Centro Waha Hotel, the capital’s outpost of Rotana’s affordable “Centro by Rotana” brand, is about to make its mark on Riyadh’s increasingly vibrant culinary scene with the opening of Sushi Centro, a Japanese cuisine restaurant.
This marks the second opening of the Sushi Centro restaurant in the Kingdom, with Jeddah’s Centro Shaheen opening its doors to the now-popular restaurant a year ago in February 2017.
“Sushi Centro’s slogan is ‘Rolled to Perfection,’ a reference to the team of well-trained, skilled and talented chefs who are truly committed to providing the absolute best in Sushi, Sashimi and Tempura,” said Jalal Nasser, general manager of Centro Waha.
Created with a modern on-the-go lifestyle in mind, Sushi Centro flavours are crafted from the finest and freshest ingredients available.
“Sushi Centro at Centro Waha will be a huge draw not only for hotel guests but for residents of the capital and surrounding areas. The restaurant offers a new concept of authentic Japanese cuisine served in a contemporary and innovative atmosphere and rhythm, presenting a large variety of traditional Japanese meals prepared with contemporary flair,” added Nasser.
Centro Waha is Rotana’s latest addition to Riyadh’s hospitality industry, meeting the needs of those traveling for business and pleasure alike. The hotel includes 290 contemporary rooms and studios.
Guests have the advantage of the hotel’s strategic location on Olaya Street in the Al-Murooj neighborhood, adjacent to the capital’s commercial center and only 20 minutes away from King Khalid International Airport.
Rotana continues to implement its plan to offer new hotels in the Saudi market under the “Centro by Rotana” brand. The coming period will witness the opening of Centro Olaya in Riyadh, Centro Corniche in Alkhobar, and Centro Salama in Jeddah.
New Japanese restaurant in Riyadh’s Centro Waha Hotel
New Japanese restaurant in Riyadh’s Centro Waha Hotel
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.
