Saudi Arabia’s first women’s football club gets backing from hospital group

Saudi Arabia’s first women’s football club gets backing from hospital group
Almana Group of Hospitals collaborates with Eastern Flames Football Club to support women’s sport. (Supplied)
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Updated 11 October 2023
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Saudi Arabia’s first women’s football club gets backing from hospital group

Saudi Arabia’s first women’s football club gets backing from hospital group
  • Almana Group supports Eastern Flames FC for upcoming league
  • Aim is to empower women in sports, says Saud Mansour Almana

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s first women’s football club Eastern Flames FC, also known as Shua’lat Al-Sharqia FC, has received backing from Almana Group of Hospitals, a leading family health care provider in the Eastern Province.

“This collaboration marks a significant step forward in promoting women’s sport and breaking societal barriers in the Kingdom,” said the Almana Group in a statement on Wednesday.

Eastern Flames FC, based in Dammam, has been at the forefront of advancing women’s football in Saudi Arabia since its establishment in 2006.

Almana will provide medical services to the team during their matches in the upcoming Saudi Women’s Premier League 2023/2024, which begins on Oct. 13.

Saud Mansour Almana, chief procurement officer of Almana, said: “We are proud to be partnering with Eastern Flames FC. As a leading healthcare provider, we believe in supporting our community and empowering women in sports. This collaboration allows us to contribute to the growth of women’s football in the Eastern Province and showcase our commitment to excellence in healthcare.”

Maram Albutairi, chair and CEO of Eastern Flames FC, said: “We are thrilled to have Almana Group of Hospitals as our partner. Their expertise in healthcare and commitment to quality align perfectly with the values of our club. This collaboration not only highlights our shared dedication to women’s sports and the Eastern Province community but is also a significant milestone for women’s football in Saudi Arabia.”


New design facility to accelerate Saudi space missions

The Saudi Space Agency inaugurated its new Concurrent Design Facility on Monday. (SPA)
The Saudi Space Agency inaugurated its new Concurrent Design Facility on Monday. (SPA)
Updated 11 sec ago
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New design facility to accelerate Saudi space missions

The Saudi Space Agency inaugurated its new Concurrent Design Facility on Monday. (SPA)
  • Facility is designed to accelerate planning and execution of space missions through the application of concurrent engineering and advanced simulation technologies

RIYADH: The Saudi Space Agency inaugurated its new Concurrent Design Facility on Monday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

According to the agency’s website, the facility is designed to accelerate the planning and execution of space missions through the application of concurrent engineering and advanced simulation technologies.

By streamlining the design process, the facility is expected to reduce feasibility study times by up to 75 percent and system design costs by as much as 50 percent.

It will also serve as a hub for collaboration, hosting workshops and knowledge-sharing initiatives among space industry professionals.

Also on Monday, the agency announced its adoption of a new approach to project and program management, known as the Integrated Mission Lifecycle. Developed in house, it aims to optimize operations, enhance efficiency and foster collaboration within the agency.

The two developments underscore the Kingdom’s commitment to building a robust space sector and developing world-class capabilities.

The launch was attended by the agency’s CEO Mohammed Al-Tamimi, deputy CEO Valanathan Munsami and key industry stakeholders.


KSrelief extends aid efforts in Yemen, Lebanon, Sudan

KSrelief has extended its aid efforts in Yemen, Lebanon, and Sudan. (SPA)
KSrelief has extended its aid efforts in Yemen, Lebanon, and Sudan. (SPA)
Updated 41 min 50 sec ago
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KSrelief extends aid efforts in Yemen, Lebanon, Sudan

KSrelief has extended its aid efforts in Yemen, Lebanon, and Sudan. (SPA)
  • In Sudan, KSrelief distributed 400 food baskets to the most vulnerable people — benefiting 1,899 individuals
  • Souboul Al-Salam Association in the Miniyeh district of Northern Lebanon carried out 53 ambulance missions in one week with funding from KSrelief

RIYADH: The mobile medical clinics of the Saudi aid agency KSrelief continue to provide treatment services in the Abs district of Hajjah governorate in Yemen, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.

According to the clinics’ weekly report, 167 patients visited the epidemic diseases clinic, emergency cases clinic, internal medicine clinic, reproductive health clinic, and awareness and education clinic.

KSrelief also continued its water supply and environmental sanitation project in the Midi, Harad, Hayran, and Abs districts of Hajjah governorate, as well as the Al-Azhour camp in the Razih district of Saada governorate.

In one week, the project pumped 9,782,000 liters of drinking water and 866,000 liters of non-drinking water in Hajjah. In Saada, 70,000 liters of drinking water and 70,000 liters of non-drinking water were pumped.

Meanwhile, the Souboul Al-Salam Association in the Miniyeh district of Northern Lebanon carried out 53 ambulance missions in one week with funding from KSrelief.

The missions varied, including transporting patients to and from hospitals and treating burn victims in Miniyeh. The initiative supports ambulance and transport services in refugee and host communities in Lebanon.

In Sudan, KSrelief distributed 400 food baskets to the most vulnerable people — benefiting 1,899 individuals — as part of the second phase of a food security support project.


Haql fish market booms as grouper becomes top catch

The fish market in Haql governorate in Tabuk region is experiencing a surge in business. (SPA)
The fish market in Haql governorate in Tabuk region is experiencing a surge in business. (SPA)
Updated 29 July 2024
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Haql fish market booms as grouper becomes top catch

The fish market in Haql governorate in Tabuk region is experiencing a surge in business. (SPA)
  • The summer season has seen a particular uptick in demand, with grouper and coral grouper emerging as the most popular catches

RIYADH: The fish market in Haql governorate in Tabuk region is experiencing a surge in business, with locals and tourists flocking to purchase a wide variety of fresh seafood.

The summer season has seen a particular uptick in demand, with grouper and coral grouper emerging as the most popular catches, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The market offers a diverse selection of seafood, such as shrimp, lobster and other favorites.

Amani Alomrani, a local nutritionist, told the SPA about the benefits of a fish-rich diet. Packed with protein, vitamins and minerals, fish play a vital role in maintaining a well-rounded diet.

They are particularly beneficial to the nervous system, as they are high in vitamin B12, strengthen bones and teeth with vitamin D, and aid the production of red blood cells due to iron. Fish is also low in saturated fat and can help to reduce cholesterol levels, thus lowering the risk of heart disease.

Alomrani said, however, that certain types of fish, including shark, swordfish and mackerel, may contain high levels of mercury. Pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and children should therefore be cautious and choose fish with lower mercury levels, such as salmon and shrimp.

Haql’s environmental conditions have created a thriving fishery industry, ensuring a robust supply of popular fish species.


Trees and flowers bring beauty to Tabuk as part of municipality planting project

Tabuk is undergoing something of a facelift, thanks to the city municipality’s efforts to enhance the urban landscape.
Tabuk is undergoing something of a facelift, thanks to the city municipality’s efforts to enhance the urban landscape.
Updated 29 July 2024
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Trees and flowers bring beauty to Tabuk as part of municipality planting project

Tabuk is undergoing something of a facelift, thanks to the city municipality’s efforts to enhance the urban landscape.
  • Among the efforts made so far are the planting of some 2.1 million seasonal flowers and 14,500 shade-providing trees
  • The large-scale initiative is part of Tabuk’s broader strategy to “humanize” the city

RIYADH: Tabuk is undergoing something of a facelift, thanks to the city municipality’s efforts to enhance the urban landscape through a number of revitalizing initiatives.

Among the efforts made so far are the planting of some 2.1 million seasonal flowers and 14,500 shade-providing trees, which now grace Tabuk’s parks and main thoroughfares.

Abdulmajid Al-Sarrah, deputy secretary for projects, stressed that the municipality’s commitment extended beyond planting. The work has also involved the irrigation and maintenance of 3 million sq. meters of green areas and the pruning of 9,870 palm trees.

The large-scale initiative is part of Tabuk’s broader strategy to “humanize” the city — a concept that prioritizes creating livable, green spaces within urban environments. This initiative is expected to have a positive impact on the quality of life for both citizens and residents, as well as visitors.

Meanwhile, the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification has continued to carry out its coastal project, planting 13 million mangrove seedlings. This is taking place in various regions — Jazan, Makkah, Madinah, Tabuk, Asir and Eastern Province. The scheme aligns with the goals of the Saudi Green Initiative.

The center, in cooperation with its partners, aims to plant 100 million mangrove trees along the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf coasts in the coming years. Currently, it is working to increase green cover and reduce desertification in the coastal areas by planting a million mangrove trees across various locations.


Endangered species find new home at Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve

Endangered species find new home at Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve
Updated 29 July 2024
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Endangered species find new home at Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve

Endangered species find new home at Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve
  • Efforts to protect endangered animals such as the Arabian oryx, sand gazelle, houbara bustard and red-necked ostrich have led to significant population increases
  • The reserve has more than 179 plant species, including 113 seasonal and 66 perennial varieties

RIYADH: The development department at Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve has restored natural wildlife in northeastern Saudi Arabia by resettling, breeding and increasing animal, bird and reptile populations, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Over the past four years, efforts to protect endangered animals such as the Arabian oryx, sand gazelle, houbara bustard and red-necked ostrich have led to significant population increases after animals were released to thrive, restore their ecological roles and reproduce.

Aligned with Saudi Vision 2030 and the Saudi Green Initiative, which aims to improve quality of life and protect future generations, the reserve’s vegetation cover has also flourished.

Since 2018, vegetation cover has increased from 1.5 percent to 6.7 percent. This growth is the result of three successful desert afforestation projects completed in 2023, with more than 593,700 trees planted, the SPA reported.

Covering 91,500 sq. km, the reserve hosts diverse species, trees, plants and grasses crucial to ecosystem balance. It has more than 179 plant species, including 113 seasonal and 66 perennial varieties.

The vegetation cover has become a haven for a wide range of birds, which are vital to preserving the balance of the ecosystem by controlling insects, small rodents and carrion.

Bird-nesting activity has been observed, alongside a return of sand cats, wild cats, foxes, honey badgers and desert hedgehogs.

The reserve is also experiencing a resurgence of reptiles such as lizards and snakes, alongside a thriving insect population.