Members of the Council of Saudi Chambers (CSC) have urged the Minister of Labor Adel Fakeih to scrap the 6 percent Saudization quota for the farming sector because of the lack of Saudi laborers.
This appeal was made on Thursday by Eid Al-Ghadeer, chairman of the CSC national agricultural committee, Arab News has learned. Fakeih was locked in a closed meeting with members of the body’s 30 national committees.
However, Al-Ghadeer has asked the minister to retain the Saudization quota for agricultural engineers and administrative staff. The official was also reportedly seeking more work visas for seasonal farmers during harvesting periods.
There are currently 9 million Saudi and foreign workers in the Kingdom, with 48 percent employed in the construction and farming industry. Saudi farmers produce poultry, cattle, sheep and prawns.
Fakeih held a frank discussion with the businessmen at the chamber about the employment problems following the end of the amnesty on Nov. 3, which saw an exodus of illegal workers from the Kingdom, although many workers corrected their job status or found other sponsors.
Prior to the meeting, at the Riyadh Economic Forum on Tuesday, the labor minister said he wanted to hold discussions with members of the private sector to identify new areas of cooperation.
He had announced that he would not take any decisions on Saudi Arabia’s labor laws and policies without a mandate from the people.
He announced the launch of the ministry's "e-Gate" for this purpose.
Fakeih said he would answer any questions asked by members of the public through email. He said a minimum wage for the private and public sectors would be determined soon. A special committee was working on this issue.
Fakeih also said he currently chairs a committee comprising 37 deputy ministers to discuss government contracts and the workforce needed for projects. This was a reference to the shortage of expatriate workers in the construction sector in the wake of the government's crackdown on undocumented workers.
Businessmen lament lack of Saudi farm hands
Businessmen lament lack of Saudi farm hands
Saudi Arabia witnessing comprehensive cultural development, says expert
- Clotilde Entrecanales of Acciona hails pace of change in Kingdom
JEDDAH: Museums, exhibitions and art centers play a crucial role in the development of free and educated societies such as the one now burgeoning in Saudi Arabia, an expert has told Arab News.
Clotilde Entrecanales, the Spanish art historian and cultural executive who heads Acciona Living & Culture, a leading creator of technology-driven interactive museums, exhibits and events, said the Kingdom is making efforts to expand the role of culture development to show the world the greatest possible cultural offer.
She added that the Kingdom has quickly infused new energy into the region, and is rapidly establishing itself as a global cultural hub through massive investment in world-class museums, public art and international events, aligning with its 2030 vision.
She said: “With around 70 percent of the population under 30, cultural consumption looks very different than in Europe or the US. These spaces can’t feel like quiet, isolated institutions … they need to be fast, dynamic, brave and deeply connected to the city, blending into everyday urban life rather than sitting apart from it.”
Asked about the role of these sites in the evolving global cultural landscape, particularly in emerging cultural hubs like Saudi Arabia, Entrecanales said: “Our vision is to be a purpose-led partner for cultural and entertainment institutions, helping them be more relevant, connected, inclusive and sustainable.”
She added: “In emerging cultural hubs like Saudi Arabia, that approach feels especially relevant. The cultural transformation underway is moving fast — with major heritage and cultural destinations being developed and opened to the world.”
Speaking about her impression of the Kingdom’s approach to blending heritage with modernity face, Entrecanales said: “Others who attempt to achieve this balance often end up turning heritage into a theme, a layer of storytelling or a cultural program. What feels different about Saudi’s approach is how much pressure there is to treat heritage as the foundation, not just the surface.
“When you’re building at this speed and scale, there’s always a risk that history becomes a backdrop instead of a backbone. The projects that work best are the ones that slow down just enough to let the past set the rhythm for the present.”
Regarding opportunities and challenges, she said: “The opportunity is nothing less than positioning Saudi Arabia as a global cultural center. The challenge, as always, lies in balancing the speed and scale of that ambition with long-term sustainability and a sense of authenticity that remains credible and rooted.”
She added: “You can really feel this in places like the Islamic Arts Biennale, which shows hundreds of historical artefacts of the Islamic world, while re-framing them through contemporary scenography and designs by some of the best design studios in the world; or in AlUla, a world-class heritage site that hosts a major contemporary platform like Desert X, allowing ancient context and present-day artistic practice to coexist in a way that feels genuine.”
Under her guidance, ACCIONA Cultura aspires to create museums and cultural experiences that function as landmarks while fostering sustainable, inclusive and immersive interactions.
She elaborated on how the company is integrating technology, culture, and sustainability to preserve and promote the region’s cultural heritage: “We always start with human connection and storytelling: what’s the story, what should people leave with? Tech comes later.”
Recently, ACCIONA Cultura has been involved in significant projects in Saudi Arabia and is looking forward for more.
She said: “Right now, for example, we’re designing and curating a museum gallery where the entire space is shaped by the practice of a Saudi artist. Another example is the Net Zero exhibition at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra), where we brought together Saudi and international artists to explore sustainability and our relationship with the planet, including voices like Dina Haddadin, Mohammed Al-Faraj, and Zahrah Al-Ghamdi.”
She added: “One of the projects I’m most proud of isn’t a museum, but our NEXT IN Summit, which we’ve hosted in two editions in our ACCIONA Campus in Madrid, highlighting the Kingdom’s unprecedented cultural momentum as it builds future-facing institutions with a startup mindset.”
About further collaboration with Saudi Arabia, she said: “Let’s just say … something’s definitely simmering in the kitchen.”
Commenting on being recognized among the Blooloop 50 Museum Influencers for 2025, she said: “It means a lot. More than anything, it feels like a nod to the years of teamwork and dedication behind Acciona Cultura, rather than to me personally.”
