Saudi firms advance to Entrepreneurship World Cup finals in Riyadh

The Biban 24 Forum will be held from Nov. 5— 9 at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Center, under the theme ‘A Global Destination for Opportunities.’ File/Monsha’at
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Updated 23 October 2024
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Saudi firms advance to Entrepreneurship World Cup finals in Riyadh

  • The finalists represent a range of innovative ventures, highlighting the Kingdom’s entrepreneurial spirit
  • The Saudi companies advanced through national and regional qualifying rounds and now stand among 100 firms competing in the EWC finals

RIYADH: Six Saudi companies have secured spots in the finals of the Entrepreneurship World Cup, a competition organized by the General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises, or Monsha’at. 

The finalists represent a range of innovative ventures, highlighting the Kingdom’s entrepreneurial spirit. Among them are Ammar Real Estate, a platform that offers technology-driven solutions for lease management, and AmplifAI, which focuses on diabetic foot care using artificial intelligence, the Saudi Press Agency reported. 

Another finalist, Ballurh, is a business intelligence platform that integrates with point-of-sale systems to generate actionable insights from various data sources. 

Other finalists include Fbni, a leader in eco-friendly construction materials; MisMar, which provides an app for car maintenance and repair services, and Moddakir, an educational platform that helps users develop customized learning plans for the Qur’an. 

The Saudi companies advanced through national and regional qualifying rounds and now stand among 100 firms competing in the EWC finals. Their innovative solutions span diverse sectors, positioning them to enhance local and global competitiveness. 

The EWC is hosted by Monsha’at in partnership with the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Foundation, or Misk, and the Global Entrepreneurship Network. 

The finals will take place during the Biban 24 Forum, held from Nov. 5— 9 at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Center, under the theme “A Global Destination for Opportunities.” 


Maersk to resume Suez Canal sailings for MECL service

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Maersk to resume Suez Canal sailings for MECL service

  • Shipping companies are weighing a return to the critical Asia-Europe trade corridor more than two years after they started rerouting vessels around Africa following Yemeni Houthi rebels’ attacks

OSLO: Shipping group Maersk will resume sailings via the Red Sea and the Suez Canal for its ​MECL service, connecting the Middle East and India with the US east coast, the Danish company said on Thursday.
“Maersk has decided to implement a structural return to the trans-Suez route for all MECL service sailings,” the company said in a statement, ‌adding that this ‌was part of a ‌stepwise approach ⁠for ​its ‌fleet.
Shipping companies are weighing a return to the critical Asia-Europe trade corridor more than two years after they started rerouting vessels around Africa following Yemeni Houthi rebels’ attacks on ships in the Red Sea in what they said ⁠was a show of solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza.
Maersk ‌on Monday said one ‍of its vessels ‍had tested the route as a ceasefire in ‍Gaza raised hopes for normal shipping traffic.
The change for the MECL service comes into effect with a sailing departing Oman’s port of Salalah on January ​26.
The Suez Canal is the fastest route linking Europe and Asia and, until ⁠the Houthi attacks, had accounted for about 10 percent of global seaborne trade, according to Clarksons Research.
The ceasefire in the Gaza conflict, in place since October last year, has renewed hope of normalizing Red Sea traffic.
The ceasefire has ended major combat in Gaza over the past three months, but both sides have accused the other of regular violations. More than 440 ‌Palestinians and three Israeli soldiers have been killed since the truce took effect.