DUBAI: Royal Saudi Navy celebrated the launch of its first Avante 2200 corvette, state news agency SPA reported.
The ship – named Al-Jubail – was unveiled by Spanish shipbuilder Navantia on Wednesday and is one of the five in the Royal Saudi Naval Forces, RSNF.
The corvettes are being built by a joint venture between Saudi Arabian Military Industries, SAMI, and Navantia, named SAMI Navantia Industries, SAMI-Navantia. They will be delivered in 2024, a year later than initially planned, and will feature special combat and fire control systems and integrated communications among other technologies.
Royal Saudi Navy Vice Admiral Fahad AL-Ghofaily and Navantia’s President Susana de Sarria attended the ceremony.
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Saudi navy celebrates launch of new vessel
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Saudi navy celebrates launch of new vessel
- The ship named Al-Jubail was unveiled by a Spanish shipbuilder earlier this week
- The newly built corvettes will feature special combat and fire control systems along with integrated communications technology
Saudi program expands support in rural communities
- Program now has 87,235 beneficiaries across the Kingdom
RIYADH: The Sustainable Agricultural Rural Development Program, known as Saudi Reef, has announced that it now has 87,235 beneficiaries across the Kingdom.
This is a part of efforts to promote economic and social stability in rural areas and support agricultural workers and families involved in cottage industries, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
Majed Al-Buraikan, Saudi Reef’s assistant secretary-general for media and communication, said the support from the nation’s leadership has helped to expand the number of beneficiaries and achieve tangible results.
He said this reflects the Kingdom’s ongoing efforts to support the agricultural sector and develop rural areas, the SPA added.
Al-Buraikan said the program has several main pillars, including developing agricultural and livestock production, empowering rural women, and supporting small-scale fishermen.
The program also focuses on adding value to products which was key to sustainable rural development and boosting the income of families across the regions, he added.
Al-Buraikan said Saudi Reef continues to provide direct support, training, and certification programs aimed at improving quality of life in rural areas.
This was in addition to increasing the agricultural sector’s contribution to the nation’s gross domestic product, in line with the goals of Vision 2030, he said.
Madinah governor receives Iraqi consul general
Madinah Gov. Prince Salman bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz received at his office on Wednesday Mohammed Samir Al-Naqshbandi, consul general of Iraq and permanent representative to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, as his term in the Kingdom comes to an end.
During the meeting, they discussed various topics of common interest, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Meanwhile, Fareed bin Saad Al-Shehri, director-general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ branch in Makkah, received Consul General of Singapore Chandra Kumar in Jeddah on Wednesday.
Muharram begins on Thursday: Saudi Supreme Court
RIYADH: Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar, will start on Thursday, Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court announced on Wednesday.
The announcement came after the crescent moon was sighted in the Kingdom on Wednesday evening.
The sighting of the crescent marks the start of the Islamic year 1447, a reference to the amount of years that have passed since Prophet Muhammad migrated from Makkah to Madinah.
Japan gifts Kendo equipment to Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee
- Embassy says gift is part of 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations
- Occasion also being marked with expansion of cultural relations
RIYADH: Japan has gifted the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee with Kendo equipment as part of celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations.
Formal diplomatic ties were first established on June 7, 1955, laying the foundations for a long-standing partnership.
To mark the occasion, Japanese ambassador Yasunari Morino attended a handover ceremony on Wednesday at the Riyadh Olympic Training Center, where approximately 20 shinai (bamboo swords) and 10 complete sets of Kendo armor were officially donated to the SOPC.
Morino expressed his hope the donation would help increase the popularity of Kendo in Saudi Arabia and provide more opportunities for young Saudi athletes to engage with Japanese martial arts.
“I was happy to join the Olympic Day event organized by the Olympic Committee with many people, young and senior, participating. I hope Saudi people will enjoy practicing various sports, including Japanese martial arts,” the ambassador told Arab News.
Kendo, which translates as “The Way of the Sword,” is a discipline rooted in samurai traditions and is practiced widely in Japan and around the world. The Kingdom’s growing interest in Japanese martial arts reflects the deepening of cultural ties between the two nations, said the embassy.
The donation was enabled by the generous support of the All Japan Kendo Federation. As well as promoting Kendo, it is hoped it will foster greater mutual understanding and cultural exchange through sports between Japan and Saudi Arabia.
The ceremony was one of several initiatives organized by the Embassy of Japan throughout 2025 to commemorate the 70th anniversary. The Saudi Arabia Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka also marks the occasion.
It is hoped the expo will help the Kingdom reach its goal of attracting 30,000 Japanese visitors annually in the lead up to Expo 2030, which is due to take place in Riyadh.
Henry Jackson Society hosts talks with secretary-general of the Muslim World League in London
- Meeting touched on Islam’s message of dialogue, promoting understanding and coexistence among countries and peoples
RIYADH: The Henry Jackson Society hosted a dialogue with Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, secretary-general and chairman of the Muslim World League, at its headquarters in London.
The meeting touched on Islam’s message of dialogue, promoting understanding and coexistence among countries and peoples, particularly among the diverse communities in multicultural societies.
Al-Issa commended the British Muslim community for its respect for the law, its commitment to social cohesion, and its active engagement in the United Kingdom.
He said that this positive impact has been well documented in reports issued by the Muslim World League and affirmed by senior British officials during official meetings.
He noted that the British Muslim community ranks among the four largest in Europe and, more recently, the most prominent among Muslim minorities in Western countries, distinguished not only by its population size but also by its growing presence in senior government positions.
The discussion underscored the important influence of a mindful family, quality education, and accountable media in cultivating awareness, reinforcing sound thinking, and combating harmful, misleading, and extremist ideologies.
He noted that during a meeting with King Charles at Buckingham Palace, he conveyed the greetings and appreciation of Muslim scholars and intellectuals affiliated with the Muslim World League.
Al-Issa commended the British monarch’s thoughtful and sincere perspective on Islam, particularly in light of increasing Islamophobia and hostile campaigns driven by ideological extremism.
Al-Issa said that Islam is best represented through its message of moderation, conveyed by its leading official institutions.
The Muslim World League is the voice of Muslim communities worldwide and was the sponsor of the historic “Makkah Document” — a pivotal contemporary Islamic charter endorsed by more than 1,200 leading muftis and scholars.
At a March 2023 conference in London, British Muslims described the document as a foundational religious charter, reflecting the scholarly consensus of the Islamic world under the MWL umbrella, and carrying profound significance because it was issued from Makkah, the spiritual heart of Islam and home of the Kaaba.
The secretary-general of the MWL said in a statement that “the Organization of Islamic Cooperation serves as a voice for Islam from the standpoint of the Islamic nations.”
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