Dakar Village opens on Jeddah Corniche ahead world's toughest race across Saudi Arabia

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Dakar Saudi Arabia 2020 runs from Jan. 5 to 17, and will feature pilots from 62 countries, including 47 of whom have taken on the Dakar challenge at least 10 times in their careers. (Supplied)
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Updated 02 January 2020
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Dakar Village opens on Jeddah Corniche ahead world's toughest race across Saudi Arabia

  • The three-day motorsport-themed event will host Dakar Saudi Arabia 2020’s opening concert
  • A museum featuring visual and photographic exhibits that showcases the history of the world’s most challenging race also open

JEDDAH: The Dakar Village opened on the Jeddah corniche on Thursday ahead of the much-anticipated start of Dakar Saudi Arabia 2020 on 5 January.

The three-day motorsport-themed event will host Dakar Saudi Arabia 2020’s opening concert on 4 January, which will feature music performances by local DJs as well as acrobatic shows and circus acts by Kitonb. Drivers competing at the race will also officially present their vehicles to the crowd at Dakar Village.

Additional motoring attractions include the Red Bull freestyle motocross show, which will run four times a day.

A series of freestyle motocross shows will be performed four times a day as well as a stunt show presented by Red Bull. Children and families can enjoy the activities at the village, with pedal car races, little mechanic stops and virtual reality all contributing to the fun.

Discover Dakar, a museum featuring visual and photographic exhibits that showcases the history of the world’s most challenging race throughout its 42 years, will also feature at the village. It will also introduce fans to the desert, terrain, culture and people of Saudi Arabia.

There will also be a live DJ performance at Dakar Village as fans gear up for the 13-day adventure that runs until 17 January through more than 7500 kilometers of uncharted desert.

The village will also include Discover Dakar, a museum featuring visual and photographic exhibits that showcase the history of the world’s most challenging race throughout its 42 years, while introducing fans to the desert, terrain, culture and people of Saudi Arabia.

Dakar Saudi Arabia 2020 runs from Jan. 5 to 17, and will feature pilots from 62 countries, including 47 of whom have taken on the Dakar challenge at least 10 times in their careers. The Kingdom’s desert will also be the stage for the first Dakar venture for 85 competitors.


Pakistan’s prime minister arrives in Jeddah

Updated 19 March 2025
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Pakistan’s prime minister arrives in Jeddah

  • Saudi ambassador to Islamabad attends reception

JEDDAH: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Jeddah on Wednesday with his accompanying delegation.

Prince Saud bin Meshaal bin Abdulaziz, deputy governor of the Makkah Region, welcomed Sharif at King Abdulaziz International Airport.

Saudi Ambassador to Islamabad Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Malki also attended the reception alongside other senior officials from Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.


Egyptian child with parasitic twin arrives in Saudi Arabia for possible separation surgery

Updated 19 March 2025
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Egyptian child with parasitic twin arrives in Saudi Arabia for possible separation surgery

  • Parents thank the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program and the Kingdom’s leaders for their help and the care and attention their son has received
  • The boy was taken to King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital in Riyadh for assessment by a medical team led by Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah

RIYADH: Mohammed Abdulrahman Juma, a child from Egypt with a parasitic twin, flew with his family to Riyadh on Wednesday for examination by a Saudi medical team to assess whether separation surgery is possible.

It followed directives from King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that the Kingdom help care for the child.

Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, the head of the medical team at King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital, and also an advisor to the Royal Court and Saudi aid agency KSrelief, thanked the Kingdom’s leaders for their support of this humanitarian case. He also acknowledged their backing of the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program, which provides assistance to critical cases worldwide.

Mohammed’s parents said they deeply appreciated the help provided by the program and the Saudi leaders, and the care and attention they have received, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

A parasitic twin, also known as vestigial twin, is an identical twin that stopped developing during gestation but is physically attached to the fully developed twin. Because it is not fully developed, it cannot survive on its own and often dies in the womb or during birth.


Diriyah program to empower, upskill local community

Fifth Diriyah Graduate Development Program has been launched to equip local talent with essential skills and knowledge.
Updated 19 March 2025
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Diriyah program to empower, upskill local community

  • Enhance technical, behavioral skills with hands-on experience and training in key sectors 

RIYADH: The fifth Diriyah Graduate Development Program has been launched to equip local talent with essential skills and knowledge to assist in the transformation of the location and the Kingdom. 

As a part of its efforts to empower and upskill the Diriyah community, the program focuses on personal and professional development while fostering a connection to the operating firm’s values, the Saudi Press Agency reported. 

Launched by Diriyah Co., the program offers graduates an educational experience enhanced through collaboration with experts, consultants, and management institutes. It is designed for bachelor’s and master’s graduates with up to one year of experience. 

Aligned with the goals of Vision 2030, participants will build both behavioral and technical skills, paving the way for strong career prospects in a dynamic work environment, the SPA reported. 

The program includes competitive monthly stipends, housing and transportation allowances, health insurance, and social insurance registration. 

Participants will also have opportunities for secondments with leading consulting firms, international training at renowned educational institutions, and paid annual leave. 

Since its launch, the program has benefited 101 graduates, with nearly 30,000 applications received across four editions, the SPA reported. 

Participants gain hands-on experience by rotating through key departments including finance, marketing, human resources, legal affairs, and governance.

They also receive specialized training in fields including data management, cybersecurity, and risk management.

Registration for the program is now open and will remain available until April 13.

Through this initiative, Diriyah Co. continues to invest in its community, nurturing the next generation of leaders and supporting the Kingdom’s progress, the SPA reported.


Saudi Arabia gears up for dazzling Eid Al-Fitr celebrations

Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority has issued Eid Al-Fitr Events 2025 details, featuring a wide range of activities
Updated 19 March 2025
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Saudi Arabia gears up for dazzling Eid Al-Fitr celebrations

  • GEA unveils range of family-friendly activities, including concerts, theatrical performances, across the Kingdom
  • Fireworks will illuminate the night sky at 9 p.m. in key locations in major cities

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority has issued Eid Al-Fitr Events 2025 details, featuring a wide range of activities to mark the occasion.

GEA has unveiled a nationwide celebration featuring concerts, theatrical performances, fireworks, and a variety of activities across the Kingdom's entertainment zones, offering unforgettable experiences for residents and visitors, Saudi Press Agency reported.

Musical concerts will take place in Riyadh, Shaqra, Abha, Qassim, Jeddah, and Eastern Region cities, while theatrical productions will take center stage in Riyadh (April 1-19), Jeddah (April 1-6), and Dammam (April 1-3).

Fireworks will illuminate the night sky at 9 p.m. in key locations, including Boulevard World in Riyadh, Jeddah Art Promenade, Alkhobar Corniche, and Arruddaf Park in Taif.

Eid celebrations will kick off on day one at Riyadh's Boulevard City, Boulevard World, VIA Riyadh, and Jeddah Art Promenade, with City Hub in Alkhobar hosting festivities on day two, providing diverse and family-friendly entertainment.

The events underscore GEA's dedication to celebrating Eid and advancing the Kingdom's entertainment sector.


Saudi Arabia’s AgriServ receives 8 ISO certifications for quality in agriculture

Updated 19 March 2025
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Saudi Arabia’s AgriServ receives 8 ISO certifications for quality in agriculture

  • Company recognized for meeting international quality, safety standards

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s National Company for Agricultural Services was awarded certifications from the International Organization for Standardization on Wednesday.

AgriServ, which provides services to farmers, breeders and agricultural enterprises, received eight ISO certifications for achieving quality standards and meeting international specifications of safety and efficiency.

Abdulrahman Al-Fadli, minister of environment, water and agriculture, and chairman of AgriServ, was present at the award ceremony.

The company obtained certifications in eight categories: anti-bribery, compliance, information security, quality, energy, environment, occupational health and safety, and customer satisfaction, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Omar Al-Suhaibani, CEO of AgriServ, said that the achievement was a result of the company’s efforts to enhance internal procedures and implement the highest quality standards.

He highlighted AgriServ’s commitment to international standards in its regulations, policies and procedures, the SPA added.