Middle East Social Media Summit begins granting of scholarships in new media

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The Middle East Social Media Summit launched its scholarship award program in Dubai on Wednesday, in cooperation with the American University in the Emirates (AUE) (Supplied)
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The Middle East Social Media Summit launched its scholarship award program in Dubai on Wednesday, in cooperation with the American University in the Emirates (AUE) (Supplied)
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The Middle East Social Media Summit launched its scholarship award program in Dubai on Wednesday, in cooperation with the American University in the Emirates (AUE) (Supplied)
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The Middle East Social Media Summit launched its scholarship award program in Dubai on Wednesday, in cooperation with the American University in the Emirates (AUE) (Supplied)
Updated 05 December 2018
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Middle East Social Media Summit begins granting of scholarships in new media

DUBAI: The Middle East Social Media Summit launched its scholarship award program in Dubai on Wednesday, in cooperation with the American University in the Emirates (AUE), and will run until Thursday.
The summit has announced the awarding of scholarships in Media for bachelor’s and master’s degrees
Professor Muthanna Abdul Razzaq, President of the American University in the Emirates, announced partial and complete scholarships for the children and wives of the martyrs based on meeting the requirements of admission in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
In the field of academic sponsorship in the Middle East Social Media Summit, Razzaq announced at the opening of the Summit the awarding of special scholarships for the Middle East Social Media Summit, including:

- 3 Scholarships for the bachelor’s degree and one for the master’s program — Full Scholarships
- 5 Scholarships for the bachelor’s degree and 2 for the master’s program with 75% discount
- 10 Scholarships for the bachelor’s degree and 5 for the master’s program with 50% discount
- 25% discount is awarded to any application depending on grades and admission criteria for some specializations

Professor Razzaq said in a press statement: “These scholarships are a constant confirmation of the vital role of the university in the Emirates and the region, and of its close relationship with all vital and new fields that contribute to participation with the community in its interests and issues, in addition to the continuous role of the university in developing new and non-traditional courses in different areas.
“Our partnership with the Middle East Social Media Summit through its major conference in Dubai or through its activities in the region is a culmination of new, creative, and innovative approaches to make the academic sector an important and active partner in life and the future, and to support youth opportunities in the region in order to achieve skilled qualification, that indulges them at the center of the business sector and its vitality, especially in a field that has rapidly changed and developed such as social media and its various current, expected and future applications, allows to view the successive transformations in this sector,” said Professor Razzaq added.
Nasser Al Sarami, CEO of the Middle East Social Media Summit, expressed the forum’s pride in this strategic partnership, and in the participation of the AUE, and what the university represents today as a beacon of various initiatives and its precedence in creating areas of study that are not available in the region in general.
“In this forum we, as a summit that cares for business, youth and initiatives in the region and the impact of communication in creating an environment conducive to the growth of the economic sectors, view this initiative as a great embodiment of the relationship between the business sector and the labor market in the academic sector, in which the University represents the top of its dynamism,” Al-Sarami added.


25,000 attend Social Development Bank’s DeveGO25 forum

Updated 27 December 2025
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25,000 attend Social Development Bank’s DeveGO25 forum

The Social Development Bank concluded the second edition of the Entrepreneurship and Modern Business Practices Forum — DeveGo 2025 — announcing the achievement of high-impact outcomes that further reinforced the forum’s position as the largest national platform in the region dedicated to entrepreneurship, innovation, and freelance work in Saudi Arabia and beyond. 

The forum witnessed broad participation from local and international experts, investors, entrepreneurs, and representatives of local, regional, and international institutions.

Over three days at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center, the forum drew 25,000 participants and visitors, who benefited from over 45 specialized workshops and over 2500 advisory sessions delivered by more than 70 consultants and experts. 

The sessions covered key areas including entrepreneurial planning, business models, venture capital, digital platforms, freelancing, and emerging technologies. 

The forum also featured 20 panel discussions with leading local and international speakers, addressing major global trends in entrepreneurship, including the future of artificial intelligence, the creative economy, digital transformation, and venture investment. 

The forum saw the launch of the Saudi Empretec Fellowship, in the presence of Rebeca Grynspan, secretary-general of the UN Conference on Trade and Development. 

The partners in success within the Social Responsibility Portfolio supporting entrepreneurs were honored. 

It also saw the honoring of 13 winners of the Handicrafts Competition, representing various regions of the Kingdom, the announcement of winners of the Salam Award for Promising Projects, and the recognition of leading entrepreneurial projects fund under the Enterprises Track. 

In addition, the NEXT UP Challenge concluded on the third day of the forum with 20 startups presenting their projects to more than 500 investors, enhancing opportunities for networking and partnership building.

As part of efforts to strengthen the support ecosystem, the forum witnessed the signing of 51 agreements, along with the launch of a suite of new financing products. These included the Capital Expansion Product with a ceiling of up to SR10 million, the Payroll Product with a ceiling of SR2 million, and the Rental Product with a ceiling of SR1.5 million, aimed at supporting enterprises in asset development and covering operational costs. 

This reflects the bank’s direction toward offering more specialized financing tools that respond effectively to market needs.

The forum concluded by reaffirming its role as a unifying national platform for entrepreneurship, where accompanying activities and events provided direct engagement opportunities between entrepreneurs, investors, and experts. 

The forum also highlighted success stories and practical experiences that reflect the scale of entrepreneurial momentum in the Kingdom and the growing role of the Social Development Bank in supporting a national economy driven by innovation and knowledge.