Day: June 14, 2024

Riyadh: ROSHN Group, Saudi Arabia’s leading multi-asset class real estate developer and PIF-owned giga-project, held its first Commercial Bootcamp to empower general contractors, subcontractors, and project managers from Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with more upskilling opportunities in the industry. The event, attended by local companies, underlined ROSHN’s approach to growing the number and capability of local contractors for the Kingdom’s construction industry and diversifying the local economy.

The bootcamp is designed to help equip contractors with vital construction cost management skills, improving their competitiveness and supporting them in making informed financial decisions. In this first edition, participants learned how to develop accurate cost estimates using effective methods and software tools, strategies to control costs during a project, mitigating cost risks and navigating change, and maximizing profitability through optimized financial management, cash flow forecasting, and value e
ngineering.

Iain McBride, Executive Director of Commercial at ROSHN Group, said: ‘At ROSHN, we are proud to serve as a national champion of the real estate sector to uplift, enhance, and empower Saudi businesses while also strengthening our supply chains through localization and diversification. Our Commercial Bootcamp reflects our values-led commitment to empowerment, opportunity, and responsibility. We seek to raise standards and establish Saudi Arabia as a centre of excellence, where local contractors are recognized as globally trusted partners of choice, having showcased their skills and abilities as part of giga-projects built to international standards.’

The event featured a series of interactive sessions led by world-class speakers offering global perspectives, diverse experiences, and cutting-edge insight. Alongside senior leaders from ROSHN’s commercial and procurement departments, speakers included Dean Furey, a chartered Director and Head of Real Estate for Turner and Townsend; Charlie Shepherd,
a Director of Cost Consultancy with 17 years of experience within the UK and KSA construction industries; Malungelo Msomi, a Chartered Quantity Surveyor (MRICS) renowned for his expertise and proficiency in the construction industry and real estate sector; and Uwais Haroon, an Associate Director with over 12 years of experience spearheading extensive refurbishment, fit out, and new build projects across the UK and Middle East.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Mina: Minister of Transport and Logistics Services, Eng. Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser launched the advanced version of the “Insiyab” initiative.

This initiative aims to measure the smooth flow of transporting pilgrims by bus to the holy sites by measuring real-time movement through drones relying on artificial intelligence (AI).

The Roads General Authority (RGA) Spokesperson Abdulaziz Al-Otaibi indicated that the authority’s “Insiyab” initiative measures the smooth flow of bus transportation to Makkah and the holy sites.

The initiative aims to measure more than 25 indicators, including the average journey time for buses, the average waiting time at stations, the average carbon emissions, the average level of service, and the average traffic density on the roads, the spokesperson said.

He stated that these modern experiments contribute to continuous technical improvement and collaboration with partners, enabling the pilgrims to receive exceptional and seamless services.

He also highlighted the virtual reali
ty glasses technology that assists field inspectors in ensuring the compliance of buses with regulations, such as vehicle cleanliness, operational license cards, and obtaining a bus driver’s card legally.

Moreover, Al-Otaibi pointed out that the authority is committed to this technology to provide innovative modern techniques to serve the pilgrims, facilitate their transportation, and enhance their bus travel experience.

This initiative is part of the authority’s role in providing safe transportation, adopting modern technologies and AI to assess their suitability and contribution to delivering an exceptional travel experience for pilgrims, ensuring they perform their rituals with comfort and peace of mind.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Makkah: The Minister of the Interior of Côte d’Ivoire, Vagondo Diomande, commended the services provided to pilgrims in general and specifically to the pilgrims of Côte d’Ivoire.

He visited the headquarters of the Ithra Al-Khair Company for Pilgrims of African Countries. He expressed his satisfaction with the services and ongoing support provided to pilgrims from their arrival in the Holy Cities until the completion of the Hajj rituals.

The minister praised the excellent organization that helped to facilitate the pilgrims’ easy performance of their rituals.

He thanked the Kingdom’s government for their efforts in receiving, organizing, and educating pilgrims. He also acknowledged the crucial role played by Ithra Al-Khair in supporting the performance of pilgrims from African countries by providing exceptional services that enhance their religious and cultural experiences.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Makkah: Two thousand media professionals from local and international media outlets from 150 countries are covering Hajj season 1445 AH.

They are helped by digital technology and advanced equipment provided by the Hajj Media Hub in Makkah, which will stay open for visitors until the 10th of Dhu al-Hijjah, which corresponds to June 16, 2024.

The media delegations praised the services provided by the Ministry of Media at the media hub, which give access to details regarding the Hajj season and provided insights into the efforts of the government entities involved in Hajj that ensure a safe and smooth experience for pilgrims.

They also commended the dynamism and spirit of competitivity at the hub, fostered by the presence of so many media outlets covering the Hajj season.

The hub makes use of modern technologies to help journalists perform their tasks.

It includes a major media operations room, a media center, facilities for live television broadcasting, and various multipurpose pavilions.

Media profession
als have thus all they need to highlight the prominent projects and efforts dedicated to serving pilgrims, and future projects at the holy sites.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Mina: The Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites has announced that the project to install flexible flooring in the holy sites, using the latest technologies, aims to provide a comfortable and safe experience for pilgrims. This initiative reduces the effort required for walking and decreases instances of heat stress.

The commission pointed out that installing flexible flooring using innovative materials, including recycled rubber, enhances pilgrims’ comfort, reduces injuries, improves the visual landscape, and lowers heat emissions.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Makkah: Makkah Municipality has carried out various maintenance and electrical installation works for the lighting grid in Makkah and the Holy Sites, working to constantly follow up on them and supervising the efficiency of their operation, as Makkah and the Holy Sites include a huge lighting network amounting to more than 14,000 towers and columns of various lengths and sizes.

The works included a number of sites in Makkah, the Holy Sites, and the roads linking Arafat, Muzdalifah, and Mina to be fully prepared to receive the pilgrims, who are heading to Mina in large numbers today.

Tomorrow, they will stand at Mount Arafat and then leave for Muzdalifah. The roads were also prepared and displayed correctly for the pilgrims.

The municipality explained that it had carried out many new installations and replacements for advanced columns with different shapes and specifications on all the roads used by pilgrims during their movements in preparation for receiving them. The municipality prepared an integrated te
chnical unit composed of engineers and supervisors to follow up on this network and ensure its efficiency during the Hajj season.

Source: Saudi Press Agency