RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s institutions and facilities sustained nearly 1,000 cyberattacks in 2016 from hackers seeking to prevent services, steal data and target infrastructure, according Saleh Ibrahim Al-Motairi, director general of the National Cyber Security Center.
The Kingdom’s Cyber Security Center reports that a number of recent attacks are similar to breaches suffered by some Saudi companies four years ago with the same modern software, said Prince Bandar bin Abdullah Al-Mishari Al-Saud, assistant minister of Interior for Technology Affairs at the Ministry of Interior. Prince Bander called for the development of the cybersecurity systems in the country,
Al-Motairi and Prince Bandar made their remarks during 2nd annual International Cyber Security Conference (ICSC) Monday and Tuesday at the Security Forces Officers’ Club in Riyadh.
About 1,000 delegates – mostly corporate officers and IT and security managers – attended the conference..
“Cyber security is a shared responsibility, so we look forward to everyone’s cooperation to protect national security and the pledge and commitment to apply basic standards, share data and strive to develop national capacities,” Prince Bandar said in his opening remarks.
Saudi Arabia is rapidly developing and diversifying its economy. A key factor of Saudi Arabia’s new economic plan through Vision 2030 is information and communications technology (ICT).
However, the widespread use of ICT heightens the risk of cybersecurity threats from hackers, hacktivists, organized criminals and foreign governments.
To successfully combat these threats, the Kingdom must develop standards, policies and legal frameworks; share and disseminate critical information and alerts; and most importantly, create further education and awareness among cybersecurity stakeholders, cybersecurity experts said.
Al-Motairi said that 992 hacking attempts occurred in 2016 with 124 cases of hacking reported at the national level. The center reported 1,865 instances of warnings of planned attacks.
Al-Motairi added that Saudi Arabia recently finished building a national platform to monitor cyberspace risks around the clock. The government also developed national technical capacities to understand the risks that threaten the country’s networks and its digital system.
Lt. Col. Bassam Al-Maraj, Bahrain’s interior ministry director, blamed Iran for many of the cyberattacks infrastructure of the banks and the interior ministry.
He said Manama was exposed to 250 breach attempts per month, and that most attempted penetrations allegedly originated in Iran through orders issued by accounts of individuals wanted by the Bahraini security and harbored by Tehran.
The financial institutions in Kuwait have also been targeted, according to Quasai Alshatti, director general of Kuwait’s central agency for information technology.
Saudi facilities sustained nearly 1,000 cyber attacks in 2016
Saudi facilities sustained nearly 1,000 cyber attacks in 2016
Saudi crown prince receives call from Ukraine’s Zelensky
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received a phone call from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
During the call, the two leaders discussed the latest developments in the Ukrainian-Russian crisis and efforts made to resolve it.
They also reviewed Saudi-Ukrainian relations and discussed issues of common interest. Regional and international developments were also discussed.
Islamic Arts Biennale 2025 features first display of Holy Kaaba’s Kiswah outside Makkah
- Exhibition will highlight Saudi Arabia’s key role in serving Islam and Muslims
- Kiswah of the Holy Kaaba is “considered the highest form of creative production in Islamic arts”
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s Islamic Arts Biennale 2025 will feature, from Jan. 25 to May 25, the first public display outside Makkah of the whole Kiswah of the Holy Kaaba.
The Diriyah Biennale Foundation is hosting the unprecedented event at the Western Hajj Terminal of King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, titled “And All That Is In Between.”
Visitors can admire the intricate weaving and embroidery of the Kiswah, the cloth that adorns the Holy Kaaba in the Grand Mosque in Makkah, featuring silk, gold and silver threads.
Since 1927, the King Abdulaziz Complex for Holy Kaaba Kiswa has been producing decorative embroidered clothes for the Holy Kaaba, which is replaced annually.
The Diriyah Biennale Foundation said that the Kiswah of the Holy Kaaba, with its distinctive inscriptions and ornamentations, is “considered the highest form of creative production in Islamic arts” and holds significance in the lives of Muslims worldwide.
The exhibition will highlight Saudi Arabia’s key role in serving Islam and Muslims over the decades and showcase the exceptional skills and craftsmanship of the Kiswah Factory of the Holy Kaaba.
Alongside the Kiswah display, the Islamic Arts Biennale 2025 will exhibit a collection of historical Islamic artifacts and contemporary artworks. The organizers aim to surpass the 600,000 visitors who attended the 2023 event.
The event also aims to enhance pilgrims’ religious and cultural experiences while preserving the Kingdom’s Islamic heritage as part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.
Deal to enhance heritage conservation in AlUla, China
- Agreement unites expertise in cultural preservation and tourism growth
RIYADH: The Royal Commission for AlUla and Dunhuang Academy have signed a strategic partnership to enhance cultural, tourism and heritage collaborations between Saudi Arabia and China.
This partnership marks a key milestone in Saudi Arabia-China relations, combining the academy’s 80 years of expertise in heritage research and cultural conservation with the commission’s dedication to preserving AlUla’s cultural heritage.
The academy manages the Magao Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with 735 Buddhist caves in Gansu province, famous for their murals and sculptures that reflect Silk Road cultural influences.
The agreement unites the organizations as guardians of unique heritage, history and traditions, according to a recent press release.
The academy’s successful preservation of the Magao Grottoes has earned praise from UNESCO, the World Bank, and the Chinese government.
Both entities will collaborate on a conservation program for historic sites and artifacts in AlUla and western China. They will also organize academic exhibitions and exchange programs for staff and scholars.
Silvia Barbone, vice president of strategic partnerships at the commission, said that China and Saudi Arabia share a rich legacy that has connected people and places across vast distances and centuries.
“Today, our work in global heritage is strengthened by successful collaborations with leading institutions and destinations.”
Barbone added that the academy joins the commission in “our goal to establish northwest Arabia as a hub for research, exploration, and discovery in culture, heritage, tourism, and more, as we drive the regeneration of AlUla.”
The partnership follows the Saudi Travel Expo, organized by the Saudi Tourism Authority, where AlUla was prominently featured. The event, held in Beijing’s Tian Tan Garden in October 2024, highlighted AlUla’s natural and cultural heritage.
Su Bomin, director of Dunhuang Academy, said this collaboration was a significant step in “bridging our cultural histories and advancing heritage conservation efforts.
“By sharing our expertise and resources, we aim to foster cultural exchange, deepen mutual understanding, and create innovative programs that will benefit communities in both China and Saudi Arabia.”
In January 2024, the “AlUla, Wonder of Arabia” exhibition, featuring artifacts from the commission’s archaeological collection on public display for the first time, was hosted at Beijing’s Forbidden City UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Attracting over 220,000 visitors, the exhibition followed the signing of a partnership agreement between the commission and the Cultural Heritage Administration of China’s Henan province.
Saudi FM discusses Middle East issues with Spanish, British counterparts, UNRWA chief
- Prince Faisal meets Philippe Lazzarini in Riyadh
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received separate phone calls from Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy on Wednesday.
He discussed recent developments in the Middle East with his Spanish and British counterparts, and efforts to address them.
The Saudi foreign minister also met the chief of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, Philippe Lazzarini, in Riyadh. They discussed Saudi Arabia’s efforts to cooperate with UNRWA on projects benefiting the Palestinian people.
Saudi leadership offers condolences to Chinese president for earthquake victims
- A 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit southwest China, leaving more than 120 people dead and over 100 injured
RIYADH: King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman expressed their condolences in separate messages to Chinese President Xi Jinping regarding the victims of the earthquake that hit Dingri County in the Xizang Region of southwest China.
The Saudi leadership extended heartfelt condolences and sincere sympathy to the Chinese president and the families of those who died in the natural disaster, wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.
On Tuesday, a 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit southwest China, leaving more than 120 people dead and over 100 injured.
