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AL-AHSA: A workshop on the Saudi winter tourism program took place on Wednesday with the participation of the governor of Al-Ahsa, Prince Saud bin Talal bin Badr.
The event, also attended by Tourism Minister Ahmed bin Aqeel Al-Khateeb, focused on enhancing collaboration between the tourism sector and private and government entities.
Prince Saud emphasized the leadership’s support for tourism development in alignment with Vision 2030 goals.
BAKU: Saudi Arabia is pursuing new technologies to improve fuel efficiency and decarbonize the aviation sector, an oil sustainability program spokesperson told Arab News.
Mohammad Altayyar, program director of the Saudi Ministry of Energy’s oil sustainability program, spoke to Arab News during the COP29 UN climate conference about the Kingdom’s efforts to improve sustainability in aviation.
He said: “Today we stand with an opportunity, an opportunity to contribute to the global efforts in addressing climate change.
“With the aviation sector contributing to 2 percent of global emissions, and with countries pursuing sustainable development, their travel demand continues to grow, and nations continue to work on meeting the climate challenge.”
Altayyar highlighted that discussions at COP29 exemplified the ministry’s collective commitment to tackling pressing issues through dialogue on advances in aviation fuels.
He further emphasized Saudi Arabia’s progress in the aviation sector, aligning with the goals of Vision 2030.
“Saudi Arabia as a global key player in the global energy landscape making significant strides and pioneering the promotion of sustainable practices within the aviation sector, upholds the commitments of Vision 2030, which clearly outline an ambitious framework for its economic diversification and environmental stewardship.
“The Kingdom is actively pursuing innovative technologies that will enhance fuel efficiency and reduce emissions, working toward long-term global objectives.
“These initiatives not only support global climate goals but also establish the Kingdom as a leader in developing balanced, cleaner energy solutions,” Altayyar said.
In other developments at COP29, the Saudi Ministry of Energy signed an executive program for cooperation in renewable energy with counterparts from three Asian nations: Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
The program emphasizes the formation of strategic partnerships to explore regional power grid interconnections powered by renewable energy. It also aims to boost the efficiency of energy infrastructure and integrate renewable projects into the national grids of the participating countries.
Additionally, the Ministry of Energy observed the signing of two strategic agreements between Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power and various entities to advance renewable energy initiatives in Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan.
The first agreement focused on collaboration with the Uzbek Ministry of Energy to develop battery energy storage systems with a capacity of up to 2 GWh, aimed at improving grid stability.
The second agreement was a memorandum of understanding with Azerbaijan’s oil company SOCAR and the UAE’s Masdar to develop offshore wind power projects in the Caspian Sea with a capacity of up to 3.5 GW.
In conjunction with the executive program, ACWA Power’s Khyzi Absheron wind power project in Azerbaijan, slated for a capacity of 240 MW, is expected to be operational by the first quarter of 2026.
RIYADH: The International Maritime Organization accepted on Wednesday the credentials of Saudi Arabia’s first permanent representative, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez welcomed Kamal bin Mohammed Al-Junaidi to the organization during a meeting in London. The event was attended by the Saudi deputy transport minister, Rumaih bin Mohammed Al-Rumaih.
The UK-based UN agency is the global maritime authority that sets international standards designed to ensure the safety and security of maritime transport.
It also aims to reduce pollution from ships and implement initiatives that help preserve the marine environment and protect nature.
Saudi Arabia won a majority vote in December to become a member of the IMO’s 40-member council for 2024 and 2025.
Al-Junaidi will represent Saudi Arabia during IMO events, including the signing of maritime agreements, treaties, and codes.
He will highlight Riyadh’s efforts and plans to develop its maritime transport industry and international trade.
By 2030, Saudi Arabia aims to handle 40 million containers a year, facilitate cargo-handling procedures and develop marine tourism through cruise ships and coastal transportation.
The representation at the IMO highlights the Kingdom’s strategic maritime location, including its coastline along the Red Sea through which 13 percent of global trade passes.
RIYADH: Buraidah Oasis has received international accreditation for its water and carbon sustainability, reported Saudi Press Agency.
The site’s carbon footprint report, certified by a German government board, revealed it has zero emissions and serves as a giant reservoir that absorbs carbon from the atmosphere at a rate of 0.12 percent per year.
The certificate of accreditation was presented to National Water Company CEO Fuad Al-Sheikh Mubarak.
As the first anniversary since its launch approaches, a spokesperson for the National Water Company-sponsored project described the oasis as one of the Kingdom’s “most important projects related to environmental sustainability efforts.”
The Buraidah Oasis is home to a million trees, surrounding a lake holding 86,000 cubic meters of treated water produced from the National Water Company’s plant — part of its vision for sustainability and environmental regeneration.
Irrigated with recycled water from the treatment plant, the project forms part of the company’s contribution to the Saudi Green Initiative.
A reem antelope sanctuary was recently opened in the oasis, with 15 antelopes recently released into the sanctuary which occupies an area of 50,000 square meters.
Earlier in October, Mohammed Qurban, CEO of the National Center for Wildlife, said that the biodiversity of the oasis was assessed regularly to determine the importance of releasing endangered species, including both resident and migratory animals.
RIYADH: The leading Saudi programming trainer Tuwaiq Academy has been selected as a Google Cloud Authorized Training Partner to introduce boot camps and programs featuring professional certifications.
A number of the academy’s staff members have received certification in instructing Google Cloud’s cloud computing technologies and services.
Google Cloud’s endorsement of Tuwaiq Academy highlights the institution’s adherence to worldwide standards in fostering expertise in cloud infrastructure, data science, machine learning and application development while providing professional certifications, said CEO of Tuwaiq Academy Abdulaziz Alhammadi.
These certifications include certified professional cloud architect, certified professional data engineer, certified professional cloud developer, certified professional cloud security engineer and certified professional machine learning engineer.
This milestone follows the staff’s acquisition of various professional certifications in teaching cutting-edge technologies across multiple cloud computing disciplines.
Alhammadi highlighted the academy’s dedication to forging partnerships with prominent global organizations to offer professional boot camps and programs within an environment equipped with the latest technologies.
The objective is to cultivate outstanding national talents capable of developing innovative solutions across diverse sectors.
Tuwaiq Academy stands out as the first of its kind to offer a multitude of boot camps and programs in partnership with leading global entities, benefiting more than 1,000 trainees daily, Alhammadi said.
Founded in 2019, it provides a range of training and educational courses in cybersecurity, programming and software development in a bid to position Saudi Arabia among the ranks of technologically advanced countries.
The academy employs a practical application-based learning methodology to remain current with modern technological advancements and align with job market demands.
RIYADH: A volunteer medical project for open-heart surgery and catheterization by Saudi aid agency KSrelief in Kyrgyzstan has ended.
The campaign in Bishkek, the Kyrgyz capital, ran from Nov. 9-16 and involved 26 volunteers from various medical specialties.
The team examined 100 patients, conducted 15 open-heart operations and performed 75 therapeutic and diagnostic catheterizations, all of which were successful.
The project was part of several volunteer medical initiatives focusing on heart surgeries.
