RIYADH: King Salman on Monday will deliver his inaugural address at the Shoura Council, where he will talk about a range of local and regional issues and urge lawmakers to support the government in taking the country forward.
The king’s speech, which will serve as a guideline for Shoura members, will begin the deliberations of the new parliamentary year of the 150-member council.
“The king’s visit to the Shoura is of utmost importance, and his speech will define domestic, regional and foreign policies,” said Hoda Al-Helaissi, a member of the Shoura Council here on Wednesday.
“With the visit of King Salman to the Shoura Council to mark the beginning of the third year of the seventh term, we take a moment to reflect on the past year,” Al-Helaissi said.
She said that “the past year has been a year of challenges and opportunities both within the Kingdom and abroad.”
“Remarkably, as is in our nature, and as exemplified by our leadership, we have remained steadfast in our values and beliefs, committed as a country to the well-being of our citizens, not least as explained in what has now become known as Saudi Arabia’s road-map for the future, Vision 2030,” Al-Helaissi said.
“As the home of the Two Holy Mosques and as an important strategic player in the region, Saudi Arabia has an important role in global politics and we look forward to hearing the king’s speech this coming Monday,” Al-Helaissi said.
Guidelines for addressing local and regional challenges with a special reference to domestic and foreign policies will be spelled out by King Salman, she said.
“Elaborate preparations have been made to receive the king on this occasion,” said Mohammed Al-Khunaizi, another member of the Shoura Council. Al-Khunaizi said that King Salman’s speech will have “added political and economic significance, and it will lay out the agenda for the rest of the Shoura’s term.”
“The occasion marks the beginning of the new year for the council,” said Al-Khunaizi, while forecasting a number of proposals, decisions, draft legislation, treaties and foreign policy matters to be discussed and debated in 2019.
He said that the king’s speech may touch on subjects such as society, security, peace, stability, extremism, economy, financial reforms, regional challenges and foreign policy matters.
Al-Khunaizi noted that the role of women members of the Shoura Council had lent new dimension to the debate and deliberations of the council. He said that the current Shoura Council is composed of 150 members including 30 women members.
Peace, security and economy top agenda of Saudi Shoura session
Peace, security and economy top agenda of Saudi Shoura session
- Al-Khunaizi said that King Salman’s speech will have “added political and economic significance, and it will lay out the agenda for the rest of the Shoura’s term”
‘Common Ground’ festival celebrates parallels of Saudi and Iraqi cultures
- The festival showcases the identity and culture of Saudi Arabia and Iraq through a variety of activities, including art, music and folklore
RIYADH: The Kingdom’s culture ministry launched the “Common Ground” festival on Wednesday, celebrating the similarities between the rich cultural heritages of Saudi Arabia and Iraq.
Organized by the ministry, “Common Ground” is a showcase of the identity and culture of Saudi Arabia and Iraq through a variety of activities, including art, music and folklore.
The ministry announced the launch on its social media account on Wednesday, inviting residents to “explore and celebrate Iraqi culture and the historical and cultural bonds between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Iraq through art, music, storytelling and more.”
The festival, which runs through Dec. 31, is being held at Mega Studio in Boulevard City in the Saudi capital Riyadh.
The agenda features an array of events, including an artistic evening and a tribute to writer Kareem Al-Iraqi, who died last year, whose contributions to art and literature are noted. His works ranged from novels, plays and songs to television programs and screenplays.
The opening night of the second edition of this unique cultural event featured a set of songs by reknowned Iraqi singer-songwriter Kadim Al-Sahir.
The first day features a diverse program celebrating Iraqi culture, with several seminars discussing the heritage of Saudi Arabia’s Middle Eastern neighbor.
There will also be over 100 works from Iraqi and Saudi artists at the festival.
Separately, on Wednesday, the Iraqi Prime Minister Shia Al-Sudani was welcomed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Al-Ula, one of the Kingdom’s top cultural destinations, as the two leaders discussed regional events.
Saudi aid agency KSrelief launches pediatric surgical program in war-ravaged Sudan
- Medical team assesses 15 children and carries out 7 successful operations during first few days of the project, which is staffed by volunteers
RIYADH: Saudi aid agency KSrelief this week launched a volunteer pediatric surgical program in the Sudanese city of Port Sudan.
By Wednesday, the medical team had assessed 15 children and carried out seven successful surgeries, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Sudan is locked in a civil war between two rival factions of the country’s military government that began in April 2023. It has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced about 12 million people.
The conflict has also had a devastating effect on healthcare, with more than two-thirds of major hospitals in out of service, according to the World Health Organization.
Riyadh governor receives newly appointed Palestinian envoy
Riyadh Gov. Prince Faisal bin Bandar received the newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Palestine to the Kingdom Mazen Ghoneim in Riyadh on Wednesday.
During the meeting, they discussed various topics of common interest, and Prince Faisal wished the ambassador success in his new duties, Saudi Press Agency reported.
Meanwhile, on the same day, Baha Gov. Prince Hussam bin Saud bin Abdulaziz met with Ambassaor of India to the Kingdom Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan to discuss topics of mutual interest.
Saudi, Australian defense ministers meet in Riyadh
- Prince Khalid, Richard Marles discuss latest developments in region
RIYADH: Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman on Wednesday received his Australian counterpart, Richard Marles, at his office in Riyadh.
The pair discussed relations between their countries as well as the latest developments in the region, including efforts to support security and stability, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
A number of other senior officials from the two sides attended the meeting. Marles is also Australia’s deputy prime minister.
Riyadh events industry conference draws to a close
- Industry leaders highlight investment opportunities
- 3-day summit saw numerous deals agreed
RIYADH: Experts in the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions sector spoke to Arab News about the need for international collaboration and local investment on the last day of industry talks in Riyadh.
On the final day of the International MICE Summit on Tuesday, business leaders highlighted how the booming industry offered unique opportunities for job creation and investment.
The three-day event covered sector-related issues and hosted the signing of several agreements and memoranda of understanding.
Six Saudi ministers took part in IMS24, which was organized by the Saudi Conventions and Exhibitions General Authority. A total of 20 speaking sessions and 19 workshops were held, and eight MoUs signed.
IMS24 also witnessed companies including RX Global, Messe Munich, and Clarion announce the opening of new offices in Saudi Arabia, in preparation for 12 new events due to start in 2025.
Faisal Al-Rajhi, CEO of Almatar Travel Group, told Arab News that the Kingdom’s hosting of numerous exhibitions and conferences in recent years had helped it become a pioneering destination for the MICE industry.
Exhibitions and conferences were boosting job growth and offering local investors the chance to gain valuable insights from international experts, he added.
Mansour Al-Jabarty, CEO of YNZ, said IMS24 was an ideal platform for those seeking to gain expertise in the field and held exceptional significance given Saudi Arabia’s prominence in hosting such events.
Bilal Al-Barmawi, CEO and managing director of 1st Arabia, stressed the importance of building partnerships to increase MICE capabilities, while Ahmed Al-Saif, chairman of Max Group, added local investment in the sector had become an urgent necessity for companies seeking to go global.
The MICE segment was a key driver of economic growth, and the Saudi market was now an attractive destination for foreign investment, he added. This would not have been realized without the boom in exhibitions and conferences that the Kingdom has witnessed in recent times.
