Who’s Who: Andrew Pearcey, chief executive officer of the World Defense Show

Andrew Pearcey
Andrew Pearcey
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Updated 31 August 2024
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Who’s Who: Andrew Pearcey, chief executive officer of the World Defense Show

Andrew Pearcey

Andrew Pearcey is CEO of the World Defense Show, a large-scale biennial defense exhibition in Riyadh, held under the patronage of King Salman and founded by the General Authority of Military Industries under the leadership of Ahmad Al-Ohali.

Responsible for the show’s overall organization and working closely with GAMI, Pearcey led the team through two highly successful events and has ambitious plans for the third.

As CEO, Pearcey oversees a permanent multicultural, multidisciplinary team of 70 in the Riyadh head office, which expands to nearly 150 in the run-up to and during the event. Through careful selection and nurturing, he has ensured a strong and growing level of Saudization within the team and implements a robust talent development program throughout the organization.

This role builds on a 25-year career as a strategic and commercial professional, holding challenging positions in events, advertising, brand management and sponsorship, with brands ranging from telecoms to food and beverage.

Pearcey began his career in advertising, working at various agencies before joining the UK mobile operator Orange, where he managed high-profile sponsorships and events in film, music, and sport. He was part of the team that launched the EE brand and led the Football Association’s first sponsorship of Wembley Stadium. He then moved to Cheil Worldwide as a managing partner, overseeing Samsung’s global events, ensuring business growth, and delivering award-winning campaigns.

In 2015, Pearcey transitioned to the ADS Group and its subsidiary, Farnborough International, serving as an executive director on the board, working on the Farnborough International Airshow and its exhibition venue business.

In 2019, he was approached by GAMI to move to Saudi Arabia to develop and launch a new defense exhibition in Riyadh. The inaugural World Defense Show took place in March 2022 with enormous success.

Pearcey holds a degree in business studies with a major in marketing from Middlesex University in his native UK and professional qualifications from the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

 


AlUla Dates Festival Auction continues its festivities

AlUla Dates Festival Auction continues its festivities
Updated 10 sec ago
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AlUla Dates Festival Auction continues its festivities

AlUla Dates Festival Auction continues its festivities

ALULA: The AlUla Dates Festival Auction enters its second week on Friday as the annual event gets into full swing.

Organized by the Royal Commission for AlUla in partnership with government and private entities, the weekly auctions are held near Al-Iskan Stadium, south of AlUla, and run until Nov. 9.

The festival provides date farmers with an opportunity to showcase their products to buyers and investors from within the Kingdom and around the world. It also aligns with AlUla Vision and Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to establish the Kingdom as the world’s leading exporter of dates.

Farmers taking part in the festival are also competing for the AlUla Auction Award for Dates 2024, which offers a prize of SR75,000 ($20,000) to the winner, SR50,000 to the runner-up and SR30,000 for third place.

The winners will be chosen based on the quantity and value of their sales and other criteria.


Saudi Fashion Commission releases report showcasing growth to 2.5% of GDP

Saudi Fashion Commission releases report showcasing growth to 2.5% of GDP
Updated 10 min 4 sec ago
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Saudi Fashion Commission releases report showcasing growth to 2.5% of GDP

Saudi Fashion Commission releases report showcasing growth to 2.5% of GDP

RIYADH:  The Saudi Fashion Commission has unveiled its 2024 State of Fashion Report which showcases growth in the Kingdom’s fashion industry, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The report was released during a high-profile investment tour in London, sponsored by the Fashion Futures initiative, at Twenty Two Mayfair, according to the SPA.

The report’s reveal featured a custom-designed briefcase by Saudi brand 1886.

The report provides fresh perspectives on Saudi Arabia’s fashion landscape, revealing exciting trends and opportunities for growth and investment.

It offers readers industry data spanning fashion, luxury goods, jewelry, cosmetics, and business operations, while examining the fashion scene and presenting key insights from industry experts.

It reports that the sector’s contribution to the Kingdom’s gross domestic product has surged to 2.5 percent, a significant increase from 1.4 percent in the previous year.

This growth is mirrored in the jobs market, with the fashion industry employing 320,000 people as of 2023, marking an increase of 90,000 jobs since the 2021-2022 period.

In a notable development for gender equality, women now constitute 52 percent of the fashion workforce in Saudi Arabia.

The report also highlights the expanding economic footprint of the Saudi fashion market. In 2023, the market value reached about $30 billion, a figure that is projected to surge to $42 billion by 2028.

Burak Cakmak, CEO of the Fashion Commission, said: “Data is crucial for understanding our country’s growth.”

He added: “We are proud to lead in this area, offering public access to opportunities across the value chain.”

He also announced the launch of a data center that will publish the State of Fashion Report and make it publicly available, showcasing opportunities across the value chain.


Deputy governor welcomes Norwegian ambassador to Eastern Province

Deputy governor welcomes Norwegian ambassador to Eastern Province
Updated 31 min 26 sec ago
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Deputy governor welcomes Norwegian ambassador to Eastern Province

Deputy governor welcomes Norwegian ambassador to Eastern Province

DAMMAM: Eastern Province Deputy Gov. Prince Saud bin Bandar met Norway’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Kjersti Tromsdal on Thursday.

The two sides exchanged cordial discussions on various topics and Tromsdal expressed her gratitude to the prince for the warm reception.


Hundreds of non-native speakers take Saudi Arabia’s standardized Arabic test

A candidate takes the Hamza Arabic Language Test in person. (File/Supplied)
A candidate takes the Hamza Arabic Language Test in person. (File/Supplied)
Updated 19 September 2024
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Hundreds of non-native speakers take Saudi Arabia’s standardized Arabic test

A candidate takes the Hamza Arabic Language Test in person. (File/Supplied)
  • Total of 315 candidates from 22 countries take part

RIYADH: Hundreds of non-native speakers have been tested on their Arabic language skills in Saudi Arabia’s new standardized language test this week, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

A total of 315 candidates from 22 countries took the Hamza Arabic Language Test in person, which was conducted by the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language, in collaboration with seven Saudi universities.

The test is a computerized, codified test which measures the Arabic language proficiency of non-native speakers. It was first introduced in December 2023 and designed in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

Seven tests have been administered since its introduction to evaluate the language skills of 1,979 people in Saudi Arabia, China, Indonesia, and India.

The test is part of KSGAAL’s endeavors to raise the status of the Arabic language locally, regionally, and internationally, according to Dr. Abdullah bin Saleh Al-Washmi, the secretary-general of the KSGAAL.

Dr. Saad Al-Qahtani, head of the Educational Programs Sector at KSGAAL. (Supplied)

Dr. Saad Al-Qahtani, head of the Educational Programs Sector at KSGAAL, told Arab News: “The increasing demand for learning Arabic for various educational, vocational, and cultural objectives has prompted the need to design a unified global test measuring the Arabic language proficiency that helps enroll in educational programs or meets the needs of the labor market.

“Since mastering language skills is a prerequisite for employment, KSGAAL seeks to enhance cooperation with the entities concerned with teaching the Arabic language to non-native speakers.”

The Hamza academic test is designed in accordance with the highest global standards, with a view to consolidating efforts and developing practices in teaching the Arabic language to non-native speakers, Al-Qahtani added, while also hoping that the test would become a reference for measuring the level of the Arabic language proficiency of non-native speakers locally, regionally, and internationally.

The universities participating were: Umm Al-Qura University, Islamic University of Madinah, King Abdulaziz University, King Faisal University, Taif University, Qassim University, and Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University.


Saudi Arabia secures 14th position in Global AI Index, 1st in Arab world

Saudi Arabia secures 14th position in Global AI Index, 1st in Arab world
Updated 19 September 2024
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Saudi Arabia secures 14th position in Global AI Index, 1st in Arab world

Saudi Arabia secures 14th position in Global AI Index, 1st in Arab world
  • Remarkable milestone of 17-rank improvement among 83 countries underscores Saudi Arabia’s rapid progress in AI adoption and development
  • Achievement highlights the unwavering support provided by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has achieved a significant leap in the field of artificial intelligence, securing 14th position globally and topping the Arab world in the Global AI Index for 2024, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.
The Global AI Index is one of the indicators of the international classification of artificial intelligence issued by UK-based news website Tortoise Media.
The remarkable milestone of a 17-rank improvement among 83 countries underscores Saudi Arabia’s rapid progress in AI adoption and development.
The Kingdom’s continued leadership in the Government Strategy sub-pillar solidifies its position as a global AI leader. Its seventh-place ranking in the Commercial Ecosystem sub-pillar further demonstrates its commitment to investing in AI technologies and fostering a thriving AI ecosystem.
The Global AI Index, a comprehensive assessment of AI capabilities across 83 countries, evaluates performance based on 122 indicators grouped into three pillars: Implementation, Innovation and Investment.
These pillars are further divided into seven sub-pillars: Talent, Infrastructure, Operating Environment, Research, Development, Government Strategy and Commercial Ecosystem.
The achievement highlights the unwavering support provided by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who chairs the board of directors of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority, the SPA report added.
Under his guidance, the SDAIA has been instrumental in advancing the field of data and AI, developing national capabilities and fostering innovation. This strategic approach positions Saudi Arabia as a leading data-driven and AI-powered economy.