Saudi sustainable fashion leaders honored at Riyadh awards ceremony

Special Saudi sustainable fashion leaders honored at Riyadh awards ceremony
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Burak Cakmak, Marie-Claire Daveu and Carolin Wais, Partner at Plug and Play, take part in a panel discussion on Sustainable Innovation in Fashion. (AN Photo/Loai Elkelawy)
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Updated 28 January 2025
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Saudi sustainable fashion leaders honored at Riyadh awards ceremony

Saudi sustainable fashion leaders honored at Riyadh awards ceremony
  • Local brands AMUSED, Darah, and Asteri recognized for their efforts in green fashion
  • Winners will attend a week-long mentoring program in Paris

RIYADH: Leaders in sustainable fashion in Saudi Arabia were honored at an awards ceremony in Riyadh on Monday.

Preowned luxury marketplace AMUSED, upcycling startup Darah, and sustainable makeup brand Asteri were the three winners of the inaugural Middle East Kering Generation Award.

The event was hosted by the French corporation that owns brands including Gucci and Balenciaga, in partnership with the Saudi Fashion Commission.

Rawan Alderaibi, CEO of Darah, spoke to Arab News about how she quit her corporate job to pursue her passion for fashion, before realizing that there was practically no secondhand market in Saudi Arabia.

“After exploring the idea further, I was led to an entrepreneurial incubator, developed the idea even further and came up with the idea of Darah — the circular model, where we start by reselling secondhand items … and upcycle some of the items into something more creative that makes people feel more unique and they only have one piece,” she said.

Darah buys clothing items by the kilogram: items in good conduction are sold as is, and the ones with some damage or issues are upcycled.

This idea has brought the startup some success and they now plan to expand into a recycling and local production factory.

AMUSED is a platform that connects buyers and sellers of previously owned, authenticated luxury items in Saudi Arabia. Mindful that fashion is the second-largest polluting industry in the world, AMUSED aims to create a more circular economy to break away from the make-use-dispose model that has dominated the fashion culture.

Sara Teymoor, co-founder of AMUSED, told Arab News: “It’s been five years of hard work creating this business and to receive the recognition for sustainability to us entrepreneurs is invaluable to our confidence and also to the connections, the mentorship and the opportunity that this award will bring us.

“We have a green field for fashion here in Saudi and we are now able to start with sustainability in mind. That is just priceless for our economy here in fashion and paving the way for our future generations.”

The third winner, Asteri, is one of the fastest growing makeup brands in the Middle East, designed specifically for the Arab woman. The company prides itself on its desert-proof, clean, and vegan products that also have sustainable and refillable packaging, certified by global nonprofit B Lab.

Burak Cakmak, the commission’s CEO, told Arab News: “I think for all of the winners, we’ve identified that there is a component of localized engagement, which is critical because we want to make sure that what is selected is going to succeed in the region.

“All of these three businesses were very much relevant to the Saudi context, and it was somewhat linked to Saudi lifestyle or culture or the environment, but also they were bringing something that doesn’t exist in the region, and different than what we are seeing necessarily in the rest of the world.”

The three winners will take a week-long trip to Paris, where they will have the opportunity to engage in exclusive mentoring sessions with Kering’s Sustainability teams.

Cakmak added: “I think Saudi has proven to the world that it’s the biggest growth opportunity as a market for many sectors when it comes to fashion and creativity.

“It’s also offering a lot of opportunities. We’ve seen in the past few years, as the Fashion Commission, the potential of the industry and the talent that exists, as well as a lot of the startups going into business in the country.

“We are very keen to engage the right partners who can help us in that journey and be able to bring the right perspective and the right support to a growing, prospering economy.”


Riyadh to host second Human Capability Initiative Conference in April

Riyadh to host second Human Capability Initiative Conference in April
Updated 19 sec ago
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Riyadh to host second Human Capability Initiative Conference in April

Riyadh to host second Human Capability Initiative Conference in April
  • Conference will bring together over 12,000 experts, officials, and decision-makers
  • Education Global Exhibition will showcase leading local and international universities and institutions

RIYADH: Under the patronage of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Riyadh will host the second Human Capability Initiative Conference on April 13–14 under the theme “Beyond Readiness.”

In collaboration with the conference, the Ministry of Education will hold the Education Global Exhibition from April 13–16.

The themes of the event focus on learning, belonging, and action, addressing the critical need to develop human potential in an era of unprecedented global change.

Minister of Education Yousef Al-Benyan said: “The convening of the second edition of Human Capability Initiative is an affirmation of the importance of harnessing efforts and enriching global dialogue in a way that contributes to the development of the future of human capabilities.”

Expanding on the Education Global Exhibition, Al-Benyan added: “The exhibition will provide opportunities for local and international universities and leading companies to explore cutting-edge technologies, practices, and innovative educational programs, including advancements in artificial intelligence, thereby creating new investment opportunities to achieve the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.”

The conference will bring together over 12,000 experts, officials, and decision-makers and feature more than 300 speakers from governmental, private, and nonprofit sectors, global think tanks, and international organizations. They will share insights, best practices, and inspiring success stories from around the world.

Meanwhile, the Education Global Exhibition will showcase leading local and international universities and institutions, highlighting the latest technological advances and innovative programs shaping national and global education systems.

It will also feature workshops aimed at fostering knowledge exchange, sharing success stories among participants, and facilitating the signing of strategic agreements with prominent global educational institutions.


Saudi crown prince receives Germany’s president in Riyadh

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman receives Germany’s President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at Al-Yamamah Palace Monday
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman receives Germany’s President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at Al-Yamamah Palace Monday
Updated 50 min 10 sec ago
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Saudi crown prince receives Germany’s president in Riyadh

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman receives Germany’s President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at Al-Yamamah Palace Monday
  • Steinmeier arrived in the Kingdom on Sunday evening

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received Germany’s President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh on Monday. 

The two leaders held an official session of talks after the crown prince held a reception ceremony in honor of the president. 

Steinmeier arrived in the Kingdom on Sunday evening. 


Makkah trials hydrogen-powered buses to promote clean energy, sustainability

Makkah trials hydrogen-powered buses to promote clean energy, sustainability
Updated 03 February 2025
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Makkah trials hydrogen-powered buses to promote clean energy, sustainability

Makkah trials hydrogen-powered buses to promote clean energy, sustainability
  • Scheme is part of a MoU between the Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites and the Ministry of Energy to implement a pilot project for hydrogen fuel cell buses on designated routes
  • Aims to explore hydrogen applications in transportation, gain commercial and technical expertise, and gather insights for potential future expansion

RIYADH: The second trial of a hydrogen fuel cell-powered bus has been launched in Makkah.

It is overseen by the Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites, in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy, the Transport General Authority, the General Directorate of Civil Defense and the General Department of Traffic.

The scheme is part of a memorandum of understanding between the commission and the ministry to implement a pilot project for hydrogen fuel cell buses on designated routes, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

It aims to explore hydrogen applications in transportation, gain commercial and technical expertise, and gather insights for potential future expansion. It also seeks to raise public awareness of hydrogen technology.

Through the initiative, the commission aims to introduce clean energy-based transportation solutions, enhancing quality of life in alignment with Vision 2030’s goals to reduce emissions and protect the environment.

The project also seeks to improve services for pilgrims and Umrah performers, enhancing their experience at the holy sites, the SPA reported.

The hydrogen bus trial is integrated into the Makkah Bus Project, with an operational plan ensuring security and safety. This includes running buses along the designated route and deploying a mobile hydrogen fueling station.

An evaluation of the trial will focus on efficiency, performance, operational sustainability, cost-effectiveness and passenger comfort, ensuring Makkah’s public transportation system evolves into a more sustainable service.


Interim president of Syrian Arab Republic visits SDAIA headquarters

Interim president of Syrian Arab Republic visits SDAIA headquarters
Updated 03 February 2025
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Interim president of Syrian Arab Republic visits SDAIA headquarters

Interim president of Syrian Arab Republic visits SDAIA headquarters
  • Syrian leader tours facilities in Riyadh

RIYADH: Ahmad Al-Sharaa, the interim president of the Syrian Arab Republic, has visited the headquarters of the Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence in Riyadh, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.

Al-Sharaa was received upon his arrival by the Minister of State Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban; the Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah Alswaha; Majed Al-Mazyed, the governor of the National Cyber Security Authority; and Suhail Abanmi, the governor of the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority.

Al-Sharaa toured SDAIA’s facilities, led by the President of the SDAIA Abdullah bin Sharaf Alghamdi.

Alghamdi highlighted the technological advancements and efforts made by Saudi Arabia, in accordance with Vision 2030, to make the Kingdom a global center for artificial intelligence technologies.

He also spoke about the Kingdom’s efforts to optimize data usage, including the Tawakkalna application that provides a unified platform for government services.

The National Cybersecurity Authority and the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority also delivered presentations.

Established in 2019 by royal decree, the SDAIA is an independent government agency that focuses on AI and big data.

On his first visit to the Kingdom since taking office, Al-Sharaa met Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Sunday and the parties discussed ways to support the security and stability of the Syrian Arab Republic.

They also discussed ways to improve diplomatic relations between the two countries, and reviewed developments in the region more broadly.

The leader of the Syrian Arab Republic then traveled to Jeddah on Monday before heading to Makkah to perform Umrah.

The Saudi Press Agency shared photographs of Al-Sharaa wearing Ihram clothing, garments worn by Muslims during pilgrimage.


Japan, Saudi Arabia FMs hold second strategic meeting in Tokyo

Japan, Saudi Arabia FMs hold second strategic meeting in Tokyo
Updated 03 February 2025
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Japan, Saudi Arabia FMs hold second strategic meeting in Tokyo

Japan, Saudi Arabia FMs hold second strategic meeting in Tokyo
  • Ministers sign pacts on strategic partnership, visa waivers for the two countries’ diplomats and officials
  • Iwaya said he was looking forward to further collaboration between the two nations’ private and public sectors

TOKYO: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on Monday said Osaka Expo 2025 was an “important opportunity” to strengthen collaboration between Japan and the Kingdom. 

At the second Japan-Saudi Arabia Foreign Ministerial Level Strategic Dialogue meeting in Tokyo, Prince Faisal met with his Japanese counterpart Takeshi Iwaya. 

The two officials discussed collaboration and “working together for a better future.” 

Prince Faisal also emphasized that this year marks the 70th anniversary of the two nations’ diplomatic relations.

The two officials signed a memorandum of understanding on the strategic partnership, and visa waivers for the two countries’ diplomats and officials. 

Iwaya said he was looking forward to further collaboration between the two nations’ private and public sectors. 

Japan wants to work with Saudi Arabia to help achieve peace and stability in the Middle East, added Iwaya.