11, January 2023, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia:  Connecting France and The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in a first of its kind strategic tech partnership, Foodics, the leading cloud-based restaurant management technology and payments platform in the MENA region, has today announced it has partnered with French-based tech start-up Partoo, who help brands manage and increase their presence online in order to further grow their business. Together Foodics and Partoo serve over 350,000 brands, and this partnership offers the MENA Food & Beverage community a unique digital management tool that cements a restaurant’s relationship with their prospects and clients. This in turn helps business ......read more

• Samsung presents its innovative HVAC technologies and hosts a panel discussion to discuss the industry across MENA   Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 10 January 2023:  Samsung Electronics announced the successful conclusion of its ‘Air Solutions Day’ event in the presence of consultants who were invited from across MENA. During the event, Samsung Electronics’ AC professionals presented its innovative HVAC technologies, which include 360 Cassette, WindFree™ and DVM S2.    With its award-winning bladeless technology design, the 360 Cassette can evenly circulate air and cool every corner comfortably. With this technology and the use of three b ......read more

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – January 10th , 2023 – Ahead of CES® 2023, Samsung Electronics today unveiled the newest additions to its customizable Bespoke Home lineup. Samsung’s latest home appliances and services were designed to meet a growing demand for customization and provide a new level of intelligent connectivity that empowers users to be more sustainable in the kitchen. Including a wider selection of Bespoke refrigerator types, a bigger and more immersive 32-inch screen for the Bespoke 4-Door Flex™ with Family Hub™+, and advanced AI Pro Cooking for the Bespoke AI™ Oven that optimizes and assists in preparing meals, the Samsung-powered kitchen is bec ......read more

Prodrive Hunters secure 1-2-3 result in Saudi on another big day for Bahrain Raid Xtreme, as Al Attiyah extends overall lead 10th January, 2023:  Sebastien Loeb gave Bahrain Raid Xtreme a second successive stage victory in the Dakar Rally today as Prodrive Hunters dominated proceedings with a 1-2-3 result in Saudi Arabia. Partnered by Fabian Lurquin, Loeb secured his third win in this year’s event on the 358km ninth stage from Riyadh to Haradh to boost his challenge for a podium finish in his BRX Prodrive Hunter. Loeb was fastest from the start, and set the pace for almost the entire day, briefly conceding the lead to the Prodrive Hunter of Vaidotas Zala at one point, eve ......read more

The leading award-winning communication consultancy agency seals its undisputable leadership position in the Saudi PR industry and outside by winning multiple awards and nominations  Jeddah -  January 10, 2023:  W7Worldwide, the leading award-winning communication consultancy agency, leads the Saudi PR industry by taking home several awards and nominations. It was the only homegrown Saudi agency that competed with the region’s leading agencies and went on to win several MEPRA awards and nominations including a gold at the 2022 MEPRA awards.  The independent consultancy agency that has seen its indisputably growing position in the global PR industry has also ......read more

• Just three weeks to go until Diriyah hosts the first double-header race weekend of the new Gen3 era in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship on Friday 27 and Saturday 28 January • Only night races in Season 9 will feature the biggest names in motorsport including Formula E newcomers McLaren and Maserati, plus Jaguar, Porsche and Nissan among the 11 teams and 22 drivers • World’s fastest, lightest, most powerful and efficient electric race car – the Gen3 – will make its Middle East debut in Diriyah • Full day of family entertainment ahead of each race including race simulators in the gaming arena, live music performances and much more &bu ......read more

10, January 2023:  The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that the air travel recovery continued through November 2022.    • Total traffic in November 2022 (measured in revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) rose 41.3% compared to November 2021. Globally, traffic is now at 75.3% of November 2019 levels.  • International traffic rose 85.2% versus November 2021. The Asia-Pacific continued to report the strongest year-over-year results with all regions showing improvement compared to the prior year. November 2022 international RPKs reached 73.7% of November 2019 levels.  • Domestic traffic for November 2022 was up 3.4% com ......read more

• Neo QLED, MICRO LED and Samsung OLED lineups provide premium experiences and broader viewing options   • New lifestyle products and features, including The Premiere 8K and Smart EDGE Blending on The Freestyle provide freedom of how and when consumers use devices • Samsung’s 2023 lineup brings everyday sustainability by decreasing its carbon footprint throughout its product lifecycle   Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – January 10, 2023 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today unveiled its new Neo QLED, MICRO LED and Samsung OLED lineups alongside lifestyle products and accessories ahead of CES® 2023. This year’s lineup features advance ......read more

Pandora enters the new year through a new chapter of craftsmanship and style, with the launch of the Moments Studded Chain. Uniquely crafted by Pandora as a brand icon, the Moments Studded Chain carves a new avenue for limitless styling and storytelling; developed more than two decades following the iconic Pandora Snake Chain, which made the Danish band world renowned. A PINNACLE OF CRAFTSMANSHIP Combining craftsmanship and innovation in design exclusive to Pandora, the Moments Studded Chain offers a completely different texture and canvas for styling your stories. Designed with pyramid-shaped and spherical studs to capture and reflect light, the Moments Studded Chain creates a textural ......read more

• The all-new Ford Expedition was built to emphasize power, capability, convenience, and comfort everywhere – city or desert  • This 8-seater SUV packs a 3.5L EcoBoost® Twin-Turbo V6 engine, which includes a new High-Output version taken straight out of the class-leading F-150 Raptor • The Timberline trim brings serious off-roading credentials, with Trail Turn Assist and Trail Control among the features helping the SUV conquer all terrains • Stealth Performance Edition packs in all the Timberline’s performance specs but adds class-leading aesthetic and comfort features   Riyadh, Saudi Arabia January 9, 2023 – With power, comf ......read more

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (9th January 2023) –The Saudi Motorsport Company (SMC), Promoter of FORMULA 1 STC SAUDI ARABIAN GRAND PRIX 2023, is delighted to announce that tickets for the world’s fastest street race are now fully on sale. A limited number of discounted ‘early bird’ tickets had already been available but from today tickets for all categories are on sale to fans at home and abroad, with a 15% discount on all Grandstand and General admission tickets on offer for a limited time only!   The return of F1 to Jeddah on the weekend of March 17th – 19th, will be the third time in less than 16 months that the pinnacle of motorsport will race on the world&rs ......read more

Al Nasser manager Garcia presents French star with Cristiano Ronaldo shirt on visit to Bahrain Raid Xtreme in Saudi 9th January, 2023: Sebastien Loeb is ready to lead another charge by Bahrain Raid Xtreme in the Dakar Rally, with a prized Al Nassr shirt carrying the name of superstar signing Cristiano Ronaldo safely tucked away. The shirt was presented to Loeb by Rudi Garcia, manager of Ronaldo’s new Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr, when he paid a visit to the BRX team at the end of the eighth stage from Al Duwadimi to Riyadh on Sunday evening. Garcia then stepped inside the cockpit of Loeb’s BRX Prodrive Hunter to check out the car which the nine-time World Rally Champio ......read more

Sustainability is central to the voco brand, said M. Allaf   Highlights - voco has taken several steps to achieve sustainability goals. - It has reduced plastic consumption by using products made with recycled materials.   voco Al Khobar, an IHG hotel, celebrated three years of growth and success, coinciding with the celebration of opening 100 other hotels of the voco brand around the world. Several officials, managers and employees of the hotel attended a recent function in Alkhobar to mark the occasion.   M. Allaf, regional general manager of IHG and general manager of voco Riyadh, said: "We are celebrating three years of success and achievements ......read more

Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – 9, January 2023:  King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre's (KFSH&RC) pediatric cardiac surgery team successfully performed consecutive heart transplants on two children within 24 hours in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.    Before the surgeries, the transplant recipients – an Emirati girl aged less than eight months and a 19-month-old Saudi girl – were in critical condition due to heart failure necessitating the installation of temporary artificial pumps. The girls were also placed in intensive care units while awaiting transplants   The transplants required highly qualified professionals, adva ......read more

Samsung outlines strategy and commitment to deliver on the promise of the connected experience and contribute to a more sustainable future    Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – JAN. 8, 2023 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today shared its vision for a calmer connected world through cutting-edge technologies that enhance the lives of users by providing smarter and more intuitive experiences. Speaking at a press conference at CES® 2023, Samsung and its key partners came together to outline details about how they plan to build a better-connected world while contributing to a more sustainable future.    Jong-Hee (JH) Han, Vice Chairman, CEO and Head ......read more

Teams to compete for national titles and share of $30,000 prize at the 2022 PUBG MOBILE National Championship SAUDI ARABIA Powered by stc play Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – 9, January 2022 – The 2022 PUBG MOBILE National Championship KSA Powered by stc play (2022 PMNC KSA) will see teams and players from the country compete for a prize pool of $30,000 and a chance to qualify to PMPL 2023, with prizes for first, second, third place winners ranging from $9,000 to $4,000 and $3,000 respectively among the top 16 prizes. The thrill continues as winners of PMCO Middle East Spring and Fall will be invited directly to be a part of the action and contest in the 2022 PMNC KSA ......read more

French ace climbs again in Prodrive Hunter as penalty drops Sainz while Al Attiyah extends overall lead  January 09, 2023: Sebastien Loeb recorded a dramatic stage victory for Bahrain Raid Xtreme in the Dakar Rally today after another classic battle with Carlos Sainz and overall leader Nasser Al Attiyah in Saudi Arabia. Loeb and Fabian Lurquin in their BRX Prodrive Hunter won the 346km eighth stage from Al Duwadimi to Riyadh by 2 mins 11 secs from Al Attiyah and Mathieu Baumel to climb to fourth place in the overall rankings. Sainz and Lucas Cruz had led the stage for much of the day, but dropped two places when they collected a five-minute penalty after finishing in their Audi ......read more

Loeb continues his climb in Prodrive Hunter while Al Attiyah stays out in front Hail, Saudi Arabia: 7th January, 2023:  Lithuanian Vaidotas Zala and Frenchman Guerlain Chicherit secured two top three finishes for Bahrain Raid Xtreme in the Dakar Rally today as Saudi Arabia’s Yazeed Al Rajhi won the seventh stage from Riyadh to Al Duwadimi.  Partnered by Portuguese co-driver Paulo Fiuza, Zala was second fastest to Al Rajhi’s Toyota on the day, as Chicherit and Alex Winocq in another of the Prodrive Hunters set the third best time over the demanding 333 km stage. Sebastien Loeb’s ninth place on the stage alongside Fabian Lurquin in their BRX Prodrive Hunter ......read more

Trio of Prodrive Hunters finish in top five as three top challengers hit trouble in Saudi Hail, Saudi Arabia: 6th January, 2023:  Sebastien Loeb led another powerful recovery by Bahrain Raid Xtreme in the Dakar Rally today, as Nasser Al Attiyah gained a huge overall lead when his three closest rivals were removed from contention. Loeb and Fabian Lurquin in their BRX Prodrive Hunter set the second fastest time on the 358km sixth stage from Ha’il to Riyadh to collect more valuable points in the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC). Making it a rewarding day all round for the Prodrive Hunters, Guerlain Chicherit and Alex Winocq took fourth place on the day, with Lithuanians ......read more

French star must bounce back again to chase championship points for Bahrain Raid Xtreme 5th January, 2023:  Sebastien Loeb’s bid for a second successive Dakar Rally stage win was frustrated by another late setback for Bahrain Raid Xtreme today as Nasser Al Attiyah stretched his overall lead in Saudi Arabia. After a thrilling victory 24 hours earlier in his BRX Prodrive Hunter, Loeb was locked in an epic battle with Al Attiyah and Stephane Peterhansel on the 375km fifth stage, as all three held the lead at various points, with just seconds separating them. But with just 20km remaining, Loeb and co-driver Fabian Lurquin came to a halt for 15 minutes with mechanical problems ......read more

SAMENA Telecommunications Council held its first Rising for Industry Sustainability & Efficiencies (RISE) Conference on 11th January 2023 at Fairmont Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in strategic collaboration with stc Group, Mobily, China Mobile International, the Communication, Space & Technology Commission (CSTC) of Saudi Arabia, and the 193 Member States and private-sector driven UN premier ICT agency, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).   Recent policy and regulatory developments in Saudi Arabia and the GCC region, particularly with respect to accelerated focus on digital transformation; adopting technology and regulatory sandboxes; making beneficial use of 5G investmen ......read more

PUBG MOBILE’s new Version 2.4 Update features: ● The Martial Showdown: an in-game martial arts festival which provides special limited-time items, events, and themed areas across Erangel and Livik ● Unique outfits, items and events featuring iconic martial arts hero Bruce Lee ● A new and improved Metro Royale Mode including significant updates to maps, enemies, and items ● Brand new firearms and vehicles ● New Cycle 4 Season 10 and Royale Pass Month 19 content   Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – January 05th, 2023 – Today, PUBG MOBILE is launching its new Version 2.4 Update, including the game’s first martial arts festival, ......read more

French star wins classic battle with Peterhansel as Al Attiyah extends overall lead in Saudi Saudi Arabia: 4th January, 2023:  Sebastien Loeb gave Bahrain Raid Xtreme a second successive stage victory in the Dakar Rally today after a spectacular battle in Saudi Arabia with the event’s most prolific winner. Loeb, whose overall victory hopes have been ruined by a spate of punctures and yesterday’s rear suspension failure, produced a superb drive alongside Fabian Lurquin in their BRX Prodrive Hunter to edge out Stephane Peterhansel’s Audi by 13 seconds on the 425km fourth stage. Starting and finishing in Hail, the stage presented a classic battle between nine-tim ......read more

The Western Hajj Terminal at King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah is no ordinary airport terminal. Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and a winner of the 1983 Aga Khan Award, it became a port of entry and junction point for hundreds of thousands of Muslim pilgrims from around the world on their way to Awwal Bait – the First House of Allah, the Holy Kaaba in Mecca, a building at the centre of Islam’s most famous mosque.  When the terminal opened, it had the world’s largest cable-stayed, fabric-roofed construction; as it was made on an unprecedented scale, the tensile structure made use of newly developed fabric as a permanent structural element instead of the cable- ......read more

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, January 4 2023 – Since the establishment of Cisco Networking Academy in Saudi Arabia in 2000, more than 274,500 students have been trained and upskilled via the program. 34% of these learners are female, making the Kingdom one of the top 20 countries worldwide with  female participation.    During Cisco’s 2022 fiscal year alone, more than 64,000 students were enrolled in Cisco Networking Academy courses in Saudi Arabia. These learners were supported by more than 470 instructors, working across 120 academies in the Kingdom.   Salman Faqeeh, Managing Director, Cisco, Saudi Arabia commented, “Having one of the younge ......read more

04 January 2023:  “Several countries are introducing COVID-19 testing and other measures for travellers from China, even though the virus is already circulating widely within their borders. It is extremely disappointing to see this knee-jerk reinstatement of measures that have proven ineffective over the last three years.  Research undertaken around the arrival of the Omicron variant concluded that putting barriers in the way of travel made no difference to the peak spread of infections. At most, restrictions delayed that peak by a few days. If a new variant emerges in any part of the world, the same situation would be expected.   That’s why governme ......read more

Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – 4, January 2022 – King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre (KFSH&RC) has once again been recognized by the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives’ (CHIME) ‘Digital Health Most Wired’ program. KFSH&RC is among the only two healthcare facilities outside the United States to achieve level 9 status for being at the forefront of innovating with healthcare information technology (IT) to improve patient safety and outcomes across the entire organization.     CHIME is an executive organization that enables senior healthcare IT leaders to exchange best practices and promote the effec ......read more

Terranova adds to BRX recovery as Al Attiyah grabs overall lead before weather cuts short action in Saudi. Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: 3rd January, 2023: Frenchman Guerlain Chicherit presented Bahrain Raid Xtreme with a brilliant comeback victory in the Dakar Rally today as rain and poor visibility cut short the third stage in Saudi Arabia. Chicherit and Alex Winocq in their Prodrive Hunter recorded a memorable stage win by 3 mins 26 secs from the Toyota of South African Henk Lategan, with Argentinian Orly Terranova a close third on the day in his BRX Prodive Hunter. Overnight leader Carlos Sainz dropped to eighth place after his Audi was stopped for 30 minutes, while defending champion N ......read more

January 02, 2023:  With the new Spider-Man collection from Marvel x Pandora, it’s easier than ever to express your love for the iconic hero. Everyone’s favourite webslinger gets the jewellery treatment with intricately designed pieces featuring details every Spider-Man fan will appreciate.   Including a bracelet inspired by Spider-Man’s iconic mask, sparkling studs and charms that capture the hero’s dynamic movements, the styles present a fresh way of incorporating the beloved hero into your everyday look.   “We were super inspired by the universe of hip-hop and youth culture, but also the coolness and art of old-school comics” explain F ......read more

Saudi Arabia has a unique opportunity to create the most advanced water parks in the world. - Jeremy Gray, VP of Business Development at WhiteWater  Riyadh:  Not wanting to be left out in the era of digitization when intelligent automation rules the roost, the water parks sector has been exploring new technologies to improve its operations. Organizations all over the world are looking to create touchless experiences to streamline operations to reduce costs and pain points, which makes countries like Saudi Arabia double the size of its economy to $1.6 trillion, adding an additional $293 billion by 2030, according to a new study by Automation Anywhere. WhiteWater, the world& ......read more

By Mohammed Shaheen, Cluster President, Saudi Arabia and Yemen, Schneider Electric   The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has leveraged crude oil for socio-economic growth like any other nation with fossil fuel resources. Unlike many, however, the need for a whole-of-society approach to climate actions is not lost on the nation, as evident from its ambitious Saudi Green Initiative (SGI) — an umbrella program with over 60 initiatives pertaining to net-zero goals, renewable energy uptake, efficiency-led interventions, afforestation, and ecological preservation.    At Schneider Electric, we ascribe to the whole-of-society approach as a route to balancing emissions with carbon-of ......read more

Celebrity chefs, immersive sensory experiences and family fun on the menu AlUla, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia:   A unique and immersive culinary journey is on the cards for food lovers at Flavours of AlUla, a fun and colourful celebration of food, flavour and art that is being held from December 29 to January 14 as part of the Winter at Tantora events. Flavours of AlUla will showcase traditional local and regional cuisine and ingredients through a range of experiential masterclasses with renowned chefs, food stalls and fun activations that will make for a truly multisensory experience.  High-profile chefs are participating at “Flavours of AlUla” in a ser ......read more

Loeb makes solid start on Dakar victory trail Jeddah, Saudi Arabia:   The 45th Dakar Rally is under way in Saudi Arabia, and Sebastien Loeb has given immediate notice of his desire to secure victory for Bahrain Raid Xtreme. Partnered by Fabian Lurquin in his BRX Prodrive Hunter, Loeb is aiming to go one better after finishing runner-up in Saudi last year, and the nine-time World Rally Champion made a confident start on today’s 13-km prologue on the shores of the Red Sea. Outpacing defending champion Nasser Al Attiyah by 11 seconds, the Frenchman was second quickest on the stage, just one second away from Mattias Ekström in his Audi RS Q e-tron. Guerlain ......read more

From high-end luxury gown shopping to rock climbing in the canyons, night-time chariot rides and blindfold taste testing, there is no better way to usher in the New Year   AlUla, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, December 30, 2022: With 2023 just around the corner, AlUla’s Winter at Tantora schedule has a wide range of activities that will help any visitor make it a New Year to remember. Here are some of the many offerings that will help you to see out 2022 and celebrate the New Year at AlUla. High-end retail therapy Visitors to AlUla can enjoy a truly unique shopping experience at Ashar Valley Fashion, a series of luxury retail pop-ups set in the stunning landscapes of the Ash ......read more

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, December 29, 2022:  Get ready for a memorable new year at Mamo Michelangelo that perfectly embodies the Italian and south of France flavours.  The restaurant is providing Riyadh guests the opportunity to enjoy a special set menu with a live DJ performance and the best view in town to watch the live firework at Al Faisaliah Tower. Mamo dinner is inclusive of Italian and French delicacies and sparkling drinks and mocktails.   Concept of Al Khozama – one of the most prominent players in the Gulf region’s hospitality sector, the restaurant offers amazing experience at lunch and dinner with a unique menu featuring a variety of dishes such as t ......read more

• Applicants can now receive tourism related information at the centre • VFS Global also offers visa application services for travellers, and passport services for Indian nationals residing in Saudi Arabia   Visitors to the Visa Application Centre submitting their applications can now learn more about the tourism offerings and highlights of India, guided by trained professionals from VFS Global, by visiting the kiosk at the time of their appointment.  Mr. N. Ram Prasad, Chargé d'Affaires a.i., Embassy of India in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia formally inaugurated the new India Tourism kiosk at the VFS Global Visa Application Centre in Riyadh on 15 December 2022.&nb ......read more

Tickets now available for the Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo taking place across three days of action from January 26-28  World renowned players are flying in to compete in the only polo desert tournament in the world AlUla, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - December 29, 2022:   The Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo, the world’s only modern polo tournament to be staged in a desert, will return to AlUla from January 26 – 28, 2023 in partnership with Polo Club Saint-Tropez – Haras de Gassin. Tickets are now on sale for the third edition of the event taking place across three days of world class polo action from January 26-28. This year will see the event gr ......read more

The world’s genuine Saudi restaurant and the new fine-dining destination at Diriyah Gate Development     Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, December 29, 2022: MAIZ, a unique fine-dining concept that brings authentic Saudi cuisine in a thematic Saudi Arabian cultural setting, opens its doors at Bujairi Terrace, a new fine-dining destination developed as part of Diriyah Gate Development.  Concept of Al Khozama – one of the most prominent players in the Gulf region’s hospitality sector, MAIZ is the world’s genuine Saudi restaurant and aims to create a new food genre which in the future will be referred to as The Saudi Food, globally.    CEO of A ......read more

The in-person event held in Riyadh over a period of 5 days, with a prize pool of SAR 200,000 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 29 December 2022: The winners of the second AppGallery Tarbi3ah Baloot competition were revealed by Huawei, one of the biggest technology companies in the world. The total prize money awarded was SAR 200,000, which is more than their initial tournament's prize fund of SAR 100,000, which took place in Ramadan 2022. The qualification round of the well-known Arabic card game was held at the Huawei flagship store in Riyadh from the 20th till the 24th of December. The 2nd edition of the tournament, organized in collaboration with Tarbi3ah Baloot, challenged game enthusias ......read more