RAFHA: Prince Faisal bin Khalid bin Sultan, governor of the Northern Borders region, on Monday visited the historical village of Zubala, one of the important stops on the Hajj path, 25 km south of Rafha governorate.
Zubala is famous for its three ponds — Al-Shahouf, Umm Al-Assafeer and Al-Shihiyat — as well as its archaeological palace and its fort, a tourist attraction perfect for hiking in the east of the village.
Prince Faisal inspected its historical sites and was briefed by Mohammed Al-Zimam, director of the Tourism Ministry’s regional office, on the excavation project at the Zubala archaeological site.
Al-Zimam also briefed the governor on the project to fence and parcel the site, as well as the inventory of architectural units and some pottery, glass and metal utensils.
Prince Faisal inspected the outcomes produced by the excavation team, and expressed hope for new discoveries.
He stressed the need to attach enough importance to the historical village and its antiquities. He also highlighted the importance of training local participants on the most important methods of preserving the antiquities.
Saudi Arabia’s Northern Borders governor inspects archaeological sites
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Saudi Arabia’s Northern Borders governor inspects archaeological sites
- Prince Faisal inspected the outcomes produced by the excavation team, and expressed hope for new discoveries
Board of Grievances unveils judicial intelligence hackathon to foster innovation
- Registration opens on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, and continues through Jan. 20, 2026
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Board of Grievances has opened registration for the Judicial Intelligence Hackathon, the institution’s first competition seeking sustainable solutions that harness cutting-edge technology to improve the efficiency of judicial procedures, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Registration opens on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, and continues through Jan. 20, 2026, as part of efforts to cultivate talent and promote innovation in digital transformation and artificial intelligence in the judicial sector.
The board is calling on industry experts, experienced professionals, and university students to form teams of three to five members. Each team must be led by a Saudi citizen or academic staff member at least 18 years old.
Participants register via a dedicated portal on the board’s digital platform and must submit a preliminary proposal demonstrating practical and legal viability, incorporating advanced technology with appropriate quality standards, and showing innovation relevant to the board's operations with transformative impact and long-term sustainability.
Competition unfolds in two distinct tracks. The first addresses AI applications and creative solutions for administrative justice, tackling challenges such as minimizing procedural errors and offenses during virtual court proceedings and streamlining lawsuit filing classifications.
The second track emphasizes digital innovation enhancing user journeys, focusing on simplifying document submission processes when initiating lawsuits and developing accessibility solutions enabling seniors and people with disabilities to navigate board services more effectively.
Finalists are scheduled to be announced on Jan. 23, 2026, followed by virtual project discussion and presentation sessions on Jan. 28.
According to the SPA, this methodology for sourcing innovative concepts underscores the dedication of the board’s leadership to advance performance across judicial chambers and administrative divisions while pursuing strategic goals of refining administrative court litigation processes, expediting case resolutions, and establishing competitive leadership in the judicial arena.
