JEDDAH: More than 1,500 camel owners and more than 26,000 camels are participating in a beauty pageant, with total prizes worth SR113,600,000, at the King Abdul Aziz Camel Festival.
The festival kicks off on Monday under the auspices of King Salman in Riyadh’s southern Sayahdah district of Al-Dahnaa on the road between Al-Rumahiyah and Al-Hafna.
The official spokesman for the festival, Sultan Al-Bokomi, said this year’s festival would include 28 activities. “One of the most important additions to the festival this year is the King Abdul Aziz Camel Racing Award, where camel owners compete for the largest prize for camel racing in the world,” he said.
The first day of the festival will include the launching of new accompanying events including “Saudi Al-Arada; heritage and performance, camel species and their funny stories, panoramic dome, sand arts, recreation camp, camels’ decorative drawing and other activities,” Al-Bokomi said.
The events will also include “Al-Dahnaa Caravan, Taalil tent, Our brave soldiers, Senam exhibition, Al-Hanaa market, the heritage market, and the food tent.”
Al-Bokomi pointed out that the booklet of events can be found at alaibilfestival.com, with details of how to register in other competitions.
The official spokesman called on everyone to enjoy the festival and to feel the cultural and national values in its activities and its concepts, and also to become acquainted with the huge amount of information provided in the festival and its activities about camel heritage and the culture of the desert, the first component of Saudi culture.
The competition has become an event that people have come to expect annually during the winter over the past 15 years.
The King Abdul Aziz Foundation for Research and Archives (Darah) cooperated with several relevant authorities to organize this festival, especially the Ministry of the Interior, which sets regulations and procedures. The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture also contributed in setting the regulations for the veterinary aspects to protect camels.
The Ministry of Health monitors health developments associated with this occasion, while the Arriyadh Development Authority selects the location, design and planning.
The Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Culture and Information and many other bodies are working jointly to carry out a festival that matches the position of Saudi Arabia and the size of the occasion.
More than 1,500 camel owners gather for national fair
More than 1,500 camel owners gather for national fair
Saudi Justice Ministry to host training conference
RIYADH: The Saudi Ministry of Justice is to hold the International Conference of Judicial Training in Riyadh from May 6-7.
The Judicial Training Center hosts the event which will see the participation of several international training institutes, centers, and experts in the field of judicial and legal training. The objective is to facilitate the exchange of experiences and deliberations on contemporary trends in the era of digital transformation.
Called “The Future of Judicial Training in the Era of Digital Transformation,” the event will delve into the prospects of training in the future. It will explore paths for enhancing training content; strategies for harnessing modern technology; artificial intelligence in judicial training; and effective methodologies for measuring the training’s impact.
Saudi energy minister attends Tashkent International Investment Forum
TASHKENT: Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman on Thursday participated in the primary dialogue session at the third Tashkent International Investment Forum.
In the presence of the president of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the energy minister highlighted the distinguished relations between the two nations, emphasizing the leadership’s strong commitment to enhancing and expanding cooperation across all sectors, particularly energy.
The partnership aims to benefit both countries and their citizens.
Who’s Who: Ali Alhasan, CEO and founder of NanoPalm
- Alhasan co-developed deep tech to leverage large language models for biotech discovery
- He was granted the Outstanding Researcher Award from the International Institute for Nanotechnology in 2012
Ali Alhasan is CEO and founder of the company NanoPalm. He holds a Ph.D. in nanomedicine, with expertise in nano-drug delivery and gene therapy and five years of experience in executive management.
In his role as CEO, Alhasan formulates the strategic and business plans for accelerating therapy translation globally and trains talents in deep tech, nanotech, and gene editing tech.
Alhasan co-developed deep tech to leverage large language models for biotech discovery. He also co-invented Nanopalm’s biorobots for the delivery of gene editing primers and helped discover four nanomedicines for four different genetic diseases.
He is also an associate professor at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology and an adjunct professor at Alfaisal University, establishing collaboration agreements between the two.
As associate professor, he is the principal researcher for development and innovation in nanomedicine and the fourth industrial revolution.
In his role as adjunct professor, Alhasan teaches nanomedicine and mentors postgraduate and undergraduate students. He also co-established the Cancer Nanoscience Program.
Previously, Alhasan served in executive leadership roles at KACST as deputy at the Joint Centers of Excellence Program (2021), deputy of the Life Science and Environment Research Institute (2020), director of the Center of Excellence for Biomedicine (2020), and director of Strategic Initiatives (2016).
Alhasan was a post-doctoral scholar at the University of California in 2015 and received his Ph.D. in the Interdepartmental Biological Sciences Program from Northwestern University in 2013.
In 2008, he received a master’s degree in biotechnology also from Northwestern University, while in 2001, he received his bachelor’s degree in medical technology from King Abdulaziz University.
Alhasan was granted the Leader of the Year award from the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology in 2024. In 2018, he received the Outstanding Investigator Award from KACST.
He was granted the Outstanding Researcher Award from the International Institute for Nanotechnology in 2012.
Prince Faisal bin Farhan speaks with Swiss foreign minister
- two ministers discussed developments of common interest and efforts made by both countries in those areas
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan spoke on the phone with his Swiss counterpart Ignazio Cassis on Thursday.
During the call, the two ministers discussed developments of common interest and efforts made by both countries in those areas, Saudi Press Agency reported.
Cassis was in the Kingdom last month to attend the Special Meeting of the World Economic Forum held in Riyadh on April 28 and 29, during which he met with Prince Faisal.
Prince Faisal and Cassis also met earlier in the year in February during UN meetings in Geneva.
Saudi FM discusses preparations for Expo 2030 with BIE chief
- During the meeting, the two officials discussed the Kingdom’s preparations to host Expo 2030 in Riyadh
- “We underlined the importance of careful planning to deliver a transformational World Expo in 2030,” Kerkentzes said
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received the Secretary-General of the Bureau International des Expositions Dimitri Kerkentzes in Riyadh on Thursday.
During the meeting, the two officials discussed the Kingdom’s preparations to host Expo 2030 in Riyadh and coordination to ensure that the exhibition would be “exceptional,” Saudi Press Agency reported.
Writing on social media platform X, Kerkentzes said: “We underlined the importance of careful planning to deliver a transformational World Expo in 2030.”
The BIE chief met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Wednesday.
World Expo 2030 will be hosted in Riyadh after the Kingdom defeated challenges from South Korea and Italy to host the prestigious event in November 2023.
