��������

��������’s energy story is moving fast. Ambitious renewable targets sit alongside an immediate need for reliable, dispatchable power — and gas power sits squarely at the intersection of those two priorities. The Kingdom has committed to sourcing half of its power from renewables by 2030, a transformation that requires not only solar and wind build-out but also a modern, flexible gas fleet to balance intermittent generation and secure dependable energy supply during the transition. 

What this means in practice is that gas power is not a stopgap; it is an enabling technology. Highly efficient, flexible, hydrogen-capable gas turbines and advanced grid solutions allow Saudi utilities to integrate large volumes of renewables without compromising reliability. GE Vernova is proud to be part of that enabling layer — delivering both equipment and the services, digital tools and local capability that turn strategy into sustained, operating reality. Recent project activity and collaborations in the Kingdom illustrate that point. 

Across the Kingdom we are seeing large combined-cycle projects designed to add firm capacity while allowing rapid renewable scale-up. For example, GE Vernova has secured multiple H-class gas turbine orders to expand capacity at key projects such as Qurayyah IPP, where our 7HA.03 and 7HA.02 turbines will play a major role in providing efficient and flexible generation. These H-class units are among the most efficient and flexible heavy-duty turbines available today — a critical attribute as operators ramp up the share of renewables. 

On the ground, our Saudi teams — including GESAT — are delivering complex hardware and modules at pace. Recently, our GESAT operation supplied accessory modules for the Hajr power plant expansion and rolled out the first HA.03 turbine locally for the region, a milestone that demonstrates both technical capability and maturation of the local supply chain. Local execution of outages and maintenance is also evolving: Saudi engineers and GE Vernova specialists completed a fully Saudi-led gas turbine outage at an SEC plant, showing that knowledge transfer is taking root.

Achieving Vision 2030’s goals will depend on local skills, local industry and institutional collaboration across public and private sectors. That’s why our investments in localization — through GESAT, GEMTEC and the MENA Decarbonization Center of Excellence — matter. These facilities are more than technology work benches: they are training grounds and research and development hubs for innovation in the Kingdom. The Decarbonization CoE in particular accelerates applied research and the piloting of low-carbon technologies suited to the region’s needs. 

Complementing capability building, strategic agreements and MoUs signed with Saudi stakeholders over the past months have created frameworks for joint projects, local content development and long-term collaboration. These commitments — supported by large equipment orders, local deliveries, and joint forums we convene — strengthen the ecosystem needed to meet both capacity and decarbonization goals. 

Looking ahead, the pathway to 2030 is clear in one respect: renewables will scale aggressively, and gas will remain the firming backbone that keeps the lights on while emissions fall. Our approach is pragmatic and multi-pronged: supply our highest-efficiency, hydrogen-ready turbines; expand local manufacturing and services so projects are delivered faster and sustain long lifecycles; and work with customers on retrofit, digital and decarbonization solutions — including carbon capture readiness and hydrogen blending where appropriate. 

For industry leaders, policymakers and investors, the focus should be on integrated planning: aligning generation procurement, grid upgrades, local skill pipelines and financing to de-risk the transition. GE Vernova’s role is to bring proven technology, deep project experience and local teams that can execute at scale — helping �������� achieve a resilient, affordable and lower-carbon power system by 2030 and set the foundation for net-zero ambitions thereafter.

In the end, success will be measured by megawatts delivered reliably, jobs created locally, and measurable reductions in carbon intensity. We are committed to playing our part — through advanced equipment, localized manufacturing and collaborations that turn national ambition into real, sustained progress.

• The writer, Hisham Al-Bahkali, is president of GE Vernova ��������.

�խ

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.