The National Grid SA, a subsidiary of the Saudi Electricity Company (SEC), has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the Strategic Partnerships Project with Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL), an American corporation. Under the agreement, SEL will provide training programs and courses to Saudi scholarship grantees in Washington, especially those specialized in engineering, energy, IT and electricity. The move is part of the company’s social responsibility program to serve Saudi society and citizens inside the country and abroad.
Laith Al-Bassam, CEO of National Grid SA, said a large number of Saudi scholarship grantees in Washington University have benefited from such advanced courses and programs in the past 18 months. He said the training courses are conducted at centers and headquarters of SEL that are equipped with the latest technologies according to each field. Experiential training is conducted at the labs of the company and attended by students and researchers from different nationalities to exchange experience.
“Through the Strategic Partnerships Project, these programs are developed to provide more specialized technical and technological training to Saudi scholarship grantees with the aim to transfer modern technologies and sciences in various fields to Saudi Arabia through its citizens as part of the Vision 2030 of the Kingdom. They seek to take advantage of the presence of the scholarship grantees in these countries and in close proximity to such international corporations to apply academic sciences and conduct hands-on training at specialized centers and sites,” he added.
Al-Bassam said the training programs include general courses in the field of electricity and engineering, as well as specialized courses such as the 35-hour course in power-system protection. An intensive course will be launched for scholarship grantees at the beginning of next January, which will last for 15 weeks.
Al-Bassam said that the agreement concluded with the American company is among a number of strategic partnership agreements signed with global corporations and institutions in numerous countries in the electricity sector. He said the project will expand soon to include other states in the US and European countries such as Germany and France, in addition to Asian countries such as China, South Korea and Japan.
National Grid SA inks deal with US company to train Saudi students
National Grid SA inks deal with US company to train Saudi students
ALJ Motors champions Toyota SUVs’ off-road legacy
Abdul Latif Jameel Motors, the authorized distributor of Toyota vehicles in Saudi Arabia since 1955, has launched the second edition of its off-road initiative — an immersive driving experience designed to engage guests and showcase the real-world capabilities of Toyota’s SUV lineup in the Kingdom’s desert terrains. The activation takes place on weekends, starting initially in Riyadh and continuing through Jeddah, before concluding in Dammam on Jan. 24.
The multi-city activation is designed to engage guests through Toyota’s SUV lineup in fun and exciting ways, offering a hands-on opportunity to experience vehicle performance, control, and versatility. The lineup features a wide range of Toyota SUV models, including the Land Cruiser HEV Max, a hybrid vehicle built for performance. Beyond the off-road drives, the activation offers a welcoming weekend setting with supporting activities suitable for families and younger guests, creating a well-rounded experience for visitors of all ages.
Building on the success of its inaugural edition, which welcomed more than 4,500 participants and attracted over 10,000 attendees, the second edition continues to focus on meaningful guest engagement through interactive and experiential driving activities while emphasizing safety, trust, and enjoyment. Through this approach, ALJ Motors champions Toyota’s off-road legacy while creating an experience that further connects guests with Toyota’s renowned SUV lineup.
Shahad Nassier, managing director of marketing communications at ALJ Motors, said: “Following the strong response to the inaugural season, the return of this off-road experience allows us to continue engaging our guests in an authentic and exciting way. In this second edition, we have further refined the driving routes and elevated the overall experience to better serve our guests and their families. By bringing Toyota’s SUV lineup into real desert environments, we provide an opportunity for guests to experience vehicle performance firsthand, while reinforcing the values of reliability and capability that have long defined Toyota’s presence in the Kingdom.”
The experiential initiative deepens guest relationships, supports informed vehicle choice, and reflects ALJ Motors’ ongoing role in delivering reliable and diversified mobility solutions across the Kingdom, in line with Saudi Vision 2030.
Guests interested in participating in the off-road experience can register for the upcoming activations in Jeddah on Jan. 9-10, followed by Dammam on Jan. 16-17 and 23-24, through ALJ Motors’ official social channels.
