How Saudi Arabia is acting to stabilize and replenish its groundwater reserves

A view of the desalination plant owned by the Saline Water Conversion Corporation in Ras al-Khair in the Kingdom's Eastern Province. (Fayez Nureldine/AFP)
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Updated 23 March 2024
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How Saudi Arabia is acting to stabilize and replenish its groundwater reserves

  • The Kingdom is among the most arid countries in the world due to its minimal rainfall and high evaporation rates
  • To combat water scarcity, Saudi Arabia has made substantial investments in conservation and desalination infrastructure

DUBAI: Groundwater levels are in significant decline around the world, particularly in agricultural regions with dry climates that experience severe water deficiency. Saudi Arabia is one of several Middle Eastern nations that struggle with water scarcity.

The Kingdom is among the most arid countries in the world due to its minimal rainfall and high evaporation rates. Its climate exposes it to temperature fluctuations, little annual precipitation, no natural perennial flow, and few groundwater supplies.

However, over the last few years, especially within the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, work has been done to stabilize and even recover Saudi Arabia’s groundwater levels as well as develop plans to maintain the nation’s water resources at a sustainable level.

Due to the discovery of lucrative fossil fuels around four decades ago, the Kingdom has experienced an exceptional period of economic growth and is rapidly transforming its economy and society further under Vision 2030, launched in 2016 by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

FASTFACT

  • World Water Day is an annual UN observance day held on March 22 that highlights the importance of freshwater.

Saudi Arabia’s economic boom has resulted in a higher standard of living for its people as well as large-scale urban migration and an increase in population growth. The country grew from 4 million in 1960 to around 36.9 million in 2022, according to the General Authority for Statistics, also known as GASTAT.

The Kingdom is now, according to GASTAT, the 41st most populous country in the world.

While Saudi Arabia’s economic boom, increased opportunities, and population growth are positive gains for the country on its road to socio-economic transformation, such successes have also placed the country’s scarce water resources under extreme pressure.

Presently, the Kingdom relies on three basic sources for water extraction: Desalinated seawater, groundwater, and recycled water regularly used in electricity production.

Saudi Arabia derives some of its water from the sea. This is done through the process of desalination, which involves transforming brackish seawater into potable water. The Kingdom is now officially the world’s largest producer of desalinated water.




A view of the Jubail Desalination Plant at the Jubail Industrial City in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province overlooking the Arabian Gulf. (AFP)

Groundwater aquifers, both renewable and non-renewable, are considered the most important resource for freshwater in the Kingdom. Aquifers in Saudi Arabia supply more than 90 percent of the agricultural sector’s water needs and around 35 percent of urban water needs.

“Actions are being taken but more are needed,” Saleh bin Dakhil, a spokesperson for MEWA, told Arab News. “Saudi Arabia is spearheading initiatives locally to mitigate the impact of high water demand mostly to agriculture.”

Aquifers have long been a major source of water in Saudi Arabia and comprise vast underground reservoirs of water.

During the 1970s, the government undertook a major effort to locate and map such aquifers and estimate their capacity. It then drilled tens of thousands of deep tube wells in areas with the most potential for both urban and agricultural use.




In the oases of Al-Ahsa in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, scientists have found that traditional farming techniques stretching back centuries helped preserve one of the region’s green gems. (Supplied)

“Groundwater is a critical resource for irrigated agriculture, livestock farming and other agricultural activities, including food processing,” Jippe Hoogeveen, senior land and water officer in the Land and Water Division at the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization, told Arab News.

“In order to meet global water and agricultural demands by 2050, including an estimated 50 percent increase in food, feed and biofuel demand relative to 2012 levels, it is of critical importance to increase agricultural productivity through the sustainable intensification of groundwater abstraction, while decreasing the water and environmental footprints of agricultural production.”

Where a perennial and reliable source of shallow groundwater exists, groundwater can be an important source for smallholder farmers, said Hoogeveen.




Over the last few years, especially within the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, work has been done to stabilize and even recover Saudi Arabia’s groundwater levels, as well as develop plans to maintain the nation’s water resources at a sustainable level. (Shutterstock)

Regions heavily reliant on groundwater for irrigation include North America and South Asia, where 59 percent and 57 percent of the areas equipped for irrigation use groundwater, respectively.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, where the opportunities offered by the vast shallow aquifers remain largely underexploited, only 5 percent of the area equipped for irrigation uses groundwater.

Saudi Arabia’s water shortage impacts sustainable agriculture, industrial development and the well-being of the population.

The Kingdom uses 80 percent of its water for agricultural purposes, with groundwater extraction accounting for most of this demand, which is not sustainable, according to a 2023 research paper titled: “Water Scarcity Management to Ensure Food Scarcity through Sustainable Resources Management in Saudi Arabia.”




The Kingdom has launched its National Water Strategy 2030, which has been prepared according to the principles of integrated water resource management and aims to restructure the country’s water sector and transform it into a more sustainable and efficient one. (MEWA photo)

Another three-year study by researchers at the University of California, Santa Barbara, in the US shows that groundwater is declining around the world. It found that groundwater is dropping rapidly in more than two-thirds of the aquifers, or 71 percent, of 1,700 aquifers studied — three times as many as expected.

Having declined in the 1980s and 1990s, depletion rates have since sped up in the last two decades. In some countries, such as Iran, groundwater decline is widespread. But in parts of Saudi Arabia, groundwater levels have stabilized or even recovered, the report found.

The report demonstrated how the declines of the 1980s and 90s had reversed in 16 percent of the aquifer systems the authors had data for.

For a water-stressed country like Saudi Arabia, substantial public and private sector investment has been made into water and desalination infrastructure to create as much usable water as possible.

One initiative, bin Dakhil said, is the Upper Mega Aquifer System, which is one of the largest aquifer systems in the world. It underlies the extreme deserts of the Arabian Peninsula and crosses borders between Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Jordan, Oman, Yemen and the UAE.




Simplified geological map of the Arabian Peninsula showing the extent and outcrop of the principal aquifers of the Upper Mega Aquifer System in Saudi Arabia, considered as one of the largest aquifer systems in the world. (Infographic courtesy of the Hydrogeology Journal)

It is built of several bedrock aquifers or sandstone and karstified limestone aquifers that are then imperfectly hydraulically connected to one another. The main ones are the Wasia-Biyadh sandstone aquifer, and the karstified Umm Er Radhuma and Dammam limestone aquifers.

However, due to good water quality and high yield, these aquifers have been intensively exploited, leading to the depletion of groundwater resources.

In central Saudi Arabia, groundwater levels have declined for decades, but evidence is now emerging that these declines are slowing down due to policy changes. Bin Dakhil told Arab News that the amount of water lost from aquifers is now being reduced.

“Secondly, there has been a lessening of the impact from groundwater withdrawal on rates,” he added, emphasizing the major governmental measures and decrees passed to mitigate the challenge of water scarcity.

The Kingdom has launched the National Water Strategy 2030, prepared according to the principles of integrated water resource management, with aims to restructure the country’s water sector and transform it into a more sustainable and efficient one.

The strategy, bin Dakhil said, involves a variety of initiatives, including ones that call for irrigation efficiency and water-reducing agriculture practices.

Evidence suggests that laws and regulations to prevent or limit diffuse groundwater pollution from agriculture, and especially their enforcement, are “generally weak,” Hoogeveen said.

“Policies addressing water pollution in agriculture should be part of an overarching agriculture and water policy framework at the national, river basin and aquifer scale,” he added.

In terms of groundwater development, rural electrification has been a principal driver, said Hoogeveen, especially where rural power grids have been extended into areas that would otherwise have relied on diesel fuel or wind energy.

Additionally, advances in solar technology have witnessed the development of solar-powered irrigation systems, adopted at scale to service farming operations.

“However, there is a risk of unsustainable water use if SPIS implementation is not adequately managed and regulated,” he said.

In Saudi Arabia, bin Dakhil said “the deeply rooted use of non-conventional water to mitigate the depletion of non-renewable groundwater by an increased use of renewable water for irrigation.”




CaptionFirst Solar Saudi Arabia and Al Watania Agricultural Company completed a pilot project that uses solar energy to power an irrigation at a farm spread over 300 square kilometers in the Kingdom's northern province of Al Jouf. (Supplied/File)

An example is renewable water that is being pumped from the Dammam region into the agricultural area of Al-Ahsa in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province through a pipeline with a volume exceeding 200 thousand cubic meters per day by the Saudi Irrigation Organization.

Additionally, technical and legislature governance tools have been put in place that include hundreds of groundwater observation wells augmented by the implementation of water by-laws through licenses, metering of groundwater withdrawal and tracking of drilling rigs using smart technology to monitor and measure water quality, conserve water supplies and enable citizens to function efficiently.

Furthermore, Saudi Arabia is increasing the amount of rainwater harvesting through new dams and efficiently managing existing dams to allocate water to agriculture.

“The Kingdom has also established a center for water efficiency and rationing whose policies target increasing the efficiency of groundwater use and rationing its withdrawals,” said bin Dakhil.




King Fahd Dam, located in Bisha governorate in Asir province, is one of the largest concrete dams in the Middle East. (SPA)

All these measures demonstrate the Kingdom’s steadfast attention to not only its own issues with water scarcity but also the global challenge to use water sustainably.

One of the Kingdom’s main obstacles to achieving sustainable development is the dearth of renewable water resources and the rising demand for water.

With the dedicated measures being taken by both the private and public sectors, the Kingdom has the potential to turn its lack of water into a long-term success story — one that could serve as a model for other countries struggling with water scarcity.

 


Kingdom arrests 19,328 illegals in one week

Updated 26 April 2025
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Kingdom arrests 19,328 illegals in one week

RIYADH: Saudi authorities arrested 19,328 people in one week for breaching residency, work and border security regulations, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.

A total of 11,245 people were arrested for violations of residency laws, while 4,297 were held over illegal border crossing attempts, and a further 3,786 for labor-related issues.

The report showed that among the 1,360 people arrested for trying to enter the Kingdom illegally, 54 percent were Ethiopian, 44 percent Yemeni, and 2 percent were of other nationalities.

A further 79 people were caught trying to cross into neighboring countries, and 22 were held for involvement in transporting and harboring violators, the SPA reported.

The Ministry of Interior said that anyone found to be facilitating illegal entry to the Kingdom, including providing transportation and shelter, could face imprisonment for a maximum of 15 years, a fine of up to SR1 million ($260,000), as well as confiscation of vehicles and property.

Suspected violations can be reported on the toll-free number 911 in the Makkah and Riyadh regions, and 999 or 996 in other regions of the Kingdom.


How Saudi forestry supports biodiversity and mitigates the effects of climate change

Updated 26 April 2025
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How Saudi forestry supports biodiversity and mitigates the effects of climate change

  • Despite its arid climate, Saudi Arabia is home to diverse forest types, from mountain woodlands to coastal mangroves
  • The Kingdom is expanding its green cover by planting millions of trees and restoring degraded forest areas

RIYADH: It is easy to think of Saudi Arabia as a land dominated by endless dunes and sun-scorched plains. But beyond the sweeping deserts lies an unexpectedly rich tapestry of ecosystems — forests that climb mountains, shade winding valleys, and line the coastal edges of the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf.

While forests cover just 1.1 percent of the Kingdom’s landmass, they play an outsized role in preserving biodiversity, storing carbon, and improving food security. Their ecological importance — and their fragility — has placed them at the heart of Saudi Arabia’s green transformation.

“The forest area in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is estimated to 2.7 million hectares, representing 1.1 percent of the Kingdom’s area,” Najeeb Alsubhi, head of the Valley Forests Department at the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification, told Arab News.

“This includes mountain forests spread across the southern and southwestern parts of the Kingdom, distinguished by juniper trees, as well as the atam (wild olive) tree, in addition to groups of acacia trees.”

Mountain forests trace the high ridgelines from Taif down to Jazan, while valley forests — dotted with sidr and acacia — stretch through much of the country’s interior. Along the coastlines, clusters of mangroves thrive in tidal wetlands, providing critical habitat and natural coastal defenses.

Despite their modest footprint, these forests are ecological powerhouses. Globally, forests are known to contribute more than 80 percent of biodiversity, regulate climate, limit desertification, and provide essential products from honey to medicinal plants.

In Saudi Arabia, they are also a buffer against desert creep and climate shocks — an increasingly vital role as the Kingdom confronts environmental challenges.

Among the plant species that are found in the Kingdom's valley forests are Acacia and Sidr trees. (NCVC photo)

To protect and expand this natural wealth, Saudi Arabia has launched a forest conservation and rehabilitation drive, led by the NCVC. The center is planting more than 3.5 million trees and working to protect native species by mapping and restoring perennial tree habitats.

Recognizing the growing threat of wildfires, the NCVC has also established dedicated forest and fire monitoring systems, alongside research centers and public education initiatives aimed at long-term forest sustainability.

Among the most significant of these efforts is a new project to assess the health and changes in forest cover across five key regions: Al-Bahah, Jazan, Asir, Najran, and Taif.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Saudi forests are home to 97 species of tree and cover 2.7 million hectares of the Kingdom’s territory.

• Healthy forests contribute more than 80 percent of the biodiversity found in the natural environment.

• Although predominantly desert, Saudi Arabia also has mountain forests, valley forests, and mangroves.

This initiative, part of the National Forest Inventory Program, is a collaboration between the NCVC and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. The project is designed to support sustainable forest management while meeting international environmental reporting obligations related to biodiversity, climate change, and land use.

Strategies include data collection, identifying key forest locations, and using precision tools like digital hypsometers to measure tree height and forest structure.

Strategies by NCVC to conserve plantation areas in Saudi Arabia included determining confinement points, collecting data, and using a digital hypsometer to measure the height of trees. (NCVC photo)

Together, these efforts reflect a growing awareness of the vital role Saudi Arabia’s forests play — not only as ecological assets but as symbols of renewal in a land long known for its arid extremes.

As the Kingdom pushes ahead with its broader climate and environmental goals, these green sanctuaries, hidden among the peaks and valleys, may prove to be among its most valuable treasures.
 

 


Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 enters final phase with strong momentum

Updated 26 April 2025
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Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 enters final phase with strong momentum

  • Kingdom achieves 93 percent of key performance indicators — fully or partially — in nine years

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 initiative has seen remarkable progress, with 93 percent of its key performance indicators either fully or partially met since its launch nine years ago, according to the latest official assessment.

The Vision 2030 program, which aims to diversify the economy, empower citizens, and foster a vibrant environment for both local and international investors, is evaluated through the performance of its Vision Realization Programs and national strategies.

These tools are central to the initiative’s execution and are assessed based on two main criteria: the advancement of initiatives and the performance of measurable indicators.

The latest annual report for 2024 reveals that of the 374 key performance indicators at the third level, 299 were fully achieved, with 257 of these surpassing their original targets. Another 49 indicators came close to full achievement, reaching between 85 and 99 percent of their goals.

Saudi Arabia's King Salman lays the foundation stone at the Qiddiya entertainment park near Riyadh on April 28, 2018. (SPA/File)

This progress demonstrates the effectiveness of long-term planning combined with strategic execution, contributing to transformative changes across the country. The success of Vision 2030’s Level-3 indicators indicates strong alignment between national planning and real-world implementation in various sectors.

Detailed metrics also capture tangible outcomes, such as increased hospital capacity, the rollout of digital services, and the issuance of tourism licenses. To ensure continued success, corrective actions are being taken to adjust both initiatives and performance metrics, with a focus on accelerating implementation and keeping the Vision’s objectives firmly within reach.

Strong delivery across initiatives

This performance aligns with strong delivery across Vision 2030’s portfolio of initiatives. As of 2024, 85 percent of all initiatives were either completed or progressing on track.

Out of 1,502 total initiatives launched under the Vision, 674 were completed and another 596 were advancing as scheduled.

This translates to an unusually high success rate for a transformation effort of this scale and complexity.

Saudi Arabia Formula One Grand Prix at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit on April 19, 2025. (AFP)

Each of these initiatives contributes to larger national priorities, ranging from housing and healthcare to digital innovation, clean energy, and cultural development.

Their successful implementation reflects years of investment in institutional capacity, coordination frameworks, and performance monitoring systems, much of which was built during the vision’s first and second phases.

A decade of economic reforms

These latest achievements are rooted in nearly a decade of groundwork, reforms, and phased rollouts that began in 2016 when Vision 2030 was first unveiled.

The first five years focused on stabilizing the macroeconomic base and introducing structural reforms, while the second phase emphasized scaling and acceleration.

The result is a development model that is now attracting international attention for its consistency and ambition.

The private sector’s role in the economy has also continued to expand. (AFP/File)

Between 2016 and 2024, Saudi Arabia undertook sweeping structural reforms to reduce its oil dependency, boost private sector engagement, and unlock new economic engines.

This included targeted policy interventions in tourism, logistics, mining, and tech — areas now becoming core drivers of non-oil growth.

The private sector’s role in the economy has also continued to expand, with its contribution to GDP reaching 47 percent in 2024, exceeding the year’s target of 46 percent.

In 2024, real non-oil GDP grew by 3.9 percent compared to 2023, driven by continued investment expansion in non-oil sectors, which saw a 4.3 percent increase in activity.

By the fourth quarter of 2024, the unemployment rate among Saudis dropped to 7 percent — meeting the Vision 2030 target six years ahead of schedule. This milestone marks an improvement from 12.3 percent at the end of 2016. At the same time, average annual inflation remained low at 1.7 percent, ranking among the lowest in G20 economies.


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This is a result of the efforts made to achieve an economic policy that balances growth with healthy inflation rates.

Foreign direct investment inflows reached SR77.6 billion in 2024, signaling growing international confidence in the Saudi market.

Optimism in the non-oil private sector was also reflected in the Purchasing Managers’ Index, which stood at 58.1 in the fourth quarter of 2024. This was a result of developments throughout the year and was driven by an increase in new orders.

Global recognition

Global institutions such as the International Monetary Fund, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, and World Bank have revised Saudi growth forecasts upward, and all three major credit rating agencies — Moody’s, Fitch, and S&P — affirmed the Kingdom’s sovereign strength with stable outlooks.

The Public Investment Fund has continued to play a central role in financing and driving large-scale development.  

Its assets under management have reached SR3.53 trillion by the end of 2024 — more than tripled since the launch of Vision 2030 — exceeding their annual target.

The fund’s assets have made remarkable progress, growing by more than 390 percent from 2016 to 2024, with a compound annual growth rate of 22 percent, exceeding its annual target. This increase is primarily attributed to the fund’s proactive investment strategy across various sectors.

Detailed metrics also capture tangible outcomes, such as increased hospital capacity, the rollout of digital services, and the issuance of tourism licenses. (SPA)

In parallel, the value of Saudi Arabia’s discovered mineral resources has soared to SR9.4 trillion, a 92 percent increase from 2016 estimates, which stood at SR4.9 trillion.

By the end of 2024, the number of achieved investment opportunities surged to 1,865, surpassing the year’s target of 1,197.

Globally, Saudi Arabia has improved its standing in multiple international benchmarks.

It now ranks 16th in the International Institute for Management Development’s World Competitiveness Index, up 20 places since 2017.

The Kingdom has also made progress in digital governance, climbing 25 positions in the UN E-Government Development Index since 2016 to secure 6th place globally — bringing it within reach of its Vision 2030 goal to be among the top five nations.

These rankings highlight the Kingdom’s efforts to digitize services, modernize institutions, and improve public sector performance.

Social and sectoral progress

Social indicators have also advanced steadily. The homeownership rate climbed to 65.4 percent in 2024, exceeding the target of 64 percent for that year.

As part of the long-term goal to plant 10 billion trees, environmental programs have exceeded expectations. Around 115 million trees were planted as of 2024, while 188,000 hectares of degraded land were successfully rehabilitated.

The number of volunteers exceeded 1.2 million by the end of 2024, surpassing the 2030 target of 1 million.

Pilgrims arriving at Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz Airport for the annual Hajj. (AN photo by Nada Hameed)

The Kingdom’s expanded e-visa systems and upgraded infrastructure helped drive a historic rise in international pilgrim numbers.

Saudi Arabia recorded 16.92 million foreign Umrah pilgrims in 2024 — its highest ever, far exceeding the annual target of 11.3 million.

Adding to the momentum, Saudi Arabia is set to welcome the premier competition of the world’s most popular sport as the official host of the 2034 FIFA World Cup.

Looking ahead

Much of this progress was supported by the evolution of Vision Realization Programs, which were introduced in the early phase of Vision 2030 as medium-term delivery mechanisms.

Over time, these programs enhanced cross-government coordination, accelerated execution, and helped exceed multiple national targets.

Today, there are 10 VRPs operating across strategic sectors such as health, digital transformation, and tourism, as well as financial services and sustainability, each contributing to the delivery of Vision 2030’s core pillars of a vibrant society, a thriving economy, and an ambitious nation.

The next five years will be critical not only in achieving remaining goals but in sustaining the momentum well beyond the 2030 horizon. (SPA)

As the final stretch of Vision 2030 approaches, the Kingdom’s focus remains on institutional resilience, measurable outcomes, and global competitiveness.

While challenges remain in some areas, the combination of high delivery rates, adaptive governance, and strong financial management has positioned Saudi Arabia as a case study in long-term national transformation.

The next five years will be critical not only in achieving remaining goals but in sustaining the momentum well beyond the 2030 horizon.

 


The female-only wellness spaces in Riyadh that aim to empower women

Wateen Al-Tuwaijri opened Sunsets Yoga, a serene environment dedicated solely to women. (Photos Instagram: @sunsets_yoga)
Updated 25 April 2025
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The female-only wellness spaces in Riyadh that aim to empower women

  • Yoga, Pilates studios provide safe, calm environment
  • ‘I have met some pretty incredible women,’ Australian customer says

RIYADH: A number of female-only wellness spaces in Riyadh are aiming to provide empowering communities for women, driven by the desire for privacy and comfort.

Locations like gyms, pools and even some theme parks have created safe spaces exclusively for women on designated days.

This allows women to dress freely and engage in activities that foster a sense of community.

"Yoga by Sunset", a serene environment dedicated solely to women. (Supplied)

One such place is Sunsets Yoga, a serene studio environment dedicated solely to women.

It offers an array of classes and programs focused on health and wellness and also has an entertainment center where women can unwind and connect.

“Sunsets Yoga was born out of my passion for yoga and my deep desire to help people,” owner Wateen Al-Tuwaijri told Arab News.

Since moving to Saudi I have really noticed the benefits of going to a female-friendly Pilates studio. Not only is it comfortable but I feel confident in my own skin and body. The highlight for me has to be the networking. I have met some pretty incredible women who are not only inspiring but are like-minded.

Emma Shirley

“I opened this space because I believe in the transformative power of yoga — not just for the body, but for the mind and soul as well.

“My goal for Sunsets Yoga is to create a welcoming, peaceful environment where individuals can escape the stresses of daily life, reconnect with themselves and grow both physically and mentally.”

“Yoga is a universal tool for balance and I wanted to ensure that women here have access to a space where they can focus on their health and well-being without any barriers. (Supplied)

Al-Tuwaijri said it was “especially important” to have places in Riyadh that cater exclusively to women.

“Yoga is a universal tool for balance and I wanted to ensure that women here have access to a space where they can focus on their health and well-being without any barriers.

“It’s about supporting their journey of self-discovery and personal growth in a place where they can feel free, strong and inspired.”

The studio offered a range of regular, pre/post-natal and customized private training sessions. (Supplied)

Al-Tuwaijri said she wanted to build “a community that supports, encourages and nurtures” people.

Another prominent female-only space is the reformer Pilates studio Bdn in Al-Rayyan District.

“I’ve been practicing reformer Pilates for over 15 years now and swear by it,” owner Najd Al-Hatlani said.

Another prominent female-only space is "Bdn", a Pilates studio designed specifically for women. (Supplied)

“It has given me impeccable self-awareness regarding my body and how the smallest muscles move to support the larger ones … it has completely changed my perspective regarding all workouts.

She said she opened the studio to serve an untapped market in the east of Riyadh.

“Female-oriented spaces have always been part of our cultural heritage and experience. I think it’s important to continue to offer these safe haven spaces for women in order to maximize their well-being.

“As kind as many people want to be, we as women have shared far too many similar experiences through life which makes it comforting to be in the same room as that unspoken supportive energy.”

The studio offered a range of regular, pre/post-natal and customized private training sessions, Al-Hatlani said.

Emma Shirley, an Australia living in Riyadh, is a regular at Bdn.

“Since moving to Saudi I have really noticed the benefits of going to a female-friendly Pilates studio. My go-to Pilates studio in Riyadh is Bdn. I have been going there for a few months.

“Not only is it comfortable but I feel confident in my own skin and body. The highlight for me has to be the networking. I have met some pretty incredible women who are not only inspiring but are like-minded.”

 

 


Saudi Arabia takes part in European Economic Congress

Updated 25 April 2025
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Saudi Arabia takes part in European Economic Congress

  • The Saudi delegation met with the Poland’s deputy minister of Economic Development and Technology to discuss economic relations between Saudi Arabia and Poland

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia participated in the 17th edition of the European Economic Congress, held in Katowice, Poland, from April 23-25.

The Saudi delegation consisted of Ambassador to Poland Saad bin Saleh Al-Saleh; Undersecretary of the Ministry of Investment for International Relations Sara Al-Sayed; Deputy Governor of the Saudi General Authority of Foreign Trade Abdulaziz Al-Sakran; and representatives from the Federation of Saudi Chambers of Commerce, specifically the Saudi-Polish Business Council.

The Saudi delegation met with the Poland’s deputy minister of Economic Development and Technology to discuss economic relations between Saudi Arabia and Poland and strategies to improve investment and trade exchange, as well as taking part in a dialogue session focused on the same topics and including a review of the economic transformations occurring in the Kingdom in light of Saudi Vision 2030.

The delegation also conducted meetings and workshops with several representatives from companies attending the congress to present investment opportunities in the Kingdom.