RIYADH: With the launch of Vision 2030 and the National Transformation Program (NTP) 2020, Saudi Arabia has entered a new era of progress and prosperity which ensures integrated development in the Kingdom.
In recent years, Saudi Arabia has witnessed a series of developments in the fields of education, health, trade, communications, science and technology.
Launching Vision 2030 last year, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman described it as an achievable blueprint, which expresses long-term goals and reflects the country’s potentials and the projected future. It is a roadmap for economic and developmental action in the Kingdom.
Under this program, some governmental bodies and ministries underwent a restructuring process. This will enable them to perform their tasks, and expand their competencies to achieve a prosperous future and sustainable development.
Women are being given greater responsibility in society. The Shoura Council, which is a consultative body, has 30 women members out of its total membership of 150.
Recently, some female leaders were given highly responsible positions in public and private sector enterprises.
The education of women in the Kingdom has received a great deal of attention and this has allowed Saudi women to make definite strides toward achieving their ambitions in different fields.
The Saudi woman has emerged both at the local and international levels. Saudi women have excelled in the fields of culture and specialized research and their achievements have set records.
The King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) plays a predominant role in the country.
KACST is a governmental scientific institution that supports and enhances applied scientific research. It coordinates the activities of government institutions and scientific research centers in accordance with the requirements of the development of the Kingdom.
It also cooperates with the relevant authorities to identify national priorities and policies in technology and science, so as to build a scientific and technological basis that serves development in agriculture, industry, mining and more. It also aims to develop national competencies and recruit highly qualified specialists to help develop and control modern technology to serve development in the Kingdom.
Its vision is to be a world-class organization in science and technology, fostering innovation and promoting a knowledge-based society in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
For the first time in the Kingdom’s history, KACST recently produced three types of drones. The air drones, code-named Saqr 2, 3 and 4, are made of carbon and fiberglass and are characterized as light and durable to evade detection of radar and reconnaissance equipment.
The drones can be programmed from a ground-based control room. The newly created devices contain automatic control units, as well as logarithmic programs which can deal with and adapt to different wind speeds and temperatures, engine combustion, emergency landings, or climb or deviate from a flight path.
The drones will be used in cases of natural or environmental disasters, aerial photography, remote sensing and exploration, agriculture, border control and rescue operations.
In the health sector, there are more than 400 hospitals throughout the Kingdom which include some 125 private sector hospitals. Besides these hospitals, there are several medical cities and more than 2,000 primary health care centers.
During Hajj, the Ministry of Health alone deploys some 30,000 health officials to serve the millions of pilgrims who come to the two holy cities every year.
Education is a much-prioritized sector in the Kingdom. New schools are being built with state-of-the art technology to provide education to the growing population. The Education Ministry provides foreign scholarships to students who wish to pursue higher studies of their choice in major cities in the world in the UK, the US, Canada, Germany, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, France and India. There are more than 10,000 Saudi students studying abroad on government-funded scholarships.
There are some 39 universities in the Kingdom and some of them have achieved global recognition because of their state-of-the-art facilities.
The Princess Nourah University (PNU) is an example of the attention given to higher education for women. The attention started when the General Presidency for the Education of Girls established the first college for women in 1390 AH, corresponding to 1970 CE. The inauguration of more colleges followed, reaching 102, ranging from university colleges to intermediary and community colleges. These are found in 72 Saudi cities and include 600,000 students.
In Riyadh alone there are six colleges: The College of Education for Liberal Arts Disciplines; the College of Education for Scientific Disciplines; the College of Education for the Development of Teachers; the College of Social Services; the College of Home Economics; and the College of Fine Arts.
In 1427 AH, a royal order was issued for the establishment of the first university for women in Riyadh, under the supervision of the Ministry of Education. This includes the six colleges located in Riyadh, in addition to a number of new colleges established for the purpose of women’s education and development in the Kingdom.
Vision 2030 will take Saudi Arabia into the future, standing on the foundations of the past
Vision 2030 will take Saudi Arabia into the future, standing on the foundations of the past
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 Center 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.
