The British International School Riyadh has partnered with NES, a gaming-focused digital media company and subsidiary of Nesma Holding Company, to offer students access to the rapidly evolving world of esports. The partnership will provide BISR’s students with hands-on experience across key industry areas such as game design, coaching, broadcasting, competition management, and data analysis.
The new partnership comes in line with Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the Kingdom’s economy and create new jobs in various sectors, including esports. It also supports the National Gaming and Esports Strategy, which aims to position Saudi Arabia as a global hub for gaming and esports by 2030.
Through this collaboration, BISR will introduce an extracurricular skills academy with a focus on esports, designed to upskill students across various areas of the industry. The program will also lay the foundation for offering a formal BTEC qualification by BISR in the future. This marks a significant milestone in Saudi Arabia’s educational landscape, further contributing to the upskilling and development of the esports industry in the region.
As part of the program, students will gain exposure to the inner workings of the esports ecosystem, preparing them for future careers in a field that is rapidly expanding worldwide. NES will also assist in designing state-of-the-art esports gaming labs at BISR’s Al-Hamra campus, providing a unique environment for students to explore their career paths in esports. The first activity session, which was held on Oct. 19, saw enthusiastic participation, confirming the program’s potential to engage students across disciplines.
Teslim Olomowewe, BTEC lead at BISR, said: “By partnering with NES, we are offering our students a unique opportunity to engage with the future of entertainment and technology. This partnership not only empowers our students with the skills they need for the future, but also positions BISR at the forefront of educational innovation in Saudi Arabia. The initiative reflects BISR’s dedication to providing students with a comprehensive education that meets the demands of modern industries.”
Elie Honain, CEO at NES, said: “Nesma is proud to partner with BISR in support of Vision 2030 to empower youth in the Kingdom. This program offers students an opportunity to develop teamwork, strategy, and leadership skills through competitive gaming. Esports fosters community and creativity, and we aim to create a supportive environment where all students can participate and grow. We encourage students to join this exciting initiative and help build a vibrant esports community that empowers our youth to thrive.”
This partnership is particularly important at a time when the gaming and esports industry in the Kingdom is projected to generate SR50 billion ($13.3 billion) and create more than 39,000 jobs by 2030, with more than 65 percent of the Saudi population expressing interest in the sector, as per the National Gaming and Esports Strategy.
BISR empowers students with esports skills
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BISR empowers students with esports skills
The Chefz brings Saudi flavor to the world with their TikTok strategy
Saudi Arabia’s digital landscape has rapidly evolved to fully embrace social media, with TikTok usage growing steadily in the country.
In response, businesses across the Kingdom are increasingly recognizing the platform’s significance.
What uniquely sets TikTok apart in Saudi Arabia is its sense of community, a value deeply embedded within the connected society.
This collective spirit fuels a dynamic for shared experiences on the platform.
One example of this approach is The Chefz, a leading delivery app in Saudi Arabia that’s using digital marketing to promote Saudi culinary culture globally.
By integrating local flavors, presentation styles, and cultural values into their campaigns, The Chefz has developed an authentic brand voice that resonates with the Saudi audience.
As a Saudi local business, The Chefz prioritizes content that reflects the nation’s rich cultural heritage.
Through culturally attuned campaigns that align with Saudi values, they foster a strong emotional bond with their customers.
By showcasing regional flavors and foods, The Chefz effectively builds a community grounded in culinary heritage.
This creates a sense of belonging among users who identify with the traditions celebrated in their content, promoting their brand’s presence on TikTok with authenticity.
The Chefz seamlessly merges traditional Saudi elements with modern marketing techniques.
Their strategy includes balancing iconic foods and aesthetics with interactive digital features, ensuring that their content is both relatable and engaging.
They also utilize humor, local music, and storytelling to captivate Saudi customers, highlighting food’s central role in the culture.
Additionally, they aim to establish a globally appealing local identity. By incorporating international sounds and trends, The Chefz makes their content accessible and intriguing to tourists who may need delivery services during their stay in Saudi Arabia.
A key element of The Chefz’s strategy is adapting campaigns to align with special occasions and traditions.
During important periods like Ramadan and Eid, demand peaks, as well as in the winter season when reservation requests surge.
During these times, The Chefz maximizes demand by emphasizing timely promotions, such as suhoor deals, and highlighting seasonal offers and traditional dishes.
This approach reinforces their connection with cultural values and ensures that each campaign resonates with the unique significance of each occasion.
The Chefz’s strategy emphasizes data-driven marketing with a cultural focus.
Their decisions are grounded in a deep understanding of customer behavior, especially around Saudi culture.
By leveraging TikTok’s visual tools, trending sounds, and features like Spark Ads, The Chefz combines cultural relevance with modern engagement strategies, creating an authentic and immersive experience that boosts both interaction and sales.
Their commitment to cultural authenticity and strategic use of TikTok has fueled their rapid growth, with a 150% sales increase between 2021 and 2022.
Now serving 5 million customers and boasting 2 million active users, part of what makes The Chefz’s so successful is their strong TikTok presence, amassing over 187k followers and 3.3 million likes on the platform.
By blending innovation with cultural authenticity, The Chefz has built a loyal community that continues to expand.
Their approach has positioned them well to further deepen connections with both local and international audiences in the future.
Budget Saudi bags four prestigious awards
Budget Saudi, the Kingdom’s leading car rental company, has been commended for its commitment to delivering world-class transportation and logistics services.
It bagged four honors at the 2024 World Business Outlook – Endorsing Excellence Awards, spotlighting the company’s ongoing efforts to transform the Saudi transportation sector.
Budget Saudi received the award for “Best Customer Experience Services in Transportation and Logistics in Saudi Arabia.”
Three members of the company’s leadership team were also recognized with individual leadership awards.
The honor highlights Budget Saudi’s ongoing work to curate memorable journeys and experiences for its customers and consumers around the Kingdom.
Leveraging a state-of-the-art fleet of over 38,000 vehicles and an extensive network of close to 100 retail stations across 30 cities, Budget Saudi is firmly established as the largest rental and leasing network in the Middle East and North Africa.
Held on Nov. 2 at Marriott Marquis, Queen’s Park in Bangkok, the ceremony brought industry leaders from around the world together to celebrate the outstanding achievements of exceptional leaders across a diversity of markets and sectors.
The gathering also shone a light on the accomplishments of Budget Saudi leadership team.
Fawaz Danish, president and Group CEO, received the “Excellence in Transformational Business Leadership in Saudi Arabia” award.
Dr. Mohammed Ravish Tatli, Group CFO, was named the “Best CFO in Merger & Acquisition in Saudi Arabia.”
Anil Mathew Abraham, VP Operations, Sales & Marketing, was commended as the “Most Efficient Marcom Leader in Saudi Arabia.”
Fawaz Abdullah Danish, president & Group CEO, Budget Saudi, said: “With our history in Saudi Arabia tracing back nearly five decades — being the first publicly traded car rental company in the Kingdom — we are as deeply rooted in the country as we are deeply committed to empowering the people, communities and businesses we serve with world-class services.
“We are so pleased to have been recognized by the World Business Outlook – Endorsing Excellence Awards. Not ones to rest on our laurels, we look forward to raising our standards even more and contributing to the development of the Saudi transportation industry. We are honored, thankful and inspired to do even better — today, tomorrow and in the years to come.”
Budget Saudi said its success at the awards builds on the company’s recent acquisition of Auto World — one of the major car leasing companies in Saudi Arabia.
Budget Saudi said that it “underlines the company’s commitment and leadership team’s drive and vision to achieve unprecedented growth, creating a legacy of innovation in the transportation industry.”
To learn more about Budget Saudi and its sustainability initiatives, visit: https://www.budgetsaudi.com
Diriyah Art Futures exhibition to showcase rare collection of world’s foremost computer art pioneers
Diriyah Art Futures exhibition to showcase rare collection of world’s foremost computer art pioneers
Diriyah Art Futures, the first new media arts hub in the MENA region, has announced its inaugural exhibition titled “Art Must Be Artificial: Perspectives of AI in the Visual Arts.” Developed by the Saudi Ministry of Culture, DAF will host the exhibition from Nov. 26 to Feb. 15, 2025 in Diriyah, Riyadh, introducing the region to the power and potential of new media and digital art.
Curated by the renowned Jérôme Neutres, former director at the Réunion des Musées Nationaux-Grand Palais in Paris, the exhibition brings together more than 30 global and regional artists to explore new forms of creative expression at a critical juncture of technological development.
“Art Must Be Artificial” will present a sweeping history of computer art, from the 1960s to the present day, featuring works by iconic regional and international artists. The exhibition includes Saudi talents Lulwah Alhomoud, Muhannad Shono, Nasser Alshemimry (DesertFish), and Daniah Al-Saleh, their works spanning geometric abstraction, robotic and audiovisual art, and digital installations, showcasing the innovative spirit of the Kingdom. Notable MENA artists include VJ Um Amel (Laila Shereen Sakr, Egypt/US) and Haythem Zakaria (Tunisia), whose practices explore the intersections of media, culture, and technology.
Internationally acclaimed contributors include Refik Anadol (Turkiye), Ryoji Ikeda (Japan), Miguel Chevalier (Mexico/France), and Yang Yongliang (China), each known for their revolutionary use of AI, data, and digital landscapes. The exhibition also celebrates pioneers such as Frieder Nake (Germany), Vera Molnar (Hungary/France), Harold Cohen (UK), and Manfred Mohr (Germany), who laid the foundations of algorithmic and computational art. Other prominent names include Peter Kogler (Austria), Elias Crespin (Venezuela), Casey Reas (US), Daniel Rozin (US), John Gerrard (Ireland), Leonel Moura (Portugal), and Alan Rath (US), whose practices redefine creativity in the digital age.
Further enriching the exhibition are the collaborative works of Christa Sommerer and Laurent Mignonneau (Austria/France) and Edmond Couchot and Michel Bret (France), alongside experimental artists like aaajiao (Xu Wenkai, China), Anna Ridler (UK), Yining Fei and Chuck Kuan (China/US), Charles Sandison (UK), and Quayola (Italy). Together, these artists offer a comprehensive exploration of computational and robotic art, bridging history, innovation, and regional narratives.
The exhibition’s setting in Saudi Arabia, a country with a young, tech-savvy population, provides a fitting backdrop for this exploration of the evolving relationship between art and technology. With the word “algorithm” originating from the Islamic world, “Art Must Be Artificial” presents an intriguing regional connection, while bridging past, present, and future, to examine how algorithms and AI are transforming the nature of art creation.
Reflecting on his curatorial vision, Neutres said: “This exhibition seeks to explore a profound transformation, where artists are not just creators but architects of a new digital age. By embracing the power of AI and computational technology, contemporary artists are redefining the boundaries of art, opening infinite possibilities for the future.
“At Diriyah Art Futures, we are presenting a dialogue between past pioneers and today’s visionaries, showcasing how the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is uniquely well-positioned to lead these critical conversations in the global art world,” Neutres added.
In addition to the exhibition, Diriyah Art Futures offers a robust programming schedule that includes panel discussions, masterclasses, hands-on workshops, performances, and guided tours, designed to engage audiences in the dynamic intersection of art and technology. The activities, which feature prominent artists and scholars, provide an immersive experience for those looking to deepen their understanding of new media art. Tickets for both the exhibition and public programs are available through the Diriyah Art Futures website, offering visitors the chance to participate in a range of unique experiences that push the boundaries of art.
Google Cloud summit showcases growth & AI innovation
Google Cloud marked the first anniversary of the Dammam Cloud Region launch in Saudi Arabia with the inaugural Google Cloud Saudi Arabia Summit. Held at the Four Seasons Hotel Kingdom Tower in Riyadh, the event brought together more than 1,500 attendees, including Google Cloud partners, customers, government officials, and industry leaders, to celebrate the achievements of the past year and explore the future of cloud computing and AI in the Kingdom.
The summit underscored Google Cloud’s commitment to Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation journey and highlighted the significant growth and potential witnessed in the Kingdom’s technology landscape.
In his keynote speech, Bader Almadi, country manager for Google Cloud in Saudi Arabia, said: “This summit marks a significant milestone in Google Cloud’s journey in Saudi Arabia. We are deeply committed to supporting the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 objectives by empowering businesses, government entities, and individuals with the transformative power of cloud technology and AI. We are confident that together, we can drive sustainable economic growth, create new opportunities, and establish Saudi Arabia as a global hub for digital innovation.”
Abdul Rahman Al-Thehaiban, managing director, Turkiye, Middle East and Africa, Google Cloud, said: “Building on the momentum of our recent announcement with the Public Investment Fund to establish a global AI hub in Saudi Arabia, Google Cloud is dedicated to advancing the Kingdom’s position as a leader in technological innovation. We will continue to invest in infrastructure, introduce cutting-edge services and features, and foster a thriving ecosystem of partners and developers to unlock the full potential of Saudi Arabia’s dynamic digital landscape.”
The summit featured an engaging agenda with keynote presentations, breakout sessions, and interactive demos showcasing Google Cloud’s latest innovations in AI and data analytics. Prominent businesses like Saudia, ROSHN, and Almarai shared how they are innovating with cloud technologies and AI.
Recognizing the vital role of startups and developers in the Kingdom’s digital ecosystem, the summit offered dedicated programs to support their growth and innovation. The Founders Lunch provided a targeted gathering specifically for operators of early-stage startups. A dynamic group of speakers, including successful entrepreneurs, investors, and Google Cloud experts, shared insights on key topics such as fundraising, product development, marketing, and scaling a business. The Founders Lunch also offered a valuable opportunity for attendees to connect with fellow entrepreneurs and discover how Google Cloud can empower their startup journey. Notable speakers at the Innovators Hive included Omar Shabaan, CEO and founder of The Space; Baraa Koshak, CEO and founder of Abwab.ai; and Naif Al-Obaidallah, co-founder and managing director of SDM.sa.
For developers and practitioners, the Innovators Hive offered a half-day program of in-person, interactive hands-on labs. With more than 630 registered participants, the program featured six sessions, spotlight labs, mini-courses, and a two-hour hands-on labs competition focused on “AI with BigQuery” and “MultiModality with Gemini.”
Underscoring Google Cloud’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, the summit featured two dedicated sessions focused on empowering women in the technology sector. The “She Leads: Navigate the Path to Leadership for Women in Tech” session tackled invisible barriers and equipped attendees with actionable strategies to overcome them. Inspiring speakers such as Reem Al-Adeeb, the first Saudi racer to drive Formula E Gen 2, Gen3, and GenBETA (an all-electric GEN3 race car powered by Google Cloud); Rasha Al-Khamis, the Kingdom’s first certified female boxer and accomplished mountaineer; and Lisa Martinez Gomis, sales manager at Google Cloud, shared their personal journeys and insights on championing women’s leadership in tech.
Abdul Latif Jameel promotes Saudi talents on global stage
Abdul Latif Jameel collaborated with the Saudi Music Commission as a strategic partner to organize the “Marvels of Saudi Orchestra” concert in Tokyo, Japan. This concert comes as part of an initiative to elevate cultural exchange between the Kingdom and Japan while highlighting Saudi talents on an international platform.
This strategic collaboration reflects Abdul Latif Jameel’s commitment to promoting arts and music, and its continued support for globally-renowned Saudi cultural and creative initiatives. Boosting the Kingdom’s international presence, the collaboration falls under Saudi Vision 2030 and aligns with the objectives of the National Culture Strategy, aimed at highlighting the Kingdom’s cultural identity and enriching international cultural exchange.
This step also underscores Abdul Latif Jameel’s ongoing focus on further showcasing Saudi talents on the global stage. It celebrates the artistic skills and cultural diversity of the Saudi community, which holds high regards for creative arts. The “Marvels of Saudi Orchestra” concert is a major event that contributes to introducing Saudi Arabia’s musical heritage and diversity to international audiences, featuring several international engagements led by talented Saudi artists.
Previously, the “Marvels of Saudi Orchestra” concerts have dazzled audiences in Paris, New York, London and Mexico.
The Jameel family, through its philanthropic arm, boasts an impressive track record of major contributions to the arts and crafts industry, most notably through the Nafisa Shams Academy of Arts and Crafts. This program develops and refines the artistic talents of Saudi women. Managed by Art Jameel, Hayy Jameel in Jeddah is also a leading arts and creative hub in Saudi Arabia that supports art and culture and provides a platform for creativity and innovation. It also offers Saudi artists ample opportunities for self-expression and networking with the global art community.
