ThePlace: The natural beauty of Saudi Arabia’s Haql city

Haql is home to many chalets, coral reefs, and marine habitats that are scattered along the city’s beaches. (Photo/Saudi Tourism)
Updated 12 April 2019
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ThePlace: The natural beauty of Saudi Arabia’s Haql city

  • High on the list of places to visit is the southern hill on the road from Durra

The Tabuk region in northwestern Saudi Arabia is a magnet for tourists drawn to its beautiful Red Sea coastal cities.

One of the most popular city destinations there is Haql which boasts numerous tourist sites and attractions.

High on the list of places to visit is the southern hill on the road from Durra, with its captivating views taking in Aqaba city in Jordan, the town of Taba in Egypt, and the port city of Eilat.

As well as the heritage city itself, other Haql visitor hotspots include Wasl Island, and the Georgios G. shipwreck (often referred to as the “Saudi Titanic”). Haql is also home to many chalets, coral reefs, and marine habitats that are scattered along the city’s beaches.

This photo of the British-made cargo ship Georgios G., that ran aground near Haql in 1978, is part of the “Saudi Colors” project and was taken by Saudi photographer Riyadh Al-Jarei.


SDAIA president says Saudi Arabia is building an integrated AI ecosystem

Updated 20 February 2026
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SDAIA president says Saudi Arabia is building an integrated AI ecosystem

RIYADH: Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority President Abdullah Al-Ghamdi says that Saudi Arabia is moving steadily to establish artificial intelligence as a trusted national capability, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Guided by the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, Al-Ghamdi said the goal is to use AI to help develop government services, enhance competitiveness, build human capacity and improve quality of life through a comprehensive strategy based on three main pillars that unlock the potential of this technology and achieve sustainable developmental impact.

“The first pillar focuses on building human capacity and enhancing readiness to engage with AI technologies,” he said.

The second pillar is building an integrated national AI ecosystem that drives expansion and innovation by developing advanced digital infrastructure that enables various sectors to adopt AI applications efficiently, consistently and with effective governance, Al-Ghamdi said.

The third pillar, he said, is governance that ensures responsible and measurable AI through a national framework aligned with international standards.

This came during Al-Ghamdi’s speech at a high-level ministerial session held on Thursday on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi.

He is heading the Saudi delegation, and the session saw broad participation from heads of state, decision-makers and technology leaders from around the world.

Al-Ghamdi also had a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday evening, discussed AI cooperation and expressed his gratitude for hosting the summit and for the hospitality extended to the participants.