Saudi Arabia and US reenact Roosevelt meeting with King Abdul Aziz
Saudi Arabia and US reenact Roosevelt meeting with King Abdul Aziz /node/1628631/saudi-arabia
Saudi Arabia and US reenact Roosevelt meeting with King Abdul Aziz
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Hall Delano Roosevelt, the former president’s grandson, attended the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the meeting between President Franklin D. Roosevelt and King Abdul Aziz on board the USS Quincy in 1945. (AN photo by Huda Bashatah)
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Hall Delano Roosevelt and Prince Sultan bin Ahmed bin Abdul Aziz reenact the historic meeting between their grandfathers. (Huda Bashatah)
Saudi Arabia and US reenact Roosevelt meeting with King Abdul Aziz
The event on the deck of the USS Farragut reenacted the famous moment when President Franklin D. Roosevelt met King Abdul Aziz
Roosevelt said the meeting was about his grandfather “enduring relationship” with Saudi Arabia
Updated 17 February 2020
Rawan Radwan
JEDDAH: The US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia John Abizaid made an address in Jeddah on Sunday at a celebration of the 75th anniversary of the meeting between President Franklin D. Roosevelt and King Abdul Aziz on board the USS Quincy in 1945.
In an exclusive interview with Arab News on board the USS Farragut, Abizaid told Arab News: “When I think how much has happened since that 75 years of the meeting, we should be very proud of how things have gone.”
He added: “I’m very confident that the cooperation will stay strong, the energy will stay strong, education will stay very strong in developing economies especially when looking at the Vision 2030 developments.
“You move from a more oil-based economy to a service-based economy. And as you move there, it makes more sense that American companies would partner more and more with Saudi.”
The ceremony was attended by Hall Delano Roosevelt, the former president’s grandson, and Saudi Arabia’s Bahraini envoy Prince Sultan bin Ahmed bin Abdul Aziz, who is a grandson of King Abdul Aziz.
Roosevelt said the meeting was about America’s “enduring relationship” with Saudi Arabia and recognizing there was a “great man, King Abdul Aziz, creating a great nation.”
I’m very confident that the cooperation will stay strong, the energy will stay strong, education will stay very strong in developing economies especially when looking at the Vision 2030 developments.
John Abizaid, US ambassador to Saudi Arabia
Commander of the US Naval Forces Central Command Admiral James Malloy told Arab News that the tight-knit relationship with the Kingdom will ensure regional security.
“Because it’s a tight cooperation, it responds to threats in the region. Threats in the maritime, threats to the free flow of commerce, whether it is state-sponsored or non-state-sponsored, we both recognize that this threatens the region as a whole. When that happens, you call your close friends and our closest friends are the Saudi Royal Naval Forces,” said Malloy. In order to ensure the continued monitoring and security of the waters off the Arabian Gulf, the Red Sea and Arabian Sea, Malloy sees the cooperation between the two nations’ naval forces strengthening through improved communications.
“The biggest improvement will be in information flow, as each of us are fielding new and more capable ships,” said Malloy, adding: “One of the things we’re building into our ships is the ability to talk with each other, so unlike the past ships where we would have to call back to our home base, now we can talk with each other. This makes us more capable than just sum of the two of us, but capable as a whole fleet.
“When you make a friend with someone of this region, you can count on them, you can trust them, they always have your back and they’re always looking after the interest that you have that you share with them. It’s something we look forward to operating with our partners in this region because of that,” he said.
Malloy said that “Maritime has always been our tradition and one of the first places that we visited when we came over here was the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. I think we share a common vision for the legitimate use of oceans, and that brings us together as navies, something that we’re natural at.”
Saudi Arabia expands aid project for flood-affected families in Pakistan
The project “reflects the directives of the Saudi leadership and its continued support for the people of Pakistan.”
Updated 8 sec ago
Arab News
Riyadh: Saudi aid agency KSrelief has launched the third phase of its food security support project in Pakistan, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The launch ceremony was held at the Saudi Embassy in Islamabad, attended by Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki, Pakistan’s Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain, and other officials.
Al-Malki said the project “reflects the directives of the Saudi leadership and its continued support for the people of Pakistan.”
He added that it is part of a series of KSrelief initiatives intended to help vulnerable families, particularly those affected by floods across the country.
The project will distribute more than 30,000 food baskets in various regions of Pakistan. Each basket contains essential food items sufficient for a family for one month, the SPA reported.
The project will assist a total of 210,000 people, Al-Malki added.
Hussain expressed the gratitude of the Pakistani government and people for Saudi Arabia’s ongoing humanitarian assistance.
Meanwhile, KSrelief concluded the Saudi Noor program to combat blindness and its causes in Settat, Morocco, on Saturday.
During the week-long campaign, medical volunteers examined 2,525 patients, performed 276 surgeries, and distributed 957 pairs of glasses.
In Yemen, a KSrelief team visited vocational training centers in Seiyun district, Hadramout governorate, to assess the Vocational Pathways project aimed at empowering young men and women.
The team reviewed training programs in motorcycle electrical maintenance and sewing and tailoring, which are benefiting 40 participants from both the host community and displaced populations.
The project is part of the Kingdom’s humanitarian efforts to benefit Yemeni youth through vocational training and tools, contributing to sustainable development for the country.
In Sudan, KSrelief distributed 500 food baskets to displaced families in several towns in Blue Nile State, benefiting 3,266 people. The agency also distributed 1,550 food baskets in El-Gadarif State, benefiting 10,230 individuals.
A total of 10,746 people were arrested for violations of residency laws, while 4,362 were held over illegal border crossing attempts
Updated 5 min 37 sec ago
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi authorities arrested 17,863 people in one week for breaching residency, work and border security regulations, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.
A total of 10,746 people were arrested for violations of residency laws, while 4,362 were held over illegal border crossing attempts, and a further 2,755 for labor-related issues.
The report showed that among the 1,507 people arrested for trying to enter the Kingdom illegally, 65 percent were Ethiopian, 33 percent Yemeni, and 2 percent were of other nationalities.
A further 99 people were caught trying to cross into neighboring countries, and 26 were held for involvement in transporting and harboring violators, the SPA reported.
The Ministry of Interior said that anyone found to be facilitating illegal entry to the Kingdom, including providing transportation and shelter, could face imprisonment for a maximum of 15 years, a fine of up to SR1 million ($267,000), as well as confiscation of vehicles and property.
Suspected violations can be reported on the toll-free number 911 in the Makkah and Riyadh regions, and 999 or 996 in other regions of the Kingdom.
Japan, GCC conclude second round of FTA negotiations
Proposals were reviewed by both sides, with a focus on strengthening trade relations, finding areas to cooperate and fostering partnerships
Updated 05 July 2025
Arab News Japan
TOKYO: The second round of negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement between the GCC countries and Japan ended in Tokyo on Friday.
Taking part in the discussions — which covered topics including goods, technical barriers, terms of services, financial and telecommunications services, and intellectual property — was a government delegation led by the General Authority for Foreign Trade.
Proposals were reviewed by both sides, with a focus on strengthening trade relations, finding areas to cooperate and fostering partnerships.
Farid bin Saeed Al-Asali, deputy governor of the General Authority for International Organizations and Agreements and head of the Saudi Negotiating Team, said he was looking forward to completing the remaining negotiation rounds and reaching an ambitious final agreement which would be beneficial to the volume of trade between both sides.
He added the negotiation rounds highlighted economic ties between the GCC and Japan and supported Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.
During a meeting with the Saudi ambassador to Japan, Dr. Ghazi bin Faisal Binzagr, Al-Asali stressed the importance of free trade negotiations with Japan as they emphasized the commitment of both Saudi Arabia and the GCC countries to enhancing relations with Japan and achieving the goals of the Saudi-Japanese Vision 2030.
The Kingdom’s delegation included representatives from the Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Ministry of Investment, Ministry of Economy and Planning, Saudi Food and Drug Authority, Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property, Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization, Saudi Export Development Authority, Communications, Space and Technology Commission, Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, and the Saudi Central Bank.
How Saudi Arabia is using innovation, research, and regulation to turn waste into a circular economy success
Engineering, AI and cross-sector partnerships are driving sustainable solutions to manage 110 million tons of waste annually
New laws, financial incentives and rising investor interest are reshaping the Kingdom’s waste management and recycling landscape
Updated 05 July 2025
Hebshi Alshammari
RIYADH: As Saudi Arabia accelerates toward a circular economy under Vision 2030, experts say universities, research institutions, and business leaders are playing a crucial role in developing innovative waste management solutions that align with national sustainability goals.
In early 2024, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture announced a waste management plan aiming to recycle up to 95 percent of waste and add SR120 billion ($31.99 billion) to the Kingdom’s gross domestic product.
Saudi Arabia generates more than 110 million tons of waste each year, much of it originating from cities like Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam. Its waste management market is projected to grow from $5.97 billion in 2025 to $8.72 billion by 2030, according to Mordor Intelligence.
To meet this challenge, academic partnerships, regulatory reforms and emerging technologies are coming together to reshape the sector, Sultan Al-Muaythir, chairman of the civil engineering department at Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, told Arab News.
Forming knowledge-sharing agreements with leading countries in waste management, he said, is a strategic step toward building a sustainable, locally adapted system that draws on global best practices and aligns with Saudi Arabia’s circular economy ambitions.
To drive innovation in the sector, Al-Muaythir emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary support. Fields like civil engineering, landfill and waste management, geotechnical engineering, and soil sciences all contribute to the design and development of critical infrastructure.
Sultan Al-Muaythir, chairman of the civil engineering department at Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University. (Supplied)
Mechanical engineering plays a key role in advancing collection and treatment equipment, while chemical, agricultural and biotechnology engineering disciplines help analyze waste composition and develop transformation processes.
Electrical engineering, he added, is essential for operating smart systems and managing energy generated through treatment.
Al-Muaythir also pointed to the Kingdom’s updated regulatory landscape, particularly the introduction of the Waste Management Law and its executive regulations, as a strong foundation for encouraging innovation and investment in sustainable practices.
He explained that the next phase calls for faster plan implementation, broader international research collaboration and direct incentives for advanced processing technologies — steps that would speed up the Kingdom’s progress toward its environmental and development goals.
While government action is essential, Al-Muaythir said innovation in waste management is not a luxury, but a necessity for building a clean environment and a functioning circular economy.
He added that individual responsibility plays an equally important role. “Adopting conscious behaviors towards waste and committing to sorting and reuse/recycling constitute the first building blocks in creating a more sustainable future,” he said.
Expanding on this vision, Abdullah Alakel, chairman of the Saudi Scientific Research and Innovation Association, said waste management innovation is a cornerstone of Vision 2030’s broader goal to build a circular and sustainable economy.
Abdullah Alakel, chairman of the Saudi Scientific Research and Innovation Association. (Supplied)
He told Arab News that scientific research is a key driver in tackling environmental challenges — from recycling and waste-to-energy technologies to the use of artificial intelligence to improve sorting and collection processes — ultimately boosting operational efficiency and reducing environmental harm.
To support this ecosystem, the association provides business incubators and innovation accelerators, offering technical and financial assistance. It also facilitates connections between researchers, donors and investors to help turn ideas into market-ready solutions.
Alakel noted that several joint initiatives with academic and industrial partners are already underway, including efforts to convert organic waste into economic products such as fertilizers and biofuels.
DID YOU KNOW?
• Saudi Arabia aims to recycle up to 95 percent of its waste by 2040. Waste management sector is projected to contribute $32bn to GDP by 2040.
• Half of the Kingdom’s waste comes from Riyadh (21 percent), Jeddah (14 percent) and Dammam (8 percent).
(Sources: Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture and the National Center for Waste Management)
Other projects aim to develop scalable recycling technologies and improve overall waste management efficiency.
Beyond research, the association works to foster a culture of sustainability across society. Alakel said it organizes public awareness campaigns, educational workshops in schools and universities, and national competitions that encourage creative, environmentally responsible solutions.
He added that the association plays a critical role in bridging academia and implementation by hosting scientific conferences, building strategic partnerships and supporting national innovation deployment in alignment with Vision 2030’s environmental goals.
Farah Al-Gharib, CEO of Precision & Choice Environmental Solutions, echoed those views, underscoring the opportunity to enhance coordination between stakeholders as Saudi Arabia moves toward a circular economy.
Farah Al-Gharib, CEO of Precision & Choice Environmental Solutions. (Supplied)
She told Arab News that aligning regulations, expanding infrastructure for sorting and collection, and stimulating private investment remain key challenges. Raising public awareness and promoting innovation are also essential to achieving sector-wide transformation.
To accelerate progress, Al-Gharib called for a more integrated and flexible system that encourages public-private partnerships. Activating source-level sorting and offering financial incentives to investors, she said, would help drive growth in the sector.
Clear metrics, such as waste reduction, cost savings and job creation, should be used to measure success.
KAUST's waste collection fleet is equipped with technology that supports efficient operations, from online vehicle tracking to waste bin management. (Photo courtesy of KAUST)
Looking ahead, she expects more companies to invest in smart technologies and expand their collection and treatment networks. Seamless integration across the entire waste value chain — from source to processing and redistribution — is essential, she said, to avoid bottlenecks and uphold the core principles of the circular economy.
“Based on our experience in the sector, we believe that unifying and updating regulations under a single, clear, and transparent regulatory framework would directly contribute to attracting investors, reducing the complexity of procedures and the classification of recyclable products, thereby accelerating regulatory processes and stimulating production,” said Al-Gharib.
She concluded that clear legislation and coordinated responsibilities across authorities are key to scaling up circular economy initiatives effectively and sustainably.
Hayy Cinema hosting classic movie program for children in Jeddah
The program includes twice daily screenings of classic Arab cartoons that have left a lasting impression on viewers and a complementary range of artistic activities inspired by the films
Updated 04 July 2025
SPA
JEDDAH: Hayy Cinema in Jeddah is running an entertainment program that provides an interactive experience to evoke childhood memories and strengthen cultural bonds between generations.
The program includes twice daily screenings of classic Arab cartoons that have left a lasting impression on viewers and a complementary range of artistic activities inspired by the films.
Hayy Cinema, which is an Art Jameel initiative, provides a unique approach to film presentation. Its facilities include a 168-seat theater, private screening room, multimedia library and an educational exhibition, all designed with architectural inspiration drawn from the history of Gulf cinema.