JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Friday held talks with Syrian President Bashar Assad, on the sidelines of the 32nd Arab League Summit in Jeddah, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Syria had been welcomed back into the bloc after a 12-year suspension.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed ways to enhance relations between their countries, as well as a number of issues of common concern.
The Kingdom hosted the summit, taking the presidency from Algeria.
Prince Mohammed also held talks with Jordan’s King Abdullah II, where they reviewed ties and held discussions on promoting joint Arab action.
The Saudi crown prince held talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to review Saudi-Egyptian relations and areas of bilateral cooperation, and a separate meeting with Tunisian President Kais Saeed to discuss promising opportunities for development in various fields.
Prince Mohammed also held similar talks with Somali President Dr. Hassan Sheikh Mahmoud.
Saudi crown prince meets Syria’s Assad, Arab leaders on sidelines of Jeddah summit
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Saudi crown prince meets Syria’s Assad, Arab leaders on sidelines of Jeddah summit
- Syria had been welcomed back into the bloc after a 12-year suspension
- Kingdom hosted 32nd summit, taking presidency from Algeria
Baha’s quaint guesthouses offer a warm welcome
- Sharifa Al-Ghamdi, owner of Al-Ayed Heritage Guesthouse, revealed that she has worked hard over the years to acquire as many historic houses as possible to be able to give tourists an authentic taste of what life was like in the past
RIYADH: Al-Baha is a region of the Kingdom blessed with a rich legacy of ancient architecture, with heritage lodges playing a big role in luring tourism to the city.
According to the Saudi Press Agency, heritage lodges or guesthouses in the region play an important role in attracting more investment. They provide local and international visitors with a look into the past, a taste of a simpler time that many people long for.
The guesthouses are a reflection of the region’s heritage. Al-Baha’s residential buildings, castles and fortresses were designed to suit not just environmental variables such as topography and climate, but also social circumstances such as local customs and ancient traditions.
One of the most enticing elements of these heritage guesthouses is their deep connection with nature.
They are constructed using stones and trees from the region, typically granite and basalt boulders adorned with quartz, and roofed with mud-coated juniper trees.
Sharifa Al-Ghamdi, owner of Al-Ayed Heritage Guesthouse, revealed that she has worked hard over the years to acquire as many historic houses as possible to be able to give tourists an authentic taste of what life was like in the past.
She said that, with the assistance of her family, she was able to realize her lifelong dream and passion and invest her post-retirement time in establishing heritage tourist guesthouses.
She has transformed the old houses in her village from dilapidated structures into a tourist and environmental attraction for people in search of tranquility and relaxation.
Hajj ministry launches training initiative to improve services
- As part of the Rafid Al-Haramain initiative, 100,000 workers in the public, private, and non-profit sectors will be trained to provide high-quality services to pilgrims
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, in partnership with Makkah’s Umm Al-Qura University, has launched an initiative to enhance and improve the skills of employees who serve Hajj and Umrah pilgrims and visitors to the Kingdom.
As part of the Rafid Al-Haramain initiative, 100,000 workers in the public, private, and non-profit sectors will be trained to ensure that the services they offer are of the highest quality and leave a lasting positive impression on visitors to the Kingdom.
Four diverse training programs that embody the Kingdom’s care for the Two Holy Mosques and their visitors are available, and trainees will benefit from the best local and international expertise, Saudi Press Agency reported.
Individuals interested in participating can register here.
Riyadh to host Global AI Summit in September
- Summit will bring together international ministers, organization heads, CEOs of major tech companies, and AI experts to discuss global AI developments
RIYADH: The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority will host the third Global AI Summit from Sept. 10 to 12 at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center in Riyadh, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.
Abdullah Al-Ghamdi, president of SDAIA, highlighted Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s dedication to advancing the national data and artificial intelligence agenda, aiming to bolster the Kingdom’s global presence in these fields.
The summit will bring together international ministers, organization heads, CEOs of major tech companies, and AI experts to discuss global AI developments and announce initiatives and agreements, advancing international efforts in data and AI under the Kingdom’s banner.
Topics at the conference include AI innovation, industry trends, shaping a better future with AI, fostering human talent in the field, and other key areas.
This summit, under the crown prince’s leadership, is a testament to the successes of Vision 2030, which position Riyadh as a global hub for cutting-edge AI developments, the SPA said.
Saudi artist wins Japan manga contest
- Manga Arabia’s Samah Kamel recognized for ‘Taif’ which addresses issues surrounding autism
- Kamel’s win marks the first time a Saudi manga artist has triumphed in the Japan International Manga Award
RIYADH: The Japanese Ambassador to the Kingdom Fumio Iwai awarded Saudi manga artist Samah Kamel with the 17th Japan International Manga Award’s Special Encouragement Award at a ceremony held at the Japanese Embassy in Riyadh.
Kamel, a regular creator for Manga Arabia, expressed her joy at winning the prize for her work “Taif” about the challenges facing parents of children on the autism spectrum, and the various ways autistic people can be accommodated and integrated into society.
“I was shocked to win because I had entered a few times before without ever winning. This taught me that persistence pays off, and my daughter, who is here with me today, inspired the manga. I would like to encourage any mother raising a child with a disability to know that she is a powerful and inspirational person,” Kamel told Arab News.
Issam Bukhari, editor-in-chief of Manga Arabia, said Kamel’s achievement is a historic milestone in exporting Saudi and Arab creativity to the world as the first Saudi work to win the Japan International Manga Award, presented by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Iwai told Arab News: “What Manga Arabia is doing is great. I’m very happy today to commend one of their talents for being awarded the International Manga Award, the 17th edition.
“Manga is one of the most popular cultural fields in Japan. So again, I’m very happy to see the spread of Manga culture, not only in Saudi Arabia but also in the Arab world, and what is quite impressive is that Manga Arabia produces so many companies and is providing Saudi kids, Saudi juniors, with their Arabic version of Japan.
“To use manga as well as their original works, and I know Saudi authorities are also trying to make use of manga … in various fields, teaching, like history … environmental protection, and so on,” he added.
“Taif” can be downloaded on the Manga Arabia for Kids app.
Saudi AI authority enhances Makkah route for 7 nations
RIYADH: The Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence is participating in providing technical and digital services for the Makkah Route Initiative, a program under the Ministry of Interior’s Pilgrim Experience Program which aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 initiatives.
Engineers and technicians are operating across Morocco, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkiye, and Ivory Coast, integrating them with the authority’s systems, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Its tasks include developing highly private technical systems that meet service requirements, such as border systems, Hajj systems, traveler registration systems, and mobile bags equipped with biometric registration devices, all aimed at streamlining procedures.
The efforts of the authority are part of the extensive support provided by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to enhance the fields of data and AI, stimulating their growth and maximizing their benefits.
Launched in 2019 in Muslim-majority countries, the scheme allows pilgrims to fulfill all visa, customs and health requirements at their airport of origin, saving hours of waiting before and on arrival in the Kingdom.
The process begins with the issue of electronic visas and individual information collection, followed by streamlined passport procedures before departure.
Stickers are placed on luggage and passports containing information on the flight data and place of residence of each pilgrim. The tagging service is carried out by a specialized team working under the supervision of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
Teams at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah receive the luggage, which is then delivered to accommodation of the pilgrims.
The Ministry of Interior is implementing the Makkah Route initiative with several agencies, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, the General Authority of Civil Aviation, the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, the Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence, the Pilgrim Experience Program, and the General Directorate of Passports.
This year’s pilgrimage is expected to begin on or around June 14 and conclude on June 19.
