Newcastle United extends noon.com sleeve partnership for 2023-24 season

Fans will be able to access the kits of the team via the noon.com mobile application, with next-day delivery in Saudi Arabia (Shutterstock)
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Updated 07 June 2023
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Newcastle United extends noon.com sleeve partnership for 2023-24 season

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund-owned football club Newcastle United has extended its sleeve sponsorship agreement with the e-commerce platform Noon.

According to a press release, the logo of Saudi-based Noon will continue to be displayed on the sleeve of Newcastle’s first-team kit across all competitions. 

Newcastle United has been owned by a consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund since 2021, with PIF holding 80 percent of the club’s shares, while RB Sports & Media and PCP Capital Partners hold a 10 percent stake each. 

The press release further noted that fans will be able to access the kits of the team via the noon.com mobile application, with next-day delivery in Saudi Arabia and within 15 minutes in the UAE. 

“We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Newcastle United Football Club for a second season after the tremendous success of our first year together,” said Ali Kafil-Hussain, chief of staff at noon.com. 

He added: “We truly believe that the sky truly is the limit with Newcastle United FC, and we couldn’t be more excited for what the future holds as we bring even more value to our customers and fans.” 

Peter Silverstone, chief commercial officer at Newcastle, said the club’s partnership with the company has played a crucial role in elevating the fanbase of the team across Saudi Arabia. 

Silverstone added: “Newcastle United’s ambition is to become the most supported Premier League football club in Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East.

“Partnering with noon.com undoubtedly helps us achieve this ambition. The club has the fastest growing fanbase in Saudi Arabia, having grown over 600 percent in the last year, and noon has contributed to this extraordinary growth.”

He added: “This is truly a partnership where both parties are supporting each other in achieving shared objectives. One of the Middle East’s most popular and trusted digital companies, partnering with the fastest-growing Premier League club in Saudi Arabia, is a recipe for success. 

“We thank noon.com for their continued support and trust in our partnership.” 


Saudi Arabia leads outcome-based education to prepare future-ready generations: Harvard Business Review

A Harvard sign is seen at the Harvard University campus in Boston, Massachusetts, on May 27, 2025. (AFP)
Updated 10 February 2026
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Saudi Arabia leads outcome-based education to prepare future-ready generations: Harvard Business Review

  • The Riyadh-based school group developed a strategy that links every classroom activity to measurable student competencies, aiming to graduate learners equipped for the digital economy and real-world contexts

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s education system is undergoing a sweeping transformation aligned with Vision 2030, shifting from traditional, input-focused methods to outcome-based education designed to equip students with future-ready skills, Harvard Business Review Arabic reported.

The transformation is being adopted and spearheaded by institutions such as Al-Nobala Private Schools, which introduced the Kingdom’s first national “learning outcomes framework,” aimed at preparing a generation of leaders and innovators for an AI-driven future, the report said.

Al-Nobala has leveraged international expertise to localize advanced learning methodologies.

The Riyadh-based school group developed a strategy that links every classroom activity to measurable student competencies, aiming to graduate learners equipped for the digital economy and real-world contexts. The school’s group approach combines traditional values with 21st-century skills such as critical thinking, communication, innovation and digital fluency.

According to the report, the shift addresses the growing gap between outdated models built for low-tech, resource-constrained environments and today’s dynamic world, where learners must navigate real-time information, virtual platforms, and smart technologies.

“This is not just about teaching content, it’s about creating impact,” the report noted, citing how Al-Nobala’s model prepares students to thrive in an AI-driven world while aligning with national priorities.

The report noted that Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Education has paved the way for this shift by transitioning from a centralized controller to a strategic enabler, allowing schools such as Al-Nobala to tailor their curriculum to meet evolving market and societal needs. This is part of the long-term goal to place the Kingdom among the top 20 global education systems.

Al-Nobala’s work, the report stated, has succeeded in serving the broader national effort to link education outcomes directly to labor market demands, helping to fulfill the Vision 2030 pillar of building a vibrant society with a thriving economy driven by knowledge and innovation.

Last February, Yousef bin Abdullah Al-Benyan, Saudi Arabia’s minister of education, said that the Kingdom was making “an unprecedented investment in education,” with spending aligned to the needs of growth and development. He said that in 2025, education received the second-largest share of the state budget, totaling $53.5 billion.