Dr. Abdullah M. Asiri recently joined the Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens, an advisory body to the World Health Organization.
The 28 SAGO members, appointed by WHO, included leading scientists who represent a wide range of disciplines including epidemiology, public health, biology, and other disciplines.
Asiri, who has been the assistant deputy minister for preventive health since 2013, is a member of the IHR Emergency Committee concerning Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus.
Asiri secured his Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery undergraduate degree in 1994 at the College of Medicine, Abha, which is affiliated with King Saud University.
He began his medical career as a resident in the department of medicine at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center in Riyadh and stayed there until 1999 before he moved to its Jeddah branch. Asiri worked in Jeddah as an assistant consultant for one year.
From 2003 to 2006, Asiri worked as an internist and adult infectious diseases consultant and hospital epidemiologist at King Abdulaziz National Guard Hospital in the Eastern Province.
During that period, he also undertook a fellowship in adult infectious diseases from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada.
Asiri was transferred to the southern part of the Kingdom in 2006 to work at the region’s military hospital before he joined the King Fahd Medical City in Riyadh.
In 2011, Asiri was appointed the director of the infection prevention and control administration at the Ministry of Health. He also became an adviser to the deputy minister of public health.
Asiri’s fields of professional concentration include infectious diseases, infection control, public health, and epidemiology.
Who’s Who: Dr. Abdullah M. Asiri, member of the Scientific Advisory Group to the World Health Organization
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Who’s Who: Dr. Abdullah M. Asiri, member of the Scientific Advisory Group to the World Health Organization
Saudi Arabia executes 6 Iranians for drug trafficking
- Iranian nationals were executed in the Eastern Province after being convicted of smuggling hashish into the Kingdom
- Ministry of Interior said that the government is protecting the security of citizens and residents from the scourge of drugs
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has executed six Iranians sentenced for drug trafficking, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
The Iranian nationals were executed in the Eastern Province after being convicted of smuggling hashish into the Kingdom.
After being arrested by Saudi security authorities, the smugglers were referred to the competent court. A ruling was issued against them after their guilt was proven and they were sentenced to death. The ruling became final after it was appealed and then upheld by the Supreme Court, and a royal order was issued to enforce the punishment, the SPA said.
The Ministry of Interior said that the government is protecting the security of citizens and residents from the scourge of drugs, and imposing the most severe penalties stipulated by the system on smugglers and dealers.
Heritage in hand: ‘Year of Handicrafts’ honors Saudi Arabia’s cultural legacy, artisans
- Saudi women’s craft in Northern Borders region links past to present
RIYADH: Handicrafts have long held a special place in Saudi Arabia’s cultural fabric, representing a prosperous heritage passed down through generations.
Rooted in the creativity and skill of Saudi artisans of both sexes, these traditional crafts symbolize the nation’s ingenuity and resilience while highlighting its diverse cultural identity.
Throughout 2025, the Saudi Ministry of Culture will organize an array of events, exhibitions, educational programs and competitions under the banner of “Year of Handicrafts,” the Saudi Press Agency reported.
These activities aim to emphasize the cultural and historical significance of handicrafts while supporting their relevance in modern life.
Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan said: “Saudi handicrafts reflect the creativity of Saudi society through weaving, handmade artifacts and artistic innovations passed down through generations.”
The initiative seeks to foster appreciation for traditional arts and encourage their continued practice and preservation. “Among these are pottery, traditional clothing, ceramic utensils, leatherwork, copperwork, tailoring, dyeing, blacksmithing, gold and jewelry crafting, and other handmade creations by Saudi artisans,” he said.
The Ministry of Culture aims to elevate Saudi handicrafts locally and internationally, empowering artisans and boosting their contribution to the economy. This will be achieved through events organized with partners to highlight the cultural, historical and economic importance of handicrafts.
Through partnerships across the public, private and non-profit sectors, the Year of Handicrafts will cultivate sustainable practices, foster innovation and contribute to cultural dialogue.
In Saudi Arabia’s Northern Borders region, women play a pivotal role in preserving these traditional arts.
Handicrafts are passed down through generations and traditionally inherited by women, and are intricately connected to the region’s natural environment, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency.
Most notable are Sadu, tent and textile making and embroidered handicrafts, some of which may take 10 continuous days to make.
With these handicrafts, women record a strong presence at national events and festivals, in the region and beyond, the report said.
The traditional market in Arar, which opened more than 10 years ago, supports many elderly craftswomen and their granddaughters, allocating them places to display their products and handicrafts.
The market, in addition to Al-Khozama Hall, has emerged as an important heritage destination that offers families specialized courses on buying and selling, saving money and e-marketing.
Several craftswomen said that they inherited their craft from their mothers and passed them on to their granddaughters, especially since marketing these products to many people in the region also created economic opportunities, SPA reported.
Meanwhile, the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts in Riyadh will launch the Wrth Community initiative on Saturday, marking the beginning of its year-long celebration of the “Year of Handicrafts.”
The initiative will feature a series of meetings and dialogues with leading figures in the field, as well as educational workshops. The initiative seeks to revitalize and modernize traditional handicrafts by incorporating contemporary design and technologies, fostering collaboration among institutions and the local community, and highlighting the crucial role of traditional arts in preserving cultural identity.
The initiative will also help individuals to use these arts in innovative ways through specialized training, the SPA reported.
It covers a diverse range of areas — education, handicrafts and entrepreneurship — and features dialogue sessions, providing a platform for skill development, experience exchange and the fostering of creativity and innovation.
KSrelief continues aid projects in Yemen, Gaza
- The project aims to improve services and promote hygiene among those affected by the humanitarian crisis
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s aid agency KSrelief has signed an agreement with a civil society organization to implement a $359,000 water and sanitation project in Yemen’s Hodeidah governorate.
The project aims to improve services and promote hygiene among those affected by the humanitarian crisis, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.
It includes the distribution of personal hygiene kits, toilet cleaning supplies, and the installation of 20 mobile toilets. Access to safe drinking water for domestic use will also be ensured, benefiting 131,662 individuals.
Ahmed Al-Baiz, assistant supervisor general of operations and programs at KSrelief, signed the agreement in Riyadh.
Meanwhile, KSrelief distributed 2,100 shelter kits to support residents and displaced families in northern Gaza, benefiting 21,000 people.
This aid comes amid a large influx of displaced people due to ongoing Israeli military operations in northern Gaza for over two months, the SPA added.
KSrelief’s executive partner in Gaza, the Saudi Center for Culture and Heritage, has begun distributing the aid packages to alleviate suffering during the severe cold and ongoing siege.
The kits include blankets, mattresses, cooking utensils, and water containers to help families cope with the harsh conditions.
The distribution is expected to continue in the coming days, reaching thousands more displaced and needy families in Gaza, the SPA reported.
Authorities review Ramadan readiness in Madinah
- The meeting included a presentation by the General Authority for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and Prophet’s Mosque on Ramadan preparations
RIYADH: Prince Salman bin Sultan, the governor of Madinah, chaired a meeting to discuss preparations for Ramadan.
The meeting was attended by heads of several government agencies in the region, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Prince Salman, who is also chairman of the Hajj and Visit Committee in the region, commended the leadership’s care for visitors to the Prophet’s Mosque.
He emphasized the need to enhance readiness among all parties to ensure the highest levels of comfort, security and reassurance for visitors during Ramadan.
The meeting included a presentation by the General Authority for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and Prophet’s Mosque on Ramadan preparations.
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah reviewed its operational plans, while the Ministry of Health’s regional branch presented its health system readiness for visitors.
The meeting concluded with a discussion of developments related to operations at Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah.
New initiative to train Saudis in generative AI
RIYADH: A professional training program in generative artificial intelligence has been launched at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Dhahran.
The program is offered by the Gen AI Academy in collaboration with the Saudi Data and AI Authority and NVIDIA.
This initiative marks the first step in a plan to train 4,000 Saudi citizens, according to the Saudi Press Agency report.
The program will train and qualify Saudi citizens in generative AI. It aims to build the next generation’s capabilities in AI, enhance participants’ expertise to foster innovation, and underscore the Kingdom’s advanced position in the field.
It targets individuals with a solid foundation in computer science or related fields, as well as academic professionals and practitioners.
The training includes advanced, up-to-date materials provided by certified Saudi experts from NVIDIA.
Participants will engage in a blend of virtual self-learning modules and interactive in-person workshops.
On completion, participants will receive professional certifications accredited by NVIDIA, recognized globally as leading credentials in generative AI.
The program is part of the authority’s efforts to promote learning and build national AI capabilities, reinforcing the Kingdom’s position among data- and AI-driven economies.
