Saudi foreign minister and Pakistani counterpart discuss cooperation between their nations

Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan. (SPA)
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Updated 09 April 2025
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Saudi foreign minister and Pakistani counterpart discuss cooperation between their nations

  • During their telephone conversation, Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Ishaq Dar reviewed bilateral relations
  • The prince is in the US for an official visit during which he will hold talks with Secretary of State Marco Rubio

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, received a telephone call on Wednesday from his Pakistani counterpart, Ishaq Dar.

During the call, they discussed relations between their countries and prospects for cooperation, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Prince Faisal arrived in the US on Tuesday for an official visit, during which he is scheduled to meet Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss issues of common interest and the latest developments in the Middle East and globally, the SPA added.


Study outlines forest fire prevention plan

Updated 5 sec ago
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Study outlines forest fire prevention plan

RIYADH: The National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification has completed a study to enhance forest protection and reduce wildfire risks in support of environmental sustainability goals.

Titled “Forest Fire Prevention and Post-Fire Recovery in the Southern and Southwestern Regions of Saudi Arabia,” the study was conducted in collaboration with King Khalid University and Monash University in Australia.

It includes an assessment of forest conditions and risk factors, the development of a digital database, and a review of preventive measures and community practices, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

The study proposes an integrated response plan involving relevant agencies, with defined roles and the use of modern tools such as early warning systems and drones.

It also offers field designs and sustainable alternatives for strategic firebreaks, a post-fire recovery guide, a performance evaluation tool, and a framework for joint operations.

To support this, the study outlines a mechanism for engaging local volunteer teams in forest areas through training, capacity-building, and coordination with authorities.

The study demonstrates institutional, technical, and community collaboration in forest protection. It reflects Saudi Arabia’s efforts to preserve natural resources and address climate-related challenges while balancing development with ecosystem conservation.

The national center continues to promote sustainable vegetation cover and has launched an initiative to plant 60 million trees — equivalent to restoring 300,000 hectares — by 2030.


New school for neurodiverse children to open in Riyadh

Updated 24 min 10 sec ago
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New school for neurodiverse children to open in Riyadh

  • Enrollment is now open for the 2025 academic year

RIYADH: A new school specializing in educating neurodiverse children aged 3 to 9 will open in Riyadh in September, it was announced on Tuesday evening.

Josour Schools held a seminar in Riyadh this week to make the announcement, highlighting its unique model, which combines education, therapy and family services.

The school, which will be located in Roshn’s Sedra 1 community, is the result of a partnership between the Educational Infrastructure Holding Co. and UK-based CareTech.

“CareTech is always rooted in the communities in which we operate our services,” Shokat Akbar, CEO of CareTech International, told Arab News. “For (Josour) to succeed, it must be rooted in the community and be … in partnership with the community.”

Aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals, Josour Schools adopts a British curriculum adapted to local cultural values.

Its small-class model, led by neurodiversity specialists, focuses on individualized education plans and combines education with therapeutic interventions.

“This school serves a critical purpose: providing good quality access to special education needs services for children,” Akbar said. “Inclusivity comes in many ways.

“Students (will) participate in society through art and sport, making their contributions visible.”

The school will have access to resources from CareTech’s global network of 47 UK schools and 550 specialized services.

“Teachers will attend CareTech UK schools as part of their induction and training,” Akbar said, adding that Josour’s therapists would collaborate with experts across CareTech’s global network, including researchers and practitioners.

Enrollment is now open for the 2025 academic year.


Ministry of Islamic Affairs launches 24/7 toll-free helpline for pilgrims

Updated 28 May 2025
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Ministry of Islamic Affairs launches 24/7 toll-free helpline for pilgrims

  • Helpline will respond to pilgrims’ inquiries related to Hajj

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance has launched a 24/7 toll-free helpline (800 2451000) to respond to pilgrims’ inquiries and provide religious rulings (fatwas) related to the Hajj.

The service provides religious guidance in 10 languages: Arabic, English, French, Turkish, Urdu, Indonesian, Bengali, Hausa, Amharic and Hindi.

The toll-free helpline is part of the ministry’s initiatives aimed at facilitating the performance of Hajj rituals in accordance with Islamic rules.

Through direct communication with a select group of qualified scholars and professional translators, the helpline ensures pilgrims receive reliable religious support.

The ministry has urged all pilgrims to make full use of this complimentary service, underscoring the Kingdom’s intent to deliver the highest standard of care during the pilgrimage.

The minister of Islamic affairs has assigned 300 scholars and advocates to provide fatwas and lectures for domestic Hajj campaigns for this year’s Hajj season, the ministry said.

Meanwhile, the ministry continues its efforts to serve pilgrims during Hajj by providing awareness and guidance services at the Aisha Mosque, one of the main stations frequented by pilgrims in Makkah.

The services include broadcasting awareness messages in several languages via electronic screens to enhance religious awareness and facilitate the performance of rituals. 

In addition, around-the-clock field-monitoring tours are being conducted by male and female inspection teams to ensure the quality of services and address observations immediately. 

The ministry also ensured the availability of Qur’ans and translations in several languages and organized the movement of crowds in the mosque and its courtyards to ensure smooth flow and comfort for visitors.


Saudi coders describe inspiration behind award-winning apps

Yomna Eisa was named one of the top 50 winners of a global coding competition held by Apple. (Supplied)
Updated 28 May 2025
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Saudi coders describe inspiration behind award-winning apps

  • Apple honored Saudi coders for accessibility and mental health apps built at Riyadh Developer Academy

RIYADH: Two Saudi women spoke to Arab News about the inspiration behind their apps that were named in the top 50 of a global coding competition held recently by Apple.

Manar Al-Ghamdi, 22, began coding her app during the COVID-19 pandemic with encouragement from her father. What started as a curiosity quickly turned into a career path.

“It’s wonderful when you do something and you see the result of it,” Al-Ghamdi said. “(It is) a magnificent feeling, to see the result of your hard work.”

Her app, developed as part of a challenge-based learning module, aims to improve accessibility for visually impaired users. Drawing on Apple’s VoiceOver technology, she created a game centered on Lama, a blind girl who guides users through her world.

“When I worked on real-world challenges, that helped me understand the impact of technology on people’s lives. One of the most meaningful things that came during the academy was accessibility challenges,” Al-Ghamdi said.

“I talked to someone who is blind and a programmer (and) he showed me how he programs. It opened my eyes to how often accessibility is overlooked in app development, and how it’s crucial to design for everyone,” she said.

The app is both an educational and empathetic tool, introducing developers to the challenges faced by blind users. “We need the world to be inclusive, not exclusive,” Al-Ghamdi said.

“When I show anyone my app, they say, ‘Oh my God, that’s a real thing, that’s a challenge.’

“The more knowledge they have after using my app, I think that’s the rewarding part,” she added.

Both developers are graduates of the Apple Developer Academy in Riyadh, a program designed to nurture and develop coding talent in the Kingdom.

“My experience at the Apple Developer Academy has been truly transformative,” Al-Ghamdi said.

“The academy pushed me to grow, not only as a developer, but as a thinker, a collaborator, and a problem solver,” she added.

Al-Ghamdi was motivated to participate in Apple’s Swift Student Challenge after meeting previous winners through an academy-hosted session.

“The session I was very excited about is when the club invited the previous winners. They told us about how exciting it was. So I was like, OK, I want that too,” Al-Ghamdi said.

“After this magnificent journey I had here at the academy, the first thing in my mind now is, I want to create an app or develop something that really impacts people’s lives,” she said. “I want to build something meaningful.”

24-year-old Yomna Eisa’s app takes a more personal approach. Inspired by her own struggles with mental health, she designed an animated educational app that helps users understand internal stress responses through lighthearted, accessible storytelling.

“I wanted to create something that is personal to me, so that regardless of anything, regardless of outcome, to me, that’s still winning, that I created something that has meaning to me,” Eisa said.

“My cats were always a huge emotional support for me, so it was really important to me to incorporate them in this app,” she added.

Eisa taught herself animation using her iPad, despite not having an artistic background.

“I’m not an artist. I don’t know how to draw, but I wanted to try something different with this app, and I did all the animation myself on my iPad.

“I don’t think the person I was before the academy would have been the kind of person to try out risking learning something entirely new,” Eisa said.

“I hope that my app will teach them about what goes on internally in their body when they’re under chronic stress ... and deliver that message in a way that is lighthearted and comfortable to the user,” she added.

Eisa described the Apple Developer Academy as a key influence on her personal and professional development.

“The academy really pushes us to try new things and try our best to make mistakes and learn from those mistakes. And it’s been such a push for me, personally and professionally, and made me change entirely,” Eisa said.

“Honestly, I feel like an entirely new person.

The academy program, she said, was “motivational, encouraging, and comfortable ... being surrounded by our mentors and other women who share similar values when it comes to continuous learning has honestly been so encouraging,” she added.

Fueled by her experience at the academy, Eisa is now looking ahead.

“I want to use my knowledge in tech to create something that is useful,” Eisa said.

“I want to hopefully continue doing that and possibly work for a company or an organization that can help me support that and fulfill that goal,” she added.

The Swift Student Challenge is part of Apple’s broader effort to nurture young talent in coding, design and entrepreneurship. The 50 winners — including Al-Ghamdi and Eisa — will attend Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference at Apple Park in Cupertino, California, in June.

Their recognition highlights Saudi Arabia’s growing presence in global tech innovation, especially among young women.


Cabinet reviews Hajj 2025 plans as Dhul Hijjah begins

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman chairs Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting. (SPA)
Updated 27 May 2025
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Cabinet reviews Hajj 2025 plans as Dhul Hijjah begins

  • Cabinet said the Kingdom takes pride in serving the Two Holy Mosques and receiving millions of pilgrims for Hajj, Umrah, and visits

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet on Tuesday reviewed plans for this year’s Hajj season as the Supreme Court announced that Dhul Hijjah will start on Wednesday.

Hajj takes place during Dhul Hijjah and the pilgrimage will start on June 4 with pilgrims gathering in the Tent City of Mina.

The Cabinet said relevant authorities were operating with the highest standards of efficiency, quality, coordination, and integration, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

These efforts aim to ensure the comfort and safety of pilgrims, supported by the Kingdom’s extensive development projects and advanced infrastructure, which enhance all aspects of service and facilitate the performance of Hajj rituals for pilgrims from around the world, the Cabinet said.

The Cabinet said the Kingdom takes pride in serving the Two Holy Mosques and receiving millions of pilgrims for Hajj, Umrah, and visits. This reflects the Kingdom’s pioneering Islamic role and longstanding commitment since its unification by the late King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al-Saud.

The Cabinet also discussed the Kingdom’s participation in the recent summits between the Gulf Cooperation Council, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and China. These engagements reaffirm the Kingdom’s support for international initiatives promoting sustainable development and regional stability, contributing to a prosperous future for all nations, it said.

The Cabinet welcomed the announcement of a new oil discovery in the neutral zone between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. It described the development as a positive step that enhances cooperation in the energy sector and reflects the success of joint exploration and development efforts.

The Cabinet also reviewed regional and international developments, reiterating the Kingdom’s ongoing efforts to support the Palestinian cause. It called for an end to the war on the Gaza Strip, the facilitation of humanitarian aid, and the cessation of violations by Israeli authorities of international laws and norms.

The Cabinet praised the launch of the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition’s regional program for Sahel countries, inaugurated in Mali. The initiative aims to strengthen cooperation among member states in combatting terrorism and its financing through joint action and the exchange of expertise.

The Cabinet lauded initiatives launched as part of the Health Sector Transformation Program which have enhanced the quality and comprehensiveness of healthcare, improved preventive and traffic safety measures, and advanced digital health services in line with the objectives of Vision 2030.

The Cabinet affirmed that the Kingdom remains committed to comprehensive and sustainable development through economic diversification, optimization of its competitive advantages, stimulation of local and foreign investment, empowerment of Saudi citizens, and the creation of job opportunities across various sectors.