Jeeny to enhance urban and pilgrim mobility in Madinah

The partnership between Jeeny and the Madinah Development Authority is a decisive step toward creating a seamless and connected urban transport ecosystem.
The partnership between Jeeny and the Madinah Development Authority is a decisive step toward creating a seamless and connected urban transport ecosystem.
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Jeeny to enhance urban and pilgrim mobility in Madinah

Jeeny to enhance urban and pilgrim mobility in Madinah

Jeeny, a smart mobility platform in the region, has announced a landmark strategic partnership with the Madinah Development Authority, in coordination with the Pilgrim Experience Program.
This collaboration establishes a crucial framework for integrating Jeeny’s services with the rapidly expanding Madinah Bus Network, setting a new digital standard for urban and pilgrim transit in one of the world’s most sacred cities.
The partnership is a decisive step toward creating a seamless and connected urban transport ecosystem, enhancing the efficiency, accessibility, and sustainability of mobility across Madinah. It directly addresses the complex challenge of managing mass passenger flow, particularly during peak pilgrimage seasons.
At its core, this partnership focuses on three critical, high-impact objectives:

  • Digital first- and last-mile connectivity: Providing reliable, on-demand transport to and from public bus stations, effectively solving the notorious “last-mile” barrier to public transit adoption.
  • Accelerating smart urban mobility: Deploying integrated technology solutions that optimize travel for millions of residents, visitors, and the rapidly growing number of pilgrims.
  • Building a unified transit ecosystem: Establishing a digital backbone for the city’s transport network, ensuring effective integration between Jeeny’s private transport offerings and the Madinah Bus Network infrastructure.

Driven by surging public transport, this integration addresses the growing need for smarter mobility. In 2024, the Madinah Bus services recorded more than 1.72 million passengers. With significant infrastructure expansion underway, including new routes and stations, this ridership is projected to increase by a massive 30 percent in 2025.
Crucially, this seamless access is vital during high-demand periods like the holy month of Ramadan and the Hajj season, when access to the central area is strictly controlled and reserved for public and designated shuttle buses, restricting small private vehicle entry. The Jeeny-MDA solution ensures reliable, complementary transport where it is needed most.
To further strengthen the partnership’s impact, Jeeny will offer up to 20 percent off eligible rides to and from bus stations during the first month, followed by a continuous 10 percent discount for the duration of the agreement. Users can access this benefit directly through the Madinah Bus app via an interactive banner featuring a deep link. This technology automatically launches the Jeeny app with the promotion code applied, ensuring zero friction in the user journey. The offer is valid for rides starting or ending within a 2 km radius of any bus station.
Set to officially launch on Nov. 1, this integrated service marks a new chapter in Jeeny’s partnership with the MDA. The launch builds on the success of the Eid Al-Adha campaign, where thousands of users relied on Jeeny to support pilgrim mobility, demonstrating the scalability and real-world impact of this public–private collaboration.
Aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, the partnership sets a new benchmark for collaboration between government and private sectors, advancing the national goals of improving quality of life, enabling digital transformation, and developing world-class transport infrastructure that puts residents and pilgrims at the center.


Unlocking the Potential of CCUS: From Concept to Scalable Reality

Unlocking the Potential of CCUS: From Concept to Scalable Reality
Updated 27 October 2025

Unlocking the Potential of CCUS: From Concept to Scalable Reality

Unlocking the Potential of CCUS: From Concept to Scalable Reality

The Middle East stands at the forefront of a global energy transition, poised to leverage its unique strengths and innovative spirit to lead the charge towards a sustainable future. As continues to execute upon its ambitious Vision 2030 and 2060 net-zero targets, the conversation around decarbonisation often centres predominantly on the visible deployment of solar farms and wind turbines.

Complementing these efforts, for KSA’s heavy industries – key drivers of its economic diversification and future prosperity – another powerful and often less-understood solution is emerging as a critical stimulus for its energy transition: Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS). This sophisticated technology, designed to capture carbon dioxide emissions before they enter the atmosphere, is far more than just another climate tool; it is rapidly becoming an indispensable bridge between maintaining vital industrial capacity and achieving sustainable energy production at scale, particularly for the broader GCC's collective net-zero ambitions. 

Industries such as aluminum, steel, cement production, and natural gas-based power generation are absolutely vital to 's economy, underpinning its industrial base and export capabilities. As these foundational sectors evolve towards net-zero, addressing their CO₂ emissions becomes a necessary next step, where CCUS offers a powerful solution. Crucially, many of these emissions are process-based, meaning they are an unavoidable byproduct of chemical reactions within the industrial process itself, and thus cannot be abated through electrification alone.

These heavy sectors require a continuous, high-volume energy supply that can only be ensured at scale by a complementary – and more and more decarbonized - energy mix, in which renewables play an ever-growing role alongside gas-fired generation.” This is precisely why CCUS offer a direct and pragmatic pathway to abate emissions from these "hard-to-abate" sectors. By integrating CCUS, these industries can ensure their continued operation and substantial contribution to the economy without compromising ambitious environmental targets.

The urgency of this imperative is starkly underscored by global figures: while current operational CCUS capacity worldwide stands at a mere 50 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa), an astounding 7.6 billion tonnes of CO₂ annually by 2050 to align with net-zero pathways — meaning global CCUS deployment must increase by more than 150 times its current scale within just 25 years. 

The technical foundations of CCUS are robust and well-established, encompassing various methods from capturing CO₂ directly at industrial sources (post-combustion, pre-combustion, and oxy-combustion for power sector retrofits) to even extracting it directly from the ambient air through Direct Air Capture (DAC). Once captured, the CO₂ is either utilised in industrial processes or permanently stored in secure geological formations.

What is critically needed now is widespread deployment, particularly in regions like the Middle East, which boast immense natural advantages. The region possesses vast storage potential in deep saline aquifers, identified as the primary target for long-term CO₂ storage, as well as in depleted oil and gas fields with Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) system.

The geographical proximity within the Gulf offers significant cross-border potential, laying a strong foundation for regional CCUS corridors. Transport options extend beyond pipelines to include shipping liquefied CO₂ for smaller volumes or cross-border transfers, and even the potential for repurposing existing natural gas pipelines, albeit with careful technical considerations. 

In many hard-to-abate sectors, such as cement and fertiliser production, CCUS is not merely an option but often the only large-scale decarbonisation solution available. Economically, CCUS can even prove more cost-effective than full electrification or fuel-switching in specific contexts, such as gas-fired power generation versus hydrogen turbines.

Capture costs can range from an efficient $15–40/tCO₂ for high-purity industrial streams to $60–120/tCO, demonstrating its economic viability in targeted applications. This strategic positioning allows to go beyond being an energy producer, transforming into a leader in the production of low-carbon goods, thereby creating new economic avenues and skilled jobs within the Kingdom. It also offers a pragmatic pathway to repurpose existing energy infrastructure and leverage existing expertise, supporting a just transition for the workforce and local communities. 

Looking ahead, the journey towards a sustainable future in and the broader GCC is one of immense potential. By fostering collaboration and embracing the transformative capabilities of CCUS, significant progress can be made. This vital technology is meant to play its full role in achieving net zero, ensuring a prosperous and sustainable future for generations to come – a vision that ENGIE deeply shares and is committed to supporting through its global expertise in advanced decarbonisation solutions.  

  • The writer, Mohammed Al Hajjaj, is the CEO of Engie  

Almasar Alshamil Education to float 30% stake on Tadawul

Almasar Alshamil Education to float 30% stake on Tadawul
Updated 26 October 2025

Almasar Alshamil Education to float 30% stake on Tadawul

Almasar Alshamil Education to float 30% stake on Tadawul

Almasar Alshamil Education, a leading provider of specialized education in the GCC, has announced its intention to proceed with an initial public offering and the listing of its ordinary shares on the main market of ’s Tadawul.

On Sept. 29, the Capital Market Authority announced its approval of the company’s application for registering its share capital, and the offering of 30,720,400 shares, representing 30 percent of the company’s share capital. The offering price will be determined at the end of a book building process. Amanat Special Education and Care Holdings Ltd. is the company’s sole shareholder prior to the IPO. The offer shares will be sold by the selling shareholder as part of the offering.

The company has appointed SNB Capital as its financial adviser, lead manager, and underwriter in connection with the offering. SNB Capital and EFG Hermes are also appointed as joint bookrunners for the institutional tranche.

Almasar Alshamil Education provides services to the special needs education, care and rehabilitation sectors, and higher education sector through a number of private universities. 

The group’s special needs business is operated in the Kingdom through Human Development Company and HDC’s subsidiary Human Rehabilitation Company, which together are the largest private providers of special needs education and care for children with disabilities. In total, they operate 39 daycare centers, 14 private schools and three clinics with more than 7,950 beneficiaries.

In the higher education sector, it operates through Middlesex University Dubai, which currently has an enrollment of more than 6,400 students across two campuses, and NEMA Holding Company, in which it effectively holds a 35 percent interest, and which primarily operates in the higher education sector serving over 13,500 students across five campuses.

The special needs education, care and rehabilitation sectors and higher education sector are high-growth and underserved education sectors, benefiting from positive structural trends, underpinned by favorable demographics and closely aligned to national strategies. The group’s unique capabilities and unified approach enable it to manage multiple scalable and capex-light businesses within the education sector under a single cohesive strategy that aims to achieve above-market growth rates whilst fostering social inclusivity and contributing to the broader development of human capital in the region.

The group has a strong financial profile with revenue growing from SR181 million ($48.2 million) in 2022 to SR437.1 million in 2024, a CAGR of 55 percent, with underlying growth significantly outpacing overall sector growth. The EBITDA increased to SR215.6 million in 2024, from SR96.7 million in 2022, implying a CAGR of 49 percent.

Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil, chairman of Almasar Alshamil Education, said: “Today marks a major milestone in Almasar Alshamil Education’s journey to expand access to high-quality, specialized education across the region. Our intention to list a 30 percent stake on the Saudi Exchange reflects the growing strength of our business and the strong demand for inclusive and specialized education services across the GCC. As the largest provider of special education needs in and a leading operator in higher education in the UAE, this next chapter will enable us to accelerate our contribution to national development in the region whilst continuing to enhance the lives of future generations and positively influence the communities in which we operate. The IPO is also a testament to our confidence in the long-term prospects of Almasar Alshamil Education, enabling us to broaden our impact and continue investing in the development of skilled and future-ready human capital across the region.”

Majed Al-Mutairi, CEO of Almasar Alshamil Education, said: “Supported by the increased demand for high-quality specialist education in the region coupled with strong macroeconomic tailwinds, Almasar Alshamil Education is uniquely positioned to scale our high-impact education providers across special needs education and care and higher education. From providing comprehensive education, rehabilitation, and care services through Human Development Company, to operating the region’s leading higher education institutions, such as the first international campus of Middlesex University in Dubai and Abu Dhabi University through NEMA Holding, we have built a portfolio that is strong, mission-led, and scalable. The IPO will enable us to strengthen our capabilities, expand our geographic reach, and continue to make specialized education more accessible for underserved segments, while creating long-term value for our shareholders.”

The offer shares will be available for subscription to individual and institutional investors, including investment funds, companies, qualified foreign investors, foreign strategic investors, and GCC corporate investors. 


Saudi Electricity Company signs agreement to acquire a 30% stake in NAMI

Saudi Electricity Company signs agreement to acquire a 30% stake in NAMI
Updated 25 October 2025

Saudi Electricity Company signs agreement to acquire a 30% stake in NAMI

Saudi Electricity Company signs agreement to acquire a 30% stake in NAMI

 In a landmark move set to accelerate ’s advanced manufacturing, application development and reverse engineering capabilities, the Saudi Electricity Company signed an agreement to join the n Industrial Investment Company, known as Dussur, and global 3D printing pioneer 3D Systems, as a strategic investor in the National Additive Manufacturing and Innovation Company. The move will further strengthen the company’s position as a national leader in additive manufacturing.

Since its establishment, NAMI has been shaped by the strategic vision of its founding shareholders to lead the industrial transformation through additive manufacturing across priority sectors in the Kingdom. The company was launched to localize advanced manufacturing technologies and enable knowledge transfer, positioning it as a leading force in modern industrial capabilities.

Founded to champion the adoption of additive manufacturing across key sectors such as energy, aerospace and defense, automotive, consumer goods, and medical industries, NAMI is at the forefront of delivering cutting-edge 3D printing solutions tailored to the Kingdom’s industrial needs.

In recent years, NAMI has developed a strong capability to offer additive manufacturing solutions within the Kingdom, including the full range of advanced polymer and metal printing technologies, along with a highly skilled application engineering organization to support the rapidly growing Saudi customer base. Since its inception in 2022, NAMI has built a fully capable application center and component manufacturing facility in Riyadh, utilizing 3D Systems’ most advanced printing systems, including the DMP Factory 500 and DMP Flex 350 Dual for metal components, and the Figure 4, SLS 380 and SLA 750 for polymer products, all of which are needed to support its collaboration with the SEC and other emerging customers in the Kingdom.

These solutions are being used to deliver high-performance components such as pump impellers, fuel burners, motor fans, heat sinks, and heat exchangers while reducing SEC’s physical inventory requirements. SEC’s investment reflects its strategic ambition to optimize its supply chain by digitizing its inventory, lowering spare parts costs, and increasing supply chain agility, a move aligned with its broader digital transformation and localization goals.

The addition of SEC as a strategic shareholder will enhance NAMI’s credibility within the energy sector, while reinforcing its ongoing commitment to other industries. With strong backing from Dussur, 3D Systems, and now SEC, NAMI is well-positioned to accelerate its growth and establish itself as the national leader in additive manufacturing.

As both a strategic investor and a core customer, SEC will play a vital role in expanding 3D printing infrastructure within the energy sector and driving the broader industrial application of additive manufacturing across the Kingdom.

“This partnership solidifies NAMI as the additive manufacturing national champion in the Kingdom of , further accelerating our traction in serving the fourth industrial revolution through fostering innovation and digitization in line with Vision 2030,” said Faisal Al-Tubayyeb, chairman of the board, NAMI.

With SEC on board after completion of the transaction, NAMI is set to launch several strategic initiatives. These include developing a comprehensive digital inventory for SEC’s spare parts, building a robust additive manufacturing supply chain to serve both SEC and other industries, expanding production capabilities, and accelerating spare parts digitization to drive innovation and operational efficiency.

“We are proud of joining forces with SEC, whose confidence in our strategic direction reflects the growing importance of advanced manufacturing and 3D printing in driving localization and supply chain resilience in the energy sector,” said Mohammed Swaidan, CEO of NAMI.

As part of this milestone, NAMI is positioned with strong confidence to achieve its demand targets, supported by SEC’s backing to extend its service capabilities. The collaboration enhances NAMI’s market credibility, underscoring its ability to serve as a major industrial player within the energy sector. Moreover, NAMI’s governance framework will be further strengthened through the adoption of SEC’s well-established corporate policies and procedures. This partnership will significantly accelerate the growth of the 3D printing market in .

By securing consistent demand from a key national entity like SEC, the partnership de-risks investment in 3D printing infrastructure, encourages local supply chain development, and demonstrates the viability of additive manufacturing at industrial scale. This will likely attract further industrial players to explore 3D printing solutions, supporting the broader national goal of localizing advanced manufacturing and building a resilient industrial ecosystem.

Looking ahead, NAMI will begin integrating SEC’s strategic input into its growth roadmap, with a focus on scaling production capabilities and expanding its service offering across key industrial sectors with streamlined communication and fast-tracked application development.


Kuwait Fund and Arab Coordination Group: A strategic partnership supporting sustainable development in Egypt

Kuwait Fund and Arab Coordination Group: A strategic partnership supporting sustainable development in Egypt
Updated 25 October 2025

Kuwait Fund and Arab Coordination Group: A strategic partnership supporting sustainable development in Egypt

Kuwait Fund and Arab Coordination Group: A strategic partnership supporting sustainable development in Egypt

The Kuwait Fund for Development’s receipt of the Abdullatif Yousef Al-Hamad Development Award for the Best Economic and Social Development Project in the Arab World for 2024, in recognition of its financing of the “Bahr Al-Baqar” project in Egypt, underscores the exceptional development efforts made by the fund since its establishment over six decades ago. This prestigious honor, received at a dedicated ceremony, confirms the fund’s long-standing commitment to advancing development in the region.
The Bahr Al-Baqar project, inaugurated on Sept. 27, 2021, was comprehensive in its technical planning and practical application, meeting the award’s criteria and making it deserving of this win.

This project is considered one of the most significant projects financed by the Kuwait Fund in Egypt, with a cost of approximately $416 million. It includes three main components: the construction of barrages to divert 5 million cubic meters of water per day from the Bahr Al-Baqar drain, the construction of a treatment plant with a capacity of about 5 million cubic meters of water per day east of the Suez Canal, and the reclamation of agricultural land, the establishment of agricultural reserves, and factories for agricultural processing, along with activities for livestock development.
Waleed Shamlan Al-Bahar, acting director general of the Kuwait Fund for Development, said the project is currently operating at high efficiency, producing around 5 million cubic meters of treated water per day, which is discharged into the Sheikh Jaber Canal for agricultural use.

Focus on economic, social, and environmental aspects 
The fund is committed to financing projects with significant economic, social, and environmental impacts on the countries it operates in. Economically, this project supports the cultivation of thousands of acres using treated water, establishing agricultural reserves, factories for agricultural processing, and activities for livestock development, thereby achieving economic stability, increasing exports, and reducing imports for the country.

Socially, the project improves the living and economic conditions of residents in the project area by contributing to developmental projects and creating new job opportunities, both during and after the project’s completion.
Environmentally, the project addresses the degradation in the northern delta region, including Lake Manzala, one of Egypt’s largest natural lakes, which had suffered from continuous pollution, reducing its area by 75 percent.

Achievement of sustainable development goals 
The project aligns with several sustainable development goals, including Goal 2: Zero Hunger, Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, Goal 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, and Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, among others.

Cooperation between the fund and Egypt 
The relationship between the Kuwait Fund and Egypt is deep and longstanding. This project continues the fund’s development efforts in Egypt, which began in 1964 with the financing of the Suez Canal Development Project. To date, the fund has provided 54 loans to Egypt, covering sectors such as agriculture, transport, energy, industry, water and sanitation, social development, and development banks.

The role of Arab Coordination Group
The Bahr Al-Baqar project highlights the collective role of the Arab Coordination Group in advancing large-scale development initiatives that address global development priorities. Within this framework, the Kuwait Fund for Development played a key role in financing the project, reflecting the group’s shared commitment to achieving tangible progress in sustainable development worldwide.

Recognition and appreciation
The Abdullatif Yousef Al-Hamad Development Award highlights and encourages successful development projects that have addressed existing problems, enhancing economic and social capacities in the Arab world. The award honors entities that finance outstanding development projects, appreciating their efforts and commitment to achieving development in the region.

Named after Abdullatif Yousef Al-Hamad in recognition of his achievements in development work in the Arab world, the award acknowledges his leadership of the Kuwait Fund for Development (1963-1982), the Ministry of Finance and Planning (1981-1983), and the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (1985-2020). His more than 50-year career focused on supporting development activities and directly supervising hundreds of projects that created thousands of jobs and improved the lives of millions in the Arab world. As a result of his significant contributions, Al-Hamad was honored by many Arab leaders and awarded honorary doctorates by various educational, regional, and international institutions.


Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi to open next month in Saadiyat Cultural District

Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi to open next month in Saadiyat Cultural District
Updated 23 October 2025

Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi to open next month in Saadiyat Cultural District

Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi to open next month in Saadiyat Cultural District

The Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi will open to the public on Nov. 22 in Saadiyat Cultural District, marking a significant cultural milestone for the emirate. As the largest museum of its kind in the region, it represents a new global destination for science, nature, and education, inviting visitors to explore the story of life on our planet and engage in conversations about its future. 

The 35,000-square-meter museum is an exciting addition to the UAE’s evolving cultural landscape. It takes visitors on an immersive journey through 13.8 billion years of natural history — from the Big Bang and the formation of our solar system to the evolution of life, including the rise and fall of dinosaurs and the extraordinary biodiversity of our planet. 

Among the highlights of the museum are three travelers from deep time. One is the famed specimen affectionately known as Stan, a nearly complete skeleton of a mighty Tyrannosaurus rex, an apex predator which ruled the Earth 67 million years ago. It is joined by the largest animal ever known, represented by a magnificent, 25-meter female blue whale specimen, offering extraordinary insight into evolution, marine biodiversity, and the planet’s ongoing story of life. Completing the trio is the Murchison Meteorite — an artefact that witnessed the formation of our planet and contains 7-billion-year-old grains formed even before our solar system.

Mohamed Khalifa Al-Mubarak, chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism — Abu Dhabi, said: “The opening of the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi marks a major milestone in our journey to shape the emirate’s cultural landscape. The museum offers an immersive look at the story of life on Earth, framed for the first time through an Arabian lens, with the fauna, flora, and geological history of the region forming a prominent part of the visitor journey. The museum’s research and educational institution support scientific knowledge and undertakes innovative scientific studies in zoology, palaeontology, marine biology, molecular research and earth sciences. By fostering engagement with the natural sciences, the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi inspires future generations and contributes to a more sustainable future.”

Across the galleries, the natural history of the Arabian Peninsula forms a central part of the museum’s narrative, highlighting the region’s unique contribution to Earth’s story. Among the most remarkable discoveries found in Abu Dhabi is an extinct species of elephant known as Stegotetrabelodon emiratus. This ancient member of the Elephantidae family was distinguished by tusks in both its upper and lower jaws — a rare trait unseen in modern elephants — offering visitors a glimpse into the evolutionary journey of these creatures and reflecting the region’s rich natural heritage.

Designed by renowned architects Mecanoo, the museum’s building rises from the Saadiyat Island landscape like a natural formation. Its silhouette echoes natural rock formations, reflecting the museum’s mission to connect people with the natural world and inspire the next generation to question, discover, and take part in shaping a more sustainable future.

Inside, the museum features a series of permanent galleries and exhibitions that take visitors on a journey through time. The main galleries include: The Story of Earth, The Evolving World, Our World, Resilient Planet, and Earth’s Future, alongside side galleries such as The PalaeoLab, The Life Sciences Lab, Arabia’s Climate, Beyond the Horizon, and The Human Story. Visitors can also explore the Interactive Theatre, which offers immersive visual experiences that transport them through time.

To mark its opening, the museum will present two temporary international exhibitions: The March of the Triceratops, showcasing the world’s only touring Triceratops herd, and the 61st Wildlife Photographer of the Year, one of the most prestigious global showcases of nature photography. Together, these exhibitions will launch the museum’s international program and pave the way for a new era of scientific and cultural collaboration at both local and global levels.

The museum joins a community of institutions including Louvre Abu Dhabi, teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, and the upcoming Zayed National Museum and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, reinforcing Saadiyat Cultural District as a global center for knowledge, creativity, and cultural exchange — a place where the past, present and future of humanity come together in one living story.