Who’s Who: Fahad Abdullah Aljabr, senior director of project delivery at King Abdullah Financial District

Fahad Abdullah Aljabr
Fahad Abdullah Aljabr
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Updated 21 April 2024
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Who’s Who: Fahad Abdullah Aljabr, senior director of project delivery at King Abdullah Financial District

Fahad Abdullah Aljabr

Fahad Abdullah Aljabr has been the senior director of project delivery at King Abdullah Financial District, a business and lifestyle destination in Riyadh, since September 2023.

In this role, Aljabr manages multiple mixed-use developments across different areas within the district, including the Financial Plaza, which will provide car parks, a shopping center, retail offerings, and entertainment venues, along with roof-top amenities, health clubs and sports facilities, with over 250,000 square meters of development.

He oversees the project and construction management of major parts of the district’s new projects across various mixed-use asset classes from commercial and residential to parking and retail to create a vibrant neighborhood at the heart of the Kingdom’s capital.

In addition to his current role at KAFD, Aljabr is a board member of Alrajhi Capital Real Estate Opportunity Fund 2, operating outside Riyadh with real estate developments.

Aljabr was one of the first team members to join KAFD in 2018. Before joining the KAFD Development and Management Co., he held senior roles with the previous developer of KAFD, Osool (formerly Raza and Rayadah Investment Co.), as senior construction manager since 2012.

Prior to that, Aljabr’s experience as a contractor armed him with all the knowledge and expertise to take up senior roles in the construction industry. With over 17 years of experience in the industry, Aljabr has held senior management positions in real estate development and project and construction management, both as a developer and as a contractor.

He was the Depa Group’s LEED manager for the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center project. In this role, he managed the entire sustainability and LEED requirements from the contractor side, including LEED certification for the research center building, a Zaha Hadid architectural masterpiece.

Aljabr was responsible for delivering different construction projects both in Saudi Arabia and the US, including Nashville’s new Convention Center, a $585 million design-build project, and has been working as a construction contractor for Dar Al-Arkan’s Al-Qasr Project, a multi-billion riyal residential and commercial complex in Riyadh, since 2006.

He holds a bachelor’s degree from the College of Architecture and Planning at Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, and he received his master’s degree from Vanderbilt University in Nashville in 2011.

Aljabr is LEED AP certified by the US Green Building Council. In 2022, he attended Harvard Business School’s real estate management program, focusing on finance and design, meeting leaders in the industry from around the world to discuss real estate best practices. He is also a candidate for Stanford Business School’s 2024 Executive Leadership program.

 


Saudi Museum of Contemporary Art to host ‘Manga Hokusai Manga’ exhibition

Saudi Museum of Contemporary Art to host ‘Manga Hokusai Manga’ exhibition
Updated 21 sec ago
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Saudi Museum of Contemporary Art to host ‘Manga Hokusai Manga’ exhibition

Saudi Museum of Contemporary Art to host ‘Manga Hokusai Manga’ exhibition
  • Exhibition is homage to renowned Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai

The much-anticipated “Manga Hokusai Manga” exhibition will be held at the Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art in JAX Diriyah from Jan. 15 to Feb. 8.

Held in collaboration with the Embassy of Japan and the Japan Foundation, the exhibition, ratified by the Kingdom’s Museums Commission, will showcase the works of the renowned Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai.

It will highlight the history and evolution of manga, and provide a perspective on how Hokusai’s classical illustrations have influenced modern visual arts, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.

Hokusai published his first collection of art in 1814, featuring sketches of “daily life, landscapes and whimsical creatures,” according to a post on X by the museum.

The Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art aims to foster cultural exchange between local and international creators.


Rain for 3 days over most parts of Saudi Arabia

Rain for 3 days over most parts of Saudi Arabia
Updated 10 January 2025
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Rain for 3 days over most parts of Saudi Arabia

Rain for 3 days over most parts of Saudi Arabia
  • Warning of high waves along the Kingdom’s coastlines

RIYADH: Rain of varying intensities will fall over most parts of Saudi Arabia from Jan. 10 to 12, the National Center for Meteorology stated on Thursday.

In a weather bulletin, the NCM warned of downpours accompanied by winds of up to 60 kph, and the possibility of torrential rain and hail. High waves are expected along the nation’s coastlines.

The regions of Al-Jouf, the Northern Borders, and Hail will have rainy conditions on Friday and Saturday.

On Friday, rain is expected in the Tabuk and Madinah regions; on Saturday and Sunday in the Eastern Province, Asir and Jazan; and on Saturday in Qassim.

For the Riyadh and Al-Baha regions, rain is expected from Friday to Sunday.

The NCM urged the public to stay updated on the weather conditions in the Kingdom by checking the daily reports on its website, the Anwaa application, or its social media accounts.


Saudi Falcons Club CEO and Kazakhstan ambassador discuss ways to boost cooperation

Saudi Falcons Club CEO and Kazakhstan ambassador discuss ways to boost cooperation
Updated 10 January 2025
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Saudi Falcons Club CEO and Kazakhstan ambassador discuss ways to boost cooperation

Saudi Falcons Club CEO and Kazakhstan ambassador discuss ways to boost cooperation

RIYADH: The CEO of the Saudi Falcons Club, Ahmed Al-Hababi, met Kazakhstan’s ambassador to the Kingdom, Madiyar Menilbekov, in Riyadh on Thursday to discuss opportunities for cooperation and ways in which these might be enhanced to benefit mutual goals.

One of the topics was the Hadad Program, a leading initiative developed by the club with the aim of returning falcons to their natural habitats and saving the species from the threat of extinction.

Menilbekov praised the club for the important role it plays in enhancing falconry and preserving its cultural heritage.

The club said the meeting was part of its efforts to strengthen international partnerships in keeping with the goals of the Saudi Vision 2030 plan for national development and diversification.
 


Saudi envoy to US outlines efforts to maintain safety of Saudi citizens amid LA wildfires

Saudi envoy to US outlines efforts to maintain safety of Saudi citizens amid LA wildfires
Updated 10 January 2025
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Saudi envoy to US outlines efforts to maintain safety of Saudi citizens amid LA wildfires

Saudi envoy to US outlines efforts to maintain safety of Saudi citizens amid LA wildfires

LOS ANGELES: Saudi ambassador to the US, Princess Reema bint Bandar, reaffirmed on Thursday the embassy’s commitment to the safety and security of Saudi citizens in Los Angeles and surrounding areas impacted by wildfires, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

In a statement, Princess Reema emphasized that the embassy and the consulate general were working tirelessly to support citizens affected by the fires.

She highlighted that ensuring their well-being remains a top priority for Saudi diplomatic missions in the United States.

She said the team was monitoring the situation closely and was prepared to provide immediate assistance to those in need. The embassy and consulate were dedicated to ensuring the security and safety of all Saudi citizens in affected areas, she added.

The embassy and consulate have activated a round-the-clock response team to address concerns and offer necessary support, SPA added.

The wildfires in California have prompted widespread evacuations and caused significant disruptions in the Los Angeles area, with officials working to contain the blazes.


KAUST conducts research study on microbiomes in glacier-fed streams

KAUST conducts research study on microbiomes in glacier-fed streams
Updated 10 January 2025
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KAUST conducts research study on microbiomes in glacier-fed streams

KAUST conducts research study on microbiomes in glacier-fed streams
  • Collaboration with scientists from Swiss Federal Technology Institute of Lausanne

RIYADH: The King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, in collaboration with scientists from the Swiss Federal Technology Institute of Lausanne, has conducted an unprecedented, in-depth study on microbiomes — microorganisms that live symbiotically with humans or other organisms — in glacier-fed streams.

These streams, originating from glaciers atop the Earth’s highest mountains, harbor a wealth of unique microorganisms.

The research team collected and analyzed samples from 170 glacier-fed streams over five years across regions including New Zealand, the Himalayas, the Russian Caucasus, the Tien Shan and Pamir Mountains, the European Alps, the Scandinavian Alps, Greenland, Alaska, the Rwenzori Mountains in Uganda, and the Ecuadorian and Chilean Andes, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The findings, published in the renowned scientific journal Nature, represent the first global reference for microbiomes in glacier-fed streams.

These streams, which are among the most extreme natural freshwater ecosystems in the world, are located at mountain summits and are characterized by near-freezing temperatures and low nutrient levels.

They also serve as the origin for many of the world’s largest rivers, functioning as vital water reservoirs for the planet.

KAUST researcher Dr. Ramona Marasco emphasized that glacier-fed streams were highly vulnerable to climate change. 

She spoke of the importance of establishing a baseline for their microbiomes to better understand the rate of ecological change, while highlighting KAUST’s extensive genetic sequencing efforts, which have significantly contributed to creating a comprehensive picture of these endangered microbiomes.

The researchers successfully developed the first global atlas of microorganisms in glacier-fed streams.

Their work revealed that these streams harbor a unique microbiome distinct from other cryospheric systems, such as glaciers, frozen soils, and ice-covered lakes.

About half of the bacterial species in these streams are endemic to specific mountain ranges. The scientists attribute this phenomenon to the geographical isolation of mountain ranges, similar to islands, and to the powerful natural selection exerted by the harsh conditions in glacier-fed streams.