LONDON: The relationship between Saudi Arabia and the UK is built on an enduring partnership and this week’s visit has presented significant opportunities for British businesses, said a British trade minister.
Secretary of State for International Trade Liam Fox said: “Today both kingdoms are transforming their economic prospects and roles in the world.”
Britain is preparing to leave the European Union and trade as an independent nation for the first time in more than 40 years. While, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030 has introduced a program of social and economic reform, with the potential to transform the country and wider Middle East.
“Vision 2030 is vital for the future of Saudi Arabia and the wider region, but it’s also an exciting prospect for the UK. We are a world leader across a range of sectors, and well placed to help with these vital reforms,” commented Fox in the Evening Standard.
Fox added the UK and Saudi Arabia have “agreed a landmark ambition for around £65 billion of mutual trade and investment opportunities over the coming years, including direct investment in the UK and new Saudi public procurement with UK companies.”
With the launch of Vision 2030 and the National Transformation Program (NTP) 2020 two years ago, Saudi Arabia has entered a new era of progress and prosperity, with plans to diversify the Kingdom’s economy by reducing dependency on oil, boosting foreign investment and developing various sectors.
Under this program, some governmental bodies and ministries underwent a restructuring process and women are being given greater responsibility in society.
The health, education and tourism sectors are among those undergoing development in the Kingdom and according to Fox, the UK is “a world leader across a range of sectors, and well placed to help with these vital reforms.”
“Take education. More than 130,000 UK qualifications are given out in Saudi Arabia every year. Some 90 Saudi schools already use the UK educational curriculum and our universities are working together, with King Saud University in Riyadh, allocating more than £7 million for partnerships with UK institutions over the next five years,” he said.
Fox went on to say that the UK is also the right partner on health care, promoting tourism, and handling large-scale events.
“Saudi Arabia is on the path of social reform, and it is in our national interest to support our important regional ally. Those who want to see a more liberal and safer region should welcome this vision, which I believe the Crown Prince will deliver,” he concluded.
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 can build on what is already a strong alliance with Britain — minister
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 can build on what is already a strong alliance with Britain — minister
- UK and KSA have agreed landmark ambition for around £65 billion of mutual trade and investment opportunities
- Both kingdoms are transforming their economic prospects and roles in the world
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Alfaisal University hosts health exhibition showcasing projects by first-year students
- Event stressed importance of safety culture in healthcare
- Students addressed key issues in patient safety, quality of care, and enhancing the overall patient experience
RIYADH: Alfaisal University in Riyadh hosted the annual Health Promotion Project Exhibition on Thursday to showcase innovative projects and celebrate the work of first-year medical students.
Boasting the theme “Harmony in Healthcare: A Culture of Patient Safety,” the exhibition aimed to promote awareness and innovation in fostering safer healthcare environments.
Inspired by recommendations from the World Health Organization’s patient safety meeting, and organized by the Saudi Patient Safety Center, this year’s theme emphasized the critical importance of embedding a culture of safety within healthcare systems.
Through creative presentations, students addressed key issues in patient safety, quality of care, and enhancing the overall patient experience.
The exhibition not only highlighted the creativity and dedication of Alfaisal University’s students but also reinforced the institution’s commitment to advancing healthcare standards and promoting a culture of safety across all levels of care.
Lana Hossari, a first-year medical student participating in the exhibition, told Arab News: “This exhibition is very beneficial for us because we are raising awareness, not just from a local perspective but also a worldwide perspective.
“We are not only talking about developed countries, but developing countries and how they deal with scary situations such as power outages and how we can all work together as a community to help improve the situation.
“I believe that every student who is interested in medicine should attend this event and learn about this because it is a very important topic in today’s society and in today’s world.”
Nour Alatassi, another first-year medical student, told Arab News: “We have an incredible project at our university. This is a series about patient safety, which is a very important topic.
“Here we are talking about patient safety using AI. What happens to our patients in a power outage? There are so many topics that our colleagues are presenting for us. Coming here you get to learn so much that is new, so many new ideas and information to keep our patients safe.
“When you visit a hospital, you feel safer knowing that your doctors and your future doctors know what to do in emergency situations. This is an amazing topic to focus the brilliant minds of young students.”
The exhibition proved an engaging experience for those attending, featuring interactive and hands-on activities for active learning.
Visitors could also participate in games and simulations designed to highlight best practices in patient safety and healthcare protocols.
These activities aimed to provide valuable insights into safety measures and innovative strategies, equipping participants with a deeper understanding of how to improve patient outcomes.
Beyond the educational aspect, the event also presented a valuable networking opportunity, bringing together healthcare professionals, students, academic leaders, and community members.
This collaborative environment fostered meaningful discussions on improving patient care and safety within the healthcare sector.
Saudi Feast Food Festival celebrates culinary journey through Kingdom’s rich heritage and diverse flavors
- Festival features a lineup of activities spread across seven distinct zones
- One of the main attractions is the culinary arts heritage area
JEDDAH: The Saudi Feast Food Festival, organized by the Saudi Ministry of Culture and Culinary Arts Commission, has officially begun its fourth event at the Abadi Al-Johar Theater in Jeddah, running from Nov. 27 to Dec. 6.
The festival features a lineup of activities spread across seven distinct zones. One of the main attractions is the culinary arts heritage area, divided into 13 sections that represent different regions of Saudi Arabia. Each section highlights regional specialties, offering diverse culinary traditions from Jazan, Makkah, Al-Jouf, Qassim, Medina, Hail, Tabuk, Riyadh and Al-Baha, with more than 195 food stalls.
The highlight of the festival is the competition zone, where professional chefs face off in cooking competitions that showcase Saudi national and regional dishes, including jareesh and maqshush, the Saudi national dsh.
Chefs from all over the Kingdom will compete in daily challenges, with one or two competitions held each day throughout the festival, and with a cash prize of SR20,000 ($5,323) for the winner of each competition.
Turkan Sharawi, a judge in the competition and an expert in cuisine, patisserie and boulangerie, told Arab News: “This competition is a great opportunity to highlight our authentic Saudi food and cuisine. It’s not about creativity but about preserving traditional dishes and showcasing them to the world. When judging, I focused on techniques, how well the dishes reflected traditional recipes passed down through generations.”
Turki Badawi, an inflight chef for Saudia Airlines and first-time judge, said: “Judging has been a difficult task, as all the participants are incredibly talented. The chefs are presenting food in creative and internationally appealing ways. For my judging, I primarily focused on taste.”
Children in the kids zone can participate in hands-on workshops to learn about Saudi cuisine, art and culture — with activities such as cooking lessons, storytelling at “Grandmother’s Stories” corner, and interactive environmental awareness programs.
For those looking to enhance their culinary skills, the workshops zone offers up to 30 cooking workshops, where professional chefs teach everything from making traditional Saudi sweets to savory dishes.
Participating in the festival, Ahmad Zaki Kamel, founder of Azka Foods and azkabasket.com, said: “We are in all 13 zones. Thanks to the support of the Culinary Arts Commission, Azkabasket is participating at the festival with a large selection of products from our network of farms and producers representing all 13 regions of Saudi Arabia. This is both a celebration of the vast range of organic and natural local foods and a testament that AZKA’s goal of ethical food system self-sufficiency is an achievable objective.”
Sharif Alruwaili, representing the Al-Jouf region, said: “Al-Jouf is renowned for its olive oil, olives and a variety of dates. We also offer a distinctive blend of za’atar, made with a mix of different herbs and spices. I’ve brought products from my own farm, as well as others, to showcase here at the festival. It’s been truly rewarding to interact with visitors and educate them about Al-Jouf’s renowned produce.”
Fahad Ibrahim, founder of Maamoul Um Saleh Al-Ayed, said: “I’m here from Qassim with over 45 different types of traditional Saudi biscuits, especially Maamoul made with olive oil and sugar-free options for a healthier choice. We are excited to present our products to the public.”
Fayza Alshaeri, a local chef, presented a buffet of traditional food from Al-Qassim and said: “Cooking is my passion, and being a chef is something I truly love. This buffet represents authentic food from Al-Qassim, and it’s wonderful to see people enjoying it, especially those who have never tasted these dishes before.”
Similarly, Mohammed Kassarah, a chef from Madinah, showcased a spread including traditional Kabuli rice with chicken and meat, meat sambusas, and sweets. He said: “Our meat and chicken are fresh, sourced directly from Madinah. It feels great when visitors recognize the quality and freshness of our ingredients and praise the dishes we’ve prepared.”
Riyadh fintech forum ‘a turning point’ in Swiss-Saudi partnership
RIYADH: The Switzerland Embassy in coordination with the Saudi Ministry of Investment and Fintech Saudi organized the first Saudi-Swiss Fintech Forum in Riyadh.
Swiss and Saudi experts took part in the event on Nov. 25-26 under the theme “Connecting Leaders across Borders.”
The forum provided a platform for the exchange of ideas and the rethinking of traditional financial models.
Switzerland is an established financial hub and Saudi Arabia has the largest financial services industry in the Middle East.
Swiss Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Yasmine Chatila Zwahlen, said the forum marked a turning point in the development of the partnership between Switzerland and Saudi Arabia.
Nezar Al-Haidar, CEO of Fintech Saudi, said the collaboration between Fintech Saudi and its Swiss counterparts creates opportunities for knowledge sharing, and paves the way for access to new markets.
The leaders are working to make Saudi Arabia a global fintech hub, and this collaboration deepens the ties between our ecosystems, he added.
Arab News met Saudi and Swiss experts at the forum, who discussed finance, market opportunities and the importance of Swiss expertise in Saudi Arabia’s fintech development.
Yazeed Al-Shamsi, co-founder and CEO of Ejari, said: “Our perception of Swiss cooperation is positive. Fintech is the sector that has received the most funding in Saudi Arabia in the last three or four years. There is still room for growth.”
Al-Shamsi said that the banking and insurance sectors contribute significantly to gross domestic product, and there are still opportunities in wealth management, investment, financing, and alternative financing.
Abdulmajeed Al-Askar, CEO of MoneyMoon, told Arab News that Saudi companies see Swiss-Saudi cooperation as a chance to bridge two diverse but complementary markets.
Switzerland has a long history of financial expertise, while Saudi Arabia is becoming a hub of entrepreneurial energy and digital adoption.
This collaboration is about building long-term partnerships that enable both sides to innovate and scale faster, Al-Askar said.
Saudi Arabia has many talented financial leaders and professionals, he added.
“By combining expertise with a forward-thinking approach, we can create an ecosystem that sets new benchmarks. Saudi Arabian leaders can design solutions tailored to the population’s needs. With new talent, we are creating an entirely new financial paradigm for the region.”
Eva Selamlar, head of the Swiss Financial Innovation Office, said that Swiss companies can contribute their expertise to help Saudi Vision 2030.
Andreas Iten, CEO of Tinety, said: “There are many opportunities in this market. The regulatory framework is favorable, so Swiss companies should look at it because there are great opportunities and a big need for digital solutions.”
The forum explored the opportunity for Switzerland and the Kingdom to advance their ambitions in the financial technology sector, in line with Vision 2030.
Saudi Arabia sends 25th relief plane to Lebanon
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s 26th relief aircraft loaded with humanitarian aid including food, medical supplies and shelter equipment arrived at Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport on Thursday, state news agency SPA reported.
The plane, operated by King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, departed King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh earlier in the day as part of a continuing effort to transport hundreds of tonnes of medical supplies and food aid for Lebanese families displaced by the conflict.
A earlier statement from the Saudi aid agency KSrelief said the aid deliveries showed that the Kingdom was “standing with needy and affected countries … in the face of crises and difficulties.”
Saudi foreign minister arrives in Kuwait for ministerial meeting for Gulf Supreme Council
KUWAIT: Saudi foreign minister Faisal bin Farhan arrived in Kuwait on Thursday ahead of the ministerial meeting for the Supreme Council of the Cooperation Council for Arab States of the Gulf.
The preparatory ministerial meeting is set to discuss the agenda of the 45th session of the Supreme Council of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf which is scheduled for next Sunday in Kuwait City. Leaders from all over the Gulf will attend the meeting.
The minister was welcomed by his counterpart Abdullah Al-Yahya.
