Riyadh’s Tuwaiq Academy, global tech giants to launch more than 160 bootcamps

Riyadh’s Tuwaiq Academy, global tech giants to launch more than 160 bootcamps
Open to students, graduates and employees, the programs offer flexible in-person and online sessions, using advanced learning methods and best practices. (File photo/X: @TuwaiqAcademy)
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Updated 03 September 2024
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Riyadh’s Tuwaiq Academy, global tech giants to launch more than 160 bootcamps

Riyadh’s Tuwaiq Academy, global tech giants to launch more than 160 bootcamps

RIYADH: Tuwaiq Academy in Riyadh plans to launch more than 160 technical bootcamps and programs in the fourth quarter of 2024 to enhance national skills in a modern educational setting.

Developed with global partners such as Apple, Meta and Amazon, the training material is tailored to meet job market demands through hands-on learning.

Participants will receive professional certifications, with top candidates gaining employment opportunities, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

The programs cover important skills, including programming, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud computing, game development, virtual reality, digital manufacturing, drone programming and robotics.

Aimed at addressing the evolving needs of technicians, the academy seeks to fill the job market with skilled national professionals, the SPA reported.

Open to students, graduates and employees, the programs offer flexible in-person and online sessions, using advanced learning methods and best practices.

Aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, the academy aims to nurture national talent as part of the human capability development program.

Registration is available on the academy's website: https://tuwaiq.edu.sa.

Abdulaziz Alhammadi, the academy’s CEO, said that more than 30,000 trainees have graduated, with an employment rate exceeding 75 percent.

He highlighted the launch of the first technical diploma in game development and virtual reality in the Kingdom and the Arab world, in partnership with Meta, starting this September at the academy’s headquarters in Riyadh.

Founded in 2019, the academy offers cutting-edge bootcamps and educational programs with leading global partners, focusing on bridging the gap between emerging technologies and job market demands. 


Saudi fund backs $41m revamp of Dominica’s capital

Saudi fund backs $41m revamp of Dominica’s capital
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Saudi fund backs $41m revamp of Dominica’s capital

Saudi fund backs $41m revamp of Dominica’s capital
  • Infrastructure Rehabilitation Project to boost growth, connectivity and job creation in Roseau

RIYADH: The Saudi Fund for Development signed a loan agreement on Sunday with Dominica to finance the $41 million Infrastructure Rehabilitation Project in Roseau, the capital city.

The project is expected to drive socio-economic growth and improve the quality of life, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

The agreement was signed by the fund’s CEO Sultan Al-Marshad and Dominican Minister of Finance Irving McIntyre.

Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit delivered a keynote address at the ceremony, expressing gratitude for Saudi Arabia’s support and acknowledging the fund’s role in the project.

The project involves rehabilitating seven main streets, improving road connectivity, and enhancing safety and access to basic services.

It will also contribute to commercial and residential development and create jobs, SPA reported.

The project aligns with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and demonstrates the fund’s commitment to supporting development in Dominica and other Small Island Developing States.

Al-Marshad said: “We wish Dominica continued growth and prosperity. May this project drive positive change and sustainable development.”

McIntyre said: “The project is a critical step in addressing the challenges facing Roseau. It is expected to increase social and economic productivity.2

The Saudi fund, celebrating its 50th anniversary, has financed over 800 projects in 100 countries. Since 2023, it has extended development loans to 10 new Small Island Developing States.


Saudi man reflects on unbreakable bond between camels and owners

Bandar Al-Adwani, a camel owner, poses with his beloved camels. (SPA)
Bandar Al-Adwani, a camel owner, poses with his beloved camels. (SPA)
Updated 14 min 38 sec ago
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Saudi man reflects on unbreakable bond between camels and owners

Bandar Al-Adwani, a camel owner, poses with his beloved camels. (SPA)

JEDDAH: Camels, fondly referred to as “ships of the desert,” have long held a special place in the hearts of their owners.

Their relationship is characterized by loyalty, love, and a deep connection that transcends language.

Stories abound of camels shedding tears when separated from their beloved companions, waiting patiently for their return, Saudi Press Agency noted in a recent report. 

In Saudi Arabia, the relationship between humans and camels is deeply rooted in history and culture. Camels have served as essential companions in the harsh desert environment, providing transportation, food, and companionship, the report added.

Bandar Al-Adwani, a camel owner, expressed his deep fondness for his beloved she-camel, Al-Na’amah. He described their relationship as one of trust, companionship, and mutual understanding.

Al-Adwani often spends time with his camels, tending to their needs, which forms a strong emotional connection.

“Every morning and evening, I feel compelled to visit my camels in their pastures. I want to be close to them, monitor their health, and ensure that they have enough food and water. I have a deep, affectionate bond with them, a connection that feels almost instinctive,” he told SPA in an interview.

His love for camels runs deep; he spends countless hours in their company and never approaches them with a stick.

“Our interactions are based on mutual respect and understanding. Al-Na’amah, in particular, responds to my voice and touch,” he said, adding that he uses a herding technique called Alheda’a, a UNESCO-recognized oral tradition that combines sounds, gestures, and sometimes music, to communicate with camels.

The bedouins of the Arabian Peninsula seem to have a profound understanding of their camels’ needs. They cannot imagine their lives without these loyal companions and this deep-rooted love is passed down from generation to generation.

“When we hear stories of loyalty among humans, we are reminded of the unwavering loyalty that camels show to their owners,” Al-Adwani said.

“They are incredibly beautiful creatures. Their graceful movements, their thirst for water, their kneeling posture, and the experience of riding on their backs are truly captivating.

“In Saudi Arabia, camels represent our history, culture, and heritage. Our kings and wise leadership have always valued and cared for camels, recognizing their economic importance and their role in preserving our national identity.”

The Camel Club, established by King Salman, has played a crucial role in promoting camel breeding, culture, and heritage.

The Ministry of Culture even declared 2024 the “Year of the Camel,” in honor of an animal seen as a cultural treasure, a pillar of national identity, and a valuable part of Arab heritage.


Tributes paid to Safeya Binzagr, the ‘mother of Saudi art’

Tributes paid to Safeya Binzagr, the ‘mother of Saudi art’
Updated 15 September 2024
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Tributes paid to Safeya Binzagr, the ‘mother of Saudi art’

Tributes paid to Safeya Binzagr, the ‘mother of Saudi art’
  • Safeya Binzagr helped bridge the cultural link between Japan and Saudi Arabia

TOKYO: Katakura Kunio, the former Japanese ambassador to Egypt, Iraq, and the UAE, has paid tribute to Safeya Binzagr, who passed away last week, emphasizing the profound impact of her contributions to enhancing Japan’s cultural ties with Saudi Arabia.

Binzagr, known as the “mother” of Saudi Arabia’s fine art movement and a symbol of Vision 2030, helped bridge the cultural link between Japan and Saudi Arabia and was the aunt of current Saudi Ambassador to Japan Dr. Ghazi Faisal Binzagr.

Katakura, chairman of Japan’s Foundation for Desert Culture, fondly recalled Safeya’s “warm and encouraging nature” toward him and his late wife, Motoko.

“Her support was instrumental in Motoko’s cultural anthropological fieldwork in Wadi Fatima,” he said. “She always welcomed the foundation’s follow-up missions with open arms, fostering a deep and personal connection with us.”

Katakura said Binzagr was not only a gifted artist whose work inspired many but also a cherished friend and mentor. Her passion for creativity and dedication to her paintings left an indelible mark, and her artistic legacy will continue to inspire future generations.

Ambassador Binzagr commented: “Building a cultural bridge is the core for creating a distinguished future between two countries and I strive, as an ambassador, to support this because it creates an opportunity for common interests to rise to a common outlook and mutually supportive values.

“The mission carried out by my late aunt will continue (in) the making of a new era. She was one of the pillars that paved the way for this through her dedication to building and promoting the culture of the arts for future generations. The Kingdom considers her the mother of the cultural heritage of creative fine arts.”

The ambassador said there are ongoing efforts to further collaboration between Japan’s Foundation for Desert Culture and prominent foundations in the Kingdom to build upon the cultural ties between the two countries.


Diriyah exhibition focuses on Saudi countryside

Diriyah exhibition focuses on Saudi countryside
Updated 15 September 2024
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Diriyah exhibition focuses on Saudi countryside

Diriyah exhibition focuses on Saudi countryside

RIYADH: The Diriyah governorate, under the patronage of Environment Minister Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli, is to host the Reef Valley Exhibition at the Diriyah Biennale on Sept. 25-26 to highlight the economic, cultural, and tourism significance of Saudi Arabia’s countryside.

Organized by the Sustainable Agricultural Rural Development Program, the exhibition aims to challenge stereotypes about rural life and showcase experiences that  demonstrate a deep passion for agriculture.

It also underscores the vital role of Saudi farmers in achieving Vision 2030’s objectives, while highlighting the program’s pivotal role in the development and improvement of the countryside.

Pavilions representing the sectors and supported by the program will display aromatic plants, rainfed crops, coffee, fruit, and honey.

The exhibition targets entities involved in agriculture and rural development, including government agencies, specialists and decision-makers, as well as program beneficiaries and the general public.

The program seeks to improve the quality of life in Saudi Arabia’s countryside by developing various sectors; providing training for young people; supporting projects to improve income; assisting small farmers and producers; and empowering rural women.


Saudi-led project clears 460,951 mines, explosive devices in Yemen

Saudi-led project clears 460,951 mines, explosive devices in Yemen
Updated 15 September 2024
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Saudi-led project clears 460,951 mines, explosive devices in Yemen

Saudi-led project clears 460,951 mines, explosive devices in Yemen
  • The explosives, which were planted indiscriminately by the Houthis across Yemen, posed a threat to civilians

RIYADH: A Saudi-led humanitarian initiative in Yemen has seen a milestone 460,951 land mines and unexploded ordnance cleared since the start of the project in 2018, according to a recent report.

These include 301,068 items of unexploded ordnance, 145,139 anti-tank mines, 8,148 improvised explosive devices and 6,596 anti-personnel mines, according to Ousama Al-Gosaibi, the project’s managing director.

Overseen by the Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief, Project Masam continues to remove deadly devices laid in the war-torn country by the Houthis.

Last week, the project’s special teams destroyed 2,439 items of unexploded ordnance, 28 anti-tank mines, six anti-personnel mines and one improvised explosive device.

The explosives, which were planted indiscriminately by the Houthis across Yemen, posed a threat to civilians, including children, women and the elderly.

Project Masam is one of several initiatives undertaken by Saudi Arabia on the orders of King Salman to help the Yemeni people, clearing routes for humanitarian aid to reach the country’s citizens.

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.

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.

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