JEDDAH: The visit of Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Boston saw the signing of several agreements between the Kingdom and prominent US universities such as MIT.
The two-and-a-half-week official tour of the US will focus on building Saudi-US ties and discussing investment opportunities, which include advancing the technology sector in the Kingdom.
The crown prince’s visit to Boston is one of many to meet philanthropists and leaders from tech industries, including Silicon Valley’s Apple and Google-parent Alphabet, to help build Saudi Arabia’s technology sector. Several agreements were signed by leading Saudi entities such as Saudi Aramco, the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), the King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) and Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC).
In 2012, Saudi state oil company Saudi Aramco became a founding member of the MIT Energy Initiative (MITEI) and signed a five-year $25 million collaboration targeting new research and development.
Sophisticated digital infrastructure is integral to today’s advanced industrial activities and to attract investors. In partnering with the private sector, there is a focus on improving the telecommunications and information technology sectors.
The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this year that Alphabet discussed a joint venture with Saudi Aramco about potentially building several technology hubs and data centers in Saudi Arabia.
In Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, technology is a key driver of change with the aim of developing digital infrastructure, supporting associated economic entities and leading the digital economy. Local incubators have taken steps to ensure that digitization plays a central role in achieving the goals set out in the National Transformation Program (NTP).
Incubators accelerate the growth and success of entrepreneurial companies through a variety of business support resources and services.
In 2017, the Badir Program for Technology Incubators and Accelerators at the KACST signed a bilateral cooperation agreement with Amazon Web Services (AWS), a subsidiary of Amazon Global. The objective is to help Saudi Arabia’s emerging tech-based companies to improve performance using innovative cloud technologies and solutions provided by AWS’s on-demand computing platform.
“We at Badir aim to cooperate with value-added global companies to help emerging technology companies facilitate their businesses and deliver high added value to customers,” said Nawaf Al-Sahhaf, CEO of the Badir Program.
The same year, Arizona State University (ASU) launched a partnership with KAUST to share entrepreneurial expertise, advance sustainability research and commercialize research discoveries.
“The partnership will not only further advance entrepreneurialism, innovation, technology transfer, and economic development in Arizona and Saudi Arabia, but also bring together our world-class scientists to tackle grand challenges, such as water resource management, quality and conservation, through interdisciplinary research,” said Sethuraman Panchanathan, executive vice president of Knowledge Enterprise Development and chief research and innovation officer at ASU.
ASU and KAUST are to work together and share resources to assist KAUST with commercializing the Silicon Valley and the US and vice versa in the Middle East.
Saudi Arabia has set up tech incubators and established venture capital funds with headquarters in Riyadh and offices in California. Among them is Riyadh Taqnia Capital, which has committed to investing more than $100 million in local tech firms.
The crown prince’s tour of the US includes Washington, DC, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Seattle.
Deals build Saudi Arabia’s digital economy
Deals build Saudi Arabia’s digital economy
Saudi fund signs two loan agreements, inaugurates Hulhumale Island development in Maldives
- Al-Marshad participated in the partial inauguration of the Hulhulmale Island Development Project
MALE: CEO of the Saudi Fund for Development Sultan bin Abdulrahman Al-Marshad signed on Friday two development loan agreements with the Maldives’ Minister of Finance Dr. Mohammed Shafiq. These agreements will contribute to financing the Velana International Airport development project with a value of $100 million and the healthcare sector development project in the Maldives with a value of $50 million, provided by fund.
Additionally, Al-Marshad participated in the partial inauguration of the Hulhulmale Island Development Project, which the SFD is contributing to financing through a soft development loan worth $80 million. The event was also attended by Saudi Ambassador to the Maldives Matrek bin Abdullah Al-Ajalin.
King Salman issues royal order to promote 26 judges
RIYADH: King Salman issued a royal order on Friday to promote 26 judges at the Board of Grievances, Saudi Press Agency reported.
President of the Board of Grievances and Administrative Judicial Council Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed Al-Yousef said that the royal order confirmed the keenness of the Kingdom’s leadership to support the judiciary to develop its performance and achieve quality and efficiency.
Earlier this month, the king issued a royal decree on Saturday to appoint 261 investigative lieutenants at the Ministry of Justice’s Public Prosecution.
Saudi Islamic affairs minister inaugurates mosques
- Dr. Abdullatif Al-Asheikh said: “Contributing to building and caring for mosques is a good deed that earns people rewards”
ARAR: Saudi Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance Dr. Abdullatif Al-Asheikh inaugurated the Al-Hanouf Al-Zwain and Ali Mohammed Al-Melhem mosques in the city of Arar as part of a visit to the area to inspect work progress.
The ministry’s undersecretaries and several department directors, as well as the director of the ministry’s branch in the Northern Borders region, Fahd bin Sulaiman Al-Khalifa, attended the event.
Al-Asheikh toured the two mosques, and was briefed on their construction in the Salmani architectural style, as well as their associated facilities and services.
He said: “Contributing to building and caring for mosques is a good deed that earns people rewards.”
The minister added that the Kingdom, since the era of King Abdulaziz until today under King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has given great importance to mosques.
Al-Asheikh prayed for the reward of those who built the mosques, and for the maintenance of Saudi Arabia’s security and stability.
Saudi crown prince receives princes, officials, scholars, citizens in Eastern Region
- The audience was also attended by energy minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman
DAMMAM: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Friday received several princes, officials, scholars and a group of citizens at the Gulf Palace in Dammam, Saudi Press Agency reported.
At the beginning of the reception, they all listened to a recitation of verses from the Holy Qu’ran, SPA added.
The audience was also attended by Prince Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, governor of the Eastern Province, energy minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, and Prince Mishari bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Musaed.
While in the Eastern Province, the crown prince also held a meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, according to an Al Arabiya report.
Faia Younan serenades Ithra
- At the opening night performance, Younan sang to a full house — almost every plush red seat at the Ithra Theater was occupied
- Throughout the performance, the band surrounded the singer like a frame, with the set lights changing colors behind her
DHAHRAN: Syrian star Faia Younan graced the stage at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, Ithra, for the first of two evenings of music on Thursday.
Returning to the Ithra stage after almost a year, the singer-songwriter performed a medley of her most popular hits, some original songs and a few covers.
“Her music fuses modern arrangements, traditional instruments and lyrics based on classical literary poetry, shaping her unique musical identity,” Ithra said in a statement to Arab News.
At the opening night performance, Younan sang to a full house — almost every plush red seat at the Ithra Theater was occupied.
After her first song, the singer asked the sound team to turn on the balcony lights so she could greet the audience.
“I am so excited to be back in the Kingdom. I would like the lights to be turned on so I could capture a visual snapshot of this beautiful crowd,” she told her fans to loud applause.
Younan included the audience by asking them to clap along to certain sections and encouraging them to join in when she repeated part of a song, telling them: “Those aching to sing along can do so with me.”
Throughout the performance, the band surrounded the singer like a frame, with the set lights changing colors behind her.
Younan thanked every musician who accompanied her on stage. The band was led by pianist Rayan Habe, followed by Mohamed Ben Salha on ney, Abdul Halim Al-Khatib on qanoun, Yarub Samarait on violin, Walid Nassaer and Salman Baalbaki on percussion, and Julio Eid on bass guitar.
In an endearing moment, the heel of Younan’s shoe broke as she was belting out a lyric. But the singer completed the song without interruption, then elegantly removed her shoes and told the crowd that the accident was a blessing in disguise.
“Now, I can dance more easily to the next song, which will be Khaleeji,” she told the roaring crowd.
After singing many Arabic songs, Younan switched to Assyrian sounds, performing in one of the many ancient languages spoken in her native Syria.
The singer made history in 2015 when she became the first woman artist from the MENA region to crowdfund her debut single, “Ohebbou Yadayka.”
Younan has more than 1.3 million followers on Instagram and a huge fan base in the region.
Earlier this year, she was one of the winners of the Prince Abdullah bin Faisal Award for Arabic Poetry, in the best sung poem category, which earned her a prize of SR200,000 ($53,333).
“Mashallah, Faia managed to play a lot of her songs — and her singing live sounds a lot like the studio recording,” attendee Assiel Al-Shuail told Arab News at the end of the opening night.
The finale of Younan’s two-day show ends Friday, starting 8 p.m.
