RIYADH: The Riyadh-based King Abdul Aziz Center for National Dialogue (KACND) plans to turn training portfolios — undertaken by the Dialogue Academy for Training — digital through the production of programs, products and electronic educational curricula in Arabic and English.
The program will be performed according to international standards and in collaboration with the E Learning and Training Co., also known as Semanoor, in a strategy partnership that will build the Dialogue Academy for e-training.
The e-training project will be a leading center and can be accessed in all regions of the Kingdom. It will allow participants to benefit from the training programs implemented by the Dialogue Academy for training.
The project will contribute to broadening the base of beneficiaries of the center’s programs through e-learning and the development of training portfolios on a regular basis. It will keep pace with the current phase, which is fast moving toward reliance on technology..
KACND, through the e-training project, plans to spread the benefits of training programs and enable new segments that could not have contact with the academy due to personal or work circumstances.
The aim of the training programs is to disseminate the culture of dialogue and the concepts of moderation, tolerance and acceptance of others.
It also aims to raise awareness of the dialogue in the Islamic culture, and to correct misconceptions about the culture of dialogue. In addition, it will bring the training culture to the Kingdom’s cities and provinces in order to develop scientific programs and materials.
Most training programs at the Dialogue Academy for Training are accredited by international organizations, such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the World Organization of the Scout Movement.
Saudi Arabia's King Abdul Aziz Center for National Dialogue plans to turn training programs digital
Saudi Arabia's King Abdul Aziz Center for National Dialogue plans to turn training programs digital
Carved by time: Saudi Arabia’s hidden geotourism gem of Razan
- Long before modern engineering, the geology of Razan functioned as effective natural infrastructure, sustaining life in an arid environment
- This utility made Razan a strategic landmark, playing a vital role in the ancient Yemeni Hajj Road
AL-LITH: Sixty kilometers north of Al-Lith governorate in the Kingdom's west, rising above the shifting sands and valleys of the Makkah region, lies a place where the earth itself tells a story. This is Razan, a geological wonder where history is not written in ink, but etched into the stone by the patient hands of wind, water, and time.
Perched atop a high rocky mass and flanked by valleys to the northwest and southeast, Razan stands in natural isolation. This geographic solitude has acted as a guardian, preserving a landscape that feels almost otherworldly — a pristine stage set by nature over millennia.
The place is defined by its striking rock formations: dense clusters of stone, stepped ridges that resemble ancient staircases, and natural ceilings sculpted by the relentless flow of seasonal torrents.
The visual impact is one of dramatic contrast — the heaviness of solid rock balanced against open, airy spaces carved by erosion. Fine channels and intricate flow patterns mark the stone, serving as fossilized evidence of the water that once rushed through these corridors, shaping the land into a rugged work of art.
Nature’s infrastructure
But Razan is more than just a scenic marvel; for centuries, it served as a lifeline. The same forces that sculpted the cliffs also hollowed out natural rock basins. These geological depressions acted as seasonal reservoirs, catching rainwater and supplementing nearby wells. Long before modern engineering, the geology of Razan functioned as effective natural infrastructure, sustaining life in an arid environment.
This utility made Razan a strategic landmark, playing a vital role in the ancient Yemeni Hajj Road. The sturdy, elevated terrain provided a natural pathway for pilgrims, offering stability and protection on their spiritual journey toward Makkah.
Today, Razan stands at the intersection of heritage and opportunity. No longer just a passage for pilgrims, it is emerging as a valuable asset for geotourism. Its unique topography offers a visual feast for travelers and a treasure trove for scientists studying geological history.
As Saudi Arabia moves toward the goals of Vision 2030, sites like Razan are finding new purpose. By transforming this geological narrative into a tourism destination, the region aims to preserve its natural heritage while breathing new life into the local economy.
