As 2017 comes to an end, Twitter is reflecting on the year that was: From breaking news, entertainment, sports, and local conversations, that happened on Twitter.
Early this year, Twitter launched its Moments guide in Arabic that enables people to discover new content by displaying curated “Moments,” a feature that creates a moment based on a collection of tweets. Located in Twitter’s “Explore” tab, this tool features timely moments around global and regional topics that include news, sports and entertainment, that are also tweeted from @MomentsMENA.
One of the key highlights that made 2017 unique was when Twitter’s co-founder and CEO Jack Dorsey (@jack) tweeted Arabic Eid wishes for the first time to celebrate Eid Al-Adha.
In 2017, the most retweeted tweets in Saudi Arabia were from King Salman (@KingSalman); the top tweet being when King Salman tweeted in celebration of Saudi Arabia’s national day which also falls under the top 100 global retweets, and the second was when King Salman tweeted his wishes for the Saudi people on the occasion of Eid Al-Fitr.
Another top tweet in Saudi Arabia this year was by football player @fahad_almowalad who tweeted congratulatory remarks following the Kingdom’s qualification for the 2018 World Cup.
Following Saudi Arabia’s announcement of permitting women to drive in the country, people both locally and globally took to Twitter to express their feelings, generating over 2 million tweets in a span of one week.
The region also witnessed the launch of the “Retweets Challenge.”
Carter Wilkerson’s (@carterjwm) call for a year’s supply of free nuggets from @Wendys was heard around the globe, and became the most retweeted tweet with 3.6 million retweets, surpassing Ellen De Generes’ infamous selfie as the most retweeted tweet of all time.
Saudi national AbdulAziz (@Mr_Abdul3ziz) tweeted to a fast food chain (@ShawarmerSA) asking for the number of retweets it would take for them to donate 100 shawarma sandwiches to underprivileged workers, which then spread to other brands as well.
Prominent new joiners
The following list also falls under the top 200 global accounts that were created on Twitter in 2017:
1. @khrbinomar77 (Omar Khribin, Al-Hilal football player)
2. @S_AlNeayma (Saleh Al-Neayma, former captain of the Saudi national football team)
3. @nasser_shamrni (Nasser Al-Shamrani, Al-Shabab Club football player)
4. @AwwadSAlawwad (Awwad bin Saleh Al-Awwad, minister of culture and information)
5. @HolyKaaba (Official Holy Kaaba account)
Top entertainment accounts
1. @Fayez_malki (Fayez Malki, Saudi actor)
2. @Mjeedalfawzan (Abdul Mjeed Al-Fawzan, Saudi musician)
3. @algassabinasser (Nasser Al-Ghassabi, Saudi actor)
4. @fawaz_dr (Fawaz Al-Laboon, Saudi poet)
5. @AhlamAlShamsi (Ahlam Al-Shamsi, Emirati musician)
Twitter shares top Saudi moments of 2017
Twitter shares top Saudi moments of 2017
‘Wealth Grows Here’: Aljazira Bank launches new brand identity
Aljazira Bank announced the launch of its new brand identity under the slogan “Wealth Grows Here,” marking a natural evolution in a growth journey spanning more than five decades. Over the years, successive phases of transformation have shaped the bank into what it is today, with the new identity serving as the culmination of a strategic chapter that strengthened the bank’s role within the Saudi banking sector.
As part of this milestone, the new brand launch also extended to Aljazira Capital, the bank’s investment arm, reflecting a unified vision and strategic alignment across the group. The updated identity of Aljazira Capital underscored its evolution as a specialized investment and wealth management institution, focused on delivering carefully structured investment solutions and strengthening its role as a trusted partner in building and growing long-term investment portfolios, fully aligned with the bank’s broader direction.
The announcement also included the launch of the new identity for Fawri, aligning it with the bank’s updated brand and reflecting its commitment to delivering reliable and seamless financial transfers within an advanced and integrated financial ecosystem.
Naif bin Abdulkareem Al-Abdulkareem, CEO and managing director of Aljazira Bank, said: “The new brand identity goes beyond a visual change; it is a true reflection of what the bank has become today. Since the strategic refresh in 2023, we have restructured how we operate, aligned our business lines around a shared objective, and strengthened execution. The progress we see today, in service quality and speed of delivery — confirms that we are moving in the right direction.”
The new identity reflects the outcomes of the bank’s 2023 strategic transformation, a pivotal milestone in its journey. This phase focused on developing an integrated banking ecosystem with a stronger emphasis on individual wealth management, supported by a more agile and efficient operating model led by digital channels. It balanced sustainable growth with strengthening the corporate portfolio, accelerating investment in digital infrastructure and human capital, and enhancing operational efficiency.
Since its establishment, Aljazira Bank has progressed through successive stages of growth, evolving from a traditional bank into a more innovative and specialized financial institution. Today, it places wealth management at the core of its proposition, offering a banking experience built on long-term relationships and a deep understanding of clients’ financial aspirations. In parallel, the bank has continued to reinforce its role as a trusted partner to the business sector, serving large corporates as well as small and medium-sized enterprises through solutions that support growth, sustainability, and the Kingdom’s broader economic development goals.
At the heart of this direction stands the bank’s new slogan, “Wealth Grows Here,” which captures its role as a key partner in building and preserving wealth for individuals and businesses alike, creating sustainable value beyond the delivery of traditional banking services.
