Saudi Arabia aims to foster entrepreneurial ecosystem

Saudi Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Mansour bin Hilal Al-Mushaiti. (SPA)
Saudi Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Mansour bin Hilal Al-Mushaiti. (SPA)
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Updated 11 July 2025
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Saudi Arabia aims to foster entrepreneurial ecosystem

Saudi Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Mansour bin Hilal Al-Mushaiti. (SPA)
  • The Sidra Accelerator is a 12-week intensive program targeting startup companies in the environmental technology field, the ministry said

RIYADH: Saudi Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Mansour bin Hilal Al-Mushaiti has launched the second phase of the Sidra Accelerator initiative in Riyadh, SPA reports.

The initiative is designed to foster an entrepreneurial ecosystem in Saudi Arabia’s environmental sector in line with the Saudi Vision 2030.

The Sidra Accelerator is the first initiative of its kind in the region in terms of its targeted sectors and the locations of its selected entrepreneurship systems in Riyadh and Boston, SPA reports. 

The accelerator focuses on promoting collaboration and strategic partnerships. It also supports startup companies in navigating complex regulatory frameworks.

The Sidra Accelerator is a 12-week intensive program targeting startup companies in the environmental technology field, the ministry said.

It supports their development and scaling by connecting them to a wide network of local and international experts, providing access to global systems and markets, and facilitating cooperation with leading venture capital firms. Ultimately, the program will help them expand globally, the ministry said.

 

 


Riyadh street to be renamed in honor of Saudi Arabia’s recently deceased grand mufti

Riyadh street to be renamed in honor of Saudi Arabia’s recently deceased grand mufti
Updated 35 min 50 sec ago
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Riyadh street to be renamed in honor of Saudi Arabia’s recently deceased grand mufti

Riyadh street to be renamed in honor of Saudi Arabia’s recently deceased grand mufti
  • Crown prince’s directive recognizes Sheikh Abdulaziz Al-Asheikh’s contributions to his country, Islam and the wider Muslim community
  • He served as highest-ranking religious scholar in the Kingdom for 26 years, interpreting Shariah and issuing fatwas on legal and societal matters

RIYADH: A main street in Riyadh is to be renamed in honor of Sheikh Abdulaziz Al-Asheikh, the former grand mufti of Saudi Arabia who died on Sept. 23.

The directive, issued on Tuesday by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is recognition of Sheikh Abdulaziz’s scholarly status, and the significant contributions he made to Saudi Arabia, Islam and the wider Muslim community, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

It honors a life dedicated to the study and teaching of Islamic jurisprudence, the guidance he provided to people in their understanding of Islam, and the significant contributions he made to Islamic studies and education, the agency added.

Al-Asheikh was appointed grand mufti, the highest-ranking religious scholar in the Kingdom, in June 1999. As part of his role he interpreted Shariah, or Islamic law, and issued fatwas on legal and societal matters.

His death was described as the end of an era for the religious establishment in Saudi Arabia, as under his leadership traditional Islamic scholarship was brought into alignment with modern state needs, and fatwas were shaped to address evolving legal and financial issues while adhering to established Shariah principles.

He also served as chair of the Council of Senior Scholars, president of the General Presidency of Scholarly Research and Ifta, and chair of the Muslim World League’s Supreme Council.


Canada’s Innovation Delegation sets sights on Saudi Arabia

Nick Frosst is a Co-Founder at Cohere (AN photo by Huda Bashattah)
Nick Frosst is a Co-Founder at Cohere (AN photo by Huda Bashattah)
Updated 30 September 2025
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Canada’s Innovation Delegation sets sights on Saudi Arabia

Nick Frosst is a Co-Founder at Cohere (AN photo by Huda Bashattah)
  • Visit brings together Canadian tech companies, venture capital firms, AI research institutions

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia welcomed the Canadian Innovation Delegation — an initiative organized by Inovia Capital in collaboration with the Embassy of Canada — from Sept. 28-30.

The visit brought together Canadian tech companies, venture capital firms, and artificial intelligence research institutions to engage with key Saudi stakeholders, including the Public Investment Fund, Neom, Humain, Sanabil, the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, and the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.

It marked a strategic effort to strengthen bilateral relations through partnerships in technology, investment, and research, while promoting global innovations and increasing collaboration between Saudi Arabia and Canada.

Nick Frosst, co-founder of Cohere and a guest of the visiting delegation, told Arab News: “We are quite excited about the region. (It) is a very dynamic and exciting time for the area. The investment and excitement … a vision of what AI can do for the country is very clear.

“As a leading company focused on secure enterprise AI, there’s a huge opportunity here (Saudi Arabia) to collaborate. We met with many prospective partners, both investors and customers.”

Frosst added: “There are many people within the startup ecosystem, like myself, who are leading Canadian startups, as well as other VC (venture capital) and investment organizations that are representing Canada.

“We make foundational language models and we make them available to our enterprise customers, focusing on secure deployment and customization, so we work with many large multinational companies, several in the region, including STC.”

The delegation also held networking sessions with the Kingdom’s venture capitalists and investment stakeholders, including representatives from the innovation hub, The Garage.

The diplomatic and economic relationship between Saudi Arabia and Canada has expanded well beyond the traditional trade in oil and its commodities, and now encompasses new ventures in innovation and technology.

 


KSA signs air transport agreements with 17 countries

KSA signs air transport agreements with 17 countries
Updated 30 September 2025
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KSA signs air transport agreements with 17 countries

KSA signs air transport agreements with 17 countries
  • The move underscores the Kingdom’s commitment to strengthening its global presence in aviation and air transport, establishing regulatory frameworks for air traffic, enhancing civil aviation safety and security standards

RIYADH: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia signed a series of bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding with 17 countries during the 42nd General Assembly of the UN International Civil Aviation Organization, the SPA reported on Tuesday. 

The event, which is being held in Montreal, Canada, began on Sept. 23 and will continue until Oct. 3.

The move underscores the Kingdom’s commitment to strengthening its global presence in aviation and air transport, establishing regulatory frameworks for air traffic, enhancing civil aviation safety and security standards, and expanding travel options for passengers.

The agreements aim to strengthen bilateral cooperation in air transport, develop regulatory and legislative frameworks for civil aviation, expand international air connectivity, and enhance aviation safety and security, in addition to supporting economic and tourism development.

The signing of such agreements contributes to achieving the objectives of the aviation program, expanding the operational network of national carriers, strengthening the Kingdom’s position as a global logistics hub, and increasing international air connectivity to 250 destinations.

It also aims to transport 330 million passengers annually by 2030, in line with the targets of Saudi Vision 2030.

 


Endangered vulture seen in AlUla skies

Endangered vulture seen in AlUla skies
Updated 10 sec ago
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Endangered vulture seen in AlUla skies

Endangered vulture seen in AlUla skies
  • AlUla is known for its diverse natural terrain — including mountains, valleys and oases — which supports a large variety of rare wildlife and birds

RIYADH: Sharaan Nature Reserve’s environmental monitoring team has recorded a rare sighting of the Ruppell’s vulture in the skies above AlUla.

This is only the second official sighting of the endangered bird in the governorate, highlighting the efforts of the Royal Commission for AlUla to protect biodiversity and conserve wildlife, in line with Saudi Vision 2030’s sustainability goals.

AlUla is known for its diverse natural terrain — including mountains, valleys and oases — which supports a large variety of rare wildlife and birds. Historical rock drawings further attest to the long-standing coexistence of humans and wildlife.

The Sharaan Nature Reserve, one of AlUla’s largest at over 1,500 sq. km, hosts a diverse range of species such as Arabian wolves, gazelles and eagles.

Designated a center for wildlife repopulation and a safe environment for rare species, the vulture sighting confirms AlUla’s importance as a leading center for environmental protection and wildlife conservation.

 


Focus on AI for safety at holy sites

Focus on AI for safety at holy sites
Updated 8 min 35 sec ago
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Focus on AI for safety at holy sites

Focus on AI for safety at holy sites
  • The system is managed through a centralized operations center equipped with an advanced user interface, enabling teams to oversee operations with high efficiency and make immediate, precise decisions

RIYADH: The General Directorate of Civil Defense showcased its smart monitoring platform for holy sites during Intersec Saudi Arabia 2025, held at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center.

The initiative marks a major step toward adopting the latest artificial intelligence technologies to enhance safety, strengthen security, and increase operational efficiency in emergencies.

The project features a wide network of smart cameras installed at strategic locations within the holy sites, capable of real-time monitoring and predictive analysis of potential incidents, including fires, smoke emissions, abnormal crowding, and medical emergencies.

The system is managed through a centralized operations center equipped with an advanced user interface, enabling teams to oversee operations with high efficiency and make immediate, precise decisions.

It also employs big data analytics to monitor and analyze information in real time, improving coordination between field units and operations rooms, while reducing response time.

The platform represents a qualitative leap in strengthening sector capabilities, particularly in analyzing trends and predicting potential risks.

It will enhance planning and field resource management and ensure the safety of pilgrims and Umrah performers during the Hajj and Umrah seasons.