Abdul Latif Jameel promotes Saudi talents on global stage

Updated 20 November 2024

Arab News

November 20, 2024 22:39

Abdul Latif Jameel collaborated with the Saudi Music Commission as a strategic partner to organize the “Marvels of Saudi Orchestra” concert in Tokyo, Japan. This concert comes as part of an initiative to elevate cultural exchange between the Kingdom and Japan while highlighting Saudi talents on an international platform.

This strategic collaboration reflects Abdul Latif Jameel’s commitment to promoting arts and music, and its continued support for globally-renowned Saudi cultural and creative initiatives. Boosting the Kingdom’s international presence, the collaboration falls under Saudi Vision 2030 and aligns with the objectives of the National Culture Strategy, aimed at highlighting the Kingdom’s cultural identity and enriching international cultural exchange.

This step also underscores Abdul Latif Jameel’s ongoing focus on further showcasing Saudi talents on the global stage. It celebrates the artistic skills and cultural diversity of the Saudi community, which holds high regards for creative arts. The “Marvels of Saudi Orchestra” concert is a major event that contributes to introducing Saudi Arabia’s musical heritage and diversity to international audiences, featuring several international engagements led by talented Saudi artists.

Previously, the “Marvels of Saudi Orchestra” concerts have dazzled audiences in Paris, New York, London and Mexico.

The Jameel family, through its philanthropic arm, boasts an impressive track record of major contributions to the arts and crafts industry, most notably through the Nafisa Shams Academy of Arts and Crafts. This program develops and refines the artistic talents of Saudi women. Managed by Art Jameel, Hayy Jameel in Jeddah is also a leading arts and creative hub in Saudi Arabia that supports art and culture and provides a platform for creativity and innovation. It also offers Saudi artists ample opportunities for self-expression and networking with the global art community.

Diriyah program to mentor 40 Saudi engineers

Updated 06 May 2025

Arab News

May 06, 2025 21:56

Diriyah program to mentor 40 Saudi engineers

Updated 06 May 2025

Arab News

May 06, 2025 21:56

Diriyah Company has launched the third edition of the Diriyah Engineers Development Program, a flagship initiative designed to attract and develop Saudi graduates with an engineering mindset. This pioneering program empowers participants to contribute to Diriyah’s transformational projects, aligning with the Human Capability Development goals of Saudi Vision 2030.

The program offers a comprehensive, year-long training journey that combines both theoretical learning and hands-on experience. It enhances personal growth, strengthens professional competencies, and cultivates an engineering mindset.

Participants will benefit from industry experts’ mentorship, which will equip them with the practical knowledge and skills to become future leaders in the field. This initiative reflects Diriyah Company’s commitment to investing in national talent, creating high-quality employment opportunities, and enabling Saudi youth to play a fundamental role in the development of the Diriyah project. Throughout the program, participants will develop a wide range of skills, including professional writing, presentation techniques, data analysis, project management, financial analysis for non-financial professionals, strategic problem-solving, emotional intelligence, operations management, and more.

The program’s third edition will train and develop 40 promising male and female engineers, recent graduates with bachelor’s or master’s degrees (Class of 2024 and beyond) and no more than six months of professional experience. Applicants must demonstrate proficiency in both Arabic and English and are expected to have participated in cooperative training programs, university projects, or related initiatives. The program offers specialized full-time employment opportunities with a robust benefits package, including monthly bonuses, housing and transportation allowances, medical insurance, social security registration, and access to external training at leading global educational institutions. Participants will join one of three key departments — design and development, asset management, or technology management — where they will undergo high-level training. A series of expert-led workshops and immersive, hands-on learning experiences will help participants build technical, leadership, and personal skills under the guidance of distinguished professionals.

Building on the success of its first two cohorts, which collectively trained 48 engineers (14 in the first edition and 34 in the second), the third edition of DEDP solidifies Diriyah Company’s dedication to empowering the next generation of Saudi talent. The program has already garnered significant interest, with more than 37,000 applicants, underscoring its role as a cornerstone of the company’s contribution to Saudi Vision 2030.

As part of this national transformation, the company is working to establish Diriyah as a world-class destination for tourism, heritage, and culture. The development includes office spaces for tens of thousands of professionals alongside vibrant artistic, cultural, sports, and entertainment zones. It also encompasses more than 18,000 luxury residential units, 40 international hotels, iconic cultural and historical landmarks, museums, and specialized educational institutions and academies.

Bentley debuts Batur Convertible, a true collector’s piece

Updated 06 May 2025

Arab News

May 06, 2025 21:55

Bentley debuts Batur Convertible, a true collector’s piece

Updated 06 May 2025

Arab News

May 06, 2025 21:55

The Batur Convertible, the third coachbuilt Bentley of the modern era, has made its global debut at an exclusive event.

With only 16 individually numbered cars being produced, the Batur Convertible is a true collector’s piece. Each will feature the most potent iteration of Bentley’s iconic W12 engine, a 750 PS, hand-assembled 6-liter twin-turbocharged masterpiece set to end production this summer, making this one of the last Bentleys to ever house this legendary powertrain. Beyond its extraordinary performance, the Batur Convertible offers limitless personalization, with every detail tailored to reflect the vision and individuality of its owner.

The exterior of the Batur Convertible is another demonstration of the art of the possible with the Mulliner Bespoke Studio. It is a showcase of dynamic color transitions and high-performance materials, brought to life through its Midnight Emerald exterior paint and high gloss carbon fiber finishes. At the front, the grille stands out with a bold Satin Dark Titanium finish throughout, with the exception of the grille matrix, where a Gloss Mandarin to Gloss Beluga fade creates a striking visual transition.

At the heart of this bold exterior is the distinctive Batur Racing Stripe, finished in Gloss Porpoise and flanked with Gloss Mandarin outer stripes, both hide-matched to the interior leather, creating a seamless visual connection between the exterior and the cabin.

The cabin echoes the exterior, with Cumbrian Green and Porpoises leather being accented with Mandarin stitching and piping, complemented with machined titanium Organ Stops and Bullseye vents. The veneer is Mulliner’s exquisite “guitar fade,” where a transition of color and texture spans the width of the cabin, from gloss Beluga to high gloss carbon fiber, and back to gloss Beluga, and finished with the unique laser-etched audio signature of this W12 engine.

Bentley has a rich history of open-cockpit cars, from the very first Bentley of 1919, through the company’s foundation years in the 1920s, to the most recent — the Bacalar.

The architecture of the Batur Convertible has allowed Mulliner’s designers to seize the opportunity to create a theme that not only blends the design of the Bacalar and Batur but includes the versatility of a convertible. The designers also chose to highlight the two-seater character with a “wraparound” cockpit inspired by the design of the Bacalar.

The Mulliner Bespoke Studio will co-create every Batur Convertible with each client, utilizing their exclusive in-house commissioning software. It adopts a unique “off menu” approach to commissioning that allows any part of the car to be customized in color and surface finish, bringing each vision to life.

Cenomi Centers and URW forge landmark partnership to shape future of retail real estate in KSA

Updated 06 May 2025

Arab News

May 06, 2025 13:38

Cenomi Centers and URW forge landmark partnership to shape future of retail real estate in KSA

Updated 06 May 2025

Arab News

May 06, 2025 13:38

Cenomi Centers and Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield signed a 10-year exclusive strategic and franchising partnership agreement, with the option to extend for another 10 years, covering the Saudi shopping center market. The move demonstrates Cenomi Centers’ unwavering commitment to strengthening its leadership position in the Kingdom and the MENA region.

Under this partnership, Cenomi Centers will obtain the exclusive licensing rights to the Westfield brand in the Kingdom from URW, and tap into URW’s best-in-class network and capabilities across a full range of support in key areas including leasing, operations, marketing, retail media and more, allowing Cenomi Centers’ Westfield-branded malls to be top-of-mind destinations for consumers, tourists and brands, while boosting its market share.

Under the Westfield brand, and with URW’s support, Cenomi Centers will offer Saudi residents and tourists the next generation of world-class shopping center experiences, boosting tourism and global engagement within the sector, acting as a powerful contributor to Vision 2030’s objectives of enhancing quality of life, and opening the Kingdom to the world’s global retail champions.

The partnership was signed at a ceremony at Jawharat Riyadh, which also celebrated the initial collaboration on three malls, Jawharat Riyadh, Jawharat Jeddah and Nakheel Dammam, which will be the first to be branded as Westfield centers. More details on these three malls and others will follow in the coming months, with the collaboration set to extend across up to eight of Cenomi Centers’ portfolio of top malls.

Alison Rehill-Erguven, CEO, Cenomi Centers, said: “We are thrilled to embark on this groundbreaking and exclusive partnership with URW, a global leader in the retail industry. This collaboration not only solidifies our position as the leading owner, operator and developer of contemporary lifestyle centers in Saudi Arabia, but also aligns with the Kingdom’s broader goals for economic growth and development in both the sector and region. Together, we will cement our position as the leader in Saudi Arabia by introducing exciting new growth and tenancy opportunities for many years to come.”

Jean-Marie Tritant, CEO, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, said: “Cenomi Centers is an incredible partner that shares our vision for the future of retail. Its portfolio of flagship destinations matches the ambition of the Westfield brand, providing the perfect platform to deliver Westfield’s unmatched experience to customers and visitors in the Kingdom while also supporting the brand’s international expansion. We are tremendously proud of the partnership, and the opportunity to work with Cenomi Centers to contribute to the broader economic and development goals of the Kingdom.”

The partnership with URW is exclusive within the Kingdom and affirms Cenomi Centers’ premier and well-established position in its home market, showing a vote of confidence in its growth trajectory over the coming years. Key benefits include:

Expanded consumer base: Westfield is one of the most recognizable global flagship mall brands, with over 900 million annual visits in the US and Europe. As the brand is highly known to and admired by Saudi consumers and the Kingdom’s increasing number of visitors, Cenomi Centers is able to significantly expand its customer base among Saudi citizens, residents and tourists.
Enhanced tenant offerings: Access to URW’s unparalleled tenant and partner relationships will help Cenomi Centers increase its share of key global anchor brands and first-to-KSA stores, creating a superior, increasingly differentiated offering, and encouraging higher footfall and tenant sales.
World-class customer experience: URW’s global experience and industry leadership will help Cenomi Centers to significantly enhance its customer experience, tenant mix and offering to international best-in-class standards. Cenomi Centers will bring the latest digital technologies and journeys, including in-mall apps and services, to the Saudi consumer.
New growth opportunities: The partnership will boost Cenomi Centers’ financial performance in its existing and new developments, in both its core GLA business and also in digital media sales, leveraging the expertise and international reach of URW’s Westfield Rise retail media agency. This partnership also sees Cenomi Centers and URW collaborating on third party business opportunities serving the Kingdom’s major retail and lifestyle developments.
Sustainability and operational efficacies: Cenomi Centers will be able to significantly boost sustainability and operational efficiencies across its portfolio by leveraging best-in-class tools, systems and manuals in the management of its daily operations.

The partnership entails fixed and variable licensing and service fees for URW along with opportunities for the companies to further collaborate on business and licensing opportunities within the Kingdom.

The partnership between Cenomi Centers and URW marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of retail and lifestyle in Saudi Arabia. By combining Cenomi Centers’ unparalleled market leadership with URW’s global expertise and the Westfield brand, this collaboration promises to redefine the shopping experience in the region.

IBM and Scuderia Ferrari HP debut reimagined app

Updated 05 May 2025

Arab News

May 05, 2025 22:18

IBM and Scuderia Ferrari HP debut reimagined app

Updated 05 May 2025

Arab News

May 05, 2025 22:18

IBM and Scuderia Ferrari HP have introduced a newly reimagined mobile app experience designed to bring the passionate global fanbase of nearly 400 million Tifosi closer than ever to cars, drivers and races they love.

Now available in English and — for the first time — Italian, the app includes an all-new Race Center and Racing Insights built with IBM watsonx, delivering a more immersive experience. These AI-powered features bring fans even closer to all the Scuderia Ferrari HP action from race weekend and include:

• AI-generated race summaries: Post-race recaps of the Scuderia Ferrari HP team’s performance that are available within hours of a race’s conclusion. Using LLMs on watsonx, the team’s complex race data is transformed into compelling narratives that include reflections from the Scuderia Ferrari HP drivers and team principal.

• Post-race insights and data visualizations: dynamic visuals, created from technologies on watsonx, which allow fans to interact with and see post-race driver and car data including telemetry, weather, track conditions, session results, and car and tire strategies.

• Historical driver and team insights: analysis that provides fans with comparisons of key 2025 race moments to past Scuderia Ferrari HP race milestones including car, driver and track moments. These insights are generated by LLMs on watsonx, including IBM Granite, and are embedded within the AI-generated race summaries and other Scuderia Ferrari HP content.

Alongside Race Center, IBM and Scuderia Ferrari have launched new app features designed to deliver personalized and interactive fan experiences year-round. These include:

• Fan messages: allows fans to send messages directly to the Scuderia Ferrari HP team for the chance to be featured in key team communications including social media posts, team blogs, and more.

• Interactive fan polls: daily polls that offer fan voting on a range of Scuderia Ferrari HP topics including qualifying, race performances, and historical and favorite team moments.

• Iconic races: race summaries highlighting some of Ferrari’s most famous wins throughout the decades.

IBM and Scuderia Ferrari will continue rolling out new app features throughout 2025 to make the racing season even more exciting. By combining data and AI technologies with the team’s vast amounts of current and historical data, IBM and Scuderia Ferrari are working to reimagine the digital fan experience in ways that deepen the connection between Tifosi, F1 fans, and the world’s most renowned F1 racing team.

“IBM and Ferrari are bound by a shared commitment to progress, innovation and excellence,” said Jonathan Adashek, senior vice president of marketing and communications at IBM. “With AI, we’re creating a new blueprint for digital fan engagement that brings fans even closer to Scuderia Ferrari whether it’s race weekend or not. The app is built with the same data and analytics technologies used by IBM clients across industries to achieve enhanced customer experiences, help their employees reach new levels of productivity and make more informed, data-driven business decisions.”

“This app is about bringing all our fans closer to the heart of the racing world of Ferrari,” said Lorenzo Giorgetti, chief racing revenue officer. “With IBM’s cutting-edge AI technology and our shared commitment to innovation and excellence, we are creating a digital experience worthy of the Ferrari name.”

Visit Qatar, flynas sign MoU to strengthen bilateral tourism cooperation

Updated 05 May 2025

Arab News

May 05, 2025 22:18

Visit Qatar, flynas sign MoU to strengthen bilateral tourism cooperation

Updated 05 May 2025

Arab News

May 05, 2025 22:18

Visit Qatar signed a memorandum of understanding with flynas to boost travel between the Kingdom and Qatar, during its participation at Arabian Travel Market 2025 in Dubai.

The signing ceremony was attended by Abdulaziz Ali Al-Mawlawi, CEO of Visit Qatar, alongside senior officials from Visit Qatar. Representing flynas were Stefan Magiera, chief commercial officer, and Abdulelah Aleidi, vice president of sales.

Under the agreement, the two parties will work together to explore the launch of additional flights between Saudi Arabia and Qatar during major events and tournaments, including the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025. The partnership will also see the implementation of joint marketing campaigns positioning Qatar as a premier destination for Saudi travelers.

This agreement builds on the strong collaborative foundation between Visit Qatar and flynas, particularly in enhancing air connectivity and implementing joint promotional campaigns during peak traveling seasons. Through this partnership, both parties will continue to provide seamless traveling experiences and boost tourist traffic between the two countries.

Abdul Latif Jameel promotes Saudi talents on global stage