15
Jul-2026
Mawhiba Academic Enrichment Program Continues Its Educational Journey at the University of Business and Technology Amid Strong Student Engagement and Creativity
The Mawhiba Academic Enrichment Program, affiliated with the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba) and implemented in partnership with the University of Business and Technology, is witnessing remarkable engagement during its second week. Gifted students continue their enriching educational journey, combining knowledge with practical application in a stimulating university environment that contributes to developing their abilities, refining their skills, and preparing them for the future.
The program aims to develop the skills of gifted students and enrich their knowledge through an advanced educational experience based on interactive learning and practical application. Under the supervision of a distinguished group of faculty members and specialists, the program fosters creative thinking, innovation, teamwork, and problem-solving skills.
The program offers a range of enrichment units across various scientific and technical fields, including Cybersecurity, Financial Technology (FinTech), Renewable Energy, Principles of Engineering Design, and Mechanical Engineering.
Since the launch of the program, students have demonstrated a high level of engagement and enthusiasm through their participation in practical activities, scientific experiments, and innovative projects that reflect their abilities and potential while providing them with opportunities to explore future academic and career pathways within an inspiring university environment.
Students are also working on scientific and applied projects as part of their enrichment units. These projects will be presented during the program’s closing ceremony in the presence of parents, representatives of the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba), and university leaders. This experience contributes to strengthening students’ research, innovation, and scientific presentation skills while enabling them to transform ideas into practical solutions and applicable projects.
The program is implemented within the framework of the strategic partnership between the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba) and the University of Business and Technology. This partnership aims to identify and nurture gifted students and provide a high-quality educational environment that contributes to developing a generation of innovative national talents capable of competing and contributing to the achievement of the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
15
Jul-2026
UBT Concludes the First Phase of the Chinese Language Initiative
The University of Business and Technology (UBT) has successfully concluded the first phase of its Chinese Language Initiative, launched by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Dr. Abdullah Bin Sadiq Dahlan, to strengthen cultural and knowledge exchange between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the People’s Republic of China through free Chinese language courses for UBT students, alumni, and staff.
The initiative commenced in mid-May 2026, with the first phase concluding in mid-July 2026. Participants will continue their learning journey when the second phase begins in September 2026.
UBT extends its sincere appreciation to Dr. Abdullah Bin Sadiq Dahlan for his visionary leadership and generous support in providing this valuable opportunity, empowering students, alumni, and staff to develop Chinese language skills and broaden their global horizons.
The University also expresses its gratitude to the UBT Academy, led by Ms. Stacy Nahas, for her outstanding efforts in securing House of Wisdom Institute as the Chinese educational partner, whose high quality instruction contributed significantly to the success of the program’s first phase.
07
Jul-2026
UBT–AASTMT Joint Learning Trip
CBA, represented by the SCM Department, HRM Department, and Finance Department, celebrated the successful completion of the Joint Learning Trip held in collaboration with the Arab Academy for Science, Technology & Maritime Transport (AASTMT) in Cairo. The eight-day international experience brought together students and faculty members in an interactive academic environment that enhanced global perspectives, encouraged cultural exchange, and promoted practical learning. Through real-world case studies, collaborative sessions, and exposure to international academic and professional environments, participants developed their skills and competencies in alignment with the values of innovation, sustainability, and the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. The Dean of CBA extends deep thanks, appreciation, and gratitude to the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of UBT, Dr. Abdullah Dahlan, the President of the University, Dr. Weam Tunsi, the distinguished Vice Presidents of UBT, and the Director of International Partnerships, Prof. Hanan Gouda, for their continuous support and commitment to enhancing the college's journey. We also express our gratitude to all faculty members and students for their outstanding contributions and their active role in achieving academic success and excellence for the college.
01
Jul-2026
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Hack4Earth Concludes Capacity-Building Journey, Preparing Startups for Demo Day
UBT TechnoValley successfully concluded the final capacity-building sessions of the Hack4Earth Hackathon & Incubator, organized in collaboration with INJAZ Saudi Arabia, marking the completion of an intensive entrepreneurial development journey that has been running since February 2026.
The closing workshops brought together 13 promising startup teams representing four leading institutions across the Kingdom, including 6 teams from King Abdulaziz University (KAU), 4 teams from KAUST, 2 teams from the University of Business and Technology (UBT), and 1 team from the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu (RCJY).
The final training day featured a distinguished lineup of industry experts covering key areas essential for startup growth and investment readiness:
Mr. Hamza Dar, Founder and CEO of Egacy Worldwide, delivered an insightful session on Finance and Fundraising, providing participants with practical strategies on startup financing, fundraising, and investment readiness.
Dr. Hani Al Jahdali, CEO of Legal Edition, together with his legal team, presented a comprehensive session on Legal and Intellectual Property Awareness, highlighting the importance of legal structuring, intellectual property protection, and commercialization strategies for emerging ventures.
Mr. Ansab Khalid, Founder of Psywork Consultants, led an interactive workshop on Public Speaking and Presentation Skills, equipping participants with effective communication techniques and presentation strategies to confidently pitch their ventures to investors and stakeholders.
The event concluded with a closing address by Dr. Basma El Zein, Director General of UBT TechnoValley, who expressed her pride in the remarkable progress demonstrated by the participating teams throughout the Hack4Earth journey.
Dr. El Zein commended the creativity, commitment, and entrepreneurial mindset of the teams, emphasizing that the innovative solutions developed over the past months reflect the tremendous potential of Saudi Arabia's next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs. She highlighted the significant transformation the teams have achieved—from identifying real-world challenges to building innovative startup solutions—and announced that the next milestone will be the Hack4Earth Demo Day, scheduled for September 2026.
The final workshops marked the conclusion of a comprehensive entrepreneurship and incubation curriculum delivered since February 2026. Throughout the program, participating teams received intensive training across every stage of the startup journey, including entrepreneurship fundamentals, design thinking, ideation, business model development, customer discovery, prototyping and MVP development, sustainability and SDG integration, digital transformation and AI applications, marketing and growth strategies, financial planning and fundraising, legal structuring and intellectual property, communication and pitching skills, and scaling strategies to prepare investment-ready ventures.
Hack4Earth is more than a hackathon—it is a structured innovation and incubation program designed to transform innovative ideas into scalable startups that address real-world challenges while contributing to sustainable development. Through the strategic collaboration between UBT TechnoValley and INJAZ Saudi Arabia, the initiative provides aspiring entrepreneurs with mentorship, practical training, industry expertise, and access to a thriving innovation ecosystem that supports the journey from idea to market-ready startup.
With the completion of the capacity-building phase, the participating teams now enter the final stage of the Hack4Earth journey. Over the coming weeks, they will work closely with mentors to refine their startup concepts, develop compelling investment pitch presentations, and prepare their comprehensive Startup Investment Portfolios. These portfolios, together with their investor pitches, will be presented during the Hack4Earth Demo Day in September 2026, where the teams will showcase their ventures before a distinguished audience of investors, industry leaders, judges, and ecosystem partners, competing for the opportunity to accelerate their startups toward commercialization and long-term impact.
22
Jun-2026
UBT Strengthens Saudi Chinese Cultural Exchange Through Student Participation in the 2026 Dragon Boat Festival
As an extension of the generous initiative launched by Dr. Abdullah bin Sadiq Dahlan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the University of Business and Technology (UBT), to promote cultural and educational exchange between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the People’s Republic of China through free Chinese language courses for students, alumni, and university employees, UBT participated on the 18th of June 2026, in the Saudi Chinese Youth Cultural Exchange Event held in celebration of the 2026 Dragon Boat Festival, organized by the Chinese Language Institute “House of Wisdom”.
Representing the university, Prof. Haneen Mohammad Shoaib, Consultant of the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, attended the event and had the honor of meeting Mr. Yang Yi, Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Jeddah, who inaugurated the event. Commemorative photographs were taken during the occasion, which also featured student talent showcases and a variety of cultural activities highlighting the depth of Saudi Chinese relations.
Several UBT students and faculty studying Chinese language also participated in the event, reflecting the university’s commitment to building bridges of cultural understanding and strengthening people-to-people connections between Saudi Arabia and China. The participation aligns with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 and reinforces UBT’s role in advancing international cultural and educational engagement.
11
Jun-2026
Industry Insights from Sunbulah Group for UBT Students
CBA, represented by the MKT Department and under the supervision of Dr. Sharifah Ahmed, Head of the Department, and Dr. Kholod Aggad, hosted Sunbulah Group for an industry session for Marketing Research students. The session was delivered by our marketing alumna, Ms. Baraa Qurban, Brand Manager of the Frozen Pastry Category at Sunbulah Group. She shared valuable insights on innovation, consumer behavior, and the future of marketing, while encouraging students to develop the skills and competencies needed to become successful marketers in the future.
21
May-2026
UBT and Red Sea Global Hospitality Explore Collaboration
CBA, represented by the HTM Department, hosted representatives from Red Sea Global to discuss future collaboration opportunities in student training, professional development, and enhancing future employability opportunities for students within the hospitality and tourism sector. This visit reflects the department’s continuous commitment to building strategic partnerships with leading industry organizations and bridging academic learning with market needs.
21
May-2026
Graduate Students Showcase Entrepreneurial Prototypes at UBT
CBA, represented by the RTL Department and under the supervision of Dr. Sara Zakour, organized a presentation of graduate students’ projects and prototypes before the Dean of the College, Dr. Ameen Alharbi; the Vice Dean, Dr. Kholoud Bajunaid; Prof. Noor Al Maaitah representing the Deanship of Graduate Studies and Dr. Basma El Zein, General Manager of the Technology Valley at the university. The projects presented creative ideas and innovative solutions with strong potential for application in the labor market. The panel provided valuable feedback and guidance that contributed to refining the students’ ideas and strengthening the practical and investment aspects of the projects. Dr. Basma El Zein also highlighted the role of the university’s business incubators and the services they provide to support entrepreneurs and empower students to transform their academic ideas into startups and real ventures that serve both the community and the local market.
This initiative emphasized the importance of connecting academic learning with practical application and reflected the commitment of UBT to fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship among its students.
21
May-2026
UBT Students Visit Deloitte
CBA, represented by the BAIS Department, organized a field visit to Deloitte under the supervision of Dr. Nihel Halouani, Head of the Department, and Dr. Halah Nasseif. The visit provided students with the opportunity to explore the professional work environment and learn more about digital transformation, consulting, and technology fields, helping bridge the gap between academic learning and practical application.
