Saudi Health Ministry, Alphaiota sign deal in data, AI

Deputy CEO of Seha Khaled bin Hussein Al-Qamash and Alphaiota CEO Thamir bin Saleh Al-Ballaa signed the agreement. (SPA)
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Updated 28 December 2022
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Saudi Health Ministry, Alphaiota sign deal in data, AI

RIYADH: The Saudi Ministry of Health, represented by Seha Virtual Hospital and the Innovation Empowerment Center, on Wednesday signed a joint cooperation agreement with information technology company Alphaiota to develop work in artificial intelligence and data analysis.

Deputy CEO of Seha Khaled bin Hussein Al-Qamash and Alphaiota CEO Thamir bin Saleh Al-Ballaa signed the agreement.

Seha Virtual Hospital and the Innovation Empowerment Center recently launched a safe environment platform for health innovations that will encourage individual and corporate innovators to provide solutions in digital health and AI.

The platform will offer innovators an experimental environment in partnership with relevant sectors.

Seha Virtual Hospital was launched in February this year as part of the Kingdom’s efforts to digitize its healthcare sector, which forms part of the nation’s Vision 2030 program. 

Connected to 152 hospitals and covering more than 34 subspecialties throughout Saudi Arabia, Seha Virtual Hospital claims to be the largest of its kind in the world and the first in the Middle East and North Africa region. 

Patients no longer need to travel to different parts of the Kingdom to be seen by specialized physicians, and are not limited to regular clinic hours.


ZATCA thwarts massive captagon smuggling attempt at Al-Haditha border

Updated 30 January 2026
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ZATCA thwarts massive captagon smuggling attempt at Al-Haditha border

  • Following the seizure, ZATCA coordinated with the General Directorate of Narcotics Control, leading to the arrest of two individuals

RIYADH: The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority at the Al-Haditha border crossing intercepted an attempt to smuggle 269,411 captagon pills hidden in a commercial food consignment during a routine inspection.

The authority thwarted the attempt to smuggle the contraband using advanced security technologies, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Following the seizure, ZATCA coordinated with the General Directorate of Narcotics Control, leading to the arrest of two individuals intended to receive the shipment in the Kingdom.

ZATCA spokesperson Hamoud Al-Harbi reaffirmed the authority’s commitment to tightening border security as a core strategic pillar to protect society from the prohibited goods.

The authority encourages the public to support national security by reporting smuggling activities via the confidential number 1910 or email at [email protected].

Through these channels, the authority receives information related to smuggling crimes and violations of the Unified Customs Law with complete confidentiality, and a financial reward is granted to those providing the tip-off if the information is accurate.

The Kingdom vs Captagon
Inside Saudi Arabia's war against the drug destroying lives across the Arab world
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