
Sony Middle East and Africa hosts the 2nd edition of Sony Alpha Festival to Empower Saudi Arabia’s Creators
104
9 December 2024 - 22:32
written : رشاد اسكندراني
Rashad Iskandrni
A platform where art meets technology, the event features notable Sony ambassadors and advanced workshops
Riyadh :
Sony Middle East and Africa hosted the 2nd edition of Sony Alpha Festival, a transformative event celebrating photography and creativity, designed to empower Saudi Arabia’s content creators. The festival was held on 7th December at Sidra Arts, Jax District, Riyadh, providing a unique opportunity for the local creative community to experience, learn, and share Sony’s advanced digital imaging products in an environment where art meets technology.
The festival offered live experience zones, enabling creators to explore Sony’s Alpha cameras, and lenses in settings inspired by factual life scenarios, pushing the boundaries of artistic expression. Participants captured striking visuals in areas designed for fashion catwalks, sports action, and dynamic fire and water simulations. Workshops and masterclasses led by experts enhanced learning, covering advanced techniques in lighting, food composition, and cinematic storytelling.
In light of these efforts by Sony to groom local talent and contribute to creative economy, the festival had Sony Ambassadors including food videography and photography expert, Raneen Joudah; Saudi landscape photographer Abdulaziz Albalawi; and portrait photographer and art director Hossam Antikka.

Attendees also experienced some of Sony's newest Alpha series cameras, such as the groundbreaking Alpha 1 II and Alpha 9III, designed to set new benchmarks in professional photography and videography as well as the versatile and highly capable Alpha 7R V with AI-based autofocus capabilities for unparalleled precision and the Alpha 7 IV with S-Cinetone™️. Innovation is at the heart of Sony's vision of making digital imaging tools that inspire creators and help them turn their dreams into reality.
With Saudi Arabia’s digital content market projected to reach SAR 16–20 billion ($4.3–5.3 billion) by 2030, according to a report by the Trend Corporation in collaboration with the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the second edition of Sony Alpha Festival was perfectly positioned to support this growth. By providing creators with the skills and technologies they need, the festival played a key role in empowering the local creative community to thrive in this rapidly expanding field.
Jobin Joejoe, Managing Director, Sony Middle East and Africa, said, “Saudi Arabia’s digital content market is thriving, owning to this photographers, videographers, and content creators need to continuously upgrade with the right skills and products to meet industry demands. Our annual Alpha Festival is a platform for these creators to learn, connect, and innovate. We are grateful for the success of the second edition for this event, here in Riyadh. Content creators of today are empowered, and we want to aid them in achieving their best potential through our offerings and this festival. Through workshops, hands-on experiences, and insights from Sony Ambassadors, the event reinforced Sony’s purpose of ‘filling the world with emotion through the power of creativity and technology.’”
The Sony Alpha Festival attracted the Kingdom’s leading photographers, videographers, vloggers, and aspiring creators, fostering connections and showcasing a seamless integration of artistry and technology.
For more information, please visit AlphaUniverse-MEA.com
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Mozn and Oracle Sign MoU to Propel Gen-AI Adoption
Rashad Iskandrni
Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – 16 February 2025: Mozn, a Saudi Technology company and a leading provider of Enterprise AI technologies, today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Oracle at LEAP 2025, Saudi Arabia’s renowned technology conference.
Under the MoU, Mozn will use Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) to deploy its state-of-the-art Gen-AI platform, OSOS, which is renowned for its advanced Arabic Natural Language Understanding capabilities. This strategic collaboration aims to accelerate digital transformation by combining cutting-edge Gen-AI and cloud solutions to drive innovation, enhance efficiency, and optimize enterprise operations.
The MoU was signed by Dr. Abdullah Alshalan, Head of OSOS, Mozn and Hanane El Mir, Cloud Technology VP MENA, Oracle, symbolizing a commitment to setting new benchmarks in the realm of digital innovation. This partnership highlights a shared vision to leverage Gen-AI and Cloud infrastructure as catalysts for innovation, enabling business to thrive in an evolving technological landscape.
“Collaborating with a global leader like Oracle represents a significant leap forward in harnessing the power of artificial intelligence”, said Dr. Abdullah Alshalan, Head of OSOS, Mozn. "This collaboration enables us to leverage OCI to deploy our advanced Gen-AI platform, OSOS, creating a synergy that will drive significant advancements and deliver unparalleled value to our clients."
OSOS is designed to navigate the intricate complexities of the Arabic language using domain-specific models while ensuring data privacy through on-premises processing. As part of its continuous innovation, Mozn recently launched “OSOS Talk to Data,” an addition to its GenAI platform, “OSOS Talk to Docs.” This new platform empowers businesses with instant, AI-driven insights, allowing a wide range of business users to retrieve and analyze data effortlessly. With these advancements, OSOS is setting a new standard for AI-driven Gen AI solutions in the Arabic-speaking world.
منذ 8 ساعات . News

Tameer Vision Real Estate and Huawei Partner to Build Future-Ready Residential Units in Saudi Arabia
Rashad Iskandrni
Powered by Huawei’s industry-leading Fiber-to-the-Room (FTTR) solution, Tameer Vision’s new residential buildings will deliver superior living experiences to residents while contributing to the growth of Saudi Arabia’s 10Gbps society.
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, February 16, 2024: Tameer Vision Real Estate and Huawei announce a strategic partnership to develop next-generation residential units equipped with cutting-edge fiber connectivity. This collaboration aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology’s (MCIT) 10Gbps Society initiative that aims to build a superfast broadband infrastructure across the Kingdom to support the country’s digital transformation goals.
The 10 Gbps Society envisions a future of ultra-fast internet access, powering a more connected and intelligent world. As demand for bandwidth-heavy applications like video streaming and online gaming grows, Huawei’s Fiber-to-the-Room (FTTR) solution delivers the necessary infrastructure. FTTR provides a stable, gigabit-speed Wi-Fi experience throughout the home by extending fiber optic cables to each room, ensuring seamless connectivity for every device.
Through this partnership, Huawei will provide its technical expertise and advanced FTTR solutions to ensure Tameer Vision’s new residential buildings are future-proof and capable of supporting the ever-increasing bandwidth demands of smart homes and automation technologies. This will lay the groundwork for seamless integration of future advancements in connectivity.
Commenting on the partnership, CEO of Tameer , Yasser Al Majed, said, “This partnership with Huawei marks a pivotal moment for Tameer Vision and sets a new standard of modern living in the Kingdom. At Tameer Vision, we are committed to providing our residents with the most advanced living experience possible, and this collaboration allows us to deliver on that promise. By integrating Huawei’s cutting-edge FTTR technology, we are not only future-proofing our residential units but also contributing to the Kingdom’s broader digital transformation goals outlined in Vision 2030. This is more than just connectivity; it’s about building the foundation for a smarter, more connected future for Saudi Arabia.”
Simon zousiyi, Deputy CEO of Huawei Saudi , commented, “Huawei is proud to partner with Tameer Vision on this groundbreaking initiative. We believe that access to high-speed, reliable connectivity is essential for driving innovation and economic growth across Saudi Arabia. This collaboration exemplifies our commitment to empowering a fully connected, intelligent world, and we are excited to contribute our expertise in FTTR solutions to help Tameer Vision create truly future-ready residential communities in the Kingdom. This project aligns perfectly with the Kingdom’s 10Gbps Society vision, and we are confident it will serve as a model for other developers in the region.”

This partnership underscores both companies’ dedication to driving innovation in the Kingdom. By integrating Huawei’s state-of-the-art ICT infrastructure, Tameer Vision aims to deliver superior living experiences to residents while contributing to the growth of Saudi Arabia’s digital economy. The initiative sets a new standard for residential connectivity, encouraging wider adoption of FTTR technology among developers and promoting a more connected future for the Kingdom.
The two companies aim to have over 5,000 FTTR-ready residential units by 2035, which is key to achieving the ambitious goals outlined by MCIT’s 10Gbps society initiative and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. This forward-thinking approach positions Tameer Vision as a smart real estate development leader and reinforces Huawei’s commitment to empowering a digitally advanced society.
-Ends-
About Huawei
Founded in 1987, Huawei is a leading global provider of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure and smart devices. We have more than 207,000 employees, and we operate in more than 170 countries and regions, serving more than three billion people around the world.
Our Vision and mission is to bring digital to every person, home and organization for a fully connected, intelligent world. To this end, we will drive ubiquitous connectivity and promote equal access to networks; bring cloud and artificial intelligence to all four corners of the earth to provide superior computing power where you need it, when you need it; build digital platforms to help all industries and organizations become more agile, efficient, and dynamic; redefine user experience with AI, making it more personalized for people in all aspects of their life, whether they’re at home, in the office, or on the go.
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MDLBEAST Ignites Formula Jeddah E Prix 2025 with Two Nights of Spectacular Performances
Rashad Iskandrni
MDLBEAST, the leading Saudi music entertainment company, turned up the heat at Formula E Prix 2025 in Jeddah with a two-day concert series that electrified the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. In collaboration with Jeddah E Prix, MDLBEAST delivered back-to-back nights of world-class performances on February 14 and 15, setting the stage for an unforgettable weekend of music and motorsport. Thousands of fans gathered to witness this fusion of high-speed action and high-energy beats, reinforcing Jeddah’s status as a global hub for entertainment.
A Star-Studded Kickoff
The festivities began with an exhilarating performance by Ruby, the Egyptian singer-songwriter whose enchanting stage presence and signature Arabic pop anthems instantly captivated the crowd. She delivered a mesmerizing set featuring fan-favorite hits like Leh Beydary Keda and Enta Aref Leih, blending nostalgic melodies with modern beats and setting the perfect tone for the night.
Taking the energy up a notch, Akon, the global superstar, had the crowd energized as he delivered an electrifying performance. Singing along to classics like Smack That, Lonely, and Right Now (Na Na Na), fans were treated to a dynamic set that showcased his timeless appeal and infectious energy.
Closing out the first night was none other than Wegz, one of the Arab world’s fastest-rising hip-hop and R&B sensations. His signature blend of rap and contemporary trap beats had the audience vibing to hits like El Bakht and Dorak Gai, proving once again why he is a force to be reckoned with in the regional music scene.
More Icons, More Energy
As anticipation built for another night of unforgettable performances, Miami took the stage to deliver a nostalgic yet electrifying set on the second night. The legendary Kuwaiti group had the crowd singing and dancing to their timeless pop hits, bringing an undeniable energy that set the perfect mood for the evening.
Following act, Grammy-winning rapper Lil Baby brought his signature flow and hard-hitting beats to the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. Performing chart-topping tracks, and he delivered a powerhouse performance that had fans rapping along to every word.
Rounding out the night, Disco Misr, the Egyptian DJ trio, brought their signature fusion of electronic music and Arabic classics to the stage, delivering a pulsating finale that kept the energy soaring until the very last beat. With their unique sound and infectious remixes, they had the crowd dancing non-stop under the Jeddah skyline.
With two nights of unforgettable performances, MDLBEAST proved once again why it is at the forefront of the region’s music entertainment revolution. As the Formula E Prix continues to captivate motorsport enthusiasts, the electrifying atmosphere of this music-fueled weekend reaffirms Jeddah’s place as a premier global destination for culture, sports, and entertainment.
منذ 8 ساعات . News

Estonia Strengthens Digital Collaboration with Saudi Arabia, Showcasing Innovation in ICT
Rashad Iskandrni
Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 16 February 2025: Estonia strengthened its digital ties with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) as the Estonian business delegation, together with Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs Liisa-Ly Pakosta, visited the country during the LEAP 2025 technology conference.
The business delegation led by the Estonian Association of Information Technology and Telecommunications (ITL) includes Estonian technology companies, which had the opportunity to showcase their innovative services and solutions during the visit, share the experience of the Estonian e-state and strengthen international business relations.
As part of an ongoing digital cooperation initiative, the visit underscores the Northern European nation’s unwavering commitment to driving innovation, advancing digital identity solutions, and supporting Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Vision 2030 goals. With the 3rd highest number of cybersecurity companies per capita in the EU, Estonia brings solid expertise in digital security.
Estonian companies had the opportunity to strengthen existing cooperation and discuss possible new cooperation projects at meetings led by the Minister of Justice and Digital with representatives of the Saudi Arabian government and digital and business organisations. The minister also participated in a panel discussion on the main stage of the technology conference, where the ethical aspects of the use of artificial intelligence were discussed. Eight Estonian technology companies participated in the high-level visits: B.EST Solutions Estonia, Bamboo Group, CybExer Technologies, Helmes, Lean Digital, Miltton CIO World, Nortal, and Wildix.
According to Minister Liisa-Ly Pakosta, the meetings where Estonia's business and investment environment and its digital expertise were introduced to Saudi government ministers and influential IT company leaders exceeded expectations regarding success. Economic cooperation opportunities with Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, are highly attractive to Estonian entrepreneurs and are among the priorities of business diplomacy. At the Gulf Region business seminar held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tallinn last autumn, interest in the region was remarkably high among entrepreneurs. Visiting the region also provided an excellent opportunity to support entrepreneurs and present Estonia’s positions.
During the visit, the Estonian delegation engaged with key Saudi leaders to explore opportunities for digital collaboration in innovation, research and development, and capacity building. Meetings were held with H.E. Eng. Abdullah bin Amer Alswahah, Minister of Communications and Information Technology; H.E. Khalid Al-Falih, Minister of Investment; H.E. Eng. Abdulrahman Abdulmohsen A. AlFadley, Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture; H.E. Suliman Alobaid, Assistant Minister of Economy and Planning; H.E. Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al Qasabi, Minister of Commerce and Chairman of Monshaat; and H.E. Dr. Saad bin Saleh Alaboodi, CEO of Saudi Information Technology Company (SITE).
The delegation also took part in the 'Gateway to KSA: Unlocking Business Opportunities for Estonia' workshop, hosted by the Ministry of Investment, where discussions centred on Estonia’s technological prowess and its potential role in Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation. Furthermore, the minister attended a dinner discussion on how to bring more women into IT and met with Ms. Daniah Orkoubi, General Manager of the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, to discuss support for women's role in IT.
Eva-Kristiina Ponomarjov, Director of Global Trade, Enterprise Estonia, stated,”Estonia may be rather compact in size, but it is digitally boundless and aims to collaborate in digital transformation projects on a global scale. We believe in digital resilience and open collaboration, where everybody wins. In this perspective, LEAP was a great leap forward for Estonian companies.”
For instance, Bamboo Group from Estonia signed a Letter of Intent with a local partner, Skyeyes, to form a joint venture that will transform infrastructure security in Saudi Arabia. This partnership is set to accelerate the Kingdom’s digital transformation and support Vision 2030.
Another key agreement is the collaboration between B.EST Solutions and Professional Solutions, a Saudi-based company specialising in digital products and emerging technologies. This strategic partnership will focus on implementing post-quantum-ready Mobile Identity solutions, including eSIM and cloud-based identities, to support secure cross-border services. Moreover, this collaboration aims to develop the mResidency programme, which is designed to attract global investors and entrepreneurs to Saudi Arabia, thereby enhancing the country’s global acumen.
In addition to B2B agreements, the IITL signed an MoU with the Digital Cooperation Organisation (DCO).
According to the CEO of ITL Doris Põld, Saudi Arabia is an important target market for Estonian technology companies. “Estonia’s ICT sector has long been at the forefront of secure digital services, and strong state support plays an essential part in helping Estonian companies expand into new markets. In this region, where government-backed initiatives drive large-scale digital transformation, having that support is vital for unlocking new opportunities.”
The Estonian government has played a crucial role in facilitating these partnerships, ensuring that the country's ICT sector, contributing 8% to the nation’s GDP, continues to lead the way in digital transformation. By fostering collaboration between the public and private sectors, Estonia is advancing digital solutions that benefit societies and businesses alike, paving the way for a prosperous digital future. This is supported by the recent announcement that 100% of all Estonian public services are now accessible online.
Estonia and Saudi Arabia are poised to become leaders in the digital landscape, exemplifying how innovation can drive economic growth and societal well-being.
About Trade Estonia
Trade Estonia is part of Enterprise Estonia. As a state organisation, Trade Estonia helps Estonian companies to establish themselves in international markets. With a focus on future technologies and pioneering projects, Trade Estonia provides Estonian companies with access to market analysis and marketing strategies and creates the conditions for them to operate successfully on a global scale. Trade Estonia not only promotes the development of new business areas and the establishment of strategic partnerships, but also facilitates access to international networks, thus contributing to the global competitiveness of Estonian companies.
منذ 9 ساعات . News

Nokia and ACES Announce Long-Term Partnership to enhance coverage in the Makkah Region
Rashad Iskandrni
16th of Feb., 2025
- First-of-its-kind open fronthaul active indoor solution in a highly congested area.
- Enhances connectivity for pilgrims and enterprises while minimizing power and space consumption.
- Supports Saudi Vision 2030 and lays the foundation for future scalable 5G deployments.
Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – Nokia and ACES have announced a long-term strategic partnership to implement a unique sharable indoor solution, enhancing both indoor and outdoor network coverage in the Makkah region. This collaboration will ensure seamless connectivity for millions of pilgrims, residents, and enterprises while optimizing network efficiency and sustainability.
Nokia’s advanced indoor solution will allow three Communication Service Providers (CSPs) to operate on a common network infrastructure, significantly improving indoor and outdoor coverage while reducing costs. Engineered for high-density areas, the solution minimizes space and power consumption, making it ideal for Makkah’s high-traffic zones.
This deployment supports Saudi Vision 2030 by enhancing digital infrastructure, enterprise operations, and network sustainability. It also contributes to a smarter, more efficient telecom ecosystem by optimizing Capital Expenditure and reducing Operational Expenditure.
By addressing coverage gaps with minimal power usage, the solution ensures a reliable, high-speed network experience in critical indoor and outdoor locations. It is designed for scalability, laying the foundation for future 5G expansions across the Kingdom.
Dr Haitham Baba, Head of Saudi Mobile Networks Enterprise at Nokia, said:"Our collaboration with ACES delivers an industry-leading, high-capacity solutions that enhances network efficiency while reducing costs. This shareable indoor solution will ensure superior connectivity for end users in Makkah and beyond."
Dr Khalid Al Mashouq, CEO at ACES NH, added: "Working with Nokia allows us to provide a sustainable, high-performance indoor solution that ensures seamless connectivity in even the most challenging environments. This deployment reflects our commitment to supporting the Kingdom’s digital transformation and ensuring seamless connectivity for millions of users in the country."
Nokia’s solution integrates automation and enhanced security to optimize resource usage and reduce environmental impact. It enables a cost-effective and sustainable approach to network expansion while maintaining high-performance connectivity.
About Nokia
At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together.
As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs.
With truly open architectures that seamlessly integrate into any ecosystem, our high-performance networks create new opportunities for monetization and scale. Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable and sustainable networks today – and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future.
About ACES
ACES is an International Neutral Digital Infrastructure Company with the vision to diversify its portfolio and continue evolving as a Champion Neutral Host Operator, Managed Service provider, and a Full Turnkey System Integrator undertaking EPC contracts while enhancing its technical capabilities by partnering and investing in R&D and patents to promote localization and local manufacturing.
ACES is a Pioneering Saudi Company with its Global Head office in Riyadh and regional offices in the EMEA region. ACES have been an innovative firm introducing new telecom solutions and business concepts to clients, helping them achieve their strategic objectives.
For more information, please visit https://www.aces-co.com/
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Nokia Press Office
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منذ 9 ساعات . News

Ooredoo Qatar taps Nokia 5G Standalone Core to deliver advanced network services and generate new revenue streams
Rashad iskandrni
- Nokia will deliver a modernized core network that enables Ooredoo Qatar to offer more advanced services using network slicing to generate new consumer and enterprise revenue streams across industries such as ports, mining, and natural gas.
13 February 2025
Espoo, Finland – Ooredoo Qatar, the leading telecommunications company in Qatar with more than 3.4 million customers, has selected Nokia to modernize the operator’s core network to enable the delivery of more advanced services, using network slicing and the integration of AI and machine learning capabilities that strengthen network performance, reliability, and the overall customer experience.
The modernization will support Ooredoo Qatar’s network evolution to unlock more value faster from its network assets through new business models and consumer and enterprise revenue streams.
“Our vision is about enriching people’s digital lives and taking this important step with Nokia, of moving to a 5G standalone core network, supports our group-wide project initiatives of evolving our network operations with new digital capabilities and business models that strengthen the customer and enterprise experience,” said Sheikh Ali Bin Jabor Al-Thani, Chief Executive Officer, Ooredoo Qatar.
The deal includes Nokia 5G voice core, packet core, and subscriber data management, which will provide Ooredoo Qatar with the capabilities to deliver ultra-low latency bandwidth and multi-access edge computing, which are needed to provide real-time industrial automation and high-quality gaming experiences at scale.
Nokia's core solutions give communication service providers the flexibility required to operate multi-vendor networks. Ooredoo Qatar will also be able to create thousands of virtual networks on a single physical network infrastructure, with each “slice" tailored to specific requirements for different applications, services, and customers.
“As a leading operator in the Middle East, Ooredoo Qatar continues to drive transformation projects that meet its customers’ evolving digital needs. We are delighted to grow Nokia’s strong partnership with Ooredoo Qatar by providing our flexible 5G standalone Core capabilities and supporting the operator’s multi-level network requirements,” said Raghav Sahgal, President of Cloud and Network Services at Nokia.
Ooredoo Qatar will also use Nokia’s MantaRay NM solution for a consolidated and automated network view that optimizes network monitoring and management.
The deal includes the rollout of Nokia Data Center Fabric solution, which enables data centers and cloud environments to easily scale, adapt, and operate. As part of the solution, Nokia’s 7220 Interconnect Router (IXR) system will be deployed, allowing Ooredoo Qatar to provide its services at higher efficiency, reduced energy consumption, and increased capacity.
Nokia had the most 5G Standalone Core communication service provider customers, with 123 in total, at the end of 2024.
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About Nokia
At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together.
As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs.
With truly open architectures that seamlessly integrate into any ecosystem, our high-performance networks create new opportunities for monetization and scale.
Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable and sustainable networks today – and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future.
Media Inquiries
Nokia Communications, Corporate
Email: Press.Services@nokia.com
Follow us on social media
منذ 9 ساعات . News