How Saudi Arabia can become the vanguard of sustainable tourism

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A deserted California beach on July 4, 2020 as pandemic curbs hit the travel industry worldwide. (Getty Images)
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A deserted California beach on July 4, 2020 as pandemic curbs hit the travel industry worldwide. (Getty Images)
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People walk past empty tables and chairs in Melbourne, Australia, during the COVID-19 pandemic. (AFP)
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Updated 22 May 2022
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How Saudi Arabia can become the vanguard of sustainable tourism

  • An agreement with Jamaica puts resilient tourism at the heart of the industry’s post-pandemic recovery
  • The pandemic highlighted the vulnerability of tourism not only to pandemics but also extreme weather

LONDON: Saudi Arabia is stepping up its efforts to become the vanguard of a UN pledge to develop a sustainable model of tourism after the sector’s levels of resilience were pushed to breaking point by the pandemic and new dire warnings of tourism’s environmental footprint emerged.

Addressing the UN General Assembly on May 6, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb said lessons about tourism’s vulnerability to sudden, unexpected events must be taken from the pandemic — which cost the sector 62 million jobs worldwide — and changes made.

“COVID-19 highlighted the vulnerability of the sector, not only to pandemics but also to the effects of extreme weather, so addressing climate change must be at the heart of building a more resilient tourism, and there is no resilience without sustainability,” he said.

“We must work collaboratively, putting sustainable, resilient tourism at the heart of inclusive recovery. Only by doing these things together will we ensure better and more resilient futures for the millions around the world reliant on tourism.”




A partial view shows an ancient Nabataean carved tomb at the archaeological site of Hegra, near the northwestern Saudi city of AlUla. (Photo by 

The UN’s World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) welcomed the Saudi efforts, noting that the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 has already provided the blueprint for a “transformative and deeply ambitious” economic strategy, and could do the same for tourism.

A spokesperson for the UNWTO told Arab News: “This ambitious plan aims to reshape the social and cultural landscape, accelerating growth through strategic investment, new industries and leadership.

“It is an opportunity to bring Saudi Arabia’s heritage, culture and hospitality to the world; and deliver on climate and sustainability goals. Properly managed, tourism can play a key role in achieving this vision.”

Scientists have said CO2 emissions from tourism will increase by 25 percent by 2030 compared to 2016 levels, which if left unaddressed could be a bullet for the sector as visitors begin to factor in the impact, and morality, of climate change on their destination choices.

Signaling the Kingdom’s intent to become the shepherd to sustainability, Al-Khateeb and his Jamaican counterpart, Edmund Bartlett, signed earlier this month a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on developing sustainable and resilient tourism between the two countries.

Part of the agreement also included determination to not only embrace the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development but to lay out a blueprint that can be rolled out globally for a sustainable model of tourism.




The Taif rose season draws visitors from Saudi Arabia and beyond. (AN photo by Huda Bashatah)

Although firm details on the blueprint have yet to emerge, the UNWTO spokesperson noted that policymakers are “best placed” to play a central role so long as their policies include aims to reduce environmental impacts of consumption and production patterns.

“National tourism planning is a well-established practice among national authorities with national tourism policies covering on average a time frame of 10 years and addressing the same thematic areas across regions,” the spokesperson added.

“Aspects such as human resource development, investment, marketing and promotion, employment, product development and diversification have been factored into the policies as these are relevant aspects for the sustainable economic development of tourism.”

Jonathon Day, associate professor and Marriott School of Hospitality and Tourism Management graduate program director, applauded the Kingdom’s “ambition and commitment,” believing it could become a leader in sustainable development.

“Tourism developed sustainably has the potential to contribute substantially to sustainability challenges faced by Saudi Arabia and the world, and I’m sure that through tourism Saudi Arabia can join the destinations leading in sustainable development,” Day told Arab News.

“The Kingdom has the resources to invest in infrastructure to support sustainability goals and knows that tourism that doesn’t adopt the principles of sustainability can make sustainability issues worse. It requires commitment to achieve positive outcomes.”

Day is not alone in seeing Saudi Arabia’s financial resources as key in any effort it may make to lead the way in green tourism, with Prof. Willy Legrand of the International University of Applied Sciences believing it “would translate” in attracting talent and developing policy.




AlUla, home to Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site, is at the heart of the Kingdom’s tourism ambitions. (Courtesy: Royal Commission of AlUla)

“Not only this, the resources allow the country to develop and implement state of the art (existing) solutions as well as being a pipeline for the testing of new solutions to tackle some of the greater tourism challenges,” Legrand told Arab News.

Architect and sustainable tourism consultant Amine Ahlafi said that while Saudi Arabia had only recently opened for tourism more broadly, it was important to remember it had a rich history of religious tourism, and this was something it could learn from.

Anywhere from 2.5 million to 9 million pilgrims travel to the Kingdom each year, Ahlafi told Arab News that this results in around 15 million plastic cups being used to cater to the water needs of everyone traveling.

“You can of course use technology to recycle all the disposable cups, but sustainable tourism should be about finding ways to raise awareness so that we don’t have to rely on technology,” he said.

“As for developing new tourism, I think they should promote the desert potential of tourism as they can market it as a very interesting place for sustainable tourism — which does not mean they have to reduce the quality.

“We can do luxury combined with sustainability and not in a greenwashing way with the design of luxury desert camps that optimize the natural resources, the sun and the wind for energy.”

Ahlafi said a blueprint would need to be predicated on pushing technology and the habitat you find yourself in. “Technology is the tool, not the solution, the solution is building to suit the environment, not trying to have the environment suit you.”

Legrand said the Kingdom’s capacity to achieve its aims would depend on a “declaration of transparency” in which it not only set out its goals but communicated actions undertaken and results achieved.

Day said it was also important to construct the blueprint not as a series of steps that would work for every country but rather to realize it as a list of questions that all countries could ask of themselves.

“Sustainability and sustainable tourism are ‘wicked problems,’ which means there are many things that need to be done, and it requires many organizations and parts of government to work to achieve common goals,” Day said.

“And while there are a common set of tasks, each destination will have different priorities. So, the questions may be the same — but the answers may be different. For instance, Saudi Arabia probably will focus on water conservation more than some destinations.”

Legrand agreed that the Kingdom’s ability to produce a global blueprint would depend on its ability to recognize that there would be “no one size fits all” approach, but rather a series of questions and inclusion of all stakeholders in the process.

He suggested the questions could include: What are hoteliers’ views on sustainability? Are the restaurateurs capitalizing on local agriculture? Are local communities involved? What are the challenges for these different actors? Are the destination marketers aware?

But he also noted that there were “clear, key topics” that would need to be addressed in a global, universalized manner, not least of which is the elephant in the room: Long-haul air travel.

“Long-haul travel remains a major challenge on the emission front and will remain so for the years to come, although airlines are making progress both in terms of efficiencies and fuel technologies,” he said.

“Transparency at the booking stage is critical to make the right decisions about a trip, here Travalyst and its many members are making progress in providing travelers with that information, such as the carbon footprint of specific airline routes, for example.”

Both Day and Legrand agreed that for Saudi Arabia to meet its ambitions as the vanguard in a push towards sustainable tourism, the country would need to hang its efforts around the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals for industry, not least “collaboration and cooperation.”

They face many challenges, foremost of which is improving citizens’ trust in state institutions.

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Filipino judges complete judicial training course at Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University in Riyadh

Updated 16 sec ago
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Filipino judges complete judicial training course at Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University in Riyadh

  • Two-week course aimed to enhance the judicial capabilities of Filipino judges and facilitate the exchange of expertise between Saudi Arabia and the Philippines

RIYADH: Participants in the second judicial course for Filipino judges, held at the Higher Judicial Institute at Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, have commended the Kingdom's government for prioritizing Islamic knowledge and its commitment to serving Islam and Muslims, the Saud Press Agency reported on Thursday.

The two-week course aimed to enhance the judicial capabilities of Filipino judges and facilitate the exchange of expertise between Saudi Arabia and the Philippines.

The program is part of a series of international judicial training programs organized by the Institute in collaboration with friendly countries worldwide. 

 Filipino judges and scholars of the Higher Judicial Institute pose for a souvenir picture at the Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University ion Riyadh. (SPA)

These initiatives aim to foster international cooperation and exchange expertise in the field of justice, further solidifying the Kingdom's leadership in judicial matters, SPA said.

Islamic law is partially implemented in the Christian-majority Philippines and is applicable only to Filipino Muslims. Shari'ah courts are under the supervision of the country's Supreme Court.

Last year, Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed a law expanding the Sharia judicial system to cover not only the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) but other regions of the country. 

Under the new law, the Sharia courts have jurisdiction over civil affairs for Muslim communities, including family matters, marriage, and inheritance. Criminal cases remain under the authority of national courts. 


Saudi king, crown prince congratulate Greece’s new president 

Updated 14 February 2025
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Saudi king, crown prince congratulate Greece’s new president 

  • Constantine Tassoulas replaces Katerina Sakellaropoulou, the first woman to serve as Greece’s head of state

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Thursday congratulated Greece’s erstwhile parliament chief Constantine Tassoulas on his election as the country’s new president.

In a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), King Salman expressed his “best wishes for success” to the new president and also wished “the friendly people of Greece continued progress and prosperity.”

The crown prince issued a similar statement.

Tassoulas, 65, was elected with 160 votes in the 300-member parliament in the fourth round of voting on Wednesday.

Constantine Tassoulas, left, delivers a speech at the parliament building in Athens on February 12, 2025, after he was elected president of Greece. (Pool via REUTERS)

He replaces Katerina Sakellaropoulou, the first woman to serve as Greece’s head of state, who was not nominated for a second five-year term.

Tassoulas is a member of the governing center-right New Democracy party and a close ally of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. A lawyer by trade, he also served as culture minister a decade ago.

 


How AI is transforming music and preserving legends — but raising ethical concerns

Updated 13 February 2025
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How AI is transforming music and preserving legends — but raising ethical concerns

  • AI is revolutionizing music by composing, recreating voices, and enhancing collaboration between artists and technology
  • Experts say its future depends on balancing innovation with ethical considerations of ownership and artistic integrity

RIYADH: Artificial intelligence is redefining music, opening up new opportunities to create, innovate, and preserve cultural legacies. From composing new melodies to recreating the voices of late artists, AI sits at the intersection of technology and artistry.

According to Alice Eldridge, Thor Magnusson, and Chris Kiefer in their paper, “Artificial intelligence in music and performance: A subjective art-research inquiry,” AI leverages machine learning to analyze patterns in music, enabling it to compose, mimic, or adapt musical styles.

Technologies such as generative adversarial networks refine outputs to make them more lifelike, while natural language processing aids in creating lyrics and melodies. The researchers say these tools are integral to interactive music systems, where AI becomes a collaborative partner in the creative process.

Musician Atheer Al-Amoudi views AI’s creative potential as revolutionary. “AI is becoming unstoppable in various fields, and the outcomes are undeniably mind-blowing,” Al-Amoudi told Arab News.

“Its limitlessness makes the wildest thoughts of creativity easier to actually produce. If an artist wished to collaborate with another artist but they were unreachable, they can use AI to bring this to life.”

Although such technological leaps are transformative for the production of music, they do throw up concerns about plagiarism and copyright infringement. “There must be a form of consent or at least a disclaimer stating that the actual artist has been replicated,” Al-Amoudi said.

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Indeed, while AI can spark creativity, its potential for misuse is concerning. “AI could become a shortcut for lazy artists, where they sell their voice input and let editors produce whatever music they want,” Al-Amoudi said.

“It’s not as authentic, but the shortcut has its benefits for certain projects.”

One especially powerful application in AI-generated music is when it is used to recreate the voices of late singers by drawing upon their body of work.

“The only aspect where AI can create deep emotional music is when it uses the vocals of a deceased singer,” Al-Amoudi said. “It’s really moving, and you can’t help but wonder how that singer would feel about it, and if they would sing it the same way AI is doing it.”

AI in music depends on various advanced technologies, including machine learning, voice synthesis, and generative adversarial networks. These systems analyze and recreate everything from rhythm and harmony to unique vocal traits.

Voice synthesis and cloning, for example, involve training AI on recordings of an artist’s voice to replicate their tone, pitch, and intonation. (Supplied)

Voice synthesis and cloning, for example, involve training AI on recordings of an artist’s voice to replicate their tone, pitch, and intonation. Models like generative adversarial networks refine these replications, ensuring they sound natural and authentic.

This integration of AI technologies was recently used to recreate the voice of Saudi musician and composer Talal Maddah for his daughter Nagham’s wedding — a project that demonstrated the ability of AI to preserve and honor cultural heritage.

“Initially, when I met with the bride, she hadn’t even considered the idea of using one of her father’s songs for her wedding,” music designer Nasser Al-Ojan told Arab News.

How a generative adversarial network works. (Wikimedia Commons)

“She was only planning to walk down the aisle to instrumental music. I suggested that her father should somehow be present with her at this special moment. She asked, ‘How?’ That’s when the idea of using AI came to me.”

The process was both technical and deeply emotional. “Creating such a precise outcome is one of the most challenging tasks,” Al-Ojan said. “First, we used 59 songs by Talal Maddah to isolate his voice across all the vocal ranges he had sung in. This was necessary to replicate his vocal signature accurately.

“The process involved extracting his voice from these songs at various pitches, so when the software works on highs or lows, it mimics the way the artist’s voice naturally flows. This level of precision required a lot of effort and professionalism. The process takes exactly 48 hours to achieve this level of perfection.”

AI leverages machine learning to analyze patterns in music, enabling it to compose, mimic, or adapt musical styles. (Supplied)

The final result was a rendition of one of Maddah’s songs personalized with Nagham’s name, bringing his voice back to life for a deeply personal and moving moment.

Noor Al-Faraj, a data AI and automation expert at IBM and winner of the Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence’s Enjaz Hackathon, sees AI as a tool that could push music beyond traditional boundaries.

“AI can help generate melodies, experiment with different sounds, or even mix genres in ways we might not think of,” Al-Faraj told Arab News. “It’s making music creation more accessible, too — you don’t have to be a professional to use these tools and make something amazing.”

However, Al-Faraj highlights the ethical concerns surrounding the technology. “Since AI is trained on existing music, there’s always a chance it could accidentally copy something too closely.

Noor Al-Faraj

“And then there’s the question of ownership — if an AI tool creates a song, who owns it? The person using the tool? The company that made the AI? It’s a gray area that we’re still figuring out.”

AI’s role should complement human creativity rather than replace it, she said. “The goal isn’t to replace what humans create but to complement it with something different, something we’ve never heard before.”

AI is revolutionizing the music industry, offering tools to preserve the legacy of artistic greats like Maddah and push the boundaries of creativity.

From Al-Amoudi’s enthusiasm for AI’s potential to Al-Ojan’s emotionally charged recreation of Maddah’s voice for his daughter, these stories illustrate the transformative power of AI in music.
 

 


‘Lessons to be learned from Saudi Arabia’s G20’ says South African envoy 

Updated 13 February 2025
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‘Lessons to be learned from Saudi Arabia’s G20’ says South African envoy 

  • Magabe said several meetings were held between Saudi Arabia and South African officials to discuss insights gained from the G20 presidency

RIYADH: With South Africa set to host this year’s G20, the ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Mogobo David Magabe, commended the Kingdom’s visionary leadership, adding that there were lessons to be learned from Saudi Arabia’s presidency of G20 during the global outbreak of COVID-19. 

“There are positive lessons that South Africa itself has learned from countries that have hosted the G20 before it, and one of them will be our strategic partner the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” he said.

Magabe said that during the World Economic Forum, several meetings were held between Saudi Arabia and South African officials to discuss insights gained from the G20 presidency as well as how the two countries could continue to collaborate.

The ambassador said that it was unfortunate that the Kingdom hosted the G20 during COVID-19 when many of the delegates were unable to attend in person, but he stressed that much could be gained from Saudi Arabia’s responses during COVID-19.

“The issue of COVID, in terms of rolling out the vaccine, was one of the most important lessons,” he said.

“During that period, remember that everyone in the Kingdom was vaccinated based on the Kingdom’s leadership.”

The envoy also commended the Kingdom’s role as a geopolitical mediator: “The importance of multilateral forums that have been established because they (Saudi Arabia) continue to play a meaningful role in terms of the global dialogue for humanity for peace, and this is very important.

“I always say that these two countries, Saudi Arabia and South Africa, are well positioned in terms of different regions to make a contribution. 

“And there continues to be more collaboration between the two countries.”

During his interview with Arab News, the ambassador highlighted the excitement felt about G20’s presidency in South Africa, underlining that “it will be the first time that the G20 is hosted on African soil.”

He said that economic diplomacy was one of the areas that South Africa was committed to strengthening under its G20 presidency. 

According to the ambassador, other areas of focus for South Africa’s G20 would be unemployment, poverty and hunger, challenges around achieving sustainable development goals, geopolitical instability and climate change. 

South Africa’s G20 presidency would focus on three main elements — solidarity, equality and sustainability.

Under the theme of solidarity, Magabe said that there needed to be more collaboration between countries on the geopolitical situation.

The envoy also stressed that inequality among developed and developing countries would be an important topic of discussion.

“It will be a very good opportunity for South Africa and within the African continent to make this contribution,” he said.

The ambassador also said that a ministerial meeting would take place in Johannesburg from Feb. 20-21, which would set a tone for the G20.

South Africa’s G20 presidency began on Dec.1, 2024 and will continue until November 2025.


Valentine’s gift guide featuring exquisite options from Saudi brands

Updated 13 February 2025
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Valentine’s gift guide featuring exquisite options from Saudi brands

Explore this curated list of romantic gifts for Valentine's Day, featuring exquisite options from Saudi brands.

Ofa Jewelry

A timeless classic reimagined, this handcrafted ring is made from 18k solid gold and adorned with pink sapphires (SR2,890).

Kooheji Jewelry

This sleek horoof pendant from Kooheji is a statement of personal style. Nestled in a heart of shimmering mother of pearl and crafted in lustrous 18K gold, the graceful pendant hangs from a shimmering chain, offering a contemporary and meaningful expression of individuality (SR1,692.60).

Charmaleena Jewelry

The ca-love-graphy love necklace in yellow gold, paved with diamonds, is a luxurious and meaningful piece that symbolizes love. This elegant necklace is ideal for making a statement of devotion (SR3,795).

Alwaleef Perfumes

Yaqoot is a romantic fragrance with a captivating scent that begins with bergamot and concludes with the allure of musk and vanilla, leaving a distinctive, lasting presence (SR249).

Mihyar Brand

Mihyar’s stylish mix of metal, leather, and beaded bracelets reflect the latest trends and are suitable for any occasion (SR99).

Zyros Brand

This elegant rosary is a charming addition for the man who values style. Made from Faturan stone, it features 35 meticulously crafted red stones, making it suitable for daily use (SR119).

Alrajul Almotameez Brand

Handcrafted with attention to detail, these BOZCADA cufflinks exemplify high elegance and are perfect for any formal occasion (SR249).