Nasser Al-Aqeeli, general supervisor of the Saudi Digital Library

Nasser Al-Aqeeli
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Updated 11 June 2020
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Nasser Al-Aqeeli, general supervisor of the Saudi Digital Library

Nasser Al-Aqeeli was recently appointed general supervisor of the Saudi Digital Library at the Ministry of Education and has been the ministry’s deputy minister for research and innovation since June 2019.

In 2000, he gained a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), in Dhahran, and two years later a master’s degree in materials engineering from the same university. He obtained a Ph.D. in materials engineering from Montreal’s McGill University in 2007.

Al-Aqeeli gained a postdoc in materials engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2008 and completed his advanced leadership and management program and organizational leadership from Said Business School, University of Oxford, in 2013.

Prior to taking on his current roles at the Ministry of Education, he worked as a part-time consultant and adviser at the ministry from March 2016 to February 2018.

He was also a visiting professor at Concordia University, in Montreal, in its department of mechanical and aerospace engineering, participating in multiple projects between May and August 2016.

Al-Aqeeli was the chairman of the board of KFUPM Private Schools from January 2017 to June 2019, and CEO of Dhahran Valley Knowledge Co. from July 2017 to June 2019.

At KFUPM, he worked as dean of research from September 2012 to September 2018 and was vice rector of research from October 2018 to June 2019.

He is also a member of the board of directors of King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy, the Education and Training Evaluation Commission, the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property, and the Saudi National Institute of Health.


Jeddah Fit Expo 2026 offers inspiration, innovation

Updated 29 January 2026
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Jeddah Fit Expo 2026 offers inspiration, innovation

  • Sports, fitness, wellness in spotlight at Jeddah Superdome
  • Gyms and fitness brands offer visitors a wide range of interactive experiences

JEDDAH: Jeddah Superdome welcomed more than 1,000 athletes of all ages on Wednesday for a heart-pounding session which placed sports, fitness and wellness in the spotlight.

The Jeddah Fit Expo 2026 is taking place until Jan. 31 and visitors on the first day were treated to a heady environment filled with high-intensity energy and in which cutting-edge fitness trends met the inspirational spirit of sportsmanship.

More than 300 brands and over 200 exhibitors engaged in in-depth exchanges and interactions according to organizers, while jointly forging an event for the global sports and fitness industry.

Mohammed Al-Aidarous, from the event’s organizing committee, told Arab News the expo aimed to spread the culture of fitness as a daily lifestyle and sought to encourage best international expertise and practices, while empowering and developing local sports talents.

He said: “The sports and fitness industry is a rapidly growing sector globally. Especially in Saudi Arabia, there is an increasing focus on health and fitness among the general public. Consequently there is a growing demand for fitness-related products and services.”

The exhibition, which is in its fourth edition, has brought together suppliers of fitness equipment and sports and leisure products, along with representatives from nutrition and health sectors, wellness clinics, youth sports education, and artificial intelligence solution providers.

Many of the participants are introducing new products to meet changing market trends, leveraging the national fitness policies, deeply exploring market demand, and expanding their presence in the sports industry market, thereby providing users with more professional services.

Gyms and fitness brands at the event are offering visitors a wide range of interactive, educational and commercial opportunities designed to promote healthy lifestyles while showcasing the latest industry innovations.

Danya Aljamal, an event coordinator at GymNation, said: “We are here to show sports enthusiasts who we are and what we can do to make them change their lifestyle with sports. GymNation is about enjoying your time, having fun, challenging yourself and making the best form of your body.”

She added: “We will be offering visitors our famous Hyrox class. It is designed to help enhance your strength and explosive power through a combination of targeted, high-intensity exercises and I hope people enjoy it.”

AI is rapidly reshaping athletic training environments. The exhibition features platforms that analyze an athlete’s movement, track progress, and offer automated corrections.

Saudi entrepreneur Mohammed Kaki, founder and CEO of FitLife, an Al-powered health-tech startup delivering B2B personalized nutrition and wellness plans, said: “We are proud to share the FitLife platform and feel excited to take these insights and relationships to the next level during this three-day event.

“FitLife is an app developed to make people’s fitness journey much easier and more convenient. Our algorithms were developed to produce accurate programs with a full range of workouts and recipes designed to fit people’s daily schedule and preferences.

“Our objective at FitLife is to foster growth and revolutionize the way people perceive health and fitness.”

Kaki indicated that the startup was also aiming to support coaches and specialists in sports and health organizations through AI solutions.

Beyond the exhibition stands and workshops, bodybuilding, calisthenics, taekwondo and volleyball are among the activities taking place at Jeddah Superdome.