The Saudi Green Building Forum will be held at Riyadh’s Four Seasons Hotel on Oct. 13-16 under the aegis of Prince Mansour bin Miteb, minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs, and in the implementation of King Abdullah’s initiative. High-profile experts from both the Kingdom and abroad will attend the event.
The third annual intellectual think-tank event will involve a conference, workshop, exposition, and project case studies of the current year as well as discuss green building and energy technologies.
According to Faisal Al-Fadi, the forum’s secretary-general, the conference will provide a dominant platform for discussing challenges for green building related to the sustainability to promote green building initiatives in Saudi Arabia, to boost business collaboration, unveil new employment opportunities, and enhance the built environment across the kingdom.
He said the presentations, panel discussion and case studies at the conference would challenge issues such as expansion of green building, sustainable urban development, and Saudi Arabia’s position as a frontrunner – a hub of the fastest growing construction and projects market in the Middle East and North
Africa.
Al-Fadi noted that the green market had witnessed swift expansion over the past three years and with the government and private sector companies in support of international green building standards and initiatives. The US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) registrations and certifications have significantly increased since the inception of the Saudi Green Building Forum in 2010. This increase makes it evident that more and more organizations, people and governments are aspiring to create a sustainably built environment and legislation.
The forum’s conference and projects case studies will continue to stay as a significant means of aiding the development of laws and regulations set by King Abdullah Green Building initiatives; enhancing the comprehensive collection of standards and guidance systems that is being implemented in the Kingdom; signifying the building information modeling technology; strengthening relation with industry stakeholders; delivering information, analysis and insights into available business opportunities; and building cultural awareness of local urban development.
In his statement, Prince Mansour said: “This meeting represents a valuable opportunity to review the achievements of previous recommendations, including more than one axis, either as assigned to the government sector, professional bodies or entrusted to the private sector.”
Among the distinguished speakers are Mohammed Al-Suwaiyel, president of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology; Abdullah Al-Muqbil, mayor of Riyadh municipality; Edward Burton, president and managing director of the US-Saudi Arabian Business Council; Mohamed Al-Mady, SABIC vice chairman and CEO; Amer Kayani, minister counselor of commercial affairs at Riyadh Embassy in the US; and Abdulrahman Al-Jeraisy, chairman of Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Conference to tackle challenges in green building
Conference to tackle challenges in green building
Saudi Arabia makes space for freelancers to thrive in culinary sector
- Culinary Commission’s latest move is ‘a dream come true’ for chefs
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s Culinary Arts Commission has launched a freelance license for chefs via the Abde’a Cultural Licenses Platform.
The commission’s CEO, Mayada Badr, told Arab News: “The freelance chef license is a major milestone in empowering Saudi culinary talent, as it is opening the door for chefs to innovate and succeed independently while contributing to the Kingdom’s culinary sector.”
Abde’a, an e-platform developed to strengthen partnerships with the private sector, is operated under the umbrella of the Ministry of Culture.
The newly introduced license will enable Saudi nationals aged 18 and above — and who hold certified culinary training and valid food safety or health certifications — to legally provide freelance culinary services, paving the way for wider freelance opportunities in diverse venues and events across the Kingdom.
The freelance chef license is a major milestone in empowering Saudi culinary talent, as it is opening the door for chefs to innovate and succeed independently while contributing to the Kingdom’s culinary sector.
Mayada Badr, Saudi Culinary Arts Commission CEO
The initiative will “support skill development and career growth in the sector, as well as recognition and credibility by reinforcing adherence to professional standards in the culinary field,” according to a statement.
Chef Rawan Al-Harthi, a Jeddah-based pastry chef, said: “This license gives us the freedom to showcase our culinary identity while working independently and legally. It’s a dream come true for chefs who want to grow their brand without being tied to a restaurant.”
Another chef, Faisal Al-Malki, echoed Al-Harthi’s sentiments. “Being recognized as a licensed freelance chef adds value to our profession and pushes us to raise the bar in terms of quality and creativity,” he said.
The launch of this initiative “underscores the commission’s commitment to expanding opportunities for local culinary talent, while fostering a culture of creativity and professionalism,” a press release stated.
Croatian PM receives GCC chief in Dubrovnik
- They reviewed relations between the GCC and Croatia, and discussed ways to develop and strengthen ties to serve mutual interests
DUBROVNIK: Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi was received by Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic at the Dubrovnik Forum in Dubrovnik, Croatia, on Saturday.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed the “latest developments in free trade agreement negotiations and a proposal to hold a joint Gulf-European conference on energy security,” the General Secretariat said in a report.
They also reviewed relations between the GCC and Croatia, and discussed ways to develop and strengthen ties to serve mutual interests.
Sports ministry organizes hiking event in Baha
- Bandar Al-Ghamdi, director of the ministry’s branch in Baha, said the program included 120 people
RIYADH: The Baha branch of the Ministry of Sports, together with the Saudi Climbing and Hiking Federation, organized a hiking program as part of the “Color Your Summer with Sports” campaign.
The event was held in cooperation with the region’s municipality and health cluster as part of the Baha Summer Season, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.
Bandar Al-Ghamdi, director of the ministry’s branch in Baha, said the program included 120 people. The event took place in natural locations that reflect the region’s landscape, he added.
Baha’s mountains, valleys and dams offer suitable areas for various sports, including mountain and water activities, he said. These features support the region’s role in sports tourism in the Kingdom.
Al-Ghamdi added that the program is part of a plan to develop the sports sector in Baha and build partnerships with sports federations.
The initiative aims to support the local economy and attract sports and tourism visitors, from the Kingdom and beyond, Al-Ghamdi said.
Kingdom showcases maritime goals at London exhibition
- Event highlights smart projects, training initiatives, and global partnerships in the sector
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia, represented by the Transport General Authority, held an international exhibition in London to showcase its key initiatives and achievements in supporting the maritime transport industry.
The event was attended by senior officials and saw broad participation from International Maritime Organization member states, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The exhibition was inaugurated by Saudi Ambassador to the UK Prince Khalid bin Bandar and Minister of Transport and Logistics Services Saleh Al-Jasser, along with government officials, embassy representatives, and maritime attaches.
The event highlighted the Kingdom’s role as an active partner in the international maritime system and a key contributor to developing global maritime regulations and practices, the SPA added.
It also reflected Saudi Arabia’s continued influence within the International Maritime Organization and its efforts to promote sustainability and improve the efficiency of maritime supply chains.
The exhibition showcased the academies and specialized centers established by the Kingdom, as well as initiatives to localize talent and train seafarers, officers, and marine engineers.
It also featured smart projects that support automation in the sector, enhancing operational efficiency and environmental sustainability, according to the SPA.
Prince Khalid said that the exhibition reflects Saudi Arabia’s commitment to international cooperation, highlighting the Kingdom’s hospitality and pursuit of sustainable, collaborative maritime partnerships.
Al-Jasser said that the Kingdom is steadily moving toward leadership in maritime transport, driven by Vision 2030 and investments in talent and technology to strengthen its position as a global logistics hub.
In recent years, the Saudi maritime sector has grown rapidly, with the number of Saudi-flagged vessels reaching 409, totaling more than 100,000 gross tons and more than 16.5 million deadweight tons.
The number of registered Saudi seafarers has risen to 3,000, supported by specialized programs and regulatory initiatives that empower national maritime capabilities, the SPA reported.
These efforts build on Saudi Arabia’s active role in the International Maritime Organization, advancing the maritime transport industry through a vision that goes beyond fleet development or regulatory modernization.
It includes creating an advanced global maritime system based on operational excellence, human capital investment, and cutting-edge technology for a promising, sustainable future.
Hail heritage festival draws 27,000 visitors
RIYADH: A heritage festival in Hail has attracted more than 27,000 visitors from the city, across the Kingdom, and from Gulf and international destinations.
Running from 6 p.m. till 1 a.m. each evening, the 30-day Beit Hail Festival offers a rich blend of cultural, artistic, and heritage experiences, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.
Visitors can enjoy a diverse array of live performances and interactive heritage displays, recreating scenes from the past and presented by skilled male and female artisans.
Exhibits give younger generations a glimpse of how their ancestors transformed natural materials into functional items, showcasing the ingenuity and authenticity of Saudi heritage.
More than 40 activities allow visitors to explore traditional crafts such as wickerwork, sadu weaving, crochet, hand-woven textiles, and distinctive Najdi and Hail door making.
Other highlights include traditional clothing, Thamudic embroidery, wood and leather beading, fiber arts, resin art, and soap making, the SPA added.
Visitors can also savor a variety of traditional folk foods. At the heart of the festival, an artistic theater hosts performances, including the Hail Samri and Saudi Ardah.
The festival also provides a platform for local craftspeople to showcase their work directly to the public.
