Saudi Edition 
Egypt Edition 
UAE Edition 
MENA <> India Corridor 
Logistics (MENA) 
Climate (MENA) 
Share
EDUCATION-
The US-based University of New Haven announced it will open a Riyadh branch by Fall 2026 set to serve 13k students, after the Cabinet approved the move during its Tuesday meeting in Riyadh, it said in a statement yesterday. The new campus — the first foreign higher education entity in the Kingdom — will offer programs in different professions like Business and Digital Innovation, Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing, Arts and Applied Sciences.
REMEMBER- The Education and Investment Ministries, along with the Royal Commission for Riyadh, inked an MoU with the university in April, paving the way for setting up a branch campus in Riyadh.
(** Tap or click the headline above to read this story with all of the links to our background and outside sources.)
M&A WATCH-
#1- Cultural Assets Group’ subsidiary Haal acquired the fashion brand The PopUp during the Cultural Investment Conference in Riyadh, aiming to strengthen its presence in the cultural retail and fashion sector, it said in a press release last week. The acquisition — financed by the Cultural Fund — is part of the group’s SAR 850 mn investment fund aimed at boosting the cultural economy via the acquisition of specialized international companies.
About The Pop Up: Founded in 2018, The Pop Up supports local designers and brands, having hosted over 120 Saudi brands and helped more than 30 grow to full market presence, selling over half a mn items.
#2- Alkhabeer Capital inked a subscription agreement to acquire SAR 18 mn in shares of Sindbad.tech’s owner Automated Economy Holding Company, it said in a press release yesterday. Sindbad.tech is the first Saudi fintech firm with a Capital Market Authority experimental permit to test AI-powered robo-advisory services, and will allow Alkhabeer Capital to develop new investment products, funds, and personalized portfolio management solutions.
ESPORTS-
The Communication and Information Technology Ministry launched a nationwide university-level esports hackathon dubbed the PUBG Mobile Wow, bringing together creative students to design new PUBG Mobile maps inspired by the Kingdom’s heritage and culture, it said on X on Tuesday.
IN CONTEXT- As part of diversification efforts and expanding its cultural footprint, the Kingdom hosted the Esports World Cup recently and announced plans to host a Nations Cup for national teams. The Public Investment Fund’s gaming and esports unit, Savvy Games Group, acquired US-based Scopely in 2023 for USD 4.9 bn, which subsequently purchased rights to Pokémon Go and several other titles from Niantic in a USD 3.5 bn transaction that closed in March.
