In a strategic move that reflects its commitment to building distinguished national alliances in the business tourism industry, STARTIME has signed an alliance and cooperation agreement with Qubbah Event Development at a ceremony held at Qubbah's headquarters in Riyadh. The agreement was signed by Mr. Shaya Al-Qahtani, Founder and CEO of STARTIME, and Mr. Naif Al-Marri, Business Development and Strategic Partnerships Advisor at Qubbah. It marks a new phase of integration between two national companies united by a single goal: elevating Saudi Arabia's business events sector to the ranks of global competitiveness.
The agreement rests on two complementary tracks. The first sees Qubbah join the 4th Saudi International Maritime Forum 2026 as a business partner. The second is a memorandum of understanding to explore STARTIME joining Qubbah's strategic partnerships program, "Partnerships: Impact and Growth", launched by Qubbah to build a network of partners with complementary expertise. The framework covers joint bids for tenders and projects, the exchange of opportunities and referrals, joint marketing, knowledge transfer and solution development, all under a clear governance mechanism that defines the lead for each opportunity and the roles of each party, ensuring efficient decisions and quality delivery.
The Saudi International Maritime Forum holds a prominent place among STARTIME's projects in its Defense Capabilities track. Organized by STARTIME in partnership with the Royal Saudi Naval Forces, the forum is a high-level national platform that brings together leaders, decision-makers and experts to explore the future of maritime security and the protection of vital maritime routes and supply chains, at a time when rapid global change is redrawing the map of trade and security worldwide. In its fourth edition, the forum reflects Saudi Arabia's pivotal role in protecting critical infrastructure both above the sea and in its depths. Qubbah's addition to the forum's network of partners brings established national expertise in event planning, delivery and operations, strengthening the forum's readiness and elevating the experience of its participants.
In this context, Mr. Shaya Rajeh Al-Qahtani, Founder and CEO of STARTIME, affirmed that the agreement is a natural extension of the company's approach to building partnerships that make a difference. "STARTIME set out from the land of Najd in 2009 with an ambition that knows no limit. Today we are moving steadily toward a clear goal: to lead the MICE market in Saudi Arabia and to take our place among the world's foremost event creators by 2030. A goal of this scale can only be achieved through partnership. That is why we choose our partners from national companies that combine deep expertise with genuine commitment, and Qubbah is at the forefront of them. Its joining the Saudi International Maritime Forum is the first step in an integration through which we unite our capabilities to deliver more comprehensive solutions and create projects that rise to the nation's ambitions."
The agreement falls under the STARTIME Partnerships and Market Growth Program, which the company has adopted out of its belief that major projects are built through integration rather than individual effort, and that bringing national expertise together under one umbrella multiplies its competitive strength and turns opportunities into projects that add value to the national economy. Through this program, STARTIME builds well-considered alliances with national companies that enhance local content, develop national capabilities and help establish Saudi Arabia's presence in international business tourism rankings, foremost among them the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) ranking, in support of the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
The alliance draws its strength from the complementary expertise of its two parties. Since 2018, Qubbah has planned, delivered and developed events and built the destinations associated with them, successfully turning four signature events into sustainable annual editions in partnership with government and private entities. STARTIME, in turn, brings to the alliance its investment vision, its specialized portfolios and its international platforms that connect global solutions with national demand, forming an integrated value chain that extends from shaping the idea and assessing the opportunity to delivery, operations and impact measurement.
The agreement comes at a time of accelerating growth for STARTIME, following the launch of three integrated investment portfolios, Government, Business and Community, spanning five strategic tracks: Defense Capabilities, National Security, Advanced Technologies, Environmental Issues, and Women Empowerment and Next Generation Development. These tracks comprise more than 30 specialized projects and initiatives, ranging from high-level government forums to specialized international exhibitions and community platforms dedicated to women's empowerment and quality of life. The company is targeting investments exceeding SAR 2.6 billion by 2028, supported by a network of 40 local and international partners and guided by five pillars: Market Leadership, Global Presence, Investment Growth, Institutional Excellence and Sustainable Impact.
With this alliance, STARTIME welcomes to its journey a national partner that shares the same ambition and moves one step closer to its goal as it continues to soar beyond the skies to create an ultimate impact that reaches beyond events to the economy, knowledge and society.
