Princess Aljohara Al-Saud, partner at Henning Larsen studio in Riyadh

Princess Aljohara Al-Saud
Updated 15 November 2019
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Princess Aljohara Al-Saud, partner at Henning Larsen studio in Riyadh

Princess Aljohara Al-Saud is a partner at Henning Larsen studio in Riyadh and has served as the design architect for a number of the Scandinavian company’s projects in Saudi Arabia and the wider region, many of which strike a balance between Arabian and Scandinavian culture.

One of the company’s first projects in the Kingdom was the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Riyadh, designed by Henning Larsen — after whom the company is named — and completed in 1984. 

Princess Aljohara has a special interest in promoting women’s positions in Saudi society. 

She is actively involved in a network that supports women’s ambitions of achieving executive positions in the private sector. 

Princess Aljohara is also a member of the advisory board of the Alfaisal University Department of Engineering.

Recently Princess Aljohara spoke at a Misk Global Forum session called “Dinosaur or future-fit? Careers in a post-job era.” She discussed some of the hardships she faced when she first started working.

“Few organizations at that time had women in their offices,” she said. Undeterred, she “saw an opportunity and grabbed it.”

Princess Aljohara said: “I progressed and started as a junior architect. My skills gradually developed and I became a business development manager.”


Transport minister oversees operations as King Khalid Airport resumes service

Updated 21 December 2025
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Transport minister oversees operations as King Khalid Airport resumes service

  • Saleh Al-Jasser inspects facilities, assesses measures taken to restore passenger flow 

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s minister of transport oversaw operational procedures at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday after heavy rain reportedly brought it to a near standstill on Friday.

Saleh Al-Jasser inspected the airport’s facilities and assessed measures taken to restore smooth passenger flow, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

He also received a technical briefing at the operations center from Raed Al-Idrissi, the CEO of Matarat Holding, on airport operations and flight punctuality, and the implementation of Passenger Rights Protection Regulations.

He ordered the necessary reviews to ensure sustained operational discipline under all conditions.

Al-Jasser was accompanied by the General Authority of Civil Aviation’s President Abdulaziz Al-Duailej; Ayman AboAbah, the CEO of Riyadh Airports Company; and several senior officials from the airport.

Thousands of passengers traveling to and from the airport were left stranded on Friday due to a slew of cancellations and delays.

Saudia and flyadeal were among the aviation firms who faced difficulties, with the two airlines blaming temporary operational challenges for the issues.

A statement from the airport on its official X account had urged travelers to contact airlines directly before heading to the aviation hub to verify the updated status and timing of their flights.

The statement said: “King Khalid International Airport would like to inform you that, due to the concurrence of a number of operational factors over the past two days — including several flights diverting from other airports to King Khalid International Airport, in addition to scheduled maintenance works within the fuel supply system — this has resulted in an impact on the schedules of some flights, including the delay or cancellation of a number of flights operated by certain airlines.”

Airport sources told Arab News that the issue resulted from the heavy rain Riyadh experienced on Friday.

Water had reportedly got into the fuel tankers set to refuel jets, and several airlines then struggled to reschedule passengers.