JEDDAH: German Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Jorg Ranau hailed the Kingdom’s efforts in fighting the coronavirus while receiving his vaccination at the Ministry of Health’s center in Riyadh recently.
“I’m very glad to live in Saudi Arabia right now where incidences of infected people with COVID-19 are much lower than other parts of the world,” he told Al-Arabiya.
“Congratulations to Saudi Arabia, to the ministry, to its government, which puts people first, and this is the right way to do it,” he said.
He praised the Kingdom’s efforts in kick-starting the vaccination process. He noted that the mask he was wearing had “become the new normal,” adding that this was about to change due to vaccine development.
The envoy said that the same Pfizer vaccine was also to be used in Germany.
“I’m also a little proud, because the vaccine being used is the the BioNTech Pfizer one, developed in Germany,” he said.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s chief of general staff, Lt. Gen. Fayyad Al-Ruwaili, received his vaccination from the center in Riyadh as part of the national plan implemented by the Health Ministry.
Saudi Arabia on Friday reported seven new COVID-19-related deaths. The death toll now stands at 6,230. There were 137 new cases reported in the Kingdom, meaning 362,878 people have now contracted the disease. There are 2,567 active cases, 362 of whom are in critical condition.
According to the ministry, 30 of the newly recorded cases were in Riyadh, 15 in Makkah and eight in Madinah.
In addition, 228 more patients have recovered from coronavirus, bringing the total number of recoveries in the Kingdom to 354,081.
Saudi Arabia has so far conducted 11,046,767 PCR tests, with 36,383 carried out in the past 24 hours.
German envoy praises Saudi Arabia’s virus efforts
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German envoy praises Saudi Arabia’s virus efforts
- Health Ministry reports 137 new COVID-19 cases, 228 recoveries, 7 deaths
Saudi Arabia launches key projects at World Defense Show in Riyadh
- Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman unveils initiatives
- New firms set up and deals inked at event running to Feb. 12
RIYADH: Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman unveiled new initiatives and signed several agreements on the opening of the third World Defense Show in Riyadh on Sunday.
Prince Khalid opened the show on behalf of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Organized by the General Authority for Military Industries, the five-day event will run until Feb. 12, showcasing the Kingdom’s rapid strides toward strategic independence and technological leadership in the defense sector.
The 2026 edition features a purpose-built venue with a 2,700-meter runway for live air and land demonstrations, underscoring the show’s status as a premier global defense event.
The GAMI’s Gov. Ahmad Al-Ohali said the show reflects Saudi Arabia’s commitment to localizing over 50 percent of military spending in line with Vision 2030, and fostering an integrated ecosystem where government bodies and international partners collaborate on innovation.
Strategic agreements and major launches
At the Saudi Arabian Military Industries Group pavilion, Prince Khalid launched several key initiatives.
- New entities: The inauguration of the SAMI Land Co., SAMI Autonomous Co., and the SAMI Land Industrial Complex.
- Supply chain: The unveiling of the SAMI Local Content Program and the HEET Program.
- International cooperation: A memorandum of understanding was signed between the Saudi General Authority for Defense Development and the Korean Agency for Defense Development on advanced military research.
- Defense deals: The minister signed cooperation agreements with Slovakia, Malaysia, and Somalia.
Technological debuts and innovations
The show is also serving as a launchpad for cutting-edge security technologies across various government sectors.
- AI-Powered Lucid Gravity: Public Security debuted its advanced Lucid Gravity electric security vehicle at the Ministry of Interior’s pavilion.
The vehicle integrates state-of-the-art artificial intelligence and specialized security equipment designed to accelerate emergency response times and support field operations.
By leveraging predictive intelligence and advanced command-and-control systems, the Lucid Gravity exemplifies the ministry’s commitment to protecting the Kingdom.
- Smart helmet: Also at the Ministry of Interior’s pavilion, the General Directorate of Civil Defense unveiled its smart helmet.
Designed to revolutionize public safety and emergency response, the helmet features day-and-night cameras and specialized sensors to detect hazardous materials in hard-to-reach locations.
The device serves as a mobile command node, delivering live video feeds directly to command-and-control centers. By enabling real-time data analysis and faster decision-making, the helmet reduces response times and enhances personnel safety in high-risk environments.
- Border security: The General Directorate of the Border Guard showcased an integrated security system featuring radar and thermal cameras capable of detecting drones and classifying moving targets to protect critical infrastructure.
It also functions as an early warning system for critical facilities and border areas and is fully integrated with command-and-control systems.
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Counter-terrorism: The Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition presented a comprehensive framework integrating intellectual, media, and military domains to combat extremism and terror financing.
Visitors were briefed on specialized programs designed to raise the readiness of national personnel and foster sustainable institutional cooperation among member states to combat extremism.
On the event’s opening day, the pavilion hosted high-level delegations, including ministers, military leaders, and ambassadors who reviewed and praised the coalition’s pivotal role in coordinating local and international security efforts.
A view of the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition pavilion. (SPA) -
Meteorology: The National Center for Meteorology displayed advanced weather systems essential for ensuring the safety of the event’s air shows and military operations.
At its dedicated pavilion, the NCM is showcasing its latest advanced meteorological technologies and systems. These solutions serve both the military and civilian sectors, providing accurate data to support beneficiary entities’ operational processes.
World Defense Show CEO Andrew Pearcey said that participation is expected to surpass previous records, reflecting the event’s growing importance on the international stage.
