
Visa Partners with SAB and AC Milan Women to Launch She's Next in Football in Saudi Arabia
Visa (NYSE: V), a global leader in digital payments, announced the launch of She's Next in Football program in Saudi Arabia. Building on the success of She's Next programs in fashion and gaming in KSA, this initiative is designed to empower and support women footballers in the Kingdom through mentorship, training, and exclusive opportunities with world-class football experts. In partnership with Saudi Awwal Bank (SAB) and AC Milan Women, this initiative provides female athletes with a platform to develop their skills, gain mentorship, and experience world-class football training.From April 7, 2025, until May 5, 2025, women football players in Saudi Arabia are invited to apply for She's Next in Football by completing and submitting the form available on Visa website.The finalists will be announced on May 21, 2025, and will participate in a training camp in Riyadh, where they will receive expert training and a certificate signed by Elisabet Spina, AC Milan Head of Women Football, and the Suzanne Bakker, AC Milan Women's Coach. They will also have the unique opportunity to train with and meet Farah Jefry, a distinguished Saudi Arabian footballer and midfielder for Al-Ittihad Women's Football Club in Jeddah, who serves as the program's brand ambassador.In addition, the winner of the program will travel to Milan and enjoy a 'Training with the PRO" two-week experience at the PUMA House of Football, home to the Women's Team's training centre, where they will train with professional athletes and coaches. The runner-up will receive a VIP visit to AC Milan's training facilities, gaining behind-the-scenes access to one of football's most renowned development programs.Ali Bailoun, Visa's Regional General Manager for KSA, Bahrain, and Oman, commented: 'Women are driving change across industries, sports, and business, shaping the future through their contributions. As women's football continues to grow, new pathways are opening for female athletes to access professional training, resources, and career development. As one of the world's most active sponsors of women's football, Visa is committed to strengthening the sport's ecosystem at every level. By partnering with AC Milan Women and SAB Bank, we are contributing to the long-term development of women's football in the Kingdom. Investing in women's sports is an investment in inclusion and economic empowerment, ensuring female' athletes receive the recognition and opportunities they deserve.'Rania Alsharyoufi, Chief Human Resources Officer stated: 'At Saudi Awwal Bank, we believe in the power of sports as a driver for empowerment, inclusion, and long-term growth. Our partnership with Visa and AC Milan Women in the She's Next Football program reflects our commitment to fostering opportunities for women in Saudi Arabia, helping them reach their full potential on and off the field. By supporting initiatives that promote skills, mentorship, and visibility, we are proud to contribute to a more inclusive and dynamic future for women's football in the Kingdom.' Elisabet Spina, AC Milan Head of Women Football, added: 'At AC Milan, we are deeply committed to fostering the growth of women's football worldwide, and we are proud to be part of the She's Next in Football initiative. As a Club with a rich history in developing and promoting the women's game, we believe in the power of football to inspire and empower. This program represents a unique opportunity to support the next generation of female footballers in Saudi Arabia, providing them with world-class training, mentorship, and a pathway to grow in the sport. We look forward to sharing our expertise, supporting their journey, and helping shape the future of women's football globally.'Farah Jefry, also remarked: "I'm genuinely energized by this initiative and the remarkable opportunity it presents to ignite the passion of aspiring football players, empowering them to reach new heights in their athletic journey."
To learn more and apply for the She's Next in Football program, applicants must submit a short application form with details on the dedicated website.
Hashtags

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


Al Bawaba
3 days ago
- Al Bawaba
Visa Appoints Andrew Torre as President of Value-Added Services
Visa (NYSE:V) announced today that it has appointed Andrew Torre, a 20-year Visa veteran, as President of Value-Added Services (VAS). Mr. Torre will replace Antony Cahill who was recently named Regional President and Chief Executive Officer for Visa's European operations, subject to regulatory approval. Mr. Torre will report to Visa Chief Executive Officer Ryan McInerney and join the Company's global leadership team. He will be based in San Francisco and take on this role effective his new role, Mr. Torre will be responsible for designing, developing and delivering Visa's VAS portfolio of products and solutions. Visa's VAS business has rapidly grown into a $9B global business that has delivered annualized revenue growth of 20% since 2018, Mr. Torre has served as Visa's Regional President for Central Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (CEMEA). During this time, he has overseen significant revenue growth, strengthened engagements with clients and partners, and expanded Visa's regional presence to 23 offices, serving more than 1,800 clients in 86 Torre originally joined Visa in 2002 in San Francisco where he held global roles in product, strategy and pricing. He became Visa's Group Country Manager in Russia in 2013 and later served as Group Country Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa before assuming his role leading CEMEA. Earlier in his career, Mr. Torre spent 12 years in the banking industry.'Andrew's experience leading Visa's fastest-growing region, his client-first approach, and his deep commercial expertise make him the standout choice to build on Antony's success and continue our strong Value-Added Services momentum,' said Mr. McInerney. 'We are in an optimal position to scale a high-growth and attractive margin VAS business rapidly, and we could not be more confident in Andrew's ability to make the most of this extraordinary opportunity.' An internal search for Mr. Torre's replacement has begun, and the Company expects to name his successor shortly. © 2000 - 2025 Al Bawaba ( Signal PressWire is the world's largest independent Middle East PR distribution service.


Jordan News
5 days ago
- Jordan News
Bank al Etihad partners with ecolytiq and Visa to integrate carbon insights tool into mobile banking app - Jordan News
Bank al Etihad is excited to announce a new partnership with ecolytiq (a Berlin-based fintech providing sustainability-focused solutions to financial institutions) and Visa to introduce a carbon insights tool within its mobile banking app, reinforcing the bank's commitment to promoting sustainability through digital innovation. اضافة اعلان The tool will provide customers with their carbon footprints based on their debit and credit card transactions. Using localised data tailored to each country and covering a wide range of lifestyle categories, it offers personalised insights into customers' consumption patterns and environmental impact, enabling them to make responsible choices for a more sustainable future. "We believe that awareness is the first step towards change," said Nadia AlSaeed, CEO of Bank al Etihad. "By allowing customers to visualise the environmental impact of their activities, we hope to encourage them to make greener choices and support the global effort to mitigate climate change." Mario Makary, Vice President and Levant Cluster Manager at Visa, added: "We are excited to announce the launch of the Visa Eco bundle with Bank al Etihad in Jordan. This collaboration embodies our commitment to innovation and our dedication to providing our customers with sustainable and convenient financial solutions. We look forward to seeing the positive impact this will have on our customers and the environment.' David Lais, Co-Founder and Managing Director at ecolytiq, said: 'As the leading digital bank in Jordan, Bank al Etihad recognises the need to adapt for the future, which includes the role they have in inspiring more sustainable behaviours. ecolytiq is proud to partner with Bank al Etihad to develop a carbon insights tool and help enable a more sustainable tomorrow for their community, while strengthening their leadership in the Levant region.' In addition to the carbon insights tool, Bank al Etihad customers will have access to a wealth of climate education content and sustainable living recommendations. This resource aims to nurture a climate-conscious lifestyle and facilitate a positive shift in consumer behaviour. This partnership underscores Bank al Etihad's commitment to environmental responsibility by leveraging its products, services, and brand to drive sustainable commerce. It also supports the transition to a low-carbon economy, aligning with the global goals of the Paris Agreement and local objectives of Jordan's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). About Bank al Etihad Bank al Etihad is a banking and financial institution dedicated to serving customers since 1987. With a strong presence in Jordan, the bank comprises several entities, including a financial brokerage company (Etihad Brokerage) and a financial leasing company (Etihad Leasing Company). Furthermore, Bank al Etihad holds a 10% ownership stake in the National Bank in Palestine and actively participates on its board of directors. In 2017, Bank al Etihad acquired a controlling stake in Safwa Islamic Bank. About Visa Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at About Visa, and @Visacemea About ecolytiq ecolytiq enables financial institutions and their customers to drive climate action. The ecolytiq product suite enriches a traditional banking experience with information to understand an individual's environmental impact, as well as personalised climate insights and actions to help measurably reduce one's carbon footprint. Having partnered with leading financial institutions such as Bank al Etihad and Visa, ecolytiq operates globally to leverage payment data for a better, more sustainable banking experience


Al Bawaba
5 days ago
- Al Bawaba
Visa Study Reveals UAE Consumers Would Shop More Online with Simpler Checkout Experience
Visa, a global leader in digital payments, today announced the findings of its 'Checkout Friction Report', which highlights strong consumer demand for a more secure and seamless eCommerce the widespread adoption of eCommerce and significant progress in growing the UAE's digital economy, opportunity remains for retailers to enhance checkout experience and increase customer research is based on a survey of 2,016 online shoppers across the GCC, including the UAE, and explores their experiences with eCommerce purchases. It examines common pain points during the checkout process that affect both consumer satisfaction and business Challenges Undermine the Rise of Frequent Online Shopping Visa's 'Checkout Friction Report' shows that one in three respondents (33%) in the UAE shops multiple times a week for groceries. For categories such as fashion, entertainment, and electronics, shopping frequency ranges from once to a few times a to 40% of respondents, the biggest frustrations with online checkouts are security concerns, followed by the hassle of entering card details manually (37%). By addressing these challenges, retailers can enhance the checkout experience which could lead to increased customer satisfaction."Challenges in the online checkout process have direct implications for businesses, resulting in lost revenue, and hampering both customer acquisition and retention. Today's consumers expect – and deserve – a more seamless and secure eCommerce experience. That's why Visa is working with partners to enable solutions like Click to Pay, which leverages biometrics and tokenization to eliminate key pain points and deliver a more convenient shopping experience. Improving these moments not only drives business results but also builds on the UAE government's achievements in building a seamless, secure digital economy,' said Salima Gutieva, Visa's VP and Country Manager for Online Shoppers Prioritize SafetyBeyond the inconvenience of current checkout options, security remains a top priority for online shoppers. According to Visa's research, 58% of consumers surveyed are worried about the risk of fraud or hacking when storing their card details on multiple websites. Additionally, 42% of respondents have experienced fraud or security and One-Click Checkouts for Better Online Payment ExperienceVisa's 'Checkout Friction Report' reveals a strong preference for a more streamlined checkout, with 65% of respondents supporting a single registration process for online payments across all participating merchants. When the option of biometric authentication was proposed, two-thirds (67%) of respondents said they would use it to check out, with many trusting biometric authentication (fingerprint/face ID) more than traditional payment methods (passwords/OTP).For businesses, the demand for simpler and safer checkout options is clear. Most respondents (82%) would shop online more frequently and be more likely to complete their purchases with a one-click checkout option. Two-thirds of the surveyed consumers (66%) show a high likelihood of using 'Click to Pay with Biometrics'' if offered by online retailers. Visa Click to Pay streamlines online shopping by providing advanced checkout experiences, eliminating the need to manually enter card details, thereby making transactions significantly faster. At participating eCommerce platforms, consumers can simply click the Click to Pay button to complete their purchase quickly and easily using their preferred Visa card and shipping address. Visa's Click to Pay relies on biometric authentication available on the consumer's device and does not require transfer of biometric data.