SPORTS-

#1- UK-based sports field manufacturer SIS Pitches will design the field for Aramco Stadium in Al Khobar as the Kingdom is gearing up to host the 2034 World Cup, Al Arabiya reports, citing a statement from the company.

The details: The company — which was behind the Kingdom Arena pitch in Riyadh — will be in charge of designing a hybrid grass pitch, two natural grass training pitches, and a ventilation system for the Aramco Stadium by the end of this month. Meanwhile, the project is scheduled to be implemented in 2026.

ICYMI- Aramco tapped Spanish tech and engineering company Ayesa in December to be the project management consultant for its Al Khobar stadium.

#2- Banan subsidiary set to build two Optimo gyms in Riyadh: Banan Real EstateCompany ’s subsidiary Qimam Nashaz Real Estate Development Company landed a SAR 224 mn contract to develop two gyms for Armah Sports Company in Riyadh’s Al Wadi district under the Optimo brand, according to disclosures to Tadawul (here and here).

EDUCATION-

The Education Ministry launched the Mdares platform, a comprehensive AI-powered platform offering services to parents, investors, and schools, according to a statement from the ministry. The platform displays information about national and international schools in the Kingdom to help parents make informed decisions on school choices for their children. The platform also serves as a gateway to investors who are looking to tap the Saudi education sector. In addition, it offers marketing and operation management tools for schools.

HOSPITALITY-

New Sheraton hotel coming to Al Khobar: Marriot International partnered with AshaadCompany and Aleph Hospitality to launch Sheraton Al Khobar Al Hamra, Al Khobar’s first Sheraton brand, according to a press release from Aleph. The 580-key hotel will be located near the King Fahd Causeway, which connects Saudi Arabia to Bahrain, and is slated for opening in 2028.

MINING-

Mohammed Hadi Al Rasheed and Partners Company kicked off production at its high-silica mine in Riyadh, after securing a mining license from the Industry and Mineral Resources Ministry, according to a disclosure to Tadawul. The project’s impact on the company’s financial statements is expected to materialize during 1H 2025.

URBAN DEVELOPMENT-

The Sharqia Development Authority launched the urban data platform Sard which aims to support planning and sustainable development in the Eastern Province by providing unified geospatial and urban data, state news agency SPA reports. The platform consolidates data from over 50 governmental and development entities.

STARTUP WATCH-

Homegrown edtech startup UpLevel has secured an undisclosed pre-Seed funding round from a group of angel investors, according to a press release. No further details on the total raised, use of proceeds, name of investors, or on whether the contributions were debt or equity-based were disclosed.

About UpLevel: Founded in 2024 by Idris Alshayea (Linkedin) and Hamad AlLuhaidan , UpLevel helps companies boost employee performance by providing connections to professional coaches that can provide training programs, mentoring, and tailored career guidance.

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