Samsung Electronics, a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, hosted its annual suhoor in Jeddah. The event came in line with the launching of the Olympic Games 2012 in London, where Samsung Electronics is a worldwide sponsor of the games. Faisal Al-Qahtani from King Abdulaziz University (KAU) and sports journalist Mounzer Batati shared their extraordinary experience during the Torch Relay last month. The Olympic Games were projected live during the event, with special highlights on Samsung's largest TV screen that has arrived in the Kingdom. It has a screen size of 75 inches.
Jae Cheon Park, GM, Samsung Electronics, KSA, expressed the importance of the Kingdom's participation in the London Olympics and said: "Samsung Electronics Saudi Arabia is proud of the social events that it continuously conducts in order to maintain a strong relationship between the management, media and society."
He added: "This year, Ramadan has coincided with the start of the Olympic Games 2012, which has over 10,000 competing athletes from 204 nations and more than 1 billion viewers of the opening ceremony. This is where we all come together under one roof to observe the spiritual season of the holy month in addition to viewing the most exciting games in history."
After being nominated by Samsung Saudi Arabia and selected by the London Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games, 9 participants from the Kingdom took part at the Torch Relay last month in London and journeyed across the UK for 70 days, side by side with prominent world renowned individuals such as England's David Beckham, British TV star Jamie Oliver, Ivory Coast team player and Chelsea's Didier Drogba, and writer Vladimir Tolstoy.
The participating athletes from the Kingdom are competing in equestrian, weightlifting, athletics, judo and shooting at the games.
Samsung hosts suhoor with Saudi Olympic torch bearers
Samsung hosts suhoor with Saudi Olympic torch bearers
Saudi Awwal Bank becomes first Middle East bank to earn 7-star CinOrg innovation accreditation
Saudi Awwal Bank has become the first bank in the Middle East to receive a 7‑star Certified Innovative Organization rating from the Global Innovation Institute, the highest recognition awarded by the institute.
The accreditation marks a significant step in SAB’s innovation strategy and follows an innovation maturity assessment conducted by the institute in December 2025. The review, which built on an earlier assessment in December 2023, raised the bank’s maturity level from “Champion” to “Leader.” The new rating reflects SAB’s institutionalized approach to innovation, its enterprise-wide impact and its ability to consistently deliver measurable results.
With the 7‑star rating, SAB becomes the first bank in the region to reach the highest innovation maturity level, strengthening its position as a regional reference point for innovation-led and future-ready banking.
In 2025, the bank opened its flagship Innovation Centre and secured six internationally recognized innovation awards, along with a lab accreditation. The centre has supported SAB’s efforts to accelerate the adoption of advanced technologies, encourage cross-functional collaboration and reinforce its standing as a regional leader in financial innovation.
Saeed Assiri, chief innovation banking officer at SAB, said the recognition reflects years of focused work to build a sustainable innovation ecosystem.
“By investing in SAB’s culture, governance and talent, innovation enables the bank to remain future-ready,” he said. “This milestone reinforces our role in accelerating financial innovation in Saudi Arabia and delivering long-term value for our customers.”
The certification adds to SAB’s broader efforts to strengthen its innovation capabilities as the Kingdom’s banking sector continues to evolve.
