RIYADH: Authorities in Saudi Arabia are preparing to launch the 2022 census, which will be the fifth in the Kingdom’s history.
The last general population and housing census in the Kingdom took place in 2010, and the total population at the time was 27,136,977, according to the General Authority for Statistics.
“The past decade witnessed rapid transformations with regard to technical developments, social and economic changes, and living and consumer patterns, and all of this had many important effects that will show in the results in the upcoming census,” it added.
Most countries conduct a comprehensive census every 10 years to obtain accurate and detailed data about the population, including where people live and their social and economic characteristics. Accurate statistical data of this kind enables officials, planners and policymakers to allocate budgets and develop comprehensive strategies that will keep pace with urban development, meet future needs base on expected population growth, contribute to development plans, and provide public services such as education, health and public transportation.
The authority said that in preparation for the full census it began a trial pilot process in September in seven areas: Tabuk, AlUla, Makkah, Asir, Diriyah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province. Census takers used tablet computers to record the data they collected in the field, rather than printed questionnaires, to ensure accurate and timely results.
They gathered information about residents and their families in various types of housing, along with demographic, social and economic information such as income levels, living standards and educational levels.
The authority said that it prepared its executive plan for the Saudi Census 2022 after a comprehensive study of the requirements of the government agencies that will use its results, based on the best international population census models and standards used by G20 countries and the member states of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
It added that for the first time it is using modern technologies to assist the census process, including satellite images to ensure more comprehensive coverage of all the Kingdom’s regions and identify unregistered dwellings. In addition it is developing a system that will provide a mechanism that allows the public to enter their census data through the authority’s website.
The authority also confirmed its “full commitment to the highest levels of privacy, confidentiality and data protection of those included in the census, or any personal information related to their identities, and not to share or disclose it to any third party.”
A date has yet to be announced for the start of the census.
Saudi authorities prepare for launch of 2022 census
https://arab.news/v9m85
Saudi authorities prepare for launch of 2022 census
- It will be the fifth general population and housing census in the Kingdom’s history and the first for 12 years
- The General Authority for Statistics said a trial began in September to test the system and procedures for collecting data
Saudi Cultural Development Fund announces Expo 2025 participation
- CDF’s participation aims to foster cultural partnerships and global investments, reflecting the Kingdom’s continuous commitment to encouraging innovation
- CDF plans to organize various activities that showcase Saudi Arabia’s cultural landscape, focusing on entrepreneurship as a way to drive economic growth
OSAKA: Saudi Arabia’s Cultural Development Fund announced on Thursday that it will participate in Expo 2025 Osaka, highlighting the Kingdom’s rich cultural identity shaped by Vision 2030.
The CDF’s participation aims to foster cultural partnerships and global investments, reflecting the Kingdom’s continuous commitment to encouraging innovation.
It plans to organize various activities that showcase Saudi Arabia’s cultural landscape, focusing on entrepreneurship as a way to drive economic growth.
Additionally, the CDF will take part in panel discussions and networking sessions to offer insights on the Kingdom’s culture and host dedicated workshops to educate guests about the Saudi cultural sector’s economic potential.
“Our participation in Expo 2025 Osaka reflects our commitment to supporting and shaping a vibrant, sustainable cultural sector — one that fuels economic growth and attracts top-tier investment, both locally and globally. We are proud to feature the stories of CDF beneficiaries, who will share their creative journeys with Expo visitors as inspiring examples of Saudi cultural innovation,” said CDF CEO Majed Al-Hugail.
“We continue to reinforce the Kingdom’s position as a leading force in the global cultural scene, ensuring our efforts are fully aligned with the broader cultural ecosystem. Looking ahead, we remain committed to the journey toward becoming a center of financial excellence in the cultural sector and a key contributor to the ambitions of Saudi Vision 2030,” he added.
Expo 2025 Osaka will run until Oct. 13.
Saudi defense minister arrives in Tehran for an official visit
- Prince Khalid will hold several meetings to discuss bilateral relations
DUBAI: Saudi Minister of Defense, Prince Khalid bin Salman, arrived on Thursday in the Iranian capital, Tehran, on an official visit, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
During the visit, Prince Khalid will hold several meetings to discuss bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest between the two countries.
The visit follows renewed diplomatic engagement between the two countries. On Monday, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan held a phone call with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi, during which they discussed regional developments and efforts to address them.
بتوجيه من القيادة -أيدها الله- وصل صاحب السمو الملكي الأمير خالد بن سلمان بن عبدالعزيز وزير الدفاع، والوفد المرافق له، اليوم، إلى العاصمة الإيرانية طهران في زيارةٍ رسمية.
— وزارة الدفاع (@modgovksa) April 17, 2025
وسيعقد سموه خلال الزيارة عددًا من اللقاءات لبحث العلاقات الثنائية بين البلدين، ومناقشة القضايا والموضوعات ذات… pic.twitter.com/yiiNUUqU3D
Launch of Cinamaa platform marks push for film studies in Saudi Arabia
- Saudi Film Commission and National Film Archive launch platform to educate and support budding filmmakers
- Experts describe the importance of developing film studies in Saudi Arabia
RIYADH: The Saudi Film Commission has introduced a new initiative, Cinamaa, to promote film studies and support people entering the industry.
A launch event was held on Wednesday at the Cultural Palace in Riyadh, hosted by the commission and National Film Archive.
The Cinamaa website, a platform intended to help educate aspiring filmmakers, critics, and film enthusiasts, allowing them to share their work, gives users access to articles, research studies, discussions, workshops, and short films on various topics related to film.
Following a panel discussion in which she spoke on the importance of film studies in academia, Salma Tarek, professor of literature at the University of Cairo’s French language department, told Arab News: “We need to distinguish between academic studies, meaning university-level education, and studies at film institutes, which aim to train technicians and filmmakers.”
The latter is very important and widely available, she said, but cinema studies at the school and university levels are still lacking.
“Abroad, for example, children in elementary school have reading and literacy programs that include a section on how to ‘read’ a film. They learn what a shot is, what camera movement means, because these have become part of the basic language of how we interpret the world around us,” Tarek said.
“Cinema is no longer just an art form; it is a form of discourse. We are constantly exposed to it, and it’s very important that we learn how to decode its messages.”
Tarek said that these are messages that are constantly being sent to viewers, who must receive them in an open and thoughtful way.
“The university is the institution best suited to play this role.”
When asked what can be done to push this agenda forward, the professor said that first, there must be conviction in the value of cinema studies, a task she said is “not simple.”
The entry point, however, is in interdisciplinary studies.
“For example, literature departments can offer courses on the relationship between performance art and cinema. In history departments, there can be a course on cinema and history. Gradually, these borders will open up, and we will start to develop a cinematic culture within academic institutions.”
These institutions will then have the capabilities and foundation to establish dedicated departments for cinema studies, which Tarek said is the “ultimate goal.”
The panel also discussed the need for more original Arabic content in addition to translations of foreign films.
Tareq Al-Khawaji, film critic and cultural adviser at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, said that young Saudis interested in screenplay writing have a great opportunity to develop scripts that can contribute to bolstering the cinematic scene in the Kingdom.
The launch of Cinamaa was followed by the signing of two memoranda of understanding between the Saudi Film Commission and its partners, the Saudi Broadcasting Authority and the International Federation of Film Critics.
The commission’s CEO Abdullah Al-Qahtani took the stage with Mohammed Fahad Al-Harthi, SBA CEO and former editor in chief of Arab News, and Fipresci CEO Ahmad Shawky.
The establishment of the Cinema Critics Association was also announced, the first independent professional entity dedicated to film criticism in Saudi.
At the end of the night, the doors opened to welcome guests into an exhibition on film history in the Arab world.
Red Sea Global unveils Laheq Island, a landmark luxury-living destination
- Laheq Island opens in 2028, first to focus on residential ownership
- One of the world’s largest barrier reefs with over 2,000 rare species
TABUK: Red Sea Global has unveiled Laheq Island, Saudi Arabia’s first private residential island offering a luxury lifestyle experience.
The island marks the RSG’s first residential project following the completion of phase one, which welcomed its first guests in 2023 with the opening of five resorts.
Construction is underway to complete an additional 11 resorts on Shura Island, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.
The destination is connected with other parts of the Kingdom and the world via the Red Sea International Airport.
Scheduled to open in 2028, Laheq Island will be the first project within the destination focused on residential ownership, complemented by exceptional hospitality facilities and services, the SPA reported.
Laheq is part of an archipelago of 92 pristine islands along the Kingdom’s west coast, surrounded by one of the world’s largest barrier reefs that are home to over 2,000 rare and unique marine species.
The island spans 400 hectares and features a wide array of recreational facilities and activities for residents and visitors.
The RSG, owned by the Kingdom’s Public Investment Fund, has pledged to plant 50 million mangrove trees and enhance their habitats while also regenerating coral reefs and surrounding marine ecosystems.
The Red Sea destination will become the world’s largest tourism attraction with all facilities and resorts powered entirely by renewable energy, the SPA reported.
All 16 resorts of phase one are expected to be operational this year. By 2030, it will have 50 resorts with 8,000 hotel rooms, and more than 1,000 residential units across 22 islands and six inland sites.
Investigation debunks claims about coalition strikes in Yemen
- Coalition’s Joint Incidents Assessment Team (JIAT) held a meeting to address allegations regarding airstrikes in various regions of Yemen
RIYADH: An investigation found that a number of airstrikes carried out by The Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen did not target civilian sites including a hospital and farm as claimed.
The coalition’s Joint Incidents Assessment Team held a meeting on Wednesday to address allegations regarding airstrikes in various regions of Yemen in recent years.
On Jan. 13, 2022, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights reported that an airstrike partially damaged the emergency department and inpatient clinics of a hospital in the Al-Sawad area.
It was claimed that coalition forces targeted a military camp near the hospital.
The JIAT reviewed relevant documentation and found that a military camp, known as Al-Sawad camp, was located near the 48 Model Hospital, which is on the coalition forces’ no strike list.
On the day of the alleged strike, coalition forces conducted a targeted airstrike on military targets within the camp, based on intelligence regarding Houthi militia activities.
The bombs were guided and aimed to minimize civilian impact, hitting their intended targets accurately and remaining a safe distance from the hospital.
Therefore, the JIAT concluded that coalition forces did not target the hospital on Jan. 13, 2022.
On March 3, 2021, reports emerged alleging that coalition forces conducted an airstrike targeting a farm in the Al-Watadah area of the Khawlan Directorate in Sanaa Governorate.
The JIAT said it reviewed documents, including air tasking orders, daily mission schedules and satellite imagery.
The investigation revealed that no specific coordinates for the alleged farm were provided.
The JIAT found no record of airstrikes in Al-Watadah on the date in question, nor in the days surrounding it. Open-source searches yielded no corroborating information.
In conclusion, the JIAT determined that coalition forces did not target a farm in Al-Watadah on March 3, 2021, as alleged.
Other reports indicated that a missile fell near a house in Al-Malaheet village on Feb. 23, 2020. The JIAT investigated and found no evidence that coalition forces had conducted missile strikes in the area on that date.
On June 4, 2015, allegations surfaced regarding an airstrike on the governorate building in Zinjibar. The JIAT confirmed that no air missions were conducted in Abyan on that date.
Through these investigations, the JIAT aims to clarify allegations and uphold accountability and transparency.
