RIYADH: Live Flyboard performances were held in Umluj, Saudi Arabia for the first time on Friday evening as part of the Umluj Beach Festival, organized by Blue Light and supervised by the Saudi Water Sports and Diving Federation (SWSDF) in Duqm beach.
The event was attended by the governor of Umluj, Ziad bin Abdulmohsen Al-Bazei.
The deputy chairman of the organizing committee, Abdullah Al-Najjar, said: “These water sports, seen on the beaches of Umluj for the first time, are very exciting for the locals and visitors, especially during Eid Al-Adha holiday, which is full of events that the organizing committee ensured suit the various segments of society.”
He said that the Flyboard shows performed by Captain Saud Al-Rawi until midnight were accompanied by laser shows and fireworks, adding beauty to the surface of the sea.
Al-Najjar said that this sport includes flying in the sky, diving into the water and getting out of it like dolphins. He added: “The user flies in the air using the Flyboard Air jet engine and reaches 10 thousand (10,000) feet (3 km) for 10 minutes. The Flyboard Air has a top speed of 150 km per hour.”
This event is part of the Umluj Beach marine festival. The organizing committee has built a special dock for cruise boats carrying families and tourists during the festival to enjoy the sea atmosphere, in addition to water sports, jet skis, and the Flyboard experience.
Umluj enjoys Flyboard shows for first time
Umluj enjoys Flyboard shows for first time
- The organizing committee has built a special dock for cruise boats carrying families and tourists during the festival to enjoy the sea atmosphere
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.
