Dammam school hosts memorable Cluster Meet 2023

The first phase of CBSE Saudi Chapter 31st Zonal Cluster Meet 2023 was hosted by the International Indian School in Dammam. (Supplied)
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Updated 27 September 2023
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Dammam school hosts memorable Cluster Meet 2023

The CBSE Saudi Chapter 31st Zonal Cluster Meet 2023 is being hosted by the International Indian School Dammam in two phases. The first phase took place on Sept. 16. It comprised a total of 15 schools, with 350 students registering for the event. More than 24 sports and literary competitions will be held in two phases. The Dammam school hosted a similar meet in 2017.

The event kicked off at a bright and colorfully decorated venue. Misbahullah Ansari, managing committee member and alumnus, was in attendance as the chief guest along with IISD Chairman Moazzam Gulam Abdul Kader Dadan and MC members Firoz Ashraf and Sadia Irfan Khan. Among the guests were CBSE observer Dr. Vijendar Singh, International Indian School Jubail Principal Alamgir Islam, Dunes International School Jubail Principal Mohammed Aamir and Dunes International School Alkhobar Principal Mujeebur Rahman.

The prep section students gave a warm welcome to the guests and the various contingents through an enthralling performance. The welcome address was delivered by Principal Mahenaz Farid, who highlighted the motto of the Cluster Meet — “Indomitable Spirit, Indelible Moments” — indicating that the event would provide valuable, unforgettable experiences along with unleashing an unwavering spirit to strive forward for success.

IISD chairman Dadan addressed the gathering with his inspiring words, reminding the audience that the event is a celebration of respect, unity, and healthy competition. He urged the participants to follow the rules laid down by the organizing committee and be examples of good sportsmanship.

The flag-hoisting ceremony commenced with the hoisting of the CBSE flag by the chief guest. The flag of the Saudi Chapter was hoisted by the school chairman, while the principal hoisted the school flag of IISD.

The audience were in for a visual treat as the parade led by sports captains with school banners and flags, marched enthusiastically in contingents of 15 schools, including IISD. A strong message of camaraderie and unity was delivered through the contingent march.

Chief guest Ansari formally declared the opening of the cluster meet. He addressed the gathering expressing his views on the pivotal role of sports in building one’s personality and urged the participants to give their best performance. 

Learning to persevere in the face of adversity and working as a team toward a common goal, were some of the valuable life lessons that he highlighted in his address.

The vote of thanks was proposed by Principal-designate Sunil Peter. He applauded the fact that Ansari was the right person to inaugurate the cluster meet as he was an alumnus of IISD and is currently serving as an MC member. He also expressed his gratitude to the CBSE observer and principals of neighboring schools for attending the event.


ITC Infotech accelerates Vision 2030 through digital hub in Riyadh

Updated 17 January 2026
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ITC Infotech accelerates Vision 2030 through digital hub in Riyadh

ITC Infotech’s commitment to delivering real digital change in the Middle East is reinforced by strengthening collaboration and working more closely with customers on the ground. The establishment of its Digital and AI Engineering Hub in Riyadh brings superior digital engineering and AI skills closer to businesses, allowing for speedier collaboration, localized innovation, and solutions targeted to regional needs. This strategic expansion aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and underscores ITC Infotech’s long-standing emphasis on partnership-led growth and customer-centric innovation.

The hub was officially inaugurated on Jan. 15 by Sanjiv Puri, chairman and managing director of ITC Ltd. This facility is designed to help enterprises leverage advanced technologies and convert digital ambitions into measurable business outcomes. This move aligns closely with Saudi Arabia’s efforts to build a knowledge-driven economy powered by innovation and technology.

Saudi Arabia’s digital leap

Vision 2030 is more than just economic diversification; it is a clear blueprint for creating a technologically advanced society. This vision is centered on the integration of artificial intelligence and digital engineering, which are transforming industries and enabling long-term, sustainable growth. The strategic importance of AI is clear, with the Saudi Data and AI Authority estimating that it may add $135 billion to the Kingdom’s GDP by 2030. This commitment is supported by significant investments, including $14.9 billion announced at LEAP 2025 to advance digital infrastructure, talent, and next-generation technologies, as well as historic projects like the $2.7 billion Hexagon Data Center in Riyadh. Together, these efforts are laying the foundation for a secure, resilient, and future-ready digital ecosystem that can support AI adoption, data-driven governance, and smart city development at scale.

What the hub offers

ITC Infotech’s Riyadh hub is designed to fuel this momentum by focusing on three core areas:

  • AI-powered platforms: Delivering predictive analytics, intelligent automation, and data-driven insights to help businesses transition from reactive operations to proactive strategies.
  • Digital engineering solutions: Leveraging Industry 4.0-driven smart manufacturing capabilities, integrating AI-led modeling, connected systems, and advanced analytics to optimize production performance, improve asset utilization, and proactively reduce operational and quality risks across the engineering lifecycle.
  • Cloud-native architectures: Building agile, secure, and resilient ecosystems that enable faster innovation and seamless integration across enterprise systems.

These capabilities are designed to enable organizations to innovate, scale, and compete in a rapidly evolving digital economy. Beyond technology, the hub is fundamentally anchored in building a team of the region, from the region, for the region and for global impact. Through structured skill-building programs, deep partnerships with academia, systematic knowledge transfer, and immersive, hands-on delivery models, the hub is creating a future-ready Saudi workforce fully aligned with Vision 2030 and capable of serving both national and international priorities.

Driving enterprise transformation 

The ITC Infotech hub aims to enable transformation rather than simply deploy technology. By driving AI adoption, accelerating digital engineering, and building cloud-native ecosystems, ITC Infotech seeks to help businesses:

  • develop new business models to meet evolving market needs.
  • improve operational efficiency through predictive insights and automation.
  • support sustainability goals by optimizing resources and reducing risks.
  • build a skilled local workforce capable of leading future innovations.

These outcomes support enterprises as they transition to more resilient, data-driven, and digitally mature operating models.

The road ahead

ITC Infotech is a wholly owned subsidiary of ITC Limited, one of India’s largest conglomerates, with over 25 years of experience as a trusted technology services partner to enterprises globally. The company focuses on next-generation enterprise transformation, delivering services across infrastructure and application modernization, cloud, cybersecurity, digital engineering, and AI-led innovation.

As Saudi Arabia continues its digital journey, ITC Infotech’s combination of global expertise, strong local presence, and collaborative delivery model positions it as a long-term partner in advancing Vision 2030. ITC Infotech’s hub in Riyadh reflects this commitment, bringing advanced capabilities closer to customers, investing in local talent, and enabling enterprises to adopt AI at scale as they compete in an increasingly digital world.