Year In Review

What A Year

Saudi Arabia is seeking nothing short of a revolution in how it obtains revenues, with plans to ditch hydrocarbons in favor of a diversified economy and a vibrant private sector.

Review

Arabian Might

Saudi Arabia's actions in the Arabian Peninsula reflect its desire to maintain political control over the region at any cost, but its new international relationships are mapping a new path toward a diversified economy.

Column

Prokopios Pavlopoulus, President, Greece

TBY talks to Prokopios Pavlopoulus, President, Greece, on the subject.

Guest Speaker

Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo, Secretary General, OPEC

TBY talks to Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo, Secretary General of OPEC, on the effects of price fluctuations, Saudi's support for OPEC, and the country's strategies for oil development.

Focus: All Eyes on Riyadh

Make Friends, Not Enemies

The Riyadh summit clearly demonstrated that the Middle East would be the US administration's core foreign policy objective and that Saudi would be its most valuable partner.

Guest Speaker

Rasim Ljaji, Deputy Prime Minister, Republic of Serbia

TBY talks to Rasim Ljaji , Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia, on potential areas of cooperation, trade ties, and the country's foreign policy.

Guest Speaker

Ernest Moniz, former US Secretary, Energy

TBY talks to Ernest Moniz, former US Secretary of Energy, on the country's green energy transformations, its geographical benefits, and achieving sustainability.

Guest Speaker

Dato’ Seri Haji Idris bin Jusoh, Minister, Higher Education of Malaysia

TBY talks to Dato' Seri Haji Idris bin Jusoh, Minister of Higher Education of Malaysia, on cooperation with Saudi Arabia and the potential for collaboration on education.

Focus: Asia Tour

Looking East

The recent visit of the Saudi monarch to five East Asian states—Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, China, and Japan—was like no other.

Column

YB Pehin Dato Lim Jock Seng, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office & Second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Brunei

TBY talks to YB Pehin Dato Lim Jock Seng, Minister at the Prime Minister's Office & Second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Brunei, on the sector.

Review

Divide & Conquer

Saudi Arabia is in the midst of an enormously ambitious plan to reshape its economy by diversifying away from oil and increasing the role of private industry.

Column

Zahid Khawaja, CEO, Abdulla Fouad Group

TBY talks to Zahid Khawaja, CEO, Abdulla Fouad Group, on the sector.

Interview

Khalid Al Falih, Minister, Energy, Industry, and Mineral Resources

Khalid Al Falih, the Minister of Energy, Industry, and Mineral Resources, on the Kingdom's comprehensive plan to reduce greenhouse emissions and promote the renewables sector.

Interview

Majid bin Abdullah Al Qasabi , Ministry, Commerce and Investment

TBY talks to the Ministry of Commerce and Investment, on strengthening the economy, boosting the SME sector, and Vision 2030.

B2B

Doing Business

Saudi Arabia's economy offers significant opportunities for foreign investors.

Focus: National Transformation Program 2020

Next Stop: 2020

Though all sights are set on Vision 2030, achieving the more concrete targets of the Kingdom's National Transformation Program 2020 will be a litmus test for the long-term Vision's success.

Column

Fahad Bin Sulaiman Al Tekhaifi, President, General Authority of Statistics

TBY talks to Fahad Bin Sulaiman Al Tekhaifi, President, General Authority of Statistics, on the sector.

Forum

Holding Companies

Saudi business is set to see positive changes and creative innovation in the coming year of reforms.

Focus: Women’s Employment under Vision 2030

Working Women

One of the key ambitions of the government's Vision 2030 includes encouraging female participation in the labor market, and progress—though a long road—is already underway.

Column

Khalid Alkhudair, CEO & Founder, Glowork

TBY talks to Khalid Alkhudair, CEO & Founder, Glowork, on the sector.

Forum

SMEs

Small and medium enterprises are the engine of the Saudi economy, and with the government's push toward promoting industry and local manufacturers, the outlook is bright.

Interview

Fozan Al Harthy, CEO, Raydan

TBY talks to Fozan Al Harthy, CEO of Raydan, on expansion plans, deciding to list, and expectations for the future.

Forum

Why Saudi Arabia?

With the region booming for the last several years and Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 setting clear goals, opportunities for international companies are vast.

Review

Here Comes the Sun

Saudi Arabia is fast becoming a leader in green energy thanks to an ambitious government plan that seeks to take advantage of the Kingdom's natural resources and relationships with private energy firms.

Interview

Saleh H. Alawaji, Acting Deputy Minister, Electricity

TBY talks to Saleh H. Alawaji, Acting Deputy Minister for Electricity & Chairman of Saudi Electricity Company, on privatization plans and key objectives for the sector.

Interview

Ali Al-Hazmi, Governor , Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC)

TBY talks to Ali Al-Hazmi, Governor of the Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC), on the introduction of new technology, privatization plans, and Vision 2030.

B2B

Water

The country's rapid expansion, both demographic and industrial, means the importance of water will continue to be as if not more important that oil for the kingdom in the years ahead.

Focus: Water

Splashing the Cash

The government is working with the private sector to ensure the population is well hydrated through Vision 2030.

Interview

Nizar Kammourie, General Manager , SAWACO

TBY talks to Nizar Kammourie, General Manager of SAWACO, on government reforms, renewable energy, and a new mode of doing business in the country.

B2B

Water Privatization

Water firms in the Kingdom have no choice but become some of the world's most competitive and innovative. Privatization in the sector could also bring big gains.

Focus: Renewables

Green Is the New Black

Saudi Arabia is preparing to invest heavily in its green energy sector with the intention not only of cushioning itself against the fall in oil prices, but becoming an outright global leader.

Vox Populi

Power

With demand for power set to grow in the future, power companies foresee many exciting projects coming online.

B2B

Waste

Saudi Arabia has turned to innovative solutions to deal with the disposal of waste, from recycling to generating energy.

Review: Banking

Word Is Bond

Decisive action by Saudi Arabia's central bank helped place the banking sector on a stable footing heading into 2017, and industry leaders are confident the sector will emerge from the current down cycle stronger than before.

Column

Ahmed RashId Al Ameer, CEO, Kirnaf Finance

TBY talks to Ahmed RashId Al Ameer, CEO, Kirnaf Finance, on the sector.

Column

Haitham Al Ghulaiga, Acting Director General, Institute of Finance

TBY talks to Haitham Al Ghulaiga, Acting Director General, Institute of Finance, on the sector.

Inside Perspective

Mohammed Al-Jadaan, Minister, Finance

Mohammed Al-Jadaan, Minister of Finance, on the country's development programs, policies to diversify sources of public financing, and achieving transparency.

B2B

Banks

Saudi Arabia's economy is going through transformational changes, and banks will need to change to support their customers.

Focus: Nomu

Nomu Room for You

Saudi Arabia's parallel market, Nomu, will give smaller companies the opportunity to list publically, providing greater resources for the SME sector the government is desperately working to bolster.

Review: Capital Markets

Much to Note

As Saudi Arabia gears up for the Aramco IPO, the largest such offering in history, investors are discovering that there is far more to the Saudi markets than meets the eye.

Column

Bader Alamoudi, Senior Country Officer, J.P. Morgan

TBY talks to Bader Alamoudi, Senior Country Officer, J.P. Morgan, on the sector.

Interview

Khalid Abdullah Al Hussan, CEO, Tadawul

TBY talks to Khalid Abdullah Al Hussan, CEO of Tadawul, on integrating the Saudi equity market with global markets, joining the MSCI Index of Emerging Markets, and how to raise market-related awareness.

Interview

Yousef S. Al-Sager, Chairman, Saudi Kuwaiti Finance House (SKFH)

TBY talks to Yousef S. Al-Sager, Chairman of Saudi Kuwaiti Finance House (SKFH), on its advisory activities, the opportunities with Vision 2030, and the challenges ahead.

Forum

Investment Banks

Whether through asset diversification, a creative range of sharia-compliant products, or elegantly simple new sukuk restructurings, investment banks in Saudi Arabia are ensuring there is prosperity beyond the barrel, one riyal at a time.

Review: Insurance

Stay Covered

Insurance sector growth has slowed over the last year, a possible result of tightened budgets squeezing expendable income. That said, with low penetration, there is plenty of room to grow going forward.

Column

Ehab Yousef Linjawi, CEO, Gulf General Cooperative Insurance Company

TBY talks to Ehab Yousef Linjawi, CEO, Gulf General Cooperative Insurance Company on the sector.

Review

A Crude Awakening

The Kingdom has made renewables a critical aspect of its ambitious Vision 2030 effort to diversify its economy and wean itself from a strictly carbon-based diet, not to mention empower local businesses and individuals to take up the mantle and lead the energy sector into the next generation.

Column

Abdulkarim Alnujaidi , CEO, GASCO

TBY talks to Abdulkarim Alnujaidi CEO, GASCO, on the sector.

Column

Salahaddin H. Dardeer, President, Saudi Aramco Base Oil Company (Luberef)

TBY talks to Salahaddin H. Dardeer, President, Saudi Aramco Base Oil Company (Luberef) on the sector.

Interview

Abdulaziz AbdulKarim, Vice President of Procurement & Supply Chain Management (PSCM) , Saudi Aramco,

TBY talks to Abdulaziz AbdulKarim, Vice President of Procurement & Supply Chain Management (PSCM) at Saudi Aramco, on the IKTVA program, supporting local content, and looking back over a successful year.

Focus: Saudi Aramco IPO

World’s Biggest, World’s Greatest

Global markets are eagerly anticipating the biggest IPO in history as the government gets set to put a portion of Saudi Aramco to market.

Column

Sadad Ibrahim Al-Husseini , Founder & Owner, Husseini Energy

TBY talks to Sadad Ibrahim Al-Husseini , Founder & Owner, Husseini Energy, on the sector.

Vox Populi

Oil Services

Local and foreign firms alike are working in conjunction with the government and other state-backed enterprises to ensure the up- and downstream sectors remain robust, no matter the momentary price of oil.

Review

Technically Speaking

The digital transformation is well underway in Saudi Arabia, where localized technology solutions are the future for companies across nearly every sector of the economy.

Column

Bandar bin Mohammed Asiri , President, General Commission for Audiovisual Media (GCAM)

TBY talks to Bandar bin Mohammed Asiri , President, General Commission for Audiovisual Media (GCAM), on the secotr.

Interview

Abdullah Al-Swaha, Minister, Communications and Information Technology

TBY talks to Abdullah Al-Swaha, Minister of Communications and Information Technology, on the role of the ministry in an ever-changing digital and technological landscape.

Interview

Ahmed Al Faifi, Managing Director, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Yemen of SAP

TBY talks to Ahmed Al Faifi, Managing Director, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Yemen of SAP, on the maturity of the Saudi digital economy, pursuing richer PPPs, and building a world-class hub.

Interview

Ayman Abdullah Alfallaj, CEO, Thiqah

TBY talks to Ayman Abdullah Alfallaj, CEO of Thiqah, on how the private sector can keep pace with the speed of public reforms, delivering a strong and lasting value proposition, and integrating the fruits of privatization into the public sector.

B2B

Government Efficiency

As part of Vision 2030, key processes and services are being moved online, promising not only quicker responses, but also greater efficiency and user satisfaction.

Focus: Technology Investments

Investment Calling

A technological revolution is underway in the Kingdom. Already one of the most tech-savvy nations in the Middle East, the Saudi market has long sought a thriving domestic technology and innovation scene. And with Vision 2030, it is on course to deliver just that.

B2B

IT services

Everything converges around technology, and the industry will play a fundamental role in achieving the goals of Vision 2030.

B2B

Telecoms

As smaller, more innovative firms shake up the market with better offers and more competitive prices, whilst customers benefit.

Interview

Yasser Alobaidan, CEO, Jawraa

TBY talks to Yasser Alobaidan, CEO of Jawraa, on its core businesses, the attractiveness of the Saudi ICT market, and adapting to changes in the marketplace.

Review

A Hejaz Unhindered

An ambitious series of road and rail projects from the Jordanian border down to the Indian Ocean are slated to open in part before the end of 2017. They bring the Kingdom that much nearer to its goal of greater non-carbon-based economic integration with the world.

Column

Bashar Khalid AlMalik, CEO, SAR

TBY talks to Bashar Khalid AlMalik, CEO, SAR, on the sector.

Interview

Sulaiman bin Abdullah Al-Hamdan, Former Minister of Transport and Minister, Civil Service

TBY talks to Sulaiman bin Abdullah Al-Hamdan, Former Minister of Transport and current Minister of Civil Service, on an attractive legislative framework for investment, railway linkages, and port developments.

Interview

Rumaih M. Al-Rumaih, President, Public Transport Authority (PTA

TBY talks to Rumaih M. Al-Rumaih, President of Public Transport Authority (PTA) & Acting President of Saudi Railway Organization, on teaming up with commercially committed partners, making sure the Kingdom's land and sea bridges are of the first order, and providing employment for all the Kingdom's inhabitants.

Interview

Nabeel M. Al-Amudi, President, Saudi Ports Authority, and Minister of Transport

TBY talks to Nabeel M. Al-Amudi, Minister of Transport, and President of Saudi Ports Authority, on optimally restricting concession agreements, resolving bottlenecks in the logistics chain, and privatizing as rapidly as possible.

Interview

Wael M. Al-Sarhan, Senior Vice President-Marketing , Bahri

TBY talks to Wael M. Al-Sarhan, Senior Vice President-Marketing at Bahri, on a successful 2016, the use of big data, and plans for the future.

Interview

Ahmed Al-Hakbani, Director General, Saudi Customs

TBY talks to Ahmed Al-Hakbani, Director General of Saudi Customs, on using greater efficiencies to become a 21st century transport hub, making institutional cultural changes, and going paperless.

B2B

Private Ports

Combined with the recent expansion of the Suez Canal, the Kingdom's proximity as a critical transshipment hub makes the expansion of Saudi's private port all the more lucrative.

Focus: Riyadh Metro

Make It Do What It Do

Riyadh Metro stands out as one of Saudi Arabia's greatest-ever building projects and is set to revolutionize how people get around in the capital.

Vox Populi

Bridging the Gaps

The Riyadh Metro will not only revolutionize life in the Saudi capital; as one of the largest infrastructure projects in the world, it will place it among the world's most transportation-innovative cities.

Interview

Khaled Bin Abdullah Al Hogail, CEO & Managing Director , Saudi Public Transport Company (SAPTCO)

TBY talks to Khaled Bin Abdullah Al Hogail, CEO & Managing Director of the Saudi Public Transport Company (SAPTCO), on the importance of strong and rational regulations, knowledge transfers, and unifying public and private transportation networks.

Interview

Fawaz A. Danish, CEO, Budget Saudi Arabia

TBY talks to Fawaz A. Danish, CEO of Budget Saudi Arabia, on the importance of having a truly national presence, how to commodify a quality service, and investing during downturns to gain market share.

Interview

Imad El-Zein, CEO, Auto World-Sixt Saudi Arabia

TBY talks to Imad El-Zein, CEO of Auto World-Sixt Saudi Arabia, on growing market share in challenging circumstances, partnering with world-class players to boost its local presence, and combining better services with lower costs.

Interview

Naif Sultan Al Athel, CEO, SMSA Express

TBY talks to Naif Sultan Al Athel, CEO of SMSA Express, on the company's specialties, contributions to becoming a logistics hub, and innovative technologies.

Review

Cleared for Takeoff

While recent reforms such as Vision 2030 seek to invigorate every sector of the economy, the aviation sector is likely to see the largest and most successful transformation.

Interview

Capt. Badr A. Alolayan, Managing Director , Prince Sultan Aviation Academy

TBY talks to Capt. Badr A. Alolayan, Managing Director of Prince Sultan Aviation Academy, on trainee pilots, Saudization, and expectations for the year.

B2B

Saudia Airlines

As much of the economy gears up for privatization, Saudia is implementing a variety of strategies to ensure it remains ahead of the curve.

Interview

Wajdy M. Al-Ghabban, CEO, Saudi Airlines Catering

TBY talks to Wajdy M. Al-Ghabban, CEO of Saudi Airlines Catering, on the Vision 2030, diversification into other business lines, and fostering human resources in Saudi Arabia.

Focus: budget airlines

Budget Airlines Take to the Skies

The Kingdom's Vision 2030 is already ushering changes. Local air carriers are opening or expanding their low-cost segments en mass, while regional carriers are being granted licenses one after another to operate in the country.

Column

Paul Byrne , CEO, Flynas

TBY talks to Paul Byrne , CEO, Flynas, on the sector.

Forum

Airlines

A new regulatory environment is boosting competitiveness and activity in a sector that is displaying all the hallmarks of a boom.

Interview

Saleh H. Al-Ghamdi, Acting CEO, Saudi Air Navigation Services Company (SANS)

TBY talks to Saleh H. Al-Ghamdi, Acting CEO of Saudi Air Navigation Services Company (SANS), on maximizing safe and effective services, effectively increasing the rate of Saudization, and easing the pathway of women into the workforce.

Vox Populi

Aviation Services

From new airports to new target markets, the Kingdom's growing aviation industry means more opportunities for aviation service providers.

Interview

Walid Abukhaled, CEO, Northrop Grumman

TBY talks to Walid Abukhaled, CEO of Northrop Grumman, on youth-focused initiatives, partnerships with ministries, and technology procurement.

Forum

Aerospace Localization

Companies are supplying the Kingdom with technologies and talent to develop its national air force and aerospace industry through collaborative business efforts.

B2B

Aviation Training

The explosive increase in airports and all things aviation in Saudi Arabia means growing demand for job training, from air traffic control to private pilot licensing.

Review

Something Out of Nothing

The construction sector was hit hard by the fall in oil revenues in 2016, but the Saudi government's long-term development plans and newfound emphasis on PPPs bode well for the future of the sector.

Column

Ahmed A. Zaidan , Founder & President, Edge Architects & Engineers

TBY talks to Ahmed A. Zaidan, Founder & President, Edge Architects & Engineers on the sector.

Interview

Majed Al-Hogail, Minister, Housing

TBY talks to Majed Al-Hogail, Minister of Housing, on opportunities, challenges, and partnerships in Saudi Arabia's housing market.

Interview

Osama Al-Bar, Mayor, Makkah

TBY talks to Osama Al-Bar, Mayor of Makkah, on major new infrastructure projects, religious tourism, and smart city initiatives.

Interview

Yasser bin Faisal Al-Sharif, CEO, Jabal Omar Development Company (JODC)

TBY talks to Yasser bin Faisal Al-Sharif, CEO of Jabal Omar Development Company (JODC), on new developments on the Jabal Omar Project, preserving Makkah's heritage, and future plans.

Focus: Increasing Housing Supply

Solving Saudi’s housing quagmire

Over the course of the past 12 months, Saudi Arabia's government has continued down its path of drastically overhauling the local housing market to meet surging demand.

Column

Abdullah Sirajuddin, CEO, Al Balad Al Ameen

TBY talks to Abdullah Sirajuddin, CEO, Al Balad Al Ameen on the sector.

Interview

Khalil Kutubkhanah, CEO, Jeddah Development and Urban Regeneration Company (JDURC)

TBY talks to Ibrahim Khalil Kutubkhanah, CEO of Jeddah Development and Urban Regeneration Company (JDURC), on Jeddah's unplanned settlements, the company's redevelopment projects, and its partnership model with the private sector.

Vox Populi

Developing Opportunities

Saudi's developers are continually searching for unique opportunities in the real estate sector, pursuing everything from niche hospitality segments to developments around transport hubs.

Interview

Hassan Al-Qahtani, Chief Executive, Technical Development (TD)

TBY talks to Hassan Al-Qahtani, Chief Executive of Technical Development (TD), on the company's growth and the privatization of Saudi's construction sector as per Vision 2030.

Interview

Jamal Amrhar, General Manager , Construction Material Chemical Industries (CMCI)

TBY talks to Jamal Amrhar, General Manager of Construction Material Chemical Industries (CMCI), on the development of the firm and the state of the sector.

Forum

Construction

Whether it be new metro lines or water pipelines, the Saudi construction industry is full of opportunities, and players ready to take them.

Review

Health For All

Saudi Arabia's healthcare sector is heavily supported by the government but experiences shortages across the board. Vision 2030 will attempt to push the sector toward privatization to improve quality, services, and competitiveness.

Column

Dr. Abdulaziz Ibrahim AlRajhi, General Executive Director, King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital (KKESH)

TBY talks to Dr. Abdulaziz Ibrahim AlRajhi, General Executive Director, King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital (KKESH), on the sector.

Interview

Dr. Khalid Bin Mohammed Al Shaibani, Deputy Minister, Planning and Health & Director of the Vision Realization Office

TBY talks to Dr. Khalid Bin Mohammed Al Shaibani, Deputy Minister for Planning and Health & Director of the Vision Realization Office, on reforms within the Ministry of Health, the corporatization of healthcare provision, and transformations in care delivery.

Interview

Mohammed Al Hussein, Secretary General , Council of Cooperative Health Insurance (CCHI)

TBY talks to Mohammed Al Hussein, Secretary General of the Council of Cooperative Health Insurance (CCHI), on the transformative change afoot and its progress on a unified policy.

Focus: HEALTHCARE

Changing Face of Saudi’s Health Sector

Vision 2030 calls for the privatization of a broad spectrum of sectors, but the health sector stands out for its scores of applicable subsectors, PPP opportunities, and pilot projects.

Interview

Dr. Haitham Alfalah, CEO, King Saud Medical City (KSMC)

TBY talks to Dr. Haitham Alfalah, CEO of King Saud Medical City (KSMC), on structural changes to the sector, new models of care, and KSMC's leading trauma center.

B2B

University Medical Cities

Integration of medical faculties and hospitals into the medical city model is swiftly changing healthcare in the Kingdom.

Forum

Private Hospitals

The government is keen for the public and private healthcare sectors to work in tandem to provide optimum coverage for the population.

Vox Populi

Your Neighborhood Pharmacy

Pharmacies and pharmacists are looking to localize the pharmaceuticals sector, increasingly improving the quality of services and medications.

Interview

Dr. Hussain A. Hamed, CEO, Al Dar Hospital (Medina)

TBY talks to Dr. Hussain A. Hamed, CEO of Al Dar Hospital (Medina), on improving collaboration with the Ministry of Health, cross-sector service providers in Medina, and international partners.

Review

Stem & Us

Vision 2030's success almost entirely hinges on the development of the education sector. Approximately 1.9 million Saudi youths will enter the labor market in the next decade and, without educational reforms, they will fail to meet the private labor market's needs.

Column

Nabeel Koshak, Dean, Prince Mohammad Bin Salman College (MBSC)

TBY talks to Nabeel Koshak, Dean, Prince Mohammad Bin Salman College (MBSC), on the sector.

Interview

Ahmed Al-Issa, Minister, Education

TBY talks to Ahmed Al-Issa, Minister of Education, on promoting greater investment in education and its efforts to increase digitalization in schools.

Interview

Ahmad Fahad Al Fahaid, Governor, Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC)

TBY talks to Ahmad Fahad Al Fahaid, Governor of the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC), on new partnerships, models, and goals for vocational training in Saudi Arabia.

Interview

Fahad A. AlTuwaijry, CEO, Colleges of Excellence (CoE)

TBY talks to Fahad A. AlTuwaijry, CEO of Colleges of Excellence (CoE), on the company's founding, its value proposition, and its unique aviation college to train technicians and supply the Kingdom's aviation sector.

Interview

Mohanad A. Dahlan, CEO, University of Business and Technology (UBT) Company

TBY talks to Mohanad A. Dahlan, CEO of University of Business and Technology (UBT) Company, on the evolution of the company, education investments, and upcoming sectors that will need support from the sector.

Forum

Universities

Often seen as the suppliers of the labor market, Saudi universities play a much larger role in the economy and broader society.

Interview

Issa Al-Ansari, Rector, Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University (PMU)

TBY talks to Issa Al-Ansari, Rector of Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University (PMU), on the institution's strengths, attracting students from overseas, and expectations for 2018.

Vox Populi

Building Capacity

Universities are planning to expand through various strategies, augmenting everything from international partnerships and gender-balanced programs to research and sources of funding.

Interview

Abdullah Al Mosa, President, Saudi Electronic University (SEU)

TBY talks to Abdullah Al Mosa, President of Saudi Electronic University (SEU), on flexible learning models, the fusion of face-to-face and distance learning, and SEU's contributions to Vision 2030.

Focus: Universities

Broad and Deep

As part of the continuing decentralization of higher education in Saudi Arabia, individual universities are pursuing their own paths to grow their faculties, engage with various international stakeholders, and ultimately move toward a more privatized future.

Column

Ahmad Al-Yamani, CEO, Takamol

TBY talks to Ahmad Al-Yamani, CEO, Takamol, on the sector.

Vox Populi

University Investment

Companies established as the investment arms of universities are compounding higher education's efforts to create a knowledge-based, diversified economy.

Review

Set the Stage

To keep domestic tourism revenue from leaving Saudi Arabian shores while attracting more international visitors, hospitality and entertainment players are adding variety to the sector.

Photo Essay: Hejaz Mountains

Mountain Roads

Though desert landscapes are the first to come mind when picturing Saudi Arabia, the country's western side is home to topographic variety and geographic wonders in the Hejaz Mountain Range.

Focus: Visa Liberalization

The Kingdom is Open

In line with the Vision 2030 and National Transformation Plan, Saudi Arabia is relaxing its visa regime in hopes of attracting more tourists and foreign investment.

Interview

Rafique Izhiman, Area General Manager KSA Jeddah, Yanbu Hotels

TBY talks to Rafique Izhiman, Area General Manager KSA Jeddah/Yanbu Hotels & General Manager, Intercontinental Hotel Group (IHG), Jeddah, on the role the firm plays in the market, expanding its footprint in the country, and expectations for 2017.

Review: Doing Business

Focusing the Vision

TBY takes a quick look at the must-know facts surrounding the Saudi business environment.