Who’s Who: Samar Nassar, managing director of Healthcare at Accenture in the Middle East

Samar Nassar
Samar Nassar
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Updated 29 July 2024
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Who’s Who: Samar Nassar, managing director of Healthcare at Accenture in the Middle East

Who’s Who: Samar Nassar, managing director of Healthcare at Accenture in the Middle East

Samar Nassar is the managing director of Healthcare at Accenture in the Middle East, a global professional services company that helps businesses, governments and other organizations build their digital core, optimize their operations, accelerate revenue growth and enhance citizen services.

With more than 20 years of industry expertise, she has a track record of driving change and enhancing patient journeys, making her a key player in the region’s healthcare transformation. Her knowledge of healthcare systems in the Middle East is instrumental in driving the implementation of advanced technology solutions tailored to the region’s challenges.

Nassar’s previous roles were as board member of the health sector transformation program for Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 program and as managing director of healthcare at the Ministry of Investment.

Nassar has also served as the executive director of health care at KPMG Saudi Arabia. Prior to that, she worked as a management consultant at Artery’s, a health tech startup based in Silicon Valley.

During her time at Artery’s, Nassar made space for AI-based diagnostic imaging technologies in the Middle East by leading the company’s expansion into the region’s market.

Nassar also worked as the marketing director at the National Center for Privatization and PPP (public-private partnerships). She was one of the institutionalizing board members of the healthcare PPP committee and managed many of the center’s sectors toward improving public-private relationships in the healthcare sector.

Nassar’s early career included working as regional director at GE Healthcare and as sales product specialist at Johnson & Johnson MedTech.

Following a background in biochemistry, Nassar earned an MBA in international business from the University of Birmingham in 2010, as well as a master’s degree in health care and design from Imperial College London in a joint program with the Royal College of Arts.

 


An inside look at the operations center keeping Riyadh Metro running smoothly

An inside look at the operations center keeping Riyadh Metro running smoothly
Updated 42 sec ago
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An inside look at the operations center keeping Riyadh Metro running smoothly

An inside look at the operations center keeping Riyadh Metro running smoothly
  • Hundreds of employees in constant communication with city’s commuters
  • Networks covered 24/7 by more than 14,000 security camera

RIYADH: The Riyadh Metro has been buzzing with passengers ever since its launch in December, reaching its full operational capacity with the inauguration of the Orange Line earlier this month and marking a grand milestone for the capital’s urbanization strategy.

Arab News got a look inside the Riyadh Public Transport Control Center, located west of Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University.

The center hosts 600 employees who oversee the management of three vital parts of the transportation system: the Riyadh Metro, Riyadh Bus, and the advanced traffic control system.

So how does the center contribute to improving everyday users’ experiences?

A spokesperson said that the center received more than 10,000 calls daily via the unified network number (19933), which is designated for inquiries, complaints, suggestions, and calls about missing items.

Operators are in constant communication with the people of Riyadh who use public transport, and they work to keep the system running smoothly.

Safety is a priority for the Transport General Authority. All of the city’s public transport systems are monitored 24/7 through more than 14,000 security cameras that are distributed across the network.

These cameras are equipped with facial recognition technologies which monitor and analyze the use of public transport and inform the authorities immediately in case of any incidents.

In the event that a commuter loses any personal property, the user must contact the Riyadh Public Transport Control Center through the unified number, and a special complaint ticket will be issued and sent via email or text.

They can use the number to follow up on any updates regarding the complaint until the lost item is retrieved.

Planning for the metro system began back in 2012, and aimed at enhancing mobility and providing comfort for users, residents, and visitors of Riyadh.

The Riyadh Metro includes 85 stations and extends a distance of 176 km across six tracks.

Riyadh’s bus network consists of 87 routes across the city using 842 vehicles with some 3,000 service stations.

The traffic control system also oversees 650 road intersections, monitoring and managing the flow of traffic.

The Riyadh Bus system has transported 50 million passengers in the last year.


Muslim World League chief in talks with Italian leader

Muslim World League chief in talks with Italian leader
Updated 14 min 13 sec ago
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Muslim World League chief in talks with Italian leader

Muslim World League chief in talks with Italian leader
  • Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa thanks Sergio Mattarella for supporting Palestinian rights, two-state solution
  • Extremism, whatever its source, does not represent values that religions call for, Mattarella says

RIYADH: Secretary-General of the Muslim World League Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa met with Italian President Sergio Mattarella at the Presidential Palace in Rome.

During the meeting, the contributions of religion to global peace efforts and enhancing friendship between people were discussed.

Al-Issa said that Islam called for mutual understanding between nations and people, respect for human dignity, and peaceful coexistence, according to a statement.

He thanked the president for his position on Palestinian rights, especially his support for the two-state solution.

The Italian leader voiced his appreciation for the MWL’s efforts to promote religious and cultural peace, praising the values of Islam in this regard.

Mattarella said that extremism, whatever its source, represents only itself, and does not represent the cultural values called for by religions.


Saudi FM receives phone call from Russian counterpart

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received a phone call from his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on Thursday.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received a phone call from his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on Thursday.
Updated 54 min 9 sec ago
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Saudi FM receives phone call from Russian counterpart

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received a phone call from his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on Thursday.

RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received a phone call from his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on Thursday, Saudi Press Agency reported.

During the call, the two officials reviewed relations between their countries. They also discussed regional developments and exchanged views on them.


Saudi Arabia’s king, crown prince congratulate Syria’s Ahmed Al-Sharaa on interim presidency

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. (File/SPA)
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. (File/SPA)
Updated 30 January 2025
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Saudi Arabia’s king, crown prince congratulate Syria’s Ahmed Al-Sharaa on interim presidency

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. (File/SPA)
  • In a cable of congratulations, the king wished Al-Sharaa success in leading Syria “toward a prosperous future that achieves the aspirations of the Syrian people”

RIYADH: King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman congratulated Ahmed Al-Sharaa on becoming Syria’s interim president, Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.

In a cable of congratulations, the king wished Al-Sharaa success in leading Syria “toward a prosperous future that achieves the aspirations of the Syrian people.”

The crown prince sent a similar cable separately, wishing the Syrian people “further progress and advancement.”

Al-Sharaa was declared president for a transitional phase on Wednesday, less than two months after he led a campaign that toppled Bashar Assad.

He was also empowered to form a temporary legislative council for a transitional period and the Syrian constitution was suspended, according to an announcement made by the military command which led the offensive against Assad.

The decisions emerged from a meeting of military commanders who took part in the assault.


Cybersecurity postgraduate scholarship program launches

Cybersecurity postgraduate scholarship program launches
Updated 30 January 2025
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Cybersecurity postgraduate scholarship program launches

Cybersecurity postgraduate scholarship program launches
  • Cybersecurity authority, Education Ministry oversees program
  • Scholarships to 30 leading international universities on offer

RIYADH: The National Cybersecurity Authority, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, has launched the second phase of their Cybersecurity Postgraduate Scholarship Program.

The application window opened on Thursday, Jan. 30, on the NCA’s website.

The program’s main objective is to enhance students’ academic skills in key cybersecurity domains, and to bolster the nation’s workforce with qualified professionals, according to a press announcement on the NCA website.

This initiative focuses on several cybersecurity priority areas, including cryptography, security of operational technology systems, public policies, and emerging technologies.

The benefits include scholarships to 30 prestigious international universities renowned for cybersecurity expertise and research grants.

The NCA is in charge of cybersecurity in the Kingdom and aims to safeguard the Kingdom’s critical infrastructure, high-priority sectors, and government services and activities.