RIYADH: A new building to house and support innovative technology startups opened in Riyadh on Monday.
The Garage, once a building for parking, provides a space of 28,000 square meters and can accommodate 300 startups. It has 24 conference rooms and an events area for up to 1,000 people.
The project manager of The Garage, Ibrahim Nasrallah, said that while the idea of having a space for startup companies has been done before, it has never been done on this scale.
He said: “We wanted to bring this idea into the Saudi market and launch this project. This project is considered one of the biggest in terms of size on a global level.”
Nasrallah said that to maintain the feel of a garage, the creative team decided to keep the building close to the original design.
He added: “The idea was created by transforming the building into a workshop for the companies in the IT industry, specifically in a luxurious way. For the preservation of the atmosphere, we decided to keep the curbstone, the car ramps, and open ceiling to maintain an industrial feel.”
Nasrallah said that the project took eight months to complete. It features an office for important guests, an outdoor sky bar, a nap area, a hackathon space, and events and meeting areas.
Electromechanical subcontractor Omar Aboissa said that the nap zone was a new concept for businesses in the Kingdom.
He said: “In Saudi Arabia, this idea is considered new. However, globally, many software companies aim to create an environment where employees can rest throughout the day.
“In addition to the nap zone, we have also designed an area for gaming, a lounge, a cafe, and other amenities to ensure that employees can find everything they need without having to leave the building.”
The Garage has curated three programs for enterprises to join: Incubation, The Garage Plus, and The Garage Disrupt.
The Incubation program offers services for early-stage enterprises to grow. The Garage Plus targets tech small and medium enterprises in partnership with Google for Startups. The Garage Disrupt is a monthly networking public event that aims to connect players in the technology industry.
The Garage focuses on local and international startups with the motto of “The Garage is your place to work, to live, and to meet people who share the same interests as you.”
Massive space for tech startups opens in Riyadh
https://arab.news/vzmvz
Massive space for tech startups opens in Riyadh
- The Garage, once a building for parking, can accommodate 300 startup companies
- The project manager of The Garage, Ibrahim Nasrallah, said that while the idea of having a space for startup companies has been done before, it has never been done on this scale
Families in Taif embrace Ramadan customs early
TAIF: Residents of Taif are engaging in early preparations for the holy month of Ramadan, upholding deeply rooted customs that blend religious devotion with social tradition.
Families are meticulously organizing their homes and stocking up on supplies in anticipation of the communal meals and gatherings that define the month’s spirit of kinship, the Saudi Press Agency reports.
The city’s neighborhoods have taken on a festive character, adorned with traditional lanterns, crescent-shaped lights and star-shaped illuminations.
Historian Dhaifallah Al-Radwani said that these preparations — primarily led by women and children — include the use of traditional fabrics, incense burners and henna.
These rituals serve as a vital link to Saudi cultural heritage, ensuring that authentic community values and aesthetic traditions are passed down to new generations.
On Sunday, the last quarter moon of Shaban was visible across the Kingdom. Half of the moon was illuminated, while the other half remained in shadow, completing roughly three-quarters of its orbit around the Earth.
The last quarter moon draws the attention of amateur astronomers and astrophotographers, offering an ideal angle to observe surface features such as craters, volcanic plains and mountains, with shadows along the terminator enhancing their detail.
Jeddah Astronomy Society Director Majed Abu Zahra said that the last quarter moon marks a key transitional phase. Its visible light gradually decreases, becoming a waning crescent before sunrise, until the new moon on Feb. 17 signals the upcoming sighting of Ramadan’s crescent.
