Jeddah’s Fakieh Aquarium hosted its first international marine life seminar themed "Challenges of marine life conservation in the Red Sea."
The seminar was attended by marine aficionados and members of the public who have taken a special interest in the aquarium and its activities.
“We want the aquarium to be a crossroads of education, entertainment and serious study of what lives beneath the surface of the sea and how best to conserve it,” said Jamil Attar, executive director of Tarfeeh Fakieh.
“This symposium is part of the process of achieving that. We have wonderful relations with the public, the schools and marine biologists, and what a magnificent thing it is to be able to bring them all together here,” he added.
Following opening remarks by Attar, numerous experts took to the dais to speak on various aspects of Red Sea life and the role of Fakieh Aquarium in promoting awareness of the Red Sea and vital issues pertaining to it.
Professor Michael Beruman of KAUST, a Fakieh Aquarium research partner, described the overall environmental conditions of the Red Sea, proposing methods for controlling pollution that is only exacerbated by the Red Sea being one of the hottest marine geographical areas in the world.
Francesco Cardia from FAO addressed the pluses and minuses of cage aquaculture in the Red Sea.
Jose Ignacio Cobo of Clear Reef spoke about the difficulties of replicating a natural environment for marine life in captivity, presenting a history of humans keeping sea life that reached back to the Sumerians in 2500 BC.
Bernardo Nascimento, who works at the Fakieh Aquarium, discussed obtaining good water quality for marine specimens — life support systems management.
He presented many of the details that need be taken care of in order to maintain good water quality and consistent feeding habits.
Fakieh Aquarium hosts first international marine life seminar
Fakieh Aquarium hosts first international marine life seminar
Saudi Awwal Bank becomes first Middle East bank to earn 7-star CinOrg innovation accreditation
Saudi Awwal Bank has become the first bank in the Middle East to receive a 7‑star Certified Innovative Organization rating from the Global Innovation Institute, the highest recognition awarded by the institute.
The accreditation marks a significant step in SAB’s innovation strategy and follows an innovation maturity assessment conducted by the institute in December 2025. The review, which built on an earlier assessment in December 2023, raised the bank’s maturity level from “Champion” to “Leader.” The new rating reflects SAB’s institutionalized approach to innovation, its enterprise-wide impact and its ability to consistently deliver measurable results.
With the 7‑star rating, SAB becomes the first bank in the region to reach the highest innovation maturity level, strengthening its position as a regional reference point for innovation-led and future-ready banking.
In 2025, the bank opened its flagship Innovation Centre and secured six internationally recognized innovation awards, along with a lab accreditation. The centre has supported SAB’s efforts to accelerate the adoption of advanced technologies, encourage cross-functional collaboration and reinforce its standing as a regional leader in financial innovation.
Saeed Assiri, chief innovation banking officer at SAB, said the recognition reflects years of focused work to build a sustainable innovation ecosystem.
“By investing in SAB’s culture, governance and talent, innovation enables the bank to remain future-ready,” he said. “This milestone reinforces our role in accelerating financial innovation in Saudi Arabia and delivering long-term value for our customers.”
The certification adds to SAB’s broader efforts to strengthen its innovation capabilities as the Kingdom’s banking sector continues to evolve.
