Agritech startup Natufia wins KPMG’s innovator competition

The team members of Natufia, a Saudi Arabia-based agri-technology provider, received the award from KPMG in Saudi Arabia Chairman Dr. Abdullah Al-Fozan.
Short Url
Updated 11 October 2021
Follow

Agritech startup Natufia wins KPMG’s innovator competition

Natufia, a Saudi Arabia-based agri-technology provider that enables the growth of fresh plants and herbs all year round, has emerged winner of the KPMG Private Enterprise Tech Innovator in Saudi Arabia competition for 2021.

Natufia now joins the winning tech innovators from 20 countries worldwide to qualify for the inaugural KPMG Global Tech Innovator finals at the Web Summit 2021 conference in Lisbon, Portugal, in November.

Natufia, which goes beyond farm-to-fork to provide herbs and plants from kitchen-to-table since its founding in 2014, was up against other tech startups in a closely contested competition from BRAQ Aerospace, Juleb, Digital Pharma Company, Mawidy and Tarjama, who were shortlisted from 22 applicants in this inaugural edition.

The Natufia Smart Kitchen Garden is an innovative automated garden for every home, offering 100 percent nutritious herbs and vegetables without GMO or pesticides.

A panel of four KPMG judges — Dr. Samer Abdallah, head of ICT sector; Fuad Chapra, head of private enterprise and family business; Mazhar Hussain, Digital Lighthouse leader; and Buthainah Albaity, associate director private enterprise and family business — chose the final winner after intense deliberations based on six equally weighted categories, including innovation and disruption, market potential, customer adoption, marketing traction, long-term potential, and quality of their pitch.

Abdallah said: “The response to the KPMG Private Enterprise Tech Innovator competition was astounding. The competition was pretty intense and demonstrated the thriving and flourishing technology community in Saudi Arabia. Amid innovative ideas and strong pitches from all contestants, Natufia was chosen the winner.”

“We are excited to be named KPMG Private Enterprise Tech Innovator in Saudi Arabia. We thank KPMG for the opportunity and support received throughout the process. We are all set to head to the Web Summit to share our concept with a global audience,” said Duaa Albalawi, chief botanical officer at Natufia.

The award was presented by KPMG in Saudi Arabia Chairman Dr. Abdullah Al-Fozan.

The KPMG Global Tech Innovator competition is hosted in more than 20 countries around the world. The finalist in each country will represent their country on the world stage at Web Summit 2021, where they have the opportunity to be recognized as the global winner.


Petromin Nissan celebrates decade of partnership excellence in Kingdom

Updated 28 January 2026
Follow

Petromin Nissan celebrates decade of partnership excellence in Kingdom

Petromin Nissan recently hosted an event to celebrate 10 years of partnership with Nissan, marking a decade since Petromin was appointed as the official Nissan dealer in Saudi Arabia. The milestone reflects a partnership shaped by trust, consistent performance, and a shared long-term vision that has played a meaningful role in the development of the automotive sector in the Kingdom.

The event highlighted Petromin Nissan’s continued confidence in the Saudi market, demonstrated by the attendance of senior leadership from Nissan Global, the Middle East, and Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom was reaffirmed as one of Nissan’s most important growth markets in the region, in line with the company’s global focus on innovation, sustainability, and intelligent mobility.

The celebration was attended by a number of senior industry and business leaders, including Sheikh Amr Al-Dabbagh, chairman and CEO of Al-Dabbagh Group, reflecting the significance of the partnership and its broader impact on the Kingdom’s automotive and business landscape.

As part of its performance over the past year, Petromin Nissan had been awarded two Awards of Excellence from Nissan Global, recognizing operational strength and overall business performance, and reinforcing its standing as one of Nissan’s leading partners worldwide.

Paddy Magee, managing director of Petromin Nissan, said: “Over the past 10 years, Petromin’s priority has been to build a business that puts the customer first while fully reflecting Nissan’s global standards. Through expanding our network, strengthening our service capabilities, and investing in our people, we have focused on creating sustainable value for the Saudi market.”

Adib Takieddine, managing director of Nissan Saudi Arabia, said: “Saudi Arabia continues to be a strategic market for Nissan. Our partnership with Petromin has been instrumental in strengthening our presence in the Kingdom, supporting growth, enhancing customer satisfaction, and advancing our long-term vision for mobility in alignment with Vision 2030.”

Over the decade, Petromin Nissan significantly expanded its footprint across the Kingdom, now operating 18 showrooms and 16 service centers in 11 cities, improving accessibility and delivering a more seamless customer experience nationwide.

Reflecting on the broader partnership, Terence Byrne, CEO of National Motor Company, said: “Reaching this milestone is a clear reflection of a partnership built on shared values and long-term commitment. Petromin Nissan has established a strong platform in Saudi Arabia and continues to deliver real impact for customers and the wider automotive ecosystem.”

Looking ahead, Petromin Nissan reaffirmed its long-term commitment to the Saudi market, with continued focus on innovation, sustainability, digital transformation, and customer-centric mobility as the partnership moves into its next phase.