Mohammed Al-Hajjaj is the CEO of Engie Saudi Arabia, a global low-carbon energy provider, a role he took over in May 2023.
Al-Hajjaj oversees a robust business portfolio exceeding SR33 billion (approx. $9 billion) focused on critical sectors for Saudi Arabia’s future. These include desalination, low-carbon energy solutions and clean energy projects. This directly translates to employing over 2,000 individuals across the Kingdom.
He has over 15 years of experience in international companies as well as at the Saudi Ministry of Investment, where he has actively contributed for the past five years.
He began his professional career with Schneider Electric in 2006, holding various leadership positions for the next decade. He directed their solar energy business across the Middle East, underlining his early commitment to sustainable solutions.
In 2016 he joined General Electric, where he oversaw corporate transformation and led the power conversion unit business in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.
Recognizing the significance of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, Al-Hajjaj joined the Ministry of Investment (previously the General Investment Authority) in 2018. As director general for developing and attracting investment, he was instrumental in driving investment and enhancing competitiveness within the Kingdom’s energy, water and waste management sectors. He also contributed to regional investment development initiatives within the ministry.
Al-Hajjaj earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals and a master’s degree in engineering systems management from the University of Dayton in the US.
Who’s Who: Mohammed Al-Hajjaj, CEO of Engie Saudi Arabia
https://arab.news/6mby5
Who’s Who: Mohammed Al-Hajjaj, CEO of Engie Saudi Arabia
NASA space apps hackathon concludes in Jeddah
JEDDAH: The NASA International Space Apps Challenge hackathon concluded in Jeddah on Tuesday night, after setting out to raise awareness about Earth and space sciences, NASA’s data, and exploration.
Organized by Geeks Valley with support from the Saudi Space Agency and the Communications, Space and Technology Commission, the event brought together top minds in science and technology to tackle real-world space challenges.
Twelve teams, comprising 50 participants, collaborated over two days under the guidance of experts from the University of Business and Technology.
A panel of judges evaluated projects based on innovation, feasibility, impact and execution.
The winners developed “Vitanova,” a story-based game using NASA data to raise awareness about climate change. The game challenges players to use renewable energy and understand the environmental impact of the choices they make.
The second-placed team produced a solution to protect solar panels from dust storms, extending their lifespan in harsh environments.
The third-placed team created “ZeroG Arena,” a game for astronauts to combat boredom during space missions through competitive challenges in a microgravity environment.
The University of Business and Technology honored Ali Mohammed Al-Masari as the youngest participant, recognizing his contributions.
Winners received certificates and mentorship opportunities, paving the way for future collaboration.
Saudi embassy in US issues advisory to citizens on Hurricane Milton
- US President urged residents to “evacuate now, now, now.”
- Landfall is expected in the next 24 hours
RIYADH: The Kingdom’s embassy in the US issued an emergency advisory to Saudis in Florida and neighboring states as Hurricane Milton restrengthened to a Category 5 as it barreled toward the state on Tuesday.
The embassy asked Saudis to follow guidelines by state authorities in Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas.
As of 3 a.m. Saudi time, the storm was more than 700 kilometers southwest of Tampa, with winds of 265 kph, and is expected to make landfall some time on Wednesday or Thursday.
Authorities have told millions to evacuate before it hits land as Milton is said to be the strongest storm in the Gulf of Mexico since 2005.
President Joe Biden, who postponed a foreign trip to Europe and Africa, also urged residents to flee what he said could be the worst natural disaster in the state for a century.
“It’s a matter of life and death, and that’s not hyperbole,” he said.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis confirmed the Biden administration had provided all that he had asked for and said thousands of National Guard personnel will be activated to help during the crisis.
Last month Hurricane Helene, Category 4, hit the Big Bend region of Florida, killing more than 200 people and causing nearly $40 billion worth of damage. Helene was the deadliest to hit the US mainland since Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
The embassy issued the following emergency numbers (202) 746-3555, (202) 746-0666, (202) 746-9777 and (202) 746-2888.
Archaeologists discuss latest findings from Al-Faw, Saudi Arabia’s newest World Heritage Site
- Delegates at international conference in Riyadh are told recent discoveries at the site have changed our understanding of ancient civilizations in the region
- Addition in July of Al-Faw to UNESCO’s World Heritage List ‘confirms the importance of the site to the world,’ expert says
RIYADH: Experts gathered at an international conference in Riyadh on Tuesday to discuss the latest historical secrets unearthed at Al-Faw archaeological site in Saudi Arabia, including information about the complex network of trade routes that intersected there and the cultural exchanges that took place.
The event, organized by the Saudi Heritage Commission, follows the addition in July of Al-Faw to UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites. It is the eighth location in the Kingdom to achieve this recognition.
Ajab Al-Otaibi, director of the commission’s Archaeological Documentation and Research department talked about the ways in which recent discoveries have changed our understanding of ancient civilizations in the region.
“The most recent excavations have revealed a complex network of trade routes and cultural exchanges that connected Al-Faw with other kingdoms in the Arabian Peninsula and beyond,” he said.
“These findings have significantly reshaped our understanding of the social and economic dynamics in the region during ancient times.”
The discoveries offer fresh insights into trade and communication networks in the region at the time, and help to create a more comprehensive understanding of the communities that lived there, he added.
Noura Al-Khamees, general manager of the World Heritage Sector at the commission, welcomed the recognition of the site by UNESCO.
“Having Al-Faw on UNESCO’s World Heritage List confirms the importance of the site to the world,” she said.
“Not only is it a testament to the great history and significance of the site but it’s a global recognition of the strong, Saudi-led management, conservation, protection, research and presentation of Al-Faw.”
One of the specific topics discussed during the conference was the rock art and inscriptions discovered at the site, which the experts said provide valuable insights into the lives of ancient inhabitants of Al-Faw.
The attendees were invited to participate in field visits to the site to see for themselves the ongoing preservation efforts and experience the history it reveals.
Organizers said Al-Faw is more than simply an archaeological site, it is a symbol of Saudi Arabia’s commitment to preserving and sharing its cultural heritage with the world.
Al-Faw is in Wadi Ad-Dawasir, about 700 kilometers southwest of Riyadh, at the intersection of the Empty Quarter desert and the Tuwaiq mountain range. It contains about 12,000 archaeological artifacts and has a history of human habitation stretching back more than 6,000 years.
15 years in jail for 2 expatriates guilty of SR22m financial fraud in Saudi Arabia
- The pair, who set up call centers from which they contacted victims while pretending to be government officials, were also fined a total of SR1.5m
RIYADH: Two expatriates convicted of financial fraud have each been jailed for 15 years in Saudi Arabia and fined a total of SR1.5 million ($400,000). They were found guilty of 177 crimes from which they amassed more than SR22 million.
Investigations revealed the pair organized a fraud operation that targeted victims inside and outside the Kingdom, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday. They established call centers in several regions across the country, from which they contacted victims while pretending to be government officials.
A search of their residence revealed tablets, SIM cards, two high-tech telecoms devices for making fraudulent calls, and a control device that managed the entire operation.
One of the individuals was fined SR1 million and the other SR500,000. The court also ordered that their ill-gotten gains be seized, and they be deported after completing their sentences. Officials from the Public Prosecution worked to trace the illicit funds and froze them so that the money can be returned to the victims.
The Public Prosecution said it remains committed to investigating such crimes and taking action against anyone found to be involved in them, as efforts to combat financial fraud are a top priority to help protect the assets of citizens and residents.
Saudi crown prince reassures Cabinet about King Salman’s health
- Cabinet was briefed on regional and international developments, expressed support for the people of Palestine and Lebanon
- It called on the international community to assume its responsibilities to maintain security and stability in the region
RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reassured everybody about King Salman’s health during a Cabinet session on Tuesday.
The crown prince expressed appreciation for everyone who asked about the king’s health and prayed that God grant him a speedy recovery.
Meanwhile, Cabinet ministers praised the objectives of the crown prince’s initiatives regarding protecting children in cyberspace and empowering women in the field of cybersecurity. Both initiatives were launched in 2020.
The crown prince recently highlighted the progress made by these initiatives at the Global Cybersecurity Forum held in Riyadh last week, saying that they empower decision-makers worldwide to develop cybersecurity policies and programs.
The Cabinet was also briefed on regional and international developments and expressed support for the people of Palestine and Lebanon. It called on the international community to assume its responsibilities to maintain security and stability in the region and implement United Nations resolutions.
The Cabinet welcomed the outcomes of the Global Coalition to Defeat Daesh Ministerial held in Washington at the end of September to mark the 10th anniversary of the coalition’s establishment. It reiterated the Kingdom’s position rejecting extremism and terrorism and its financing in all forms.
The Cabinet also reviewed the Kingdom’s contributions to formulating appropriate policies and solutions to global economic challenges, and its emphasis on investing in sustainability and strengthening the multilateral trading system to support economic growth and human development and reduce economic risks.
The Cabinet said the Kingdom’s winning bid to host the International Association of Prosecutors conference in 2026 is a confirmation of its influential global position and significant role in promoting justice and establishing international judicial communication. The IAP announced that Saudi Arabia had secured the bid at the beginning of October.