The Saudi Coffee Company, wholly owned by the Public Investment Fund, has launched its second annual Saudi Sip of Excellence Competition, where Saudi coffee farmers will compete for a grand total prize pool of SR240,000 ($63,910).

Held in partnership with the global nonprofit Alliance for Coffee Excellence, the competition is designed to educate, empower, and reward coffee farmers from Saudi Arabia’s southern region. This year, entrants from Jazan, Baha, Muhayil Asir and Rijal Almaa will get a platform to showcase their finest green coffee and brews, to a panel of international judges from Alliance for Coffee Excellence, whose experts hail from leading markets like Brazil, Nicaragua, the UK and US, Canada, Belgium, Australia, and Japan.

Through careful inspection and evaluation of a 25-kg sample from each contender over a one-month period, the jury will select 12 winners from the participating cities. The prizes for the top three positions in each city are: SR25,000 for first place, SR15,000 for second place and SR10,000 for third place. The competition will also award cash prizes to the fourth- and fifth-place winners from each city, encouraging meaningful widespread participation.

In addition to monetary rewards, the competition connects winners with larger markets through new networks to importers, exporters, auctions, showcases, and outlets.

“This year marks a significant expansion for the competition,” said Khalid N. Abu Theeb, CEO of Saudi Coffee Company. “With the involvement of more cities, more farmers, and a greater focus on every aspect of production, we hope events like this will help elevate quality Saudi coffee on the global stage while empowering our local farmers.”

By helping Saudi farmers reach global industry standards for high quality coffee, the competition supports Saudi Coffee Company’s efforts to empower the wider sector. 

After careful examination of their crop, farmers can engage with industry experts to receive constructive feedback on factors such as soil and water quality, implementing the right fertilizer, picking and pruning practices, securing tools and infrastructure, obtaining commercial records and licenses, and building out their websites, marketing, packaging, and branding.

With its focus on improving the quality of Arabica green coffee in the southern region, the competition is keen to identify the next great specialty Saudi coffees. Farmers wishing to participate should submit entry forms and 1-kg coffee samples — the last date of submission being Jan. 9. Selected farmers will be asked to submit a 25-kg sample by Jan. 18. 

The initial round of phase 2 inspection and evaluation of 40 selected contestants will be completed by Jan. 25. A second round of 20 samples will be further inspected on Jan. 29, and a final round of 12 samples on Jan. 30. Winners will be announced during the International Coffee Festival.

Careem Rides has joined forces with CarbonSifr, a climate-tech company and a participant in the inaugural Sedrah Program under the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, to launch a new eco-friendly ride option in Saudi Arabia.

Eco-friendly rides, launched in collaboration with the Transport General Authority and MEWA’s Sedrah Program, will first be available in Riyadh. Customers who choose the eco-friendly option will enjoy the same reliable and convenient everyday Careem rides while contributing to carbon removal efforts, achieved through the tree planting program of the Ministry powered by Sedrah.

Saleh Ibrahim Al-Zuwayed, director and spokesperson at TGA, said: “At the Transport General Authority, we are committed to fostering eco-friendly transport solutions that contribute to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals. We also recognize and congratulate impactful initiatives that showcase how innovation can support environmental objectives and our journey toward a more sustainable future.”

Wael Ibrahim, general manager of Careem Rides in Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Bahrain, said: “This comes as part of our ongoing efforts to continuously innovate and bring a positive impact to the communities we’re part of. We are excited to make this ride option available in Saudi Arabia, giving customers the opportunity to reduce the carbon impact of their daily trips by supporting MEWA’s tree-planting projects across the Kingdom.”

The new eco-friendly ride option is part of CarbonSifr’s broader commitment to supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and environmental goals, and represents a significant step toward helping reduce emissions in line with national objectives. All trees planted through this initiative will be in MEWA-designated sites in Saudi Arabia, directly impacting local sustainability efforts.

By focusing on reforestation in key ecological zones, the initiative will create long-term environmental resilience, helping mitigate climate change’s effects and preserve natural ecosystems.

Yazeed Al-Shammari, Sedrah program manager, said: “CarbonSifr is one of the standout startups in our Sedrah accelerator program, and we’ve been dedicated to providing them with the support they need to succeed within the Kingdom. This partnership with Careem Rides reflects the innovative approach that will drive Saudi Arabia’s transition to a low-carbon future.

He added: “By integrating technology to reduce emissions through everyday services like transportation, they contribute directly to our national sustainability and emission reduction goals. I’m incredibly proud to see our collaboration already bearing fruit, and I look forward to this initiative’s positive impact on the Kingdom’s environmental efforts.”

Onur Elgun, CEO of CarbonSifr, said: “We are incredibly grateful for the unlimited support from our partners Careem Rides and the MEWA’s Sedrah Program. Their innovative thinking and ambition to be trailblazers have helped us enormously with this great initiative in the Kingdom.”

He added: “Through our partnership with Careem Rides, we provide a simple, effective way for individuals to participate in eco-friendly behaviors by removing their CO2 emission impact while supporting MEWA’s tree planting projects in Saudi Arabia. This program is about turning everyday actions into meaningful climate solutions, and we’re excited to bring this initiative to the Kingdom with Careem Rides, and more is yet to come.”