RIYADH: The Saudi Ministry of Labor and Social Development has launched its latest pioneering initiative, “Priority For Them,” a move to aid accessibility to government services and departments for people with special needs.
It will target four segments of society — the elderly, disabled, pregnant women and new mothers — granting them priority in waiting areas and queues, which will ensure a better delivery of service wherever they go.
The initiative is being publicized through social media, having already gone viral on Twitter, and comes as part of the ministry’s social initiatives program “Building and Empowering.”
“‘Priority For Them’ is a community awareness initiative that does not require significant financial resources to implement it. This initiative aims at giving priority to the elderly, those with disabilities, pregnant women, and those carrying a baby, enabling them to cross the crowded paths, sit in waiting areas, and to obtain requested services as soon as possible,” Nourah Fahad Al-Jebali, a ministry consultant, told Arab News.
According to figures from the General Authority of Statistics in 2018, the plans could provide fast-tracks for over 5 million Saudi citizens.
The initiative comes in line with the National Transformation Program (NTP), and as part of the Vision 2030 objectives to enhance and develop all social services provided in the Kingdom. The ministry has pledged to raise public awareness of people’s rights as a result, as well as implement new ones for those considered more vulnerable.
The governor of Al-Baha, Dr. Hussam bin Saud, launched the “Priority For Them” initiative and also signed several strategic partnerships and hiring agreements for disabled citizens as part of the program.
Al-Jebali said: “The expected impact of this initiative is to facilitate transactions and, thus, increase the quality of services provided to achieve community integration. Empowering people with disabilities leads us to a comprehensive and harmonious society in which people with needs are productive and stable.”
Initiatives reinforcing community values were, she added, essential in order to influence upcoming generations standards of etiquette and charity.
Saudi ministry launches ‘Priority For Them’ access initiative
Saudi ministry launches ‘Priority For Them’ access initiative
- The initiative comes in line with the National Transformation Program (NTP), and as part of the Vision 2030 objectives to enhance and develop all social services provided in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia’s Sharaan and Wadi Nakhlah nature reserves win Dark Sky recognition
- The two reserves in AlUla join more than 250 locations worldwide that are protected from light pollution
- AlUla Manara and AlGharameel Nature Reserve, also both in AlUla, received Dark Sky Park designations last year
ALULA: Two more nature reserves in Saudi Arabia’s AlUla have won recognition as Dark Sky Places, joining more than 250 locations worldwide that are protected from light pollution.
The official accreditation of Sharaan National Park and Wadi Nakhlah reserves from the DarkSky International builds on AlUla’s 2024 achievement, when AlUla Manara and AlGharameel Nature Reserve became the first sites in the Kingdom and the Gulf region to receive Dark Sky Park designations.
The latest recognition further strengthens AlUla’s position as a leading global destination for night sky protection and astronomical tourism, said the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) in a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
Dark Sky International also announced the recognition in an earlier report, noting that the Sharaan and Wadi Nakhlah’s combined area of 6,146 square kilometers reflects the “expanded scope of environmental protection efforts aimed at preserving AlUla’s pristine night skies and reducing light pollution across a vast geographical area.”
DarkSky International works to reduce light pollution in both urban and rural areas and to raise global awareness of the importance of protecting the night sky.
AlUla’s protected areas are located in the heart of northwest Arabia, near the ancient oasis city of AlUla in Madinah Province.
“Towering sandstone cliffs, labyrinthine canyons, tranquil basins, and volcanic formations create a dramatic setting where geological diversity, cultural heritage, and thriving biodiversity converge beneath exceptionally dark, open skies,” Dark Sky said.
Scientists have noted that AlUla’s natural isolation from urban light sources, combined with ideal atmospheric conditions, makes it a world-class destination for stargazing, astronomy education, and immersive dark-sky experiences.
With the phased development of its reserves, AlUla is now ranked 3rd globally in the Dark Sky Park category, solidifying its status as one of the world’s premier destinations for astronomical discovery.
The RCU reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the natural environment, preserving the night sky, and promoting sustainable tourism, further positioning AlUla as a leading global destination for astronomy, scientific research, and advanced environmental experiences, in line with AlUla Vision and the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
