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
Saudi Film Festival to return in April with focus on Korean cinema
- Ahmed Al-Mulla, founder and director of the Saudi Film Festival, said in a statement: “We’re excited to welcome filmmakers to our annual gathering. Our doors are open to all creators, and filmmakers remain at the heart of everything we do
DHAHRAN: The Saudi Film Festival, organized by the Cinema Association in partnership with the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture and supported by the Saudi Film Commission, has announced that it will launch at Ithra in Dhahran between April 23-29.
This year’s festival explores the theme of “Cinema of the Journey,” presenting a selection of Arab and international films, both short and feature-length, that center on journeys and movement as essential storytelling elements.
The program includes road movies, travel narratives and films where physical or emotional journeys drive the narrative.
The theme encourages Saudi filmmakers to explore this subject through their own perspectives. It positions cinema itself as an act of continuous transition, where identity, place, and time converge to shape the human experience.
FASTFACTS
• This year’s Saudi Film Festival will explore the theme of ‘Cinema of the Journey,’ presenting a selection of Arab and international films that center on journeys and movement as essential storytelling elements.
• The program includes road movies, travel narratives and films where physical or emotional journeys drive the narrative.
Following last year’s focus on Japanese cinema, the festival will present a special “Spotlight on Korean Cinema” this year.
Ahmed Al-Mulla, founder and director of the Saudi Film Festival, said in a statement: “We’re excited to welcome filmmakers to our annual gathering. Our doors are open to all creators, and filmmakers remain at the heart of everything we do. This year’s festival creates an atmosphere filled with inspiration, idea exchange, and shared learning. It’s a celebration of cinematic creativity for everyone.”
Tariq Al-Khawaji, deputy director of the festival, added: “At Ithra, we’re proud of our longstanding partnership with the Cinema Association. It has enabled the festival’s growth and thematic diversity year after year, which we see clearly in how we empower filmmakers and create opportunities to engage with global cinema.
“The festival continues to grow across all areas, from preparations and participation to industry expectations locally and regionally. That makes attention to every detail essential.”
Since its launch in 2008, the Saudi Film Festival has played a central role in nurturing local and Gulf cinema. After intermittent early editions, it has now established itself as an annual platform for narrative and documentary competitions, industry programs and project markets.
By bringing together emerging and established filmmakers in Dhahran each year, the festival strengthens Saudi Arabia’s growing presence on the global film stage.
