Dr. Bakri bin Matouq Assass, President of Umm Al-Qura University (UQU), today, received Dr. Ahmed bin Hemdan Aal Theneyan, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology for the industry of technology and digital capabilities,  along with the accompanying delegation. The joint cooperation between UQU, represented by its investment arm "Wadi Makkah Co.", and the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology for the industry of technology and digital capabilities had been discussed during the meeting that was held at UQU President's office in the university campus in Al-Abediya, and in the presence of Dr. Hani Ghazi, UQU Vice President for Development and Entrepreneurship, and Dr. Faisal bin Ahmed Alaf, CEO of Wadi Makkah Co.

At the beginning of the meeting, HE Dr. Assas welcomed the undersecretary and his accompanying delegation; expressing his happiness with such a visit, also hoping that it would fruitfully open new wide horizons and areas for joint cooperation between UQU and the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. Also, HE UQU President gave a full explanation for the strategic plans developed by UQU to take part in achieving the university's direction and its tireless efforts towards transformation towards the knowledge-based economy through the objectives of the National Transformation Plan 2020 and the Saudi vision 2030. In addition to that, the university endeavors to graduate a generation of this homeland youth to be innovators and entrepreneurs; stressing that UQU welcomes any constructive cooperation serves the homeland and citizens.

For his part, Dr. Ahmed bin Hemdan congratulated Dr. Assas on the important steps taken by UQU, particularly "Wadi Makkah Co." and its achievements with regard to the graduation of entrepreneurs through establishing start-ups that serve the homeland and citizens. He emphasized that the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, represented by the ministry's bureau of technology industry and digital capabilities, will work over the upcoming few years on building effective partnerships  with the Saudi universities, UQU represented by its investment arm "Wadi Makkah Co." tops them. It will work with UQU on qualifying and graduating entrepreneurs of both sexes in the technological areas, especially the digital ones; in addition to benefiting from the e competitive advantages of the Makkah region. He wished the success of all efforts to serve this blessed country "Kingdom of Saudi Arabia", its society and citizens. 

Then, the undersecretary, Dr. Ahmed Aal Theneyan, and his accompanying delegation, visited the center of start-ups in Wadi Makkah Co., and met with Dr. Hani Ghazi, UQU Vice President for Development and Entrepreneurship, and Dr. Faisal bin Ahmed Alaf, CEO of Wadi Makkah Co., along with the start-ups' owners. During the tour, Dr. Ahmed visited the headquarters of the start-ups in Wadi Makkah and listened to a detailed explanation of each of them and the services and technical products they provide to the community.