King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) has signed an agreement with Elm, a joint stock company owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF) and a digital solutions company in Saudi Arabia, to collaborate in research and development on joint educational programs and events.

The agreement formalized a long history of collaborative partnerships between the two organizations and was signed on the KAUST campus in Thuwal by Amer bin Hashim Al-Qahtani, vice president of research and innovation at Elm, and Dr. Kevin Cullen, vice president of innovation and economic development at KAUST. In 2018, both organizations partnered to deliver two hackathons on the KAUST campus focused on energy and smart city solutions. Elm also sponsored KAUST students to attend Junction hackathon, Europe’s largest, at the end of 2018.

“The exchange of knowledge with industry is an important focus for KAUST as economic development is a key part of the university’s mission. This cooperation agreement will present new and exciting opportunities for entrepreneurial training as well as the development of applied and specialist scientific skills that will play a crucial part in creating Saudi Arabia’s knowledge economy, contributing to Vision 2030,” said Dr. Cullen.

He added: “Scientific activities such as technical courses and boot camps will provide increased opportunities for education and employment and also give access to the research expertise of KAUST’s world-leading faculty.” 

“This agreement is part of Elm’s research and innovation strategy which seeks to contribute to Vision 2030 by building a long-term strategic relationship with KAUST in fields of scientific research. This will lead to the building and operation of joint digital labs, attracting outstanding and talented students and adopting their ideas, setting up specialized collaborative training programs for students in Elm and supporting KAUST in events related to technology, innovation and creativity,” said Majid bin Saad Al-Arifi, executive vice president of marketing at Elm. 

This cooperation agreement will support Elm’s belief that knowledge is an essential element of economic and social development. Together, KAUST and Elm seek to support the youth of Saudi Arabia and cultivate innovative minds to accelerate the development of a knowledge-based economy in step with today’s digital world.

Guests of Cartier were treated to an unforgettable evening at the late King Faisal’s palace Qasr Al-Maather, situated in the heart of the Alfaisal University in Riyadh, as the maison unveiled its latest high jewelry collection Coloratura. 

The evening was held under the patronage of Princess Maha bint Mishari, vice president of external relations and advancement at Alfaisal University. In her opening remarks, she said: “The new friendship between maison Cartier and Alfaisal University is about the shared values and goals that we have in the areas of education and the empowerment of women.”

Princess Maha added: “Cartier’s global efforts as well as the great heart and commitment of the entire Cartier team were so very apparent in the spectacular exhibition created, as evidenced by the great care taken in preparation of the historic venue for the evening’s event.” 

Coloratura took the guests on a journey to the four corners of the globe, symbolic of Cartier’s long-standing relationship with India, Africa and the Orient. With dynamic stone pairings, unexpected color palettes and the illusion of infinite movement, Coloratura also featured exclusive pieces, created by Cartier especially for its Saudi clients.

Held in one of the Kingdom’s most iconic building, Coloratura was presented in conjunction with an exhibition of pieces from the Cartier Patrimony Collection, especially flown in for the occasion and illustrating the maison’s main creative influences throughout its history. A key piece of the exhibition was the Asma Allah Al-Husna bracelet, featuring a 19th century Islamic arts inspired creation.

“The legacy of the House of Cartier is ensured through the brilliance of its artisans, as is the legacy of Alfaisal ensured through that of its students. Shared values, mutual interests, and a commitment to education are what binds this collaboration for now, and for success in all its future endeavors to come,” said Princess Maha.

The guests witnessed and appreciated Cartier’s mastery of fine craftsmanship through pieces from the Tutti Frutti collection. A marriage of texture, color and form with sapphires, rubies and emeralds, Tutti Frutti possesses a unique style that dates back to the 1920s. 

“After Paris, Tokyo and Seoul, we are proud to offer our Saudi clients this stunning showcase of Cartier’s know-how in their home country,” said Alban du Mesnil du Buisson, managing director Cartier Saudi Arabia. 

“We are very pleased to have our event open to the public on one of the exhibition days, and truly honored to host it inside this unique and culturally significant structure that symbolizes the Kingdom’s commitment to nurturing and educating its community and youth — a philosophy that echoes Cartier’s values,” he added.

Pakistan International School Jeddah — English Section (PISJ-ES) held its second model United Nations conference recently — a simulation of the UN intended to give students some insight into diplomatic norms and global issues.
The program formally began with a recitation of verses from the Holy Qur’an, followed by the national anthem of Pakistan.
The auditorium was designed to replicate the solemn, professional setting of the United Nations.
Sixty-three “delegates,” representing countries including Pakistan, India, Saudi Arabia, China, USA, Iran and the UK highlighted some of the emerging global issues such as religious intolerance during the first session of the General Assembly, while the second session under ECOSOC (UN Economic and Social Council) highlighted the issues of education and climate change.
Shajjiah Kashif from AL-8 presided over the General Assembly, while the ECOSOC was headed by Maryam Chapra from AS-8. Osama Qamar from AL-2 was the stage secretary.
Principal Adnan Nasir said: “The idea behind holding such events is to inculcate in our students the attributes of patience, discipline, tolerance, wisdom and acceptance of differing viewpoints, as today’s young delegates are the future’s mature ambassadors and diplomats.
“In order to create a world which is secure, prosperous and healthy, we must understand global issues which intertwine in such a way that no one remains unaffected.”
“Change begins from within and we should all fulfill our responsibilities with full dedication and honesty. Enthusiastic youth like you are being counted on for positive change across the globe. Regardless of your age, your aspirations, your interests, your fields, your hobbies, your likes and dislikes, you all are responsible for making this world a better place,” Nasir told the students.

Samsung Electronics has announced new prices and complementary accessories for its Galaxy A7/A9 smartphones to provide its customers with the latest technology at affordable prices, starting Feb. 14. The company said: “These new prices are carefully catered to meet the needs of our loyal customers and provide a convenient variety of the latest smartphones.”

The Samsung Galaxy A7, originally priced at SR1,299 ($346), will now cost SR999. The Galaxy A7 will also be sold with a complementary Samsung Care Card worth SR600. The Samsung Galaxy A9, which was originally priced at SR1,999, will now cost SR1,699. The Galaxy A9 will be sold with a complementary Battery Pack (10,000 mAh) and a Samsung Care Card. The warranty period is valid for 24 months from the date of purchase and the warranty of the screen protection is in accordance with Samsung Care Cards’ terms and conditions.

The Samsung Galaxy A9 is the world’s first smartphone with four rear cameras, with a 24-megapixel camera as the main camera, and a wide angle lens of 120 degrees that helps capture the whole scene, as well as an optical zoom multiplier (2x).

The new $58.5 million air cargo area at Bahrain International Airport (BIA) is set to welcome its first tenant as US-based FedEx Express signed a deal to move to the expanded freight complex at the airport, further strengthening its operations as a GCC logistics hub.

The multinational courier delivery services company will be occupying a total of 9,000 square meters out of the 25,000-square-meter available space in the new air cargo area, of which 5,000 square meter will be warehousing and the rest will be maneuvering area.

Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications and Bahrain Airport Company (BAC) Chairman Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed said: “BAC has a comprehensive plan to attract prominent cargo companies to the Kingdom, which will strengthen Bahrain’s strategic position as a leading provider of efficient logistics services in the region. 

We are currently negotiating with two other companies wishing to operate warehouses at the new cargo area, which further demonstrates the Kingdom’s strong reputation as a regional hub for logistical services in the GCC and wider Middle East.”

The minister added: “The new air cargo area that BAC is constructing north of the runway is an important part of the overall growth strategy adopted by the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications, and a key component in the Airport Modernization Program (AMP), which is due to be completed by Q3 2019.”

Emirates airline has announced an order for 40 A330-900 aircraft and 30 A350-900 aircraft during an agreement signed with Airbus. The deal is worth $21.4 billion at list prices.

The latest generation Airbus A330neo and A350 aircraft will be delivered to Emirates starting from 2021 and 2024, respectively.

In addition, Airbus and Emirates reached an agreement on outstanding A380 deliveries. 

The airline will receive 14 more A380s from 2019 until the end of 2021, taking its total A380 order book to 123 units.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, chairman and chief executive, Emirates Group and airline, said: “After many months of discussions, we have come to an agreement with Airbus and Rolls-Royce.

“Emirates has been a staunch supporter of the A380 since its very inception. While we are disappointed to have to give up our order, and sad that the program could not be sustained, we accept that this is the reality of the situation. For us, the A380 is a wonderful aircraft loved by our customers and our crew. It is a differentiator for Emirates.”

“We have shown how people can truly fly better on the A380, and Emirates has set the standards for that by introducing customer experiences that are unique to the A380 like our shower spas and onboard lounge. The A380 will remain a pillar of our fleet well into the 2030s, and as we have always done, Emirates will continue to invest in our onboard products and services so our customers can be assured that the Emirates A380 experience will always be top-notch.”

Fleet strategy

On the decision to purchase A330Neos and A350s, Sheikh Ahmed said: “Emirates’ fleet strategy to operate a young, modern, and efficient all-wide body fleet remains unchanged. 

The 40 A330neos and 30 A350s that we are ordering today will complement Emirates’ fleet mix, support our network growth, and give us more flexibility to better serve seasonal or opportunistic demand. Both the A330neos and A350s will play an important role in our future fleet and network plans.”

European home appliances brand Bosch has opened its flagship store in the Kingdom. The showroom, located in the heart of Jeddah, was recently inaugurated in the presence of Holger G. Ziegeler, the German consul general in Jeddah. 

Spread across 300 square meters of built-up area, the new Bosch store makes room for a product display ranging over 100 different appliances and models, all designed by German engineers. 

The showroom follows a two-story structure, with the ground floor dedicated to product showcases according to themes and categories. 

It hosts a welcome area, a brand heritage and innovation wall along with areas dedicated to kitchen inspiration, cooling, laundry, cooking and baking. The floor above makes room for a live cooking area and a “Perfect Kitchen” concept. 

“Our new flagship store strengthens our brand presence in the Saudi market and complements our existing network of outlets — which are currently in shop-in-shop forms,” said BSH Home Appliances CEO Tomas Alonso.

He added: “This purpose-built space will help us deliver the quality, innovation, design intelligence and efficiency that Bosch stands for. Bosch prioritizes innovation in the service of a healthy balanced life, and I look forward to people exploring the concept themselves in this beautiful new space.” 

The showroom will also showcase the strides Bosch is making toward intelligent eco-friendliness, where appliances reduce their energy and water footprints. Consumers not only give back to the environment but also save costs through reduced utility bills. 

The store, operated by Bosch Home Appliances Saudi Arabia distributor and partner Abdul Latif Jameel Electronics, also serves as a logistics hub for Bosch products across the Kingdom.

“Bosch products have proved very popular with Saudi households thanks to the brand’s association with quality, trust and excellent design. Bosch products are invented for life, with the goal of making life noticeably easier, healthier and more balanced. We are proud to be exclusive partners and distributors of Bosch in the Kingdom, and are delighted to be able to welcome customers to a new, easily accessible location,” said Hisham Hamza, CEO of Abdul Latif Jameel Electronics.

The showroom is open from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m., Saturday to Thursday.

BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH is the largest manufacturer of home appliances in Europe and one of the leading companies in the sector worldwide. 

The group was founded in 1967 as a joint venture between Robert Bosch GmbH (Stuttgart) and Siemens AG (Munich). Today, BSH operates 40 factories in 13 countries in Europe, the US, Latin America and Asia.

Najm Insurance Services has appointed Dr. Mohammad Alsuliman as the new chief executive officer. 

Hesham Alsharif, chairman of the board at Najm, said the appointment will further develop the company’s operations and boost its productivity. 

“Dr. Mohammad Alsuliman has a long and distinguished experience in strategic corporate transformation and project management with several financial companies in addition to leading strategic partnerships with international and regional service providers,” said Alsharif.

Meanwhile, Dr. Alsuliman expressed his gratitude to the chairman and board of directors for their warm welcome and trust, and reiterated his commitment to lead Najm toward realizing its vision.

“I look forward to achieving the company’s strategic objectives, enhancing the services provided and support the development of the insurance industry in the Kingdom to enhance its contribution to the economy in line with Vision 2030,” he said.

Dr. Alsuliman has held leadership positions in various sectors, including telecom, finance, banking and investment management. 

Prior to joining Najm, he served as the vice president corporate development at the Saudi Telecom Company (STC). Earlier, he was chief operating officer at the Saudi Kuwaiti Finance House and vice president of Klever Marketing in the US. Additionally, Dr. Alsuliman is an accredited expert in global project management and mergers and acquisitions, and enjoys a rich academic record. He holds a PhD in strategic management and information technology, a master’s degree in information systems and technology from The Drucker School of Management — Claremont Graduate University, US, and a bachelor of science and management information systems from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Saudi Arabia. 

Informa Middle East, organizer of the Cityscape portfolio of events, will roll out a trio of back-to-back events across Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE between March 24 and April 18.

With the specific market dynamics of each destination being explored through dedicated country events, the 2019 Cityscape series springs into action with Cityscape Egypt at the Egypt International Exhibition Center (EIEC) in Cairo. A two-day conference kick-starts the Egypt schedule on March 24 and 25, before the exhibition takes centerstage from March 27 to 30. 

Cityscape then moves to the Center for Forums and Events in Jeddah, which includes an exhibition from April 5 to 7, before a one-day workshop on April 7. Finally, a return to Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) includes a three-day exhibition from April 16 to 18 with an influential agenda on the lineup at the conference set for April 16.

“It’s a packed three-week schedule with a very distinct market approach and program for each destination,” said Chris Speller, Cityscape group director. “This year more than ever, Cityscape will drill down into the specifics and varied issues affecting each market. While opportunities continue to abound across the region, each market requires very different approaches from consumers, government entities and private developers to realize them. 

“With each market at varying stages of maturity and subject to very different developmental concerns, the conference and exhibition stops in Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi enable industry professionals and public investors to engage with people at the sharp end of the business, understand and seize opportunities, and network for future growth,” added Speller.

In Egypt, the conference will focus on “Energizing the Market and Reinstating Confidence” with government authorities, experts, and market influencers scheduled to spell out the country’s strategic vision to achieve real estate market maturity. 

Expecting a turnout of more than 40 exhibitors and over 8,000 visitors, Cityscape Jeddah this year looks to align with the goals of the Kingdom’s real estate market in light of its Saudi Vision 2030 economic diversification plan.

“Vision 2030 reforms are expected to attract major investment into a Saudi real estate sector predicted to double its contribution to the national economy right through this decade,” said Speller. 

“Over the past few years, we have witnessed Saudi Arabia make significant strides in attracting foreign and local investment, implementing various urban regeneration initiatives, and investing in infrastructure.”

This recent progress, when aligned with the various projects being green-lit, will no doubt transform the country into a global investment powerhouse. We believe Cityscape Jeddah will help drive investment in the Saudi sector by enhancing its standing as a crucial meeting point for regional and international leaders who can contribute to making Vision 2030 a reality.”

With a focus on “Achieving Diversification and Energizing the Market,” the Jeddah workshops will feature prominent investment panel discussions which dive into how the country’s tourism and hospitality sector agenda can impact Vision 2030. The Cityscape outings in Cairo and Jeddah will both feature dedicated editions of the Cityscape Awards, which recognize and celebrate excellence in real estate development and architecture. 

The UAE capital’s official real estate event platform, Cityscape Abu Dhabi is held under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi and deputy supreme commander of the UAE Armed Forces. The one-day conference agenda will explore the future of regulatory and technological innovation with a strong focus on the government sector’s growth strategy for the UAE capital.

Gulf Advantage Automobiles (GAA), the importer of Renault cars in Saudi Arabia, has launched a campaign for the new Renault Duster, which provides customers in the Kingdom an opportunity to own a 2019 Duster at “unbeatable” prices, along with many benefits. GAA is also offering free maintenance for five years or 100,000 kms to customers who purchase the car this month.

“The launch of this campaign is a continuation of the success of the Renault Duster in the Saudi market in particular, and globally as the best-selling Renault model in the world. The Renault Duster is one of the most successful cars in the world, for its high quality and modern design that reflects strong performance and elegance that earned the confidence of customers and made it a favorite car and an ideal vehicle to satisfy all segments of customers in the city and on rugged terrains,” a statement from GAA said.

The new Duster comes with advanced equipment and high-quality systems to provide a comfortable driving experience. 

PR Arabia, a public relations and marketing communication agency specialized in the automotive sector, has announced the launch of the seventh edition of the PR Arabia Auto Award. Shell Saudi Arabia (Shell Helix motor oils) has renewed its sponsorship of the event to become an official partner.

Car enthusiasts wishing to take part in voting can visit the award website (www.praaa.org) to select their favorite cars. The final results will be announced by the end of March.

Walid Karanouh, managing director and awards supervisor, said: “We always take pride in the continuation and success of this award, which we always strive to develop in line with the changes in the automotive industry in the world.”

He added: “We are keen to keep abreast of the developments in the automotive market in Saudi Arabia, therefore, the award is a compass that determines the market orientation. The confidence, credibility and dynamism of the award led us to keep it up.”

In addition, the award mirrors our strong commitment to partnering with our customers in the automotive sector and its support services in order to enhance the automotive market and related industries in Saudi Arabia.”

The award comes in the wake of some major progress made in Saudi motorsports, with the Kingdom recently hosting two major events — the Race of Champions and the first round of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship.

Alkhabeer Capital, an asset management company specializing in alternative investments, announced on Sunday that Alkhabeer REIT has signed a facility agreement valued at SR420 million ($112 million) with Al-Rajhi Bank.

The Shariah-compliant facility agreement will have a tenor of five years, providing financing of SR420 million, out of which SR340 million will be used by Alkhabeer REIT to finance part of the targeted assets and SR80 million will be used for future acquisitions of income-generating assets. The SR1 billion Alkhabeer REIT, which successfully closed its IPO in November of last year, was oversubscribed at 104 percent and raised SR247 million from 25,124 retail and institutional investors. It is currently targeting net annual returns of 9 percent, which are among the highest rates in the market. 

Ahmed Saud Ghouth, CEO of Alkhabeer Capital, said: “Having a strong credit record would support Alkhabeer REIT’s future growth potential. 

“Thus, since its inception, we have been keen on building the fund’s credit record with the Kingdom’s banks and financial institutions.” 

He added: “This agreement is the result of Alkhabeer Capital’s unique relationship with Al-Rajhi Bank and we look forward to further strengthening this partnership.”

Alkhabeer Capital, headquartered in Jeddah, specializes in alternative investments and investment services. It is authorized by the Capital Markets Authority, license number 07074-37.

Alkhabeer’s asset management services focus on providing investment opportunities in domestic, regional and international capital markets through a range of real estate and private equity funds. The company’s real estate investment team structures and develops innovative real estate investment products. Alkhabeer’s private equity services develop products to benefit from attractive opportunities in a number of sectors including education, health care and others.

Alkhabeer’s asset management services provide its clients with investment opportunities in capital markets, while Alkhabeer’s investment banking provides investment services, including merger and acquisitions. Alkhabeer also provides advisory services on structuring Waqf entities and managing Waqf wealth through its Waqf program.

Alkhabeer REIT is a closed-ended Shariah-compliant real estate investment traded fund, created in accordance with applicable Saudi laws and regulations and operates under Capital Markets Authority regulations and directives. It is listed on the Saudi stock exchange (Tadawul) with total assets of SR1,004,423,860 and is 99 years old.

Abeer Medical Group, a health care organization in the Middle East and India, has launched a training program for its Saudi staff. The first batch of trainees recently traveled to Bengaluru, India, for taking part in the program, which has been organized in collaboration with leading health care institutions in India.

The three-month training program encompasses English language training, personality development and skills enhancement programs.

With​ efforts to implement Saudization in many health specialties and in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, the training initiative aims at honing the skills of the local staff members of the group through regular and intensive coaching programs.

Abeer Medical Group President Alungal Mohammed said the group has high expectations of its Saudi employees. He hoped that the training initiative would contribute in developing the professional and communication skills of its employees. Abeer Medical Group, Mohammed said, has future plans to set up a vocational training center with international standards in Saudi Arabia.

The first batch of the training program includes 10 professionals selected from across Abeer’s branches in Saudi Arabia. The company is bearing all expenses of the training, including course fees, accommodations and travel. The send-off program for the first batch was held at​ the group’s office​ in Jeddah. Abeer Medical Group Vice President Dr. Jemshith Ahmed, General Manager Saeed Sulami, Executive Director Dr. Ahmed Alungal, Senior HR Manager Khlood A. Bayazeed, Business Development Manager Abdul Rahman Poyakkara, Branch Admin Manager Umar Alghamdi, Corporate Affairs​ Manager Danish Ahmed Qadri, Siddhik KA, Sabith K., Irshad KM, Nandagopal and Khaled Nadeem were present on the occasion.

Abeer Medical Group owns and operates high-end medical centers and hospitals across major cities in Saudi Arabia and in other nations such as the UAE and India. The group has been a part of Saudi Arabia’s health care domain for the last 18 years, running 15 health care facilities, which include top-notch medical centers and hospitals catering to the health care needs of more than 4 million people every year.

SalamAir recently celebrated two years of affordable travel to a growing range of destinations. This landmark occasion sees the airline mark various milestones, including the growth of operations and expansion of fleet and destinations.

Captain Mohamed Ahmed, CEO of SalamAir, said: “Our success so far has been built on the promise of offering a different proposition to travelers locally and regionally. We have been focused on providing guests with affordable, flexible and rewarding travel options across our expanding network. We have also been focused on optimizing our operations, while looking into the future by investing in one of the most in-demand aircraft, the A320neos, a model that promises to improve our passenger experience and efficiency. With the first one already delivered and flying, we will be adding five more A320neos taking our fleet size to nine, compared to three when we started two years ago.” 

Since its inaugural flight from Salalah to Muscat on Jan. 30, 2017, SalamAir has carried over 1.4 million passengers. The airline enjoyed a steady rise in passenger footfall powered by its expanding route network currently standing at 14 destinations, competitive price offers, as well as the customer-centric loyalty program “More on Air.”

The program rewards guests with a one-way airline ticket in exchange for 10 boarding passes collected within a year. The airline has three “easy fare” options: Light, Friendly and Flexi, as well as a fairly priced menu of extras, such as extra luggage allowance, seat selection and priority check-in options. The airline recently introduced a new meal menu onboard.

CEO Ahmed added: “With the arrival of the new fleet, we will open up new destinations, some of which will be the first time connecting through direct flights to Muscat like Alexandria in Egypt, plus some unique summer destinations. We will connect the rest of the GCC and increase the frequencies in many of our current destinations where we have seen increased demand.” 

SalamAir also offers its guests a selection of promotions, such as the “Tempting Tuesday” weekly deal on all fares.

DUBAI: Dubai Press Club (DPC) will hold the 18^th edition of its annual Arab Media Forum on March 27-28 at the Dubai World Center, the group announced on Tuesday.

The two-day event aims to align the vision of regional media with the aspirations of the people through dialogues about the challenges faced by the industry, the DPA statement added. More than 3,000 media practitioners and luminaries in and outside the region are expected to attend the forum.

“The forum serves as a lab of creative ideas, constructive views and approaches aimed at promoting our Arab media and confirming its role as an effective source of positive development,” Mona Ghanem Al-Marri, President of DPC and Chairperson of the AMF Organizing Committee, said.

The annual media gathering is highlighted by the Arab Journalism Award, which is given out on the last day of the event.

Bahrain’s focus on shaping a regional hub for entrepreneurs as part of its ongoing efforts to meet key goals within the Economic Vision 2030 comes under the spotlight next month when it hosts StartUp Bahrain Week, a series of networking events for entrepreneurs, investors and businesses.

Running between March 3–7, the regional startup community will be able to enjoy a platform of events to network and learn about the startup ecosystem that has been created by Bahrain. 

Khalid Al-Rumaihi, chief executive of the Bahrain Economic Development Board, said: “StartUp Bahrain Week promises to be a week of inspirational events for entrepreneurs and investors that will encourage innovation and growth in the startup ecosystem. Currently, the regulatory climate we have cultivated, in recent years, has provided a solid foundation for the startup community. We look forward to sharing knowledge, great ideas and most importantly the opportunities available in Bahrain.”

Dr. Ibrahim Janahi, chief executive officer of Tamkeen, said: “Tamkeen is delighted to once again be a strategic partner of StartUp Bahrain Week. It underlines our commitment to helping promising talent develop the right skills for the knowledge economy. These are skills that we need to encourage and develop within Bahrain and across the region.”

The Emirates Official Store has launched a new limited-edition collection of Expo 2020-themed aircraft models for aviation enthusiasts and passionate scale-modelers. The highly detailed models are part of a 15-aircraft model collection ranging from Airbus A380s to Boeing 777s featuring the signature Expo 2020 logo in three colors — blue, orange and green — representing the three themes of mobility, opportunity and sustainability.

The aircraft model replicas are available in both plastic hollow and solid injected finishes, as well as die-cast metal versions, all with meticulously detailed graphics in the three colors that are currently emblazoned on select Emirates A380 and Boeing 777 liveries.

The Expo 2020-themed Emirates aircraft models can be found at all Emirates Official retail stores in the UAE, Emirates Store online as well as Emirates Official Store shops at Dubai International Airport. Select aircraft models will also be sold onboard Emirates flights from March.

An official Expo 2020 partner, Emirates has installed three different Expo 2020 decal designs on 40 aircraft in its fleet, taking the event’s three key themes — opportunity (orange), mobility (blue) and sustainability (green) — to the skies and to audiences around the world.

Mobily’s net profit for the fourth quarter of 2018 reached SR80 million ($21.3 million), compared to losses of SR182 million in Q4 2017.

The telecom company reduced its net losses by 82.7 percent for the year ending on Dec. 31, 2018, with net losses for 2018 amounting to SR123 million, compared to net losses of SR709 million for 2017.

The improvement is mainly due to the fact that Mobily continued to improve its revenues for the sixth consecutive quarter as Q4 2018 revenues witnessed a YoY growth of 11.9 percent, amounting to SR3,162 million, as opposed to SR2,827 million in Q4 2017. The annual revenue grew by 4.5 percent to reach SR11,865 million for the year 2018 versus SR11,351 million for the year 2017. This is mainly attributed to the growth of the subscriber base and an improvement of subscriber mix, data revenues, business unit revenues and FTTH revenues.

This was achieved despite the market, regulatory and economic challenges, including the reduction of mobile termination rates.

Taking out the impact of the decrease of the mobile termination rates, quarterly revenues would have grown by 14 percent and annual revenues would have grown by 6.5 percent, Mobily said in a statement.

Dr. Mohamed Ghazala from Egypt has been elected vice president of the International Association of Animation Films (ASIFA) for a three-year term, which ends in 2022. The elections were held in January among the 40 members of the international board of ASIFA, which represents more than 5,000 members in the field of animated films around the world. Sayoko Kinoshita, head of the Japanese chapter, was elected president of ASIFA; she will also serve a three-year term. Three other vice presidents from China, Austria and the US were also elected.

Dr. Ghazala is an assistant professor of animation and the chair of the Department of Visual and Digital Production at Effat University in Jeddah, which is the first in the Kingdom to teach film production, animation, screenwriting and interactive media. He has won several awards for his films, including the prize for Best Animation of the African Oscars (AMAA) in Nigeria 2010 for “Honyan’s Shoe.” He has also done a range of studies in the field of animated films, including writing two books — “Animation in the Arab World” and “Animation in Africa.”

ASIFA was founded in 1960 in Annecy, France as an association of individual animation artists, headed by Norman McLaren, a Scottish-Canadian animator, director and producer; and Paul Grimoult, a French animator. Since its founding 59 years ago, ASIFA has promoted the art of animation through a variety of activities: Supporting festivals, organizing training and educational workshops, creating archives, presenting annual awards such as the Annie Award in Hollywood, and celebrating the World Animation Day on Oct. 28 each year.

ASIFA has more than 40 branches around the world. The Arab and African branch, ASIFA Egypt, was established in Alexandria in 2008; it has launched a series of local and regional initiatives since its establishment. 

These include organizing monthly performances at the Bibliotheca Alexandarina under the supervision of the late critic Samir Farid and also holding workshops with foreign animation artists in several Arab and African countries, such as Algeria, Ghana, South Africa, Libya, Comoros, Jordan, Cape Verde and Morocco, in addition to launching the ASIFA Egypt Prize for the best Egyptian, Arab and African film.

Royal Philips, a health technology company, has teamed up with the Ministry of Health (MoH) in Saudi Arabia to provide a first-of-its-kind integrated cardiovascular information system (CVIS) across multiple facilities throughout the Kingdom. 

Patient medical information will be available on demand at the point of care in each of the connected hospitals to help improve quality access to cardiology care managed by a network of specialists. The Philips CVIS includes advanced software technology and image analysis to simplify cardiovascular data management for cardiology departments to work more efficiently and accurately. 

According to the World Health Organization, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the No.1 cause of death globally. They are also highly prevalent in Saudi Arabia. Cardiology is also one of the most complex areas of the hospital enterprise, with large quantities of data generated by various caregivers across multiple locations. By integrating disparate cardiology systems in the public MOH cardiac centers around the Kingdom, the Philips CVIS aims to reduce data entry, simplify access to test results generated in other departments and make it easier to acquire, analyze and share patient data. 

The cardiology patient data information will be powered by Philips IntelliSpace Cardiovascular platform, featuring advanced archiving from the Philips Universal Data Manager (UDM) and advanced visualization from Philips IntelliSpace Portal. Seamless data sharing and connectivity between the hospitals will be managed by Philips Forcare, delivering information health exchange (IHE) interoperability.  

“With a dedicated health care IT clinical informatics team and leadership in connected care, Philips brings a wealth of experience into the cardiology program of the MOH,” said Ozlem Fidanci, market leader Middle East and Turkey at Philips. “This collaboration named as Project Taji marks a significant step by the Ministry of Health toward Saudi Vision 2030 and the elevation of cardiology services across the Kingdom.” 

The Taji Project will be implemented in Makkah, Jeddah, Al-Hofuf, Qassim, Jizan, Najran, Dammam and Arar. All these cities will be connected to the Ministry of Health in Riyadh to utilize tele-cardiology services among MOH cardiac centers. 

“The primary use of tele-cardiology is to support primary care practitioners in the area of correct diagnosis, thus empowering them to manage cardiac patients with increased confidence. It also improves the clinical training of the average practitioner, by increasing the clinician’s level of knowledge at the primary level. This will equip GPs to offer better care and improve the overall health care system,” said Dr. Ahmed Balkhair, adviser to the vice minister and general supervisor of e-health programs and IT.

“The MoH tele-cardiology initiative helps build up an integrated cardiovascular information system (CVIS), cardiac picture archiving and communications system (CPACS), and an ECG data management system, all of which will enhance the efficiency of the cardiology workflow for the cardiologists and all users, and access to patient studies by authorized users,” said Dr. Mohammed K. Abdulaali, assistant deputy minister for hospital affairs.