WASHINGTON: Saudi students who have forged reputations as innovators are urging fellow young Saudis to seize a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape their futures.
At a packed conference room at Washington DC’s most iconic hotel, the Willard InterContinental, just across from the White House, a series of speakers took to the stage on Wednesday to call on the Saudi-majority audience to take up the challenge of reform.
“Never be afraid to do something or to be the first to do it,” said Razan Alageel, who last year won the outstanding youth delegate award at a UN youth project.
Alageel, who is studying political science at Appalachian State University in the US, said Saudis must not be intimidated by the scale of the tasks ahead as they face up to domestic and international challenges.
“You will always have a mountain to climb and another cliff to jump off. Believe in your instincts. You are powerful beyond measure, so use it,” she said.
She made her comments at a Misk Talk event in Washington DC, organized by the Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Philanthropic Foundation.
Misk, as the foundation is known for short, was set up in 2011 by the crown prince to promote innovation and education opportunities for young Saudis, and to encourage media that “knows no boundaries.”
More than half of the Kingdom’s 27 million nationals are below age 30, a demographic situation that poses a serious economic challenge, and many get their news from social media outlets rather than relying on traditional sources.
Saudi Arabia has historically been able to employ young people in government agencies, paid for by the country’s massive oil wealth. But the crown prince has embarked on a bold economic reform agenda that, if successful, will radically shake up government subsidies in the state.
The Misk foundation is part of that effort. At Wednesday’s presentation, the message to young Saudis was that they, not oil, are the country’s most valuable resource.
Mohammed Bakhsh, an undergraduate at George Washington University, used his presentation to encourage young Saudis to take risks and not fear failure, both central elements of the entrepreneurship the crown prince has called for.
“Failure is one of the best teachers, failure is the essence of success,” he said, a mantra more typically associated with Silicon Valley than old-style Saudi economic policy.
Much was also said about the reforms that have taken place in Saudi, including allowing women to drive.
“Remember, less than five years ago we couldn’t have discussions about women’s rights in this formal capacity, that was impossible and unheard of,” said Jehan Al-Mahmoud, a PhD student in socio-lingustics at Georgetown University.
“It has been a journey for all of us. The Saudi youth, we are all witnessing this incredible transformation in our country and we are getting there.
“As the Saudi nation, we got lucky with the oil at first but we continue to get lucky with knowledgeable, ambitious leadership that cultivates the most valuable resource that we have — us,” she said.
Young Saudis urged to seize opportunities to shape economic future
Young Saudis urged to seize opportunities to shape economic future
KSrelief’s Masam Project clears 840 mines
- The Masam team successfully cleared four unexploded ordnances in Zinjibar
- The team successfully removed 14 unexploded ordnances from Al-Waht district
ADEN: The Masam Project, an initiative launched by the Saudi aid agency KSrelief, successfully dismantled 840 mines across various regions of Yemen during the third week of November, including 29 anti-personnel mines, 129 anti-tank mines, and 682 unexploded ordnances.
The Masam team successfully cleared four unexploded ordnances in Zinjibar in the Abyan Governorate, and 162 in Aden Governorate. Two anti-tank mines in Al-Khawkhah and one unexploded ordnance in Hays, in Al-Hudaydah Governorate, were also removed. The team cleared one anti-personnel mine and one unexploded ordnance in the Qataba district of Al-Dhale Governorate.
The team successfully removed 14 unexploded ordnances from Al-Waht district and 22 from Al-Madaribah in Lahj Governorate, while in Marib Governorate four unexploded ordnances were cleared in the Al-Wadi district, along with 12 anti-personnel mines and 120 anti-tank mines in the Marib district.
Authorities enforce ban on non-compliant trucks
- This initiative reflects the authority’s commitment to regulating the sector
- Foreign trucks are restricted to transporting goods from abroad to designated delivery points
RIYADH: The Transport General Authority has announced the seizure of many foreign trucks found violating transportation regulations and legislation while transporting goods between cities in the Kingdom.
This initiative, undertaken in collaboration with relevant authorities, reflects the authority’s commitment to regulating the sector, promoting compliance, ensuring fair competition, enhancing the security and safety of transportation services, and preserving public resources and road infrastructure.
The authority said that the mechanism adopted to control foreign truck transport operations — in coordination with various government entities — prohibits traders, factories, importers, institutions and companies from contracting with non-Saudi vehicles.
Foreign trucks are restricted to transporting goods from abroad to designated delivery points in Saudi cities or on their way back to their country of origin. This return must originate from the same delivery point or from any city along the return route. Such operations also require a permit issued by the authority.
Saudi citizen wanted on suspicion of corruption extradited to Kingdom from Russia
- Abdullah bin Awadh Aydha Al-Harthi was wanted on suspicion of financial and administrative corruption crimes
RIYADH: A Saudi citizen suspected of corruption crimes has been extradited back to the Kingdom from Russia, the Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority, Nazaha, announced on Friday.
Abdullah bin Awadh Aydha Al-Harthi was wanted on suspicion of financial and administrative corruption crimes, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The transfer was carried out as part of a memorandum of understanding between Nazaha and Russia’s Public Prosecution, and “underscores the strong commitment of both nations to uphold the rule of law and promote international cooperation in the fight against corruption,” SPA added.
Nazaha highlighted the role played by the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office in responding to its official request to extradite Al-Harthi and praised the support of the global Globe E Network and INTERPOL for its continued assistance in tracking individuals involved in corruption crimes and curtailing their safe havens.
Nazaha reaffirmed its resolve to pursue corrupt individuals both within and beyond the Kingdom’s borders, holding them accountable in accordance with Sharia and legal frameworks.
The authority said it remained steadfast in its mission to recover state funds and assets misappropriated through corruption, ensuring they are returned to the national treasury.
Heritage Commission, KSGAAL launch global blog to preserve cultural and linguistic heritage
- The Naqsh blog aims to preserve Arab cultural and linguistic heritage
- Naqsh is a visually documented linguistic blog for Arabic inscriptions found on stones, tablets, rocks or any other artifacts in the Kingdom
RIYADH: The Saudi Heritage Commission, in collaboration with King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language, or KSGAAL, launched the Naqsh blog on Thursday on the sidelines of the Saudi International Handicrafts Week exhibition.
The Naqsh blog aims to preserve Arab cultural and linguistic heritage, providing a reliable source for researchers and those interested in archaeology, history, the Arabic language and comparative studies, an official statement said.
The blog also seeks to enhance the scientific reference for trustworthy Arabic data and develop AI models for analyzing and interpreting inscriptions, in alignment with the objectives of the Human Capital Development Program, one of the Saudi Vision 2030 initiatives, and the National Culture Strategy.
Abdullah Al-Washmi, secretary-general of KSGAAL, said that the path of linguistic blogs served related scholars and researchers and was an integral part of the academy’s linguistic work, projects and institutional initiatives.
Naqsh is a visually documented linguistic blog for Arabic inscriptions found on stones, tablets, rocks or any other artifacts in the Kingdom.
The blog includes commemorative, religious, literary and commercial inscriptions that reflect the cultural and social conditions throughout the ages, he said.
The blog highlights the historical and linguistic significance of Arabic inscriptions, understanding the linguistic and cultural development in the region, and also serves as a crucial source for studying the evolution of writing and Arabic calligraphy through the ages, he said.
In early 2024, KSGAAL launched the “Falak” platform for linguistic databases, which includes several linguistic platforms featuring advanced computational tools.
These tools facilitate text analysis and linguistic data tagging and enable Arabic language enthusiasts to collaborate in the field of Arabic language computing.
The “Falak” platform also aims to enhance the scientific reference for reliable Arabic linguistic data. It is one of the academy’s prominent initiatives in the field of linguistic computing, containing more than 1.5 billion words.
Sami Al-Mukhayzim, chairman of the Saudi Historical Society, told Arab News that the Naqsh blog serves as a highly significant historical resource.
Inscriptions are among the oldest tools documenting vivid and accurate information about ancient civilizations. These inscriptions contribute to illustrating the development of writing, ideas, beliefs and the daily interactions of those civilizations, he said.
Abdullah Al-Khuzam, a craft trainer at the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts, said that documenting human heritage was one of the fundamental administrative and civilizational methods and an essential enabler for building a growing future grounded in a distinctive historical and archaeological depth.
The Naqsh blog will serve as a reference for future generations, providing them with a foundation as they venture into new and contemporary horizons, drawing inspiration from heritage to develop ideas in a modern form that suits today’s world, he said.
Saudi, Japanese agencies agree to cooperation on humanitarian work
Saudi aid agency KSrelief and the Japan International Cooperation Agency have agreed to cooperate on humanitarian work.
KSrelief director of partnerships and international relations, Hana Omar, and JICA’s representative from its Yemen office Kato Ken met on the sidelines of the International Conjoined Twins Conference in Riyadh.
They discussed humanitarian relief affairs, topics on the agenda of the conference, and prospects for cooperation between the two organizations, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
JICA praised the Kingdom’s humanitarian and relief programs.
