JEDDAH: The Saudi Armed Forces have concluded their participation in the Arab Shield 1 maneuvers that began on Nov. 5.
The three-week exercise, which also included forces from host nation Egypt, the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan, is one of a series undertaken by the Saudi military to strengthen military relations between Arab countries and improve the combat skills and readiness of their fighting forces.
Saudi troops, led by Commander of the Saudi Royal Land Forces Lt. Gen. Fahd bin Abdullah Al-Mutair, took part in a number of key activities, including a seminar for senior officers at which Brig. Saeed Al-Qahtani gave a lecture about the challenges facing the Arab world from a military perspective.
A variety of joint field operations were carried out to simulate the elimination of armed terrorist positions in border villages, the securing of international borders and strategic communications using Land Forces, Special Forces and Marines, and to plan future operations and logistics support. Saudi air and naval forces, and a number of tanks, also took part in a number of specialized maneuvers.
“The participation of our armed forces in Arab Shield 1, along with some other brotherly Arab countries, comes in accordance to the directives of our wise leadership to continue and improve the military cooperation ... in order to unify the concepts and exchange experiences, which enhances our capabilities and combat readiness,” said Al-Mutair.
“The accuracy in the live shooting we saw at the end of the training reflects the good preparation in all areas of the exercise and of those in the participating forces.”
Al-Mutair thanked the Egyptian authorities for their work and the excellent preparation for the exercise and congratulated them for its success, and said he hoped to see similar collaborations in the future.
Brig. Abdullah bin Yousuf Al-Jaser, the military attache at the Kingdom’s embassy in Egypt, said that the participation of the Saudi forces in Arab Shield 1 had been effective in supporting and developing their armed capabilities and preparing military leaders to deal with challenges and fight terrorism.
Saudi Armed Forces hone combat skills during Arab Shield 1 military exercise
Saudi Armed Forces hone combat skills during Arab Shield 1 military exercise
- A variety of joint field operations were carried out to simulate the elimination of armed terrorist positions in border villages, the securing of international borders
Saudi hospital pioneers preventive type 1 diabetes treatment
RIYADH: King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center introduced a groundbreaking preventive treatment aimed at slowing the progression of type 1 diabetes, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
The new therapy is designed for adults and children aged eight years and older who are diagnosed at stage two of the disease. It marks the first time such a treatment has been implemented in the Kingdom.
The initial application involved two patients who met all the criteria outlined in the approved protocol. The step represents a major advance in early preventive care for one of the most common autoimmune conditions affecting children and adolescents.
Both cases were treated at the hospital’s Department of Pediatrics. For families already managing type 1 diabetes, the innovation brings new hope.
Siblings of affected children often face increased risk due to shared genetic and immune factors. Preventive options like this could significantly lower those risks in the future.
The treatment targets the early, pre-type 1 diabetes stage when insulin-producing pancreatic cells begin to deteriorate. Through early intervention, doctors can slow this damage, delay the onset of symptoms and help extend the time before full disease progression.
Implementing the therapy required careful preparation. The drug was compounded in the hospital pharmacy under a precise protocol, while nursing teams received training on administration, monitoring and managing possible reactions.
Medical staff were also briefed on patient selection and follow-up criteria based on the latest clinical guidelines.
According to the SPA, experts expect the program to inspire national research focused on the early stages of the disease and on developing preventive approaches that enhance quality of life for at-risk groups.
KFSH&RC continues to gain recognition on the global stage. It was ranked first in the Middle East and Africa, and 15th worldwide among the top 250 academic medical centers for 2025.
The hospital was also named the most valuable healthcare brand in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East by Brand Finance 2025.
Additionally, Newsweek included KFSH&RC on its lists of the World’s Best Hospitals (2025), the World’s Smartest Hospitals (2026) and the World’s Best Specialized Hospitals (2026).
