Saudi Arabia and UK explore collaboration on LEO satellite connectivity
A high-level Saudi Arabian delegation, led by Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah Alswaha, visited leading British technology companies and research centres during an official tour of the United Kingdom, focusing on advancing deep tech, digital innovation and satellite communications, according to a report by Saudi Press Agency.
The delegation began its tour at Wayve, a company focused on AI-driven autonomous driving technologies, where they were introduced to AV2.0, the companys latest generation of smart mobility solutions. They later visited Automata Technologies, a company specialising in laboratory automation through robotics. Here, they explored the LINQ platform, which integrates AI to accelerate diagnostics and biomedical research, highlighting new collaboration opportunities in digital health and life sciences.
To support tech entrepreneurship and deep technology adoption, the Saudi representatives held talks with leaders from Catapult, a UK organisation focused on scaling innovative businesses. Discussions centred around potential partnerships to help foster startup ecosystems and facilitate the integration of cutting-edge technologies across sectors.
The delegation also engaged with executives from OneWeb, a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite company, to explore joint initiatives for high-speed connectivity solutions. Conversations focused on deploying advanced communications infrastructure across key sectors such as transport, energy, industry and education, aiming to bolster innovation and support the Kingdoms growing space and satellite ecosystem.
This visit is part of Saudi Arabias broader strategy to localise future technologies, strengthen global partnerships, and position itself as a major center for innovation, in line with the ambitions of Saudi Vision 2030.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
26 minutes ago
- The National
Iraqi-British hotel owner and his Iranian oil smuggling link to Yemen's Houthis
Reviews of The Gainsborough Hotel speak of its spacious rooms, friendly staff and convenient location for visiting some of London's most famous tourist sites. It is fair to say all those who have enjoyed their stay at the hotel are probably unaware of any connections the establishment has to oil smuggling and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp (IRCG). A closer look at the ownership of the property where the hotel sits, however, reveals it to be a company whose owner has been placed under sanctions by the US for masterminding a vast oil smuggling operation. Salim Ahmed Said is an Iraqi -British citizen who runs a network of companies that have been selling Iranian oil falsely declared as Iraqi since 2020, said the US Treasury when it announced the sanctions this month. The 47-year-old owns and runs companies that have smuggled oil for the benefit of the Iranian government and the IRGC. Through bribery of Iraqi officials he has been able to pass off Iranian oil as if it originated from Iraq, through a terminal he runs just over the border. The network of which his is part has "collectively shipped tens of millions of barrels of Iranian oil and other petroleum worth billions of dollars", the Americans allege. An investigation by The National has uncovered the London-business connections of Mr Said, who the US says has two British passports and goes by several aliases. Links to a Syrian shipping magnate, who is under US sanctions for his dealings with the Houthis and Hezbollah, can also be revealed. Ships involved in the black market Iranian oil trade link Said with Houthi and Hezbollah financier Abdul Jalil Mallah. The US has described Mr Mallah as an "illicit shipping magnate", alleging he and his brother "use their shipping empire to support Iran's malign activities and those of its proxies". A join t investigation by The National and the Greek journalism organisation iMEdD revealed Mr Mallah appears to operate the business in Greece despite being under sanctions. London hotels Turn the corner on to Queensberry Place, after a short walk from South Kensington underground station, and at the end of the street the Natural History Museum's imposing towers loom into view. On the right-hand side of the road is The Gainsborough and directly opposite The Exhibitionist, its sister hotel. Both are run by the same Dublin-based company. The Gainsborough building is owned by Robinbest and was bought for £6.5 million ($8.6 million) in 2018, according to accounts. Robinbest is in turn owned by The Willett Hotel, whose owner is Mr Said, and the company has assets of £27 million, according to its most recently filed accounts. The Willett Hotel's correspondence address is, however, The Exhibtionist Hotel, while its registered office is The Gainsborough Hotel. The building that is home to The Exhibitionist is owned by another company, The Exhibitionist Holdings. The Exhibitionist Holdings' solicitor said his client's accountants were raising this crossover with Companies House "as a matter of urgency". The Willett Hotel's registered office was once the Exhibitionist Hotel's site but it shifted across the road to The Gainsborough before again it moved, this time to an accountancy firm in east London, which was also the registered office of Robinbest. An employee, who asked for his identity and that of the firm not to be revealed, confirmed the handsome townhouse was part of Mr Said's empire when The National visited. He said he was 'very surprised' when told both the companies have been placed under sanctions by the US. 'We were not aware that he was involved in the oil business, only hotels,' he said. 'We're not aware of any sanctions.' The employee said the firm dealt only with Mr Said's staff and never with him. They sent all the relevant paperwork needed to file accounts. 'Everything is above board and the companies pay tax,' he said. Both The Willett and Robinbest moved their registered office addresses to The Gainsborough soon after The National began its investigation. Mr Said is from the town of Ranya in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region and first came to the UK in 2002 after which he was granted asylum, The Sunday Times reported. His first business venture was a shop named Rhine in Leicester, which was dissolved in 2014. It is not known when he became involved in oil trading. Smuggling operation The complex and shadowy operation run by Salim Ahmed Said is revealed in detail by the US Treasury. At the heart of his sanctions-busting enterprise is the oil terminal at the port of Khor Al Zubayr in southern Iraq, where a company he owns, VS Oil, manages six oil storage tanks. The port sits on a waterway about 40km from Basra but Iran sits on the other side of the neighbouring Shatt Al-Arab river. As sanctions have tightened on it in recent years, Iraq has increasingly become Iran's lifeline and there have been reports that oil smuggling has increased since Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Sudani took office in 2022. The proximity of Mr Said's operation to Iran makes it convenient for the country's oil to be clandestinely shipped there clandestinely. To pay for the delivery, VS Oil employees smuggle hard currency into Iran in cars and lorries, some of which carry millions of dollars each. Once the Iranian oil is dropped off at Khor Al Zubayr it is mixed with Iraqi oil. Tankers carrying Iranian oil also conduct ship-to-ship transfers with vessels carrying Iraqi oil in nearby VS Oil's terminal facilities. Vessel tracking shows that VS Oil has been visited by a number of tankers, which transport Iranian petroleum products on behalf of US-sanctioned Iranian company Triliance Petrochemical. Ships operating for Iranian military front company Sahara Thunder have also visited VS Oil. Sahara Thunder is the main front company that oversees the IRGC's support for Russia's war in Ukraine, including the design, development, manufacture and sale of thousands of drones. This activity was founded by the widespread bribery of Iraqi officials. Mr Said has paid millions of dollars in bribes to many members of key Iraqi government bodies, including its parliament, in exchange for forged vouchers allowing him to sell Iranian oil as if it originated from Iraq. This blended oil that was authenticated by these officials was ultimately sold on the world markets. One expert told The National it was surprising that vessels had been actually sailing into an Iraqi port with Iranian oil to be blended with Iraqi. The expert explained that previously ships transporting Iranian oil had been pretending to be moored in Iraqi ports only to circumvent sanctions. This is done through what is known as spoofing – the manipulation of a ship's automatic identification system. 'So the blending part, that was something that we had not been seeing,' said the expert. While the US has stepped up its designation of vessels suspected of smuggling oil for Iran, tanker operators are 'very quick at adapting'. 'They're quick at moving things under a new name, new companies, new structures, new vessels, repurchasing vessels to fill the gap left by the ones have not been designated,' the source said. 'It's a shame because the US is doing a great job in terms of finally paying attention to this, but it's also not a comprehensive strategy. They are piecemeal designating. 'Until they really hit everyone hard, every single vessel, every single company, they just keep replacing and replacing. And so it just makes it harder.' Shadow fleet In a bid to avoid sanctions on its oil exports imposed by the US, Iran uses a network of oil tankers whose ownership is deliberately obscured. This shadow fleet, as it has come to be known, enables the regime to transport its oil to generate revenue for the struggling national economy. Iran relies on non-sanctioned ships to receive Iranian oil from sanctioned vessels using ship-to-ship transfers before carrying the cargo to buyers in Asia, mainly China. Ships in this shadow fleet have been operated by companies owned or controlled by Salim Ahmed Said. According to the US Treasury, he controls a UAE-based company called VS Tankers despite avoiding formal association with the business, which has smuggled oil for the benefit of the Iranian government and the IRGC. VS Tankers was formerly known as Al-Iraqia Shipping Services & Oil Trading. In 2020, the company reportedly brokered a deal to transport Iranian oil via Iraqi pipelines to be blended and sold as Iraqi oil. Mr Said is also the owner of Rhine Shipping, which was first implicated in blending Iranian oil to sell as Iraqi oil in 2022. Rhine Shipping was previously exposed as the manager of the oil tanker Molecule, which loaded oil in the Arabian Gulf from an Iranian tanker that had turned off its location transponder to conceal the transaction. The Molecule was subsequently sanctioned for its role in shipping Iranian oil as part of the network of Iran-backed Houthi financial official Sa'id Al Jamal. Helping the Houthis Under the direction of Mr Al Jamal, Syrian citizen Abdul Jalil Mallah facilitated transactions worth millions of dollars to Swaid and Sons, a Yemen-based exchange house associated with the Houthis. Mr Mallah is subject to an arrest warrant in the UK and has been listed as a specially designated global terrorist by the US Treasury since 2021 for his involvement with Hezbollah and the Houthis in deals it says were worth 'millions of dollars". He has worked with Mr Al Jamal to send millions of dollars' worth of Iranian crude oil to Hezbollah, the US alleges. Mr Al Jamal, financial backer of the Houthis, is based in Iran and directs a network of front companies and vessels that smuggle Iranian fuel, petroleum products and other commodities to customers throughout the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Last year, the US Treasury also sanctioned four ships belonging to Mr Mallah's brother Luay Al Mallah. Abdul Jalil was successfully sued in the UK over a deal he struck with three subsidiaries of the US firm Oaktree Capital Management (OCM) to finance the acquisition of two cargo ships – the Amethyst and the Courage. OCM sought to terminate the deal in June 2021 when Mr Mallah was placed under sanctions, and his assets and bank accounts were subject to a US freezing order. Subsequent lawsuits sought to wrest control from Mr Mallah. OCM had also sought £1 million in legal costs and in a subsequent court order in May 2024, Mr Mallah was given a prison sentence for fraud. Mr Mallah's submissions included forged documents purporting to be from the Greek authorities showing he had left the country before the notice was served, which led to a hearing for contempt of court. He was sentenced to 18 months in jail, though he is unlikely ever to serve any of it. In response, the shipping tycoon insisted he was the victim of a set-up. "I have nothing to do with Hezbollah and the Houthis. This is a big lie against me to rob me,' he said. Luxury home Mr Said lives in Dubai in the prestigious Palm Jumeirah, a big attraction for foreign buyers making high-end property purchases. When The National tried to pay a visit to his villa in Frond D, security did not allow anyone to pass unless there was permission from the owner. There was a small roundabout before the checkpoint at the Frond D entrance with a small sign on the right mentioning the letter of the Frond with a brief warning in Arabic and English: "Residents and visitors only". The security guard asked for identification and the reason for visiting. 'The host needs to alert the security so you can go inside after showing identification,' he said. Dubai is one of the world's most active markets for luxury homes and The Palm is the most desirable location for $10 million-plus properties. It has 17 fronds which extend outward from the trunk of the island, forming the distinctive palm tree shape. It is spread over an area of 560 hectares and divided into three main areas, The Crescent, Trunk and Fronds. They are primarily designed to house luxury residential villas, hotels and resorts. In June, an announcement was made for five luxurious villas to be built on land bought for Dh365 million ($99.4 million) on the island by developer 25 Degrees. Frond D is a gated sub-community on the north-east of The Palm development. The fronds are primarily residential areas, so access is often restricted to residents, guests or those with legitimate business.
Gulf Business
2 hours ago
- Gulf Business
Binance's regional head on driving crypto growth and digital innovation in the Gulf
Binance has firmly established itself as a key player in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Through a mix of hyper-localisation, regulatory engagement, and innovation-first thinking, the platform has seen approximately 20 per cent growth in MENA since 2020. At the heart of this effort is Bader Al Kalooti, regional head MEASAT at Binance, who is spearheading the company's expansion across the Gulf, Africa, and beyond. In this exclusive interview, Al Kalooti breaks down how Binance is navigating diverse regional dynamics, strengthening regulation-first strategies, and unlocking the next wave of blockchain innovation. Local relevance, global scale The company's consistent growth in MENA reflects its ability to adapt to a complex, varied landscape. 'We have seen the Middle East quickly becoming an epicenter for crypto, a place where platforms and projects migrate to expand and launch their Web3 companies,' said Al Kalooti. 'Each region is different, and we can see the community adapt and attract different aspects of the industry.' He noted that Binance focuses on regulatory frameworks that enable full-service operations aligned with each country's unique economic and technological priorities. Strategic expansion: From UAE and Bahrain to Saudi and beyond Binance made headlines by becoming the first global exchange to secure a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) licence in the UAE and a Category 4 licence in Bahrain. The company is now taking a similarly proactive approach in emerging crypto markets like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Kuwait. 'The MENA region is a significant market for Binance and the Web3 industry for several reasons,' Al Kalooti explained. 'It has a growing young population of 600 million people, with 60 per cent under the age of 30 who are tech-savvy, and 75 per cent smartphone penetration.' For high-income economies, digital assets serve as a diversification tool. For lower-GDP countries, crypto presents opportunities to bridge financial inclusion gaps. 'Remittance corridors present a significant opportunity primed for Web3 disruption, where there is around $150bn in outflows from the GCC,' he added. 'Collaboration with banks, fintechs, and government bodies is vital to ensure compliance.' Halal digital finance: Sharia-compliant innovation Binance made a breakthrough with the launch of 'When it comes to the next development in halal digital services, Sharia Earn will absolutely evolve and expand,' Al Kalooti said. 'It addresses a complex, global need… and the product has to continuously adapt to meet the expectations of diverse communities.' He noted that Binance will continue expanding token offerings and markets while adhering to Islamic finance principles. 'This is just the beginning.' Driving mass adoption through education Binance has made education a cornerstone of its regional strategy. Its Arabic-language initiative Blockchain for Everyone and collaborations with institutions like ADGM Academy aim to close knowledge gaps. 'Education is a core priority for Binance, and something we take very seriously,' Al Kalooti said. 'Even in high awareness markets there is fear of complexity, volatility, and safety due to low financial and technical literacy. Clear education through practical and real-world examples helps our users build trust.' Cybersecurity: Navigating rising threats As crypto adoption grows, so do the risks. Al Kalooti cited phishing attacks, impersonation scams, and deepfake-driven fraud as the most common cyber threats. 'Scammers love to exploit people's growing interest in crypto and the trust they have in Binance,' he warned. 'With the rise of AI and deepfake technology, these impersonations can look and sound shockingly real.' To protect users, Binance promotes vigilance and has developed tools such as Binance Verify . 'It allows users to input addresses, URLs, phone numbers, or usernames to quickly check whether they are legitimate or potentially fraudulent.' Institutional appetite rising across Gulf sectors From sovereign wealth funds and telecoms to fintechs, institutional interest in crypto is on the rise. 'We see an increase in institutional adoption across the board,' said Al Kalooti. He cited a 2023 partnership with Beyon Money in Bahrain, and a $2bn investment from Abu Dhabi-based Real-world use cases: Supply chains and healthcare Blockchain's most promising Gulf applications lie in areas like logistics and healthcare, according to Al Kalooti. 'I'm most excited about how blockchain can bring transparency and traceability to food supply chain management and pharmaceutical logistics to ensure halal compliance, reduce counterfeiting, and build trust.' In healthcare, he added, 'decentralized records can be a game changer… secure, consent-based access to medical data can make healthcare more seamless and reliable.' Ecosystem growth through partnerships Beyond regulators, Binance sees universities, VCs, and incubators as vital to scaling blockchain innovation. 'They all play different roles,' Al Kalooti said. Incubators and VCs provide the infrastructure and funding for startups, while universities help build the future talent pipeline. He cited Binance's collaboration with Gulf Colleges and Riyadh Chamber to expand blockchain education in Saudi Arabia as an example. 'The partnership focuses on workforce development… co-designing the curriculum, developing learning materials, and establishing certification programmes.' What's next: Binance and the Gulf's digital economy Looking ahead, Al Kalooti sees Binance playing a deeper role in enabling digital infrastructure across the Gulf. 'We see Binance being a key player in the Gulf's digital economy, not just as an exchange but as part of the region's financial infrastructure,' he said. 'We are focusing on institutional engagement and supporting real-world use cases like cross-border payments, digital remittances, and DeFi participation.' For Binance, it's about 'building responsibly and being part of a more connected, transparent, and future-proof financial system'.
Zawya
3 hours ago
- Zawya
Riyadh Development registers $29mln profits in H1-25
Riyadh: Riyadh Development Company generated SAR 107.70 million in net profit during the first half (H1) of 2025, down 33.68% year-on-year (YoY) from SAR 162.40 million. The revenues dropped by 8.38% to SAR 142.43 million in H1-25 from SAR 155.47 million a year earlier, according to the financial statements. Earnings per share (EPS) reached SAR 0.49 as of 30 June 2025, lower than SAR 0.91 in H1-24. Financials for Q2-25 In the second quarter (Q2) of 2025, Riyadh Development achieved net profits valued at SAR 65.63 million, an annual plunge of 28.60% from SAR 91.92 million. Revenues witnessed a 5.38% drop to SAR 72.89 million in Q2-25, versus SAR 77.04 million a year earlier. Quarterly, the Q2-25 net profits surged by 56% from SAR 42.07 million in Q1-25, while revenues increased by 4.81% from SAR 69.54 million. As of 31 December 2024, the Saudi group reported 9.10% YoY higher net profits at SAR 296.20 million, compared to SAR 271.50 million.
