Category Archives: Technology

His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Prime Minister and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), announced today the launch of “Alat”: a PIF company, to create a national champion that will contribute to the aim of making Saudi Arabia a global hub for sustainable technology manufacturing that focuses on advanced technologies and electronics. Alat will focus on manufacturing products that serve local and international markets within seven key strategic business units: advanced industries and semiconductors, as well as smart appliances, smart health, smart devices and smart buildings, in addition to next generation infrastructure. The company, chaired by HRH Crown Prince, aims to enhance the capabilities of the Saudi technology sector, increase its contribution to local content – benefiting from the rapid development of this sector – increasing the nation’s attractiveness and its ability to create investment opportunities. Alat will also enable the private sector through its strategic partnerships with leading international players in manufacturing and technology, which will enhance the economic ecosystem locally and regionally. The company will build partnerships to enable the transformation of the industrial sector globally, by providing sustainable industrial solutions based on clean energy sources. These partnerships will help meet commercial demand, keep pace with the needs of the next generation of manufacturing, enhance the strength of local supply chains and contribute to making Saudi Arabia a global center for advanced technological manufacturing. Alat will manufacture more than 30 product categories that will serve vital sectors. These include robotic systems, communication systems, advanced computers and digital entertainment products, as well as advanced heavy machinery used in construction, building and mining. The company aims …

World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and Microsoft’s new report highlight the transformative power of AI (Artificial Intelligence) for Travel & Tourism, marking a commitment to a digital future with unparalleled customer experiences. The first in a series of AI reports, announced during the global tourism body’s event at FITUR and in collaboration with WTTC’s Industry Partner, Microsoft, is poised to redefine Travel & Tourism standards and call on the sector for greater integration of such technologies. As the global leader in Travel & Tourism, WTTC is committed to driving innovation and supporting the sector to embrace AI and other cutting-edge technologies. To promote sustainability and excellent customer experiences, WTTC acknowledges the crucial importance of AI in revolutionising the sector. Throughout the traveller’s journey, WTTC believes AI can play a pivotal role in delivering a tailored and enhanced experience now and in the future. This technology can empower personalised recommendations and marketing strategies by analysing traveller data, optimising pricing strategies through real-time adjustments, and offering instant responses and fine-tuned interactions via sophisticated AI powered chatbots. The report also highlights AI’s capabilities extend to predicting future demand patterns, efficiently allocating resources, and providing valuable insights for governments and Travel & Tourism stakeholders. This contribution can be pivotal in promoting sustainability with efficient resource management by monitoring and minimising environmental impacts, ensuring a more responsible and sustainable sector. Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: “As we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of Travel & Tourism, AI emerges as a catalyst for positive change. The transformative capabilities highlighted in this report demonstrate that AI is not just a technological advancement, it is a strategic tool that can personalise the customer experience, drive sustainable improvements, and create …

Wego launched WegoPro, a modern platform that simplifies business travel and expense management for companies globally. Formerly known as Travelstop, WegoPro will debut today in 7 key markets in the MENA region, including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, and Egypt. The rebranding follows Wego’s acquisition of Travelstop in September 2023, reinforcing Wego’s commitment to offer comprehensive travel solutions to businesses in the region. Market research firms predict that the global business travel market will be valued at over US$1.8 trillion by 2027 and will return to the pre-pandemic levels of US$1.4 trillion this year. A significant part of that growth is expected to come from markets in Asia and the MENA region. That growth, coupled with the increasing demand for more modern and innovative business travel solutions, represents a substantial opportunity for WegoPro in the region. “The Middle East is a very young population and most people in the workforce today have grown up with powerful travel apps and websites, like Wego, that have let them book their own personal travel,” said Ross Veitch, Wego CEO & Co-Founder. “In stark contrast in their professional lives they are often forced to book their business trips through cumbersome offline booking processes having to email back and forth with a corporate travel management company and then to go through a tedious approval process. After the trip expense reports then need to be filed in a process normally involving Excel, receipts and sticky tape. With the launch of WegoPro today we are leveraging technology and our deep experience in the B2C space to bring business travel & expense management into the 21st century.” WegoPro offers a diverse and extensive range of flight and …

Travelport and Iberia announced the launch of Iberia’s NDC content and servicing capabilities on the Travelport+ platform. Agents using Travelport+ will be able to view and compare NDC fares and ancillaries from Iberia all in one place, making it easier to identify and book the best options for their travelers.  “The addition of Travelport to our NDC program is a milestone in the travel industry’s transformation. With this alliance, we provide a wider range of options for travel agencies using Travelport+ and at the same time, customers will benefit from a greater number of options and an improved experience. Travelport is a trusted technology provider for the travel industry as it evolves into the next generation of travel retailing. It is important for Iberia to partner with technology providers that have proven expertise and can meet our demands for customer-centric innovation,” explained Celia Muñoz Espín, Commercial Strategy and Distribution Director at Iberia. Travelport is also providing its agency customers the capabilities needed to service travelers directly, enabling agents to modify, exchange or cancel Iberia NDC bookings when needed. Travelport’s agency customers in Portugal, the first country where this content is available, can access the complete Iberia NDC solution in Travelport+, with all other markets expected to gain access in the coming weeks. “Available from today, we’re delivering Iberia NDC content and servicing through Travelport+ so that our agency users can shop and manage their clients’ flights seamlessly with access to all of Iberia’s dynamic product offerings and ancillaries in one place,” said Jason Clarke, Chief Commercial Officer, Travel Partners at Travelport. “We’re accelerating the delivery of complete NDC solutions for our air partners, like Iberia, so that the source of content is …

The Public Investment Fund (PIF) unveiled a multi-year partnership, Electric 360, with Formula E, Extreme E and E1 to support the growth of electric motorsports and their role in advancing the future of electric mobility. The new partnership will draw together initiatives that underscore the power of electric motor sports to drive technological innovation, and revolutionize sustainable transport and future mobility – while leading the way in carbon reduction. PIF also announced the launch of its new brand revamp, which captures PIF’s heritage and essence and embodies its commitment to progress and growth in driving transformation at a historical scale. The new identity will be used at all PIF partnership events, including E360 events, throughout 2024 and beyond. PIF is ranked by Global SWF as one of the top sovereign wealth funds in the world and number 1 in the Middle East for Sustainability among the top 100 sovereign wealth funds globally. The E360 collaboration is in line with PIF’s broader sponsorship platform, bringing to life the brand’s ambition with a focus on four pillars: inclusivity, sustainability, youth, and technology. The partnership announced today will also promote educational opportunities tied to the cutting-edge engineering of electric motor sports, as well as community, social programs and environmental stewardship. With PIF as the sole principal partner to span all three series, this initiative will directly facilitate and accelerate the delivery of: • PIF Electric 360 thought leadership events, bringing together leading industry experts with the brightest minds to drive sustainable mobility change; • STEM initiatives globally to coincide with each championship series; and • Community apprenticeship programs with industry partners in each championship. The partnership will support the mission-driven objectives of all …

IBS Software has reached an agreement to acquire the ground-breaking hotel and travel technology provider Above Property Services (APS). The $90 million transaction will further solidify IBS Software’s position in the hospitality market and strengthen the brand, to underpin an ambitious expansion of its reach in the hospitality industry. The strategic acquisition will enable IBS Software to provide the only unified platform in the hospitality industry for seamlessly managing the entire customer journey from booking to fulfillment for the global hotel chain, resort, and gaming markets. The move will significantly expand the company’s offering with the addition of cutting-edge CRS (Central Reservation System), PMS (Property Management System) and RMS (Revenue Management System) solutions. With this acquisition IBS Software adds Call Center and Demand-side (stored and third-party inventory) solutions to its already established booking engine and distribution platform used by over 36,000 hotels worldwide, including many of the world’s largest and best-known hotels and resorts. APS was founded in 2012 by Aaron Shepherd, an industry pioneer who developed a number of the world’s leading hospitality PMS and CRS solutions. The company was established to completely reinvent hotel software from the ground up, offering a revolutionary cutting-edge unified platform optimized for the hotel enterprise sector. A typical hotel organization requires multiple core software platforms to capture bookings and provide services, requiring multiple vendors and integrations. Each system needs unique logins, user interfaces, training requirements, upgrade paths, pricing and contract terms, breeding inefficiency – especially considering 80% of the data in each application is redundant and has to be replicated or synchronized. Over the last decade, APS’s platform has created a new standard for speed, flexibility and stability for travel and hospitality CRS, PMS …

Saudi Arabian Airlines intends to buy around 100 aircraft to operate flying taxis between King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and hotels in Makkah. The Saudi national carrier is making preparations to use air taxis as a new mode of transportation during the Hajj season, according to Abdullah Al-Shahrani, director of corporate communications and spokesman of the Saudia Group. He said that the Saudia Group has contracted the purchase of 100 Lilium jets, German electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, to shuttle between the Jeddah airport and airstrips in Makkah hotels near the Grand Mosque and other holy places. “The electric plane Lilium is one of the first aircraft that operates entirely on electric power. The news is according to the Saudi Gazette. “After completing the necessary arrangements, these planes will fly with the guests of God during Hajj and Umrah seasons from King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah to the airstrips in hotels near the Grand Mosque in Makkah,” he told Al-Arabiya. Al-Shahrani noted that flying taxi can transport four to six passengers. “The Lilium aircraft is characterized by a low rate of carbon emissions and is an environmentally friendly aircraft, which makes it one of the possibilities for sustaining air travel and shortening the time of flights, as it covers a maximum distance of 250 km. “Through purchasing nearly 100 aircraft, Saudi Airlines intends to launch an advanced service to connect a number of travel destinations via this advanced electric aircraft, and will support it with air routes between the main airports from where Saudia operates,” he said while pointing out that this is a special service for its guests. He said that the aircraft also features …

Red Sea Global (RSG) with Zain KSA and the French Serge Ferrari Group, has announced a new technical breakthrough to deliver a groundbreaking digital experience at Ummahat Island. Through this strategic partnership, which aims to maximize joint sustainability efforts, RSG and Zain KSA have designed and installed innovative telecom towers to provide visitors with an unprecedented communication experience that combines speed and efficiency of service. At the same time, the towers are fully blended with the aesthetic elements of the island, ensuring that guests enjoy an exceptional experience on the white beaches of Ummahat, with its charming turquoise waters and stunning landscapes. Completion of the towers coincides with the opening of The St. Regis Red Sea Resort, with Nujuma, A Ritz Carlton Reserve, also located on the island, preparing to welcome its first guests imminently. “Today, we are developing a future of stunning destinations with putting people and planet at the center. As we aspire to be leaders in sustainable development and environmental responsibility around the world, we are well aware that achieving this ambitious goal requires being surrounded by partners who share a common development vision, a common ethical and social commitment, as well as a desire for innovation and uniqueness. Our strategic partnership with Zain KSA, a leading provider of telecommunications and digital services, is once again yielding an unprecedented technological milestone. We are confident that we have a partner capable of turning all our digital ambitions into reality, through its extensive experience in innovation in the telecommunications and digital services sector,” said Group Head of Technology at Red Sea Global, Dr. Ahmed Al Suhaili. The project had four main objectives: provide an ideal 5G service; enhance the island’s …

Jazeera Airways announced the signing of a new facilities management contract with Kuwait-based Intelligent Management Solutions (IMS). Under the terms of the contract, IMS will utilize its Computerized Aided Facilities Management System (CAFM IMS) to digitize operations systems and maintenance at Jazeera Terminal 5 (T5) and other facilities. This contract is a part Jazeera Airways’ commitment to support local businesses. Speaking about the contract, Naser Al Obaid, Chief Executive Officer, Jazeera Terminal 5, highlighted: “We are pleased to partner with Intelligent Management Solutions and benefit from their comprehensive digital operations and maintenance system to manage our facilities. It is also a matter of pride to be working with a Kuwaiti startup that has seen many successes in providing its services to local and regional companies.” Jazeera Terminal 5 (T5), fully owned and operated by Jazeera Airways aims to make the passenger journey faster and smoother. The recently upgraded terminal includes 24 check-in desks, five boarding gates, transit areas, food, and beverage options, Duty Free and retail outlets as well as service provider desks for the convenience of all passengers. A 350-vehicle parking building across the road is connected to the Terminal by a walking bridge making it easier to cross over or transfer luggage, especially during the summer months. With just one security check to be cleared for departures, passengers can relax till it’s time to board their flight. IMS is a startup company founded by Kuwaiti entrepreneur Faleh Alajmi. The company developed its proprietary Computerized Aided Facilities Management System (CAFM IMS) to enable companies to efficiently manage facilities, reduce maintenance costs and preserve asset values. The system, alongside the company’s services and solutions, has benefited government-owned and private companies …

Amadeus has joined the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (the Alliance) to bring its travel expertise to the table in the quest to support a more prosperous and responsible hospitality sector. As a leading, global player at the heart of the travel and tourism sector, Amadeus sees great potential to work alongside and connect with hospitality industry stakeholders and, together, contribute on the journey to the Alliance’s goal of Net Positive Hospitality – ensuring the industry gives back to destinations more than it takes. The Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, with donor members including 27 world-leading hotel companies with a combined reach of over 50,000 properties, brings together engaged hospitality companies and the wider hospitality value chain, such as owners, investors, and suppliers to address key challenges affecting people and places around the world related to hospitality. Through strategic initiatives and global networks, the organization develops practical programs to create a prosperous and responsible hospitality sector that contributes to a positive net impact on destinations. As part of its membership, Amadeus will hold a permanent position on the Senior Advisory Council that was established to provide strategic advice, create a network of influential leaders and drive change towards Net Positive Hospitality. Key areas of focus for Amadeus include education, accessibility and helping travelers and guests make informed decisions. Glenn Mandziuk, CEO, Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, says: “Having Amadeus’ broad, global travel expertise in the discussion with the Alliance is a game changer. Onboarding Amadeus to our Senior Advisory Council is an important step in tackling the challenges the hospitality industry faces. Having Amadeus as a member will help drive our collaborative approach on the journey to Net Positive Hospitality. The Alliance is built for the …