RIYADH: Tourism security experts gathered to discuss Arab and international experiences at a scientific forum inaugurated at the Naif Arab University for Security Sciences (NAUSS) on Tuesday.
NAUSS University Vice President Prof. Abdul Rahman Al-Shaer opened the three-day forum, highlighting the importance of tourism security, the key role of the media in popularizing a culture of national and international security, and the need to enhance security and stability by reviving and maintaining tourist attractions.
Al-Shaer in his welcome address thanked participants, which included delegates from France, Romania, Arab countries, experts and representatives from the Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH).
He said the forum aimed to emphasize cooperation among the concerned bodies, the management of tourist and archaeological facilities, and provide the latest developments, highlighting technology used in the field of tourism security.
It also aimed to foster awareness, raising security skills at tourist attractions — especially for workers at tourist facilities and in crisis situations, and to inform participants of the latest global and regional security experiences.
In the opening session on Tuesday, experts from France, Romania, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) shared their experience of tourism security; what they are doing to enhance security and stability by reviving and maintaining tourism destinations, how to deal with security threats and how to promote a safe and pleasant stay for the tourists.
They also highlighted various tourism attractions in their countries and what their government are doing for tourism security.
The delegates speaking at the opening session included Geil Freidman (France), Gabriel Kreto (Romania), Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Habib (Egypt) and Col. Jasem Rashid Al Antaly.
On Wednesday, one session will be dedicated to the Asir region, including the legal aspects of tourism security organization. One session will discuss how to cooperate and coordinate in tourism security, another will discuss tourism security at islands and beaches, how to use smart applications for tourism security. The final session, on Thursday, will hear deliberations on people’s cooperation to improve tourism security.
The forum is within the framework of implementing the directives of Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Nayef bin Abdul Aziz, and part of the university’s efforts to combat terrorism and enhance ideological and intellectual security.
Saudi Arabia's Naif Arab University hosts tourism security forum
Saudi Arabia's Naif Arab University hosts tourism security forum
Experimental farm in Al-Lith looks into future of Saudi Arabian agriculture
- Research initiative reflects strategic transformation
JEDDAH: An experimental farm in Saudi Arabia’s Al-Lith Governorate is one of the research initiatives reflecting the strategic transformation taking place in the Kingdom’s agricultural sector.
The farm uses highly efficient, sustainable production models that combine scientific research with commercial application, contributing to strengthening the country’s food security system and the sustainability of water resources.
Located in the Ghumaiqa Center on an area of about 10 hectares, the cutting-edge farm is a testing platform for modern agricultural technologies that tackle the challenge of water scarcity.
The farm includes developed open fields and modern greenhouses, supported by smart irrigation encompassing drip and sprinkler irrigation alongside surface and subsurface technologies.
All the systems operate via smart controls that enable the monitoring of water consumption and ensure improved efficiency, thereby achieving a balance between agricultural production and water conservation.
The farm also uses treated and diluted low-salinity seawater.
It aims to diversify agricultural water sources, reduce reliance on freshwater, and open new horizons for agriculture in coastal and semi-arid environments.
The project represents a promising investment opportunity in the field of smart agriculture, enabling the development of commercially scalable production models, particularly for high-value vegetables and fruits, while reducing operational costs associated with water and energy, enhancing the economic feasibility of future agricultural projects.
In addition, the project contributes to transferring and localizing agricultural expertise, supporting local food supply chains, and creating an attractive environment for agricultural investment.
This aligns with Sustainable Development Goals and enhances the efficiency of the private sector in adopting innovative agricultural solutions.
Yahya bin Abdulrahman Al-Mahabi, the director of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture office in Al-Lith Governorate, told the Saudi Press Agency that the project represented the future of agriculture in the Kingdom.
He explained that the vision was based on investing in technology, enhancing the return on water per unit, and integrating scientific research with investment opportunities.
Al-Mahabi spoke of the experimental farm as a modern, scalable and replicable model applicable in several regions of the Kingdom, particularly in coastal environments.
Al-Mahabi highlighted the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture’s commitment to supporting distinctive projects that contributed to achieving food security while developing rural areas and enhancing agricultural production efficiency, in line with the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
