King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) and Petro Rabigh recently announced the launch of the Saudi Sustainable Development Association.
The association is an innovative, pioneering initiative to combine the resources of national corporations and channel them efficiently toward better economic and social development in the Kingdom in general, and in the Rabigh area in particular.
Announced in a special ceremony at KAEC, this initiative is the first of its kind in the Kingdom, creating a partnership among corporations and institutions in the private sector in the field of social responsibility and sustainable development.
The announcement ceremony was attended by Ayman Al-Mubaireek, deputy governor of Rabigh, and more than 30 representatives of government agencies and senior corporate officials.
In addition to KAEC and Petro Rabigh, the consortium includes the Cooperative Insurance Co. (Tawuniya,) the International Medical Center, DHL, SANKYU Saudi Arabia, FAL Holding, RAWEC, Al-Tamimi and Co., GEMS — Global Environmental Management Services, and Arabian Pipes.
Also announced at the ceremony was “Le-Rabigh” (For Rabigh), the association’s maiden initiative, with two programs: One to lay out strategic plans for sustained development in the Rabigh governorate, and the other to qualify and train human resources in the area.
Bassam A. Al-Bokhari, vice president of industrial relations at Petro Rabigh and chairman of the association board, said that the partnership will unite the efforts that national corporations make toward enhancing corporate social responsibility and promoting sustained development that meets the area’s basic needs.
He added that this will constitute added value in the long run, and contribute to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 by giving the private sector the opportunity to participate in development.
Fahd Hamidaddin, chief commercial officer at KAEC and vice chairman of the association, said the city’s partnership in the association is part of its commitment toward the local community.
“Our foremost initiative was the Tomouh program, which aims to train and qualify national talent,” he said. “The latest iteration of the program saw 1,000 young men and women from the Rabigh area trained. Many of them have already found jobs, including some who are now working in the control room at King Abdullah Port.”
Petro Rabigh, KAEC inaugurate Saudi Sustainable Development Association
Petro Rabigh, KAEC inaugurate Saudi Sustainable Development Association
Schneider Electric to advance energy technology to power intelligence at Innovation Summit Middle East & Africa
Schneider Electric, a global energy technology leader, has announced that the second edition of the Innovation Summit Middle East & Africa will be held in Abu Dhabi on April 28–29.
The summit will bring together global energy and technology leaders as well as government officials to advance the regional shift toward energy intelligence, as data center growth, AI adoption, and national visions place unprecedented demands on energy systems.
Schneider Electric is advancing its energy technology ambitions with the integration of electrification, automation and digital intelligence, deployed across buildings, data centers, industrial applications and power grids to unlock the full value of energy, and ensure efficiency and sustainability for all.
This year’s summit arrives at a pivotal moment for the Middle East and Africa, as the region experiences exponential growth driven by national visions, giga-projects, and rapid expansion in AI, data centers, and digital infrastructure.
Saudi Arabia stands out within this landscape as one of the most dynamic markets in terms of investment in digital infrastructure and sustainable energy.
With global electricity demand projected to grow at a strong compound annual growth rate of 3.6% over the 2026–2030 period and global AI workloads projected to lead a 160% increase in data center power demand, the imperative for intelligent, sustainable energy solutions has never been more critical.
“Energy today is the foundation of national resilience and competitiveness. With electricity consumption in the Middle East and North Africa having tripled since 2000 and on course to grow at an incremental 3-4% every year to register a whopping 50% by 2035 – driven by surging cooling, desalination, and urbanization demands, the region is at an inflection point,” said Walid Sheta, Zone president, Middle East and Africa, Schneider Electric.
“Innovation Summit Middle East & Africa underscores our dedication to accelerating energy technology innovation and powering energy intelligence throughout the region. This edition will emphasize our emergence as the trusted energy technology partner guiding the region’s next phase of transformation. "
This year’s summit will highlight regional benchmarks from 80+ countries, from the 100% elimination of SF6 and Carbon footprint reduction for fruit producers in South Africa to the savings that EcoStruxure Power & Grid is enabling for the National Electricity Company, Senegal – ensuring recovery times of 3 minutes versus 3 hours earlier.
Blending high-impact programming and latest product launches that position Schneider Electric at the center of MEA's energy transition story, key agenda items include:
CEO Forum in partnership with Forbes Middle East: An exclusive C-suite initiative bringing together 100 business leaders to address strategic imperatives in energy intelligence.
Keynote and Thought Leadership sessions: Featuring executive speakers from industry-leading companies and insights from strategic partners, including Bain & Company.
Innovation Hub experience: Guided tours and live demonstrations, as well as tailored customer experiences of Schneider Electric’s most innovative and integrated energy technology solutions addressing critical challenges in energy efficiency, grid modernization, and digital infrastructure across a 3,000 square feet immersive space.
Stakeholder recognition: Schneider Electric’s dedicated partners will be honored with 20 Cluster awards and five Middle East and Africa awards across four categories – Growth Award, Efficiency Award, Innovation Award, and Sustainability Award, on Day 2 of the Summit.
"Across the Gulf, energy intelligence is becoming the operational reality as public and private sector enterprises race to align with national visions for a decarbonized and sustainable future,” said Amel Chadli, president, Gulf Cluster at Schneider Electric.
“As one of the most local of global companies, Schneider Electric is empowering customers to move beyond electrification and implement AI‑driven, software‑defined energy systems that deliver efficiency, resilience, and sustainability at a national scale. This summit offers a roadmap of what’s next as we continue to redefine the relationship between energy and digital capability.”
With AI, cloud, and high-performance computing becoming foundational to national competitiveness, energy technologies today must evolve and become resilient, sustainable and scalable to meet modern intelligence demands.
Schneider Electric's refreshed positioning as an energy technology partner reflects the company's approach to supporting the region's transformation.
Schneider Electric’s Innovation Summit Middle East & Africa highlights real-world applications across key sectors, including utilities, data centers, commercial buildings, industrial facilities, and critical infrastructure — demonstrating how intelligent energy management enables operational excellence, resilience, and sustainability across the region's most vital projects.
