RIYADH: A virtual reality show illustrating what the soon-to-be-constructed Neom city will look like drew big crowds at the Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh yesterday.
Plans for the $500 billion mega city and business zone on the Red Sea were unveiled on Tuesday by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Neom will be one of the biggest projects of its kind and will be powered by renewable energy such as solar and wind, be drone-friendly and a center for new technologies including research into areas such as artificial intelligence.
The demonstration at the forum highlighted Neom’s potential and offered delegates a glimpse of the future, with robots on hand to answer questions from curious and sometimes amused delegates.
People were taken into an enclave at half-hour intervals for a guided tour that lasted 15 minutes. The show started with a panoramic video of the project and displayed dazzling examples of what a 21st century smart city might look like. Neom will focus on industries including energy and water, biotechnology, food, advanced manufacturing and entertainment, the crown prince said won Tuesday.
“The focus on these sectors will stimulate economic growth and diversification by nurturing international innovation and manufacturing, to drive local industry, job creation, and GDP growth in the Kingdom,” he said. Neom will attract private as well as public investments and partnerships.
The zone will be financially supported by KSA, the Saudi Public Investment Fund, and local and international investors.
The business and industrial city will be located in the Kingdom’s northwestern region and is the world’s first zone to extend across three countries, stretching its borders into neighboring Jordan and Egypt. It will be adjacent to the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba, and near maritime trade routes that use the Suez Canal.
Inside the main forum, meanwhile, panel discussions looked at themes such as: “How is the next generation reshaping business, culture, investment, and society?”
Delegates heard that in many countries, people under the age of 30 represented the largest demographic — and the central economic force of the future.
“Tidal waves of young people were entering the job market and creating significant challenges and even greater opportunities,” said one panelist. Speakers discussed ways of coping with the huge demands on societies, both economic and political, that are certain to arise in the years ahead.
‘Virtual’ Neom wows Future Investment Initiative delegates
‘Virtual’ Neom wows Future Investment Initiative delegates
Related
Riding, target sports attract visitors in Asir
- Certified trainers are on hand to provide guidance on horseback riding and archery
RIYADH: Horseback riding and target sports are popular attractions at the Muhayil festival in the Asir region, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.
Held in Muhayil governorate, 80 km northwest of Abha, the festival offers entertainment, sports and shopping.
Horse riding instructor Salma Mohammed said the activities, part of the Muhayil Asir winter program, have drawn significant interest, especially from children.
Mohammed and other trainers teach how to handle horses, offer guided rides, and provide instruction in archery and air-rifle use.
Mohammed, a lifelong horse enthusiast, became a qualified instructor after completing specialized training.
Bandar Al-Hilali, owner of the festival’s horse stable, said the goal is to highlight the significance of horses and teach basic riding and target shooting with the aid of certified trainers.
Horseback riding instruction covers balance, rein handling, calming techniques, and track riding. Archery training includes proper shooting methods and friendly competitions. Participants also learn the basics of air-rifle marksmanship.
Muhayil governorate, in the Tihama Asir region, is experiencing notable economic and tourism growth due to its mild winter climate, attracting visitors from the highlands.
Riyadh Season’s winter fun draws crowds
RIYADH: The Courchevel area in Riyadh Season’s Boulevard World zone has become a highly popular destination since its opening.
This winter wonderland offers a mix of adventure and fun, appealing to those seeking unique experiences, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The journey starts in the ski area, with a large open field for practicing under the guidance of expert trainers.
The snowy atmosphere provides a thrilling backdrop for various challenges and activities, the SPA reported.
There is a section to capture photos and videos to preserve memories of the winter adventure.
The subzone also offers winter supplies for a cozy experience. And visitors can purchase winter-themed souvenirs.
Riyadh Season runs until March 2025 and has already attracted over 13 million people, according to Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority.
Saudi hospital performs first robotic pancreas transplant
RIYADH: King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center performed the region’s first robotic pancreas transplantation, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.
The milestone surgery on a young male patient suffering from type 1 diabetes freed him from years of insulin dependency and demonstrated the potential of advanced medical innovation to improve quality of life.
The patient had endured type 1 diabetes and severe complications, including kidney failure, for many years, which necessitated a kidney transplant, according to a press release.
Although the kidney transplant was successful, the patient continued to face challenges from diabetes and its associated complications, and his symptoms were unresponsive to conventional treatment, the center said.
Pancreas transplantation emerged as the most effective option to address these challenges and enhance the patient’s quality of life, according to the release.
The procedure, conducted using robotic technology, allowed surgeons to transplant the pancreas with high precision, reducing surgical risks and recovery time.
Earlier this year, the center also performed the world’s first fully robotic heart transplant, building on its 2023 achievement of completing the world’s first fully robotic liver transplant.
Truffle Festival in Qassim will display desert delicacy, boost region’s economy
- Several public and private entities will participate in the festival to promote locally grown truffles and boost the region’s economy
RIYADH: The township of Sheri, in Qassim municipality, is gearing up for the start of its fourth Truffle Festival on Thursday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Truffles, an edible subterranean fungus, are prized delicacies worldwide. In the Gulf region, they are known as “faage” and regarded as the finest and most valuable desert fungus.
Several public and private entities will participate in the festival to promote locally grown truffles and boost the region’s economy.
The municipality said that the 10-day festival will feature 18 areas where truffles from more than 15 farms will be displayed and sold at auction.
The festival provides a platform for Saudi businesses and entrepreneurs to show their products and services while also promoting the Kingdom’s burgeoning culinary industry.
The festival will also dedicate 32 areas to families involved in cottage industries and display products such as dates, honey and other foods.
Visitors can enjoy paragliding shows, a children’s theater, hospitality zones, and other attractions.
The wild fungus grows up to 15 centimeters underground in the desert and typically weighs between 30 and 300 grams.
Truffles are generally spherical with a smooth surface and vary in color from white to black. They can range in size from a pistachio seed to an apple or larger.
There are no fixed prices for truffles, which grow in many parts of the Kingdom after the rainy season in November and December, but prices can range from hundreds to thousands of riyals per kilogram, depending on freshness, aroma, and scarcity.
