Who’s Who: Dr. Ahmad Alsinan, head of strategic opportunities at NEOM

Who’s Who: Dr. Ahmad Alsinan, head of strategic opportunities at NEOM
Dr. Ahmad Alsinan
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Updated 09 June 2024
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Who’s Who: Dr. Ahmad Alsinan, head of strategic opportunities at NEOM

Who’s Who: Dr. Ahmad Alsinan, head of strategic opportunities at NEOM

Dr. Ahmad Alsinan has been head of strategic opportunities at NEOM’s deputy CEO’s office since September 2023.

Alsinan is responsible for strategizing, coordinating, and executing business opportunities. He leads a dynamic team, collaborates with internal and external stakeholders, and plays a pivotal role in shaping business opportunities, including investments, strategic partnerships, and alliances.

In 2022, Alsinan moved to NEOM as the head of strategy and business development at NEOM Mobility, where he led a multibillion-dollar scale partnership proposal to deliver the future sustainable mobility ecosystem at NEOM.

He played a pivotal role in closing a transformative $100 million joint venture deal with Pony.ai, a leading autonomous vehicle company, and led the green hydrogen mobility project deployment at NEOM.

He was also nominated as NEOM’s corporate representative on Saudi Arabia’s Governance and Regulatory Framework Committee for Modern and Future Mobility Enablement.

In 2020, Alsinan joined Aramco Ventures as a corporate venturing principal and head of sustainability investments, where he initiated and led global business deals related to hydrogen, e-fuels, GHG emission detection, energy storage, renewables, and carbon capture, utilization and storage. He also developed venturing strategies in the digital transformation domain.

In 2019, he became a senior scientist of technology development in the research and development carbon management division, leading the execution team of the Saudi Aramco-Hyundai strategic collaboration on hydrogen, non-metallics, and futuristic automotive technologies.

Alsinan’s professional journey began as a research scientist at SaudiAramco’s Research and Development Center, where he worked on computational modeling of three-phase crude oil separation processes.

He later moved to the technology strategy and planning department, where he conducted a study on oil to hydrogen techno-economic assessment and led the development of Saudi Aramco’s Oil to Hydrogen Strategy.

He also represented Saudi Aramco in the development of the National Hydrogen Strategy and led the sustainability business vertical in the National Circular Carbon Economy program under the leadership of Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, the Kingdom’s minister of energy.

Alsinan holds a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the University of California at Santa Barbara, a master’s degree in computer science and high-performance computing and simulations from the University of Southern California, and a bachelor’s degree in software engineering from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals.


Saudi envoy attends Palestine solidarity event at Arab League HQ in Cairo

Saudi envoy attends Palestine solidarity event at Arab League HQ in Cairo
Updated 01 December 2024
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Saudi envoy attends Palestine solidarity event at Arab League HQ in Cairo

Saudi envoy attends Palestine solidarity event at Arab League HQ in Cairo
  • Organization’s secretary-general: Israel making life for Palestinians ‘impossible’
  • International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People organized by UN since 1977

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s permanent representative to the Arab League, Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Matar, attended an event marking the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People at the organization’s headquarters in Cairo on Sunday. 

Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, also attended, as did Saeed Abu Ali, an assistant on the Palestinian issue to Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit, among other Arab ministers and officials. 

They confirmed full solidarity with the Palestinian people’s struggle to achieve their legitimate rights of freedom and independence, the Saudi Press Agency reported. 

Aboul Gheit said Israeli actions in the Occupied Territories aim “at ending the Palestinian presence, liquidating the project of the Palestinian state, and forced displacement, by making the life of Palestinian society ... impossible.” 

The Arab League honored UNRWA during a ceremony for its vital work in delivering aid and securing shelter for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People has been organized by the UN since 1977.

Events worldwide, including at the UN headquarters in New York, are planned yearly on Nov. 29. 


Right on track: Riyadh Metro commuters on board with excitement

The Saudi capital is ending the year on a high as Riyadh Metro trains officially began running on Dec. 1. (AN photo)
The Saudi capital is ending the year on a high as Riyadh Metro trains officially began running on Dec. 1. (AN photo)
Updated 01 December 2024
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Right on track: Riyadh Metro commuters on board with excitement

The Saudi capital is ending the year on a high as Riyadh Metro trains officially began running on Dec. 1. (AN photo)
  • Arab News speaks to commuters at King Abdullah Financial District Station

RIYADH: The Saudi capital is ending the year on a high as Riyadh Metro trains officially began running on Dec. 1.

Stations were buzzing with excitement across the blue, yellow, and purple lines as commuters celebrated the opening of a project which was 12 years in the making. 

At the King Abdullah Financial District Station, which connects all three lines, Saudis, residents, and tourists spoke to Arab News about their eagerness to try out the city’s new mode of transportation.

Khalid Alohari, who was en route to visit his grandmother, told Arab News: “I live in the north, near to the KAFD Station, and my grandma is in the far east, so going by car was always a hassle. Now the metro will make visiting her so much easier. The experience is just phenomenal. I’ve been waiting for this.”

Medical student Khalid Alohari. (AN photo by Jaafer Alsaleh)

As a medical student at King Saud University, he was eligible for a 50 percent discount on all fares. He plans to use the metro system regularly to attend classes.

He added: “A month (of) using public transport, the metro, the buses, the supplementary cars, for just SR70 ($18) for a student, it’s just something we didn’t imagine could happen. I have a station close to my home. I’m going to take it to the university, and use it for the commute.

“As a medical student, I can use the 30-40 minutes of the commute to study, and it will also have a positive impact on my grades. It’s a win-win for everyone basically.”

He said that the metro will play a crucial role in reducing the growing traffic problem in Saudi Arabia, while also making transportation a greener experience as the system runs primarily on electrical energy rather than oil combustion.

Tourists Greg and Emma Turra were visiting Riyadh from Australia. Unsure how to spend their last day in the city, they decided to hop on the train to see where it took them. They were surprised to learn that the special day was the first they could have accessed the mass transit system.

Greg told Arab News: “We were just looking at a bit of time to waste on our last six hours, and what better way than doing this? It’s not every day you ride a train on its opening day.”

Tourist Greg Turra. (AN photo by Jaafer Alsaleh)

They started their journey from Alinma Bank Station on the blue line and made it to KAFD.

Emma said: “The first thing we saw was that it was brand new, modern, futuristic, and the architectural brilliance of it, really, is quite special.

“Everyone was so excited to be traveling on it — we couldn’t believe that. That’s how we realized that it was obviously the first day.”

Tourist Emma Turra. (AN photo by Jaafer Alsaleh)

She added that the system could be an attraction for tourists as the city’s traffic has been a well-known problem for tourists.

She added: “Before I came to Riyadh I was told the traffic was a nightmare. And when we arrived, we took close to two hours to get to our hotel. This line goes to the airport so that might be another option for people.”

Ameera Alrumaih, a student at Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, told Arab News: “I've been thinking about this project for forever.

Ameera Alrumaih, a student at Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University. (AN photo by Jaafer Alsaleh)

“I’ve been seeing it being built near our house. Every outing we have, I always see the metro. I’ve been excited for forever to try it.”

Alrumaih and her friend hopped on the train from the university to grab breakfast at KAFD, and headed back to continue their classes.

Alrumaih said: “We traveled from our university to KAFD in less than 10 minutes, which is so much easier, especially for me. I think I would use it. I live in the east so from east to east I’ll still use my car, but from east to north I think I’ll use the metro.

“I’ve tried the metro in Istanbul and London. I think (in Riyadh) it is much clearer, much nicer and well-lit.”

Osama Alharbi. (AN photo by Jaafer Alsaleh)

Commuter Osama Alharbi arrived at KAFD Station from Khurais Road with a sense of pride, and said: “It was so easy to come here. It’s around 15 or 20 minutes around this time but if you take a car from my house to KAFD, maybe an hour.

“When I came to the train station the support was so amazing. The (station managers and assistants) came up to the door to bring me to the ticket (machine) and tell me about the prices.”

The only issue he noted was that there was no clear direction between the standard and first-class sections so travelers could easily hop in any of the cars.


Saudi crown prince arrives in UAE on private visit

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is greeted by UAE president Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed on arrival in the country.
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is greeted by UAE president Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed on arrival in the country.
Updated 01 December 2024
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Saudi crown prince arrives in UAE on private visit

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is greeted by UAE president Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed on arrival in the country.
  • Prince Mohammed was greeted by the UAE’s president Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed on arrival

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrived in the UAE on Sunday on a private visit, Saudi Press Agency reported.  

He was greeted by the country’s president Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed on arrival.

Earlier on Sunday, the crown prince participated in a Gulf Cooperation Council summit held in Kuwait.


Saudi and Ethiopian diplomats discuss cooperation in Riyadh

Saudi and Ethiopian diplomats discuss cooperation in Riyadh
Updated 01 December 2024
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Saudi and Ethiopian diplomats discuss cooperation in Riyadh

Saudi and Ethiopian diplomats discuss cooperation in Riyadh
  • Talks focus on regional and international affairs and ways to strengthen the relationship between Riyadh and Addis Ababa

RIYADH: Saudi and Ethiopian diplomats held a round of political consultations and talks in the ministry of foreign affairs’ official diwan in Riyadh on Sunday to discuss cooperation in various fields. 

Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji chaired the meeting with the Ethiopian delegation led by Mesganu Arga Moach, the state minister of foreign affairs at the foreign ministry in Addis Ababa, the Saudi Press Agency reported. 

The two sides discussed the latest developments in regional and international affairs, ways to strengthen cooperation, and the friendly relationship between Riyadh and Addis Ababa. 

In August, the two countries established the Saudi-Ethiopian Business Council to strengthen economic ties and enhance trade and investment opportunities for the period 2024 to 2028 term. 

The meeting on Sunday was attended by Fahad Alhumaydani, the Saudi ambassador to Ethiopia; the director of the general department of expatriate affairs at the foreign ministry, Mohammed Al-Shammari; and the Ethiopian ambassador


Deputy foreign minister receives Iranian ambassador to Saudi Arabia

Deputy foreign minister receives Iranian ambassador to Saudi Arabia
Updated 01 December 2024
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Deputy foreign minister receives Iranian ambassador to Saudi Arabia

Deputy foreign minister receives Iranian ambassador to Saudi Arabia
  • The two sides reviewed bilateral relations and ways to enhance them, in addition to discussing topics of common interest

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji received Iranian Ambassador to the Kingdom Alireza Enayati in Riyadh on Sunday.

The two sides reviewed bilateral relations and ways to enhance them, in addition to discussing topics of common interest, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Meanwhile, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs branch in Makkah Fareed bin Saad Al-Shehri received Mohamed Rameez, the consul general of the Maldives, in Jeddah on Sunday for friendly talks.