Who’s Who: Rakan Khalid Bin Dohaish, assistant deputy minister of international collaboration at the Ministry of Health

Rakan Khalid Bin Dohaish
Rakan Khalid Bin Dohaish
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Updated 20 November 2023
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Who’s Who: Rakan Khalid Bin Dohaish, assistant deputy minister of international collaboration at the Ministry of Health

Rakan Khalid Bin Dohaish

Rakan Khalid Bin Dohaish has been the Saudi Ministry of Health’s assistant deputy minister of international collaboration since August 2022.

As part of Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia has implemented major public-sector reforms, including in international collaboration. Bin Dohaish oversees all the ministry’s international affairs, including policy, bilateral, and multilateral engagements, and links with global and regional organizations and specific groups such as the G20 and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

Prior to taking on his current role, Bin Dohaish served as the director general of the international financial institutions department at the Saudi Ministry of Finance working with bodies including the World Economic Forum, International Monetary Fund, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Arab League, Gulf Cooperation Council, and Arab Monetary Fund.

From 2020 to 2022, he worked as a senior director and board member at the Global Infrastructure Hub, a not-for-profit organization established by the G20 to advance sustainable, resilient, and inclusive infrastructure.

In 2021, he served as the G20 finance track director at the Ministry of Finance, and between 2018 and 2020 was a senior policy adviser and lead with the G20 Infrastructure Working Group of the G20 Finance Track Program.

His career began at the Saudi Central Bank in 2010, where he served as a senior investment analyst in its investment management department until 2018. His responsibilities included reviewing the authority’s investment policy statement, identifying new investment opportunities, and looking after externally managed portfolios in fixed income, alternatives, and equity divisions.

Bin Dohaish gained a bachelor’s degree in public administration from King Saud University and a master’s degree in business administration finance from Oklahoma City University in the US.

In 2013, he was seconded to investment banking company Goldman Sachs in New York, and he also participated in training programs run by institutions such as the World Bank, the Bank of England, JP Morgan, Blackstone, BlackRock, and Fitch Learning.

 


Saudi man reflects on unbreakable bond between camels and owners

Bandar Al-Adwani, a camel owner, poses with his beloved she-camel, Al-Na’amah. (SPA)
Bandar Al-Adwani, a camel owner, poses with his beloved she-camel, Al-Na’amah. (SPA)
Updated 11 sec ago
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Saudi man reflects on unbreakable bond between camels and owners

Bandar Al-Adwani, a camel owner, poses with his beloved she-camel, Al-Na’amah. (SPA)

JEDDAH: Camels, fondly referred to as “ships of the desert,” have long held a special place in the hearts of their owners.

Their relationship is characterized by loyalty, love, and a deep connection that transcends language.

Stories abound of camels shedding tears when separated from their beloved companions, waiting patiently for their return, Saudi Press Agency noted in a recent report. 

In Saudi Arabia, the relationship between humans and camels is deeply rooted in history and culture. Camels have served as essential companions in the harsh desert environment, providing transportation, food, and companionship, the report added.

Bandar Al-Adwani, a camel owner, expressed his deep fondness for his beloved she-camel, Al-Na’amah. He described their relationship as one of trust, companionship, and mutual understanding.

Al-Adwani often spends time with his camels, tending to their needs, which forms a strong emotional connection.

“Every morning and evening, I feel compelled to visit my camels in their pastures. I want to be close to them, monitor their health, and ensure that they have enough food and water. I have a deep, affectionate bond with them, a connection that feels almost instinctive,” he told SPA in an interview.

His love for camels runs deep; he spends countless hours in their company and never approaches them with a stick.

“Our interactions are based on mutual respect and understanding. Al-Na’amah, in particular, responds to my voice and touch,” he said, adding that he uses a herding technique called Alheda’a, a UNESCO-recognized oral tradition that combines sounds, gestures, and sometimes music, to communicate with camels.

The bedouins of the Arabian Peninsula seem to have a profound understanding of their camels’ needs. They cannot imagine their lives without these loyal companions and this deep-rooted love is passed down from generation to generation.

“When we hear stories of loyalty among humans, we are reminded of the unwavering loyalty that camels show to their owners,” Al-Adwani said.

“They are incredibly beautiful creatures. Their graceful movements, their thirst for water, their kneeling posture, and the experience of riding on their backs are truly captivating.

“In Saudi Arabia, camels represent our history, culture, and heritage. Our kings and wise leadership have always valued and cared for camels, recognizing their economic importance and their role in preserving our national identity.”

The Camel Club, established by King Salman, has played a crucial role in promoting camel breeding, culture, and heritage.

The Ministry of Culture even declared 2024 the “Year of the Camel,” in honor of an animal seen as a cultural treasure, a pillar of national identity, and a valuable part of Arab heritage.


Tributes paid to Safeya Binzagr, the ‘mother of Saudi art’

Tributes paid to Safeya Binzagr, the ‘mother of Saudi art’
Updated 59 min 11 sec ago
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Tributes paid to Safeya Binzagr, the ‘mother of Saudi art’

Tributes paid to Safeya Binzagr, the ‘mother of Saudi art’
  • Safeya Binzagr helped bridge the cultural link between Japan and Saudi Arabia

TOKYO: Katakura Kunio, the former Japanese ambassador to Egypt, Iraq, and the UAE, has paid tribute to Safeya Binzagr, who passed away last week, emphasizing the profound impact of her contributions to enhancing Japan’s cultural ties with Saudi Arabia.

Binzagr, known as the “mother” of Saudi Arabia’s fine art movement and a symbol of Vision 2030, helped bridge the cultural link between Japan and Saudi Arabia and was the aunt of current Saudi Ambassador to Japan Dr. Ghazi Faisal Binzagr.

Katakura, chairman of Japan’s Foundation for Desert Culture, fondly recalled Safeya’s “warm and encouraging nature” toward him and his late wife, Motoko.

“Her support was instrumental in Motoko’s cultural anthropological fieldwork in Wadi Fatima,” he said. “She always welcomed the foundation’s follow-up missions with open arms, fostering a deep and personal connection with us.”

Katakura said Binzagr was not only a gifted artist whose work inspired many but also a cherished friend and mentor. Her passion for creativity and dedication to her paintings left an indelible mark, and her artistic legacy will continue to inspire future generations.

Ambassador Binzagr commented: “Building a cultural bridge is the core for creating a distinguished future between two countries and I strive, as an ambassador, to support this because it creates an opportunity for common interests to rise to a common outlook and mutually supportive values.

“The mission carried out by my late aunt will continue (in) the making of a new era. She was one of the pillars that paved the way for this through her dedication to building and promoting the culture of the arts for future generations. The Kingdom considers her the mother of the cultural heritage of creative fine arts.”

The ambassador said there are ongoing efforts to further collaboration between Japan’s Foundation for Desert Culture and prominent foundations in the Kingdom to build upon the cultural ties between the two countries.


Diriyah exhibition focuses on Saudi countryside

Diriyah exhibition focuses on Saudi countryside
Updated 15 September 2024
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Diriyah exhibition focuses on Saudi countryside

Diriyah exhibition focuses on Saudi countryside

RIYADH: The Diriyah governorate, under the patronage of Environment Minister Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli, is to host the Reef Valley Exhibition at the Diriyah Biennale on Sept. 25-26 to highlight the economic, cultural, and tourism significance of Saudi Arabia’s countryside.

Organized by the Sustainable Agricultural Rural Development Program, the exhibition aims to challenge stereotypes about rural life and showcase experiences that  demonstrate a deep passion for agriculture.

It also underscores the vital role of Saudi farmers in achieving Vision 2030’s objectives, while highlighting the program’s pivotal role in the development and improvement of the countryside.

Pavilions representing the sectors and supported by the program will display aromatic plants, rainfed crops, coffee, fruit, and honey.

The exhibition targets entities involved in agriculture and rural development, including government agencies, specialists and decision-makers, as well as program beneficiaries and the general public.

The program seeks to improve the quality of life in Saudi Arabia’s countryside by developing various sectors; providing training for young people; supporting projects to improve income; assisting small farmers and producers; and empowering rural women.


Saudi-led project clears 460,951 mines, explosive devices in Yemen

Saudi-led project clears 460,951 mines, explosive devices in Yemen
Updated 15 September 2024
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Saudi-led project clears 460,951 mines, explosive devices in Yemen

Saudi-led project clears 460,951 mines, explosive devices in Yemen
  • The explosives, which were planted indiscriminately by the Houthis across Yemen, posed a threat to civilians

RIYADH: A Saudi-led humanitarian initiative in Yemen has seen a milestone 460,951 land mines and unexploded ordnance cleared since the start of the project in 2018, according to a recent report.

These include 301,068 items of unexploded ordnance, 145,139 anti-tank mines, 8,148 improvised explosive devices and 6,596 anti-personnel mines, according to Ousama Al-Gosaibi, the project’s managing director.

Overseen by the Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief, Project Masam continues to remove deadly devices laid in the war-torn country by the Houthis.

Last week, the project’s special teams destroyed 2,439 items of unexploded ordnance, 28 anti-tank mines, six anti-personnel mines and one improvised explosive device.

The explosives, which were planted indiscriminately by the Houthis across Yemen, posed a threat to civilians, including children, women and the elderly.

Project Masam is one of several initiatives undertaken by Saudi Arabia on the orders of King Salman to help the Yemeni people, clearing routes for humanitarian aid to reach the country’s citizens.

The demining operations took place in Marib, Aden, Jouf, Shabwa, Taiz, Hodeidah, Lahij, Sanaa, Al-Bayda, Al-Dhale and Saada.

The initiative trains local demining engineers and provides them with modern equipment. It also offers support to Yemenis injured by the devices.

About 5 million people have been forced to flee their homes since the start of the conflict in Yemen, many of them displaced by the presence of land mines.

Masam teams are tasked with clearing villages, roads and schools to facilitate the safe movement of civilians and the delivery of humanitarian aid.


Campaign launched to enhance hospitality standards

Campaign launched to enhance hospitality standards
Updated 15 September 2024
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Campaign launched to enhance hospitality standards

Campaign launched to enhance hospitality standards
  • The initiative seeks to enhance the quality of services offered to both domestic and international tourists across the Kingdom

Riyadh: The Ministry of Tourism has launched the “Our Guests Are Our Priority” campaign, which aims to reinforce hospitality facilities’ adherence to licensing and classification standards, ensuring compliance with all requirements and regulations.

The first phase of the campaign, which began in early September, focuses on media and awareness activities that engage all stakeholders in the tourism sector, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.

The initiative seeks to enhance the quality of services offered to both domestic and international tourists across the Kingdom.

Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb emphasized that the campaign encourages all tourism stakeholders to cooperate with the ministry in achieving Saudi Vision 2030 and elevating the Kingdom’s status as a global tourism destination.

Vice Minister of Tourism Princess Haifa Al-Saud recently launched an initiative to improve education and training standards in the tourism sector.

The initiative aims to align educational programs with labor market needs, according to the ministry. The goal is to help tourism institutions earn international and local accreditations and professional certificates.