“Technology and innovation have enormous potential to transform economies and societies. We live in a time where you either leap or be left behind. We are proud to host LEAP to help the region lead and leapfrog with technology and innovation. LEAP is a worldwide gathering of futurists, pioneers, investors, business leaders, policymakers, and tech enthusiasts from a wide range of fields who discuss the breakthrough work and the biggest socio-cultural challenges of the world – with technology at the centre of these developments.”
H.E. Abdullah Alswaha, Saudi Minister of Communications and Information Technology. The consultancies shaping the agenda of tech event LEAP [Consultancy ME]
“The ever-growing maturation of Saudi Arabia’s non-oil sectors, coupled with rising demand for the human capital necessary to complete developments of unprecedented scope on time and within budget, resulted in a major boost for recruitment in 2022.”
Trefor Murphy, founder and chief executive of Cooper Fitch, said in the company’s 2023 Saudi Arabia Salary Guide. Saudi Arabia’s NEOM, mega projects driving recruitment, pay hikes: Report [Al-Arabiya]
“It really opens up new markets for hydrogen through the ammonia low-carbon vector, which we are betting on as a favorable way of transporting hydrogen. It’s going to be a growing market in a carbon-constrained world. Such products are going to be more valuable, and the market for that and demand is going to rise, so we see this as very positive from our shareholders perspective.”
Ahmad Al-Khowaiter, chief technology officer, Saudi Aramco. Saudi Aramco backs Brooklyn-based startup turning ammonia into fuel [CNBC]
“If you are coming to the Middle East, you need to have the best Middle Eastern food. I don’t want to see another sushi brand, wok place or steakhouse making it to the list.”
–Ali Ghzawi, celebrity chef and winner of Top Chef Middle East 2109, Mena list of World’s 50 Best should have more Middle Eastern cuisine, celebrity chef says [The National]
“This will be the first time the tournament will be staged in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and we look forward to working closely with the SAFF and the Saudi Arabian government to deliver a memorable AFC Asian Cup for our fans and players in 2027. It is an honour to have been chosen as hosts for the AFC Asian Cup 2027 and this is a historic and exciting moment for football in Saudi Arabia.”
Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, Minister of Sport and Chairman of the Saudi Olympic & Paralympic Committee, Saudi Arabia confirmed to host 2027 Asian Cup [The National]
“The global economy is poised to slow this year, before rebounding next year. Growth will remain weak by historical standards, as the fight against inflation and Russia’s war in Ukraine weigh on activity. Despite these headwinds, the outlook is less gloomy than in our October forecast, and could represent a turning point, with growth bottoming out and inflation declining.”
Global Economy to Slow Further Amid Signs of Resilience and China Re-opening [International Monetary Fund]
“Saudi Arabia has remained the largest construction market in the Middle East region, with a share of $31 billion out of a total $87 billion worth of awarded projects during the first 10 months of 2022.”
-Rani Majzoub, head of real estate advisory at KPMG Professional Services, as quoted n Arab News. Deals worth more than SR10 billion ($2.66 billion) were signed on the opening day of the Real Estate Future Forum, which was held in Riyadh from Jan. 23-25. [Arab News]
“According to STR, Saudi has 40,742 hotel rooms under construction as of December 2022. The UAE meamwhile has 27,456 rooms under construction. Across the entire global, the MEA region is the only one to see hotel construction increase YOY in the month.”
Saudi Arabia building more hotel rooms than UAE [Hotelier]
“Just talking about public infrastructure…if you get public infrastructure right, it’s all about social impact. It’s all about bettering communities, bettering lives, and livelihoods. Growing local talent and now women who are making a tremendous impact is good for Saudis, its good for Saudi Arabia, and it’s also good for us. It’s very much part of our DNA.”
–Jacob Mumm, Managing Director, Bechtel Saudi Arabia, in an exclusive interview with The 966 Podcast. Mumm said that Bechtel has increased its women in the workforce to 13%, up from just 1% two years ago. [The 966 Podcast]
Israel’s new hardline government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, “presents a clear right-wing agenda that is perceived by large sections of the public as being extreme and as threatening Israel’s ethos as a Jewish and democratic state.”
Institute for National Security Studies report. Legal overhaul could jeopardize Israel’s security and ties with US, think tank warns [Times of Israel]
