RIYADH: Aimed at providing Saudi youths with basic and advanced training to join the fast-growing Saudi retail sector, Apparel Group on Wednesday launched a major training center, which was approved and certified by the state-owned Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC).
Speaking to Arab News after formally opening the training center here, Nilesh Ved, chairman of Apparel Group, pledged to invest SR100 million ($26,665,245) to open new Apparel stores across the Kingdom this year. While defying the recessionary trends in the Gulf, he said: “Last year we opened 338 stores, and this year we will open close to 200 stores. We want smart growth, not only for the sake of growth.”
Ved disclosed that Saudi Arabia, which represents 10 percent of the company’s global revenue, is an emerging market, “thanks to the visionary leadership of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense,” said the Apparel group chairman, while optimistically explaining his expansion plans within the framework of Vision 2030.
Referring to the training facility in Riyadh, Ved said: “We already have one training center in Dubai and we are planning to open another one in Oman… It is not part of our corporate social responsibility, rather education and training is part of our DNA.
“The center will contribute in bridging the skill gap in the retail sector by providing free-of-cost training to Saudi youths by experienced professionals and creating opportunities for them,” he added.
The target group will be Saudi boys and girls, who will get certificates of accomplishment after finishing their training courses. Ved said that “we are born retailers… through our training center we will make sure that the Saudi youth are truly ‘ready’ to be successful in retail industry.” The certification programs at the training center in Riyadh include customer service, retail management, training of trainers and more.
“The Apparel Training Center will provide graduates with opportunities to work across many of the international brands operated by Apparel Group in Saudi Arabia and other GCC countries,” explained Ved. “Through our partnership with brands like Tim Hortons, Tommy Hilfiger, Inglot, Skechers and many more, we are in a position to expose the Saudi youth to best practices from across the world,” said the Apparel chief.
He further said that the training will deliver TVTC-approved courses and the center will also organize guest lectures by leading retail professionals from across the region to ensure practical and theoretical knowledge for the students. The chairman pointed out that “Apparel group will soon have Apparel Training Center branches across the Kingdom to ensure Saudi youth everywhere can have access to the best-quality retail education.”
Apparel Group is a global fashion and lifestyle retail conglomerate catering to millions of shoppers through its more than 1,800 stores and 75 brands.
Apparel Group opens TVTC-certified training center in Riyadh
Apparel Group opens TVTC-certified training center in Riyadh
iCAUR V27 conquers city roads with new energy technology
A media test drive event focused on premium on-road driving was held in Jeddah. On Feb. 5, iCAUR invited representatives from media outlets, including leading automotive outlet Motory, to take part in an in-depth driving experience featuring the all-round hybrid SUV V27 across urban roads and intercity highways.
Guests gathered at Jeddah’s premium landmark, Millionaire Restaurant, where the iCAUR Saudi Arabia team introduced the V27’s design philosophy and key technologies. Open discussions followed, helping members of the media gain a clearer understanding of iCAUR’s brand vision and the V27’s core strengths ahead of the test drive.
The test drive route covered urban roads in Jeddah as well as inter-city highways leading to King Abdullah Economic City, providing an ideal setting to evaluate the V27’s on-road performance across varied conditions. During long-distance highway driving, range and power remain key considerations, and the iCAUR V27 demonstrated solid on-road performance. As the brand’s first mass-production model equipped with the Golden REEV system, the V27 features a dedicated 1.5T range-extender engine with a thermal efficiency of 45.79 percent. It generates 3.71 kWh of electricity per liter of fuel and delivers a combined range of over 1,000 km, effectively addressing long-distance travel concerns.
On city streets with moderate traffic, the V27 impressed with its smooth and quiet ride. The electric motors deliver responsive, linear acceleration, with seamless start-stop performance that keeps driving relaxed even in traffic. Once on open intercity highways, pressing the accelerator fully unleashes 455 hp from the dual motors, propelling the SUV from zero to 100 km/h in about five seconds. Overtaking and lane changes feel effortless, with no hint of lag at any point.
Even more impressive, this five-meter-long SUV, with a chassis tuned by the internationally renowned racing team Prodive and equipped with an intelligent all-wheel drive system, maintained precise handling at high-speed corners. The steering felt responsive and refined, while the suspension offered solid support, completely defying the typical perception of large SUVs as cumbersome. “I didn’t expect such a large SUV to handle so nimbly — it was enjoyable to drive from start to finish,” one media guest remarked after the test drive. “The intelligent cockpit exceeded all expectations, making long-distance driving both comfortable and enjoyable!”
During the test drive, several media representatives praised the V27’s Stellar Cockpit. The 15.4-inch 3K HD touchscreen delivers crisp, detailed visuals, while the smart infotainment system powered by the 8155 chip ensures smooth operation comparable to a premium tablet, with seamless swiping and no lag. Meanwhile, a temperature-controlled armrest compartment, along with ventilated and heated seats precisely calibrated to the driver’s comfort, kept the driving experience enjoyable throughout the long-distance journey.
Previous test drives at Riyadh’s Edge of the World demonstrated the V27’s off-road capabilities under challenging conditions. The Jeddah media test drive, however, offered a first-hand experience of the V27’s impressive performance in city commuting and intercity highway scenarios. It not only overcomes the typical trade-off between power and range found in conventional new energy vehicles but also seamlessly combines intelligent technology with precise handling, meeting the key expectations of Saudi drivers for on-road performance.
As a model tailored for the Middle East market, the iCAUR V27 made its global debut in the UAE on Feb. 8, followed by a launch in Bahrain on Feb. 10. The arrival of the V27 is expected to bring fresh energy and new possibilities to the region’s premium new energy mobility segment.
