KSrelief’s supervisor general meets Ukrainian refugees in Warsaw, pledges $10m aid
Funds for health and shelter projects in Warsaw
$30m already given this year for displaced in Poland
Updated 12 August 2022
Arab News
RIYADH: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center has pledged $10 million to help fund emergency health and shelter projects for Ukrainian refugees in Poland, the Saudi Press Agency has reported.
The charity’s donation was announced on Wednesday by Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, advisor to the Royal Court and supervisor general of KSrelief, during a meeting with the refugees in Warsaw, SPA reported.
The meeting took place during Al-Rabeeah’s visit to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees’ Cash Enrolment Center in the city.
Al-Rabeeah was briefed on how the center provides urgent services for those displaced by the war. He praised the UNHCR’s officials for their efforts.
Al-Rabeeah had a meeting on Tuesday with Polish Deputy Minister of Health Waldemar Kraska, World Health Organization Representative for Poland Dr. Paloma Cuchi, WHO External Relations Officer Rana Ziadah and Saudi Ambassador to Poland Saad bin Saleh Al-Saleh.
The officials discussed ways of improving services to meet the needs of refugees in Poland and other countries.
The Kingdom has previously provided aid for refugees in the country. On April 13, King Salman instructed KSrelief to provide emergency care, also worth $10 million, for those who fled to Poland after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
On April 26, KSrelief hosted a videoconference with the WHO and UNHCR to conclude two cooperation agreements that would provide $10 million in emergency support for the refugees.
The first agreement with the WHO worth $5 million would provide medical supplies to treat ailments such as diabetes and heart disease, and vaccines for measles, polio, AIDS, pulmonary tuberculosis, and COVID-19.
The second agreement, with the UNHCR, would allocate the other $5 million to support 75,000 individuals with mattresses, rubber bed sheets, sleeping bags and 100,000 blankets.
In August, during a press conference at the Saudi embassy in Poland, Al-Rabeeah announced $10 million in aid for 1 million people fleeing the war, also in cooperation with the WHO and the UNHCR.
Al-Rabeeah had said at the press conference that KSrelief oversees 2,000 humanitarian aid projects operating in 85 countries across the world.
Saudi tourism minister urges governments to ease travel barriers amid global tensions
Tourism Minister Ahmed Al-Khateeb said visa restrictions and connectivity were major hurdles disrupting global movement, urging more frequent flights to smaller destinations
Panel examined key challenges facing the $10 trillion global travel industry, including rising geopolitical tensions, climate volatility, artificial intelligence and growing cyber risks
Updated 22 January 2026
Sherouk Zakaria
DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s tourism minister, Ahmed Al-Khateeb, has said travel should be made more accessible and flexible as it fosters dialogue and peace at a time when geopolitical tensions are prompting governments to impose stricter visa restrictions.
He was speaking during a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, which examined the key challenges facing the $10 trillion global travel industry. These include rising geopolitical tensions, climate volatility, artificial intelligence and growing cyber risks.
“Tourism brings peace at a time where everybody wants to hear about peace. It connects people, encourages dialogue, creates economies, and serves smaller economies like Africa, Latin America, the Pacific and the Caribbean countries,” said Al-Khateeb.
His remarks come as the US has tightened visa and immigration policies, affecting nationals from dozens of countries, and as anti-tourism protests have surfaced in parts of Europe amid mounting concerns over overtourism in major destinations.
He highlighted Saudi Arabia’s achievements in tourism, saying the sector has created 250,000 jobs in the last five years and boosted female participation to 47 percent, exceeding the global average of 45 percent. He highlighted the Kingdom’s focus on building new airports and expanding existing ones, as well as boosting the hotel sector to cater for 150 million travelers by 2030.
The sector’s contribution to the economy has grown from about 3 percent in 2020 to 5 percent today, with plans to raise that figure to between 8 and 10 percent by 2030.
With travel and tourism accounting for around 10 percent of global GDP, Al-Khateeb said that raising the sector’s contribution in Saudi Arabia would strengthen the Kingdom’s economy, make it more resilient and sustainable, and “allow us to share our beautiful culture with the world.”
He said visa restrictions and connectivity were major hurdles disrupting global movement, urging more frequent flights to smaller destinations to diversify traveler experiences and expand economies beyond major hubs.
With panelists citing last year’s anti-tourism protests in Spain and Mexico, Al-Khateeb said overtourism, already a challenge in some cities, will worsen as the UN projects an increase in the number of global travelers from 1.5 billion to 2 billion by 2050. He therefore urged governments to promote smaller cities and spread tourism beyond traditional hotspots to boost economic growth and create more jobs.
Panel at the World Economic Forum examined key trends and challenges shaping the $10 trillion global travel industry. (Screengrab)
Expressing similar sentiments, Martin Eurnekian, CEO of Corporacion America International, linked economic growth to travel and said travel deregulation in the past had boosted European economies.
“Our history shows when growth was accelerated and these were the cases where the (travel) industry was set free,” said Eurnekian, adding geopolitical tensions and economic regulations were exacting a heavy cost on the industry.
“This is an industry based on freedom and globalization and if we lose sight of that we can really hurt the industry,” he added.
Cara Morton, CEO of global businesses and operations and a member of the executive committee at Zurich Insurance Group, said “disruption is now the norm,” citing an in-house assessment that found 80 percent of 4,000 business travelers experienced some form of disruption during their journeys.
She highlighted the role of artificial intelligence in steering people to new, less crowded destinations: “Obviously that will require governments to then make sure that those places have got the right infrastructure, but we will be able to see wealth distributed more equally. So the key is how we use AI in this area.”
Al-Khateeb said that while AI can enhance traveler experience, it should not replace human interaction.
“We will use tech when it isn’t necessary … such as using AI (for passengers to) move fast and finish their biometrics, but when you go to destination, you want to be served by humans not machines.”
He highlighted global travel trends, including the growing role of airports as destinations in their own right, driven by retail and food and beverage offerings, as well as the rapid rise of wellness tourism.
“Travel interacts with a wide range of sectors from aviation and airports to mobility, transportation, hotels, retail, and entertainment,” said Al-Khateeb.
