Entrepreneurs invited to shape future of Hajj and Umrah services
The discussion highlighted the importance of entrepreneurs and innovators in enhancing the experience of pilgrims
Al-Rabiah encouraged aspiring entrepreneurs to collaborate with the Nusuk app and proposed various services that could be integrated
Updated 09 January 2024
Nada Hameed
JEDDAH: The second day of the third Hajj and Umrah Services Conference and Exhibition focused on empowering pilgrimage services through small and medium-sized enterprises and entrepreneurship.
Under the patronage of King Salman, Deputy Makkah Gov. Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz inaugurated the conference in Jeddah on Monday.
The four-day event is organized by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in partnership with the Pilgrim Experience Program, one of the programs of Saudi Vision 2030.
A panel discussion, moderated by Amr Al-Maddah, deputy minister for Hajj and Umrah services, included speakers such as Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq Al-Rabiah and the governor of the Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority, Sami Al-Husseini.
The discussion highlighted the importance of entrepreneurs and innovators in enhancing the experience of pilgrims.
One major initiative mentioned was the Nusuk app, which aims to be the premier application for pilgrim services through the Guests of God Service Program.
Al-Rabiah encouraged aspiring entrepreneurs to collaborate with the app and proposed various services that could be integrated, such as personal assistant services, tourist guides, mobile medical services, childcare services and more.
Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq Al-Rabiah. (Screenshot)
“We welcome those aspiring to create a separate application or collaborate with us in services. The goal is to support entrepreneurs in providing outstanding services. The opportunities are amazing. Any innovator with a service who wants to add it to the Nusuk app is welcome,” he said.
Al-Rabiah added: “We are delighted to provide the opportunity for those who want to put their services on the platform, as well as to offer all the incentives and programs that will support entrepreneurs in presenting all possibilities.”
Al-Husseini highlighted the role of SMEs in filling gaps during the COVID-19 pandemic and announced the launch of the Artificial Intelligence Challenge in Umrah. The scheme aims to provide new job opportunities, improve the Umrah experience and build a sustainable innovative channel for the Hajj and Umrah sector.
The challenge was launched by Monsha’at in partnership with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, giving entrepreneurs from the Kingdom, Pakistan and Indonesia the chance to take part.
The panel discussion at the conference also highlighted Monsha’at’s work, including organizing six events for entrepreneurs and SMEs from more than 40 countries. The number of projects supported by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and its partners has exceeded 2,200, including projects in initiation, qualification, or data provision stages.
Abdullah Al-Haqbani, VP for strategy and business support at the National Information Technology Development Program, discussed the program’s objectives in developing the IT sector and making the Kingdom a regional and international center for investment and technological innovation.
Abdullah Al-Haqbani, VP for strategy and business support at the National Information Technology Development Program. (Screenshot)
To motivate innovators, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced an award for the best projects in the service of pilgrims, with the first prize worth SR1 million.
The evaluation will be based on services launched on the Nusuk platform, the number of beneficiaries, and the impact on pilgrims and the Umrah experience. Winners will be announced next year during the fourth edition of the conference.
Al-Rabiah said: “It is an opportunity for entrepreneurs to carry out their projects. Based on the evaluation of the work a year from now, the results will be announced at the next Hajj conference. We look forward to seeing your creativity and excellence.”
A second panel discussion, “Envisioning the Future Growth of Holy Cities and Sites,” involved discussion on the challenges and opportunities in developing the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah, as well as holy sites.
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah aims to accommodate 30 million pilgrims by 2030 and 15 million visitors next year. This involves addressing infrastructure challenges and improving reception gates at entry points into the Kingdom.
Abdulfattah Mashat, vice minister of Hajj and Umrah, told the panel: “The targeted number is very significant, and there will be significant challenges, including the infrastructure specific to Makkah and Madinah, as well as the reception gates at the entry points to the Kingdom in the cities of Makkah and Jeddah.
“The Kingdom has dedicated all its material and intellectual capabilities to its development by providing distinguished services for the Guests of God.”
More than 81 speakers from both the public and private sectors, as well as high-level delegations from more than 70 countries, are taking part in the conference.
Government-backed upskilling program allows trainees to ‘progress at their own pace’
MicroX program emphasizes flexibility
Supports learners balancing work, personal commitments
Updated 6 sec ago
Sulafa Alkhunaizi
RIYADH: A new Saudi government-backed professional upskilling program allows trainees to “progress at their own pace” and tailor their learning for their own individual needs, a program leader told Arab News.
Saudi Arabia’s Human Capability Development Program recently launched MicroX, a learning program with tailored educational paths aimed at being compatible with rapid changes in the labor market.
In collaboration with the National eLearning Center, or NELC, academic institutions, industry leaders and Sector Skills Councils, MicroX aims to launch 350 microprograms in partnership with universities and employers in specialized sectors within four years.
Hajar Salman Binasfour, deputy director general for empowerment at the National eLearning Center, told Arab News that the initiative emphasized “flexibility and accessibility to support learners balancing work or personal commitments.
“Programs are designed to offer customizable educational paths, allowing participants to progress at their own pace and tailor learning to their schedules,” she said.
Programs are offered in eLearning mode, providing a focused process of learning skills or competencies that ends with an assessment and a certificate.
“The digital delivery of micro-programs enables access to materials and classes both synchronously and asynchronously, accommodating various time zones and schedules,” she said. “This format promotes a seamless learning experience, supported by digital certification to validate achievements.”
The development of the program consists of three phases, which begin “by identifying skills required by employers and stakeholders, guided by data from Sector Skills Councils and analyzed by NELC,” Binasfour said.
“This ensures programs are grounded in the current and future skill landscape. The councils’ collaboration ensures educational content aligns with real-world applications, maintaining program relevance,” she said. “NELC oversees feedback collection, refining program documents and identifying development areas.”
Phase two consists of refining program content, and securing recognition from academic institutions and industry leaders while integrating feedback.
Binasfour said that programs are developed in collaboration with universities, academic experts and industry specialists, ensuring that content remains relevant and practical.
The last stage, phase three, involves program launches and continuous evaluation. Outcomes of certificate holders are assessed, and employer feedback on program effectiveness.
“Phase three launches, monitors and evaluates programs for effectiveness, with assessments from employers and stakeholders ensuring skills meet market expectations. This multi-phase approach ensures MicroX programs remain dynamic, relevant, and capable of equipping learners for evolving job markets.”
MicroX has collaborated with more than 200 partners, including international universities and employers, and enhances the curriculum development and delivery of the microprograms.
“This network ensures programs are industry-aligned, globally recognized, and meet high academic and professional standards. International universities contribute diverse perspectives, research expertise, and academic rigor, ensuring curricula are current with global trends and applicable both locally and internationally,” Binasfour said. “Academic partnerships introduce innovative teaching methods and specialized knowledge that improve learning quality.”
Employers provide insights into workplace requirements, tailoring content to reflect real-world applications.
“This involvement results in hands-on learning opportunities such as case studies, internships and projects, preparing students for immediate transitions to the workforce.”
The success of the “MicroX” initiative will be assessed through a “combination of quantitative and qualitative metrics,” Binasfour said.
“Key indicators include the employability rate of program graduates and their transition into the workforce with relevant skills. The rate of job acquisition or career advancement among graduates will be a primary measure.
“Alignment of acquired skills with labor market demands will be evaluated through feedback from Sector Skills Councils and industry partners. These groups ensure training programs match current and projected industry needs by gathering employer input and analyzing trends,” she said.
Other metrics include the number of partnerships with employers and academic institutions, and the recognition of micro-programs across sectors.
“Broader economic impacts, such as GDP growth attributed to a skilled workforce and reduced government spending on subsidies due to improved employability, will also be considered.”
Binasfour said that success in fostering innovation was measured by the number of patents, new technologies, or other advancements from program participants.
“Learner engagement, completion rates, and feedback on training applicability provide additional insights into program quality and impact, ensuring the initiative meets market needs and supports long-term workforce development,” she said.
Saudi finance minister meets Croatian counterpart in Riyadh
Updated 19 min 32 sec ago
Arab News
Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan met with his Croatian counterpart Marko Primorac at the Zakat, Tax and Customs Conference in Riyadh on Wednesday.
They discussed ways to enhance bilateral cooperation as well as prominent topics related to global economy and finance, the Saudi minister wrote on X.
He also met separately with his Indonesian counterpart, Sri Mulyani Indrawati, and Indian Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary, to discuss bilateral relations.
In pictures: first look at Riyadh’s main metro stations
Several Riyadh Metro stations are nothing short of architectural marvels, having been designed by some of the world’s most renowned firms
Updated 39 min 14 sec ago
Arab News
The Riyadh Metro opened to much fanfare on Sunday, with the promise to cut traffic congestion in the Saudi capital.
Several of its stations are nothing short of architectural marvels, having been designed by some of the world’s most renowned firms.
Arab News took a look at five of the most significant stations, four of which are on the blue line, which opened this week.
King Abdullah Financial District Station
Perhaps the most recognizable of all, the 42,000 sq. meter KAFD Station, was designed by the renowned Zaha Hadid Architects.
The station connects the blue, yellow and purple lines, serving as the terminus for visitors traveling from Riyadh’s airport to the financial district, and a vital hub for those traveling southwards into the city center.
The interior of the King Abdullah Financial District Station. (AN photo by Jafar Al-Saleh)
STC Station
Centrally located, the STC Station connects the blue and red lines and was designed by Germany’s Gerber Architekten.
Inspired by the natural limestone formations in the Tuwaiq mountains that encircle the city, the station has an outdoor plaza area and four levels extending 30 meters below ground.
STC Station. (AN photo by Jafar Al-Saleh)
Qasr Al-Hokm Station
The Qasr Al-Hokm Station connects the blue and orange lines and features a distinctive stainless-steel canopy and outdoor plaza.
It was designed by Norwegian firm Snohetta.
Qasr Al-Hokm Station. (AN photo by Jafar Al-Saleh)
National Museum Station
The 19,400 sq. meter National Museum Station connects the blue and green lines in Riyadh’s Al-Batha neighborhood.
National Museum Station. (AN photo by Jafar Al-Saleh)
Western Station
Riyadh-based international architects Omrania designed the Western Station, located at the site of a former vegetable market at the terminus of the orange line, which is due to open in January.
The Riyadh Metro’s Western Station. (AN photo by Jafar Al-Saleh)
French President Emmanuel Macron visits Saudi Arabia’s historic AlUla Valley
Macron tours Hegra, the ancient Nabataean city and UNESCO World Heritage Site
French president was accompanied by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Arab News
Updated 04 December 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: French President Emmanuel Macron visited the historic AlUla Valley on Wednesday as part of his state visit to Saudi Arabia.
Accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Macron began his tour at Hegra, the ancient Nabataean city known for its spectacular stone-carved landmarks, Saudi Press Agency reported.
Hegra, also known as Mada’in Salih, was Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Macron was guided through the most prominent monuments and archaeological sites in the area.
The tour included a visit to Qasr Al-Farid (Lonely Castle), which is the largest Nabataean mausoleum in the area, carved into a massive standalone rock formation.
Macron also visited the spectacular Qasr Al-Bint, home to 31 tombs dated from the year nought to A.D. 58 and carved with monsters, eagles, animals and human faces.
The party then viewed Al-Diwan, a site that resembles an open-air theater set amid Hegra’s natural landscape and surrounded by columns and stonewalls adorned with intricate designs.
The French president was joined on the tour by Prince Salman bin Sultan, the Madinah governor, Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, the minister of culture and governor of the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), and Majid Al-Qasabi, the minister of commerce.
On Tuesday, Macron visited the historic At-Turaif district in Diriyah, northwest of Riyadh, where he attended a horse show and toured the Diriyah Museum.
‘We can either waste time on political grandstanding or overcome climate challenges together,’ Saudi Climate Envoy Adel Al-Jubeir tells Arab News/node/2581798/saudi-arabia
‘We can either waste time on political grandstanding or overcome climate challenges together,’ Saudi Climate Envoy Adel Al-Jubeir tells Arab News
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs explains significance of Saudi Arabia’s hosting of COP16 summit to combat desertification
Says there is no contradiction between Kingdom’s roles as oil producer-exporter and as investor in renewable energy sector
Updated 1 min 13 sec ago
NOOR NUGALI
RIYADH: As the host of UN negotiations on combating the loss of fertile land to deserts, Saudi Arabia’s climate envoy knows the Kingdom has more expertise on the subject than most.
“We have vast deserts in Saudi Arabia, so we know what it’s like,” Adel Al-Jubeir told Arab News during a special interview.
“We need to prevent the erosion of territory and the expansion of deserts. And we need to work on reclaiming land in order to have more for food production and in order to have more so that the negative impacts on climate get reduced.”
Saudi Climate Envoy Adel Al-Jubeir talks to Arab News’ Deputy Editor-in-Chief Noor Nugali. (AN photo)
Al-Jubeir, who is also minister of state for foreign affairs, was speaking as the Conference of the Parties of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification — known as COP16 — started in Riyadh on Tuesday.
The 12 days of talks will cover some of the most pressing challenges facing humanity, such as desertification, land degradation and drought.
Saudi Arabia is the first Arab country to host the event, the largest desertification COP since the first in 1997, and comes as momentum grows behind global frameworks to tackle the environmental challenges facing the planet.
In the wide-ranging conversation, Al-Jubeir discussed the aim of the COP16 talks, why land degradation is a global issue, and Saudi Arabia’s leadership role on the environment.
For Al-Jubeir, hosting COP16 carries particular significance given the Kingdom’s vulnerability to desertification, but also the work that has already been done to prevent it.
The approach in Saudi Arabia has been “very simple” and rooted in science and common sense, he said.
“When you disrupt an environment, it gets damaged. So, what you do is you preserve it. You designate territories to be protected areas,” he told Arab News.
“In 2015, for example, I believe less than 3 percent of Saudi territory was protected. Today, we’re almost at 18 or 19 percent, and we will be at 30 percent by 2030. This is a huge achievement.”
Rewilding, which forms part of the Saudi and Middle East Green Initiatives launched in 2021, has also generated huge benefits in terms of being able to reintroduce wildlife into these areas.
“You do it by introducing little shrubs,” said Al-Jubeir. “Insects come back, and then more plants, and then rodents come back, and then more plants, and you go up until you can introduce an animal like the Arabian leopard, and you restore it, or the oryx or the gazelle. And this is what we’re doing in Saudi Arabia.”
Al-Jubeir said this approach has led to noticeably fewer dust storms than seven or eight years ago, with less territory being disturbed and more areas being planted.
He said the Kingdom also tackled the issue by assessing the environmental impact of new developments, promoting sustainable farming techniques and ensuring cities were full of green spaces.
Saudi Arabia’s hosted the COP16 summit to combat desertification. (Supplied)
“On environmental issues, Saudi Arabia is a leader in global efforts to protect our environment, whether it’s climate, whether it’s oceans, whether it’s land,” Al-Jubeir said.
“Saudi Arabia has worked to bring the world together around a vision that basically says, very simply, we’re all in this together, we all benefit together, or we all suffer together.”
He said Saudi Arabia was bringing many more countries round to that point of view. “Our leadership is committed to this. The vision for 2030 came from our crown prince, and our crown prince was instrumental in launching the Saudi Green Initiative and the Middle East Green Initiative. He launched the Global Water Initiative, the hosting of COP16,” he said.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman speaks during the One Water Summit in Riyadh on December 3, 2024. (AFP)
“Every initiative we are doing in Saudi Arabia has the direct blessing and support of our leadership, and it goes from the top leadership all the way to the citizen. The whole country is seized by this issue. And so I have no doubt that 10 years from now people will look at Saudi Arabia and they will say Saudi Arabia has played an instrumental role in leading the world toward a better place.”
The hosting of COP16 is about more than simply demonstrating how Saudi Arabia is rehabilitating land; it’s about elevating the importance of desertification on the global stage.
“We believe it impacts every human being on the planet,” Al-Jubeir said. “Land is a very important reservoir for carbon. And so, the less there is of it, the less carbon we can capture naturally.
“The earth is important for us in terms of food production. The less we have, the less food we produce, the more hunger and starvation we have. The more migration we have, the more conflict we have, the more extremism and terrorism we have, the more migration impacts political situations in countries in other parts of the world.
“So, it’s very, very important that it impacts all of our lives.”
The fact that COP16 is the biggest since 1997 represents the emergence of desertification as a global issue. Up to 40 percent of the world’s land is degraded, affecting half of all humans, according to UNCCD.
The consequences are getting worse for the climate, biodiversity and people’s livelihoods. Droughts are more frequent and severe, increasing by 29 percent since 2000 due to climate change and unsustainable land use.
If current trends continue, 1.5 billion hectares of land will need to be restored by 2030 to achieve a land-degradation neutrality.
The UNCCD describes COP16 as a “critical milestone” in advancing global efforts to combat land degradation, desertification and drought.
Under the title “Our Land. Our Future,” 196 countries and the EU have gathered in Riyadh to negotiate solutions, along with experts and civil society.
On Monday, the first day of the negotiations, Saudi Arabia announced the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership, an initiative to help 80 of the poorest countries cope with droughts. The partnership has secured $2.15 billion in funding pledges.
Also in Riyadh, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman opened the One Water Summit on Tuesday. Attended by French President Emmanuel Macron and Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the event aims to act as an “incubator for solutions” ahead of the next UN Water Conference.
“Water is the source of life,” Al-Jubeir said. “You can’t survive without it.”
The summit looks at how water can be used most efficiently and not wasted, he explained.
“These are issues where knowledge is important, science is important and sharing of methods and sharing of science are important,” he said.
It is this sharing of expertise that underpins Saudi Arabia’s approach to taking a lead globally on the major issues facing the planet.
Looking ahead, Al-Jubeir said: “We can either waste our time pointing fingers and trying to take political positions and grandstand, and try to appeal to lowest common denominators, or we can join together and practically, pragmatically, scientifically deal with the challenges that we’re facing, and we will overcome them together.
“Here’s the choice: Do we engage in theatrics and fight and get nowhere, or do we engage in serious work and get a handle around the problem? That’s where we’re heading, I believe, and I believe we’re heading there because Saudi Arabia is playing an increasingly big role in the global efforts to deal with those challenges.”
The hosting of COP16 and the One Water Summit is the latest example of Saudi Arabia being at the forefront of global efforts to tackle climate change and challenges to the environment.
Al-Jubeir dismissed criticism that the country, as the world’s top crude oil exporter, is not suited for such a role.
“Saudi Arabia is the largest exporter of oil in the world, and we’re very proud of it,” he said. “We are providing the world with the energy that it needs in order to warm itself, in order to feed itself, in order to develop economically, in order to improve standards of living. And so that is one part.
“The other part of Saudi Arabia, as the largest oil producer/exporter in the world, is we are also one of the major proponents for protecting the environment, and for investing in new technologies and investing in renewable energy.
“Whether it’s solar, whether it’s hydro, whether it’s wind, whether it’s green and clean hydrogen, we are huge investors in this field because we believe that that’s where the future is. And so, there is no contradiction between the two.”
Taking the lead on green issues is also an approach popular with young people in Saudi Arabia, Al-Jubeir said, insisting the younger generations would be instrumental in halting desertification and creating a better living environment in the Kingdom overall.
“They want this issue to be dealt with effectively and efficiently, and they want to lead it,” he told Arab News. “And that’s what’s driving the enthusiasm among our young people toward dealing with desertification, dealing with supporting land restoration, reintroduction of wildlife, and then going beyond that into biodiversity, marine life, and into climate.”
Despite the many stark warnings about the effects of climate change, Al-Jubeir said the will of young people to tackle the issues, along with the direction from the country’s leaders, meant he was positive about how Saudi Arabia would appear in 10 years’ time.
“You will see that Saudi Arabia will be ahead of the world in terms of parks, in terms of fitness, in terms of land restoration, in terms of reintegration of animals into the wildlife, in terms of how pristine its beaches are, in terms of its corals, in terms of its mangroves, in terms of its agriculture, all across the board,” he said.
“We are determined, with courage, and with leadership, and with enthusiasm, to get there.”
