RIYADH: The Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH) is preparing to launch the “Roads of Arabia — Saudi Archaeological Masterpieces Through the Ages” exhibition, at the National Museum in Tokyo, Japan on Jan. 29.
Prince Sultan bin Salman, president of the SCTH, continues preparations for this event, one of the most important events organized by the Kingdom in Japan, in cooperation with the Saudi Embassy in Tokyo, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Culture and Media, and Saudi Aramco, the sponsor of the exhibition.
The exhibition will feature 466 rare archaeological pieces that highlight the rich history and cultural heritage of Saudi Arabia from the Stone Age to the current modern state.
The National Museum in Tokyo will be the exhibition’s 14th stop after it was hosted by four European countries (France, Spain, Germany and Russia), five US cities, two Asian countries (China and South Korea) and the local cities of Dhahran and Riyadh.
The exhibition at the National Museum in Riyadh opened its doors for 50 days, closing on Dec. 26, 2017. More than 300,000 people visited it.
Riyadh is the second city to host the Roads of Arabia exhibition at the national level. It was hosted before by the King Abdul Aziz Center for World Culture in Dhahran under the patronage of King Salman in December 2016.
Tokyo will be the exhibition’s third stop in Asia, after Beijing and Seoul, within the Asian campaign launched by King Salman, following the remarkable turnout it witnessed on its international tour that started with the Louvre Museum in Paris in 2010.
Saudi ‘Roads of Arabia’ exhibition set to display 466 rare artifacts in Tokyo
Saudi ‘Roads of Arabia’ exhibition set to display 466 rare artifacts in Tokyo
Saudi Arabia, Estonia strengthen cyber defense cooperation
- Renowned for its leadership in digital governance, Estonia sees cybersecurity as central to its partnership potential with Saudi Arabia, building on years of regional engagement through its technology firms
RIYADH: Estonia aims to deepen defense, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence cooperation with Saudi Arabia as both nations look to advance technology‑driven defense and cybersecurity capabilities.
Hanno Pevkur, Estonia’s minister of defense, told Arab News at the World Defense Show in Riyadh on Monday that Estonia’s defense industry is eager to contribute to the Kingdom’s fast‑growing defense ecosystem.
“In the modern world, cooperation built on trust and technology is the best defense,” he said. “It is important for us to be here because we clearly see there is a possibility to increase cooperation, not only bilaterally between Saudi Arabia and Estonia, but across the region.”
At Estonia’s pavilion, a cooperation agreement was signed between an Estonian company and a Saudi firm during the show, he noted.
Pevkur also said Estonia’s defense sector has expanded rapidly in recent years, driven by technological innovation and partnership.
“Our defense industry is growing very rapidly, and we continue to see strong momentum,” he said.
He said Estonia’s strengths lie in digital and smart‑system integration rather than large‑scale weapons production.
“We will not build airplanes or tanks, but what we can do is integrate robotics, automation and drones to make existing systems smarter,” he said.
The minister said effective defense collaboration must link businesses and governments to achieve meaningful results.
“When we want to have real cooperation, we need it on all levels,” he said. “The biggest client for any defense company is the government, so we must treat this as one ecosystem where the public and private sectors work hand in hand.”
Renowned for its leadership in digital governance, Estonia sees cybersecurity as central to its partnership potential with Saudi Arabia, building on years of regional engagement through its technology firms.
Pevkur said several Estonian companies, including Nortal, have already assisted Gulf governments in developing open IT and digital‑service systems.
“As the most digitalized nation in the world, almost every service in Estonia can be done online, except getting married,” he said. “But with such digitalization, we also need strong cyberdefense.”
He said data protection and digital resilience are treated as matters of national sovereignty in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia.
“Data is what we own. When someone steals that data, it becomes a serious threat,” he added. “That is why cyberdefense is not just about technology, it is about trust, sovereignty and protection.”
Pevkur said Saudi Arabia’s advances in AI offer promising opportunities for collaboration.
“I know that Saudi Arabia is doing great work when it comes to AI,” he said. “For us, as a small country with limited human resources, AI is essential not just for defense but for everyday life.”
Pevkur added that Estonia has launched a national AI strategy to promote responsible development and closer coordination between government and industry. One Estonian company, he said, has developed a system that allows a single operator to control hundreds of drones through AI.
“It is quite easy to put a weapon into the hands of a robot, but we also need to define who is accountable for its actions,” he said.
“The big question for the future is whether we can allow a war to be fought entirely by AI, or if humans must always make the final ethical decisions.”
He said in his conclusion that governments must reach a common understanding on how AI will be used and regulated on the battlefield.
