Riyadh workshop on uses of drones in security fields

Military drones are displayed at Saudi Arabia’s first World Defense Show, north of the capital Riyadh, on March 8, 2022. (AFP filephoto))
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Updated 26 August 2023
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Riyadh workshop on uses of drones in security fields

  • The aim is to equip Arab trainees with the necessary skills in these fields, following international best practices

RIYADH: Naif Arab University for Security Sciences is organizing a workshop, “Uses of Drones in Security Fields: Opportunities, Challenges, and Policies,” in Riyadh from Aug. 28-30.

The workshop will be held in cooperation with the Korea Institute of Aviation Safety Technology, and features the participation of experts and specialists from Arab countries, the US, South Korea, Malaysia, and Interpol.

Khaled Al-Harfash, the university’s vice president for external relations, said that the workshop was a response to the security needs of the Arab region.

He added: “As the scientific body of the Arab Interior Ministers Council, the university aims to stay updated with the latest advancements in security fields, particularly in autonomous vehicles such as drones.”

Al-Harfash said that rapid advances in robotics and artificial intelligence had resulted in negative consequences and significant security threats. These technologies had been exploited by terrorists and criminals for various illicit activities and it was crucial to develop policies that regulated their usage across all sectors, including security and commercial fields.

Al-Harfash highlighted the establishment of a center for cybercrime and digital evidence at the university. This center provides training in four different tracks, including digital forensic evidence for mobile phones and drones.

The aim is to equip Arab trainees with the necessary skills in these fields, following international best practices.

The center strives to become the leading reference for Arab competencies in cybercrime and digital evidence.


Saudi mine-clearance project in Yemen destroys 4,235 explosive devices in a day

Updated 22 January 2026
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Saudi mine-clearance project in Yemen destroys 4,235 explosive devices in a day

  • Project Masam aims to rid Yemen of all mines to help ensure the highest standards of safety and security for the Yemeni people

LONDON: Saudi Arabia’s Project Masam cleared 4,235 mines, unexploded ordnance and other explosive devices in a single day from Bab Al-Mandab region in southwestern Yemen, as part of its mission to protect civilians.

Osama Al-Gosaibi, the project’s director general, said it aims to rid Yemen of all mines to help ensure the highest standards of safety and security for the Yemeni people.

On Wednesday, the project’s teams destroyed 33 anti-tank mines, 31 anti-personnel mines, 86 miscellaneous shells, 2,750 assorted rounds, 1,291 breakers and valves used in devices, 12 grenades, two Katyusha rockets, a missile, 15 shell arrows, and 14 other explosive devices.

Masam’s teams are tasked with clearing villages, roads and areas around schools to facilitate the safe movement of civilians and delivery of humanitarian aid.

The project trains local people to become demining engineers, provides them with modern equipment to do the job, and also offers support to Yemenis injured by explosive devices.