MADINAH: Saudi Arabia has a long history of charity and supporting impoverished people abroad, the general supervisor of KSrelief has said.
Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah delivered a lecture at the headquarters of the Islamic University in Madinah titled “The Efforts of Saudi Arabia in Relief and Humanitarian Works through King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center.”
He told the audience that the volume of Saudi aid between 1996 and 2021 amounted to $94.6 billion delivered to 165 countries around the world.
Al-Rabeeah recalled the humanitarian history of Saudi Arabia. He said that the Kingdom provided international humanitarian aid in 1950 to the victims of the Punjab floods, despite the limited income of the Kingdom at the time.
In 1974, the Kingdom established the Saudi Fund for Development with the aim of stimulating economic growth in developing countries, benefiting 55 countries within four years.
In 1999, the Kingdom made official donations to the victims of the Kosovo War, and in 2004 donated to victims of the Boxing Day tsunami.
The Kingdom also donated to victims of Cyclone Sidr in Bangladesh in 2007. In 2008, it made donations to the victims of the China earthquake and delivered $500 million to the UN World Food Programme — the largest donation in the program’s history.
In 2014, it used $500 million to assist displaced Iraqis.
Al-Rabeeah also reviewed King Salman’s humanitarian history. The ruler chaired several charitable committees for the benefit of Egypt, Pakistan, Sudan, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, among other countries. Al-Rabeeah said that King Salman’s history is full of giving, and that he stands as a symbol and teacher.
The supervisor general added that KSrelief was established under the guidance of King Salman in 2015 as a vehicle for relief and humanitarian work, and to convey Saudi values to the world.
Within the Kingdom, it is the only authority sanctioned to receive and deliver cash and in-kind assistance from Saudi Arabia to needy people abroad, supervise and regulate Saudi external charitable work, license local charitable institutions overseas and set governance for humanitarian work.
Al-Rabeeah said that the center’s humanitarian and relief projects amounted to 1,997 projects in 84 countries, in cooperation with 175 international, regional and local partners, for a total value of more than $5.7 billion.
Yemen received the largest share of aid, $4 billion, which covered support for education, health, nutrition, shelter, volunteering, protection, water and environmental sanitation, emergency communications, logistics and more.
KSrelief chief reviews Saudi humanitarian efforts
https://arab.news/9bakm
KSrelief chief reviews Saudi humanitarian efforts
- Al-Rabeeah recalled the humanitarian history of Saudi Arabia
- He said that the Kingdom provided international humanitarian aid in 1950 to the victims of the Punjab floods
Jeddah students get closer look at electric motorsport
- A PIF-linked initiative highlights technical and engineering careers behind electric racing events
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 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.”
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.
