Latest news with #Diriyah
Zawya
14 hours ago
- Business
- Zawya
King's College Riyadh welcomes Jacqueline Doran-McGuinness as new Principal
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: King's College Riyadh is delighted to announce the appointment of Mrs Jacqueline Doran-McGuinness as its new Principal, effective August 2025. Her appointment follows a meticulous international recruitment process led by the King's College Board, Interim Headmaster Mr Martin Clark, and the leadership team at King's College UK. With over twenty years of teaching experience and seventeen years in senior leadership roles across the UK and the Middle East, Mrs Doran-McGuinness brings a wealth of expertise to the role. A University of Glasgow graduate in Biosciences, she began her career in England before moving into leadership positions at premium British curriculum schools in the UAE, including a recent seven-year tenure with a leading education group. Her appointment marks a significant milestone in the continued growth of King's College Riyadh, the first British independent school to open in the Kingdom through a direct partnership with a UK institution. The school blends over 145 years of academic excellence and heritage from King's College UK with a dynamic, forward-looking vision at the heart of Diriyah. Commenting on her new role, Mrs Doran-McGuinness said: " It's a real privilege to be stepping into the role of Principal at King's College Riyadh. I'm honoured to be part of such a vibrant community and am committed to working closely with pupils, families and staff to ensure every child benefits from an exceptional education grounded in the values and vision of King's College.' Mr Martin Clark, who has served as Interim Headmaster for the 2024–25 academic year, will remain in post until the end of the academic year. His close collaboration with incoming Mrs Doran-McGuinness throughout the year, including her recent campus visit, has ensured a structured and seamless leadership transition. The school's ethos is anchored in six core values, the 'golden thread' that binds together all pupils who walk through the gates of a King's College school: Academic Focus, Curiosity, Care for Others, Respect and Tolerance, Endeavour, and Leadership and Enterprise. These values are woven into all aspects of school life, from a thriving co-curricular programme with over 110 clubs, to innovative initiatives such as the Drone and Architecture Clubs, the Junior Dukes Award, and global learning experiences through international trips. As part of its continued growth, the school will open its senior phase with the addition of Year 7 in the 2025/26 academic year, alongside the extension of specialist teaching from Year 5, enhanced Arabic and Islamic Studies and an expanded programme of residential trips and competitive sport. These developments are complemented by ongoing campus enhancements to the school's art and science labs, sports facilities, and recreational areas. The appointment of Mrs Doran-McGuinness represents a continued commitment to academic excellence, character development, and cultural awareness, ensuring that every pupil is equipped with the confidence, curiosity, and compassion to succeed. For more information and media enquiries: Plus 1 Communications / Nachwa@ About King's College Riyadh King's College Riyadh is a premium British international school for boys and girls aged 3 to 11, offering a world-class education in the heart of Diriyah. Opened in August 2021 as part of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City's International Schools Attraction Programme, it is the first British private school to establish a presence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in partnership with a prestigious UK school. Affiliated with King's College UK, the school draws on over 145 years of academic excellence and tradition, delivering a British curriculum enriched with Arabic language, Islamic Studies, and Saudi Social Studies. King's College Riyadh prepares pupils to achieve their full potential while maintaining a strong connection to their cultural heritage.
CBC
19 hours ago
- Business
- CBC
Saudi Arabia is opening up its economy and its society. Why has Canada been so slow to capitalize on that?
Social Sharing There are many ways to measure just how much Saudi Arabia has changed in recent years. Bumping into Montreal businessman Sruli Richler at an ancient historic site is one of them. Richler is an observant Jew, who has a beard and wears a yarmulke under his ball cap. He stopped for a visit at the country's former capital Diriyah, just outside Riyadh, which is in the midst of an immense $63-billion US restoration project. Just in case the presence of an overtly Jewish man in the staunchly conservative Islamic kingdom caused any friction, Richler jokingly pulls out a "Make America Great Again" cap from his bag — a precaution, he says, in case he wants to blend in quickly with the numerous U.S. visitors. But by and large, he says he was welcomed graciously throughout Saudi's capital. "I honestly thought it would be much more hostile," he told CBC News in Riyadh. "Everyone is very calm and very relaxed and it was pleasant to do business." Richler — a distant cousin to the famous Canadian writer Mordecai and his journalist son Noah — is in what he calls the "reverse logistics" business. That is, his company finds money-making uses for items people return to stores that can't be resold. "I'm looking to do business in Saudi. It's an up-and-coming country," he said, of his reconnaissance trip. "When you land here, you are pleasantly surprised. I believe that when you bring businesses together, it brings people together. It's a road to the future." Frozen relations But that's not how many other Canadians — including senior members of the current Liberal government — have always viewed the world's second-largest oil producer. In 2018, Canada's Global Affairs Department, overseen by then-foreign minister Chrystia Freeland, sent out a series of tweets criticizing Saudi Arabia's human rights record and calling for the release of an activist with ties to Canada. An enraged Saudi government accused Canada of meddling in its internal affairs. It expelled Canada's ambassador in Riyadh and took the unusual step of freezing trade links between the two countries and ordering thousands of Saudi university students studying in Canada to return home. Later that same year, Canada imposed sanctions on 17 Saudis linked to the murder and dismemberment of Jamal Khashoggi, a prominent critic of Saudi leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Khashoggi was killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. As the deep freeze in relations set in, trade, cultural and political contacts between the two countries became casualties. Things only resumed five years later in 2023, when both sides finally agreed to appoint new ambassadors and resume full contacts. Canadian mining executive Jeffrey Steiner, who heads up the Canada-Saudi business council, says he visited Saudi 28 times over a four-year period, in part to try to help mend fences. "We really worked behind the scenes and we encouraged both sides to see what advantages there are to co-operate. It took a couple of years, but the situation is now very good," he said in an interview in Riyadh. "We are playing catch-up, but very rapidly making progress." In a statement to CBC News, Global Affairs Canada acknowledged the improved situation. "Canada is enjoying an increasingly healthy and productive bilateral relationship with Saudi Arabia," it said. On the issue of human rights, the statement noted that Saudi Arabia participated in a UN-sponsored review of its human rights record and that Canada was "pleased" with the collaboration. "Canada also welcomes the progress brought on by Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, notably the empowerment of women and their increasing participation in society and the economy." Vision 2030 is an immense effort by bin Salman to change practically every aspect of Saudi's society and its economy, to help the kingdom transition away from relying so heavily on the production of fossil fuels. On the social side, the change has been dramatic. Many of the onerous restrictions on women have been removed, and now more than 36 per cent of the workforce is female, with women holding top jobs in public corporations and the private sector. Following the restoration of political ties, between February 2024 and February 2025, trade between the two nations surged 82 per cent. Canada's largest export to Saudi Arabia, valued at $1.1 billion in 2023, was armoured vehicles, the bulk of which are LAV armoured cars produced at the General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada, in London, Ont. Saudi's largest export to Canada remains oil — about $1.5 billion worth in 2023, most of which was refined at the giant Irving refinery in Saint John, N.B. But Canadian proponents say existing two-way trade represents a fraction of what's possible. Mining would be "a great area," to develop, says Steiner, who was attending a networking event in Riyadh. He says there are also growing opportunities for Canadian firms dealing in health care, IT and artificial intelligence. In his public remarks during Donald Trump's recent visit to Saudi, the crown prince underscored that the kingdom's door to foreign investment is wide open. "Today we hope for investment opportunities worth $600 billion. We will work in the coming months on the second phase to complete deals and raise it to $1 trillion," bin Salman told the audience. Lacking presence? But a former Canadian ambassador to the region says unless Canada moves faster and more strategically to harness the emerging opportunities in the region it risks missing out — again. "You're seeing the reordering of the world. And this place and the region really matter," said Arif Lalani, who headed up Canadian embassies in Jordan, Iraq, Afghanistan and the United Arab Emirates over a long career. "That's why you are seeing everybody come here … and increasingly, it's got to matter to Canada." During Trump's visit, his U.S. entourage included not only most of his senior cabinet ministers but also the CEOs of many of the world's largest corporations. Trump made a similar splashy trip to Saudi on his first official visit of his first presidential term in 2017. Conversely, the last time a sitting Canadian prime minister visited Saudi Arabia was Jean Chrétien in 2000 — a quarter-century ago. "I think for years and years, Canada has not been present in this region at a political level, at a high level," said Lalani. "The leadership of the country has to show that they're behind whatever the diplomats and the business people are trying to do." "Canadians have been missing and I think that that has to change if we want to diversify." While there are still human rights issues, the country is unrecognizable from just a few years ago, says Canadian political scientist Janice Stein, who was in Riyadh at the same time as our CBC visit. "Canadians need to look at the trend lines in Saudi Arabia, at what's improving and what is deteriorating," she said. "If there is sustained evidence that women ... have far greater opportunities than then did five years ago, that should matter." She said she believes Saudi Arabia is moving in the right direction on a number of key indicators. "To me, that makes the glass half full rather than half empty."
Mid East Info
a day ago
- Business
- Mid East Info
Diriyah Company Strengthens China Tourism Links with High Profile Participation at ITB Shanghai - Middle East Business News and Information
3-day presence follows Diriyah's highly successful cultural activation in Shanghai Diriyah – May, 2025 – Diriyah Company is strengthening its tourism ties with China this week through a high-profile presence at the prestigious ITB Shanghai travel trade show, taking place from 27-29 May. The event will allow Diriyah to engage with leading Chinese travel agencies, airlines and other key stakeholders in China's rapidly growing hospitality sector. It comes at a time when Chinese visitors to Saudi Arabia are growing rapidly, with a milestone of 140,000 visitors from China to the Kingdom in 2024. This influx was driven by a simplified online visa process and growing air connectivity. It marks ongoing progress toward the Kingdom's goal of welcoming 5 million Chinese visitors annually by 2030. ITB Shanghai follows a successful three-day cultural activation that Diriyah Company hosted on a standalone site in the city where over 1,000 people had the opportunity to experience a wide range of Saudi cultural traditions demonstrated by artisans and craftsmen as well as meet the Diriyah team. Diriyah's Shanghai presence, held at the North Bund International Passenger Center, offered guests a chance to sample traditional Saudi coffee, experience the aroma of rare spices and marvel at the skills demonstrated by traditional weaving workshops. As the number of Chinese travelers to Saudi Arabia continues to grow, Diriyah is offering the opportunity for tailored experiences, from curated galleries with Chinese-speaking guides to dining in one of the many Saudi and global culinary experiences located in Bujairi Terrace and Zallal. Authentic hospitality experiences await visitors at the recently opened Bab Samhan, a Luxury Collection hotel, the first of Diriyah's nearly 40 hotels, set in a landscape that celebrates centuries of Saudi history and heritage. In October last year, Diriyah Company also participated in presenting Saudi heritage and culture to a global audience from a Chinese UNESCO World Heritage Site through its stand at the Visit Saudi pavilion during the 'Saudi Travel Festival' in Beijing, China. China is also playing a vital role in Diriyah's development with many of its leading construction firms appointed to work on several key projects across the 14 square kilometer development area. The firms include China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) who are working on the Northern District and Royal Diriyah Opera House; China Harbour Engineering Company is undertaking bulk excavation works and a joint venture between China Railway Construction Corporation Limited Saudi Branch and China Railway Construction Group Central Plain Limited for the relocation of a number of King Saud University facilities. Diriyah stands as a symbol of the growing cultural and economic ties between the two nations and will foster and strengthen even closer links through its presence in Shanghai at ITB and its hugely successful cultural activation. About Diriyah: Diriyah, Saudi Arabia's premier historical, cultural, and lifestyle destination, is a key component of Saudi Arabia's 2030 Vision. A short 15-minute drive from Riyadh's city center, this 14-square-kilometer development holds historical significance as the birthplace of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, dating back to 1727. Currently being developed by Diriyah Company, Diriyah is undergoing a transformation into an authentic Najdi-style mixed-use urban community. Diriyah's centerpiece is At-Turaif, the UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed in 2010, showcasing the ancient adobe capital city of the First Saudi State, dating back to 1766. Upon completion, Diriyah will host more than 100,000 residents, workers, students, and visitors, offering a diverse range of cultural, entertainment, retail, hospitality, education, and residential spaces. The first of those spaces include Bujairi Terrace, Riyadh's new premium dining hub with over 20 global and local restaurants and cafes that enjoy uninterrupted views of At-Turaif. Bab Samhan, a Luxury Collection Hotel is the first hospitality offering in Diriyah, providing a tranquil experience with panoramic views of Wadi Hanifah. Diriyah's development provides a dynamic environment that celebrates Saudi Arabia's rich cultural history. About Diriyah Company: Diriyah Company was launched in January 2023 and joined the Public Investment Fund's (PIF) portfolio of giga-projects. The Company is responsible for developing the Diriyah project, the birthplace of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its foremost historical, cultural, and lifestyle destination. A dynamic mixed-use developer, Diriyah Company is redefining urban planning to develop Diriyah, 'The City of Earth', while adhering to the highest design, development, and preservation standards. The company ensures Diriyah's cultural landmarks are complemented by world-class retail offerings, fine-dining experiences, and leading hospitality brands. As a PIF company, Diriyah Company's mission focuses on opportunities in development, hospitality, investment, retail, and office leasing, along with strategic asset management, underscoring the commitment to ensuring successful business outcomes and sustainable growth under the strategic direction of Vision 2030. The Diriyah Company actively forges long-term partnerships to realize its vision of establishing Diriyah as one of the world's greatest gathering places.
Tourism Breaking News
3 days ago
- Business
- Tourism Breaking News
Diriyah backs Saudi drive to attract 5 million Chinese tourists, debuts at ITB China 2025
Post Views: 35 In an exclusive interview with TravTalk Middle East, Naif Hassan Awlia, Tourism and Engagement Director of Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, shared insights into the destination's debut at ITB China. Representing Diriyah for the first time at the event, Awlia emphasized the strategic importance of China as a key source market, aligning with Saudi Arabia's broader tourism vision. 'As part of Diriyah's tourism ecosystem, we closely follow the National Tourism Strategy,' Awlia explained. 'China is a priority market for us. With the Kingdom targeting 150 million visitors annually by 2030, 5 million of those are expected to come from China—and we intend to play a significant role in achieving that goal.' He highlighted the purpose of their participation at ITB China: to connect with leading travel trade partners, including platforms such as Alibaba and and tailor their offerings to resonate with Chinese travellers. 'We're here not only to tell our story but to understand and align with the narrative that appeals to the Chinese market,' he concluded.
Asharq Al-Awsat
5 days ago
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Arabia's Diriyah Named Among Global Eco-Friendly Destinations for 2025
Saudi Arabia's Diriyah has been named one of the Global Eco-Friendly Destinations for 2025 by the British travel platform Wanderlust, which annually highlights leading destinations committed to sustainable tourism. The recognition stems from a joint effort between the Saudi Tourism Authority and the Diriyah Gate Development Authority, which submitted a comprehensive nomination highlighting Diriyah's initiatives in environmental, cultural, and tourism sustainability. Chief Executive Officer and Board Member of the Saudi Tourism Authority Fahd Hamidaddin stated that Diriyah's selection underscores the Kingdom's growing commitment to sustainability in tourism. 'This recognition is a testament to our strategy of empowering local partners and showcasing national destinations in international markets,' he said. 'It further solidifies Saudi Arabia's position on the global tourism map as the fastest-growing destination in the world.' Chief Executive Officer of the Diriyah Gate Development Authority Jerry Inzerillo said: 'This international recognition highlights Diriyah's role as the cradle of the Saudi state and our dedication to preserving its heritage while applying the highest environmental and cultural sustainability standards.' 'We value the continued collaboration with the Saudi Tourism Authority, which is instrumental in promoting Saudi destinations on the world stage.' The recognition reaffirms the Kingdom's expanding global presence in tourism, driven by Vision 2030. The Saudi Tourism Authority continues to support its partners across the tourism ecosystem, aligning efforts to meet ambitious national targets. In 2024, the Kingdom welcomed approximately 116 million visitors and remains on track to reach its goal of hosting 150 million visitors by 2030. This growth is supported by significant infrastructure investments and vibrant tourism seasons featuring hundreds of immersive experiences and partnership opportunities.
