Rijal Almaa coffee festival boosts Asir’s economy, tourism growth

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More than 30 farmers participated, displaying coffee products that have increased significantly over the past year. (SPA)
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More than 30 farmers participated, displaying coffee products that have increased significantly over the past year. (SPA)
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More than 30 farmers participated, displaying coffee products that have increased significantly over the past year. (SPA)
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More than 30 farmers participated, displaying coffee products that have increased significantly over the past year. (SPA)
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More than 30 farmers participated, displaying coffee products that have increased significantly over the past year. (SPA)
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More than 30 farmers participated, displaying coffee products that have increased significantly over the past year. (SPA)
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More than 30 farmers participated, displaying coffee products that have increased significantly over the past year. (SPA)
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Updated 25 February 2025
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Rijal Almaa coffee festival boosts Asir’s economy, tourism growth

RIYADH: The second Saudi Coffee Festival in Rijal Almaa governorate reinforced the Asir region’s status as a key economic and tourism center, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

The four-day event attracted numerous visitors, resulting in the sale of 5,945 kg of coffee and generating more than SR380,000 ($101,300) in revenue, the SPA reported.

More than 30 farmers participated, displaying coffee products that have increased significantly over the past year.

To support local agriculture, more than 5,000 coffee seedlings were distributed during the festival.

The event featured 38 exhibitors, including cottage industry families and artisans, who demonstrated traditional farming techniques alongside modern agricultural technology.

It also highlighted Asir’s production of premium Arabic coffee, providing local farmers a platform to present their crops, expand business opportunities, and reach global markets.

The festival was held under the patronage of Prince Turki bin Talal bin Abdulaziz, governor of the Asir region and chairman of the Asir Development Authority.

Ali Sayyad, CEO of the Rijal Almaa Coffee Cooperative Association, said the festival was a vital platform for marketing local products, particularly Saudi coffee, a primary income source for many in the region.

He said that growing interest in coffee cultivation has improved income levels and raised awareness of preserving this agricultural heritage.

Coffee farming in Rijal Almaa is a long-standing tradition, with some trees in the governorate being more than 200 years old, the SPA reported.

Sayyad said that residents have redeveloped many old farms in recent years, incorporating modern cultivation techniques.

Currently, the governorate is home to 286 farms with 93,082 coffee trees, including 63,328 fruit-bearing trees producing approximately 33,216 kg of coffee annually.

The association provides farmers with resources, including fertilizers, equipment, integrated irrigation systems, and traditional farming tools such as shovels, plows and mattocks, Sayyad said.


Hajj health-tips kit launches in 8 languages

Updated 16 May 2025
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Hajj health-tips kit launches in 8 languages

  • Kit includes advice to avoid heat exhaustion this Hajj
  • Pilgrims must be vaccinated for stipulated diseases

RIYADH: The Kingdom’s Ministry of Health has launched an awareness kit in eight languages for the forthcoming Hajj season, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday.

The kit contains content in Arabic, English, French, Urdu, Persian, Indonesian, Malay and Turkish.

“The multilingual approach aims to reach the widest possible audience of pilgrims arriving from various countries around the world,” the SPA report stated.

Among its key components are guidelines for preventing heat exhaustion. Pilgrims are advised to use umbrellas to reduce direct sun exposure and stay hydrated.

The kit includes videos, social media posts, and printable materials.

Pilgrims are also advised to ensure they are vaccinated for meningococcal meningitis, COVID-19, poliomyelitis and yellow fever, depending on their countries of origin.

The ministry advised pilgrims with chronic diseases to carry documents stating their conditions, and adequate supplies of medications in their original packaging.

It further recommended that pilgrims update vaccinations for diseases including diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio, measles, chickenpox and mumps.

The kit can be downloaded at: https://www.moh.gov.sa/HealthAwareness/Pilgrims_Health/Pages/Hajj.aspx.


Shoura Council speaker receives speaker of the Arab Parliament

Updated 15 May 2025
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Shoura Council speaker receives speaker of the Arab Parliament

RIYADH: The speaker of the Saudi Shoura Council, Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Asheikh, received his counterpart from the Arab Parliament, Mohammed Ahmed Al-Yamahi, during the 19th session of the Parliamentary Union of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation member states.

During the meeting in Jakarta, the two reviewed the importance of parliamentary diplomacy carried out through active participation in regional and international conferences and forums.

They also discussed strengthening the mechanisms of joint Arab parliamentary action to serve Arab issues, as well as other topics of common interest.


King Salman Arabic academy celebrates graduates

Updated 15 May 2025
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King Salman Arabic academy celebrates graduates

RIYADH: The King Salman Global Academy for the Arabic Language held a ceremony in Riyadh recently to celebrate the graduation of the second group of non-native speakers from the Abjad Center.

A total of 168 male and female students were honored after fulfilling all the program’s requirements, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Abdullah bin Saleh Al-Washmi, secretary-general of the academy, said the Abjad Center offers a learning experience designed to equip non-native speakers with strong and effective communication skills.

Al-Washmi added that the program reflects the refinement of the academy’s educational model, reinforcing its role as a leading scientific authority on the Arabic language.

The initiative amplifies the academy’s educational and cultural impact in line with the objectives of the nation’s Human Capability Development Program, he said.


Royal Commission for AlUla, Smithsonian collaboration

Updated 15 May 2025
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Royal Commission for AlUla, Smithsonian collaboration

  • The agreement supports the commission’s vision to transform AlUla into a world-class heritage destination and economic hub

MADINAH: The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art, and the Royal Commission for AlUla have formalized a collaboration agreement to enhance cultural exchange and establish a framework to broaden global understanding of northern Arabia’s ancient civilizations and cultural legacy.

The agreement supports the commission’s vision to transform AlUla into a world-class heritage destination and economic hub. Rooted in mutual dedication to cultural preservation and celebration, the collaboration will unlock new research opportunities and deepen insights into ancient Kingdom artistry, with special focus on the Dadanite civilization.

Experts will conduct joint initiatives in art conservation, historic research, archaeological exploration, and scientific analysis. The institutions will collaborate on exhibitions and artifact exchanges, bringing cultural treasures to international audiences.

Professional development programs covering exhibition curation, research methodologies, narrative development, and museum operations will enhance expertise among staff at AlUla’s museums and the Smithsonian.


Saudi Arabia attends IAACA anti-corruption meeting

Updated 15 May 2025
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Saudi Arabia attends IAACA anti-corruption meeting

RIYADH: The Kingdom, represented by the Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority, also known as Nazaha, took part in the first meeting of the Executive Committee of the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities, held on Thursday via video conferencing.

Nazaha President Mazin bin Ibrahim Al-Kahmous expressed his thanks to the association’s president and Commissioner of the Independent Commission Against Corruption in Hong Kong, Danny Woo, for organizing the meeting and for the association’s efforts to promote international cooperation in combating corruption.

He added that the Kingdom, represented by Nazaha, has paid significant attention to strengthening international partnerships in the fields of combating corruption and protecting integrity, and these efforts have resulted in a number of tangible achievements.

Al-Kahmous said that the Kingdom believes in the pivotal role played by the association in solidifying the principles of transparency and facilitating the exchange of expertise, knowledge and experiences.