
TASC slashes Tech Hiring Time in Saudi Arabia with launch of Tech Vertical AIQU
AIQU, powered by workforce solutions provider TASC, builds on its established presence in Saudi Arabia by introducing innovative solutions like Deploy-on-Demand, which is designed to cut tech hiring timelines by up to 50 per cent.
With a proven track record in Tech Talent, Statement of Work, Digital, and Managed Services, AIQU continues to evolve to meet the Kingdom's growing demand for agile workforce solutions. They enable clients to rapidly fill specialised roles while handling iqama, payroll, compliance, and onboarding, providing pre-verified talent ready to deploy within 2 to 6 weeks, compared to the market average of 3 to 6 months. This innovative solution is already supporting public sector digital programmes, banking and fintech transformations, global consultancies, and rapidly scaling SAP and ERP projects across the country.
Industries such as cloud computing, AI, and cybersecurity are expanding faster than available talent can keep pace, creating an urgent tech crunch in Saudi Arabia. Roles like cloud architects, SAP consultants, and data engineers are in high demand, but local expertise remains limited. For specialised skills such as OT/ICS security or data governance, the talent gap is even more pronounced. AP consulting roles, for example, have a local talent shortfall of up to 40 per cent.
'Many businesses simply cannot afford the three to six-month hiring cycles associated with conventional recruitment or global system integrators,' says Tim Harlow, head of AIQU. 'Critical transformation projects cannot wait, yet the complexity of the Saudi recruitment market makes speed challenging. Vision 2030's momentum has created an enormous opportunity for organisations able to close their talent gaps quickly.'
System integrators add further cost and complexity with approval processes and onboarding delays, making these models less sustainable. 'Cost, speed, and flexibility are the three pillars every client struggles with. Existing models are too rigid for today's dynamic projects,' Taha Esmail, VP of AIQU added.
AIQU's Deploy-on-Demand model is built to overcome these challenges by offering pre-verified, project-ready tech talent mobilised up to 70 per cent faster than traditional hiring models. Clients submit role requirements tied to project deliverables, and AIQU matches candidates from a continuously refreshed bench of regional and international professionals. The service also manages full onboarding, including iqama, payroll, compliance, and Saudization requirements, ensuring faster time-to-productivity and regulatory alignment.
Beyond speed, AIQU's approach delivers significant cost savings, typically 30 to 50 per cent compared to traditional system integrators, by cutting multilayered consulting overheads and providing transparent pricing. 'Clients want agility. We enable them to scale teams up or down based on project phases without the cost and complexity of long-term headcount commitments,' said Pinky Mistry, VP of AIQU.
AIQU is expanding its pipeline of Arabic-speaking professionals, partnering with local training academies, building offshore development centers and growing its presence across the country.
'Vision 2030's momentum has created a massive opportunity for those who can close talent gaps fast. Our focus is on giving clients the agility they need to keep pace with this transformation,' concludes Tim.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Gulf Business
37 minutes ago
- Gulf Business
IHC rebrands eFunder as Zelo following acquisition
Image: IHC/ X International Holding Company ( The platform has also been rebranded as Zelo, signalling a new chapter for the company. Fully licensed and regulated by ADGM's Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA), Zelo has been operating since August 2020, delivering receivables-based funding to address the region's SME working capital gap. It provides fast, digital-first access to liquidity by converting approved invoices into working capital within 24 to 48 hours. Following the acquisition by IHC, Zelo now enters a new chapter as part of the The platform addresses one of the region's most pressing challenges: a nearly$250bn SME credit gap across the Middle East and North Africa. While SMEs account for over 95 per cent of the UAE's registered businesses and generate more than half of national GDP, many face delays of 60 to 120 days in receiving payment for approved invoices, restricting growth and operational agility. Zelo bridges this gap by offering a seamless, technology-driven platform for invoice financing across priority industries, including construction, logistics, healthcare, industrial services, and oil and gas. IHC aims to build smart, scalable solutions and value networks that deliver impact Syed Basar Shueb, CEO of IHC, said: 'SMEs are the backbone of a diversified and future-ready economy. Through our strategic acquisition of Zelo, we are proud to support a platform that solves one of the most fundamental barriers facing SMEs, access to timely working capital. 'This rebrand signals a confident new chapter, one that is fully aligned with IHC's long-term vision of building smart, scalable solutions and dynamic value networks that deliver real and lasting economic impact.' Dhanush Arjun, CEO of Zelo, said: 'Zelo exists to eliminate the wait. The wait for payments, the wait for growth, the wait for opportunity. Our rebrand signals not just a new name, but a renewed commitment to SMEs in the UAE who deserve faster, smarter access to capital. With IHC's strategic backing, we're accelerating that future.' Zelo has deployed more than $200m in funding Zelo's platform is purpose-built for speed and simplicity, offering a fully digital onboarding experience, automated funding decisions, and near-instant access to capital, eliminating cash flow delays and accelerating reinvestment into growth. The platform also scales financing limits in line with business performance, creating a responsive and frictionless funding experience. Zelo's operations continue to be led by the co-founders of eFunder – Dhanush Arjun (CEO) and Deepak Sekar (COO), supported by a seasoned group of professionals with deep expertise in fintech, SME lending, and digital infrastructure. To date, the platform has facilitated over 9,000 transactions and deployed more than $200m in funding, a testament to its impact and scalability within the region's SME ecosystem.


The National
an hour ago
- The National
Energy and Innovation summit: Trump says $92bn to be invested in Pennsylvania for AI and tech
US President Donald Trump pushed his vision on powering energy-hungry artificial intelligence, during the first Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit. At a discussion on Tuesday, Mr Trump claimed that more than 20 technology and energy companies had decided to invest $92 billion in Pennsylvania. "This is really a triumphant day for the people of the Commonwealth," he told the event, led by Republican US Senator Dave McCormick, in Pittsburgh at Carnegie Mellon University. 'This summit is about catalysing $90 billion of investment and tens of thousands of jobs in Pennsylvania,' Mr McCormick said. He also referred to the increasingly adversarial relationship between the US and China as he set the stage for the day's agenda. 'If we don't lead this AI revolution on our own terms, we will hand control of our infrastructure, data, leadership and way of life to the Chinese Communist Party,' Mr McCormick said. With AI continuing to expand into all aspects of life, the burden it places on the US energy grid is becoming more of an issue, as policymakers try to keep America leading the global race for AI dominance. According to a report from the US Energy Department, data centres used about 4.4 per cent of total electricity in the country in 2024. By 2028, that share could increase to 12 per cent. By most estimates, a query to ChatGPT uses 10 times more energy than a similar search on Google. The event has featured panels and discussions on energy and AI, including how to best meet the energy needs created by the technology, and looking at the efficiencies that AI could create in the years ahead. There were also discussions about the need for data centres to keep up with the AI investment boom and increased user demand. During the opening panel discussion, alternative asset management firm Blackstone made a $25 billion investment in building data centres in Pennsylvania. Investors, entrepreneurs and business leaders from around the world are attending the event. Khaldoon Al Mubarak, Mubadala's managing director and chief executive and chairman of the UAE Executive Affairs Authority, made the trip to Pittsburgh. Lim Chow Kiat, chief executive of Singapore's Government Investment Corporation, was also invited. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Energy Secretary Chris Wright were among the White House officials in attendance. Alex Karp, chief executive of AI firm Palantir, Joseph Dominguez, Constellation Energy chief, and Jake Loosararian, founder of Gecko Robotics, also took part. As proof of how bipartisan AI and energy issues have become, Pennsylvania's Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro, a staunch critic of Mr Trump and a possible contender for the 2028 Democratic presidential race, is scheduled to attend. For coal, fracking and even nuclear power, Pennsylvania has become the centre of the US energy renaissance. A few weeks ago, Mr Shapiro attended a nuclear energy rally to celebrate a partnership with Microsoft at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in the state, which will soon reopen under a different name. Nuclear energy is seen by many supporters of AI as a way to strengthen the energy grid as use of the technology expands. But critics fear the content of the event will be taken over by politics. A day before the event, Carnegie Mellon University's president, Farnam Jahanian, acknowledged the politically charged backdrop against which the conference was taking place. 'I recognise that CMU's decision to host the summit has prompted concern and disagreement among some members of our community,' Mr Jahanian said, pointing out his disagreements with Mr Trump on issues concerning education funding. 'At the same time, I firmly believe that higher education must be a convener – a catalyst for ideas and partnerships that shape our future.' On Tuesday, Mr Jahanian said CMU, with its roots in technology, was the perfect host for the summit, which was a 'defining moment for our country and humanity'. He said AI was 'the most important intellectual development of our time'.


Zawya
an hour ago
- Zawya
Abyat joins the NBK Rewards Program
AlNasrallah: We continuously strive to widen our network of partners for the NBK Rewards Program. Excellence in providing the best customer banking experience is part and parcel of NBK's culture. A 5% NBK Rewards points upon making a KD 100 purchase from Abyat for NBK customers. Reflecting its commitment to enriching the banking experience of its customers by providing exclusive offers and special rewards, National Bank of Kuwait announced the joining of Abyat, a leading company specialized in retail furnishing and finishing materials, to the NBK Rewards Loyalty Program. This exciting new partnership brings NBK Credit and Prepaid Cardholders an exclusive opportunity to earn 5% or redeem their NBK Rewards Points on their purchases at Abyat when spending KD 100. Starting today, NBK customers can enjoy benefits when shopping for furniture at Abyat. Whether renovating or simply refreshing a space, customers now have more reason to shop at Abyat with their NBK Credit or Prepaid Cards. The earned NBK Rewards points can be fully or partially redeemed for purchases at all participating outlets immediately through POS terminals. On this occasion, Homoud AlNasrallah SVP – Head of Merchant Business and Customer Loyalty Management commented: 'We always strive to strengthen our ties with leading companies across different fields and widen our network of partners within the NBK Rewards Program, as we hope to elevate and enrich our customers' banking experience and enhance the rewards and benefits when they use their NBK Credit and Prepaid Cardholders at their favorite outlets. Therefore, We're thrilled to welcome Abyat to the NBK Rewards Program. This partnership is a reflection of our commitment to giving NBK customers more value from the brands they already love - and Abyat is a household name when it comes to home solutions in Kuwait.' AlNasrallah also highlighted that to benefit from this offer, customers simply need to spend KD 100 or more using their NBK Credit or Prepaid cards in-store at Abyat. The 5% NBK Rewards points will be automatically credited to the rewards center, making home shopping even more rewarding. The NBK Rewards Program is Kuwait's largest loyalty program, offering unmatched savings and benefits across more than 800 partner outlets from retail and dining to entertainment and health and wellness centers.