Elm-Microsoft Arabia partnership in line with Vision 2030

The agreement was signed by Elm CEO Dr. Abdulrahman bin Saad Al-Jadhai and President of Microsoft Arabia Thamer bin Mohammed Alharbi at Elm’s headquarters in Riyadh.
Updated 17 April 2019
Follow

Elm-Microsoft Arabia partnership in line with Vision 2030

Saudi digital solutions company Elm has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Microsoft Arabia.

The agreement was signed by Elm CEO Dr. Abdulrahman bin Saad Al-Jadhai and President of Microsoft Arabia Thamer bin Mohammed Alharbi at Elm’s headquarters in Riyadh.

“The agreement aims to encourage technical capabilities in order to meet the needs of strategic customers, which will promote developing areas of digital transformation, data science, technical analysis, machine learning, artificial intelligence, business intelligence and big data,” a company statement said. 

Within the framework of this agreement, Microsoft will provide the latest digital solutions that help organizations reduce waiting periods, provide 24 hours of service and reduce operating costs. Microsoft Arabia will also assist in improving the company’s business in data-centered projects, transforming the data into digital models and products.

Majid bin Saad Alarifi, spokesperson and vice president of marketing at Elm, underlined the importance of this strategic partnership, which he said will contribute to developing the employees’ skills, acquaint them with the latest technological trends and help them achieve self-sufficiency, while establishing a long-term business relationship between the two sides.

“This agreement comes in line with Elm’s ambition to expand internationally by focusing on the latest technologies that meet the needs of our current and future customers. Also, such agreements open up a wide range of opportunities for both partners,” Alarifi added.

The agreement is “a realization of Elm’s strategy of building partnerships with leading digital companies to ensure the delivery of the best service to the customer and provide integrated digital systems that facilitate digital transformation, a goal that is in line with the Saudi Vision 2030.”

Alharbi, Microsoft Arabia president, said: “Microsoft is looking forward to developing strategies through which it can provide the necessary support to the Kingdom’s entities.

“Through our partnership with Elm, which is in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, we will work to achieve Elm’s goals of empowering the youth and society with knowledge,” he said.

Elm is owned by the Public Investment Fund and part of its longstanding interest is supporting and localizing technological initiatives.


Jeeny launches First–Last Mile Access in partnership with Medina Bus

Updated 19 December 2025
Follow

Jeeny launches First–Last Mile Access in partnership with Medina Bus

Jeeny has announced the introduction of its First-Last Mile Access Program in collaboration with Medina Bus, marking a significant step forward in Saudi Arabia's transportation reform. 

Passengers who buy a Medina Bus ticket can now get discounted Jeeny rides to and from key bus stops, making public transportation more accessible for both residents and pilgrims.

While the initiative appears modest, it represents a far wider vision: the first operational phase of Jeeny's goal to develop Saudi Arabia's next-generation Integrated Mobility Platform, an integrated framework that will eventually connect numerous modes of transportation under one seamless consumer experience.

Medina was chosen as the launch location because of its national importance and growing demand for efficient transportation. 

In 2024, the city's bus network handled 1.72 million people, and demand is predicted to increase further in 2025. 

Medina, being one of the Kingdom's most popular destinations, provides a real-world setting for evaluating concepts that can then be scaled across the country.

“This marks the beginning of a mobility shift in Saudi Arabia, where public transport and private operators can work together to offer a seamless journey,” said Hammad Ehtesham, CEO of Jeeny. “Making it easier for people to reach public transport is the foundation of a future where every mode of mobility in the Kingdom connects effortlessly.”

With millions of rides every year in Saudi Arabia and Jordan, Jeeny has developed into one of the top mobility platforms in the area. 

The company, which employs over 400 people and has one of the biggest active driver networks in the Kingdom, is currently getting ready for its next stage: a nationwide mobility ecosystem that will support buses, ride-hailing, micro-mobility, pilgrim mobility services, and end-to-end travel solutions, including direct flight booking through Jeeny.  

Despite the fact that Medina's First-Last Mile initiative is relatively new, early feedback shows that users are really interested in more accessible transportation options. 

Similar First-Last Mile initiatives can increase public transportation usage by 15 to 25 percent, according to international research, underscoring the wider potential impact as Jeeny considers expanding to more Saudi cities.

“What begins in Medina will become a blueprint for the Kingdom’s connected mobility future,” Ehtesham added. “This is the first step toward a nationwide ecosystem that will make movement simpler, smarter, and more accessible for everyone.”

Passengers on Medina Bus are now able to make use of the Jeeny First-Last Mile Access Program, which supports Saudi Arabia's vision for contemporary, sustainable, and inclusive mobility while providing a new, more convenient means of accessing public transportation.