Saudi EXIM Bank Signs MoUs with Tajikistan's State Unitary Bank, AFESD to Enhance Access to Saudi Exports
Saudi EXIM Bank Signs MoUs with Tajikistan's State Unitary Bank, AFESD to Enhance Access to Saudi Exports
Sunday 27/11/1446
Voice reader
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
2 hours ago
- Arab News
Makkah Health Cluster brings AI-powered healthcare platform ‘iSelfie' to region
The Makkah Health Cluster has signed a cooperation agreement with Canadian company AIZTech, which specializes in AI-powered medical diagnostics, to deploy the iSelfie platform across its facilities, including King Abdullah Medical City and several major hospitals in Makkah. The signing ceremony was attended by Jean-Philippe Linteau, ambassador of Canada to Saudi Arabia; Dr. Mubarak Al-Mulhem, director general of healthcare at the Ministry of Investment; and Dr. Hatim Al-Omari, CEO of the Makkah Health Cluster, which oversees more than 10 hospitals in the city. Also present were Dr. Adel Tash, CEO of King Abdullah Medical City, and Tarek Sultan, vice chairman of Agility. The agreement was signed by Al-Omari and Mohamed Sheta, CEO of AIZTech. This marks the first agreement of its kind in the Middle East, allowing patients to benefit from instant health assessments using AI through a short facial video, with no additional hardware required. The iSelfie platform analyzes the video to extract key health metrics including blood pressure, heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, and respiratory rate. The platform will be integrated into the patient-facing screens within hospital facilities and will be used with the assistance of medical staff. Al-Omari said: 'We are proud to be the first in the Kingdom and the region to adopt this advanced technology, which reflects our ongoing commitment to harnessing the latest digital solutions to enhance diagnostic efficiency and accelerate patient care. This step marks a qualitative leap toward a more advanced and innovative healthcare system, aligned with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.' Tash added: 'In line with the spirit of digital transformation and the ambitious Saudi Vision 2030, we are pleased to launch this innovative AI-powered technology in Makkah. This launch is backed by a pivotal study conducted across the Kingdom, where the technology showed promising results when compared with 1,021 cases diagnosed using traditional medical devices. We are committed to expanding access to these advanced tools to benefit the wider community in the region.' Sheta said: 'We are honored to collaborate with one of the Kingdom's leading public healthcare institutions. This agreement is a clear indicator of the growing trust in AI-powered healthcare solutions and reinforces our belief that remote, non-invasive early diagnostics will be a core part of healthcare's future.' Ambassador Linteau said: 'Digital health innovation is gaining momentum in Canada, and Saudi Arabia is a market that is open to early adoption of innovation in the health sector.' He also expressed hope that the platform will achieve remarkable success in the early detection of health conditions in patients. The iSelfie platform has proven its effectiveness through clinical trials conducted in Saudi Arabia, the US, Canada, and Brazil, including a national study supported by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority. Results showed that the platform provides accurate readings comparable to traditional medical devices, with the added benefits of rapid assessment, accessibility, and cost efficiency. This collaboration aligns with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, which places innovation and digital transformation at the heart of healthcare development by improving the quality of life, promoting preventive care, and expanding access to modern medical services.
Arab News
4 hours ago
- Arab News
Saudi Arabia's non-oil sector growth continues in May as PMI climbs to 55.8
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's non-oil private sector registered an improvement in operating conditions in May, as the Riyad Bank Purchasing Managers' Index rose to 55.8, signaling continued economic expansion, a new analysis showed. According to the latest Riyad Bank Saudi Arabia PMI report compiled by S&P Global, the index edged up from 55.6 in April, remaining well above the 50 mark that separates growth from contraction. However, the figure remained below the recent high of 60.5 recorded at the beginning of 2025. The latest data pointed to a sharp increase in new order volumes, which rebounded after weakening in April. Companies linked the increase to stronger customer demand, improved sales performance, industrial development, and marketing efforts. Foreign orders also rose, but at the slowest pace in seven months. 'Saudi Arabia's non-oil economy maintained solid momentum in May, with the PMI rising slightly to 55.8 from 55.6. While the pace of output growth eased to its softest since September 2024, overall activity remained robust,' Naif Al-Ghaith, chief economist at Riyad Bank, said. He added: 'Firms reported improvements in demand, new project starts, and greater labor capacity as key drivers. This expansion, though slightly softer, reflects stable operating conditions and continued confidence across the private sector midway through the second quarter.' The survey showed that output continued to grow, though at a softer rate for the fourth straight month. The construction sector recorded the strongest rises in both output and new business. Employment in the non-oil sector rose sharply in May, with the increase in staffing levels among the fastest seen in over a decade. Surveyed businesses attributed this to expansion efforts and higher output needs. 'Looking ahead, sentiment among non-oil firms has strengthened visibly. Business expectations looking forward reached their highest level since late 2023. Hiring momentum remained strong as companies expanded teams to support output growth, particularly in operations and sales,' Al-Ghaith said. Meanwhile, purchasing activity surged to a 14-month high. However, firms showed greater caution toward stockpiling, resulting in a slower accumulation of inventories compared to April. The report also indicated that input prices rose sharply, mainly due to increased supplier charges for raw materials. Wage-related inflation, however, eased. Despite cost pressures, companies reduced their selling prices, largely driven by a decline in service sector charges and competitive market conditions. The survey data were collected from around 400 private sector companies across the manufacturing, construction, wholesale, retail, and services sectors.
Arab News
4 hours ago
- Arab News
Closing Bell: Saudi main index closes in red at 10,832
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's Tadawul All Share Index slipped on Tuesday, as it shed 17.66 points, or 0.16 percent, to close at 10,832.43. The total trading turnover of the benchmark index was SR3.55 billion ($946 million), with 123 of the listed stocks advancing and 106 declining. The Kingdom's parallel market Nomu gained 65.84 points to close at 27,049.84. The MSCI Tadawul Index edged down by 0.08 percent to 1,383.41. The best-performing stock on the main market was Fawaz Abdulaziz Alhokair Co., with its share price surging by 6.71 percent to SR17.50. The share price of Naseej International Trading Co. also rose by 6.14 percent to SR83. Saudi Research and Media Group also saw its stock price rising by 5.92 percent to SR150.40. Conversely, the share price of United Carton Industries Co., dropped by 3.98 percent to SR41. On the announcements front, Meyar Co. said that it received a contract worth SR1.67 million from the Municipality of Unaizah. In a Tadawul statement, the company revealed that the agreement includes the supply of curbs stones and interlock tiles to the municipality. It added that there are no related parties involved in the deal. The share price of Meyar Co. edged up by 0.93 percent to SR54. Dar Almarkabah for Renting Cars Co. said that it signed a chauffeur-driven car rental contract valued at SR6.98 million with Wareed Health Medical Co. In a Tadawul statement, the company revealed that the contract period is valid for 24 months, adding that the impact of the deal will be visible in the firm's financials during the second quarter of this year. The share price of Dar Almarkabah for Renting Cars Co. was unchanged at SR2.47.
