Cutting-edge Saudi rescue device ‘can end well tragedies,’ inventor says

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Updated 13 February 2022
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Cutting-edge Saudi rescue device ‘can end well tragedies,’ inventor says

  • The idea came after Abdul Aziz Jalkhaf witnessed several tragic incidents in Kingdom and around the Gulf

JEDDAH: A well rescue device developed and patented in Saudi Arabia can prevent incidents like the Rayan tragedy, its inventor has said.

Abdul Aziz Jalkhaf, 47, is hopeful that his device will put an end to the struggles that civil defense rescuers across the region face in extracting people from artesian wells.
Media outlets have shone a spotlight on Jalkhaf’s device in the wake of the tragedy of five-year-old Rayan, who died in Morocco last week despite several rescue attempts, making headlines around the world.
Jalkhaf said that he closely followed the attempts to rescue the child, adding that artesian wells have different topographies and that every rescue attempt “has its own challenges.”




The rescue attempt needs no more than two persons to do the whole job.
Abdul Aziz Jalkhaf

Speaking to Arab News, Jalkhaf said that the idea of inventing a well rescue device came after he witnessed several tragic incidents in the Kingdom and around the Gulf.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Abdul Aziz Jalkhaf, 47, is hopeful that his device will put an end to the struggles that civil defense rescuers across the region face in extracting people from artesian wells.

• Media outlets have shone a spotlight on Jalkhaf’s device in the wake of the tragedy of five-year-old Rayan, who died in Morocco last week despite several rescue attempts, making headlines around the world.

• In practice attempts two months ago, the inventor said that he succeeded in extracting a 30 kilogram doll from a 30-meter-deep well in just nine minutes, adding that the device can retrieve even heavier objects.

“I have made several designs and models before this one, which I think is efficient enough to save the lives of people in artesian well accidents. I then applied through King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, which granted me the patent,” he said.
Jalkhaf added that his electromechanical device can easily be controlled remotely through a control panel. He said that it takes no longer than 13 minutes to prepare the machine for a rescue attempt.
In practice attempts two months ago, the inventor said that he succeeded in extracting a 30 kilogram doll from a 30-meter-deep well in just nine minutes, adding that the device can retrieve even heavier objects.
Jalkhaf said that his device captured the attention and interest of the director general of the General Directorate of Civil Defense, who directed a specialized team to test the machine.
“I gave the team all the technical details about the device and how it can help in rescue operations, and I am just waiting for the results of the report the team had filed to come out,” he said.
The Directorate of Civil Defense has said that the device is still in the testing phase and has yet to be approved, but that all measures will be taken to ensure that the device is safe and effective for use in well rescues.
Speaking about the features of the device, Jalkhaf said that it is equipped with cameras, sensors and lights to help operators locate people trapped in wells.
“With the help of this device, we can professionally pull out the person inside a well with the least possible harm or injury. The rescue attempt needs no more than two persons to do the whole job,” he said.
He added that the rescue device is also flexible enough to maneuver inside curved depths. “It is also equipped with an oxygen supplying pipe to provide the person in a well with the air that they need to keep them alive until they are brought out of any deep hole in the ground,” he said.
Despite his confidence in the well rescue device, Jalkhaf said that he is now working to further develop the machine to “give the best possible performance and results.”
In 2017, KACST said in a statement that Jalkhaf had received a patent from the KACST’s Saudi Patent Office for his mechanical well rescue device. The statement was issued three years before the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property took over responsibilities for issuing and controlling Saudi patents.
The statement acknowledged that the innovative device features several tools, including a camera.
Public interest in rescue capabilities across the Middle East and North Africa region surged after the Rayan tragedy, which saw the child remain trapped in a 30-meter-deep well for more than 100 hours before his corpse was retrieved.


First flights carrying Hajj pilgrims from Turkiye land in Saudi Arabia

Updated 30 April 2025
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First flights carrying Hajj pilgrims from Turkiye land in Saudi Arabia

  • Qualified staff fluent in several languages and equipped with the latest technology will help simplify entry procedures for pilgrims

Madinah: The first flights carrying Hajj pilgrims from Turkiye arrived at Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah on Wednesday. The annual Islamic pilgrimage is set to take place this year between June 4 and 9.

Authorities are providing qualified staff who are fluent in several languages and equipped with the latest technology to help simplify entry procedures for pilgrims, the Saudi Press Agency reported, and are ready to assist people arriving by land and sea as well as air.

An estimated 1.8 million pilgrims participated in Hajj last year.


Jeddah communication conference explores anime’s digital evolution

Updated 30 April 2025
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Jeddah communication conference explores anime’s digital evolution

  • The session focused on anime’s shift from traditional television broadcasts and DVDs to digital platforms, including live streaming, instant subtitling and cloud-based production

RIYADH: The eighth session of the Digital Communication Conference, titled “Anime in the Digital Space,” explored the transformation of Japanese anime over the past two decades, highlighting the impact of digital innovation and the internet.

According to Saudi Press Agency, the session focused on anime’s shift from traditional television broadcasts and DVDs to digital platforms, including live streaming, instant subtitling and cloud-based production.

Streaming giants such as Netflix, Crunchyroll, and Funimation were highlighted as pivotal players in the transition, offering translated or dubbed episodes immediately upon release and funding original series such as “Devilman Crybaby” and “Cyberpunk: Edgerunners.”

Speakers in the session, including Manga Productions CEO Essam Bukhary, said that social media and online forums have opened the door to unprecedented engagement among fans, as well as community and cultural interaction, since audiences now take part in evaluating episodes.

Concerns were raised that heavy dependence on technology could erode the handcrafted aesthetic that defines traditional anime.

Saudi Arabia’s burgeoning interest in manga and anime, which dates back to the 1970s, is helping to usher in a revolution in cultural production.

Japanese art forms have captivated audiences of all ages, gaining significant popularity in recent years. Their ability to combine entertainment, culture and education has made them of great interest to Saudi society.

To support this interest, the General Entertainment Authority has hosted events like the Saudi Anime Expo, drawing international visitors.

In line with these efforts, the ministries of culture and education launched the Manga Education program to nurture student talent, as well as integrate arts and culture into public education.
 


Muslim World League chief meets UK Islamic leaders in Madinah

Updated 30 April 2025
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Muslim World League chief meets UK Islamic leaders in Madinah

  • Delegation visits International Fair and Museum of the Prophet’s Biography
  • Visitors reaffirm support for Palestinian cause, call for end to genocide in Gaza

LONDON: The secretary-general of the Muslim World League, Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, met British Islamic leaders in Madinah on Wednesday to discuss issues facing the UK’s Muslim community.

The visitors praised the MWL’s important role in the Islamic world and among Muslim minorities in Europe and the UK, highlighting its work to preserve cultural and religious identities.

They also noted that King Charles welcomed Al-Issa as the first Arab and Muslim figure from outside the UK to visit Buckingham Palace after his coronation.

The delegation visited the MWL-affiliated International Fair and Museum of the Prophet’s Biography, which tells the story of the Prophet Muhammad’s life.

During the talks they reaffirmed their support for the Palestinian cause and called for an “immediate end to the genocide being perpetrated against the people of Gaza by the brutal war machine of the Israeli occupation government.”

Gaza should be a symbol of unity, not division, among Muslim communities, they said, according to an MWL statement.

The delegation commended the 2019 Charter of Makkah, saying it helped foster interaction with non-Muslim audiences and promoted moderation in addressing contemporary issues.


Saudi deputy foreign minister receives Russia’s envoy in Riyadh

Updated 30 April 2025
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Saudi deputy foreign minister receives Russia’s envoy in Riyadh

Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister for Political Affairs Saud Al-Sati received Russian Ambassador Sergey Kozlov in Riyadh on Wednesday.

The pair discussed relations between their countries and other topics of common interest, the Foreign Ministry wrote on X.

Also on Wednesday, Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki met Digital Cooperation Organization Secretary-General Deemah Al-Yahya in Islamabad, the diplomat wrote on X.

They discussed the importance of digital transformation and other topics of interest.


Saudi Arabia welcomes Rwanda, DRC declaration to draft peace deal

Updated 30 April 2025
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Saudi Arabia welcomes Rwanda, DRC declaration to draft peace deal

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has welcomed the signing of a declaration of principles between the governments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it appreciated the diplomatic efforts made by the two sides and looked forward to their commitment to the declaration, which would enhance security and stability, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The foreign ministers of Rwanda and the DRC signed a declaration at the US State Department on Friday. They agreed to draft a peace deal by May 2, respecting each other’s sovereignty and refraining from supporting armed groups after fighting resumed in the DRC’s mineral-rich east in October.