RIYADH: The Saudi Real Estate General Authority will launch the first edition of the Real Estate Media Forum at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center on Sunday.
The launch will take place in the presence of prominent media figures and real estate experts who will discuss the importance of the media in increasing real estate awareness in all segments of society.
The forum will include dialogue sessions on future relations between the real estate sector and the media, as well as the impact of the media on the development and formation of the sector, and its contribution to enhancing transparency and reliability.
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KSA to launch Real Estate Media Forum
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KSA to launch Real Estate Media Forum
- The launch will take place in the presence of prominent media figures and real estate experts
Kingdom records 17% rise in passenger air travel in first half of 2024
- Flights up 12% and airfreight 41%, says aviation authority
- Saudi airports and airlines win top global services awards
RIYADH: The Kingdom has recorded a 17 percent rise in passenger air traffic over the first six months of 2024, to 62 million compared to 53 million in the same period last year, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday.
There were 446,000 flights, marking a 12 percent increase compared to 399,000 flights during the first six months of 2023, the report said, citing statistics released by the General Authority of Civil Aviation.
Airfreight volume also went up, hitting 606,000 tonnes in the first six months of 2024, a 41 percent jump from 430,000 tonnes in the same period last year, GACA reported.
The Kingdom’s aviation sector has developed considerably over the past six months, including 16 Saudi Arabia airports obtaining the Airports Council International Airport Service Quality accreditation for 2024, the report also said.
Saudi Arabia’s airports are now ranked in the top 50 worldwide, it said, citing the evaluation results announced by Skytrax, the international air transport rating organization.
Three of the Kingdom’s international airports won awards from ratings agencies last year.
Madinah’s Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport was rated the best regional airport in the Middle East during the Skytrax World Airport Awards ceremony in Frankfurt, Germany.
King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah got the highest ratings on the Airports Council International list for 2023.
King Fahd International Airport in Dammam won three of the Saudi Airports Awards for 2023, including for the best facility in the 5 to 15 million passenger category, for the best customs inspection area, and best services for people with disabilities.
Meanwhile, national carrier Saudia won awards for being the most advanced airline in the world, and having the best economy class catering for 2024 in the Skytrax global ranking, the SPA noted.
Flynas was named fourth-best low-cost airline in the world for the second consecutive year and the first in the Middle East for the seventh consecutive year, according to Skytrax.
“All these achievements are part of the initiatives and programs launched by GACA, aiming to contribute to the development of the air transport industry locally, regionally, and internationally, in line with the National Strategy for the Civil Aviation Sector,” the SPA report stated.
“The strategy aims to make the aviation sector in the Kingdom the first in the Middle East by reaching 330 million passengers, increasing air freight capacity to 4.5 million tonnes, and raising air connectivity to reach 250 destinations to and from Saudi airports by 2030,” it added.
During the first half of this year, GACA launched several projects, including the development and expansion of Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah.
In addition, there was an expansion of Al-Ahsa International Airport, a new international departure terminal built at Taif International Airport, and self-driving taxi experience for the first time during the Hajj season.
Also, the first permit was awarded to use drones for cleaning buildings; a testing center for aviation personnel was launched; and the first phase of electronic gates was completed at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.
This year, GACA won two gold awards for Best Customer Service and Best Public Service Center in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa region.
In addition, it won a Consumer Protection Association award for excellence in upholding passengers’ rights, and a certificate for flight safety and environmental sustainability.
Saudi Water Authority, World Bank sign cooperation agreement
RIYADH: The Saudi Water Authority, represented by its President Abdullah bin Ibrahim Al-Abdulkarim, signed a cooperation agreement with the World Bank as part of the Saudi Ministry of Finance’s technical cooperation program with the international institution.
The agreement aims to benefit from the authority’s expertise in developing the water sector and from its know-how in managing water resources by reducing operational costs.
It also aims to invest the accumulated research and engineering expertise to enhance water security through knowledge transfer.
Saudi authority is first in world to achieve ISO’s new AI management system certification
- The standard, introduced in December last year, is the first of its kind for Artificial Intelligence Management Systems
- It provides guidance on addressing the challenges posed by AI, such as ethical values, transparency and continuous learning
RIYADH: The Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence has become the first organization in the world to achieve the International Standards Organization’s 42001:2023 certification for Artificial Intelligence Management Systems, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The ISO standard, which was introduced in December last year, is the first of its kind for AIMS. It provides guidance on addressing the challenges posed by AI, such as ethical values, transparency and continuous learning.
It also defines a systematic approach for managing risks and opportunities, and for achieving a balance between innovation and governance in organizations that adopt AI technologies in their work.
Abdullah Al-Ghamdi, the president of SDAIA, said he was proud of the accreditation and that it represents recognition of the implementation by the authority of appropriate standards and practices related to management of AI, and reflects Saudi Arabia’s growing reputation for excellence in the field of data and AI.
He added that the authority’s progress and successes would not be possible without the continuing support of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is chairman of its board of directors.
This support enables the organization to serve as a national reference point for data and AI, he added, and to regulate, develop and manage the implementation of these technologies in ways that ensure they are properly governed and position Saudi Arabia as a leader in the field.
Patients receive hearts from donors in Saudi Arabia, UAE
RIYADH: The King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre has given hope to three patients, two men and one girl, after it successfully transplanted hearts from donors in Riyadh, Jeddah and Abu Dhabi.
The journey of hope began with medical teams traveling from the hospital’s cardiac unit to Abu Dhabi and Jeddah to remove the hearts from two donors. The hearts were then transported by private jet to Riyadh.
A team from King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre then traveled to the King Abdulaziz Medical City to remove the third heart. It was transported by ambulance with the cooperation of the traffic department of the Riyadh region, which accelerated its arrival.
Traffic patrols escorting ambulances from King Khalid International Airport and King Abdulaziz Medical City to the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre helped enable the transplant operations to take place within less than 24 hours.
One of the patients was a 9-year-old girl suffering from a weakened heart muscle. Her life had been saved by implanting an artificial pump last March.
Riyadh prepares to host UN desertification conference in December
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s capital will host the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, or COP16, in December.
The event will be held between Dec. 2-13 in Riyadh, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the convention.
“COP16 will be a landmark event for accelerating action on land and drought resilience and a gamechanger for the green transition in Saudi Arabia, the region and beyond,” the UNCCD said in a statement on its website.
In preparation for what is deemed the largest UN environmental event focused on desertification, Saudi Arabia has laid out its vision for sustainable environmental solutions, focusing on combating the problem at the UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development.
At an event being held from July 8-18 in New York, the Saudi delegation participated in key sessions addressing economic, social, political, and environmental issues which directly impacted sustainable development.
The delegation highlighted Saudi Arabia's initiatives and legislative efforts aimed at environmental protection, which have significantly influenced cities and villages across the Kingdom.
An exhibition at the UN headquarters showcased Saudi Arabia’s preparations for hosting the 11-day UNCCD COP16 event.
The delegation included representatives from 18 Saudi government entities and engaged in bilateral meetings, public discussions and key sessions with ministers from various countries. It also provided detailed insights into sustainable land management, and discussed the negative impacts of land degradation on the global economy, food security, climate change and water scarcity.
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