Saudi Crown Prince pledges elimination of ‘what is left of extremism’ in near future

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman speaks at the Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference in Riyadh on Tuesday. (SPA)
Updated 26 October 2017
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Saudi Crown Prince pledges elimination of ‘what is left of extremism’ in near future

RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman pledged on Tuesday a return to a moderate past and looked forward to a technology-driven future.
“We are returning to what we were before — a country of moderate Islam that is open to all religions and to the world,” he told the Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference in Riyadh.
“We will not spend the next 30 years of our lives dealing with destructive ideas. We will destroy them today,” he added.
The crown prince addressed an audience of thousands of global investors and dignitaries who visited the Saudi capital to hear first-hand how the country’s society and economy are being transformed. He said: “Saudi Arabia was not like this before 1979. We want to go back to what we were, the moderate Islam that’s open to all religions. We want to live a normal life.”
The remarks set a new tone for a country that is undergoing unprecedented economic and social reforms as it reduces its reliance on oil revenues while creating thousands of new jobs for a youthful population.
They also spoke to the needs of a country where 70 percent of the population is under the age of 30, with millions of young Saudis set to enter the workforce in the next decade.
At the same time, the government is challenging long-established social norms by ending a ban on women driving and signaling a move to open up the entertainment sector.
Last week, the Kingdom’s Culture and Information Ministry said it planned to monitor interpretations of Islamic teachings used to justify violence or terrorism.
Dr. Hamdan Al-Shehri, a Riyadh-based Saudi political analyst and international relations scholar, welcomed the crown prince’s resolute stand against extremism and terrorism and said Saudi Arabia’s efforts in the last two years had begun to bear fruit.
“Saudi Arabia leads the anti-Daesh coalition as well as a sustained campaign against terror and its extremist ideology and the campaign has broken the back of terrorism,” he said.
He said Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed, has demonstrated through words and deeds its commitment to eradicating both extremism and terrorism.
“The creation last week by royal decree of the King Salman Complex for the Prophet’s Hadith in Madinah was one more step in preventing the extremists from misinterpreting the teachings of Islam and from committing crimes and murders in the name of Islam,” said Al-Shehri. “This is a very significant step.”
He described the crown prince as a “wise leader,” who warns his people on every occasion to get rid of all extremist thoughts.

“Saudi Arabia is a modern nation; Islam is a religion of moderation. Islam is not against modernization, and we have seen the step of allowing Saudi women to drive ... all these steps have restored Saudi Arabia’s standing as the leader of the moderate and proud Muslim world where there is no room for extremism,” he told Arab News.
Oubai Shahbandar, a Syrian-American analyst and fellow at the New America Foundation’s International Security Program, told Arab News that Saudi Arabia had played a notable role in the anti-Daesh campaign, both operationally in terms of military assets and ideologically to prevent recruitment and stop foreign fighters.
"The counter extremism center, Etidal, and the significant efforts made by Saudi Arabia in conjunction with allies to curb the illicit financial network of Daesh will ensure that this terror group never makes a comeback," he said.
He said the recent establishment of an authority to scrutinize uses of the “Hadith” — the sayings, actions, and habits of Prophet Muhammad used by preachers and jurists to support teachings and edicts on all aspects of life — would prevent the seeds of extremism from blossoming in the future.
"The question we must all ask ourselves is how the defeat on the battlefied of Daesh and other extremist groups can be sustained so that they never occur again. This is a bold move that will go a long way toward delegitimatizing and preventing extremist ideologies from appearing and spreading," he said.
He said the recent announcements and policy decisions made in Riyadh "will hopefully serve as an example of how change can be enacted for a new generation which will set an important precedent for the entire Arab world."
On Tuesday, the FII audience heard from the chief of the Kingdom’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) which is seeking further international partnerships as part of a plan to become the largest sovereign wealth fund in the world.
Managing Director Yasir Al-Rumayyan also on Tuesday revealed a $20 billion alliance with the US investment fund BlackRock.
International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde addressed the event and warned that the next decades would determine whether the world moved toward “utopia or dystopia.” She said that climate change and the rise of inequality were the most significant threats to the global outlook. “If we don’t address these issues … we will be moving to a dark future” in 50 years, she said.


KSU professor honored with cybersecurity lifetime achievement award

Updated 28 April 2025
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KSU professor honored with cybersecurity lifetime achievement award

  • The award celebrates a visionary whose contributions have fortified digital trust, security, and sovereignty across borders and generations

RIYADH: A King Saud University professor has been honored with a lifetime achievement award for his work in cybersecurity.

Muhammad Khurram Khan from the Center of Excellence in Information Assurance at KSU was recognized at the Saudi Critical Infrastructure Security Summit, or CyberForge, held April 22–23.

The award represents the highest level of recognition for a cybersecurity professional in acknowledgment of their groundbreaking research, visionary leadership, and exceptional contributions to advancing the field, both nationally and internationally, KSU said Monday on its official website.

The award celebrates a visionary whose contributions have fortified digital trust, security, and sovereignty across borders and generations, it added.

Speaking to Arab News, Khan said: “Receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award in Cybersecurity is an immense honor and a reflection of years of dedicated effort to advance the field both locally and globally. This recognition not only validates the hard work and collaboration of countless colleagues and students, but also highlights the critical role cybersecurity plays in our interconnected world.

“This award is a testament to the unwavering support and vision of the Center of Excellence in Information Assurance, KSU, where I have had the privilege to conduct and lead transformative cybersecurity research,” he said.

Khan added that the university has been a catalyst for innovation, providing a platform for researchers to explore cutting-edge technologies and solutions.

“I am proud to be part of an institution that champions academic excellence and significantly contributes to the Kingdom’s ambitious Vision 2030 goals, further solidifying Saudi Arabia’s position as a global leader in cybersecurity,” added the professor.

“This recognition fuels my dedication to driving transformative change in cybersecurity through advanced research, innovation, policy development, and collaboration with industry and public sector organizations. By fostering innovation, we can ensure a secure digital future that meets the needs of today while preparing for the challenges of tomorrow,” he concluded.

Ranked among the world’s leading cybersecurity scientists, with over 35,000 citations and an h-index of 99, Khan, according to KSU, has authored more than 500 high-impact publications and holds 10 granted US patents in key areas such as smart systems security, artificial intelligence in cybersecurity, Internet of Things security, vehicular and automotive cybersecurity, and digital authentication.

Khan has played a pivotal role in shaping global cybersecurity policy, particularly through his involvement in the G20 Digital Economy Task Forces during Saudi Arabia’s (2020) and Italy’s (2021) presidencies.

He has also co-developed several industrial standards in security and communication technologies. He has also provided consultancy to local and international cybersecurity startups and business organizations to scale up their research and innovation.

Khan has also been a key figure in cybersecurity education reform across Saudi universities, reviewing academic programs to align with Vision 2030, which reflect his unwavering commitment to advancing global cybersecurity and enhancing Saudi Arabia’s position as a tier-1 nation in cybersecurity, as recognized by the International Telecommunication Union.


Crown prince donates SR1bn for Saudi housing projects

Updated 28 April 2025
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Crown prince donates SR1bn for Saudi housing projects

  • The crown prince has mandated that the housing projects designated for donation be completed within a year

RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman pledged an SR1 billion ($266 million) donation on Monday to support housing projects for eligible Saudi beneficiaries and families in need.

The donation at his own private expense to the National Development Housing Foundation aims to help beneficiaries achieve home ownership.

It reflects the prince’s “continuous attention and support for providing a decent life for citizens, by supporting the initiatives and projects aimed at providing housing for them in various regions of the Kingdom,” the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The crown prince has mandated that the housing projects designated for donation be completed within a period not exceeding 12 months, and that they are implemented by national companies.

He also ordered authorities to submit monthly reports on the progress of home ownership, in order to ensure the handover of all housing units within one year as well as transparency and accountability.


Mangrove scheme to plant 3m trees in Jubail

Updated 28 April 2025
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Mangrove scheme to plant 3m trees in Jubail

RIYADH: The National Center for Wildlife and the Saudi Arabian Mining Co., known as Maaden, have launched an initiative to plant 3 million mangrove trees in the Jubail Marine Protected Area.

It supports the goals of the Saudi Green Initiative and Vision 2030 to enhance coastal vegetation and preserve biodiversity, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.

The project aims to rehabilitate degraded habitats and strengthen the role of mangrove trees in carbon sequestration, as they are among the most efficient plants in storing carbon dioxide.

This helps combat climate change, protect coastal areas from erosion and provide safe environments for marine species reproduction, the SPA reported.

Mohammed Qurban, CEO of the National Center for Wildlife, highlighted the organization’s commitment to protecting ecosystems and expanding vegetation cover.

These efforts align with the Saudi Green Initiative’s target of planting 10 billion trees, including more than 100 million mangroves along Saudi coasts, reinforcing the Kingdom’s global environmental leadership, he said.


Saudi FM discusses US-Iran talks with Iranian counterpart

Updated 28 April 2025
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Saudi FM discusses US-Iran talks with Iranian counterpart

RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan discussed with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi the latest developments in US-Iran talks via a phone call, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said on X. 

Prince Faisal received a phone call Monday from Araghchi during which they discussed the third round of negotiations between the United States and Iran, which was held Saturday in the Omani capital Muscat.

The ministers also discussed bilateral ties and issues of common interest, the ministry statement added. 

 


Thousands of refugees in Jordan’s Zaatari camp receive treatment from KSrelief in March

Updated 28 April 2025
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Thousands of refugees in Jordan’s Zaatari camp receive treatment from KSrelief in March

  • Thousands seen in Zaatari refugee camp for Syrians in Jordan by KSrelief healthcare volunteers

RIYADH: Thousands of people in the Zaatari refugee camp for Syrians in Jordan received healthcare services in March, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.

Of the 8,428 patients seen by KSrelief carers, general medicine clinics treated 2,657 patients, while the internal medicine clinic dealt with 454 patients suffering from diabetes, hypertension, and asthma.

The pediatric clinics received 668 patients, and the dental clinic attended to 542 patients.

Additionally, the two gynecology clinics welcomed 649 women, while the ear, nose and throat clinic treated 210 patients.

The ophthalmology clinic saw 242 patients and the cardiology clinic attended to 64 patients.

The diagnostic radiology clinic served 123 patients and the dermatology clinic treated 133 patients.

Moreover, the rehabilitation medicine clinic assisted 106 patients.
Throughout the month, 7,204 laboratory tests were conducted for 814 patients, and 701 imaging procedures, including X-rays and ultrasounds, were performed for 627 patients. The vaccination clinic administered 487 vaccines.

There were 241 health education sessions, both individual and group, and 411 physical therapy sessions were conducted.

The pharmacy handled 5,212 prescriptions during this period.