The new generation Ford Expedition comes with more than 40 new features and driver-assist technologies.
“Ford continues to build on its strong SUV leadership heritage, with the new generation 2018 Ford Expedition being the smartest, most capable and most adaptable Expedition ever,” said Crystal Worthem, marketing director, Ford Middle East and Africa. “Active families don’t simply want a big, strong SUV to take them places; they want the journey to be as enjoyable as the destination. And Expedition gives them that.”
Of the new features in the newest Expedition, a great number contribute to Ford’s full-sized SUV earning the tag “Best-in-Class” and “Class-Exclusive.” These include best-in-class fuel economy, torque, towing capability and second and third row space, not to mention the Panoramic Vista Roof that spans two rows — a feature not offered by any competitor — BLIS (Blind Spot Information System) with cross-traffic alert, which now includes class-exclusive trailer coverage, and an advanced cargo manager with an adjustable shelf behind the third row.
Expedition has been updated with the latest must-have connectivity features, driver-assist technologies, and premium convenience amenities. Here are some of the best:
l Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go: Adaptive cruise control keeps a constant speed without having to work the brake or accelerator pedals — plus it automatically maintains a comfortable distance from vehicles ahead, once a pre-set distance has been set.
l Pro Trailer Backup Assist: To operate Pro Trailer Backup Assist, the driver rotates a knob to indicate how much the system should turn the trailer, then the technology automatically steers the Expedition to turn the trailer the desired amount.
l Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection: Designed to help drivers avoid or reduce the severity of frontal collisions with vehicles or pedestrians, first by way of audible and visual alerts, then with active braking if the driver does not respond in time.
l Powerful and Efficient EcoBoost Engine: Expedition comes with the most torque in its class with the second generation 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine mated to a new class-exclusive 10-speed SelectShift automatic transmission.
Terrain Management System: The 2018 Expedition’s new Terrain Management System has up to seven drive modes including a Sand Mode, and, paired with a two-speed transfer case (all four-wheel-drive models) and the rear eLSD (electronic limited-slip differential) that allows a full differential lock, offers excellent off-road capability.
Ford Expedition a winner for large SUV buyers
Ford Expedition a winner for large SUV buyers
Cisco appoints David Meads to head MEA
Cisco has appointed David Meads as vice president for the Middle East, Africa, Romania, and Commonwealth of Independent States. He succeeds Reem Asaad, who drove Cisco’s business in the region for more than four years.
In this role, Meads will be responsible for Cisco’s strategy and commercial operations, with a focus on empowering customers and partners to harness the full potential of digital technologies for economic growth and societal benefit. He will continue in his current capacity as chief executive of Cisco in the UK and Ireland until the end of Cisco’s fiscal year (July).
With three decades of experience across multiple business functions and geographies, including the Middle East and Africa, Meads brings deep industry and technology expertise to the role.
“It is great to welcome David back to the region. He is a seasoned leader with a proven track record of driving business growth, developing high-performing teams and spearheading technology initiatives that have a true impact on nations and industries alike,” said Oliver Tuszik, president, Europe, Middle East, and Africa, Cisco.
In world first, UAE’s XCath to perform live telerobotic surgery model trial
In a world first, a UAE-owned company will be performing a live robotic surgery in Abu Dhabi on a model in South Korea, demonstrating the immense power of remote telerobotic surgery for emergency interventional procedures in cases like stroke and cardiovascular emergencies.
XCath, an early-stage medical device company dedicated to expanding endovascular treatment robotic systems, owned in part by Sharjah-based Crescent Enterprises, will demonstrate a live robotic telesurgery on a model during Abu Dhabi Global Healthcare Week, hosted by the Abu Dhabi Department of Health.
The demonstration, to be held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center on May 15, will include a live telerobotic model trial procedure between Abu Dhabi and South Korea, demonstrating the XCath platform’s potential to support remote minimally invasive procedures for the management of acute neurovascular conditions.
The demonstration will be held by Dr. Vitor Mendes Pereira, director of endovascular research and innovation at St. Michael’s Hospital Toronto, Canada, who will conduct the procedure live on stage at ADNEC.
“By enabling telerobotic procedures, we can provide a solution for reimagining complex care,” said Eduardo Fonseca, CEO of XCath. “Dr. Pereira is a pioneer in endovascular neurosurgery and shares our vision for advancing telerobotic treatment options, which has become a humanitarian and economic imperative for conditions such as stroke. The telerobotic model trial will demonstrate the viability of our platform as a solution to serving a need for new treatment options to expand access to care for patients globally.”
In the session, XCath will introduce the company, navigation challenges, and an overview of its platform. XCath will also spotlight the transformative impact of the endovascular revolution for Abu Dhabi institutions, illustrating how advanced robotic treatments can purpose the UAE as a center for transformational clinical outcomes.
“This is a world-first model demonstration of a telerobotic procedure for emergency care coming from Abu Dhabi to the world,” said Neeraj Agrawal, executive director of Crescent Enterprises and XCath board member. “Crescent Enterprises is dedicated to enabling disruptive companies like XCath to foster growth and innovation in the Middle East, and this demonstration underscores the tangible progress and potential of venture capital investments from the region.”
Dr. Pereira performed the world’s first robotic-assisted neurointerventional procedure in 2019, a stent-assisted coiling procedure to treat a large basilar aneurysm. He serves as a professor of surgery and medical imaging at the University of Toronto and is the lead scientist of the RADIS lab, which focuses on applying innovative technologies on the treatment of neurovascular diseases.
Separately, EndoQuest Robotics, also partly owned by Crescent Enterprises, will demonstrate the world’s first Scar-Free Surgical Robot, and showcase the results of the first ever scar-free endoluminal trials. EQR will present, for the first time, the results of their global collaboration with Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Cleveland Clinic Ohio, Harvard and IRCAD France.
Saudi Awwal Bank opens new branch in SAB Tower
Saudi Awwal Bank, one of the leading banks in the Kingdom, inaugurated its newest integrated branch in the SAB Tower. The inauguration was held in the presence of Lubna Olayan, chairman of the board of directors, and members of the board and the executive management.
This new integrated branch signifies SAB’s strategy in enhancing customer experience in the Kingdom and reiterates its commitment to providing distinguished banking services for its retail customers, and small and medium enterprises, in addition to investment services.
Bandar Al-Gheshayan, chief wealth and personal banking officer at SAB, said: “We are pleased to open our new branch, which comes in line with our commitment to serving our customers with unparalleled dedication and excellence.”
He added: “This is part of our vision to become the bank of choice that offers innovative financial solutions, and our ongoing efforts to continue building strong and sustainable relationships with our customers and partners.”
The bank continues to enhance its efforts toward developing retail and corporate banking services, aiming to provide a comprehensive range of financial and banking solutions that meet the diverse needs of its clients. Last year, SAB inaugurated its new headquarters — the SAB Tower, which has been awarded the SmartScore Platinum and LEED Gold certifications.
SAB is one of the largest banks in the Kingdom and traces its origins in Saudi Arabia to more than 90 years, during which time it has been an active partner supporting the Kingdom’s economic growth and social development.
SAB offers integrated financial and banking services, including corporate banking, investment, private banking, and treasury.
The bank’s paid-up capital is SR20.5 billion, after the legal merger with Alawwal Bank on March 14, 2021, when it was legally known as the Saudi British Bank. SAB operates under the supervision of the Saudi Central Bank, and is a partner of the HSBC Group.
Riyadh Air, STA partner to boost Saudi travel experience
Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia’s new world-class airline, and Saudi Tourism Authority, have signed an MoU at Dubai’s Arabian Travel Market, which will enhance the travel experience for passengers to and from Saudi Arabia. Riyadh Air aims to fly to more than 100 countries by 2030, and through this partnership, both entities will collaborate on various initiatives to enhance the level of services for tourists.
STA CEO Fahd Hamidaddin said: “Increasing Saudi’s connectivity with the world is a key pillar of our tourism strategy and will ensure we sustain our rapid growth and meet our new ambitious target of 150 million visits by 2030.
“This exciting new partnership with Riyadh Air will support our goals and ensure more visitors can travel to experience the cool mountains, pristine waters and dynamic cities that make Saudi a great year-round destination.”
Hamidaddin added: “We are currently connected to over 180 destinations and are aiming to triple annual passenger traffic to 330 million by 2030 and this new agreement will help turbocharge these efforts.”
Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas said: “This is another momentous day in the history of Riyadh Air. Working alongside the STA to elevate the travel experience for our guests and those coming to visit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia signifies what we’re all about. We are elevating standards across the board in aviation to previously unseen levels. We have a shared commitment to travel and tourism in the Kingdom along with our forward-thinking approach to innovation, sustainability, and the satisfaction of our guests.”
The partnership will focus on several key areas:
New routes and destinations
Riyadh Air and the STA will jointly announce new routes and destinations to raise global awareness among travelers.
Joint marketing activities
Riyadh Air and the STA will promote Saudi Arabia along with other new destinations with an aligned strategy to attract and inform guests around the world. Riyadh Air is expected to contribute to the Kingdom’s non-oil GDP growth by $20 billion while directly and indirectly creating more than 200,000 new jobs globally and locally.
Sponsorship opportunities
The agreement will see Riyadh Air and the STA engage in sponsorship opportunities and enable both parties to leverage each other’s networks and resources to promote tourism in the Kingdom.
Presence at global events
Working in unison, Riyadh Air and the STA will ensure they have a notable presence in key industry trade shows along with major international events in the travel and tourism sector. Their participation will enable both Riyadh Air and the STA to showcase their offerings, make new announcements, and unveil key developments.
Accessibility to STOCH
The MoU will ensure accessibility to tourism-related platforms such as the Sustainable Tourism Observatories in Cities to keep Saudi Arabia and Riyadh Air visible and accessible to tourists and guests year-round.
Collaboration in loyalty programs
Travelers will reap the rewards of both parties’ loyalty programs, through joint promotions and incentives, which will encourage further visits to Saudi Arabia, and beyond, with Riyadh Air.
Distribution and payment solutions
Airline booking processes will be made simpler than ever due to collaboration on payment solutions, leveraging world-leading technology and new digital methods.
Tourism Accelerator Program
Riyadh Air and the STA will both be active in the Tourism Accelerator Program, driving innovation, growth and sustainability within the tourism sector.
Development of tourism products
As globally recognizable entities, both will work in unison to develop and produce various travel and tourism products to enhance the overall experience for travelers.
Visitor feedback
As part of the agreement, Riyadh Air and the STA will gather invaluable feedback and information from travelers to improve services and the overall experience where necessary.
Accenture graduates first cohort from Capability Hub in KSA
Global professional services company Accenture recently celebrated a significant milestone with the graduation of the first cohort from its Accenture Capability Hub in Riyadh. This achievement, witnessed by Ibrahim Almubarak, assistant minister of investment of Saudi Arabia, and Abdulrahman Abdullah Al-Marwani, vice governor assistant for training and quality policies and general director of private training at the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation, marks a promising step toward upskilling Saudi talent.
The hub currently offers a rigorous multi-track training program accredited and exclusive to Accenture employees, covering various areas such as security, cloud, data, artificial intelligence, and change management. It is the first step toward launching Accenture LearnVantage Academy Saudi Arabia, which will offer comprehensive technology education and training services to businesses and organizations in the Kingdom, allowing them to reskill and upskill their employees and help them reinvent their organizations and achieve greater business value.
“Accenture’s headquarters in King Abdullah Financial District, together with the Accenture Capability Hub, demonstrate the company’s commitment to Saudi Arabia and forging deeper relationships with local business communities,” a statement said.
Omar Boulos, Accenture’s Middle East market unit lead, said: “Establishing an educational infrastructure in Saudi Arabia marks significant steps toward strengthening Accenture’s presence in this dynamic market. We firmly believe that Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Vision 2030 provides an ideal framework for us to contribute our extensive knowledge and capabilities to help empower the Kingdom’s young generation.”
Accenture helps the world’s leading businesses, governments and other organizations build their digital core, optimize their operations, accelerate revenue growth and enhance citizen services. The talent- and innovation-led company with approximately 742,000 people serves clients in more than 120 countries.
