RIYADH: Riyadh-based foreign ambassadors offered their heartiest greetings and best wishes to King Salman, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the Saudi people on the occasion of the 87th National Day of Saudi Arabia.
The envoys acknowledged the tremendous developments taking place throughout the Kingdom and wished the Kingdom well in attaining its Vision 2030 goals.
Belgian Ambassado Geert Criel said he was honored to present to the royal family, the government and the people of Saudi Arabia his best wishes for peace, happiness and prosperity in the Kingdom. As in past years, he said he would look forward to working with Saudi partners on the continued strengthening of bilateral relations and cooperation.
Conveying his warmest congratulations to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and to the people of Saudi Arabia on the occasion of their National Day, Ralph King, ambassador of Australia, looks forward to continuing close cooperation in all fields, to enhance the prosperity and security of both nations.
Portuguese Ambassador Manuel Carvalho conveyed his greetings and good wishes to the Saudi people and to the Saudi authorities under King Salman and the crown prince on the country’s National Day.
Christopher Henzel, chargé d’ affaires of the US Embassy here, said as President Donald Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia made clear, the US values the longstanding relationship with Saudi Arabia and it will continue to work together long into the future.
Henzel said: “Our militaries have a strong partnership, and we continue to cooperate in the region to defeat terrorism, cut of terrorist funding, and combat extremist ideology to ensure both our countries can live in peace and security.”
Indian Ambassador Ahmad Javed said that India and Saudi Arabia enjoy cordial and friendly relations reflecting the centuries-old economic and socio-cultural ties.
“Saudi Arabia, as part of our extended neighborhood, holds an eminent position in our political, commercial, security, energy and defense engagements. We consider Saudi Arabia a factor of stability in the region and an economic powerhouse,” he added.
Albanian Ambassador Sami Shiba said Saudi Arabia is a major economic power an important player in the Middle East.
Bangladesh Ambassador Golam Moshi said he was deeply impressed over the leadership, which is taking Saudi Arabia to new heights. “Bangladesh enjoys a special relationship with the Kingdom by way of our common culture, religion and fraternity.”
Swedish Ambassador Jan Knutsson told Arab News: “The past year has seen very strong progress in the bilateral ties between Sweden and Saudi Arabia with a number of important visits in both directions. Sweden remains committed to working with the Kingdom to achieve its impressive Vision 2030, and is ready to contribute whenever possible.”
Pakistan Ambassador Khan Hasham bin Saddique said his country enjoys historically excellent relations with the Kingdom. “Our relations are based on the mutual aspirations and faith of the people of the two countries. The people of Pakistan hold the leadership of Saudi Arabia in high esteem. The depth of this relationship is expressed by profound feelings of affection, friendliness and enthusiasm.”
Conveying his heartiest greetings to King Salman and the crown prince, Sri Lankan Ambassador Azmi Thassim said that all Sri Lankan Hajj pilgrims, who undertook the Hajj pilgrimage this year, were grateful to the Saudi government for the great efforts made to ensure that every single need of the pilgrims was provided to make the pilgrimage very special.
Chinese Ambassador Li Huaxin said the Saudi-Sino relationship has touched a new high in the last one-and-a-half years. There was an exchange of visits between the leaders and the smoothly operated mechanism of the high-level committee of the two countries have led to a new era for the all-around and rapid development of China-Saudi relationship.
Maldivian Ambassador Abdullah Hameed said: “It gives us great pleasure to express our good wishes to the leadership of Saudi Arabia.”
Brunei Ambassador Dato Yusoff Ismail said the Kingdom has rendered tremendous efforts to provide excellent services to ensure the welfare and well-being of Hajj pilgrims.
Offering his best wishes, Ukraine’s Ambassador Vadym Vakhrushev wished the Kingdom years of prosperity and the well-being of the nation.
Jaime Sergio Cerda, ambassador of Argentina, wished security and stability for Saudi Arabia with the full implementation of Vision 2030 for Saudi Arabia’s prosperity.
Djibouti Ambassador Diaa-Eddin Saed Bamakhrama said Djibouti considers Saudi National Day as part of his country’s celebrations.
Indonesian Ambassador Agus Maftuh Abegebrie said this year marks the highlight of Saudi-Indonesian bilateral relations, particularly the setting up of the SAUNESIA (Saudi – Indonesia) Partnership.
“The historic visit of King Salman to Indonesia last March, among others, laid a foundation for strengthening bilateral relations between the two brotherly nations and citizens in a number of important sectors,” he stressed.
Diplomatic community impressed with Saudi Arabia's development strategies
Diplomatic community impressed with Saudi Arabia's development strategies
KSrelief to host 4th Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum in February 2025
- Themed “Navigating the Future of Humanitarian Response,” the forum will coincide with KSrelief’s 10th anniversary
RIYADH: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre will host the fourth Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum on Feb. 24-25 next year, under the patronage of King Salman, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.
Themed “Navigating the Future of Humanitarian Response,” the forum will coincide with KSrelief’s 10th anniversary and is being organized in partnership with UN humanitarian agencies.
It will bring together global leaders, donors, humanitarian workers, and experts to address pressing challenges in humanitarian aid.
The event will also feature high-level panel discussions with renowned researchers and specialists from Saudi Arabia and around the world.
Topics will include the role of humanitarian diplomacy in mitigating conflicts and disasters, strategies for effective delivery of aid and relief supplies, and addressing displacement amid escalating conflicts and natural disasters, SPA added.
KSrelief, Saudi Arabia’s humanitarian arm, continues to play a pivotal role in addressing crises and supporting vulnerable communities worldwide, and the forum underscores its commitment to fostering dialogue and innovation in the humanitarian sector.
The previous edition of the forum in 2023 concluded with recommendations to minimize funding gaps in relief aid and leverage science and innovation for quicker response and improved coordination in humanitarian efforts.
Muslim World League chief meets Pope Francis in Vatican City
- During his visit to Italy, Al-Issa received an honorary fellowship in post-doctoral law studies from the University of Bologna
RIYADH: Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, secretary-general of the Muslim World League, met Pope Francis, the leader of the Catholic Church, in the Vatican to discuss mutual cooperation and shared interests.
During his visit to Italy, Al-Issa received an honorary fellowship in post-doctoral law studies from the University of Bologna.
The ceremony was attended by the university’s president, the law faculty’s dean, academics, and religious leaders from both Islamic and Catholic communities.
The honor recognized Al-Issa’s efforts in advancing the goals of the UN Charter, promoting peace, reducing cultural tensions, and fostering mutual understanding and collaboration among communities.
The MWL chief emphasized that the reasons for awarding him the post-doctoral fellowship in law from one of the most prestigious Western universities “reflect our Islamic values, which we must clarify to everyone.”
As part of his visit, Al-Issa launched the Islamic Studies and Arabic Language Award at the Catholic University of Milan.
The event was attended by high-level Vatican officials, marking the launch of a groundbreaking initiative to promote the teaching of the Arabic language and Islamic studies in Europe.
Islamic leaders described the award as a long-awaited step on an influential platform within Christian communities. The award includes categories that clarify Islamic concepts and promote the beauty and importance of the Arabic language.
Saudi wildlife center releases 66 endangered animals in King Khalid Royal Reserve
- 40 rhim gazelles, 10 Arabian oryx, 10 houbara bustards and 6 idmi gazelles released as part of wider initiative to enhance biodiversity and restore ecological balance
- Solar-powered tracking devices fitted to some of the animals to monitor patterns of movement, behaviors and how they adapt to their environment
RIYADH: The National Center for Wildlife has released 66 endangered native animals into the King Khalid Royal Reserve in Al-Thumamah region of northeastern Riyadh.
Forty rhim gazelles, 10 Arabian oryx, 10 houbara bustards and six idmi gazelles were released as part of a wider ongoing initiative, in partnership with the Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Royal Reserve Development Authority, that aims to enhance biodiversity, restore ecological balance, promote sustainability, and support eco-tourism in the reserve, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
“This release is a significant step toward maintaining ecological systems and promoting biodiversity,” said Mohammed Qurban, the CEO of the wildlife center.
The stated aim of organization is to become a global leader in wildlife protection, by focusing on breeding endangered species and reintroducing them into natural ecosystems in line with international conservation standards.
Qurban said the center is dedicated to conducting research on endangered species and monitoring biodiversity in protected areas using advanced technologies that track animal populations and collect data that is critical in efforts to address conservation challenges and opportunities.
Talal Al-Harigi, CEO of the development authority, said solar-powered tracking devices have been fitted to some of the released animals. These will enable researchers to monitor them via satellite to gain valuable insights into their patterns of movement, behaviors and how they adapt to their environment.
The initiative also helps to support efforts to restore ecological balance and increase vegetation cover in the reserve, which essential to help species adapt to natural habitats, he added.
City governor launches $160m first phase of Madinah Gate project
- Development will comprise apartments, hotel, retail units, bus station
MADINAH: Madinah governor Prince Salman bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz on Monday launched the $160 million first phase of the Madinah Gate project.
The mixed-use development will comprise a 325-bedroom DoubleTree by Hilton hotel, 80 shops, 44 restaurants, apartments, recreational facilities and a bus station, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
It will also have a direct connection to the Haramain High-Speed Railway, which links Madinah with Makkah.
Madinah Gate — the first two phases of which will span 37,000 sq. meters — is being developed as a collaboration between Saudi Arabia Railways and developer Knowledge Economic City Co., with support from the city’s authorities.
Amin Shaker, chairman of the development company, said the project — its first in southern Madinah — would help strengthen the city’s status as a global visitor destination.
New partnership set to drive Kingdom’s architecture industry
- Deal will help promote local talent, foster innovation
RIYADH: The Architecture and Design Commission has signed a strategic partnership with contracting firm Nesma & Partners to promote the Kingdom’s architecture and design industry.
The commission’s CEO Sumayah Al-Solaiman and Nesma’s Managing Director Rami Al-Turki on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a framework for collaboration in professional development and industry innovation.
The partnership aims to prepare a new generation of Saudi professionals to compete on the world stage and reinforce the Kingdom’s position as a regional hub for architecture and design excellence.
“The initiative aims to empower architects and designers to develop their skills and enhance their capabilities, creating an environment that nurtures Saudi talent while fostering innovation and creativity in the sector,” Al-Solaiman said.
It would also help to advance the commission’s mission to forge strategic alliances with industry leaders, she said.
Under the deal, the two sides will cooperate in areas such as industry best practice, knowledge exchange and professional workshops. It will also involve the joint sponsorship of competitions, awards and conferences.
“As a leading Saudi contractor, we are committed to providing training and creating employment opportunities for Saudi architects,” Al-Turki said.
“Our strategic partnership with the commission reflects our values of innovation, excellence and social responsibility.”
The initiative aligns with Saudi Vision 2030’s goals for sector development, focusing on building a sustainable ecosystem for architecture and design professionals.
The commission emphasized its commitment to advancing scientific research and creating an integrated environment that supports the sector’s creative community.
