Who’s Who: Abdullah bin Sulaiman Al Rajhi, Arab Banking Personality of the Year

Abdullah bin Sulaiman Al Rajhi
Abdullah bin Sulaiman Al Rajhi
Short Url
Updated 05 June 2023
Follow

Who’s Who: Abdullah bin Sulaiman Al Rajhi, Arab Banking Personality of the Year

Abdullah bin Sulaiman Al Rajhi

Abdullah bin Sulaiman Al Rajhi was recently named Arab Banking Personality of the Year by the board of directors of the Union of Arab Banks.

Al Rajhi is chairman of Al Rajhi Bank, one of the largest banks in the Arab world.

With a career spanning several decades, he has established himself as a leader in the financial sector. Under his leadership, Al Rajhi Bank has achieved remarkable success and garnered global recognition.

In 2021, Forbes magazine listed the bank as the sixth-strongest company among the top 100 companies in the Arab world, a testament to Al Rajhi’s strategic vision and commitment to excellence.

In addition to his role at Al Rajhi Bank, he is a board member and chairman of various investment, industrial and charitable companies.

He is chairman of Al Rajhi Cooperative Insurance Co., Al Rajhi Holding Group, Al Rajhi Financial Co., Farabi Petrochemicals Co., Al-Ajial Holding Co., and Saudi Carpet Manufacturing Co., among others.

His career in the banking sector began in 1979 when he joined Al Rajhi Bank.

From deputy general manager for financial affairs to CEO and, ultimately, chairman, his contributions have been instrumental in shaping the bank’s growth and transformation.

Al Rajhi graduated from King Abdulaziz University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1979.

He continues to be a driving force in the banking sector, inspiring future generations of business leaders.

 


Riyadh Development Company, Misk sign 25-year deal to build educational facilities

Riyadh Development Company, Misk sign 25-year deal to build educational facilities
Updated 9 sec ago
Follow

Riyadh Development Company, Misk sign 25-year deal to build educational facilities

Riyadh Development Company, Misk sign 25-year deal to build educational facilities
  • Two sides will developing an educational complex on 22,000 square meters of land owned by RDC subsidiaries

 

RIYADH: Riyadh Development Company has signed an agreement with the Mohammed bin Salman Foundation for the construction of educational facilities over the next 25 years, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

The agreement was signed by RDC CEO Jihad bin Abdul Rahman Al-Qadi, and Dr. Badr bin Hamoud Al-Badr, Misk’s CEO.

The two sides will begin by developing an educational complex on 22,000 square meters of land owned by RDC subsidiaries.

Al-Qadi said that the agreement was part of the company’s strategy to establish partnerships focused on qualitative real estate development projects. It will also contribute to maximizing the overall return to shareholders by focusing on investing in development projects that provide a long-term source of income.

Al-Badr spoke of the importance of supporting education by creating a stimulating atmosphere for learning that adopted the best teaching practices.

The agreement hopes to facilitate a rise in the percentage of student spaces available to help meet the increase in demand for schools as the Kingdom’s population grows.
 


Saudi program provides MRI training for Yemen radiologists

Saudi program provides MRI training for Yemen radiologists
Updated 26 September 2023
Follow

Saudi program provides MRI training for Yemen radiologists

Saudi program provides MRI training for Yemen radiologists
  • Training will provide medical doctors at Marib General Hospital with the skills to operate the hi-tech equipment
  • Under the Saudi-backed program, 34 projects and development initiatives have been carried out in Yemeni governorates.

RIYADH: Radiologists in Yemen are to be trained in the use of MRI scanners as part of Saudi Arabia’s development and reconstruction program for the country.

The training will provide medical doctors at Marib General Hospital with the skills to operate the hi-tech equipment, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

The course is part of an ongoing project to equip the hospital authority’s radiology and MRI department with all the latest medical devices to improve the healthcare offering to communities in the Marib governorate.

Under the Saudi-backed program, 34 projects and development initiatives have been carried out in Yemeni governorates.

In the Marib governorate, Kara General Hospital was supplied with 24 medical devices, September 26 Hospital received 27 pieces of equipment, and 13 items were delivered to the Marib General Hospital Authority. Each hospital was also supplied with a fully equipped ambulance.

Overall, the Saudi initiative in Yemen has seen the implementation of 229 development projects covering the education, health, water, energy, transport, agriculture, and fisheries sectors, and has helped toward boosting the capacity of public institutions.


Saudi Arabia granted China’s Approved Destination Status

Saudi Arabia granted China’s Approved Destination Status
Updated 26 September 2023
Follow

Saudi Arabia granted China’s Approved Destination Status

Saudi Arabia granted China’s Approved Destination Status
  • Agreement will boost connectivity between the countries, open opportunities across the tourism sector

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia was officially granted Approved Destination Status by China on Tuesday, allowing Chinese citizens to travel to the Kingdom on group tours, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

A signing ceremony took place in Beijing in the presence of Saudi Ambassador to China Abdulrahman bin Ahmed Al-Harbi, Saudi Tourism Authority CEO Fahd Hamidaddin, and China’s Vice Minister of Culture and Tourism Du Jiang.

The agreement will boost connectivity between the two countries and open opportunities across the tourism sector, the SPA added.

Saudi Tourism Minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb said: “Underpinned by China’s Belt and Road Initiative and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, a historic reform blueprint aimed at driving forward meaningful economic and social development, China and Saudi Arabia are unlocking limitless opportunities and driving forward mutually beneficial collaboration.

“The ADS status is expected to significantly boost inbound travel from China, creating greater ease of access needed to reach Saudi Arabia’s target of attracting 3 million Chinese tourists by 2030.

“Today signifies the culmination of months of dedicated efforts between our nations, encapsulating our enduring and historic bilateral relations, which are built on the foundation of shared vision and mutual interests.”

Du said: “Our decades of close bilateral bonds have shown that our nations share a deep appreciation for each other’s rich and diverse culture and are committed to fostering mutual understanding and respect.

“ADS, with its potential to enhance people-to-people exchanges and dialogue, is a testament to this shared vision.”

Hamidaddin said that the Kingdom’s Tourism Authority was collaborating with partners to expedite the expansion of aviation connectivity between China and Saudi Arabia.

He added: “We are also streamlining our visa services, offering e-visas in just under three minutes and visas on arrival. Additionally, we have integrated Chinese payment solutions like UnionPay to facilitate seamless payment for Chinese travelers.

“Offering over 162 bespoke products to the Chinese market, STA looks forward to deepening our collaboration with Chinese online travel agencies and companies.

“Together, Saudi Arabia’s tourism sector is poised to deliver extraordinary experiences, fueled by a commitment that knows no bounds.”

The Kingdom’s flag carrier Saudia has recently launched new direct flights to Beijing from Jeddah and Riyadh.


Saudi Cabinet hopes efforts to revitalize peace process will contribute to stability in region

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman chairs Tuesday’s Cabinet session. (SPA)
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman chairs Tuesday’s Cabinet session. (SPA)
Updated 20 min ago
Follow

Saudi Cabinet hopes efforts to revitalize peace process will contribute to stability in region

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman chairs Tuesday’s Cabinet session. (SPA)
  • The Cabinet agreed to establish a Saudi-Algerian Supreme Coordination Council

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet said on Tuesday that it hopes efforts to revitalize the peace process will contribute to achieving security and stability in the Middle East.

The efforts, launched by the Kingdom, the Arab League, and the EU, in cooperation with Egypt and Jordan, aim to establish an independent Palestinian state on June 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan co-chaired a meeting that aimed to produce a “Peace Supporting Package” for the Middle East on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York last week.

During the meeting, Prince Faisal said there would be no solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict without an independent Palestinian state.

The meeting in New York was attended by representatives from nearly 70 countries and international organizations, and included around 50 speakers.

The Cabinet also confirmed its support for strengthening international cooperation in order to harness nuclear technologies to serve humanity, and the importance of implementing the provisions of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons to reach a world free of such weapons, especially in the Middle East.

The Cabinet also agreed to establish a Saudi-Algerian Supreme Coordination Council.

It was also briefed on the results of the Kingdom’s participation in the UNGA and its efforts in achieving sustainable development goals, finding solutions to international challenges, and continuing to to address them.


UN envoy for Yemen condemns attack that claimed the lives of two Bahraini military personnel

Bahraini military personnel are pictured after performing funeral prayers for their colleagues who were killed on Monday. (BNA)
Bahraini military personnel are pictured after performing funeral prayers for their colleagues who were killed on Monday. (BNA)
Updated 26 September 2023
Follow

UN envoy for Yemen condemns attack that claimed the lives of two Bahraini military personnel

Bahraini military personnel are pictured after performing funeral prayers for their colleagues who were killed on Monday. (BNA)
  • The US embassy in Saudi Arabia also condemned the attack
  • Grundberg expressed concern over continued military tensions at the Yemeni border and on several frontlines in Yemen over the past months

RIYADH: The UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg condemned on Tuesday an attack that claimed the lives of two Bahraini military personnel and injured several others in Saudi Arabia on Monday.

Bahrain’s military said on Monday that one officer and one soldier had been killed in a drone attack perpetrated by the Houthis.

Grundberg expressed concern over continued military tensions at the Yemeni border and on several frontlines in Yemen over the past months that have led to casualties, including civilian loss of life.

He warned that any renewal of offensive military escalation risks plunging Yemen back into a cycle of violence and undermines ongoing peace efforts.“Continued flare-ups of fighting demonstrate the fragility of the situation in Yemen,” the special envoy said.

“We have been in touch with all sides to urge them to exercise maximum restraint at this critical time, and to use dialogue to resolve differences and diffuse military tensions,” he added.

Grundberg warned that “the minimum level of trust required for constructive dialogue is hard-earned, but easily lost.”

He emphasized the need for decisive steps towards a sustainable nationwide ceasefire and the resumption of an inclusive political process to end the conflict.

He also offered his condolences to Bahrain and his wishes for the swift recovery of the injured.

The US embassy in Saudi Arabia also condemned the attack.

“Such attacks are unacceptable and threaten the longest period of calm since the war in Yemen began,” it said in a statement.