Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, chairman of Kingdom Holding Company (KHC), received in his office in Riyadh Ahmed Javed, ambassador of India to Saudi Arabia. The meeting was also attended by Ahmed Altobaishi and Ziyad Alomair, executive assistants to Prince Alwaleed.
The meeting began as the ambassador thanked Prince Alwaleed for giving him the opportunity to meet with him, commending him on his local, regional and international investments. During the meeting, the ambassador expressed his government’s desire for Prince Alwaleed to further invest in their country. Prince Alwaleed discussed his investments through KHC in India that include the Four Seasons Hotel in Mumbai via Four Seasons management and Movenpick in Bangalore, in addition to Fairmont in Jaipur, Sofitel in Mumbai and 58 hotels through Accor, and in the banking sector through Citigroup.
In 2010, Prince Alwaleed visited Dharavi (North Mumbai, a slum over parts of Sion), Hajji Ali Mosque, Bhau Daji Lad Museum, Mani Bhavan, the residence of Mahatma Gandhi, and the Gateway of India. During the visit, Prince Alwaleed was received by Mukesh Ambani, chairman and CEO of Reliance Industries Ltd., at his residence. Moreover, during the visit Prince Alwaleed was received by Ratan N. Tata, chairman of TATA Group at the Taj Mahal Hotel.
In 2009, Prince Alwaleed had received Tata and hosted a dinner in his honor at Kingdom Resort in Riyadh. In 2005, Prince Alwaleed visited India where he met with former President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam at the presidential office.
Prince Alwaleed, Indian ambassador discuss investment issues
Prince Alwaleed, Indian ambassador discuss investment issues
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.
