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Who’s Who: Basel Talal, managing director at Radisson Hotel Group KSA, Kuwait and Levant

Who’s Who: Basel Talal, managing director at Radisson Hotel Group KSA, Kuwait and Levant
Basel Talal
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Updated 28 December 2023

Who’s Who: Basel Talal, managing director at Radisson Hotel Group KSA, Kuwait and Levant

Who’s Who: Basel Talal, managing director at Radisson Hotel Group KSA, Kuwait and Levant

Basel Talal is the managing director at Radisson Hotel Group KSA, Kuwait and Levant. He is responsible for the operations and profitability of Radisson hotels in the Kingdom. Radisson Hotel Group is rapidly expanding, with more than 30 hotels in operation and under development.

Talal has more than 25 years’ experience in the hospitality industry, with the majority of this time spent with Radisson Hotel Group, one the world’s largest hotel groups.

He takes an active role in the group’s talent development program in Ƶ. He also supports its leadership efforts in the Kingdom, which aim to encourage more women to enter the hospitality industry in Ƶ and take on leadership positions.

Before his role as managing director, Talal served as district director of Ƶ, where he played an instrumental role in establishing the group’s operations in the Kingdom.

He was general manager of Radisson Blu Resort in Sharjah for five years from 2009 and overcame a number of challenges following the global financial crisis.

Talal started his career as a night manager at Radisson SAS Resort, Aqaba, in 1994. His commitment and dedication to hospitality led to him becoming operations manager at the same hotel.

In mid-1999, he held the position of executive assistant manager, taking over the opening of the Radisson SAS Muscat Hotel.

After three years at the Radisson SAS Muscat, Talal relocated to Ƶ as the general manager of the Radisson SAS Hotel Jeddah. In 2005, he was involved in the opening of Radisson Blu Royal Suites Hotel in Jeddah.

Talal studied architecture in Jordan and the US. He has also undertaken multiple training courses covering hotel design and proactive leadership.


New museums campaign focuses on Saudi heritage

New museums campaign focuses on Saudi heritage
Updated 12 sec ago

New museums campaign focuses on Saudi heritage

New museums campaign focuses on Saudi heritage
  • To preserve Saudi heritage, the commission announced the development of museums in 11 regions

RIYADH: The Museums Commission launched the “Telling Tomorrow’s Story” campaign on Monday to raise awareness of museums’ role in preserving history, strengthening national identity, and promoting creative expression.

The campaign reflects the commission’s vision, which focuses on innovation, the preservation of cultural treasures, and fostering creativity for future generations.

It features digital content highlighting the commission’s museums and cultural centers, including the National Museum, Al-Masmak Palace Museum, Ƶ Museum of Contemporary Art at Jax, Diriyah Art Futures, and the Tariq Abdulhakim Museum in Jeddah.

It also introduces future museums, such as the Black Gold Museum in Riyadh and the Red Sea Museum in Jeddah, which will enrich the Kingdom’s cultural landscape.

To preserve Saudi heritage, the commission announced the development of museums in 11 regions: Qassim, Jouf, Asir, Tabuk, Hail, Najran, Arar, Dammam, Makkah, Jazan, and Baha.

The regional museums, under the motto “Our Saudi Story,” will celebrate Saudi history, heritage, and identity, weaving a collective narrative of the Kingdom’s diverse cultural tapestry and rich history.

These museums will offer permanent collections, temporary exhibitions, educational programs, and cultural events, becoming inclusive spaces for knowledge, creativity, and community.


Riyadh exhibition to boost Saudi palm sector goals

Riyadh exhibition to boost Saudi palm sector goals
Updated 14 min 38 sec ago

Riyadh exhibition to boost Saudi palm sector goals

Riyadh exhibition to boost Saudi palm sector goals
  • The exhibition will feature participation from more than 100 local and international entities

RIYADH: The International Dates Conference and Exhibition is set to take place at the Riyadh Front Exhibition and Conference Center from Nov. 19 to 28 under the theme “World of Dates.”

The event aims to solidify Ƶ’s position as a global leader in the production and export of dates, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

Organized by the National Center for Palms and Dates, the exhibition will feature participation from more than 100 local and international entities.

It will showcase innovative date products and serve as a global platform for knowledge exchange and market expansion, promoting Saudi dates in international markets.

The event seeks to support innovation in the dates industry, enhance the competitiveness of Saudi products, and position the palm and dates sector as a key contributor to economic development, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030.

The exhibition will also include a scientific conference in collaboration with King Faisal University, SPA reported.

The conference will focus on local and international efforts to advance the palm and dates sector in Ƶ by adopting smart solutions to improve agricultural practices, highlighting the health benefits of dates, and encouraging the use of e-commerce.


Saudi Fashion Commission, French luxury giant to award sustainable startups

Saudi Fashion Commission, French luxury giant to award sustainable startups
Updated 49 min 20 sec ago

Saudi Fashion Commission, French luxury giant to award sustainable startups

Saudi Fashion Commission, French luxury giant to award sustainable startups
  • Finalists will undergo mentorship and workshops to refine their key performance indicators and pitching skills

RIYADH: The Saudi Ministry of Culture’s Fashion Commission and France-based luxury conglomerate Kering have announced a competition to discover and support innovative startups making a meaningful impact on sustainability within the fashion industry.

The initiative, Kering Generation Award X Ƶ, will foster circular innovation, focusing on key themes such as customer engagement, the circular economy, and water protection.

The application process is now open to startups based in or expanding into Ƶ. By December, 20 finalists will be shortlisted to participate in a boot camp in Riyadh.

Finalists will undergo mentorship and workshops to refine their key performance indicators and pitching skills, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The top 10 proposals will move to the jury evaluation phase, judged on innovation, sustainability, and commercial potential.

The competition will culminate in an awards ceremony in January in Riyadh, where the top three winners will be announced.

The winners will receive a 10-day mentorship trip to Paris with Kering’s sustainability teams and the opportunity to showcase their innovations at the ChangeNow Summit 2025.

The launch follows a strategic memorandum of understanding between the commission and Kering, aligning with Ƶ’s broader vision to promote sustainable practices in the fashion sector.

CEO of the commission Burak Çakmak said: “This initiative reflects our commitment to driving innovation and building a sustainable future for fashion in Ƶ.”

Kering’s chief sustainability officer, Marie-Claire Daveu, added: “Through this partnership, we aim to inspire the next generation and foster impactful change in the Saudi fashion ecosystem.”

The collaboration highlights Ƶ’s dedication to creating a sustainable and innovative fashion industry aligned with global standards.


Saudi project clears 614 Houthi mines in Yemen

Saudi project clears 614 Houthi mines in Yemen
Updated 53 min 23 sec ago

Saudi project clears 614 Houthi mines in Yemen

Saudi project clears 614 Houthi mines in Yemen

RIYADH: Members of Ƶ’s Project Masam removed 614 explosive devices from various regions of Yemen last week.

The total included three anti-personnel mines, 36 anti-tank mines, 574 unexploded ordnances and one explosive device, according to a recent report.

Ousama Al-Gosaibi, the initiative’s managing director, said a total of 469,576 mines had been cleared since its inception in 2018.

The explosives were planted indiscriminately and posed a threat to civilians, including children, women and the elderly.

The demining operations took place in Marib, Aden, Jouf, Shabwa, Taiz, Hodeidah, Lahij, Sanaa, Al-Bayda, Al-Dhale and Saada.

The initiative trains local demining engineers and provides them with modern equipment. It also offers support to Yemenis injured by the devices.

Teams are tasked with clearing villages, roads and schools to facilitate safe movement for civilians and the delivery of humanitarian aid.

About 5 million people have been forced to flee their homes since the start of the conflict in Yemen, many of them displaced by the presence of land mines.


Kingdom launches new framework to standardize digital services

Kingdom launches new framework to standardize digital services
Updated 18 November 2024

Kingdom launches new framework to standardize digital services

Kingdom launches new framework to standardize digital services
  • The initiative aims to unify platform designs, ensuring a seamless and consistent digital user experience
  • The event gathered dignitaries, digital transformation leaders from public and private sectors, and key stakeholders

RIYADH: The Digital Government Authority has launched the Platform Code, a national framework for designing and developing government platform interfaces in Ƶ.

Unveiled during an event in Riyadh, the initiative aims to unify platform designs, ensuring a seamless and consistent digital user experience.

The event gathered dignitaries, digital transformation leaders from public and private sectors, and key stakeholders.

Ahmed Al-Suwaiyan, governor of the Digital Government Authority, said that the Platform Code aligns with local and global digital standards.

He described it as a critical step toward comprehensive digital transformation, enhancing compliance, and fostering efficient and impactful services aligned with Ƶ’s strategic digital goals.

The Platform Code, an open-source design system, integrates coding frameworks, design tools, and community guidelines, enabling rapid development of unified user experiences. It allows designers and developers to address specific needs using pre-built assets.

The authority also unveiled the Saudi Digital Strategy, focused on growing the digital economy and expanding opportunities for public and private sector products.

Other initiatives included the Digital Transformation Ambassador program, fostering an integrated digital community, and the Scene Program, promoting holistic user experiences locally and globally through advanced frameworks and tools.

Committed to advancing digital governance, the authority aims to position Ƶ as a global leader in innovative digital services.

It leverages cutting-edge technologies like AI and emerging tech while offering consultancy programs and fostering leadership in digital transformation.

These efforts contribute to Vision 2030’s goals of enhanced service quality and economic growth.