Saudi minister chairs 121st UN World Tourism Organization meeting in Barcelona
Updated 12 June 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: While chairing the 121st session of the UN World Tourism Organization’s Executive Council on Monday and Tuesday, Saudi Arabia’s minister of tourism, Ahmed Al-Khateeb, emphasized the role the sector plays in achieving growth of the global economy, and sustainability that benefits local communities.
During his opening speech, he said that presiding over the meeting was “a historic moment” because “it united world leaders to confront pressing challenges in tourism and to drive tangible progress in all aspects of the global tourism sector.”
He added: “This gathering confirmed our collective vision of the continued prosperity of the international tourism sector, stressing the need for innovative models to sustain the sector, create investment opportunities, and continue strategic partnerships.”
HE the Minister of Tourism @AhmedAlKhateeb chairs the 121st session of @UNWTO Executive Council. In his speech, HE highlighted the role of the tourism sector in strengthening the global economy and achieving sector sustainability, for the benefit of local communities. pic.twitter.com/rbLeLVxKJK
Discussions during the meeting focused on analysis of international tourism trends, implementation of general work programs and regulatory reforms, discussions of financial-growth strategies for the international tourism sector, and the importance of investment in the development of human resources to maintain global competitiveness, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Al-Khateeb held a meeting with representatives of the private tourism sector in Spain to promote opportunities for them in the Kingdom, the facilities available to investors, and plans to enhance air connectivity between Saudi Arabia and Spain, as well as Europe more widely.
The participants in the discussion included senior executives from leading global, European and Spanish hotel chains, as well as operators of tourism businesses in the Kingdom, and organizations interested in expanding their presence in the Kingdom in light of the developments in the tourism sector as part of the Saudi Vision 2030 national development and diversification plan.
HE the Minister of Tourism @AhmedAlKhateeb held a roundtable meeting with leaders of the private tourism sector in the Kingdom of Spain, to highlight the promising investment opportunities in the Kingdom and the facilities provided to investors. pic.twitter.com/9IPE4PQjo7
Saudi Arabia welcomed more than 40,000 tourists from Spain in 2023, a 6 percent increase compared with 2022. The growth was attributed to the introduction of an e-visa program for visitors from 66 countries, with the aim of increasing the number of people visiting the country to 70 million by 2030.
Also during the UNWTO meeting, Al-Khateeb signed a memorandum of understanding with his Greek counterpart, Olga Kefalogianni, for the development of tourism businesses and investments, and to enhance the professional skills of workers in the sector.
Saudi Arabia is chairing UNWTO’s Executive Council in 2024 after being reelected to do so for a second-successive year.
JEDDAH: The Saudi Red Crescent Authority has opened volunteer registrations for this year’s Hajj season, continuing its mission to promote volunteerism and encourage community participation in humanitarian services.
As part of the initiative, volunteers are invited to join one of four main tracks, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.
The paramedic track focuses on delivering emergency first aid and rescue services before specialized teams arrive.
The humanitarian track involves offering care and assistance to pilgrims, including distributing snacks, water and guidance.
Those with creative skills can join the media track, which documents volunteer efforts through photography, videography and editing.
Meanwhile, the logistics track supports operations by handling the distribution, transportation, and storage of essential materials and equipment.
The authority encouraged people to register through its volunteer platform, describing volunteering with the Red Crescent as a meaningful opportunity to gain valuable skills, contribute to life-saving efforts and support the wider community.
Healthier and greener nation is focus of Environment Week 2025
Aim to raise public awareness among school children
‘Our Environment is a Treasure,’ is the theme this year
Updated 21 April 2025
Haifa Alshammari
RIYADH: The organizers of Saudi Arabia’s Environment Week are aiming to increase public engagement to secure a thriving and greener future for the country.
The event began on Sunday and was attended by Environment, Water and Agriculture Minister Abdulrahman Al-Fadley, and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir.
Reema Obaid, one of the participants, told Arab News: “We are here at the environmental awareness initiative, which is raising awareness about our environment for a healthier and greener environment.”
Obaid explained that children can gather at her booth to plant seeds or cuttings. Then they can either take their plants with them or donate them to national parks in the Kingdom.
Another activity is “Green Leader,” under the nation’s Environment Fund. It is a green bus symbolizing the country’s sustainability journey from the past to the present.
Weed Al-Balawi, a participant in the initiative, said they designed it to “deliver major concepts regarding sustainability, resource conservation, ancestral heritage, and technology in environmental conservation.”
The aim was to ensure a “simple and enjoyable way to benefit the target group, which is the age group from primary to intermediate school,” said Al-Balawi.
She said the education stations at the event were created for the public to experience how people used sustainable practices in the past on a daily basis to coexist with nature and biodiversity.
The final station at the event showed current practices, which includes how people are now using technology to protect the environment, said Al-Balawi.
One of the examples displayed was the camel’s watering place, where people would dig a small well for the animals next to the one they used for drinking.
This ancient technique was used to prevent diseases spreading from animals to humans, and to reduce the amount of wasted water.
The theme of this year’s event is “Our Environment is a Treasure” and will be held until April 26.
A highlight was the debut of the National Environmental Performance Index, a strategic tool to monitor progress and guide policy.
There were 13 agreements signed between the ministry’s entities and the private sector to improve collaboration in environmental projects.
Unusual ecosystem found deep below Red Sea coral reef
Study by KAUST and National Center for Wildlife
Marine animals thriving in low oxygen, high acidity
Updated 21 April 2025
Arab News
RIYADH: Marine scientists have found creatures thriving in deep waters of the Red Sea under seemingly unfavorable conditions of low oxygen levels and high acidity.
The unusual ecosystem was found in Difat Farasan near the border between Saudi Arabia and Yemen.
It was reported in the science journal PNAS Nexus by a team of scientists from the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology and the National Center for Wildlife, KAUST said in a press statement posted on its website.
Also known as the Farasan Bank, Difat Farasan is located below the third-largest coral reef system in the world and biggest in the Red Sea.
Despite the low oxygen and high acidity, corals, fish and other animals were found to be thriving.
“Several of the creatures showed unexpected coping strategies to the extreme environment. Fish swam slower, and corals were healthy in conditions that normally prevent the calcification of their skeletons,” said the statement.
The study explained that calcification was “necessary for coral growth and survival.”
KAUST research scientist Dr. Shannon Klein, who led the study, said: “The ability for these animals to live in warm, oxygen-depleted zones suggests they have an unusual ability to reduce how much oxygen they use to sustain life.
“This discovery highlights the need for greater marine exploration of deeper layers (of) tropical coastal areas, as they may hold unexpected ecosystems.”
The study also noted that while coral reefs usually exist in shallow waters, depressions of more than 200 meters deep were found throughout the Farasan Bank coral reef system.
“Considering that oxygen depletion in the sea is one consequence of rising temperatures, greater study of how these creatures exist there may help us understand how marine life can withstand the challenges of climate change,” the study stated.
Dr. Mohammad Qurban, CEO of the National Center for Wildlife, said: “This research highlights the significance of the Red Sea as a natural laboratory for studying marine resilience.
“Discovering ecosystems that thrive in extreme conditions expands our understanding of how marine life adapts and reinforces the need for continued exploration and conservation of these unique habitats.”
KAUST Assistant Prof. Froukje van der Zwan, Associate Prof. Francesca Benzoni and KAUST Ibn Sina Distinguished Prof. Carlos Duarte also contributed to the study.
‘Take care of your liver now, and it will take care of you for life,’ deputy minister for population health tells Arab News
Saudi Ministry of Health focuses on measures to tackle liver disease
Updated 20 April 2025
Nada Hameed
JEDDAH: The liver plays a central role in keeping our bodies healthy. It filters toxins, supports digestion, stores energy and essential nutrients, and helps the body fight infections.
The major concern with liver diseases, however, is that they are often silent killers. The progression is very gradual, and most patients experience no symptoms, leaving them unaware of their condition. This makes awareness and early detection vital.
This is a national health priority for Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health, which is focusing on preventive care.
Dr. Abdullah Assiri, Deputy Minister for Population Health at the Saudi MOH. (Supplied)
Protecting liver health means preventing long-term complications and improving the quality of life for millions, contributing to the ministry’s targets to improve healthy life expectancy, in line with Vision 2030’s goal of creating a vibrant society.
In an exclusive interview following World Liver Day on Saturday, Dr. Abdullah Assiri, the deputy minister for population health, said that viral hepatitis — especially hepatitis B and C — has been a long-standing concern and is responsible for many cases of chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, and liver cancer.
He said: “In Saudi Arabia, the hepatitis C virus has caused the most cirrhosis, decompensated cirrhosis, and liver transplants.”
Hepatitis is essentially an inflammation of the liver caused by different viruses — types A, B, C, D, and E — each differing in how they spread, how severe they become, and how they are prevented.
Assiri added: “The challenge with hepatitis is that up to 95 percent of people living with the infection globally are unaware they have it, because the illness can remain silent for years.
“In terms of early warning signs, these can be quite vague, including fatigue, abdominal discomfort, or mild jaundice, but there are often no symptoms at all until the disease is advanced.”
Assiri explained that the main reason why liver conditions go undiagnosed until the later stages is that the liver is a remarkably resilient organ.
It continues to function well, even when partially damaged. Unfortunately, by the time symptoms like swelling, jaundice, or digestive issues appear, the disease may have already progressed to cirrhosis or liver failure.
He said: “Late detection can lead to serious consequences, including irreversible scarring of the liver, liver cancer, and life-threatening complications.
“That’s why we strongly recommend that people, especially those with risk factors such as obesity, diabetes, or a family history of liver disease, undergo regular check-ups and screenings.”
Lifestyle is everything when it comes to liver health. Poor diet, lack of physical activity, and smoking all put extra pressure on the liver.
Though alcohol-related liver disease is less prevalent in the Kingdom, other lifestyle factors, like unhealthy eating habits, along with viral hepatitis, play a larger role.
He said: “The good news is that the liver has an exceptional capacity to heal if given the right care. Even early-stage damage can often be reversed through lifestyle changes. I have personally witnessed patients transform their health by adopting better habits.”
As a medical professional Assiri always recommends lifestyle changes centered around four key pillars: nutrition, sleep, relaxation, and exercise. These are all vital to maintaining a healthy liver, as are hepatitis vaccinations.
At the national level the Ministry of Health is tackling liver diseases through policies that focus on prevention, early detection, infection-control practices in healthcare, and effective treatment.
Assiri said: “A major milestone in the national strategy was the introduction of direct acting antiviral medications in 2014, which marked the beginning of an ambitious nationwide effort to eliminate hepatitis C.
“Data shows that a comprehensive program combining targeted screening, aggressive treatment of around 8,000 patients per year, and strengthened prevention strategies could see this disease eliminated in Saudi Arabia by 2030 — or even earlier.
“Eliminating hepatitis C would save an estimated 3,000 Saudi lives and SR10 billion ($2.6 billion) in healthcare costs.
“Importantly, this elimination program also enables broader screening initiatives for other ‘silent killer’ diseases such as hepatitis B, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and dyslipidemia — allowing us to implement early preventive health interventions on a national scale.”
He added: “Our progress has been substantial. We met our 80 percent treatment coverage targets in 2023, are on track to reduce mortality by 65 percent by 2025, aim to diagnose 90 percent of cases by 2026, and are working to reduce new hepatitis C infections by 80 percent by 2030.”
These metrics reflect a robust public health response, and demonstrate Saudi Arabia’s strong commitment to leading by example in regional disease control efforts.
In addition to this, Saudi Arabia continues to be a leader in medical innovation and research in the field. For example, the world’s first robotic left liver lobe transplant was performed here, demonstrating the Kingdom’s commitment to world-class liver care.
The ministry has several initiatives underway. One of the key programs is premarital screening, which tests couples for hepatitis B and C to reduce the risk of transmission and ensure early intervention.
Additionally, it is expanding community screening drives, especially for high-risk groups, and enhancing access to affordable treatment for hepatitis C. In collaboration with health centers, the ministry continues to promote hepatitis vaccinations for adults who may have missed earlier immunization.
Assiri said: “Take care of your liver now, and it will take care of you for life. The liver is the largest and one of the most vital organs in the human body, yet it often doesn’t get the attention it deserves because symptoms of disease can be silent.
“I urge everyone to lead a more active life: eat healthier, stay hydrated, sleep, and get regular check-ups, especially if you have risk factors like diabetes or obesity.
“Get vaccinated, and remember that small changes in your daily routine can make a big difference for your liver and your overall health.”
They discussed prominent developments on the regional and international front and efforts made in this regard
Updated 20 April 2025
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji received vice chairman of the foreign affairs, defense and armed forces committee of the French Senate and chairman of the France-GCC Friendship Group, Olivier Cadec, in Riyadh.
During the meeting, they discussed bilateral relations and ways to develop them, the Foreign Ministry said in a post on X on Sunday.
They also discussed prominent developments on the regional and international front and efforts made in this regard.
France’s ambassador to the Kingdom, Patrick Maisonnave, was among the officials present at the meeting.
