Many of us would love to find a cafe that not only offers good food and coffee but the space to complete our projects in a friendly environment.
With this idea in mind The Shed opened its doors last October in Alkhobar. Those who frequent the place consider it a special spot that combines fun with coffee and, in addition, promotes social networking.
The Shed is a social space that was launched with the idea of renewing the importance of communication and contact among people and allowing them to share fun and interesting activities such as board games, reading, workshops and a room to pursue one’s creative pursuits.
The cafe offers 150 board games that give the brain a workout and promote healthy competition. A reading room allows visitors to enjoy the work of their favorite authors while sipping on world-renowned Arabic coffee. There is a dedicated room for meetings, and creative workshops where people can hold brainstorming sessions. The coloring room at the cafe allows visitors to paint and relax.
Good things, however, do not come for free. People who wish to spend quality time at the cafe have to pay a nominal fee of SR40 ($11), which gives them access to board games for two hours. Game guides are on hand to help visitors choose the right games and understand the rules.
The fee to enter the coloring and drinks rooms is separate. These rooms can be reserved for one person or 12 to enjoy coloring. The Shed also organizes workshops and sessions for arts. Prices to participate in these workshops range between SR99 and SR150.
Abeer Al-Zubaidi, 30, is a graphic designer and a mother of two. She took her passion and love to create The Shed, along with her husband. The idea for the project started underneath the shed of their house in October 2018, and The Shed came to life a year later.
Al-Zubaidi said: “After we got married and moved from Jeddah we were surprised by the people of the Eastern Province, who prefer to stick to the people they already knew and we lacked an opportunity to expand our acquaintance circle. This is where the idea came from and we were inspired to expand the circle of people who come over to our house every weekend. We called it ‘The Shed’ as the shed is a traditional shaded space, where neighbors used to meet back in the old times, usually made of date palm leaves.”
The idea behind the cafe was to blend the past with the present. The architecture of the place also represented the same idea, as most of its sections are made of palm leaves to give it a traditional Arab touch, she explained.
“We wanted to combine the past with the present in this beautiful space and establish the Arab identity in it. Friends of The Shed are people who are passionate about learning and developing and are looking for an inspiring place to do so. We want to be the shed of every person wishing to develop and educate themselves to benefit society.”
She added that, in light of the precautionary and preventive measures adopted to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, The Shed was closed until the end of the Kingdom’s curfew. The Shed has reopened and is abiding by the requirements of the Health Ministry to ensure everyone’s safety.
“We are committed to taking every visitor’s temperature, wearing face masks, respecting social distancing, receiving a limited number of visitors, disinfecting the place regularly and requiring visitors to pay electronically and wear the gloves provided by The Shed.”
Startup of the Week: The Shed: Perfect spot to meet and greet
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Startup of the Week: The Shed: Perfect spot to meet and greet
- The cafe offers 150 board games that give the brain a workout and promote healthy competition
Saudi, Eurojust officials discuss judicial reforms
RIYADH: Saudi Minister of Justice Walid Al-Samaani visited the EU Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation, Eurojust, in The Hague, Netherlands.
He was welcomed by Eurojust President Michael Schmid. They discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in the judicial and legal fields to promote justice and human rights, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Al-Samaani highlighted significant developments in the Kingdom’s judicial sector, supported by King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as part of Saudi Vision 2030.
He said that the right to litigation is guaranteed to both citizens and residents of the Kingdom, with all judicial guarantees provided to ensure equal treatment for all parties and fairness in resolving disputes based solely on facts.
Al-Samaani highlighted key judicial reforms that have enhanced transparency and public access, such as recording court sessions with audio and video, publishing judicial rulings, introducing electronic litigation services and implementing the preventive justice system.
COP29 leaders push for faster climate action in second week
- Simon Stiell: Entering the second week of this COP, it is a mixed picture
- Stiell: The bottom line is we are a long way from halving global emissions this decade
BAKU: The COP29 Presidency team gathered on Monday to discuss negotiations and some of the highlighted plans for the second week of the 29th session of the UN climate change conference.
Present at the discussions were Mukhtar Babayev, president of COP29; Yalchin Rafiyev, lead negotiator; Leyla Hasanovahe, youth climate champion for COP29; and Simon Stiell, executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Concerns were expressed regarding the state of negotiations and whether the participating parties were moving forward at the desired speed to deliver results efficiently.
“Politicians are the power to reach a fair and ambitious dream,” Babayev said. “They must deliver on responsibilities. They must engage immediately and constructively.”
Stiell also gave his thoughts on the progress thus far.
“Entering the second week of this COP, it is a mixed picture. It has been encouraging to see the significant strides forward notably on carbon markets, making progress that previous COPs could not achieve. There is more work to do, of course, and I am certainly not complacent. There are still challenges ahead there.
“The bottom line is we are a long way from halving global emissions this decade.”
While Babayev and Stiell agreed on the amount of work still needed in order for the world to reduce the impact of climate change, Stiell said he believes collaborative efforts are necessary so that all participating countries can deliver.
“We must help countries to pick up this pace over this high week,” he said.
Saudi Rail event keeps Kingdom’s transport goals on track
- Inaugural conference in Riyadh showcases global collaboration, Vision 2030 ambitions
- Saleh Al-Jasser: The immense interest shown by global companies to attend demonstrates their eagerness to contribute to and partner in the Kingdom’s ambitious railway projects
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has marked another milestone in its bid to become a global transport hub, with the first Saudi Rail Conference and Exhibition kicking off in Riyadh on Wednesday.
The two-day event, inaugurated by Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistics Services Saleh Al-Jasser, will showcase the latest advances in railway technology, while fostering collaboration between local and international transport stakeholders.
More than 200 exhibitors and speakers from around the world will take part in the event.
Aligned with Vision 2030, the event supports the Kingdom’s goals of modernizing infrastructure, and enhancing economic and social development.
Al-Jasser, who also chairs Saudi Arabia Railways, highlighted the importance of the conference, and Saudi Arabia’s progress in transport and logistics.
“More than 15,000 participants and 120 exhibitors from around the world have gathered at this inaugural event, reflecting the Kingdom’s significance and the remarkable progress in the transport and logistics sectors,” he said.
“The immense interest shown by global companies to attend demonstrates their eagerness to contribute to and partner in the Kingdom’s ambitious railway projects.”
Al-Jasser said that this is a testament to the support provided by King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whose National Transport and Logistics Strategy has set the stage for transformative growth.
The Kingdom’s railway network has grown significantly in recent years, with major projects such as the Northern Train Network, the Eastern Train Network, and the Haramain High-Speed Railway connecting major cities and facilitating pilgrimage traffic.
Urban rail systems, including the Riyadh Metro, and specialized networks such as the Mashaer Train for Hajj pilgrims have also enhanced the infrastructure.
Bashar Al-Malik, CEO of Saudi Arabia Railways, emphasized the strategic significance of the event.
“Hosting the Saudi Rail event demonstrates the Kingdom’s commitment to becoming a leader in transportation innovation. This platform connects key stakeholders and fosters regional and global partnerships,” he said.
The conference aims to accelerate international collaboration, encouraging global companies to expand their operations in Saudi Arabia.
“By fostering partnerships, we aim to drive local capacity-building and knowledge transfer, ensuring that the Kingdom’s railway sector is globally competitive,” Al-Malik added.
The railway sector’s expansion aligns with Vision 2030’s goals of economic diversification and sustainable development. By supporting tourism and trade, Saudi railways help ease road congestion, lower accident rates, and reduce environmental impact.
As the Saudi Rail Conference and Exhibition continues, it will cement the Kingdom’s reputation as a global hub for transport innovation. With strategic partnerships and cutting-edge technology, Saudi Arabia’s rail sector is poised for exponential growth, serving as a model for sustainable and efficient transportation.
Tuwaiq Academy, Misk to launch new tech training
- Deal signed to hone Saudi skills in data science, artificial intelligence, video game production
RIYADH: Leading Saudi programming trainer Tuwaiq Academy is partnering with the Mohammed bin Salman Foundation, or Misk, to support training in advanced technologies, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Tuwaiq Academy, founded in 2019, provides a range of training and educational courses in cybersecurity, programming and software development in a bid to position Saudi Arabia among the ranks of technologically advanced countries.
Its partnership with Misk was sealed at the Misk Global Forum 2024, which concluded on Tuesday in Riyadh.
A memorandum was signed by Misk Foundation CEO Badr Al-Badr and the CEO of Tuwaiq Academy, Abdulaziz Al-Hammadi.
The agreement between the two entities will result in several initiatives to hone Saudi skills in advanced technology, including data science, artificial intelligence, video game production and user experience design, the SPA reported.
Tuwaiq Academy will also turn some Misk programs into bootcamps, cooperate in meetings about the latest technology, and invite experts to enrich the tech community in Saudi Arabia.
Since 2019, Tuwaiq Academy has provided professional bootcamps to thousands of Saudi trainees and has partnered with tech giants such as Meta, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon and Alibaba.
The academy has now opened registration for a number of its advanced technology bootcamps through its website at tuwaiq.edu.sa
Saudi COP29 pavilion showcases latest climate solutions
- Energy leaders, policymakers explore cutting-edge tech, offer expert insights
- Pavilion shares Kingdom’s commitment to addressing global climate challenge
BAKU: The Saudi pavilion has emerged as a hub for collaboration and innovation at the COP29 climate talks, reflecting the Kingdom’s robust efforts to address climate change and drive sustainable development goals.
A series of panel discussions and expert insights at the pavilion have underscored Saudi Arabia’s commitment to advancing climate solutions.
Energy leaders, policymakers, and professionals joined the sessions to exchange ideas and explore cutting-edge technologies.
Panel discussions have explored key climate initiatives, with one of the standout sessions, “The Role of International Standards in Addressing Climate Change,” delving into how global standards can be adapted to fit national circumstances.
Experts discussed the importance of aligning international frameworks to effectively support climate action across diverse regions.
Another session, “Advancing Innovative Carbon Utilization Technologies to Achieve Climate Ambitions,” focused on converting carbon dioxide into valuable products. Participants highlighted technical solutions for carbon management, including the development of carbon capture and utilization technologies, and discussed the global challenges of decarbonization.
The future of hydrogen as a clean energy source also took center stage, with the Kingdom reaffirming its commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2060.
Speaking to Arab News, Renad Aldebasi, a carbon specialist at the Ministry of Energy, outlined the Kingdom’s efforts under the circular carbon economy program.
“This program, built on the four Rs — reduce, reuse, recycle, and remove — guides us toward net-zero emissions by 2060. Our world-class carbon capture and sequestration hub will scale up to capture 44 million tons of CO2 annually by 2035,” Aldebasi said.
Leadership and collaboration were also on display, with the Saudi Energy Leaders Assembly playing a pivotal role, and driving discussions on policies, partnerships, and infrastructure.
The assembly further amplified Saudi Arabia’s voice in global energy dialogues.
Nasser Al-Ghamdi, CEO of the Saudi Energy Efficiency Center, highlighted the Kingdom’s advances in improving energy efficiency.
“Since 2010, we’ve achieved significant efficiency gains, including a 57 percent improvement in HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning) systems and a 28 percent improvement in transportation fuel economy. By 2030, we aim to save the equivalent of 1 million barrels of oil daily,” he said.
Abeer Alharbi, senior project manager at the Ministry of Energy, outlined progress in renewable energy.
“Saudi Arabia’s National Renewable Energy Program aims to meet 50 percent of electricity demand through renewables by 2030. With 6.2 GW already operational, we’re setting global benchmarks, such as achieving record-low costs for solar and wind energy,” Alharbi said.
Regional and global partnerships have also been cemented at COP29.
On the sidelines of the Baku talks, Saudi Arabia signed a joint executive program with Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan to enhance cooperation in renewable energy. The program focuses on interconnecting regional power grids, integrating renewable energy projects, and fostering joint investment opportunities. Agreements with ACWA Power further advance initiatives in battery energy storage and offshore wind power, particularly in the Caspian Sea region.
COP29 continues to provide a platform for Saudi Arabia to share its vision and initiatives, showcasing the Kingdom’s dedication to addressing one of the most pressing global challenges of our time.
