When Arab News launched its first website at the dawn of the new century Google was three years old and had just been awarded a patent for its now dominant PageRank search mechanism. Facebook and Twitter would not be founded for another few years.
There was a sense of excitement about the possibilities that digital publishing offered especially to the common man or woman.
It was a time where traditional media was no longer the gatekeeper to getting published.
A different way of personal publishing began to emerge. Blogging was its new name.
The masses finally had a voice and it was theirs without the filter of an editor who decides what could and could not be said.
Initially, newspapers saw this nascent medium as a way to broaden their readership and thus charge more for advertising because of that increased reach. Then newspapers realized that everyone was reading their content for free and fewer readers were buying the printed newspaper.
This trend of consuming content online would never be reversed and as a result a number of publications inevitably closed.
It was Albert Einstein who said‚“The measure of intelligence is the ability to change,” and like many publications, this paper, has tried to understand how to best use modern digital resources without hurting the print product that so many people still enjoy.
Arab News is continually trying to reassess how the print and digital products form a cohesive entity.
Fortunately, here in the Kingdom the trend away from print and on to digital appears to be a little slower than in other parts of the world.
However, this could be a generational thing.
There is no doubt that in recent years the Internet and social media in particular have seen a tremendous growth in Saudi Arabia. When it comes to YouTube usage per capita in the world, the Kingdom ranks top.
In its first incarnation, the website was extremely simple.
Needless to say, it didn’t provide much more than a headline and the basic copy and if you were lucky, one image. Over the years, this began to change.
There was a complete site overhaul, introducing new features and sections to make available more of the rich content being produced daily.
The site was being updated, for the first time, throughout the day instead of when the print edition was put to bed.
The improvements were widely appreciated by readers who felt part of the Arab News community.
They discussed news articles, they helped each other answer questions and alerted staffers to potential stories.
The site thus became a first port of call for local news in the English language in the Kingdom.
As a result, the site gained a multifold increase in the number of pages viewed.
The following years saw a rise in the social web.
A multitude of people started using sites like Facebook and Twitter to not only connect with family and friends but also to find and share news.
It was therefore key for Arab News to adapt to these changing trends and to go where readers were. So, a Facebook page and a Twitter account were added.
These became a tremendous success and provided a further platform for our readers to discuss and share Arab News content.
With nearly half a million fans, the Arab News Facebook page has fostered a real community who are active and really care about the issues we cover.
The page is now the number one in the Middle East when compared to other English language papers in the region.
Twitter has also been a success and allows us to get news out quickly to readers.
Arab News’ various digital platforms allow Saudi Arabia’s leading English language news brand to cover news in a way the print edition cannot.
From videos to polls to user generated content, these platforms are a useful complement to the printed newspaper.
Last year’s crackdown on illegal labor in the Kingdom was comprehensively covered by Arab News and readers have praised the paper, particular the digital editions, for the relentless coverage, which readers say was exceptionally informative.
The annual Haj coverage is another example where readers are constantly looking toward the digital offering to find out what is happening during the annual pilgrimage to Makkah.
Recently, Arab News launched a careers portal for those seeking employment in the Kingdom.
This has been well received. Another project, which has also just been launched, is an “Ask an Expert” service where readers can ask several experts questions on a number of topic from law to investing to health.
Many print publications in the Kingdom seem to be in rude health but as some experts believe it’s not a matter of if but when the printed word will be a thing of the past. So it’s important, more than ever, for print brands to take advantage of the potential of digital.
We have taken some determined steps to yank this 39-year-old publication into a rapidly changing digital terrain and we must continue this task if we are to better serve our esteemed and loyal readers.
Adapting to the digital challenge in era of citizen journalism
Adapting to the digital challenge in era of citizen journalism
Thousands of volunteers join Madinah’s green future drive
MADINAH: Ayman bin Mohammed Al-Sayed, director general of the environment, water and agriculture branch in Madinah, has launched the “2024 National Planting Season” in the city.
The program extends the ministry’s nationwide campaign “We Plant for Our Future,” supporting sustainable environmental development and vegetation growth as part of the Saudi Green Initiative.
The regional campaign features 36 volunteer programs involving more than 1,800 female and male participants. Plans include planting 50,000 water-efficient and environmentally sustainable seedlings, comprising mesquites, thorn jujube and sweet acacia trees, alongside 20 other wild plant species, aiming to boost environmental and agricultural awareness.
The campaign’s first phase targets education facilities, Prince Sultan Military Medical City and the Saudi Authority for Industrial and Technology Zones, or Modon.
This effort focuses on expanding green spaces, streamlining planting processes, and encouraging community-wide participation in vegetation preservation and planting initiatives.
Horror in spotlight at Boulevard World
RIYADH: Boulevard World is offering an array of thrilling horror experiences, inviting visitors to embark on spine-chilling adventures filled with mystery and surprise.
One of its standout attractions, The Dolls' Trip, takes visitors into an abandoned doll factory hidden within an ancient Mexican pyramid. What starts as a school trip quickly turns into a nightmare as dolls come to life in the shadows, trapping visitors in dark, labyrinthine tunnels.
Along the way they encounter eerie scenes such as the abandoned bus and the doll workshop, in which the lifeless figures seem poised to awaken. This adventure accommodates groups of eight, ensuring an exhilarating experience.
In the Egypt zone, the Mystery of the Nile adventure plunges visitors into the depths of ancient Egyptian history.
Aboard a boat navigating a mystical river, guests face mummies that shake the boat violently. As they journey through narrow bridges and corridors filled with traps, hieroglyphic symbols light up the walls, accompanied by spine-tingling sounds. This experience features stunning visual and sound effects, keeping participants on high alert throughout.
Pyramid Trail, which is also in the Egypt zone, challenges visitors with puzzles and obstacles deep inside an ancient pyramid. The adventure begins in a laser-filled room in which participants must carefully maneuver to avoid detection.
They then board a conveyor belt adorned with hieroglyphic symbols, dodging moving obstacles. The journey concludes with leaps over circular trampolines above a snake-themed pit.
Meanwhile, The Vampire Hotel awaits visitors to the Italy zone, where an Italian-inspired design sets a dark and eerie atmosphere. The journey begins in a haunted elevator that leaves participants with an unsettled feeling.
As they navigate the dim corridors, visitors encounter sticky walls, with curtains and furniture moving mysteriously. The highlight of the experience is the coffin room, where guests are invited to lay inside coffins. The hotel also boasts a dining room resembling a chilling movie scene.
Boulevard World’s horror attractions promise unparalleled thrills during Riyadh Season 2024, offering visitors the chance to explore new levels of fear and excitement at every turn.
Saudi humanitarian relief agency signs $10.4 million Ukraine aid deal
RIYADH: The Saudi aid agency KSrelief has signed a cooperation agreement worth more than $10.4 million with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to provide shelter assistance to internally displaced people affected by the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.
The funding will be used to provide 11,000 shelter kits, 2,400 rapid heating kits and a host of essential building materials to insulate homes during the winter. Almost 49,000 people are set to benefit.
The agreement was signed at the agency’s headquarters in Riyadh by Ahmed bin Ali Al-Baiz, KSrelief’s assistant supervisor for operations and programs, and Kelly Clements, UNHCR’s deputy high commissioner.
Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, who heads KSrelief and is an adviser at the Royal Court, was also present.
The deal is part of the Kingdom’s ongoing efforts to provide humanitarian aid to displaced people and refugees around the world.
Saudi, Bahraini officials review King Fahd Causeway expansion plans
MANAMA: Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Nayef and his Bahraini counterpart, Lt-Gen. Sheikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al-Khalifa, conducted a joint inspection on Thursday of the King Fahd Causeway connecting the two kingdoms.
The officials were welcomed by Eastern Province Deputy Gov. Prince Saud bin Bandar and Suhail Abanmi, who heads both the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority and the causeway’s board of directors.
During the tour, Prince Abdulaziz and Sheikh Rashid reviewed ongoing development projects, focusing on expanded processing facilities and increased capacity measures designed to enhance cross-border travel efficiency, in line with Saudi-Bahraini Coordination Council guidelines.
The 25-km long King Fahd Causeway is a series of bridges and causeways connecting AlKhobar in eastern Saudi Arabia and Al Jasra island in Bahrain. It was constructed in 1981 and opened to traffic in April 1985.
First AlUla World Archaeology Summit Symposium 2024 unearths past for the present and future
ALULA: Antiquity came alive here at the first AlUla World Archaeology Summit Symposium 2024 titled “Moving Forward: Past, Present and Future in the Archaeology and Heritage of Mobile Communities.”
Held on Oct. 30 and 31, it was organized by the Royal Commission for AlUla and is a part of the new biennial series aimed at fostering global dialogue among experts in archeology and cultural heritage.
This year’s symposium provided a platform for in-depth discussions on the interactions between mobile and settled communities, with participants sharing global research, case studies and best practices.
The event took place at Maraya, the world’s largest mirrored building, which has 9,740 glass panels reflecting AlUla’s desert and landscape.
Built in 2019, Maraya has become an iconic part of AlUla’s cultural scene, hosting concerts, exhibitions and events that showcase both modern and traditional Saudi Arabia culture.
It was the perfect place to quite literally reflect on the past, while living in the present and looking to the future.
Reflecting on the symposium’s theme of mobility, organizers also addressed the global experience of halted movement during the recent COVID-19 global pandemic.
The theme of this year’s symposium encouraged critical examination of past and present mobility, from prehistory onward, as people have moved for various reasons; to access scarce resources, adapt to environmental pressures and respond to socio-political instability.
Speakers from six continents gathered to discuss topics including trade, commerce, climate change and conflict — all of which have shaped mobile communities throughout history.
The symposium highlights included keynote addresses by Willeke Wendrich from the University of California, Los Angeles, Stefano Biagetti from Pompeu Fabra University, UNESCO’s Peter DeBrine, and Khalid Alasmari from King Saud University.
Attendees visited archeological sites in Khaybar and Tayma and participated in panels and workshops focused on Saudi Arabia’s expanding role in archaeology.
In addition, the symposium program featured a new, specially-curated showcase of recent archaeological discoveries in AlUla, along with a preview of a world-first exhibition that will include artifacts from the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli in Italy.
Ekhlass Al-Qananweh, who holds a doctorate in Northwest Semitic epigraphy, expressed delight at attending the symposium.
“I have a deep interest in antiquities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and journeyed here from Jordan to the architectural marvel that is Maraya to attend this gathering of the sharpest minds in the world of archaeology,” she told Arab News.
“In addition to the talks, I look with keen interest at the extremely qualified upcoming generation of archeologists — many of whom are in attendance — and I’m particularly interested in the vital participation of Saudi women in the field of archeological studies and in managing heritage and preserving it.”
During an Arab News interview, Adam Ford, cultural-heritage content expert at the royal commission, emphasized AlUla’s global significance and why it was chosen as host of the symposium.
“It is the World Archaeology Summit — it’s not an AlUla Summit. We want the world to come to us to discuss the world,” he said.
“The local community should be regarded as research partners with us,” he said, reiterating the RCU’s commitment to involving indigenous populations in preserving their heritage and amplifying it worldwide.
Ford also shared personal insights on the continuity of human experience across millennia. “We stand on the shoulders of giants … millions of actions and decisions and mistakes made by people of the past all culminate to now.”
He said that “although we will never meet these people,” their stories and choices continue to shape humanity’s present, emphasizing a universal pattern to endure, overcome challenges and pass on knowledge to future generations.
Certainly, if the lands could speak, they would echo stories that date back thousands of years when Lihyanite and Nabataean kingdoms reigned.
Today, AlUla contains lush oases, mountains and ancient heritage sites — as well as a thriving modern society. The best-known location in AlUla is Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site.
A 52-hectare ancient settlement, Hegra was the principal southern city of the Nabataean kingdom. It comprises more than 100 well-preserved tombs, many with elaborate facades cut out of the sandstone outcrops surrounding the walled urban settlement.
In addition, AlUla is home to ancient Dadan, the capital of the kingdoms of Dadan and Lihyan, which is considered to be one of the most developed cities of the first millennium B.C.E. in the Arabian Peninsula.
There is also Jabal Ikmah, an open-air library with hundreds of inscriptions and writings, which has been listed on UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register.
AlUla Old Town, a hodgepodge, labyrinth of more than 900 mudbrick homes, dotted with small businesses developed from at least the 12th century, was selected as one of the world’s Best Tourism Villages in 2022 by UN Tourism.
Abdulrahman Alsuhaibani, vice president of culture at the RCU, spoke about AlUla’s unique heritage in light of the symposium, describing it as “a crossroads for connection, cultural and knowledge exchange.”
“Today, AlUla is one of the world’s most active areas for archeological exploration, with over 30,000 areas of archeological interest identified and more than a dozen active research projects,” he said.
“We established this event to become a progressive and leading platform for dialogue and collaboration, holding the first gathering in 2023 with an alternate format of symposium one year and summit the next.
“We are already laying the groundwork to build on the momentum of this event and for AWAS 2025.”
