Saudia Cargo participates in Saudi-Chinese Business Forum

Saudia Cargo participates in Saudi-Chinese Business Forum
The forum aimed to strengthen economic cooperation between the Kingdom and China, and increase Saudi exports to the Chinese market.
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Updated 19 May 2025

Saudia Cargo participates in Saudi-Chinese Business Forum

Saudia Cargo participates in Saudi-Chinese Business Forum

Saudia Cargo, a subsidiary of the Saudia Group, participated in the Saudi-Chinese Business Forum 2025 as the official logistics provider. The forum was held in Beijing from May 13-14. This participation aligns with the company’s continued expansion in the Chinese market and its commitment to supporting the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.

The forum, held under the patronage of Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Abdulmohsen Al-Fadhli, aimed to strengthen economic cooperation between the Kingdom and China, increase Saudi exports to the Chinese market, and explore investment opportunities in infrastructure projects.

Hashim Alsharif, vice president of strategy and business development at Saudia Cargo, underscored the company’s pivotal role in facilitating national exports and bridging Saudi producers with global consumers in alignment with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. He also highlighted the provision of integrated and effective logistics solutions, bolstering trade between and China. He described the forum as “a crucial platform for unlocking new avenues of trade expansion.”

Alsharif said that Saudia Cargo was invited by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture as an official sponsor of the forum. The company was allocated an independent pavilion within the National Livestock and Fisheries Development Program, where it showcased a range of its logistics services, primarily cold chain solutions and e-commerce solutions designed to serve the agriculture and seafood sectors.

Last April, the company announced the signing of two MoUs to build strategic partnerships with major Chinese companies and open new channels for trade cooperation in the fields of transportation and logistics. The first MoU was with China Cargo Airlines to improve export operations and develop operational connectivity to capitalize on the growing trade movement between the two countries.

The second MoU was with China Henan Aviation Group to develop and invest in aviation, creating an air logistics bridge connecting Asia-Pacific with the Middle East, Europe, and Africa through the Zhengzhou and Riyadh hubs.


Lulu’s new store in Jeddah offers everything from daily essentials to lifestyle needs

Lulu’s new store in Jeddah offers everything from daily essentials to lifestyle needs
Updated 10 July 2025

Lulu’s new store in Jeddah offers everything from daily essentials to lifestyle needs

Lulu’s new store in Jeddah offers everything from daily essentials to lifestyle needs

Lulu Retail has further strengthened its presence in with the grand opening of a new hypermarket in Jeddah’s Al-Baghdadiyah Al-Gharbiyah district. 

Located along the vibrant Al-Andalus Road, the new outlet offers a comprehensive and modern shopping experience that combines convenience, variety, and innovative retail design.

The launch is in line with the group’s commitment to supporting ’s Vision 2030 by enhancing consumer services and contributing to the local economy.

The store was inaugurated by Nasar Salem Almoteb, deputy mayor of Jeddah Municipality, in the presence of Ihsan Bafakih, executive vice chairman of Al Nahla group, Nasser Huwaiden Thaiban Ali Alketbi, consul general of the UAE in Jeddah, Fahad Ahmed Khan Suri, consul general of India in Jeddah, and Yusuffali M.A, chairman of LuLu group, along with other dignitaries.

“We are proud to further strengthen our footprint in Jeddah with the launch of this hypermarket in Al-Baghdadiyah Al-Gharbiyah. This expansion reflects our unwavering commitment to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 by creating jobs, enhancing retail infrastructure, and offering world-class shopping experiences to the community. We remain dedicated to being a catalyst in ’s dynamic retail transformation."

Spanning over 117000 square feet, the hypermarket features a wide array of retail sections, including a fully stocked supermarket, fresh food zones, LuLu Connect electronics, fashion store, and specialty counters such as BLSH and Eye Express. 

A spacious food court adjacent to the fresh food section provides shoppers with a relaxing space to enjoy freshly prepared meals.

To ensure a smooth and convenient shopping experience, the store offers ample dedicated parking, accommodating both local residents and visitors. 

To celebrate the opening, exclusive inaugural offers are available across all departments, giving customers exceptional value on high-quality products.

The Al-Baghdadiyah hypermarket marks a key milestone in LuLu group’s strategy to serve evolving consumer needs while supporting the Kingdom’s long-term vision for sustainable economic and social development. ‎

Also present on the occasion were Saleh Ihsan Tayeb, director of corporate communications, Jeddah Chamber of Commerce; Youssef Abdullah Al-Salami, mayor of Al-Baghdadiyah; Mohammed Wajih bin Hassan Sharbatly, member of the board of managers, Al Nahla group; Sami Abdulaziz Al-Mukhdoob, CEO – real estate sector, Al Nahla group and other dignitaries.


CARE KSA powers ’s $266bn vision for sustainable future

CARE KSA powers ’s $266bn vision for sustainable future
Updated 10 July 2025

CARE KSA powers ’s $266bn vision for sustainable future

CARE KSA powers ’s $266bn vision for sustainable future

Trescon has unveiled the Saudi edition of CARE — the Climate Action and Renewable Energy Expo, debuting in Riyadh on Dec. 8–9. This is in response to ’s ambitious clean energy and sustainability vision and the global urgency for climate solutions.

As a cornerstone of the global CARE series — alongside editions in India and Dubai — the Saudi edition is dedicated to advancing climate action, clean energy adoption, and sustainable finance through meaningful public-private collaboration. With 10,000+ attendees, 950 investors, 225 sponsors, and 200+ global speakers expected across the series, CARE is built for action, driving transformative dialogue, deal-making, and cross-border partnerships across more than 100 countries.

The series opened with the CARE Dialogues on June 24 — an exclusive, invite-only session, held in Dubai under the theme “Green Finance and Beyond: Driving ESG Across Sectors.” Powered by Emtribe, the event convened senior leaders from finance, policy, and technology to explore practical strategies for embedding ESG into core business models. 

“As a partner of CARE, we’re proud to back a platform that focuses on what really matters — getting the right people in the room and driving honest, outcome-focused conversations,” said Mohammed Saleem, founder of Emtribe. He added: “There’s a lot of talk in this space. CARE stands out by pushing for action that’s practical, collaborative, and needed.”

As the first official prelude to CARE, the session set the tone for cross-sector collaboration and is helping shape a summit agenda grounded in real-world priorities and regional relevance.

is driving a transformative energy shift. Under Vision 2030, the Kingdom has committed more than $266 billion to renewable energy and sustainable development, aiming for 50 percent renewable electricity by 2030. From green hydrogen initiatives to expansive solar parks and giga-projects like NEOM, these efforts are redefining the region’s energy and economic future. CARE KSA emerges as a vital platform to amplify this progress, uniting key public and private sector players, accelerating project momentum, and showcasing global innovations aligned with ’s sustainability ambitions. 

Naveen Bharadwaj, group CEO of Trescon, said: “CARE KSA will bring together global innovators and Saudi stakeholders to accelerate tangible outcomes in renewables, climate tech, and green finance. Our goal is to help turn the Kingdom’s bold vision into implemented, bankable projects.”

Each CARE edition features keynotes, panel discussions, policy roundtables and workshops, dialogues, and a dynamic exhibition floor showcasing next-gen solutions in solar, wind, green hydrogen, water, climate finance, and carbon markets. CARE KSA will also host the ClimateTech World Cup, a global pitch competition spotlighting early-stage innovations in climate adaptation, energy storage, carbon capture, and circular economy. Finalists will pitch live to international investors and corporates, accelerating the deployment of scalable, high-impact solutions.

CARE is guided by the Global CARE Alliance, a high-level advisory board featuring sustainability leaders including:

  • Dr. Waleed Alkalash, former deputy minister for labor policies/ CEO Ministry of Labour/ business consulting and services,
  • Adnan bin Abdulrahman Alalyani, director general environmental technologies, National Center of Environmental Compliance,
  • Nizar Kammourie, CEO SAWACO Water and board member — ESG Committee at The American Chamber of Commerce ,
  • Julie Newman, director of sustainability, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, US
  • Erik Solheim, former minister of environment and former undersecretary general, UNEP, Norway
  • Dr. Abdullah Belhaif Al-Nuaimi, former minister of environment, UAE, and others

Diriyah’s world-class luxury hospitality offerings on show

Diriyah’s world-class luxury hospitality offerings on show
Updated 09 July 2025

Diriyah’s world-class luxury hospitality offerings on show

Diriyah’s world-class luxury hospitality offerings on show

Diriyah Company participated once again in ILTM Asia Pacific 2025, showcasing its premier luxury hospitality offerings for the business and tourism sectors. This year’s ILTM Asia Pacific took place from June 30 to July 3 in Singapore.

Throughout the event, Diriyah Company welcomed and engaged with stakeholders, investors, and travel specialists at its distinctively designed booth.

Across Diriyah and the adjoining Wadi Safar development areas, nearly 40 world-class hotels and resorts are set to welcome tourists and business visitors, including some of Southeast Asia’s most prestigious hospitality names: Anantara, Aman, Capella, Chedi, Raffles, Four Seasons, and Six Senses.

In addition to the 202-room Raffles Hotel Diriyah, which features distinctive architectural designs inspired by Najdi heritage, Diriyah also launched the Raffles Residences Diriyah in November 2024, offering 90 apartments and townhouses, primarily featuring one-, two-, or three-bedroom residences, as well as seven spacious duplex homes. Additionally, the arrival of Capella Diriyah, with its 100 rooms, marks the brand’s first opening in , blending local tradition with contemporary luxury.

As the birthplace of three centuries ago, Diriyah is home to the beautifully restored At-Turaif UNESCO World Heritage Site, which has welcomed more than 3 million visitors since its opening in December 2022.

Diriyah Company’s participation in ILTM Asia Pacific highlighted its commitment to building new relationships and partnerships that will support its growing portfolio of hotels, restaurants, cafes, and cultural attractions that are designed to elevate Diriyah’s position within the global luxury tourism landscape.

Known as the City of Earth for its traditional mudbrick-inspired Najdi architecture, Diriyah will contribute approximately SR70 billion ($18.6 billion) directly to the Kingdom’s GDP, create nearly 180,000 jobs and will be home to an estimated 100,000 people. It will also include modern office space for tens of thousands of professionals in technology, media, the arts and education, museums, a university, the Royal Diriyah Opera House, the Diriyah arena, world-class hotels, renowned local, global and regional restaurants, a Greg Norman designed championship golf course and the Royal Equestrian and Polo Club — Wadi Safar.

Diriyah is projected to attract up to 50 million visits annually in the future.

ILTM Asia Pacific is a premier event for luxury travel professionals targeting the expanding market beyond China. It offers curated meetings with top travel designers and hospitality brands.


Winners announced for ‘She’s Next in Football’ program

Winners announced for ‘She’s Next in Football’ program
Updated 09 July 2025

Winners announced for ‘She’s Next in Football’ program

Winners announced for ‘She’s Next in Football’ program

Visa, a global leader in digital payments, has announced the winners of the inaugural “She’s Next in Football” program in , held in partnership with Saudi Awwal Bank and AC Milan Women. The initiative spotlights the Kingdom’s most promising women footballers and marks a major step in advancing female talent in sports through mentorship, professional training, and international exposure.

Fatima Alsenan was named the overall winner and will travel to Milan for a two-week “Training with the PRO” experience at the PUMA House of Football, training alongside AC Milan Women’s professional players and coaches. Zainab Alhomidi secured the runner-up position and will enjoy an exclusive VIP visit to AC Milan’s training grounds.

Finalists were evaluated based on their football skills, leadership potential, and dedication to the game. The judging panel included representatives from Visa, SAB, and Saudi football icon Farah Jefry, who also serves as the program’s ambassador.

“Programs like She’s Next in Football show us what’s possible when ambition, talent, and opportunity come together. What sets these young women apart isn’t just what they do. It’s how they think with resilience, focus, and a willingness to grow. That mindset is exactly what She’s Next is all about. Through partnerships with SAB and AC Milan Women, we’re not just creating opportunities, but building ecosystems that empower women to lead, inspire, and shape their communities. It’s a model that works across sectors, and one we’re proud to champion as part of ’s inclusive growth journey,” said Ali Bailoun, Visa’s regional general manager for , Bahrain, and Oman.

Lama Ghazzaoui, chief financial officer at SAB, said: “When women are given meaningful access to opportunity they rise, not only as athletes but as changemakers.” 

This partnership is about more than football, it is about creating a space for growth, confidence and ambition to take root. As the chair of BALANCE, SAB’s employee diversity program, we strive to promote gender diversity in the workplace and the marketplace. We are also dedicated to contributing to a more inclusive future for sports in the Kingdom by supporting initiatives that expand opportunities for training, mentoring, and developing female talent, ultimately transforming it into professional capabilities.”

Elisabet Spina, AC Milan head of women football, said: “At AC Milan, in collaboration with SAB and Visa, we are proud to support these young women and accompany them on their journey of growth, both on and off the pitch. We are very pleased to welcome Fatima Alsenan to the PUMA House of Football, where she will begin a high-level growth journey within a club whose prestige is globally recognized, and in close contact with top-tier professionals.”


Savola Group announces leadership transition

Savola Group announces leadership transition
Updated 09 July 2025

Savola Group announces leadership transition

Savola Group announces leadership transition

Savola Group, a strategic investment holding company in the food and retail sectors across the MENA region, has announced a leadership transition to further progress the group’s strategic transformation.

The board of directors accepted the resignation of Waleed Khalid Fatani from his position as CEO of Savola Group. The move is in line with the group’s strategic transformational direction that focuses on the food sector, following a successful tenure marked by major milestones. These include the launch of a SR6 billion ($1.6 billion) rights issue to strengthen the group’s capital position, as well as the distribution of Savola’s entire stake in Almarai to its shareholders.

Meanwhile, Sameh Mahmoud Hassan has been named the new Savola Group CEO based on the recommendation of the Remuneration and Nomination Committee. Hassan currently holds the position of the CEO of Savola Foods Company (a wholly owned subsidiary of Savola Group) since December 2018. He is a seasoned executive in the FMCG and food industries. He will continue to lead Savola Foods in addition to being group CEO.

This leadership change reflects the group’s continued evolution, with Savola Foods at the center of its future growth ambitions.

Sulaiman A.K. Al-Muhaidib, chairman of Savola Group, said: “The appointment of Sameh Hassan marks a new phase in Savola’s journey as we focus our efforts on building a scaled and integrated food platform with regional and global ambitions. On behalf of the board, I thank Fatani for his leadership and contributions. With Hassan at the helm, Savola is well-positioned to accelerate its growth in the food sector while continuing to manage its broader portfolio in a value-maximizing manner.”

Fatani said: “It has been a privilege to lead Savola during this transformative period.” 

I am proud of what we have accomplished together — from the execution of value-enhancing transactions to laying the foundation for the future with Savola Foods at the center of its future growth ambitions. I am confident that Sameh Hassan will continue this momentum and take the group to even greater heights.”

Incoming CEO Hassan said: “It is an honor to take on the role of group CEO at this pivotal time. We will continue to build on Savola’s heritage and strengths, driving sustainable growth in our food platform. I look forward to working closely with the board and our teams to execute this next chapter of our strategy.”