JEDDAH: The Saudi Red Crescent Authority’s Makkah branch has increased its readiness in response to warnings of heavy rain issued by the National Center for Meteorology.
On Monday, several regions of the Kingdom, including Makkah and Madinah, experienced heavy rain and thunderstorms, with the Civil Defense expecting the weather to continue until Wednesday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The authority stated that its command-and-control room, ambulance stations, rapid response teams, and volunteer ambulance units in Makkah are fully operational.
The Makkah region has on standby teams of doctors, specialists, and emergency medical technicians, the authority said.
A total of 1,420 staff members are ready to respond, supported by 149 vehicles. This includes advanced ambulances, disaster response vehicles, and an air ambulance for critical situations, the SPA added.
The authority urged citizens and residents to follow official instructions, exercise caution, and prioritize road safety during heavy rainfall.
The public was also asked to cooperate with ambulance teams by clearing the way for them on the roads, the SPA reported.
The authority operates 24/7, and individuals can request ambulance services by calling 997 or through the Asefne app in emergencies.
KSrelief offers vital medical support to children affected by hearing loss in Kenya
Aid agency launches Sama’a Volunteer Program supporting children with hearing loss in the African country
Updated 18 April 2025
Rashid Hassan
Riyadh: Saudi aid agency KSrelief has launched the Sama’a Volunteer Program, a Saudi-led program for cochlear implants and auditory rehabilitation in Kenya, offering vital medical support to children affected by hearing loss.
The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center’s media department told Arab News on Friday that the program will provide 25 cochlear implant surgeries at Avenue Hospital in Nairobi and support 50 families with post-operative training in speech therapy and auditory rehabilitation.
“A team of 19 specialized medical volunteers will carry out the procedures and training over the coming days,” said KSrelief.
The launch event was attended by Saudi Ambassador to Kenya Khalid bin Abdullah Al-Salman; Mutahi Kagwe, Kenya’s minister of health; and Jibril Ibrahim Abdullahi, ambassador of Somalia to Kenya.
Children from Somalia are also among the expected beneficiaries, highlighting the program’s regional scope.
Commenting on the program, Dr. Aqeel Al-Ghamdi, assistant supervisor-general for planning and development at KSrelief, said: “Hearing loss affects each child differently. Some are born with it, others lose it later, but what they share is the potential to connect, learn and thrive when given the right care. That is what this program is here to support.”
The Sama’a Saudi Program is part of KSrelief’s broader efforts to expand access to specialized healthcare for vulnerable communities across Africa and beyond.
The Kenyan Ministry of Health posted on X: “Cabinet Secretary of Health Aden Duale launched the Volunteer Medical Porgram for Cochlear Implantation and Audio Rehabilitation for Children at a Nairobi hotel, in partnership with KSrelief. The initiative brings together advanced technology and skills transfer to support children with hearing loss.
“Aligned with Kenya’s National Ear and Hearing Care Strategic Plan (2023–2028) and UHC goals, the program is part of efforts to reverse the causes of childhood hearing loss through a comprehensive, person-centered approach.”
Duale highlighted the inclusion of hearing devices in the Kenya Essential Medical Supplies List (2023) and partial coverage for cochlear implants under the SHA benefits package.
The donation targeting 1,000 children across Africa has so far seen the implantation of the top-of-the-range hearing aids to 30 children aged between 3-5 years in Kenya (15) and Somalia (15). The implants correct severe to profound deafness.
Duale highlighted the importance of partnerships in strengthening ear and hearing care, and building a strong, inclusive health system.
He described the collaboration as a symbol of unity in restoring dignity, opportunity, and hope for children and families who need it most.
Saudi Gen Z antique collectors value stories over price tags
Focus on pop culture, nature, childhood joys, they tell Arab News
Old cassette tapes, coins, watches and K-pop photos are collected
Updated 18 April 2025
Waad Hussain
RIYADH: From cassette tapes and coins to K-pop photocards and fallen flowers, Generation Z collectors in Saudi Arabia spoke to Arab News about how they value sentiment and storytelling over price tags and prestige.
Unlike traditional antique collecting, which often centers on ornate heirlooms and museum-worthy artifacts, this younger generation is finding nostalgia and meaning in items that speak to their own lives: pop culture, nature, and childhood joys.
Many of these collections begin as simple interests and evolve into deeply personal archives of memory and identity.
For Hawazen Mohammed, collecting starts with focusing on items that others might overlook.
“I collect things from nature because I see them as treasures — I can’t imagine walking past them and leaving them behind,” she said.
Alongside pressed leaves, rose petals, and interesting twigs, Mohammed’s love of small details also finds expression in sticker collecting — something she has done since childhood.
Nature’s treasures, as Hawazen Mohammed calls them – collected during walks as part of her growing assortment of leaves, flowers, and found objects. (Supplied/Hawazen Mohammed)
“As for the stickers, I’ve loved collecting them since I was a kid. I grew up and became an otaku fan,” she said, referencing her passion for Japanese anime and its visual culture.
This desire to preserve moments is not limited to organic materials. Others, like Htoon Saeed, turn to objects rich in historical context.
“My hobby of collecting coins came from my interest in history and vintage things,” she explained. “I noticed that coins are the ideal way to commemorate a particular era in history.”
Her collection includes both paper money and coins from countries around the world, laid out and organized with care. Each piece, regardless of value, holds significance as a snapshot of its time and place.
Abdulaziz Al-Yamani found his archive not in a museum or market — but in a cassette box filled with the voice of Talal Maddah.
The singer “shaped the sound of Saudi music and the soundtrack of my childhood and hometown,” said Al-Yamani.
“These tapes may be rare now, but to me, they’re pieces of history — and keeping them safe feels like a way to honor that legacy.”
Abdulaziz Al-Yamani’s cassette box is more than nostalgia — it’s a tribute to Talal Maddah, “the soundtrack of my childhood and hometown,” he says. For him, preserving these tapes is preserving a piece of Saudi musical history. (Supplied/Abdulaziz Al-Yamani)
K-pop collector Jana Al-Harbi started her journey with a single card.
“What started as a simple joy in buying a rare photocard of an idol I love quickly grew into a three-year journey of collecting, connecting, and sharing moments with people who understand the same excitement,” she said.
“It’s slightly more than just a hobby — it’s something I truly loved, no matter the effort or cost. It brought me closer to a community and a passion that meant so much to me. And introduced me to a caring and loving side of myself I had never noticed before.”
In a world where digital interactions often feel fleeting, the tangible joy of collecting serves as a grounding ritual. Al-Harbi’s collection eventually led to an extraordinary moment.
“Collecting photocards also gives fans a big opportunity: a chance to win a one-to-one video call with their favorite idol. And that’s what happened to me — it gave me a sense of fulfillment and brought a beautiful closure to the journey.”
Collector Naif Al-Zahrani looks to vintage watches to mark not just the passing of time, but the stories tied to it.
“I collect money and coins, old and new from different countries, but what I love to collect mostly is vintage watches,” he said.
“For me, I believe watches represent the time you spend, and the memories you make. Watches (are) something that I collect because I see (them) as an art piece that you can have for life.
A timeline in timepieces — from a 1945 Heloisa to a 1980s West End Watch, Naif Al-Zahrani’s collection captures the evolution of design and sentiment. “Each one tells a story,” he says. “They’re not just watches — they’re memories worn on the wrist.” (Supplied/Naif Al-Zahrani)
“It represents the personality of the wearer with the different designs, colors, and shape. As a person who is interested in history, everything collectible has its own story and value.”
His most cherished timepieces include a 1945 Heloisa with a black leather strap he describes as “the oldest watch that I adore.”
In addition, he has a 1970s Philippe Moraly with a mother-of-pearl dial which is his “favorite design,” and a 1980s West End Watch he calls “my everyday watch.”
While these collections vary in shape, theme and age, what unites them is the deep emotional and personal connection each collector has with their items.
Saudi Arabia, UK sign pact on marine biodiversity protection
Sea animals, mangroves to be studied, monitored regularly
Data generated will be used to determine vital interventions
Updated 18 April 2025
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s National Center for Wildlife has signed a pact with the UK’s National Oceanography Center to collaborate on marine biodiversity projects, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.
Signed in Riyadh, the collaboration between the NCW and NOC includes monitoring the health of sharks, whales, dolphins, turtles, dugongs, mangroves, seagrass, and other species.
Studies will be undertaken to determine the effects of human activities on marine ecosystems, and the use of advanced technologies to track these activities and mitigate their potential harm.
The NCW’s CEO Mohammed Qurban said the agreement would help protect wildlife, conserve ecosystems, and restore ecological balance.
The NOC’s Deputy Director Alex Rogers welcomed the partnership. “Global collaboration is essential to achieve NOC’s vision of gaining a deeper knowledge of the ocean to help every living thing on our planet flourish.”
“The seas around Saudi Arabia host a wealth of biodiversity, from rich tropical coral reefs and seagrass beds to deep-sea ecosystems that have barely been explored.
“The collaboration between NCW and NOC will generate critical data on the distribution of species and their ecosystem functioning,” Rogers told Oceanographic magazine.
Britain’s NOC is a research and technology institution specializing in marine science, with facilities in Southampton and Liverpool. It is the UK’s largest organization dedicated to sea-level science and the research and development of coastal and deep-sea technologies.
Saudi Arabia’s NCW, established in 2019 in place of the National Wildlife Authority, is tasked with “preserving wildlife and biodiversity and protecting ecosystems.”
The NWC also “prioritizes research and innovation in wildlife conservation, drawing on national and international expertise.”
Saudi students win 4 awards at European Girls' Mathematical Olympiad
Prizes include silver, bronze, 2 honorable mentions
217 female students from 56 countries participated
Updated 18 April 2025
Arab News
PRISTINA: Saudi Arabia’s math team won four awards in the recently concluded 2025 European Girls’ Mathematical Olympiad.
The EGMO competition in Pristina, Kosovo, from April 11 to 17, featured 217 female students from 56 countries.
All four Saudi contestants won awards, with Fatimah Buali capturing a silver medal and Sarah Aljughayman winning a bronze.
Retaj Alsaleh and Albatool Alaidarous both garnered an honorable mention, according to the EGMO site.
The Kingdom’s tally in the annual competition now stands at 36 awards, two gold medals, seven silver, 15 bronze, and 12 certificates of appreciation.
The Kingdom was represented by the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity, which prepares Saudi Arabia children for international scientific competitions and Olympiads.
Saudi Arabia is among the non-European countries that have regularly participated in the annual EGMO event, which started in 2012.
The other regular participants are Japan, China, Australia, Brazil and the US.
Saudi AI researcher designs system to help people understand sign language
‘Using my background in computer engineering and the power of AI, I realized we could create a smart system that recognizes sign language in real time and translates it,’ says Bader Alsharif
Though his initial version translates signs into English, he says it can be adapted to all languages and his next goal is to create a version for Saudi Sign Language
Updated 18 April 2025
RAY HANANIA
CHICAGO: Working as a teacher with members of the deaf and hard-of-hearing community helped a Saudi artificial intelligence scholar realize that technology held the potential to help improve the way they communicate with the world.
After working with people with hearing impairments for more than a decade-and-a-half, Bader Alsharif said he has come to understand that one of the greatest challenges they face is the public’s lack of understanding of sign language. He realized that if this barrier could be overcome, it would not only improve this community’s ability to communicate but also help the wider public better understand the lives of those who rely on signing.
“I decided to focus on sign language and AI because of my close work with students over the past 16 years,” the 39-year-old told Arab News. “I saw the challenges they face when it comes to communication, especially in situations where people around them don’t understand sign language.
“That really touched me and made me want to help. So, using my background in computer engineering and the power of artificial intelligence, I realized we could create a smart system that recognizes sign language in real time and translates it into words.
“This can help bridge the gap between the deaf and hearing community. In simple terms, a camera captures the person making a hand gesture and then AI models analyze those gestures using deep learning and hand tracking. Then the system matches the gesture to letters and words, and displays the meaning of the particular words.”
As Alsharif became more immersed in his academic research, he quickly identified the potential for AI to be a transformative tool in support of deaf students. He personally understands about 30 percent of sign language gestures but the AI-powered program he is developing is designed to interpret the full range of signs, which would help to bridge the communication gap.
The computer engineering scholar has spent several months working with a team to build a dataset that includes every aspect of each sign language gesture and its English translation. The dataset contains nearly 130,000 images of hand gestures, each of which is assigned 21 data points to help the system correctly identify and translate the sign.
Though the initial version is for English translation, Alsharif said datasets can be created for all languages, and his next goal is to create a version that interprets Saudi Sign Language.
“As soon as we have a good dataset, we can implement any sign language translation system into any language,” he added.
Right now, the system is one-way, translating sign language into English, with some limitations. The next challenge, he said, is to reverse the process and expand the system to translate speech, in any language, into sign language.
Originally from Makkah, Alsharif graduated with bachelor’s degree from the College of Technology in Riyadh in 2008 and began working for the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation in Riyadh. In 2017 he received a master’s degree in computer engineering from the Florida Institute of Technology.
His work aims to combine technological innovation with social impact, a goal that positions him as a forward-thinking leader in the use of computer engineering in healthcare.
Alsharif has been studying for a doctorate since 2021 at Florida Atlantic University, where his research focuses on various aspects of sign language-recognition systems, and the use of AI and the internet in the provision of medical services.
He also works as a teaching assistant, guiding and evaluating more than 30 students who are carrying out engineering-design projects. He also assists more than 200 students with advice about technical questions, design principles and project development.
“All these studies use artificial intelligence to help solve real-world problems and support people who have special needs,” Alsharif said.
Alsharif, who lives in Boca Raton, Florida, with his wife and four children, said he is grateful to the government of Saudi Arabia, which made all of his achievements possible. Other innovative projects he has led or been involved with include the opening of digital communications technology company CISCO’s first office in Saudi Arabia, and he has has managed the optimization of performance and security for more than 300 devices.
He has also published more than 10 peer-reviewed papers, with a focus on AI, cybersecurity and the Internet of Things, particularly as they relate to healthcare. He says he has a particular commitment to advancing technology and fostering inclusivity, particularly through his work with individuals with special needs.
