RIYADH: With the hike in fuel prices effective as of midnight Sunday, the Ministry of Commerce and Investment (MCI) intensified its control on fuel stations across the Kingdom to ensure availability of petroleum products at prices fixed by the government.
The regulatory authorities were constantly monitoring markets to ensure that prices were not manipulated and supplies not interrupted in view of the increase. After the hike, 91 octane will now sell for SR1.37 ($0.37) per liter, up from 75 halalas per liter, whereas 95 octane will now sell for SR2.04 per liter, up from 90 halalas per liter. Notably, the new prices also include the value-added tax (VAT), which is being levied from Monday.
Moreover, diesel rates for transport and kerosene rates were left unchanged as the Ministry of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources explained on Monday its financial balance plan and the aim of reducing the rapid growth in domestic consumption of energy products and efficient energy use in line with Saudi Vision 2030, which seeks to diversify the economy and sources of revenue away from oil.
Speaking to Arab News on the government plan on efficient use of energy coinciding with an ambitious reform plan to diversify income, Hesham Alghannam, a Saudi analyst, Fulbright scholar and a consultant on Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and Gulf affairs, said: “I have been saying for a while now, it would not be difficult for the state to push for cultural and social change. However, the challenge remains in the implementation of economic reform, as the economy is always complicated.
“It is not something that you can predict easily. I think that trial and error is one way to do it. At least there is a serious will to change and reform for betterment.”
Alghannam also pointed that the Saudi private sector is not capable of being a part of the solution. There are a number of reasons for this: First, the Saudi “private” sector is not genuinely private, most of its activities are recycling the oil rent, and it is to this extent hard to conceive of it purely as a profit or job creator. Second, the needs of the private sector are poorly aligned with the internal job market. This is shown by the difficulties in recruiting sufficient numbers of Saudi youth to certain jobs. Ultimately, the private sector is driven by its balance sheet and its profit and loss account.
“I also agree that the corruption purge will put a lot of weight on Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s shoulders, because people see him as a determined man in dealing with officials that have been corrupted into inaction,” Alghannam told Arab News.
He added: “We have to wait and see, but without a doubt, the anti-corruption campaign in Saudi brings hope to the people that did not exist in the past. Such change is a golden opportunity to illustrate what the Saudi Vision can bring to the people.”
Dr. Majed bin Abdullah Al-Hedayan, an analyst, FDI expert and a legal adviser, told Arab News: “The Ministry of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources announced on Monday the hike in the price of gasoline and its derivatives in the Kingdom... They also require the consumer to re-arrange their daily life and save energy as much as possible.”
Saqib Hamza, a recruitment executive from Dammam, told Arab News: “Saudi Arabia is the country with the lowest fuel price in the world. This hike will help in optimum energy utility and help cut on excess expenditure.” The advent of public transport, work on which is in fast progress, will help cut on expenditure for daily transport needs, he added.
Hike in gasoline prices across KSA will help in govt plan for efficient energy use: Experts
Hike in gasoline prices across KSA will help in govt plan for efficient energy use: Experts
KAIN welcomes 60 students as part of Mawhiba Research Enrichment Program
- The program harnesses the potential of gifted students, offering them hands-on experience
- Albrithen, general supervisor of KAIN, said the institute’s overarching goal is “to serve the community”
RIYADH: The King Abdullah Institute for Nanotechnology, established by King Saud University, will welcome 60 “gifted students” on Sunday as part of the Mawhiba Research Enrichment Program, a four-week initiative aimed at developing scientific skills and research experience among Saudi youth, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Run in collaboration with the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba), the program “harnesses the potential of gifted students, offering them hands-on experience in laboratories and production facilities, while introducing them to the fundamentals and ethics of scientific research under the supervision of specialized researchers,” the SPA wrote.
Hamad Abdulaziz Albrithen, general supervisor of KAIN, explained that the institute’s overarching goal is “to serve the community by transferring knowledge to younger generations through the use of advanced laboratory equipment and the expertise of distinguished researchers from diverse scientific disciplines.”
Ahmed bin Abdulkarim Al-Saleh, head of the Mawhiba program at KSU for 2025, highlighted the importance of such programs in providing exceptional students with the opportunity to conduct scientific research at KSU’s top-tier research chairs and centers.
Al-Saleh also noted that the program offers “a wide range of skill-building activities, including Python programming, AI and its scientific applications, as well as enrichment trips to research centers beyond the university campus.”
‘We will make our country proud’: Joy as Saudi graduates take first professional steps
- The Red Sea Global Vocational Training Program celebrated the graduation of 466 Saudis
- RSG is committed to offering employment opportunities for outstanding graduates within its workforce or with partners
JEDDAH: Hundreds of Saudi students on Thursday graduated from a specialized program targeting job creation in the Kingdom’s fast-growing tourism sector.
The Red Sea Global Vocational Training Program, held in partnership with King Abdulaziz University and the Human Resources Development Fund, celebrated the graduation of 466 Saudis, the scheme’s third cohort of students, across specializations including wellness tourism and hospitality.
The ceremony was attended by Jeddah Gov. Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Jalawi and John Pagano, CEO of the Red Sea Development Company.
The two officials delivered a speech highlighting the importance of achieving Saudi Vision 2030 by empowering the nation’s youth, building a thriving Saudi industry, and showcasing the Kingdom’s natural beauty and hospitality to the world.
Pagano said: “We are proud to see our skill development initiative empower youth and transform lives. By providing access to high quality and job-oriented training programs, we empower the students with the tools they need to confidently enter the workforce and contribute meaningfully to the tourism industry of Saudi Arabia.”
RSG is committed to offering employment opportunities for outstanding graduates within its workforce or with partners, he added.
The graduation, held at King Faisal Auditorium, saw the signing of an agreement between the Human Resources Development Fund and Red Sea Global to train and employ 1,000 young Saudi men and women in specialized fields, including wellness tourism, hospitality, tourism security and technical services.
Turki bin Abdullah Al-Jawini, HRDF director general, said that the fund helped more than 153,000 Saudi men and women find employment in the private sector during the first half of 2024.
Al-Jawini showcased the fund’s most prominent campaigns, and said that the HRDF develops its programs in partnership with various sectors, with the aim of improving job opportunities and developing human capital.
The event also included a keynote address by Raed Al-Basseet, group chief environment and sustainability officer at RSG. He praised the graduates for their resilience, hard work and dedication.
“From the first day you entered the Red Sea Vocational Training Program, you’ve proven to us that ambition has no limits, and that those with determination and passion can go further than they imagined. Your hard work has become an accomplishment. Your efforts are the beginning of a great professional journey, filled with opportunities and successes that exceed our expectations,” Al-Basseet said.
“Don’t stop at this achievement; let it be the beginning of a great and prosperous future. We are always behind you, and we are proud of you.”
Later, graduates Naif Najmi, Mishari Al-Jehani, Ghala Al-Buhairi and Ghada Al-Jehani gave thank-you speeches on behalf of their cohort. They highlighted the importance of the support they received, reflected on their journeys and described their hopes for the future.
The ceremony was full of emotion and joy among students and their parents.
Amer Al-Marawani, a graduate student of tourism security, told Arab News: “I’m feeling really happy and excited for the beginning of my new journey. In the future, I hope I can contribute to the tourism sector of my country.”
Hala Nadri, a graduate specializing in hospitality, said: “After graduation, it is an outstanding honor for us to serve the country, we are really looking forward to join the workforce anywhere in our touristic sites.”
Meanwhile, Jood Majed, a graduate of tourism safety, praised the program’s technical depth and encouraged other Saudi women to apply: “The training programs have been a resounding success and we learned a lot from it. Now, it is our time to pay back our leadership who supported us all these years by working hard, and eventually, we will make our country proud.”
Yousef Al-Amri, a graduate in information technology, said: “I consider myself very lucky to be equipped with these invaluable skills and I am forever grateful to RSG and KAU.”
Al-Hussam Park: a tourist attraction in the heart of picturesque Al-Baha
- The city, which sits high on a mountain plateau, is set for a vibrant summer season
- The park includes 36 seating areas, 21 shaded structures, 1,400 trees, 4,000 shrubs, a 1,200-square-meter artificial lake
RIYADH: The artificial lake, green landscapes, and waterfalls and fountains of Al-Hussam Park in the heart of picturesque Al-Baha attract a large number of nature lovers, holiday-makers and picnickers every summer season.
The city, which sits high on a mountain plateau, is set for a vibrant summer season this year under the slogan “Color Your Summer,” featuring raffles and daily prize giveaways.
Mohammed Faisal, a botany professor at King Saud University, who has visited the city on several official trips, told Arab News; “Prince Hussam Park is a beautiful destination, I enjoy the exquisite beauty of this summer tourism spot in a refreshing environment with intermittent rains and cold breeze from the nearby foggy mountaintops of Al-Baha.
It stands as one of the key tourist attractions in its region and serves as a recreational destination for residents and visitors alike.”
The park, named after Al-Baha Emir Prince Hussam Bin Saud, overlooks the city on one side and the Tihami sector on the other.
Nadeem Ahmad, an engineer working in the city, told Arab News: “Set on the mountain top and close to the Sarawat Mountains in the Al-Baha city, (the park) is one of the region’s most prominent ecotourism destinations.
Its scenic beauty complements nearby Raghadan Park and adds to the array of parks and gardens scattered across this picturesque region. It’s a must-visit tourist spot if you are in the Kingdom.”
The region’s mayor, Dr. Ali bin Mohammed Al-Sawat, told the Saudi Press Agency that the total area of the park is 160,000 square meters, with green spaces covering 132,264 square meters.
The park includes 36 seating areas, 21 shaded structures, 1,400 trees, 4,000 shrubs, a 1,200-square-meter artificial lake, 500 parking spaces, four children’s play areas, 35 restrooms, a 1,000-square-meter “interactive fountain,” two 10-meter-high waterfalls, a 700-meter walking path, prayer areas for men and women, and a plaza that includes an open-air theater covering some 5,000 square meters with seating for up to 1,000 people.
“Al-Hussam Park hosts a variety of cultural and artistic events every summer, including traditional performances that reflect the region’s heritage, a children’s theater offering educational and entertainment activities, and diverse cultural shows representing various communities,” Al-Sawat noted.
The park has also implemented several new projects to accommodate elderly visitors and people with special needs, the SPA reported.
Tokyo firm partners with Saudi hospital to advance stem cell treatment system
TOKYO: ADR Therapeutics, a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Cytori Cell Research Institute, Inc., has signed a Letter of Intent to conduct a joint clinical trial for “90-minute complete stem cell therapy” with the King Abdullah International Medical Research Center.
The collaboration, reported in PR Times, is expected to drive medical innovation in the Middle East and bring new hope to patients with intractable diseases that were previously considered difficult to treat.
In conventional stem cell therapy, harvested cells must be cultured for anything between several weeks and months at a dedicated facility, resulting in high costs and long waiting times. ADR Therapeutics’ Cellution System purifies non-cultured cells from a patient’s tissue to the state needed for treatment in just 90 minutes and can be administered on the same day of collection.
This provides a safe and effective treatment option for diseases such as osteoarthritis, diabetic foot lesions, Crohn’s disease and chronic pain. The risk of rejection is extremely low because the patient’s own cells are used and the risk of infection is reduced because no culture process is required.
Saudi Arabia has positioned the medical and healthcare sector as a key strategic area in Vision 2030, the national transformation program led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and aims to become a world-leading medical hub.
The number of patients in the Middle East with diabetes and other chronic diseases is rapidly increasing due to changes in lifestyle, and a rising number of cases are difficult to treat with conventional therapies.
It is expected the strategic partnership between the Kingdom and Japan in the medical field will be further strengthened by the contribution of Japan-originated stem cell therapy technology to solving local medical issues.
The most important feature of the treatment is that it can be performed at ordinary medical institutions without the need for advanced culture facilities or specialized technicians. This will enable the provision of advanced regenerative medicine in regions with limited specialized facilities and is expected to contribute significantly to improving access to medical care.
Saudi medical professionals will be able to acquire the latest stem cell therapy technology through specialist Japanese doctors providing direct technical guidance locally.
The art of diplomacy through Saudi cuisine
- Food is a way to share cultures and build bridges, says YouTube star
RIYADH: According to Saudi chef and food blogger Eman Gazzaz, diplomacy can be achieved through food and other cultural practices.
The daughter of a diplomat, Gazzaz is more than a home cook — she is an artist and a mother of three who is turning simple dishes into soulful stories. She also wants to form cultural bridges through her work, as she explained when she appeared as a guest on the Mayman Show.
Growing up as the daughter of a Saudi ambassador, she dreamed of following the same path. In many ways, she did — but her “embassy” was her kitchen and she chose food, rather than politics, as her language.
After a childhood spent in various continents, Gazzaz now has a YouTube kitchen that feels like home and has taken it upon herself to show the world what real Saudi food and real Saudi women are all about.
During her interview, she recalled her time living in different parts of the world and her parents’ creative expression.
“My parents are very diverse. And they’re not just diplomats; they are creative in many ways. My dad is a gardener; he collects old antique cars, he collects old pocket watches,” she said.
She has fond memories of living in Pakistan during her father’s tenure in the late 1980s: “It’s a beautiful country; the people are so beautiful. Living in six countries and just being exposed to the world and the different cultures they have, it’s just like … it creates something in you as an individual. It makes you more connected somehow.”
Her exposure to different cultures and the connections she made helped her become the person who is now presenting the joy of Saudi cooking to the world. She carries her experiences with her — the countries, the cultures and the people — and some of what she has seen means she is especially appreciative of the stability and security she enjoys in Saudi Arabia.
“That’s what made me as Eman, what changed me as somebody who lived abroad,” she said. “I appreciate coming to Saudi Arabia and the safety and the security that we experienced. When I was studying in the American school in Karachi, one of my classmates got kidnapped. And he was kidnapped for six months.”
Gazzaz explained that previously she traveled around with a bodyguard and in a bullet-proof car to ensure her safety and security.
“Every time I come to Saudi Arabia I’m just like, ‘We don’t have to lock the door, we don’t have a bodyguard, nobody is carrying a gun.’ That made me feel like… coming back home made me feel so safe,” she said.
Eman also recalls a childhood memory of making a popular Saudi dish with her father.
“Every time we go outdoors, he always cooks the same dish and it’s actually one of my favorite dishes, which is saleeg (a white rice dish, cooked with broth and milk),” she said.
“I used to help him do the chicken, strain the stock and take the food out. And I grew up tasting these flavors and just eating the saleeg outdoors and being part of that experience, just me being so close to saleeg. My daughter loves saleeg as well.”
Cooking was always a family affair. Gazzaz’s mother was known for her delicious salads, while everyone had a role to play in preparing meals.
“From both sides of my parents, they were very good cooks. My dad is very good at barbecuing,” she said. “He loves to go to the beach every weekend. When we were living abroad, he always rented a place, and he used to make the barbecue and marinate (the food) and barbecue it.”
Her own YouTube fame, Gazzaz credits to both her husband and her friend, Alia. Back in 2010, Alia visited for a month and revealed she had her own channel, Cooking with Alia.
“When she came, she’s like, ‘Eman, I have a YouTube channel.’ Back in 2010, YouTube was like five, six years old, It was still very new,” recalled Gazzaz.
Alia wanted her to present Saudi dishes on YouTube — something that made Gazzaz pause. At that time, it was not common for Saudi women to show their faces on social media, so she replied that she would have to ask her husband.
His response, said Gazzaz, was: “Do what you want.”
“He is a Miami boy, so he’s very chilled,” she explained.
She took it as an opportunity to show off her national dress, as well as the food.
“(I thought) I’ll wear my abaya, I’ll put on my tarha (scarf), introduce my clothes and my outfits and things like that, and that’s what we did,” she said. From there, grew the first Saudi channel that introduced the world to the Kingdom’s culture through food.
Gazzaz has also written a book, “A Saudi Mandela,” which is a meditation and coloring book for adults.
