RIYADH: New licenses were issued on Wednesday to encourage the world’s entrepreneurs and inventors to start up in the Kingdom and boost growth of the small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) sector.
Minister of Commerce and Investment Dr. Majid Al-Qassabi issued 11 new licenses on the sidelines of the Second Misk Global Forum, which was inaugurated on Wednesday.
Senior officials from the Monsha’at, Saudi Arabia’s SME Authority, the Saudi Arabia General Investment Authority, King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology and the Economic Cities Authority were present during the launch of the new program.
Before handing over the licenses to 11 entrepreneurs, Al-Qassabi said the effort was to promote the SME sector as well as to diversify the economy of the country in line with Saudi Vision 2030.
Knowledge industries represent a particularly high-growth sector: Saudi Arabia’s young and educated population has one of the world’s highest digital adoption rates, and the knowledge sector is characterized by small and medium, innovative companies.
“Saudi Arabia offers extraordinary opportunities for foreign innovators and investors. This is an incredibly dynamic market with a young, entrepreneurially inclined population and significant latent demand in high-growth industries. We know we have the talent — our job now is to match-make and help provide the opportunities,” said Dr. Ghassan Al-Sulaiman, governor of Monsha’at, stressing that foreign entrepreneurs would bring with them innovation and expertise and help local youths to get to know their operations.
“The new licensing initiative is designed to help build up the private sector and move away from an over-reliance on oil revenues,” said Al-Sulaiman. This initiative, he said, was inspired by the Vision 2030, which will help Saudi Arabia to attract the best minds in the world, transferring knowledge, expanding the economy, increasing the contribution of small and medium-sized companies to GDP and creating jobs for Saudis.”
Fahad Al-Rashid, CEO of KAEC, said the new regulations enabled entrepreneurs to establish a business in the city. The Kingdom has given several incentives such as free housing, transportation and education for children to attract foreign investors.
Opportunities for foreign entrepreneurs are ‘extraordinary’ in Saudi Arabia
Opportunities for foreign entrepreneurs are ‘extraordinary’ in Saudi Arabia
New initiative turns road trips into cultural journeys
- Signage across highways introduces travelers to the Kingdom’s diverse traditional crafts, arts
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Roads General Authority and the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts — also known as Wrth — have launched an initiative called Wrth Saudi, which features signage on highways across the Kingdom marking significant locations connected with national crafts.
This initiative comes in what has been designated the Year of Handicrafts in Saudi Arabia. The first phase of Wrth Saudi will cover three highways: the Riyadh-Dammam Highway, the Makkah-Madinah Highway, and the Riyadh–Qassim Expressway, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.
Subsequent phases will extend the initiative to other vital roads throughout the country, the SPA added.
Wrth Saudi will showcase traditional regional arts such as Najdi door craftsmanship, mud construction, carpentry, wood carvings, and bisht making.
“Saudi Arabia’s vast road network, the largest in the world in terms of connectivity, serves as a platform to highlight the Kingdom’s cultural heritage and showcase its crafts,” the SPA reported.
The Royal Institute of Traditional Arts plays a key role in promoting Saudi traditional arts locally and internationally, supporting local artisans, and encouraging the teaching and development of these crafts.
Earlier this year, the institute also launched the Wrth Community program to raise awareness of Saudi traditional arts and cultural heritage while “empowering individuals to learn and develop these crafts locally and globally.”
The program featured discussion sessions with academics, artisans, trainers, and entrepreneurs, along with workshops. Activities focused on four key materials used in Saudi traditional arts: stone, wood, ceramics, and metals.
The Ministry of Culture designated 2025 as the Year of Handicrafts to “solidify the position of handicrafts as authentic cultural heritage while promoting the practice, preservation and documentation of the craft, as well as its presence in contemporary life,” according to the SPA.
Throughout 2025, the Ministry of Culture will organize an array of events, exhibitions, educational programs and competitions under the banner Year of Handicrafts.
Muslim World League condemns Israeli strikes on Saudi cultural center, school in Gaza
- Deadly attacks that killed, injured dozens described as ‘horrific crimes against civilians and civilian facilities’
- MWL chief calls for urgent international action over what he says are war crimes
RIYADH: The Muslim World League has condemned Israeli airstrikes that hit a Saudi cultural facility and a school in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, as Israel resumed military operations following the collapse of a temporary truce with Hamas.
In a statement carried on the Saudi Press Agency on Friday, MWL Secretary-General Sheikh Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa denounced the targeting of the Saudi Center for Culture and Heritage’s warehouse, which destroyed medical supplies intended for the sick and wounded in Gaza.
He also condemned the strike on Dar Al-Arqam School, which reportedly killed and injured dozens, describing the attacks as “horrific crimes against civilians and civilian facilities.”
Al-Issa said: “These acts represent a flagrant violation of all international and humanitarian laws and norms.”
He called on the international community to take urgent action, and urged global bodies to activate accountability mechanisms and hold perpetrators responsible for what he described as war crimes.
The condemnation comes amid renewed violence in Gaza since March, following a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Israel has resumed its bombardment of the enclave, saying it is targeting militant infrastructure, while humanitarian agencies have warned of deepening crises and mounting civilian casualties.
Kingdom arrests 18,407 illegals in one week
RIYADH: Saudi authorities arrested 18,407 people in one week for breaching residency, work and border security regulations, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.
A total of 12,995 people were arrested for violations of residency laws, while 3,512 were held over illegal border crossing attempts, and a further 1,900 for labor-related issues.
The report showed that among the 1,260 people arrested for trying to enter the Kingdom illegally, 66 percent were Ethiopian, 28 percent Yemeni, and 6 percent were of other nationalities.
A further 67 people were caught trying to cross into neighboring countries, and 21 were held for involvement in transporting and harboring violators, the SPA reported.
The Ministry of Interior said that anyone found to be facilitating illegal entry to the Kingdom, including providing transportation and shelter, could face imprisonment for a maximum of 15 years, a fine of up to SR1 million ($260,000), as well as confiscation of vehicles and property.
Suspected violations can be reported on the toll-free number 911 in the Makkah and Riyadh regions, and 999 or 996 in other regions of the Kingdom.
Authorities foil drug trafficking across Kingdom
RIYADH: Saudi authorities carried out multiple drug-related arrests across the Kingdom, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.
In Asir’s Al-Raboah sector, Border Guard land patrols thwarted the smuggling of 540 kg of qat.
In two other operations, authorities arrested two Ethiopians for smuggling 25 kg of qat and three Yemenis for smuggling 66 kg of qat in the same area.
Land patrols in the Al-Tawwal sector of the Jazan region foiled the smuggling of 51.4 kg of hashish.
The General Directorate of Narcotics Control arrested two Pakistanis in Riyadh with 1.6 kg of methamphetamine, locally known as shabu.
In Jeddah, authorities arrested an Ethiopian, two Yemenis, and a Palestinian with 6 kg of hashish.
The directorate also arrested a citizen in Asir with 30 kg of hashish.
Another citizen was arrested in the Jouf region for selling amphetamine.
In Jazan’s Al-Dayer sector, Border Guard patrols arrested eight Ethiopians for smuggling 144 kg of qat.
Preliminary legal procedures were completed, and all seized items were handed to the relevant authorities.
The public is urged to report drug smuggling or sales by calling 911 in Makkah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province, or 999 in other regions.
Reports can also be submitted confidentially to the General Directorate of Narcotics Control at 995 or via email at 995@gdnc.gov.sa.
KSrelief helps crisis-hit regions worldwide
RIYADH: The Kingdom’s aid agency, KSrelief, is providing humanitarian assistance to some of the world’s most vulnerable people, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.
In the Syrian Arab Republic, KSrelief distributed 125 food baskets in Rif Dimashq governorate, helping 125 families.
In northern Lebanon, 828 Syrian refugee families in Western Beqaa, Akkar, and Danniyeh received food aid. In Beirut, 237 food baskets reached 1,185 vulnerable people.
In Yemen’s Hodeidah governorate, KSrelief pumped 3.5 million liters of drinking water and 448,000 liters of non-potable water in one month as part of its water and sanitation project.
A KSrelief mobile medical clinic in Hajjah governorate served 1,691 patients during the same period, the SPA reported.
In Sudan, 2,000 food packages were distributed to displaced and needy families in Atbara, River Nile State, aiding 12,001 people.
Since its launch in May 2015, KSrelief has carried out 3,389 projects worth almost $7.9 billion across 106 countries, in partnership with over 300 organizations.
