RIYADH: Abdullah bin Majdu Al-Qarni kicked off the 31 GCC Traffic Week from the capital early this week. The event was held at the King Abdul Aziz Historical Center in Riyadh, and focused on its theme “Your Decision Determines Your Destiny.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that 1.25 million traffic deaths occur each year.
Al-Qarni underlined the importance of awareness campaign to curtail accidents.
The Kingdom loses SR50 billion annually due to damage caused to private and public property and injuries to people as a result of traffic accidents, according to Najah Al-Garawi, dean of community partnerships and associate professor of geography at the Dammam University in an earlier statement.
She said the losses were heavy including loss of human lives, injuries, damage to private and public property, and the cost of medical care on the state. She pointed out that the number of deaths due to traffic accidents will eventually have a severe impact to the economy of the country due to the loss of valuable human lives.
According to Sultan Al-Zahrani, secretary general of the Traffic Safety Committee in the western province, at least one traffic accident occurs in the Kingdom every minute. There are up to 7,000 deaths from traffic accidents and more than 39,000 injuries every year in the Kingdom.
GCC traffic week opens in Riyadh
GCC traffic week opens in Riyadh
The founding economy: A blueprint for stability in the First Saudi State
- The establishment of the First Saudi State created a secure environment that facilitated the arrival of caravans, secured vast trade routes, and revived commerce across the Arabian Peninsula
RIYADH: The economy during the founding stage of the First Saudi State served as a fundamental pillar in building the nation, consolidating its influence, and ensuring its stability. This early economic growth was inextricably linked to achieving security, unifying regions, and organizing society—factors that directly stimulated trade, stabilized markets, and enhanced the foundations of daily life in Diriyah and its surrounding areas.
According to Dr. Abdullah Al-Saleh Al-Othaimeen's "Diriyah: Origins and Development during the First Saudi State," published by the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives (Darah), the founding economy stands as a historical model reflecting the reciprocal relationship between political stability and early economic prosperity.
The establishment of the First Saudi State created a secure environment that facilitated the arrival of caravans, secured vast trade routes, and revived commerce across the Arabian Peninsula.
Beyond its political and intellectual prominence, Diriyah emerged as a vibrant economic hub. Its active markets attracted merchants and students from across the region, all of whom benefited from the state-provided stability. The local society relied on diverse activities for its livelihood, including trade, agriculture, and livestock breeding, with horses and camels playing crucial roles in transportation, commerce, and securing roads.
The social and administrative organization upon which the state was founded ensured the continuous availability of goods and sustained market stability. Ultimately, the close relationship between public security and economic growth during this founding phase solidified Diriyah's position as a premier political and commercial center in the Arabian Peninsula.
