Riyadh Air’s AI‑powered operations create agility across the business and unify employee and guest experiences, setting a new benchmark in aviation

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia and ARMONK, N.Y., Dec. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — At IBM Think Riyadh 2025, IBM (NYSE: IBM) and Riyadh Air announced a major milestone in their collaboration, unveiling Riyadh Air as the world’s first AI-native airline. Designed from the ground up without legacy patch work, these AI-driven operations provide the foundation to transform guest and employee experiences and set a new benchmark for innovation in the aviation industry.

Riyadh Air and IBM Partner to Launch World’s First AI-Native Airline

Riyadh Air is leveraging IBM Consulting’s deep industry and technical expertise, broad partner ecosystem, and IBM watsonx Orchestrate to operate as an AI-native enterprise from day one. IBM Consulting served as the orchestrator behind this ambitious AI vision, bringing together 59 workstreams and more than 60 partners, including Adobe, Apple, FLYR, and Microsoft. Using IBM Consulting Advantage, its AI-powered delivery platform designed to accelerate value creation, IBM consultants were able to help provide seamless execution of the airline’s end-to-end technology strategy.

With initial flights underway and its first commercial service expected in early 2026, the three‑year collaboration between Riyadh Air and IBM has reached a pivotal moment.

“We had a clear choice—be the last airline built on legacy technology or the first built on the platforms that will define the next decade of aviation,” said Adam Boukadida, Chief Financial Officer, Riyadh Air. “With IBM, we’ve stripped out fifty years of legacy in a single stroke. Riyadh Air isn’t just built for today; it’s built for the future and creating a pathway for many airlines to follow in the years to come.”

“By embedding AI into the very foundation of its operations, Riyadh Air is setting a new blueprint for what it means to build a modern, adaptive enterprise from the ground up,” said Mohamad Ali, Senior Vice President, IBM Consulting. “As a company born in the AI era, Riyadh Air is redefining what’s possible in aviation and it’s been a privilege for IBM to help make that vision a reality.”

Bringing Together Employee and Guest Experiences

Riyadh Air is reimagining how employees work and engage with travelers in the AI era. By infusing generative AI and agentic AI capabilities into workflows, the airline is creating a synchronized environment where people and technology deliver effortless travel.

• Employee Experience: Riyadh Air will introduce a personalized digital workplace powered by AI agents. The platform will give employees a single, chat-first entry point to HR, simplifying workflows and accelerating key employee and manager self-service capabilities as Riyadh Air doubles its workforce in the next 12 months.
• Crew Enablement: AI-powered mobile applications will create a connected and integrated employee and guest journey. Riyadh Air will use IBM watsonx Orchestrate to build an agentic AI-based concierge experience for employees that is trustworthy, proactive, contextually aware, and proposes next best actions for each persona interacting with guests. This will enable cabin and ground crews to deliver tailored service, for example, prompting staff to offer fast-track services to customers running late.
• Customer Care: Digitally driven yet anchored in human values, AI‑enabled voice bots and agent assist will help customer care agents deliver attentive, personalized support using contextual data to anticipate traveler needs and enhance the overall travel experience.

Operational Efficiency as the Engine for Innovation

Built for efficiency from the start, Riyadh Air isn’t constrained by legacy systems or incremental productivity gains. Beginning with a completely blank digital slate, the airline is using AI to create new revenue opportunities and reinvest in innovation across its operations.

IBM Consulting implemented an enterprise performance management suite to bring together financial, operational and commercial data across the organization, automating planning, budgeting, forecasting and analysis to deliver real time insights and support data driven decision making. By building this integrated foundation, Riyadh Air is enhancing its efficiency, optimizing route profitability and strengthening overall business performance.

Together, IBM and Riyadh Air have built an AI‑native enterprise with the digital strategy, architecture and operating models needed for the airline to achieve its ambition of transforming aviation and expanding the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s connectivity to more than 100 destinations, serving millions of travelers by 2030.

About Riyadh Air

Riyadh Air is a world-class airline owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF). Launched in March 2023, the airline will be a digitally-led, full service airline that adopts the best global sustainability and safety practices across its advanced fleet of aircraft. Riyadh Air will equip its aircrafts with the most advanced, state-of-the-art features with innovative, best-in-class cabin interiors and experiences, including next generation digital in-flight entertainment systems and connectivity solutions. Riyadh Air will connect guests to over 100 destinations around the world by 2030 through offering an exceptional guest experience with an authentic, warm Saudi hospitality at its heart.

For more information, please visit our website: www.riyadhair.com – and for any media inquiries please contact us at: media@riyadhair.com

About IBM

IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. Thousands of government and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM’s hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently and securely. IBM’s breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM’s long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity and service. Visit www.ibm.com for more information.

Media contact:

Lily O’Brien
IBM
lilyobrien@ibm.com

IBM Corporation logo.

Exploring How Mobile AI Empowering Vertical Industries and Releasing the Report “Operator-led AI Use Cases Across Vertical Industries”

Excitement builds for MWC26 Shanghai as new strategic partners announced for the event

SHENZHEN, China, Dec. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The GSMA today hosted its Innovation Forum in Shenzhen, convening leaders from business, technology and policymakers to explore three transformative growth engines for China’s digital ecosystem: Mobile AI, the fast-emerging low-altitude economy, and global market opportunities.

The GSMA’s Head of Greater China, Sihan Bo Chen, said: “China continues to set the pace globally in digital infrastructure, 5G deployment and real-world AI application. A GSMA Intelligence survey of thousands of enterprises across 21 countries showed that China has one of the highest scores for digital transformation and is at the forefront of innovation and technology developments[i]. Today’s event, supported by the insights from our comprehensive AI best-practice report, is an invaluable platform for industry leaders and governments to share success stories, address common challenges and forge the partnerships to help move the industry forward.”

The GSMA Innovation Forum is GSMA’s signature year-end platform for dialogue on the industry’s most critical topics. Traditionally hosted in Beijing, the Forum comes to Shenzhen for the first time this year. As a pioneer in infrastructure and supply-chain development for the low-altitude economy, and home to many globally expanding technology leaders, Shenzhen offers a uniquely dynamic environment—especially in advancing AI.

During the event, the GSMA shared its annual report focusing on operator use cases for vertical industries in China. The report, “Operator Best Practices: AI Large Model Empowering Verticals Use Cases – 2025 Edition” analysed nearly 20 operator-led deployments across four priority sectors: innovative customer service and network operations, healthcare and smart education, industrial upgrading and intelligent manufacturing, and public services and social governance.

The report provides in-depth examination of industry challenges, technical solutions, key innovations, and the core value delivered in each case. While its findings provide practical, replicable experience and uniquely Chinese insights, it also provides a resource for mobile operators and vertical industries worldwide as they accelerate large-model AI deployment at scale.

Looking forward to MWC26 Shanghai

The GSMA has announced more strategic partners in support of MWC26 Shanghai, in addition to the 17 companies recently announced. Each strategic partner brings industry and technological leadership, contributing an essential part in the shaping of MWC26 Shanghai., The new strategic partners include China Tower, Fraunhofer, NTT Data, Quectel, Singtel, Telenor and World Broadband Association (WBBA). MWC26 Shanghai’s agenda will focus on the thought leadership themes of Intelligent Infrastructure, ConnectAI, AI4Enterprise and Mobile AI. MWC26 will also feature new zones including Mobile AI Innovation Frontiers, the Global Innovation Pavilion, City Pavilions, Digital Transformation Vertical Zones, and Constellations of the Future.

 GSMA Innovation Forum – key highlights

The Forum opens with a special fireside chat between GSMA and WBBA about key growth opportunities in global markets.

• Low-Altitude Economy: Industry experts will examine the explosive growth of commercial UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicle or drones) and eVTOL (electric vertical take-off aircraft), highlighting the critical enabling role of 5G/6G networks for BVLOS (beyond visual line of sight) operations and large-scale commercial deployment.
• Mobile AI: Real-world case studies illustrated the powerful virtuous cycle between ubiquitous connectivity, real-time data and increasingly sophisticated AI models.
• Global Markets: Executives will share practical experiences of business and collaboration across key regions such as Asia and Europe.

Pre-register your interest to attend MWC26 Shanghai by clicking here.

Prior to MWC26 Shanghai,MWC26 Barcelona will unite global leaders, thought leaders, innovators, and policymakers to celebrate its 20^th edition from 2-5 March 2026. The event has opened for registration.

HONG KONG, Dec. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — On 8 December 2025, NOVOSENSE Microelectronics (Stock Codes: 02676.HK; 688052.SH) was officially listed on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, successfully establishing a dual-capital platform across the A-share and H-share markets. This milestone marks a new chapter in the company’s global expansion strategy.

NOVOSENSE positions Hong Kong as its overseas base, serving as a strategic hub to enhance global customer engagement, strengthen supply chain collaboration, and accelerate ecosystem development. This will further reinforce the company’s participation and influence in the international analog semiconductor industry.

As one of the few Chinese companies with deep technology and product deployment across three core domains—sensors, signal chain, and power management—NOVOSENSE has built strong competitive advantages in automotive electronics, industrial & energy applications, and smart devices. With a scalable technology platform and comprehensive product portfolio, the company is progressing from “China’s trusted analog benchmark” toward becoming a “global partner of choice.”

Wang Shengyang, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of NOVOSENSE, remarked that the Hong Kong listing is not only a major milestone in the company’s business development, but also the beginning of a new global narrative. Anchored by this listing, NOVOSENSE will continue to invest in foundational technologies, expand its product portfolio, strengthen overseas sales and marketing capabilities, and enhance global operational excellence—delivering long-term value to customers and partners worldwide.

About NOVOSENSE Microelectronics

NOVOSENSE Microelectronics (NOVOSENSE, SSE Stock Code 688052 HKEX: 02676.HK) is a highly robust & reliable analog and mixed signal chip company. Since its establishment in 2013, the company has been focusing on sensor, signal chain, and power management, providing comprehensive semiconductor products and solutions, which are widely used in automotive, industrial, information communication and consumer electronics markets.

With the mission of “Sense & Drive the Future, Build a Green, Smart and Connected World with Semiconductors”, the company is committed to providing chip-level solutions to link the digital world and the real world.

For more information, please visit: https://www.novosns.com/en 

ABU DHABI, UAE, Dec. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume and users, today announced a landmark regulatory achievement: The Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of ADGM, the international financial centre of Abu Dhabi, the Capital of the UAE, has formally approved the authorisation of Binance’s global platform, Binance.com, under a comprehensive regulatory framework.

This global first is a major step in Binance’s mission to create the most trusted and compliant digital-asset ecosystem in the world. A license granted by FSRA of ADGM offers Binance credibility and seamless access across multiple markets, extending well beyond the UAE, and cements Binance’s position at the forefront of regulatory progress in digital finance.

This comprehensive regulatory approval covers Binance’s global platform, Binance.com, via three separate regulated entities operating within ADGM. Each of the three entities (an Exchange, a Clearing House, and a Broker Dealer) holds distinct regulatory permissions to carry out specific financial services activities in line with ADGM’s internationally recognized, gold-standard regulatory framework.

• Nest Services Limited (to be soon renamed “Nest Exchange Limited”) has been approved as a Recognised Investment Exchange “RIE”, with permission to operate a Multilateral Trading Facility. This entity is responsible for all “on-exchange” trading activities, including spot and derivatives products.
• Nest Clearing and Custody Limited has been approved as a Recognised Clearing House “RCH”, with additional permissions to provide custody and CSD services. It will manage the clearing, settlement, and secure custody of digital assets, ensuring robust operational resilience and asset protection.
• BCI Limited (to be soon renamed “Nest Trading Limited”) has been approved as a Broker-Dealer, with permissions to deal in investments, arrange deals in investments, manage assets, arrange custody and provide money services. This entity will deliver Binance’s “off-exchange” offerings, including over the counter “OTC” trading, conversion services, and other principal-based activities.

Richard Teng, Co-CEO of Binance, commented: “Achieving regulatory status through ADGM’s respected framework reflects our deep commitment to compliance, transparency, and user protection. ADGM is one of the most respected financial regulators globally, and holding an FSRA license under their gold standard framework shows that Binance meets the highest international standards for compliance, governance, risk management, and consumer protection.”

Teng added, “This license provides regulatory clarity and legitimacy, enabling Binance to support its global operations from ADGM. While our global operations remain distributed, leveraging talent and innovation worldwide, this regulatory foundation offers our users peace of mind knowing Binance operates under a globally recognised, gold standard framework. We are grateful for the FSRA’s forward-thinking approach, which safeguards users while fostering innovation.”

His Excellency Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, Chairman of ADGM, said, “We are pleased to welcome Binance, a key global player in digital assets and financial innovation, to ADGM. Their presence underscores Abu Dhabi’s standing as a leading international hub for innovation, sustainable growth, and the future of finance. We look forward to seeing them harness the strength of ADGM’s progressive regulatory framework and dynamic ecosystem contributing to the evolution of a more innovative, inclusive, and future-ready global financial sector.”

With over 300 million registered users globally and more than $125 trillion in cumulative trading volume, Binance continues to lead the evolution of the digital asset ecosystem by building a secure, transparent, and fully compliant infrastructure. Operating under ADGM’s robust financial services regime ensures all Binance users benefit from high standards of oversight and consumer protection as the platform scales into its next phase of institutional and retail adoption.

Subject to final operational preparation, Binance.com will start operating its ADGM regulated activities on Jan 5, 2026. This milestone cements Binance’s position at the forefront of regulatory progress in digital finance. It also reinforces the UAE’s emergence as a global hub for innovation in financial services, supported by clear regulatory pathways and a deep talent base. 

About Binance

Binance is a leading global blockchain ecosystem behind the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume and registered users. Binance is trusted by more than 300 million people in 100+ countries for its industry-leading security, transparency, trading engine speed, protections for investors, and unmatched portfolio of digital asset products and offerings from trading and finance to education, research, social good, payments, institutional services, and Web3 features. Binance is devoted to building an inclusive crypto ecosystem to increase the freedom of money and financial access for people around the world with crypto as the fundamental means. For more information, visit: https://www.binance.com. 

Partnership Plans to leverage the 2026 Tour now open for Americas, Europe, Middle East & Africa, India and World Editions of summit  

SINGAPORE, NEW YORK and LONDON, Dec. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — House of Rose Professional today announced the opening of plans for the 2026 World Tour of Break the ceiling touch the sky® – the success and leadership summit for all (especially executive women and male allies). In 2026, the summit expands its global footprint with editions across the Americas, Asia, the Middle East & Africa, Europe, and ANZ bringing together CEOs, C-suite executives, high-potential women leaders, HR and belonging champions, male allies, and innovators from the world’s most influential organizations. The USA, UK, India, UAE, Singapore are the priority host countries identified for the 2026 World Tour. AI, Resilience and agility, Leadership and Influence, Networks and Cybersecurity alongside uniquely human capabilities of compassion and empathy are expected to be critical pillars of the 2026 world tour which of Break the ceiling touch the sky® as follows:

• 2026 Global women in leadership Executive Briefing (virtual). Jan 20, 2026.
• 2026 Americas Edition (Live). Apr 20, 2026. Live in New York.
• 2026 Europe + UK Presidents Round Table (Live). June 12, 2026. Live in London and Virtual summit on June 19, 2026
• 2026 Middle East Africa Edition (Live). Sept 7, 2026. Live in Dubai
• 2026 India Edition (Live). Date to be decided
• 2026 Asia/World Edition (Live). Oct 12, 2026. Live in Singapore. 

The summit supports HORP’s MISSION 2029 FOR A BETTER WORLD – the 10 year initiative that kicked off in mid -2020 to shape a better world via accelerating gender-balanced, high performance leadership at the top of the world’s largest Companies. With an estimated 70% of purchase decisions being made by or influenced by women globally and research showing that gender balanced teams deliver better business, innovation and social impact, the world’s most successful businesses are reflecting their customer bases in their senior leadership.

Established 2014, Break the ceiling touch the sky®, established 2014 has become the trusted Training partner for over 50000 leaders across over 700 international Companies  via 41 international editions of Break the ceiling touch the sky® to date across the Americas, Asia, Middle East & Africa, Europe and ANZ and other supplementary Training, Talent and Transformation programs from HORP.

Partnership Plans for the 2026 World Tour are now open. To explore a partnership for an edition of the 2026 World Tour of Break the ceiling touch the sky® please email Anthony A. Rose at  anthony@houseofroseprofessional.com

To Register a Team please visit www.houseofroseprofessional.com

Anthony A. Rose, Chairman and CEO, House of Rose Professional, founder of the summit and best-selling author of “Break the ceiling touch the sky: success secrets of the world’s most inspirational women” commented, “Break the ceiling touch the sky® enables Companies to: accelerate leadership development and excellence at scale; Strengthen their global Employer Brand; access and influence top leadership talent; demonstrate inclusion leadership and action; leverage global benchmarks and Insights and ultimately align with a purpose that inspires the world – building better leadership, better business and a better world. I encourage leaders to explore how they can continue to build their business and organization sustainably by partnering with the 2026 World Tour of Break the ceiling touch the sky®.”

Key partners for Break the ceiling touch the sky® around the world in 2025 highlighted the benefits derived from ongoing partnership with Break the ceiling touch the sky®:

Max Amen, General Manager, UK + Ireland, Wella Company shared, “At Wella Company, we empower people to look, feel, and be their true selves. As an innovative global leader in the beauty industry, we combine our iconic 140+ years of history and industry expertise with our dynamic growth as a category-leading company. With this in mind, we are immensely proud to continue our partnership with Break the Ceiling Touch the Sky® in our shared mission to enable and inspire people to achieve greater success. Since 2017, we have partnered across multiple regions, reinforcing our commitment to driving positive impact.”  

Vijayanand Sinha, SVP ASEAN, Reckitt shared, “Reckitt’s workforce represents people of all ages, backgrounds, identities and beliefs. We continue to strive to make our company and wider society an inclusive environment, where every voice is heard and every individual matters. We are pleased to partner with Break the ceiling touch the sky® as we pursue a cleaner, healthier world.”

Preeti Arora Razdan, Managing Director, Southeast Asia, Diageo shared, “We believe our continued partnership with Break the Ceiling Touch the Sky^® is key to unlocking a truly inclusive and sustainable future. At Diageo, inclusion is at the heart of everything we do, from building talented teams and sourcing diverse suppliers to ensuring our brands authentically reflect the world around us. We further extend this commitment to empower women and other communities through skills programs that improve employability and livelihoods.”

Scott Price, Group Chief Executive, DFI Retail Group commented, “A majority of our customers are female. We are a leading Asian retailer delivering quality, value and exceptional service through leading brands, a compelling retail experience and a commitment to sustainability. We are focused on helping our customers make the most of every dollar they spend with us. Unleashing a diverse and inclusive workforce is critical to this mission. We benefit from sharing our leadership best practices and also learning from the best practices of other great companies participating at Break the ceiling touch the sky.” 

Peter Van den Broeck, Senior VP, GM Middle East and Africa at BIC commented, “We are proud to partner with House of Rose Professional for the fifth year in a row to help bring gender equality to the top of the agenda, professionally and beyond. Our commitment to fostering a diverse and equal environment at BIC drives our actions externally. Our strategic partnership with House of Rose Professional provides us with a platform to exchange knowledge with likeminded organizations and individuals, so that collectively, we can reach industry-wide business and organizational goals.”

Vinod Tahiliani, Chief Financial Officer, Jio BP, shared, “Committed to our core value of Diversity & Inclusion, Jio-bp has registered many firsts not just for our company but for the Indian mobility industry at large. Being a technology driven energy retailer, Jio-bp continues to push boundaries for improving customer experience across their mobility needs. We were inspired by the diverse perspectives and learnings at the 2025 Indian Edition of Break the ceiling touch the sky summit and shared our own best practices with the many companies that participated at the summit.”

House of Rose Professional Pte. Ltd. (HORP) is a global leader in executive leadership development and provides international services in the areas of Talent, Training and Transformation.  HORP is also the owner of the annual Break the ceiling touch the sky® 101 Best Global Companies for women in leadership Index (BTC 101 Global Index) – the world’s only statistically-based evaluation of gender diversity across the Board and C-suite of the world’s 500 largest Companies.  

MEDIA AND CUSTOMER  INQUIRIES:

Anthony A. Rose at anthony@houseofroseprofessional.com