JEDDAH: The Entrepreneurship and Innovation Initiative, part of the Makkah Cultural Forum, kicked off on Saturday.
It was organized under the supervision of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology (KACST).
A five-day intensive training program accompanied the initiative, followed by workshops aimed at developing project ideas and choosing the best ones to be supported in preparation for entering the market.
The training program, for which 117 technical entrepreneurship initiatives have been nominated, welcomed 500 participants.
The program’s implementation was supervised by the Badir Program for Technology Incubators, which operates under KAUST.
Mechanisms for creating business models were discussed during the training program, as were concepts of entrepreneurship and innovation, and methods for proposing and discussing ideas.
At the end of the program, projects nominated for the second phase received financial grants to produce prototypes.
Specialized committees comprising KAUST faculty, economic development experts and the Center for Innovation and Saudi Affairs are evaluating all submitted applications to choose the best of them.
Twenty-three nominated projects, in which 33 innovators are taking part — 73 percent of them women — were announced from Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh and Dammam.
KAUST Executive Vice President Nadhmi Al-Nasr said the university will embrace any Saudi who shares his or her ideas and innovations with the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Initiative.
Najah Ashry, the university’s vice president for Saudi affairs, said: “The innovation track offered by KAUST focuses on innovations in technology, software, and innovative products and services in order to launch projects that benefit the Makkah province, provide guidance to support innovations, help innovators turn their ideas into actual products, and connect innovators with sponsors and financiers.”
Makkah Cultural Forum launches Entrepreneurship and Innovation Initiative
Makkah Cultural Forum launches Entrepreneurship and Innovation Initiative
Saudi Arabia decorates former Centcom commander with King Abdulaziz Medal
- The King Abdulaziz Medal is one of the highest and most prestigious civilian and military honors in Saudi Arabia
- As CENTCOM chief, Kurilla was instrumental in deepening the eight-decade military partnership between the US and Saudi Arabia
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has bestowed the King Abdulaziz Medal of Excellent Class upon the former commander of the US military’s Central Command (CENTCOM), retired General Michael Kurilla.
Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman conferred the award upon the directives of King Salman, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The ceremony took place at the defense minister’s office in Riyadh on Thursday.
The King Abdulaziz Medal, often referred to as the Order of King Abdulaziz, is one of the highest and most prestigious civilian and military honors in Saudi Arabia. Named after the Kingdom’s founder, King Abdulaziz Al Saud, the order was officially inaugurated by King Faisal on March 20, 1971.
General Kurilla, who retired from active duty in August 2025, served as the 15th commander of CENTCOM, overseeing US military operations across 21 countries in the Middle East, Central Asia, and South Asia.
During his tenure at CENTCOM from April 2022 to August 2025, Kurilla was instrumental in deepening the eight-decade military partnership between the United States and Saudi Arabia. He made numerous strategic visits to the Kingdom, working closely with top defense leaders, including Chief of General Staff Gen. Fayyad bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili.
Their frequent engagements focused on advancing joint military readiness, expanding regional security integration, and addressing evolving threats, such as Houthi attacks in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
