Hilton Garden Inn Riyadh Olaya hosts orphans for iftar

Updated 07 August 2012
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Hilton Garden Inn Riyadh Olaya hosts orphans for iftar

Hilton Garden Inn Riyadh Olaya hosted over 50 orphans from Ensan Charity Committee for Orphan Care for an iftar feast on Saturday.
Management and department heads of the upscale yet affordable hotel joined the orphans and their chaperones for a sumptuous iftar buffet, during which the children were given gifts from the hotel as a keepsake.
"Ramadan is that time of year where everyone's focus turns toward charity, prayer and giving back to the community," said Haakon Gaarder-Larsen, GM, Hilton Garden Inn Riyadh Olaya. "It was wonderful to share this spirit and spend time with these remarkable individuals to see how their personal hardships have not dampened their spirits or their ambitions for the future."
Established in 1996 with the support of Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, the Ensan Charity Committee for Orphan Care fosters orphans in Riyadh and provides them with health care, education and social support to ensure their wellbeing and integration into the society.
Commenting on the partnership with Ensan Charity Committee for Orphan Care, Gaarder-Larsen added: "We are proud to be partnering for the first time with such a prestigious institution, and share their noble aims to provide support for the less fortunate in our community. We hope that this will be the first of many initiatives between our two entities, and look forward to further similar events in the future."
Launched in July 2009, the Hilton Garden Inn Riyadh Olaya marked the entry of Hilton Hotels' first mid-market mid-priced brand into the region. The brand, which has more than 500 hotels spread across the United States, Europe and Central America, predominantly targets the fast-growing business tourism segment, and has proved a popular hotel for business travelers in the capital.

 


Schneider Electric launches academy in Saudi Arabia to build future-ready talent

Updated 04 February 2026
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Schneider Electric launches academy in Saudi Arabia to build future-ready talent

Schneider Electric has announced the launch of the Energy Tech Academy Middle East and Africa in Saudi Arabia, a regional capability platform dedicated to skilling, upskilling, and knowledge sharing.

The launch comes at a critical moment as the Kingdom accelerates energy transition, industrial localization, and human capability development under Vision 2030. The academy reinforces the Kingdom’s leadership role in building future-ready talent while supporting industrial and energy transformation across the wider Middle East and Africa region.

The Energy Tech Academy Middle East and Africa is not a traditional training center; it is a regional platform translating Schneider Electric’s global energy technology expertise into applied capability for Saudi Arabia and the broader region. Anchored in Riyadh, the academy is designed to serve as a benchmark for skills development and enablement across the MEA.

The launch reflects Schneider Electric’s long-term commitment to investing in people and capabilities, and to supporting national priorities across energy, industry, and digital infrastructure.

Mohamed Shaheen, cluster president of Schneider Electric Saudi Arabia and Yemen, said: “This launch reflects our long-term commitment to Saudi Arabia and to building capability that lasts. After more than 40 years in the Kingdom, we continue to invest where impact matters most: in people. Launching the Energy Tech Academy Middle East and Africa from Riyadh underscores our belief that sustainable transformation is built on local capability and trusted partnerships.”

The academy directly supports Saudi Arabia’s focus on human capability development, localization, and Saudi-made outcomes by enabling the skills behind advanced energy systems, industrial automation, and digital infrastructure. Capabilities developed through the academy will support Saudi manufacturing, national projects, and resilient supply chains, while also strengthening regional industrial ecosystems.

“The Energy Tech Academy Middle East and Africa is designed to enable real outcomes,” said Walid Sheta, zone president for the MEA at Schneider Electric. “By equipping talent with future-ready skills across electrification, automation, and digital intelligence, we are strengthening Saudi and regional capability to design, operate, and lead the energy and industrial systems of the future.”

The launch event in Riyadh brought together senior government representatives, industry partners, customers, and Schneider Electric’s leadership, highlighting the importance of cross-sector collaboration in aligning education, skills development, and labor market needs.

Designed as a long-term platform, the Energy Tech Academy Middle East and Africa will continue to evolve through partnerships, programs, and continuous capability development, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s role as a regional hub for skills, knowledge, and industrial enablement.