Rayan Al-Harbi, operations and maintenance director of the Haramain High-Speed Railway
Updated 09 August 2019
Arab News
Rayan Al-Harbi has been the operations and maintenance director of the Haramain High-Speed Railway (HHR) since December 2018.
Recently, Al-Harbi said that the train service’s capacity would increase to more than 150,000 pilgrims starting from the 10th of Dul Hijjah.
Al-Harbi said that the Haramain railway is one of the largest express transportation projects in the world. The length of the power lines on the train tracks is up to 12,000 km and connected to six giant power generators.
Al-Harbi holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, and graduated in 2008. He received a principle of railway operation license from Technische Universitat Dresden in 2010. He has also been a certified rail incident officer (RIO) since 2018.
His career with the Saudi Railway Co. (SAR) began in 2009 as a signaling and telecommunication (S&T) resident engineer where he supervised S&T construction at Hail.
In 2013, Al-Harbi was promoted to S&T maintenance supervisor and a year later he became supervisor of the operations control center, where he provided leadership to the chiefs and train controllers and participated in developing a new rule book for SAR.
By 2016, he was officially settled in Riyadh as operations control center manager until he was promoted to head the HHR in 2017 to lead delivery of service demonstration during the soft opening. After becoming HHR director in 2018 his responsibilities have included overseeing train operations, maintenance and infrastructure, as well as marketing.
Saudi Coffee Co. and Bieder & Maier blend two coffee cultures
Viennese coffee-maker collaborates with local brand to buy Arabica beans from Jazan
Updated 4 min 29 sec ago
Rashid Hassan
RIYADH: The Kingdom and Austria recently celebrated the world premiere of the “Premium Saudi Blend” by Viennese coffee manufacturer Bieder & Maier and the Saudi Coffee Company.
The launch of the product brings Saudi and Austrian coffee culture together. During the presentations in Vienna and Riyadh, guests tasted the new coffee roast, catering for espresso to filter and cold brewing.
“The coffee is an embodiment of our culture and identity,” CEO of Saudi Coffee Company Khalid AbuTheeb told Arab News. “With the objective of enhancing the local coffee industry and promoting our coffee tradition, we have collaborated with Bieder & Maier, a Vienna-based coffee powerhouse.”
AbuTheeb said that the collaboration was facilitated by the Saudi Ministry of Investment. “Through this collaboration ... the Saudi Coffee Company will bring forth unique coffee blends utilizing Saudi coffee beans in a mix with international beans to the Saudi and Austrian markets,” he said.
HIGHLIGHTS
• In 2011, Viennese coffee house culture was declared an intangible world heritage, followed by Arabic coffee in 2015 and Saudi Khawlani Arabica beans in 2022.
• They have all been declared intangible world heritage by UNESCO in recognition of their respective traditions and cultural significance.
• Starting during fall this year, a number of coffee houses will be opened in Saudi Arabia, with Cenomi Retail as franchise partner.
According to AbuTheeb, they will supply the finest Saudi coffee beans directly from the Jazan region.
“As we explore roasting capabilities here in the Kingdom, we are not just content with embracing tradition; we are striving to shape the future of coffee, where innovation intersects with heritage on a global scale,” he said.
Dr. Margarete Schramboeck, the former minister of economy and digital affairs of Austria, and current Aramco digital board member, expressed her growing interest in Saudi coffee culture since she moved to the Kingdom.
“It was the year 2022 when I first came to the Kingdom and learned about the Year of Saudi coffee and the amazing culture of growing coffee in Jazan,” Schramboeck told Arab News. “Therefore, I was passionate about bringing this idea of a special Saudi blend to life. An exceptional partnership with the support of the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia has been initiated. I want to thank Minister Khalid Al-Falih and team for the support.”
Recalling her visit to Jazan and its coffee-growing families, Schramboeck said: “The quality and tradition of coffee has deeply impressed me.”
Rudi Kobza, founder and CEO of Bieder & Maier Vienna, stressed the importance of the collaboration. “The Saudi heritage is unique and the ambition of the Saudi Coffee Company is impressive. The Premium Saudi Blend brings this philosophy in an authentical way alive. This can be experienced soon in our first Bieder & Maier cafe in Saudi Arabia, which we will operate with our partner Cenomi, as well as in Vienna.”
“Austrians share a common passion for coffee. Therefore, I was passionate about developing this project. When Saudi Arabia meets Vienna, the home of the Arabica coffee bean combines with the home of traditional coffee house culture to create a particularly enjoyable coffee project.”
In 2011, Viennese coffee house culture was declared an intangible world heritage, followed by Arabic coffee in 2015 and Saudi Khawlani Arabica beans in 2022. They have all been declared intangible world heritage by UNESCO in recognition of their respective traditions and cultural significance.
Starting during fall this year, a number of coffee houses will be opened in Saudi Arabia, with Cenomi Retail as franchise partner.
The discovery was made during field tours carried out by the water department
Updated 26 April 2024
SPA
TUBARJAL: The Al-Jouf branch of the Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture has apprehended three excavators who were found to be violating the water system in Tubarjal.
The discovery was made during field tours carried out by the water department, in cooperation with the competent authorities in the governorate.
Separately, authorities in Addayer in the Jazan region have arrested seven Ethiopians for smuggling 105 kg of hashish. Legal procedures have been completed against the offenders who were handed over, along with the seized items, to the competent authority.
Border guard patrols in the Al-Harth area of Jazan have also foiled an attempt to smuggle 71 kg of hashish, with initial legal procedures completed and the find handed over to the competent authority.
Security authorities have reiterated their appeal for citizens and residents to report any information regarding drug smuggling or selling by calling 911 in Makkah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Region, and 999 in the rest of the Kingdom’s regions.
Those with information may also contact the General Directorate of Narcotics Control at 995 or at [email protected].
These flights, along with flights to Baghdad and Irbil, will commence from June 1.
Updated 26 April 2024
SPA
RIYADH: The Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation announced the launch of direct flights from Dammam to Najaf, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday.
The decision is in line with the Kingdom’s national aviation sector strategy, aimed at doubling capacity to accommodate over 330 million passengers annually, and extending services to more than 250 global destinations.
These flights, along with flights to Baghdad and Irbil, will commence from June 1.
Ministry of Hajj and Umrah praises Iraqi authorities for arresting fraudsters touting fake Hajj trips
A ministry source in the statement also warned prospective pilgrims to beware of unauthorized Hajj offers being promoted this year
The ministry made it clear that visas for Umrah, tourism, work, family visits, transit, and other categories do not grant eligibility to perform Hajj
Updated 26 April 2024
TAREQ AL-THAGAFI
RIYADH: The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah expressed its gratitude for actions taken by the Supreme Commission for Hajj and Umrah in the Republic of Iraq that resulted in the prosecution of more than 25 companies fraudulently engaged in commercial Hajj operations.
A ministry source in the statement also warned prospective pilgrims to beware of unauthorized Hajj offers being promoted this year, primarily through social media.
Participation in Hajj requires pilgrims to obtain a legitimate Hajj visa issued by the authorities in the Kingdom in coordination with Hajj affairs offices in their respective countries, or via the Nusuk Hajj platform for those countries that do not have an official Hajj office.
The source said that the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah is monitoring advertisements from companies and campaigns, as well as identifying fake accounts on social networks allegedly offering Hajj packages at enticing prices.
The ministry made it clear that visas for Umrah, tourism, work, family visits, transit, and other categories do not grant eligibility to perform Hajj. It urged pilgrims to be careful not to fall victim to companies and others claiming to offer commercial Hajj campaigns or other misleading initiatives.
“Regulations must be followed and legally documented permits, as represented by the official Hajj visa, must be issued, so a safe, secure, well-managed Hajj program and fair representation to all nationalities is provided,” Mohsen Tutla, head of the World Hajj and Umrah Convention, told Arab News.
“Hajj is a mega event with more than 2 million worshippers. Can one imagine, if order was not imposed and (the event) not regulated, chaos would ensue,” he added.
In the statement, the ministry calls for everyone’s cooperation to help combat and report fraudulent companies and campaigns, and to seek information only by visiting its official website and engaging with its channels on social networks.