Dr. Bandar bin Fahd Al-Suwailem, secretary-general of the King Fahd Complex for the Printing of the Holy Qur’an
Updated 21 June 2019
Arab News
Dr. Bandar bin Fahd Al-Suwailem has been the secretary-general of the King Fahd Complex for the Printing of the Holy Qur’an in Madinah since January 2019.
He is a professor at the comparative jurisprudence department of the Higher Judicial Institute at Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University in Riyadh, and has also been an adviser to the rector of the university.
Al-Suwailem was previously undersecretary for cultural relations at the Ministry of
Higher Education, and was the head of the Islamic studies department at the Institute of Islamic and Arabic Sciences in Virginia, in the US.
He is also a certified arbitrator for the Saudi Ministry of Justice on financial and commercial disputes, and is a published author of several books and academic papers.
He received his bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate in Islamic jurisprudence and comparative jurisprudence from Imam Muhammad University.
Recently, the Saudi Press Agency reported that the Mushaf Al-Madinah mobile application (app) reached 1,538,000 users on Google Play following its launch during the holy month of Ramadan. Apple platform users, meanwhile, reached 1,489,000.
The app provides a digital version of the Qur’an by the King Fahd Complex, in 12 languages including English, Indonesian, Urdu, Persian, Turkish, Spanish, French and German.
Al-Suwailem said that the app comes in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 program, and is an unprecedented service throughout the Islamic world.
Jeddah students get closer look at electric motorsport
A PIF-linked initiative highlights technical and engineering careers behind electric racing events
Updated 24 January 2026
SALEH FAREED
JEDDAH: Students from local and international schools in Jeddah were introduced to STEM-related career pathways in electric motorsport this week, as part of an education program linked to the UIM E1 World Championship held on the Red Sea.
The sessions formed part of Driving Force Presented by the Public Investment Fund, an initiative run by Formula E and its electric racing series partners, to familiarize students aged eight to 18 with science, technology, engineering and mathematics through electric racing and sustainability-focused industries.
The sessions for students formed part of Driving Force Presented by the Public Investment Fund, an initiative run by Formula E and its electric racing series partners. (Supplied)
The programme took place alongside the 2026 E1 Jeddah GP and included workshops, school visits and trackside access designed to show how engineering, data, broadcast technology and event operations function within professional motorsport.
According to organisers, the initiative reached more than 60,000 students globally in 2025, with further expansion planned this year.
HIGHLIGHTS
• The program took place alongside the 2026 E1 Jeddah GP and included workshops, school visits and trackside access.
• Students learned about E1 races and their technical and environmental dimensions and discussed the engineering and marine aspects of electric boats.
• According to organisers, the initiative reached more than 60,000 students globally in 2025, with further expansion planned this year.
John Williams, managing director at E1, told Arab News: “The PIF is absolutely vital to everything we do here at the E1. They were crucial initial investment partner since the start of the championship and they continue to support us in a number of ways and more specifically around the Driving Force program.”
The sessions for students formed part of Driving Force Presented by the Public Investment Fund, an initiative run by Formula E and its electric racing series partners. (Supplied)
Elaborating more on the program, he said: “What we are doing is presenting and showing these students the available careers of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, as well as careers in sports, not only pilots but also engineers and mechanics.”
Williams added that the main key to the program was bringing a new generation to the mechanism of sport.
“We are introducing to these exciting new technologies around the race but it could be our technology on the boat or our broadcast products, as well as how to manage the event its self. There are a range of opportunities to show it to the children in addition to enjoying the excitement of the race and meeting the pilots.”
The program’s Jeddah activities began at King Abdulaziz University’s faculty of maritime studies, where students took part in a hands-on workshop focused on STEM careers in the motorsport and sustainability areas conducted by technology experts and famous water pilots such as Dani Clos, Emma Kimilainen and Patricia Pita.
Students learned about E1 races and their technical and environmental dimensions and discussed the engineering and marine aspects of electric boats.
They also enjoyed exclusive behind-the-scenes access at the E1 Jeddah GP, pilot meet-and-greets, and front-row seats to watch the RaceBird boats in action.
