Startup of the Week: 12 Car — driving in style

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Updated 29 March 2021
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Startup of the Week: 12 Car — driving in style

  • 12 Car is a store specializing in selling general car accessories, particularly women’s driving gloves

JEDDAH: Glamour, style and skincare can be important considerations in a woman’s daily life. And thanks to the social reforms under Saudi Vision 2030, more and more women are driving every day — and many love car accessories.

12 Car is a store specializing in selling general car accessories, particularly women’s driving gloves.

“The idea is inspired by a woman’s love for beauty and attention to the body . . . and her exposure to the sun on a daily basis causes her wrinkles or dark spots on the hands,” Noura Saud, the founder of 12 Cars, told Arab News.

The store was established at 12 noon on the last day of 2020, and the idea of the name came from this.

“The inspiration came after seeing the leadership’s efforts to empower women, and also the effects of sunlight on my hands and my friends’ while driving,” she said.

The gloves were carefully engineered to protect hands from too much sunlight exposure, while at the same time having a chic and classy design.

“The gloves are elegantly designed, lightweight, and with a purely feminine character, with lace and light color additions, and are lined with silicone to give more stability while holding the steering wheel, and have holes to prevent sweating and allow ventilation for the hand,” she said.

“It is also designed with a touch feature on the index finger for smartphone screens, which eliminates the need to remove the glove during her outings,” she added.

UV sunscreen gloves provide a protective shield whether you are driving, allergic to sunlight exposure, or just enjoying yourself outside. “Your hands see the sun more than any other skin on your body, and thus ages greater than any other part of your body. Your hands deserve protection,” Saud said.

The founder said that UV rays accelerate the body’s natural production of melanin and, over time, melanin can cluster below the surface of the skin, causing brown spots on the hands.

Saud has some skincare tips for her fellow female drivers: “Apply sunscreen on your hands before you go out, and wear UV ray protective gloves.” 

Keep up with the Saudi brand on Instagram (@__12car)


Saudi Arabia opens 3rd round of Exploration Empowerment Program

Updated 01 February 2026
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Saudi Arabia opens 3rd round of Exploration Empowerment Program

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, in collaboration with the Ministry of Investment, has opened applications for the third round of the Exploration Empowerment Program, part of ongoing efforts to accelerate mineral exploration in the Kingdom, reduce early-stage investment risks, and attract high-quality investment from local and international mining companies.

The third round of the Exploration Empowerment Program offers a comprehensive support package targeting exploration companies and mineral prospecting license holders.

The initiative aims to lower investment risks for projects and support a faster transition from prospecting to development.

"The program provides coverage of up to 70 percent of the total salaries of Saudi technical staff, such as geologists, during the first two years, increasing to 100 percent thereafter, in line with program requirements.

This support aims to develop talent, build national capabilities in mineral exploration, promote job localization, and facilitate the transfer of geological knowledge.

The application for the third round opened on Jan. 14, allowing participants to benefit from the Kingdom’s attractive investment environment, its stable legal framework, and streamlined regulatory structures, as well as integrated infrastructure that supports the transition from mineral resources to operational mines.

The ministry has set the timeline for the third round, with the application period running from Jan. 14 to March 31.

This will be followed by the evaluation, approval, and signing of agreements from April 1 to May 31, with the eligible projects set to be announced between June 1 and July 31 of the same year.

The program stages include submitting exploration data during the reimbursement and payment phase from Sept. 1 to Nov. 30, followed by technical and financial verification of work programs and approval of the disbursement of support funds in January 2027.

The exploration data will then be published on the National Geological Database in April 2027.

The ministry emphasized that the EEP focuses on supporting the exploration of strategically important minerals with national priority. It also contributes to enhancing geological knowledge by providing up-to-date data that meets international standards, helping investors make informed decisions and supporting the growth of national companies and local supply chains.

The ministry urged companies to apply early to benefit from the program’s third round, which coincided with the fifth edition of the International Mining Conference, which was held from Jan. 13 to 15.