13th Saudi-Swiss Joint Economic Committee meeting held in Zurich
Agreements signed to launch a hotel management company in the Kingdom and joint venture for precious metals
Updated 18 January 2023
Arab News
RIYADH: The 13th meeting of the Saudi-Swiss Joint Economic Committee and the Saudi-Swiss Executive Investment Forum was held in Zurich, Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
The meeting was attended by Saudi Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih, Swiss Confederation President Guy Parmelin, and a number of representatives from both countries’ public and private sectors.
The meeting examined the two countries’ investment, economic, and trade relations, as well as the business environments in the Kingdom and Switzerland. It also hosted discussions on topics such as innovation, technology, tourism, energy and health.
Participants emphasized the significance of broadening the scope of cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Switzerland by capitalizing on opportunities in areas of mutual interest.
The forum saw the signing of an agreement to launch a global company to operate and manage hotels in the Kingdom, an agreement for a joint venture in precious metals, and four memorandums of understanding in tourism, hospitality and health.
Bilateral meetings were held at the end of the forum between government agencies, companies, and private sector representatives to discuss cooperation, review investment opportunities in the two countries and exchange experiences.
RIYADH: King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre Riyadh has secured the top spot among hospitals in Arab and African countries.
The hospital confirmed its position as the top hospital in Saudi Arabia for the fourth consecutive year, according to Newsweek’s 2025 ranking of the world’s best hospitals.
KFSHRC jumped 20 places from last year’s list, a 9 percent improvement in the prestigious ranking, according to the hospital’s statement to Arab News.
The Saudi hospital is ranked 209th in the global ranking and is the only health facility from Arab and African countries on the list.
More than 2,400 hospitals were ranked this year, with an annual list of the top 250 hospitals published by Newsweek.
According to global data platform Statista, the number of hospitals worldwide is projected to reach 215,977 by 2026.
“With an overwhelming number of hospitals to choose from to close the gap and help prospective patients find the best care possible, Newsweek and Statista are proud to present the World’s Best Hospitals 2025, which shares the top hospitals worldwide,” Newsweek’s World's Best Hospitals 2025 reported on its website.
This year’s ranking lists the best hospitals in 30 countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, the UAE, the United Kingdom and the United States. These countries were selected based on numerous comparability factors, such as standard of living, life expectancy, population size, number of hospitals and data availability.
The ranking is based on an extensive evaluation process, including an online survey of thousands of medical experts (doctors, hospital managers and healthcare professionals), patient experience data, hospital quality metrics and a Patient-Reported Outcome Measures implementation survey.
KFSHRC’s excellence is demonstrated through groundbreaking achievements such as the world’s first fully robotic heart transplant and the first fully robotic implantation of an artificial heart pump.
In 2024, KFSHRC set a record with 1,111 organ transplants in a year, including 500 successful kidney transplants through the paired exchange program, reinforcing its status as a global leader in complex surgeries and organ transplantation.
The hospital also provided advanced medical care to patients from 17 countries, solidifying Saudi Arabia’s position as a premier destination for healthcare.
Notably, KFSHRC was ranked first in the Middle East and North Africa and 15th globally in the list of the world’s top 250 Academic Medical Centers for the second consecutive year and has been recognized as the most valuable healthcare brand in the Kingdom and the Middle East, according to the 2025 Brand Finance rankings, the hospital said.
RIYADH: The Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief has distributed 1,664 food parcels to some of the world’s most vulnerable people, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
There were 640 food parcels delivered to displaced families in Sennar State, Sudan, benefiting 5,965 individuals.
The distribution was a part of the third phase of this year’s Food Security Support Project in Sudan.
Meanwhile, a further 450 food parcels were dispatched to Borgou Province, Benin, benefiting 2,700 people.
This was a part of the Etaam Ramadan Food Basket Project in Benin.
The Etaam project, now in its fourth phase, aims to distribute 390,109 food baskets across 27 countries during Ramadan, for over 2.3 million individuals.
And 574 bags of food were delivered to Tiaret district, Mauritania, benefiting 4,044 people.
RIYADH: Ramadan is being observed in March during the winter season in Saudi Arabia and the rest of the northern hemisphere for the first time in many years.
The mild weather is ushering in cool comforts for fasting Muslims, making it a pleasant experience for them compared to recent years, when the faithful have endured the challenge of fasting during long, hot days at the peak of the summer season.
“After long (spells) of having Ramadan in summer, now being observed in winter for the first time in many years, and fasting during (these) cold days has made the experience considerably comfortable and pleasant,” said Abdul Ghaffar, an expat who has been living in the Kingdom for the past 25 years working as a senior consultant in talent development.
Although last year had pleasant weather for much of the month, prior to that Muslims had endured the challenge of fasting during long, hot days at the peak of summer, he said.
“The shorter winter days significantly reduce the fasting hours, allowing us to break our fast a bit earlier and relief from the scorching sunshine in the summer,” said Abdullah Ahmed, a university student in Riyadh.
“This pleasant weather is a welcome change, as it lightens the physical burden of fasting. Also, the cool weather enables engaging in outdoor activities during the day as well as after the iftar,” he added.
Iffat Aabroo, a homemaker in Riyadh, echoed the view on fasting in winter season: “The lower mercury level of below 20 degree Celsius maximum temperature during the last week and varying between 19 to 27 degree Celsius maximum and 7 to 15 degree Celsius minimum this week, and shorter days, ease the fasting.
Ramadan in winter brings cool comfort for fasting faithful. (SPA)
“It’s common to feel thirsty when fasting for long hours during the intense summer heat, and it’s important, as medically advised, to take the necessary precautions to stay hydrated when fasting, but it’s easy to fast during winter and do don’t feel thirsty like the summer,” she said.
Javed Hasan, a taxi driver in the capital, said: “It made fasting easy, particularly for those of us who cannot always stop for iftar due to the nature of our work.
“To be on the streets to pick and drop people from one place to another is much easier these days as opposed to the hot summer season.
“The pleasant weather not only makes fasting less daunting but also improves our overall well-being, making the spiritual journey more engaging and fruitful,” he added.
Counting on many advantages — both in spiritual upliftment and social engagement — when Ramadan is observed in winter, Shahid Anwar, an Indian expat who works as a safety manager in Riyadh, said: “To be on the working site while fasting now in winter is much easier.
The Clock Tower in Makkah turning itself Green to welcome the Holy month of Ramadan. (INTERNET/X.com)
“The confluence of spiritual reflection and favorable weather makes Ramadan a uniquely enjoyable experience,” he added. “The nights are particularly lively, with traditional decorations and treats drawing more people outdoors than in the hotter days during the summer.”
With milder temperatures, many community organizations are arranging outdoor iftars, enhancing community dining experiences for families and friends, he said.
A cold wave gripping several parts of the northern border region last week froze a decorative fountain in Rafha governorate.
Viral photos on social media showed the fountain covered in ice as temperatures plunged below zero degrees.
The severe drop in temperature, recorded at -2 degrees Celsius in Rafha, caused water to freeze in open areas and frost to form on trees and green spaces, while temperatures in Turaif plummeted to -4 degrees Celsius, leading to frozen water surfaces and layers of snow on ponds and basins, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Turaif, known for its harsh winters, frequently experiences frost and snow due to polar air masses moving south from Europe.
With a significant temperature drop marking Ramadan’s arrival in the Northern Borders region, Turaif on Monday recorded 1 degree Celsius, and Arar dipped below 4, according to the National Center for Meteorology.
This cold snap, expected to persist mid-month, evokes memories of Ramadan’s winter seasons three decades ago, with residents recalling iftar cannons in the chilly air in the 1990s.
Saudi Cabinet rejects displacement of Palestinians, backs Arab summit’s Gaza plan
Updated 05 March 2025
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet on Tuesday affirmed full support for the decisions of the extraordinary Arab League summit in Cairo that rejected the displacement of Palestinians from their land, and aimed to end the disastrous repercussions resulting from the war.
It reiterated the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and to obtain their legitimate rights, including their right to establish their independent state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The final statement adopted by the summit called for the deployment of an international protection and peacekeeping force in the Palestinian territories.
It adopted the plan submitted by Egypt with regard to Gaza, in full coordination with Palestine and Arab countries.
It also emphasized the achievement of a just and comprehensive peace that fulfills the rights of the Palestinian people.
During the weekly Cabinet session chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh, ministers condemned Israel’s decision to stop the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, calling on the international community to assume its responsibilities towards these serious violations, activate international accountability mechanisms, and ensure sustainable access to aid.
The Cabinet tackled the joint statement issued after President Joseph Aoun’s visit to Riyadh regarding the importance of fully implementing the Taif Agreement, which ended Lebanon’s civil war and was negotiated in Saudi Arabia in 1989, and relevant international resolutions.
The joint statement also stressed the importance of ensuring Lebanon’s sovereignty over all its territories, restricting weapons to the Lebanese state, supporting the Lebanese army’s national role, and calling for the withdrawal of the Israeli occupation forces from all Lebanese territories.
Aoun was welcomed at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh on Monday, where discussions with the crown prince focused on strengthening bilateral relations.
During their talks, both leaders agreed to study obstacles affecting the resumption of exports from Lebanon to Saudi Arabia and procedures to facilitate Saudi travel to Lebanon. They also reaffirmed their commitment to Lebanon’s economic recovery and the implementation of reforms aligned with international standards.
In a diffident matter, the Cabinet affirmed the state’s continued support for the social services system and national initiatives that aim to provide adequate housing for qualifying families, praising in this regard the cooperation and integration of roles between government, private and non-profit entities, in addition to community members, to achieve the goals of the Jood Regions campaign.
The Jood Regions campaign was first launched during Ramadan 2024 to provide more than 10,000 housing units for the most needy families across the Kingdom’s 13 provinces.
King Salman and the crown prince have donated a total of SR150 million ($40 million) to the second Jood Regions campaign, launched at the start of this year’s Ramadan.
The Cabinet reviewed the progress of major development and service projects that aim to enhance the comprehensive development process in the Kingdom.
The ministers offered congratulation on the opening of the first phase of Sports Boulevard project in Riyadh, which will contribute to consolidating the position of the city among the best global cities.
The project, led by the Sports Boulevard Foundation, is now 40 percent complete, with 83 km of the route being accessible to visitors since Feb. 27.
The initiative, launched by King Salman in March 2019, aligns with the country’s Quality-of-Life Program, outlined in Saudi Vision 2030, by creating greener, more sustainable cities that encourage participation in activities like walking, cycling, and horse riding. It also aims to transform Riyadh into one of the world’s most livable cities by blending sports with cultural, artistic, and environmental opportunities.
Hands-on faith: henna tradition inspires first-time fasters in Saudi Arabia’s Northern Borders region
These cherished customs are integral to the cultural and social identity of the people in the Northern Borders region
Updated 04 March 2025
Arab News
RIYADH: In Saudi Arabia’s Northern Borders region, the holy month of Ramadan brings a surge of traditions, including henna painting for young girls fasting for the first time.
Saudi Press Agency reports that families gather to decorate their daughters’ hands with henna, encouraging fasting while making it fun and memorable.
Families gather to decorate their daughters’ hands with henna, encouraging fasting while making it fun and memorable. (SPA)
The festive designs, which are tied to joy and celebration, boost the girls’ enthusiasm and pride as they showcase their decorated hands, strengthening Ramadan’s spirit.
Wejdan Al-Anzi, a resident of Arar, told SPA: “For years, we have made it a tradition to apply henna on our daughters’ hands when they begin fasting.
Families gather to decorate their daughters’ hands with henna, encouraging fasting while making it fun and memorable. (SPA)
“It is a delightful custom that helps children feel connected to the Ramadan spirit shared by the adults around them.”
Afaf Al-Thuwaini also highlighted that this tradition extends beyond mere aesthetics; it cultivates essential religious and social values in children, helping them connect fasting with an atmosphere of joy and celebration.
These cherished customs are integral to the cultural and social identity of the people in the Northern Borders region.
These simple yet meaningful traditions foster a deep appreciation for devotion in children, playing a significant role in shaping their religious and social character.
