Bahri, a global leader in transportation and logistics, participated in Breakbulk Americas 2017, which took place in Houston, Texas, from Tuesday through Thursday.
Bahri said the participation “reinforced its position through its three-decade-long presence in the US, marked by excellence and achievements.”
The Bahri booth at Breakbulk Americas was opened by Sultan bin Abdullah Al-Angari, consul general of Saudi Arabia in Houston, during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on the first day of the annual event. It was attended by Amal Al-Ruwaii, director for trade and investment at the Saudi embassy in US; Ricky Kunz, chief commercial officer, Port of Houston Authority; Jeffrey Blair, director for Europe and Middle East, Greater Houston Partnership; Wael Al-Sarhan, senior vice president — marketing and communication, Bahri; Matthew Luckhurst, vice president — liner services, Bahri Logistics; and Stephen Blowers, US country manager, Bahri Logistics.
Al-Sarhan, senior vice president — marketing and communication, Bahri, said: “Houston is home to one of the busiest ports in the world and Bahri is considered one of the most important clients to Port of Houston Authority due to the strong relationship between Bahri and the port that extends back more than three decades. Our participation in one of the world’s largest industry-leading exhibitions reinforces our growing presence in this strategic region and is considered another important milestone after the opening of our Houston office earlier this year. Breakbulk Americas is the ideal platform for Bahri to showcase its capabilities and expertise to its global customers, and highlight its leadership position in project cargo transportation and logistics in the West-Arabian Gulf corridor.”
“As a Saudi organization, we are extremely proud of what we have achieved so far. Through our active participation in local and international events, we are keen to contribute effectively toward achieving the Saudi Vision 2030 and strengthening its position as a global leader in the transportation and logistics sector and as an important global logistics hub that connects the three continents of Asia, Africa, and Europe together,” added Al-Sarhan.
Bahri Group, which is the world’s largest VLCC owner and operator with 40 oil tankers, continued with its fleet expansion by recently accepting delivery of “Rimthan,” a 300,000-dwt carrier built by Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries (HSHI) in South Korea, with an expected six more VLCCs to be received by 2018.

GE Power recently signed a deal with the First National Operations and Maintenance Company (NOMAC), a wholly owned subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power. The agreement seeks to implement GE’s APM solution, powered by Predix at 26 thermal, wind and solar power generation and water desalination sites.
The facilities are located across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, Morocco, Jordan, Turkey, South Africa, Bulgaria and Vietnam.
Together, they generate more than 22,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity and over 2.5 million cubic meters of water per day. NOMAC provides operations and maintenance services at these facilities and APM will help them reduce unscheduled downtime and maintenance duration, as well as to increase operational efficiency and reliability at the plants.
The agreement was signed by Julio Torre Gutierrez, president and CEO of NOMAC, and Bhanu Shekhar, chief digital officer of GE Power in the Middle East and Africa, in the presence of other senior executives from both companies at GE Digital’s 6th Annual Minds+Machines Conference held in San Francisco on Oct. 25 and 26.
Gutierrez of NOMAC said: “With our growing geographic footprint, it is vital that our technological capabilities match our expanded reach. GE’s APM solution is an excellent fit for our requirements, enabling us to serve our customers and the communities they power better by enhancing the availability of uninterrupted, reliable and more affordable electricity.”
APM will help NOMAC to collect, analyze and visualize the data that is crucial to asset health at its monitoring centers in Dubai and Jeddah and prioritize work by understanding the true status of an asset, as well as determining which assets are most critical to the overall health of operations. It will enable NOMAC to predict equipment and process issues with greater accuracy before they occur and assure the mechanical integrity of assets.
GE’s APM solution is powered by Predix, which is GE’s application development platform for the Industrial Internet.
Shekhar of GE said: “GE’s agreement with NOMAC underscores both the significant focus on driving better efficiency and reliability across the power generation industry, as well as the tangible cost benefits that digital technologies bring to the sector globally.
By embracing the digital transformation today, leaders such as NOMAC are enabling the future success and competitiveness of their organizations.”

Landmark Arabia, a leading retail and hospitality conglomerate in the Middle East, has launched SADAD for its customers in Saudi Arabia. Shoppers can now use this digital payment method to pay for their online purchases electronically from their SADAD account. This feature is available on HomeCentre.com, Centrepointstores.com, SplashFashions.com, MaxFashion.com, BabyshopStores.com, ShoeMartStores.com and LifestyleShops.com, as well as their iPhone and Android apps.
“We’re thrilled to announce the launch of SADAD as a new form of online payments on our brand sites and apps,” said Savitar Jagtiani, chief digital officer, Landmark Group.
“We understand how important SADAD is for our millions of Saudi customers as their gateway for electronic bill payments. In addition to paying by cash, debit cards, credit cards and Shukran loyalty points, paying by SADAD is now another safe, simple and convenient way to shop our brands online.”
To pay using SADAD, customers need to create a SADAD account and load it with money from their bank account. Once this is done, customers can shop any product from one of the brand sites or apps and select SADAD from the payment options available during checkout. Shoppers will then be redirected to their SADAD sign-in page where they can enter their SADAD username and password and proceed to pay for their order.
SADAD is one of Saudi Arabia’s most trusted payment systems. The group said it was a priority for them to integrate SADAD at the earliest. Following its online brand launches in July and August, a multi-disciplinary team within the group’s web team worked to make launching SADAD a reality.
SADAD was established in 2004 by the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA), as a way for customers to pay their bills digitally. In 2016, SAMA launched SADAD Account, which is a secure online payment option designed especially for online shopping. At the moment, 12 leading banks in Saudi Arabia offer the facility to set up a SADAD account. These include National Commercial Bank (NCB), Samba Financial Group, Riyad Bank, Saudi British Bank (SABB), Aljazira Bank, Al-Rajhi Bank, Arab National Bank (ANB), Saudi Investment Bank (SAIB), Banque Saudi Fransi, Alawwal Bank, Alinma Bank and Bank Albilad. Customers on Landmark Arabia’s shopping sites and apps can also pay by cash on delivery, credit cards, debit cards and Shukrans.

Honor, a leading smartphone e-brand, has announced Saudi Arabia and the UAE as the next destination for its latest phone, 7x. The Honor 7x features a 5.93-inch screen, dual rear cameras, and a speedy eight-core processor. It comes in three color options: Gold, Aurora Blue and Black.
The Honor said its footprint has increased considerably in the space of three years spanning across 74 different countries and regions, with sales revenues topping $6 billion and 40 million units shipped globally in 2015.
Chris Sun Baigong, vice president of Huawei Honor Middle East and Africa CBG, said: “2017 was an exciting year for us, we were able to design, develop and launch 6x and Honor 8; this is a testament to our unique and highly efficient e-business model. Our customer-centric approach caters to the fast-changing needs of digital natives by staying at the forefront of trends in technology. Honor 7x has already received immense demand globally, and we are proud to honor our commitment to the Middle East and Africa by offering cutting-edge technology and superior user experiences that inspire creativity and empower the youth.”
The Honor 6x recently received awards at the International CES 2017 for its “Double or Nothing” excellence. The Honor 6X was the only smartphone to nab a spot in Digital Trends’ “Top Tech of CES 2017” list, with the publication citing the device’s “stylish looks, snappy performance, solid battery life and outstanding screen resolution generating high quality photos.” The company expects the Honor 7x to reap more awards and to break new records also at CES next year.
The Honor broke records with the launch of its flagship The Honor 9 that registered an unprecedented 100 percent increase in sales within Gitex 2017, an eight-day electronic retail show in the UAE.

Mahmood Saleh Abbar Co., Casio agent in Saudi Arabia, opened the latest Casio “G-Shock” store in Abha’s Al-Rashid Commercial Center on Oct. 23.
Spread over a 75-square-meter area in a prime location, the store features the latest generation of G-Shock watches, including high-end models.
The event was attended by Ayman Kamil Tawfiq, assistant general director for Casio Affairs; Mohammed Ali Basurrah, director of Casio department of Abbar Company; Abdulrahman Al-Ahmari, branch manager of Khamis Mushyat, in addition to clients, distributors and a large number of shoppers.
Tawfiq said the selection of Abha as the location of the new store aims at being active in the southern market.
With the new addition, there are six G-Shock stores in the Kingdom.
Tawfiq highlighted the 40-year-old strong commercial ties and strategic partnership between Abbar Company and Casio, “contributing to the desired success and common interests in the business of the Kingdom.”
The G-Shock store’s opening in Abha comes as part of a series of outlets to be opened later in Villagio Commercial Center and Queen Building in Riyadh, a statement from the company said.
The company aims to increase the points of communication with customers and create marketing channels in order to attract shoppers, organize promotional activities and strengthen the brand of Casio watches especially the brand of G-Shock, the statement said.

Baskin-Robbins recently opened its 500th Saudi store in Dammam.
To mark the milestone, Galadari Ice Cream Company (GICC), master franchisee for Baskin-Robbins in the Middle East, and its subsidiary Jumeirah Trading Company Ltd. (JTCL), along with Dunkin’ Brands International, partner company of Dunkin’ Donuts, called a press conference on Nov. 1 at the Sheraton Dammam Hotel & Convention Centre.
The event was attended by a number of senior representatives from the companies, including Bill Mitchell, president of Dunkin’ Brands International; Mohammed Yahya Kazi, member of the executive committee of the board of directors of GICC; John Varghese, vice president of Dunkin’ Brands International, Shabeer Shah, general manager of GICC; and Osama Saleh Yadkar, deputy general manager of JTCL.
Dunkin’ Brands International President Mitchell told Arab News: “The opening of our 500th store is a major event for us because our partnership with Galadari has been in place for 35 years and they have been a wonderful partner. They have helped us test new flavors and images ... we have built a very close relationship over the years.”
Baskin-Robbins is the world’s largest chain of ice cream specialty shop restaurants. Based in Canton, Massachusetts, it was founded in 1945 by Burt Baskin and Irv Robbins in Glendale, California.
The company is known for its “31 flavors” slogan, with the idea that a customer could have a different flavor every day of any month. The slogan came from the Carson-Roberts advertising agency (which later merged into Ogilvy & Mather) in 1953.
Mitchell added: “Our founders who created the concept in 1945 started the slogan and we believe in it today, it makes people happy.”
Kazi of GICC said: “This ice cream industry in the Kingdom has gone from strength to strength, achieving an annual growth rate of six percent. We are growing along with the industry at a comparable rate.”
The company has focused on increasing its customer reach by opening outlets in new geographic regions and introduced the concept of neighborhood stores across Saudi Arabia, offering convenient home delivery options and entering into tie-ups with reputed local aggregators.
Baskin-Robbins aims to focus on delivering flavors that are close to the Saudi culture, such as dates. “We know that the Saudis love flavors such as caramel, cream, vanilla and dates. So we are working on new flavors that incorporate these elements,” Mitchell added.
As part of its commitment to local economic development, JRCL also adopted an ambitious Saudization policy to recruit and develop local talent, from frontline staff to senior executive management.
Over 37 percent of Baskin Robbins’ staff are Saudis. It has also been an active partner of the Disabled Children’s Association since 2012.
GICC currently operates more than 800 stores across the GCC. It is also a joint venture partner with Dunkin’ Brands for the Baskin-Robbins business in Australia where there are currently more than eight locations. Baskin-Robbins currently has more than 7,900 restaurants in 52 countries around the globe.
The company has introduced more than 1,000 flavors since 1945.

The Chairman of the Board of Directors of Redan Company, Awadallah bin Ahmed Al-Sulami, inaugurated, last Wednesday, the company’s new branch in Obhor, north of Jeddah. The company had announced the date of launching through the Tadawul website.
The opening ceremony was attended by a large number of media professionals and senior officials of the company. Mansour Al-Sulami, managing director of Redan, said that the opening of the new branch is a fulfilment of the company’s promise to its customers and in line with its expansion strategy announced at the company’s public offering in February. “The new branch is different from all other branches, where we combine the ancient past in the quality of oriental taste of cuisine, and the present in terms of creative design and presentation method, in addition to the healthy meals and new products that will be launched through this section specifically,” he said.
Al-Sulami added: “Redan Company continues its expansion activities to meet the growing demands of its customers. The expansion plans to be witnessed in the coming period will include the opening of the company’s first branch in Madinah. The new branch is nearing completion, located in Bani Mu’awiya District on Prince Mohammed bin Abdul Aziz Street in front of Al-Raya supermarket.”
The company said in a statement during the opening that it is launching two new branches in Makkah and a new branch in Jeddah. Malls will also be a major target in the company’s expansion plan. “The small branches in malls aim at creating an ancient character and civilized style of food to be suitable to all tastes and categories of society, based on researches, studies and a true understanding allowing the company be closer to its customers,” it said.

Former England international and Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has been showing off some of the football skills that saw him play in three FIFA World Cups and win six Premier League titles during his trip to Dubai.
Ferdinand, who helped launch the first-ever Dubai fitness challenge, an initiative by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, crown prince of Dubai, encouraging residents to do 30 minutes of exercise for 30 days, has also spent a week in the emirate training aspiring footballers at an exclusive training program hosted by the Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach.
Ferdinand chatted with British Airways about the highlights of his Dubai trip, and urged others to follow the emirate’s lead with a city-wide fitness challenge.
“The Dubai Fitness Challenge was really fun and I was happy to be involved,” said Ferdinand. “Fitness is a way of life, you can’t just wake up and be fit. I train regularly, not just for fitness but for the mind too.”
Prior to Ferdinand’s flight to Dubai, Rio and British Airways Captain Rick Basnett enjoyed a friendly kickabout outside British Airways’ First Wing at Terminal 5 in London Heathrow, with Ferdinand displaying some of the deft touches that saw the London-born center-half earn 81 England caps.
“Your 30 minutes a day can be anywhere, as we showed in the airport. Just grab a ball, a group of friends and have a kickabout; even on your own, kick a ball against a wall, run along the beach with it. Anything, just get into the habit of being active and make it part of your routine.”
Ferdinand added: “Over the past week, I saw a city come together to encourage each other to adopt a healthier lifestyle. You don’t find such determination and leadership in many places and I’m keen to see more cities around the world, including us in London, challenge ourselves to stay fit and support each other.”
“When I fly I usually look forward to settling down and getting into a good action or thriller movie,” he said. “I’ve got into documentaries recently though and I really enjoyed I am Bolt! — the Usain Bolt documentary; he’s a massive Manchester United fan. Then I’ll most likely eat and have a snooze; I don’t think I’ve ever flown without sleeping, I always get my sleep in and put my cap over my face, hoody up and sleep.”

nogaholding, the investment and business development arm of National Oil and Gas Authority (NOGA) in Bahrain, and Schmidt Heilbronn inaugurated on Wednesday its new joint venture facility, Schmidt Logistics Bahrain.
The $20 million facility is expected to create around 100 jobs in the logistics sector (directly and indirectly). Located in the Bahrain Logistics Zone, it will support the zone’s expanding operations, particularly in the chemical and petrochemical logistics market.
Mohamed bin Khalifa Al-Khalifa, Bahrain’s minister of oil and chairman of nogaholding, said: “We would like to congratulate Schmidt on the launch of our new joint venture facility here in Bahrain, where there is great demand for its highly-specialized services.”
“Our new facility will have a significant positive impact on the regional chemical and petrochemical industries and facilitate quicker and easier transportation of goods around the GCC. Through our partnership with Schmidt we are proud to have supported the establishment of this facility, and will continue to provide support for its operations in the future.”
Thomas Schmidt, CEO and managing partner of Schmidt Group, said: “This new development is a reflection of the huge growth we see in the regional logistics industry. It also represents the confidence we have in Bahrain as one of our key strategic operational bases in the Gulf region. We originally chose to locate a significant proportion of our services in Bahrain because of the strong transportation links with neighboring countries, excellent logistics infrastructure and supportive regulations.”
He added: “We are now in a position to be able to capitalize further on these competitive advantages and expand our regional offering.”
Khalid Al-Rumaihi, chief executive of the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB), said: “The manufacturing and logistics sector is one of the strongest in the Kingdom and Bahrain attracted more than $200 million of investment into this sector in the first half of the year — investments that will create more than 1,000 jobs over the next three years. Joint investments such as Schmidt Logistics Bahrain enable the growth of this world-class industry and attract companies with specialized expertise and operational skills to Bahrain to support the supply chain, creating high-quality employment opportunities for the local market.”
Joint efforts from nogaholding, the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications, Bahrain EDB, Supreme Council for the Environment and Customs Affairs have led to the establishment of Schmidt Logistics Bahrain.

Standard & Poor’s (S&P), the world’s leading financial and credit rating agency, has affirmed its outstanding rating for the Company for Cooperative Insurance (Tawuniya) in 2017, granting it an “A-” rating with a “stable” outlook, the highest rating among insurance companies operating in Saudi Arabia.
In its report, S&P stated that Tawuniya’s strong performance, coupled with its earnings in 2016 and the first half of 2017 were key factors in the high rating. It said Tawuniya’s risk-based capital adequacy has further improved, reflecting strengthened capital position and competitive position as the leading insurance company in the Saudi market.
S&P further noted that Tawuniya’s high rating is aligned with the sovereign ratings on Saudi Arabia, given that Tawuniya operates only in Saudi Arabia.
Tawuniya CEO Abdul-Aziz Al-Boug said the rating affirms the great potential of Tawuniya in providing insurance protection to individuals and businesses that is on par with the highest international standards.
He added: “For 12 consecutive years, Tawuniya has maintained a distinguished global credit rating as a result of the company’s family and employees’ cumulative efforts, clear strategic vision, and the ability to innovate new programs and services. These are the key factors that have enabled the company to grow year after year.”
Al-Boug said the high credit rating “reflects strong confidence in a company’s financial capabilities, technical expertise and its ability to provide wide-ranges and sufficient insurance cover for large economic projects.” As a result, he noted, it gives clients full confidence in their dealings, reassures stockholders in their investment in the company and satisfies requirements to work with global re-insurance companies.
Tawuniya achieved a strong performance in 2016, as its gross premiums amounted to SR8.1 billion ($2.16 billion), achieving the highest market share of 22 percent. The net income increased to SR733, the shareholders’ equity amounted to SR2.9 billion and the total assets raised to SR13.5 billion. As a result of the profitable earnings, Tawuniya’s capital adequacy improved to the “AA” level in S&P model from “BBB” previously.

Al-Akaria, a leading Saudi real estate development company, has launched a panoramic elevator dedicated to women in a commercial center in Olaya. The move aims to enhance the number of elevators for employees and visitors and to ensure privacy for female employees and trainees.
The new elevator also aims to meet the needs of Al-Akaria's clients from companies and business firms.
“Al-Akaria has continuously upgraded its services, maintained safety and security in its facilities using the latest safety systems. It has conducted emergency evacuation training for its employees to permanently ensure their safety. That is why Al-Akaria offices and commercial centers have become a permanent destination for business owners, shoppers and visitors,” the company said in a press statement.

The new LG Signature brand from LG Electronics has launched four new premium products in the Saudi market. These include: the world’s thinnest OLED television, which “takes the immersive viewing and listening experience to the next level;” a sleek refrigerator with a Door-in-Door feature to keep food fresher; a black stainless steel washer and white all-in-one washer/dryer unit, and an intuitive Air Purifier designed to filter the air in any home in any environment.
“From conception to the final user experience, the LG Signature products were designed to highlight true essence — focusing on each product’s basic yet efficient functionality whilst maintaining the brand’s modern, premium and artistic signature design,” said Eddie Jun, managing director of LG Electronics Saudi Arabia.
He added: “The LG Signature range of products is an extension of the user’s personality, ambition as well as status and also marks the very first time that individuals residing within the region can experience the most aesthetically beautiful home appliances turning their living spaces into highly functioning and visually stunning masterpieces.”
Sheikh Ammar Al-Naghi, CEO of Al-Naghi, said: “By developing this range of premium home appliances, LG has demonstrated the true essence of everyday living in the Kingdom and across the region. We are confident that the LG Signature line-up of products will be a great success whilst enriching lives enabling timeless memories. LG Signature represents the pinnacle of design, performance and usability in home appliances. It has been committed to making life better for consumers offering the highest performance, minimal design, and innovative usability.”
Home appliances available in the LG Signature line-up of products for the GCC include: LG Signature OLED TV W7, LG Signature Refrigerator, LG Signature TWINWash System, and LG Signature Air Purifier.
All LG Signature products will be available at the LG brand shops and leading retail stores across the GCC.

Jotun has revealed the 2018 color trends under the theme of “Rhythm of Life” — a collection of 36 new colors that will define homes around the globe for the year to come.
Jotun’s color specialist tap into design trends in global cities; pour through research reports that come in from their global network; look at the ways in which people’s lifestyles are changing with the modern world. They have collated the 36 colors into three themes each focused on a different mood and mode of modern living.
“Our research identified three trends that are common to inhabitants of every global city: Our longing for the restorative power of nature; our dream of a calmer, slower-paced way of life in the sun and our desire to make the most of our increasingly compact urban living spaces in minimalist but creative ways. We have designed our color card as a tool to help people express these impulses in their homes — mixing and matching the colors in the way that best reflects their own identity,’ said Rana Khadra, color and creative manager at Jotun Middle East, India and Africa (MEIA).

The 9th edition of Decofair 2017, Saudi Arabia’s exclusive furniture and interior design exhibition, was inaugurated by President of Umm Al-Qura University Bakri Assas on Monday. Experts and investors at the event predicted that international companies entering the furniture market in Saudi Arabia and forming local alliances will transform the Kingdom into the largest furniture market in the Arab world.
Such partnerships will give rise to innovation and high standards in the field of home furnishings, design, décor and supporting sectors, they said.
Over 120 exhibitors representing nine major specialized sectors and from nine countries participated in Decofair 2017 held at the Jeddah Hilton Hotel, receiving visitors daily from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. The four-day event ran from Nov. 6-9.
Assas toured the exhibition pavilions with business owners and members of the organizing committee. He was briefed on diverse and inclusive products in the fields of furniture, design, lighting, home accessories, textiles, upholstery, kitchen products, sanitary ware, designs and architectural services, showcased by international and Arab participants.
Haya Al-Sunaidi, chairman of the organizing committee, said that some international companies have joined the Saudi market for the first time.
“There is a need for more local alliances to reduce imports and create products that meet the goals of Vision 2030, as well as contribute to creating training and employment opportunities for Saudi youth,” she said.
Al-Sunaidi said the event brought together companies that are keen to boost their presence in the Saudi market, whether directly or through partnerships, and supported by the recent reforms adopted by the Kingdom. It is an opportunity for cooperation, trade communication and an exchange of experiences between international and Saudi companies.
“Starting Monday, a specialized jury of leading architects, international designers and real estate developers will assess participants for the ‘2017 Best Design Award’ — a professional platform to support creative designers and to highlight their designs and projects, through which business professionals and decision-makers can communicate and collaborate with them,” Al-Sunaidi said at the opening ceremony.

flyadeal, Saudi Arabia’s new low-fare airline, flew its first flight to Dammam landing at King Fahd International Airport on Wednesday (Nov. 1).
The new flight from Jeddah non-stop to Dammam is part of flyadeal’s expansion plan across the Kingdom, serving key gateway cities.
Chairman of flyadeal, Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser said: “The early success of flyadeal has been largely attributed to meeting our customers’ demand for new destinations, prompting the start of additional frequencies and launch of new routes in a short period of time. We are pleased to now be expanding to our third destination — Dammam — in just five weeks, since the start of the airline.”
Turki A. Al-Jawini, CEO of Dammam Airports Company (DACO), congratulated Flyadeal on the commencement of operations to and from KFIA. He said the addition of flyadeal to the DACO family will add value to the airport specifically and to the region at large and is on track to contribute to development of tourism in the Eastern Province.
Al-Jawini also indicated that the increased competition among carriers operating in Saudi Arabia will help to drive down costs.
Con Korfiatis, CEO of flyadeal, said: “We are excited to mark yet another milestone for flyadeal as we start flying to Dammam. This was made possible with the arrival of Al-Sayf, our third aircraft, which has helped us broaden our reach across the Kingdom allowing more customers to experience everyday low fares. We are delighted to make our entry into the dynamic industrial hub of Dammam and the Eastern Province. We are launching with one daily flight in the morning and adding an evening flight on Nov. 15. This twice a day schedule was created with both, business and leisure travelers in mind. The flights went on sale on Oct. 24 on flyadeal.com and the sales have been very strong.”
flyadeal’s new route to Dammam was a popular choice among customers on social media platforms. flyadeal is expected to announce new routes in the coming months as it continues to expand operations across Saudi Arabia and the region.

The Saudi Telecom Company (STC) recently participated in “Capacity Europe2017,” the largest annual meeting in Europe for the global carrier community, in London.
STC represented by its wholesale sector won an award in the “best operator for wholesale services in the Middle East” category.
The award is considered one of the most prestigious in the field in the Middle East region.
Each year, distinguished operators from around the world are nominated for the award.
The award was received by Homoud M. Al-Kussayer, wholesale vice president, STC. Al-Kussayer had earlier participated in a panel discussion about the strategic issues for telecom services and development of modern infrastructure in the wholesale field.
“Winning the award affirms the company’s leading role in the area of wholesale services at the local, regional and international levels. It is a continuation of STC’s successes in the previous years,” the telecom giant said in a statement.

The Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) and GE Power have signed two technical agreements to promote scientific research and development (R&D) for the power sector in the Kingdom. The collaborations will identify innovative solutions to develop and install new systems that will boost gas turbine efficiency and productivity. The research will also focus on reducing the amount of ash that results from fuel combustion.
Khalid Al-Rashed, executive vice president of engineering and projects, SEC, said: “The first agreement aims to promote research that will help reduce the cost of power generation and power plant maintenance. The second will focus on installing a new system of fuel additives in gas turbines to reduce the water-washing cycle and increase capacity by reducing the amount of ash that results from fuel consumption during the power generation process. The agreements highlight our commitment to leverage advanced technologies to reduce costs and dependence on oil resources, and to meet environmental standards.”
The two agreements are part of SEC’s ongoing collaboration with GE to promote R&D in the power generation sector. “It underlines the commitment of both companies to drive a culture of localized innovation and to identify cutting-edge solutions that will help boost the efficiency of the Kingdom’s power infrastructure,” a press statement said.
“We have a long-term relationship with SEC, and we are committed to further strengthening it through these technical collaboration agreements,” said Hisham Al-Bahkali, president and CEO, GE Saudi Arabia & Bahrain. “The focus on localized R&D to enhance the efficiency and productivity of the power sector supports the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.”
“The new agreements underline our commitment to co-create localized solutions that will support the Kingdom’s power infrastructure,” added Eissa Aqeeli, president & CEO of GE’s Power Services business in Saudi Arabia. “We are confident the collaborations will lead to innovative solutions that will benefit SEC and the Kingdom — not only through greater optimization in resource use but also by nurturing the skills of Saudi professionals in energy-sector research.”
GE and SEC have long supported the development of Saudi Arabia’s power generation sector by bringing industry-leading innovations to the country. In 2016, GE and SEC inaugurated the Saudi PowerGen Efficiency Center (SPEC) for gas and steam turbines, which is operated by SEC across its power plants.

JEDDAH: The Jeddah-based alumni of India’s historic Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) on Thursday celebrated the bicentennial celebrations (1817-2017) of the university’s founder Sir Syed Ahmed Khan.
The most prominent guest at the event at Jeddah’s Crowne Plaza Hotel was AMU Vice Chancellor Professor Tariq Mansoor. The event was organized by the AMU Old Boys Association’s Jeddah Chapter.
The university’s alumni hold many responsible and prominent positions in Saudi Arabia in the fields of academia, industry, health care, media, medicine and engineering.
Among the other guests were Consul General Noor Rahman Sheikh, Ameer Ahamed, chairman, Manappat Foundation, and prominent Riyadh-based educationist Nadeem Tarin.
The Jeddah Chapter of the AMU Old Boys Association is headed by Azizurrab A. Mohammad. Nooruddin Khan is vice president; Asim Zeeshan is general secretary and Ather Rasool is treasurer.
Talking to Arab News, the vice-chancellor praised the alumni community in Saudi Arabia.
“Saudi Arabia’s alumni network is one of the best because of the active participation in AMU work. The alumni are helping in the development of the university. Recently, they donated a significant amount for the smart classroom project. I have thanked them for their hard work and commitment,” he said. “The alumni association in Riyadh, in cooperation with the Jeddah association, is constructing a hostel for 15,000 students at AMU India, named Riyadh Hostel,” he said.
The vice-chancellor discussed the virtues of tolerance, pure morality, knowledge, large-heartedness, and free inquiry among AMU students and staff.
“Our top priority is to develop research and innovation at AMU. We are starting new employment-oriented courses such as a college of nursing, paramedical college, veterinary college and institute of pharmacy,” he said.
He added that the central government had recently given the university a total of 900 million Indian rupees ($13.9 million) for the development of these projects at AMU.
“Total integrity will be my priority. It is non-negotiable,” he said.
Mansoor said: “My aim is to maintain transparency within our system. We have a clear transparent system provided by the Indian government in order to avoid the misuse of funds.”
Mansoor said that there were many issues related to teachers, students, non-teaching staff including law and order problems on the campus. There are always some undesirable elements trying to disturb the peace of the university.
“I want the AMU campus to become more tolerant, democratic, with a greater scientific temperament. It should be open to ideas,” he said.
AMU is offering thousands of scholarships for Indian and foreign students with the aim of providing a high-quality education.
“We are a residential university and 16,000 students live on campus. We have students from 31 states and union territories. AMU has more than 800 foreign students from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Iran, Yemen, Jordan, Syria and North African countries,” he said.
AMU offers hundreds of courses in 303 departments. The university has approximately 22,000 students at the higher level and 15,000 students in school.
“We are open to collaboration with Saudi universities in the field of geology, petrochemicals, petroleum studies and chemical engineering and West Asian studies. The AMU library is one of the best in the world. Many scholars from Egypt, South Africa, West Asia come for the library. We have also established a modern Qur’anic center in collaboration with Oxford University,” he said.
Mansoor said that AMU had a large alumni network spread all over the world including in the US, Europe, West Asia, the Middle East, and New Zealand among others.
He said that the university had signed agreements with different universities including the University of Washington, Ohio State University, the University of Massachusetts, the University of Sharjah, Queen Elizabeth Hospital in the UK, among others.
“Kuwait University is eager to sign an agreement in the field of petrochemicals, chemical engineering and management; hopefully we will sign the agreements in the near future.”
A surgeon by profession with a special interest in breast and thyroid diseases, Mansoor has 33 years of teaching and 35 years of clinical experience. He has 90 publications to his credit and has guided 49 postgraduate medical students for their theses as supervisor/co-supervisor.

General Motors Co. (GMC), the major global truck and SUV manufacturer, has announced the launch of “Like A Pro,” a campaign evolving its “We Are Professional Grade” positioning.
The campaign illustrates the core values of “We Are Professional Grade” and shows the emotional connection customers have with their GMC trucks and SUV models.
Sajed Sbeih, head of brand for GMC Middle East, said: “Our campaign is about doing the ordinary in an extraordinary and professional way. We have long recognized that GMC customers have exceptional standards and are dedicated individuals, whose passion and abilities set them apart. This is why ‘Like a Pro’ encapsulates the fundamental approach to life that we see every day in our customers. We believe that this campaign will strike a powerful chord with our audiences.”
The campaign content will feature GMC Denali trucks and SUVs — the pinnacle of Professional Grade. Earlier this year, GMC Denali models passed the 1 million sales milestone and represent nearly 30 percent of GMC retail sales. The campaign also boasts the all-new GMC Terrain, which joins the hot-selling, recently redesigned GMC Acadia in the GMC SUV lineup.
Built on the philosophy of “We are Professional Grade,” GMC has manufactured pickups since 1902. With a rich heritage in the Middle East and an impressive 115 years of presence, innovation and engineering excellence is built into all GMC vehicles. The brand is evolving to offer more fuel-efficient pickups, crossovers and SUVs.
The GMC portfolio in the Middle East features the Terrain SUV, Acadia Crossover, and Sierra half-ton pickup, Yukon, and Yukon XL full-sized SUVs. All models are available in the premium Denali trim. GMC also offers customers a high-level aftersales service experience. For more information, visit www.gmcarabia.com.

Do you want to do more with your phone? Watch more videos, play more games, snap more photos, and share more of life’s experiences. For the person who always wants more, HTC has announced the launching of HTC U11+, squeezing even more screen and battery into a more slender device.
The HTC U11+ takes the popular HTC U11 and plus-sizes it with a 6-inch display, gigantic battery, and more in a stunning liquid surface body that is even slimmer than the HTC U11.
The HTC U11+ lets you enjoy more with:
l A bigger screen on a smaller device: A 6-inch display with 18:9 aspect ratio will make the HTC U11+ your new favorite way to watch movies and play games — and it still fits comfortably in your hand.
l Do more of everything for longer: A 3,930mAh battery you can depend on will set your mind at ease as you do more of the things you love for longer.
l Edge Sense is better than ever: Using the HTC U11+ is a breeze with one hand, thanks to Edge Launcher, which lets you access notifications and all your apps with a single hand, and Edge Sense, which lets you squeeze to perform your most common useful actions.
l Pushing the boundaries of design: Elegant translucent glass back that provides a delightful, intimate look and feel.
l Amazing cameras, intelligent voice assistants, the loudest ever HTC BoomSound with 30 percent more volume, HTC USonic earbuds with Active Noise Cancellation, IP68 weather-resistant liquid surface design, and the latest Android Oreo experiences with Qualcomm power.
l The HTC U11+ comes equipped with an even better camera than the HTC U11, which was awarded a remarkable DxOMark Mobile score of 90 3. The new improvements in HTC U11+ will reward you with spectacular and crisp image quality.
l Full-sensor phase detection autofocus on the HTC U11+ is the same technology found in top DSLR cameras, while HDR Boost technology produces dynamic photographs without slowing down.
l The new 8MP front camera incorporates the same powerful HDR Boost and noise reduction technology as in the main camera. Take great selfies with precise details and vivid colors — even in low light. The HTC U11+ offers the same award-winning video quality as the HTC U11.
l UltraSpeed autofocus captures clear video during action moments, and Acoustic Focus with 360° audio recording creates playback that sounds like you never left.