Who’s Who: George Nazi, CEO of the Saudi Company for Artificial Intelligence

George Nazi
George Nazi
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Updated 15 June 2024
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Who’s Who: George Nazi, CEO of the Saudi Company for Artificial Intelligence

George Nazi

George Nazi was recently appointed CEO of the Saudi Company for Artificial Intelligence.

In line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, Nazi works to drive SCAI’s strategic vision, growth, and operational excellence, expanding its footprint in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence.

Nazi previously served as the global vice president of telecom, media, entertainment, and gaming industries at Google Cloud, where he developed high-performing teams from the ground up across four regions.

His role was instrumental in growing the business in under three years from less than $100 million in revenue to a unicorn company — a privately held startup with a valuation of over $1 billion.

Before his tenure at Google, Nazi held several roles at Accenture — a professional services company specializing in information technology services and consulting — including senior managing director for the global comms and media industry.

He also oversaw large professional services organizations, devised new solution offerings, and developed targeted go-to-market strategies, contributing an additional $18 billion in consulting services revenue.

Nazi has also held senior executive positions at Alcatel-Lucent and British Telecom.

At Alcatel-Lucent, he served as executive vice president and president of global customer delivery, managing a workforce of more than 40,000 professionals and a portfolio of products and services.

He led large-scale transformation programs at British Telecom, including the 21st Century Network transformation program, which had a budget of more than $15 billion.

Nazi holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering, specializing in artificial intelligence and neural networks, from the University of Tulsa, Oklahoma in the US.

 


Saudi Arabia marks World Radio Day with focus on climate change

Saudi Arabia marks World Radio Day with focus on climate change
Updated 11 sec ago
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Saudi Arabia marks World Radio Day with focus on climate change

Saudi Arabia marks World Radio Day with focus on climate change
  • Saudi Broadcasting Authority looks back at history of radio in Kingdom
  • UNESCO-designated radio day held under theme Radio and Climate Change

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s national broadcaster celebrated World Radio Day on Feb. 13, marking the impact that radio has had throughout the history of the Kingdom.

Designated by UNESCO to mark the anniversary of the first UN radio broadcast in 1946, this year’s World Radio Day was held under the theme “Radio and Climate Change.”

Mohammed bin Fahd Al-Harthi, Saudi Broadcasting Authority CEO, spoke to the Saudi Press Agency about the authority’s commitment to radio development, citing its wide reach.

Al-Harthi said that Saudi radio also offered diverse programming, driving continuous development and change.

He explained that Saudi radio’s evolution matched the Kingdom’s social development, serving as a vital channel for knowledge dissemination and keeping citizens informed about local and global developments.

The celebration highlights radio’s enduring role in public communication and recognizes broadcast professionals’ efforts in delivering information while promoting societal dialogue, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

Despite technological advances, radio remains one of the most widely used global media forms, reaching diverse communities across all sectors of society.

An estimated 3.1 billion people were radio listeners in 2024, according to Statista Market Insights.

The history of Saudi radio dates back to 1949, when King Abdulaziz authorized the Kingdom’s first broadcasts from Jeddah during the Hajj season.

Initial programming consisted of official announcements, religious content and literary segments, with daily broadcasts limited to three hours.

Today, the broadcasting authority oversees multiple stations including Jeddah Radio, Riyadh Radio, Saudia Radio (English service), Qur’an Radio, Call of Islam Radio, Al-Ekhbariya Radio and Khuzama Radio.

The Saudi International Radio Network, established in 1969, broadcasts in more than ten languages including French, Turkish, Indonesian, Persian, Hindi and Urdu, reflecting the Kingdom’s global outreach.


Saudi teacher wins Gems Education Global Teacher Prize at World Governments Summit

Saudi teacher wins Gems Education Global Teacher Prize at World Governments Summit
Updated 56 min 3 sec ago
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Saudi teacher wins Gems Education Global Teacher Prize at World Governments Summit

Saudi teacher wins Gems Education Global Teacher Prize at World Governments Summit

DUBAI: Saudi teacher Mansour Al-Mansour was awarded the Gems Education Global Teacher Prize at the World Governments Summit in Dubai on Thursday.

Al-Mansour received the award at the end of the summit, an annual event that draws leaders from across the globe.

An educator known for his charity work and instructing prisoners, Al-Mansour won the prize of $1 million.

Al-Mansour is also an author and is known for work in his community, including a program that helps ensure people have access to air conditioning maintenance during Saudi Arabia’s scorching summer months.

The prize is awarded by the Varkey Foundation, whose founder, Sunny Varkey, established the for-profit GEMS Education company that runs dozens of schools in Egypt, Qatar and the UAE.

– With inputs from AP


Expo 2025 Saudi pavilion launches tour of 7 Japanese cities

Expo 2025 Saudi pavilion launches tour of 7 Japanese cities
Updated 13 February 2025
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Expo 2025 Saudi pavilion launches tour of 7 Japanese cities

Expo 2025 Saudi pavilion launches tour of 7 Japanese cities

RIYADH: With two months to go until Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, the Saudi Pavilion is launching a tour of seven Japanese cities that offers an immersive experience for those interested in exploring Saudi culture.

The initiative will allow the Japanese community and tourists to experience Saudi hospitality, reported the Saudi Press Agency.

Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Japan Ghazi Faisal Binzagr, who is also general commissioner for the Kingdom’s pavilion at Expo 2025, said: “People can connect with Saudi culture through these tours,” adding it would an opportunity for an authentic experience.

Starting in Osaka on Feb. 15-16, the tour will visit Kyoto on Feb. 17, Kobe from Feb. 22-23, Hiroshima from Feb. 24, Fukuoka from March 1-2, Nagoya from March 3 and Tokyo from March 8-9.

Expo 2025 opens on April 13, when the full Saudi Pavilion experience will be available.

This article originally appeared on Arab News Japan


Natural and historical allure of Al-Baha’s heritage villages

Natural and historical allure of Al-Baha’s heritage villages
Updated 13 February 2025
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Natural and historical allure of Al-Baha’s heritage villages

Natural and historical allure of Al-Baha’s heritage villages
  • Home to centuries-old monuments, the villages have buildings constructed with stone and clay

AL-BAHA: The Al-Baha Region is a unique tourist destination with its rich and diverse cultural heritage, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.

Home to centuries-old monuments, the villages have buildings constructed with stone and clay in traditional architectural styles.

Two of the most notable heritage villages are Thee Ain and Al-Mousa that are favored by local and international visitors.

During the Al-Baha Winter Festival, the village of Thee Ain comes alive with cultural events that reflect the local heritage.

The village provides comprehensive information on its history and the Al-Baha region.

The region’s intangible heritage includes traditional foods, crafts and performing arts.

For children there are murals and displays offered to provide an engaging learning experience.


Saudi Arabia assumes presidency of global anti-corruption network

Saudi Arabia assumes presidency of global anti-corruption network
Updated 13 February 2025
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Saudi Arabia assumes presidency of global anti-corruption network

Saudi Arabia assumes presidency of global anti-corruption network
  • Spain passes on leadership at UN headquarters in Vienna
  • Saudi Arabia elected network chair for 3-year term in 2024

VIENNA: Saudi Arabia, through its Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority, or Nazaha, has assumed the presidency of the Global Operational Network of Anti-Corruption Law Enforcement Authorities.

Spain handed over the leadership of the GlobE Network during a ceremony at the UN Office on Drugs and Crime’s headquarters in Vienna, Austria, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

Nasser Abaalkhail, Nazaha’s deputy for international collaboration, was installed as chairman of the committee, with Boni de Moraes Soares, Brazil’s national solicitor for international affairs, as vice chair.

Saudi Arabia was unanimously elected to chair the GlobE Network’s steering committee for the 2025 to 2027 term during a high-level meeting last year in Beijing, China.

Its election to lead the international network underscores member states’ recognition of the Kingdom’s commitment to fighting corruption, the SPA reported.

Established in 2021, the GlobE Network includes more than 229 law-enforcement agencies from over 124 countries, as well as numerous international organizations.

Abaalkhail said that Saudi Arabia aims to enhance collaboration among member states to combat corruption in alignment with the UN Convention Against Corruption.

As chair of the network, Saudi Arabia “seeks to create new strategies for asset recovery and initiate a secure communication platform to facilitate quicker and more efficient information exchange among member states,” Abaalkhail said in a statement carried by the SPA.

“This will enhance international cooperation and empower governments to tackle emerging challenges in combating corruption, refine asset recovery processes, and more effectively trace illicit funds across borders,” he said.

Since its creation, the network has had a positive impact on the efforts of members to combat cross-border corruption.

During a recent meeting of the network, representatives from Azerbaijan, Brazil, Chile, China, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, and Indonesia shared insights on various cross-border investigations.

This included joint efforts to uncover embezzlement of EU grant funds, the use of the network’s Secure Communication Platform to advance investigations, as well as operations targeting large-scale fraud involving value-added tax.

The participants also highlighted examples of swift action in asset recovery, successful extraditions, and effective collaboration between agencies to track and freeze offshore assets obtained through corruption, according to the network’s website.

Nazaha has taken considerable strides in combatting corruption in the Kingdom since its creation in 2016.

During December 2024, the authority arrested 145 citizens and residents — among them government employees — accused of various crimes including bribery and abuse of authority.