GMG’s Sun & Sands Sports, the leading sports retailer in the Middle East, recently received a certificate of appreciation from the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development in Saudi Arabia for its efforts to support Saudisation projects within the private sector. 

 

The recognition was presented at the recently held Tamkeen conference on social security beneficiaries in the kingdom. 

 

Today, Sun & Sand Sports is the Middle East's largest sports retailer, first appearing in Saudi Arabia in 2008 as an original concept by global well-being company GMG. 

 

As a result of its longstanding Saudisation efforts, Sun & Sand Sports has also been nominated to participate in the iLead career and leadership development programme, introduced by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development. As part of the programme, Sun & Sand Sports will put forward employees to engage in upcoming knowledge-exchange activities aimed at nurturing future Saudi leaders across public and private sectors, in line with the direction of Vision 2030. Other brands under the GMG Sports portfolio, such as Columbia, Vans, The North Face, and Nike, have also been awarded.

 

Sun & Sand Sports has already contributed to similar programmes such as those under the National Labour Gateway ‘Taqat’ to match job seekers with employment opportunities. 

 

Muhammad Adeel Anjum, Senior Operations Director, GMG, said: “We are extremely grateful for the recognition received by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development. Our talent vision is completely aligned with Vision 2030, and we are working on some very exciting development projects to grow and develop our local talent across GMG in KSA. We have recently launched our own bespoke Future Leaders Programmes ‘Alqada’ and ‘Alabtal’, and as a result, we have made huge investments in our infrastructure and people with a view to grow our in-house Saudi talent. We are looking forward to working closely with the Ministry to help build a happy and healthy workforce in the kingdom.”

 

Adel Alghamdi, Operations Director - KSA, GMG, added: “These latest recognitions underscore our deep commitment to working with the public sector to advance local talent, all while creating rewarding job opportunities within the private sector. By expanding our involvement in programmes by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, GMG hopes to inspire all of its talent to win in ways that make the world better.”

 

In April 2021, GMG extended its long-time presence in Saudi Arabia with a new headquarters office in Riyadh, which followed a new mega-warehouse facility also located in Riyadh. The company has increased its number of stores across the kingdom to over 100.-- TradeArabia News Service