Google leaps further into AI-powered search & tools

 1. Google leaps further into AI-powered search & tools

• At Google I/O 2025, “AI Mode” was introduced, transforming search into a conversational, context-aware experience. Gemini, the next-gen AI assistant, now integrates camera, voice, and web data for real-time task execution (techinfospark.com).

• Gemini also launched CLI tooling for developers, enabling terminal-based AI code generation, debugging, and system administration with strong free usage tiers (esenthil.medium.com).

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🤖 2. Breakthroughs in AI & deep learning

• OpenAI unveiled o3‑pro, its most advanced model yet, and cut prices by around 80%—now $2 per million input tokens, $8 per million output tokens (medium.com).

• xAI (Elon Musk) released Grok 3, a competitor to GPT‑4o, excelling in technical fields—though currently only accessible to X Premium users (techinfospark.com).

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📱 3. Major device announcements

• Samsung is set to debut the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 at its July 9 Galaxy Unpacked event, featuring slimmer designs, Snapdragon 8 Elite chipsets, One UI 8 with smarter AI, and possibly a tri‑fold “Galaxy G Fold” (techradar.com).

• Nintendo Switch 2, launched June 5, has sold 3.5 M units in its first week. Specs include a 7.9″ 120 Hz handheld display, 4 GB LPDDR5X, 256 GB storage, 4K docked, and a custom Nvidia Tegra chipset (en.wikipedia.org).

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🧠 4. AI ethics & sustainability concerns

• New research highlights the carbon footprint of AI, prompting calls for more efficient and eco-friendly AI development (styletech.net).

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🥽 5. Apple steps into wearables aggressively

• Analyst Ming‑Chi Kuo reports Apple is planning at least seven head‑mounted devices by 2028, including Ray‑Ban‑style AR glasses by 2027. Vision Pro headsets may receive upgraded M5 chips in 2025 (timesofindia.indiatimes.com).

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🏭 6. Big semiconductor and corporate shifts

• Intel restructures, shedding 20 % of global staff starting July 15, closing its automotive chip division, and replacing its CSO with a new CTO/AI Officer (indiatimes.com).

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🚘 7. Tesla debuts robotaxis

• Tesla introduced a pilot robotaxi fleet in Austin (around 10 Model Y vehicles), flat $4.20 rides with onboard safety operators—marking a major step for autonomous ride-hailing (medium.com).

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🔎 Summary & What to Watch

• AI & cloud: Ongoing price wars, new tools, and sustainability pressures.

• Devices: Foldables heat up, consoles evolve, Apple doubles down on AR wearables.

• Auto-tech: Autonomous services enter the real world in pilot form.

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• techradar.com
• timesofindia.indiatimes.com
• indiatimes.com
• techradar.com
• theguardian.com

Labor Market Snapshot you find jobs in Saudi Arabia

📈 Labor Market Snapshot

• Saudi Arabia’s unemployment rate has dropped to a historic low of 2.8%, with national unemployment at around 6.3% in Q1 2025 (saudiajobs.net, m.economictimes.com).

• Female labor-force participation is climbing—36.3%, with unemployment among Saudi women down to 10.5% (gulfbusiness.com).

• Key demand areas include AI/tech, healthcare, engineering, finance, hospitality, and construction as part of Vision 2030 and Saudization policies (zawya.com).

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🔍 Top Job Portals & Platforms

Platform	Highlights
LinkedIn	Thousands of vacancies: roles like Business Analyst, Cabin Crew, Quality Supervisor, Finance, Govt, etc. (linkedin.com)
Bayt.com	6,000+ listings including engineering, sales, accounting, remote, part-time, and fresher roles
Wuzzuf	Listings in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam across tech, sales, education, etc.
GulfTalent	~1,200 jobs focused on mid/senior-level professional roles
Indeed Saudi	15,000+ listings; e.g., bilingual chat‑AI content/training positions in your region
SaudiaJobs.net	Broad categories—healthcare, engineering, IT, finance, construction, nursing—plus helpful expat insights

These platforms are up-to-date and regularly refreshed.

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🧭 Getting Started

1. Define your target: Pick your sector—tech, healthcare, engineering, etc.

2. Choose a portal: Use Bayt or GulfTalent for broader exposure, LinkedIn for professional networking, and Indeed for gig or flexible jobs.

3. Create strong profiles:

   • Highlight relevant skills, certifications, and (if applicable) Arabic proficiency.

4. Apply strategically: Use filters by location (Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Al‑Qassim/Buraidah), experience level, and sector.

5. Follow Saudization rules: Many roles are for Saudi nationals; expats may need extra qualifications or sponsorships.

6. Consider Premium Residency if you're an expatriate—helps with work and property rights without needing a sponsor (careerjet.com.sa, bayt.com, en.wikipedia.org).

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💼 Other Useful Insights

• Construction & hospitality: Often recruit abroad—e.g., initiatives like PSDF for Pakistani workers indicate similar programs exist for others (bloompakistan.com).

• Tech hiring accelerated: Firms like TASC are fast-tracking hiring in AI/tech roles (zawya.com).

• Major giga‑projects ongoing: Projects in Jeddah, Medina, Neom, SPARK, etc., are generating tens of thousands of jobs (en.wikipedia.org).

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✅ Next Steps

1. Decide on your preferred field and city.

2. Sign up on 2–3 portals and tailor your CV for each.

3. Set up job alerts for your sectors.

4. Network—reach out via LinkedIn or attend local events.

5. If you're an expat, explore Premium Residency to improve hiring chances.

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Let me know if you’d like help tailoring your CV, prepping for interviews, or digging into specific industries or locations (e.g., Buraidah‑Al Qassim, Riyadh, Jeddah). I’m here to help!

• gulfbusiness.com
• zawya.com

🇸🇦 Top Logistics Companies in Saudi Arabia

 🇸🇦 Top Logistics Companies in Saudi Arabia

1. Bahri (National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia)

• Saudi’s national maritime carrier, operating 97 vessels including VLCCs, chemical tankers, multi-purpose and dry‑bulk ships (clickpost.ai, en.wikipedia.org).

• Strong in oil, chemicals, bulk cargo, roll-on/roll-off, and integrated logistics. Plays a major role in global shipping. (en.wikipedia.org)

2. Saudi Post (Al‑Bareed)

• Government postal and logistics network with 478 main offices and 180 branches.

• Handles domestic and international parcels, e‑commerce logistics. (en.wikipedia.org, namaait.com)

3. Aramex

• Global express courier, freight-forwarding, warehousing, and e‑commerce logistics.

• Widespread coverage in Saudi Arabia with advanced tracking systems. (varahii.com, 3rd-partner.com)

4. DHL Express / DHL Supply Chain

• Investing €500M+ in ME infrastructure (hub development, fleet, warehousing, tech) through 2030.

• Offers express delivery, freight forwarding, customs clearance, and full supply-chain solutions. (wsj.com, saudiarab.info)

5. SMSA Express

• Leading Saudi-based express courier and logistics provider.

• Extensive domestic network, e‑commerce logistics support, customs clearance.

6. Naqel Express (formerly Zajil/Hala Express)

• Joint venture between Saudi Post and Hala Express, active since 1993/2005.

• Offers domestic/international shipping, COD, inventory, and distribution services. (namaait.com)

7. FedEx Express

• International courier and freight delivery with full operational coverage in Saudi Arabia.

8. UPS

• US-based global delivery and logistics provider with operations across major Saudi cities.

9. Almajdouie Logistics

• Specializes in freight forwarding, heavy lift, project logistics, and warehousing.

• Prominent for serving oil & gas and industrial sectors. (varahii.com)

10. Agility Logistics

• Global 3PL provider active in Saudi Arabia, offering freight forwarding, contract/project logistics, warehousing.

• Recognized for digital innovation and sustainability efforts.

11. Saudia Cargo

• A subsidiary of Saudia airlines; national air‑freight carrier with dedicated freighter fleet (747F, 777F).

• Serves Jeddah, Riyadh plus 58+ destinations worldwide. (en.wikipedia.org)

12. SISCO / Sustained Infrastructure Holding Company

• Operates ports, logistics parks, bonded zones.

• Owns Red Sea Gateway Terminal; diversified into logistics investments. (en.wikipedia.org)

13. Binzagr Company

• Century-old distributor with robust logistics and SCM infrastructure (ERP, GPS, nationwide coverage).

• Strong presence in food, beverage, home care, auto sectors. (clickpost.ai)

14. Aldrees Petroleum & Transport (APTSCO)

• Offers petroleum distribution and logistics; operates ~600 gas stations plus transport services. (en.wikipedia.org)

15. Fast n Accurate Freight Forwarder

• Rapidly growing local freight forwarder with customs brokerage roots. Operates a 30,000 m² terminal + 5,000 m² warehouse (reddit.com)

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🧭 Other Notable Mentions

• CMA CGM, Maersk, MSC – global shipping giants with Jeddah-based operations (rasmal.com)

• Four Winds Logistics – Riyadh-based freight forwarder with customs, warehousing, and container services

• Wared Logistics, Al‑Futtaim Logistics, CEVA Logistics, Kuehne+Nagel, DB Schenker – strong regional 3PL players (mordorintelligence.com)

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✅ Choosing the Right Partner

• Sea freight / oil & bulk → Bahri, CMA CGM, Maersk, MSC

• Air cargo / express → Saudia Cargo, DHL, FedEx, Aramex, SMSA, Naqel, UPS

• 3PL / heavy logistics → Almajdouie, Agility, Binzagr, SISCO

• Last‑mile & e‑commerce → Saudi Post, Aramex, DHL e‑commerce, SMSA, Naqel, Fast n Accurate

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📈 Market Trends

• Saudi Vision 2030 aims to develop the Kingdom as a global logistics hub—leading infrastructure expansion at ports, airports, and logistics zones (clickpost.ai, aviaanaccounting.com, aviaanaccounting.com).

• Companies are heavily investing in automation, digital tracking systems, and sustainable fleets to optimize costs and improve performance.

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Hyundai Kona N, Elantra N prices revealed: Sporty

 

Hyundai Kona N, Elantra N prices revealed: Sporty choices start at $33,000-plus

Not a bad price for a lot of car.

Hyundai

Hyundai has two new sporty choices for car buyers to consider shipping to dealers: the Kona N and Elantra N. This week, ahead of their arrivals, we learned how much the cars will set you back. The hot subcompact crossover will start at $35,425 after a $1,225 destination charge and the spicy sedan will cost $32,925 after a $1,025 destination fee. 

The Kona N's price puts it in a unique spot, with few vehicles competing in this range. It rocks a 2.0-liter turbo-four engine with 276 horsepower and 289 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed dual-clutch transmission provides sharp shifts. Roadshow's Managing Editor Steve Ewing drove the Kona N and found it behaves a lot like a hot hatchback on stilts, which may be a winning combination if you're looking for more daily usability than sedans offer.

But for those still ready to bring home a sedan, the Elantra N arrives a touch under $33,000 with a standard six-speed manual transmission. The price rises to $34,425 for the same eight-speed dual-clutch transmission the Kona N uses. It also shares the same turbo-four engine with identical power ratings. An electronic limited-slip differential is also part of the package, as are 19-inch wheels and Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires.

Both cars also include a boatload of driver-assist features and tech, as is currently the Hyundai way. The Elantra N should give potential Honda Civic Si buyers something to think about for a little more cash, while the Kona N remains a bit of a white space offering. Regardless, both are sure to delight drivers with their raucous personalities. 

Roadshow

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Hyundai Elantra 

GCC $46.13 Bn Passenger Car Markets Competition, Forecast & Opportunities, 2026 - Leading Players are Toyota, Nissan, Hyundai, Mitsubishi, Kia

 

GCC $46.13 Bn Passenger Car Markets Competition, Forecast & Opportunities, 2026 - Leading Players are Toyota, Nissan, Hyundai, Mitsubishi, Kia

Dublin, Aug. 06, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "GCC Passenger Car Market, By Vehicle Type (Hatchback, Sedan, MPV, and SUV), By Fuel Type (Petrol/Gasoline, Diesel and Others), By Transmission Type (Automatic Transmission and Manual Transmission), By End User, By Country, Competition, Forecast & Opportunities, 2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The GCC Passenger Car Market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.73%, in value terms, during the forecast period and is anticipated to reach USD46.13 billion by 2026.

The GCC Passenger Car Market is driven by the increasing service sector, growing non-oil economy and rising disposable income of the people in the region, especially, in the United Arab Emirates and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In 2017, the ban on women driving was uplifted in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and since then there is an increase in women drivers. Hence, the demand from women drivers is also susceptible to rise in the coming years and propel the market in the forecast period.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) was established in 1981 and its 6 members are the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain. Every country's economy in GCC is majorly dependent on oil & petroleum product trades.

However, currently the government is taking initiatives to help non-oil sectors like services, construction, tourism and others grow, this changing demographic in turn is aiding the growth of purchasing powers and consumer disposable income.

The GCC Passenger Car Market is divided based on vehicle type, fuel type, transmission type, end-user and country. Based on vehicle type, the market can be classified into hatchback, sedan, multi-purpose vehicle and sports utility vehicle. In terms of vehicle type, the sedan car segment accounts for the largest share but due to increase in the service sector, demand for personal transportation is increasing and hence giving rise to the hatchback car segment.

Based on fuel type, the market is dominated by vehicles driven by gasoline or petrol due to comparatively low gasoline prices and hence attaining low costs of ownership and this trend is susceptible to withstand in the forecast period as well.

Story continues

On the basis of passenger car sales by end-user, individual owners are much more contributing as compared to fleet owners. Cars with automatic transmission account for the majority of share in the GCC Passenger Car Market on account of ease of driving with stringent traffic rules across the region.

Toyota Motor Corporation, Nissan Motor Company, Ltd., Hyundai Motor Company, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, Kia Corporation, etc., are among some of the leading players operating in the GCC Passenger Car Market.

Apart from these companies, other passenger car manufacturers are also increasing their marketing activities and enriching their product portfolio in the region to increase their customer outreach.

Major companies in the GCC Passenger Car Market are also focusing on increasing their dealer and distributor network to grab a larger share in the region's passenger car market.

Report Scope:

Company Profiles

Toyota Motor Corporation

Nissan Motor Company, Ltd.

Hyundai Motor Company

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation

Kia Corporation

General Motors Company

Fiat Automobiles S.p.A.

Mercedes-Benz

Volkswagen AG

Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW) AG

Years considered for this report:

GCC Passenger Car Market, By Vehicle Type:

Hatchback

Sedan

Multi-Purpose Vehicle

Sports Utility Vehicle

GCC Passenger Car Market, By Fuel Type:

Petrol/Gasoline

Diesel

Alternate Fuels

GCC Passenger Car Market, By Transmission Type:

Manual Transmission

Automatic Transmission

GCC Passenger Car Market, By End-User:

Individual Owners

Fleet Owners

GCC Passenger Car Market, By Country:

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

United Arab Emirates

Kuwait

Oman

Qatar

Bahrain

Two SR4 billion digital banks licensed in Saudi Arabia

 

Two SR4 billion digital banks licensed in Saudi Arabia

Riyadh city skyline at night. Image Credit: Shutterstock

Dubai: Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet on Tuesday approved licensing two digital banks in the Kingdom, with a capital of SR4 billion, the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) announced on Wednesday.

Minister of Finance Mohammed Al Jadaan, chairman of the Financial Sector Development Program, and Dr. Fahad Abdullah Al Mubarak, governor of the Saudi Central Bank, expressed gratitude and appreciation to King Salman bin Abdul Aziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, for the Cabinet's approval to licence two local digital banks.

First, STC Pay will be converted into a local digital bank, with a capital of SR2.5 billion (STC bank). Second, a number of companies and investors, led by Abdul Rahman Bin Saad Al-Rashed and Sons Company, will establish a local digital bank to conduct banking business in the Kingdom, with a capital of SR1.5 billion (Saudi Digital Bank).

Al Jadaan said that the Cabinet's approval reflects the leadership's keenness to keep pace with the rapid development in the FinTech sector and to empower the Kingdom to be among the largest financial hubs in the world.

He added that the Financial Sector Development Program, one of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 realization programs, seeks to keep pace with global developments in the financial services and FinTech during 2021-2025 to underpin economic diversification.

On his part, the SAMA governor clarified that with the approval of the Council of Ministers, the Saudi Central Bank will recommence its work to finalize technical and operational requirements for the two banks to start their banking activities in the Kingdom.

The governor drew attention to the fact that digital banks are subject to supervision and controls applied currently to commercial banks operating in the Kingdom, with an increased focus on aspects of technology, cyber security, anti-money laundering, tracking terrorist financing as well as operational risks.

Al Mubarak pointed out that digital banks provide services and products exclusively through electronic channels by adopting an innovative and sustainable banking business model to enhance the financial inclusion and keep pace with cutting edge technological developments in the financial sector.

It is worth mentioning that the Saudi Central Bank has been actively engaged in supporting innovation and maintaining confidence in the financial sector by developing the digital economy and enabling FinTech companies to support the growth of the private sector.

In this context, the Central Bank has licensed 16 Saudi FinTech companies in the recent past to provide payment services, consumer micro-finance and digital insurance brokerage.

In addition, there are 32 FinTech companies operating under the Regulatory Sandbox environment, which was designed for testing innovative services and products in the Kingdom.

In an effort to broaden the scope and efficiency of innovative services through the best regulatory standards, the Central Bank has issued last year the "Open Banking Policy," which will allow bank clients to manage their bank accounts and share data securely.

Clients will be given the option to allow third party service providers, including banks and FinTech companies, to access their banking information.

To sum up, the Saudi Central Bank has been working relentlessly for developing and supporting innovation in the banking sector in partnership with FinTech companies to reap the benefits of the technological revolution for the financial sector and the economy at large.

Regulating digital transformation in Saudi Arabia

 

Regulating digital transformation in Saudi Arabia

Like elsewhere around the world, Saudi Arabia is witnessing a digital transformation.

Not very long ago, the digital transformation was limited to the world of business and security. But now we are experiencing a sea change in the way we lead our lives. It would not be wrong to say that now several aspects of our personal lives heavily rely on different apps.

Digital transformation is also a key goal of the Vision 2030 reform plan. Since the announcement of the 2030 road map for the Kingdom, we have witnessed huge changes in the way we used to deal with financial institutions and government entities.

Initially, many of us felt uneasy but now we are becoming used to the ease that comes with this digital transformation, as we no longer have to wait in long queues to get trivial matters sorted out at the bank or a government institution. Most of the services are just a click away or can be done through an app.

Due to the rapidly changing situation, it is necessary to regulate all matters related to digitization and digitalization processes. Therefore, the Kingdom launched the Digital Government Authority (DGA) to serve as an umbrella organization for all digital matters in Saudi Arabia.

In today’s article, we shall highlight the scope and powers of the authority.

First of all, it is important to get acquainted with the definition of digitization, as knowing the basic concepts from the regulator’s point of view will certainly correct our understanding of all relevant terms and determine their actual purpose.

We will start with the most popular term, which is digital transformation. It means transforming and developing business models strategically to become digital models based on data, technology, and communication networks. Hence the role of digital government in supporting administrative, organizational, and operational processes within and between government entities to achieve digital transformation, develop, improve and enable easy and effective access to government information and services.

All of the above is supposed to be carried out in accordance with specific criteria, meaning a set of rules and controls regulating the operations and tasks related to digital governance approved by this newly formed authority.

Another interesting term is the government digital market platform, which means a platform that enables government agencies to purchase and provide services and technical assets — such as software, hardware, communications services, managed services, and cloud services — and the completion of purchases, payments, and receipts through the electronic portal for government competitions and procurement.

Some time ago, a unified national portal was launched, which provides all government digital services from various sectors through a unified portal and application or through a unified service center.

To provide safety of use, we have the new Digital Trust Services, which refers to any electronic service that aims to verify the validity and integrity of electronic transactions and the identity of customers, including digital signatures, digital seals, and time stamps.

The DGA is the competent authority in everything related to digital government.

To ensure the achievement of digital government goals and sustainability of its business, this new authority is responsible for issuing indicators, tools, and reports to measure the performance and capabilities of government agencies in the field of digital governance.