Interview: Ahmed Al Alola, CEO, THIQAH, on strengthening data foundations for future-ready scaleable innovation What is shaping the transformation from e-government platforms to data-driven ecosystems? AHMED AL ALOLA: A large number of government services are now automated. The next phase is less about adding more automation and more about elevating the user experience. Citizens and businesses increasingly…
Interview: Tareq Amin, CEO, HUMAIN, on creating innovation sovereignty through architecture and intellectual property ownership What role can hyperscale data centres play in anchoring artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities and advancing the digital economy? TAREQ AMIN: Globally, the biggest constraint to AI infrastructure is energy – advanced models require enormous power, cooling, land and…
Interview: Ahmed Al Suwaiyan, Governor, Digital Government Authority, on strategies to boost accessibility to services and how local companies strengthen the digital ecosystem In what ways are shared government digital services contributing to interoperability and cost efficiency? AHMED AL SUWAIYAN: Shared digital services are fundamental to achieving interoperability and optimising costs. A unified…
Interview: Shabab bin Saad Al Ghamdi, Secretary General, Council of Health Insurance, on system modernisation and strategic reform How is the rollout of the new national insurance programme expected to reshape demand patterns across the Kingdom? SHABAB BIN SAAD AL GHAMDI: It creates a clearer separation between public financing and private insurance. A central public purchaser will fund care for…
Interview: Majed Bingirnas Almutairi, CEO, Almasar Education, on accreditation and the emerging market for special needs systems How is demand for special-needs education and care evolving, and what are the most significant gaps in accessibility and qualified talent? MAJED BINGIRNAS ALMUTAIRI: Demand for special-needs education and care in Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC has surged as inclusive education…
Interview: Tony Cripps, CEO and Managing Director, SAB, on capital discipline, housing demand and transition opportunities How is the current interest-rate environment influencing lending activity and business confidence? TONY CRIPPS: A more normalised interest-rate environment is acting as an added catalyst in an already robust economy, helping to lower funding costs and ease competitive pressures…
Interview: Abdulaziz Musaed AlSulaim, Group CEO, Cultural Assets Group, on the importance of local cooperation towards boosting growth In what ways can the tourism and culture ecosystem evolve to expand the sector’s GDP contribution? ABDULAZIZ MUSAED ALSULAIM: To reach a sustainable 10% contribution to GDP, tourism growth needs to be more deeply anchored in cultural and creative content rather…
Interview: Marco Arcelli, CEO, ACWA, on the long-term potential for fuels to become traded commodities In the global energy transition, to what extent do you see a balance taking place between renewables, conventional power and green hydrogen? MARCO ARCELLI: These systems are not mainly about replacing existing capacity; they are responding to rapid demand growth. In that context, the priority is…
Saudi Arabia’s aviation industry is a cornerstone of Vision 2030, contributing to economic diversification and propelling the tourism, infrastructure and logistics sectors as it positions itself as a leading global air transport hub. The Kingdom aims to nearly triple annual passenger traffic to 330m by 2030, expand connectivity to over 250 international destinations from its 29 airports and increase…
Global tourism activity has continued its recovery momentum after the Covid-19 pandemic, supported by sustained investment in tourism infrastructure and expanding air connectivity. This trend is expected to continue over the medium term, underpinned by rising disposable incomes in key source markets and targeted government strategies to position tourism as a driver of economic diversification. Revenue…
