CoMotion Global 2025 in Riyadh discusses trends in electric vehicles

CoMotion Global 2025 commenced on Dec. 7 in Riyadh. Al-Eqtisadiah
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Updated 08 December 2025
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CoMotion Global 2025 in Riyadh discusses trends in electric vehicles

RIYADH: The Global CoMotion Summit, CoMotion Global 2025, in Riyadh, is examining the latest trends in electric vehicles, autonomous mobility, artificial intelligence in transportation, smart city solutions, and future supply chains.

The summit, hosted by the Saudi Conventions and Exhibitions General Authority, commenced on Dec. 7 in the Saudi capital, highlighting the major transformations witnessed in global cities due to the rapid growth of urban technologies and Saudi Arabia’s role in this sector, according to Al-Eqtisadiah.

This specialized international summit focuses on the future of urban mobility and smart cities, bringing together an elite group of decision-makers, leaders from the public and private sectors, experts, investors, and innovators from around the world.

What are the main objectives of the Global CoMotion Summit?

The summit is being held from Dec. 7 to 9 in Riyadh, further cementing its position as a global center for urban innovation and future technologies.

This is thanks to the extensive transformations it is witnessing, integrating the efforts of the summit’s strategic partners, including multiple ministries and government entities.

Together, they are establishing a national system to push forward the development and on-the-ground application of advanced mobility solutions.

The summit’s work began with an opening session attended by Fahd Al-Rasheed, the chairman of the Board of Directors of SCEGA and the Saudi lead for the Urban 20 initiative, and Rumaih Al-Rumaih, the deputy minister of Transport and Logistic Services, and acting president of Transport General Authority.

They reviewed the features of new transformations in urban transport systems and the future of innovation in the sector.

The founder and CEO of CoMotion, John Rossant, said: “Riyadh hosting this edition of the Global CoMotion Summit makes it an exceptional edition, due to the high-level participation it witnesses, including ministers, city leaders, and prominent creative technologists. This sends a clear message that the next decade of transformation in the mobility sector will be shaped on an unprecedented level to redefine the concept of future cities.”

The summit also features the participation of a number of leading global companies in the mobility sector, including Uber, Door to Door, Budget Saudi Arabia, and Changan Almajdouie. They will showcase the latest technologies and solutions in electric vehicles and smart services, reflecting the Kingdom’s rapid adoption of clean, advanced technologies.

The event’s program also includes a series of interactive mobility labs, the launch of the first edition of the “CoMotion City Pioneers Award,” and the inauguration of the “Mayors in Motion” initiative, aimed at enhancing international cooperation in urban innovation, advanced infrastructure, and sustainable mobility.

Showcasing major development projects in Saudi Arabia

In addition, the gathering will highlight the most prominent development projects in Saudi Arabia, including the Riyadh Metro project, models for developing local electric vehicle manufacturing, and the Kingdom’s preparations to host Expo 2030 and the FIFA World Cup 2034, and their role in enhancing future transport infrastructure. 

It will also showcase global experiences from Africa, China, and North America, with discussions on the future of conscious cities and the use of smart technologies in managing urban mobility.

Hosting the Global CoMotion Summit 2025 is part of Saudi Arabia’s ongoing efforts to enhance its position in building smarter and more sustainable future cities and driving innovation in the urban transport sector, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.


Saudi Aramco, ExxonMobil, Samref ink deal to study Yanbu refinery upgrade

Updated 08 December 2025
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Saudi Aramco, ExxonMobil, Samref ink deal to study Yanbu refinery upgrade

RIYADH: Energy giants Saudi Aramco, ExxonMobil, and Samref have signed a venture framework agreement to upgrade the Yanbu refinery and expand it into an integrated petrochemical complex.

As a part of the deal, the companies will explore capital investments to upgrade and diversify production, including high-quality distillates that result in lower emissions and high-performance chemicals, according to a joint press statement.

The agreement will also see the parties explore opportunities to improve the refinery’s energy efficiency and reduce environmental impacts from operations through an integrated emissions-reduction strategy.

Samref is an equally owned joint venture between Aramco and Mobil Yanbu Refining Co. Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corp.

The refinery currently has the capacity to process more than 400,000 barrels of crude oil per day, producing a diverse range of energy products, including propane, automotive diesel oil, marine heavy fuel oil, and sulfur.

“This next phase of Samref marks a step in our long-term strategic collaboration with ExxonMobil. Designed to increase the conversion of crude oil and petroleum liquids into high-value chemicals, this project reinforces our commitment to advancing Downstream value creation and our liquids-to-chemicals strategy,” said Aramco Downstream President, Mohammed Y. Al Qahtani.

He added that the deal will help position Samref as a key driver of the Kingdom’s petrochemical sector’s growth.

The press statement further said that companies will commence a preliminary front-end engineering and design phase for the proposed project, which would aim to maximize operational advantages, enhance Samref’s competitiveness, and help to meet growing demand for high-quality petrochemical products in Saudi Arabia.

The firms added that these plans are subject to market conditions, regulatory approvals, and final investment decisions by Aramco and ExxonMobil.

“We value our partnership with Aramco and our long history in Saudi Arabia. We look forward to evaluating this project, which aligns with our strategy to focus on investments that allow us to grow high-value products that meet society’s evolving energy needs and contribute to a lower-emission future,” said Jack Williams, senior vice president of Exxon Mobil Corp.