The Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu (RCJY) will organize an international conference on modern technologies in recycling and reusing industrial waste in Jubail Industrial City from Dec. 3-4.
Ahmed bin Mutair Al-Balawi, general manager of technical affairs in the RCJY and the general supervisor of the conference, told Arab News that the conference is an extension to the efforts made by the RCJY in preserving the environment and putting strict procedures for the management and control of hazardous and non-hazardous industrial waste produced by industrial establishments operating in the city.
The RCJY aims to promote its support of recycling and using industrial waste. It also aims to reduce risks and find safe ways to dispose them, and the procedures involved in determining the type of waste, the methods of its treatment and how to transport and dispose it.
The conference also aims to strengthen the RCJY’s approach to support recycling and using industrial waste. The conference will address several topics such as oil waste recycling up-to-date technology, recycling promoters, waste and energy, recycling mining industry waste, modern studies and experiments in the fields of recycling industrial waste and recycling plastic and other materials.
More than 20 specialists and academics from inside and outside the Kingdom will discuss topics related to recycling by presenting latest technologies used nowadays and recent local and international studies in six sessions. There will be an exhibition accompanying the conference that will have many specialized companies participating in it.
The first session will focus on modern technologies in recycling oil waste that is headed by Ahmed Al-Hazmi from Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC).
The agenda of this session includes three lectures: Retrieving oil from the sludge using a three-stage centrifuge by Jihad Shana from Saudi Aramco; Refining today to be cleaner tomorrow by Jameel Aldeen Sheikh from the United Lube Oil Company (UNILUBE) in Jubail; and using technology to recover hydrocarbons and sediment treatment by Rae’ed Al-Atrash from Al-Atrash Company for Industrial Materials in Alkhobar.
The second session entitled "Recycling Catalyst" is headed by Khalaf Al-Anzi from Sadara Company. The agenda of this session includes four lectures — Using molybdenum from catalysts, renewing catalysts by using water technologies presented by Saleh Abu Alteen from Al-Bilad Catalyst Company, Advanced processing for recycling and using catalysts by Ameen Dahia from GMC company, and recycling catalysts by Matthew Bell from the Dutch company BV.
The third session entitled "Energy and Waste" is headed by Omar Agha from Dammam University and includes three lectures — Producing energy from waste by Ahmed Ayoub from Abu Dhabu Company for Onshore Oil Operations (ADCO), Using luminous gas to generate electricity using solid oxide fuel cell by Rchberg Giorgn from Austria, and evaluating possible waste energy in Saudi Arabia by Omar Ouda from Prince Muhammad bin Fahd University.
The second day of the conference will have three sessions. The first session is entitled "Recycling mineral industry waste" led by Mustafa Aqil from Maaden Company and it includes three presentations — Reviewing disposal methods of three main types of industrial waste in Jubail and Ras Al-Khair by Muhammad Esmaiel from Rashid Geotechnical and Materials Engineers, Effective management of waste in Hadeed (Saudi Iron and Steel Company), and Recycling gypsum waste by Henrik Land from Denmark.
The second session is entitled "Modern studies and experiments in the field of recycling and using industrial waste" headed by Hussain bin Mohammed Al-Beshri, former director of the Department of Environmental Protection Authority in the Royal Commission in Jubail.
The session includes four presentations: Managing sodium hydroxide in Saudi Aramco by Hadi Al-Doghman from Saudi Aramco, Recycling and using waste in SABIC by Abdulrasheed Ja’afar from SABIC company, Catalyst and mercury: Example of a comprehensive treatment plant by Yves Thiller from Switzerland, and Reducing and recycling industrial waste by Tahir Hussain from Canada.
Al-Balawi explained that a group of specialists and academics from both inside and outside the Kingdom will present lectures revolving around the previous themes to benefit and exchange experiences that will be reflected positively on the environment.
He said there will be an exhibition organized with the conference in which many companies that are specialized in recycling and using industrial waste will take part.
The Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu carries out many periodic inspection tours in industrial plants and monitors the waste to find ways to recycle it. It makes sure that all these factories and companies follow the right procedures in disposing waste.
The Royal Commission monitors the waste produced by the factories and companies operating in the city and the correct and safe ways of disposing it. The Royal Commission tracks the process from the moment the waste is produced till its disposal.
Al-Balawi said that the RCJY encourages recycling and avoiding disposing. Recycling raises the value-added to the city’s production and helps to reduce the process of consumption and waste available resources.
The petrochemical industries produce 200,000 tons of industrial waste annually. It includes a mixture of solid and liquid waste that is recycled, some that is disposed of, some more of which 22 percent is burned, and the rest is hazardous waste.
Also, 800,000 tons of waste is annually produced by iron and mining industries that is recycled completely.
The city is now 40 years old since its foundation and along the incredible industrial growth there is waste production accumulating. The RCJY deals with waste in three ways such as disposing some waste by burying in dedicated and safe places, burning some waste by specialized companies, or through encouraging the companies to recycle their own waste.
After studying the environmental problems that may result from industrial waste, the RC started from its foundation to help investors set up the first waste treatment plant in the Kingdom that has all modern technologies according to international and local standards.The RCJY monitors industrial waste and handles it strictly and accurately through watching waste quantity in the industries and the time they are produced. Also, the RCJY monitors the transportation of the waste by certified carriers to transport it to the treatment plant.
“The commission is keen on following up with factories and companies to make sure they follow the proper procedures in waste management and taking environmental standards into account,” he said.
“We have a waste control program in the city that requires companies to commit and report waste periodically and quarterly reports are received from designated companies. The reports study the waste and the mechanism to deal with it,” he added.
Also, there are reports from the transportation company because the RCJY’s control program covers all stages of waste production to its final disposal stages in accordance with international and local standards.
Industry waste is considered a stock and every stock should be watched. It is prohibited that any material goes out of the building other than for recycling process.
Al-Balawi said that there is a pilot program to monitor waste electronically. The company enters the quantity that it wants to dispose of electronically and the carrier company and the treatment plant send out their requests electronically. “In that way, we will have a system that monitors, evaluates and gives us indicators on a daily basis or weekly that will make the monitoring process very accurate. The new system will be launched soon.”
Recycling and reusing industrial waste in focus at Jubail conference
Recycling and reusing industrial waste in focus at Jubail conference
Startup Wrap — MENA startups raise $2.3bn in 2024 as deal volume grows
RIYADH: Startup funding deals across the Middle East and North Africa saw an annual increase of 3.5 percent in 2024, with 610 agreements recorded across the region.
According to a report from Wamada, fintech remained the dominant sector, attracting 30 percent of total funding, or $700 million.
Software-as-a-service saw strong traction in Saudi Arabia, while Web 3.0 saw $256.8 million and e-commerce also gained momentum with $253 million in funding.
Despite the strong showing in these sectors, the overall funding value across the startup ecosystem of $2.3 billion represented a 42 percent year-on-year drop.
When excluding debt financing, the decline stood at just 11 percent.
The UAE led with $1.1 billion raised across 207 deals, followed by Saudi Arabia at $700 million from 186 deals, and Egypt securing $334 million across 84 deals.
Oman ranked fourth with $41.5 million, while Morocco and Tunisia led in North Africa, raising $20.8 million and $13.1 million, respectively. Emerging ecosystems in Jordan, Qatar, and Lebanon also showed modest growth.
Early-stage startups accounted for over $1.2 billion in investments, while later-stage and pre-IPO rounds saw limited activity. Female-founded startups raised $27.6 million, or 1.2 percent of total funding, with mixed-gender founding teams securing $192 million.
Ebana secures $2.66m to expand fintech solutions
Saudi-based fintech startup Ebana has raised $2.66 million in a pre-series A round led by Esnad Legal Consulting and Business Governance.
Founded in 2020 by Ali Al-Shareef, Ebana provides digital services and technical infrastructure for corporate governance affairs.
The newly raised capital will be used to enhance Ebana’s investor relations tools, expand its fintech solutions, and strengthen its services for both public and private enterprises.
Nabeeh secures investment from Ibtikar Fund to grow user base
Saudi-based e-services platform Nabeeh has raised an undisclosed investment from Ibtikar Fund.
Originally founded in Palestine in 2021 by Saber Samara and Fawaz Samara, Nabeeh provides an online platform for booking housekeeping, maintenance, and renovation services.
“Property owners and businesses often struggle with unreliable maintenance and cleaning providers and a lack of transparency. Nabeeh bridges this gap by offering seamless, tech-enabled solutions that prioritize quality, speed, and trust,” Samara said.
With this funding, Nabeeh plans to double its user base, expand its business-to-business portfolio, and introduce new platform features.
Silkhaus raises growth funding to expand into Saudi Arabia
UAE-based proptech startup Silkhaus has closed a seven-figure growth funding round led by Nuwa Capital and Oraseya Capital, with participation from Impulse International, Yuj Ventures, Nordstar, and other investors.
Founded in 2021 by Aahan Bhojani, Silkhaus operates a marketplace for short-term rentals across the UAE.
The new funding will support its expansion into Saudi Arabia, where it is now open for bookings. This follows a multi-million-dollar pre-Series A round secured last year by Partners for Growth.
“With the support of our investors and team, we are excited to scale our operations in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, offering innovative solutions to property owners and premium experiences to guests. The short-term rental economy of the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) is experiencing a significant growth surge, and we are proud to be leading this growth,” Bhojani said.
UpLevel raises pre-seed funding to enhance corporate coaching
Saudi-based education tech startup UpLevel has closed an undisclosed pre-seed funding round backed by a group of angel investors.
Founded in 2024 by Idris Al-Shayea and Hamad Al-Luhaidan, UpLevel connects companies with professional coaches to enhance employee performance.
The fresh funding will help UpLevel scale its operations and further develop its coaching network for corporate clients.
BioSapien extends pre-Series A round to $7m
UAE-based health tech startup BioSapien has extended its pre-Series A round to $7 million, with new participation from Golden Gate Ventures, marking the first deployment of its MENA-focused fund.
Founded in 2018 by Khatija Ali, BioSapien is developing MediChip, a 3D-printed, slow-release drug delivery platform designed to attach to tissue with minimal systemic side effects.
The extension follows the company’s $5.5 million pre-series A round in December, led by Global Ventures and joined by Dara Holdings.
Retailhub raises funding to expand SaaS platform
UAE-based retail SaaS provider Retailhub has secured an undisclosed investment from Angelspark.
Founded in 2022 by Daniel Alimov and Roman Tikhonov, Retailhub provides an automated platform that synchronizes stock updates from point-of-sale systems to aggregators and consolidates orders into a single application.
The new funding will enable Retailhub to enhance its platform capabilities, strengthen partnerships, and scale operations within the UAE and beyond.
Maalexi secures $3m debt financing from Citi
UAE-based agriculture fintech startup Maalexi has secured a $3 million debt financing facility from Citi to expand its sourcing operations.
Founded in 2021 by Azam Pasha and Rohit Majhi, Maalexi provides a risk management platform that enables small food and agribusinesses to access cross-border trade.
The facility will help build a technology-enabled supply chain linking origin markets to the UAE. This follows a $1 million venture debt round secured in July from Stride Ventures.
Fincart.io raises pre-seed funding to expand logistics platform
Egypt-based logistics startup Fincart.io has raised an undisclosed pre-seed funding round led by Plus VC, with participation from Plug and Play, Orbit Startups, Jedar Capital, and other regional investors.
Founded in 2023 by Mostafa El-Masry and Nihal Ali, Fincart.io provides e-commerce retailers with access to a marketplace of delivery providers and an operations dashboard.
The new funds will support platform improvements, courier network growth, and expansion into the African and Middle Eastern markets.
Dsquares acquires majority stake in Prepit
Egypt-based loyalty solutions provider Dsquares has acquired a majority stake in Prepit, an Egyptian B2B SaaS loyalty platform, for an undisclosed amount.
Founded in 2012 by Ayman Essawy, Marwan Kenawy, and Momtaz Moussa, Dsquares specializes in B2B loyalty programs for industries such as banking, telecom, fast-moving consumer goods, and retail.
Prepit, founded in 2022 by Karim Hussein and Tarek Afia, provides AI-driven tools to streamline food and beverage operations.
The acquisition strengthens Dsquares’ presence in the loyalty sector across key Middle Eastern markets, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the UAE.
Oil Updates — crude set for weekly decline as Trump tariff threat looms large
LONDON: Oil prices were steady on Friday but on course for weekly declines as markets waited to see if US President Donald Trump will follow through on his threat to impose tariffs on Mexico and Canada on Saturday.
Brent crude futures for March, which expire on Friday, were down 9 cents at $76.78 a barrel by 5:20 p.m. Saudi time. US West Texas Intermediate crude declined 2 cents to $72.71.
For the week, the Brent and WTI benchmarks were set for declines of 2.2 percent and 2.6 percent respectively.
Oil came under pressure from the potential negative economic impact of US tariffs against Canada, Mexico and China, said PVM analyst Tamas Varga, adding that potential dollar appreciation as a result of tariffs also weighed on oil.
Trump has threatened to impose a 25 percent tariff on Canadian and Mexican exports to the US if those two countries do not clamp down on shipments of fentanyl and on illegal migration across US borders.
Canada and Mexico are the two largest crude oil exporters to the US, but it is unclear if oil would be included among the tariffs. Trump said on Thursday he would soon decide whether to exclude Canadian and Mexican oil imports from the tariffs.
Tariffs would likely result in large US refinery run cuts, said Energy Aspects analyst Livia Gallarati.
“Our base case has been that, if tariffs are announced, they will include a grace period for negotiations and that oil is likely eventually to be carved out from any tariffs,” Gallarati added.
The market is also awaiting the OPEC+ meeting scheduled for Monday.
Kazakhstan’s energy minister said on Wednesday that the group is set to discuss Trump’s plans to raise US oil production and take a joint stance on the matter at next week’s OPEC+ meeting.
“OPEC will likely comply with the US demand to increase production to avoid Trump’s ire. And they might announce a gradual unwinding of voluntary cuts, if not from April, then from the second half of the year,”
Saudi Arabian Military Industries appoints new CEO
RIYADH: The Saudi Arabian Military Industries has announced the appointment of Thamer M. Al-Muhid as its new chief executive officer, effective Feb. 1, according to a statement released on Thursday.
The decision was confirmed during a meeting of SAMI’s board of directors, chaired by Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman.
With over 30 years of global leadership experience, Al-Muhid brings extensive expertise in driving organizational transformation, operational excellence, and international expansion.
His diverse background encompasses strategic initiatives, mergers and acquisitions, research and development, and forging key international partnerships—all of which equip him to lead SAMI into a new phase of growth and innovation.
Before his appointment, Al-Muhid served as group CEO and managing director of Saudi Chemical Co. Holding, and has held senior leadership roles at prominent organizations such as SABIC, Almarai, and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Replacing Walid Abu Khaled, Al-Muhid will oversee the company’s efforts to advance cutting-edge technologies, produce world-class defense products, and strengthen strategic partnerships.
His leadership is expected to expedite Public Investment Fund-owned SAMI’s progress toward achieving its ambitious objectives, including localizing 50 percent of the Kingdom’s defense spending and fostering national talent in the defense sector.
This appointment underscores SAMI’s ongoing commitment to positioning Saudi Arabia as a global leader in defense manufacturing and innovation.
Saudi crowdfunding platform Lendo secures $690m warehouse facility led by J.P. Morgan
RIYADH: Lendo, a debt crowdfunding platform in Saudi Arabia, has secured a SR2.6 billion ($690 million) warehouse facility, with J.P. Morgan serving as the lead arranger.
According to an official statement, the facility will support increased job creation within the Kingdom, underscoring Lendo’s commitment to fostering domestic economic growth and employment opportunities.
Endorsed by Fintech Saudi, this achievement highlights the rapid expansion of Saudi Arabia’s fintech sector and signals the substantial potential for small and medium-sized enterprise financing within the economy, it added.
The initiative also aligns with Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to raise SME lending from 4 percent in 2018 to 20 percent by 2030.
“This landmark facility represents a transformative moment for Lendo and the Saudi fintech ecosystem,” said Osama Alraee, CEO and co-founder of Lendo.
“The strong backing from global financial institutions such as J.P. Morgan validates our innovative approach to SME financing and positions us to significantly expand our impact in the Saudi market. This facility will accelerate our mission of driving SME growth while contributing to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals.”
The statement said the facility will be strategically allocated to enhance Lendo’s lending capacity, introduce innovative financial products, and broaden the company’s coverage of SMEs across the Kingdom.
George Deves, co-head of Northern European Asset-Backed Securities at J.P. Morgan, remarked: “We are pleased to collaborate with Lendo on this landmark transaction. A robust and rapidly expanding SME sector is crucial to the local economy, and this financing will contribute to the strategic goal of boosting SME lending in Saudi Arabia.”
Moreover, the deal underscores the growing confidence of international investors in the Kingdom’s fintech sector, particularly in the strength of its regulatory framework.
Lendo has successfully completed two rounds of investment to date, with its most recent Series B funding round, raising $28 million, led by Sanabil Investments, a wholly owned subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.
Saudi Arabia’s flyadeal joins IATA, boosting Kingdom’s aviation growth
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s low-cost carrier, flyadeal, has joined the International Air Transport Association, marking a significant step in its regional and global expansion while supporting the Kingdom’s growing aviation sector.
On Jan. 29, flyadeal’s management welcomed an IATA delegation, led by Kamil Al-Awadhi, the regional vice president for Africa and the Middle East, to celebrate the milestone at the airline’s headquarters in Jeddah.
In November, flyadeal earned IATA’s Operational Safety Audit certification, the highest safety accreditation in the airline industry.
This thorough evaluation examines an airline’s operational safety, ensuring it adheres to the most rigorous standards, covering areas like aircraft engineering, maintenance, flight operations, cabin services, ground handling, cargo, and security.
Saudi Arabia is investing heavily in its aviation sector as part of the Vision 2030 initiative, which seeks to diversify the economy beyond fossil fuels, boost the private sector, and enhance global connectivity.
The country aims to accommodate 330 million passengers by 2030, serve over 250 destinations, and transport 4.5 million tonnes of air cargo.
Steven Greenway, CEO of flyadeal, expressed his pride in joining IATA, an association that has long represented the airline industry with a unified voice.
“Since our founding in 2017, our growth has been rapid, with operational safety as a top priority. Becoming an IATA member was a natural next step for us,” he said.
Greenway also highlighted flyadeal’s new position alongside Saudia, the full-service airline that has been a longstanding IATA member.
“As Saudia and IATA celebrate their 80th anniversaries this year, we are proud to be part of this milestone,” he added.
Al-Awadhi also celebrated the addition of flyadeal to IATA, noting that their membership reflects the airline’s significant role in Saudi Arabia’s aviation expansion.
“Saudi Arabia has made remarkable strides in developing a world-class aviation sector,” he said. “flyadeal’s inclusion further demonstrates the Kingdom’s commitment to enhancing connectivity and fostering sustainable industry growth.”
He also praised the government’s ambitious vision for aviation and reaffirmed IATA’s commitment to supporting Saudi Arabia’s strategy to grow a thriving aviation industry that benefits travelers, businesses, and the economy.
flyadeal, which plans to carry more than 75,000 pilgrims on dedicated international charters during this year’s Hajj season, operates from key hubs in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam.
It offers nearly 30 year-round and seasonal destinations within Saudi Arabia, as well as select cities in the Middle East, Europe, and North Africa.
The airline’s fleet includes 36 Airbus A320 aircraft, and it plans to significantly expand its network over the next 12 months as part of a major international growth initiative.
