JEDDAH: The King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) has announced that the first stage of a drone factory in Riyadh is almost complete.
KACST’s Supervisor General of Special Programs Khaled Al-Hussan, who is overseeing the Saudi drone project, said that the factory is projected to manufacture drones suitable for military and civil purposes, scientific research, urban planning and security.
One of the drones that will be manufactured at the facility is the Saqr 1 drone which is made of carbon and glass fiber and is equipped with a satellite communications system. The drone can fly within a range of 2,500 km for 24 to 48 hours.
When it comes to who will use the drones, Al-Hussan told Arab News that “Taqnia Aeronautics is the party concerned with marketing and determining the market demand for the projected drones.”
KACST has also produced another three drones of medium size — the Saqr 2, 3 and 4. The units were first developed in 2012 with a total of 38 built as of August 2014.
Saqr 2 can fly for eight-hours at a speed of 120 km per hour at an altitude of 5,000 meters while the Saqr 4 is capable of carrying a load of up to 5 kg.
The Saqr 4 can reach a maximum speed of 120 kph at an altitude of 5,000 meters and can fly for five to six hours.
All the models are equipped with cameras for aerial photography.
First stage of Saudi drone factory complete: KACST
First stage of Saudi drone factory complete: KACST
Eltiqa dazzles Kingdom’s capital with Saudi, Brazilian performance arts
- Event organized by Royal Institute of Traditional Arts, Wrth, and held under patronage of Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan
- Featured Saudi and Brazilian traditional performances
RIYADH: Highlighting the shared artistic heritage of Saudi Arabia and Brazil, Eltiqa once again captured hearts in the Kingdom’s capital this weekend.
Organized by the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts, Wrth, and held under the patronage of Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, the event featured Saudi and Brazilian traditional performances and arts at the King Fahd Cultural Center.
“I wanted to see the mix (of cultures) that they have done between Saudi and Brazilian culture,” said Abdulaziz Al-Ansari, one of the visitors at Eltiqa. “It’s honestly amazing. I didn’t even 1 percent imagine it would be this good.”
The event highlighted the harmony between the two countries through five performances from each side and a combined dance performance that merged the traditional arts of Saudi Arabia and Brazil.
Asma Al-Sayyari, a social media influencer and visitor, described the event as “magical.” She added: “What I liked the most was they brought 100 percent Saudi culture, 100 percent Brazilian culture, then they mixed the two very beautifully.”
The cultural center also displayed a collaborative artwork titled “Harmony” by a Saudi artist and a Brazilian artist, as well as 15 cultural events such as movement activities, art pieces, and workshops to connect people and introduce the visual arts of both countries.
“Extraordinary … I salute Saudi Arabia and I salute the Brazilian people,” said Samar Abdullah, a Saudi model and visitor at Eltiqa.
Eltiqa is one of many Wrth initiatives that aims to promote global cultural exchange between the Kingdom and other countries, as well as create a platform to link traditional arts locally and internationally.
Through such events, the center hopes to present Saudi Arabia’s traditional arts as part of Saudi Vision 2030’s objective to preserve and enhance cultural heritage.
“You can’t imagine how full I am with beautiful energy. I feel very, very good,” said Yusha Al-Sayyari, another visitor.
Umrah guests laud Saudi efforts to preserve holy sites
JEDDAH: The third group of guests from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Program for Umrah and Visit, organized by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, visited the King Abdulaziz Complex for the Holy Kaaba kiswa.
They toured the facility and learned about the kiswa’s production process and raw materials, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The guests also visited the Revelation Exhibition in the Hira Cultural District, where they explored the story of the Qur’an’s revelation.
The group includes 250 Umrah performers from 18 African countries, the SPA reported.
Guests praised Saudi Arabia’s efforts to preserve historical sites in Makkah and Madinah, and highlighted projects that recreate the Prophet Muhammad’s journey, enriching visitors’ connections to his life.
They acknowledged development projects enhancing the experience for Umrah performers, pilgrims and visitors, according to the SPA.
Riyadh to host creativity olympiad finals
RIYADH: The final phase of the 15th annual National Olympiad for Scientific Creativity, or Ibdaa, will be held from Feb. 3-6 at the Imam Mohammed bin Saud Islamic University conference center in Riyadh.
The event is being organized in partnership with the Ministry of Education and the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity, known as Mawhiba.
The olympiad will feature 200 research and innovation projects submitted by students from 22 scientific fields, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The projects were selected from more than 23,000 entries received during earlier stages of the competition, the SPA added.
Sixty-eight winners will be chosen to represent Saudi Arabia at international and regional competitions, including the International Science and Engineering Fair in the US.
The olympiad is an annual international contest for middle and high school students in standards and technology. It started as a local event in South Korea in 2006, and became an international contest in 2014.
Kingdom arrests 21,564 illegals in one week
RIYADH: Saudi authorities arrested 21,564 people in one week for breaching residency, work and border security regulations, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.
A total of 13,883 people were arrested for violations of residency laws, while 4,668 were held over illegal border crossing attempts, and a further 3,013 for labor-related issues.
The report showed that among the 1,477 people arrested for trying to enter the Kingdom illegally, 55 percent were Ethiopian, 41 percent Yemeni, and 4 percent were of other nationalities.
A further 90 people were caught trying to cross into neighboring countries, and 18 were held for involvement in transporting and harboring violators, the SPA reported.
The Ministry of Interior said that anyone found to be facilitating illegal entry to the Kingdom could face imprisonment for a maximum of 15 years and a fine of up to SR1 million ($260,000).
Suspected violations can be reported on the toll-free number 911 in the Makkah and Riyadh regions, and 999 or 996 in other regions of the Kingdom.
Asir’s heritage village blends history, arts
RIYADH: Al-Yanfeh, a 1,400-year-old archaeological village in Asir, has become a hub for contemporary arts following restoration efforts over the past two years, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Located 40 km southwest of Abha, the village features terraced stone buildings, an agricultural area irrigated by more than 70 wells — including seven rock-carved wells — and about 50 circular grain storage graves.
Ali Abu Alwa of the Saudi Heritage Preservation Society emphasized Al-Yanfeh’s historical and cultural value, citing its architecture, houses and water channels.
The site includes 400 historic houses, six mosques and 36 ancient passages connecting neighborhoods, the SPA reported.
Project supervisor Ali Al-Ghathimi said that the village’s red sandstone mountain facilitated well digging.
At 2,600 meters above sea level, the village benefits from a moderate climate influenced by monsoon winds and two rainy seasons, Al-Ghathimi said.
Recent upgrades by the Asir municipality include rehabilitated passages, stone-clad squares, period-appropriate lighting and a natural wood drainage system for rainwater.
