RIYADH: Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Ahmed Al-Rajhi recently lauded the Kingdom’s nonprofit sector for its work toward the realization of Saudi Vision 2030, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Al-Rajhi said that the nonprofit sector played a significant role in national development, creating “sustainable impacts” and establishing robust partnerships with community institutions and individuals through the implementation of “many outstanding projects.”
Al-Rajhi, who is also chairman of the National Center for Non-Profit Sector, noted that the expedited incorporation process for nonprofit organizations — which takes no more than four days, as opposed to 18 months previously — is “one of the most remarkable accomplishments” in the country’s recent history.
The current value of outsourced government-services contracts is more than SR2.6 billion ($693.1 million), and this has had a positive impact on the business processes, quality and efficiency of nonprofit organizations, he added.
Furthermore, Al-Rajhi noted that a report evaluating the financial performance of nonprofit organizations had been released and that a fund has been established to support such associations. Six investment funds have been established in collaboration with the General Authority for Endowments and the Council of NGOs.
These initiatives have played a role in expanding development projects, he said, while the implementation of an electronic-services system has also improved procedures for beneficiaries.
Al-Rajhi said that the nonprofit sector workforce rehabilitation initiative has trained 3,109 people so far, and noted that there are now 4,134 nonprofit sector organizations registered in the country.
Minister hails nonprofit sector’s efforts for Vision 2030
https://arab.news/nqgtv
Minister hails nonprofit sector’s efforts for Vision 2030
- Al-Rajhi said that the nonprofit sector played a significant role in national development
- The current value of outsourced government-services contracts is more than SR2.6 billion ($693.1 million)
‘Cake not hate’ campaign becomes ‘Dates not hate’ in Madinah
- Dan said he was very impressed by Saudi hospitality and that his family was warmly welcomed
- He said being in Madinah exposed him to the true diversity of Islam
LONDON: A British autistic and non-verbal boy who has been visiting UK mosques and distributing cakes to promote solidarity amid an increase in far-right support in the country has taken his message of love to Madinah.
Joshua Harris, or “The Joshie-Man” as the 12-year-old is known to his social media fans, has handed out hundreds of his baked goods to worshipers at mosques in major British cities over the last few months.
The “Cake not hate” campaign came about after an Islamophobic attack on a mosque in his home city of Peterborough in October 2025.
Harris and his father visited Masjid Darassalaam, the mosque that was targeted, with cakes that the boy had baked and distributed them to the congregation soon after the attack. Since then, Harris has visited dozens of mosques in the UK.
On a recent trip to the Middle East, he and his father visited Madinah. In a local twist that pays tribute to the holy city’s famous date varieties including ajwa and ambar, Harris handed out dates to people in the courtyard of the Prophet’s Mosque. The “Cake not hate” campaign became “Dates not hate” for Saudi Arabia.
“He was greeted really, really warmly. There were some really touching moments where people were kissing his hands and his head. It was really lovely,” his father, Dan Harris, said.
Dan, the founder of global charity Neurodiversity in Business, said being in Madinah exposed him to the true diversity of Islam.
“We met people from all around the world. It was amazing. It’s like the United Nations there, you get people from different countries and it just goes to show you that the Muslim community, or the Ummah more generally, is not a homogeneous group,” he said.
“We saw people from Tajikistan and Uzbekistan and it was really interesting for us.”
Dan said his visit to Madinah, considered the second holiest city in Islam after Makkah for Muslims, was “profound and life-changing.”
He added: “I would say it’s my favourite city in the world due to the peace and tranquillity I felt there.”
Dan added that he was very impressed by Saudi hospitality: “Everywhere we went, people were taking down my number and insisting that we come for dinner, insisting they pick us up from the location. They were extremely attentive to Joshie as well, making sure his needs were met. We felt a great sense of welcome, something Saudi Arabia is known for.”
