RIYADH: YouTube on Monday launched a new hub called Batala (youtube.com/batala) just for female creators from the Middle East and North Africa, which featured more than 100 female creators from the region.
Announced during an event in Riyadh, the channel has more than 1,000 videos and is categorized by genres such as comedy, education, fitness, and many more. The hub will also highlight a new list of creators every month at the top of the channel.
“With the continuing growth of female content creators in MENA, we want to keep the momentum going. With YouTube Batala, discovering new creators and their work is now easier than ever. The hub highlights the work of some of our best creators in the region, and showcases high-quality Arabic content to YouTube’s 1 billion users,” head of YouTube Partnerships in the Middle East of North Africa Diana Baddar said.
“We continuously grow the amount of Arabic content that exists on YouTube, and that is due to the fact that all these creators that you see here today took the first step and got on to the platform,” she added.
“We are seeing on a day-to-day basis that more and more creators are opening their own channels, making content that interests them with the hope that it would interest other people, so we expect a growth in content creation in the region.”
YouTube Batala highlighted top creators from Saudi Arabia like Njoud Al-Shammari, a lifestyle YouTuber, Hatoun Kadi, owner of the Noon Al-Niswa channel, Al-Jauhara Sajer, discusses fashion and beauty tip on her channel, Hissa Al-Awwad, who specializes in nail art, Amirah Al-Abbas, owner of the Qawareer channel, Rana Al-Ahmadi, a make-up artist.
The event also featured Enji Aboul Seoud, an amateur film critic from Egypt, and Haifa Bseiso, a travel vlogger from Palestine. It also featured top MENA creators such as Noor Stars and Hayla Ghazal, who each have more than 2 million subscribers.
The announcement comes as the supply and demand of female-related content continues to grow on the platform. In the Middle East and North Africa alone, the total number of hours spent watching female-related videos grew by 50 percent in 2015. While in Saudi Arabia, the Consumer Connected Survey found that 63 percent of Saudi females are motivated to watch their most recent online video sensation to be entertained or inspired.
YouTube Batala kicked off with morning panels/workshops lasting until 3:30 p.m., with female creators discussing challenges and opportunities for women and brand building on YouTube, and the importance of female-led content, the value of female presence in media, and how to deal with harassment.
Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud, vice president for women’s affairs of the General Sports Authority, held an essential panel conversation motivating young women to build a better reality despite their frustrating surroundings/circumstances.
Princess Reema shed light on her 10KSA, an awareness campaign highlighting breast cancer.
“Batala, or heroine in today’s meaning, is the one who thinks about herself and others around her, and how to benefit others,” said Al-Saud.
Asked about Alf Khair, a social enterprise, founded by the princess, she said that there is nothing wrong with working and getting money in return. However, in today’s logic, if your work doesn’t benefit your society, it means it has no sustainability and scalability, and you want to develop it in order to succeed; but if you don’t develop it, it will remain a small business, which okay, too, but small business doesn’t benefit the whole society.
Al-Saud discussed problems facing women in the retail/sales sector, which led her to withdraw from the administration department at Harvey Nichols and head to Amsterdam to join the Think program school for creative leadership.
“The women in retail do not have the training that they need as women before entering the labor market,” she added.
The princess also pointed out the importance of the self-branding tool kit, “If you need to approach/achieve your goals in a certain area, your need to develop that area in yourself, and then go from self-branding to self-sufficiency.”
“Self-sufficiency is financial independence. The money in your hand today, is the money you will live on 10 years from now. Self-sufficiency teaches you how to invest in yourself and what your priorities are, and how to develop yourself to reach your desired distention.”
Talking about the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, Al-Saud said that we want a healthy society and a healthy generation, “that’s my goal!“
She advised creators and those who wish to be content creators to focus on the product they are marketing, “you have a responsibility. Pick the product well, pick the project well, pick your program well, and pick your message well. Think about how to build a good reputation and bring something to the table. Find the hole in the market and focus on your essence.”
“I am very proud of what is happening, because where we were four years ago to where we are today, there has been a massive growth! We have thousands of channels in Arabic created by Arabic female content creators. That in itself proves that women haven’t found the content that interests them as much, so they felt the need to create it themselves,” Baddar said.
“Because we still haven’t reached the peak of Arabic content creation, these girls are stars in their own right, as people are hungry for Arabic content so they are driven to these channels,” she added.
The female-only YouTube Batala event exceed Baddar’s expectations, for today, “the region has such a large number of creators expressing themselves and talking about their journeys on the platform, and what we see here with all these people around us, it was the best opportunity, and it is not the last one in Saudi Arabia.”
Baddar revealed a coming YouTube event in early 2017, “stay tuned for something else that will impress you even more by the size of event compared to this one.”
YouTube Batala hub kicks off for first time in Saudi Arabia
YouTube Batala hub kicks off for first time in Saudi Arabia

Riyadh event highlights women’s role in diplomacy

- Speech stresses progress made under King Salman, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
RIYADH: The Prince Saud Al-Faisal Institute for Diplomatic Studies in Riyadh has held a symposium to mark the forthcoming International Day of Women in Diplomacy. It was attended by Vice Foreign Minister Waleed Elkhereiji, female diplomatic leaders, and ambassadors accredited to the Kingdom.
Elkhereiji spoke of the importance of empowering women in diplomacy, citing the progress made under the leadership of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in light of the Vision 2030 reform plan.
He noted that Saudi women now serve as ambassadors, leaders, and negotiators on the global stage, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The symposium discussed efforts to support women’s diplomatic careers, the role of men in advancing change, and the unique contributions women bring to diplomacy.
Topics also included the global rise of women in diplomacy, their impact on foreign and domestic policy, and ways to enhance female participation in multilateral forums to address future challenges.
80% of Saudi adults reported using AI tools, with 1 in 3 using them regularly

- The study consisted of a poll surveying 1,059 adults and 370 business leaders based in the Kingdom in March 2025
RIYADH: A study has revealed that 80 percent of Saudi adults now use AI tools, with one in three using them regularly.
This is almost double the number of adults in the US who report using one of the large language model-based chatbots — which was found to be 52 percent in a recent study by Elon University.
The findings are “a clear demonstration that technology and collaboration can unlock potential, and that we can directly contribute to the ambition of the Kingdom and their vision for the future,” said Anthony Nakache, MENA managing director for Google — which created the report with research agency Public First.
The study consisted of a poll surveying 1,059 adults and 370 business leaders based in the Kingdom in March 2025.
It also interviewed people and businesses about their experiences using Google technology and data services.
The study found that people and businesses are embracing Al, with 53 percent of businesses in the Kingdom relying on at least one Al tool in their workflows.
About 90 percent of adults in Saudi Arabia say becoming an Al superpower should be a top priority and 88 percent of businesses agree that Al is an important opportunity for the Saudi economy.
The study also looked at Saudi Arabia’s usage of Google’s Gemini, and found that 53 percent of adults said they had used the Al assistant, with one in three users now using it daily.
The report found that 86 percent of users agreed that the tool helped them to be more productive.
A total of 90 percent of public sector workers said that AI-enabled tools help them to be more productive at work, and 70 percent said their job would be harder without access to AI tools.
“The report reflects our investment in accelerating the Kingdom’s ambitious journey toward a diversified, AI-driven economy,” Nakache added.
“Through significant investments, strong local partnerships and our AI-powered tools, we’re bringing substantial economic value and empowering individuals, businesses and communities,” he said.
Public First is a global policy and strategy consultancy specializing in economic modeling and opinion research.
Saudi Arabia marks UN’s World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought

- Event aims to spotlight urgent need to address growing challenges
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia has marked the UN’s World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, an awareness event held annually on June 17.
The day aims to spotlight the urgent need to address the growing challenges of land degradation, desertification and drought.
The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture said the event emphasized the importance of land restoration as a driver of opportunity, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
It helps to raise awareness of the critical role healthy ecosystems play in creating jobs, enhancing food and water security and strengthening economic resilience, the ministry added.
It also highlighted Saudi Arabia’s diverse geography and climate which is home to a unique biodiversity adapted to a range of climatic conditions.
The Kingdom has launched several major environmental initiatives, most notably the Saudi Green Initiative, which aims to plant 10 billion trees over the coming decades.
The Kingdom is currently implementing 86 initiatives and programs with total investments exceeding SR705 billion ($188 billion), covering all aspects of the green economy.
These initiatives align with the core objectives of the SGI: reducing carbon emissions, expanding national afforestation, and protecting terrestrial and marine ecosystems.
More than 313,000 hectares of degraded land across the Kingdom have now been restored, and 115 million trees planted.
MEWA has also launched the Environmental Awareness Initiative, which is designed to raise environmental literacy and support Sustainable Development Goals.
The plan also emphasizes the importance of community engagement and cross-sector collaboration — from public institutions to private and non-profit entities.
As part of its efforts to monitor marine habitats, the ministry has conducted extensive field surveys along the Red Sea coast, covering over 600 coral reef sites, 200 seagrass locations and 100 mangrove areas.
According to UN data, desertification, land degradation and drought remain among the most pressing environmental challenges today, impacting up to 40 percent of the Earth’s land surface.
As the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030) reaches its midpoint, there is a critical need to accelerate restoration efforts on a global scale.
If current trends continue, the world will need to restore 1.5 billion hectares of land by 2030, creating a restoration economy valued at over $1 trillion.
The planet is currently losing healthy land at a rate equivalent to four football fields per second.
Munira Al-Hazani, president and founder of the Saudi Botanical Society, told Arab News: “Today, as we commemorate the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, the Saudi Botanical Society renews its steadfast commitment to safeguarding the Kingdom’s invaluable botanical heritage and tackling the critical environmental challenges that threaten our land.
“At this distinguished event, SABS had the privilege of presenting its mission through a dedicated pavilion — an inspiring botanical garden that embodies our shared commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainable solutions.
“On this critical day, I urge all sectors — governmental, private, and civil society — to unite with shared purpose and commitment.”
Hajj Ministry suspends 7 Umrah firms over transport violations

- Ministry took regulatory measures against the violating companies, suspending their operations and liquidating their bank guarantees to cover alternative transport costs
JEDDAH: The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah recorded violations by seven Umrah companies due to deficiencies in providing transport services to pilgrims, as stipulated in their approved programs.
It is part of the ministry’s efforts to enhance service quality for pilgrims and visitors of the Prophet’s Mosque, ensuring compliance with contracts in line with Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to improve the pilgrim experience at every stage of their journey.
The ministry took regulatory measures against the violating companies, suspending their operations and liquidating their bank guarantees to cover alternative transport costs for affected pilgrims, ensuring services meet approved standards.
It highlighted its commitment to protecting pilgrims’ rights and providing services of the highest quality and professionalism.
The ministry also highlighted its zero-tolerance approach to negligence or breach of contractual obligations, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
It called on all Umrah companies to strictly adhere to approved regulations and deliver services according to designated schedules, ensuring quality and the comfort of pilgrims and visitors during their stay in the Kingdom.
Al-Urumah seasons draw more than 1m ecotourists

- Over four seasons, Al-Urumah has grown into a vibrant destination, attracting more than 1 million ecotourists
RIYADH: The Al-Urumah Season, held in the heart of the desert at the Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammed and King Khalid royal reserves, has become a premier ecotourism initiative, showcasing the Kingdom’s stunning environment and the passion of its organizers.
Over four seasons, Al-Urumah has grown into a vibrant destination, attracting more than 1 million ecotourists, according to a recent report from the Saudi Press Agency.
The inaugural season had about 52,000 visitors, rising to 230,000 in the second season. With eight service providers, the third season exceeded 300,000 attendees.
The fourth this year drew more than 400,000, reflecting effective strategic planning and infrastructure development involving the private sector and local communities.
During the Al-Urumah Season, the Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Royal Reserve Development Authority offers 13 activities across both reserves, including camping, hiking, camel riding, cycling, stargazing, and other outdoor pursuits.
Additionally, 358 eco-units have been established for visitor accommodation, the SPA reported.
The authority also organizes training workshops for service providers on ecotourism principles, responsible recreation, and wildlife interaction, emphasizing their vital role in delivering quality tourism experiences.
The Al-Urumah Season has become an “integrated model of sustainable ecotourism.”
The authority has blended ecotourism, entertainment, and nature conservation, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030’s goals of economic diversification and community empowerment.