Who’s Who: Sultan Alshahrani, chief corporate officer of King Abdullah Financial District Development & Management Co.

Who’s Who: Sultan Alshahrani, chief corporate officer of King Abdullah Financial District Development & Management Co.
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Updated 28 January 2024
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Who’s Who: Sultan Alshahrani, chief corporate officer of King Abdullah Financial District Development & Management Co.

Who’s Who: Sultan Alshahrani, chief corporate officer of King Abdullah Financial District Development & Management Co.

Sultan Alshahrani is the chief corporate officer of the King Abdullah Financial District Development and Management Co., or KAFD DMC.

The business executive has 23 years of experience in human resources, procurement, logistics and shared services (administration, facilities management and security and safety). Alshahrani was recently honored with the Procurement Pioneers Award by the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply. This was in recognition of KAFD DMC becoming one of the first organizations in the Kingdom to obtain both the CIPS’ procurement excellence certification and ethics award.

For his exceptional contributions to the company’s procurement management team, Alshahrani was presented this accolade at the recent CIPS Saudi Arabia Procurement and Supply Chain Conference and Awards.

The CIPS is a global non-profit organization dedicated to upholding excellence in procurement and supply by ensuring the comprehensive assessment of teams and individuals.

The award not only recognizes Alshahrani’s leadership and efforts to elevate KAFD DMC’s procurement strategy and value creation, but also acknowledges the company’s resilience, vision, and dedication to excellence, innovation, and ethical standards across its operations.

KAFD DMC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and oversees the development of the King Abdullah Financial District, a landmark project considered a key driver of Riyadh’s economy.

Alshahrani has held senior positions in companies including Zain KSA, Al-Faisaliah Group and STC, where he honed his skills in stakeholder management, corporate strategy and planning, risk management, compliance, governance and corporate communications.

He has participated in and managed major transformation projects, including for STC’s restructuring (2002 and 2008), VIVA Kuwait’s establishment (2009 to 2011), Intigral’s restructuring (2012 to 2013), Al-Faisaliah Group’s restructuring (2014), Zain KSA’s restructuring (2015 to 2018), and KAFD’s establishment (2018 to date).


Nouf Al-Marwaai honored for contribution to yoga in Saudi Arabia

Nouf Al-Marwaai honored for contribution to yoga in Saudi Arabia
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Nouf Al-Marwaai honored for contribution to yoga in Saudi Arabia

Nouf Al-Marwaai honored for contribution to yoga in Saudi Arabia
  • The ceremony was recently held in New Delhi as part of the second News18 SheShakti Summit

JEDDAH: India’s Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar honored Nouf Al-Marwaai, president of the Saudi Yoga Committee, in recognition of her contribution to yoga in Saudi Arabia.

The ceremony was recently held in New Delhi as part of the second News18 SheShakti Summit, which aims to bring together women leaders from politics, art, social work and other fields, highlighting their contributions and leadership.

Under the theme “Breaking Barriers,” the summit featured an inspiring lineup of pioneers from diverse fields — politics, science, arts, business, sport and entertainment — who shared their groundbreaking journeys and insights on empowerment resilience, and leadership, reflecting the unstoppable momentum of women.

Al-Marwaai, Saudi Arabia’s first certified yoga instructor and the recipient in 2018 of India’s fourth-highest civilian award, the Padma Shri, told Arab News: “I am honored and humbled to have been recognized as a Saudi woman, and I am thankful for the recognition of efforts in promoting yoga in the Saudi Arabia.”

Al-Marwaai, whose interest in yoga began when her life was clouded by severe health problems, shared her journey on a SheShakti 2024 panel along with American Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati, a global spiritual leader, speaker, author and social activist.

She said her life was affected by severe health challenges at the age of 18 and doctors told her parents that her chances of survival were slim.

“Later, I started practicing yoga after getting a book from my father. It was not easy to follow. That year, in 1998, doctors told my parents that I won’t live anymore,” Al-Marwaai said.

She turned to the internet to explore yoga and its practice further.

Al-Marwaai expressed her gratitude and appreciation to the Saudi government for its efforts and support in promoting yoga and encouraging young people to practice the discipline.


Saudi Arabia’s Commander of Joint Forces visits officers wounded in Yemen operation

Saudi Arabia’s Commander of Joint Forces visits officers wounded in Yemen operation
Updated 53 min 35 sec ago
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Saudi Arabia’s Commander of Joint Forces visits officers wounded in Yemen operation

Saudi Arabia’s Commander of Joint Forces visits officers wounded in Yemen operation

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Commander of the Joint Forces, Lt. Gen. Fahad bin Hamad Al-Salman, visited injured officers at Prince Sultan Military Medical City on Tuesday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The officers suffered injuries during Operation Decisive Storm and Operation Restoring Hope in Yemen.

Operation Decisive Storm, launched in March 2015, was led by Saudi Arabia to combat the Houthi militia in Yemen at the request of President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, who has since stepped down. In April 2015, the campaign evolved into Operation Restoring Hope, aimed at reinstating Yemen’s internationally recognized government in Sanaa.

During the visit, Al-Salman checked on the officers’ well-being, expressing his deep gratitude. “You are the nation’s heroes, and what you endured in defense of your religion, king, and country is a badge of honor,” he said.

He also conveyed the leadership’s greetings and appreciation, wishing the injured a swift recovery and good health.

The wounded officers thanked Al-Salman for the visit and reaffirmed their readiness to return to the battlefield once they have fully recovered.


Madinah workshop explores AI’s role in farms of the future

Madinah workshop explores AI’s role in farms of the future
Updated 17 September 2024
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Madinah workshop explores AI’s role in farms of the future

Madinah workshop explores AI’s role in farms of the future

JEDDAH: The use of artificial intelligence to revolutionize agriculture, cutting costs and improving efficiency, has been highlighted at a workshop held as part of the Madinah Dates Season.

The workshop, held at the Madinah Chamber of Commerce, brought together Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz University faculty, researchers, and AI enthusiasts to discuss the future of farming.

AI tools designed to monitor crop health, detect early signs of disease, and offer insights for treatment were showcased at the workshop, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

Devices predicting pest activity were also presented, enabling farmers to implement targeted control strategies, reducing crop losses and chemical use.

Experts explored the role of advanced electronic systems in revolutionizing Saudi agriculture, enhancing sustainability, addressing challenges, and boosting local production.

As part of this year’s Madinah Dates Season, the workshop also raised awareness of date palm varieties, nutritional value, and agricultural practices.

A dates hackathon, aiming to utilize AI in agriculture and resource management, will run until Oct. 3, with 233 teams of innovators, programmers, and students taking part.

The event's first track focuses on creating data sets to improve date cultivation and quality, aiming for sustainable agricultural development through AI systems that enhance efficiency and cut costs.

The second track addresses challenges such as water use, pest management, and crop monitoring, promoting smart systems for irrigation and automated processes.

Entries will be judged by AI experts on data quality, diversity, and innovation, with awards for the top three teams in each track. The prize pool is SR900,000 ($240,000).

The Madinah Dates Season, organized by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, features auctions of harvests from more than 29,000 farms, showcasing a range of date varieties.

Traditional Saudi arts, and palm waste recycling are also featured as part of the three-month season.

Madinah, with 6.5 million palm trees and an annual production of 263,000 tonnes, is central to Saudi Arabia’s food security goals and Vision 2030.


Saudi Arabia localizes rose cultivation to boost agriculture

Saudi Arabia localizes rose cultivation to boost agriculture
Updated 26 min 49 sec ago
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Saudi Arabia localizes rose cultivation to boost agriculture

Saudi Arabia localizes rose cultivation to boost agriculture

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has announced the localization of rose cultivation to meet rising local demand, create jobs, and reduce reliance on costly, lower-quality imports.

The initiative also aims to boost exports to Gulf and Middle Eastern markets, supporting agricultural growth in line with Vision 2030, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture unveiled incentives to strengthen the sector, offering financial returns to enhance rose producers’ economic standing.

Key incentives include the success of tissue culture rose cultivation, which lowers production costs while promoting growth.

The ministry also offers affordable agricultural land, investment opportunities leveraging the comparative advantages of roses, and loans covering 70 percent of project costs from the Agricultural Development Fund.

Additionally, it provides technical support and streamlined licensing for rose cultivation projects.

The ministry emphasized using technologies such as hydroponics and smart systems to reduce costs and improve efficiency, as well as opportunities to produce rare and in-demand rose varieties for higher economic returns.


KSrelief delivers solar energy equipment to boost Hadhramaut technical education

KSrelief delivers solar energy equipment to boost Hadhramaut technical education
Updated 17 September 2024
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KSrelief delivers solar energy equipment to boost Hadhramaut technical education

KSrelief delivers solar energy equipment to boost Hadhramaut technical education

HADHRAMAUT: The Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief delivered solar energy equipment on Saturday to the coastal office here of the Ministry of Technical Education and Vocational Training.

This initiative is a part of the “Program for Development of Technical and Vocational Institutes in Hadhramaut,” in collaboration with the UN Development Programme and the Small and Micro Enterprise Promotion Service, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

Dr. Salem Bajaber, director-general of the ministry’s office, praised KSrelief’s efforts and said the equipment would introduce a new specialization in renewable energy at the region’s technical institutes.

This initiative is expected to empower young people, support research in renewable energy, and create jobs.

The project is a part of Saudi Arabia’s broader humanitarian efforts through KSrelief to support the country’s economic recovery.