Mohammed Fahad Al-Harthi, editor-in-chief of Arab News, has commended the tremendous role being played by the more than 2 million Indian guest workers for the Kingdom’s progress and prosperity.
“We value your services and we are grateful to you,” he told more than 2,500 Indian students, parents and teachers who came to attend a graduation ceremony at the International Indian School, Jeddah Auditorium.
The ceremony has won the applause of both parents and students. It was attended by Consul General Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, Higher Board Member Dr. Kareemuddin, School Observer Mohammed Raaghib Quraishi and Management Committee Chairman Khursheed Akhtar.
In his keynote address as chief guest, Al-Harthi said Arab News would continue to serve as a bridge between Saudi authorities and the expatriate community, raising their voice, demands and concerns.
The editor-in-chief congratulated the Grade XII students who have completed their course at IISJ, the oldest Indian school in the Kingdom with more than 12,000 students.
“I wish you all the best in your chosen fields,” he told the outgoing boys and girls. “As you go ahead in life, please do remember the good job that your teachers did with dedication and hard work. Also keep in mind your parents, their sacrifices, in shaping your life and career.”
Al-Harthi underscored IISJ’s contributions for the education of Indian children.
“I have heard all the good things about this school … All those who are involved in the success of IISJ, from the chairman to the principal, to the section heads, to the administrative staff, deserve accolades.”
He noted the growing relationship between Saudi Arabia and India, especially after the historic visit of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to New Delhi in January 2006.
“Since then there is no looking back,” he said. "This relationship has been further strengthened by the visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Riyadh in February 2010.”
He added: “Arab News has always been and will always be very close to the hardworking expatriates who have contributed to the building of modern Saudi Arabia. We are grateful to them … At Arab News, our new mantra is objective journalism.
“We, at Arab News, will highlight the issues of expatriates and want to become a bridge between the guest communities and the host community. There is so much to learn from each other. There is so much to appreciate and cherish in each other.”
Al-Harthi said he wanted to take Arab News to the next level of success.
“In this, we will need your feedback and support and valuable advice,” he told the audience, including business executives, academics and IT personnel. He also requested the young graduates to consider making journalism as their future career. “It is one of the most noble professions,” said Al-Harthi, who shifted his career from architectural engineering to journalism.
Consul General Kidwai congratulated the students for having this convocation before going to college. He urged them to pursue their higher studies in subjects they like and wanted to excel. He advised them not to lose sight of their goals while enjoying their college life.
Dr. Kareemuddin commended the school officials and teachers for their efforts to improve its academic standard. He advised IISJ management not to stop the graduation program, which was introduced by him. He spoke about the psychological problems some children suffered when their parents opted to send them to India for studies at an early age.
Quraishi reminded the graduates that there are no shortcuts to success and they have to work hard. He asked the Managing Committee and school officials to extend all possible support to students who are going to appear for CBSE board examination in March.
Akhtar advised outgoing students to consult experts before selecting their future career.
Principal Syed Masood Ahmed wished all the best for his students.
“We teachers also get emotional as we consider these students as our children and we have contributed a lot for their development. We are also concerned about their future,” Ahmed said and urged the graduates to select the right path even if it is difficult.
Vice-Principal Farhadunnisa told the graduates to be more responsible. “When in school they feel and act like children. Now they are going out and should act with greater responsibility.”
Head boy Wasim Abdul Lathief and head girl Faseela Rizwi gave speeches, winning thunderous applause of the audience. Both said they and their batch mates were proud they graduated from IISJ.
“The other day, one of my friends, who had left to India after completing his 10th returned after two months. I asked him, ‘why did you return?’ I remember what he told me. I could not adjust there. There is nothing compared to IISJ,” Wasim said.
He added: “If we go back to India, we find many schools, which produce 100 percent results. In all these schools, students are the children of high-class people. But here in IISJ, we have students coming from different backgrounds, we have students from all classes of the society, from every state of India. Yet we’re capable of producing 100 percent result with the hard work of our teaching and non-teaching staff. God willing, our batch will maintain this legacy.”
Rita Sharma, headmistress for girls, and P. Noufal, headmaster for boys, gave a presentation providing guidelines to graduates on how to face life challenges. It also informed the audience that they are in charge of their happiness. Dr. Najeeb Qais Ammar, vice-principal for boys, gave a vote of thanks.
Aleena Fathim was excited like her batch friends. “The graduation ceremony was really a memorable moment. It gave us an opportunity to recollect our past memories,” said Fathim who has spent 10 years at the school. “I will always remember my school and teachers, whatever I am today is because of them,” said Fathim who wants to become an engineer.
Samar Hafiz said she was motivated by the inspiring speeches by Al-Harthi, Kidwai and other officials. Her mother Shabin Mahmoud, a teacher at Dar Al-Hanan, said she was impressed by the whole program and moved by the sincere advices given by the speakers.
Bright careers beckon for graduates
Bright careers beckon for graduates
RCRC warns public against intermediaries offering assistance in applying for land use in Riyadh
- Any claims or messages published regarding the existence of entities that allow or facilitate applications are baseless, RCRC warns
- The Commission said it is developing an electronic platform dedicated to receiving land use applications directly from citizens
RIYADH: Beware of unauthorized individuals or groups offering assistance in applying for land use in the national capital, the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) advised the public on Sunday.
The Commission issued the warning as it announced that it has begun implementing the royal directive issued by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on taking practical measures to achieve balance in the real estate sector in Riyadh, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The RCRC noted that it is currently working on developing an electronic platform dedicated to receiving land use applications directly from citizens without the need for any intermediaries or external parties.
Any claims or messages published regarding the existence of entities that allow or facilitate applications are baseless, the RCRC said.
The Commission also called on everyone to obtain information from official sources only, and to beware of any fraudulent attempts claiming to grant land outside the regulatory framework.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman earlier directed a series of measures aimed at achieving stability in the sector.
Among these measures was the lifting of restrictions on land transactions and development in northern Riyadh, as recommended in a study by the RCRC and the Council of Economic and Development Affairs.
‘At the Edge’: Art Week Riyadh signals bold new chapter in Saudi cultural renaissance, say organizers
- Event organized by Visual Arts Commission and hosted at JAX District from April 6 to 13
RIYADH: Art Week Riyadh is making waves in the Saudi capital this week, with curators and creatives hailing the event as a pivotal moment in the Kingdom’s fast-evolving cultural landscape, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Organized by the Visual Arts Commission and hosted at the JAX District from April 6 to 13, the event is bringing together local and international artists, curators, and institutions in a celebration of contemporary creativity and cross-cultural dialogue.
The initiative reflects the growing momentum of Saudi Arabia’s cultural transformation, part of the broader Vision 2030 reform agenda that is reshaping the Kingdom’s social and artistic fabric, according to organizers.
Vittoria Matarrese, Director and Art Curator of Art Week Riyadh, described the event as a significant turning point.
“We chose the title ‘At the Edge’ because it reflects the nature of the phase Riyadh is undergoing,” Matarrese said. “It is a city positioned between the desert and urbanization, between heritage and renewal. This balance is evident in the diversity of participation and the dialogues presented by the exhibition.”
She added that Riyadh is increasingly defining itself as a space where modernity and tradition intersect, enabling a unique creative evolution.
Shumon Basar, curator of the Public Cultural Program at Art Week Riyadh, underscored the importance of the conversations taking place as part of the programme, titled “How to Create an Art World: Lessons in Value.”
He explained: “Our goal is not only to share experiences, but also to raise essential questions about the types of value that art creates in the contemporary world—whether economic, symbolic, or social—and how art can serve as a tool to understand cultural transformations, rather than merely reflect them.”
Art Week Riyadh serves as a key cultural platform that embraces diversity and encourages artistic experimentation, offering a space for critical reflection on the evolving role of art in society, SPA added.
A look at NEOM’s prehistoric masterpieces etched in stone
- Open-air museum of ancient artworks is key to decoding past civilizations
- Drawings reveal how human beings interacted with now-extinct animals in the area
MAKKAH: In the heart of NEOM’s Hisma Desert, where sandstone mountains and plateaus rise from the arid landscape, is an extraordinary collection of ancient rock art and archaeological inscriptions. These priceless treasures illuminate the cultural and economic vitality of long-lost civilizations.
Once a vital corridor for caravans travelling the ancient trade routes of the Arabian Peninsula, this region preserves an invaluable legacy etched into its geological formations.
Abdulelah Al-Fares, a photographer and expert in ancient artifacts and a member of the Saudi Heritage Preservation Society, told Arab News that the rock art is in the mountains and plateaus in NEOM, part of a mountain range in the northwestern part of Tabuk.
Hisma Desert is bordered by the Sharah Mountains to the north, by Wadi Araba to the northwest, by the Hijaz Mountains to the west, and by Harrat Al-Raha to the south.
HIGHLIGHTS
• Studying rock art in the region matters deeply because it reveals economic and cultural changes that shaped the northern Arabian Peninsula.
• The drawings show how people interacted with now-extinct animals in the area, as well as with livestock and camels.
• Among the standout examples are life-sized camels crafted with remarkable precision and aesthetic detail.
“The plateaus, part of the Hisma Desert and its geological formations, represent an open-air museum of nature, ancient rock art, and diverse historical inscriptions,” he said.
The rock drawings feature engravings of human figures, animals and various scattered scenes throughout the site.
The engravings on the plateau’s facades depict scenes of animals, including wild animals such as camels, cattle, ibexes, ostriches and wolves, as well as other predatory animals, and depictions of hunting scenes and human combat.
These drawings are notable for their precision and have remarkably withstood the elements for thousands of years.
Abdulelah Al-Fares, Saudi Heritage Preservation Society member
“These drawings are notable for their precision and have remarkably withstood the elements for thousands of years,” he said. “Most of the themes and scenes in some of the rock drawings in the region are repeated and depict, to some extent, the world of wild animals and the interactions of humans through hunting and warfare.
“The mountains embody a civilizational and cultural legacy through their distinctive rock drawings featuring human and animal forms,” Al-Fares said.
He also highlighted the value of exploring NEOM’s ancient rock art. These carvings — depicting animals, hunting scenes and human figures — are a bridge between our modern lives and the world of humans thousands of years ago. They are a source of cultural and historical knowledge.
The artworks also illuminate the journey of human civilization, revealing its cultural and social evolution in the region.
Scattered throughout the area, a wide array of rock art sites show a vast and dense collection of drawings and archaeological inscriptions from different eras etched on mountain surfaces.
Al-Fares pointed out their diversity, noting the varied artistic styles, forms, and themes that distinguish each piece.
Among the standout examples are life-sized camels crafted with remarkable precision and aesthetic detail. The careful attention to detail is thought to underscore the camel’s role as an essential sources of food and transport in ancient times.
Another façade shows a herd of cows, all facing forward, their large crescent-shaped horns curving at the tips. Encircling this herd, human figures of varying sizes are skilfully carved.
These ancient artworks are pictorial panels of human history, activity, environmental adaptation, and cultural development during ancient times. Their value shines brighter given the scarcity of insights into prehistoric life.
Studying rock art in the region matters deeply because it reveals economic and cultural changes that shaped the northern Arabian Peninsula.
The drawings show how people interacted with now-extinct animals in the area, as well as with livestock and camels.
Many carvings portray human beings astride animals, including a warrior wielding a spear and sword, rendered with finesse and skill.
Scattered throughout the region, some drawings hint at the presence of different ethnic groups that lived in the area. The provide clues to migratiosn and trace the routes of trade caravans that used these locations as settlement points.
Riyadh forum to discuss future of project management
- The event will offer a platform for exchanging strategies to improve project outcomes by enhancing skills, streamlining operations, and using modern technology
RIYADH: Riyadh will host the fourth Global Project Management Forum from May 17 to 19, focusing on advancing project management and promoting innovation and sustainability.
Held under the theme “Next-Gen Project Management: The Power of People, Processes, and Technology,” the forum will bring together professionals from more than 100 countries to explore the future of project management and share new methodologies.
The event will offer a platform for exchanging strategies to improve project outcomes by enhancing skills, streamlining operations, and using modern technology, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.
The forum’s chairman, Badr Burshaid, said the goal is to provide practical solutions to challenges while encouraging collaboration across people, processes, and technology.
The event will include sessions and workshops on artificial intelligence, digital transformation, sustainability, global value chains, and leadership development, along with an exhibition and book signings.
The Saudi volunteer team that carries out emergency rescues in the Northern region
- Turaif Falcons Search and Rescue Association rescues stranded motorists, finds missing people and assists in medical emergencies
- Group recently helped evacuate severely overweight man suffering medical emergency in apartment
MAKKAH: A volunteer search and rescue team recently helped to evacuate a severely overweight man suffering a medical emergency in an apartment in Saudi Arabia’s Northern Borders region.
The man, weighing around 200 kilograms, was suffering from shortness of breath and low oxygen levels.
Due to the narrow staircase in the building — around a meter wide — the specialized team had to be brought in to evacuate the patient on a stretcher.
The team worked with the Saudi Red Crescent to safely transport him to a nearby hospital where he was placed on a respirator.
It was one example of a diverse range of rescue missions that the Turaif Falcons Search and Rescue Association regularly carry out.
Their work includes rescuing people from floods, assisting motorists stuck in the sand and locating people who have gone missing in the desert.
Operating under the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, they thrive in a spirited volunteer environment, committing their time, skills, and energy to community service while promoting a culture of volunteerism.
In an interview with Arab News, Mohammed Bashit Al-Ruwaili, head of public relations and media, and the official spokesperson for the association, said that the team is made up of over 150 dedicated volunteers, who play essential roles in multiple areas — most notably in supporting official agencies during search and rescue operations and contributing to life-saving efforts.
He emphasized that the team operates within a well-structured institutional framework, working in direct coordination with relevant security authorities to assist in the execution of rescue missions.
Al-Ruwaili noted that the team plays a vital role in raising community awareness through training programs that teach members of the public about wilderness safety.
It also offers support via interactive community service initiatives led by experienced and skilled members.
The team is equipped with a comprehensive system that includes vehicles fitted with communication and alert devices, and personnel trained in first aid and search operations under challenging conditions.
He pointed out that the Falcons face major challenges from harsh weather conditions, including sandstorms and extreme heat, which can hinder rescue efforts, and emphasized the continuous need to strengthen and capabilities by providing volunteers with more advanced equipment.
Al-Ruwaili also underscored the importance of unified efforts between official agencies and volunteer teams to ensure rapid and effective emergency response.
The team is committed, he said, to expanding its efforts by attracting new volunteers and forging strategic partnerships with relevant authorities.
Al-Ruwaili stressed the importance of cooperating with authorities and promptly reporting any emergencies.
He reaffirmed the Turaif Falcons’ commitment to remaining on the front lines, always prepared to respond, save lives, and serve the community.
