Riyadh conference to mark 3 decades of Saudi Conjoined Twins Separation Program

KSRelief will host an international conference in Riyadh from Nov. 24-25 to mark three decades of the Saudi Conjoined Twins Separation Program. (Supplied)
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Updated 04 June 2024
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Riyadh conference to mark 3 decades of Saudi Conjoined Twins Separation Program

  • Pioneering initiative has treated 135 conjoined twins since 1990
  • Families of separated twins will be in attendance

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center will host an international conference in Riyadh on Nov. 24-25 marking three decades of the Saudi Conjoined Twins Separation Program.

The pioneering initiative, which has treated 135 conjoined twins from 25 countries since launching in 1990, demonstrates the Kingdom’s excellence in complex medical care.

The Saudi medical team in March this year, led by Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, separated Nigerian conjoined twins Hassana and Hasina at King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital in King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh.

The conference, held under the patronage of King Salman, marks three decades of the program. It will bring together representatives from the Saudi ministries of National Guard, Defense, Foreign Affairs, Health, Education and Media, and international humanitarian and health bodies, associations and institutions.

Families of separated twins will also attend the event, the Saudi aid agency said in a statement to Arab News.

Experts will discuss advancements in conjoined twin separation and related humanitarian efforts, it added.

An exhibition will also be organized to showcase the program’s achievements as well as the Kingdom’s leadership in humanitarian and medical fields.

The event aligns with Saudi Vision 2030, which prioritizes the development and advancement of the healthcare and humanitarian sectors, KSrelief said.


AlUla inspires Saudi designer on global stage 

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AlUla inspires Saudi designer on global stage 

  • Dalal Al-Juhani has represented Saudi Arabia at domestic and global events, spotlighting the nation’s creative vitality and cultural richness

ALULA: A Saudi designer has channeled childhood artistic enthusiasm into a distinguished professional career, weaving AlUla’s aesthetic and cultural character into creations that celebrate authenticity, while also drawing on the Kingdom’s cultural and natural legacy. 

Dalal Al-Juhani’s interest in design began early, and she has refined her skills through rigorous academic training and hands-on practice.  

The designer has represented Saudi Arabia at domestic and global events, spotlighting the nation’s creative vitality and cultural richness.

Her accolades include gold at London’s International Trade Exhibition for AI-driven tourism guide attire innovation, dual Romanian and Croatian gold medals at the same event, third-place recognition in King Abdulaziz University’s handicrafts division for sustainable accessory concepts, and gold at the 2025 Saudi International Innovation and Invention Exhibition for eco-conscious jewelry inspired by the Prophet's Mosque ornamentation. 

Al-Juhani strives to feature the Kingdom’s natural resources and domestic industries as foundational elements in her work. 

Observing the nation’s landscapes gives designers an expanded capacity to distil beauty and integrate it within contemporary creations honoring traditional foundations, she said. 

Al-Juhani acknowledges the Kingdom’s support for cultural and artistic pursuits, saying that specialized government bodies have facilitated cultural education through targeted programs, including overseas scholarships and professional development initiatives, reinforcing national expertise within creative industries and fostering excellence. 

She believes designers should look beyond aesthetic production and seek to preserve heritage, safeguard cultural memory, and respect ancestral roots, while projecting national character. 

AlUla constitutes a visual and intellectual touchstone throughout her portfolio. The area’s distinctive topography, archeological inscriptions, and ecological diversity inform a design vocabulary that reveals a symbiotic connection among individuals, geography, and identity, she said.