KSrelief distributed 700 food baskets in Somaliland, benefiting 40,200 individuals, and 400 food baskets to people in Sarkhrud, Afghanistan, benefiting hundreds of families
Updated 21 May 2022
SPA
BISHKEK: Saudi Arabia has sent 25 tons of dates to Kyrgyzstan as a gift. The dates were delivered by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center at an event attended by Saudi Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Ibrahim bin Radi Al-Radi and other officials.
Recently, KSrelief also delivered 50 tons of dates to the Maldives.
Maldivian Islamic Minister Dr. Ahmed Zahir Ali thanked the Saudi government for the gift, noting that it reflected the close ties between the two countries.
The gifts are part of the humanitarian aid programs provided by the Saudi government to a number of countries, with the aim of benefitting vulnerable families in different regions of the world.
KSrelief also distributed 700 food baskets in Somaliland, benefiting 40,200 individuals, and 400 food baskets to people in Sarkhrud, Afghanistan, benefiting hundreds of families.
The center is also continuing to roll out its water supply and environmental projects in Yemen’s Hajjah and Saada governorates. In one month, more than 15 million liters of water was pumped into tanks across the two regions.
KSrelief has implemented 1,997 projects worth nearly $6 billion in 83 countries since its inception in May 2015, in cooperation with 175 partners.
The areas that have benefited most from the center’s projects are Yemen ($4 billion), Palestine ($369 million), Syria ($327 million) and Somalia ($216 million).
Environment Week events put Saudi Arabia’s leadership role in the limelight
Riyadh hosts series of discussions focused on the challenges posted by drought, desertification and land degradation
Unsustainable agricultural practices, overgrazing, deforestation and soil erosion seen contributing to desertification
Updated 04 May 2024
Haifa Alshammari
RIYADH: The region of Middle East and North Africa is known for its hot, dry climate and scarce water resources. The harsh climatic conditions are a contributing factor to the region’s perennial scourge of drought, desertification and land degradation.
These challenges result in imbalances in different ecosystems, harming especially the agriculture sector and imposing economic hardship on local populations. The growing importance of this regional issue has been a motivating factor for Saudi Arabia to host regular discussions.
This week, Environment Week, has been an opportunity to take stock of the challenges ahead and the progress made so far. Events organized during Environment Week highlighted Saudi Arabia’s leadership role in environmental preservation and sustainable development.
Experts and advocates parcipate in a panel discussion on the occasion of Environment Week in Riyadh. (UNCCD photo)
Environmentalists were given a forum to exchange on a range of subjects, with the emphasis naturally on drought, desertification and land degradation. For this occasion, Arab News interviewed Ibrahim Thiaw, executive secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Riyadh.
“It has become extremely difficult for humanity to cope with the frequency of challenges,” he said. “Saudi Arabia is playing a very important role of course. It is not a small economy, therefore the demand for support from Saudi Arabia is also growing.”
Thiaw spoke of some of the outcomes of land degradation and drought such as the increase of irregular migration due to land degradation and drought. “You will likely see more competition of land and water, and therefore, more conflict,” he said.
Drought, a major problem in many Middle East countries, has put water resources under stress in tandem with rising temperatures. Both surface water and groundwater reserves are failing owing to declining precipitation and rising evaporation rates.
A picture shows a view of the dried-up bed of the al-Kalal River in the city of Badrah, near the Iran border, on August 28, 2023. Iraq's drought reflects a decline in the level of waterways due to the lack of rain and lower flows from upstream neighboring countries Iran and Turkey. (AFP)
As a result, rivers and lakes are drying up and water shortages have become a serious problem. Moreover, because of multiple environmental reasons, including drought, the region has been experiencing frequent sandstorms.
“There are around 50 countries that are sources of dust storms, but there are 150 countries that are affected by this phenomenon. Therefore, it has become a global issue,” Thiaw said, speaking about the impact of dust storms in one nation on another.
“You may use one country to shine a spotlight on dust storms, but these constitute a global phenomenon that we all need to address. To do that, you need global treaties like the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, which at the moment has 197 parties. So, it is a universal body and has a summit, a meeting every two years.
Infographic from the Global Drought Snapshot 2023 report of the International Dought Resilience Alliance and the UN Convention to combat Desertification.
“The next meeting will be held here in Riyadh in December 2024, where the 197 countries will come together at the level of heads of state, at the level of ministers and the level of experts, communities and NGOs and civil society organizations, to discuss just that, namely the consequences of land degradation and drought on the lives and livelihoods of communities.”
Furthermore, experts point out that drought and desertification influence each other. Desertification, the process by which fertile land transforms into arid desert, is another significant challenge confronting countries of the Middle East and North Africa. Unsustainable agricultural practices, overgrazing, deforestation and soil erosion all contribute to the problem.
Infographic from the Global Drought Snapshot 2023 report of the International Dought Resilience Alliance and the UN Convention to combat Desertification.
Consequently, arable land is lost and food production decreases, exacerbating the problem of food insecurity. Desertification also leads to the displacement of communities, according to Thaiaw, as people are forced to migrate in search of more habitable areas.
Speaking to Arab News on the occasion of Environment Week in Riyadh, Elizabeth Mrema, deputy executive director of the United Nations Environment Program, offered her views on the crisis of desertification.
United Nations Environment program’s deputy executive director, Elizabeth Mrema. (Supplied)
“As far as Saudi Arabia is concerned, the country has clearly seen its impact and treated it as a priority for this year. I am saying ‘this year’ because at the UN Environmental Assembly at the end of February, Saudi Arabia took the lead on an initiative to combat degradation. It went through and was adopted, and that was on a global level,” said Mrema.
“Beyond that, this country next month, on June 5, will host World Environment Day. This day is celebrated every year. It is global because it was adopted by the UN General Assembly. This year, it is being hosted by Saudi Arabia.
“This year Saudi Arabia will host the UN Conference to Combat Desertification. It will be hosted here with the theme ‘Our land, our future’ again, Land is the focus.”
Infographic from the Global Drought Snapshot 2023 report of the International Dought Resilience Alliance and the UN Convention to combat Desertification.
Additionally, the combination of drought and desertification in one area leads to land degradation, further compounding the Middle East's environmental crisis. Soil erosion, salinization, and depletion of soil nutrients are some of the results of land degradation.
As agricultural productivity declines worldwide, farmers face key challenges in securing their livelihoods, in addition to the fact that the environmental problems heighten ecosystem vulnerability, which also leads to biodiversity loss and ecosystem imbalance.
“Saudi Arabia is showing the world that this is a global issue. The initiatives which have been taken by the government in recent years demonstrate the commitment in dealing with these issues,” said Mrema.
The Saudi Green Initiative Day reflects Saudi Arabia’s vision and dedication to fostering a culture of sustainability (SPA)
“I look at the Saudi Vision 2030, I look at the environmental strategies of 2018, I look at the Saudi Green Initiative. I look at the Middle East Green Initiative with a commitment to reach a regional level to plant 50 billion trees, 10 of which Saudi Arabia has committed to plant in this country. And not in committed in words, but put an institution to lead the road, to make sure that this is happening.”
Addressing the three challenges of drought, desertification and land degradation in the Middle East requires a multifaceted approach. Thiaw and Mrema were of the view that governments, international organizations and local communities need to work together to implement sustainable water management strategies, promote efficient irrigation technologies and invest in renewable energy sources.
Additionally, they said, reforestation efforts and the protection of natural habitats can help reduce desertification and land degradation.
Raising awareness about the importance of sustainable land use practices and supporting affected communities is an important step toward long-term solutions for both the Middle East and North Africa region and the world.
To sum up, countries of the Middle East and North Africa are suffering from effects of intensifying drought, desertification and land degradation. Urgent action is required to reverse this trend and ensure regional environmental sustainability.
By adopting sustainable methods, investing in water management, and promoting conservation actions, communities of the region will be able to reduce the severity of these challenges and assure themselves of a more resilient future.
Riyadh Municipality confirms single company was responsible for recent food poisoning cases
Officials said fast-food chain could be fined over the outbreak, which hospitalized dozens of people, and that all its branches and facilities in Riyadh and Al-Kharj remain closed
Saudi Ministry of Health said 75 people were affected in the outbreak, including one death
Updated 04 May 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: Riyadh Municipality confirmed on Friday that the initial results of an investigation by health authorities suggest a single company was responsible for several cases of food poisoning last week, caused by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, that left dozens of people hospitalized.
It also confirmed the chain could be fined over the outbreak, which came to light on April 25, and that all of its branches and food-processing facilities in Riyadh and Al-Kharj remain closed.
The amount of any fine will be set according to existing legislation based on a full investigation and taking into account the severity of the effects of the incident on the people who became sick, the municipality added.
It did not say how long the company’s branches and other facilities would remain closed, but said all food products they contained would be destroyed and the process of cleaning and disinfecting all buildings, tools and machinery will be supervised by officials from the municipality.
“We confirm the safety of food products for restaurants, kitchens, cafes and caterers in the Riyadh region, as no cases have been recorded from other than the aforementioned source,” the municipality said.
The statement on Friday did not name the company involved, but Arab News reported last week that a number of food poisoning cases appeared to be linked to the Hamburgini fast-food chain.
Riyadh Municipality said health oversight teams took prompt action to investigate and monitor the situation as soon as they began to receive reports of the food poisoning cases.
On April 26, Nawaf Al-Fozan, the founder and CEO of Hamburgini, shared a video on the chain’s Instagram page in which he confirmed it was involved in the outbreak.
In a separate statement on Friday, the Saudi Ministry of Health also said that all cases in the food poisoning outbreak were linked to the same source.
The MOH said 75 people were affected in the outbreak, including one death, and that no new cases were recorded over the past five days.
"The total number of recorded cases stands at 75, including 69 Saudi nationals and 6 non-Saudis," said the statement shared on social media platform X on Friday by ministry spokesman Dr. Mohammed Al-Abd Al-Aly.
The statement noted that 50 of the cases were diagnosed as being caused by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. The ministry explained that 43 patients have fully recovered and been discharged from hospital, 11 are currently undergoing treatment and 20 cases are being closely monitored in intensive care units, or ICUs.
"The ministry continues to closely monitor hospitalized cases and provide them with the necessary healthcare while wishing them a swift recovery," said the statement. It stressed "the importance of relying on its official sources for instructions and information, and not spreading rumors and false information."
How sustainable tourism can help preserve Saudi Arabia’s iconic desert wildlife
With desert tourism on the rise, experts say visitors and developers have a responsibility to respect local fauna
The deserts of Saudi Arabia are home to more than 4,000 animal species, many of them critically endangered
Updated 04 May 2024
Jasmine Bager
ALULA: Although Saudi Arabia is home to a wealth of ecosystems, from its coastal mangroves and coral reefs to its high-altitude forests and lush oases, the Kingdom is perhaps best known for its deserts.
However, these landscapes, which are fast becoming popular with outdoor adventurers, are home to a remarkable array of animals, which inhabited the region long before the arrival of humans.
Despite the hardiness of these animals, given the harshness of their environment, the encroachment of humans into these pristine habitats is raising concerns among conservationists.
“The rapid growth in tourist flows in recent decades has been accompanied by diversification, both geographically, and in terms of tourism segments or products,” Basmah Al-Mayman, Middle East regional director of the UN Tourism (formerly UN World Tourism Organization), told Arab News.
“Desert destinations have shared in the benefits of this double-diversification process, making it an even more pressing priority to define a sustainable approach to tourism development in desert areas.”
As a Saudi national herself, Al-Mayman recognizes the value of the Kingdom’s precious ecosystems as a source of revenue and national pride. However, she believes the tourism industry, developers, and travelers themselves have a responsibility to act sustainably.
Opinion
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“In the desert, more than anywhere, with destinations still relatively untouched by the adverse effects tourism can bring, sustainability represents a particularly critical challenge,” she said.
“The messages conveyed by UN Tourism are not only preventive in character, but also offer stakeholders at international as well as local levels the advice and tools they need to combat poverty and desertification while enabling tourism to properly play its role as a vehicle for development.”
The Nubian ibex isnow among the wildlife of Saudi Arabia. (Shutterstock)
According to UN Tourism, sustainability principles refer to the environmental, economic, and socio-cultural aspects of tourism development. A balance must be established between these dimensions to guarantee its long-term sustainability.
Sustainable tourism should therefore make optimal use of environmental resources that constitute a key element in tourism development, while maintaining essential ecological processes and helping to conserve natural heritage and biodiversity.
Falcons are among the most loved wildlife in the Kingdom. (SPA photo)
As the largest country in the Middle East, occupying more than 80 percent of the Arabian Peninsula, Saudi Arabia is home to five distinct climatic regions.
These biomes include coastal fog desert, the southwestern savanna foothills, the southwestern montane woodlands, the Arabian Desert, the Nubo-Sindian tropical desert, and areas of semi-desert.
Ostriches racing at a conservation center in Jeddah. (Supplied)
Extensive hunting in the 19th century resulted in the population decline of many of Saudi Arabia’s indigenous animals, including oryx, leopards, and cheetahs. The Kingdom has since imposed bans on poaching and launched breeding programs to help bolster populations.
Other wildlife found in these habitats included striped hyenas, mongoose, baboons, sand cats, and hopping desert rodents known as jerboa. Visitors willing to brave the region’s harsh temperatures may be rewarded with a glimpse of a Nubian ibex, sand gazelles, or a whole array of reptiles.
Gazelles restin one of the wildelife conservation centers of Saudi Arabia, safe from predators and hunters. (Shutterstock)
Occupying some 25 percent of Saudi Arabia’s territory, the Rub’ Al-Khali, also known as the Empty Quarter, is anything but what its name might suggest. The world’s biggest sand desert is in fact home to a dizzying array of wildlife.
Likewise, the Kingdom’s scrublands, steppes, mangroves, volcanic fields, palm oases, and mountain ranges are teeming with creatures — nesting, hunting, feeding, and burrowing, many of them out of sight, coming out only in the cool hours of night.
DIDYOU KNOW
• 2024 was designated the Year of the Camel by the UN and Saudi Ministry of Culture.
• AlUla has made great strides in ensuring that desert tourism is eco-friendly.
• UN Tourism has put forth structured targets to support sustainable desert tourism.
• National Center for Wildlife estimates there are 4,481 endangered species in the Kingdom.
No desert animal is perhaps better recognized than the camel. It is because of its iconic status that the UN and Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture has designated 2024 as the “Year of the Camel.”
This year, Saudi Arabia will host several camel-centric events and organize special spaces to educate the public about these much-loved “ships of the desert.”
Just this past week, the second ever AlUla Camel Cup was celebrated in the Kingdom’s ancient northwestern region. The four-day event centered on the animal, which has become synonymous with the country’s identity.
The camel has been the Bedouin’s best friend for centuries, as well as a loyal companion and a lifeline. (Shutterstock)
The camel has been the Bedouin’s best friend for centuries, as well as a loyal companion and a lifeline. Even the Prophet Muhammad relied on camels for transportation and as a source of food and fuel.
Camels are not the only animals getting their moment in the limelight. Saudi Arabia’s National Center for Wildlife and the Saudi Green Initiative have been working hard to ensure none of the Kingdom’s fauna is overlooked.
Assigning an animal to be championed during a specific year, month, or day has been instrumental in raising awareness about the wellbeing and conservation of the region’s distinctive species.
In 2022, the Royal Commission for AlUla launched a campaign for the recognition of “International Arabian Leopard Day.” In 2023, the UN General Assembly unanimously designated Feb. 10 as the “International Day of the Arabian Leopard.”
Facing extinction, the Arabian leopard is one of the wildlife species at the center of the Kingdom's animal conservation program. (Royal Commission of AlUla photo)
The Arabian leopard once enjoyed a range stretching across a large swathe of the Arabian Peninsula, from southern Jordan to Yemen.
But, after years of human encroachment on its habitat, resulting in the depletion of its natural prey, the International Union for Conservation of Nature listed the big cat as a critically endangered species.
Saudi Arabia has long been at the forefront of animal conservation, with the Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammad Royal Reserve Development Authority reintroducing more than 220 endangered species into the wild in the Kingdom’s royal reserves over the past five seasons.
More than 220 endangered animal species have been reintroduced to the wild in Saudi royal reserves over the past three years. (SPA)
Much of this has been done in tandem with sustainable tourism initiatives, designed to protect the Kingdom’s ecosystems, while providing jobs, services, and prosperity to local communities.
For instance, in the ancient deserts of northwest Saudi Arabia, framed by curious rock formations with their dramatic silhouettes, the lush green oasis of AlUla has been continuously occupied by humans since before the 12th century.
Throughout that time, animals have been vital to the area and to the livelihoods of its human residents.
In line with Saudi Vision 2030, the Royal Commission for AlUla has launched an initiative to rehabilitate 65,000 hectares of degraded land, activating the space and resurrecting the harmony between humans and nature — an organic partnership that has defined the region for millennia.
The lush green oasis of AlUla has been continuously occupied by humans since before the 12th century. (RCU photo)
Besides AlUla, nearly every other desert space in the Kingdom has introduced curated tours that mindfully lead humans into the wilderness with the intention of enjoying, honoring, and respecting the animals that live there.
The Kingdom has made significant strides in ensuring that its animals continue to flourish in a rapidly changing world and a nation that aims to become a major tourism magnet in the years to come.
But with more people, vehicles, and infrastructure coming to the desert, it is a collective responsibility to ensure visitors do so without disturbing these precious ecosystems and their animal inhabitants.
Rewilding Arabia
Return of the leopard is at the heart of plans to conserve and regenerate Saudi Arabia’s landscapes and wildlife
Saudi development fund signs cooperation deal with El Salvador
The agreement is a step toward the financing of a water treatment and energy generation project using biogas in the area of the Acelhuate River, utilizing a development loan from the Saudi fund
Updated 03 May 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: The CEO of the Saudi Fund for Development Sultan bin Abdulrahman Al-Marshad signed on Friday an agreement aimed at opening doors for developmental cooperation, projects and programs in El Salvador, with the country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexandra Hill Tinoco.
Also present at the signing ceremony in Riyadh were Haytham bin Hassan Al-Malki, the Kingdom’s ambassador to Mexico and non-resident ambassador to El Salvador, and El Salvador’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ricardo Ernesto Cucalon Levy.
The agreement is a step toward the financing of a water treatment and energy generation project using biogas in the area of the Acelhuate River, utilizing a development loan from the Saudi fund.
This deal comes within the framework of the fund’s efforts to support the growth of vital needs in various countries to aid prosperity.
Beast House sets off on a unique music mission in Saudi Arabia
Ramadan Alharatani, CEO of MDLBEAST, told Arab News exclusively: “We see Beast House becoming a cornerstone of Riyadh’s music scene”
The multitiered members-only space provides an immersive experience for music producers, industry experts, creatives, and enthusiasts to connect and learn through its facilities
Updated 03 May 2024
Nada Alturki
RIYADH: Only a few months after its recent launch, Beast House has become one of the Saudi music scene’s biggest assets, using MDLBEAST’s comprehensive strategy to enrich the Saudi music industry with solid infrastructure.
Driven by a vision to provide fertile ground in which to cultivate the region’s music culture, Beast House marks MDLBEAST’s debut investment in the music facilities sector in Saudi Arabia with an innovative tripod model that combines music, architecture, and technology to achieve its unique mission in the country.
Ramadan Alharatani, CEO of MDLBEAST, told Arab News exclusively: “We see Beast House becoming a cornerstone of Riyadh’s music scene, a place where creativity is nurtured and talents from the local and international scenes can grow. Our vision is to revolutionize the way music is experienced in the region by fostering connections in the creative community through the power of music.”
The multitiered members-only space provides an immersive experience for music producers, industry experts, creatives, and enthusiasts to connect and learn through its facilities, which provide live music events, workshops, studio spaces, and shared dining spaces.
“Beast House creates a platform for local artists to both showcase and hone their talents. In this space, members can collaborate with other artists through our diverse programming designed to elevate the experience of artists. It’s a welcoming space for anyone still finding their creative path,” Alharatani said.
The studio has two music production rooms with recording booths, a mix room with a Solid State Logic Origin mixing console, and a Neve recording room with a contemporary feel.
Alharatani said: “Beast House studio caters to artists of all levels, with a blend of traditional analog and modern digital equipment. We offer hands-on experience covering the entire production process, from recording to mixing and mastering.
“Our backline includes Fender guitars, Yamaha drums, and world-class microphones like Neumann, Royer, and AKG, alongside high-end outboard gear such as Neve, Bricasti, and UA 1176 compressors. We also provide a comprehensive selection of synths and drum machines from renowned brands like Roland, Moog, and Sequential, along with top-tier software and plugins including Pro Tools, Ableton, and Waves, offering artists endless sonic possibilities.”
The CEO said that these spaces are crucial for a developing music scene and nurturing the industry, and that Beast House is all about engaging the senses in a welcoming environment through its design, curated playlists, refreshments, and dynamic live shows.
He said: “By offering insight into songwriting, production, and the music business, we’re enabling the growth of local talent and opportunities. This fosters job creation, draws in tourism, and stimulates local businesses, which are key components in building a robust music infrastructure.”
But building more venues in the Kingdom is only a part of the MDLBEAST plan.
“Our strategy is built on three pillars — music and artists, live events, and venues — and through these three pillars, we can create a vivid music scene and opportunities for local and global artists to constantly engage with their audience,” Alharatani said. “All this leads to two main goals: support the innovative economy and entertainment tourism in the Kingdom, and guarantee the sustainability of our events.”
Alharatani believes that because this is the first private members’ club of this nature in Saudi Arabia, which may be foreign to some in the region, awareness will be key in getting the public to commit to memberships.
He said: “We’ve been spreading the word, giving people the lowdown on what members’ clubs are really all about. We’ve rolled out a few sneak-peek events to hook them on the experience, and we’re connecting with creative trailblazers to grow the right community. Here, membership is more than a pass — it’s the gateway to a hub where creativity grows and thrives.”
By combining technology, architecture, and music under one roof, Beast House studio’s specialized professional team hopes to use its technical excellence to elevate regional music to new levels.
The recording studio is expecting to become a destination for musicians who want to create memorable music that transcends boundaries and leaves a lasting impact on listeners, Alharatani said.
