RIYADH: Twenty technology startups from the fourth cohort of the Misk Accelerator program graduated on Wednesday, as announced by the foundation.
This comes in cooperation with the global innovation Plug and Play platform, through which Misk seeks to empower startups in the Saudi Arabia.
Held in the Mohammed bin Salman Nonprofit City, the graduation took place on the day of presenting the projects that qualified for the final stage.
The program is considered one of the most essential business accelerators in the region since its launch in 2019, as it supports emerging technology companies in their initial stages.
It has enabled more than 130 startups, creating more than 2,330 jobs, with a total market value exceeding the barrier of SR1.2 billion ($320 million).
The CEO of the foundation, Dr. Badr Al-Badr, said that Misk is distinguished by its vital system, based on the vision of its founder, pointing to the endeavor to open broad and diverse horizons for young people and owners of startup companies.
This allows them to invest in their latent capabilities and develop the professional and personal skills that qualify them to lead the future of the Kingdom.
Al-Badr added that Misk harnesses all its capabilities to support youth and create opportunities for them to empower and involve them in addressing future challenges through its various paths, affiliates, and innovative initiatives and programs.
The CEO and founder of Plug and Play, Saeed Amidi, said that the commitment and achievements of these startups are an indication of the qualitative talents in the Kingdom, stressing that cooperation with Misk Foundation in supporting these technology startups is essential for the growth of the entrepreneurial environment in Saudi Arabia.
The graduation day was attended by investors who viewed 20 presentations.
With that, technology companies can begin the next step of their entrepreneurial journey of seeking rapid growth after passing the intensive training phase, which lasted 12 weeks.
20 startups graduate from Misk Accelerator program
https://arab.news/cy3k4
20 startups graduate from Misk Accelerator program
- This comes in cooperation with the global innovation Plug and Play platform, through which Misk seeks to empower startups in the Saudi Arabia
- Held in the Mohammed bin Salman Nonprofit City, the graduation took place on the day of presenting the projects that qualified for the final stage
Threat to Kingdom’s security is ‘red line’ that will be ‘addressed and neutralized,’ Saudi envoy says
- Abdulaziz Alwasil tells UN Security Council the situation in southern Yemen is ‘a just cause with social and historic dimensions’ that can only be resolved through dialogue
- Recent military activity in the south was unilateral, resulting in an escalation that harms the interests of Yemeni people and undermines efforts to address issues in the south, he said
NEW YORK CITY: Any attempt to threaten Saudi Arabia’s national security is a “red line” and will be met with decisive action, the Kingdom’s ambassador to the UN told the Security Council on Wednesday.
Speaking during a meeting of the council to discuss Yemen, Abdulaziz Alwasil said the situation in the south of the country is “a just cause with social and historic dimensions” that can only be resolved through dialogue.
“We stress that any attempt to threaten our national security is a red line, and we will not hesitate to take the necessary actions and steps to address it and neutralize it,” he added.
Alwasil reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s support for Yemeni President Rashad Al-Alimi, the Presidential Leadership Council, and the Yemeni government in their efforts to achieve security, stability, development and peace while preserving national unity.
He said military activity by Southern Transitional Council forces in Hadramout and Al-Mahra on Dec. 2, 2025, was unilateral, did not have the approval of the Presidential Leadership Council, and was not carried out in coordination with the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen.
It had resulted in an unjustified escalation that harmed the interests of the Yemeni people, undermined efforts to address the issues in the south, and ran counter to the coalition’s objectives, Alwasil added.
The Kingdom, working with its coalition partners, the Presidential Leadership Council and the Yemeni government, had moved to contain the situation by dispatching a military force to coordinate arrangements with the Southern Transitional Council in Aden, he said.
The aim was to ensure the return of the southern council’s forces to their previous positions outside of Hadramout and Al-Mahra, and the handover of camps to legitimate government forces and local authorities in line with agreed procedures, Alwasil added.
He expressed regret over the military operations that took place in Hadramout and Al-Mahra, close to Saudi Arabia’s southern border, which he said posed a direct threat to the Kingdom’s national security, as well as the security of Yemen and regional stability. Such steps were extremely dangerous, he added, and contradicted the principles on which the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen had been founded.
Alwasil welcomed a prisoner and detainee exchange agreement signed in Muscat on Dec. 23, which he described as an important humanitarian measure to alleviate suffering and build confidence.
He praised Oman for hosting and sponsoring the consultations and supporting negotiations, and commended the efforts of UN’s special envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, the International Committee of the Red Cross and all others that has played a part.
Regarding the political efforts to resolve the crisis, Alwasil said Saudi Arabia welcomed President Al-Alimi’s call for an inclusive conference in Riyadh to bring together all stakeholders to discuss just solutions to the situation in southern Yemen.
Preparations for the conference have begun, he added, in cooperation with the Yemeni government and southern representatives, reflecting the close ties between the two countries and their shared interests in stabilizing Yemen.
He urged all southern stakeholders to participate actively and constructively in the talks, to help find comprehensive and just solutions that meet the legitimate aspirations of the people of southern Yemen.
Alwasil called on all Yemeni forces and stakeholders to cooperate and intensify their efforts to reach a lasting political settlement that would ensure security and stability.
He described the southern issue as “a just cause with social and historic dimensions,” adding that “the only way to address it is through dialogue that leads to a comprehensive political solution” based on nationally and internationally agreed terms of reference.
