Dr. Mohammed Kurdi was recently elected as a member of the board of directors of the China-based Asian Society of Cardiology.
He has over 30 years’ experience practicing medicine in the Kingdom, has been president of the Saudi Arabian Cardiac Interventional Society for nearly four years, and is the CEO and chief medical officer at the Riyadh-based CityMed Hospital.
As a pioneer interventional cardiologist, Kurdi established the country’s first private-sector advanced cardiac therapy center at Kingdom Hospital and co-founded the King Salman Heart Center at King Fahad Medical City in 2006, where he was chairman of the cardiovascular services unit until 2010.
He has served as head of the catheterization laboratory at King Khalid University Medical City, where he oversaw the renovation and digitization of the laboratory.
In addition to his medical expertise, he was the founder-director of the Rawad Al-Tadawi Specialized Clinics in Riyadh.
In 2012, he co-founded and chaired the heart center at Dr. Sulaiman Al-Habib Hospital in Riyadh.
Kurdi received a bachelor of medicine, bachelor of surgery degree from King Saud University in 1991, after which he joined an Arab board training program in internal medicine at the Riyadh Armed Forces Hospital. He also completed his Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada program in internal medicine and residency at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada.
Moreover, he obtained an FRCPC certificate in cardiology and interventional cardiology from the Ottawa Heart Institute in Canada.
In 2017, Kurdi, a Canadian and US board-certified cardiologist, successfully completed an organizational leadership program in healthcare management offered by Harvard Business School. In 2020, he attended a similar course at Yale University.
Who’s Who: Dr. Mohammed Kurdi, member of the board of directors of the Asian Society of Cardiology
https://arab.news/vn82s
Who’s Who: Dr. Mohammed Kurdi, member of the board of directors of the Asian Society of Cardiology
Klija Festival in Buraidah empowers small businesses
- Half a million attend 15-day celebration of heritage; event creates 1,500 seasonal jobs
RIYADH: The 17th Klija Festival in Buraidah drew more than half a million visitors during its 15-day run, celebrating the region’s heritage and entrepreneurial spirit.
Organized by the Qassim Chamber of Commerce, the event highlighted small businesses, providing a platform for entrepreneurs to showcase local products.
More than 340 sales outlets, marketing corners and points of sale welcomed attendees, while the festival provided 1,500 seasonal job opportunities, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The small business pavilions featured families in the cottage industry, artisans and startups presenting traditional foods, and handicrafts and heritage items that reflect the region’s identity.
Participants said that the festival was a key marketing platform, boosting sales, increasing brand awareness, facilitating knowledge exchange and fostering connections with organizations supporting SMEs.
Mohammed Al-Hanaya, Qassim Chamber secretary-general and festival supervisor, said that the event brought together families, artisans, SMEs, companies and institutions, stimulating commercial activity, opening direct marketing channels and enhancing economic returns.
He added that the festival provided seasonal jobs for more than 1,500 young men and women across operations, marketing and services, supporting the labor market, empowering national talent, and connecting youth to the events and creative economy.
Klija, a traditional cookie made from wheat flour, dates or sugar, date syrup and natural ingredients such as cardamom and lemon, is a rich source of energy, carbohydrates, dietary fiber and natural proteins.
A cultural icon rooted in Qassim’s traditions, the cookie has gained international exposure through the festival, expanding the availability of packaged products.
Starting next year, the festival will be renamed the International Klija Festival, a rebranding approved by Qassim Gov. Prince Faisal bin Mishaal, who described it as a “successful model for turning local initiatives into global economic engines.”
This year’s festival, held at the King Khalid Cultural Center, included international participants from Egypt, Turkiye and Morocco, marking its evolution into a cross-cultural platform.
