Latest news with #KingKhalidUniversity


Arab News
4 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Study outlines forest fire prevention plan
RIYADH: The National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification has completed a study to enhance forest protection and reduce wildfire risks in support of environmental sustainability goals. Titled 'Forest Fire Prevention and Post-Fire Recovery in the Southern and Southwestern Regions of Saudi Arabia,' the study was conducted in collaboration with King Khalid University and Monash University in Australia. It includes an assessment of forest conditions and risk factors, the development of a digital database, and a review of preventive measures and community practices, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday. The study proposes an integrated response plan involving relevant agencies, with defined roles and the use of modern tools such as early warning systems and drones. It also offers field designs and sustainable alternatives for strategic firebreaks, a post-fire recovery guide, a performance evaluation tool, and a framework for joint operations. To support this, the study outlines a mechanism for engaging local volunteer teams in forest areas through training, capacity-building, and coordination with authorities. The study demonstrates institutional, technical, and community collaboration in forest protection. It reflects Saudi Arabia's efforts to preserve natural resources and address climate-related challenges while balancing development with ecosystem conservation. The national center continues to promote sustainable vegetation cover and has launched an initiative to plant 60 million trees — equivalent to restoring 300,000 hectares — by 2030.


Leaders
4 days ago
- Business
- Leaders
ARDARA Launches First-Ever Lifestyle Community at AlWadi Destination
Prince Turki bin Talal bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Aseer Region and Chairman of ARDARA, officially announced the launch of ARDARA's first modern lifestyle community at AlWadi. The announcement took place during the second Aseer Investment Forum, held at King Khalid University in Abha, and included new details about this landmark destination. ARDARA, fully owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), is leading the development. This milestone project highlights ARDARA's mission to create integrated residential and tourism destinations that elevate the Aseer Region's profile within the national development framework. It reflects the company's strong commitment to sustainable urban planning and enhancing quality of life. The initial phase of the project includes a diverse range of offerings: A five-star hotel with approximately 180 rooms A four-star hotel featuring around 245 rooms 40 luxury branded apartments and 42 luxury branded villas 62 premium apartments 4,500 square meters of high-end retail space Public amenities such as walking and cycling paths, and environmentally friendly mobility solutions In pursuit of world-class hospitality standards, ARDARA has signed a letter of intent with Hilton to operate a Waldorf Astoria hotel within the development. Further expanding its vision, ARDARA signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Sumou Holding to develop future phases of AlWadi. These will include mixed-use urban communities that integrate residential, hospitality, and entertainment elements—aligned with the National Tourism Strategy and grounded in principles of sustainability and smart urban development. The potential value of this partnership stands at SAR 1 billion. ARDARA, SEDCO ARDARA also entered a strategic MoU with SEDCO Capital to manage an investment fund worth SAR 1 billion for the development of an urban project in Abha. Additionally, the initiative aims to blend residential, hospitality, and entertainment components to drive economic and tourism growth in the Aseer Region. Furthermore, ARDARA signed an MoU with Southern Province Cement Company to promote sustainable urban development practices. The agreement covers the supply of eco-friendly 'green cement,' joint greening and community initiatives, and technical knowledge sharing—contributing to both environmental sustainability and construction excellence across the region. 'The launch of our first lifestyle community in AlWadi represents a unique investment opportunity in Aseer,' said Naif bin Saleh Al-Hamdan, Managing Director of ARDARA. 'It offers exclusive waterfront properties and a vibrant community that honors Saudi heritage while embracing modern living. Finally, the strategic partnerships we announced today underscore our commitment to innovation, sustainability, and investment value—fully aligned with the Public Investment Fund's initiatives and Saudi Vision 2030.' Related Topics: IARDA Licenses 40 Tour Guides Culture Ministry Launches Saudi-Chinese Cultural Year 2025 Riyadh Art Completes Installation of Davide Rivalta Sculptures 'The Neighbors of the Moon': an Ideal Tourist Destination in Jizan Short link : Post Views: 21


Leaders
4 days ago
- Business
- Leaders
Aseer Investment Forum Showcases Promising Tourism, Development Prospects
The third workshop of the second edition of the Aseer Investment Forum, hosted at King Khalid University in Al Faraa, featured a dynamic session titled 'Aseer: One Journey, Unforgettable Experiences.' The event brought together key figures and experts from the tourism, investment, and development sectors to spotlight the region's emerging opportunities. Aseer Investment Forum Participants identified the Aseer Region as a leading destination on the national tourism map, praised for its rich cultural heritage and diverse natural environment. They noted the region's strong appeal to investors, citing its supportive infrastructure and skilled workforce. Eng. Hashem Al-Dabbagh, Acting CEO of the Aseer Region Development Authority, highlighted the ambitious goals of the 'Aseer Season,' which aims to attract 9 million tourists by 2030. He reaffirmed the region's potential to become a top-tier destination for both local and international visitors. Related Topics : Saudia, Aseer Development Authority Cooperate on Boosting Tourism 'Aseer Manuscripts Exhibition' Showcases Region's History, Culture Mohammed bin Salman Project Revitalizes Al-Oudah Mosque in Diriyah Under Historic Initiative Saudi Development Fund Announces $90m for Infrastructure Dev't in Caribbean States Short link : Post Views: 1 Related Stories


Zawya
16-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
ZainTECH secures commercial license in Saudi Arabia
Attaining 'national entity' status empowers ZainTECH to scale its advanced solutions across key sectors of digital IoT, cybersecurity, drones, AI, and cloud services Reinforces company's commitment to Vision 2030 of driving innovation, strategic partnerships, and investment in local talent and digital infrastructure Riyadh, KSA — ZainTECH, the integrated digital solutions provider of Zain Group, has achieved a significant milestone in its regional expansion strategy by securing a commercial license in Saudi Arabia that will pave the way for the entity to set up its regional offices in the Kingdom. This transition from an investment license to a full national entity status cements ZainTECH's long-term commitment to the Kingdom, allowing it to scale its advanced technology solutions across key sectors such as digital IoT, cybersecurity, drones, AI, and cloud services. The strategic move underscores ZainTECH's deep commitment to Saudi Arabia's digital transformation ambitions, fully aligning with Vision 2030. By strengthening its local presence, the company is poised to forge stronger collaborations, drive meaningful innovation, and provide tailor-made solutions that address the evolving needs of businesses and government entities in the Kingdom. Andrew Hanna, CEO of ZainTECH, said: 'Saudi Arabia is a vital market for us, and securing national entity status marks a defining moment in our growth journey. This step facilitates the opening of our regional offices and will allow us to operate with greater agility, contribute to the Kingdom's digital economy, and reinforce our mission to deliver world-class technology solutions that empower businesses and government bodies to better serve the dynamic and digitally savvy local community.' As part of ZainTECH's expansion to the Saudi market, the company is actively exploring strategic partnerships with both public and private sector organizations to accelerate the adoption of next-generation solutions that enhance efficiency, security, innovation and business resilience. This expansion is also set to create new opportunities for local talent, strengthen the Kingdom's digital infrastructure, and accelerate the adoption of emerging technologies across industries. The commercial license comes on the back of ZainTECH's recent participation at LEAP 25 whereby the company announced a multitude of agreements with local entities including: King Khalid University that aims to revolutionize digital education in the Kingdom; with both Najm Insurance Group and Diamond Policy and its SHAHIN Platform to drive digital transformation, cybersecurity and technological advancements in KSA's insurance sector; as well as with Leejam Sports to drive the future of digital fitness in the Kingdom and beyond. By deepening its footprint in Saudi Arabia, ZainTECH is doubling down on its investment in cutting-edge digital services, reinforcing its role as a key player in the region's technological evolution. With a focus on AI-driven solutions, cloud advancements, and enterprise security, the company is well-positioned to support the Kingdom's vision for a sustainable, technology-driven economy. About ZainTECH ZainTECH is a regional integrated digital solutions provider, unifying Zain Group's ICT assets to offer a unique value proposition of comprehensive digital solutions and services under one roof. The company is positioned to drive the transformation of enterprise and government customers in the MENA region by providing a center of excellence and managed solutions across the ICT stack, including cloud, cybersecurity, modern infrastructure, big data, IoT, AI, smart cities, drones and robotics, and emerging technologies. ZainTECH leverages Zain's global reach, unique regional footprint, and infrastructure across its operations in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, Iraq, and the United Arab Emirates, as well as in other key markets in the Middle East. ZainTECH forms a key pillar in the evolution of Zain's core telecom business to maximize value and build on the company's many strengths to selectively create and invest in growth verticals beyond standard mobile services. This ultimately supports Zain's vision of becoming a leading ICT and digital lifestyle provider.


Zawya
15-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
ZainTECH secures commercial license in Saudi Arabia, paving the way to set up regional head offices in the Kingdom
Reinforces company's commitment to Vision 2030 of driving innovation, strategic partnerships, and investment in local talent and digital infrastructure ZainTECH has cemented its position as a leading ICT digital solutions provider to enterprises and government bodies across the MEA region Riyadh, KSA — ZainTECH, the integrated digital solutions provider of Zain Group, has achieved a significant milestone in its regional expansion strategy by securing a commercial license in Saudi Arabia that will pave the way for the entity to set up its regional offices in the Kingdom. This transition from an investment license to a full national entity status cements ZainTECH's long-term commitment to the Kingdom, allowing it to scale its advanced technology solutions across key sectors such as digital IoT, cybersecurity, drones, AI, and cloud services. The strategic move underscores ZainTECH's deep commitment to Saudi Arabia's digital transformation ambitions, fully aligning with Vision 2030. By strengthening its local presence, the company is poised to forge stronger collaborations, drive meaningful innovation, and provide tailor-made solutions that address the evolving needs of businesses and government entities in KSA. Saudi Arabia is a vital market for ZainTECH, and securing national entity status marks a defining moment in its growth journey. This step facilitates the opening of regional offices and will allow the company to operate with greater agility, contribute to the Kingdom's digital economy, and reinforce its mission to deliver world-class technology solutions that empower businesses and government bodies to better serve the dynamic and digitally savvy local community. As part of ZainTECH's expansion to the Saudi market, the company is actively exploring strategic partnerships with both public and private sector organizations to accelerate the adoption of next-generation solutions that enhance efficiency, security, innovation and business resilience. This expansion is also set to create new opportunities for local talent, strengthen the Kingdom's digital infrastructure, and accelerate the adoption of emerging technologies across industries. The commercial license comes on the back of ZainTECH's recent participation at LEAP 25 whereby the company announced a multitude of agreements with local entities including: King Khalid University that aims to revolutionize digital education in the Kingdom; with both Najm Insurance Group and Diamond Policy and its SHAHIN Platform to drive digital transformation, cybersecurity and technological advancements in KSA's insurance sector; as well as with Leejam Sports to drive the future of digital fitness in the Kingdom and beyond. By deepening its footprint in Saudi Arabia, ZainTECH is doubling down on its investment in cutting-edge digital services, reinforcing its role as a key player in the region's technological evolution. With a focus on AI-driven solutions, cloud advancements, and enterprise security, the company is well-positioned to support the Kingdom's vision for a sustainable, technology-driven economy. A Regional Powerhouse ZainTECH has cemented its position as a leading ICT digital solutions provider to enterprises and government bodies across the MEA region. The company continued to expand its capabilities, strengthen strategic partnerships, and deliver innovative solutions across its growing portfolio, which now includes cloud, cybersecurity, data & AI, drones & robotics, digital solutions, modern infrastructure, and software licensing. With AI and sustainability at the core of its transformation strategy, ZainTECH focused on advisory-led engagements to accelerate time-to-value benefits for clients, helping them transition to more intelligent, energy-efficient digital solutions. Continually keeping pace with the growing regional demand for enterprise ICT solutions that leverage AI capabilities and drive sustainable digital transformation, the company's innovative services have received numerous international and regional accolades. These include being named the 'Most Innovative AI and Data Science' company, as well as the 'Most Innovative Enterprise' company regionally at the Fast Company 2024 Awards and as 'Digital Transformation Leader of the Year' at the Tech Innovation Awards 2024. The entity was also recognized as a 'Major Player' in the IDC MarketScape for MEA Public Cloud IaaS Services 2024 and Cloud Professional Services 2024— a testament to its cloud leadership. Furthermore, ZainTECH also maintained a strong presence on the regional stage, participating and leading conversations on a more sustainable, AI-driven future at key industry events, including GITEX and AI & Web3 Festival in Dubai, COMEX in Muscat and LEAP in Riyadh. About ZainTECH: The regional integrated digital solutions provider, unifying Zain Group's ICT assets to offer a unique value proposition of comprehensive digital solutions and services under one roof. The company is positioned to drive the transformation of enterprise and government customers in the MENA region by providing a center of excellence and managed solutions across the ICT stack, including cloud, cybersecurity, modern infrastructure, big data, IoT, AI, smart cities, drones and robotics, and emerging technologies. ZainTECH leverages Zain's global reach, unique regional footprint, and infrastructure across its operations in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, Iraq, and the United Arab Emirates, as well as in other key markets in the Middle East. ZainTECH forms a key pillar in the evolution of Zain's core telecom business to maximize value and build on the company's many strengths to selectively create and invest in growth verticals beyond standard mobile services. This ultimately supports Zain's vision of becoming a leading ICT and digital lifestyle provider. For more information, please visit For more information, please visit