Madinah governor inaugurates Al-Safiyyah Museum and Park

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The event was attended by Prince Saud bin Khalid Al-Faisal, deputy governor of Madinah, and Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, minister of Hajj and Umrah. (SPA)
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The event was attended by Prince Saud bin Khalid Al-Faisal, deputy governor of Madinah, and Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, minister of Hajj and Umrah. (SPA)
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The event was attended by Prince Saud bin Khalid Al-Faisal, deputy governor of Madinah, and Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, minister of Hajj and Umrah. (SPA)
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Updated 19 March 2024
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Madinah governor inaugurates Al-Safiyyah Museum and Park

RIYADH: Prince Salman bin Sultan, Madinah governor and chairman of the Madinah Region Development Authority (MDA), inaugurated the Al-Safiyyah Museum & Park in the presence of Prince Saud bin Khalid Al-Faisal, deputy governor of Madinah and deputy chairman of the authority.

The project was built on an area exceeding 4,400 square meters in the southern central area, to enrich and deepen the cultural experience of the visitors at the Prophet’s Mosque.

During the opening ceremony, Prince Salman bin Sultan was briefed on the Al-Safiyyah Museum & Park’s facilities. He viewed the cultural garden and waterways and listened to an explanation about the exhibition and museum area, in addition to the areas of shops, restaurants, cafes and other recreational services.

He inspected the Story of Creation Museum, which offers an integrated presentation on the story of creation from the beginning of the universe using audiovisual technologies, through the stories of the prophets and messengers. The museum relies on the narrative cognition that visitors experience inside the museum. Prince bin Sultan also saw a range of museum exhibits and rare collections.

The ceremony began with the playing of the royal anthem and the reciting of verses from the Holy Qur’an, then the attendees watched an introductory film about the Al-Safiyyah Museum & Park’s project. Following that, Fahad Albulihshi, CEO of the authority, delivered the opening speech, in which he emphasized that the project is one of the distinctive development projects that will contribute to enriching and deepening the cultural and knowledge experience of visitors to the Prophet's Mosque. It will improve the residents of Madinah’s quality of life, as part of the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, thus showing the civilized image that the Saudi government reflects in serving the two holy mosques and their visitors.

Albulihshi indicated that the Al-Safiyyah Museum & Park represents a new source of civilization and knowledge and a distinctive mark in the history of Madinah. The land was developed in partnership with the private sector, to make it an attractive tourist destination enhanced with cultural, recreational and commercial elements for the visitors to the Prophet's Mosque, in an environment inspired by Madinah’s urban identity.

At the end of the opening ceremony, Madinah gov. received a commemorative gift on this occasion; a Qur'anic panel written in Thuluth script dating to more than 130 years.

The Al-Safiyyah Museum & Park comes within the framework of the efforts of the Madinah Region Development Authority, in complementarity with Samaya Investment and its partners in the private sector, to enrich and deepen the cultural and religious experience of the visitors to the Prophet's Mosque. This comes as part of the projects to rehabilitate and activate Islamic history sites and destinations, to provide exceptional services and enhance their historical dimension and cultural value, in accordance with the highest standards, thus reflecting the aspirations of the leadership within the objectives of the ambitious Saudi vision.


Mawhiba to host ‘Beyond Creative Minds’ conference this month

Updated 14 November 2024
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Mawhiba to host ‘Beyond Creative Minds’ conference this month

  • The organization, which nurtures the talents of gifted students, says event is a ‘global platform for talented and creative youth to collaborate in building a prosperous future’
  • It is expected to attract experts and researchers in the fields of science, technology and innovation from more than 50 countries

RIYADH: Mawhiba, an organization that works to nurture the talents of gifted students in scientific fields, will hold its third international conference this month with the theme “Beyond Creative Minds.”

Its Global Conference for Giftedness and Creativity will take place from Nov. 24 to 26 at King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center in Riyadh. Khalid Al-Sharif, the organization’s acting secretary-general, described the event as a “global platform for talented and creative youth to collaborate in building a prosperous future through the exchange of ideas and expertise.”

He told the Saudi Press Agency: “The event reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to supporting and empowering talent and promoting a culture of innovation to address future global challenges.”

The conference is expected to attract experts and researchers in the fields of science, technology and innovation from more than 50 countries, many of whom will give keynote speeches, take part in panel discussions and lead workshops.

Al-Sharif said the event will include a “‘creathon’ aimed at finding creative solutions to contemporary challenges. Attendees will also have access to exhibitions and various cultural visits scheduled alongside the conference.”

He added that Mawhiba, more formally known as the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity, will continue to develop talent, support creativity and provide resources to nurture the potential of gifted individuals. He thanked Minister of Education Yousef Al-Benyan for the substantial support he provides for the biennial conference.


Saudi and French ministers discuss cultural cooperation

Updated 14 November 2024
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Saudi and French ministers discuss cultural cooperation

  • Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan and Rachida Dati discussed cultural exchanges and cooperation relating to museums, libraries, theater, the arts, cuisine, heritage and film production

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s minister of culture, Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, and his French counterpart, Rachida Dati, held talks in Paris on Wednesday on cultural cooperation.

They discussed cultural exchanges between their countries and cooperation relating to museums, libraries, theater, the arts, cuisine, heritage and film production.

Riyadh and Paris are looking to strengthen partnerships, nurture talent through training programs for workers in cultural sectors, and exchange expertise, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The Kingdom’s assistant culture minister, Rakan Al-Touq, also took part in the meeting.


Riyadh governor receives Albania’s envoy

Updated 13 November 2024
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Riyadh governor receives Albania’s envoy

Riyadh Gov. Prince Faisal bin Bandar received Ambassador of Albania to the Kingdom Saimir Bala in Riyadh on Wednesday.

They discussed various topics of common interest, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Meanwhile, Eastern Province Gov. Prince Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz met with Ukrainian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Anatolii Petrenko in Dammam on Wednesday.

Prince Saud welcomed the ambassador to the Eastern Province. During the meeting, the two exchanged friendly talks and discussed a number of topics.
 


Biofach offers look into Saudi Arabia’s agricultural growth, future

Updated 13 November 2024
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Biofach offers look into Saudi Arabia’s agricultural growth, future

  • The Kingdom and MENA region represent an emerging market for organic food, says organizing official

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is among the Gulf Cooperation Council nations taking significant steps to invest in developing its organic food and beverage sector, which has experienced a growth surge in recent years.

The three-day Biofach Saudi Arabia, which was held alongside Saudi Organic Food Day and concluded on Wednesday, is a key platform showcasing the Kingdom’s commitment to developing its agricultural future.

Biofach was organized by 1st Arabia Tradeshows and Conferences in collaboration with NurnbergMesse, with support from the Saudi Ministry for Energy, Water and Agriculture and the Saudi Organic Farming Association.

Christian Beyer, manager of international events at NurnbergMesse, highlighted the potential of the Middle East and North Africa region: “The MENA region, especially Saudi Arabia, represents an emerging market for organic food that was estimated at USD 7 billion in 2022 and can expect ongoing growth.”

Recognizing the importance of organic farming for food security and environmental sustainability, Saudi authorities are focusing on enhancing rural production and improving supply chains to ensure organic products reach consumers efficiently.

The exhibition’s knowledge-exchange platform addressed local challenges, including effective water and fertilizer management, which are crucial for the region’s arid climate.

Among the exhibitors was the Saudi company Aamal Al-Andalus, which provides organic fertilizers to address soil degradation and declining fertility. Their products are said to help treat and reduce environmental stress, increase agricultural production, and improve the quality of crops to enhance export opportunities.

Youssif Abdulqader, sales manager and engineer at Aamal Al-Andalus, told Arab News: “Food around the world is increasingly going organic, particularly when all inputs in the plants come from organic and safe sources.”

He noted that this shift is largely driven by the health issues linked to consuming fruits and vegetables produced through conventional farming methods, which are often less beneficial or even harmful to human well-being.

Abdulqader explained: “Conventional farming practices are generally well-structured and effective; however, they face challenges such as the excessive use of pesticides and their persistence in the soil.”

Farmers often encounter bacterial issues within their crops that need to be addressed cost-effectively to maximize profitability.

“This is where organic alternatives can be prohibitively expensive, prompting conventional farmers to seek cheaper, often internationally banned options,” he added.

He added that the use of pesticides results in chemical residues that can remain in the plant’s environment.

These residues pose significant health risks when consumers ingest vegetables like cucumbers and tomatoes.

“There is a concern that these chemicals may contain heavy metals that the human body cannot process, leading to serious health issues such as cancer, kidney failure, and liver diseases, which are frequently associated with traditional farming practices,” he explained.


Prophet’s Mosque imam attends India peace forum

Updated 13 November 2024
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Prophet’s Mosque imam attends India peace forum

  • More than 50,000 Muslims attended the event, which was broadcast on several media platforms and garnered more than 4 million views

RIYADH: The imam and khatib of the Prophet’s Mosque, Sheikh Abdullah Al-Baijan, took part in a peace conference themed “Islam is the Religion of Humanity and Peace” during his recent visit to India

More than 50,000 Muslims attended the event, which was broadcast on several media platforms and garnered more than 4 million views, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

As guest of honor, Al-Baijan delivered a speech in which he said that Islam was a religion of security and peace. He warned against divisions among Muslims and said that such discord threatened national unity, led to chaos and could incite wars.

Minister for Wakf and Haj in the government of Kerala Shri. V. Abdurahiman also spoke at the event, praising Saudi Arabia for its efforts in promoting Islam, peace and moderation.

Al-Baijan also joined the 35th All India Ahle Hadith Conference in New Delhi, where he commended Saudi Arabia’s efforts, led by its leadership, to promote security, peace, stability and the safeguarding of human dignity globally.