Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, in partnership with MBC Group, first private free-to-air satellite broadcasting company in the Arab World, announced the launch of SHAHID application, the region’s leading video on demand (VOD) service. As a regional first, Samsung Smart TVs across the MENA will feature the SHAHID application.
SHAHID application and SHAHID.NETare currently available for viewers to catch up on their favorite TV shows and series. The region’s leading VOD, recorded 284 million media views in 2013 only. The new application is now available for viewers to enjoy what they have missed on TV, from series to shows and to global formats.
“The television experience is rapidly evolving for viewers across the MENA region,” said Choong Ro Lee, president of Samsung MENA. “We at Samsung are dedicated to create new and innovative ways to deliver best viewing experience, and with our partnership with MBC Group we will continue offering viewers the content they want, when they want in a new MENA consumer lifestyle. As a leader in the visual display market, Samsung’s Smart TV lineup offers a powerful platform for SHAHID service, providing viewers with unrivaled picture quality and the ultimate front row experience as they enjoy premium content.”
SHAHID experience will be enhanced further by Samsung’s Curved UHD TVs, which usher in a new era of immersive viewing. The curved screen gives video content a wider field of view, creating a panoramic effect that brings images to life, while enveloping viewers in true-to-life clarity and detail.
Sam Barnett, MBC Group CEO, stated: “Since 2007, SHAHID has made the best Arabic content available on VOD. Recent upgrades to the service have also made it easier to search and faster to watch. We’re now ensuring that this popular service is accessible across different devices. So we’re delighted to announce this partnership with a leading company like Samsung and to have SHAHID available on Samsung Smart TVs. SHAHID viewers will be able to choose between SD and HD picture viewing to match their broadband network and speed.”
Samsung partners with MBC to launch SHAHID application
Samsung partners with MBC to launch SHAHID application
Ritz-Carlton Residences, Diriyah launches ‘Signature Collection’
At Cityscape Global in Riyadh, Diriyah Company announced the launch of 59 new luxury apartments and villas for the Signature Collection of The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Diriyah, marking the latest release of its luxury branded residences. This launch follows the successful sell-out of the initial 106 Ritz Carlton Residences.
This exclusive new collection offers 59 fully furnished apartments and villas, with options ranging from one-bedroom to four-bedroom configurations, each meticulously crafted to meet the legendary standards of The Ritz-Carlton brand.
Residents will also enjoy exclusive access to amenities at the co-located hotel, The Ritz-Carlton, Diriyah, including a state-of-the-art gym, luxurious spa, and fine-dining restaurants.
BACKGROUND
The development of these luxury hotel residences at Diriyah is part of a comprehensive residential strategy to create diverse living opportunities for more than 100,000 future residents.
Announcing the new residences, Diriyah Company Group CEO Jerry Inzerillo said: “We are delighted to announce these new world-class luxury homes from the Ritz-Carlton brand. Following the incredible success and sell-out of our initial release of 106 villas at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Diriyah, we are anticipating significant demand for this exceptional new offering. This announcement underscores our dedication to delivering best-in-class offerings at every stage of our incredible development journey.”
Jaidev Menezes, regional vice president — mixed-use development, EMEA, Marriott International, said: “Following the overwhelming success and sold-out response to the initial release of villas at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Diriyah, we are excited about the launch of the new inventory of villas and apartments. We are once again expecting high levels of demand for the newly launched residences offering tranquility, privacy and luxury living in one of the most significant cultural and heritage destinations in the region.”
The development of these luxury hotel residences at Diriyah is part of a comprehensive residential strategy to create diverse living opportunities for more than 100,000 future residents. This wide-ranging plan underscores Diriyah’s vision to become a premier destination for luxury living and community development.
Mastercard announces winners of mentorship program
Mastercard partnered with Saudia and Blossom Accelerator for the third season of its “Her Voice” mentorship program, empowering female entrepreneurs to attain lasting success.
The entities hosted three workshops across Jeddah, Riyadh, and Alkhobar, with more than 100 participants across all the cities. Each workshop enabled the opportunity to foster connections among women from across the Kingdom, offering participants access to all-important learning and networking. A competition held at each workshop also provided the opportunity for one winner from each city to be granted the mentorship program.
Reima Sras, founder of Buthoor Tech; Munirah Alkadi, founder of Mawsim; and Sarah Albaiz, founder of Qantara Studio; were selected as the competition’s three winners, each being enrolled in the innovative “Her Voice” program facilitated by Blossom Accelerator.
Each participant was evaluated based on leadership, product viability in the market, business model strength, and other key criteria.
“As more Saudi women take the reins of leadership and drive the future of the Kingdom’s SME space, we must work to ensure that we continue pioneering innovative programs that bridge the entrepreneurship gender gap,” said Maria Medvedeva, country manager, Saudi Arabia, Mastercard. “At Mastercard, we believe collaboration is crucial to launching the effective platforms required to accomplish this goal, and we are pleased to have partnered with Saudia and Blossom Accelerator to empower even more women for Season 3 of ‘Her Voice.’ We look forward to seeing our mentees grow, flourish and thrive, realizing their considerable potential and serving as champions of Saudi female excellence.”
Essam Akhonbay, vice president of marketing at Saudia, said: “As Saudi Arabia’s national flag carrier, we are deeply invested in the nation’s future and believe women are central to its success.”
Through ‘Her Voice,’ we empower female entrepreneurs to thrive, inspiring future generations and creating pathways for small businesses to prosper. By showcasing their remarkable stories on our in-flight entertainment system, we not only highlight their achievements but also reinforce Saudia’s commitment to promoting local content that fuels economic growth and social progress.”
“At Blossom Accelerator, we are proud to be a global leader in driving inclusive innovation, recognizing that diverse perspectives are key to unlocking economic potential and maximizing investment returns. Our mission is to empower female-led startups across the globe, equipping them with the essential tools and resources to excel in the competitive digital economy,” said Emon Shakoor, CEO and founder.
This season focused on connecting people to their passions, with each episode exploring a different passion point, namely: gaming, tech, sustainability, culinary, and sport. Over the course of each interview, guests recounted their personal and professional journeys in their own voices in conversation with the host, renowned Saudi actress and broadcaster Danyah Shafei.
stc on global expansion spree with development of data centers and submarine cables
Leading digital enabler stc Group is continuing to implement its expansion plans to develop data centers and submarine cables, strengthening the Kingdom’s position as a digital hub in the Middle East. Two strategic projects have catapulted this effort: stc Group’s subsidiaries stc Bahrain and center3 have built a state-of-the-art Data Center Park in Bahrain, as part of one of the world’s largest submarine cable systems connecting Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. This project, known as “Africa 2 Pearls,” will extend over 45,000 kilometers, totaling $300 million in investment.
These projects complement the group’s investments through its subsidiary — center3 — a leading provider of international data centers and communications services via submarine cables. center3 now operates 25 data centers and has expanded its submarine cable network to include 16 cables connecting three continents. The network includes the “Saudi Vision Cable,” wholly owned by stc via center3 and equipped with three landing stations that ensure continuous and reliable data transfer services. This represents a fundamental pillar in the group’s long-term strategy.
The “Africa 2 Pearls” cable is an important achievement in this context, as it connects 33 countries in Asia, Africa and Europe, which supports stc Group’s vision for global expansion, data flow and communications, and enhances its position as a major driver of digital transformation across various sectors at the international level.
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
