Startups win Saudi heat of $5m global contest for entrepreneurs

Sadeem founders Mustafa Mousa and Esteban Canepa adjusting their sensors at KAUST. (Photo/Supplied)
Updated 08 July 2019
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Startups win Saudi heat of $5m global contest for entrepreneurs

  • Up to 100,000 entrants worldwide will compete for three grand prizes, 15 finalist stage prizes and 100 national prizes
  • Winners will be offered investment opportunities and mentorship

JEDDAH: “The French,” former US President George W. Bush is said to have observed, “don’t even have a word for ‘entrepreneur.’”

Well, they do in Saudi Arabia — five of the best have won the Saudi qualifiers for the $5 million global Entrepreneurship World Cup, and a prize of $50,000 each.

The startups were all founded by graduates of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) entrepreneurship program. They are Red Sea Farms, which use saltwater technology for desert agriculture; DHAD audio books in Arabic; Fahim, which connects teachers with students; Sadeem, which is related to flood management, air quality and traffic control; and Cura, which specializes in telemedicine.

“Seeing these technological innovations is impressive,” said Dr. Kevin Cullen, KAUST’s vice president of innovation and economic development. “It is an indication of the great appetite for entrepreneurs and companies to promote innovation.”

The competition is organized by Misk, the foundation set up by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to empower Saudi youth, and the Global Entrepreneurship Network. Up to 100,000 entrants worldwide will compete for three grand prizes, 15 finalist stage prizes and 100 national prizes.

In addition to the $5 million prize fund, winners will be offered investment opportunities and mentorship. The finals will take place during the Misk Global Forum in Riyadh in November.

 

 


‘Flying Over Saudi’ launches cinematic aerial experience of Saudi landmarks

Updated 26 December 2025
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‘Flying Over Saudi’ launches cinematic aerial experience of Saudi landmarks

RIYADH: The Flying Over Saudi experience was launched on Thursday at Boulevard City as part of Riyadh Season, introducing visitors to the first experience of its kind in the Kingdom. 

The attraction provides a cinematic aerial journey using immersive technologies and multisensory effects that display Saudi Arabia’s most significant natural and urban landscapes from a new perspective, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The experience takes guests on a visual journey over the Kingdom’s diverse terrain, taking in Saudi Arabia’s vast deserts, towering mountains, lush valleys, modern cities, and expansive coastlines, in addition to special views of the Two Holy Mosques in Makkah and Madinah. 

The film is presented in 8K resolution, featuring high-quality footage that captures the Kingdom’s geographic and cultural richness in a matter of minutes.

Each ride lasts about eight minutes, enhanced by sensory effects such as wind, water mist, and natural scent elements, along with innovative seat motion that intensifies the sense of realism and creates an experience close to actual flight. 

The visual and audio technologies work seamlessly together to immerse visitors fully in the scenes presented.

By combining its immersive elements with footage filmed over diverse landscapes, Flying Over Saudi offers Riyadh Season visitors a new perspective of the Kingdom, one that merges advanced technology with local visual identity and highlights one of the widest natural maps extending from north to south and from the coastlines into the heart of the cities.

The launch of this experience exemplifies Riyadh Season’s commitment to delivering high-quality entertainment built on innovation and advanced presentation techniques. It further contributes to introducing visitors, from the Kingdom and abroad, to the beauty and diversity of Saudi Arabia’s destinations, reinforcing the season’s position as a leading platform for world-class immersive experiences.