HRH Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, adviser to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King and Governor of Makkah Province, has approved the sponsorship of the Second Saudi Startups Forum, which is organized by Wadi Makkah Company of Umm Al-Qura University (UQU), next 16-18 Rabae Al-Awal. 

This was during the reception of Prof. Abdullah bin Omar Bafeel, UQU President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Wadi Makkah Company, by Prince Khaled Al-Faisal at Makkah Emirate headquarters. UQU President was accompanied by Dr. Hani bin Othman Ghazi, UQU Vice-President for Development and Entrepreneurship and Deputy Chairman of Wadi Makkah Company; and Dr. Faisal bin Ahmed Alaf, CEO of Wadi Makkah.

UQU President lauded the support of the wise leadership- May Allah help them- to the educational process and its research and administrative environment; referring to the keenness and interest of the Governor of the Makkah Province on his approval to sponsor the Second Saudi Startups Forum. He pointed out that he will host many experts at the local and global levels as speakers and participants in the forum's events. 

The Forum is an extension to the first Saudi Startups Forum that resulted in signing (24) agreements between startups and investors and owners of venture capital, including 15 agreements for startups under the sponsorship of Wadi Makkah Company. It was attended by 1530 entrepreneurs and innovators.

The topics of the first Forum included: leadership and innovation in the areas of Hajj and Umrah, sports sector, energy, cyber security, financial security, tourism and aviation, investment and community culture, whose outputs are consistent with the Kingdom 2030 vision.