CCDC
City Center Development Company (CCDC) is participating in the First International Conference for Urban Heritage in the Islamic Countries organized by the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) in Riyadh, which ends today Friday. The conference, which began on May 23 and has the support of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, aims to assess the current state of urban and architectural heritage in Islamic countries and identify a framework for future development of their economic, social and cultural opportunities. "CCDC has much to contribute to the first ever International Urban Heritage Conference since we are the sole developers of the Jeddah Central District Project (JCDP), which is the biggest urban development project in the entire Middle East," said CCDC Chairman Ghassan Al-Sulaiman. Jeddah Historical District Company (JHDC), currently under formation as a subsidiary of CCDC, has a stand at the event displaying pictures of Jeddah in the past, present and future. The JCDP is a mega undertaking to rehabilitate and regenerate an area covering about six million square meters over a time span of 20 years. At the Arab Investment Summit held in Abu Dhabi recently, CCDC was awarded first place in the Best Reconstruction Project category for the Jeddah Central District Project. "We look forward to working with the Jeddah Municipality on preserving the historic heart of the city with its unique architectural heritage as the centerpiece of a revitalized and thriving residential and commercial district," said Magdi Al-Mansouri, CEO of JHDC, which will be responsible for the historic district rehabilitation project.
I.ZONE
I.ZONE opened its retail store at Panorama Mall in Riyadh recently. Located in the heart of the city's shopping district, the new store features a modern design, full Apple product range and the best accessories available in the market. It has a service center and will be launching training courses. "We are thrilled to bring our unique Apple retail experience to Riyadh," said Mishaal Alireza, MD, I.ZONE. "This breathtaking new store will be the ultimate place for the people of Riyadh to shop, learn and be inspired on all things MAC and its related third party accessories." It has Macs and iPods to experience hands-on, as well as an incredible range of third party products. The store's staff is ready to share their expertise and offer customers personalized instruction on everything from getting started with a Mac to switching offices over to MAC systems, creating a podcast or making a photo album. Every I.ZONE retail store offers customers ways to get the most out of their Mac and iPod, such as free advice, popular in-store workshops and special programs for kids, which will be implemented later this year. The hands-on store experience gives customers a chance to test-drive Apple's entire product line including the all-new iPAD, as well as the new Macbook Pro Line. The store also brings all the latest software necessary to fully utilize Apple products. I.ZONE now operates six retail stores across Saudi Arabia including Jeddah, and Dhahran. It is planning to open its first store at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology.
CPC
After a particularly challenging 2009, the regional construction industry is poised for renewed and sustained growth that will essentially be based on servicing the real needs of a progressive Middle East rather than speculation, industry leaders said at the opening session of the 3rd Arabian World Construction Summit in Abu Dhabi this week. The opening session of the three-day summit featured two panel discussions that saw high-ranking government and public sector officials, regional CEOs, as well as top executives from the private sector discussing the trajectory the regional construction industry was taking in the aftermath of the global economic crisis. Fatima Al-Jaber said: "The impact of the real-estate downturn was felt most by Dubai, but far less by Abu Dhabi and other countries in the region. 2010 is seeing the markets return to cautious optimism." Faysal Alaquil, director of business development and administration affairs of CPC, said: "Saudi Arabia is representative of the forward momentum and the opportunities that exist in the region. It is not only the largest GCC countries by population, but close to 50 percent of the Saudis are below the age of 30. The national government is committed to meeting the needs of the people and considerable investment is being made in projects sectors such as in the energy, utilities, transport (airports & railways projects), health care (hospitals and medical clinics) and education (schools & universities) over the next five to ten years."
TADWEER
Tadweer, a waste management and recycling company in the Middle East, has announced its efforts toward initiating the first-ever college level environmental studies program in the region. The Dubai-based company has been in talks with the dean of the University Of California Davis (UCD). They have negotiated to jointly establish the college in Dubai, which is slated to include a supporting dedicated training center that will form the nucleus of the academic complex of the university. Tadweer Chairman Faris Saeed made the announcement on the eve of his participation as the head of a delegation at Expo Waste 2010. The four-day expo was held in Atlanta, where over 400 waste management firms took part. The college will play significant scientific and educational roles on the regional and Arab levels. The infrastructure and physical location have been selected, and the officials at Tadweer are currently busy with completing the necessary formalities and paperwork. Tadweer has been keen on expanding its activities right since inception. The company takes its commitment toward CSR very seriously. They have endeavored to participate in the collective efforts to realize the vision of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, VP & PM of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. This vision is one of the pillars of Dubai strategic plan, and is in line with one of the requirements of the UAE Vision 2012. According to the University officials, the Tadweer model is unique in its advanced technologies and has the fortune of highly qualified experts.
KFUPM/SIEMENS
Siemens Saudi Arabia participated in the recent 27th King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) Career Day, attracting hundreds of Saudi students willing to enroll in the different fields of work that the company offers. Students visited the Siemens booth to learn about the company's portfolio of products and solutions and also interacted with HR personnel to learn more about future opportunities. The participation was a result of keeping in line with the policy of the company to support infrastructure development in the Kingdom. Thabet bin Abdul Mohsen Samman, VP, Human Resources, Siemens Saudi Arabia, said: "We are keen believers in recruiting Saudi fresh graduates and helping them to join our competent team of engineers and technicians whereby they are trained and will be presented opportunities to grow. They will also be offered specialized trainings which are in line with their career development plans." The willing students got a fair chance of exploring and polishing their talents through trainings that Siemens initiated for the graduates selected based on merit and performance. As a world leader in industry, energy and health care, Siemens has grown to hold leading positions in these sectors in the Kingdom with more than 1,800 employees countrywide and is always looking for the best talents. Siemens activities in Saudi Arabia date back to the early 1930s when the country imported its first power plant equipment.
BUID
The British University in Dubai (BUiD), the Middle East's major research-based postgraduate university, will embark on a countrywide road show at the end of May to encourage students and professionals to further their careers by taking part in the university's postgraduate programs. The road show will take place between May 31 and June 2 and will cover Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. Potential students can meet with BUiD's academic staff at the events to find out more about the programs on offer, and further details on entry requirements. "BUiD, together with our partners, is determined to help build leaders within the workplace. We have seen great success from our past students who have taken leadership roles and enhanced their careers across a wide range of industries, and we look forward to a strong student intake this September," said BuiD Vice Chancellor Professor Abdullah Alshamsi. All BUiD programs are accredited by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. Master programs on offer at BUiD include project management, finance and banking, IT, education, sustainable design of the built environment, HR management and system engineering. Last year, BUiD launched the UAE's first Masters program in construction law and dispute resolution. BUiD works in partnership with major UK universities, which include King's College London, the University of Edinburgh, the University of Manchester, the University of Birmingham, Cardiff University and the Cass Business School of City University, London.
LSE
The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) has launched the Middle East Center (MEC), a multidisciplinary research center, focusing on modern Middle Eastern cultures, societies, economies, and international relations. The new center, which has received 9.2 million pounds in initial support from the UAE's Emirates Foundation for Philanthropy and The Aman Trust, will collaborate with Middle Eastern universities, scholars, civil society, policy makers, and speak to a global audience about the region's strengths and challenges. Under the leadership of its inaugural director Professor Fawaz A. Gerges and other prominent LSE scholars, the MEC will engage intellectuals and experienced practitioners to analyze and report on the region's economics, politics, and culture. The MEC will help train a new generation of specialists drawn from within the region and the rest of the world. Throughout their careers, they will provide informed and balanced analysis of the nations of the Middle East, and the region's place in the international community. Abdulrahman Al-Owais, MD, the Emirates Foundation, said: "Our Foundation supports knowledge creation through research and high level training for young professionals, which are key objectives of the new Middle East Center.” Arif Naqvi, whose family endowed The Aman Trust, said: “As an LSE alumnus, I am delighted that the LSE has made an institutional commitment to the Middle East. Howard Davies, LSE Director, said: "With founding support in place from the Emirates Foundation and The Aman Trust, we will be inviting other stakeholders who share our values of impartiality and academic freedom to examine the LSE's existing strength in Middle East studies."
