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Riyadh Air, IBM Build the World’s First Airline Founded on AI

A Riyadh Air aircraft (The company’s website)
A Riyadh Air aircraft (The company’s website)
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Riyadh Air, IBM Build the World’s First Airline Founded on AI

A Riyadh Air aircraft (The company’s website)
A Riyadh Air aircraft (The company’s website)

The Middle East’s aviation sector has undergone rapid transformation in recent years, driven by network expansion, advanced digital technologies, and growing reliance on smart analytics to enhance passenger experience and improve operational efficiency.

As competition intensifies among regional and international carriers, digital innovation has become central to differentiation and customer appeal.

Aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which is focused on strengthening air connectivity, diversifying the economy, and leveraging modern technology, the Kingdom has paved the way for innovations such as service automation, workforce digitalization, and real-time data analytics for smarter operational decision-making.

In this context, Riyadh Air - one of the Public Investment Fund’s aviation companies -announced, in partnership with IBM Middle East and North Africa, the creation of the world’s first national airline built entirely on artificial intelligence from day one.

The initiative represents a new model for the airline of the future, going beyond traditional digital transformation to establish an operating and management structure free from legacy systems.

Through a collaboration involving more than 60 technology partners across 59 workstreams, Riyadh Air aims to set a global benchmark not only for AI-driven operational efficiency, using generative AI and the watsonx Orchestrate platform, but also for highly personalized experiences for passengers and employees.

The airline is preparing for the launch of its first commercial flights in early 2026, with a goal of connecting the Kingdom to more than 100 international destinations by 2030.

Riyadh Air Chief Financial Officer Adam Boukadida told Asharq Al-Awsat that the objective was to build a fully modern national airline.

“We started from scratch so Riyadh Air could become the first airline built on AI platforms that define the sector’s future, while preserving the human touch for both employees and guests,” he said.

He added that the biggest challenge was developing all systems anew and coordinating dozens of partners to ensure seamless integration while embedding AI across every operational layer.

The digital infrastructure provides employees with a unified workspace that simplifies tasks and strengthens data-driven decision-making. AI empowers crew to deliver customized, proactive services, from booking to arrival and beyond. This includes a virtual assistant offering tailored suggestions such as car rentals and reservations for events or restaurants.

Boukadida noted that real-time analysis of operational, financial, and commercial data will boost efficiency, profitability, and cost management, while elevating Saudi Arabia’s global air connectivity.

Mohamad Ali, Senior Vice President of IBM Consulting, said integrating AI into the airline’s core operations makes Riyadh Air “a model of adaptability, where technology and human hospitality converge on every journey.” IBM platforms provide unified, real-time data to enhance performance for both staff and travelers.

He highlighted watsonx Orchestrate as a key component enabling personalized digital workplaces, seamless access to HR tools, and instant insights for crew, such as alerts to offer fast-track services to late-arriving passengers.

For travelers, the platform will power an AI virtual assistant offering customized add-on services and curated experiences.

Riyadh Air plans to serve over 100 global destinations by 2030 with a fleet of long-range aircraft. Boukadida said Saudi talent has been integral to building the airline, reflecting the Kingdom’s commitment to developing digital expertise and creating high-value jobs in aviation.

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Business

Argaam Warns Against Fraudulent Digital Currency Claims Using Its Name

 Argaam logo 
 Argaam logo 
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Argaam Warns Against Fraudulent Digital Currency Claims Using Its Name

 Argaam logo 
 Argaam logo 

Saudi financial information platform Argaam has issued a sharp warning after uncovering coordinated fraud attempts carried out through unofficial channels, exploiting its name and reputation in the Saudi market.

According to Argaam, the schemes seek to deceive the public by promoting false claims about digital currency launches and offering to double investors’ funds in return for dubious financial transfers.

In a statement, Argaam stressed that it does not issue digital currencies and never requests financial or digital transfers from individuals or entities.

It also confirmed that it does not collect personal or financial data nor offer investment invitations or proposals of any kind, emphasizing that all announcements and initiatives are communicated solely through its officially authorized channels within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Calling on the public to exercise caution and refrain from engaging with any unauthorized messages or entities, Argaam said it will take all necessary legal measures against anyone proven to have impersonated its name or exploited its trademark.

Such actions will be pursued in accordance with Saudi Arabia’s Anti-Cybercrime Law, Trademark Law, and other applicable regulations.

Argaam further affirmed that it reserves all its legal rights to pursue those involved before the competent authorities, and declared that it bears no responsibility for any transactions or damages resulting from dealings with such unofficial parties.

The warning comes at a time when Saudi regulations impose strict controls on digital currencies, which are not currently classified as legally recognized currencies within the Kingdom.

 

 

 

 

Business

Libya to Sign 25-year Deal with TotalEnergies, ConocoPhillips to Bring over $20 Billion in Investment

TotalEnergies' results in the fourth quarter of 2025 bucked the downward trend among major oil companies (Reuters)
TotalEnergies' results in the fourth quarter of 2025 bucked the downward trend among major oil companies (Reuters)
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Libya to Sign 25-year Deal with TotalEnergies, ConocoPhillips to Bring over $20 Billion in Investment

TotalEnergies' results in the fourth quarter of 2025 bucked the downward trend among major oil companies (Reuters)
TotalEnergies' results in the fourth quarter of 2025 bucked the downward trend among major oil companies (Reuters)

Libya will sign a 25-year oil development agreement on Saturday with France's TotalEnergies and US-based ConocoPhillips, involving more than $20 billion in foreign-financed investment and aimed at boosting production capacity by up to 850,000 barrels per day, Prime Minister Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah ‌said.

Signed through ‌Waha Oil ‌Company, ⁠a subsidiary ‌of Libya's state-run National Oil Corporation, the deal is expected to generate net revenues of more than $376 billion, Dbeibah said in a post on X.

Dbeibah said ⁠that Libya will also sign a ‌memorandum of understanding with ‍US oil ‍major Chevron and a cooperation agreement ‍with Egypt's oil ministry, reported Reuters.

Libya is one of Africa's biggest oil producers, but output has been disrupted repeatedly in the chaotic decade since 2014, when the country ⁠split between rival authorities in the east and west following the NATO-backed uprising that toppled Muammar Gaddafi.

The agreements reflect "the strengthening of Libya's relations with its largest and most influential international partners in the global energy sector ... ultimately generating additional resources ‌for the national economy," Dbeibah said.

Business

Wall Street Intends to Stay Open around the Clock

Futures-options traders work on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange's NYSE American (AMEX) in New York City, US, January 21, 2026. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
Futures-options traders work on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange's NYSE American (AMEX) in New York City, US, January 21, 2026. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
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Wall Street Intends to Stay Open around the Clock

Futures-options traders work on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange's NYSE American (AMEX) in New York City, US, January 21, 2026. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
Futures-options traders work on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange's NYSE American (AMEX) in New York City, US, January 21, 2026. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

The closing and opening bells of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) may become a ringing ritual of yesteryear, as the market moves toward nonstop trading.

This week, the Intercontinental Exchange announced it is developing a platform for 24/7 operations that offers "instant settlement."

The around-the-clock operations would rely on digital tokens mirroring the shares of listed companies, the NYSE's parent company said in a statement.

NASDAQ, another New York-based trading exchange, could follow suit as early as this year, said AFP.

The move is pending approval by federal regulators at the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and would amount to a minor revolution for the way money moves in US stock markets.

- 'Waste of time' -

In the early days of the exchange, investors had to be physically present in markets on Wall Street to "stand and yell at each other and wave pieces of paper, and then they would have to write down what everybody bought and sold," Sam Burns, chief strategist at Mill Street Research, told AFP.

That meant "having trading go on all day every day would sort of be impossible to keep up with," Burns said.

Digitized transactions can change all that.

Off-hours trading has already been on the rise since 2019, exploding since 2024 when the daily average topped $61 billion, according to a NYSE report in early 2025.

But the appeal remains limited, according to Steve Hanke, a professor of applied economics at Johns Hopkins University.

"Historically, there is little evidence that supports the idea that the benefits of 24-hour trading outweigh the costs," he said, adding that there "are few market-moving events that occur outside of normal business hours in New York City."

"Night trading proved to be a waste of time," he said.

Hanke said the real advantage in the NYSE's announcement lies in the time needed to finalize a trade -- a process that usually occurs the next day in most stock markets.

"Narrowing the settlement window may prove to be a significant competitive advantage," Hanke said.

- Attracting the young and foreigners -

As host to immense market caps, the US market remains the largest in the world, but competition is growing.

Last year, many European indexes generated returns that outpaced their US counterparts.

With extended hours, Wall Street may be able to attract smaller investors and those outside the Americas.

Nearly 18 percent of US shares belonged to non-US holders in 2024, according to the US Treasury's most recent available figures.

And fans of cryptocurrency trading may jump into stocks, said Burns, the Mill Street Research strategist.

"A lot of retail investors nowadays, particularly younger ones, seem to like the idea of being able to trade stocks all the time the way they do cryptocurrencies and other digital assets, whether it's nights or weekends," Burns said.

It is unlikely that the change would move traditional investors from banker's hours because the impacts of any change are likely to be limited," Burns added.

"Most institutional investors that trade the real money aren't really interested in working or trading on the weekends, and the fact (is) that banks are mostly still closed on the weekends," Burns said.