Lulu completes first solar project in Saudi Arabia, powers sustainability with Kanoo-CleanMax Partnership

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This landmark initiative marks a significant milestone in the group’s ongoing commitment to sustainability.
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Updated 02 March 2025
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Lulu completes first solar project in Saudi Arabia, powers sustainability with Kanoo-CleanMax Partnership

Lulu Retail, the leading retail giant, is proud to announce the successful completion of its first solar project in Saudi Arabia at its Riyadh Central Warehouse. This landmark initiative marks a significant milestone in the group’s ongoing commitment to sustainability, contributing to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals and advancing the clean energy movement in the region.

The 502.7 kWp rooftop solar plant, developed in collaboration with the Kanoo-CleanMax joint venture, is set to generate 846 MWh of clean energy annually, significantly reducing Lulu Group’s carbon footprint by approximately 382 metric tons per year—equivalent to planting nearly 9,000 trees over the next decade. This project will serve as a model for sustainability in the hypermarket sector, demonstrating Lulu's commitment to environmental stewardship and renewable energy solutions.

“We are incredibly proud to have completed this important solar project in Riyadh, a first for us in Saudi Arabia,” said Shehim Mohammed, director of Lulu Hypermarkets, Saudi Arabia. “At Lulu, sustainability is a core value, and we are delighted to take this step toward reducing our reliance on non-renewable energy. This solar installation not only supports Saudi Arabia’s clean energy transition but also plays a pivotal role in reducing carbon emissions, aligning perfectly with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 objectives. It’s a powerful reminder of the impact businesses can have on creating a greener and more sustainable future,” he added.

Commenting on the partnership, Dr. Faisal Khalid Kanoo, director of Yusuf Bin Ahmed Kanoo Holding, added: “We are delighted to collaborate with Lulu, a brand that has consistently set benchmarks in the Middle East. Lulu’s commitment to sustainability aligns perfectly with our vision at Kanoo-CleanMax. This initiative is not only about environmental impact but also about delivering long-term value and efficiency for businesses."

Pioneering step toward clean energy in Saudi Arabia

Lulu’s solar plant, one of the first to be interconnected to the Saudi Electricity Company's grid, reflects the growing importance of sustainability within global supply chains and the role of corporate leadership in advancing the green energy agenda.

“Through our long-term partnership with Kanoo-CleanMax, we are thrilled to contribute to the Kingdom’s future energy vision while reducing our operational costs. This initiative is a major step for us, but it’s also just the beginning. We’re committed to integrating renewable energy solutions across our operations and continuing to lead by example,” Mohammed added.

Manoj Tripathy, CEO of Kanoo Industrial & Energy emphasized the significance of this achievement: "We are proud to celebrate this milestone with Lulu Group on the successful completion of their first solar facility in Saudi Arabia. This achievement marks the beginning of a greener future, and we take immense pride in being a part of Lulu’s journey towards sustainability and energy efficiency.”

Strategic partnership with Kanoo-CleanMax JV

Lulu Group International partnered with the Kanoo-CleanMax joint venture, a leading renewable energy consortium, to bring this ambitious project to life. The joint venture brings together the technical expertise of the Yousef Bin Ahmed Kanoo Group, a 130-year-old regional conglomerate, and CleanMax Enviro Energy Solutions Pvt. Ltd., one of Asia’s foremost clean energy companies with over 2.1 GW of operational solar PV capacity.

The partnership reflects Lulu's forward-thinking approach to sustainability, leveraging Kanoo-CleanMax’s industry-leading experience in providing clean energy solutions tailored to businesses in the commercial and industrial sectors.

A bright future for clean energy in the region

Commenting on the partnership, Kuldeep Jain, managing director of CleanMax, said: “Corporates like Lulu significantly contribute to the region’s vision and growth and we are proud to support them in achieving their sustainability objectives. This project is a pioneering initiative in Saudi Arabia’s renewable energy landscape and underscores our commitment to advancing clean energy solutions in the Middle East. We are excited about the future opportunities to bring more such innovative solutions to businesses in the region.”

Supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030

Saudi Arabia is striving to generate 50 percent of its power from renewable sources by 2030, with a target of 130 GW of renewable energy capacity. Lulu’s solar project is a significant contribution to this mission and underscores the group's leadership role in driving sustainability efforts in the retail sector. By reducing its environmental footprint and embracing renewable energy, Lulu Group is not only aligning with Vision 2030 but also fostering long-term environmental, social, and economic sustainability.

Lulu Group’s sustainability commitment

As one of the largest retailers in the Gulf Cooperation Council, Lulu Group is committed to embedding sustainability into its strategy and operations. The group has been a leader in the region’s sustainability efforts, promoting circular economy initiatives and investing in renewable energy projects across Bahrain and the UK. In 2023, Lulu collected 4.9 million plastic bottles and aluminium cans for recycling and repurposed food waste for biofuel and animal feed.

Lulu also prioritizes sourcing organic products, local sourcing, and biodegradable packaging to minimize environmental impact. A dedicated Sustainability Department, which reports directly to the board, ensures the group’s sustainability efforts align with its ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) policy.

As a trusted brand across 26 countries, Lulu continues to be a pioneer in driving sustainable business practices and creating a positive impact on society and the environment.


SAS digital twins transform manufacturing

Updated 08 June 2025
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SAS digital twins transform manufacturing

SAS is poised to help transform critical processes in the manufacturing industry with enhanced digital twins that combine SAS’ powerful AI and advanced analytics with Unreal Engine from Epic Games.

With these digital twins, manufacturers like Georgia-Pacific can experiment with new strategies in simulated digital worlds, then take the best approaches and implement them in the real world.
One of the world’s leading manufacturers of paper and wood-based building products, GP is piloting these enhanced digital twins at its Savannah River Mill, which manufactures napkins, paper towels and toilet tissue.

GP is leveraging SAS’ technology to optimize its use of automated guided vehicles and other processes.

 


New digital health platform for pilgrims

Updated 08 June 2025
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New digital health platform for pilgrims

Healthtrip, the world’s largest health travel platform, has launched Healinharam.com, a dedicated digital platform that connects international tourists, particularly pilgrims, to a trusted network of medical, wellness, and chronic care services across Makkah, Madinah, and Jeddah.

The initiative directly supports Saudi Arabia’s broader ambition to establish itself as a global hub for medical and wellness tourism, in line with Vision 2030.

It also responds to increasing demand for high-quality care services during pilgrimage as the Kingdom continues to rapidly scale its healthcare infrastructure and wellness offerings.

Through Healinharam.com, pilgrims can now book health screenings, wellness therapies, and essential treatments such as dialysis, chemotherapy, and others, at leading Saudi hospitals.


Najm showcases traffic accident response system

Updated 08 June 2025
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Najm showcases traffic accident response system

Abdullah Al-Khalaf, acting CEO of Najm for Insurance Services, announced that the company has developed an integrated digital system for its traffic accident inspection service.

This development contributes to improving the efficiency and speed of handling and responding to traffic accidents, ensuring the safety of road users, reducing traffic congestion, and supporting environmental sustainability.

This announcement came during Najm’s participation in a workshop organized by Naif Arab University for Security Sciences, titled “Mechanisms for Dealing with Road Accident Offenders Under the Influence of Drugs.”

The event was held on May 28–29, with the participation of Arab and international experts specializing in security and safety.

Al-Khalaf emphasized Najm’s role in supporting the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 through the development of a smart, digital insurance sector.


XYZVerse warns against ongoing phishing scams targeting community

Updated 08 June 2025
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XYZVerse warns against ongoing phishing scams targeting community

The XYZVerse team has alerted its community to an increase in phishing scams and impersonation attempts by malicious actors posing as official representatives. The warning has been posted on XYZVerse’s official X account. These scammers are distributing fraudulent links, attempting to deceive users into revealing sensitive wallet information or transferring funds under false pretenses.

The rise in scam activity comes as XYZVerse gains momentum within the Web3 and meme coin space. With a growing community, rising visibility, and ongoing project development, the platform has become a target for opportunistic attackers seeking to exploit its success.

To maintain transparency and security, XYZVerse has undergone independent security audits conducted by Pessimistic and SolidProof, two established firms in the Web3 security space. These audits are designed to assess and validate the integrity of the project’s smart contracts, helping to identify potential vulnerabilities before malicious actors can exploit them.

The project’s official Polygon-based token address is publicly available on the XYZVerse website, and XYZ tokens are only available for purchase through the official website: xyzverse.io.

Warning signs of a scam:

  • Messages from fake “XYZVerse Support” or team members
  • Suspicious links promising exclusive airdrops or claiming token sale updates
  • Requests for wallet access, seed phrases, or private keys

Fake communication often mimics the tone and branding of the project’s official channels. These attempts have included messages from unaffiliated Telegram or social media accounts, links to counterfeit airdrops, and websites mimicking the xyzverse.io domain. No legitimate communication will request wallet credentials, seed phrases, or private access information.

XYZVerse is actively monitoring the situation in coordination with its security partners and will continue taking steps to minimize exposure to fraudulent activity. Updates will be shared through established and verified communication channels.


 


Lean strengthens its global footprint with scientific achievements, strategic partnerships

Updated 05 June 2025
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Lean strengthens its global footprint with scientific achievements, strategic partnerships

Lean Business Services — the Kingdom’s foremost developer of digital-health solutions and a Public Investment Fund portfolio company— continues to consolidate its leadership in the digital-health sector at both national and international levels. 

At ISPOR 2025 in Montréal, Canada, the company’s research team presented three peer-reviewed studies grounded in advanced analytics and extensive national datasets before embarking on an official visit to South Korea to explore collaborations in health technology and research.

The first study introduced an integrated economic model that assesses the cost-effectiveness of Type 2 diabetes-prevention programs over a 10-year horizon, capturing both direct and indirect costs from the first-year diagnosis through long-term complications. 

A second paper provided a comprehensive assessment to date of Saudi Arabia’s chronic disease burden, leveraging records from more than 33 million individuals and sophisticated statistical models to inform resource allocation and healthcare planning. 

The third study delivered a five-year review of more than 2 million psychotropic prescriptions, pinpointing opportunities to refine prescribing practices, particularly for older adults, relative to other chronic-medication regimens.

To broaden its international collaboration, a Lean delegation traveled to South Korea, where it joined the Saudi–Korean Business & Investment Forum, met leading health-tech institutions, and examined best practices at Seoul National University Hospital. 

Discussions focused on artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and population data analytics.

Engineer Mohannad Al-Rasheed, Lean’s chief executive officer, expressed pride in representing the Kingdom on these global stages. 

“Lean is committed to building knowledge partnerships that elevate Saudi Arabia as an advanced hub for digital health,” he said. “Our active participation in specialized international gatherings reflects the maturity of the Saudi health sector and its ability to export both expertise and solutions.”

Driven by the conviction that data-powered innovation is key to a more efficient and inclusive healthcare future, Lean will continue to invest in research and cross-border collaboration, supporting Vision 2030’s goal of a cutting-edge, sustainable digital-health ecosystem for the Kingdom.