AI platform unveiled in Riyadh ushers in new era for customer engagement
AI platform unveiled in Riyadh ushers in new era for customer engagement/node/2619828/saudi-arabia
AI platform unveiled in Riyadh ushers in new era for customer engagement
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Sunny Side Up CEO Najib Sabbagh. (Athar Festival)
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Updated 27 sec ago
Nada Alturki Hajar AlQusayer
AI platform unveiled in Riyadh ushers in new era for customer engagement
IZZI AI’s debut at Athar Festival underscores Kingdom’s growing appetite for AI-led transformation
Najib Sabbagh: If there was a human agent, he can’t give you 20 minutes of his time, whereas this AI can take a million calls daily
Updated 27 sec ago
Nada Alturki Hajar AlQusayer
RIYADH: Artificial intelligence is pushing new boundaries with the launch of IZZI AI, a platform designed to help Saudi businesses connect more meaningfully with their clients.
The announcement was made at the annual Athar Festival of Creativity on Oct. 21.
Najib Sabbagh, CEO of Sunny Side Up, told Arab News, which is the event’s media partner, that the platform uses AI to create digital agents that guide users through any of their needs.
Positioned as a “breakthrough in customer engagement and sales automation,” IZZI AI can transform everyday conversations into brand connections. Its debut in Riyadh underscores the Kingdom’s appetite for innovation and the festival’s role as a launchpad for new ideas.
Sabbagh used ֱ’s growing real estate market as an example. The AI agents can present virtual video tours of physical spaces in real time, allowing clients to explore apartments, properties, and neighborhoods from their homes.
He said the idea stemmed from challenges faced by property buyers searching online. Unlike human agents with limited availability, AI agents would respond instantly to user questions and offer detailed information such as layout, amenities, weather forecasts, and proximity to landmarks.
“This allows you, today, to kind of ask every question you need, get every answer you need, directly,” Sabbagh said. “If there was a human agent, he can’t give you 20 minutes of his time, whereas this AI can take a million calls daily.”
The platform draws information from a knowledge base built from each client’s data. “We put it all there from their website, from their social pages, etc. And IZZI would only answer within that knowledge base,” he added.
Sabbagh also noted that while social media enables communication and information exchange, it often lacks depth. IZZI AI is the next stage of digital engagement that goes beyond clicks and views to build real connections between brands and people.
As ֱ accelerates toward a tech-driven future, innovations unveiled at events like Athar Festival reflect how creativity and technology are merging to redefine communication and customer experience.
Enhancing drug quality and safety takes priority in SFDA chief’s discussions at Amsterdam summit
Updated 7 sec ago
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Food and Drug Authority CEO Dr. Hisham S. Aljadhey held meetings with international counterparts on the sidelines of the International Coalition of Medicines Regulatory Authorities Summit 2025, held in Amsterdam from Oct 21-23.
It included a meeting with Dr. Leandro Safatle, director-president of the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency and two bilateral meetings; one with Dr. Ali El-Ghamrawy, chairman of the Egyptian Drug Authority, and another with Lawrence Tallon, chief executive of the British Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Authority.
The discussions focused on strengthening cooperation and communication between regulatory authorities to achieve common goals and enhance the safety, quality and efficacy of medicines and vaccines.
They also reviewed leading practices and policies on artificial intelligence to promote innovation and growth in the pharmaceutical sector, in addition to several other topics of mutual interest.
ICMRA serves as an international platform for enhancing collaboration among regulatory bodies, addressing drug safety challenges with innovative mechanisms and developing related regulations and systems.
This aligns with the objectives of the health sector transformation program within the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
Mishkat Interactive Center in Riyadh celebrates innovation, efficiency on World Energy Day
Updated 1 min 6 sec ago
Arab News
RIYADH: The King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy is committed to sustainability while strengthening energy independence through renewable sources.
Represented by the Mishkat Interactive Center, the city is celebrating World Energy Day, observed annually on Oct. 22, at its headquarters in Riyadh, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The event aims to raise awareness of energy’s importance by showcasing its diverse fields and providing an interactive environment to enhance understanding of modern technologies.
The celebration highlights the city’s role in promoting clean energy knowledge and supports ֱ’s leadership in the sector, aligning with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
Activities include interactive experiments and presentations simulating the future of energy locally and globally, promoting efficiency and awareness of clean energy investment.
The event runs from Oct. 22-24, 4–10 p.m., featuring programs, exhibits and experiences for various community segments.
Key participants include the Saudi Energy Efficiency Center and the Forward7 initiative, reinforcing efforts toward a sustainable energy future.
Visitors can register at riyadh.platinumlist.net/ar/event-tickets/world-energy-day.
The initiative is part of the city’s efforts to raise awareness about energy issues, enhance national human capital and equip young individuals with the skills to become leaders in the global energy sector.
By fostering awareness, education and training, the city aims to cultivate an advanced, sustainable, knowledge-based society capable of innovation and progress.
RIYADH: ֱ, represented by the General Directorate of Civil Defense, will host the World Fire and Rescue Championship in Riyadh from Oct. 26 to Nov. 1.
The event, organized in partnership with the International Sport Federation of Firefighters and Rescuers, will feature participants from 22 countries.
Firefighting and rescue sports simulate real-life firefighting operations in a competitive framework that tests athletes’ speed, endurance and teamwork, according to the Saudi Press Agency report.
The championship includes four main competitions: hook ladder climbing; the 100-meter hurdles race; the 400-meter relay race; and the water pump and hose firefighting race.
ֱ joined the federation in 2022 to help develop fire and rescue sports locally and globally, enhance international cooperation, and build human capabilities.
This is achieved through sharing knowledge, expertise and skills, and introducing new rescue and firefighting technologies, the SPA reported.
Aleksandr Chupriyan, president of the federation, praised the Kingdom’s efforts, expressing confidence that ֱ will deliver an outstanding championship.
He said this year’s event will feature elite civil defense and rescue teams from around the world competing in a humanitarian profession dedicated to safeguarding human life.
JEDDAH: The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, in partnership with the Pilgrim Experience Program, will hold the fifth Hajj Conference and Exhibition in Jeddah from Nov. 9 to 12, under the theme “From Makkah to the World.”
The event will feature more than 80 sessions and 60 workshops, with participants including academics, researchers, and representatives of Hajj affairs offices and diplomatic missions.
Additionally, more than 2,400 trainees from around the world are expected to attend, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
More than 260 exhibitors from 137 countries will showcase the latest technologies and services related to the Hajj and Umrah ecosystem.
This year’s conference is expected to launch high-impact initiatives. And officials will sign new agreements to enhance the integration of technology, urban development, and services for pilgrims.
On Monday, Makkah Deputy Gov. Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz met with Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq Al-Rabiah in Jeddah to review pilgrim services.
The officials also discussed final preparations for the conference, which will include representatives from the public and private sectors.
Burj Al Khazzan reimagined for a sustainable Riyadh
Riyadh’s landmark water tower could be transformed into a cultural and ecological space by 2030
The concept will blend Najdi architecture, bioclimatic innovation, and sensory experience
Updated 22 October 2025
Zeina Zbibo
RIYADH: In the heart of Al-Watan Park, in the historic district of Al-Futah, stands a familiar yet overlooked silhouette: the Burj Al Khazzan. This 61-meter-tall water tower, built in the 1970s by Swedish architect Sune Lindstrom, long served a crucial role: storing water for a rapidly growing capital.
Today, as Riyadh redefines its urban identity under Vision 2030 and the Green Riyadh initiative, the Burj may soon begin a new life — cultural, ecological, symbolic.
Still at the conceptual stage, the transformation project was envisioned by Stella Amae, a Franco-Japanese architecture firm based in Paris and Barcelona, after a consultation launched by the Public Investment Fund.
“The Burj is a unique object. It speaks of heritage, of water, of collective memory. We want to make it a living landmark, a Tree of Life,” said Alexandre Stella, co-founder of Stella Amae.
The concept structure : a bioclimatic façade that interacts with air, light, sound and humidity. (Supplied)
The design draws inspiration from the trunk of the date palm — a regional symbol — and the triangular patterns of Najdi architecture. The structure would become a bioclimatic facade, interacting with air, light, sound, and humidity to create a true sensorial ecosystem.
“We envisioned a living skin, one that breathes. It would capture the sounds of the city, diffuse soft light, include bird nesting boxes … This would not be a frozen monument, but a living urban organism,” he added.
More than an architectural gesture, the project aims to meet a social need: to create a space for gathering, contemplation, and transmission — in a district already rich in cultural institutions.
FASTFACT
The proposed structure includes
A public space at the base of the tower combining cultural and commercial activities
A rooftop designed to host events and offer breathtaking views over the park
Subtle lighting of the structure, activated during celebrations and special occasions
“The neighbourhood lacks a central point, a gathering space. The water tower could become that symbolic core,” Stella said.
A sustainable, reversible, and experimental architecture
The project follows a sustainable and experiential design approach, with particular attention to environmental impact and long-term viability.
One of its key technical features is the use of ultra-high performance fiber concrete — a cutting-edge French engineering innovation that ensures structural strength and durability over time.
The design is inspired by the trunk of the date palm and the triangular motifs of Najdi architecture. (Supplied)
Another central principle is reversibility. The bioclimatic facade is designed as a lightweight, removable structure, non-invasive to the original building — allowing full restoration of the water tower if needed, in a spirit of heritage preservation and architectural temporality.
The project involves international creative talent, including Studio Jouan for sound design and BOA Light Studio for lighting. No local partners have been involved yet, because the project is still in the exploratory phase.
The targeted potential delivery date is 2030 — echoing the broader transformation milestones of the Saudi capital.
While the project is at a design phase, Stella Amae is currently working on an archaeology research center and museum in Al-Sufouh, Dubai, with X-Architects.
Concept overview: a lively public space at the base of the tower, an event rooftop overlooking the park, and discreet lighting activated for special occasions. (Supplied)
The firm has also contributed to several major projects in the Middle East, including a residential project at Diriyah Gate 2 with AS.Architecture Studio in Paris and the Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Grand Mosque in Diriyah, in collaboration with X-Architects from Dubai.
However, the potential Burj Al-Khazzan project holds a unique place in their approach: “It raises questions about urban heritage, water, memory … It is not just an architectural object. It is a piece of the city, a piece of history that we want to turn into the future,” Stella said.
Turning a former water tower into a Tree of Life is a powerful metaphor for a city seeking to grow a new kind of urbanism — one that honors its past and looks toward a more sustainable future.
