Author: Editorial Team

Suhail Hasanain, Senior Director and General Manager, MEA, NetApp. The company will demonstrate unified storage and built-in data protection capabilities designed to help Saudi organisations securely scale AI across hybrid multicloud environments. NetApp has announced its participation at LEAP 2026, taking place from 31 August to 3 September at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Center in Malham, Saudi Arabia. The intelligent data infrastructure company will showcase how the NetApp Platform enables organisations to make their data AI-ready and secure while supporting demanding workloads across hybrid multicloud environments. Saudi Arabia’s designation of 2026 as the Year of Artificial Intelligence comes as organisations…

 The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) announced an update to the route of MSC’s JADE shipping service, which will now transit the Bab Al-Mandab Strait and the Suez Canal, passing through King Abdullah Port in Rabigh. The update will help reduce cargo transit times and enhance trade efficiency and the reliability of supply chains to and from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The JADE shipping service connects King Abdullah Port with several regional and international ports. These include Fos-sur-Mer in France; Barcelona and Valencia in Spain; Gioia Tauro in Italy; Singapore; Nansha, Yantian, Xiamen, Ningbo, Shanghai, and Qingdao in China; and Busan…

RIYADH — Bader AlReziza has been elected president of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) for the 2026–2030 term. The Extraordinary General Assembly of SAFF held in Riyadh on Sunday elected him as president by acclamation. AlReziza succeeds Yasser Al-Misehal, who served as SAFF president from 2019 to 2026. AlReziza previously served as the chairman of Al-Qadsiah Club. The general assembly announced the endorsement of Al-Reziza’s list for the presidency of the federation’s Board of Directors for the next four years. The decision followed the cancellation of the vote and the adoption of the list by acclamation, after the sole…

The first day of the opening round of the 2026 Saudi Toyota Championship Time Attack concluded this evening at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. The championship is held under the supervision of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation (SAMF), the championship owner, and is managed by Bakhashab Motorsport in partnership with Jameel Motorsport, the championship’s official partner.  The round’s program began on Thursday with administrative checks and technical inspections of the participating cars to ensure compliance with approved technical requirements and safety standards, along with a drivers’ photo session. A total of 107 male and female competitors registered for the opening…

Salam will showcase connectivity, cloud and AI-enabled infrastructure designed to support digital transformation across industry, healthcare, mobility, security and enterprise operations in Saudi Arabia Etihad Salam Telecom Company (Salam) has announced its strategic sponsorship of LEAP 2026, taking place from 31 August to 3 September at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Center in Malham, Saudi Arabia. Salam will present a portfolio of connectivity, cloud and AI-enabled infrastructure solutions under its “Powering What’s Next” theme. The company’s participation will highlight its expanding role in supporting government, enterprise and community ambitions through a unified national network. Aligned with LEAP 2026’s “Into New Worlds”…

RIYADH — The Kingdom’s e-sales index rose 9.8 percent in Q2 2026 compared with the same quarter of 2025, led by a 13.4 percent increase in retail trade, according to the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT). According to GASTAT’s Wholesale and Retail Trade Statistics Bulletin for the second quarter of 2026, the operating revenue index also increased by 3.2 percent year-on-year, while the employee compensation index rose by 9 percent, driven by a 10.8 percent increase in employee compensation in retail trade. Compared with the second quarter of 2025, the operating revenue index increased by 5.2 percent in retail trade,…

RIYADH — The Saudi Space Agency has launched an informational guide highlighting key astronomical events and phenomena expected to be visible in the skies over Saudi Arabia from 2026 to 2030. The guide is part of the agency’s efforts to raise awareness of space and astronomy. It provides accessible scientific content to help the public and enthusiasts learn about celestial phenomena, their timings, and scientific characteristics. The guide features 62 astronomical events over five years, including solar and lunar eclipses, meteor showers, planetary conjunctions and oppositions, as well as equinoxes and solstices. It provides simplified information and definitions for each…

The Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO), the world’s first standalone international organization dedicated to accelerating the inclusive and sustainable growth of the digital economy, today announced that the DCO Council has approved the candidature of eight new countries to join the organization as member states, which would potentially expand DCO membership from 16 to 24 countries, representing approximately 980 million people.  The DCO confirmed that the Republic of Albania, the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Republic of Kenya, the Lebanese Republic, the State of Palestine, the Syrian Arab Republic, and the Republic of Zambia will join the organization…

From global technology leaders and investors to live robotics, gaming, sport and future mobility, LEAP 2026 opens its landmark fifth edition with four days of major announcements, technology and new experiences across Riyadh LEAP 2026 opens its doors in Riyadh tomorrow, marking the landmark fifth edition of an event that has grown into one of the world’s largest gatherings of the global technology community. Since launching in 2022, LEAP has grown rapidly in scale and international reach, drawing technology companies, investors, startups, speakers and innovators from around the world. LEAP 5 will welcome global technology leaders, investors, founders and innovators for…

MAKKAH — Coastal patrols of the Border Guard in Qunfudhah governorate in the Makkah region arrested four persons for fishing without a permit and using prohibited equipment. The Myanmar and Bangladeshi nationals were found violating the safety and security regulations governing maritime activities in the territorial waters of Saudi Arabia. Legal procedures were initiated against them in coordination with the relevant authorities. The Border Guard urged the public to comply with the regulations and instructions concerning the protection of living aquatic resources and to report any violations against the environment or wildlife by calling 911 in the regions of Makkah,…