Inspired by a passion for robotics, Saudi Huda Flatah is setting out to change the world

Huda Ahmed Flatah works on her ‘helper robot.’ (Photo/Supplied)
Updated 13 July 2018
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Inspired by a passion for robotics, Saudi Huda Flatah is setting out to change the world

  • Flatah believes this is the dawn of a golden age for Saudi women thanks to the ongoing social reforms
  • There is nothing more beautiful than living with a purpose, something that can make you alive and happy with each step you take through life: Flatah

RIYADH: It is often said that if you are determined enough, and doing something you are passionate about, you can achieve anything. It is tempting to be a cynic and dismiss this as a cliche pulled from a motivational speaker’s handbook. However, some people take the advice to heart and strive to achieve great things.

Take Huda Ahmed Flatah, a 22-year-old from Riyadh who recently graduated in biology at Taibah University in Madinah. Her irrepressible passion goes far beyond the subject she studied; she is fascinated by robotics. In particular, the development and programming of robots to, as she puts it, “serve humans and make people’s lives easier.”

Flatah is the founder of Robot Helper, an initiative to develop and program a robot that provides a tangible benefit to society.

“I programmed a robot to help visually impaired and blind people,” she said. “It acts like a companion to the blind and visually impaired. It guides the person to ensure the safety of people. For example: ‘Take care there is a stair in front of you.’ ‘There is a person coming, go right, go left.’ I am still working on it to add more services it can provide to help people with this type of disability.

“I wanted to help people achieve independence through robots. Based on that, I received a scholarship from the adviser of Makkah emir and KAUST general manager. I was chosen as one of the best 10 inventors with innovative projects this year in Saudi Arabia. Now, I am working on ways to enhance it and add more services so it can help people and the community.”

Flatah was also part of the Madinah team for the 2017 International Space Apps Challenge. The competition was held in Riyadh, Madinah, Jeddah and Eastern Province at the same time with live broadcasts from all the other countries participating.

This is NASA’s annual “hackathon” event, held in cities around the world, which challenges space and technology enthusiasts to use freely available scientific data to develop innovative, open-source resources that can improve the quality of life on Earth and advance space exploration.

“We were a team and they showed us some environmental problems and we tried to solve them,” said Flatah. “We chose the high temperatures in Saudi Arabia and wasted energy as a problem to solve.

“We created Save Solar System Smartly, which relies on two data-set resources: NASA’s prediction of the weather, and the sensors in smart homes. When the sun releases its energy, solar panels absorb this energy and save it in a smart battery to control devices in a smart home. When the battery is charged it deploys the Internet of Things (IOT) concept to manage everything in the house, including lighting, air-conditioning, opening and closing doors and windows, and so on.”

IOT refers to networks of devices, appliances and other items fitted with technology and connectivity that enables them to exchange data, which can help to increase efficiency, and running costs, among other benefits.

“If the battery gets low or is about to run out, the system’s artificial intelligence informs the IOT system to reduce the consumption of energy from it,” said Flatah.

For its efforts, the team was awarded first place among entrants from Saudi Arabia.

Flatah was also ranked the top robot programmer in Saudi Arabia in a national competition titled “ball collector robot game” in 2017.

Her ambition is to help create a culture that encourages innovation in robotics. She is presenting educational workshops at King Abdul Aziz & his Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity on how to program a robot, to expand knowledge of the technology and its potential uses and benefits.

 

 “I also teach in advanced schools and a number of local universities, and I have been a certified judge of robotics in the Middle East since 2017,” she added.

Flatah has been passionate about robotics for many years and started studying the subject when she was 17 years old. She has lived in Saudi Arabia her whole life but has traveled to other countries for training courses and to participate in competitions.

“For me, it was a big passion and dream that I did not expect to come true until I went to university,” she said. “I got to know a few students who had similar interests and we created an ‘invention and innovation’ club. I headed the club for a year and organized 12 events and competitions at a university level.

“I teamed up with the other girls and together we started intensive online studying. There was a great coach, Waleed Althobaiti, whose YouTube videos helped us out in a big way. We asked the university board to financially support us; they did and paid us nearly SR10,000 to encourage our learning process.”

Flatah and her colleagues continued researching the subject online and signed up for as many courses and workshops as they could, visiting several Arab countries in the process. There were a few problems and setbacks along the way, often related to obtaining equipment and supplies.

“I struggled when my equipment and tools were burned, for example,” she said. “Deliveries would take weeks to arrive, sometimes months. Another difficulty was lack of funding. If the university did not agree to buy the requested supplies or equipment, we used to save money to get it. We were students — our families supported us. The same applied to our short trips for learning.

“The university has helped us but one of the conditions was that we could only use the equipment or tools on campus and for competitions. However, we had to get our own stuff so that we could learn and practice at home, or meet to finish a project.”

Another annoyance was the occasional disparaging or negative comments from some people about her work. However, Flatah used this as motivation to learn more and work even harder.

“They are my biggest inspiration,” she said. “The supporters and the negative people: Both inspire me and push me to become the person I want to be. However, I will never forget how my family, friends and university professors supported me.”

Flatah’s dream now is to continue her studies overseas, she said, adding: “I am aiming to get a scholarship either in Japan or the UK. I even applied to more universities, institutions and centers in many other countries, so I can learn and discover this huge innovative world.”

Since graduating last Ramadan, Flatah has been dividing her time between working in a hospital as a phlebotomist and continuing her academic journey.

“I also connected with authorities that can support me with my new invention, such as Dulani Business Center,” she said. The center provides non-financial support to small and medium-sized businesses, including training, counseling, consulting and networking.

Flatah believes this is the dawn of a golden age for Saudi women thanks to the ongoing social reforms.

“It is an unmatched opportunity for us to become independent, for me to build myself up and make a name for myself without thinking that it is a dream for me as a Saudi woman to achieve it,” she said. “Now the dream can be considered a realistic goal.”

The key, she added, is to grasp the opportunity: “There is nothing more beautiful than living with a purpose, something that can make you alive and happy with each step you take through life. I dream of programming robots to do more services to help humans.”

Decoder

What is the Internet of Things?

The term, or IOT for short, refers to a network of devices, appliances and other items fitted with technology and connectivity that enables them to exchange data, which can help to increase efficiency, and lower running costs, among other benefits.


Saudi Arabia and UK conclude talks on development and aid, make recommendations

Updated 07 May 2024
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Saudi Arabia and UK conclude talks on development and aid, make recommendations

  • The nations agree during 2-day event to establish a framework for cooperation in support of efforts to achieve UN’s Sustainable Development Goals
  • They also agree to collaborate on projects in Bangladesh, Ukraine and Sudan, and enhance cooperation between the Saudi Fund for Development and UK authorities

RIYADH: The Second Strategic Dialogue on International Development and Humanitarian Assistance between Saudi Arabia and the UK concluded on Tuesday with a high-level plenary session.

Aqeel Al-Ghamdi, the assistant general supervisor for planning and development at Saudi aid agency KSrelief, reviewed several recommendations by both sides, the Saudi Press Agency reported. They included an agreement to establish a framework for cooperation between the countries in support of efforts to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, and to continue discussions of goals on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

Al-Ghamdi said both countries also agreed to collaborate on projects in Bangladesh, Ukraine and Sudan, including the exchange of expertise, skills and research, and field visits. They will also work to enhance cooperation between the Saudi Fund for Development and UK authorities, through a memorandum of cooperation signed on the sidelines of the talks.

The two-day event, which began on Monday at the KSrelief headquarters in Riyadh, was chaired by the organization’s general supervisor, Abdullah Al-Rabeeah. The Saudi delegation included the Kingdom’s ambassador to the UK, Prince Khalid bin Bandar, and the CEO of the Saudi Fund for Development, Sultan Al-Murshid.

The British delegation was led by Andrew Mitchell, the deputy foreign secretary and minister of state for development and Africa, and included the British ambassador to the Kingdom, Neil Crompton.

Earlier on Tuesday, representatives of the countries took part in two roundtable meetings on “the effectiveness of aid, research and study impact” and “community resilience, results-based management, monitoring and evaluation.”

The former considered ways to: facilitate the exchange of successful strategies and the lessons that can be learned from them; promote effective development practices; develop concrete and implementable recommendations to integrate community resilience; monitor and evaluate future projects; and strengthen the existing partnership between the countries through a shared commitment to the provision of effective aid and sustainable development.

It also discussed opportunities to enhance coordination among donors to improve the effectiveness of aid, and the importance of cooperation in efforts to strengthen the interconnected nature of humanitarian, development and peace-building efforts to help ensure peace and prosperity in fragile and high-risk countries, in addition to the basic principles for enhancing programs in support of an interconnected approach that can ensure sustainability and resilience.

The participants in the latter roundtable exchanged views on the progress made in efforts to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, ways in which this might be accelerated, and the challenges they face. They also agreed on prioritization of Saudi-British efforts to achieve the goals, and explored opportunities for the development of this cooperation.


All is rosy in Taif as fans flock to flower festival

The 19th Taif Rose Festival, themed ‘Qetaf’ meaning ‘Picking Time,’ coincides with the harvest season and will run until May 12.
Updated 07 May 2024
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All is rosy in Taif as fans flock to flower festival

  • Taif’s annual show features a floral carpet of over million flowers
  • Farmers, vendors optimistic about increase in sales at the event

JEDDAH: Visitors are flocking to the 19th Taif Rose Festival at Al-Raddaf Park where the flowers are in full bloom, highlighting the region’s rich floral heritage.

The festival, themed “Qetaf” meaning “Picking Time,” coincides with the harvest season and will run until May 12. The organizers include the Taif Rose Cooperative Society and Taif Municipality.

The 19th Taif Rose Festival, themed ‘Qetaf’ meaning ‘Picking Time,’ coincides with the harvest season and will run until May 12. (SPA)

There has been an impressive turnout of Taif residents and domestic and international tourists. The exhibitors — mostly farmers and vendors — are optimistic that increased revenues will help boost rose cultivation and production.

Abdullah Altwairqi, a local farmer and festival participant, said: “Participating in the Taif Rose Festival has become a tradition for me. The atmosphere improves each year, and the revenue and exposure we receive from visitors make it worthwhile.”

HIGHLIGHTS

• Exhibitors at the Taif Rose Festival are optimistic that increased revenues will help boost rose cultivation and production.

• The flower carpet set up by the municipality in the center of the park was designed with decorative patterns inspired by the province’s heritage.

• It covers 5,206 square meters and was crafted using over a million flower and rose seedlings, making it the largest in the history of the festival.

At his booth, Altwairqi showcased various flowers and fruit, including Taif roses, peaches, prickly pears, figs, mulberries, grapes, blackberries, pomegranates, as well as aromatic plants.

The 19th Taif Rose Festival, themed ‘Qetaf’ meaning ‘Picking Time,’ coincides with the harvest season and will run until May 12. (SPA)

Altwairqi urged people to visit the Rose Flavor cafe where they can savor hot and cold beverages infused with the flavor of Taif roses and other aromatic flowers including lavender, which is also abundant in the region.

The flower carpet set up by the municipality in the center of the park left visitors awestruck. Covering 5,206 square meters, it was crafted using over a million flower and rose seedlings, making it the largest in the history of the festival.

The 19th Taif Rose Festival, themed ‘Qetaf’ meaning ‘Picking Time,’ coincides with the harvest season and will run until May 12. (SPA)

Faiz Al-Thibaiti, director-general of media and corporate communication at Taif Municipality, told Arab News: “The flower carpet was designed with decorative patterns inspired by the province’s heritage.”

He said the carpet has ensured the event has become “one of the most important tourism festivals in the Kingdom, attracting thousands of visitors and tourists from various regions of the country.”

NUMBER

70k

The rose-picking season in Taif starts around the end of March or early April, lasting between 35 to 45 days, with an average of 70,000 roses picked daily.

The decorations adorning the flower carpet draw inspiration from the intricate designs found on the walls and facades of Taif’s ancient structures, including Al-Kaki Palace in Al-Salama and King Saud Palace.

The 19th Taif Rose Festival, themed ‘Qetaf’ meaning ‘Picking Time,’ coincides with the harvest season and will run until May 12. (SPA)

Al-Thibaiti added: “Preparations for the festival started early, with the Taif Rose Cooperative Society detailing participation criteria to highlight Taif roses, including their cultivation, harvesting, and distillation into fine perfumes. This adds to Taif’s unique tourist appeal. The festival provides a platform for producers, experts, and entrepreneurs to connect, collaborate, and boost this important sector.”

Among the highlights are the rose and flower path, product stalls, goods market, government booths, and the agricultural nursery.

The gaint flower and rose carpet, spanning 5206 square meters, was meticulously crafted using 1,026,491 diverse flower and rose seedlings. (Supplied)

Interactive fountain shows accompanied by national tunes were also among the attractions, with a crossing to the upper pedestrian bridge from where visitors can view the massive flower carpet.

Artwork, flower arrangements, and hanging floral baskets scattered throughout the park added to the flair of the event.

The 19th Taif Rose Festival, themed ‘Qetaf’ meaning ‘Picking Time,’ coincides with the harvest season and will run until May 12. (SPA)

Al-Thibaiti said: “The significant turnout at the current festival comes amid increasing rose production year after year, indicating the success of this agricultural sector in achieving high revenues while continuing to promote the Taif rose product.”

Taifrosethon

The five-day Taifrosethon began on May 7, which is being held to encourage entrepreneurship in the region with technological solutions to enrich the industry.

The flower carpet was designed with decorative patterns inspired by the province's heritage. (Supplied)

The event includes various skills training and technical workshops covering trade, cultural heritage, and tourism.

The top-three winners will receive $2,666, $1,866 and $1,333 respectively. Participants are required to enter as teams, each with three to five members.

Taif’s roses

The Taif province produces more than 200 million roses each season. According to the local chamber of industry, each tree produces an average of 250 roses daily throughout the harvest season, which lasts for about 45 days.

The rose-picking season starts around the end of March or early April, lasting between 35 to 45 days, with an average of 70,000 roses picked daily.

Taif roses feature an exquisite, sweet fragrance and vibrant pink hues on delicate petals, and are a hallmark of the region’s natural beauty.

Cultivated in the high-altitude climate of Taif, these roses thrive in the cool temperatures and fertile soil of the region.

They are meticulously harvested by hand to preserve their quality, with the petals carefully collected for various purposes.

 


King Mohammed VI of Morocco receives Saudi Arabia minister of state Prince Turki

Updated 07 May 2024
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King Mohammed VI of Morocco receives Saudi Arabia minister of state Prince Turki

CASABLANCA: Morocco’s King Mohammed VI received Prince Turki bin Mohammed bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Minister of State and member of the Council of Ministers, in Casablanca on Tuesday.

During his meeting with King Mohammed, Prince Turki conveyed greetings from King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Prince Turki also delivered a letter to King Mohammed.

King Mohammed thanked the Saudi minister for the letter and “noted the distinguished relations that bind the two brotherly countries and peoples in all fields,” Saudi Press Agency reported.


Saudi Arabia condemns Israeli settlers’ attack on Jordan’s aid convoy heading to Gaza

Updated 07 May 2024
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Saudi Arabia condemns Israeli settlers’ attack on Jordan’s aid convoy heading to Gaza

  • Kingdom calls on international community to take all necessary measures to hold Israel accountable for its violations
  • Jordan and Kuwait also condemned the attack

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has strongly condemned an attack by Israeli settlers on a Jordanian humanitarian aid convoy that was heading to the besieged Gaza Strip on Tuesday, in the second incident of its kind in less than a week.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement that said “the repetition of these attacks is a result of the failure of the Israeli occupation forces to carry out their responsibilities under international humanitarian law and is considered systematic complicity in preventing the necessary humanitarian aid from reaching the Gaza Strip.”

The Kingdom called on the international community to take all necessary measures to hold Israel accountable for its violations of international law and international humanitarian law.

It also urged it to assume its responsibility to protect and secure the crossing of aid convoys, and to ensure their arrival into the Palestinian enclave to contribute to alleviating the humanitarian crisis there, the ministry statement added.

Jordan also condemned the attack and Foreign Ministry spokesperson Sufyan Qudah said: “Israel is responsible for the settler attack on the aid convoys.”

Qudah stressed that the Israeli government’s failure to stop the attacks was a violation of its legal obligations, the Jordan News Agency reported.

Qudah added that the aid convoy, run by the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization, was attacked by Israeli settlers on its way to the Beit Hanoun Crossing, also known as the Erez Crossing, in northern Gaza, adding that “its cargo was tampered with.”

He said that the convoy later managed to continue its journey despite the attack and reached its destination in war-ravaged Gaza.

Kuwait also condemned the assaults by Israeli settlers and affirmed its position calling for the international community to assume its responsibility by deploring these attacks so that they may be avoided.

The Kuwaiti foreign ministry said this would aim “to guarantee the sustainable delivery of these aid convoys to the Palestinian people in order to curb the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in the Strip caused by ongoing” Israeli attacks.


Expos begin in Riyadh, shine light on future of entertainment in Saudi Arabia

Updated 07 May 2024
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Expos begin in Riyadh, shine light on future of entertainment in Saudi Arabia

  • Saudi Entertainment and Amusement Expo and the Saudi Light and Sound Expo offer glimpse of what is to come in sector and opportunities that will be created, expert says
  • Expo organizer Sarkis Kahwajian says: ‘This year is our most diverse and dynamic agenda yet,’ exhibitors are ‘showcasing how entertainment is evolving in the Kingdom’

RIYADH: The Saudi Entertainment and Amusement Expo and the Saudi Light and Sound Expo began in Riyadh on Tuesday. The events aim to shine a light on the future of the entertainment industry in the Kingdom, showcase the latest products and technologies, and provide a forum for those at the forefront of a rapidly evolving sector in the country.

Spanning three days of creativity, interactive experiences and technological innovations, the expos will offer a glimpse what is to come in the entertainment sector and the opportunities this will create, Eihab Abourokbah, the CEO of the Saudi Entertainment Academy, told Arab News.

The events, which continue until Thursday at the Riyadh Front Exhibition and Conference Center, opened to the public, including local and international experts, public-sector authorities, and industry professionals, following an inauguration by Mohannad Al-Abbad, chief investment and business development officer at the Kingdom’s General Entertainment Authority. This was followed by a VIP walk-through by a delegation that included GEA representatives, as the event got underway with exhibitors and a series of panel discussions and presentations.

Running until May 9th at the Riyadh Front Exhibition and Conference Centre, SEA and SLS Expo opened on Tuesday. (AN photo by Rashid Hassan)

Sarkis Kahwajian, associate vice president of DMG Events and the organizer of the expos, said: “As we raise the curtain on both the SEA Expo and the SLS Expo, our aim is that this year’s shows leave a deep-rooted mark on the entertainment industry in the region.

“This year is our most diverse and dynamic agenda yet. It is here, at the intersection of creativity and technology, that our list of impressive exhibitors are revealing cutting-edge products and showcasing how entertainment is evolving in the Kingdom.”

DMG said two historic deals between major players in the entertainment industry will be finalized on the sidelines of the expos to help enhance, grow and diversify the sector.

Running until May 9th at the Riyadh Front Exhibition and Conference Centre, SEA and SLS Expo opened on Tuesday. (AN photo by Rashid Hassan)

Invest Saudi, under the auspices Ministry of Investment, will sign an agreement with Nowaar Entertainment, a company in Riyadh that focuses on experience-based events, content development and investment, to help develop the live-events industry in the Kingdom.

And Dallah Al-Baraka, a multinational corporation based in Jeddah with a broad-based investment portfolio, will sign a partnership agreement with Europa-Park, a theme park in Germany with 18 themed zones and 100 rides. The aim of the collaboration is to provide consultancy services, professional training programs, and equipment sales to help support growth in the sector in line with the goals of the Saudi Vision 2030 plan for national development and diversification.

While exhibitors from the entertainment and leisure industry around the world, including entertainment designers, consultants, contractors, mega-project developers, entrepreneurs and investors, showcase their latest products and services at the SEA Expo, their counterparts in the Kingdom, which has embarked on an entertainment renaissance in the past few years, will also unveil their latest entertainment and leisure offerings.

Running until May 9th at the Riyadh Front Exhibition and Conference Centre, SEA and SLS Expo opened on Tuesday. (AN photo by Rashid Hassan)

Vivien Exartier, executive director of Saudi Entertainment Academy, told Arab News: “This expo is important for us because it shows our footprint, it shows that we are the only institution equipped and capable of training young Saudis under the umbrella of the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation, the Human Resources Development Fund, and the GEA.”

The academy, described as the first of its kind in the Kingdom and supported by the GEA, offers young Saudis the chance to enroll in specialized courses and earn academic diplomas with the aim of opening up employment opportunities to them in the rapidly developing entertainment sector in the Kingdom.

Expert speakers at the SEA Expo will include officials from a wide range of public- and private-sector organizations, including Six Flags Qiddiya, Saudi Entertainment Ventures, Cruise Saudi, the Saudi Ministry of Investment, and the Royal Commission for AlUla.

Meanwhile, the SLS Expo will give visitors the chance to take a deep dive into specialist topics and technologies such as professional lighting and sound, live event management, stage technology and trussing, and virtual, augmented and mixed reality.

As the entertainment industry in the Kingdom continues to evolve rapidly, high-profile events and attractions such as operas, festivals, theme parks and cinema are raising the stakes in the country. This is creating growing demand for quality professional lighting, sound and other events-related technologies, which exhibitors at SLS Expo will hope to tap into by showing how they can provide equipment and services to act as a catalyst for the development of live events in the Kingdom.

Visitors will also have the chance to hear from industry leaders at the forefront of efforts to revolutionize the sector in the Kingdom. One of the most topical discussions during the event will be about ways to help empower and hone the skills of young Saudi talent by bridging skills gaps in the entertainment industry.

“We want summit delegates to walk away with a strategic understanding of how to implement Saudization strategies within their organizations, while also seeing the pivotal role graduate programs play in fostering growth in local talent,” said Expo organizer Kahwajian.