Jeddah: The Saudi Falcons Club has announced registration dates for participants in the first track of the AlUla Falcon Cup, which aims to revive historical traditions of falconry in the Arabian Peninsula.
The initiative marks the first step in a series of events showcasing the significance of falcons to AlUla’s visitors and tourists.
Participants in the first track designated for owners, open owners, and local professionals must register falcons from Dec. 25-27, between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., at the Shuwaima Hall in the village of Al-Fursan in AlUla.
Local owners and professionals will compete in 24 rounds. Prizes will be awarded to 10 winners from local owners, and 10 winners from local professionals and open owners.
The second track is assigned to falcons with the best race time in the qualifying rounds of the King Abdulaziz Falconry Festival 2023, while the third track is divided into six rounds for elite falcons. The fourth track is designated for the Al-Mazayen (beauty) competition, and consists of six rounds for local participants.
Rami Al-Moallim, vice president of destination management and marketing at the Royal Commission for AlUla, said: “Falcons are deeply rooted in the region’s culture, and we are proud to showcase our ancient heritage and culture to the world through the AlUla Falcon Cup. This event promises thrills to AlUla’s locals and visitors alike, paying homage to our traditions and our commitment to protecting and showcasing this culture globally.”
Al-Moallim highlighted the commission’s commitment to showcasing the unique bond between humans and falcons, while utilizing the backdrop of AlUla’s dramatic landscape.
The AlUla Falcon Cup is a collaboration between the Saudi Falcons Club and the Royal Commission for AlUla. The competition seeks to establish new records in the heritage sport, and will provide an unprecedented total prize pool of SR60 million ($16 million), which will be distributed across various categories, including both Al-Milwah (racing) and Al-Mazayen competitions.
The AlUla Falcon Cup will take place daily from Dec. 28 to Jan. 5, starting at 8 a.m. at the Mughira Heritage Sports Village in AlUla. Spectators will have the chance to see the remarkable racing techniques of falcons. The competition aims to showcase the strong bond between falcons and their falconers, highlighting the commanding skills and communication methods employed by the falconers.
The Al-Mazayen competition will feature a selection of the most beautiful falcons from Jan. 2-4, between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Walid Al-Taweel, official spokesperson of the Saudi Falcons Club, said: “Falconry, especially falcon racing, holds deep cultural significance in the Kingdom, serving as a bridge between tradition, heritage, and the powerful bond between humans and birds of prey. We look forward to bringing the most thrilling falcon competition to the ancient city of AlUla.”
The competition will bring together falconers from neighboring Arab and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, as well as participants from around the world, creating a global spectacle.
The AlUla Falcon Cup is part of the AlUla Moments’ Calendar, which features a variety of sports events, such as the AlUla Camel Cup, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Endurance Cup, AlUla Desert Blaze, AlUla Trail Race, Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo, and the recently added Tent Pegging Championship and Horse Back Archery.
Saudi aid agency continues relief work in Kyrgyzstan, Sudan and Yemen
Updated 12 October 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) continues its humanitarian work in Kyrgyzstan, Sudan and Yemen with the distribution of needed food packages and hygiene kits.
In Kyrgyzstan, KSrelief dispersed 2,060 food parcels as part of its 2024 food aid distribution project for neediest families there.
In Sudan, 4,000 food packages were given to displaced persons in shelters across the Damazin, Roseire and Bao regions of the Blue Nile State to ease the humanitarian crisis caused by the ongoing conflict.
In Yemen, about 362 tonnes of food aid were distributed to 5,758 families in Abyan and Aden governorates as part of KSrelief’s 2024 food aid project for the neediest families.
In Yemen’s Mareb Governorate, the distribution of 2,000 cartons of dates benefited 12,000 individuals who rely on relief and humanitarian efforts from Saudi Arabia, through KSrelief, to support food security as the conflict in the country continues.
How Saudi Arabia is partnering with Denmark in sustainable wastewater management
Population growth, climate change, and limited natural resources are compounding water scarcity in the Middle East
Danfoss and Grundfos are among the Danish firms sharing their expertise to help bolster wastewater management
Updated 12 October 2024
Haifa Alshammari
RIYADH: With a rapidly expanding population, limited natural water resources, and the harsh realities of climate change, Saudi Arabia is looking to international experts to develop its water sustainability and treatment infrastructure.
Among those answering the call are companies and consultants from Denmark, who are contributing their extensive knowledge and innovative solutions in wastewater management to support Saudi Arabia’s sustainability goals.
Partnerships with Danish firms like Danfoss, Grundfos, and AVK are helping the Kingdom manage its water resources more efficiently, reduce water wastage, and minimize its environmental impact.
This system treats the wastewater from the Grundfos CED surface-treatment application with a series of filters and reverse osmosis. It then sends the cleaned water back to the CED unit for reuse. (Grundfos photo)
Saudi Arabia, a country that relies heavily on groundwater and desalination, faces many challenges in water resource management.
According to a 2019 report titled “Wastewater Treatment and Water Resources in Saudi Arabia,” the Kingdom’s water demand has skyrocketed over the past two decades.
Between 2007 and 2018, the population grew from 25 million to nearly 33 million, leading to a sharp rise in freshwater demand.
However, only a portion of wastewater in Saudi cities is treated and reused. According to a 2021 report from King Saud University, 78 percent of wastewater in Dammam is treated, 60 percent in Riyadh, and just 50 percent in Jeddah.
To combat waste and to encourage the reuse of precious freshwater resources, the Kingdom has sought the expertise of Danish firms renowned for their advancements in sustainable water management.
Jacob Vind, a global water industry expert at Danish engineering firm Danfoss, highlighted the importance of addressing water scarcity in the region.
“We are in reality in the midst of an extremely serious and pervasive water challenge. There is not enough water,” Vind told Arab News.
In the last step of the wastewater treatment process, the water flows to secondary sedimentation tanks where the water is clear, does not have an odor, and is considered fully treated. (Shutterstock photo)
He further stressed that the growing demand for water, coupled with climate change, makes it essential for governments and industries to adopt advanced water management technologies.
Denmark has long been recognized for its cutting-edge wastewater management policies. The country boasts well-developed wastewater infrastructure, incorporating advanced filtration, treatment, and energy recovery processes.
DID YOUKNOW?
• 380 billion cubic meters of municipal wastewater is produced every year worldwide.
• Untreated water is a breeding ground for various diseases including cholera and typhoid.
• Most equipment for wastewater treatment is designed to operate effectively for just 15-20 years.
Denmark’s approach to water sustainability relies on innovative technologies that reduce water wastage while conserving energy and resources.
Danish engineering firms like Grundfos are making an impact in Saudi Arabia by introducing solar-powered pumping systems to supply water to remote and off-grid areas where access to electricity may be limited.
According to Morten Riis, the company’s group senior director, their water solutions target not only groundwater and rivers but also focus on reducing water loss and optimizing energy consumption in the process.
Morten Riis, group senior director and head of group external relations at Grundfos. (AN photo by Haifa Alshammari)
“We have intelligent solutions that can reduce not only the water loss but also reduce the use of energy due to managing the pressure in the water system,” Riis told Arab News.
This expertise is critical in Saudi Arabia, where reclaimed wastewater is expected to play a key role in ensuring a sustainable future.
The “Wastewater Treatment and Water Resources in Saudi Arabia” report highlighted how wastewater treatment infrastructure in the Kingdom lagged behind demand in the 1990s, leading to 40 percent of untreated wastewater being discharged into the environment.
However, recent investments and foreign collaborations are transforming the situation.
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Besides the solar-powered pumping stations introduced by Grundfos, fellow Danish engineering firm Danfoss is helping Saudi Arabia implement efficient water technologies that use less water, energy, and chemicals.
Vind says that while water treatment technologies are available, the challenge lies in making them affordable and accessible.
“In terms of recent advancements, I want to highlight that efficient water technologies use less water, less energy or chemicals and resources in general,” he said.
Meanwhile, over the past 30 years, Danish company AVK International has been providing solutions for wastewater, offering valves, hydrants, and accessories for water, gas, and sewage treatment in Jeddah.
AVK International manufactures penstocks, which are used for wastewater treatment, pumping stations and collection of wastewater. (AVK photo)
Wastewater treatment involves several stages to ensure it meets the safety standards for different uses, such as irrigation, industrial processes, and potable water.
At the start of the process, preliminary treatment involves the removal of large debris and solid particles using screens and sedimentation tanks. This is followed by primary treatment, where water passes through sedimentation tanks. Here, smaller solids settle to form sludge.
During secondary treatment, aeration is introduced to stimulate microbes that break down organic matter, removing most pollutants. Then, in a process known as tertiary treatment, the water is further filtered and disinfected to remove harmful pathogens, rendering it usable for irrigation and industrial purposes.
Some systems also include advanced treatment involving reverse osmosis and UV filtration, making the water safe for human consumption.
Of course, sustainability does not start at the treatment phase. Policies designed to protect freshwater at its source are just as important.
Tanya Gottlieb Jacobsen, deputy director of Danish consultancy State of Green. (Supplied)
“We get our drinking water from groundwater, so we focus on prevention, and we always have a strategy on prevention being better than advanced treatment for drinking water,” Tanya Gottlieb Jacobsen, deputy director of Danish consultancy State of Green, told Arab News.
Denmark’s holistic approach to water sustainability — focusing on prevention, smart technologies, and strategic investments — aligns closely with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals, which prioritize economic diversification alongside environmental stewardship.
By eliminating pollutants in water, people support biodiversity, protect aquatic life, maintain the balance of local ecosystems and promote sustainable urban development. (Photo credit: Red Sea Global)
As the Kingdom adopts cutting-edge technologies and incorporates Danish expertise into its water infrastructure, it is taking vital steps toward securing its water future.
These efforts will not only help Saudi Arabia mitigate the effects of water scarcity and climate change but will also position the country as a leader in sustainable water management in the region.
Saudi crown prince, French president discuss regional tension in phone call
Updated 11 October 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman spoke on the phone with French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday, Saudi Press Agency reported.
During the call, they discussed the latest developments in the region and reviewed the efforts exerted to de-escalate the situation in Palestine and Lebanon to achieve security and stability, SPA added.
Macron, who attended a summit of European and Mediterranean leaders in Cyprus on Friday, said earlier on Friday that “stopping the export of weapons” used in Gaza and Lebanon was the only way to end fighting there, and also condemned “deliberate” targeting of UN peacekeepers.
“We all know it. It’s the unique lever that would end it,” Macron said, adding that it was “absolutely unacceptable” that UN peacekeepers in Lebanon were “deliberately targeted” by Israeli forces.
Global leaders gather in Baku to advance climate negotiations before COP29
Talks focus on finance and support for vulnerable communities
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev urges agreement on key issues
Updated 11 October 2024
Arab News
The COP29 Presidency is hosting global climate leaders, government officials, constituencies, and delegates at Pre-COP in Baku, Azerbaijan, to discuss key environmental issues facing the planet.
The 3-day Pre-COP meeting, which started Oct. 10, provides an important platform for parties to advance climate negotiations ahead of the 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, set to take place in November.
Pre-COP discussions are focusing on making progress on key priorities before COP29, including climate finance, the New Collective Quantified Goal, mitigation, adaptation, and supporting vulnerable communities, according to a press release issued by the organizers.
In an address delivered on his behalf by COP29 president-designate Mukhtar Babayev, President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan emphasized the importance of agreeing an NCQG at COP29 that “meets the needs of the developing, least developed and small island developing states” and represents a “substantial increase” over the prior goal.
Aliyev said reaching this goal would require the collaboration of the international community. “Neither Azerbaijan in its capacity of the COP29 Presidency, nor any other state, can take decisions on behalf of others.
“Our role is to provide the platform for facilitating negotiations, which we believe we have been fulfilling impartially,” he said.
In his own address at the opening ceremony, Babayev recognized the progress made, while also calling for participants to act with urgency and use the Pre-COP meeting to build the foundation for a successful outcome at COP29.
“We are building bridges and momentum, but we need much more,” said Babayev. “We make progress when we come together, put differences aside, and engage in open and honest dialogue.”
Setting out clear goals for each priority, he identified the need to “take seriously the responsibility for identifying a number over a timeframe and come forward with solutions.
“Qualitative elements of the goal such as transparency and accessibility are also essential to ensuring that the goal is both fair and ambitious.”
Babayev also outlined goals for each of the other top negotiating priorities, including concluding work on Article 6 as a much-needed priority “crucial for directing financial and technical resources.”
The aim was to turn pledges into signed contributor agreements to the fund for responding to loss and damage, and attracting “significantly greater contributions” to all funds.
This includes the Green Climate Fund and the Adaptation Fund, and responding to the call of the UAE Consensus to transition away from fossil fuels in a just and orderly manner.
Pre-COP is the latest milestone in Azerbaijan’s preparations for COP29, which will be a key moment in the global effort to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius and build resilience to climate impacts.
In the lead up to Pre-COP, the COP29 Presidency also convened an informal Heads of Delegation meeting on Oct. 8 in Baku, followed by the formal High-Level Ministerial Dialogue on the NCQG on Oct. 9.
Another Heads of Delegation meeting is scheduled for Oct. 12.
“COP29 will be a defining test for both the Paris Agreement and for multilateralism,” stated Babayev.
“The world is watching, and history will judge us on the outcomes we achieve. Success or failure at COP29 will be collective and each of us has a role to play. We must all offer the best of ourselves.”
