Aldrees Petroleum & Transport Services Company in Saudi Arabia

 Here’s an overview of Aldrees Petroleum & Transport Services Company in Saudi Arabia, along with relevant details about their services and fuel management system:

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🚀 Company Overview: Aldrees Petroleum & Transport Services Company (APTSCO)

- Established in 1962 and headquartered in Riyadh, APTSCO is a leading provider of fuel retail, logistics, and transport solutions in Saudi Arabia.[1]   

- Operates over 460–580 petrol stations nationwide and manages a large transport fleet across the Kingdom.[2]   

- Offers integrated logistics and fleet services, including warehousing, customs clearance, and fleet maintenance.[2][3]

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⛽ Waie System: Aldrees' RFID-Based Fuel Management

- Aldrees offers their own fuel management system called Waie, leveraging RFID-based smart cards for contactless fueling.  

- Waie provides real-time fuel tracking, fraud prevention, automated transaction recording, and audit-ready logs.  

- Best suited for fleets frequently refueling at Aldrees petrol stations, as it simplifies expense tracking and improves fuel efficiency.

🔍 Aldrees vs PetroApp

| Feature                          | Aldrees Waie                                 | PetroApp                           

 Operation                        | Native to Aldrees fuel stations              | Supports multiple fuel providers nationwide |

| Technology                       | RFID-enabled system                          | Smart chip-based closed-loop system          |

| Coverage                         | Works at Aldrees network                     | Covers 1,500+ stations across Saudi Arabia    |

| Best For                         | Fleets refueling mainly at Aldrees stations  | Fleets needing wider refueling access        |[5][6]

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✅ Why Aldrees May Be Ideal for Fleet Operators

- Seamless integration with a trusted fuel provider  

- Reliable and secure fueling process with fuel usage oversight  

- Convenient for fleets operating in or around Aldrees stations  

- Supports sustainability goals with digital tracking and contactless systems

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If you’re evaluating options like PetroApp or Waie, I can help you compare pricing plans or choose the right system based on your fleet size and fueling needs. Let me know how you’d like to proceed!

We're Hiring: Finance Manager Site-Based Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia

 We're Hiring: Finance Manager (Site-Based) 📍 Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia

FTG Development is seeking a skilled Finance Manager to join our dynamic team on-site for a prestigious development project. This is a fantastic opportunity for a finance professional with a strong background in construction or real estate to take ownership of financial operations at the project level.

🔍 What You’ll Do:

Lead financial planning, budgeting, and cost control for site operations

Supervise accounting and reporting, ensuring accuracy and compliance

Oversee procurement, payroll, and contractor payments

Coordinate with project managers, suppliers, and senior leadership

Implement financial systems and controls to support strategic decision-making

🎯 What We’re Looking For:

5–7 years of experience in financial management, ideally in construction or real estate

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or related field

Strong knowledge of Saudi financial regulations and tax laws

Experience with ERP systems, especially Microsoft Business Central

Professional certifications (CPA, CMA, ACCA) are a plus

💼 Reporting To: CFO

👥 Supervises: 1 Accountant

If you're detail-oriented, proactive, and ready to make an impact in a fast-paced environment, we’d love to hear from you!

📩 Apply Now or Reach Out

Feel free to DM me or email your CV to salman.sharif@ftgdevelopment.com

We're Hiring – Accountant Riyadh

We're Hiring – Accountant (Riyadh)

A leading FMCG company in Riyadh is looking for a skilled Accountant to join our team.

Requirements:

- SOCPA Membership (Mandatory)

- Excellent in Excel, including advanced formulas

- Previous experience in accounting roles preferred

📍 Location: Riyadh

📩 Apply now through the link below:

https://lnkd.in/eSGyfC-X

PetroApp in Saudi Arabia is commonly used for managing fuel consumption, fleet tracking, and fuel card services

 Great! PetroApp in Saudi Arabia is commonly used for managing fuel consumption, fleet tracking, and fuel card services.

What do you need help with exactly?

- Registering or logging in

- Linking vehicles or fuel cards

- Downloading the app

- Troubleshooting issues

- Getting company access for fleet

Job Portals for Driver Positions in Saudi Arabia

 If you're seeking *driver job opportunities in Saudi Arabia*, here are some reputable platforms where you can find current listings:

🔍 Job Portals for Driver Positions in Saudi Arabia

1. *Bayt.com*  

   Offers various driver roles, including house drivers, delivery drivers, and heavy vehicle operators across cities like Riyadh, Dammam, and Khobar. ([bayt.com](https://www.bayt.com/en/saudi-arabia/jobs/driver-jobs/))

2. *Naukrigulf*  

   Features numerous driver vacancies in companies such as Accor, Oracle, and Marriott. ([naukrigulf.com](https://www.naukrigulf.com/driver-jobs-in-saudi-arabia))

3. *Jooble*  

   Lists over 249 driver job openings, including positions for light and heavy-duty drivers, bus drivers, and delivery drivers. ([sa.jooble.org](https://sa.jooble.org/jobs-driver/Saudi-Arabia))

4. *OilandGasJobSearch*  

   Specializes in roles like light-duty drivers for companies such as Saudi Aramco. ([oilandgasjobsearch.com](https://oilandgasjobsearch.com/jobs?title=saudi+aramco+light+driver+jobs))

5. *Skills Provision*  

   Offers driver positions for VIP families, providing benefits like accommodation, meals, visa, flight, and medical insurance. ([skills-provision.com](https://www.skills-provision.com/jobs/vacancies-10-drivers-in-saudi-arabia))

we are Hiring Job Opportunity: Finance Manager Location: Khobar, Saudi Arabia

 we are Hiring !!!

Job Opportunity: Finance Manager

 Location: Khobar, Saudi Arabia

 Company: Integrated Energy Solutions (IES)

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Head of Finance or Senior Finance Manager to join our growing team at IES. The ideal candidate will be responsible for managing and overseeing all financial aspects of the company, supporting strategic decision-making, and ensuring financial health and growth.

Key Responsibilities:

Lead and manage the finance department, including budgeting, forecasting, reporting, and cash flow management.

Ensure accurate and timely preparation of financial statements and reports.

Develop and implement financial strategies aligned with the company’s goals.

Manage banking relationships, with a proven ability to secure loans and financial facilities.

Monitor and control financial performance, ensuring compliance with regulations and internal policies.

Support senior management with financial planning and analysis.

Oversee accounts payable, receivable, payroll, and financial audits.

Improve financial processes, cost controls, and risk management.

Requirements:

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related field (Master’s or CPA/CMA preferred).

Minimum of 6 years of experience in a senior finance role.

Strong understanding of financial reporting, forecasting, and budgeting.

Proven track record in dealing with banks and securing financial facilities or loans.

Excellent leadership, communication, and decision-making skills.

Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.

Experience in the energy or contracting industry is a plus.

If you’re a driven finance professional looking to take the lead in shaping a company’s financial strategy, we’d love to hear from you.

 https://lnkd.in/exx9zWX4

Apply by sending your CV to: m.aldulaijan@iesksa.com

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).

---

🥽 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).

---

🏭 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).

---

🚘 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.

---

• 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).

---

🔍 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.

---

🧭 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).

---

💼 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).

---

✅ 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.

---

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

---

📈 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.

---

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

Climb in the driver's seat for the latest car news and reviews, delivered to your inbox twice weekly.

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.

Buying And Selling Remote Amazon FBA Businesses

 

Buying And Selling Remote Amazon FBA Businesses

Jason Kwan is the Chairman and President of Pearl West Group, a successful Amazon mergers and acquisitions (M&A) firm that has recently made some significant acquisitions and grew exponentially. I recently had the pleasure to sit down and talk with Kwan about his history as an entrepreneur, how he came to be successful, and what he finds to be the upcoming trends of M&A for smaller online businesses currently running remotely. 

Jason Kwan is the Chairman and President of Pearl West Group.

Like many successful people before him, Kwan took a massive risk: "My entry into entrepreneurship was very fortunate. I started reading books about financial freedom, and then it slowly led to books about starting a business. I decided to skip university to pursue this route. My mom was very upset about it because she wanted the best for me, and she thought that going to university would have a higher chance of me becoming successful. She also wasn't rigid about it because she had some faith in me. And I could always go back to school if I fail."

With nothing but a dream and a little money in savings, Kwan quickly dove headfirst into the field of entrepreneurship. "I started my first business at 17 years old. I was devouring a ton of courses on online marketing and how to use Google Adwords. I formed a digital advertising agency." Kwan quickly realized the benefits of running an online business like this that can generate income and was more or less passive. The lightbulb moment occurred when he went to a family member's wedding and realized he was earning money with his business running in the background. 

However, the biggest test in Kwan's growth came when he learned of the power of M&As. Still working within his original digital marketing business, he had experienced a 160% compounded annual growth rate for eight years. "I never had the thought of selling the business because I didn't think anyone would buy it. The agency was centered around me, and I didn't know how it would function with me, but if I knew what I know now, I would have built the proper systems and hired the right talent so that it could have been sellable." Eventually, Kwan shifted his focus over to running an Amazon FBA (fulfilled by Amazon) mergers and acquisitions firm.

It didn't take long for Kwan to realize the power of running a business like this. After opening its doors, Pearl West Group has focused on finding the right deals and brands where it’s a win-win for both sides. "Each deal is different, but we typically offer anywhere from 70% to 95% of the cash upfront with the rest over a 1–2-year period. We usually go for a 100% acquisition."

As Kwan states, "We're focused on buying up brands that have the majority of their sales coming from Amazon. But we're agnostic to the category of products we're looking for. We look at almost any category on Amazon, from health supplements, beddings, pet supplies to kitchen household items." 

Kwan is also very transparent in the processes and steps that he goes through when deciding which businesses to purchase: "we evaluate them based on the sustainability of the earnings. 

We want to know if the business earnings will be just as good in 12 months. When we make an offer, there's always an earn-out component in the offer because we want the seller to benefit from the upside as well." Therefore, as an investor trying to do something similar, you might want to take Kwan's advice and consider whether your investment will continue to produce the same income after acquisition and how you can align the incentives for growth. 

In Pearl West Group's experience, now is a great time to purchase a remote business and focus on improving the quality of and profit of the company. "The pandemic has shifted more consumer behavior towards online shopping, and we've been able to see positive effects from that." Indeed, the growth rate of Pearl West Group has exploded since the pandemic started. 

When asked about the benefits of running a remote team, Kwan was clear that this has not phased his operations much. "Working remotely wasn't a massive issue for us because more than half of our team is located overseas, so we're experienced with virtual meetings. We miss the energy that happens in person among our local team, though - we're looking forward to spending time at the office again once everyone is more comfortable." It seems that in today's day and age, the benefits of operating a business with a remote team are starting to have way more benefits than drawbacks. 

It seems that the future for companies such as Pearl West Group will include more remote workers, virtual meetings, and so on. Especially for businesses that want to attract some of the best candidates from all corners of the globe. Pearl West Group has been embracing this change and not letting it halt its vision for the future. 

"Our short goal is to establish ourselves as a top seller on Amazon, through investments in creating internal brands, and acquiring other quality brands to add to our portfolio. Our long-term vision for the company is to build a global digitally native consumer brands corporation. We want to be 1 of the top 10 sellers on Amazon, with hundreds of brands within our portfolio, great brand exposure through other DTC channels, and, more importantly, have a lot of fun doing it." 

With all of these visions of success coming in the future for Pearl West Group, it seems that keeping passion and having an interest in what you are doing is one of the top recipes towards their success. That and keeping a pragmatic stance along the way: "We want to scale and grow aggressively, but only if it makes sense. We're patient."

Why Exceptional SEO is Crucial For a Successful Business

 

Why Exceptional SEO is Crucial For a Successful Business

For many companies, success entails a strong digital presence. Oftentimes, this means having a high Search Engine Optimization (SEO) ranking.

To achieve top rankings on the different search engines, businesses must optimize their website SEO by adopting practices that fulfill the search engine's ranking criteria. Ranking factors like website security, page loading speed, creating high-quality content, earning backlinks and enhancing web accessibility are only a few of the ways one can boost their rankings in search results.

Here are three ways making the most of SEO also means making the most of your business.

Content matters to the success of the business and to the search engine.

Content is the most significant component of a website. It equips businesses with the power to engage website visitors by helping them with their journey, starting from when they first land on the website until they make their purchase.

Engaging content allows businesses to share their brand stories and values with their audience. Companies can describe their products and services in an engaging and straightforward manner that accommodates their potential buyers' curiosity. Doing so kills two birds with one stone: It enhances a potential buyer's experience and increases their chances of making a purchase while complying with the search engine's ranking factor.

John Meuller, a senior webmaster trend analyst at Google, has repeatedly emphasized the importance of the content for Google as a ranking factor. According to Google's Quality Raters Guidelines, a page should be factually accurate, clearly written and comprehensive in order to be high quality.

Related: 5 Ways to Optimize Your Content for Better Google Rankings

Credibility and trust can catapult a business beyond the target audience.

No matter the size of a business, public relations (PR) is a practice that plays a significant role in raising a business's profile. It helps establish business credibility, gives exposure and enhances its reputation. PR can bring a good reputation far beyond a business's targeted audience and to the search engines through backlinks.

A backlink is a hyperlink of a webpage mentioned on another website's content. Search engine crawlers crawl the internet to discover backlinks of a website when determining its ranking. Backlinks indicate to the search engines that the website content is credible and worthy enough to have earned a link from another authoritative website. Businesses can earn backlinks by sharing their stories or expertise with journalists, influencers or by guest blogging. The stories or blog posts are then published with the hyperlink back to the business's website.

The useful blog posts also pave the way for people to share the post URL on their websites for their audiences resulting in referral traffic and a backlink. In short, the more backlinks from authoritative websites, the higher the authority of your content.

Related: How to Know if an Online Marketing Expert is Actually Credible

A successful business website is like a successful workplace.

A website is a digital extension of the business and requires the same standards as an office to add value to existing clients and attract new ones. Successful businesses often go the extra mile with spectacular offices, high-tech board rooms and advanced security systems. Companies should also prioritize user-friendly, well-structured, easy-to-navigate, accessible, secure and fast-loading websites to achieve a high ranking.

SEO is not an independent component of a business's marketing strategy. Instead, good SEO practices are intertwined with a business's core goals and objectives. When a business and its search engine practices are aligned, they achieve the common goal of giving value to its audience.

Related: Five Reasons Why Your Business Must Have Its Own Website

Saudi Arabia Vehicle Rental Market 2020-2026

 

Saudi Arabia Vehicle Rental Market 2020-2026 

The "Saudi Arabia Vehicle Rental Market (2020-2026): Market Forecast by Type (Passenger Vehicle, Commercial Vehicle),?by Service Type (Spot Rental, Limo Service, Operating Lease), by Booking Type (Online, Offline), by Regions, and Competitive Landscape" report has been added to openbazzars.com offering.

According to this research, the Saudi Arabia Vehicle Rental Market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.5% during 2020-2026.

Saudi Arabia vehicle rental market is expected to witness growth, primarily backed by the rapidly growing investments in the tourism sector, robust development of the logistics sector, as well as the rising preference of corporate players towards leasing of cars.

Furthermore, the government's initiatives for the diversification of the economy away from oil, led by Saudi's Vision 2030, would lead to the establishment of several new commercial entities in the country, thereby propelling the demand for transportation services over the coming years. This, in turn, would also augment the revenues of the vehicle rental market in Saudi Arabia.

By type, the passenger vehicle segment dominated the market revenue share in 2019 and is expected to witness significant growth, on account of the surge in investments in the tourism sector. The rapidly growing internet penetration in the kingdom along with the growing inclination of customers, especially young users, to make travel bookings through online and mobile platforms, would bolster the market for online vehicle rental bookings during the forecast period. The airport and seaport expansion projects in the kingdom to strengthen the logistics industry would further drive the demand for commercial rental vehicles over the coming years.

Impact of COVID-19

The coronavirus pandemic and oil price crash is expected to significantly impact the vehicle rental market in 2020 on account of reduced mobility, temporary suspension of tourism and commercial activities, as well as reduced spending capacity of people. However, the resumption of tourism and commercial activities, combined with an increase in potential consumer base on account of the anticipated reduction in sales of new cars due to the imposition of 15% VAT from July 2020 and the projected shift of users of public transport to other means for commuting due to hygiene concerns, would help the vehicle rental market to gradually recover in the kingdom over the coming years.

The central region acquired the majority revenue share in the overall vehicle rental market in 2019, owing to the high density of the working population and infrastructural developments in the region. Growing tourism in the western region of the kingdom, on the back of new hospitality and tourism projects such as red sea development and the introduction of e-visas for tourists from 49 countries for reasons other than religious and medical tourism in 2019, would propel the market for vehicle rental services in the western region of Saudi Arabia during the forecast period.

The Saudi Arabia vehicle rental market is expected to register significant growth in the coming timeframe as a result of an increase in the medical and vocational tourism in the country. The country has the best in class and state of art medical facilities and welcomes a large footfall with context to medical tourism and is anticipated to positively impact the growth of the vehicle rental market.

Also, the months of June and July are the profit-making months for the vehicle rental market, as these are the months of Hajj in Makkah and Medina in the country and attract a large number of Muslim pilgrimage tourism each year. These tourist visits lead to high demand for the rented vehicles to witness the beauty of the country and as a result, is a boom period for the rented vehicles. Hence, for all the potential industrialists, increased tourism in the country is a positive growth contributing factor.

Study Coverage

The report thoroughly covers the market by type, service type, booking type, and regions. The report provides an unbiased and detailed analysis of the market trends, opportunities high growth areas, market drivers which would help the stakeholders to device and align their market strategies according to the current and future market dynamics.

Key Topics Covered

1. Executive Summary

2. Introduction

2.1 Report Description

2.2 Key Highlights of The Report

2.3 Market Scope & Segmentation

2.4 Research Methodology

2.5 Assumptions

3. Saudi Arabia Vehicle Rental Market Overview

3.1 Saudi Arabia Vehicle Rental Market Revenues, 2015-2023F

3.2 Saudi Arabia Vehicle Rental Market Revenue Share, By Type, 2019 & 2023F

3.3 Saudi Arabia Vehicle Rental Market Revenue Share, By Service Type, 2019 & 2023F

3.4 Saudi Arabia Vehicle Rental Market Revenue Share, By Booking Type, 2019 & 2023F

3.5 Saudi Arabia Vehicle Rental Market Revenue Share, By Regions, 2019 & 2023F

3.6 Saudi Arabia Vehicle Rental Market Industry Life Cycle, 2019

3.7 Saudi Arabia Vehicle Rental Market Porter's Five Forces, 2019

4. Saudi Arabia Vehicle Rental Market Dynamics

4.1 Impact Analysis

4.2 Market Drivers

4.3 Market Restraints

5. Saudi Arabia Vehicle Rental Market Trends

6. Saudi Arabia Vehicle Rental Market: TAM Analysis

7. Saudi Arabia Vehicle Rental Market Overview, By Passenger Vehicle

7.1 Saudi Arabia Passenger Vehicle Rental Market Revenues, 2015-2023F

7.2 Saudi Arabia Passenger Vehicle Rental Market Revenue Share, By Service Type, 2019 & 2023F

7.3 Saudi Arabia Spot Passenger Vehicle Rental Market Overview

7.4 Saudi Arabia Operating Lease Passenger Vehicle Rental Market Overview

7.5 Saudi Arabia Limo Passenger Vehicle Rental Market Overview

8. Saudi Arabia Vehicle Rental Market Overview, By Commercial Vehicle

8.1 Saudi Arabia Commercial Vehicle Rental Market Revenues, 2015-2023F

8.2 Saudi Arabia Commercial Vehicle Rental Market Revenues Share, By Type, 2019 & 2023F

8.3 Saudi Arabia Bus Rental Market Overview

8.4 Saudi Arabia Truck Rental Market Overview

8.5 Saudi Arabia Other Commercial Vehicle Rental Market Overview

9. Saudi Arabia Vehicle Rental Market Overview, By Service Type

9.1 Saudi Arabia Spot Rental Market Overview

9.2 Saudi Arabia Operating Lease Market Overview

9.3 Saudi Arabia Vehicle Rental Market Revenues, By Limo Service, 2015-2023F

10. Saudi Arabia Vehicle Rental Market Overview, By Booking Type

10.1 Saudi Arabia Vehicle Rental Market Revenues, By Online Booking Type, 2015-2023F

10.2 Saudi Arabia Vehicle Rental Market Revenues, By Offline Booking Type, 2015-2023F

11. Saudi Arabia Vehicle Rental Market Overview, By Regions

11.1 Saudi Arabia Central Region Vehicle Rental Market Overview

11.2 Saudi Arabia Southern Region Vehicle Rental Market Overview

11.3 Saudi Arabia Eastern Region Vehicle Rental Market Overview

11.4 Saudi Arabia Western Region Vehicle Rental Market Overview

12. Saudi Arabia Vehicle Rental Market Overview, By Fleet Size

12.1 Saudi Arabia Regional Vehicle Rental Fleet Share, By Service Type

12.2 Saudi Arabia Regional Vehicle Rental Fleet Size, By Service Type

13. Saudi Arabia Vehicle Rental Market Key Performance Indicators

13.1 Saudi Arabia Logistics Sector Overview

13.2 Saudi Arabia Tourism and Hospitality Sector Overview

13.3 Saudi Arabia Commercial Sector Overview

14. Saudi Arabia Government Regulations In Vehicle Rental Market

15. Saudi Arabia Vehicle Rental Market Opportunity Assessment

15.1 Saudi Arabia Vehicle Rental Market Opportunity Assessment, By Type

15.2 Saudi Arabia Vehicle Rental Market Opportunity Assessment, By Service Type

15.3 Saudi Arabia Vehicle Rental Market Opportunity Assessment, By Booking Type

15.4 Saudi Arabia Vehicle Rental Market Opportunity Assessment, By Regions

16. Saudi Arabia Vehicle Rental Market Competitive Landscape

16.1 Saudi Arabia Vehicle Rental Market Competitive Benchmarking, By Service Type

16.2 Saudi Arabia Vehicle Rental Market Competitive Benchmarking, By Ownership Type

16.3 Saudi Arabia Vehicle Rental Market Competitive Benchmarking, By Insurance Type

16.4 Saudi Arabia Vehicle Rental Market Revenue Share, By Operating Parameters

16.5 Saudi Arabia Vehicle Rental Market Revenue Share, By Brands, 2019

17. List of Key Players In Vehicle Rental Business

18. Company Profiles

18.1 Theeb Rent a Car

18.2 Hanco (Al Tala's International Transportation Co. Limited)

18.3 Best Rent a Car

18.4 Seera Group

18.5 Arabian Hala Company (Avis Car Rental)

18.6 Al-Jazira Equipment Company (Sixt)

18.7 Al Jomaih Auto Rental (Ajar) (Enterprise Rent a Car)

18.8 Al Wasilah Rent a Car Co Ltd (The Hertz Corporation)

18.9 United International Transportation Company (Budget Rent a Car)

18.10 Samara-Sixt KSA

18.11 Al Wefaq Rent a Car

19. Key Strategic Recommendations

All companies jobs also available in ksa

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