JEDDAH: Jeddah Gov. Prince Misha’al bin Majed kicked off the 10-day Jeddah Heritage festival Wednesday at Balad with the start of school spring break.
Prince Misha’al said Jeddah is an important historical place, which has strong relationship with Saudi culture and architecture. He said Balad is developing not only as a venue to shop, but also a place for entertainment and showcase of Saudi culture and traditions.
Matthias J. Mitman, US consul general, said: “I learn more every time I come to Balad downtown.”
Amar Al-Madni, acting CEO of General Authority for Entertainment, told Arab News the significance of Wednesday’s event is its opportunity to shed the light on the history, colors and architecture old Jeddah.
“We are very proud to be working with the governor of Jeddah, Municipality, JCCI and make this living reality for the people, but it will not stop here we are looking forward to working with all the festivals and street activities around the Kingdom,” he said.
The Entertainment Authority has ambitious plans for future.
Around 65 different activities for the historical festival are planned to entertain visitors, including a historical panorama screenplay where the 2,600-year history of the city to the period of King Abdul Aziz Al-Saud will be screened.
The festival will also feature games for all age groups, traditional food, simulation of archaeological sites with 5D virtual glasses, Hejazi folklore, theater, dances, children’s programs and contests, museums, traditional coffee shops and food stalls and much more with a glimpse of history.
The festival runs every day after Asr prayer till late night.
Heritage festival opens with new identity ‘Historical life’
Heritage festival opens with new identity ‘Historical life’
KSrelief’s 11th aid plane lands at Damascus airport
- KSrelief dispatched dozens of aid trucks and planes after collapse of Assad regime
RIYADH: The 11th Saudi relief plane landed at Damascus International Airport in Syria on Wednesday as part of a humanitarian airlift launched by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre.
After the collapse of Bashar Assad’s regime early in December, KSrelief has sent dozens of trucks and planes loaded with food, shelter, and medical supplies to meet the urgent basic needs of Syrians.
Experts discuss AI’s role in enhancing pilgrim experiences
- Discussions at Jeddah conference focus on crowd control, personalized services, sustainable solutions
- Tamer Bdran, vice president of NEC Saudi Arabia Ltd., discussed the role of global technical solutions tailored to the unique needs of Hajj and Umrah
JEDDAH: Industry experts gathered to discuss how artificial intelligence can enhance the Hajj and Umrah experience for millions of pilgrims worldwide.
The discussions took place at the fourth Hajj and Umrah Services Conference and Exhibition in Jeddah, running until Jan. 16.
The event, themed “The Road to the Nusuk,” is hosted by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the Pilgrim Experience Program, featuring over 300 local and international organizations showcasing innovations to improve the pilgrim experience.
The conversation began with an overview of the current state of Hajj and Umrah, with speakers noting that only 5 percent of available technical capabilities have been utilized so far.
Mohammed Al-Hamid, director of the AI Center at the Ministry of Interior, shared in the session “Personalizing Services for the Guests of Allah: Data and Digital Solutions” that the ministry has made significant progress in data and AI infrastructure.
He added that the ministry has played a key role in transforming the Hajj and Umrah experience into a seamless journey driven by technological innovation.
Al-Hamid said that AI can help manage crowds by tracking movements, identifying potential hazards, and making real-time adjustments to traffic flow.
“We are using AI to develop long-term solutions that enhance the sustainability of Hajj services, including managing human density by analyzing crowd flow and predicting congestion, offering multilingual guidance, utilizing big data to anticipate pilgrims' needs, and efficiently distributing human and technical resources,” he added.
Speakers then expressed optimism about how AI could address the urgent need for faster and more effective services.
Abdulaziz Al-Matahami, deputy minister of planning and digital transformation at the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, said that the ministry first digitized traditional services, then moved to integrate government agencies to offer customized services for each pilgrim and Umrah performer.
He highlighted the new version of the Nusuk app, which provides comprehensive services such as hotel and flight reservations, historical tours, and permits for the Two Holy Mosques.
Al-Matahami also announced the launch of the Nusuk Business platform, aimed at enhancing integration with entrepreneurs to deliver innovative solutions for serving pilgrims.
In another session titled “Advanced Solutions and Technologies for Effective Crowd Management,” Fahad Al-Ghamdi, CEO of human resources at National Security Services Co., explained that the company operates as an integrated security system, offering consulting, risk analysis, and advanced technical solutions, such as mobile command and control centers with cameras supported by AI to analyze data in real time.
Tamer Bdran, vice president of NEC Saudi Arabia Ltd., discussed the role of global technical solutions tailored to the unique needs of Hajj and Umrah.
He said: “Technologies such as facial and fingerprint recognition, along with simulating crowd flow using supercomputing, have improved planning and reduced waiting times at ports and airports.”
Meanwhile, Saudi Ambassador to Spain Princess Haifa Al-Mogrin visited the Ministry of Interior’s pavilion at the conference. She was briefed on the ministry's efforts and initiatives to ensure a safe Hajj experience, including AI-enhanced security systems, digital solutions for crowd management at holy sites, the “No Hajj Without a Permit” campaign, and the Makkah Route initiative.
Saudi FM arrives in Thailand on official visit
RIYADH: Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan arrived in Bangkok for an official visit to Thailand on Wednesday.
The prince is set to discuss the relationship between Thailand and Saudi Arabia, leading the Kingdom’s delegation at the inaugural meeting of the Saudi-Thai Coordination Council.
Saudi commission registers 3,202 new heritage sites
- Newly registered sites include 16 in Riyadh, eight in Makkah, one in Qassim, two in the Eastern Province, 3,170 in Asir, two in Hail, one in Najran, and two in Baha
- Commission encouraged citizens and residents to report unregistered heritage sites via the Balagh platform, official social media accounts, or local branches
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Heritage Commission has registered 3,202 new sites in the National Urban Heritage Register, bringing the total to 28,202.
This reflects the richness of Saudi Arabia’s heritage and efforts to document and protect it, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
The newly registered sites include 16 in Riyadh, eight in Makkah, one in Qassim, two in the Eastern Province, 3,170 in Asir, two in Hail, one in Najran, and two in Baha.
This registration follows the promulgation of the Antiquities, Museums and Urban Heritage Law; and a decision by the commission’s board of directors authorizing its CEO to register and protect heritage and archaeological sites.
The commission encouraged citizens and residents to report unregistered heritage sites via the Balagh platform, official social media accounts, or local branches.
Saudi FM talks to Singaporean, Russian counterparts
- Prince Faisal signs memorandum of understanding with Singaporean FM
- He spoke to Russia’s Sergey Lavrov by telephone
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan visited Singapore on Wednesday and met his counterpart, Vivian Balakrishnan, as well as Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
Prince Faisal and Balakrishnan signed a memorandum of understanding to establish the Singapore-Saudi Strategic Partnership Council.
Saudi Arabia and Singapore are seeking to increase the volume of trade exchange and strengthen relations in various fields, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Prince Faisal said that Singapore is a key global financial center and that Saudi Arabia is eager to enhance its cooperation with the country to gain significant economic advantages, the SPA added.
The Saudi minister conveyed the greetings of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during his meeting with Wong.
Wong said on X that he had a productive discussion with Prince Faisal regarding their countries’ relations and developments in the Middle East.
Earlier on Wednesday, Prince Faisal discussed regional developments during a phone call with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov.
He also arrived in Bangkok for an official visit to Thailand on Wednesday, leading the Kingdom’s delegation at the inaugural meeting of the Saudi-Thai Coordination Council.
