JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia ranks second in the world in the production of dates, with a total production of 1.122 million tons from almost 23 million palm trees, or about 17 percent of total global production. But the reality is that the country and its citizens did not benefit as desired of this global excellence.
Saudi dates reach 72 countries that have opened their markets to Saudi products, and could become the second exported product associated with the Kingdom’s name — after oil — due to a comprehensive national plan to promote the industry and maximize benefits to the country and its citizens.
Reaching this goal means strengthening leadership in the field of production, improving processing and marketing of dates and palm trees, as well as promoting investment opportunities, product development, and encouraging manufacturing and sub-industries in the field. Also key is improving the quality of date production to be commensurate with requirements of global markets.
To promote investment opportunities, organizing specialized exhibitions abroad to present varieties of Saudi dates could be given significant advantage and complement to high level government support, experts say. They have called for the establishment of an ozone association or body in the Kingdom to act as a scientific reference and research hub in the region in collaboration with the International Ozone Association.
Sami Al-Akoz, an ozone technology specialist, says the Kingdom’s accession to the International Ozone Association is an important step, and a big leap toward the use of the latest technology for the purpose of maintaining human health.
According to professor of Atmospheric Chemistry in the US, Matthew S. Johnson, says the ozone helps eliminate viruses and harmful bacteria by purifying the air, and food and other agricultural products. On prolonging the life of Saudi dates through the ozone, he said the ozone “preserves fruit quality for a period ranging from several months to a year, and purifies such fruits of insect eggs and larvae, either through evaporation in the field under plastic sheets or by storing dates in closed warehouses.”
Dr. Hassan Naqadi, director of medical services at King Abdulaziz International Airport and supervisor of the previous forum on ozone uses and applications at the airport, says he hopes the new technologies will also be put to use in purifying and sanitizing the air in airplanes and halls after successful trials, especially as research shows the ozone can eliminate germs and microbes.
“Studies and research show that ozone technology can prevent the spread of germs that carry contagious illnesses and cause major harm to people in closed and crowded areas,” said Naser Al-Atbi, a specialist in industrial engineering and a member of the International Ozone Association.
Experts, like Nikolai Burke, who holds a Ph.D. from Copenhagen University, say ozone sterilization has many uses beyond dates.
Burke says there is a need to invent new ideas for marketing Saudi dates, which are considered the finest in the world, as ozone will have a key role in protecting their qualities and limiting germs and microbes, thus allowing for wider exports to other countries.
Experts call for undertaking new technology to promote Saudi dates
Experts call for undertaking new technology to promote Saudi dates
Saudi king, crown prince congratulate Montenegro and Kiribati on their special days
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia's king and crown prince on Sunday congratulated President Jakov Milatović of Montenegro on his country's National Day celebration.
In a cable, King Salman wished Milatović "continued good health and happiness, and the government and people of Montenegro steady progress and prosperity," the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is also the Kingdom's prime minister, sent a similar message in a separate cable, according to SPA.
Earlier on Saturday, the king and crown prince greeted Kiribati President Taneti Maamau on his country's Independence Day, wishing him and his constituents steady progress and prosperity.
Montenegro, located in southeast Europe, became part of Yugoslavia in 1918 during the realignment of nations after World War I. After Yugoslavia broke up in 1992, Montenegro formed a federation with Serbia, but opted later to become an independent republic in 2006.
Kiribati, an island republic in the central Pacific, gained its independence from the United Kingdom in 1979.
Both Montenegro and Kiribati are members of the United Nations.
Saudi artist rolls forward with bamboo paper
- Jumanah Telity’s eco-conscious art form is as durable as it is creative
JEDDAH: Saudi artist Jumanah Telity has found an unusual medium for her creativity: bamboo paper.
Through a labor-intensive process she transforms it into sturdy objects, from baskets and storage boxes to small-scale furniture and figurines.
“This art, like any other art, requires specific techniques, sense, and artistic thought to produce creativity,” she told Arab News. “It differs from other arts in that it is a very strong and practical product that is used daily and also decoratively.”
Originally an educator, Telity spent 19 years in schools, eventually serving as a principal.
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, she decided to explore her long-time fascination with natural materials such as wood, bamboo, and rattan.
That is when she discovered bamboo paper weaving online and something clicked.
HIGHLIGHTS
• In 2020, Saudi artist Jumanah Telity decided to explore her long-time fascination with natural materials such as wood, bamboo, and rattan.
• She recently displayed her work at Balad Al-Fann in Jeddah’s historic district.
“It strangely attracted me. I felt like I found my passion here because it really appealed to me,” she said.
Telity says the method involves tightly rolling paper into sticks using a special needle. It is then woven into shape.
“It begins with choosing the type of paper, its size, and the way it is cut,” she said. “After trying this art, you’ll be amazed at the strength of these products and how they can be washed with soap and water without being affected.”
She describes the art as eco-conscious because of the recycling involved in the process.
To hone her craft, Telity enrolled in intensive online courses specializing in the technique.
“I found what I was looking for,” she said. “The study was online, intensive, daily, and very precise in how to teach and train step by step.”
Now among the first Saudi artists to specialize in this form of bamboo art, she credits the Kingdom’s growing cultural landscape for supporting artists exploring niche and rare forms of expression.
“This type of art is considered one of the rarest arts in the world,” she added. “It requires precise skills and a deep understanding of transforming paper into a wood-like material.”
Telity recently displayed her work at Balad Al-Fann in Jeddah’s historic district. She was struck by how strongly the art resonated with visitors. “I noticed people’s amazement and admiration for this art and how they were attracted by the type of art, method of weaving and the strength and ability to withstand external factors,” she said.
She now plans to hold workshops to pass on her skills, with the goal of eventually becoming a certified trainer.
With growing interest from aspiring crafters and a renewed push for cultural innovation across Saudi Arabia, Telity believes the future of this art form is bright.
Once a symbol of Najdi homes, Al-Roshen fades from view
- Today, Saudis continue to express hospitality in new ways — hosting events in gardens, villas, or special venues, while maintaining the warmth and generosity that have always defined social gatherings
RIYADH: As Saudi Arabia rapidly modernizes, some elements of its traditional architecture are becoming rarer, but not forgotten.
Once a hallmark of Najdi homes, Al-Roshen remains a cherished symbol of Saudi hospitality and social values, even as lifestyles and housing designs evolve.
“Al-Roshen is a room for special guests,” said Mohammad Alhouti, a resident of Riyadh’s Aldeerah neighborhood.
“As soon as a person enters the house through the door, there is a ground-floor sitting room and a staircase. This staircase leads to Al-Roshen, separate so that the guest can go up as soon as they enter the house.”
Unlike the more common majlis, Al-Roshen offered a secluded space for important visitors.
According to Abdulrahman Alhouti, some people would add plaster to the walls of Al-Roshen, creating shapes and decorations that would make it stand out from the main majlis in the house.
FASTFACTS
• Once a hallmark of Najdi homes, Al-Roshen remains a cherished symbol of Saudi hospitality and social values, even as lifestyles and housing designs evolve.
• Unlike the more common majlis, Al-Roshen offered a secluded space for important visitors.
Though most contemporary homes are no longer built with an Al-Roshen, the spirit behind it remains.
Mohammad and Abdulrahman are a part of Thuluthiyyat Almasmak, a weekly cultural gathering held in front of Riyadh’s Al-Masmak Palace.
Their group includes Fahad Alhidyyan, helping document and share Riyadh’s history through stories of its neighborhoods, streets, schools and everyday life.
Their weekly gathering has reached its seventh year and the group has welcomed all types of visitors, from locals to international tourists coming to Riyadh, to discuss the past and present of the Kingdom’s capital.
“(The gathering) tells the story of the history of Riyadh, its old alleys, streets, schools, farms and everything old, from the time of King Abdulaziz until the beginning of the development,” Abdulrahman said.
Today, Saudis continue to express hospitality in new ways — hosting events in gardens, villas, or special venues, while maintaining the warmth and generosity that have always defined social gatherings.
“In the past, receiving guests was of great importance. The host would take great care in welcoming his guests, making every effort to provide them with the best he could,” Alhidyyan said.
“People now meet during Eid, weddings, or planned gatherings, though often outside the home. There is a difference, but the intention remains.”
Rather than fading away entirely, Al-Roshen now lives on through cultural forums and conversations that highlight the evolution of tradition in a rapidly changing society.
For those preserving these stories, the goal is not to resist change but to carry forward the values and meaning behind these cultural symbols.
Deputy minister receives Ukraine’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia
- Saudi Ambassador to Greece Ali Al-Yousef recently presented his credentials to the country’s president, Constantine Tassoulas
RIYADH: Abdulrahman Al-Rassi, the Saudi deputy minister for international multilateral affairs, received Anatolii Petrenko, Ukriane’s ambassador to the Kingdom, in Riyadh on Sunday.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed bilateral relations as well as prominent developments in regional and international arenas, the foreign ministry wrote in a post on X.
Meanwhile, Saudi Ambassador to Greece Ali Al-Yousef recently presented his credentials to the country’s president, Constantine Tassoulas.
Lebanon’s envoy wraps up tenure with visit to Arab News
- Kabbara acknowledged the long-standing relationship between Saudi Arabia and Lebanon and praised Arab News for promoting understanding between the two
RIYADH: Lebanon’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Dr. Fawzi Kabbara, on Sunday ended his tenure with a visit to Arab News Editor-in-Chief Faisal J. Abbas at the newspaper’s Riyadh headquarters.
During the meeting, Kabbara acknowledged the long-standing relationship between Saudi Arabia and Lebanon and praised Arab News for promoting understanding between the two with its “insightful reporting.”
“It is an honor to celebrate the enduring ties between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia during a time of significant change in the Kingdom under the leadership of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman,” he said.
He highlighted the publication’s commitment to journalistic integrity and said it enriched the media landscape and supported diplomatic relations by keeping diplomats informed on local and regional news.
Kabbara also emphasized the pivotal role the media played in shaping public opinion and fostering cross-cultural dialogue.
During his tour of the newspaper’s headquarters, the envoy viewed editions dating back to its founding in 1975, including its first Christmas cover, the transformation under Abbas’ leadership in 2016 and award-winning editorial cartoons capturing key moments in world history.
Looking ahead, Kabbara said this was not the end of his time in the Kingdom. He expressed his eagerness to return “wearing a different hat” so he could witness the growth of Lebanon-Saudi relations and Arab News’ evolving role.
He concluded by expressing sincere gratitude to Arab News and Abbas. For his part, Abbas thanked the ambassador for his visit and wished him success in his future endeavors.
