JEDDAH: The high-speed Haramain train’s importance to Saudi Arabia has been highlighted with an announcement by King Salman that he will rely on the super-fast service for his next visit to Madinah.
The city’s governor, Prince Faisal bin Salman, expressed his appreciation to the Saudi ruler for his support of public transport in the Kingdom, and especially for the high-speed Haramain train.
The project is part of the Kingdom’s role in serving pilgrims to the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the visitors to the Prophet’s Mosque.
Prince Faisal used the high-speed rail for the journey to Friday prayers at the Grand Mosque of Makkah.
“The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman, has informed me of his intention to take the Haramain high-speed rail soon when he visits Madinah or departs from it to Makkah,” Prince Faisal said.
Among passengers for a journey that left Madinah on Friday were Prince Faisal, Minister of Transportation and chairman of the Saudi Railway Organization Nabil Al-Amoudi, and Chairman of the Public Transport Authority (PTA) and acting head of the Saudi Railways Organization Rumaih bin Mohammed Al-Rumaih.
Prince Faisal highlighted the importance of the project linking Makkah and Madinah through Jeddah and King Abdullah Economic City in Rabigh in light of efforts to receive 30 million pilgrims as part of Vision 2030 program to diversify revenues.
He said the Haramain high-speed rail link was among the safest and most important transportation services in the world. The rail service will enhance the flow of visitors to the Two Holy Mosques through the link between the two holy cities.
The Madinah governor expressed confidence in the performance of the Saudi youth and the services they provide at the stations.
“What I saw invites me to register my honor and pride in the significant role played by young men and women in all stages of the development, including their effective contribution and participation in establishing and implementing the high-speed rail.”
Al-Amoudi said the support of Prince Faisal had made it easier to meet the challenges faced by work teams building the Haramain station in Madinah and the related phases within the time frame of the project.
He said the SR60 billion ($16 billion) high-speed train is on track to be fully operational this year.
Al-Amoudi said the pilot operation has been going to plan since the end of 2017. Project supervisors have organized regular trips in which a large number of governmental, non-governmental and charitable bodies have participated.
He said the PTA was focused on taking transport in the Kingdom to another level, guaranteeing opportunities for nationalization and thus achieving the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
The Haramain train station was proof of the Kingdom’s competence in achieving such projects, he said.
The Haramain service is one of the biggest public transport projects in the Middle East, a 450-kilometer, two-way electric train linking Makkah and Madinah, with extensions to Jeddah and King Abdullah Economic City.
The project will carry 60 million passengers a year on 35 trains, with a seating capacity of 417 per train and traveling at a speed of 300 kph.
The station is about three kilometers from the Grand Mosque in Makkah, while the Madinah station is located in the Knowledge Economic City on King Abdul Aziz Road.
Saudi Arabia’s Haramain train project expected to serve 30 million pilgrims
Saudi Arabia’s Haramain train project expected to serve 30 million pilgrims
Young voices at heart of Misk forum
- Misk City ‘empowering and investing in youth,’ Misk Foundation CEO says
- Kadi Al-Khathaam: Reading for me is the light out of any darkness or hesitance
RIYADH: Misk City is poised to be a transformative hub for young people, blending creativity with opportunity, according to the CEO of the Misk Foundation.
“Misk City is not just a place filled with buildings and roads, it is an exceptional place for an exceptional city,” Badr Al-Bader said on the first day of the Misk Global Forum 2024.
The purpose-built destination was committed to fostering talent and innovation, he said.
The eighth Misk Global Forum is showcasing the foundation’s dedication to engaging young minds.
“With over 150,000 visitors and more than 1,000 speakers from 130 countries, this edition was notable for its youthful demographic,” Al-Bader said.
“This is the largest and smallest in terms of average age. We are proud to see so many young voices contributing to the dialogue.”
This year, Misk City welcomed students from Misk Schools and plans to extend its reach to schools across Riyadh and beyond.
“The city mirrors the youth growing alongside them, day by day. Misk has been empowering and investing in youth, making their support its highest priority,” Al-Bader said.
With the “unwavering support” of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, more than 7 million young men and women had benefited from Misk programs, he said.
Kadi Al-Khathaam, the Saudi winner of the 2024 Arab Reading Challenge, was part of the “Leadership in a Future-Led Generation” panel at the forum.
“Reading is a transformation phase and it’s an enlightenment process where I can expand the horizon of my knowledge,” she said.
“Reading for me is the light out of any darkness or hesitance.”
Al-Khathaam said that the ability to communicate effectively allowed individuals to share their insights and experiences with others.
“I read, I discuss, I give the outcome to the world with the best of what I have.”
The crown prince’s advocacy for the education of all Saudi children was a source of inspiration for her, she said.
Saudi Minister of Communication, Information and Technology Abdullah Al-Swaha shared insights on youth-driven leadership and innovation, in line with the forum’s theme of “By Youth For Youth” and commented on Shawn Achor’s book “The Happiness Advantage.”
“We often link happiness with external factors, but we must realize that happiness and ambition are the main drivers of hard work,” he said.
“Let us take it the other way around: If we work with happiness in our hearts, success will follow.”
Al-Swaha shared the story of Dr. Firas Khalil, the first Saudi surgeon to perform heart surgery using AI and robotics.
“This procedure not only reduces recovery times but also saves lives,” he said.
He also spoke about Rayyanah Barnawi, the Kingdom’s first female astronaut.
“Her love and ambition to serve humanity made her the perfect candidate,” he said.
“Nothing is impossible from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as the greatest country in the world.”
The forum ends on Tuesday.
Indonesian artist fuses art, technology at Jeddah showcase
JEDDAH: Works by an Indonesian artist who blends creativity with technology have been on show at Hayy Jameel in Jeddah.
The exhibition, by Andry Boy Kurniawan, was organized by the Indonesian Consulate and included a talk by the artist in which he explained how he fuses traditional painting techniques with augmented reality.
Based in Yogyakarta, Kurniawan said he drew inspiration from the larger-than-life characters, both real and imagined, that shape modern culture. His style features bulbous-headed figures with small, beady eyes.
Other common elements include gummies and gemstones that reflect the light and add a dynamic, whimsical quality to his art.
The event reflected the advancements in Indonesia’s contemporary art scene and highlighted Saudi Arabia’s emerging role as a hub for creative exchanges.
The consulate said it hoped it would also help foster greater innovation and collaboration between the two countries.
New museums campaign focuses on Saudi heritage
- To preserve Saudi heritage, the commission announced the development of museums in 11 regions
RIYADH: The Museums Commission launched the “Telling Tomorrow’s Story” campaign on Monday to raise awareness of museums’ role in preserving history, strengthening national identity, and promoting creative expression.
The campaign reflects the commission’s vision, which focuses on innovation, the preservation of cultural treasures, and fostering creativity for future generations.
It features digital content highlighting the commission’s museums and cultural centers, including the National Museum, Al-Masmak Palace Museum, Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art at Jax, Diriyah Art Futures, and the Tariq Abdulhakim Museum in Jeddah.
It also introduces future museums, such as the Black Gold Museum in Riyadh and the Red Sea Museum in Jeddah, which will enrich the Kingdom’s cultural landscape.
To preserve Saudi heritage, the commission announced the development of museums in 11 regions: Qassim, Jouf, Asir, Tabuk, Hail, Najran, Arar, Dammam, Makkah, Jazan, and Baha.
The regional museums, under the motto “Our Saudi Story,” will celebrate Saudi history, heritage, and identity, weaving a collective narrative of the Kingdom’s diverse cultural tapestry and rich history.
These museums will offer permanent collections, temporary exhibitions, educational programs, and cultural events, becoming inclusive spaces for knowledge, creativity, and community.
Riyadh exhibition to boost Saudi palm sector goals
- The exhibition will feature participation from more than 100 local and international entities
RIYADH: The International Dates Conference and Exhibition is set to take place at the Riyadh Front Exhibition and Conference Center from Nov. 19 to 28 under the theme “World of Dates.”
The event aims to solidify Saudi Arabia’s position as a global leader in the production and export of dates, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
Organized by the National Center for Palms and Dates, the exhibition will feature participation from more than 100 local and international entities.
It will showcase innovative date products and serve as a global platform for knowledge exchange and market expansion, promoting Saudi dates in international markets.
The event seeks to support innovation in the dates industry, enhance the competitiveness of Saudi products, and position the palm and dates sector as a key contributor to economic development, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030.
The exhibition will also include a scientific conference in collaboration with King Faisal University, SPA reported.
The conference will focus on local and international efforts to advance the palm and dates sector in Saudi Arabia by adopting smart solutions to improve agricultural practices, highlighting the health benefits of dates, and encouraging the use of e-commerce.
Saudi Fashion Commission, French luxury giant to award sustainable startups
- Finalists will undergo mentorship and workshops to refine their key performance indicators and pitching skills
RIYADH: The Saudi Ministry of Culture’s Fashion Commission and France-based luxury conglomerate Kering have announced a competition to discover and support innovative startups making a meaningful impact on sustainability within the fashion industry.
The initiative, Kering Generation Award X Saudi Arabia, will foster circular innovation, focusing on key themes such as customer engagement, the circular economy, and water protection.
The application process is now open to startups based in or expanding into Saudi Arabia. By December, 20 finalists will be shortlisted to participate in a boot camp in Riyadh.
Finalists will undergo mentorship and workshops to refine their key performance indicators and pitching skills, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The top 10 proposals will move to the jury evaluation phase, judged on innovation, sustainability, and commercial potential.
The competition will culminate in an awards ceremony in January in Riyadh, where the top three winners will be announced.
The winners will receive a 10-day mentorship trip to Paris with Kering’s sustainability teams and the opportunity to showcase their innovations at the ChangeNow Summit 2025.
The launch follows a strategic memorandum of understanding between the commission and Kering, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s broader vision to promote sustainable practices in the fashion sector.
CEO of the commission Burak Çakmak said: “This initiative reflects our commitment to driving innovation and building a sustainable future for fashion in Saudi Arabia.”
Kering’s chief sustainability officer, Marie-Claire Daveu, added: “Through this partnership, we aim to inspire the next generation and foster impactful change in the Saudi fashion ecosystem.”
The collaboration highlights Saudi Arabia’s dedication to creating a sustainable and innovative fashion industry aligned with global standards.
