The recently concluded Saudi National Day Football Tournament 2012, a tribute to Saudi Arabia and its nationals in Jeddah, was presided and sponsored by Fareed Khaja, president of Indian Fine Arts Academy (IFAA), “an academy created by Indians for everyone.”
Khaja said the inaugural match was played between Spartans and Friends United after the formal opening.
When asked why he chose to preside and sponsor such a tournament, Khaja said: “On behalf of all Indian expatriates, this is the least I can do to show our gratitude toward Saudi Royals, Saudi government, and Saudi brothers and sisters in turning our lives into spectacular livelihoods in Saudi Arabia and India.
The tournament organized by a Jeddah-based young & talented group of Indians like Mohammed Zamaan, Samihuddin, Ali Siddiqi, Azmat, Obaidullah and Khaled Hassan showcased the essence of Saudi Arabia’s national game football.
Fareed Ali Khan, appointed as tournament coordinator by the IFAA president for this tournament, performed on all coordinating fronts.
The final match was played between Spartans & Catalonia, where Spartans won the Champion’s Trophy followed by Catalonia and D-Warriors in second and third positions respectively.
Khaja presented gold, silver and bronze cups to all winning players in addition to a cup each for man-of-the-match in each game throughout the tournament.
During the entire tournament, spectators witnessed fine football skills, excellent passing and coordination between players, especially the good conduct and sportsman spirit from all playing teams.
Everyone, especially All Saudi nationals, were cordially invited by Dr. Khaja to attend final and runner up matches of this tournament that were held recently.
The participating teams were Spartans, Friends United, FC Brothers, Desi Stars, D-Warriors, FC Ilu, Arabian Falcons and Catalonia.
IFAA hosts National Day tournament
IFAA hosts National Day tournament
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.
