JEDDAH: The Maaden Mining Co. on Tuesday announced a partnership agreement to establish a new women’s training program to develop the mining skills of Saudi women.
The program was one of Maaden’s social initiatives, which cost SR20 million ($5.33 million).
Maaden, in cooperation with the Saudi government through the Ministry of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources, is seeking to achieve its vision of leading the mineral industry to become the third pillar of industry after oil and petrochemicals in the Kingdom.
Maaden’s partners are SABIC, Alcoa, the Mosaic Co., Barrick Gold Corp. and Sahara Petrochemicals Co.
Maaden established a cultural center launched by Madinah Gov. Prince Faisal bin Salman on Dec. 19 at Mahd Ad-Dhahab, which is the leading gold mining area in the Arabian Peninsula. It is located in Al-Madinah province, in the Hejazi region of Saudi Arabia.t
The vice president of the gold sector at the Saudi Arabian Mining Co., Yahya Al-Shangiti, said that the company fosters other initiatives for people of the province in many other sectors.
Al-Shangiti told Arab News about establishing and marketing the emerging projects for women in the mining sector.
“Maaden’s role was mainly in building and equipping the cultural center in addition to funding part of the women’s training program,” he said. “An agreement was signed with Namaa Al-Munawwarah Charity for the operations. They are now working on a women’s jewelry training program to train them in goldsmith skills in Madinah.”
Namaa Al-Munawwarah was established as a non-profit organization to provide support to small and medium enterprises.
The mining industry is known to be male dominated, but there is a chance to give Saudi women qualifications to work in the field.
Al-Shangiti said: “The work in the mines is very hard. Where we work underground is 400 meters deep, and globally the number of women in this field is limited.”
He added: “It is possible for women to occupy administrative positions in mining rather than working as a miner in the future.”
Saudi women to work in mining industry
Saudi women to work in mining industry
Saudi reserve given ‘dark sky’ listing in boost to astrotourism ambitions
- Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve Development Authority announced on Monday that the desert received official accreditation from DarkSky International
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Nafud Desert has been listed as one of more than 250 Dark Sky Sites worldwide, which authorities say marks a commitment to protecting the environment from light pollution.
Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve Development Authority announced on Monday that the desert received official accreditation from DarkSky International, the global body committed to tackling light pollution in urban and rural areas.
Welcoming the accreditation, Ahmed Al-Qarni, official spokesperson at the royal reserve, told Arab News: “It’s a new achievement in the journey of protecting nature and astronomy in Saudi Arabia.
“The adoption of the Great Nafud Desert in Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve by the International DarkSky Association, as the largest site in the Middle East, (represents) a culmination of a precise scientific path, and another step that enhances the Kingdom’s position as a leading destination in sustainability, nature protection, and astronomical tourism.”
Abouazza El-Mhamdi, associate professor in the physics and astronomy department at King Saud University’s College of Science, said that the announcement is a “a major achievement for both science and tourism.
“This accreditation protects the pristine night sky from light pollution, creating an invaluable natural laboratory for astronomers,” he added.
“It provides an ideal Saudi location for adequate Earth-based telescopes and is a prime candidate for detailed site surveys, enabling sensitive observations of stars and galaxies.
“At the same time, it establishes the reserve as a premier global destination for stargazing and astrotourism, supporting sustainable economic growth.”
The reserve development authority also posted on X: “Away from the clamor of the lights ... there is a darkness that shines.
“We are proud of the adoption of the Great Nafud Desert within the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve as one of the dark sky places certified by the DarkSky International.”
Located within the reserve east of the Hail-Al Jawf road, the Great Nafud Desert covers an area of about 13,416 sq. km, making it one of the largest accredited Dark Sky Sites in the region and one of the least light-polluted sites in the Kingdom, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Fulfilling the organization’s criteria was the result of comprehensive scientific work that included field studies, precise astronomical observations, advanced nighttime analyses, and the implementation of specialized engineering practices for managing nighttime lighting and controlling light pollution sources.
These efforts, undertaken by the authority, are part of its commitment to protecting the desert’s natural nighttime landscapes, enhancing the sustainability of ecosystems and preparing the site to serve as a global model for preserving the natural sky.
CEO of the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve Development Authority, Engineer Mohammed Al-Shaalan, said in a statement that the accreditation is a culmination of the interest of the country’s leadership in the environment and the protection of natural sites.
It also reflects the support of Prince Turki bin Mohammed bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz, chairman of the authority’s board of directors, he added.
Al-Shaalan said that the accreditation represents a significant step that enhances the reserve’s presence on the international map and contributes to the development of astronomical tourism, scientific research, and specialized environmental experiments.
The area provides visitors and researchers with unique opportunities to observe the night sky and to monitor astronomical phenomena in a natural environment with low light pollution.
He added that the authority has developed tourism facilities in the desert such as “The Leaf” camp located near the dark sky zone.
