Majid Al-Futtaim introduces first green wall in Sharjah

Al-Zahia, Sharjah’s premier lifestyle destination, offers contemporary and well-designed homes, surrounded by green spaces and a range of upscale amenities.
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Updated 09 January 2022
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Majid Al-Futtaim introduces first green wall in Sharjah

Majid Al-Futtaim Communities, part of Majid Al-Futtaim Properties, is continuing to drive more sustainable and eco-friendly buildings. Following their ambition to develop thriving and sustainable communities, underpinned by placemaking environments derived from the principles of well-being, Al-Zahia, Sharjah’s premier lifestyle destination, recently announced the completion of their living wall, the first vertical garden across the emirate of Sharjah.
Presenting a lush work of art in the community spaces, the vertical garden at Al-Zahia is home to more than 15,000 plants of different species and spans across 160 square meters. As part of the highly anticipated community clubhouse, Majid Al-Futtaim Communities continues to lead the way in innovative and customer-centric destinations.




Driven by our placemaking principles and commitment to break boundaries, Al-Zahia is underway in redefining Sharjah’s living experience.
Hawazen Esber
Chief Executive, Majid Al-Futtaim Communities

Earning global recognition due to their distinct economic and ecological advantages and rising environmental awareness, green walls have emerged as an essential component of sustainable urban development. Contributing to healthy communities, living walls can serve as a means of expression, creating a unique space for people to express themselves in various ways. Naturally infusing the air with oxygen, plants take in more CO2 than they release, removing traces of toxic chemicals and contributing toward cleaner, more oxygenated air. Absorbing approximately 41 percent more noise than traditional walls, the vertical gardens are not only beautiful and healthy; they equally reduce noise from external surroundings
and activities.
“At Majid Al-Futtaim our communities are about embedding local culture, creating more sustainable environments, capturing the beauty of nature while recognizing the potential for healthy living. Studies show that living in a green environment brings people together and that small-scale greenery has a positive effect on social cohesion in neighborhoods. Driven by our placemaking principles and commitment to break boundaries, Al-Zahia is underway in redefining Sharjah’s living experience,” said Hawazen Esber, chief executive, Majid Al-Futtaim Communities.
Al-Zahia offers homeowners contemporary and well-designed homes, surrounded by green spaces and a range of upscale amenities.
Located within walking distance of the recently opened City Center Al-Zahia, an innovative shopping and dining destination in Sharjah, the 1-million-square-meter residential community, is owned by Sharjah Holding — a joint venture between Majid Al-Futtaim Properties and Sharjah Asset Management.


Saudi school evaluation framework sets global benchmark, says expert

Updated 44 sec ago
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Saudi school evaluation framework sets global benchmark, says expert

As part of the ongoing technical cooperation between the Education and Training Evaluation Commission and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, the OECD expert team recently concluded its visit to ETEC’s headquarters in Riyadh. 

The visit featured exchanges of expertise and in-depth discussions on technical frameworks for measuring learning outcomes and evaluating schools within Saudi Arabia’s K–12 education system.

OECD delegates commended ETEC’s rapid development and institutional maturity, highlighting the significant progress made in evaluating K–12 education. They were particularly impressed by how the commission achieved such swift and inclusive progress, especially given the large scale of Saudi Arabia’s education system.

This was emphasized by Dr. Harold Hislop, head of the OECD Expert Team and former chief inspector for school evaluation in Ireland (2010–2020), who praised the scale and pace of Saudi Arabia’s school evaluation efforts.

He said: “The new school evaluation system that you've put in place is enormously impressive; the scale of being able to evaluate and work with over 23,000 schools in less than a two-year period! No other country in the world that I know of has been able to do anything like that on that scale and at that speed.”

He added: “We're learning an awful lot about what ETEC is doing so we can go to other countries with that information. You have developed a complete school evaluation process in less than five years. Now, no other country in the world has done that.” 

He praised the evaluation model developed by ETEC to align with the Saudi context, saying: “And I thought there was one really impressive thing that struck me so strongly today. When talking to school leaders, they said, we now have an evaluation system that is a Saudi evaluation system for Saudi schools. It understands our context, it understands the circumstances of our schools, and it gives advice that suits our system. That's an enormous achievement.”

Expressing his appreciation for the commitment demonstrated by stakeholders at all levels to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, Dr. Hislop remarked: “I would say I'm impressed by your commitment and vision to drive improvement, to make education and access to good quality education a driver to improve the lives of children and Saudi citizens for the future. That's a really strong commitment that I hear from everyone that I've met. It links to your Vision 2030 across the Kingdom, but it's consistent right the way through your organization.”

He highlighted the comprehensive nature of ETEC’s system and its efforts to engage parents in monitoring their children’s academic progress through the “Mustaqbalhum” app. 

“I think, some countries have definitely developed some apps, or other applications, that do put some of the results of school evaluations into the hands of parents ... and some information. But I've never seen anything as comprehensive as yours, where you're linking student test data from the NAFS tests. You're providing information about your judgments on schools, you're providing enrollment data, and so on, in one system.

“Now, I'm not aware of any other system that has managed to do that. So maybe you'll start selling the technology to other people, because certainly they will be very interested in seeing it,” he added.

It is worth noting that the School Evaluation System for public, private, and international schools in the Kingdom is a comprehensive and integrated framework designed to assess the performance of K–12 schools. 

It follows a continuous scientific methodology that gathers performance data using a range of tools and methods, analyzes the results against clearly defined standards and benchmarks, and provides actionable recommendations for improvement and development.

The system aims to promote a standards-based evaluation culture in schools, support continuous school improvement, and help schools achieve targeted learning outcomes. 

It also encourages the participation of all stakeholders in evaluating and enhancing school performance, assists schools in identifying innovative solutions to meet their specific needs, and helps them optimize the use of available human and material resources. Furthermore, it provides comprehensive and reliable performance data that supports decision-making and enables effective education system management.

What distinguishes the Saudi evaluation system is its implementation through the Tameyuz digital platform, which oversees all evaluation processes and procedures. 

Through this platform, more than 7 million surveys have been distributed, over 913,000 classroom observations conducted, more than 518,000 interviews completed, and over 146,000 users, including education personnel and officials, have accessed the system. 

Tameyuz platform generates reports at multiple levels, serving national education policymakers, regional directorates, local education offices, schools, and parents. To date, it has produced more than 23,000 school evaluation reports and over 18,000 performance scorecards linked to the National Assessment for Schools or NAFS.

A key factor behind the success of the Saudi system is the strong partnership between ETEC and the Ministry of Education. This collaboration operates within a joint governance framework that balances institutional independence with coordinated implementation, enabling both entities to fulfill their respective responsibilities effectively in pursuit of a shared goal: enhancing education quality and advancing the Kingdom’s ambitious national objectives.

As part of its efforts to evaluate and enhance K–12 education, ETEC implements NAFS. The NAFS assessments are administered in grades three, six, and nine, and play a pivotal role in measuring and improving student academic achievement, promoting school excellence, and fostering constructive competition among schools, education offices, and regional education directorates.

NAFS assessments are carried out through a collaborative framework and ongoing coordination between ETEC and the Ministry of Education, aiming to achieve national goals — most importantly, the targets of Saudi Vision 2030 and the Human Capability Development Program, one of its flagship initiatives.

In 2025, NAFS was implemented for the fourth consecutive year, covering 1,358,224 students across 25,982 schools, including early childhood, elementary, and middle schools.

Launched in the 2023–2024 academic year, the School Evaluation and Classification Program has achieved extensive national reach. To date, 100 percent of schools (more than 24,000) have completed their self-evaluations, which serve as a foundational step in the evaluation process. 

Following this, external evaluations have been conducted for over 23,000 schools, representing more than 93 percent of all public and private elementary, middle, and secondary schools across the Kingdom. These site visits were carried out by the External School Evaluation Team.

These evaluations have reached all corners of the Kingdom. More than 800 schools are visited weekly, spanning over 2,230 cities, towns, and rural communities, accessed by paved roads, desert routes, and even by sea when necessary. The operations are coordinated through a centralized command center, which has managed over 460,000 evaluation trips nationwide.

As of now, a total of 21,716 schools have been officially classified, including 10,955 girls’ schools and 10,761 boys’ schools.

ETEC has also launched the Mustaqbalhum app to strengthen parental engagement in their children’s educational journey. The app provides parents with valuable information and tools to enhance awareness, monitor academic performance, and assess skills and abilities, ultimately supporting their children’s overall development and future success. 

The application includes the Your Child’s Future assessment tools, which are designed to diagnose and measure children’s cognitive and academic abilities. 

These tools are organized into two main categories. The first category, Achievement Assessments, consists of instruments that evaluate students’ academic knowledge and skills. 

For example, it includes the Arabic Language Assessment for young learners, a brief, optional assessment that is not directly linked to the school curriculum and is intended to measure children’s language proficiency. 

This category also features the Qudrati (My Abilities) Assessment, a suite of tools that assess general cognitive abilities such as comprehension, analysis, reasoning, and application. It focuses on identifying students’ learning potential and simulates the General Aptitude Test used as a college entrance exam by all public universities in Saudi Arabia.

The second category includes Practice and Training Assessments, which are designed to help students prepare for college entrance exams. These assessments include practice for the General Aptitude Test, which evaluates learning-related abilities such as analytical and reasoning skills in secondary school graduates seeking admission to higher education institutions. 

They also offer training for the Achievement Test, which measures academic achievement across various secondary school subjects and is required for university admission in Saudi Arabia. In addition, the tools provide practice for the STEP (Standardized Test of English Proficiency), which assesses students’ English language proficiency across key measurable language skills.

ETEC prepares detailed reports on its various evaluation processes and shares them with the Ministry of Education and other relevant stakeholders. 

Each school receives an individual performance report based on school evaluation and classification standards.

In addition, the commission provides schools, education directorates, and their offices with student performance scorecards from the national assessments. 

ETEC also compiles regional education reports for the Kingdom’s governorships.

Moreover, the commission provides the Ministry of Education with comprehensive individual-level data and key educational performance indicators. 

To maximize the impact of its evaluation, assessment, and accreditation activities, the commission has recently developed the Education and Training Status Room, a national developmental tool designed to leverage the full potential of data across all levels of education. 

The platform is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of the state of K–12 education, higher education, and training, along with in-depth analytical use cases that address key policy questions and inform education and training practices. 

It offers policymakers, educational leaders, and stakeholders real-time, continuous access to the latest data and insights, enhancing transparency and improving the effectiveness and timeliness of decisions at both the strategic and operational levels.

The platform is distinguished by its comprehensive data presentation and continuous automated updates. It is also designed with a dynamic and flexible architecture that enables decision-makers to explore trends and patterns that support both strategic and operational decisions in education and training.

In addition, the platform offers a holistic view of all aspects of education and training, featuring a range of in-depth analyses that address key questions related to improving educational quality, anticipating impacts on the economy and national development, and creating new opportunities for targeted discussions and deeper data exploration.

Work on the platform began in early 2025. It currently contains more than 200,000 data points detailing the state of K–12 education, higher education, and training, along with 19 in-depth analyses that incorporate over 45,000 descriptive and inferential statistics.


Riyadh hosts inaugural editions of hardware fair, sports show

Updated 23 June 2025
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Riyadh hosts inaugural editions of hardware fair, sports show

Inaugural editions of the  International Hardware Fair Saudi Arabia and FSB Sports Show Riyadh were held at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center from June 16-18, welcoming industry professionals from across the Kingdom. The events, jointly organized by dmg events and Koelnmesse, brought together international and regional manufacturers, suppliers and sector specialists under one roof. The openings were marked by the presence of Gerald Böse, president and CEO, Koelnmesse, and Matt Denton, president, dmg events.

Böse said: “Launching both FSB Sports Show Riyadh and International Hardware Fair Saudi Arabia with dmg events marks a significant step in connecting global expertise with Saudi Arabia’s rapidly advancing sectors. From sports infrastructure to industrial tools, these events reflect the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 ambitions and the strong demand for specialized, future-ready solutions.”

Denton said: “The success of both launches demonstrates the market’s need for focused, high-impact trade events. Partnering with Koelnmesse has allowed us to create specialized, niche trade events that not only highlight industry progression but also enable real business exchange, directly supporting Saudi Arabia’s development goals under Vision 2030.”

Making its debut in the Kingdom, International Hardware Fair Saudi Arabia brought together more than 200 exhibitors and brands across product sectors such as tools, fasteners, building materials, construction equipment and industrial supplies. Some of the exhibiting brands include Albawardi Tools and Hardware, Truper, Yato Tools, Genergy Power Products, Gong Fong Enterprise and Pecol. The event is designed to meet the procurement needs of professionals across the construction, manufacturing and infrastructure industries.

Modeled after the long-established EISENWARENMESSE — International Hardware Fair Cologne, the Riyadh edition provided direct access to sourcing opportunities for professionals in Saudi Arabia’s rapidly growing hardware and tools sectors. The event also included live product demonstrations at the Demo District; Guess the Gear, where participants identify tools by sound for a chance to win prizes; and the Hardware Hero Challenge, featuring one-handed hammering and speed drilling competitions.

Running alongside the International Hardware Fair Saudi Arabia and building on the legacy of the renowned FSB Cologne, FSB Sports Show Riyadh spotlighted sports infrastructure, fitness courts, leisure facilities and public spaces. With more than 200 exhibitors and brands including Greenfields, Kotobuki Seating Group, Soft Surfaces General Contracting, Syngenta Asia Pacific, Yardex and Cypex, the show supports the Kingdom’s plans to develop inclusive and modern environments for community wellness and active living.

Combining advanced engineering with luxury features, the event attracted visitors to TeleiosX, providing a hands-on opportunity to engage in competitive, full-motion racing directly on the show floor. Another standout feature drawing strong visitor interest was the Virtual Golf Simulator, presented by Marafei Almarefah, which blends sport and technology through an interactive experience using VR, AR and advanced projection systems.

A key feature of the event, the FSB Sports and Leisure Summit, concluded successfully on the opening day, bringing together high-profile speakers from across the sports, wellness and urban planning spectrum. One of the highlights was a panel discussion on designing facilities for sustainability and wellness, where the panelists collectively emphasized the need to integrate resource-efficient systems and wellness-driven design for future-ready sports infrastructure.


Bupa CareConnect serves guests of God in Mina

Updated 23 June 2025
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Bupa CareConnect serves guests of God in Mina

Bupa CareConnect, the healthcare arm of Bupa Arabia, launched its first-ever field-based clinics in Mina during this year’s Hajj. The “Bupa Clinics” initiative marked a landmark expansion of Bupa Arabia’s services beyond corporate campuses, bringing integrated, tech-enabled medical care directly to pilgrims during one of the most spiritually significant gatherings in the world.

As part of its social responsibility strategy, Bupa Clinics was launched in coordination with Urgent Care Centers under the supervision of the Ministry of Health. The clinics provided primary healthcare services to all pilgrims — both Bupa members and non-members. Strategically positioned near essential amenities such as Al-Dawaa Pharmacy, the clinics ensured accessible, responsive care to support the well-being of pilgrims within the sacred sites.

Operating 24/7 throughout the Hajj season, the clinics recorded a total of 1,368 medical interactions. Male pilgrims represented 75 percent of the cases, while female patients accounted for 25 percent. The facility was staffed by a dedicated medical team of six doctors and three nurses, working in rotational shifts.

Health services ranged from vital signs monitoring and management of heat exhaustion, to chronic illness care and emergency triage. Notably, 20 patients were transferred to the Armed Forces Hospital in Mina for advanced treatment, while one critical case required urgent lifesaving intervention, underscoring the preparedness and responsiveness of the team.

Pilgrims sought care for a wide spectrum of conditions, including headaches, fatigue, skin infections, joint pain, conjunctivitis, gastrointestinal discomfort, heatstroke, and minor injuries.

Bupa Arabia CEO Tal Nazer said: “We are honored to bring Bupa Clinics to Hajj for the first time, offering advanced, people-centric care to the guests of Allah, both members and non-members regardless of their insurance status. This reflects our mission to expand access to quality healthcare and deliver services where they’re most needed, through an integrated model driven by innovation and compassion.”

Dr. Abdullah Khafagy, executive medical director at Bupa CareConnect, added: “Hajj is a spiritual journey that presents unique medical challenges, and the Bupa Clinics allowed us to respond proactively, providing early screenings, preventive care, and timely interventions in the heart of Mina. This initiative is a testament to our healthcare philosophy, proactive, accessible, and centered on human dignity.”

The Bupa Clinics initiative aligns with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals to enhance the quality of life and boost the private sector’s role in public health.


Expo 2030 Riyadh registration dossier receives BIE final approval in Paris

Updated 23 June 2025
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Expo 2030 Riyadh registration dossier receives BIE final approval in Paris

Expo 2030 Riyadh’s registration dossier has received final approval during the Bureau International Des Expositions General Assembly in Paris, marking the final step in confirming the Kingdom as the official host country for the upcoming expo. As part of the proceedings, BIE handed over the World Expo flag to Saudi Arabia’s delegation.

Ibrahim Al-Sultan, minister of state, member of the Council of Ministers and acting CEO of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, led the Saudi Arabian delegation at the BIE General Assembly, which included Fahd bin Mayouf Al-Ruwaili, ambassador of Saudi Arabia in France, and other officials. The registration dossier serves as a comprehensive blueprint, highlighting Saudi Arabia’s vision of hosting an exceptional expo that reflects its ambitions toward innovation and global collaboration.

Al-Sultan said: “The approval of the registration dossier in record time highlights the Kingdom’s leadership on the global stage and underscores the world’s confidence in Saudi Arabia’s vision and capabilities. It also reflects the high level of professionalism demonstrated by the teams involved in preparing and reviewing the registration dossier. This milestone marks a significant step forward in the Kingdom’s journey to deliver an exceptional and unprecedented edition of the World Expo, in line with the Saudi Vision 2030 objectives.”

Riyadh is the first expo host to complete and submit its registration dossier in such a short time frame — almost half the time usually required for this kind of dossier. 

The approval of the registration dossier unlocks the next phase of formal preparations for Expo 2030 Riyadh, which includes extending official invitations to international participants through diplomatic channels.

Set to take place from Oct. 1, 2030 to March 31, 2031, Expo 2030 Riyadh will be one of the largest expos ever, held on a 6-million-square-meter site. The venue is designed to welcome more than 40 million visits, through world-class infrastructure, hospitality venues, and cutting-edge facilities. The site will ensure an unforgettable experience for all participants and visitors, with a target of more than 195 participating nations.


Unlocking Saudi hospitality: AVANA and Ezdaher pave new investment pathways to support Vision 2030

Updated 23 June 2025
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Unlocking Saudi hospitality: AVANA and Ezdaher pave new investment pathways to support Vision 2030

Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 sets an ambitious target: welcoming 150 million visitors annually and positioning the Kingdom as a global hospitality hub. Delivering this vision demands more than hotel construction; it requires a complete ecosystem of entrepreneurs, capital providers, government programs, and efficient financial markets to mobilize and sustain investment at scale.

AVANA Companies, a US-based private credit and real estate investment firm with over two decades of experience financing hospitality projects globally, has developed a dual initiative to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s hospitality investment landscape. Through its affiliate, Ezdaher Financing Company, AVANA is introducing structured financing programs and pioneering crowdfunding solutions designed to unlock domestic capital and create sustainable, inclusive growth.

Leveraging partnerships with global leaders such as IHG Hotels and Resorts and Oaktree Capital Management, AVANA has developed an innovative co-funding program that pools institutional capital into a streamlined funding framework. This model overcomes traditional barriers such as lengthy approval processes and extensive guarantees by enabling faster capital flows for hotel construction projects. While initially focused on established US markets, the asset-backed structure is highly relevant for Middle Eastern investors seeking secure exposure to global hospitality sectors. With Ezdaher’s regional initiative, AVANA is well-positioned to align international investment practices with the strategic ambitions of Saudi investors.

“By combining our global hospitality financing expertise with local presence through Ezdaher, we are committed to creating pathways that empower investors and advance Vision 2030,” said Sundip Patel, CEO of AVANA Companies. 

Alongside its global initiatives, AVANA is addressing the critical need to activate Saudi Arabia’s domestic capital base. Traditional loan capital often remains immobilized until maturity, slowing economic circulation. The EqualSeat platform, developed under the Ezdaher banner, introduces an innovative crowdfunding model that transforms passive savings into active investment. Through EqualSeat, Saudi investors can directly participate in private credit, SME Funding, and real estate opportunities. This approach increases liquidity for financial institutions, supports broader entrepreneurship, and stimulates economic expansion through the Keynesian multiplier effect.

Saudi Arabia’s financial modernization efforts have made significant strides, but a thriving crowdfunding sector requires ongoing regulatory development, standardized risk grading, and greater investment transparency. Building investor trust will be critical to unlocking the full potential of domestic capital markets and ensuring that private sector initiatives complement public-sector programs without overlap or conflict.

AVANA Companies and Ezdaher Financing Company are actively seeking partnerships with family offices and institutional investors to drive sustainable hospitality growth, create high-quality employment opportunities, and support Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification goals.