National heritage will be ‘biggest driver’ of Saudi economy

Prince Sultan bin Salman, middle, with Prince Turki Al-Faisal and Jerry Inzerillo at the meeting. (X: @ATURATH)
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Prince Sultan bin Salman, middle, with Prince Turki Al-Faisal and Jerry Inzerillo at the meeting. (X: @ATURATH)
National heritage will be ‘biggest driver’ of Saudi economy
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Prince Sultan bin Salman, middle, with Prince Turki Al-Faisal and Jerry Inzerillo at the meeting. (X: @ATURATH)
National heritage will be ‘biggest driver’ of Saudi economy
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Prince Sultan bin Salman, middle, with Prince Turki Al-Faisal and Jerry Inzerillo at the meeting. (X: @ATURATH)
National heritage will be ‘biggest driver’ of Saudi economy
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Prince Sultan bin Salman, middle, with Prince Turki Al-Faisal and Jerry Inzerillo at the meeting. (X: @ATURATH)
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Updated 05 October 2024
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National heritage will be ‘biggest driver’ of Saudi economy

Prince Sultan bin Salman, middle, with Prince Turki Al-Faisal and Jerry Inzerillo at the meeting. (X: @ATURATH)
  • Riyadh book fair is a testament to Kingdom’s focus on culture and heritage, says Prince Sultan

RIYADH: National heritage will be the biggest driver of the economy under Saudi Vision 2030, said Prince Sultan bin Salman, special adviser to King Salman and founder and chairman of the nonprofit Al-Turath (Heritage) Foundation.

He was speaking at the foundation’s annual meeting held under the theme “Confident Steps Toward the Future” at the Riyadh International Book Fair, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

A documentary film about the foundation’s journey, highlighting its key initiatives and most important milestones, was screened.

HIGHLIGHT

Prince Sultan bin Salman also spoke about the Al- Turath Foundation-produced documentary film “Okath Al-Badr,” which covers stories from the life of Prince Badr bin Abdul Mohsen bin Abdulaziz.

Another film showed the launch, at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture in Dhahran, of the book “King Salman,” an Al-Turath Foundation initiative sponsored by Saudi Aramco to coincide with the 94th National Day.

Prince Sultan said that the book fair is a testament to the attention the Kingdom gives to culture and national heritage, which will become the biggest drivers of the economy.

The book, which Prince Sultan described as a gift to the nation, covers different stages in the life of King Salman alongside the Kingdom’s founder King Abdulaziz and other Saudi rulers.

Prince Sultan said that the Al-Turath Foundation has experienced continuous development since its establishment 28 years ago, printing books, conducting research, archiving historical photos, and documenting the nation’s history over the course of more than a quarter of a century.

Prince Sultan also spoke about the Al-Turath Foundation-produced documentary film “Okath Al-Badr,” which covers stories from the life of Prince Badr bin Abdul Mohsen bin Abdulaziz.

The meeting was attended by Prince Turki Al-Faisal, founder and trustee of the King Faisal Foundation and chairman of the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies; Prince Faisal bin Salman, special adviser to King Salman and chairman of the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives; Jerry Inzerillo, CEO of the Diriyah Gate Development Authority; and several princes, officials, and ambassadors to the Kingdom.

The Riyadh International Book Fair, themed “Riyadh Reads” and featuring over 800 pavilions, is organized yearly by the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission.

It began on Sept. 26 and runs until Oct. 5, with over 2,000 publishing houses from 30 countries participating. The schedule includes seminars, panel discussions, poetry recitals, stage performances, and workshops.

 


Saudi space agencies launch competition to develop innovative space-based solutions

Saudi space agencies launch competition to develop innovative space-based solutions
Updated 16 sec ago
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Saudi space agencies launch competition to develop innovative space-based solutions

Saudi space agencies launch competition to develop innovative space-based solutions

RIYADH: The Communications, Space and Technology Commission and the Saudi Space Agency, in partnership with Neo Space Group, have launched the global SpaceUp Competition to develop innovative space-based solutions.

The contest aims to promote space entrepreneurship, support local companies specializing in space-based solutions, attract global entrepreneurs, startups and small and medium-sized enterprises, and encourage the adoption of space-based solutions across various sectors.

SpaceUp offers six challenge tracks with contractual opportunities of around $28 million, in addition to providing direct access to end-users and localization.

The first track, “Monitoring Date Palms Pest and Disease,” sponsored by the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture and the Weqaa Center, focuses on space-based solutions to monitor palm farms and detect pests.

The second, “Improving City Livability by Monitoring Urban Heat Islands,” by the Quality of Life Program, aims to solve the problem of rising temperatures in crowded cities.

“Monitoring the Impact of Infrastructure Development,” by Riyadh Infrastructure Projects Center, promotes infrastructure projects and traffic management.

The fourth and fifth tracks, both sponsored by the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, are “Optimizing Urban Road Assets,” which aims to provide solutions to detect urban road damage and improve maintenance, and “Mapping of Urban Trees,” focused on monitoring and maintaining urban green spaces.

The final track, “Greening Saudi Arabia,” seeks to monitor tree growth and support sustainability efforts related to the Saudi Green Initiative.

“The SpaceUp Competition extends the efforts of CST and the SSA in enhancing investment opportunities in the Saudi space sector and stimulating research and innovation,” said a statement released by the CST on Monday.

Registration for the competition starts on Jan. 20 and will be open until April 12 via the competition webpage at https://new.cst.gov.sa/en/about/program-and-initiatives/spaceup-competition


Al-Kharj dates, coffee festival records $2.6m in sales

Al-Kharj dates, coffee festival records $2.6m in sales
Updated 34 min 12 sec ago
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Al-Kharj dates, coffee festival records $2.6m in sales

Al-Kharj dates, coffee festival records $2.6m in sales
  • 10-day festival featured 30 companies and shops offering over 26 varieties of dates and other products

RIYADH: Sales at the first Al-Kharj Festival of Saudi Dates and Coffee has exceeded SR10 million ($2.6 million), the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.

Visitors were drawn to Saudi Arabia coffee and dates due to special offers, the approaching holy month of Ramadan, and access to specialized markets with daily promotions.

The 10-day festival featured 30 companies and shops offering more than 26 varieties of dates and related products, according to the SPA.

Additionally, 20 coffee shops were selling 2 to 3 tonnes of the brew daily, with sales increasing to around 5 tonnes on weekends.

The festival, supported by various government departments and institutions within the governorate, underscored the importance of these two products in Saudi Arabia culture, the SPA added.

Dates represent the Kingdom’s agricultural heritage and its status as one of the world’s leading producers and exporters, while local coffee is a vital part of the national identity, symbolizing generosity and social authenticity.

Abdulaziz Al-Sharif, chairman of the festival’s organizing committee, said the event provided an opportunity for small- and medium-sized enterprises and specialized companies to connect with a wider audience and showcase their products.

The festival’s primary goal was to enhance Al-Kharj’s reputation as a vibrant tourist and heritage destination, while promoting local products on both national and international levels, the SPA reported.


Saudi project clears 732 Houthi mines in Yemen

Saudi project clears 732 Houthi mines in Yemen
Updated 20 January 2025
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Saudi project clears 732 Houthi mines in Yemen

Saudi project clears 732 Houthi mines in Yemen

RIYADH: Members of Saudi Arabia’s Project Masam removed 732 explosive devices from various regions of Yemen last week.

The total included eight anti-personnel mines, 51 anti-tank mines, 672 unexploded ordnances and one explosive device, according to a recent report.

Ousama Al-Gosaibi, the initiative’s managing director, said a total of 478,954 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.


Saudi leadership offers condolences after death of Sheikh Abdullah Rakan Naif Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah

Saudi leadership offers condolences after death of Sheikh Abdullah Rakan Naif Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah
Updated 19 January 2025
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Saudi leadership offers condolences after death of Sheikh Abdullah Rakan Naif Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah

Saudi leadership offers condolences after death of Sheikh Abdullah Rakan Naif Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah

RIYADH: King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman each sent a cable of condolences to the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, on the death of Sheikh Abdullah Rakan Naif Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.

The King and the crown prince expressed their deepest condolences and sincere sympathy to the Kuwaiti leadership and the family of the deceased.

The crown prince sent a cable of condolences to the Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah.

Sheikh Abdullah Rakan Naif Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah died at the age of 14 years old.


Saudi deputy minister receives ambassador of Djibouti

Saudi deputy minister receives ambassador of Djibouti
Updated 19 January 2025
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Saudi deputy minister receives ambassador of Djibouti

Saudi deputy minister receives ambassador of Djibouti
  • They discussed bilateral relations and various topics of common interest

RIYADH: Saudi Deputy Minister for International Multilateral Affairs Abdulrahman Al-Rassi received Dya-Eddine Said Bamakhrama, the dean of the diplomatic corps and ambassador of Djibouti to Saudi Arabia, at the ministry’s headquarters in Riyadh on Sunday.

During the meeting, they discussed bilateral relations and various topics of common interest, the Foreign Ministry wrote on X.

Meanwhile, Riyadh Gov. Prince Faisal bin Bandar received Oman’s Ambassador to the Kingdom Sayyid Faisal bin Turki Al-Said in Riyadh on Sunday.

The meeting was held to mark the conclusion of Al-Said’s tenure as ambassador to Saudi Arabia.