Saudi pilot wants to highlight ‘breathtaking’ Kingdom from the sky

Special Saudi pilot wants to highlight ‘breathtaking’ Kingdom from the sky
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Updated 06 June 2024
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Saudi pilot wants to highlight ‘breathtaking’ Kingdom from the sky

Saudi pilot wants to highlight ‘breathtaking’ Kingdom from the sky
  • Mishaal Al-Sudairy lauds Saudi’s diverse typography
  • Received at 50 his pilot’s license, he tells Arab News

RIYADH: Pilot, motorcycle enthusiast and author Mishaal Al-Sudairy is taking his passion for adventure in the outdoors, particularly the skies over the Kingdom, to document the country for fellow citizens.

Speaking on The Mayman Show recently, Al-Sudairy said he takes to the skies on average 12 times a month, and is fascinated by the many ancient sites and natural wonders that can be viewed from above.  

“This year I participated in the federal rally which is flying over Egypt, archeological sites. I flew to the World Traveler Festival in Dubai. Before in 2021, I flew from Thumamah to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, to participate in the AirVenture, Airshow 2021. So, I love flying.”

 

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Al-Sudairy, who has an engineering background, received a private pilot’s license at 50 in 2018 from a facility in Denver, Colorado. “Then I went back to the US and did my instrument rating in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. And then I did my multi-engine and my commercial in Bellingham, Washington state,” he said.

During the interview he recalled flying over Harrat Kishb which is a lava field in the west of the Kingdom. “The neat thing is seven volcanoes in a straight line. So you will be seeing the volcano tops one after one. Like they were done by a ruler. So to me, this is like one of nature’s wonders, one that I’m gonna say Subhan Allah.”

 

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Another wondrous site for Al-Sudairy is Audat Sudair, about 100 km from Riyadh, that has a mountain which appears to be several hearts from the sky.

“It is like heart over heart over heart. And because you know, this area, it used to be, you know, seabed before the sea water receded. This formation is amazing. You see a heart, a normal heart, shaped by nature.

 

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“I mean, there’s so many things also from above, you can see there, so many signs by stones, so I think some of them, they’re prehistoric and some of them maybe from Stone Age,” he said.

Al-Sudairy believes that Saudi Arabia has one of the world’s most interesting terrains because of its diverse topography.

 

 

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“We have the desert, we have the mountains, we have the coastal line. Plus the volcanic areas, which is a lot, and especially in the westernmost part of Saudi Arabia. So you know, all these when they mix together, they’re breathtaking,” he said.

There were always “hidden gems to be found,” he said.

 

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“I want to introduce my country to my fellow citizens, so they know they (can) come out of the cities because Saudi Arabia is not limited to Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam.

“I want them to know that there is so much to see and to know about their country, about small towns and heritage places,” he added.

 


Saudi minister inspects key healthcare facilities in Makkah

Saudi minister inspects key healthcare facilities in Makkah
Updated 25 March 2025
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Saudi minister inspects key healthcare facilities in Makkah

Saudi minister inspects key healthcare facilities in Makkah
  • Two helipads open in Grand Mosque for emergency medical evacuations of worshippers

MAKKAH: Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Health Fahad Al-Jalajel inspected several healthcare facilities in Makkah to ensure they continue to provide high-quality medical care during the peak Umrah season in Ramadan.

Al-Jalajel visited Ajyad Emergency Hospital, which specializes in emergency and intensive care, Jiwar Medical Services Center, and the Al-Haram Emergency Centers.

He reviewed all services for the swift handling of urgent cases, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

Al-Jalajel said a top priority of his ministry was to ensure comprehensive healthcare for pilgrims.

He highlighted the ministry’s continued efforts to ensure the readiness of medical facilities and the integration of healthcare services during the Ramadan and Hajj seasons.

This aligns with the goals of Vision 2030, which focuses on enhancing the quality and efficiency of healthcare services, reflecting the leadership’s commitment to this sector, the SPA reported.

Meanwhile, the Saudi Red Crescent Authority has opened two helipads on the grounds of Makkah’s Grand Mosque for emergency medical evacuations.

The aim is to enhance healthcare services for those performing Umrah, and prepare for the Hajj season.

The helipads will enable the rapid transport of critical patients to hospitals in Makkah and Jeddah, the SPA reported.

The Grand Mosque’s emergency hospital is equipped with intensive care units, medical laboratories, radiology services, an in-house pharmacy, and isolation units for infectious diseases.

Al-Jalajel had previously conducted similar field visits to several healthcare facilities in Makkah, where he reviewed plans to enhance capacity during the Umrah season.

He had also assessed the readiness of emergency teams and the integration of services provided to pilgrims.


KSA cracks down on non-compliant Umrah transport

KSA cracks down on non-compliant Umrah transport
Updated 25 March 2025
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KSA cracks down on non-compliant Umrah transport

KSA cracks down on non-compliant Umrah transport

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Transport General Authority, in collaboration with relevant authorities, has apprehended several violators for transporting Umrah performers using non-compliant buses as part of a field control initiative it conducted.

The authority clarified that this campaign is part of its ongoing monitoring efforts to ensure that transport facilities comply with regulations, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

The initiative aims to enhance the safety and security of Umrah performers, and the authority has urged all establishments to adhere to the approved regulations.

It emphasized that these campaigns are designed to enhance compliance, elevate service quality, and ensure the safety of transport service users, SPA added.

Recently, the Transport General Authority fined over 400 foreign trucks in several regions of the Kingdom for regulatory offenses.


Historic Al-Safa Mosque in Baha restored in traditional Sarawat style

Historic Al-Safa Mosque in Baha restored in traditional Sarawat style
Updated 25 March 2025
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Historic Al-Safa Mosque in Baha restored in traditional Sarawat style

Historic Al-Safa Mosque in Baha restored in traditional Sarawat style
  • The mosque, distinguished by its Sarawat-style construction, was renovated to preserve its historical integrity

RIYADH: Al-Safa Mosque, a 13th-century landmark in the Baha region, has been restored as part of a national project, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The second phase of the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Project for the Development of Historic Mosques aims to revitalize Baha’s architectural heritage and highlight its cultural significance.

The mosque, distinguished by its Sarawat-style construction, was renovated to preserve its historical integrity while enhancing its structural and aesthetic elements.

The restoration in Baljurashi governorate prioritized the use of natural materials. Sarawat Mountain stone and locally sourced wood were used for the ceilings, columns, windows and doors, maintaining the structure’s authenticity.

The mosque’s footprint, at 78 sq. meters, and its capacity, accommodating 31 worshippers, was unchanged by the restoration.

Built about 1,350 years ago, Al-Safa Mosque is situated within a network of buildings and narrow passages typical of the region’s high mountain villages.

The structure is notable for its stone construction and limited openings. Distinctive juniper columns support the mosque, and the restoration includes preserving and redeveloping these columns, incorporating traditional staircase carvings.

Historical accounts suggest that the mosque was established by the Prophet’s companion Sufyan bin Auf Al-Ghamdi. Historically it served as a vital social hub, facilitating communal gatherings for resolving disputes and discussing village affairs, especially between Maghrib and Isha prayers.

It is one of 30 mosques in 13 regions in phase two of the project, which includes six in Riyadh, five in Makkah, four in Madinah, three in Asir, and two each in the Eastern Province, Jouf, and Jazan. The Northern Borders, Tabuk, Baha, Najran, Hail and Qassim each have one mosque in the scheme.

Phase two follows phase one, completed in 2018, in which 30 mosques were restored in 10 regions. Saudi companies and heritage restoration experts are leading the development efforts, according to the SPA.

The project balances traditional and modern construction standards, ensuring the sustainability of mosque components while preserving heritage.

Saudi companies and engineers specializing in heritage restoration are leading the development efforts, according to the report.

The project’s four strategic objectives include restoring historic mosques for worship, preserving architectural authenticity, highlighting the Kingdom’s cultural heritage, and enhancing the religious and cultural significance of religious sites.


KSrelief expands food aid across global crisis zones

KSrelief expands food aid across global crisis zones
Updated 25 March 2025
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KSrelief expands food aid across global crisis zones

KSrelief expands food aid across global crisis zones

RIYADH: The Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief has delivered thousands of food packages to some of the world’s most vulnerable people, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

In Pakistan, 4,790 packages were distributed to families in need across Balochistan, Kashmir, and Punjab as a part of the Etaam Ramadan project, benefiting 32,631 individuals. 

In Somalia, KSrelief distributed 1,550 packages to vulnerable families in Baidoa, benefiting 6,930 people. 

Now in its fourth phase, the Etaam project aims to distribute more than 390,000 food parcels in 27 countries during Ramadan, benefiting 2.3 million people at a cost of more than SR67 million ($17.8 million). 

Additionally, KSrelief provided 600 packages in Port Sudan, benefiting 3,057 impoverished and displaced people. 

In Lebanon, the Saudi Arabia aid agency distributed 800 packages to needy families in Sidon, benefiting 4,000 individuals.


Saudi Arabia gears up for Saudi Green Initiative Day on March 27

Saudi Arabia gears up for Saudi Green Initiative Day on March 27
Updated 25 March 2025
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Saudi Arabia gears up for Saudi Green Initiative Day on March 27

Saudi Arabia gears up for Saudi Green Initiative Day on March 27

Riyadh: As Saudi Arabia prepares to mark Saudi Green Initiative Day on March 27, the Kingdom reaffirmed its commitment to environmental sustainability and climate action.

The national event highlights Saudi Arabia’s efforts to combat climate change while fostering a culture of environmental responsibility, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

In the lead-up to the occasion, the Saudi Green Initiative launched several interactive campaigns during Ramadan to encourage public participation in sustainable practices.

Social media users can still contribute by sharing their photos on the Saudi Green Initiative Day Photo Board, a show of the community’s dedication to eco-friendly initiatives.

The initiative’s mascot, Nomoor, continues to engage youth and children through the “30 Positive Steps to Protect the Environment” challenge, promoting sustainable habits across all age groups.

Three winners of the challenge will be announced on Saudi Green Initiative Day in recognition of their contributions.

With the submission deadline approaching, participants are encouraged to highlight their sustainable Ramadan practices and join the challenge. 

Aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, Saudi Green Initiative Day underscores the Kingdom’s ambitious sustainability goals, calling for collective action in climate efforts and environmental awareness.