Members of Audi Sport owners’ club were truly excited during the “El Clasico” match between supporters of Real Madrid and Barcelona recently. The match was played at the Jeddah Audi Center and was organized by “Samaco,” the sole dealer for the Audi brand in Saudi Arabia.
Fans enjoyed the enthusiastic performance of both teams, which saw Barcelona as the winners with a 3-0 victory. The group was offered an exclusive opportunity to become acquainted with the new Audi A8, on show in the Kingdom for the first time.
The new Audi A8 presents the future of the luxury class. In its fourth generation, the brand’s flagship model provides the benchmark for “Vorsprung durch Technik” — with a new design language, an innovative touchscreen operating concept and a systematically electrified drive.
The Audi A8 is also the first production automobile in the world to have been developed for conditionally automated driving. Audi will gradually take piloted driving functions, such as parking pilot, garage pilot and traffic jam pilot, into production. The new Audi A8 will be officially launched in the first quarter of 2018.
Commenting on the event, Kareem Tas, manager of the Audi brand in Saudi Arabia, said: “Audi always endeavors to create events that fit with the Audi brand as well as to fulfil the aspirations of our clients and owners of Audi Sport models. This event constitutes the first step toward strengthening the relationship with our clients and we look forward to organize more such events in the future.”
Jeddah Audi Center hosts Spanish ‘El Clasico’ match between Barcelona and Real Madrid
Jeddah Audi Center hosts Spanish ‘El Clasico’ match between Barcelona and Real Madrid
Schneider Electric launches academy in Saudi Arabia to build future-ready talent
Schneider Electric has announced the launch of the Energy Tech Academy Middle East and Africa in Saudi Arabia, a regional capability platform dedicated to skilling, upskilling, and knowledge sharing.
The launch comes at a critical moment as the Kingdom accelerates energy transition, industrial localization, and human capability development under Vision 2030. The academy reinforces the Kingdom’s leadership role in building future-ready talent while supporting industrial and energy transformation across the wider Middle East and Africa region.
The Energy Tech Academy Middle East and Africa is not a traditional training center; it is a regional platform translating Schneider Electric’s global energy technology expertise into applied capability for Saudi Arabia and the broader region. Anchored in Riyadh, the academy is designed to serve as a benchmark for skills development and enablement across the MEA.
The launch reflects Schneider Electric’s long-term commitment to investing in people and capabilities, and to supporting national priorities across energy, industry, and digital infrastructure.
Mohamed Shaheen, cluster president of Schneider Electric Saudi Arabia and Yemen, said: “This launch reflects our long-term commitment to Saudi Arabia and to building capability that lasts. After more than 40 years in the Kingdom, we continue to invest where impact matters most: in people. Launching the Energy Tech Academy Middle East and Africa from Riyadh underscores our belief that sustainable transformation is built on local capability and trusted partnerships.”
The academy directly supports Saudi Arabia’s focus on human capability development, localization, and Saudi-made outcomes by enabling the skills behind advanced energy systems, industrial automation, and digital infrastructure. Capabilities developed through the academy will support Saudi manufacturing, national projects, and resilient supply chains, while also strengthening regional industrial ecosystems.
“The Energy Tech Academy Middle East and Africa is designed to enable real outcomes,” said Walid Sheta, zone president for the MEA at Schneider Electric. “By equipping talent with future-ready skills across electrification, automation, and digital intelligence, we are strengthening Saudi and regional capability to design, operate, and lead the energy and industrial systems of the future.”
The launch event in Riyadh brought together senior government representatives, industry partners, customers, and Schneider Electric’s leadership, highlighting the importance of cross-sector collaboration in aligning education, skills development, and labor market needs.
Designed as a long-term platform, the Energy Tech Academy Middle East and Africa will continue to evolve through partnerships, programs, and continuous capability development, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s role as a regional hub for skills, knowledge, and industrial enablement.
