Latest news with #AlwaleedPhilanthropies
Arab News
17-07-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Saudi Arabia's NCNP drives non-profit growth, global ties at World Expo
OSAKA: Saudi Arabia's National Center for Non-Profit Sector (NCNP) is expanding at a rapid pace with the number of registered NPOs surpassing 5,700 last year. In a bid to capitalize on the situation and position Saudi Arabia as a global leader in the sector, the NCNP brought together leading voices from the Kingdom's non-profit organizations (NPOs) for a high-profile panel discussion and for a separate U-Table meeting at the World Expo in Osaka. NCNP hosted the panel session — The Future of Non-Profits — at the Saudi Pavilion to highlight how the Kingdom has advanced the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through non-profit entities. The panel demonstrated the NCNP's goal of activating the Kingdom's SDGs through innovation, collaboration, and strategic partnerships. The panel featured HRH Princess Luluah Bint Nawaf Al Saud, President of the Board at Mawaddah Association for Family Stability (MAFS), Reem Abukhayal, Media and PR Manager of Alwaleed Philanthropies, and Dr. Abdullah AlMuhanna, Vice President of Sector Empowerment at National Developmental Housing Foundation (Sakan). NCNP's International Communication lead, Alaa Alghamdi addressed the successful models and initiatives led by Saudi NPOs and the challenges and opportunities in scaling impact through innovation, partnerships, and sustainability. 'We were very excited to highlight how NCNP is building a sustainable future through non-profit innovation during our informative panel discussion,' Mishari Alturaif, GM of Government Outsourcing at NCNP, said. 'The Future of Non-Profits discussion underscores the ambitious efforts that NCNP is putting into supporting innovation across the local and global non-profit sector through constructive dialogue and engagement.' NCNP also hosted a U-Table meeting with leading Saudi and international NPO's that introduced NCNP and its international collaboration goals. Participants from the Saudi nonprofit sector included Bunyan Charity, the National Developmental Housing Foundation (Sakan), Saudi Food Bank, and Alwdad Orphanage Care. The participants exchanged best practices in non-profit governance and public-civil partnerships and identified areas for future collaboration aligned with national priorities and SDGS. They also discussed the importance of shifting the mindset in the non-profit sector from one that focuses on charity to one of development, allowing for social innovation and entrepreneurship to support economic growth. 'At the U-Table, we had the opportunity to learn about how NCNP is partnering globally to advance non-profit solutions for a better world, solutions that support economic growth and innovation,' Sadakazu Ikawa, co-founder and Executive Director at the Trust Based Philanthropy Japan and Manager at the AVPN. 'We look forward to working with NCNP to activate solutions that help achieve sustainable development worldwide.' In Osaka, the NCNP team also met with the Japan Foundation to explore opportunities for collaboration with Japanese entities and to exchange international expertise and best practices in the non-profit sector. Under NCNP's leadership, Saudi Arabia's non-profit ecosystem has expanded rapidly. The number of registered NPOs surpassed 5,700 last year, with over 6,000 fundraising licenses issued and more than 2,000 active civil associations. Volunteerism has surged from just under 23,000 in 2015 to 1.2 million in 2024. Thirty government entities now contribute to non-profit development, showing their rising national importance. Thus, NCNP continues to serve as the Kingdom's catalyst for non-profit growth, linking local action with global collaboration to unlock sustainable impact.
See - Sada Elbalad
24-02-2025
- Politics
- See - Sada Elbalad
Princess Lamia Bint Majed Al Saud Reappointed for 3rd Term as Goodwill Ambassador for UN-Habitat in Arab States
Her Royal Highness Princess Lamia Bint Majed Al Saud, Secretary-General of Alwaleed Philanthropies, has been reappointed as UN-Habitat's Goodwill Ambassador for the Arab region for a third term from 2025 to 2026. Since her appointment as the first-ever UN-Habitat Goodwill Ambassador for the Arab region in 2020, Princess Lamia has been an advocate for safe, sustainable, and resilient cities, gender and youth inclusion, and innovation-driven urban development. Her leadership has been instrumental in advancing UN-Habitat's mandate to promote adequate housing and sustainable urbanization across the region. Over the years, Princess Lamia has helped UN-Habitat mobilize resources to support crisis response, assist communities in building back better post conflict, and ensure access to adequate housing for all. In her renewed role for 2025-2026, Princess Lamia will continue to champion UN-Habitat's goals, with a special focus on integrating innovation to enhance environmental sustainability. Her work will build on her longstanding commitment to advancing urban resilience and fostering partnerships across the region. 'It is with great pride that I continue to champion the creation of cities that are not only resilient and sustainable, but also inclusive and empowering for all. It is an honour to work towards a future where every individual, regardless of gender, age, or background, has access to the opportunities and services essential for their prosperity. Together, we can build a world where innovation fosters positive change, and no one is left behind," said HRH Princess Lamia. Anacláudia Rossbach, UN-Habitat's Executive Director, expressed her enthusiasm for the renewed partnership: 'We are excited to have Her Royal Highness Princess Lamia continue her role as UN-Habitat Goodwill Ambassador for the Arab region. The voices of influential leaders like HRH are instrumental in amplifying UN-Habitat's mission across the region and beyond to fast-track progress towards a better quality of life for all urban dwellers. Her continued advocacy will strengthen our efforts to shape a more inclusive and resilient urban future for generations to come, addressing major challenges like the global housing crisis.' Rania Hedeya, UN-Habitat Regional Representative for Arab States, added: 'Her Royal Highness Princess Lamia's role has been key in promoting sustainable urban development, particularly during these challenging times in our region. Her advocacy has helped spotlight critical issues such as resilience building and crisis response in Arab cities. We are confident that with her continued engagement, we will make an even greater impact in addressing the urban challenges of the future.'
Gulf Business
06-02-2025
- Business
- Gulf Business
LEAP 2025: New Tech Arena to offer ‘Live TV' platform
Running from February 9-12 at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Centre in Malham, the fourth edition of LEAP will explore 'The Future of Tech' through immersive showcases in robotics, artificial intelligence, healthcare technologies, and mixed reality. Attendees will experience live demonstrations and hands-on interactions with emerging technologies. Industry leaders including Aramco, L'Oreal, Adobe, Ericsson, Alwaleed Philanthropies, XAR Labs, Devoteam, and Engine VR will showcase the latest trends and advancements. Exploring Robotics, AI, and Beyond The Tech Arena will feature a 'Live TV' platform, offering real-time demonstrations and discussions hosted by BBC Click's Lara Lewington and Spencer Kelly. Visitors will engage with innovations in AI, mixed reality, fashion technology, and brain-computer interfaces. A key highlight will be Anouk Wipprecht's Tech Couture exhibit, where robotic dress collections integrate engineering with fashion. Adobe's 'Project Primrose' will present digital dress technology, introducing dynamic textiles with adaptive designs. AI-Driven Healthcare Solutions Tech Arena will also showcase medical technology advancements, including Aramco-backed Terra Drone's long-range medical delivery system, which aims to improve healthcare access in remote areas. Aramco will also introduce SARA (Saudi Aramco Robotics Assistant), an AI-driven assistant designed to enhance decision-making and streamline operations. US-based Engine VR will present its Golden Gloves VR platform, which uses virtual reality for immersive boxing training. UFC fighter Andrew Sanchez will conduct live demonstrations, giving attendees the opportunity to experience the platform. Global Innovation at LEAP 2025 Alwaleed Philanthropies will present Atlai, an AI tool designed to monitor deforestation and support global conservation efforts. XPANCEO will showcase smart contact lenses that integrate computing power into a lightweight wearable device, offering new ways to interact with digital information. Dr. Valentyn Volkov, co-founder of XPANCEO, commented: 'We are excited to introduce our smart contact lenses at LEAP 2025's Tech Arena. This technology represents a step forward in AR vision solutions.' Annabelle Mander, Executive Vice President of Tahaluf, which co-organises LEAP with the Saudi Ministry for Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) and the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming, and Drones (SAFCSP), highlighted the opportunities available to participating startups. 'The Tech Arena offers a platform for emerging technologies and innovators to connect with industry leaders, investors, and technology enthusiasts,' said Mander. 'With more than 170,000 attendees expected, exhibitors will gain significant exposure and valuable feedback.' The Tech Arena is one of two new segments introduced at LEAP 2025, alongside the SportsTech stage. These additions support Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 goals of fostering innovation and technological growth. LEAP 2025 will take place from February 9-12 at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Centre, Malham. For more details, visit
