JEDDAH: Authorities in Jeddah have shut down 77 commercial outlets for breaching coronavirus disease (COVID-19) protocols.
Municipalities have stepped up their efforts to ensure compliance with COVID-19 safety measures designed to protect public health.
The municipality of Jeddah governorate carried out 4,347 inspection tours of commercial centers and facilities and identified 150 violations for issues related to overcrowding and the failure to effectively use the Tawakkalna app.
Authority urged people to report any suspected breaches of COVID-19 regulations to the 940 call-center number.
JEDDAH: Authorities in Jeddah have shut down 77 commercial outlets for breaching coronavirus disease (COVID-19) protocols.
Municipalities have stepped up their efforts to ensure compliance with COVID-19 safety measures designed to protect public health.
The municipality of Jeddah governorate carried out 4,347 inspection tours of commercial centers and facilities and identified 150 violations for issues related to overcrowding and the failure to effectively use the Tawakkalna app.
Authority urged people to report any suspected breaches of COVID-19 regulations to the 940 call-center number.
MAKKAH: The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance’s Makkah branch has so far distributed 11,520 umbrellas at its Kudai, Jamarat and Prince MutaIb Road centers, as part of its Ramadan-long “Shade and Protection” initiative.
As temperatures rise throughout the holy month, the umbrellas will help to protect visitors and pilgrims from the sun during Tawaf. The ministry expects to distribute a quarter of a million umbrellas throughout Ramadan. A number of pilgrims commended the initiative and thanked Saudi Arabia’s leaders for their concern for the comfort and safety of pilgrims performing Umrah.
The historic village of Al-Qassar is one of the most important and earliest inhabited settlements on the Red Sea’s Farasan Island. Located only 5 kilometers from Farasan governorate, the centuries-old sandstone village is known for its all-year-round mild climate, abundance of palm and perennial trees, and freshwater wells.
The prominent Abida well is located at the northern entrance to the village, close to a cluster of small food shops and a local fresh fish market. Al-Qassar was originally established as a summer resort, and its residents built their homes in an orderly manner, with 400 houses distributed over five lanes and separated by paths no more than 3 meters wide.
The urban design of the village was a key consideration during renovation works that have turned it into a cultural landmark that retraces the history of the site and its inhabitants.
JEDDAH: The Saudi Ministry of Health (MoH) spokesman, Dr. Mohammed Al-Abd Al-Aly, has denied that authorities will request curfews during Ramadan or Eid.
“Rumors spread from time to time, and this is one of the circulating things nowadays, and they are not true,” he said. “The concerned and specialized committees are continuing to follow the situation closely, but no request has been sent to enforce curfews neither in Ramadan nor Eid,” he added.
Al-Aly stressed the importance of adhering to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) precautionary measures, saying “if society abides by these measures — wearing masks and keeping a safe distance, avoiding large gatherings and adhering to the numbers allowed, especially during Eid — we won’t need further restrictions or curfews.” He added that more than half of the critical COVID-19 cases in the Kingdom were people over the age of 60, and urged the public to receive their vaccines.
So far, 9,123,778 people have been inoculated in the Kingdom.
417,363 Total cases
400,580 Recoveries
6,957 Deaths
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia reported 11 more COVID-19-related deaths on Friday. The death toll now stands at 6,957.
The MoH reported 1,056 new cases, meaning that 417,363 people have now contracted the disease. There are 9,826 active cases, with 1,335 of them in critical condition.
According to the MoH, 446 of the new cases were in Riyadh, with 253 in Makkah, 136 in the Eastern Province and 33 in Madinah.
In addition, a further 1,071 patients have recovered from the disease, bringing the total to 400,580 recoveries.
Saudi Arabia has so far conducted 16,903,813 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, with 65,194 carried out in the past 24 hours.
JEDDAH: More than SR500 million ($133 million) has been donated to the National Campaign for Charitable Work through the Ehsan platform, the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) announced.
“The support of the leadership, represented by King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and their keenness to be the initiators of donating through the platform, has set an example for the Saudi people, individuals and institutions, and the result was that today, the amount of donations through the Ehsan platform has exceeded SR500 million,” said SDAIA chief Abdullah bin Sharaf Al-Ghamdi.
He hailed the “unlimited support” that the Ehsan platform has received from the Saudi leadership, adding that the authority is keen to develop the nonprofit sector and expand its impact using technologies to make charity easier across the Kingdom.
Abdul Aziz Al-Hammadi, CEO of the Ehsan platform, said that the campaign has led to more than 500 opportunities so far, helping 1 million people in need.
Following the generous contributions made by the Saudi leadership, Al-Hammadi added that a number of merchants, major companies and elite Saudi figures continued to contribute to the campaign “until this large number was reached.”
He said that 99 percent of the donations are spent inside the Kingdom on charitable development projects that have a significant and sustainable impact in all of Saudi Arabia’s regions.
Al-Hammadi added that a maximum of 1 percent of the donations are sent abroad in partnership with the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center. The Ehsan platform supports all electronic payment methods, and donors can view important financial details.
Abdul Aziz Al-Hammadi, CEO of the Ehsan platform, said that 99 percent of the donations are spent inside the Kingdom on charitable development projects that have a significant and sustainable impact in all of Saudi Arabia’s regions.
Al-Hammadi said that all services and transactions on the platform are carried out according to high-level governance practices.
He added that activities are directly monitored by the Shariah Supervisory Board headed by Sheikh Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Mutlaq, a member of the Council of Senior Scholars and member of the Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta.
The Ehsan platform was established by a royal decree to undertake the investment of data and artificial intelligence in cooperation with a supervisory committee that includes many Saudi ministries and the SDAIA, the Presidency of State Security, the Saudi Central Bank and the Digital Government Authority.
The SDAIA develops the platform using advanced technology and partnerships with government, private, and nonprofit sectors. The authority aims to strengthen the Kingdom’s leadership role in the sector and raise its contribution to Saudi gross domestic product.
Rami Khalid Al-Turki is the president and CEO of Khalid Ali Al-Turki & Sons Holding Co. (Al-Turki Holding) in Alkhobar, Saudi Arabia.
Al-Turki holds chairmanship and directorship positions in various companies under Al-Turki Holding. For instance, he is the chairman of Applus Velosi Saudi Arabia, Element Saudi Arabia, Saudi Readymix, the largest supplier of concrete products in the Kingdom, and the cement and cementitious materials trading company Masheed.
He is also the executive vice chairman of Nesma & Partners Contracting Co. and chairs Al-Turki’s distribution and retail subsidiaries in Egypt, i2 and URC.
Al-Turki was recently appointed a board member at King Fahd Causeway Authority. The authority is responsible for the management of King Fahd Causeway linking Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, offering a full spectrum of services, including operations, maintenance and inspection services.
Al-Turki is the co-founder and chairman of the National Committee for Ready-mixed Concrete at the Council of Saudi Chambers and a member of the US-Saudi Business Council.
He was also an active member on different committees within Saudi Arabia’s Chambers of Commerce and is a former board member of the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization. He is also a founding member of the board of trustees of Mentor Arabia, which promotes awareness and prevention of drug abuse among youth in the Middle East, as well as the Arab Forum for Environment and Development.
Al-Turki holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Williams College, Williamstown, MA, in the US.
MAKKAH: The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah stressed that it has all the technical capabilities necessary to achieve a safe Umrah season.
“The ministry is applying a strategy based on technology. It has provided several easier and more flexible technical applications to be used by pilgrims during the Hajj and Umrah journeys, with the purpose of developing, optimizing and enriching pilgrims’ experience,” Dr. Amr Al-Maddah, deputy minister for Hajj and Umrah services, told Arab News.
He pointed out that the smart applications launched by the ministry contributed directly to the success of the exceptional Hajj seasons of 2020 and 2021, where one of the most important pillars of a secure pilgrimage was the use of modern technologies.
According to the minister, the use of technology in operating models provides the necessary flexibility to making changes in business models and taking corrective actions in a timely and easy manner.
“The Saudi leadership offers pilgrims, worshippers and visitors of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque the highest level of care and attention,” noted Al-Maddah, adding that the ministry is continuously seeking to improve the experience for pilgrims through the use of technology.
The Kingdom is a leading model in crowd management, and the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has gained experience over the past years, both in the field and through smart applications such as the Eatmarna app, which enabled the ministry to develop and review current and future plans.
“The goal of the secure Umrah model is to maintain the safety of the pilgrims and abide by health protocols and precautionary requirements, as well as ensure the health status of Umrah applicants — whether they have received two doses of the vaccine, whether 14 days have passed since their first dose, or whether they have fully recovered,” Al-Maddah said.
He concluded by emphasizing that Saudi Arabia is implementing the highest precautionary measures during the pilgrimage seasons and is keen on ensuring that visitors are able to perform their rituals comfortably and in accordance with the health procedures in place.
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine rollout has inoculated more than 25 percent of the population.
Over the past year, the Kingdom has promoted strict protocols to curb the virus until the national vaccine campaign started. Every new vaccine administered is another step to normalcy. Saudi health experts have said that in a bid to return to normal life in the fight against COVID-19, vaccines are a necessity, not a luxury.
“The government placed the safety of their people first and the nation lived through an unsettling new normal. Many have come to realize that life is somewhat back to normal with prayers resumed at mosques and people returning to coffee shops. Many have felt the sense of urgency and rushed to take the vaccine. We can’t afford another hit,” infectious disease consultant Dr. Nezar Bahabri told Arab News.
He added: “The vaccines are the only way to return back to our normal lives. This is a humanitarian cause, for yourself, for the people and for the love of the country.”
After the World Health Organization declared a pandemic in March 2020, Saudi Arabia protected its health system and prevented the spread of the virus by imposing flight bans, lockdowns, curfews and making social distancing and the wearing of masks mandatory. The daily case count never made it past 5,000 cases per day, thanks to government efforts supported by the public’s adherence.
The numbers declined, restrictions were loosened and people began to get a grasp of their new reality, gradually and carefully.
But to return to the old normal, COVID-19 vaccines were critical.
By ramping up vaccinations, suffering communities could rebuild foundations for a prosperous and lasting recovery.
Saudi Arabia supported the global vaccine development and pledged $500 million on vaccine campaigns. The Kingdom gave $150 million to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations, $150 million to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness and Innovation and $200 million to regional and global programs.
Through careful planning and accurate timing, the first batch of Pfizer/BioNtech COVID-19 vaccines arrived in the Kingdom in early December, shortly followed by the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine. The national vaccine rollout was already in full swing after both vaccines were cleared for public use by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority, and news of two more jabs pending approval built on hope for a swift recovery.
According to the Saudi Health Council, 5,000 Saudi residents received their first doses on Dec. 18, 2020. By March 3, 1 million people had been inoculated.
But 1 million is not enough. Late last month, a series of recommendations were put into place by several ministries — notably the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development — making it mandatory for employees of certain sensitive sectors to be inoculated or provide weekly negative PCR test results at the expense of the employer.
By March 28, 4 million residents received at least one vaccine dose. The inoculation program picked up speed soon after. Vaccines were administered at a rate of 1 million doses every 5 to 7 days.
“The vaccine is the tool that will reopen doors again. Government sectors have made it mandatory to protect the people, the consequences for those refusing to take it will bear a heavy toll.”
Bahabri said that many people refusing to take the vaccine would start a series of unfortunate events that could lead to a possible collapse in the healthcare system, something that the Kingdom has successfully prevented since the start of the pandemic.
Vaccine hesitancy has been hardened by false claims spreading on social media. Efforts were made to prevent false rumors being shared, such as fines and imprisonment when a perpetrator was caught.
• After the World Health Organization declared a pandemic in March 2020, Saudi Arabia protected its health system and prevented the spread of the virus by imposing flight bans, lockdowns, curfews and making social distancing and the wearing of masks mandatory. The daily case count never made it past 5,000 cases per day, thanks to government efforts supported by the public’s adherence.
• Saudi Arabia supported the global vaccine development and pledged $500 million on vaccine campaigns. The Kingdom gave $150 million to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations, $150 million to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness and Innovation and $200 million to regional and global programs.
“It’s not so much hesitancy anymore, it’s negligence,” said Bahabri, adding: “It’s unfortunate to see this happening. It’s un-Islamic, but fortunately people are listening and heeding the call. It’s an important step, for the citizens and community alike.”
Abu-Talal A., a retired businessman in Jeddah, told Arab News that the past year was difficult with the absence of his children and grandchildren. Having lost his wife nearly five years ago, he blamed his fear of the vaccine on conspiracy theorists and anti-vaccine activists that flooded his social media feeds.
“I trust the experts, I trust the government but I do not know what to expect if I take it.”
He told Arab News that posts by skeptics claiming to have hard evidence that the pandemic is a hoax and that the inoculation would damage his genetics put him in a bubble he said was hard to get out of.
“It’s a scary time and though I resisted for long, my son eventually made the appointment for me and the decision was a fait accompli that rendered me speechless. My children are careful but they want me safe. The support, the internet and transparency in relaying information helps… This has gone long enough and we all need to live normally again,” he said.
RIYADH: The undersecretary for political affairs at Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mashari bin Ali bin Nahit, received on Thursday the new ambassador of Pakistan to the Kingdom, Bilal Akbar.
During the reception in Riyadh, the undersecretary received a copy of the ambassador’s credentials in preparation for presenting them to King Salman.
Nahit conveyed the wishes of Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan for success in consolidating and strengthening relations between the two countries.
Akbar replaced Raja Ali Ejaz, a career diplomat , who was Pakistan's ambassador to Riyadh since January 2019.
Abdulaziz Al-Harbi is the newly appointed acting chief executive officer of Saudi Arabian Mining Co. (Ma’aden).
Ma’aden is one of the fastest-growing mining companies in the world and the largest multi-commodity mining and metals company in the Middle East.
According to the company, Al-Harbi has more than 30 years’ experience in project management, planning and operations.
Prior to his appointment as acting CEO, Al-Harbi served as executive vice president for shared services & security.
Before that, he served as president for Ma’aden Bauxite and Aluminum Co. (MBAC) and the Ma’aden Aluminum Co.(MAC), US, which he led from project phase until they became operational.
Before that, Al-Harbi’s first role with Ma’aden was in 2007, when he served as president of the Ma’aden Phosphate Company.
Prior to joining Ma’aden, Al-Harbi worked at Saudi Arabian Fertilizer Co., an affiliate of Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC), as director general of operation, technical and expansion from 2002 to 2007.
From 1998-2002, he held the position of general manager of planning and operation at SABIC.
Al-Harbi is a member of the MBAC and MAC board of directors and its executive committee, and an alternate member of Ma’aden Rolling Co.’s board of directors.
He is the chairman of the ERADH board, a Saudi youth development and engagement program, and a member of Jubail City Council.
Al-Harbi holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from King Saud University, and a certificate in advanced management and leadership program from Oxford University.
DAMMAM: The King Abdul Aziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) is hosting a series of diverse events through the “Ithra for Arabic Poetry” program, which will continue until March 21, 2022.
The program aims to celebrate and support Arabic content, including contemporary poetry. The center hopes to revive the oral tradition of poetry nights, introduce the origins of Arabic poetry to children and strengthen the link between poetry and other art forms, such as theater and music. The program seeks to achieve a paradigm shift in cultural thinking, keeping pace with sustainable, creative developments based on human values.
RIYADH: The Saudi Human Resources Development Fund (Hadaf) has pumped SR181 million ($48 million) into businesses as part of an employment support program for the month of April.
Hadaf is aiming to support the employment of Saudis, increase their participation in the labor market, empower private sector establishments and ensure their stability and development.
The program supports all jobs and professions in the private sector, at a rate between 30 and 50 percent of an employee’s monthly salary, over the course of two years.
It covers employees whose salaries range between SR3,200 and SR15,000.
RIYADH: The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture has seized large quantities of local firewood and charcoal used for commercial activities in Riyadh.
The campaign targeted a number of shops, and reported 109 violations by shops using local firewood and charcoal, noting that the total quantity seized was estimated at about 112 cubic meters.
The ministry said that the campaign was part of its efforts to develop natural vegetation, fight desertification, revive biodiversity and rehabilitate degraded vegetation sites.
Violators will be penalized according to the executive regulations.
JEDDAH: Municipalities throughout the Kingdom have stepped up efforts to ensure compliance with anti-coronavirus health measures.
Eastern Province authorities carried out 1,619 inspection tours in a single day across malls, commercial centers and stores to monitor adherence to safety precautions. During the tours, 16 commercial facilities were closed, while 81 violators were issued penalties for ignoring health measures
Since the beginning of Ramadan, the municipality of Hail has carried out 20,000 inspection tours of premises, including markets and commercial centers.
DUBAI: To be located in AlUla amid the ruins of the ancient North Arabian Kingdom of Dadan and as if to bring back to life the dazzling past of this still enigmatic civilization, the recently announced Kingdom’s Institute, established under the auspices of the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), is marked to become AlUla’s global hub for archaeological and conservation research.
Its most prominent buildings are destined to be carved themselves into the mountains opposite the archaeological site of Dadan while the design of the remaining edifices will be inspired by the archaeological structures uncovered pertaining to the Dadan civilization.
“Inspired by the crown prince’s vision for AlUla to protect 200,000 years of history, AlUla’s cultural legacy continues with the Kingdoms Institute,” Prince Badr bin Abdullah, the Saudi minister of culture and RCU governor, told Arab News.
“It will be a global hub for knowledge, research and collaboration, exploring the frontiers of archaeology and unlocking new careers for our community. The Institute will be a place for discovery and celebration as we unfold Arabia’s contribution to humanity.”
Dadan, a civilization that dates back more than 2,700 years and pre-dates the Nabataean civilization as well as the Roman presence in the Arabian Peninsula, was once the capital for the Dadan and Lihyan Kingdoms and is considered to be one of the most developed 1st-millennium BCE cities of the Arabian Peninsula.
“The ‘era of the kingdoms’ — the time of the Dadan, Lihyan and Nabataean Kingdoms circa 1000 BCE to 106 CE — will be an area of special emphasis for the institute and indeed gives it its name,” said Munirah Almushawh, the archaeology survey lead of the Kingdom’s Institute.
Almushawh is also the first female archaeologist to co-direct an archaeological project in Saudi Arabia. She is working on the Khaybar Long-Duree Archaeological Project, a major archaeological project southwest of AlUla, which is being developed with the French National Centre for Scientific Research.
“In deference to the architectural style of the district, the institute’s permanent home will be a red sandstone structure echoing the monumental works of the Dadan civilization,” Almushawh said.
The institute, which is part of AlUla’s recently announced “The Journey Through Time: a masterplan for preserving and sustainably developing Saudi Arabia’s ancient AlUla,” is expected to complete its first phase of construction by 2023 and open to visitors by 2030, which is also the year of the Saudi Vision 2030. It forecasts a visitation of 838,000 people by 2035.
“In a spirit of co-construction and co-development of research with its partner French Agency for Alula Development (AFALULA), specialized and original research programs have been set up with the best experts in the region in order to write the history from the Neolithic to today of this unique heritage jewel in the world,” Ingrid Perisse, AFALULA’s head of archaeological and cultural heritage projects, told Arab News.
“The interdisciplinary research teams that take turns on the different sites have made AlUla the most important archaeological hub in the Arabian Peninsula.”
Perisse said the scientific community will come together for this project.
“Historians, geo-archaeologists, ceramologists, numismatists and other specialists of this scientific community bring their knowledge and know-how to participate in the training of the next generation of Saudi archaeologists,” she said.
History and heritage are at the heart of the Dadan district and its upcoming Kingdom’s Institute. With its enduring sense of mystery, perpetuated by its magnetic red rocks, the institute intends to pay homage to Saudi Arabia’s past as well as the role AlUla will play in the future of the Kingdom.
The Kingdom’s Institute will be built on a 28,857 square-meter site. Inside will be a multidisciplinary and innovative scientific center where visitors and residents can study from seven core archaeological programs, including rock art conservation and preservation, inscriptions and languages, prehistoric and historic agriculture and sustainability, connectivity and the archaeological record, in addition to seven major disciplines, from research to fieldwork, publishing and exhibition management.
The Institute will provide access to the study of 200,000 years of history and prehistory amid a survey of 22,675 square meters. Already, the Institute has begun preparing 15 research and conservation missions.
One example is the recent discovery of mustatils, fence-like structures built by people thousands of years ago in what is now Saudi Arabia by piling rocks to form low walls that were then formed in the shape of rectangles.
While the existence of the mustatils was previously known, the more than 1,000 mustatils that the RCU-commissioned team recently recorded, are approximately twice as many as were previously identified and constituted the largest study of mustatils to date.
“We have only begun to tell the hidden story of the ancient kingdoms of North Arabia,” RCU Archaeology, Heritage Research and Conservation Executive Director José Ignacio Gallego Revilla told Arab News.
“There is much more to come as we reveal the depth and breadth of the area’s archaeological heritage, which for decades has been underrepresented, but which will finally have the showcase it deserves in the Kingdom’s Institute.”
A special SR2 billion ($530 million) fund to help finance public and private sector involvement in Saudi tourism projects was launched in the Kingdom on Thursday.
The Saudi Tourism Development Fund, and Riyad Bank have linked up to establish the Tourism Partners program, the first initiative of its kind in the country allowing both sectors to participate according to specific performance indicators.
Aimed at developing quality tourism facilities and activities in the Kingdom, the program will have a financing value of up to SR2 billion to support the funding of tourism projects being implemented this year.
The new program is part of Saudi Arabia’s drive to strengthen partnerships between the government and private sectors through the Shareek initiative launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The scheme is designed to open the door to a wider base of small, medium, and large private enterprises and assist them in seizing opportunities in the Saudi tourism industry.
Under the Tourism Partners program three financing options will be available to private sector establishments, valued at between SR1 million and more than SR100 million. Funding will be offered via direct financing from the fund and joint financing with private banks, including Riyad Bank.
In addition, the program will provide guarantees on credit facilities by up to 90 percent in order to enhance investor appetite for tourism projects and reduce investment obstacles in the sector.
CEO of the Tourism Development Fund, Qusai AI-Fakhri, said the launch of the program coincided with the fifth anniversary of Vision 2030 and the crown prince’s announcement of the Shareek initiative which aimed to strengthen partnerships with the private sector by supporting local companies and helping them invest SR5 trillion by the end of 2030.
This would increase the private sector’s contribution to the country’s gross domestic product and create hundreds of thousands of new jobs, he added.
He pointed out that Tourism Partners was the first program in the sector for which specific performance indicators have been set for the fund and Riyad Bank.
Financing will be provided in the form of loans or guarantees to enable the development of projects in tourist destinations identified by the national tourism strategy, including Riyadh, Jouf, Hail, Dammam, Alkhobar, Al-Ahsa, Jeddah, Madinah, Taif, Al-Baha, Asir, and AlUla.
AI-Fakhri noted that the program aimed to finance 36 accommodation projects, including hotels, resorts, hotel apartments, and rural inns, 46 schemes to serve modern living, such as shopping centers, restaurants, cafes, entertainment and commercial complexes, and promotional events, and 31 tourist experience and adventure projects.
“The primary role of the fund as an investor partner in the tourism sector is to find financing solutions to overcome obstacles that may prevent investors from entering into rewarding tourism projects,” he said.
He added that the program would allow investors to finance assets, working capital, supply chains, salaries, and bills.
Tareq Al-Sadhan, CEO of Riyad Bank, said that the bank’s financial, human, and digital capabilities, as well as its technical and digital services infrastructure, were among the strongest and most advanced in the Kingdom.
He noted that the bank’s work with the Tourism Development Fund had been a strategic partnership which helped to enhance the Kingdom’s competitiveness as an easy place to do business and contributed to strengthening its position as a destination for investment and business.
The Tourism Development Fund seeks to be a global model for government initiatives for tourism development.
JEDDAH: A history of civilizations stretching back thousands of years, along with a distinctive landscape and terrain, have left the Tabuk region in Saudi Arabia’s northwest with a host of popular dishes that are central to its everyday culture.
But during the holy month many dishes take on a special significance as residents of Tabuk, its governorates and centers prepare the Ramadan table with iftar and suhoor meals, such as mjallah or khamiaa, a saj dough made from wheat.
The dough is cut once ready and has ghee or olive oil, milk and honey added.
Maqtouta is another dish also known as mouqalqal or hamis, while mansaf are dishes made of meat or chicken with rice and bread, and served for sahoor.
The Ramadan table in Tabuk also contains a grain soup. Wheat is soaked overnight, then water is added, along with meat and onions. Special spices or herbs, such is black pepper and Artemisia argentea, can be added, then water is gradually added while constantly stirring. When the grain is cooked, some families add milk to increase the soup’s nutritional value. The mix is then stirred and served.
Lentil soup, another favorite, is prepared by pouring water over the lentils with vegetables added to taste, until they are cooked. The ingredients are then mashed and served as soup.
Freekeh soup is also made with wheat. Green ears of wheat are picked around six weeks before harvest, then grilled to separate the grains from the peel. Afterward, the grains are ground with millstones and cooked with water along with meat, salt and black pepper.
Some cities on the region’s coasts are known for mutabbaq, a dough cut into rectangles and stuffed with chopped leek, eggs, tomatoes, black pepper and salt. The sides are then well-folded before they are cooked on saj (a convex metal griddle) and flipped until golden.
The Tabuk table is also famous for feteer, which is made from wheat flour, water and salt, and then cooked on saj, with some ghee added when served.
Desserts are also part of the variety of dishes adorning Ramadan tables, most notably luqaimat, a dough kneaded by hand until it becomes consistent and soft.
The dough is put in a hot place for some time, then small pieces are shaped into balls, fried in hot oil and constantly flipped until they become golden. Some people add to them sesame and honey.
Kunafa, a well-known dessert in the Arab world, is made of two layers of equally small vermicelli with cream/cheese in between. It is decorated with pistachios and cooked in the oven with sugar syrup on top once served.
JEDDAH: Saudi citizens say they have become more confident that the country’s Vision 2030 plan is on the right track, after watching Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on TV marking the vision’s fifth anniversary.
The crown prince reaffirmed the Kingdom’s commitment to removing extremism. In his Tuesday interview, he made it clear that the Qur’an and Sunnah are the main sources of the legislative system in the country, adding that for a country to attract capital and grow on all levels, extremist projects must be eradicated.
Faisal Al-Bugami, a National Guard employee, said: “The Saudi leadership has always been reiterating this fact, and all Saudi citizens know well that this country was first built on Islam, and it will always be an Islamic country.”
The crown prince’s comments on the Value Added Tax were received positively and reflected the government’s interest in protecting the citizens in the long run.
In a tweet, Mahfouz Al-Ghamdi, a columnist at Makkah online newspaper, said that the interview emphasized his keenness to secure a good future for the coming generations in Saudi Arabia.
“The speech also showed that he is keen to not pour any more money without a clear plan. Moreover, it stressed the continuation of good life to the people of Saudi Arabia,” he said.
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Millions of viewers were glued to the screens to see where their country’s vision 2030 was going and what has been done, especially with regard to housing, which the crown prince described as “one of the biggest challenges we have faced has been the need to increase housing ratios which we’ve seen huge demand on from citizens.”
Speaking to Al-Arabiya TV channel, Fadhl Al-Buainain, member of the Shoura Council, recalled the speech made by King Salman when he came to the throne.
“King Salman pointed out that one of the most important issues he would consider was housing. When Vision 2030 started, one of its essential goals was to help every citizen have their own house, and increase the house ownership ratio. Today, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman repeats and stresses this goal,” Al-Buainain said.
He added: “I think having a house is key to family security, and overall security and stability. With the support of the leadership, the Ministry of Housing has succeeded in achieving this goal.”
Meanwhile, Khaled Al-Salem, a teacher for over 22 years and a beneficiary of the services of the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing in Taif, told Arab News that he had lost hope after being on the waiting list of the Real Estate Development Fund for over 15 years.
Millions of viewers were glued to the screens to see where their country’s vision 2030 was going and what has been done, especially with regard to housing, which the crown prince described as ‘one of the biggest challenges we have faced has been the need to increase housing ratios which we’ve seen huge demand on from citizens.’
“I failed to receive a loan to help me build a house for my family. However, with the support of the Ministry of Housing, I am soon moving to my own house,” he said, adding: “The support I received from the government helped me buy a piece of land and build my dream house on it.”
Al-Salem has now secured a home for his children. He said it was one of the benefits of Vision 2030, highlighting the fast, flexible and easy procedures he went through.
Dr. Alyaa Omar Al-Marwaey, a lecturer of curricula and methods of teaching English at Umm Al-Qura University, said the crown prince’s interview has left a positive impact, not only in the hearts of all Saudis but also in the minds of all expats residing in this country.
“It has shown us that there were systematic plans to integrate the efforts of the different ministries in a way that could effectively assist in securing comfort and prosperity to both citizens and residents,” she told Arab News.
She added that the reform plans are pouring investment opportunities on various educational, social, military and environmental levels, as well as many other vital opportunities.
“It is a great chance for Saudi citizens to see Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman present what has so far been achieved in the Vision 2030,” Al-Marwaey said, adding: “We are proud to be part of this development dream that is coming true.”
She said that the leadership has continued what the Saudi founder King Abdul Aziz started in creating ministries to better serve citizens and expats.
“These ministries have recently been reshaped to better achieve the same goals set by the late founder. The combined efforts of the ministries are now showing greater performances on all levels. Various sectors such as education, health, security, culture, tourism and the environment are witnessing huge leaps in their performance,” Al-Marwaey said.
For the tourism sector, she said that it is doing a “great job” and is expected to draw the attention of millions of people to the green Saudi Arabia.
“This sector is moving with the pride of the deep-rooted Arab and Islamic identity of Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Vision will certainly develop the unique Arab and Islamic heritage, which is a key component of the Saudi culture. This heritage will attract tourists from different parts of the world,” Al-Marwaey concluded.
RIYADH: The Saudi Human Resources Development Fund (Hadaf) has approved 28 new professional certificates, increasing the overall number to 106.
New qualifications include tourism, hospitality, auditing, accounting and engineering basics. The certificates also cover ICT, project management, human resources and professional visual designs and montage.
With its focus on professional training and certification, the fund is aiming to boost labor market productivity to reach international standards, and create career opportunities. Each candidate can receive a maximum of two certificates. For payment, the applicant has to file an application through the taqat.sa website along with a copy of the professional certificate.
Saudi Minister of State Prince Turki bin Mohammed bin Fahd bin Abdul Aziz received the minister of international trade and industry of Malaysia, Mohamed Azmin Ali, in Jeddah, during Ali’s official visit to the Kingdom.
During the meeting, the two emphasized the bilateral relations between their countries and aspects of cooperation in various fields.
The meeting was attended by an adviser at the royal court, Raafat bin Abdullah Al-Sabbagh, and Malaysia’s ambassador to the Kingdom, Abd Razak Abdul Wahab.
KATHMANDU: More than 16,000 Muslims in Nepal will benefit from 466 Ramadan food baskets distributed by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The ministry has launched a similar initiative in Australia, Fiji and the Solomon Islands, where the religious attaché office at the Saudi Embassy will distribute 300 food baskets and 25,000 iftar meals.
The religious attaché office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, will also distribute 2,000 food baskets and 11 tons of dates to more than 15,000 beneficiaries.
In Gabon, the ministry has inaugurated King Salman’s iftar program by distributing food baskets to 300 families.
As part of the iftar program, the religious attaché office at the Kingdom’s Embassy in Jakarta donated Ramadan food baskets and dates in Indonesia.
The officials distributed more than 1,750 food baskets, 6,500 breakfast meals, and 15 tons of luxurious dates.
Saudi Arabia has launched iftar programs in 16 countries this Ramadan, with the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance arranging for the initiative to reach all continents through coordination with Saudi Arabia’s embassies and Islamic centers.
RIYADH: Chargé d’Affaires of the US Mission to Saudi Arabia Martina Strong, together with representatives of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC), the Green Riyadh Project, and the American Chamber of Commerce joined the Saudi Green Initiative’s effort to plant 10 billion trees in the Kingdom by planting 21 trees in the Diplomatic Quarter’s National Park.
The event coincided with this year’s Earth Day celebration on April 22 and underscored the close partnership between Saudi Arabia, the US, and the American business community on environmental protection and sustainable development.
Strong emphasized that the US and Saudi Arabia have made bold commitments to lead the fight against climate change, also highlighting the economic benefits of putting sustainability at the top of the agenda.
Strong said: “Our cooperation with Saudi Arabia on climate and environment adds another dimension to our bilateral partnership. On Thursday, President Biden, His Majesty King Salman, and leaders of 40 other nations came together in the Leaders’ Summit on Climate Change to press for more ambitious national goals to reduce emissions and mobilize public and private sector resources.”
Representing the RCRC and the Green Riyadh Project, adviser Anas Najmi highlighted the impact that tree planting would have saying, “We are here to plant trees, (which) represent well-being, not only to the environment but also to the residents and visitors of this great community and city.”
Tarik Solomon, chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce, said: “With its green initiatives — including the largest afforestation project in the world to date — Saudi Arabia is sending a clear signal that it seeks to lead the charge on climate change. This is also a call to business leaders to improve their sustainability practices. The American business community in Saudi Arabia stands ready to do its part.”
The tree planting followed a panel discussion on April 21 titled, “Green Initiatives and a Renewable Energy Future in Saudi Arabia.” Speakers from the Green Riyadh Project discussed the sustainable development practices of the city and noted that the economic benefits of the project are projected to exceed SR70 billion ($18.6 billion) by 2030.
