Saudi civil aviation delegation visits Chinese aircraft manufacturing company, economic zone
The visit came within the framework of enhancing cooperation and exchanging expertise in the field of the aviation and space industry
The representatives toured COMAC’s factories and facilities and were briefed on the stages of aircraft manufacturing
Updated 24 February 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: A high-ranking delegation from Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation sector has visited the headquarters of the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China in Shanghai, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.
Headed by the President of the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Duailej, the delegation also visited the assembly line of the C-919 and ARJ-21 aircraft in Shanghai and the economic zone at Zhengzhou Airport.
The representatives toured COMAC’s factories and facilities and were briefed on the stages of aircraft manufacturing, the company’s future plans for testing and assembly facilities, and the latest technologies and innovations in the aviation industry.
They listened to a presentation of COMAC’s missions and the details of designing and developing the various aircraft produced by the company, in addition to a look at the organization’s history since 2008, the development of its products, the ongoing specialized research on more efficient and sustainable solutions, and its tasks and responsibilities in the design, development and production of commercial aircraft.
The delegation also visited the economic zone at Zhengzhou Airport and heard about the work of specialized companies and institutions; the development of local manufacturing capabilities; enhancing cooperation with foreign companies to improve the quality of products; increasing competition at global level; and contributing to improving the quality of products and developing advanced technology.
Al-Duailej, in the presence of vice presidents, CEOs, officials, and several experts in the field of aviation, airports, and the service sectors of the aviation system, held a meeting with the Executive Vice Gov. of Henan Province Sun Shougang.
The meeting focused on several issues of common interest and ways to strengthen areas of joint cooperation in the field of civil aviation.
The visit came within the framework of enhancing cooperation and exchanging expertise in the field of the aviation and space industry, and exploring opportunities for joint cooperation in improving manufacturing, innovation and air cargo capabilities, along with attracting investment and enhancing international trade in the sector.
RIYADH: KSrelief has signed an agreement with a civil society organization to implement the water and sanitation project in Yemen’s Hajjah governorate, benefiting 30,422 people with $1.1 million in funding.
The project includes drilling and rehabilitating solar-powered wells, installing pumping networks, building and restoring tanks, and setting up water desalination plants.
The project will also facilitate the transportation and distribution of water by trucks, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Ahmed Al-Baiz, assistant supervisor general of operations and programs at KSrelief, signed the deal in Riyadh.
Meanwhile, Saudi aid convoys carrying 4,494 shelter kits arrived in northern Gaza to support residents and displaced families, the SPA reported.
The kits include blankets, mattresses, cooking utensils and water containers to help families cope with the harsh conditions.
The Saudi Center for Culture and Heritage, KSrelief’s executive partner in Gaza, will begin immediate distribution to alleviate suffering amid severe cold and the ongoing siege.
Saudi defense minister meets UAE leader in Abu Dhabi
Updated 31 December 2024
Arab News
DUBAI: Saudi defense minister Prince Khalid bin Salman Al-Saud has met on Tuesday UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed in Abu Dhabi.
The Saudi minister wrote on his personal account on X, “I had the honor to convey the greetings of our leadership, and we reviewed the fraternal relations between our two brotherly countries, and discussed regional and international developments as well as issues of common interest.”
Museums Commission appeals for applicants in virtual reality competition
Invitation to place spotlight on Kingdom’s cultural heritage
Updated 31 December 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: The Kingdom’s Museums Commission has appealed for applicants for its virtual reality competition, an innovative initiative aimed at enhancing education and promoting technological advancement in the sector, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The competition, which opened on Dec. 6, invites young people to create immersive and interactive educational experiences that utilize virtual reality to spotlight Saudi Arabia’s cultural heritage and help transform the role of museums in society, the SPA added.
The competition targets a diverse range of participants, including students and graduates specializing in information technology, computer science, digital design, and fine arts.
Developers and programmers with an interest in virtual reality, as well as artists and designers keen to blend technology with art, have also been encouraged to apply.
The initiative also welcomes culture enthusiasts with a technological background who want to explore VR applications in museums, as well as storytellers with a passion for narrating the history and civilization of their cities or regions.
Successful participants will undergo a four-month training program designed to develop their skills in virtual reality design and programming.
The competition will unfold in four stages: the selection of trainees, VR training and development, the creation of interactive educational experiences, and the evaluation and judging of entries.
Winners will be celebrated through regional ceremonies held across the Kingdom.
The Museums Commission said its ambition was to inspire future generations and foster a deeper appreciation for cultural heritage through the initiative. By integrating cutting-edge technology and storytelling, the competition aims to reimagine museums as dynamic platforms for learning and engagement, it added.
Registration for the competition can be made on the official Museums Commission website and its social media channels.
Saudi crown prince offers condolences after South Korea plane crash
All 175 passengers and four of the six crew were killed when a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 belly-landed and skidded off the end of the runway at Muan International Airport
Updated 30 December 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sent a cable of condolences to South Korea’s acting President Choi Sang-mok after a plane crash killed 179 people on Sunday.
All 175 passengers and four of the six crew were killed when a Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 belly-landed and skidded off the end of the runway at Muan International Airport, erupting in a fireball as it slammed into a wall. Two crew members were pulled out alive.
The crown prince extended his condolences to the families of the deceased and the people of South Korea and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
2024 Year in Review: The events that testified to Saudi Arabia’s transformation
Riyadh’s new metro system will relieve pressure on roads by removing tens of millions of car journeys every year
The year coming to an end has seen events that together bear witness to how rapidly the Kingdom is evolving
Updated 30 December 2024
Jonathan Gornall
LONDON: In 1924, Riyadh was a small oasis town, covering less than one square kilometer and home to no more than 30,000 people.
One hundred years ago, the motor car had yet to displace the camel as the primary form of transport and the future capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was still contained within the defensive walls that had encircled it for 200 years.
Today, Riyadh is a vast metropolis, the largest city on the Arabian Peninsula. Ever expanding, the capital is currently spread over 1,500 square kilometers and has a population close to eight million, largely reliant on the car.
In 2024, however, Riyadh took a significant step toward an increasingly sustainable future with the opening on Dec. 1 of the first three lines of a revolutionary new driverless metro system linking all parts of the city over 176 km of tracks.
Riyadh’s goal is not only to get bigger, but also to get better, leading the nation in following the blueprint of Vision 2030, the plan to transition the Kingdom away from an oil-dependent economy — and the new mass-transit system will relieve pressure on the roads by removing tens of millions of car journeys every year.
A decade in the making, by the end of January 2025 all six metro lines are expected to be open, with 190 trains serving 85 stations, initially carrying 1.2 million passengers a day and with a planned capacity of 3.6 million.
MORE SAUDI MILESTONES
• February: 15 trillion standard cubic feet of natural gas discovered at Jafurah Field.
• May: Students secure 27 awards at the International Science and Engineering Fair in the US.
• August: Saudi Arabia’s Team Falcons crowned Esports World Cup club champions.
• September: Riyadh hosts the third edition of Global AI Summit, also known as GAIN.
• September: Kingdom tops region, 4th globally in UN’s digital government services index.
• October: 4,000-year-old town dubbed Al-Natah discovered hidden in Khaybar oasis.
• October: Archaeologists discuss findings from Al-Faw, Kingdom’s newest World Heritage Site.
Treasured traces of the city’s past remain. Line 1, the Blue Line, which serves the north-south axis of the capital, passes close by the old town, where Al-Masmak Fort, once the largest building in Riyadh, dating back to the 19th century and recaptured by Abdulaziz Al-Saud in 1902, still stands in testimony to the Kingdom’s past.
As Riyadh has grown and changed, so too has the whole of Saudi Arabia, and 2024 has seen a host of events that together bear witness to just how rapidly the Kingdom is evolving, transforming itself into a global player and destination in the process.
The year in Saudi Arabia began as it is ending, with the Winter at Tantora Festival, the culture, art and music festival at AlUla, which this year started on Dec. 19 and continues until Jan. 11.
From its beginnings in December 2018, when the festival featured the Italian singer Andrea Bocelli and the French violinist Renaud Capucon, it has grown to become a globally recognized celebration of art, music, and culture, with many events taking place in the stunning mirror-walled Maraya concert hall in AlUla’s Ashar Valley.
An early highlight in the 2024 season was the classical concert on Dec. 27 by singer Abeer Nehme and The National Arab Orchestra, which celebrated the rich tapestry of Arab heritage.
At the other end of the musical scale in 2024 was MDLBEAST Soundstorm, the mid-December music festival which, with some justification, lays claim to being “the loudest weekend in Riyadh,” and this year featured acts including Eminem, Muse, David Guetta and Linkin Park.
Another mass-participation cultural event that is increasingly putting Saudi Arabia on the global entertainment map is Riyadh Season, a high-octane, multi-venue, six-month celebration that is billed as the biggest and most diverse entertainment festival in the world.
Starting on Oct. 12 in 2024, within two months the season had attracted more than 10 million visitors.
One highlight this year was the bout in the Kingdom Arena between light-heavyweight boxing champions Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev, won by the Russian Beterbiev, who became the first undisputed four-belt light-heavyweight champion since 2002.
By way of contrast, and summing up the eclectic diversity of the entire season, on Nov. 14 stars flew into Riyadh from around the world for the 45th anniversary celebration of Lebanese couturier Elie Saab.
The fashion show was attended by celebrities including Jennifer Lopez, Halle Berry, Celine Dion, Nadine Nassib Njeim, Monica Bellucci and Razane Jammal.
Over on the west coast in Jeddah, the fourth iteration of the Red Sea International Film Festival, which ran from Dec. 5 to 14, continued to reinforce its reputation as a rapidly emerging force in the global film industry.
Championing films from Saudi Arabia and the Arab world, Asia, and Africa, the festival featured conversations with global stars including Sarah Jessica Parker and Priyanka Chopra.
On the sporting front, this year the Kingdom added another sport to a rapidly growing portfolio that already embraces soccer, golf, boxing and Formula One. This year’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, the second round of the F1 championship, was the fourth in the country and was won by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
In November, the Women’s Tennis Association finals were held in Riyadh for the first time, with a record $15 million prize purse on offer.
The final saw world No. 3 Coco Gauff beat Zheng Qinwen in what is slated to be the first of several such finals to be held in the Kingdom.
After her victory against the Chinese Olympic champion, the 20-year-old American praised the event as inspirational for young Saudis, “just to show young girls that, you know, their dreams are possible,” she said.
She added: “I’m literally no different than they are. We just maybe come from different places.”
By the time she retired, she said, she hoped there would be a Saudi Grand Slam champion.
But perhaps the biggest moment in Saudi Arabia’s 2024 came on Dec. 11, when global footballing body FIFA confirmed that the 2034 World Cup would be held in the Kingdom.
Hosting the 48-team tournament in 15 stadiums across five cities will bring in hundreds of thousands of fans and players, many of whom will be experiencing the Kingdom in person for the first time.
“For us, soccer or football is not only a sport,” Saudi Sports Minister Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal said after the news was announced, “it is a value that we share with the entire world.”
Saudi Arabia, he added, was “looking forward to hosting” many more events and making football history.
“This is the chance to invite you all to visit my country, to celebrate our culture, to see the greatest success story with your own eyes.”
Fun and games isn’t the only stage on which Saudi Arabia is opening up to the world.
In 2024 the Kingdom hosted a number of high-level global conferences, including biodiversity conference COP16 over the first two weeks in December, at which global pledges to combat drought and land degradation topped $10 billion and, in April, the World Economic Forum’s Special Meeting on Global Collaboration, Growth and Energy for Development.