RIYADH: A comprehensive literacy campaign in the Al-Baha region is currently serving 1,410 adult learners, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The initiative, dubbed “Al-Baha Without Illiteracy,” is a joint effort between the General Administration of Education in Al-Baha’s Al-Aqiq sector and several government agencies.
The campaign operates through 32 educational centers across the region, with 12 centers for men enrolling 390 students and 20 centers for women accommodating 1,057 learners. These centers are staffed by qualified educational and administrative personnel, supported by 27 additional participants.
Dr. Abdulkhaleq Al-Zahrani, director general of education in Al-Baha, highlighted the campaign’s alignment with national priorities. “Literacy promotion is a civilized approach championed by our leadership,” he said. “It is part of our commitment to lifelong learning and preparing an educated generation capable of serving their country and community.”
The program aims to reach citizens in their local communities, offering basic literacy skills alongside religious, cultural, social, and health education. It also emphasizes strengthening national identity and civic engagement.
Currently in its summer phase, the campaign has seen enthusiastic participation from adult learners eager to acquire reading and writing skills. The curriculum extends beyond basic literacy to include enhancing national belonging sense, digital literacy, health awareness, environmental education, and learning to use electronic systems and applications.
According to SPA, the initiative brings together resources from government agencies and non-profit organizations to deliver a holistic educational experience. It aims to develop life skills and achieve educational and cultural goals, ensuring quality education for all beneficiaries. Its objectives also include reducing illiteracy rates, fostering patriotism and love for the country and its leadership, and raising awareness on various religious, societal, health, economic, environmental, and cultural issues.
Literacy campaign in Al-Baha reaches more than 1,400 students
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Literacy campaign in Al-Baha reaches more than 1,400 students
- The campaign operates through 32 educational centers across the region
- The program aims to reach citizens in their local communities
300,000 Saudis quit smoking in 2025 as health push gains momentum
- Nicotine pouch manufacturer says it wants to help 1m people quit by 2028
- Trend in line with Vision 2030 goals to reduce preventable health risks
ALKHOBAR: New research shows that 300,000 people in Saudi Arabia quit smoking last year, reflecting growing support for the nation’s Vision 2030 goals to improve quality of life and reduce preventable health risks.
According to nicotine alternatives company Badael, the number of people known to have quit rose from 400,000 in January 2025 to 700,000 by the year’s end.
Of the total, 200,000 people went on to cut out nicotine entirely, including the use of pouches, the company said.
International studies support this trend. The WHO’s Global Report on Trends in Prevalence of Tobacco Use notes that many smokers quit in stages, often using alternatives before fully ending their nicotine dependence. The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control similarly highlights harm reduction as a pathway to complete cessation when used responsibly.
For many Saudis, the decision to quit was driven by personal health concerns.
Ahmed Al-Omari, 32, said he gave up after smoking for more than a decade.
“I started noticing how much smoking was affecting my energy and breathing,” he said.
“Once cigarettes were no longer part of my daily routine, I didn’t want to rely on nicotine either.”
Research published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews shows that cessation is more successful when driven by internal motivation and lifestyle goals rather than fear-based messaging alone, a trend health specialists say is increasingly visible among Saudis.
Mariam Al-Dossary, 27, said she stopped smoking as part of a broader effort to improve her health.
“It reached a point where smoking didn’t fit the life I wanted anymore,” she said.
“Once I made that decision, sticking to it became easier.”
Studies from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health have found that health behavior changes linked to improved sleep, fitness and energy levels are more likely to be sustained over time, reinforcing the importance of quality of life motivations in smoking cessation.
Young Saudis are also quitting earlier than in previous generations.
Mohammed Al-Shahri, 22, said he decided to give up smoking while he was at university.
“I didn’t want smoking to be something I carried into my future,” he said.
“A lot of people my age are thinking differently about it now.”
Badael, which develops and manufactures the nicotine pouch product DZRT, said its focus was on providing alternatives for adult smokers seeking to move away from combustible tobacco. It said its products were intended for harm reduction, not long-term dependence.
The fact 200,000 former smokers later quit nicotine entirely highlighted the importance of supporting sustained behavioral change beyond stubbing out cigarettes, the company said.
It said it wanted to help 1 million people in Saudi Arabia quit smoking by 2028.
By combining public awareness, regulatory measures and accessible cessation pathways, the Kingdom appears to be moving toward a future where smoking is no longer the norm.
