Saudi Arabia to hold Hajj conference to improve services for Muslim pilgrims
The conference will gather ministers, experts, and diplomats from 87 countries
Aims to enhance the quality of services provided to pilgrims in Makkah and Madinah
Updated 15 December 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is holding the fourth edition of the Hajj Conference and Exhibition in Jeddah from Jan. 13-16 under the patronage of King Salman.
The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, along with the Pilgrim Experience Program, will host a conference gathering ministers, ambassadors, academics, experts, diplomats, and representatives from private and public institutions across 87 countries.
The conference aims to enhance the quality of services provided to Muslim pilgrims, foster an exchange of experiences, and promote competitiveness and transparency among companies involved in Hajj affairs in Makkah and Madinah, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
It will feature over 100 speakers, 47 panel discussions, and 50 workshops to address the challenges of enhancing Hajj services and explore ways to support innovative projects in the pilgrimage sector, SPA added.
Alongside the conference, a special exhibition spanning an area of 50,000 square meters in Jeddah will feature 280 exhibitors from various sectors to showcase the latest technologies, such as artificial intelligence, to enhance Hajj.
The latest conference edition resulted in the signing of 202 cooperation agreements to improve Hajj services and attracted over 100,000 visitors from 87 countries.
The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah urged individuals and organizations to register their interest in participating in the next edition of the conference in January at hajjconfex.com.
Saudi Arabia proposes renaming OAPEC into the Arab Energy Organization
Resolution to promote stronger cooperation among OAPEC members as part of a larger reconstruction initiative
Updated 6 min 57 sec ago
Arab News
RIYADH: Members of the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) signed a resolution on Sunday to rename the organization to the Arab Energy Organization (AEO), the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Saudi Arabia had proposed renaming and restructuring the organization during the 113th ministerial meeting in Kuwait this week.
Saudi Arabia's proposal aimed to enhance OAPEC's charter and promote stronger cooperation among its members as part of a larger reconstruction initiative, the SPA added.
These changes will take effect once the 11 member Arab states of OAPEC ratify them according to their national regulations, the SPA also reported.
During the meeting, OAPEC's Secretariat-General pointed out challenges in the energy sector amid regional and international instability in the past years, which prompted the review and development of its activities.
OAPEC, headquartered in Kuwait, is currently led by Qatar.
In 1968, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the former Kingdom of Libya were among the three founding countries of OAPEC in Beirut.
OAPEC members include the UAE, Bahrain, Iraq, Algeria, Syria, Tunisia, and Egypt.
Saudi Arabia condemns Israeli plan that aims to double annexed Golan population
Kingdom renews its call to the international community to condemn Israeli violations, stresses need to respect Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, ministry says
Updated 15 December 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Sunday condemned and denounced the Israeli government’s approval of a plan to double the population of the occupied and annexed Golan Heights.
Israel’s government “unanimously approved” the $11 million “plan for the demographic development of the Golan... in light of the war and the new front in Syria and the desire to double the population,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said.
“The Kingdom renews its call to the international community to condemn these Israeli violations, stressing the need to respect Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The statement added that the strategic plateau is occupied Syrian Arab land and condemned Israel’s “continued sabotage of Syria’s chances of restoring its security and stability.”
Israel has occupied most of the Golan Heights since 1967 and annexed that area in 1981 in a move recognized only by the United States.
Over 1,000 industry experts expected at exhibitions summit, say organizers
Event will explore investment opportunities in the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions sector in Saudi Arabia
Updated 15 December 2024
Hebshi Alshammari
RIYADH: Around 1,000 industry experts from some 73 countries are expected to attend the first edition of the International Summit for Exhibitions and Conferences, which takes place from Dec. 15-17.
Hosted at Mohammed Bin Salman Nonprofit City and organized by the Saudi Conventions and Exhibitions General Authority, the three-day event will explore investment opportunities in the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions sector in Saudi Arabia, welcoming dozens of local establishments and global event organizers.
Fahd Al-Rasheed, SCEGA chairman Fahd Al-Rasheed told Arab News: “Those participating (in) the event are meeting at the right place, because the MICE sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is bound to grow far beyond that in the next few years. The reason is Vision 2030, the blueprint for socio-economic transformation throughout the Kingdom.
“The MICE sector brings people together to trade to exchange ideas, to build their sectors, to promote their destinations, to build trust, to build partnerships, so to achieve Vision 2030 we have launched 1,064 initiatives.”
He added: “More interestingly, 86% of these initiatives are on track. How can we do 1,064 initiatives simultaneously at any one time? The only reason is because we can scale due to our partnerships.
“Vision 2030 is one of the most important opportunities for our sector in decades. More than $653 billion giga projects are being deployed all around the country. Many of these giga project leaders are in this room, and they bring with them the entire infrastructure we need to flourish, from meeting spaces to hotel rooms to airports and beyond.
“Saudi Arabia is undoubtedly the right place to hold this summit. Bringing together the right people, at the right time, in the right place, creates a great opportunity to expand our industry’s horizons.”
In his keynote address at the IMS24, Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb outlined Vision 2030 and its significant impact on the MICE sector, emphasizing its role in driving qualitative transformation and enhancing the Kingdom's competitiveness.
He also highlighted the role of strategic investments and tourism growth in strengthening Saudi Arabia’s position as a leading global MICE destination.
Speaking at the summit, Arab News Editor-in-Chief Faisal Abba emphasized the crucial role of patience in shaping industries like MICE.
“There are things we shouldn’t rush,” he said. “At times, gaining experience is essential. However, content remains the cornerstone of any successful industry.”
Addressing misconceptions held about the Kingdom, he added: “Many still hold outdated perceptions of the Kingdom. Some can’t believe we’re building futuristic cities today because they still think we’re trapped in the past.”
He highlighted MICE as a powerful tool for transforming global perceptions.
“For over 1,400 years, we’ve hosted Hajj, a testament to our deep-rooted tradition of hospitality.,” he said. “Saudi Arabia has moved from being excited about having one major event a year to embracing a continuous stream of events.”
Abbas added the introduction of tourist visas had already begun to shift perceptions: “Many visitors have shared with me how amazed they were by the Saudi Arabia they encountered — far more positive than they had ever imagined.”
Prominent speakers during the event include Lord Stephen Carter, CEO of Informa PLC; Brian Britton, COO of RX Global; Stefan Rummel, CEO of Messe Munich; Lisa Hannant, CEO of Clarion Events; and Wolfram Diener, CEO of Messe Dusseldorf.
The summit also features workshops highlighting new technologies in the sector and opportunities for discussion with leaders of government entities.
SCEGA is the official body that oversees the development and regulation of the Kingdom’s exhibitions and conferences sector. Established by royal decree in 2018, it aims to amplify the sector’s economic impact by crafting strategic policies, establishing globally aligned regulations, issuing licenses, promoting investments, and cementing Saudi Arabia’s reputation as a premier destination for international events.
Conference sector ‘offers more opportunities than ever,’ says authority chair
Experts from various sectors spoke to Arab News about how investing in the Saudi exhibitions and conferences sector is crucial to achieving goals of Vision 2030
Updated 15 December 2024
Hebshi Alshammari
RIYADH: The conferences sector “offers more opportunities than ever,” the chair of Saudi Arabia’s conventions and exhibitions authority said during an event in Riyadh on Sunday.
“The world is more fractured and divided than ever. Yet, this sector offers more opportunities than ever. The world needs you as much as you need the world,” Fahd Abdulmohsen Al-Rasheed, chairman of the Saudi Conventions and Exhibitions General Authority, said during his opening remarks during the International MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) Summit.
Experts from various sectors spoke to Arab News about how investing in the Saudi exhibitions and conferences sector is crucial to achieving the ambitious goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
Khalid Al-Rammah, chairman of the board of Qualitative Knowledge Company for organizing exhibitions and conferences, said that investing in international expertise in the exhibitions and conferences sector is an essential element to driving the sector’s growth and achieving excellence at the regional and global levels.
Khalid Al-Rammah, chairman of the board of Qualitative Knowledge Company for organizing exhibitions and conferences. (Supplied)
He added that an international presence in the Saudi sector will raise standards, increase global competitiveness, strengthen international relations and the local economy, and grow economic returns.
Saudi Arabia is playing a pioneering role in the exhibitions and conferences industry, he said.
“The region is rich in opportunities for the growth of the exhibitions and conferences sector, benefiting from its geographical location and the smart infrastructure of new cities,” he added.
Al-Rammah said that Saudi Arabia is confidently advancing to be at the forefront of the global exhibitions and conferences industry.
“Through sustained investment in infrastructure, harnessing modern technology and fostering international cooperation, the Kingdom possesses all the elements to become a distinguished global hub for this industry in the future.”
The Kingdom’s burgeoning exhibitions and conferences sector is poised for significant international growth, with experts highlighting the crucial role of quality of life in driving its success.
Saudi Arabia recorded a remarkable 15 percent growth in the sector between 2022 and 2023, fueled by a series of high-profile events, according to Salman Al-Khattaf, GM of business development at the Quality of Life Program.
Salman Al-Khattaf, GM of business development at the Quality of Life Program. (Supplied)
“This growth is directly linked to major events and conferences that the Kingdom has either launched or hosted in recent years,” he told Arab News.
The summit serve as a platform for experts, investors and companies to exchange insights and shape the future of the sector. In runs from Dec. 15-17.
Al-Khattaf highlighted the link between the MICE sector and quality of life, adding that summits are key attractions for visitors and tourists.
“They are directly connected to the tourism sector, including hospitality units, restaurants and cafes,” he added.
“The city’s infrastructure and transportation systems significantly impact the visitors’ experience, especially with the growing international tourism trends directly related to exhibitions and conferences across various fields.”
Al-Khattaf highlighted the importance of robust infrastructure in supporting the growth of the MICE sector: “The MICE sector cannot grow effectively without strong infrastructure to support it, as it is a crucial part of enhancing the global appeal of cities.
“Successfully preparing to host major global events like Expo 2030 and the 2034 World Cup hinges on fostering the growth of the MICE sector, which will play a crucial role in the preparations for these landmark events.”
Digital marketing plays a pivotal role in amplifying the reach and impact of MICE events. Abdullah Al-Harbi, CEO of Eye of Riyadh, highlighted the transformative power of digital marketing.
Abdullah Al-Harbi, CEO of Eye of Riyadh. (Supplied)
“Digital marketing revolutionizes event promotion and management by reaching broader audiences and engaging participants in real time,” he said.
“At Eye of Riyadh, our primary objectives are to expand our network, share insights, and showcase the innovative strategies and events we have implemented on a global level,” Al-Harbi said.
“Eye of Riyadh aims to connect with global leaders, explore potential collaborations and position Saudi Arabia as a premier destination for exhibitions and conferences, driving growth and contributing to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals.”
He added: “Global partnerships are crucial for growth, bringing diverse perspectives, advanced technologies and best practices. Collaborating with international stakeholders enhances our capabilities and creates more impactful events.”
“These alliances drive innovation, boost global competitiveness, and ensure sustained growth and success in the exhibitions and conferences industry,” he said.
Exhibition industry thriving amid digital revolution, says UFI chief
Hattendorf said the booming exhibitions industry suggested the requirement for physical gatherings was stronger than ever
Updated 15 December 2024
MANAL AL-BARAKATI
RIYADH: The global exhibition industry has proved its relevance as a cornerstone of business and societal growth, defying predictions it will become obsolete, according to the CEO of the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, UFI.
During an interview with Arab News, Kai Hattendorf highlighted the importance of face-to-face interaction in an era dominated by digital connectivity. He said while technology continued to revolutionize how people connected, the booming exhibitions industry suggested the requirement for physical gatherings was stronger than ever.
Hattendorf pointed to the industry’s resilience against repeated claims that it would be overshadowed by advances like the internet, social media and even the metaverse.
“The more digital our environments become, the bigger the need to meet in person,” he said, emphasizing that digital tools alone could not replicate the authenticity of human connection.
Reflecting on the lessons of the pandemic, he said the inability of meeting physically underlined the value of in-person interactions and likened human relationships to a smartphone battery: “If you don’t recharge it, it stops working.”
The exhibition industry was also a powerful barometer of economic growth, thriving where markets were expanding, he added. Hattendorf identified the Middle East and Asia as key drivers of global growth, pointing to strengthening economies in the Gulf Cooperation Council and Asia-Pacific regions.
He said these areas not only contributed to economic progress, but also led innovation and societal development. Exhibitions and business events play a crucial role in these advancements, he added, acting as marketplaces and meeting points where industries could connect and collaborate.
The industry is not without challenges, with inflation, supply chain disruptions and geopolitical tensions presenting significant hurdles for organizers, but Hattendorf expressed confidence in the sector’s ability to adapt.
He also acknowledged the shift from globalization to regionalization in the exhibitions landscape. Rather than relying on a single global event, international organizers now manage portfolios of regional shows across multiple continents. This diversification not only mitigates risks but also creates a broader, more resilient growth model.
Through its adaptability and focus on fostering authentic human connections, the exhibition industry continues to evolve, said Hattendorf, serving as a vital enabler of economic and cultural exchange. Even in an increasingly digital world, the need for meaningful, face-to-face interactions will only grow stronger, he added.
