The National Competitiveness Center (NCC) and London Business School (LBS) have signed an agreement to develop academic content and case studies on Saudi Arabia's economic and developmental reforms. These materials will be incorporated into LBS's executive education programs, reinforcing the Kingdom's global role as a model for transformative economic policies.
The signing ceremony in London was attended by the Minister of Commerce and Chairman of the National Competitiveness Center, Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Kassabi, alongside LBS Dean, Professor Sergei Maratovich Guriev.
Al-Kassabi and the President of University College London (UCL), Dr. Michael James Spence, explored opportunities for collaboration, including joint executive programs for Saudi leaders in innovation and entrepreneurship. They also discussed launching training and capacity-building initiatives, such as enabling Saudi experts to participate in UK-based executive education. Additionally, they addressed expanding knowledge-sharing and strengthening research partnerships.
Yesterday, Al-Kassabi met with Imperial College London Business School's Dean, Peter Todd, and London School of Economics and Political Science President, Professor Larry Kramer. The discussions focused on strengthening collaboration with Saudi educational institutions, particularly in entrepreneurship, SMEs, and connecting Saudi startups with innovation hubs and research incubators. They also explored leveraging the two institutions' expertise to support Saudi Arabia's ongoing transition to a knowledge-based economy, including cooperation in technology, AI, talent development, and applied research. Additionally, Al-Kassabi met with a group of Saudi scholarship students in the United Kingdom.
These meetings were part of a high-level Saudi delegation, comprising officials from 9 government agencies and 35 leaders from major companies, led by H.E. the Minister of Commerce and Chair of the Economic and Social Committee of the Saudi-UK Strategic Partnership Council. The delegation aimed to track progress on the council's initiatives, strengthen relations in key economic sectors, and elevate the strategic partnership between the two friendly countries.
On its first day, the delegation participated in the Saudi-UK Sport Roundtable in London, hosted by the National Competitiveness Center in partnership with the British Department for Business and Trade. The roundtable highlighted investment opportunities arising from Saudi Arabia's hosting of major international sporting events, including the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
The roundtable, held under the GREAT Futures initiative, addressed cooperation opportunities across sports-related sectors including technology, infrastructure, construction, venue operations, and major event planning. As part of the program, the delegation conducted a field visit to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, where they received detailed briefings on the facilities' capabilities and operational experience in hosting major sporting and entertainment events.
The visit included participation from key Saudi entities: the Ministries of Commerce; Sports; Investment, and Finance; the 2034 World Cup Hosting Higher Authority; Public Investment Fund; National Competitiveness Center; Saudi Business Center; National Center for Privatization; and leading national companies specializing in sporting events, infrastructure, and media.
