Jeddah’s oldest school to begin new chapter as museum

1 / 2
The historical section of Al-Falah School building will be handed over to the Ministry of Culture for its transformation into a cultural landmark. (Supplied/Ghazi Mahdi)
Short Url
Updated 20 January 2025
Follow

Jeddah’s oldest school to begin new chapter as museum

  • We still visit to remember the good old days, says 82-year-old alum

JEDDAH: The first school formally established in the Arabian Peninsula is poised for a new chapter as a museum, according to Ali Al-Sulimani, the managing director.

The historical section of Al-Falah School building will be handed over to the Ministry of Culture for its transformation into a cultural landmark.

It was built in 1905 by Saudi businessman Sheikh Mohammed Ali Zainal Alireza as the first boys’ school in Jeddah at a time when the Hijaz, the western part of modern Saudi Arabia, was partially under Ottoman Turkish rule and both poverty and illiteracy were common.




An archival image of students in class. (Supplied)

Although Zainal went through major financial crises, he continued funding the school with help from other business families. Eventually, the Kingdom’s founder King Abdulaziz visited it and appreciated its great educational and social role, and arranged for government support.

The school marks the onset of modern education in Saudi Arabia and has been the alma mater of numerous national figures, including former Minister of Information Mohammed Abdu Yamani, former Minister of Commerce Abdullah Zail, former Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Ahmed Zaki Yamani, and former Minister of Hajj Hamid Harasani among others.

Al-Falah School, is located in the heart of the historical area in Jeddah, has continued to the present day, and includes two buildings, the older of them dating back more than 120 years.




The school offers three levels of education — elementary, intermediate and high school — with each having its own playground. (AN photo by Ghazi Mahdi)

According to Al-Sulimani the older building will be a fully integrated museum, including a cultural space, a cafe with a heritage theme and seating areas where visitors can learn about the historical area and the history of the school.

“The old part was handed over to the Ministry of Culture to be prepared to comply with the development plans for the old buildings in the historic area,” he said.

One former pupil, 82-year-old Hamza Awfi, told Arab News: “The school was based on a solid foundation. It is the place I considered as our second home. Here I have met many students who graduated and later held important leadership positions and I still remember them, young and old.

It was a place of knowledge and it provided me a wonderful environment and opportunity to learn and grow myself in every field.

Ahmed Abdulgader Al-Noaman, 72-year-old alum

“We really hold great memories, and by the way, I and other friends who graduated from this school, still go and visit it from time to time to remember our old good days.”

Awfi added that keeping the modern building for education as a symbol of resilience and enlightenment while at the same time transforming the old building into a museum is a great idea.

Another former pupil, 72-year-old Ahmed Abdulgader Al-Noaman, told Arab News: “My four years at Al-Falah have been an excellent memory to cherish for a lifetime. The time spent has been full of learning opportunities. It was a place of knowledge and it provided me a wonderful environment and opportunity to learn and grow myself in every field.”

The school offers three levels of education — elementary, intermediate and high school — with each having its own playground. Today, the old U-shaped building stands in the center of the complex and is used by elementary students. The classrooms remain their original size, which is considered small by current standards.

The floors, ceilings, and doors of the school’s original building are made from wood they were restored, with their traditional character retained in order to preserve the school’s history and heritage. The original green dome still rests on top of the old building.

 


Kingdom arrests 20,688 illegals in one week

Updated 19 April 2025
Follow

Kingdom arrests 20,688 illegals in one week

Riyadh: Saudi authorities arrested 20,688 people in one week for breaching residency, work and border security regulations, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.

A total of 12,372 people were arrested for violations of residency laws, while 4,750 were held over illegal border crossing attempts, and a further 3,566 for labor-related issues.

The report showed that among the 1,264 people arrested for trying to enter the Kingdom illegally, 61 percent were Ethiopian, 36 percent Yemeni, and 3 percent were of other nationalities.

A further 93 people were caught trying to cross into neighboring countries, and 27 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.


Strict Hajj rules for pilgrims’ safety says ministry

Updated 19 April 2025
Follow

Strict Hajj rules for pilgrims’ safety says ministry

  • Ministry warns against scams on social media

RIYADH: The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has stressed that individuals intending to perform Hajj this year must obtain a permit through the Nusuk platform, which is integrated with the unified Tasreeh system for issuing official permits.

It also said that no type of visa grants the right to perform Hajj, and that full compliance with regulations is essential to ensure the safety of pilgrims and a smooth Hajj experience, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The ministry warned against fraudulent activities and deceptive Hajj campaign advertisements on social media that falsely promise accommodation and transportation within the holy sites.

The ministry urges the public to report suspicious activities by calling 911 in Makkah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province, or 999 in other areas of the Kingdom. Misleading ads should also be reported to relevant authorities in all countries.

The ministry has announced that April 29 is the final departure date for Umrah visa holders, in preparation for the Hajj season, the SPA reported.

The General Directorate of Public Security has said that Hajj regulations will begin on April 23. All residents intending to enter Makkah must obtain a valid entry permit from the relevant authorities. Those without a permit will be denied entry at security checkpoints, the SPA added.

The directorate emphasized that Hajj procedures will be strictly enforced. Vehicles and residents without a work entry permit, a Makkah resident ID or an official Hajj permit will be turned back.

It further clarified that entry permits for residents working during Hajj are issued electronically via the Absher Individuals platform and the Muqeem portal, through integration with the unified digital Hajj permit platform.


KSA showcases literary, religious heritage in Rabat

Updated 19 April 2025
Follow

KSA showcases literary, religious heritage in Rabat

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Islamic Affairs is taking part in the 30th Rabat International Book and Publishing Fair, running until April 27 in the Moroccan capital.

It reflects the ministry’s efforts to promote the Kingdom’s message of moderation and tolerance, and its commitment to printing, publishing and teaching the Holy Qur’an, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The ministry’s pavilion features a section from the King Fahd Complex for the Printing of the Holy Qur’an in Madinah, showcasing a wide range of printed Qur’ans and translations in various languages.

Another section highlights the Makkah Library, displaying rare and historical Islamic manuscripts from renowned writers, linguists and scholars.

Represented by the General Secretariat for Exhibitions and Conferences, the ministry is also presenting a range of digital applications and programs for fair visitors.

The Kingdom’s Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission is also taking part, showcasing initiatives aimed at advancing the publishing industry and enriching cultural activities.

These include supporting Saudi publishers and literary agents globally, presenting the Kingdom’s intellectual heritage, highlighting its cultural traditions and promoting local literary output.


KSrelief steps up aid efforts in conflict zones

The aid is part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s ongoing humanitarian and relief projects. (SPA)
Updated 19 April 2025
Follow

KSrelief steps up aid efforts in conflict zones

  • The initiative is part of the 2025 Food Security Support Project in the Republic of Sudan.

RIYADH: Saudi aid agency KSrelief continues to provide much-needed humanitarian assistance to some of the world’s most vulnerable people.

In Sudan, 1,350 food packages were distributed to displaced and needy families in Northern State, benefiting more than 8,000 people, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

In Yemen, 3,200 cartons of dates were handed out to vulnerable groups in the Midi and Haradh districts of Hajjah governorate, benefiting 19,200 individuals, while the KSrelief-supported prosthetics and rehabilitation center in Aden governorate provided medical services to 372 amputees.

The center delivered some 954 services over the course of a month. These included measuring, manufacturing and fitting of prosthetics, along with delivery and maintenance services, as well as rehabilitation and physiotherapy for the patients.

In Jordan, KSrelief continues its 30th volunteer program at the Zaatari refugee camp for Syrians, with participation from various medical specialties.

To date, the program has offered healthcare in dermatology, gynecology, bone tumors, pediatrics, family medicine and physiotherapy, benefiting almost 600 people.

Since its launch in May 2015, KSrelief has carried out 3,393 projects worth almost $7.9 billion across 106 countries, in partnership with more than 309 organizations.


How experts in Saudi Arabia are harnessing the power of microbes to treat wastewater

Updated 18 April 2025
Follow

How experts in Saudi Arabia are harnessing the power of microbes to treat wastewater

  • KAUST researchers are using the microorganisms found naturally in wastewater to clean it and extract valuable resources
  • The system reduces energy use and avoids sludge buildup common in traditional wastewater treatment methods

RIYADH: What if the answer to wastewater treatment was in the water itself? At King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, a team led by Professor Pascal Saikaly is harnessing the natural power of microbes found in wastewater — not just to clean it, but to generate energy and create valuable resources.

Rather than relying on outdated, energy-intensive systems, Saikaly’s team is developing innovative, nature-based solutions that turn waste into a tool for sustainability. Their key technology? A microbial electrochemical system that takes advantage of how certain microbes “breathe.”

Some microbes are capable of a process called extracellular electron transfer — moving electrons outside their cells to solid surfaces. Under the right conditions, this creates a small but useful electric current.

“At the anode, think about oxidation, you basically release electrons. At the cathode, it’s more like uptaking the electrons,” Saikaly told Arab News. “You have organisms that release the electrons at the anode side. At the cathode side, you have organisms that can capture these electrons.”

This process — using natural microbial activity and controlled conditions such as pH, electrode potential and substrate type — helps to treat wastewater while recovering energy and chemicals such as methane.

“You’re not adding any more energy to the whole process, so we reduce energy consumption,” Saikaly said.

Professor Pascal Saikaly at the KAUST Water Desalination and Reuse Center. (KAUST photo)

Unlike conventional wastewater treatment methods, which were developed more than a century ago and rely heavily on aeration, these new systems are far more efficient. According to Saikaly, current methods require 0.6 kilowatt-hours of energy per cubic meter of treated water and produce large amounts of residual sludge.

“The technology that we are currently using generates a lot of residual solids,” he said. “In any biological treatment process, you produce waste. And this waste, we call it residual waste or waste activated sludge, we need to dispose of it.

“This means there is an additional cost that we have to pay for in the treatment process. So, it is energy intensive and generates a lot of residual solids.”

The KAUST team’s microbial system not only removes pollutants but, under the right operation, can also fix carbon dioxide — transforming it into methane gas or acetate, both of which can be used as renewable fuels.

“You can operate it without microorganisms and there you produce hydrogen, or you operate it with microorganisms and you can generate methane gas or other types of substrates,” Saikaly said.

 

The goal is to move from simply treating waste to recovering valuable resources from it. “All the biotechnology that we developed falls under this principle,” Saikaly said. “Treat the waste with simultaneous recovery of resources. That’s our principle.”

Another innovation Saikaly’s team has developed is a technology called microbial chain elongation. Designed as an alternative to landfilling organic waste, this process converts food and dairy waste into high-value chemicals rather than low-value methane.

“According to Vision 2030, all of these landfills will be shut down and waste should be diverted away from landfills by 2030 or 2035,” Saikaly said. “This means there is an urgent need for an alternative solution for this huge amount of organic waste that is being generated.”

Existing wastewater treatment plants use a technology that was invented more than 100 years ago. The Activated Sludge Process utilizes aerobic bacteria to break down organic matter in wastewater. (iStock images)

Among the byproducts of this process is casaene — a protein-rich substance containing 16 essential amino acids — suitable for use in aquaculture and poultry feed.

“We’re in discussions with the aquaculture program at KAUST,” Saikaly said. “And also we are in discussion with Sipchem, which is a petroleum chemistry company. They also want to use our products to produce polymers. There’s a big window of applications that is much, much broader and has a higher value than methane gas.”

By producing methane, wastewater can be treated by generating enough energy to make the whole process energy neutral. (iStock images)

The team is also behind a compact, mobile wastewater treatment plant — the aerobic granular sludge gravity-driven membrane system — developed in partnership with former KAUST scientist Mohammed Ali. It treats domestic wastewater without the need for energy-intensive aeration or pumping, making it ideal for rural or remote locations.

The system, already in use in Rabigh, Saudi Arabia, serves up to 2,000 people and is designed to process 150 cubic meters of wastewater per day.

At the anode, pollutants such as chemical oxygen demand, biological oxygen demand, nitrogen compounds, and phosphorus are removed.  (iStock images)

These innovations are part of a broader push by Saikaly and his team to rethink how we deal with waste — not as something to dispose of, but as something to transform. And while many of these technologies are still a few steps from commercial deployment, they are already showing how science and sustainability can go hand in hand.

“We want to think about waste not only as to treat and dispose, but as a waste that we can use to recover resources,” Saikaly said.