WASHINGTON: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrived in Washington with the broadcast of his first interview with a western television network still being digested in America.
CBS anchorwoman Norah O’Donnell had told Arab News beforehand, and with a degree of understatement, that she thought the 60 Minutes interview would be “newsworthy.”
The 26-minute segment was seen by about 10 million people on Sunday night and was among one of the most viewed features that the program has published online.
The interview was wide-ranging and tackled a number of big and difficult issues, both domestic and geopolitical.
From the anti-corruption crackdown, to women’s rights in the Kingdom, the war in Yemen and the threat from Iran, the broadcast provided plenty for the American audience to consider ahead of Tuesday’s meeting with their president.
For analysts and policy experts, the interview offered a window into how the Saudi delegation may be approaching the visit and the discussions that will be held with Donald Trump and his administration.
“His interview on 60 Minutes was clearly intended to kick off his US stay and struck many of the themes we expect to hear repeatedly over the course of his visit,” said Gerald Feierstein, the former US Ambassador to Yemen and director for Gulf affairs and government relations at the Middle East Institute.
“How Americans respond will help determine the extent to which the US will be a strong partner, especially in investing in a rising Saudi private sector.”
During the interview, the crown prince talked openly about the anti-corruption crackdown, in which a number of businessman, princes and former government ministers were detained at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Riyadh in November. He said the move was “extremely necessary” because about $20 billion of state funds was “disappearing” every year.
On foreign policy, he said Iran was a clear and present danger to the Middle East and that if Tehran acquired a nuclear weapon then Saudi Arabia would too.
Iranian ideology had infiltrated parts of Yemen, where the war and the humanitarian situation there were “truly very painful,” the crown prince said.
But it is his radical social reforms at home that are expected to attract particular interest during his US trip. In the interview, he talked at length about reinstating a more moderate Islam, allowing women to drive, opening up the entertainment industry and removing extremist influence from the education system.
The crown prince showed a willingness to “address rather directly a number of hot-button issues that Americans still have questions about,” including terrorism, women’s status and Yemen, Lori Plotkin Boghardt, a scholar with the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, told Arab News.
“It’s important for Americans to hear from him on these issues; he’s set to be king for decades of a very close strategic partner of the United States,” she said.
“He seemed to be employing the same approach of reaching out to the youth demographic that he’s pursued at home when he appealed to TV viewers to check their smartphones for old photos of the ‘real’ Saudi Arabia.” 
The crown prince was referring to the country before 1979, the year of the Iranian revolution, which he said sparked the shift in Saudi Arabia toward the adoption of a hard-line interpretation of Islam.
While the meeting with Trump will be regarded as the highlight of the visit, it is already clear that the crown prince and the US president have a strong and growing relationship.
What will be equally interesting will be how he is received on the other legs of the tour, which will include meetings with business leaders in New York, technology entrepreneurs on the West Coast, and religious leaders.
Feierstein said Crown Prince Mohammed’s challenge during his US tour “is convincing Americans that he represents a new, dynamic face of Saudi Arabia that is reforming economically and socially.”
How CBS interview with Saudi crown prince set the tone for American tour
How CBS interview with Saudi crown prince set the tone for American tour
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UN official lauds KSrelief’s landmine work in Yemen
- The UN official emphasized the importance of continuing such humanitarian projects to achieve stability in Yemen and protect civilians
Riyadh: The UN special envoy’s military adviser to Yemen, Antony Hayward, praised the work carried out by Saudi aid agency KSrelief’s Project Masam to clear landmines in Yemen.
During his visit to the agency’s headquarters in Marib, he said that the project works to protect the lives of civilians and secure large areas of Yemeni territory despite the challenges posed by landmines.
The UN official emphasized the importance of continuing such humanitarian projects to achieve stability in Yemen and protect civilians, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Last week, meanwhile, members of Project Masam removed 840 explosive devices from various regions of Yemen, including anti-personnel mines, anti-tank mines and unexploded ordnance, according to a recent report.
Ousama Al-Gosaibi, the initiative’s managing director, said 470,416 mines had been cleared since its inception in 2018.
The explosives were planted indiscriminately and posed a threat to civilians, including children, women and the elderly.
The demining operations took place in Marib, Aden, Jouf, Shabwa, Taiz, Hodeidah, Lahij, Sanaa, Al-Bayda, Al-Dhale and Saada.
The initiative trains local demining engineers and provides them with modern equipment. It also offers support to Yemenis injured by the devices.
Teams are responsible for clearing villages, roads and schools to facilitate safe movement for civilians and the delivery of humanitarian aid.
About 5 million people have been forced to flee their homes since the start of the conflict in Yemen, many of them displaced by the presence of landmines.
Saudi culture minister engages with manga students in Tokyo
- Prince Badr highlighted the Saudi leadership’s strong commitment to developing human capabilities across various fields
Riyadh: Saudi Minister of Culture and Chairman of the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan met Saudi scholarship students participating in the Manga Industry program in Tokyo.
The program, organized in collaboration between the commission and Manga Productions, a subsidiary of Misk Foundation, aims to develop talented manga artists through professional training rooted in Japanese techniques, the art form’s birthplace.
Prince Badr highlighted the Saudi leadership’s strong commitment to developing human capabilities across various fields, emphasizing the importance of academic and professional training in cultural disciplines.
The meeting was attended by the CEO of the commission, Mohammed Hasan Alwan, CEO of Manga Productions Essam Bukhary and students studying manga art at Kadokawa Contents Academy, a leading Japanese institution for training and recruiting manga talent.
The program offers virtual workshops, intensive training courses and overseas training in Japan. It also includes competitions blending manga with Saudi cultural themes, such as Munjanha, which transforms Arabic proverbs into manga stories; Manga Al-Qaseed, which adapts Arabic poetry; and Manga Al-Ibil, which celebrates the cultural symbolism of camels in Saudi heritage.
More than 1,850 participants have benefited from the program’s virtual workshops, with 115 advancing to intensive training, producing 115 manga stories. Of these, 21 students were selected for advanced training in Japan.
Umrah guests tour Madinah’s historic sites
RIYADH: The first group of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Guests Program for Umrah and Visit toured the King Fahd Glorious Qur’an Printing Complex in Madinah.
The visit, part of a cultural program by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, aimed to enhance the cultural experience for visitors and Umrah performers in Madinah, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The pilgrims toured the complex’s technical and administrative departments, learning about the various stages of printing the Holy Qur’an, preservation efforts, and its translation into multiple languages.
The first group included 250 prominent Islamic figures from 12 countries, part of a total of 1,000 Umrah performers from 66 countries. The guests will visit over four groups as part of the program.
At the end of the visit, the complex representatives gifted copies of the Holy Qur’an to the guests.
The group also visited the Battle of Uhud site, Mount Al-Ramah, and the Uhud Martyrs’ Cemetery, learning about this historic turning point in Islam.
The program includes meetings with imams of the Prophet’s Mosque and renowned scholars.
Several guests expressed gratitude to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for hosting them, thanking the ministry for the excellent services provided.
Hanafi bin Hamza from Malaysia praised the facilities and expressed joy at visiting the Kingdom. Norasni Binti Muhammad Suh, also from Malaysia, conveyed her gratitude for the program, while Rebuan bin Abdullah thanked the Saudi leadership for the initiative, highlighting the Kingdom’s commitment to serving Muslims worldwide.
Automaki from Japan called the program outstanding, appreciating the exceptional services and warm hospitality extended by the Saudi leadership.
Embracing the skies: Riyadh aviation show inspires next generation of pilots
- Saudi Hot Air Balloon Federation’s first female pilot wants more women to sign up
RIYADH: The Saudi Hot Air Balloon Federation was among the top organizations at an aviation show that captivated the Kingdom’s capital with stunning aerobatic displays and an impressive lineup of aircraft.
Sand and Fun 2024, which concluded on Saturday at Thumamah Airport, showcased the Kingdom’s wide-ranging aviation sector.
The federation presented a collection of colorful hot air balloons to demonstrate the experience to adults and younger generations as part of the efforts to raise awareness about hot air ballooning and to inspire a new generation of pilots.
Among the pilots was Afrah Al-Harbi, the first female Saudi hot air balloon pilot to graduate from the federation.
Al-Harbi is on a mission to cultivate a community of female pilots, encouraging women to explore the exhilarating world of hot air ballooning. Her story is an inspiring testament to the opportunities available to women in aviation and the importance of representation in this field.
“At the beginning, I was studying at the university, but the Saudi Hot Air Balloon Federation launched a training program to train balloon pilots,” she told Arab News. “Thank God, I registered, and I was accepted. After that, I started my studies to become a balloon captain. The federation covered the entire mission, which is considered a grant from the federation. I obtained the European EASA license, and then I also obtained the Saudi license from the General Authority of Civil Aviation.”
The federation offers structured programs to equip aspiring pilots with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills.
Hot air balloons first appeared in the Kingdom in AlUla as part of the Winter at Tantora Festival in 2018. This event not only showcased the beauty of ballooning, but also laid the groundwork for the establishment of the federation.
The hot air balloon sport is known and famous worldwide. We need a type of it that people can take part in within the Kingdom, especially for global competitions.
Abdulrahman Al-Wahaibi, Saudi hot air balloon pilot
The organization plays a crucial role in promoting balloon culture and raising awareness of the sport.
“We want to show people that hot air ballooning is not only fun, but also safe,” Al-Harbi said, emphasizing the importance of public perception in the growth of the sport.
Her career has included a visit to the Netherlands, where she underwent extensive training.
“My studies in the Netherlands were quite lengthy, but it was an incredibly enriching experience,” she said. “The training included both theoretical subjects and practical sessions to help us obtain our licenses.”
The rigorous training not only prepared Al-Harbi for the technical aspects of flying, but also instilled a deep appreciation of the art of ballooning.
Abdulrahman Al-Wahaibi also spoke about his journey in the world of hot air ballooning, which began was he was a student in Australia.
“I looked at a balloon for the first time in my life and was fascinated by its shape,” he told Arab News. “I had to try the experience, so I did, as a passenger. The experience was beautiful, and I thought we needed this in Saudi Arabia. At that time, Saudi Arabia did not have hot air balloons.”
Al-Wahaibi dedicated himself to bringing the ballooning experience back to Saudi Arabia, sharing it with family, friends, and the community.
This included studying aerospace engineering and breaking records in Australia for the fastest training period. He expressed pride in being part of the first Arab country to take part in international hot air balloon competitions, highlighting the significant strides made by the Saudi Hot Air Balloon Federation.
“The hot air balloon sport is known and famous worldwide,” Al-Wahaibi said. “We need a type of it that people can take part in within the Kingdom, especially for global competitions.”
His vision aligns with the federation’s mission to broaden participation and elevate the sport on an international level.
Based in AlUla, the Saudi Hot Air Balloon Federation plans festivals designed to integrate the natural environment and the grandeur of the historic landmarks of ancient civilizations such as Hegra.
The five-day event at Thumamah Airport gave visitors the opportunity to meet pilots, learn about the intricacies of ballooning, and even experience the thrill of a balloon ride.
With inspiring pilots such as Al-Harbi and Al-Wahaibi at the helm, the outlook for hot air ballooning in the years to come looks as bright as the skies adorned with colorful balloons.
Saudi ambassador presents credentials to Cypriot president
- Al-Shabili conveyed the greetings of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the president
NICOSIA: Saudi Ambassador to Cyprus Fawaz bin Abdulrahman Al-Shabili presented his credentials to the President of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides at a ceremony held at the Presidential Palace in the capital Nicosia, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.
Al-Shabili conveyed the greetings of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the president, as well as their wishes for steady progress and prosperity for Cyprus.
Meanwhile, Saudi Vice Minister of Commerce and CEO of the National Competitiveness Center Eman bint Habbas Al-Mutairi led a Saudi delegation of government officials and business leaders to the UK to bolster bilateral economic relations.
