JEDDAH: A major sustainable tourism project that will promote jobs while protecting the local environment and wildlife has been launched by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) in the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Natural Reserve in the Kingdom’s northwest.
The PIF on Tuesday announced the launch of the Wadi Al-Disah Development Project, which is expected to become one of the Kingdom’s most environmentally diverse tourist attractions thanks to the site’s moderate climate, distinctive mountainous terrain and flowing springs.
The fund will establish a company to develop the project in accordance with international best practices regarding environmental conservation and sustainable development.
The new company will contribute to the creation of sustainable tourism and related job opportunities, supporting the Kingdom’s economic diversification and unlocking new assets in Saudi Arabia.
The announcement of the project follows the launch of the Amaala luxury tourism development in September, which will be the focal point of the tourism ecosystem within the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Natural Reserve.
The location, between NEOM, the Red Sea Development Project, Amaala and Al-Ula projects, will ensure a diverse and unique tourism offering, and offer a compelling investment opportunity for the private sector.
Wadi Al-Disah is situated in the northwest section of the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Natural Reserve, southwest of Tabuk.
The word “Al-Disah” means a valley of palm trees. The surrounding mountains and rock formations are expected to be popular with climbers of all levels. Other attractions include archaeological sites such as facades of Nabataean tombs, and the remains of walls containing Nabataean and Arabic writings in Kufic script.
The Wadi Al-Disah Development Project will promote economic diversification and create investment opportunities for the private sector.
The project aims to contribute to the development of the tourism sector in the Kingdom, preserve cultural and environmental heritage, and achieve sustainability in line with Vision 2030.
Ecotourism project protects wildlife, promotes jobs in Saudi Arabia
Ecotourism project protects wildlife, promotes jobs in Saudi Arabia
- The Wadi Al-Disah Development Project will promote economic diversification and create investment opportunities for the private sector
Drama therapy workshop in Jeddah explores healing power of expression
- Faqerah told Arab News: “Drama is integrated naturally in our daily responses and situations
JEDDAH: A drama therapy workshop was recently organized under the theme: “In drama we find the power to express, and in expression we find the power to heal,” at Cinema Al-Balad in Jeddah.
Led by Lujain Faqerah, senior psychologist and creative arts supervisor, in collaboration with actor and screenwriter Abdul Al-Shareef, the workshop explored the use of drama therapy in daily life and creative work.
Participants, including therapists, creatives, and others, learned how drama can support emotional awareness, healing, and connection.
The workshop showed how drama-based therapeutic techniques can help people access unconscious behaviors, foster self-expression, and improve creative practices such as screenwriting and acting.
Faqerah told Arab News: “Drama is integrated naturally in our daily responses and situations. In a therapeutic setting, it helps us observe these interactions and reflect on a deeper level of our unconscious body gestures and movements that might reveal a lot about our personalities.”
She made it clear that drama therapy is not about performing but about expressing what lies beneath — emotions, memories, or internal conflicts.
Faqerah said: “The word drama has a negative connotation to the extent that people reject it before trying. Drama therapy does not depend on acting skills or previous experience, but more on your self-expression and the challenges you experience.”
Her discovery of drama therapy was transformative. “It surprised me with the appearance of a hidden part of me that is more bold and confident. When this part emerged and I saw the benefits myself, I started incorporating it in my profession.”
Al-Shareef brought a creative perspective as an actor and screenwriter new to drama therapy but interested in its techniques.
“As an actor and a writer, I found this experiment with drama supervision and therapy fascinating. It’s a tool that I am willing to explore and learn more about to enhance my life and practice,” he said.
“Some people may think drama therapy is exclusively for artists, but it’s not. The techniques can be integrated into everyday routines, varying from person to person depending on their challenges.”
Kingdom hosts relatives of Palestinian prisoners and martyrs for Hajj pilgrimage
- Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance received 500 pilgrims from Gaza on Monday
- Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Guests Program has hosted thousands of Hajj, Umrah pilgrims since establishment in 1996
MAKKAH: Hundreds of relatives of Palestinian political prisoners and martyrs who have died in the conflict with Israel have arrived to perform Hajj as part of Saudi Arabia’s Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Guests Program.
The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance received 500 pilgrims from Gaza on Monday, bringing the number of those performing Hajj and arriving from Palestine to 1,000.
Palestinian pilgrims arrived at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and were later hosted in the program’s special accommodation in the holy city of Makkah. They praised Saudi Arabia and its leadership for serving Muslims and the two holy mosques in Makkah and Madinah.
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Guests Program has hosted thousands of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims since its establishment in 1996.
The program this year is set to host 2,443 Hajj pilgrims from 100 countries. They started arriving in the Kingdom in May.
Saudi Arabia’s KAUST study finds gall crabs use fluorescence to blend into coral homes
- Marine scientists discover fluorescence as a camouflage strategy in coral-symbiotic crabs
JEDDAH: Marine researchers from the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology have discovered that gall crabs use highly evolved fluorescence to help conceal themselves within coral hideouts.
Susanne Bahr, a KAUST marine science doctoral student, observed that gall crabs fluoresce during night dives, according to a recent report.
Bahr said: “I had been working with these crabs for some time, so this observation was intriguing. I started reading about fluorescence.
“It’s well-studied in reef fish, which have many functions, but less is known about fluorescence in crustaceans. Crabs and shrimps are very diverse, so I wondered if similar patterns occur in crustaceans as in fish.”
Bahr and colleagues collected 286 gall crabs from 14 genera, sampling from all known host coral genera in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean.
They developed an imaging technique to identify which parts of the crabs fluoresced and how much. They also performed a morphological analysis and built an evolutionary tree based on genomic sequencing.
Gall crabs do more than just live among corals: they have a strong symbiotic relationship. Some invertebrates hide in coral branches and crevices, but for gall crabs, the connection is deeper, the report said.
The researchers suggest that fluorescence evolved in various gall crab species to help camouflage them in their coral dwellings. Different species inhabit different coral structures — such as open tunnels or enclosed galls — and their fluorescence patterns influence their visibility.
Bahr gave an example of a species living in cylindrical coral pits. “The back of the crab sticks out slightly. Its fluorescence pattern disrupts its outline, disguising its shape.”
Francesca Benzoni, Bahr’s supervisor at KAUST, emphasized the importance of understanding coral reef ecosystems. “Gall crabs are among many invertebrates living with corals on tropical reefs,” she said.
Benzoni added: “Much remains to be discovered about cryptic and poorly studied reef invertebrates, their biology, ecological role, and their contribution to coral reef resilience in the Red Sea and worldwide.”
Bahr said: “I want my research to highlight the importance of coral-associated invertebrates and their role in coral reef ecosystems.”
“They are often overlooked, and we need to understand their abundance, reasons for presence, and their role in reef persistence and resilience.”
First phase of historic Sheikh’s Fortress renovation completed in Rijal Almaa
- Sheikh’s Fortress is one of three heritage sites receiving emergency repairs through a collaboration between Soudah Development and the Tourist Villages Cooperative Society of Rijal Almaa, under a deal signed last year
RIYADH: The first phase of renovating the historic Sheikh’s Fortress site in Rijal Almaa was recently completed by Soudah Development, a Public Investment Fund company.
It is one of the heritage sites in Jareen, one of six development zones within the Soudah Peaks project, according to a report.
Sheikh’s Fortress is one of three heritage sites receiving emergency repairs through a collaboration between Soudah Development and the Tourist Villages Cooperative Society of Rijal Almaa, under a deal signed last year.
The collaboration includes emergency repairs of Sheikh’s Fortress, Bee House and Hamidiyah Fortress, the report said.
It is part of broader efforts by Soudah Development to preserve and protect architectural and cultural heritage within the Soudah Peaks project area, which includes about 300 historical and cultural sites.
The goal is to provide exceptional experiences for tourists and residents, create job opportunities, and boost the regional and national economy.
With the first phase of repairs complete, Sheikh’s Fortress will symbolize the region’s rich architectural, cultural and historical identity, and help promote local heritage.
Soudah Peaks will be a luxury mountain destination inspired by local architectural identity. The project includes six distinctive zones: Tahlal, Sahab, Sabrah, Jareen, Rijal and Red Rock.
It will offer luxury tourism, hospitality and residential experiences, and is expected to create thousands of direct and indirect jobs while generating long-term economic impact for the region and the Kingdom.
Saudi Arabia reduces rate of diseases including hepatitis C by more than 87%, report says
- The average life expectancy in the Kingdom now stands at 78.8 years, with a target of 80 years by 2030
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has reduced rates of diseases, including hepatitis C, tuberculosis and malaria, by more than 87.5 percent, according to a new report.
The rate of dengue fever, measles, rubella, neonatal tetanus and HIV was also reduced, according to the annual Health Sector Transformation Report 2024.
Improvements in early detection, immunization and awareness campaigns led to the lower rates of disease, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.
The report also highlighted several newborn screening initiatives aimed at the early detection of genetic disorders, metabolic conditions, and hereditary blood diseases.
Localization efforts in health also achieved significant milestones in 2024, advancing health security and self-sufficiency in the Kingdom by domestically producing critical medical supplies.
Key accomplishments include localizing the manufacturing of 31 healthcare products.
In mental health, the report highlighted the efforts of the National Center for Mental Health Promotion, including initiatives aimed at training community members, teachers, and healthcare workers in basic psychological support skills and rapid crisis intervention.
The center has developed specialized training programs and accredited certifications to expand mental health awareness and reduce associated stigma.
Additionally, the report noted the introduction of the National Drowning Prevention Strategy, a targeted intervention against a major cause of child and adolescent mortality.
These efforts are part of objectives outlined in Saudi Vision 2030, aimed at improving public health.
The average life expectancy in the Kingdom now stands at 78.8 years, with a target of 80 years by 2030.
