Restoring AlUla’s natural balance, advancing sustainable desert tourism

MAKKAH: In a small house shaded by palm trees in the heart of Al-Ahsa’s palm oasis, artist Fatima Al-Hammadi transforms fronds – often considered mere remnants of palm trees – into works of art.

Her creations tell the story of Al-Ahsa’s ancient heritage. Since childhood, Al-Hammadi viewed the surrounding palm trees from a unique perspective. 

They were not just a source of livelihood; they symbolized civilization itself. Motivated by this, she decided to breathe new life into the fronds, using her art to highlight the beauty of Saudi heritage both locally and internationally.

A graphic artist accredited by the Saudi Ministry of Education, Al-Hammadi told Arab News, “I have always been passionate about graphic art. It is a dream I have aspired to achieve on the global stage. 

“I have always wanted to become an internationally recognized graphic artist. Today, I am working hard to make that dream a reality, armed with my skills and my deep connection to the heritage of my homeland, Al-Ahsa.”

“Al-Ahsa, the famous palm oasis in the Eastern Province, inspired me to transform the land’s natural bounty into art. Palm fronds are the primary material I use in my work. I take them – once considered waste, destined to be burned – and transform them into art that reflects the story of Al-Ahsa’s civilization and heritage. My goal has always been to showcase the history and heritage of my region through this natural element. My work has been highly appreciated in Al-Ahsa and across the Kingdom,” she explained.

“During the various exhibitions and events I have participated in, I noticed the public’s interest and fascination with artwork that blends nature and creativity.” She attributes her choice of palm fronds to her inspiration from nature itself, which has earned her recognition among both art lovers and heritage enthusiasts.

Reflecting on the evolution of graphic art in the Kingdom, Al-Hammadi noted its remarkable growth and prosperity. 

“The fact that young men and women are showing increased interest in graphic arts signals the maturing taste of the Kingdom’s art scene. However, this sector requires greater support from art institutions,” she said, emphasizing the importance of artists’ awareness of their local culture and national heritage in fostering the growth of graphic art.

Underlining the need for more local and international art exhibitions and opportunities for artists to participate in local, Arab and international art fair, she said: “This kind of support is crucial for raising the profile of Saudi graphic art and enabling it to compete on the world stage.”

With her ambitious vision and the support of her community, Al-Hammadi looks forward to a bright future for graphic arts in the Kingdom, where creativity serves as a bridge between the ancient past and the present. 

RIYADH: In today’s hyper-connected world, mobile apps have become the gateway to almost every service and business interaction. But as businesses race to deliver convenience, they inadvertently expose themselves — and their users — to growing cyber threats.

With security breaches rising at an alarming rate, mobile apps are often the weakest link. Developers face a two-fold challenge — balancing security without sacrificing speed or innovation.

This pressing issue was the catalyst for Appknox, a mobile app security platform established in Bangalore, India, and now making inroads in Saudi Arabia, which was designed to make securing apps faster, smarter, and more efficient.

“Mobile apps are no longer just tools — they’re business-critical systems,” Subho Halder, co-founder of Appknox, told Arab News. “Yet securing them has remained cumbersome, complex, and, often, reactive.”

At its core, Appknox simplifies security testing by integrating into the development pipeline, helping businesses identify and fix vulnerabilities early in the software development lifecycle.

By removing friction and leveraging advanced technology like AI and machine learning, Appknox bridges the gap between speed and security — two critical elements for businesses operating in the digital economy.

The demand for mobile apps has exploded, but so too have cyberattacks targeting them. For developers, traditional security solutions have long been a source of frustration.

Tools relying on source code access raise privacy concerns, while outdated systems generate high false positives, leaving teams chasing ghosts rather than fixing real problems. The result? Security becomes an afterthought — patched hastily or worse, ignored entirely.

“Developers want to ship quickly, but every delay costs businesses money,” said Halder. “The problem is that skipping security leaves apps vulnerable to breaches that are far more expensive to fix later.”

For businesses operating in highly regulated industries like fintech, banking, or government, the stakes are even higher. Regulations such as those enforced by the Saudi Central Bank, for instance, require stringent compliance with data protection standards.

Failing to meet those standards not only risks fines but can erode user trust — a death knell in industries where reliability is everything.

What makes Appknox stand out is its ability to tackle these challenges without complicating the developer workflow. It uses a binary-based scanning approach, meaning the platform does not require access to the app’s source code.

Instead, it scans compiled binaries to uncover runtime vulnerabilities, ensuring confidentiality while delivering deeper, more actionable insights.

The platform combines static analysis, dynamic analysis, and application programming interface testing, giving developers a unified view of their security posture.

Appknox’s launch in Saudi Arabia comes at a time when the Kingdom is undergoing a dramatic digital transformation. Under Vision 2030, sectors like fintech, open banking, and e-commerce are expanding rapidly. But with this growth comes increased vulnerability.

“The digital infrastructure being built in Saudi Arabia is world-class,” said Halder. “But world-class innovation demands world-class security.”

For fintech players in particular, API security has become a priority as the Kingdom embraces open banking initiatives. APIs, while critical for enabling seamless financial transactions, are also prime targets for cyberattacks.

One of the most significant breakthroughs Appknox brings to mobile security is its ability to cut through the noise.

High false positives — a common complaint in traditional tools — are minimized using AI-driven analysis. The platform’s machine learning models are trained on vast datasets of vulnerabilities, ensuring smarter detection that focuses on real, exploitable risks.

But Halder stresses that AI alone is not enough. To ensure accuracy, Appknox combines automation with human validation. “Automation gets you speed, but human experts provide context,” he said. “It’s this balance that gives teams confidence to act on the results.”

Moreover, the AI behind Appknox continuously evolves. Every scan, every vulnerability patched, and every piece of user feedback helps improve detection accuracy over time. This adaptability is critical as new threats, such as zero-day vulnerabilities, emerge at an increasing rate.

The impact of Appknox’s solutions is already being felt across industries. In one notable case, a large Middle Eastern enterprise managing over 50 mobile applications struggled with delayed vulnerability remediation and fragmented oversight.

With Appknox, they streamlined their security processes through automated scanning, real-time monitoring, and a centralized security dashboard.

“The result was transformative,” said Halder. “They cut remediation times significantly and moved from a reactive approach to proactive security. That’s the kind of impact businesses need to stay competitive.”

As cyber threats evolve, Halder believes security tools must become predictive rather than reactive. AI will play a central role in this shift, enabling platforms like Appknox to anticipate vulnerabilities before they are exploited.

In markets like Saudi Arabia, where digital transformation is reshaping the economy, this kind of innovation is not optional — it is essential. Businesses need to secure their apps not just to comply with regulations, but to earn and maintain user trust.

“Mobile apps are the face of your business,” said Halder. “If they’re not secure, neither is your reputation. Our mission is simple: to make sure security is never the reason a business can’t grow.”