JEDDAH: Diplomats from more than 40 countries were shown the investment and educational advantages of King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) during a one-day visit organized by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The visit on Wednesday — the first organized by the ministry to KAEC — included commercial attaches from 42 general consulates and their spouses.
The visit highlighted the economic city’s modern services, world-class infrastructure, promising investment environment and new educational projects.
Visitors toured the city’s principal features and public facilities, including Prince Mohammed Bin Salman College (MBSC), KAEC industrial valley, King Abdullah Port and the Royal Greens Golf and Country Club.
Dr. Asma Siddiki, the interim dean of MBSC, outlined the college’s academic programs and achievements.
She highlighted the diversity of MBA students at the business school and described future collaborations with other countries through scholarships and internships.
After touring MBSC, the diplomats visited the city’s industrial valley, which is in a prime location to serve global trade on the Red Sea corridor. KAEC aims to become the new global gateway to the region.
They also visited King Abdullah Port, which is strategically located on the main Asia-Europe trunk line.
The port handled 1.2 million TEU (20-foot equivalent unit) of container traffic during the first half of 2018, a record 50 percent increase on the same period last year, making it one of the fastest-growing ports in the world.
KAEC, which occupies an area of 181 million square meters on the Red Sea coast, north of Jeddah, is expected to become one of the most important trading hubs in the Middle East and an example of the country’s commitment to private-public partnership.
Diplomats visited the Royal Greens Golf and Country Club on the beachside, an 18-hole championship golf course designed by European Golf Design and operated by Troon, the largest third-party manager of golf operations in the world.
Hafiz Issahaku, consul general of Ghana, told Arab News: “The trip was far beyond expectations. The visit to MBSC was the most interesting part. It offered an excellent view of the Vision 2030 objectives for this country.
“With such a world-class institution, the graduates the college produces will be leaders in business, innovation and entrepreneurship, and help to take the country forward.”
Diplomats get insider’s guide to King Abdullah Economic City future
Diplomats get insider’s guide to King Abdullah Economic City future
- Hafiz Issahaku, consul general of Ghana, told Arab News: “The trip was far beyond expectations. The visit to MBSC was the most interesting part. It offered an excellent view of the Vision 2030 objectives for this country
King Salman appoints Dr. Majid Al-Fayyad as advisor to the Saudi Royal Court
- Al-Fayyad has been executive general supervisor at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre since 2017
- He graduated in 1990 from King Saud University’s medical school and has amassed decades of clinical, academic and administrative experience
JEDDAH: In a royal order issued on Wednesday, King Salman appointed Dr. Majid Al-Fayyad as an advisor to the Saudi Royal Court.
Al-Fayyad is the executive general supervisor at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, which has facilities in Riyadh, Madinah and Jeddah. He graduated in 1990 from the medical school at King Saud University in Riyadh, and has amassed decades of clinical, academic and administrative experience.
In the US, he undertook specialized training in pediatrics at Tufts University, and in pediatric cardiology at Columbia University. He holds several certifications and degrees, including a master’s in medical administration awarded by the University of Southern California in 2015.
He was appointed in 2017 to his current position at King Faisal Specialist Hospital, where he has helped spearhead key reforms to the Saudi healthcare sector. He has also played important roles in national healthcare committees and initiatives, earning recognition for his contributions to research and administration.
Saudi deputy FM receives UK ambassador in Riyadh
Saudi Deputy Minister for International Multilateral Affairs Abdulrahman Al-Rassi was visited by UK Ambassador to the Kingdom Neil Crompton in Riyadh on Wednesday.
The ambassador visited to bid farewell on the occasion of the end of his tenure in the Kingdom, the Foreign Ministry wrote in a post on X.
Al-Rassi praised the ambassador’s efforts in strengthening and advancing relations between the two countries.
Riyadh museum to host interactive camp for kids
JEDDAH: The National Museum in Riyadh will launch its third interactive summer camp, themed “Made in the Museum,” for children aged 10 to 12, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The initiative is part of the “Year of Handicrafts,” celebrating Saudi Arabia’s cultural heritage and its role in shaping national identity and intergenerational bonds.
The camp has two sessions: July 21-31 and Aug. 4-14, running daily from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., both inside the museum and outdoors.
Designed as an educational and immersive experience, the camp invites participants to explore and revive traditional Saudi crafts, the SPA added.
Children will engage in hands-on activities in four core tracks: clay crafts, textiles, woodworking, and supportive crafts, blending play, learning, and exploration.
This year’s camp strengthens the museum’s role as a community hub, providing children with opportunities to develop critical thinking and design skills while inspiring their imagination and showing the cultural and economic importance of handicrafts.
The camp encourages children to make and show their projects at the end of each session, helping them feel confident and encouraging new ideas and creativity.
Riyadh hospital succeeds in rare disease treatment
- The hospital has provided 22 years of care for a patient with a rare genetic blood clotting disorder, culminating in a successful liver transplant — the first worldwide for this condition
RIYADH: King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center in Riyadh has provided 22 years of care for a patient with a rare genetic blood clotting disorder, culminating in a successful liver transplant — the first worldwide for this condition.
Diagnosed in infancy with congenital plasminogen deficiency, the patient required ongoing treatment to manage fibrous deposits affecting her tissues and organs, according to a press release.
Over the two decades, a multidisciplinary team including hematology, transplant specialists, nursing, nutrition and IT supported her care, the report said.
The patient’s father said: “She suffered from birth and couldn’t nurse. We had no clear answers until we found hope through the care provided by the Saudi government. After 22 years of struggle, we witness our daughter’s recovery.”
The treatment involved regular plasminogen infusions and eyedrops to reduce the disease’s effect on her vision, with annual costs exceeding SR6 million ($1.6 million), fully covered by the government.
Dr. Hazzaa Al-Zahrani, director of the adult hematology and stem-cell transplant division at the center and supervising physician, said that managing the case required a precise and long-term approach to prevent complications and ensure stability.
He said that the decision to proceed with a liver transplant came after careful consideration as an extraordinary therapeutic option for this exceptionally rare case.
The procedure’s success marked a turning point in her medical journey and was a beacon of hope for patients with similar conditions worldwide, Al-Zahrani added.
Program to boost youth, SME role in Saudi economy
RIYADH: The Small and Medium Enterprises Loan Guarantee Program, known as Kafalah, in collaboration with the Riyadh Chamber, will hold interactive sessions on July 15 to mark World Youth Skills Day.
The initiative aims to raise awareness and develop entrepreneurial skills among youth, entrepreneurs and SMEs, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
The sessions will cover key topics to boost youth contributions to national economic development, in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 reform plan.
Focus areas include access to finance, building administrative and financial capabilities, enhancing SME sustainability, and turning ideas into viable projects.
These sessions highlight the collaboration between entities supporting the SME sector in the Kingdom, the SPA added.
The Kafalah program and Riyadh Chamber aim to foster youth growth and strengthen their role in the national economy.
Kafalah supports micro, small and medium enterprises by providing financial guarantees, improving their access to financing and reducing lending risks for banks.
