The Saudi Academy of Civil Aviation, a subsidiary of the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), has won membership of the Global Aviation Training Office.
The academy’s new achievement came after it was voted into the office by 40 out of the International Civil Aviation Organization’s 91 members with voting rights.
Naeem Al-Shabanah, assistant to the president of the Authority for Central Services, praised and congratulated the academy for its achievement.
“We are proud of this unprecedented win of the academy’s rightful place in the ICAO’s Global Aviation Training Office,” he said. “This victory is an acknowledgement of the Kingdom’s contributions to aviation safety and its status in the global civil aviation arena in general, and of the world class level of the professionals who graduate from the academy.”
Al-Shabanah added that with this win the academy has achieved its strategic objective of gaining sustained global recognition.
Fahd Al-Harbi, president of the academy, said: “I cannot describe how happy I am to see the academy succeed in making such remarkable achievements.
“After having won no less than six international accreditations and partnerships, now we’ve secured membership of the ICAO’s Global Aviation Training Office, which goes to show the level of confidence the organization and its member states have in our highly trained graduates.
“Being among the 14 members of the office places upon us a great responsibility to uprate specialized training all over the world, which is the academy’s way of claiming its stake in the world of aviation, thanks to the world-class capabilities and personnel.”
He also said the academy would not have gained such high status without the policies set by its management. He said that the academy’s work under ICAO’s umbrella will go a long way to achieving all of its strategic goals, especially at a time of multiple changes and huge expansion in the aviation sector.
“I would like to thank the academy’s entire staff of trainers, developers and administrators for their team spirit and relentless hard work that has garnered us these outstanding achievements,” Al-Harbi added.
The ICAO’s Global Aviation Training Office, with 14 full-membership states, is a consultancy concerned with the long-term strategic development of the Advanced Aviation Training Program. It discusses and makes decisions on membership, and develops and circulates training portfolios among member states.
Saudi Academy of Civil Aviation wins membership of Global Aviation Training Office
Saudi Academy of Civil Aviation wins membership of Global Aviation Training Office
What Mauritius can learn from Saudi Arabia’s revolutionary transformation
Saudi Arabia, once defined by its oil wealth, is undergoing a dramatic and deliberate transformation through Vision 2030, a bold national strategy spearheaded by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. This plan is not cosmetic, it is systemic. It reimagines the Kingdom as a global leader in technology, innovation, and tourism, moving beyond oil dependency to a diversified, future-ready economy.
Inayat Ramjean, a Mauritian with over 35 years of experience in Saudi Arabia, including leadership roles in international hospitality, has witnessed this transformation first-hand. Now back in Mauritius, he urges his homeland to draw inspiration from the Kingdom’s progress.
Reinvigorating tourism with vision and investment — Saudi Arabia’s pivot toward tourism has been nothing short of revolutionary. From streamlined e-visas to mega-projects like NEOM, Red Sea and AlUla, the Kingdom aims to host 150 million tourists annually by 2030. This has transformed the Kingdom into one of the top 10 most visited countries globally. Mauritius, once a premier destination, is now losing momentum. To reverse this trend, the country must reimagine its tourism model, focus on eco-luxury, and leverage its direct flight connections with Saudi Arabia to tap into new markets.
Leveraging technology and innovation — Saudi Arabia has moved from being a technology consumer to a global innovator, with initiatives in artificial intelligence, renewable energy, and smart infrastructure. Flagship projects like NEOM are powered by AI, renewables, and automation, setting global standards in urban planning and sustainability. Mauritius, with its youthful population and strong ICT foundation, should invest more strategically in digital skills, smart city development, and tech entrepreneurship to future-proof its economy.
Ensuring safety and stability — Saudi Arabia is now ranked the safest country among G20 nations, thanks to a renewed emphasis on public order and national security. In contrast, rising crime and social instability in Mauritius threaten both tourism and investment. Addressing these issues is not just about law enforcement, it’s about creating an environment where citizens and investors feel secure.
Strengthening bilateral and regional partnerships — Inayat played a key role in establishing ties between Saudi Arabia and Mauritius, including the opening of a Saudi embassy and flight connectivity. Mauritius must now position itself as a gateway for Saudi investment into Africa. Aligning with Vision 2030 can unlock partnerships in tourism, health, trade, and broader regional cooperation. Mauritius stands at a turning point. The Saudi model proves what is possible when vision, governance, and ambition converge. If Mauritius embraces reform and bold leadership, it too can become a global example of reinvention and resilience. The time for action is now.
- The writer, Inayat Ramjean, is a hospitality consultant.
flynas launches retail subscription for IPO
flynas Company, one of the leading low-cost carriers in the Middle East and North Africa region, has announced the opening of its retail subscription period for individual investors as part of its initial public offering on the Saudi Exchange.
The final offer price has been set at SR80 ($21) per share, marking the top end of the previously announced price range. This follows an overwhelming response from institutional investors, with the institutional tranche oversubscribed approximately 100 times, attracting SR409 billion in orders from local and international investors.
Retail investors have access to 10,251,114 shares, representing 20 percent of the total offering, while institutional investors have been allocated the remaining 80 percent.
Subscriptions can be made through a wide network of receiving banks and capital market institutions, including: Albilad Capital, Alinma Capital, Alistithmar Capital, Al-Jazira Capital, Alkhabeer Capital, Al-Rajhi Capital, ANB Capital, BSF Capital, Derayah Financial, GIB Capital, Riyad Capital, SAB Invest, Sahm Capital, SNB Capital, and Yaqeen Capital.
The retail subscription window will run from May 28 to June 1. Allocation will be completed by June 3 and refunds by June 5.
Abdul Latif Jameel, Uber sign MoU to transform urban mobility
Abdul Latif Jameel and Uber Technologies have signed an MoU to explore opportunities to build a scalable, next-generation fleet operations platform. In line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, the collaboration seeks to enable socioeconomic growth in the Kingdom and create more earning opportunities for Saudi nationals.
The MoU was recently signed during the period in which the Saudi-US Investment Forum was held and the signing ceremony was attended by Minister of Transport and Logistic Services Saleh Al-Jasser and Acting President of the Transport General Authority Dr. Rumaih bin Mohammed Al-Rumaih. The MoU will help accelerate the transformation of urban mobility across Saudi Arabia, including through the deployment of autonomous vehicles. Representing both parties, the MoU was signed by Hassan Jameel, vice chairman, Saudi Arabia, Abdul Latif Jameel, and Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber.
Autonomous vehicles are pivotal to the future of transportation. Uber is building toward an electric, shared, and autonomous future, already working with 18 leading AV partners globally. Saudi Arabia is primed to be a key destination for urban transformation and the integration of AVs in the ecosystem. Abdul Latif Jameel, in collaboration with Uber, will play a pivotal role in accelerating the deployment of AVs, supporting local fleet operations.
Through their collaboration, the businesses will work closely to build a scalable mobility fleet with the aim of creating 30,000 earning opportunities for Saudi nationals.
With mobility playing a pivotal role in Saudi Arabia’s urban transformation, the MoU addresses current and future opportunities, as well as the needs of drivers, riders, and tourists in line with Vision 2030. By combining Abdul Latif Jameel’s strong operational excellence and local expertise with Uber’s global innovative mobility technology and network, the businesses will support economic diversification, elevating giga-projects, and contributing to the Saudi economy.
Vice chairman Jameel said: “Our collaboration with Uber reflects a shared vision for a smarter, more accessible, and autonomous mobility future. We are proud to be working with such a renowned technology leader, as we support Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and position the Kingdom as a role model for the future of mobility. Equally important is how this agreement will help empower Saudi youth through the creation of job opportunities, while contributing to the Kingdom’s long-term prosperity.” Jameel also expressed his gratitude to Minister Al-Jasser for attending the MoU signing ceremony.
Meanwhile, Khosrowshahi said: “Saudi Arabia is a hugely important market to Uber. We’re thrilled to collaborate with Abdul Latif Jameel to advance and accelerate a future of mobility that is electric, shared, and autonomous in the country, while advancing earning opportunities for Saudi nationals. Our goal is to make Uber the best platform for AV technology and continue to introduce both autonomous and human-driven mobility solutions to help people get where they need to go, effortlessly.’’
With Saudi Arabia as the role model, Abdul Latif Jameel and Uber have a long-term ambition to create a cutting-edge standard for the future of mobility and a scalable playbook that can be deployed internationally.
Indian school in Jeddah hosts Phase 1 of cluster meet
The annual interschool sports and co-curricular meet “XXXIII CBSE Cluster Meet 2025” kicked off at the International Indian School Jeddah, which is the host school for the event this year. The zonal level competitions were conducted in April, following which the finalists participated in the cluster meet, which was inaugurated on May 17 at IISJ boys’ section.
Consul General of India Fahad Ahmed Khan Suri was the chief guest for this event. IISJ Managing Committee Chairman Dr. Mohammed Abdul Saleem, members of the managing committee, officials of the Saudi Basketball Academy, principals from participating schools, officials and staff of the host school, in addition to coaches, managers and participants from 18 CBSE schools across the Kingdom were part of this program.
Chapter Convener and Principal of IISJ Dr. Mohammed Imran welcomed the gathering, urging participants to compete with true sportsmanship and camaraderie. The chief guest along with all the dignitaries hoisted the CBSE flag and declared the cluster meet open. Suri, who attended the event despite his commitments to ongoing Hajj preparations, said he was eager to meet the 715 participants. Wishing them luck, he advised students to participate with zeal and enjoy every moment.
The cluster meet mascot “Altius” was introduced in a grand manner leaving the crowd excited. Students of the III-V blocks welcomed the gathering with a musical performance. The program concluded with a vote of thanks by Vice Principal of the Girls’ Section Farhadunnisa.
Phase 1 included badminton (under ages 14,16 and 17 for boys and girls), basketball (under 19 for girls), volleyball (under 19 boys), and football (under 19 boys) These teams came from the central, eastern and western regions of the Kingdom to participate in the final matches to clinch the championship.
IISJ won the rolling trophies for volleyball (boys) and basketball (girls), while IISR and NMEIS Riyadh bagged the rolling trophies for badminton for boys and girls, respectively. Al-Mawarid International School won the rolling trophy for football. In the first phase, IISJ and IISR are leading with equal points. The second phase, which will be held in September, will determine the school that will bag the coveted overall championship of the cluster meet.
Prominent among those who attended the valedictory event and gave away the prizes were Dr. Prince Mufti Ziaul Hasan, Dr. Hemalatha Mahalingam and Dr. Mohammed Shafee.
The managing committee chairman praised the coaches and participants of the schools and appreciated the host school for all the arrangements.
Adil Akther, head of department of sports at IISJ, presented a report on the events held during the five-day meet. Mohammed Sirajuddin, senior PE teacher from IIS-Riyadh, presented the report on behalf of the participating schools.
The valedictory event concluded with the vote of thanks presented by the Controller of Examinations and officiating vice principal of IISJ Boys Section Syed Abdul Haq.
TNFS 2025: Saudi Arabia to host region’s first summit on smoking reduction
In a significant move that signals a shift in how the region tackles public health challenges, Riyadh is set to host the TNFS Summit 2025 — the first high-level regional summit focused on reducing smoking prevalence and addressing tobacco-related harm. This event will bring together organizations, health leaders, and policymakers from the region and around the globe.
The summit will take place on May 29 at the Four Seasons Hotel — Kingdom Centre, coinciding with “World No Tobacco Day.” It is supported by strategic partners, including the Quality-of-Life Program (Part of one of the realization programs of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030), Badael Company, and Smart Health as the scientific partner. The TNFS Summit will serve as a multilateral platform to encourage regional and international collaboration in tackling one of the most pressing public health challenges in the Arab world.
The summit is expected to culminate in the adoption of a regional charter for tobacco harm reduction and the signing of strategic cooperation agreements among participating entities, aimed at strengthening public health systems and enhancing regional regulatory frameworks.
TNFS Summit 2025 invites policymakers, public health experts, and civil society to unite around a shared vision: a healthier Middle East with lower tobacco dependence. This summit marks a clear commitment to science-based, prevention-first policies built on regional and international partnerships.
More than 100 local and international experts from leading institutions — including specialists from the UK, Sweden, and Saudi Arabia — will participate in the summit. They will discuss the latest research, exchange insights, and explore scalable, evidence-based policy solutions.
The agenda will focus on key strategic themes, including:
- correcting public misconceptions about nicotine and tobacco harm reduction products
- designing preventive policies grounded in scientific evidence
- showcasing successful international regulatory frameworks that can be adapted to regional contexts
- mobilizing community awareness and fostering collaboration between the public and private sectors
Badael Company, the summit’s strategic partner, stated that TNFS 2025 addresses an urgent regional need for data-driven dialogue and multilateral coordination to reflect the scale of tobacco-related harm in our societies. The summit is envisioned as a launchpad for the region’s healthier and more sustainable future.
