo 2025 celebrates technological advancement, data-driven decision-making, and human-centered design in healthcare. From AI-powered analytics and telehealth systems to secure data management and cybersecurity frameworks, the event will spotlight how innovation is bridging the gap between technology and care.

Healthcare professionals will gain actionable insights into:

• Building secure, interoperable systems aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL)

• Leveraging AI and automation to improve documentation, reimbursement, and patient outcomes

• Enhancing workforce capabilities in health information management and analytics

• Exploring future-ready digital infrastructures that support sustainable growth and transformation

A Must-Attend Event for the Region

With over $65 billion invested in healthcare IT under Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia is rapidly becoming a beacon of digital health innovation. The SHIMA Annual Conference & Expo 2025 is more than an event — it’s a catalyst for progress, uniting visionaries, innovators, and decision-makers to turn ambition into actionable outcomes.

Beyond the sessions and exhibitions, attendees can enjoy exclusive networking forums, investor meetings, and cultural experiences curated in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, offering a holistic glimpse into the Kingdom’s vibrant transformation.

Final Call: Less Than Two Weeks Left

Don’t miss your chance to be part of the most influential digital health gathering in Saudi Arabia.
Register now at the SHIMA 2025 website and join the movement shaping the future of digital health.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) and OpenAI announced a multi-year, strategic partnership that provides AWS’s world-class infrastructure to run and scale OpenAI’s core artificial intelligence (AI) workloads starting immediately. Under this new $38 billion agreement, which will have continued growth over the next seven years, OpenAI is accessing AWS compute comprising hundreds of thousands of state-of-the-art NVIDIA GPUs, with the ability to expand to tens of millions of CPUs to rapidly scale agentic workloads. AWS has unusual experience running large-scale AI infrastructure securely, reliably, and at scale–with clusters topping 500K chips. AWS’s leadership in cloud infrastructure combined with OpenAI’s pioneering advancements in generative AI will help millions of users continue to get value from ChatGPT.

The rapid advancement of AI technology has created unprecedented demand for computing power. As frontier model providers seek to push their models to new heights of intelligence, they are increasingly turning to AWS due to the performance, scale, and security they can achieve. OpenAI will immediately start utilizing AWS compute as part of this partnership, with all capacity targeted to be deployed before the end of 2026, and the ability to expand further into 2027 and beyond.

The infrastructure deployment that AWS is building for OpenAI features a sophisticated architectural design optimized for maximum AI processing efficiency and performance. Clustering the NVIDIA GPUs—both GB200s and GB300s—via Amazon EC2 UltraServers on the same network enables low-latency performance across interconnected systems, allowing OpenAI to efficiently run workloads with optimal performance. The clusters are designed to support various workloads, from serving inference for ChatGPT to training next generation models, with the flexibility to adapt to OpenAI’s evolving needs.

“Scaling frontier AI requires massive, reliable compute,” said OpenAI co-founder and CEO Sam Altman. “Our partnership with AWS strengthens the broad compute ecosystem that will power this next era and bring advanced AI to everyone.”

“As OpenAI continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible, AWS’s best-in-class infrastructure will serve as a backbone for their AI ambitions,” said Matt Garman, CEO of AWS. “The breadth and immediate availability of optimized compute demonstrates why AWS is uniquely positioned to support OpenAI’s vast AI workloads.”

This news continues the companies’ work together to provide cutting-edge AI technology to benefit organizations worldwide. Earlier this year, OpenAI open weight foundation models became available on Amazon Bedrock, bringing these additional model options to millions of customers on AWS. OpenAI has quickly become one of the most popular publicly available model providers in Amazon Bedrock with thousands of customers—including Bystreet, Comscore, Peloton, Thomson Reuters, Triomics, and Verana Health—working with their models for agentic workflows, coding, scientific analysis, mathematical problem-solving, and more.

Users’ digital footprints have been building up for years. Social media accounts, old comments, carelessly posted photos, message boards, and old marketplace listings — everything that each individual user has ever shared online remains there, potentially causing serious retroactive issues for the poster. This information may be of interest to potential employers, government agencies, advertisers, scammers and even exes. HR departments often conduct thorough background checks on candidates before hiring. Additionally, data obtained through the use of shady services that search for leaked information from data breaches can be used for doxing and harassment purposes.

Kaspersky shares the guidelines on how to manage personal digital footprint and minimize the amount of private information available to everyone online.

Google yourself regularly

By searching for yourself, you’ll first see exactly where you once registered (and perhaps forgot about), and second, you’ll be able to check for any fake or impersonating accounts using your name.

Get rid of old accounts and posts

Once you’ve dealt with the fake accounts and compiled a list of your genuine ones, it’s time to delete the superfluous and outdated ones. Don’t rely entirely on the initial search or your own memory. Dig deep into your email archives to see which sites and services message you as their user. You can also review the list of saved passwords in your browsers or password managers.

Dealing with shadow profiles

Unfortunately, the accounts you’ve registered are only half the battle. Sometimes social media sites generate shadow profiles containing data on you that may persist even after you delete your account. These profiles can include information you never directly shared with the service. For example, you might have granted the Facebook app access to your phone contacts without ever importing them into your account. All the data from your address book could end up in that shadow profile.

Even more unsettling, sometimes these accounts get created for users who’ve never even registered with the service, by gathering data from other platforms and open sources. While it’s nearly impossible to completely prevent shadow profiles from being created, you can definitely minimize the damage. Go through your old apps, and revoke their access to your sensitive data — things like your camera, photos, contacts, location, and so on. Going forward, meticulously monitor which permissions you grant to each new app.

Set up data breach notifications

Data leaks happen online virtually every day, exposing massive amounts of personal data: IP addresses, names, phone numbers, email addresses, payment info, and much more. Websites like Have I Been Pwned allow you to enter your email and get alerts if it shows up in a new leaked database.

However, for a comprehensive approach and greater convenience, it’s best to monitor leaks through Kaspersky Premium — we search for breaches using both email addresses and phone numbers. You can add all your email addresses and phone numbers (for yourself and your family) and be confident that we’ll warn you about a breach almost immediately, thanks to the Kaspersky Security Network (KSN) — our global threat intelligence infrastructure.

Unfortunately, preventing leaks single-handedly is an impossible task for the average user. So, the best defense is to limit how much personal data you share when registering new accounts.

Clean up your inbox

An email inbox overflowing with old messages that contain private information is also part of your digital footprint. Go through your mail using keywords like “password”, “SSN”, or “account”, and delete any emails containing this sensitive data. Unsubscribe from old mailing lists. This lowers the chance that your email address will leak from a marketer’s database.

Erase local traces

Don’t forget to regularly — at least once a month — clear your browser history, cookies, and cache on all your devices. Alternatively, set up your browser to clear this data automatically when you close it. This lessens the chance of an outsider collecting information from your device if they gain access to it.

On smartphones, it’s advised to disable or periodically reset your advertising identifier.

Review your privacy settings

You can check and adjust privacy and security settings through our free service, Privacy Checker. It will guide you on how to configure popular social platforms, services, and even operating systems to your desired level of privacy.

Microsoft will invest over $15 billion in the United Arab Emirates in the seven years to the end of 2029 and has the Trump administration’s approval to export Nvidia chips for its data centers there, a senior executive said.

The UAE has been spending billions of dollars to become a global artificial intelligence hub, leveraging its close relations with Washington to secure access to U.S. technology, including some of the world’s most advanced chips.

“The biggest share of (the investment), by far, both looking back and looking forward, is the expansion of AI data centers across the UAE,” Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith said in an interview.

“From our perspective, it’s an investment that is critical to meet the demand here for the use of AI,” he said on the sidelines of the ADIPEC energy conference in Abu Dhabi.

New Round of Chip Export Approvals from Trump White House

Microsoft invested $1.5 billion last year to take a minority stake in Abu Dhabi AI company G42, giving the U.S. tech giant a board seat, which is filled by Smith.

G42’s past ties to China, however, have attracted scrutiny in Washington, due to concerns over Beijing’s access to advanced semiconductors, including via third parties like the UAE.

G42 said last year it was working with U.S. partners and the Emirati government to comply with AI development and deployment standards. Smith said G42 had made “enormous progress” in implementing the systems required to comply with U.S. law.

Asked whether the Abu Dhabi firm would obtain direct access to the most advanced U.S. chips, he said he thought that would be “part of G42’s future.”

Smith said in a separate blog post on Microsoft’s website on Monday that licenses approved last year by the Biden administration allowed Microsoft to accumulate the equivalent of 21,500 Nvidia A100 GPUs in the UAE, based on a combination of A100, H100, and H200 chips.

The Trump White House in September cleared for export an amount equivalent to a further 60,400 A100 chips, involving Nvidia’s more advanced GB300 GPUs, he said, after the administration revised technology safeguards.

Investing Billions in AI Expansion Cloud Infrastructure

The chips covered by the latest approvals have not yet been shipped, but that will happen “in a matter of months,” Smith told Reuters, adding they will be used in its own data centers in the UAE.

Microsoft will have invested $7.3 billion in the UAE between 2023 and the end of this year. A further $7.9 billion is earmarked to be spent between next year and the end of 2029, including for the ongoing and planned expansion of AI and cloud infrastructure, he said in his blog post.

None of the $15.2 billion investment disclosed on Monday will involve Stargate UAE, the first phase of one of the world’s largest planned data centre hubs. That project, located in Abu Dhabi, was announced during a Gulf visit by U.S. President Donald Trump in May.

Worldlink Conferences is proud to announce the Future Schools Summit 2025, scheduled for 19–20 November 2025 at the Millennium Airport Hotel, Dubai.

The Future Schools Summit 2025 convenes at a pivotal moment, this premier event brings together government leaders, real estate developers, architects, technology innovators, and school operators with a unified mission: to design, build, and equip next generation learning environments. Participants will explore cutting-edge innovations in sustainable construction, smart infrastructure, and integrated technology all essential to supporting Dubai’s Education 33 (E33) strategy and its goal of establishing 100 new private schools by 2033 to meet the needs of a growing population and future-focused educational vision.

Featured Speakers Include:

• Lana AbuQulbain – Technical Engineer, Emirates Green Building Council
• Alida Saleh – Head of Sustainability Consulting, JLL
• Liudmila Cazacova – Associate Professor, American University of Ras Al Khaimah
• Nadir Najjari – Senior Energy Efficiency Expert, Wood Plc
• Yaser Alnuaimi – General Manager, Plenary Middle East Limited
• Marwan Houry – Principal & VP of Strategy & Development, ae7
• Abhilasha Singh – Principal, Shining Star International School
• Dr. Haitham Mousa – Studio Design Director, KEO International Consultants
• Kumar Verma – Managing Director, Scholars International Group
• Peter Isaac Harley – Construction Manager, Al Tayer Stocks
• Omair Awadh – Associate Director, Sustainability, Buro Happold
• Ekaterina Mukhina – Projects & Delivery, eedama
• Ibrahim Kronfol – Project Manager, Dar
• Lennert Rasking – Bid Manager, BESIX
• Dr. Eman Ismail – Consultant, Takatof Association for Development
• Hind El Aoufi – Executive Leader, Innovation Transformation Sustainability, GHD
• Benjamin Somner – Global Head of Education, Broadway Malyan
• Ahmed Balawi – Engineering Manager, Engineering Contracting Company
• Andreas V. I. Paaske – General Manager, PlayPower Middle East
• Talal Shehab Aldin – Head of Projects, Warrior Group
  

Our Proud Sponsors & Exhibitors

Raymond Sport • Hisense HVAC • Softsurfaces • Terrain Play • Musco • SIS Pitches • PlayPower and more

Event Details:
📍 Millennium Airport Hotel, Dubai, UAE
📅 19–20 November 2025

For sponsorship, exhibition, delegate passes, and speaking opportunities, please visit.

Modon Hospitality, the specialist hospitality arm of Modon Holding, has announced the launch of a luxury active lifestyle resort, the Olympia Resort Abu Dhabi.

Modon Hospitality owns, operates and manages a select portfolio of hotels, restaurants, clubs and lifestyle destinations in the UAE, across the region and worldwide. With more than 28 assets and over 150 dining experiences across five countries, Modon Hospitality combines global expertise and versatility with Abu Dhabi’s vision to deliver memorable experiences fuelled by purpose, precision, and passion.

Olympia Resort Abu Dhabi, the new sports and wellness offering, where movement meets relaxation, is designed for all and is set to redefine healthy living and performance-based hospitality on Abu Dhabi’s Hudayriyat Island, a destination owned and developed by Modon Holding, through active stays, recovery, movement, holistic wellness, healthy cuisine, leisure and relaxation.

The innovative wellness facilities include the state-of-the-art Reboot Recovery Lounge, giving guests access to the very best in modern recovery science, including the health benefits of altitude training, traditionally used by elite athletes, and now accessible to all guests. The lounge features cutting-edge compression technology, next-generation biohacking tools, and tailored treatments that help accelerate recovery, boost circulation, and optimise overall performance. Benefits include improved heart and lung health, weight management, and better endurance.

Olympia Resort Abu Dhabi’s pioneering design includes unique features such as inter-connecting family rooms, spa and wellness facilities, and a range of organic, nutrition-focused dining options. Selected guest rooms include hypoxic technology to aid athletic recovery and performance.

Guests can also enjoy the unique benefits of the Olympia Recovery Mattress, crafted to support muscle repair, improve circulation, and enhance deep, restorative sleep. Designed with advanced foams, pocket springs, and cooling fabric, it helps the body recover overnight, so you wake up refreshed, balanced, and ready to move from a deeper, more relaxing sleep.

Unveiled during Modon Hospitality’s participation at the Future Hospitality Summit, the Olympia Resort Abu Dhabi forms a central part of Hudayriyat Island’s transformation into a world-class destination for sports, recreation, and wellbeing. The resort combines performance with leisure through its elite training facilities suitable for guests of all levels, along with outstanding amenities ideal for a relaxing beachfront getaway.

Bill O’Regan, Group CEO at Modon Holding said: “We take pride in creating iconic destinations that redefine how people live, work and connect. Hudayriyat Island is emerging as one of Abu Dhabi’s most distinctive landmarks – an integrated urban experience setting a new benchmark for community, lifestyle and wellbeing. With the Olympia Resort Abu Dhabi, we’re building on that vision, bringing together sport, wellness and family recreation within a setting designed for active, connected living.”

Marc Dardenne, CEO of Modon Hospitality, said, “The Olympia Resort Abu Dhabi signifies a new category of hospitality where performance and lifestyle meet. The resort offers first-class facilities that encourage people to move, train, and recharge in an environment designed for balance and wellbeing. We have designed a space for those who thrive on movement, balance, and discovery, built around an active lifestyle that reflects Abu Dhabi’s vision to create destinations that inspire healthier, more active communities while inviting the world to experience everything Abu Dhabi has to offer.”

“The Olympia Resort Abu Dhabi is a key part of our next chapter of growth and expansion. As the specialist hospitality arm of Modon Holding, we are continuing to design and deliver experiences with purpose, precision, and passion. We already operate a local, regional, and global portfolio of 28 hotels across five markets, and this is the latest asset to be part of our ever-expanding offering. We are proud that our portfolio reflects our international outlook and DNA, our versatility and our world-class expertise.” added Dardenne.

The resort also boasts access to 28 kilometres of open-air cycling tracks on Hudayriyat Island, offering premium riding and panoramic ocean views, along with access to the upcoming Velodrome. Other amenities include indoor and outdoor football pitches, tennis courts, swimming pools, scenic running tracks, and exclusive access to beach clubs and water sports facilities.

Olympia Resort Abu Dhabi is planned to open in early 2026. As a standalone Modon Hospitality concept, the resort reflects the brand’s drive to develop original hospitality concepts that blend local identity with global appeal, while contributing to Abu Dhabi’s growing reputation as a sports tourism and active living hub.

• Landmark Private Collection of 25 motor cars honors Phantom’s centenary
• The most complex and technologically ambitious Private Collection to date 
• A century of stories: interior celebrates pivotal figures, notable clients, significant models, journeys, places and moments that defined Phantom’s first 100 years
• Rear seats in high-resolution printed fabric, developed with a fashion atelier, completed with 160,000 stitches 
• Laser-etched front seats depict hand-sketched linework inspired by Phantom’s heritage
• Most intricate Rolls-Royce woodwork ever introduces three Rolls-Royce firsts: 3D marquetry, 3D ink layering, and 24-carat gold leafing
• The left-hand side front door recalls the epic 4,500-mile journey of the first-ever Goodwood-era Phantom, which crossed the Australian continent from Perth
• Spirit of Ecstasy in solid gold, hallmarked and enameled, based on 1925 casting
• Bespoke Gallery recalls pages of a book with abstracted text formed in aluminum

“The Rolls-Royce Phantom Centenary Private Collection is our tribute to 100 years of the world’s most revered luxury item. This uncompromising work of art uses the meticulously engineered Phantom VIII as the canvas to tell the story of Phantom’s remarkable life and the people who shaped it – from the visionaries within Rolls-Royce to the owners who helped create its legend. For a century, the Phantom nameplate has expressed the pinnacle of Rolls-Royce’s abilities. To honor that legacy, this extraordinarily ambitious Private Collection introduces new techniques and is the result of over 40,000 hours of work, culminating in a motor car which reaffirms Phantom’s status as a symbol of ambition, artistic possibility, and historical gravitas.”

Chris Brownridge, Chief Executive, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

“Having the privilege to pay a Bespoke tribute to the Phantom nameplate is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. Seizing on the significance of this moment, a record number of designers spent a year immersed in the motor car’s rich history, uncovering the stories that shaped its legend. Their research was distilled into 77 motifs, each capturing a defining moment in Phantom’s journey and expressed with levels of detail we have never attempted before. The result is a true collective work of art that celebrates the skill, ambition and imagination of everyone at the Home of Rolls-Royce, and the profound respect the marque’s creatives have for this extraordinary motor car.”

Martina Starke, Head of Bespoke Design, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

“Phantom Centenary is the most intricate and technologically ambitious Private Collection ever undertaken by the designers, engineers, production specialists and craftspeople of our Bespoke Collective. Developed over three years, this project uses new techniques to blend metal, wood, paint, fabric, leather, and embroidery into a single, stunning composition. The surfaces read like a book revealing 100 years of Phantom’s history, rich with symbolic references for clients to admire and decipher over many years to come.”

Phil Fabre de la Grange, Head of Bespoke, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

For 100 years, Phantom has been recognized as the ultimate symbol of success and discernment, chosen by the world’s most influential figures. As this legendary nameplate celebrates its 100th anniversary, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars pays tribute with the Phantom Centenary Private Collection, limited to 25 examples.

The Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collective of designers, engineers and artisans poured their skill and imagination into what has become their magnum opus. They immersed themselves in Phantom’s world, studying the spirit and identity of each generation from the 1920s to today. They explored defining owners, pivotal figures within Rolls-Royce, the places where Phantom was conceived and built, and the events that defined its times.  These influences, first captured as 77 hand-sketched motifs, are woven into the Phantom Centenary Private Collection through stunningly crafted archival references, creating a statement that honors Phantom’s past, defines its present, and projects the principles that will shape the nameplate’s next 100 years and beyond. 

Each historic moment is brought to life through advanced artisanal techniques, many conceived specially for this rare and collectable tribute. Inside, couturier-designed textiles, sketch-like embroidery, laser-etched leather, and groundbreaking woodcraft — including 3D marquetry, gilding, and 3D ink layering — tell Phantom’s story in stunning, intricate detail. Outside, the grille is crowned with a unique Spirit of Ecstasy figurine, reinterpreted from the very first to grace a Phantom, and presented in solid gold to mark this milestone. 

EXTERIOR: AN ELEGANT, BESPOKE STATEMENT

Evoking the timeless elegance of a black-and-white film star, the Phantom Centenary Private Collection’s exterior recalls the golden age of Hollywood, when Phantom graced premieres, carried screen icons, and became a symbol of the era’s glamour. The motor car is finished in a Bespoke two-tone paint, its long-sided application a nod to the flowing silhouette of 1930s Phantoms. The side body is presented in Super Champagne Crystal over Arctic White, with the upper body in Super Champagne Crystal over Black. The specially developed finish gives the exterior an extraordinary metallic shimmer, achieved by infusing the clear coat with iridescent particles of crushed glass. For this celebratory Private Collection, Rolls-Royce paint specialists replaced the clear flakes with champagne-colored particles and doubled the quantity to create spellbinding depth. 

This timeless treatment is crowned with a unique reimagining of the Spirit of Ecstasy. Using the first Spirit of Ecstasy ever fitted to a Phantom as their reference, designers created an homage to this landmark figurine, cast in solid 18-carat gold for strength, then plated in 24-carat gold for a flawless, tarnish-resistant finish. The piece was then presented to the Hallmarking & Assay Office in London, where it received a specially developed ‘Phantom Centenary’ hallmark.

The base of the figurine is finished with hand-poured white vitreous enamel delicately inscribed with the collection’s name.  For the first time, the ‘RR’ Badge of Honor – positioned on the front, rear, and each side of the motor car – is presented in 24-carat gold and white enamel. 

Resolving the exterior is a set of Phantom disc wheels, each engraved with 25 lines – honoring the 25 motor cars within the collection and, together, making 100 lines to celebrate the centenary year.

INTERIOR: IMMERSED IN THE PHANTOM LEGEND

A century of Phantom’s stories elegantly unfold across the many canvases of the Private Collection’s interior, through magnificent archival references – some immediately recognizable, others revealed over time.

In homage to Phantoms of the past, Phantom Centenary’s interior combines textiles and leather, recalling the marque’s foundational years when the chauffeur’s front seat was finished in hardwearing leather and the rear cabin in luxurious fabrics. This contrast is a subtle reminder that Phantom has always balanced both authority at the wheel and absolute serenity in the passenger suite.

REAR SEATS: TAILORING EXCELLENCE

The rear seats of Phantom Centenary are inspired by the famed 1926 ‘Phantom of Love’, commissioned with handwoven Aubusson tapestries. The artwork on the seats unfolds across three distinct layers of storytelling. The first is the background, rendered in high-resolution print, showing places and artefacts from Phantom’s history – from the marque’s original Conduit Street premises in London to Henry Royce’s oil paintings of Southern France. The second layer, also printed in high resolution, portrays great Phantoms of the past in finely drawn detail. The third and uppermost layer is formed of embroideries, abstractly representing seven significant owners from every generation of Phantom. 

This complex fabric was developed over 12 months in partnership with a fashion atelier, marking its first commission beyond the world of haute couture. To meet Rolls-Royce’s exacting longevity, tactility and aesthetic standards, the high-resolution printing process was perfected with specially adapted inks and techniques devised exclusively for the Phantom Centenary Private Collection. 

The high-resolution printed fabric is completed with embroideries, designed to have a uniquely hand-drawn quality.  Described by the Bespoke Collective as “sketching with thread”, this embroidery process captures the expression of a pencil line in textile form. To outline and define each image, artisans applied Golden Sands thread in sketch-like, irregular stitches, creating the illusion of lines floating lightly above the surface. Texture and depth were added with Seashell thread, applied in high-density stitches. Across the full composition, this intricate craftwork amounts to more than 160,000 stitches. 

The finished artwork spans 45 individual panels, each precisely aligned and fitted around the curvatures of the seats at the Home of Rolls-Royce: a process inspired by Savile Row tailoring techniques. The result is the most intricate seat composition ever created by Rolls-Royce.

“Conceived as a contemporary interpretation of a handwoven tapestry, the rear seats tell Phantom’s story through carefully curated details, captured in textiles and embroidery.  Every embroidered element was digitally re-drawn by artisans who selected specific stitch application for every stroke. For example, in the horse motif, we used spaced stitches to recreate the hair texture, then dense stitching to define the muscle. These fine details required extraordinary precision to get right: one motif went through 24 iterations before we were satisfied. This reflects the deep personal pride we felt in creating a fitting tribute to the Phantom nameplate, and the responsibility we all share in carrying its legacy forward.”

FRONT SEATS: A DESIGN STATEMENT IN THE DRIVER’S QUARTERS

The leather on the front seats features laser-etched artwork based on hand drawings by a Bespoke designer, evoking the draftsman’s craft. Among the motifs are symbolic details that elegantly carry the extraordinary weight of Phantom’s 100-year legacy, from a rabbit design – a nod to “Roger Rabbit,” the codename for the relaunch of Rolls-Royce in 2003 – to a seagull, the codename for the 1923 Phantom I prototype.

ANTHOLOGY GALLERY: A STORY OF DISTINCTION TOLD OVER 100 YEARS 

The centrepiece of the Phantom Centenary Private Collection is the Anthology Gallery. This dramatic composition features 50 3D-printed, vertically brushed aluminium ‘fins’ interlaced like pages of a book. Each fin is composed of sculpted letters that can be read from both sides, forming quotes drawn from a century of press acclaim. 

The sculpture is subtly lit by shifting illuminations that recall the shimmer of falling fireworks. The brushed edges of each fin create a play of reflections, changing with the viewer’s moving perspective. 

WOODWORK: A SCULPTURAL STATEMENT

The Private Collection features the most intricate woodwork ever created for a Rolls-Royce. Developed over a year and rendered in stained Blackwood, the door panels depict Phantom’s most significant and formative journeys. Within each composition, geographical maps, winding routes, sweeping landscapes, floral elements, and depictions of experimental motor cars intersect to form an artwork alive with Phantom’s heritage. 

The rear doors portray the coastline of Le Rayol-Canadel-sur-Mer, where Sir Henry Royce spent his winters. The right-hand side front door shows the landscape of West Wittering, home to his summer residence, just eight miles from today’s Home of Rolls-Royce. The left-hand side front door recalls the epic 4,500-mile journey of the first-ever Goodwood-era Phantom, which crossed the Australian continent from Perth. 

Each composition combines 3D multi-directional marquetry, laser etching, 3D ink layering and gold-leafing to create dimension and texture. Etched motifs, which include maps, landscapes, flowers and trees, are applied onto the wood at three different depths using a laser. The roads representing these journeys gleam in 24-carat gold, crafted from squares of gold leaf just 0.1 micrometres thick. Each road is painstakingly crafted, cut and placed.

The rear doors also incorporate depictions of flora native to Southern France — pine, cypress, ferns and palm — while a section of the rear passenger door recreates one of Sir Henry Royce’s original oil paintings of the region, translated from canvas to wood. The exact locations of Royce’s homes — Villa Mimosa in the South of France and Elmstead in West Wittering — are marked with a single gold-leaf dot just 2.76 mm in diameter.

“We drew on an extraordinary range of sources – original texts, diaries, photographs and paintings – to create a composition that weaves together many threads of Phantom’s story. New technology developed for this project, including 3D ink layering, allowed us to add details at a scale never before possible – some just 0.13 mm in height – from a boat sailing across the sea to location names on a map. It’s a privilege to have the time and technology to realise moments in Phantom’s history with the detail and precision the nameplate deserves.” 

Katrin Lehmann, Bespoke Color and Material Designer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

The wooden surfaces on the doors transform into masterfully embroidered leather panels. The 24-carat gold ‘roads’ continue as golden thread embroidery; details of the maps and landscapes are stitched in black, echoing the etched details on the veneered section of the doors. 

The woodwork is completed with depictions of the original 1925 Phantom I and the current Phantom VIII, individually etched on the rear picnic tables. The models are mirrored in embroidery on the leather-finished backs of the picnic tables – another gesture uniting past and present.  

The Piano Black veneer is infused with gold dust, echoing the central rotary dial, also plated with 24-carat gold. 

A GOLDEN LEGACY

The magnificent engineering masterpiece that is the 6.75-litre V12 engine is celebrated with a specially designed cover, finished in Arctic White. The cover has been detailed with 24-carat gold, honouring the effortless power that has helped define Phantom’s modern legend and success. 

PHANTOM’S STORY IN STARLIGHT 

A subtly animated and embroidered Starlight Headliner captures moments from Phantom’s history in 440,000 stitches.  Its design includes references to the mulberry tree under which Henry Royce was photographed in his garden at West Wittering, seated with two close colleagues: Charles L. Jenner, the marque’s Chief Engine Draftsman, and Ernest Hives, the head of Rolls-Royce’s experimental department. Drawing on this moment, the Bespoke Collective sought to create an atmosphere of inspiration so that clients seated beneath the Starlight Headliner might experience, as Royce once did, their own flashes of imagination and possibility. 

The scene unfolds to include the distinctive square-crowned trees in the courtyard of the marque’s Goodwood headquarters. The honeybees – a reference to the 250,000 residents of the Rolls-Royce Apiary – are in full flight, perhaps towards the Phantom Rose, grown exclusively on the grounds of the Home of Rolls-Royce. Interwoven within the constellations are quiet tributes to great Phantoms of the past – among them a bird motif representing Sir Malcolm Campbell’s Phantom II, known as the ‘Bluebird’. Hidden amongst the mulberry leaves is a reference to the locking mechanism on the vault door at ‘The Bank’ – the secret 1990s design studio where the first Phantom of the Goodwood era was drafted.

AN UNFORGETTABLE HERITAGE, IN MOTION

For the designers, engineers and artisans who created the Phantom Centenary Private Collection, this motor car was a once-in-a-generation responsibility. What has been achieved reflects the same spirit that gave rise to Phantom itself: the marque’s relentless pursuit of excellence and ambition to craft the best motor car in the world.

Hilton announced it has surpassed the milestone of 100 hotels trading and in the pipeline in Saudi Arabia –  representing a combined investment of USD $8 billion from hotel owners and investors into Hilton’s growing portfolio, and underscoring the company’s long-term commitment to supporting Vision 2030 by expanding its footprint and delivering world-class hospitality throughout the Kingdom. The announcement was made ahead of the Future Investment Initiative (FII) in Saudi Arabia, a global forum that convenes world leaders, policymakers, and investors to discuss the future of global investment and economic trends.

With a multi-brand rollout across 14 of its award-winning brands, Hilton plans to add more than 22,000 rooms to Saudi Arabia’s rapidly evolving hospitality landscape. The pipeline of hotels is expected to create more than 15,000 jobs – at least half of which will be filled by Saudi nationals – further contributing to the Kingdom’s economic development. 

Carlos Khneisser, chief development officer, Middle East & Africa, Hilton, said: “Saudi Arabia is witnessing incredible momentum, with travel at the heart of this transformation. The Kingdom welcomed a record 32 million tourists this summer and we’re proud to be supporting this vision as the country works toward its goal of attracting 150 million visitors annually by 2030. As we exceed 100 hotels trading and in the pipeline, and with nearly two-thirds of that pipeline already under construction, we remain committed to introducing new brands and expanding into more regional cities in line with the growing number of travelers visiting the Kingdom every year.”

Hilton Bolsters Luxury Presence

Hilton continues to expand its luxury footprint across Saudi Arabia, with a series of standout developments that reflect the Kingdom’s growing demand for high-end hospitality. 

Among the most anticipated openings is Conrad Riyadh Laysen Valley, slated to open in 2026, and bringing the brand’s signature elegance to one of the capital’s most prestigious developments. This momentum has been further driven by strategic signings, including a Waldorf Astoria and a Conrad at The Avenues – Riyadh, a Waldorf Astoria in Diriyah Gate, and Madinah’s first Waldorf Astoria. 

Hilton is also partnering with Rua Al Madinah Holding to launch three properties in the holy city, including a Conrad Hotels & Resorts property, as well as collaborating with Dan Co, a PIF subsidiary, to introduce an LXR agritourism resort in Al Ahsa.

Launch of Tempo by Hilton in Middle East & Africa 

Marking the regional debut of Hilton’s contemporary lifestyle brand, Tempo by Hilton Riyadh Al Narjis is expected to open in 2029. Developed in partnership with Al Theeb Hospitality, the hotel will feature 135 thoughtfully designed guest rooms and a range of amenities including a lobby café and restaurant, a fitness room, and two meeting rooms. Located along King Salman Road, the hotel will offer convenient access to residential communities, commercial zones, and major business districts. 

Tempo by Hilton is designed for ambitious, modern travelers, offering purposefully designed spaces, wellness-focused amenities, and a contemporary experience that empowers guests to maintain their routines while on the move.

Hilton Accelerates Saudi Arabia Growth

Hilton continues to strengthen its presence across both established and emerging regional cities in the Kingdom, with new signings in Abha, Buraidah, Dammam, Riyadh and Jeddah. The developments span Hilton’s lifestyle, full-service, and premium economy brands, further re-affirming its commitment to deliver a diverse range of reliable hotels across Saudi Arabia. 

Hijla Hotel Abha, Curio Collection by Hilton

Signed in partnership with Kayan Al Musanada, Hijla Hotel Abha, Curio Collection by Hilton is expected to open in 2027 with 151 stylish guest rooms and suites. The hotel will feature an all-day restaurant with terrace, a lobby café, indoor and kids’ pools, a fitness center, and versatile event spaces including a hall and six meeting rooms. Reflected throughout the hotel, the design will draw inspiration from Aseer’s rich heritage and natural landscapes to create a locally inspired guest experience.

Located just minutes from Abha International Airport, the hotel will form part of a mixed-use development featuring commercial offices, medical clinics, retail stores, entertainment venues and a variety of dining options.

The property joins Hilton’s ongoing development in Abha’s The Point project which includes Hilton The Point Residences and Canopy by Hilton The Point.

DoubleTree by Hilton Riyadh Al Narjis

In collaboration with First Projects Co., a subsidiary of First Projects Holding, DoubleTree by Hilton Riyadh Al Narjis is set to open its doors in 2029. This premier hotel will offer 197 elegantly designed guest rooms and suites, strategically located on Anas Bin Malik Road. Its prime location places guests at the heart of Riyadh’s dynamic development, ensuring unparalleled connectivity and exceptional neighborhood value. The hotel offers a complete “co-live” experience, seamlessly connecting guests to an adjacent, professional co-working and meeting facility. This ensures that business delegates and extended-stay professionals enjoy an unmatched blend of premium hospitality and dedicated workspace convenience in North Riyadh.

DoubleTree by Hilton Buraidah

Hilton will bring the signature DoubleTree by Hilton hospitality to Qassim’s capital with DoubleTree by Hilton Buraidah, opening in 2028 in partnership with Abdulrahman Bin Saleh Alshetaiwi LLC. The hotel will offer 125 contemporary guest rooms and suites, an all-day dining restaurant with outdoor terrace, a lobby café, a fitness center, and an outdoor pool. Flexible event spaces will include a multi-function hall, boardrooms, and meeting rooms. The location provides easy access to government institutions and cultural landmarks such as King Khaled Cultural Centre and Buraidah Museum.

Spark by Hilton Dammam 

Hilton has signed an agreement with Medokhil Group to develop Spark by Hilton Dammam. Located on King Fahd Road, the hotel will include 160 comfortable guest rooms with easy access to the city’s commercial and retail hubs, including Ibn Khaldoun Plaza. Designed to deliver reliable essentials and friendly service, the property will offer a simple, inspired design with bright lobby spaces, comfortable guest rooms and a complimentary breakfast.

Additional Recent Signings and Upcoming Openings

Hilton continues to expand its hospitality offerings across the Kingdom, including the debut of its premium economy brand in the Middle East with Spark by Hilton Makkah Aziziyah, slated to open next year, as well as its first Tapestry Collection – one of Hilton’s lifestyle collection brands – in the Kingdom with Diyar Ajwa, Tapestry Collection by Hilton in Madinah, which is set to open later this year. Both hotels are being developed with longstanding partners Al Musbah Group. 

Further signings include a Curio Collection by Hilton branded residences in Riyadh, part of the OSUS Eye development, and two Curio Collection by Hilton resorts in Al Ahsa as part of Hilton’s partnership with Dan Co. Hilton also continues to grow its full service and focused service portfolio with new developments across Jeddah, Madinah, and Jizan.

These latest signings mark another step in Hilton’s growth journey to support Saudi Vision 2030 and deliver world-class hospitality across the Kingdom, where the company currently operates 21 hotels with another 83 in the pipeline.

The Saudi Health Information Management Association (SHIMA) has announced the SHIMA Annual Conference & Expo 2025, the largest upcoming platform dedicated to advancing the adoption, innovation, and integration of healthcare information management systems in Saudi Arabia, the MENA region, and globally.

The event will have King Saud University as Co-Host and Knowledge Partner, and will be supported by NEOM as a Strategic Partner.

Saudi Health Information Management Association (SHIMA), a not-for-profit professional association, has been promoting and advancing the Health Information Management (HIM) and Health Informatics professions, building a robust ecosystem for future healthcare in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The event aligns with Saudi Vision 2030, showcasing the Kingdom’s commitment to becoming a global leader in digital health innovation.

The two-day conference will offer an exclusive platform for dialogue, thought leadership, and knowledge exchange in healthcare information management, providing attendees and participants with actionable knowledge and strategic connections.

Our onboarded speakers so far,

• Hussein Albish – President, Saudi Health Information Management Association (SHIMA)
• Sallyanne Wissmann – Chief Executive Officer, HIMAA
• Dr. Mahmoud Alyamani – Health, Wellbeing & Biotech Sector Head, NEOM
• Vicki Bennett, President – IFHIMA
• Dr. Louise Schaper – Founder of HISA and the Digital Health Institute
• Dr. Julia Rehman – Founder & Principal Consultant, Kota Kompany
• Dr. Laila Yahya Alhubaishi – Consultant, United Arab Emirates University
• Jobin Jose – Co-founder, HealthOrbit AI
• Dr. Waleed Al-Suhaymi – CDI Unit Supervisor, Dammam Health Network
• Atheer Alharbi – AI Expert – Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, KSA
• Eng. Muhammad Mudassar – Head of Data & AI Health & Wellbeing, NEOM

Numerous other distinguished speakers are expected to join us in the upcoming days.

Furthermore, the event will also organize a one-day pre-conference workshop on November 17th, which will include topics like AI in Clinical Coding Guidelines, Role of Health Information Management (HIM) in Health Sector Transformation Program (HSTP), Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI) Speciality Session, AI in Revenue Cycle Management (RCM), and When Care Stops: Cybersecurity, Trust, and the Future of Patient Safety.

The exhibition will feature live demonstrations, pilot projects, and interactive showcases. Attendees will have the opportunity to experience the real-world performance of technologies within healthcare environments, providing solution providers with direct access to decision-makers and influencers. For leaders and purchasers in healthcare, it will serve as a marketplace to explore new innovations and contemporary systems.

Event Highlights:

• Keynotes and interactive sessions involving top policymakers, healthcare executives, IT leaders, innovators, academics, and global and regional experts
• Expert panel discussions on ICD-11, revenue cycle management, AI, cybersecurity, virtual health records, and more
• Technical workshops and hands-on learning experiences
• Exhibition featuring Next-generation Health Information Systems (HIS), Electronic Medical Records (EMR), Advanced coding, documentation, and reimbursement solutions, Revenue cycle management (RCM) systems and other breakthrough innovations
• Exclusive networking and partnership-building opportunities with policymakers and decision-makers

The SHIMA Annual Conference & Expo 2025 is poised to be a significant event that enhances Saudi Arabia’s role as a hub for digital health excellence and innovation in the region.

Kaspersky, a global cybersecurity and digital privacy company, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Oman Data Park (ODP), the Sultanate’s leading managed services and cloud provider, to strengthen cybersecurity collaboration and support organizations in Oman in building greater resilience against evolving cyber threats.

The MoU establishes a framework for technical information exchange, knowledge sharing, and coordinated incident response, enabling both parties to better address the increasingly complex challenges posed by cybercrime. As cyberattacks become more sophisticated, such cooperation ensures faster detection, better analysis of threats, and more proactive protection measures for businesses and government institutions.

Beyond technical collaboration, the agreement also includes executive training programs, customer education initiatives, and outreach activities. These initiatives are designed to raise awareness among decision-makers, employees, and end-users about the latest cyber risks, while also equipping them with the knowledge and tools needed to adopt effective security practices. By working together, Kaspersky and ODP aim to enhance the overall cybersecurity culture in the Sultanate.

“At Kaspersky, our mission is to build a safer world by empowering organizations to anticipate, detect, and respond to cyberthreats with confidence,” said Rashed Al-Momani, General Manager, Kaspersky Middle East. “Through this collaboration with Oman Data Park, we are bringing our global expertise closer to customers in Oman, enabling stronger protection for critical sectors and contributing to the country’s cybersecurity ecosystem.”

Eng. Maqbool Al Wahabi, CEO of Oman Data Park added: “Cybersecurity is a cornerstone of Oman’s digital transformation journey. By partnering with Kaspersky, we are combining our local expertise with their global threat intelligence to deliver stronger, more reliable protection for businesses and government entities in the Sultanate. This cooperation reflects our commitment to providing secure, world-class cloud and managed services to our customers.”

With this partnership, Kaspersky continues to expand its commitment to the region, supporting national initiatives and enabling both the public and private sectors to adopt advanced security practices that keep pace with the evolving digital landscape.

The Ministry of Tourism has raised fines for operating hospitality facilities without a valid license to SR250,000 in major cities and key tourism destinations, up from the previous penalty amounting to SR50,000, according to the updated regulations that took effect this week.

The new penalties apply to first-tier cities, including Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, Jeddah, and Alkhobar, as well as major giga-project destinations such as NEOM, The Red Sea, Diriyah, Amaala, and Qiddiya. Facilities operating without a valid license in these areas will also face permanent closure until the violation is corrected.

In second-tier cities — Taif, Dammam, Abha, Jazan, Tabuk, Hail, Buraidah, Khamis Mushait, Jubail, Najran, Yanbu, Hafar Al-Batin, Al-Baha, Al-Hofuf, and Sakaka — fines have been raised to SR150,000 from SR50,000.

The penalty for allowing others to use a tourism license has also been increased to SR60,000 for first-tier facilities and SR55,000 for second-tier facilities, compared with SR50,000 previously.

New penalties and language rules

Fines for obstructing tourism inspectors have doubled to SR10,000 for first-tier facilities and SR7,000 for second-tier facilities.

A new regulation mandates bilingual communication (Arabic and English) when responding to tourists via phone or email.

Facilities have seven days to rectify violations before a fine is issued — SR6,000 for five-star and luxury hotels, SR5,000 for four-star hotels, and SR2,000 for lower-rated serviced apartments.

Violations with penalties below SR10,000 can be issued immediately by authorized inspectors.

Graduated penalties and major offenses

The updated regulations classify offenses based on severity. Major violations include operating without a license, continuing activity after license suspension or expiry, actions harming public safety or the Kingdom’s tourism reputation, and obstructing inspectors.

Penalties are determined by facility size, location, and the severity of the violation. Minor violations will first receive a warning and a grace period to correct the issue before financial penalties are applied. However, repeated offenses within a year will result in doubled penalties and possible suspension or license cancellation after multiple violations.

Three tourism zones

The new framework divides Saudi Arabia into three zones:

Tier 1: Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, Jeddah, Alkhobar, and giga-project destinations (NEOM, The Red Sea, Diriyah, Amaala, Qiddiya).

Tier 2: Taif, Dammam, Abha, Jazan, Tabuk, Hail, Buraidah, Khamis Mushait, Jubail, Najran, Yanbu, Hafar Al-Batin, Al-Baha, Al-Hofuf, and Sakaka.

Tier 3: All other cities and governorates.

The Ministry emphasized that the new measures aimed to ensure high-quality services, enhance compliance across the hospitality sector, and protect the Kingdom’s tourism reputation.

Ankabut Information Technology, the UAE’s advanced technology provider for the education and research community, announced the signing of a strategic multi-party Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with global technology leaders Huawei Technologies UAE, RONG CLOUD H.K. LIMITED, Neuxnet (Singapore) PTE. LTD., and Talk Cloud (Beijing) Technology Co., Ltd.

The landmark agreement establishes a collaborative framework to co-design and integrate cutting-edge AI, cloud, and communication technologies tailored for the education sector. The consortium aims to foster innovation, enhance service portfolios, and deliver greater value to educational institutions and their stakeholders.

The collaboration will focus on several key areas:

• Joint Solution Development: Co-creating integrated, AI-driven, scenario-based education solutions.
• Technology Validation and Pilots: Testing and demonstrating these solutions within Ankabut’s network of partner institutions.
• Training and Capacity Building: Organizing workshops, seminars, and training programs to build capacity among educators and IT staff.
• Marketing and Ecosystem Promotion: Showcasing the partnership’s results and innovations at major industry events, exhibitions, and forums.
• Localization and Support: Adapting solutions to meet local requirements and providing ongoing, robust support.

“This partnership represents a significant leap forward for the education technology landscape,” said a spokesperson for Ankabut. “By uniting our regional expertise with the global technological prowess of Huawei, Rong Cloud, Neuxnet, and Talk Cloud, we are positioned to redefine learning experiences through powerful, practical AI applications.”

The alliance brings together complementary strengths from each partner: Ankabut’s deep roots in the UAE’s education sector, Huawei’s leadership in ICT infrastructure, Rong Cloud’s and Talk Cloud’s expertise in cloud communication platforms, and Neuxnet’s advanced networking and AI capabilities.

“This MOU underscores our shared commitment to driving digital transformation in education,” added a representative from Huawei Technologies UAE. “We are excited to collaborate on developing localized solutions that address real-world challenges faced by educators and students.”

The partners will immediately commence strategic discussions to develop a detailed action plan, with a focus on rapid prototyping and pilot deployments.