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GEN PLUS Group appoints Wael Mahdi as chief growth officer for MENA

GEN PLUS Group appointed Wael Mahdi as chief growth officer for the Middle East and North Africa region.
GEN PLUS Group appointed Wael Mahdi as chief growth officer for the Middle East and North Africa region.
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Updated 30 September 2024
Arab News
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GEN PLUS Group appoints Wael Mahdi as chief growth officer for MENA

GEN PLUS Group appointed Wael Mahdi as chief growth officer for the Middle East and North Africa region.
Updated 30 September 2024
Arab News
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GEN PLUS Group, a global independent group of agencies, has announced the appointment of Wael Mahdi as chief growth officer for the Middle East and North Africa region. This key leadership role underscores the group’s commitment to expanding its presence in the region, with a particular focus on Saudi Arabia and its Vision 2030 transformation. GEN PLUS Group recently established its regional headquarters in Riyadh to support this mission.

Wael Mahdi brings over 20 years of experience in communications, media and journalism to his new role. He holds a bachelor of arts in political economy from the American University in Cairo and has held various senior positions at prominent organizations such as NEOM and the Saudi Research and Media Group, where he made a significant contribution across multiple outlets. His career also includes contributions to respected publications like Arabian Business, Alwatan, The National, and Asharq Alawsat, as well as nearly a decade with Bloomberg, where he covered business and energy news across the GCC.

Sofia Panayiotaki, CEO of GEN PLUS Group, said: “We are excited to welcome Wael Mahdi to our leadership team. His extensive experience in strategic communications and content creation will be invaluable as we strengthen our role in supporting Saudi Vision 2030 and helping brands in the Kingdom and the MENA region grow and thrive.”

Mahdi added: “I am thrilled to join GEN PLUS Group at such a pivotal time of growth and transformation in the region. I look forward to contributing to the group’s mission by driving impactful content and narratives that align with Saudi Arabia’s ambitious goals to spur economic activity and attract global investors.”

GEN PLUS Group is a global leader in integrated communications and holistic brand storytelling. With a diverse network of over 3,000 experts representing 67 nationalities, the group operates in more than 100 countries. GEN PLUS Group provides a comprehensive suite of services, including creative marketing, PR, digital strategy, social media and content development, all driven by its signature “PLUS” philosophy.

In Saudi Arabia, GEN PLUS Group empowers brands, and partners with groundbreaking projects and initiatives to support Saudi Vision 2030.

Al-Masane mine expansion to boost zinc & copper production

Al-Masane mine expansion to boost zinc & copper production
Updated 30 September 2024
Arab News
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Al-Masane mine expansion to boost zinc & copper production

Al-Masane mine expansion to boost zinc & copper production
Updated 30 September 2024
Arab News

As part of its ongoing commitment to achieving sustainable growth, and in line with its strategic growth plan for 2025, Al-Masane Al-Kobra Mining Co. has completed the development of the Moyeath underground zinc and copper orebody and the Moyeath process plant. The development will contribute 400,000 tonnes per year of additional ore processing capacity to the business.

AMAK is a pioneer in the Saudi mining industry, and one of the largest producers of zinc, copper, gold and silver. The expansion project was inaugurated by Najran Province Gov. Jalawi bin Abdulaziz bin Musaed, on July 26, 2022.

The newly established processing unit, built to the highest global technical and quality standards, significantly improves the efficiency and quality of zinc and copper concentrate production. The total concentrate production for the business is expected to increase by approximately 80 percent for zinc and 40 percent for copper.

The total combined production will be 30-40 kt of copper concentrate, 60-80 kt of zinc concentrate, 25-35 koz of gold doré, and 40-50 koz of silver doré. Zinc and copper concentrates also contain approximately 10 koz of gold and 450-500 koz of silver.

AMAK CEO Geoff Day said: “Launched in 2022, this milestone project marks a pivotal achievement in our journey. Today, we proudly celebrate the completion of this expansion project — another value-adding step toward realizing our strategic growth objectives. It stands as a testament to our unwavering commitment to enhancing operational efficiency and unlocking new growth opportunities for the future, in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.”

The improved operational efficiency and additional production capacity was designed to lower production costs, optimize output, and ultimately contribute to stronger margins, positioning the company for sustained growth and financial stability in the coming quarters.

The project’s completion aligns with AMAK’s strategic growth plan for 2025, announced earlier this month. This strategy focuses on several key pillars, including enhancing current growth opportunities, expanding existing primary and secondary sites, exploring new business opportunities such as launching a specialized exploration drilling company, acquiring additional exploration tenements, followed by efficiently assessing the new tenements and fast tracking them into development.

AlForno: a modern bistro experience in the heart of Makkah

AlForno: a modern bistro experience in the heart of Makkah
Updated 30 September 2024
Arab News
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AlForno: a modern bistro experience in the heart of Makkah

AlForno: a modern bistro experience in the heart of Makkah
Updated 30 September 2024
Arab News

The city of Makkah witnessed a special event last week, with the grand opening of AlForno, a traditional yet modern bistro providing an exceptional dining experience that blends authenticity with innovation. The bistro is located in Jabal Omar Hyatt Regency Makkah, which is a one-minute walk from Al-Masjid Al-Haram.

The opening was attended by a diverse group of social media influencers, food enthusiasts, prominent journalists, and business leaders, all eager to discover the bistro’s unique dishes.

The evening began with a warm welcome for guests featuring traditional Hijazi singing (Al-Jasis), accompanied by welcome drinks and local desserts reflecting a variety of cultures while celebrating Saudi heritage. The ceremonial ribbon-cutting was performed by the hotel’s general manager and staff, along with several guests, adding a special touch to the event.

The opening ceremony included a dinner featuring a variety of innovative dishes prepared using locally sourced ingredients. The menu was carefully crafted to combine traditional flavors with modern techniques, providing guests with a truly unique dining experience. A special presentation was made to guests about the bistro’s philosophy and vision for delivering exceptional culinary experiences. Attendees had the opportunity to taste several signature dishes created by experienced professional chefs. Each dish tells a story inspired by the cultural heritage of Saudi Arabia, with a contemporary twist that reflects global influences.

The bistro’s vision aligns with the goals of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, to enhance the culture of tourism and promote cultural experiences within the Kingdom. AlForno seeks to be a comprehensive cultural and tourist hub, bringing together pilgrims and travelers to share stories, and experiences, and create unforgettable memories.

The bistro’s ambiance is warm and welcoming, featuring an interior design that combines modernity with tradition, making every guest feel at home. AlForno also provides a space for social interaction, allowing guests to enjoy shared experiences while dining.

Gulf Air inks deal with Almatar in first collaboration with OTA in Kingdom

Gulf Air inks deal with Almatar in first collaboration with OTA in Kingdom
Updated 30 September 2024
Arab News
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Gulf Air inks deal with Almatar in first collaboration with OTA in Kingdom

Gulf Air inks deal with Almatar in first collaboration with OTA in Kingdom
Updated 30 September 2024
Arab News

Gulf Air, the national carrier of Bahrain, has entered into a strategic partnership with Almatar, a Saudi travel technology company, to enhance digital operations between the two entities.

As part of the partnership, Gulf Air will integrate its new distribution capability API with Almatar’s booking platform, enabling Almatar to offer Gulf Air’s products and services, such as seat selection, additional baggage options, refunds, and reissue services. This will provide travelers with a more advanced, flexible, and seamless booking experience.

The partnership marks a key milestone in the digital transformation journeys of both Gulf Air and Almatar. It makes Almatar the first online travel agency in Saudi Arabia to collaborate with Gulf Air, setting a new industry standard.

Jeffrey Goh, CEO of Gulf Air Group, said: “We are excited about this partnership that opens new digital distribution avenues for Gulf Air products. The integration of the NDC system with Almatar’s platform will enhance operational efficiency and improve the way the airline delivers exceptional services to our customers. Gulf Air is dedicated to adopting modern technology to offer flexible and user-friendly travel solutions, solidifying our competitive edge in regional and global markets.”

Youssef Abdullah Al-Rajhi, chairman of Almatar, added: “This agreement is a landmark in Almatar’s journey as a digital travel solutions provider. We are proud to collaborate with Gulf Air, the national carrier of Bahrain, one of the most reputable airlines in the region. We are also the first OTA company in Saudi Arabia to partner with Gulf Air, and the integration of NDC will enable us to expand our services and provide an advanced travel experience to our customers.”

He said the partnership with Gulf Air is a strategic move that strengthens Almatar’s market presence and helps it serve a broader customer base. It will significantly enhance the efficiency of online bookings and allow it to deliver high-quality services that meet the increasing demands of the travel industry.

TUV Rheinland CEO sees incredible opportunities in KSA

TUV Rheinland CEO sees incredible opportunities in KSA
Updated 29 September 2024
Arab News
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TUV Rheinland CEO sees incredible opportunities in KSA

TUV Rheinland CEO sees incredible opportunities in KSA
Updated 29 September 2024
Arab News

With Vision 2030 aiming to create a strong and thriving Saudi Arabia with sustainable development that provides opportunities for all, it is a great privilege to see the vision being implemented, said Dr. Michael Fubi, CEO and chairman of the executive board of management of the German consultancy firm TUV Rheinland.

TUV Rheinland recently unveiled its regional headquarters in Riyadh, reflecting the Saudi capital’s ongoing success in attracting fresh investments in line with the goals outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

Sharing his outlook on Saudi business and economic reforms, Fubi said: “When I look at it, I see a number of developments coming up. With Vision 2030, a great many things have begun. For me, it’s so incredible to see that it’s not only a vision but also a vision being implemented. This means a great deal of investment and new industries are being promoted here in the Kingdom.”

“I see a bright future because so many developments are already taking root,” he added.

Fubi recently held fruitful meetings with Saudi Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih, SASO Gov. Dr. Saad Al-Kasabi, and senior officials from the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources.

Concerning German companies in Saudi Arabia, the TUV official said that German companies are well known for high-quality materials used in manufacturing processes; for example in power generation, particularly wind power, as well as in the photovoltaic sector. “We have been active in these sectors for more than 40 years. I think a number of German companies will contribute to the ongoing transformation in the country,” he said.

On his long working experience in Saudi Arabia, he said: “We started small, nearly 20 years ago. We started with a handful of people. And from there we developed, always looking at what the needs in the Kingdom were. Our purpose was — and is — to make the world a safer place. That means we always look for where we can contribute.”

“On the one hand, we are quite active — for example, in the oil and gas sector where operators need to function safely and also active in construction supervision and in training people. That is an area close to our hearts, training and educating people to do
high-quality work in their jobs. We operate eight national industrial training institutes and have also set up a drilling academy,” he added.

On the rising profile of Riyadh, the CEO said: “In the last few years, we have embarked on Vision 2030. I have seen huge changes and particularly very quick transformations. I was here before the COVID pandemic and then I was away for two and a half years. And in that period so many things changed and happened which people here may not have noticed but having been away and come back, I certainly noticed. The speed of change and the development in Riyadh has been amazing as it has become an international metropolis. With Riyadh hosting Expo 2030, that will be another milestone and will bring in people from all over the world to see the changes.”

“Saudi Vision 2030 is a major milestone for this country and will reduce the dependency on oil and gas and develop other sectors to ensure that in the long run there are value-added services within the country along with a growing young population,” Fubi added.

Landmark Retail signs ESG-linked facility with Emirates NBD

Landmark Retail signs ESG-linked facility with Emirates NBD
Updated 29 September 2024
Arab News
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Landmark Retail signs ESG-linked facility with Emirates NBD

Landmark Retail signs ESG-linked facility with Emirates NBD
Updated 29 September 2024
Arab News

Emirates NBD, a banking group in the Middle East, North Africa and Turkiye region, has announced the signing of an ESG-linked working capital facility with Landmark Retail, a leading value conglomerate in the Middle East’s retail sector. This marks the first time a private sector company has signed a bilateral sustainability-linked loan in the Kingdom.

Officially announced at a signing ceremony held on Sept. 4, at Emirates NBD’s headquarters in Riyadh, the partnership underlines both parties’ long-standing commitment to Vision 2030 and the Kingdom’s sustainability goals. The collaboration is fully aligned with Landmark Retail’s ongoing efforts to achieve net-zero.

The agreement was signed in the presence of officials and representatives from both companies. Rajesh Garg, group chief financial officer, Landmark Group, was joined at the event by the omni-channel retail conglomerate’s Head of Treasury Shabbir Ahmad and Deputy General Manager of Finance Ravi Chandran.

Emirates NBD was represented at the signing ceremony by the bank’s Group Co-Head of Corporate Coverage, Corporate and Institutional Banking Pri McNair and its Country Head Corporate and Institutional Banking Ahmed Alghamdi.

The agreement builds on Emirates NBD’s previous partnerships with Landmark Retail, strengthening the ties between both entities. 

It marks the launch of the second ESG-linked facility between Emirates NBD and Landmark Retail, following the conglomerate’s decision to transition from its working capital facility to a sustainability-linked loan in 2022. The ESG-linked objectives are increasing the contribution of renewables in Landmark’s energy utilization and increasing the composition of sustainable materials in its retail products.

Mcnair said: “We are proud to be playing a key role in promoting sustainable financing in Saudi Arabia by supporting our long-standing partner Landmark Retail. This milestone agreement underscores our shared commitment to environmental stewardship and driving meaningful change through ESG-linked solutions. By partnering with leaders like Landmark to formulate bespoke sustainability-focused structures, we are paving the way for sustainable transition and reinforcing our role as a leader in steering impact on business models contributing to a greener future in the Kingdom.”

Landmark Retail’s Garg said: “We are committed to conducting our business responsibly, by driving positive changes to reduce the environmental impact of our operations. We understand the important role we play in our industry and take it upon ourselves to act as flag bearers of responsible business, working as ethically and conscientiously as possible to protect people and the planet. Our agreement with Emirates NBD is fully geared toward accomplishing just that, marking another important milestone in our and the Kingdom’s journey toward greater sustainability.”

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