Morocco's Akdital to open two hospitals in Saudi Arabia worth $200mln
The deal was signed with Saudi real estate develoers Wataniyah Business Real Estate and Namaya, in line with Saudi Arabia's 2030 health strategy, the company said in a statement.
The investment in the hospitals, which are due for completion by 2027, marks the first overseas expansion for the Casablanca-listed Akdital, which operates 36 hospitals across Morocco.
(Reporting by Ahmed Eljechtimi Editing by Tomasz Janowski)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Channel Post MEA
14 minutes ago
- Channel Post MEA
83% Saudi Arabian CAIOs Have Broader C-Suite Support
A new study by the IBM Institute for Business Value (IBV) and the Dubai Future Foundation (DFF) reveals that Saudi Arabia's approach to AI leadership aligns with global trends while also demonstrating distinct national priorities. The research, which surveyed over 600 Chief AI Officers (CAIOs) across 22 countries, showcases Saudi Arabia's unique strengths and opportunities for growth in AI leadership. 'Saudi Arabia's commitment to AI is evident in its adoption of CAIO roles and the support these leaders receive from senior executives,' said Fahad Alanazi, General Manager, IBM Saudi Arabia. 'This study underscores the Kingdom's strategic focus on AI, as reflected in its governance models, budget control, and a strong emphasis on building business cases for AI investments.' Key findings from the study indicate that: 22% of organizations in Saudi Arabia have adopted the CAIO role, aligning closely to the global average (26%). Saudi Arabian CAIOs have strong executive support, with 67% saying they get sufficient backing from the CEO and 83% saying they have broader C-suite support. A clear trend emerges in the professional backgrounds of Saudi CAIOs, with 75% saying they have focused on data in their careers, higher than the global average (73%). Saudi Arabia's governance model stands out, with 50% of organizations adopting a hub-and-spoke AI operating model, reflecting Vision 2030's sector-wide coordination. This aligns with global trends, where organizations using a centralized or hub-and-spoke model can achieve a 36% higher ROI on AI initiatives. The study underscores Saudi Arabia's remarkable progress in AI leadership – Saudi CAIOs presently oversee 67% of AI budgets, outpacing the global average of 61%. Moreover, CAIOs prioritize building business cases for AI, with 58% doing so, above the global average of 45%. The findings also highlight strategic opportunities to further strengthen the country's position. 38% of Saudi CAIOs were appointed from within the organization, below the global average of 57%. Prioritizing internal talent development will cultivate a resilient workforce, ensuring continual growth in AI capabilities. As Saudi Arabia continues to invest in AI leadership, these findings serve as a roadmap for honing the country's AI capabilities and maximizing the return on its AI investments.
Channel Post MEA
14 minutes ago
- Channel Post MEA
HCLSoftware Deepens Its Commitment To Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 With XDO Blueprint
HCLSoftware is deepening its commitment to Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 digital transformation agenda through strategic technology investments, positioning the Kingdom as the Middle East's leading digital powerhouse. At the recently concluded Executive Summit in Riyadh, attended by over 60+ senior executives from banking, insurance, fintech, cybersecurity, and GRC domains, HCLSoftware demonstrated how its Xperience-Data-Operations (XDO) Blueprint — a comprehensive framework integrating Experience, Data, and Operations serves as the foundational architecture enabling Saudi enterprises to leverage next-generation solutions for sustained market leadership. Emphasizing HCLSoftware's strategic commitment to Saudi Arabia's digital future, Kalyan Kumar, Chief Product Officer, HCLSoftware, said, 'Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 sets a global benchmark for digital transformation ambition. As organizations navigate this transformation, the integration of Experience, Data, and Operations becomes essential for sustainable growth. We're focused on supporting Saudi enterprises as they balance innovation with the compliance and operational requirements that are fundamental to their success.' Vikrant Chowdhary, Senior Vice President, Growth Markets at HCLSoftware, opened the forum by highlighting the company's expanding Riyadh delivery hub and growing Tier-one client portfolio. Diving into the XDO Blueprint, they emphasized how it delivers unified board-level governance across experience, operational efficiency, and data-driven growth—critical capabilities for the Kingdom's open-banking and digital-government transformation. Bernardo Rodrigues, Regional Solution Manager at Immersive Labs, addressed the critical human element in cybersecurity in his session on Vision 2030's Digital Shield: Harnessing Critical Skills for Cyber Resilience and Continuous Compliance. Through live cyber-range demonstrations, Rodrigues showcased how Saudi organizations can benchmark their security teams against Saudi Arabia Monetary Authority (SAMA's) stringent requirements while building the continuous skills validation capabilities essential for maintaining cyber resilience. As the Kingdom accelerates business transformation, cybersecurity practices must evolve to keep pace with real-world threat scenarios—an approach that dovetails with the XDO Blueprint's focus on operational excellence and risk-aware g A session on AI-powered Business Flow Observability showcased how HCL Hive on iObserve platform delivers end-to-end transaction visibility from mobile interfaces to core banking systems. Through machine-learning algorithms that correlate technical anomalies with business impact, Hive automates compliance reporting aligned with SAMA's monitoring and audit standards. This unified observability accelerates incident resolution and delivers audit-ready evidence, streamlining operations for Saudi financial institutions. Shining the spotlight on challenges in BFSI environments, Huda Albenmousa, Country President, PayTabs, Saudi Arabia, underscored the critical role of intelligent automation and unified business observability in driving faster, seamless customer experiences while ensuring operational efficiency within the highly regulated BFSI sector. During a panel discussion with HCLSoftware leaders, she highlighted how the convergence of XDO is transforming institutions from reactive responders to predictive, autonomous operators, setting a new standard for agility and compliance in banking. In a customer session with a prominent development fund in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, senior executives discussed how they are advancing digital transformation within Saudi Arabia's housing sector through the strategic use of HCL BigFix Workspace and HCL BigFix Enterprise. By collaborating with HCLSoftware and aligning with the XDO Blueprint, they are establishing a new standard for operational efficiency and service excellence in a vital sector. The summit concluded on a high note as HCLSoftware honoured three Saudi organizations with the Customer Success Awards and announced the winner of an Abu Dhabi Grand Prix experience, demonstrating the company's unwavering commitment to driving digital transformation excellence and celebrating customer achievements across the Middle East region.
Web Release
16 minutes ago
- Web Release
ARTDOM Expands to Riyadh: A Defining New Chapter in Global Design Excellence
Following its resounding success in Moscow and across Russia, ARTDOM, the international exhibition of collectible furniture, interiors, and contemporary art, announces its most ambitious expansion yet – a landmark edition in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia which will take place from November 11-12. Staged within the architectural elegance of the 4,000-square-meter Saraj venue, ARTDOM Riyadh will present a meticulously curated selection of 55 international exhibitors, many of whom will be showcased in the Middle East for the very first time. This highly anticipated edition promises to redefine the regional design landscape with a world-class presentation of innovation, craftsmanship, and cross-cultural creativity. As a global platform for artistic expression and design excellence, ARTDOM continues its mission of cultivating creative dialogue across borders. With Riyadh rapidly emerging as a hub of architectural ambition and cultural investment, ARTDOM's arrival signals a moment of transformation for the region's design community. 'ARTDOM brings together companies with a high level of design on one platform. We showcase a current cross-section of the market, including limited-edition products, original designs, heritage brands, and emerging names. We value companies that collaborate closely with designers and have a unique philosophy and values. ARTDOM is an exclusive project dedicated to furniture and interior design, defining trends for the furniture market in the years ahead. Our goal is to foster and maintain interaction between brands, designers, manufacturers, and buyers, ensuring a steady growth in orders for participating factories'. In line with its founding ethos, ARTDOM Riyadh will spotlight original design and bold vision, uniting some of the most respected voices in the global design scene. The exhibition will welcome industry icons including Giulio Cappellini, Draga Obradovic and Aurel K. Basedow of Draga & Aurel, and celebrated Italian architect Carlo Colombo. These distinguished ambassadors will participate in a series of keynote talks and panel discussions, hosted alongside Dariya Zolotova, founder of ARTDOM, to explore the future of design, sustainability, and international collaboration. 'I am very happy to participate in the Riyadh fair because it is a very high-level event. There, people will see the best of contemporary design. The Riyadh fair will showcase luxury products, the best materials, the finest craftsmanship, and the highest attention to detail,' said Giulio Cappellini, legendary Italian designer and ARTDOM ambassador. 'I'm proud to contribute with other architects and designers to the diffusion of contemporary design in such a culturally important destination.' The exhibition will open with an exclusive gala dinner, gathering exhibitors, ambassadors, global media, and members of the Saudi Royal Family for a private evening of celebration and cultural exchange. This by-invitation-only event underscores ARTDOM's unique role in building bridges between international creative leaders and the visionaries shaping the future of the Middle East. Throughout the two-day program, ARTDOM Riyadh will feature: A rigorously curated showcase of high-end furniture, interiors, and collectible design • An immersive exhibition layout that reflects the narrative of each brand • A series of design talks, networking sessions, and ambassador-led panels • A strong focus on cross-cultural creative dialogue and innovation 'We've spent years cultivating a professional community of designers, architects, media, and cultural leaders,' added Daria Zolotova. 'Bringing over 55 international brands under one roof in Riyadh is not only a milestone, it's a statement about where design is headed next.' More than an exhibition, ARTDOM Riyadh is a cultural experience, a bold invitation to reimagine the future of design from the heart of Saudi Arabia. As the world's creative eyes turn toward the Middle East, ARTDOM invites guests, collaborators, and visionaries to be part of this historic new chapter.
