Social media, e-governance and cyber ambitions dominated the agenda at the second day of the 3rd Annual Kingdom e-Government Summit in Riyadh.
The day comprised of workshops, addresses, panel discussions and a keynote address from Suhail Al-Almaee, director of strategic planning and support initiatives at Yesser, the Kingdom’s e-Government program.
After reviewing the achievements of the First National Action Plan, Al-Amaee presented details of the Second National Action Plan’s initiatives, displaying a particular focus on staff development.
“We are working with Boston University to train CIOs within the government — already 62 individuals have gone to the university and are undergoing training,” he said.
Understanding the ever-changing role of social networking outlets, Fadi Salem, director of Governance and Innovation Program at Dubai School of Government, explored the various ways governments can use social media to help increase knowledge sharing and innovation between and among government entities, citizens and the private sector.
He said: “There is a shift of the way social media used — in 2010 people were used to make social connections, 2011 it had to do with political activism and journalism, and in 2012 it was increasingly concerned about the development of society and institutionalyzing the civil works.”
Salem’s address was followed by an interactive panel discussion during which participants examined just how the government can implement social media use to communicate with citizens and still maintain the culture of Saudi Arabia.
Hosted by French business information group naseba, the 3rd Annual e-Government Summit closed with a workshop led by Mohammed Aal Salem, dean of e-Learning and Distance Learning at Jazan University.
Social media, e-governance take center stage at summit
Social media, e-governance take center stage at summit
Saudi artisanal boom marks ‘Year of Handicrafts’
Monsha’at, Saudi Arabia’s Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority, has released its latest quarterly SME Monitor, providing a detailed overview of the latest trends and developments shaping the Kingdom’s dynamic SME ecosystem. This edition highlights a 48 percent year-on-year increase in new commercial registrations in Q1, key trends in the local and global handicrafts sector, and the many ways in which Saudi Arabia is empowering its next generation of artisanal SMEs.
The report sheds light on the rich heritage of Saudi handicrafts, several of which have been listed in UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage. In addition to well-known mainstays such as Al-Sadu weaving, Al-Qatt Al-Asiri wall decoration, Bisht tailoring, Jambiya daggers, and Madinah pottery, the report also features insights into the cultural and economic significance of Saudi handicrafts. For these reasons and others, 2025 has been designated the “Year of Handicrafts.”
Thanks to a steady increase in tourism, e-commerce, and consumer interest in authentic Saudi arts and crafts, the report shows, rural female entrepreneurs in particular also stand to gain from a sector expected to be worth $1.3 trillion by 2028. The recent launch of the Saudi Artisanal Company is an example of the sector’s promise. In addition to aiming to create 9,000 new handicrafts jobs by 2030, SAC hopes to serve 15 percent of the domestic handicrafts market by then, the report shows. Thanks to a raft of recent government initiatives to empower handicrafts SMEs, from the Heritage Commission to the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts, opportunities for artisanal entrepreneurs are rife.
In addition to its coverage of handicrafts trends and developments in Saudi Arabia, the latest SME Monitor also has a special section on global developments in the sector. Chief among these are a greater emphasis on sustainability and eco-friendliness, e-commerce expansion, new technology, and a desire for cultural preservation. Artisans in Uganda, the report shows, have transformed banana waste into valuable handicrafts such as rugs and lampshades, while designers elsewhere have found ways to use 3D printing with biodegradable materials to create customized garments.
In its survey of broader SME developments across Saudi Arabia, the report also reveals a remarkable increase in commercial registrations in Q1 2025, a key indicator of the country’s booming entrepreneurial landscape. In addition to 154,638 new registrations, sectors like e-commerce reached 41,322 active registrations in that quarter, with an impressive six percent y-o-y increase. In a show of technological advancement, the number of active cloud-computing registrations shot up by 33 percent.
Thanks to a wide variety of enablement, financing, and business development programs offered by Monsha’at, more than 22,000 SMEs benefited from Saudi Arabia’s leading SME enabler in Q1 2025, the report shows.
TAQA announces CEO transition as part of strategic growth agenda
Industrialization and Energy Services Company, known as TAQA, a global leader in energy and industrial services, announced that Khalid Nouh will step down from his role as chief executive, as part of the company’s ongoing evolution and long-term strategic growth agenda.
Since his appointment in 2019, Nouh has been instrumental in transforming TAQA into a unified global organization. Under his leadership, the company successfully integrated a series of value-driven acquisitions, including Tendeka, AZR, OPT Chemicals, Cougar Drilling Solutions, Oliden Technologies, and Al-Mansoori Petroleum Services. These integrations positioned TAQA as a fully integrated energy services provider with more than 12 service lines and 5,500 employees across global markets.
During his tenure, TAQA digitized its business operations under a single platform, launched centers of excellence in drilling, completions, and intervention, and established TAQA Geothermal, aligning the company with regional energy transition ambitions. Additionally, Nouh played a key role in positioning ARGAS to support mineral exploration initiatives. Under his guidance, the company achieved remarkable revenue growth, driven by strategic execution and operational excellence.
With this solid foundation in place, TAQA is now focused on accelerating its next phase — expanding market presence and driving innovation.
To lead this new chapter, the board of directors has appointed Adel Al-Ghadhban as interim CEO.
Al-Ghadhban currently serves as executive vice president — ventures and chief investment officer and brings more than 30 years of experience in multiple energy sectors including portfolio management and finance across the energy and manufacturing sectors, including 20 years with TAQA. He was responsible for leading the company’s group legal, risk, and compliance functions, and guiding strategy for TAQA’s portfolio companies. He also serves on the boards of several TAQA subsidiaries, including ARGAS as vice chairman, Cougar Drilling Solutions, TAQA Drilling Solutions (Canada), and was in board leadership roles at ALAR and JESCO.
Outgoing CEO Nouh said: “It has been an extraordinary journey and a privilege to lead TAQA through a period of remarkable growth and transformation. I am proud of what we’ve built together — a global platform with strong capabilities and a focus on sustainable, profitable growth. I leave confident in the company’s direction and leadership, and excited to see it reach even greater heights.”
Ahmed Al-Zahrani, chairman of the board, said: “On behalf of the board, I want to thank Khalid Nouh for his exceptional vision and dedication. He played a pivotal role in shaping TAQA into the global leader it is today — delivering on strategy, strengthening our service offering, and transforming the organization into ONE TAQA. As we look to the future, we are confident that Adel Al-Ghadhban will build on this legacy with a sharp focus on performance, innovation, and growth.”
Al-Ghadhban added: “I am honored to take on this role at such a defining moment in TAQA’s evolution. We have a strong foundation, a clear vision, and exceptional teams around the world. I look forward to working closely with our people, partners, and clients to build on our achievements and accelerate our strategic growth.”
Lean strengthens its global footprint with scientific achievements, strategic partnerships
Lean Business Services — the Kingdom’s foremost developer of digital-health solutions and a Public Investment Fund portfolio company— continues to consolidate its leadership in the digital-health sector at both national and international levels.
At ISPOR 2025 in Montréal, Canada, the company’s research team presented three peer-reviewed studies grounded in advanced analytics and extensive national datasets before embarking on an official visit to South Korea to explore collaborations in health technology and research.
The first study introduced an integrated economic model that assesses the cost-effectiveness of Type 2 diabetes-prevention programs over a 10-year horizon, capturing both direct and indirect costs from the first-year diagnosis through long-term complications.
A second paper provided a comprehensive assessment to date of Saudi Arabia’s chronic disease burden, leveraging records from more than 33 million individuals and sophisticated statistical models to inform resource allocation and healthcare planning.
The third study delivered a five-year review of more than 2 million psychotropic prescriptions, pinpointing opportunities to refine prescribing practices, particularly for older adults, relative to other chronic-medication regimens.
To broaden its international collaboration, a Lean delegation traveled to South Korea, where it joined the Saudi–Korean Business & Investment Forum, met leading health-tech institutions, and examined best practices at Seoul National University Hospital.
Discussions focused on artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and population data analytics.
Engineer Mohannad Al-Rasheed, Lean’s chief executive officer, expressed pride in representing the Kingdom on these global stages.
“Lean is committed to building knowledge partnerships that elevate Saudi Arabia as an advanced hub for digital health,” he said. “Our active participation in specialized international gatherings reflects the maturity of the Saudi health sector and its ability to export both expertise and solutions.”
Driven by the conviction that data-powered innovation is key to a more efficient and inclusive healthcare future, Lean will continue to invest in research and cross-border collaboration, supporting Vision 2030’s goal of a cutting-edge, sustainable digital-health ecosystem for the Kingdom.
Lulu opens new stores near holy sites to enhance pilgrim experience
Saudi Arabia is hosting millions of pilgrims for this year’s Hajj, which is taking place from June 4 to 9. The Kingdom continues to ensure an organized, safe, and spiritually fulfilling experience for all pilgrims.
As part of efforts to enhance pilgrim services, Lulu Group has partnered with Kidanh Development Company, under the supervision of the Royal Commission for Makkah City and the Holy Sites, to open new retail stores near key pilgrimage locations, including Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah. These stores are already operational, providing easy access to essential items such as food, beverages, and personal care products.
The agreement was signed by Muhammed Al-Mejmaj, executive manager at Kidanh, and Bashar Naseer Al-Besher, executive administration manager of Lulu Group.
The project aligns with Saudi Vision 2030, which focuses on improving quality of life and expanding private sector involvement in national development. This partnership marks a significant step toward enhancing the overall Hajj experience through effective public-private collaboration.
Kidanh’s development strategy includes modernizing traditional market areas near the holy sites to better serve the needs of pilgrims through modern infrastructure and organized retail services.
More than 122,000 Indian pilgrims, including over 16,000 from Kerala, are performing Hajj this year. The new Lulu outlets are designed to meet the needs of this diverse and growing pilgrim community by offering trusted products in strategically located stores. Retail outlets have already opened, and shopping is underway, making Lulu one of the first major retailers to begin operating in close proximity to the holy sites. This reinforces Lulu’s commitment to service excellence and community support.
3,500 products, 25 countries: Saudi Warehousing Expo concludes
The Saudi Warehousing and Logistics Expo was held last week in Riyadh under the patronage of the Ministry of Transport and Logistic Services. The event, which took place at Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center from May 27-29, showcased more than 3,500 products, solutions, systems and services to improve supply chain efficiency across warehousing, transport and logistics.
The exhibition opened with a formal inauguration by the Ministry of Transport and Logistic Services, graced by Vice Minister of Transport and Logistic Services Dr. Rumaih bin Mohammed Al-Rumaih.
A strong lineup of government entities participated under the ministry, including Saudi Arabia Railways, Roads General Authority, General Authority of Civil Aviation, Saudi Post SPL, Transport General Authority and Saudi Ports Authority.
The exhibition featured exhibitors from more than 25 countries. Some of the top exhibiting brands included Swisslog, a global leader in intralogistics, warehouse automation and material handling; El-Ajou, a Saudi enterprise delivering integrated digital solutions and workspace services that enhance operational efficiency; SAL Logistics, a leading logistics and supply chain services provider in the Kingdom; and Savoye, a technology solutions provider in logistics and warehousing, among others.
An invite-only gathering on May 27, Saudi Warehousing and Logistics Summit was headlined by more than 40 influential voices shaping the future of warehousing and logistics in the Kingdom. The CPD-accredited program explored key themes including AI integration, infrastructure transformation, ESG and future workforce development, all aligned with Vision 2030.
Focused on strategy, collaboration and long-term value creation, the summit offered critical insight into the sector’s next phase of growth.
On May 28-29, Hala Chats presented fast-paced sessions tackling operational challenges through case studies, panels and success stories from Saudi Arabia’s logistics and warehousing ecosystem. With contributions from industry leaders at Swisslog Middle East, Smartlog MEA, Dematic, Kaden, Shipsy and more, the program offered visitors an opportunity to gain practical insights and learn how leading organizations are responding to real-world demands.
Showcasing Saudi Arabia’s $6.7 billion commercial vehicle market, Commercial Vehicles Zone highlighted manufacturers, fleet solutions, electric vehicles and alternative fuel technologies and more. Brands such as Toyota, Abdul Latif Jameel Motors, Bin-Shihon and Petromin — Foton headlined the exhibition.
Sponsored by SADR Logistics Services, Demo Hub featured a live, intelligent shuttle system that handles real-time pallet and container movement with seamless integration into warehouse control and management systems, using RFID and barcode scanning. The setup includes high-density pallet shuttles and container shuttles for fast goods-to-person picking, offering a first-hand view of warehouse automation.
Powered by Rfufco, Pack n Stack Challenge encouraged visitors to test their speed, precision and stacking skills in a fast-paced logistics simulation.
