DUBAI: Flights from Khartoum and Tunisia have landed in Jeddah carrying repatriated Saudi nationals, state news agency SPA reported on Sunday.
The Saudia flights were part of the ongoing project to return citizens to the Kingdom as the coronavirus pandemic continues.
On arrival at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, the repatriated citizens were greeted by representatives from various government agencies, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Tourism, and the Ministry of Health.
Each person will undergo a series of preventive measures, including medical examinations carried out at the airport of the country of departure before boarding the plane.
They were monitored for their temperature by the Saudi Ministry of Health, using thermal imaging devices.
Passengers were then transported to guesthouses which have been designated as quarantine centers, where they will remain for 14 days.
Saudis land in Jeddah on COVID-19 repatriation flights from Khartoum, Tunisia
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Saudis land in Jeddah on COVID-19 repatriation flights from Khartoum, Tunisia
- The Saudia flights were part of the ongoing project to return citizens to the Kingdom as the coronavirus pandemic continues
Saudi Feast Food Festival celebrates culinary journey through Kingdom’s rich heritage and diverse flavors
- Festival features a lineup of activities spread across seven distinct zones
- One of the main attractions is the culinary arts heritage area
JEDDAH: The Saudi Feast Food Festival, organized by the Saudi Ministry of Culture and Culinary Arts Commission, has officially begun its fourth event at the Abadi Al-Johar Theater in Jeddah, running from Nov. 27 to Dec. 6.
The festival features a lineup of activities spread across seven distinct zones. One of the main attractions is the culinary arts heritage area, divided into 13 sections that represent different regions of Saudi Arabia. Each section highlights regional specialties, offering diverse culinary traditions from Jazan, Makkah, Al-Jouf, Qassim, Medina, Hail, Tabuk, Riyadh and Al-Baha, with more than 195 food stalls.
The highlight of the festival is the competition zone, where professional chefs face off in cooking competitions that showcase Saudi national and regional dishes, including jareesh and maqshush, the Saudi national dsh.
Chefs from all over the Kingdom will compete in daily challenges, with one or two competitions held each day throughout the festival, and with a cash prize of SR20,000 ($5,323) for the winner of each competition.
Turkan Sharawi, a judge in the competition and an expert in cuisine, patisserie and boulangerie, told Arab News: “This competition is a great opportunity to highlight our authentic Saudi food and cuisine. It’s not about creativity but about preserving traditional dishes and showcasing them to the world. When judging, I focused on techniques, how well the dishes reflected traditional recipes passed down through generations.”
Turki Badawi, an inflight chef for Saudia Airlines and first-time judge, said: “Judging has been a difficult task, as all the participants are incredibly talented. The chefs are presenting food in creative and internationally appealing ways. For my judging, I primarily focused on taste.”
Children in the kids zone can participate in hands-on workshops to learn about Saudi cuisine, art and culture — with activities such as cooking lessons, storytelling at “Grandmother’s Stories” corner, and interactive environmental awareness programs.
For those looking to enhance their culinary skills, the workshops zone offers up to 30 cooking workshops, where professional chefs teach everything from making traditional Saudi sweets to savory dishes.
Participating in the festival, Ahmad Zaki Kamel, founder of Azka Foods and azkabasket.com, said: “We are in all 13 zones. Thanks to the support of the Culinary Arts Commission, Azkabasket is participating at the festival with a large selection of products from our network of farms and producers representing all 13 regions of Saudi Arabia. This is both a celebration of the vast range of organic and natural local foods and a testament that AZKA’s goal of ethical food system self-sufficiency is an achievable objective.”
Sharif Alruwaili, representing the Al-Jouf region, said: “Al-Jouf is renowned for its olive oil, olives and a variety of dates. We also offer a distinctive blend of za’atar, made with a mix of different herbs and spices. I’ve brought products from my own farm, as well as others, to showcase here at the festival. It’s been truly rewarding to interact with visitors and educate them about Al-Jouf’s renowned produce.”
Fahad Ibrahim, founder of Maamoul Um Saleh Al-Ayed, said: “I’m here from Qassim with over 45 different types of traditional Saudi biscuits, especially Maamoul made with olive oil and sugar-free options for a healthier choice. We are excited to present our products to the public.”
Fayza Alshaeri, a local chef, presented a buffet of traditional food from Al-Qassim and said: “Cooking is my passion, and being a chef is something I truly love. This buffet represents authentic food from Al-Qassim, and it’s wonderful to see people enjoying it, especially those who have never tasted these dishes before.”
Similarly, Mohammed Kassarah, a chef from Madinah, showcased a spread including traditional Kabuli rice with chicken and meat, meat sambusas, and sweets. He said: “Our meat and chicken are fresh, sourced directly from Madinah. It feels great when visitors recognize the quality and freshness of our ingredients and praise the dishes we’ve prepared.”
Riyadh fintech forum ‘a turning point’ in Swiss-Saudi partnership
RIYADH: The Switzerland Embassy in coordination with the Saudi Ministry of Investment and Fintech Saudi organized the first Saudi-Swiss Fintech Forum in Riyadh.
Swiss and Saudi experts took part in the event on Nov. 25-26 under the theme “Connecting Leaders across Borders.”
The forum provided a platform for the exchange of ideas and the rethinking of traditional financial models.
Switzerland is an established financial hub and Saudi Arabia has the largest financial services industry in the Middle East.
Swiss Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Yasmine Chatila Zwahlen, said the forum marked a turning point in the development of the partnership between Switzerland and Saudi Arabia.
Nezar Al-Haidar, CEO of Fintech Saudi, said the collaboration between Fintech Saudi and its Swiss counterparts creates opportunities for knowledge sharing, and paves the way for access to new markets.
The leaders are working to make Saudi Arabia a global fintech hub, and this collaboration deepens the ties between our ecosystems, he added.
Arab News met Saudi and Swiss experts at the forum, who discussed finance, market opportunities and the importance of Swiss expertise in Saudi Arabia’s fintech development.
Yazeed Al-Shamsi, co-founder and CEO of Ejari, said: “Our perception of Swiss cooperation is positive. Fintech is the sector that has received the most funding in Saudi Arabia in the last three or four years. There is still room for growth.”
Al-Shamsi said that the banking and insurance sectors contribute significantly to gross domestic product, and there are still opportunities in wealth management, investment, financing, and alternative financing.
Abdulmajeed Al-Askar, CEO of MoneyMoon, told Arab News that Saudi companies see Swiss-Saudi cooperation as a chance to bridge two diverse but complementary markets.
Switzerland has a long history of financial expertise, while Saudi Arabia is becoming a hub of entrepreneurial energy and digital adoption.
This collaboration is about building long-term partnerships that enable both sides to innovate and scale faster, Al-Askar said.
Saudi Arabia has many talented financial leaders and professionals, he added.
“By combining expertise with a forward-thinking approach, we can create an ecosystem that sets new benchmarks. Saudi Arabian leaders can design solutions tailored to the population’s needs. With new talent, we are creating an entirely new financial paradigm for the region.”
Eva Selamlar, head of the Swiss Financial Innovation Office, said that Swiss companies can contribute their expertise to help Saudi Vision 2030.
Andreas Iten, CEO of Tinety, said: “There are many opportunities in this market. The regulatory framework is favorable, so Swiss companies should look at it because there are great opportunities and a big need for digital solutions.”
The forum explored the opportunity for Switzerland and the Kingdom to advance their ambitions in the financial technology sector, in line with Vision 2030.
Saudi Arabia sends 25th relief plane to Lebanon
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s 26th relief aircraft loaded with humanitarian aid including food, medical supplies and shelter equipment arrived at Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport on Thursday, state news agency SPA reported.
The plane, operated by King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, departed King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh earlier in the day as part of a continuing effort to transport hundreds of tonnes of medical supplies and food aid for Lebanese families displaced by the conflict.
A earlier statement from the Saudi aid agency KSrelief said the aid deliveries showed that the Kingdom was “standing with needy and affected countries … in the face of crises and difficulties.”
Saudi foreign minister arrives in Kuwait for ministerial meeting for Gulf Supreme Council
KUWAIT: Saudi foreign minister Faisal bin Farhan arrived in Kuwait on Thursday ahead of the ministerial meeting for the Supreme Council of the Cooperation Council for Arab States of the Gulf.
The preparatory ministerial meeting is set to discuss the agenda of the 45th session of the Supreme Council of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf which is scheduled for next Sunday in Kuwait City. Leaders from all over the Gulf will attend the meeting.
The minister was welcomed by his counterpart Abdullah Al-Yahya.
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman inaugurates Riyadh Metro project
- Riyadh Metro network includes six train lines measuring 176 km and 85 stations
- Metro will be open to public from Dec. 1, operate daily from 6am to midnight
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman inaugurated the Riyadh Metro project on Wednesday, Saudi Press Agency reported.
The project is considered the backbone of the public transport network in Riyadh, SPA said.
King Salman watched an introductory film about the project, which is distinguished by its exceptional design and technical specifications.
The Riyadh Metro consists of a network that includes six train lines measuring 176 km and 85 stations, including four main stations.
“The Riyadh Public Transport Project, which spans metro and bus networks, is the culmination of concerted efforts made by King Salman and the outcome of his visionary leadership while serving as the Chairman of the High Commission for the Development of Arriyadh, the predecessor of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City,” Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said.
The Public Transport Project in Riyadh City was launched based on various studies prepared by the High Commission for the Development of Arriyadh.
The studies considered the current and future needs of the public transport sector in the capital and identified the best solutions and options for establishing a sustainable public transport system that is compatible with the city and its characteristics.
The metro will begin to be available for public use from Dec. 1 and will operate daily from 6 a.m. to midnight.
The lines will open over the next two months in stages — with the blue, yellow and purple lines opening on Dec. 1, the red and green lines opening on Dec. 15, and the orange line opening on Jan. 5, 2025.
Following the announcement, Saudi Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb posted on X: “Under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, may Allah protect him, the #RiyadhMetro project was inaugurated — reflecting the leadership’s commitment during this prosperous era to enhancing Riyadh’s infrastructure and raising the quality of life in the city.
“This aligns with the goals of #SaudiVision2030, further establishing the city’s position as a tourist destination that attracts visitors from around the world.”
Abeer Al-Shehri, a Riyadh-based lawyer, told Arab News that the new metro would cut the time she spent in traffic and the number of postponed appointments.
“As a lawyer, my profession involves fieldwork at courts, the Public Prosecution and police stations. Sometimes I have to attend sessions at the office while also having two important appointments to attend,” she said.
“With the traffic, there’s not enough time for both, so I’m forced to postpone one. Additionally, client meetings at the company’s office often take place around noon, and it’s well known that at that time, it’s impossible to reach the location within an hour without being late.
“This forces me to leave at least an hour earlier. The metro will significantly improve the time wasted in traffic, and as a lawyer, it will allow me to commute back and forth to the office in record time.”
Riyadh resident Faisal Suliman Al-Anzy told Arab News that he was “happy and excited” about Wednesday’s announcement.
He plans to use the metro “for visiting friends, (especially at) the weekend when there are traffic jams everywhere.”
