Bupa Arabia for Cooperative Insurance hosted its Bupa Marathon 2024 on Nov. 30 in Riyadh’s Misk City. The event, held under the slogan “Your steps bring life to our environment,” brought together more than 2,500 participants of all ages and abilities, including people with special needs, to support the twin causes of public health and environmental sustainability.

The marathon was supported by Mohammed Bin Salman Nonprofitable City, the Saudi Sports for All Federation, and the Ministry of Sports, reflecting the cooperation between governmental authorities and the private sector to enhance physical activity and health awareness in Saudi society.

Hanen Al-Rasheed won first place in the 10-km women’s race, while Abdulrahman Al Anssary bagged first position in the men’s category. In the five-km race, Noor Al-Jubouri and Mahmoud Osman emerged winners in their respective categories.

Meanwhile, in the 1-km race, Jana El-Houshy bagged first position among women while Yassine Lafif came first in the men’s category. In the special needs category, Omar Mahdi won first place in the 1-km race.

Alshereef Hamideddin, senior executive director of marketing at Bupa Arabia, said: “This marathon is not only a race for sport, but it’s an invitation to motivate the community to adopt an effective and healthy lifestyle, as well as maintain the environment. We are proud of the positive energy and the huge attendance that we witnessed from all the participants; this assures the importance of such activities to enhance community spirit.”

In line with its commitment to preserving the environment, Bupa Arabia planted a tree across the Kingdom for every participant. The initiative aims to increase green spaces and enhance environmental awareness.

The Bupa Marathon is part of Bupa Arabia’s “Live Right” program, which launched in 2022 to promote a culture of healthy lifestyles in the Kingdom. The marathon is also in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, which include enhancing physical activity, improving public health, and supporting environmental sustainability.

Stake, a leading global digital real estate investment platform in the Middle East and North Africa region, has announced their official launch in the Kingdom. As the first platform regulated by the Capital Market Authority to afford individuals outside of the Kingdom the opportunity to invest into Saudi real estate, Stake is set to transform the investment landscape in the Kingdom.

In partnership with prominent developer Al-Rajhi Seventh, or RJ7, Stake has carefully selected an income-generating commercial building located in North Riyadh for its inaugural fund on the platform. As part of its launch, Stake has partnered with Mulkia Investment Company, a leading Saudi asset management firm. The collaboration focuses on establishing private real estate funds tailored for the Saudi market. These funds, managed by Mulkia and distributed through Stake’s digital platform, aim to lower the barrier to entry and make real estate investing into quality assets more accessible. Together, Stake and Mulkia will offer a robust pipeline of real estate opportunities, ranging from residential to commercial properties, all aligned with Vision 2030’s economic transformation goals.

Stake empowers investors with digital access to curated, Shariah-compliant real estate investments starting from as little as SR500 ($133) via its app. With a mission to democratize real estate ownership, Stake has already built a global community of over 800,000 users. Saudi Arabia’s dynamic and rapidly expanding economy plays a pivotal role in Stake’s strategic decision to enter the market. The Kingdom is forecasted to grow by 4.6 percent in 2025, making it one of the fastest-growing economies among G20 nations.

“Saudi Arabia is a cornerstone of Stake’s vision to redefine real estate investment,” said Manar Mahmassani, co-founder and co-CEO at Stake. “The Kingdom’s thriving economy and Vision 2030 initiative align perfectly with our mission to provide inclusive and borderless access to high-potential property markets. By entering Saudi Arabia, we are inviting investors worldwide to participate in its exciting growth story.”

At the helm of Stake’s Saudi operations is Hanouf bin Saeed, a financial industry veteran with over 17 years of experience. Her remarkable track record includes driving Riyad Bank’s non-bank financial institutions portfolio growth from SR1 billion to SR12 billion during her tenure. bin Saeed said: “Stake’s vision is revolutionary. By creating an ecosystem of trust and innovation, we are enabling individuals to build wealth like never before. I am honored to lead this mission in Saudi Arabia and look forward to shaping the future of real estate investment in the Kingdom.”

In June, Stake announced a $14 million Series A funding from top-tier investors like Aramco’s Wa’ed Ventures, one of Saudi Arabia’s largest VC’s, Mubadala Investment Company, Abu Dhabi’s Sovereign Investor and Al-Jomaih Holding, one of Saudi Arabia’s largest family conglomerates. Earlier this year, Stake was named as one of the top startups in 2024 by LinkedIn, and listed in the 2024 Top 100 Global Fintech list by CB Insights.

Stake is poised to redefine real estate investment in the Kingdom and beyond. The platform’s innovative approach to real estate ownership, transparency, and accessibility has the potential to bring about a change in how investors interact with property markets.