Jeddah coronavirus vaccine center aims for 10,000 daily target
Health Ministry reports 178 new virus cases, 207 recoveries, 9 deaths
Updated 26 December 2020
Rawan Radwan
JEDDAH: One of the first of a number of COVID-19 vaccine centers planned for Saudi Arabia opened its doors in Jeddah on Friday, with Dr. Hani Jokhdar, deputy minister for public health, predicting the facility would reach its expected capacity of up to 10,000 visitors daily within three weeks.
“The first center opened at the South Terminal of King Abdul Aziz International Airport and holds 86 vaccine clinics,” the deputy minister said.
“We’ll be reaching full capacity within weeks. We’re preparing to open more clinics in the terminal to reach a total of more than 450 clinics.”
Saudi Arabia recorded 178 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, raising the total number since the beginning of the pandemic to 361,903.
There are currently 2,920 active cases, 376 of which are in critical care units.
FASTFACTS
361,903 Total cases
352,815 Recoveries
6,168 Deaths
The Riyadh region recorded the highest number of cases in the Kingdom with 44 cases, followed by Makkah and Madinah with 31 cases each, and the Eastern Province with 29. Remaining regions recorded fewer than 10 cases each.
A total of 207 recoveries were recorded, raising the overall number to 352,815. The Kingdom’s recovery rate is holding steady at 97.48 percent.
Riyadh, with 25 recoveries, had the highest daily recovery rate among cities in the Kingdom, followed by Makkah with 15, Jeddah with 14 and Yanbu with 13.
Nine new deaths were recorded, raising the total mortality rate to 6,168.
A total of 32,339 polymerase chain reaction tests were conducted in the past 24 hours. The Kingdom has conducted over 10.8 million tests since the start of the pandemic.
The Kingdom vs. COVID-19
How Saudi Arabia acted swiftly and coordinated a global response to fight the coronavirus, preventing a far worse crisis at home and around the world
Jeddah students get closer look at electric motorsport
A PIF-linked initiative highlights technical and engineering careers behind electric racing events
Updated 24 January 2026
SALEH FAREED
JEDDAH: Students from local and international schools in Jeddah were introduced to STEM-related career pathways in electric motorsport this week, as part of an education program linked to the UIM E1 World Championship held on the Red Sea.
The sessions formed part of Driving Force Presented by the Public Investment Fund, an initiative run by Formula E and its electric racing series partners, to familiarize students aged eight to 18 with science, technology, engineering and mathematics through electric racing and sustainability-focused industries.
The sessions for students formed part of Driving Force Presented by the Public Investment Fund, an initiative run by Formula E and its electric racing series partners. (Supplied)
The programme took place alongside the 2026 E1 Jeddah GP and included workshops, school visits and trackside access designed to show how engineering, data, broadcast technology and event operations function within professional motorsport.
According to organisers, the initiative reached more than 60,000 students globally in 2025, with further expansion planned this year.
HIGHLIGHTS
• The program took place alongside the 2026 E1 Jeddah GP and included workshops, school visits and trackside access.
• Students learned about E1 races and their technical and environmental dimensions and discussed the engineering and marine aspects of electric boats.
• According to organisers, the initiative reached more than 60,000 students globally in 2025, with further expansion planned this year.
John Williams, managing director at E1, told Arab News: “The PIF is absolutely vital to everything we do here at the E1. They were crucial initial investment partner since the start of the championship and they continue to support us in a number of ways and more specifically around the Driving Force program.”
The sessions for students formed part of Driving Force Presented by the Public Investment Fund, an initiative run by Formula E and its electric racing series partners. (Supplied)
Elaborating more on the program, he said: “What we are doing is presenting and showing these students the available careers of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, as well as careers in sports, not only pilots but also engineers and mechanics.”
Williams added that the main key to the program was bringing a new generation to the mechanism of sport.
“We are introducing to these exciting new technologies around the race but it could be our technology on the boat or our broadcast products, as well as how to manage the event its self. There are a range of opportunities to show it to the children in addition to enjoying the excitement of the race and meeting the pilots.”
The program’s Jeddah activities began at King Abdulaziz University’s faculty of maritime studies, where students took part in a hands-on workshop focused on STEM careers in the motorsport and sustainability areas conducted by technology experts and famous water pilots such as Dani Clos, Emma Kimilainen and Patricia Pita.
Students learned about E1 races and their technical and environmental dimensions and discussed the engineering and marine aspects of electric boats.
They also enjoyed exclusive behind-the-scenes access at the E1 Jeddah GP, pilot meet-and-greets, and front-row seats to watch the RaceBird boats in action.
