Saudi Airlines Cargo Company (Saudia Cargo) transported 175 tons of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) equipment to Jeddah from Maastricht in the Netherlands, for the WWE event that took place at King Abdullah Sports City on Friday.
Saudia Cargo was supporting this global sporting event for the third time. The air freight carrier provided all its logistical capabilities to bring the WWE wrestling ring equipment of the show that were forwarded by Sound Moves via Saudia Cargo freighters — Boeing 747-8 and Boeing 777 — carrying total tonnages of 175 tons and delivered on May 22. The company also provided special ground handling for the heavy loads at King Abdul Aziz International Airport’s cargo station.
Chief Executive of Saudia Cargo Omar Hariri underlined the national role played by Saudia Cargo in supporting national and global events, expressing the company’s pride in collaborating for the success of the sporting event.
The WWE Super Showdown was hosted in partnership with the Saudi General Sports Authority. The event featured WWE superstars Roman Reigns, Undertaker, Kofi Kingston, Braun Strowman, Seth Rollins, Goldberg, AJ Styles and Brock Lesnar. The show was streamed live on WWE Network.
Saudia Cargo, the national Saudi air freight carrier, offers its services to 225 international destinations and 26 routes within the Kingdom. It is a member of SkyTeam Cargo, the world’s leading cargo alliance established in 2000.
Being strategically located in the Kingdom, the company is uniquely positioned to provide a bridge between the east and west via its hubs, giving it increased flexibility to use its capacity efficiently and move the cargo with minimal ground handling time.
Saudia Cargo transports 175 tons of WWE equipment
Saudia Cargo transports 175 tons of WWE equipment
50 new Indian products launched at LuLu Hypermarket
In a significant move reflecting the depth of trade cooperation between Saudi Arabia and India, LuLu Hypermarket introduced a wide range of Indian-made products across its stores as part of the Diwali festival.
Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal inaugurated the Diwali Utsav at LuLu Hypermarket, which also saw the debut of several India-made products across their stores. The minister expressed appreciation for LuLu’s efforts in promoting Indian products in the Kingdom. He also praised the Indian community in Saudi Arabia for their hard work, resilience, and commitment to both their home and host countries, as he said they play an integral role in building bridges between cultures and economies.
More than 50 new products have been introduced, including premium A2 ghee, millet-based breakfast cereals, and organic beauty items. Ladakh apples, supported by international trade initiatives, alongside Indian Cavendish bananas, and dragon fruit, have also been launched.
Describing LuLu Chairman Yusuff Ali M.A. as the “Roving Ambassador of India,” Goyal said: “As the leading retail organization in the Middle East, LuLu’s commitment to showcasing high quality Indian products exemplifies the diverse acceptance of Indian products across the nations. This initiative not only supports local industries but also strengthens the economic ties between India and Saudi Arabia.”
“This initiative aims to promote the products of India, including the taste and culture of our country, among the national population and the large expatriate community residing in the region. We are on track to open our 100th store in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia within two years, which will ensure direct job opportunities for 10,000 Saudi nationals,” said Chairman Ali.
The launch event also included vibrant cultural performances, with local students presenting traditional dances to celebrate cultural diversity, complemented by a Saudi drumming troupe performing traditional music, creating a festive atmosphere.
This initiative is part of Lulu’s broader strategy to expand its offerings, having added more than 10,000 products to the store.
LuLu recently announced an Initial Public Offering for 25 percent of its share capital on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, offering an opportunity for public investment in the GCC’s largest and fastest-growing full-line retailer. The subscriptions are open till Nov. 5. The final offer price will be announced on Nov. 6, with the listing anticipated on Nov. 14.
SAB receives prestigious ISO certification
Saudi Awwal Bank has achieved the ISO 9001:2015 certification from the International Organization for Standardization, becoming the first bank in the Kingdom to receive this prestigious recognition. This certification is awarded to organizations that effectively manage and enhance quality in their operations.
The certification process involved thorough audits conducted by experts from the British Standards Institution over the past three months, assessing various processes and procedures within the bank.
Ghada Al-Jarbou, chief operating officer at SAB, said: “We are pleased to be the first bank in the Kingdom to obtain the ISO 9001:2015 certification. This achievement reflects our commitment to delivering quality services and our focus on improving performance across the bank.”
She added: “This certification represents the hard work and teamwork of our staff. It strengthens our position in the banking sector and supports our goals in line with Saudi Vision 2030.”
This certification highlights SAB’s ongoing commitment to improving its services and meeting the needs of its customers, contributing to the broader economic growth in the Kingdom.
Porsche launches new Macan and Taycan models
Samaco Motors, the official importer of Porsche in Saudi Arabia, hosted an event in the Saudi capital on Oct. 28 to celebrate the launch of the new, all-electric Macan and the new updated Taycan in the Kingdom.
The event attracted Porsche customers, business leaders, media professionals, social media influencers and Porsche enthusiasts, all of whom enjoyed the first look of the company’s latest products.
The event is part of Porsche’s strategy to strengthen its presence in the Saudi automotive market and showcase the latest technologies and innovations in the field of electric vehicles.
During the launch ceremony, the features and specifications of the two new vehicles were demonstrated, and attendees had the opportunity to explore the models and learn more about them.
The launch of the electric Macan and the updated Taycan is an important step for Porsche to diversify and update its product range in line with its strategy to introduce more electrified models.
The new Macan features powertrains delivering up to 639 PS, offering top-tier performance on any terrain. With fast charging capabilities of up to 270 kW, the Macan showcases Porsche’s commitment to electric mobility. Both the Macan 4 and Macan Turbo provide an all-wheel drive, Porsche Traction Management, and top-class E-Performance.
The Macan 4 generates up to 408 PS and can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in just 5.2 seconds, with a top speed of 220 km/h.
Meanwhile, the Macan Turbo boasts 639 PS, rocketing from 0-100 km/h in just 3.3 seconds, with a top speed of 260 km/h.
The DC charging capability of the Macan is up to 270 kW. Under ideal conditions, the battery can be charged from 10 percent to 80 percent in approximately 21 minutes at a compatible fast-charging station, making the Macan an excellent companion for both everyday use and long journeys.
The new all-electric Macan can charge rapidly over a very wide state-of-charge range — with the battery temperature and weather conditions having relatively little impact on the charging time. The battery is preconditioned for an optimal charging experience.
The new all-electric Macan represents Porsche’s continued evolution toward sustainability, offering a range of advanced driving technologies, comprehensive assistance systems, and complete digital connectivity. This model is designed for drivers who value exceptional design and personalized customization, with exclusive options available through Porsche’s bespoke Exclusive Manufaktur program. With more than 800,000 Macans delivered worldwide since 2014, the new Macan marks the next milestone in Porsche’s journey toward a more sustainable future.
Meanwhile, Porsche has comprehensively improved the Taycan model range, significantly enhancing the overall system performance of the car.
This is not only reflected in every model of the Taycan range, but even more in the new GT offer.
The Taycan Turbo GT with Weissach Package accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.2 seconds.This makes it two-tenths of a second faster than the Taycan Turbo S. The difference in acceleration from rest to 200 km/h is even more pronounced: the Taycan Turbo GT with Weissach Package needs 6.4 seconds. Its top speed is 305 km/h.
Thanks to additional aerodynamic measures and lightweight construction, the model is even more performance-oriented. This makes the new Taycan now also the most powerful production car Porsche has ever built. With its outstanding track capabilities, it has set lap records on international racetracks and further raised the benchmark in terms of driving dynamics.
Hilton’s first cohort of hospitality trainees graduate
Hilton announced the graduation of its first cohort of students from a hospitality training program in partnership with Bunyan for Training, an affiliate of the reputed hospitality management school in Switzerland, Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne.
Since signing the memorandum of understanding in 2022, 18 students have successfully completed the program and joined Hilton’s growing team across its 21 trading hotels in Saudi Arabia. The graduation ceremony was held at Jeddah Hilton, attended by officials from the Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Human Resources, Ministry of Tourism, and the Human Resources Fund, together with senior Bunyan for Training, EHL and Hilton representatives.
Fawaz Moumina, country manager and senior director of operations, Hilton, Saudi Arabia, said: “As we continue with our plans to more than quadruple our portfolio and open more than 70 hotels in the coming years, we are committed to creating 15,000 jobs, with more than half for Saudi nationals. We are proud to see the first group of graduates join our team and the second well underway, and we look forward to their future successes, which will inspire the next generation of Saudi hospitality professionals.”
Accredited by the Saudi Technical and Vocational Training Corporation and certified by EHL, the program offers both theoretical and practical training, along with opportunities to explore various areas of hospitality such as front office, housekeeping, and more.
Looking ahead, the next cohort of 40 students, half of whom are young women, has already begun training across Hilton hotels in Saudi Arabia.
stc Group achieves highest 9-month revenues and net profit
stc Group announced its financial results for the nine-month period of 2024, reporting a revenue increase of SR2.13 billion ($569.2 million), reaching SR56.6 billion, an increase of 3.92 percent compared to the same period last year. The net profit for the period reached SR11.2 billion. This reflects an increase of 11.9 percent compared to the same period last year after excluding the non-recurring gain from the sale of the Alkhobar land worth SR1.3 billion that was recorded in the third quarter of the previous year.
Additionally, stc subsidiaries’ revenue grew by 11 percent, contributing to the group’s record-breaking performance that exceeded market analysts’ estimates.
Based on the approval of stc Group’s General Assembly to sell 51 percent stake in Telecommunication Towers Company, known as TAWAL, to the Public Investment Fund, the comparative figures for the previous periods were reclassified as discontinued operations in the interim condensed consolidated financial statements as of Sept. 30. Furthermore, the material capital gain will be recognized after obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals and completing the transaction procedures.
Olayan Alwetaid, stc Group’s CEO, said: “stc Group is well positioned to continue its growth journey and maintain its leadership as the top digital enabler in the region. These outstanding results are a testament to the effective execution of the group’s strategy, which focuses on enhancing investment in infrastructure, growth in new technology sectors, and the activation of its efficiency program.”
stc Group is committed to enabling digital transformation in various vital sectors in Saudi Arabia by investing in digital infrastructure such as 5G, fiber optics, and data centers. The group continued its investment in advanced technologies like cloud computing, IoT, and fintech, while enhancing its cybersecurity capabilities.
stc also continued to strengthen its national strategic partnerships with mega-projects in the Kingdom such as NEOM, Diriyah, New Murabba and Red Sea. This reinforces the group’s commitment to enabling the realization of national objectives and continues to solidify its position as a key player in the global digital economy.
Moreover, stc’s board of directors endorsed on Aug. 24 an increase in the annual dividend by 37.5 percent, from SR1.6 to SR2.2 per share, starting from Q4 2024. This raises the total annual dividend from SR8 billion to SR11 billion over the next three years, reflecting the group’s strong financial position and confidence in sustainable operating cash flows, with the ability to continue expanding, growing, and diversifying investments.
