RIYADH: Train fares within the Kingdom will be competitive compared to the cost of traveling by air, an official of the Saudi Railway Company (SAR) told local media.
Bashar bin Khaled Al-Malik, chief executive of SAR, said the Kingdom has completed the majority of its planned railway network, notably in Makkah and the Northern Borders regions.
Some commercial operations have begun, while the Makkah-Madinah railway line is expected to go into commercial operation before the end of 2017, Al-Malik told the Al-Eqtisadiah daily.
The central and eastern regions will later be linked with a new line, in addition to the development of an existing track, Al-Malik said.
Outstanding works include linking the western and eastern parts of the Kingdom through the “land bridge” between Jeddah and Riyadh, which is expected to be implemented in the next year. The southern part of the Kingdom will be also linked with the western part under a strategic plan set by SAR and the Public Transport Authority (PTA), Al-Malik said.
The train systems deployed in the Kingdom are considered the most advanced, to the extent that the majority of European countries have not yet applied the technology, Al-Malik said.
The systems include a way to monitor train movements, departure timings, routes and speeds.
Al-Malik said Saudi rail projects have attracted a large number of national companies and Saudi engineers, whether in the form of sub-contracting or direct awarding contracts. Operation of the rail projects will come in the form of contracts with foreign firms, while the role of SAR will be to supervise the operators, Al-Malik said.
Saudi train fares ‘to be competitive compared to air ticket prices’
Saudi train fares ‘to be competitive compared to air ticket prices’
More than 12m people visit Riyadh Season
- The opening of the Courchevel Zone in Boulevard World has allowed visitors to enjoy a unique winter experience
RIYADH: Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, said that more than 12 million people have attended Riyadh Season so far this year.
The diverse range of offerings at Riyadh Season, which began in October and lasts to March 2025, continues to captivate audiences.
Recent additions, including The Groves and Souq Al-Awaleen, have further enhanced the visitor experience.
The opening of the Courchevel Zone in Boulevard World has allowed visitors to enjoy a unique winter experience.
The anticipated Boxing Week, featuring the historic rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury, attracted a significant global audience, adding a thrilling dimension to the season.
A collaborative effort with SAUDIA Group led to the recent launch of the Boulevard Runway zone, which offers a unique blend of aviation and entertainment.
Saudi Arabic Language Academy launches comprehensive media glossary to standardize Arabic terminology
- Initiative seeks to provide reliable reference for researchers, journalists, and media professionals
RIYADH: The King Salman Global Academy for the Arabic Language, in collaboration with the Ministry of Media, has unveiled a comprehensive glossary of media terms aimed at standardizing and clarifying media-related terminology, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
According to SPA, the initiative seeks to provide a reliable reference for researchers, journalists, and media professionals, enhancing studies related to both traditional and digital media as well as other associated fields. It is also part of Saudi Arabia’s broader strategy to transform the media sector and promote a unified approach to media terminology.
Abdullah bin Saleh Al-Washmi, secretary-general of KSGAAL, explained that the academy prioritizes the creation of digital dictionaries to support scientific research and enhance local production at both individual and institutional levels.
He emphasized that such efforts aim to build a unified database providing researchers and specialists with access to accurate sources, in addition to digital linguistic data to support developers and programmers of technical applications, whether linguistic or non-linguistic.
Al-Washmi also highlighted the academy’s past achievements in producing specialized dictionaries in partnership with various government ministries and agencies. He noted that the media terminology glossary was launched in alignment with the significant transformations taking place in the media sector, offering a crucial linguistic resource to help understand these transformations and the evolving concepts within the field.
The glossary covers a broad range of terms related to traditional media — such as print journalism, radio, and television — as well as digital media, social media, live broadcasting, podcasts, online journalism, digital marketing, contemporary media platforms, audiovisual media vocabulary, and technical terms in the media field. It also addresses emerging concepts in new media.
Containing approximately 800 entries, the glossary provides each term’s Arabic equivalent, its grammatical category, the type of entry, its meanings, and English translations.
Related
Tariq Abdulhakim Museum to mark 1st anniversary with celebrations
- The two-day celebration will be held under the slogan “A Melody Between Heritage and the Future”
RIYADH: The Tariq Abdulhakim Museum in Jeddah’s historic Al-Balad district will host events and activities to commemorate its first anniversary from Dec. 27
The two-day celebration will be held under the slogan “A Melody Between Heritage and the Future.”
It will highlight the museum’s most significant milestones since its establishment and its contributions to showcasing Saudi musical heritage while fostering national identity, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Events include live musical performances, guided tours within the museum, theatrical activities and a light show projected onto the museum’s facade.
The Tariq Abdulhakim Museum, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, houses a collection of the artist’s personal belongings, musical compositions and audiovisual materials.
It also features a music research center, providing researchers with access to an extensive music archive, with the aim of preserving intangible cultural heritage.
KSrelief provides food aid in Syria and Yemen
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s humanitarian agency KSrelief has distributed food aid in several parts of Syria and Yemen.
KSrelief has recently handed out 724 food packages and 724 hygiene kits in Syria’s Sarmada and Idlib, assisting 4,344 people. The distribution is part of the second phase of a project providing aid to those affected by the earthquake in northern Syria.
The project aims to distribute 134,950 food parcels and 134,950 hygiene kits in Idlib, Aleppo, the northern countryside of Raqqa and the northwestern countryside of Hasakah, benefiting 809,700 people from displaced families affected by the earthquake.
Last week, KSrelief distributed 450 food packages in Al-Mansoura District of Yemen’s Aden Governorate, reaching 3,150 people.
In Lebanon, KSrelief also continued providing healthcare services in Arsal, throughout November, supporting both Syrian refugees and the host community.
The Saudi agency treated 10,815 patients, offering 20,691 services, including clinic visits, pharmacy services, laboratory tests, nursing care and mental-health support.
Saudi Arabia condemns Magdeburg attack, expresses condolences to victims
- Saudi Arabia also reiterated its firm stance against all forms of violence
- The Muslim World League similarly condemned the attack
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia condemned the attack on a bustling Christmas market in the city of Magdeburg, Germany, where a car plowed into the crowd on Friday evening and killing at least two people and injuring over 60 others.
The driver was arrested at the scene shortly after the incident.
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement on Saturday, expressed its condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims and to the government, wishing those injured a swift recovery.
Saudi Arabia also reiterated its firm stance against all forms of violence.
A Saudi source told Reuters that Saudi Arabia had warned German authorities about the attacker after he posted extremist views on his personal X account that threatened peace and security.
The Muslim World League similarly condemned the attack, with the group reaffirming its stance against violence and all forms of terrorism.
In a statement, it also expressed ‘solidarity, heartfelt condolences, and sympathy to the families of the victims and the injured, as well as to the German community.’
