Who’s Who: Dr. Ahmad Alsinan, head of strategic opportunities at NEOM

Who’s Who: Dr. Ahmad Alsinan, head of strategic opportunities at NEOM
Dr. Ahmad Alsinan
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Updated 09 June 2024
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Who’s Who: Dr. Ahmad Alsinan, head of strategic opportunities at NEOM

Who’s Who: Dr. Ahmad Alsinan, head of strategic opportunities at NEOM

Dr. Ahmad Alsinan has been head of strategic opportunities at NEOM’s deputy CEO’s office since September 2023.

Alsinan is responsible for strategizing, coordinating, and executing business opportunities. He leads a dynamic team, collaborates with internal and external stakeholders, and plays a pivotal role in shaping business opportunities, including investments, strategic partnerships, and alliances.

In 2022, Alsinan moved to NEOM as the head of strategy and business development at NEOM Mobility, where he led a multibillion-dollar scale partnership proposal to deliver the future sustainable mobility ecosystem at NEOM.

He played a pivotal role in closing a transformative $100 million joint venture deal with Pony.ai, a leading autonomous vehicle company, and led the green hydrogen mobility project deployment at NEOM.

He was also nominated as NEOM’s corporate representative on Saudi Arabia’s Governance and Regulatory Framework Committee for Modern and Future Mobility Enablement.

In 2020, Alsinan joined Aramco Ventures as a corporate venturing principal and head of sustainability investments, where he initiated and led global business deals related to hydrogen, e-fuels, GHG emission detection, energy storage, renewables, and carbon capture, utilization and storage. He also developed venturing strategies in the digital transformation domain.

In 2019, he became a senior scientist of technology development in the research and development carbon management division, leading the execution team of the Saudi Aramco-Hyundai strategic collaboration on hydrogen, non-metallics, and futuristic automotive technologies.

Alsinan’s professional journey began as a research scientist at SaudiAramco’s Research and Development Center, where he worked on computational modeling of three-phase crude oil separation processes.

He later moved to the technology strategy and planning department, where he conducted a study on oil to hydrogen techno-economic assessment and led the development of Saudi Aramco’s Oil to Hydrogen Strategy.

He also represented Saudi Aramco in the development of the National Hydrogen Strategy and led the sustainability business vertical in the National Circular Carbon Economy program under the leadership of Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, the Kingdom’s minister of energy.

Alsinan holds a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the University of California at Santa Barbara, a master’s degree in computer science and high-performance computing and simulations from the University of Southern California, and a bachelor’s degree in software engineering from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals.


Saudi Arabia elected member of executive committee of IAACA

Saudi Arabia elected member of executive committee of IAACA
Updated 06 February 2025
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Saudi Arabia elected member of executive committee of IAACA

Saudi Arabia elected member of executive committee of IAACA
  • Saudi Arabia, represented by Nazaha’s President Mazin Al-Kahmous, was elected as a member of the executive committee of the IAACA
  • Al-Kahmous praised the vital role of the IAACA in promoting international cooperation, transparency, and integrity across nations

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia, represented by the Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority which is otherwise known as Nazaha, participated in the 14th general meeting of the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities, which took place on Thursday via a videoconference.

In the course of the meeting, Saudi Arabia, represented by Nazaha’s President Mazin Al-Kahmous, was elected as a member of the executive committee of the IAACA, the Saudi Press Agency reported. 

The move reflects the international community’s recognition of the Kingdom’s efforts and global status in combating corruption, mainly at the international level.

Al-Kahmous praised the vital role of the IAACA in promoting international cooperation, transparency, and integrity across nations.

He spoke of the association’s mission to facilitate knowledge and expertise exchange among countries and institutions dedicated to combating corruption, as well as to develop effective strategies for addressing the issue locally and internationally.

The Nazaha president also stressed the importance of building a network of international partners to support the implementation of laws and policies related to transparency and accountability.

Al-Kahmous reiterated the Kingdom’s commitment to working alongside member states and all stakeholders to make meaningful and effective contributions toward achieving the objectives of the IAACA.

The IAACA is an independent non-political and anti-corruption organization with over 180 agencies from different countries. It seeks to promote the implementation of the UN Convention against Corruption and achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals to reduce corruption and bribery in all forms by 2030.


Jeddah meeting highlights geospatial progress

Jeddah meeting highlights geospatial progress
Updated 06 February 2025
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Jeddah meeting highlights geospatial progress

Jeddah meeting highlights geospatial progress
  • Gathering aimed to foster the exchange of insights, experiences and developments to enhance the role of geospatial information in achieving development goals within Arab countries
  • Meeting discussed initiatives to empower Arab women in the field of geospatial information

JEDDAH: The 12th meeting of the Regional Committee of UN Global Geospatial Information Management for the Arab States, hosted by the General Authority for Survey and Geospatial Information, ended on Tuesday in Jeddah.

The gathering aimed to foster the exchange of insights, experiences and developments to enhance the role of geospatial information in achieving development goals within Arab countries, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The meeting included a review of the Arab Committee’s 2024 annual report, progress monitoring across working groups, and contributions from international organizations on geospatial information in the Arab region.

Notable efforts by the UN Global Geodetic Centre of Excellence and the UN Global Center of Excellence for Geospatial Knowledge and Innovation were highlighted, along with updates on the Kingdom’s hosting of the UN Global Geospatial Ecosystem Center of Excellence, to be established in Riyadh.

Contributions from other regional committees of the UN Committee of Experts on Global Geospatial Information Management were also reviewed, the SPA reported.

The meeting discussed initiatives to empower Arab women in the field of geospatial information.


Muslim World League chief inaugurates Qur’an contest in Guinea-Bissau

Muslim World League chief inaugurates Qur’an contest in Guinea-Bissau
Updated 06 February 2025
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Muslim World League chief inaugurates Qur’an contest in Guinea-Bissau

Muslim World League chief inaugurates Qur’an contest in Guinea-Bissau
  • President Umaro Sissoko Embalo awards highest medal of honor to Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa for promoting religious diplomacy
  • Dr. Al-Issa highlighted the importance of such competitions, as the Tijan An Nour Qur’an, in encouraging Qur’an memorization and enhancing participants’ societal roles

RIYADH: Under the patronage of Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoko Embalo, Muslim World League Secretary-General Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa inaugurated the Tijan An Nour Qur’an competition at the Lino Correia Stadium in Bissau.

Embalo awarded Al-Issa the country’s highest medal of honor for his efforts in religious diplomacy, as well as promoting civilizational peace and international cooperation.

Al-Issa highlighted the importance of such competitions in encouraging Qur’an memorization and enhancing participants’ societal roles.

The competition is West Africa’s most prominent Qur’anic event, featuring 20-part, 15-part, 10-part and five-part memorization categories.

It also includes training courses on Qur’an recitation, imam and teacher qualifications, and recitation correction.


Riyadh library, AlUla commission to promote heritage and literacy

Riyadh library, AlUla commission to promote heritage and literacy
Updated 06 February 2025
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Riyadh library, AlUla commission to promote heritage and literacy

Riyadh library, AlUla commission to promote heritage and literacy
  • Agreement aims to promote knowledge exchange, support cultural tourism and enhance collaboration in various cultural fields
  • Deal will activate the AlUla Reads initiative, introduce mobile library tours, and promote literacy through community events for children and families

RIYADH: King Abdulaziz Public Library and the Royal Commission for AlUla have signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen cultural and civilizational cooperation.

The agreement aims to promote knowledge exchange, support cultural tourism and enhance collaboration in various cultural fields, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The deal was signed on Wednesday by the library’s general supervisor, Faisal bin Muammar, and the acting CEO of the commission, Abeer Al-Akel, in Riyadh.

Bin Muammar emphasized that the agreement aligned with the library’s mission to preserve Arab and Islamic heritage, as well as the Kingdom’s diverse cultural legacy.

He said that the library played a key role in safeguarding this heritage through its collection of manuscripts, books, documents, rare photographs, and publishing and translation projects.

Al-Akel described the partnership as a model for integrated efforts among government entities in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

She highlighted the library’s rich knowledge and cultural archives, particularly in areas under the commission’s supervision.

The agreement includes collaboration in establishing libraries, hosting local and international exhibitions, and co-publishing books.

It also supports scientific research, promotes bilingual publications in Arabic and English, and exchanges visual and audio materials related to AlUla, Al-Mu’azzam, Tayma and Khaybar.

Additionally, the deal will activate the AlUla Reads initiative, introduce mobile library tours, and promote literacy through community events for children and families.

Training and development programs will build professional capacities through joint courses and workshops.


Riyadh festival pays tribute to ‘father of algebra’

Riyadh festival pays tribute to ‘father of algebra’
Updated 06 February 2025
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Riyadh festival pays tribute to ‘father of algebra’

Riyadh festival pays tribute to ‘father of algebra’
  • Event celebrates Muhammad Al-Khwarizmi’s legacy in mathematics and informatics

RIYADH: The STEAM Festival in Riyadh celebrates the legacy of 9th-century Muslim scientist Muhammad Al-Khwarizmi, one of the most prominent figures in the history of mathematics and informatics.

The event was organized by the King Salman Science Oasis as part of its efforts to spread knowledge and promote interest in science and innovation, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.

It aims to inspire students by showcasing Al-Khwarizmi’s achievements in mathematics, algebra, and algorithms, which laid the foundation for modern scientific and technical development.

The event featured interactive presentations and workshops highlighting his contributions to science, the SPA reported.

This initiative aligns with the oasis’s vision to enhance scientific and cultural identity, motivate future generations, and contribute to achieving Vision 2030’s strategic goals.

Al-Khwarizmi, known as “the father of algebra,” was a Persian mathematician, astronomer, and scholar who laid the foundation for modern algebra and computational mathematics.

He worked at the House of Wisdom in Baghdad during the Islamic Golden Age, writing influential texts on arithmetic, algebra, and geography.

His book introduced systematic solutions to linear and quadratic equations, giving rise to algebra. The term “algorithm” is derived from the Latinized version of his name, reflecting his lasting impact on mathematics and computer science.

Earlier, the oasis highlighted the pioneering work of scientist Mariam Al-Astrolabi, renowned for her contributions to astronomy and her creation of astrolabes, instruments used to determine locations and times for prayers. Her work also advanced marine navigation.

Additionally, the oasis hosted an event honoring Jabir ibn Hayyan, known as “the father of chemistry” for his groundbreaking discoveries in chemistry, such as hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, and gold water. His innovations, including distillation, played a key role in advancing both Islamic and Western chemistry.