Samaco-Volkswagen supports sports with Al-Ittihad sponsorship

The sponsorship agreement signing ceremony was held at the club’s headquarters, attended by Loay Mashabi, chairman of Al-Ittihad, and Mohammed Rafah, CEO of Samaco Automotive.
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Updated 05 January 2025
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Samaco-Volkswagen supports sports with Al-Ittihad sponsorship

Samaco-Volkswagen announced a two-season sponsorship agreement with the renowned Al-Ittihad Football Club. This partnership is set to captivate football and car enthusiasts alike, aligning with efforts to support sports and football in Saudi Arabia.

The men’s team of Al-Ittihad will don their iconic yellow-and-black striped jerseys prominently featuring the Volkswagen logo on the front, while the women’s team will showcase the logo on their shoulders. Additionally, Samaco-Volkswagen will provide players with the latest Volkswagen models, including the new Touareg, Teramont, and the youth-favorite T-Roc, throughout the sponsorship period.

The sponsorship agreement signing ceremony was held at the club’s headquarters, attended by Loay Mashabi, chairman of Al-Ittihad, and Mohammed Rafah, CEO of Samaco Automotive. Also present were Alaa Tamraz, deputy CEO of shared services and chief financial officer of Samaco; Mohamed Mousa, general manager of Volkswagen; and Ahmed Al-Naniah, marketing manager for Samaco-Volkswagen, along with several other officials from both sides. 




Mohammed Rafah, CEO of Samaco Automotive

Rafah said: “We are honored to sponsor a prominent club like Al-Ittihad, known for its distinguished local, continental, and global presence and its passionate, active fanbase. Volkswagen is a globally renowned automotive brand with a legacy spanning nearly 90 years, well-known for its support of sports worldwide. Today, we reinforce this message through our partnership with a major club, contributing to sports and youth activities in the Kingdom. This aligns with Vision 2030’s emphasis on empowering the nation’s youth and sports sectors. We are thrilled to sponsor both the men’s and women’s teams and look forward to celebrating new achievements together this season.”

Mashabi said: “Our club’s success in attracting exceptional companies to leverage its vast outreach is evident through the exposure it provides to brands not only on official team jerseys but also across the club’s highly engaged social media platforms. 

“This includes significant local and international media coverage of all club events. Today, we are pleased to welcome a distinguished automotive brand renowned for its exceptional design, performance, and driving pleasure. I am confident this sponsorship will achieve its goals, given Al-Ittihad’s significant resources and enormous fan base. As we’ve witnessed over the past weeks with the influx of new sponsorships, our work to attract more partners continues.

“The success of our commercial operations reflects the collective efforts of all departments to elevate the club both athletically and organizationally, ensuring we maintain a position befitting this historic club and its loyal fans.”


25,000 attend Social Development Bank’s DeveGO25 forum

Updated 27 December 2025
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25,000 attend Social Development Bank’s DeveGO25 forum

The Social Development Bank concluded the second edition of the Entrepreneurship and Modern Business Practices Forum — DeveGo 2025 — announcing the achievement of high-impact outcomes that further reinforced the forum’s position as the largest national platform in the region dedicated to entrepreneurship, innovation, and freelance work in Saudi Arabia and beyond. 

The forum witnessed broad participation from local and international experts, investors, entrepreneurs, and representatives of local, regional, and international institutions.

Over three days at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center, the forum drew 25,000 participants and visitors, who benefited from over 45 specialized workshops and over 2500 advisory sessions delivered by more than 70 consultants and experts. 

The sessions covered key areas including entrepreneurial planning, business models, venture capital, digital platforms, freelancing, and emerging technologies. 

The forum also featured 20 panel discussions with leading local and international speakers, addressing major global trends in entrepreneurship, including the future of artificial intelligence, the creative economy, digital transformation, and venture investment. 

The forum saw the launch of the Saudi Empretec Fellowship, in the presence of Rebeca Grynspan, secretary-general of the UN Conference on Trade and Development. 

The partners in success within the Social Responsibility Portfolio supporting entrepreneurs were honored. 

It also saw the honoring of 13 winners of the Handicrafts Competition, representing various regions of the Kingdom, the announcement of winners of the Salam Award for Promising Projects, and the recognition of leading entrepreneurial projects fund under the Enterprises Track. 

In addition, the NEXT UP Challenge concluded on the third day of the forum with 20 startups presenting their projects to more than 500 investors, enhancing opportunities for networking and partnership building.

As part of efforts to strengthen the support ecosystem, the forum witnessed the signing of 51 agreements, along with the launch of a suite of new financing products. These included the Capital Expansion Product with a ceiling of up to SR10 million, the Payroll Product with a ceiling of SR2 million, and the Rental Product with a ceiling of SR1.5 million, aimed at supporting enterprises in asset development and covering operational costs. 

This reflects the bank’s direction toward offering more specialized financing tools that respond effectively to market needs.

The forum concluded by reaffirming its role as a unifying national platform for entrepreneurship, where accompanying activities and events provided direct engagement opportunities between entrepreneurs, investors, and experts. 

The forum also highlighted success stories and practical experiences that reflect the scale of entrepreneurial momentum in the Kingdom and the growing role of the Social Development Bank in supporting a national economy driven by innovation and knowledge.