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
Kingdom Centre’s comprehensive upgrade nears completion
Chairwoman of the Board of Kingdom Centre Nada Alateegi announced that the final phase of the comprehensive upgrade and redevelopment works at the iconic Riyadh landmark has neared completion.
Kingdom Centre was never intended to be just a shopping destination or a business hub, Alateegi said, but rather a space to deliver exceptional experiences. The experience is now being elevated to a new level of luxury that seamlessly brings together refined hospitality, high-end retail, and world-class business environments.
She said that Kingdom Centre, inaugurated in 2001, commenced its modernization project in April 2023. The project is being implemented in partnership with a group of top-tier global designers and renowned contractors, and led by the Kingdom Centre management team, to ensure the highest standards of quality and precision.
The upgrades were carried out in accordance with the best safety practices, while maintaining uninterrupted operations and ensuring visitors’ comfort and safety are preserved throughout, Alateegi said. This approach reflects the vision and directives of Prince Alwaleed bin Talal and has contributed to the center receiving several awards, including its recognition for “visionary design and development.”
She added that Kingdom Centre had installed the largest fully integrated digital screen on Kingdom Tower facades, operated exclusively in partnership with digital advertising and media solutions leader Rotana Signs. The screen serves as an international showcase reflecting Riyadh’s evolution and its growing global standing.
Kingdom Centre is also home to the Four Seasons Hotel, one of the world’s most prestigious hospitality brands, in addition to VOX Cinemas, purpose-designed to world-class specifications guided by the center’s management vision.
Moreover, Kingdom Centre introduced Al-Mamlaka Social Dining zone, which has become one of the region’s leading dining experiences and a model for other investors. Conceived by the center’s management to elevate the visitor experience, the Social Dining concept has been officially registered as the intellectual property of Kingdom Centre.
Kingdom Centre has also launched a mobile application and a dedicated visitor loyalty program offering a range of benefits. This initiative is part of the center’s digital transformation strategy and aims to strengthen long-term engagement with visitors.
Kingdom Centre’s management remains committed to setting a leading example for the sector, delivering innovative experiences that support Saudi Arabia’s tourism ambitions and align with Saudi Vision 2030, Alateegi added.
