Saudi Endowment Authority tops government employee engagement rankings

Saudi Endowment Authority tops government employee engagement rankings
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The authority’s impressive 89.20 percent engagement rate was top of all government institutions, councils, and public bodies in the Kingdom. (X:@AWQAF_KSA)
Saudi Endowment Authority tops government employee engagement rankings
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The authority’s impressive 89.20 percent engagement rate was top of all government institutions, councils, and public bodies in the Kingdom. (X:@AWQAF_KSA)
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Updated 17 July 2024
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Saudi Endowment Authority tops government employee engagement rankings

Saudi Endowment Authority tops government employee engagement rankings
  • Ceremony highlights positive competition

RIYADH: The Saudi General Authority for Awqaf has claimed top spot in the 2023 Government Sector Employee Engagement Awards.

The authority’s impressive 89.20 percent engagement rate was top of all government institutions, councils, and public bodies in the Kingdom, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

In a ceremony which highlighted positive competition and human resource development in the endowment sector, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Ahmad bin Sulaiman Al-Rajhi presented the award to Imad bin Saleh Al-Kharashi, governor of the General Authority for Awqaf.

The award aims to foster positive competition among government entities, while emphasizing the importance of organizational goals to employees, encouraging innovative solutions, developing staff skills, and improving productivity.

These factors contribute to enhancing and developing the work environment.

The award’s evaluation considered several key indicators: practical purpose with a positive sector impact; leadership alignment with the authority’s strategy and goals; innovation encouragement; effective team collaboration; continuous professional development contributing to the endowment sector’s growth; high performance directed toward impactful programs; and a stable work environment focused on quality and excellence.

The authority’s climb from second place in 2022 to first in 2023 reflected a notable increase in employee engagement, which rose from 86 percent to 89.20 percent.

This improvement was driven by various initiatives, including strengthening institutional culture; enhancing the work environment through events that promoted employee integration; fostering a culture of cooperation and transparency; recognition programs; stimulating creative ideas; and empowerment.

This recognition not only highlights the authority’s internal success but also reinforces its strategic direction in talent acquisition.

The General Authority for Awqaf is dedicated to enhancing, governing, and preserving the endowment sector.

It aims to develop and raise awareness through innovative endowment products and services, positioning the sector as a leader in sustainable development both locally and globally.

The authority focuses on implementing best practices and establishing regulations to advance and empower endowment work.


Salam Equine Hospital takes the reins of equine healthcare

Salam Equine Hospital takes the reins of equine healthcare
Updated 3 sec ago
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Salam Equine Hospital takes the reins of equine healthcare

Salam Equine Hospital takes the reins of equine healthcare
  • The state-of-the-art facility combines modern technology with innovative design and specialized medical expertise

MAKKAH: Salam Equine Hospital, a venture by Salam Veterinary Group, recently opened its doors in Buraidah, where it epitomizes Saudi Arabia’s ambition to lead in veterinary and medical innovation.

The state-of-the-art facility combines modern technology with innovative design and specialized medical expertise, setting a new benchmark in equine medicine. The hospital not only offers therapeutic and preventive services but also engages in extensive research and development, positioning itself as a global leader in equine care.

Abdulaziz Al-Jumah, the hospital’s executive director, highlighted the project’s significance in an interview with Arab News. “Salam Equine Hospital is part of the Salam Veterinary Group, and it is the largest veterinary hospital in the world.”

According to Al-Jumah, the hospital has formed strategic partnerships with leading international equine hospitals, such as Baker McVeigh, to bring advanced medical knowledge and technology to Saudi Arabia.

“We have established a plan and a strategy for the hospital, consisting of an engineering system facilitating the entry and exit of horses while ensuring their safety,” he said.

A comprehensive system ensures horse safety from entry to exit, with special gates for emergencies and radiology to prevent infection spread.

The facility has fully equipped recovery and anesthesia rooms where horses are safely anesthetized, operated on, and then monitored in recovery. Its operating rooms are designed to meet international standards for isolation, cleanliness, and air quality, crucial for preventing post-operative infections, Al-Jumah said.

“After the operation, some horses might need intensive care. Therefore, we have established intensive care units that are completely isolated to prevent bacterial infections,” Al-Jumah said. “These units have surveillance cameras to monitor the horses in every room of the hospital and track their safety.”

Al-Jumah said that the hospital has “a radiology room that is lead-lined and fully equipped with radiology and sonar devices that examine the horses’ tendons, fractured bones, and spine. A 360-degree examination is conducted using these exceptional top-notch devices.”

When it comes to equine reproduction, Salam Equine Hospital uses cutting-edge techniques such as artificial insemination, natural insemination, and embryo transfer, including the sophisticated IVF method known as “test tube foal,” where sperm is injected directly into an egg.

The hospital’s reach extends beyond its physical boundaries, with mobile clinics that provide on-site care at stables, ensuring comprehensive health services for horses in the region.

Al-Jumah emphasized the hospital’s ongoing commitment to research. “Salam Equine Hospital is keen to conduct new research and seeks development, uniqueness and excellence in horses’ care, thanks to the support of the board of directors and medical personnel who have raised our ambitions level to become the best in the world. We are always looking to initiate new research in this field.”

This initiative underscores Saudi Arabia’s vision for medical advancement and sets new global standards in veterinary care.


Harvard students explore Jeddah’s history, culture

Harvard students explore Jeddah’s history, culture
Updated 22 December 2024
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Harvard students explore Jeddah’s history, culture

Harvard students explore Jeddah’s history, culture
  • This visit is part of a national initiative organized by Saudi students at Harvard University

Jeddah: The Jeddah Historic District Program of the Ministry of Culture recently hosted a delegation of students from Harvard University, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The students were given a tour of the Jeddah Historic District, known as Al-Balad, highlighting its distinctive architectural, cultural and economic landmarks.

They also participated in activities commemorating World Arabic Language Day, which further enhanced their understanding of the area’s rich heritage.

This visit is part of a national initiative organized by Saudi students at Harvard University to showcase the Kingdom’s cultural and economic development to their peers, the SPA reported.

The Jeddah Historic District Program plays a crucial role in revitalizing the area through community engagement, economic development and sustainable urban planning.

By transforming historic Jeddah into a vibrant environment for living and working, the program aims to establish it as a global heritage and tourist destination.


Saudi project clears 570 Houthi mines in Yemen

Saudi project clears 570 Houthi mines in Yemen
Updated 22 December 2024
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Saudi project clears 570 Houthi mines in Yemen

Saudi project clears 570 Houthi mines in Yemen

Riyadh: Members of Saudi Arabia’s Project Masam removed 570 explosive devices from various regions of Yemen last week.

The total included two anti-personnel mines, 50 anti-tank mines, 508 unexploded ordnances and 10 explosive devices, according to a recent report.

Ousama Al-Gosaibi, the initiative’s managing director, said a total of 473,258 mines had been cleared since its inception in 2018.

The explosives were planted indiscriminately and posed a threat to civilians, including children, women and the elderly.

The demining operations took place in Marib, Aden, Jouf, Shabwa, Taiz, Hodeidah, Lahij, Sanaa, Al-Bayda, Al-Dhale and Saada.

The initiative trains local demining engineers and provides them with modern equipment. It also offers support to Yemenis injured by the devices.

Teams are tasked with clearing villages, roads and schools to facilitate safe movement for civilians and the delivery of humanitarian aid.

About 5 million people have been forced to flee their homes since the start of the conflict in Yemen, many of them displaced by the presence of land mines.


Riyadh forum explores reading’s role in growth

Riyadh forum explores reading’s role in growth
Updated 22 December 2024
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Riyadh forum explores reading’s role in growth

Riyadh forum explores reading’s role in growth

RIYADH: The Reading Forum, organized by the Libraries Commission, recently concluded at King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh.

The forum featured dialogue sessions and workshops attracting reading and culture enthusiasts, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.

Discussions covered novels as artistic expressions that reflect culture and history, foster critical thinking, and the role of narration in promoting cross-cultural dialogue.

Participants highlighted reading and research as tools for personal growth, lifelong learning, and effective content creation.

They emphasized the importance of translation in cultural exchange and global copyright, the SPA reported.

Sessions explored instilling a love for reading in youth through collaboration between families, schools and society, as well as leadership in literary trends and the impact of genres on critical thinking.

The event set out to position reading as a foundation of progress, celebrating Saudi, Arab and global literary talent while fostering a culture of knowledge and intellectual growth.


Riyadh festival explores role of theater in shaping intellectual, artistic futures

Riyadh festival explores role of theater in shaping intellectual, artistic futures
Updated 22 December 2024
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Riyadh festival explores role of theater in shaping intellectual, artistic futures

Riyadh festival explores role of theater in shaping intellectual, artistic futures

RIYADH: The Riyadh Theater Festival is hosting a series of cultural discussions and theatrical performances distinguished by intellectual depth and artistic excellence.

Organized by the Theater and Performing Arts Commission, the festival is being held at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University until Dec. 26.

A seminar on contemporary theater in the Arab world explored the intersection of creativity and sustainability, bringing together an elite group of theater thinkers and creators.

One of the festival’s participants, Kamal Al-Alawi from Tunisia, reviewed the evolution of theater, tracing its journey from the Greek era through the Middle Ages and the Renaissance to the time of Emile Zola, which marked a qualitative shift and revolution in impressionism.

Among the intellectuals and theater experts, Lina Abiad from Lebanon discussed ways to improve theatrical production and modernize it using contemporary methodologies.

The commission’s CEO, Sultan Al-Bazie, described the festival as a cornerstone for advancing theatrical movement in the Kingdom and increasing public awareness of the performing arts.

This year’s event features 20 performances, selected by a committee of experts, reflecting the diversity of theatrical arts in the Kingdom and its intellectual and developmental programs.

The festival underscores the commission’s commitment to supporting the performing arts and Saudi talent, aiming for a strong presence on regional and international stages. It will conclude with a presentation of awards to distinguished performers.