Saudi Fashion Commission Unveils 2024 Report Highlighting $42B Market Potential

Turkish Airlines, the airline that connects more countries than any other, offers travelers in the United Arab Emirates seamless access to its exclusive holiday platform, Turkish Airlines Holidays. Customers can effortlessly plan their entire holiday, including flights, hotels, curated tours and activities, car rentals, airport transfers, travel insurance, and more as an all-in-one holiday solution.

Initially introduced in 2021 to serve outbound travelers from Türkiye, Turkish Airlines Holidays expanded in 2025 to include over 60 departure countries, with the United Arab Emirates emerging as a key market alongside the United Kingdom, Europe, South Korea, Mexico, and Australia. Travelers from Dubai and Abu Dhabi can now enjoy an integrated booking platform offering departure options to more than 300 destinations.

The platform provides exclusive bundled benefits, including special pricing on flights and hotels, access to over 550,000 hotels worldwide, complimentary checked baggage with every package, and the opportunity to earn extra Miles&Smiles points across complete holiday bookings. Turkish Airlines Holidays positions itself as the airline holiday brand offering travel experiences across the most countries worldwide, delivering a streamlined and comprehensive holiday booking experience curated for maximum comfort and convenience.

This expansion into another key international market strengthens Turkish Airlines’ ambition to deliver an integrated, world-class travel experience, thus uniting air travel and holiday planning under one platform. Travelers in the UAE are invited to start planning their next adventure with Turkish Airlines Holidays through platform’s website.

Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and e& today announced a strategic collaboration to help drive technological development and commercialization across a broad range of advanced connectivity, 5G and edge AI technologies in an effort to accelerate the digital transformation for the government, enterprise and industrial sectors. Edge computing refers to processing data closer to where it is generated—at the “edge” of the network—enabling faster insights, reduced latency, and enhanced security.

This collaboration is intended to benefit key aspects of the UAE economy. Qualcomm Technologies and e& plan to collaborate on:

• Industrial and enterprise 5G edge AI gateways that will enable core vertical sectors to deploy AI capabilities and other technologies at the network edge, enhancing efficiency, connectivity and performance Edge AI devices, ranging from PCs to XR devices powered by Snapdragon® platforms, which will integrate large language models (LLMs), supporting on-device generative AI capabilities and security-focused AI inferencing from edge to cloud for enterprise and government sectors
• Smart mobility and safety solutions designed to improve safety and road-user experiences and future proofing the UAE’s transportation infrastructure
• Connected industrial IoT solutions for enterprise

Qualcomm Technologies will also look to utilize its newly established Qualcomm Engineering Center in Abu Dhabi to support this collaboration with e& through evaluating new use cases to accelerate 5G and edge AI adoption in sectors like energy, manufacturing, logistics, retail and smart mobility.

“The cooperation between Qualcomm Technologies and e& will drive significant collaboration across some of the most transformative technology areas, including 5G, next-generation computing and intelligence at the edge. We look forward to working with e& to accelerate innovation and technology advancement across its ecosystem of enterprise and government customers in the UAE and beyond,” said Cristiano Amon, President and CEO, Qualcomm Incorporated.

“e& and Qualcomm Technologies have a history of cooperation, and this new agreement will help drive the digital transformation of enterprises significantly enhancing the UAE’s role in the global technology landscape. Together, we’re bringing powerful AI to the edge — from smart industrial gateways and wearables to mobility and infrastructure — enabling faster, more reliable, and secure experiences across sectors like manufacturing, transport, and government. These innovations will drive real-time intelligence, operational efficiency, and future-ready public services across the UAE,” said Hatem Dowidar, Group Chief Executive Officer, e&.

Fintech Week London (FTWL) has partnered with Trescon to launch London FinTech Summit, a premier global platform bringing together financial leaders, investors, policymakers, and innovators to shape the future of fintech. While FTWL continues as the umbrella for a week of finance-focused events in London, the new two-day summit – taking place on October 6-7, 2025 – will be the focal point for driving cross-border collaboration and investment.

The summit aims to connect leading financial hubs including London, New York, Singapore, Dubai, Mumbai, and Hong Kong, with a focus on investment, regulation, and technology. It will reinforce London’s role as a central platform for international fintech dialogue and dealmaking.

A Global Fintech Ecosystem Converging in London

Through its partnership with Trescon, the summit taps into a robust global network of financial institutions, government entities, and innovation leaders.

“London has long been at the center of financial innovation, and the London FinTech Summit 2025 will cement its role as a critical link between financial capitals,” said Raf De Kimpe, CEO of Fintech Week London. “With Trescon’s extensive international reach, we are creating a summit that brings together the most influential voices shaping the future of finance.”

Trescon, known for its expertise in curating high-impact international fintech and technology summits, will contribute its global ecosystem of investors, regulatory leaders, and industry pioneers.

“Our vision in forging the London FinTech Summit 2025, in partnership with Fintech Week London, is a powerful testament to the UK’s enduring role as a global financial nexus,” said Mohammed Saleem, Founder and Chairman of Trescon. He added, “By uniting the dynamic forces of London, New York, Singapore, Dubai, Mumbai, and Hong Kong, we are not just organizing an event but architecting the future of finance. This summit, fueled by Trescon’s global expertise, will be the crucible where innovation meets regulation and investment, solidifying London’s pivotal position in shaping the next era of financial services worldwide.”

Naveen Bharadwaj, Group CEO of Trescon, added:

“Our mission is to connect financial markets and foster international collaboration. By bringing our network of global investors, policymakers, and fintech innovators to London, the London FinTech Summit 2025 will be a key platform for shaping the next chapter of financial services worldwide.”

International Partnerships and Advisory Leadership

The summit is supported by leading UK institutions and government bodies, including:

Fintech Week London and the London FinTech Summit are supported by Strategic Partners including the London Stock Exchange Group, City of London, Department for Business & Trade, London & Partners, and a global advisory committee.

As an International Strategic Partner, the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Innovation Hub, the MEASA region’s largest fintech start-up hub, adds global depth — bringing expertise, access to high-growth markets, and a shared commitment to advancing financial services.

These partnerships will spark key discussions on regulation, investment, and technology, shaping the future of fintech.

What Sets London FinTech Summit Apart

• Global Participation – Dedicated country and industry pavilions showcasing fintech advancements from major financial markets
• Investor Roundtables – Connecting fintech start-ups with global venture capitalists and institutional investors
• Regulatory & Government Engagement – Facilitating cross-border policy discussions with key decision-makers
• Fintech Innovation Showcases – Highlighting next-generation financial technologies

Backed by Trescon’s expertise in delivering industry-leading fintech and technology summits, including:

• HODL (formerly World Blockchain Summit) – The longest-running blockchain event series
• DATE with Tech – A fintech and emerging technology series hosted in India, Saudi Arabia, and Jakarta
• World Fintech Show – A key platform for fintech innovation and investment

Having successfully managed several government-backed events in the fintech, emerging tech & sustainability space, Trescon delivers a world-class platform that drives meaningful dialogue and advances financial services.

Key Themes & Agenda Highlights

The summit will explore critical trends shaping the future of fintech, including: 

• Cross-Border Regulatory Alignment 
• Institutional Investment in Fintech 
• Artificial Intelligence in Finance 
• Embedded Payments 
• Digital Assets & Tokenization
• Data, Risk & Fraud 
• Fintech for Good 

As an international financial powerhouse, London remains at the forefront of fintech innovation and regulatory leadership. London FinTech Summit 2025 will position the UK capital as the definitive global meeting point for fintech and financial innovation.

Global advisory and advocacy firm APCO today announced a partnership with Columbia University to deliver a series of specialist training workshops for professional communicators. Columbia, along with the APCO Institute, will provide practical skill building sessions taught by members of APCO’s senior global staff and Columbia University faculty for 20 mid-level communication professionals in the MENA region in October.

The program will be delivered by faculty from the School of Professional Studies at Columbia University, one of the world’s top universities in the field of communications, in collaboration with APCO. There will be four workshops, beginning with Leadership Across Cultures, focused on navigating language, social, and cultural variables critical to leading multicultural teams in global workplaces.

Mastering Influence will explore communication-centered approaches to social influence and leveraging social networks to build capital and drive innovation. AI and the Future of Strategic Communication will examine AI integration into communication practices with practical use cases for strategic planning. Finally, Strategic Communication Management will introduce key concepts for planning, executing, and evaluating internal and external communication initiatives.

Mamoon Sbeih, president of APCO in the MENA region, said: “As technological disruptions continue to transform the communications landscape, this collaboration will equip our clients and colleagues with the tools and insights to navigate complex operating environments. Through this initiative, we will empower our teams and clients to achieve their goals and maximize impact.”

Professor Kristine Billmyer, director of the Strategic Communication Master’s Degree program at Columbia University said: “The centrality of strategic communication to an organization’s core mission and functions cannot be underestimated. It defines brand, drives business goals, and powers reputation across industries and sectors around the world. We look forward to strengthening ties with PR professionals in this critical region of the world. Columbia’s Strategic Communication program depends on global perspectives, and we welcome this opportunity for the exchange of ideas and mutual learning.”

Established in 2022, APCO Institute focuses on building strategic communications capabilities to empower professional communicators with the tools, knowledge, exposure and international best practices to meet the growing demands to reach audiences locally and internationally. Additionally, the APCO Institute provides coaching to senior executives, government officials and technical experts to connect with their key stakeholders effectively.

APCO Institute routinely partners with local and global universities to offer unique programs to students pursuing careers in the media and communications industries. It also facilitates targeted executive workshops to enable senior business professionals to realize the potential of communications as a functional tool to meet business objectives and address potential crises

A top event for the summer calendar, and an opportunity for GCC travelers to get on board with women sporting legends, Geneva is preparing for a double offensive! Two major initiatives for women and sport, supported by public authorities: UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 in Geneva, which will take place in July, and the #ChangeonsLaDonne campaign, which aims to achieve 40% representation of women in sports committees by 2026, as to be hosted by the city this summer.

With nearly 100,000 spectators expected, Geneva is positioning itself as a pillar of UEFA Women’s EURO 2025. As part of this event, the Stade de Genève Foundation has launched a major renovation program, funded by the canton. A budget of CHF 4.1 million will be invested to modernize the infrastructure, not only to meet the high standards of the competition but also to create a welcoming environment for the public.

The City of Geneva is creating a Sports Village on Quai Gustave Ador, through which they’ll organize sports demonstrations, introductions, and meet-and-greets with athletes to promote women’s sports and inspire vocations among younger generations by giving visibility to the champions. Located on Quai Général-Guisan near the Sports Village, a Fan Zone will also welcome the public, who will enjoy free access, from July 2 to 27, 2025, to live broadcasts of matches and entertainment, as well as a catering area, providing plenty of opportunities for things to do and see.

Concrete actions for youth, women, and the Geneva population

The partnership between the WEURO Geneva 2025 Association, which coordinates the event, and the AGS embodies a shared vision: to make this major tournament a catalyst with a lasting impact that goes beyond the field, redefining the standards of women’s sport, both athletically and socially.

Aside from the footy action, visitors can also avail of activities that continuously take place around Lake Geneva, through water sports, a panoramic view of the Jet d’Eau, or a trip onboard the Belle Epoque steamboat for a more traditional sojourn on the lake.

If you prefer dry land, the city’ parks; nestled on the lakeside offer a lovely cool break on hot summer days. Between the lake and the mountains, stroll through the incredible Botanical Garden and then lie down on the grass in the Parc de la Perle du Lac for a relaxing moment by the water. Admire the splendid view of the harbour from the Parc la Grange while enjoying an ice cream before heading to one of the chocolate factories for a tasting experience, a stroll around one of the city’s museums, or taking up a guided tour to truly get behind the history of Geneva. Taking in all that Geneva has to offer is simple with the City Pass, with free or discounted access to a wide range of attractions, museums, and activities across the city.

The Saudi Food Show 2025 opened its doors for its second day as the Riyadh Front Exhibition and Conference Centre once again transformed into a vibrant hub of business and trade. Thousands of visitors explored, tested, and experienced hundreds of thousands of cutting-edge products and innovations in a dynamic showcase designed to elevate the nation’s billion-dollar market.

Among those to gather were top business leaders and buyers from around the world as they joined professionals and experts in the capital to embrace new opportunities and fuel the country’s food sector.

At a time where the Kingdom’s F&B market is projected to reach USD $24.29 billion by the end of this year, Fawaz Shakaa, CEO of Farm Dairy Company and Board Member of the Jordan Chamber Industry said he is seeing the benefits of being present for the first time.

He commented: “Consumption patterns in the country are clearly evolving, as more consumers show a growing preference for international products. At the same time, the Kingdom is growing rapidly and is attracting different tourists from around the world, making it a key market. As such, Saudi Food Show allows us to network and do business with one another, benefitting both Saudi and Jordan.”

Bandar Okrin, CEO of Saudi-born Kinza, said consumers are at the forefront of its strategy. He stated: “We focus more on the consumer’s preferences as we believe they are key to success in the future. Today, we are placing more emphasis on utilising Saudi ingredients in our products which is a top priority while empowering local talent to grow our brand and contribute to the Vision 2030 strategy.”

The event has attracted thousands of leading global companies and national pavilions. Among them is Mexico’s iAURA with its representatives engaging with over 100 potential buyers, generating significant interest in its portfolio of products.

iAURA’s CEO, Guadalupe Miranda confirmed they will return next year after being impressed with the scale of the event.

He said: “We’ve already decided that we’ll return every year as we’ve seen strong interest from businesses in our chickpeas, which are exclusively produced in Mexico. This is no surprise as it is widely used for hummus – one of the most popular dishes in this region.”

At the Saudi Food Summit, the audience gained a fascinating insight on the trends and growth opportunities in the retail sector from expert speakers in the public and private sectors.

Justin Emmanuel Steinbach, CEO of IFFCO Professional, Manuel Garabato, Marketing Director of Global Emerging Markets, General Mills, Bobby Rajendran, CEO of Tamimi Markets, and Jens Sievert, Director- International Design and Branding – Daymon, spoke about why organizations need to embrace AI in their day-to-day operations, saying it can speed up experimentation, simulation, and decision-making. The panel also highlighted that there is an increasing preference for personalization, emotional connection and purpose from consumers in the retail sector.

The interactive and popular Top Table Saudi continued with both Saudi and international chefs delivering engaging masterclasses. They shared fresh ideas and showcased signature dishes while providing a glimpse into the future of gastronomy.

Top Chef Middle East participant and esteemed Saudi cuisine ambassador, Areej AlShareef, was among the highly influential culinary experts present, captivating the crowds with her expertise and showcasing the rich, authentic flavours of the Kingdom

She stated: “Cooking is my passion, I don’t really focus too much on recipes and I try to give the real flavor but with a different kick. There are so many fresh ingredients in Saudi Arabia which I use and people will now know, which they can put in their dishes.”

Another chef in attendance was Azzam Al Sowayan, Sous Chef at Fairmont Riyadh. He shared key tips on combining Saudi cuisine with international dishes, as well as advice on pursuing a career in cooking.

He explained: “Saudi cuisine has incredibly rich and abundant ingredients. Blending global cuisine with Saudi flavors may seem easy to attempt but can be challenging to perfect. My advice for anyone wanting to become a chef is patience and endurance are key to overcome the challenges that go side by side to becoming a successful chef.”

Global cloud communications platform Infobip today announced that it has enhanced its partnership with Oracle to bring conversational experiences to businesses and brands globally. The new integration enables Infobip and Oracle customers and partners to access Infobip’s omnichannel services through Oracle Integration.

Customers increasingly expect omnichannel communications, but integrating and managing new channels can be time-consuming, requiring complex development, deployment, and organizational processes. Infobip’s new Omnichannel Messaging Adapter for Oracle Integration addresses this challenge by enabling all types of businesses to work with and manage omnichannel messaging channels involving Oracle and third-party solutions, including WhatsApp and RCS. The solution deploys quickly, reducing time to market.

In addition, Infobip has provided a prebuilt use case – or Accelerator – for Oracle’s contact center solution, Oracle B2C Service. This Accelerator is a flexible solution that allows consumers to connect with a company’s support team via SMS and WhatsApp, delivering a streamlined two-way communication experience. Both the Omnichannel Messaging Adapter and Accelerator offer low or no-code solutions, benefiting Oracle’s customers and partners.

Oracle Integration provides secure, highly scalable connectivity regardless of the applications an organization is connecting with or where the applications reside.

“Our new collaboration with Infobip will help enterprises simplify connectivity and provide integration between the Infobip messaging platform and any applications using our unified integration platform as a service, Oracle Integration,” said Deepak Arora, Vice President, Product Management, Oracle. “This partnership builds on our vision of fueling AI innovation for more businesses by integrating any apps, data, and services anywhere.”

“The Omnichannel Messaging Adapter for Oracle Integration enables Infobip and Oracle customers to tailor our omnichannel solutions to their specific needs using the same platform with just a few clicks,” said Veselin Vuković, Chief Alliances Officer, Infobip, “The solution is flexible and works for a broad range of sectors and industries.”

As climate pressures intensify globally, countries in hyper-arid zones such as the Gulf are facing some of the most acute environmental challenges. Land degradation and desertification threaten food security, water availability, and ecosystem stability. The report emphasizes that while these issues are global, their impact is often more severe in regions like the GCC, and require coordinated, technology-led solutions to address effectively.

“In hyper-arid regions, innovation and the scale-up of greening technologies are no longer optional, they are essential to effectively combat desertification, restore degraded lands, and secure long-term food and water resilience. Beyond environmental benefits, these technologies unlock significant socio-economic gains by revitalizing rural livelihoods, creating green jobs, and strengthening climate adaptation capacity.” said Marielli Bou Harb, Partner at Arthur D. Little.

The study identifies five transformative technologies: AI systems for precision land management, IoT-based sensors enabling real-time environmental feedback, biochar production for soil regeneration, localized composting for organic nutrient cycling, and genetic engineering where socially and culturally appropriate. These technologies are distinguished not only by their ecological promise but also by their alignment with region-specific conditions such as extreme heat, limited freshwater, and fragile soils. They have been evaluated through Arthur D. Little‘s proprietary foresight framework, connecting global research trends with on-the-ground applicability.

“Real impact lies not just in identifying technologies, but in prioritizing those that are both promising and practical rooted in strong scientific research, adapted to the harsh realities of hyper-arid environments, and backed by growing investment and market momentum. We focus on solutions with the greatest potential to scale where they are needed most and when urgency can no longer be postponed” added Marielli Bou Harb.

Across the GCC, national greening campaigns and restoration targets are gaining traction. Saudi Arabia’s 10 billion-tree pledge and its leadership role in the Middle East Green Initiative (MGI) – aiming to restore 200 million hectares – are major drivers of experimentation and innovation. Yet progress is not isolated. The UAE, Qatar, and others are advancing pilot programs that provide models for cross-border replication and scale.

“Innovation thrives when minds unite entrepreneurs, scientists, investors, government, and communities, fueling green technologies that root deep in Middle Eastern soil, growing a sustainable future for generations to come,” said Juan Moreno, Principal at Arthur D. Little.

Concrete results are emerging, including AI-driven irrigation improving water efficiency by 40 to 50 percent, biochar reducing reliance on traditional water inputs, composting increasing yields in nutrient-poor soils, and sensor networks streamlining restoration efforts through predictive data.

To maximize impact, the study calls for urgent action around four key levers: align policy and investment across GCC and neighboring countries under initiatives like MGI, expand R&D ecosystems to localize emerging global tech, create regional centers for innovation exchange and upskilling, and enable blended finance models to drive scale through public-private partnerships.

“With climate pressures accelerating, the region must move from pilot projects to scalable transformation,” Juan Moreno emphasized. “This report is a practical guide for policymakers, investors, and innovators committed to reversing land degradation and building long-term resilience.”

Arthur D. Little concludes that sustainable land management in hyper-arid regions is no longer a future ambition, it’s a present-day economic, environmental, and geopolitical imperative. The time to act is now.

Qualcomm Technologies Inc. and Aramco Digital announced their intent to enter into a strategic collaboration to develop, deploy and commercialize state-of-the-art edge AI industrial IoT technologies and solutions, which will drive the digital transformation of key industries in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The collaboration also covers the development of AI industrial use-cases and service offerings.

Aramco Digital will aim to develop and commercialize a range of advanced edge AI industrial devices and end-to-end solutions powered by products and services from Qualcomm Technologies. These solutions will help meet the specific requirements of various industry sectors in the Kingdom, and are designed to increase efficiency and productivity, enhance safety and sustainability, and enable new innovations in industrial-based services, from worker assistants to predictive maintenance, visual anomaly detection, asset management and more.

The collaboration is intended to utilize Aramco Digital’s 450 MHz 5G industrial network to connect intelligent edge devices powered by solutions from Qualcomm Technologies—including smartphones, rugged industrial devices, robots, drones, cameras, sensors, and other IoT devices. Aramco Digital and Qualcomm Technologies also plan to develop the capabilities to deploy, manage, and update AI models on Aramco Digital’s edge AI devices.

“Through this MoU with Qualcomm Technologies, Aramco Digital further demonstrates its intent to contribute to the digital transformation of Saudi Arabia’s industrial sectors, in alignment with Vision 2030. By combining cutting-edge AI and 5G technologies, we not only aim to enable smarter solutions but also lay the foundation for a safer, more efficient, and sustainable future for industries across the Kingdom. This MoU highlights Aramco Digital’s continued efforts to shape Saudi Arabia’s digital landscape and reinforce its leadership in industrial innovation,” said Nabil A. Al Nuiam, chief executive officer, Aramco Digital.

“Our collaboration with Aramco Digital underscores our shared vision of accelerating innovation in advanced edge AI technologies and 5G. Combining our expertise in on-device AI, wireless connectivity and power-efficient computing with Aramco Digital’s 5G 450 MHz industrial network and extensive experience in the energy industry will enable rapid development of advanced industrial IoT solutions to drive the next wave of digital transformation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” said Cristiano Amon, president and chief executive officer, Qualcomm Incorporated.

The two companies agreed on this strategic cooperation during the Saudi-US Investment Forum in Riyadh, taking place as part of the official visit of President of the United States Donald Trump to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS), an Amazon.com, Inc. company (NASDAQ: AMZN), and HUMAIN, Saudi Arabia’s newly created company responsible for driving AI innovation across the Kingdom and globally, today announced plans to invest $5 billion-plus in a strategic partnership to build a groundbreaking “AI Zone” in the Kingdom. This first-of-a-kind AI Zone will bring together multiple innovative capabilities, including dedicated AWS AI infrastructure and servers with world-class semiconductors, UltraCluster networks for faster AI training and inference, AWS services like Sagemaker and Bedrock, and AI application services such as Amazon Q to advance Saudi Arabia’s mission to be a world leader in AI.

AWS previously announced and is currently building an AWS infrastructure region in Saudi Arabia that will become available in 2026. Amazon is investing US$5.3 billion (approx. 19.88 billion Saudi riyal) in Saudi Arabia to develop this new region for AWS. The new AI Zone announced today is an additional investment to grow global and local demand for advanced AI services in the Kingdom, and is part of AWS’s long-term commitment to bring its world-class infrastructure and services to Saudi Arabia.

This collaboration aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and builds upon the Kingdom’s pledge in 2024 to invest in building an AI-powered economy, representing a significant step towards realizing Saudi Arabia’s ambitions to become a global AI leader. AWS will bring to Saudi Arabia its advanced server and network infrastructure capabilities, as well as its artificial intelligence and machine learning services – including Amazon Sagemaker AI, Amazon Bedrock and Amazon Q, fully managed services for building and scaling generative AI (genAI) applications. With Amazon Bedrock in Saudi Arabia, businesses and government organizations can access high-performing models from leading AI companies to develop genAI applications with security, privacy, and responsible AI. Amazon Q is the world’s most capable coding assistant, and also enables organizations to build genAI-powered assistants to answer questions, provide summaries, generate content, and complete tasks based on enterprise data.

Through this collaboration, HUMAIN plans to develop AI solutions using AWS technologies for its end customers. Further, HUMAIN will work with AWS on the development of a unified AI agent marketplace, simplifying the discovery, deployment, and management of AI software for the Saudi Arabia government. The collaboration also intends to spur the growth of Large Language Models (LLMs), including Arabic Large Language Models (ALLaM), while spearheading wide adoption of AI in organizations and industries across the Gulf Region and beyond.

Key sectors, such as government, energy, healthcare, and education, will be able to accelerate their transformation, envisioning AI-powered tools that can personalize learning experiences for students, help provide early disease diagnoses for patients, and unleash productivity across core upstream and downstream processes for government administration. Use cases such as these will be accelerated via the AWS Generative AI Innovation Center, in partnership with HUMAIN, enabling customers – from the fastest-growing startups and largest enterprises, to government agencies – to amplify genAI roadmaps and workloads, leading to equitable and efficient delivery of vital services for greater societal impact.

“We thank AWS for doubling down on their long-term partnership with the Kingdom. This new collaboration with HUMAIN lays the foundation for the intelligent era, accelerates our innovation momentum, grows our talent, and reinforces Saudi Arabia’s position as a global partner of choice in the age of AI,” said His Excellency Eng. Abdullah Alswaha, Minister of Communications and Information Technology.

Fueling Saudi Arabia’s vibrant startup sector with AI-powered innovation

AWS and HUMAIN will also work together to advance an AI-powered startup sector in the Kingdom, providing access to the broadest and deepest set of cloud technology tools and programs, including AWS Activate, and helping Saudi Arabia’s most ambitious founders and entrepreneurs scale their businesses.

AWS has helped more than 330,000 startups globally bring their business ideas to life. Its scalable, secure, low-cost cloud solutions and AI-powered services, combined with HUMAIN’s deep support network, will help supercharge Saudi’s startup scene. According to MAGNiTT, Saudi Arabia startups secured US$750 million venture capital funding in 2024, the highest share of capital deployed across the Middle East and North Africa last year.

“This collaboration to build an AI Zone in Saudi Arabia will enable innovations across all industries using AWS’s advanced AI offerings, and reflects our commitment to support Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030,” said Matt Garman, CEO, Amazon Web Services. “Together, we will empower customers with cost-effective and secure cloud technologies, fuel innovation and economic growth across the nation, and enable HUMAIN to appeal to customers globally.”

Accelerating talent development for a vibrant Saudi tech industry

As part of its long-term commitment to fast-track cloud adoption in Saudi Arabia, AWS is scaling its training and certification programs focused on genAI skills-building in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 digital transformation goals. Working with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), AWS has committed to train 100,000 citizens from the Kingdom in cloud computing and genAI, focusing on the two newest AWS genAI certifications: AWS AI Practitioner and AWS Machine Learning Engineer Associate Certifications. Training will be delivered by the Amazon Academy. Launched in 2023, the Amazon Academy is the largest talent development program of its kind in the Middle East. It provides transformative training and certifications, free of cost to participants, to elevate in-demand competencies and equip Saudi talent for jobs of the future. The program is designed to empower the next generation of Saudi youth, entrepreneurs, and professionals at any stage of their career to achieve success across in-demand skills, such as cloud computing, logistics, and leadership.

In addition, to help accelerate Saudi Arabia’s goal of empowering women to increase participation in the workforce, AWS in 2024 also launched an upskilling program, “AWS Saudi Arabia Women’s Skills Initiative,” in partnership with Skillsoft Global Knowledge. AWS has committed to train 10,000 women on AWS Cloud Practitioner Essentials, at no charge, through classroom trainings with AWS-certified professionals.

Supercharging HUMAIN’s AI ambitions

Saudi Arabia is forecast to hold the lion’s share of AI’s estimated economic impact across the Middle East in the coming years. According to PwC, AI will contribute $130 billion to Saudi’s economy by 2030, comprising more than 40 percent of the estimated $320 billion of AI value for the entire Middle East.

The Kingdom is also at the forefront of a regional drive to transform both public sector services and enterprises with AI-powered innovation built in the cloud. PwC estimates that nearly 70 percent of Middle East companies plan to migrate most of their operations to the cloud within the next year, while a 2023 report by Telecom Advisory Services predicts public cloud adoption to unlock US$733 billion in economic value by 2033 across the Middle East and North Africa.

“HUMAIN’s partnership with AWS is a pivotal moment in Saudi Arabia’s journey to become a global leader in AI,” said Tareq Amin, CEO of HUMAIN. “By leveraging AWS’s world-class cloud infrastructure and AI expertise and HUMAIN’s full-stack AI capabilities, we are creating an offering that will attract global investment and talent, thereby driving our digital transformation agenda forward.”

The Organizing Committee of ICOM Dubai 2025, in collaboration with ICOM UAE, has officially launched its Grant Programme for the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA) region, reinforcing its commitment to inclusion, accessibility, and regional impact as it prepares to host the 27th General Conference of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) this November in Dubai.

Taking place for the first time in the MEASA region, ICOM Dubai 2025 will convene thousands of museum professionals, cultural leaders, academics and students under the theme The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities. To ensure the conference remains accessible and representative of the region’s diversity and dynamism, the Grant Programme will offer 140 grants — 70 for in-person participation and 70 for digital access.

The in-person grants will cover travel, accommodation, visa fees (where applicable), and full admission to the conference, while digital grants will offer complimentary access to the virtual program for those unable or opting not to travel. The initiative is designed not only to facilitate participation but to nurture voices that will actively shape the discourse on the future of museums — particularly those aligned with the conference’s three pillars: the safeguarding of intangible heritage, youth power, and the rise of new technologies.

Her Excellency Hala Badri, Director General of Dubai Culture and Chairperson of ICOM Dubai 2025 Organizing Committee, said: “At ICOM Dubai 2025, we are nurturing a legacy built on inclusion, opportunity, and shared purpose. This Grant Programme reflects our belief that the future of museums must be shaped by a diversity of voices. By welcoming professionals from across the MEASA region, we are inviting a variety of perspectives to join the global dialogue and co-create the cultural narratives of tomorrow.”

With this announcement, ICOM Dubai 2025 continues to champion inclusive cultural dialogue, regionally grounded practice, and equitable access to global platforms. As the countdown to November begins, the Grant Programme stands as a powerful step toward shaping a conference that truly reflects the future it aims to inspire.

To apply for the ICOM Dubai 2025 Grant Programme and be part of this landmark cultural event, visit https://dubai2025.icom.museum/grants; applications must be submitted by 31 May 2025. Don’t miss the opportunity to help shape the future of museums.

Sprinklr, the unified customer experience management (Unified-CXM) platform for modern enterprises, today announced an expanded partnership with Aramex, a global leader in logistics and transportation. Aramex and Sprinklr are partnering to revolutionize digital customer experience for Aramex customers across more than 65 countries. This collaboration marks a significant step in Aramex’s commitment to delivering seamless, AI-driven customer interactions at scale, through leveraging Sprinklr’s Case Management, Sprinklr Voice, and Conversational AI.

Since 2022, Aramex has modernized its customer experience with Sprinklr Service by leveraging AI-driven automation and a WhatsApp integration to enhance efficiency, improve last-mile delivery and provide always-on customer support at scale. In doing so, Aramex ensures delivering world class customer experience with AI-powered contact center as a service (CCaaS) and 24/7 customer care.

Francoise Russo, Chief Digital and Technology Officer at Aramex, said: “Aramex is deeply committed to customer-centric innovation, as seen with our smart lockers, automated AI-powered robotic sorting system, autonomous delivery robots, and electric vehicles. As e-commerce reshapes customer expectations, the need for instant, personalized service across digital channels has never been greater. We are evolving beyond legacy systems to embrace AI-driven customer engagement. As a key partner in this transformation, Sprinklr is helping us scale seamless, real-time interactions while boosting operational efficiency.

Amjad Al Sabbah, Group Vice President for the Middle East and Africa at Sprinklr, said: “Sprinklr is revolutionizing how companies across the world connect with, support, and understand their customers through digital channels, and Aramax is one of the customers leading the way. We are excited to be part of Aramex’s transformative journey and look forward to continuing our success with our outstanding teams and building on the momentum we’ve gained in the region and the world.”

Since launching the partnership, Aramex has automated 99% of cases and saved over a million agent hours annually. This transformation reduces case resolution delays, boosts customer satisfaction, and optimizes operational costs, helping to ensure a more efficient and seamless customer support experience.

Kilow, a leading digital health and weight management solution, has successfully closed its $2.5 million seed funding round led by Sanabil Venture Studio (a subsidiary of Sanabil Investments) in partnership with Stryber.

This investment comes at a time of rapid growth for Kilow, as the company continues to revolutionize the weight loss experience through AI-powered, personalized solutions and seamless health data integration. By leveraging technology, Kilow aims to help users achieve their health goals more efficiently and sustainably.

Driving Innovation in Digital Healthcare

Since its inception, Kilow has been committed to building a comprehensive digital ecosystem that empowers users through:
– Personalized treatment plans designed by expert healthcare professionals
– Real-time health tracking through seamless integration with smart devices
– At-home lab testing for accurate health insights without the need for clinic visits
– Specialized medical consultations to support users on their weight loss journey

Fahed Al-Essa, CEO of Kilow, stated:
“This investment strengthens our vision of delivering highly personalized and efficient digital health solutions. Our goal is to transform the way individuals approach weight loss by offering a smart, integrated experience that enables long-term success.”

Rayan Aebi, CEO of Sanabil Venture Studio, and General Partner of the Fund, added: “We’re proud and excited to support Kilow as they redefine digital health. Our investment towards their innovative approach reflects our commitment to back impactful, tech-driven ventures, and contribute to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 by advancing health and innovation.”

Strategic Partnership for Growth and Expansion

Sanabil Venture Studio’s participation in this round reflects its confidence in Kilow’s potential to lead the digital healthcare space in the region. With this funding, Kilow plans to expand operations, develop new features, and enhance user experience – with a strong focus on AI-driven insights and smart health analytics to improve user outcomes.

H.E Dr. Abdullah Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah, Advisor to the Royal Court Supervisor General of King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre, inaugurated the opening of the Saudi Food Show 2025 exhibition today (Monday) at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Centre in Riyadh Front. He was accompanied by His Excellency Eng. Majed bin Rafid Al-Argoubi, CEO of the Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones (MODON), and distinguished guests as they toured the exhibition.

The Saudi Food Show, organized by KAOUN International and dmg events, and held in strategic partnership with MODON, is running until Wednesday. It has attracted 1,300+ exhibitors from around the world, designed to to accelerate the growth of the F&B industry.

The first day saw the signing of several food industry and logistics contracts worth of investments exceeding SAR 600 million with Kudu and Yousef Abdul Latif Jameel Group among the organizations to put pen to paper, reaffirming the strategic importance to the Kingdom’s economy and boost the sector.

In the Saudi Food Summit, His Excellency Eng. Majed bin Rafid Al-Argoubi took to the stage, stating the Saudi Food Show is an important platform for expanding a key sector.  He said the Kingdom’s efforts to localize the food industry sector and ensure food security reflect its commitment to contributing to global food security, by empowering research, development, and innovation, and strengthening supply chains – positioning Saudi Arabia as a vital partner and global role model in securing food for the world.

He added the number of food manufacturing facilities within MODON’s cities has surpassed 1,400 factories, covering a total area of 12 million square meters, contributing to the creation of over 90,000 job opportunities.

In a special ministerial panel session, H.E. Eng. Khalid bin Mohammed Al-Salem, President of the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu, H.E. Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Rabeeah and H.E. Dr. Hisham bin Saad Aljadhey, CEO of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), discussed the importance of enhancing food safety.

They agree the Kingdom is quickly establishing itself as a food-producing nation with now more than 1,000 food factories being launched – varying from entrepreneurial initiatives to large-scale production with advanced technologies at the heart of food manufacturing while also attracting investment.

Away from the stage, the opening day also attracted several country ambassadors from around the world including New Zealand, Malaysia, and Italy, reflecting their full support in fostering deeper trade relationships with Saudi Arabia.

Charles Kingston, New Zealand’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, emphasized the importance of the Saudi Food Show for both New Zealand and Saudi Arabia, saying: “New Zealand produces safe, high quality and sustainable food and there is absolutely a huge potential for the country to play a role in Saudi Arabia’s future in food security – both through selling our products and also collaborating with the country in the market to fill that gap. The Saudi Food Show gives us an opportunity to showcase the story of our world-class quality to consumers, distributors and importers in Saudi.”

Carlo Baldocci, Ambassador of Italy to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, stressed the Saudi Food Show is a vital opportunity to accelerate the growth of the food industry and strengthen ties with the Kingdom.

He stated: “There are many initiatives which are taking place including the Saudi Food Show, which will boost the relationships of both countries. We believe this is the beginning of a new start as the food sector is one of the crucial industries and one that will make our collaboration stronger. Italy and Saudi Arabia share many of the same values, having been cooperating for decades and have avenues ahead of them to be very successful.”

Visitors also explored the six exhibition halls and hundreds of thousands of products from different exhibitor brands from around the world, interacting with companies launching new products, while showcasing their culinary expertise and engaging in commercial trade deals.

Air Force One will land in the Saudi capital Riyadh, carrying US President Donald Trump on the first official foreign visit of his second term in the White House. This visit is an indication of the advanced geopolitical position that Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states now enjoy, not only as a pivotal player in the region’s stability, but also due to their economic weight and reformist tendencies.

Trump will meet Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman on the first day of his visit and is then expected to attend a summit of Gulf leaders, before travelling to Qatar that same day, and then ending his three-day trip in the United Arab Emirates. Saudi Arabia was also the first country that Trump visited during his first term of office, going against the modern practice of US presidents to start overseas trips with visiting the United Kingdom, Canada or Mexico.

Ten major topics are expected to be figured on top of the agenda in the summit meeting between Trump and the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. These include regional security, energy, defense, and economic cooperation. Washington seeks to strengthen its strategic partnership with its Gulf partners in light of accelerating international changes.

The US State Department affirms that President Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states highlights the importance the United States places on its relations with its partners in the Middle East, noting that coordination with Saudi Arabia is a key element in addressing issues that transcend regional borders.

Speaking to Al-Arabiya.net, Richard Weitz, director of the Center for Political-Military Analysis at the Hudson Institute, noted that Trump’s second visit to Riyadh reflects a growing awareness of Saudi Arabia’s pivotal global role, noting that Riyadh today is not only the capital of regional decision-making, but has become a magnet for international investment and a key player in global stability.

Weitz believes the visit represents a recalibration of the American compass in the Gulf, after relations witnessed some tension during the administration of Democratic President Joe Biden. He notes that Trump seeks to make a greater effort to strengthen the partnership with Saudi Arabia, particularly with regard to combating terrorism, controlling energy prices, and confronting challenges related to China and Russia.

Saudi researcher Munif Amash Al-Harbi said that the partnership between Riyadh and Washington is a strategic one with political, economic, security, and intelligence dimensions. He explains that the United States remains the Kingdom’s primary security partner, and that bilateral understandings enhance common interests and contribute to consolidating regional and international stability.

For his part, American researcher at the Atlantic Council Tom Warrick, believes that Trump’s visit represents an important opportunity for direct dialogue that will enhance understanding on key issues, adding that the two countries can push for effective participation in regional security, especially with regard to reconstruction and achieving lasting peace in the Gaza Strip.

The American news website Axios revealed that the Gulf-US summit in Riyadh will witness the US President presenting his country’s vision for Middle East issues, while also presenting a clear vision of his administration’s foreign policy priorities for the coming years. The issues on the table for Trump and the Gulf leaders include the Ukrainian crisis, the situation in Gaza, consolidating the truce in Yemen, strengthening Syrian unity, and mechanisms for cooperation in the fields of defense, investment, and energy.