Saudi-US forum in Riyadh spotlights the projects transforming the Kingdom

At Tuesday’s Saudi-US Investment Forum in Riyadh, a panel moderated by Arab News Editor-in-Chief Faisal J. Abbas (far left), discussed how giga-projects are reshaping the Kingdom’s global image. (AN Photo/Basheer Saleh)
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Updated 14 May 2025
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Saudi-US forum in Riyadh spotlights the projects transforming the Kingdom

  • From driverless cars to giga-projects, US and Saudi CEOs and ministers unpacked on Tuesday the ideas powering Vision 2030
  • Milestones in innovation, culture, infrastructure, tourism and tech celebrated at conference attended by President Trump

RIYADH: It is just over 10 years since the Uber smartphone-based car-hailing service launched in Riyadh. Since then, it has expanded to other cities in the Kingdom and, as Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi told a panel at the Saudi-US Investment Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia is now one of the company’s fastest growing markets.

There are now 140,000 Saudi nationals driving on the platform, serving 4 million riders in 20 cities across the Kingdom.  

Now, said Khosrowshahi, the company was poised to take the next technological step — and, he predicted, autonomous vehicles will soon be seen on the streets of the Kingdom.

“You will see autonomous vehicles in Saudi Arabia this year,” Khosrowshahi told the panel on Tuesday. “It's something that we are very focused on.”




US President Donald Trump views plans for Saudi Arabia’s Diriyah during his state visit. (AFP)

He said the vehicles would be much safer for both passengers and other road users.

“Autonomous (technology) holds incredible potential for us,” he added. “First of all, it represents a safer street, as the autonomous driver isn’t distracted, isn’t going be texting while they’re driving, etc. And it’s a driver that continues to learn from all the experience of all the miles driven all over the world.”

Ultimately, he added, “autonomous will not only be safer, but will also be a cheaper form of transportation.” Uber is “now working with 18 autonomous partners … to make sure that autonomous technology is introduced in a safe manner.”

Another session at the forum, moderated by Arab News Editor-in-Chief Faisal J. Abbas, focused on the giga-projects that are raising the Kingdom’s profile around the world and writing the next chapter in the story of national transformation.




The Mukaab, a cubed skyscraper being develop in downtown Riyadh. (New Murabba)

The transformation of Diriyah, the birthplace of Saudi Arabia, into a globally important cultural, historical and leisure destination, is one of the projects that is helping to drive the modernization and diversification envisaged by Vision 2030.

Jerry Inzerillo, CEO of Diriyah Company, spoke about the importance of preserving the Kingdom’s history and the ancestral home of Al-Saud, including the royal At-Turaif district, considered the birthplace of the First Saudi State in 1727 and which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2010.

Today, Diriyah is the scene of one of Saudi Arabia’s largest giga-projects, a $63.2 billion transformation of the 14-square-kilometer site of the historic town into a global heritage, cultural and lifestyle destination.

Stating that the project is running on schedule and within budget, Inzerillo added: “We just welcomed to the UNESCO World Heritage site this week our three millionth visitor. We have 45,000 workers currently working in the project. We are very honored and pleased to say that right now we’re doing business with 83 American companies.”

Michael Dyke, CEO of the New Murabba development in Riyadh, said the Mukaab, the vast cube-shaped building at its heart, would be one of the world’s top iconic buildings.




Saudi Housing Minister Majed Al-Hogail, left, and Saudi Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb, centre, talk with Arab News Editor in Chief Faisal J. Abbas. (AN Photo/Basheer Saleh)

“It is one of the greatest, largest structures ever known,” Dyke said, comparing it to the MSG Sphere in Las Vegas. That, said Dyke, seats almost 18,000 people; the Mukaab will be 22 times larger.

“When people enter the Mukaab, they will enter another world, there will be holograms and there will be strong AI driving through the whole of the facility.”

The Mukaab will come online from 2030 onward, and “when people come to Riyadh they will see something new, something different. It will be another fantastic place that will complement the amazing projects already happening in the Kingdom.”

FASTFACTS

• Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said autonomous vehicles would be much safer both for the passengers and other road users. 

• New Murabba CEO Michael Dyke said the Mukaab would be one of the world’s iconic buildings.

Another massive project being created as part of the Kingdom’s development is NEOM — the vast city on the Red Sea coast that has already fired imaginations around the world.

Rayan Fayez, Deputy CEO of NEOM, said the 26,500 square kilometer project would be the size of Massachusetts.

“Building a city and a region of this scale, requires significant infrastructure,” Fayez said.




Tesla and SpaceX boss Elon Musk with Saudi Minister of Communications & IT Abdullah Alswaha. (AN Photo/Basheer Saleh)

“When we talk about some of the themes that we are spending our time and effort on, infrastructure is a big one. So, whether it is digital infrastructure, 500 kilometers of fiber has already been laid, a data center being built, power and utility infrastructure already has solar, and wind farms up.

“In addition to 194 kilometers of water pipeline, food infrastructure (such as) greenhouses are being developed, because NEOM is not just a real-estate development initiative, it’s an economy building.”

NEOM is, he added, “a joint venture between Neom Aqua Power and Air products, which is, of course, a US company with a significant investment coming into Neom, developing what will become the Green Hydrogen Project.”




US President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visit Diriyah. (AFP)

When Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 comes to fruition, in just five years from now, tourism will be as important for the Kingdom’s economy as oil is today.

That was the prediction of Ahmed Al-Khateeb, the minister of tourism, during a panel at the Saudi–US Investment Forum.

It was, Al-Khateeb added, a measure of how far the country’s tourism sector has come since the launch in 2016 of Vision 2030, the blueprint for reducing the dependence on oil and diversifying the economy, that Saudi Arabia is increasingly seen around the world as a land of green mountains, stunning Red Sea islands and a welcoming, hospitable culture.

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The tourism and hospitality sectors have experienced a significant increase in visitors, rising from 50 million domestic and international tourists in 2019 to 115 million in 2024, surpassing the ambitious target of 100 million tourists that was set for the industry under Vision 2030.

In 2024, Al-Khateeb added, with 30 million international visitors among its 115 million tourists, Saudi Arabia was one of the 10 most visited countries in the world.




The Line, a new mega city currently under construction in Neom. (Neom)

"I’m excited,” Al-Khateeb said. “We are full of energy to build this new sector to unlock the potential we have in our great country and to share the beautiful culture with the visitors coming from all around the world.

"By 2030, the tourism sector will be next to the oil as the highest contributor to our economy," he added.

For decades, oil production accounted for 85 to 90 percent of Saudi Arabia’s GDP, but since 2016 significant changes have occurred and oil now accounts for less than 55 percent of GDP.

Since 2019, the Kingdom has opened its borders to nearly 65 countries, issuing electronic visas for those visiting its natural and manmade tourist attractions, from the spectacular mountains of Asir in southern Saudi Arabia to the ancient mysteries of AlUla in the north.




Arab News Editor-in-Chief Faisal J. Abbas moderated a session on the giga-projects in the Kingdom. (AFP)

In Riyadh, he added, tourists can find a wide choice of sports, cultural and adventure attractions, and there is still more to see in the Red Sea and experience in the two holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.

Al-Khateeb emphasized that a well-educated, vibrant young Saudi population is essential for the growth of the tourism sector, which has increased its workforce share from 2 percent to 7 percent in less than a decade.

The ministry aims to welcome 50 million international tourists by 2030, placing the Kingdom among the top five most visited countries, he said. It also plans to increase the sector's GDP contribution from the current 5 percent to 10 percent by that same year.

"We have created (a tourism) sector that will satisfy the different travelers from different segments who are coming for business or leisure and entertainment, or people who are coming for religious purposes to visit the two holy cities," Al-Khateeb said.




Business leaders gathered in the Saudi capital on Tuesday for the Saudi-US Investment Forum. (AN Photo/Basheer Saleh)

In discussing the US-Saudi partnership, the minister noted that the tourism sector had adopted best practices from the US, a leading global country in the industry, including conferences, entertainment and air-travel services.

"We are working closely with our friends and partners in the US. We are sending young Saudis to get the best education in the US and the best vocational training (in tourism)," he added.

 


Saudi king, crown prince extend condolences to Indian president after air crash

Rescue officials carry a victim’s body at the site where Air India flight 171 crashed in a residential area near the airport.
Updated 1 min ago
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Saudi king, crown prince extend condolences to Indian president after air crash

  • The Air India passenger plane bound for London with more than 240 people on board crashed and exploded after takeoff and there was only one survivor

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman extended their condolences to Indian President Droupadi Murmu after a plane crashed after takeoff in India’s northwestern city of Ahmedabad on Thursday.

The Air India passenger plane bound for London with more than 240 people on board crashed and exploded after takeoff and only one person survived, officials said.

Black smoke billowed from the site where the plane crashed into a medical college hostel and burst into flames near the airport in Ahmedabad, a city of more than 5 million and the capital of Gujarat.

In separate cables, the king and crown prince extended their condolences to Murmu, the families of the deceased, and to the Indian people. They also wished the injured a speedy recovery.

The Kingdom’s Foreign Ministry also expressed its condolences to India after the incident.


Arab storytelling tradition makes region ideal for filmmaking: Katara executive

Updated 12 June 2025
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Arab storytelling tradition makes region ideal for filmmaking: Katara executive

  • Demand for premium Arabic content that resonates with a global audience is the main driver for production company
  • Authenticity requires cultural integrity — such as maintaining dialect, accents and costumes

Riyadh: The Arab world’s roots in detailed storytelling means that the region is well suited to making movies, according to Hussein Fakhri, chief commercial officer and executive producer for Katara Studios, and the latest guest on The Mayman Show.

Founded in 2018, the Doha-based production powerhouse is behind regionally iconic projects such as the fantasy short film “The Lost Chapter of Kelileh & Demneh” and the ceremonies for the 2022 FIFA Arab Cup.

“Storytelling, I think, is in our DNA, as Arabs generally, right? We come from a long line of storytellers; it is really part of who we are,” Fakhri said. “For me, the sort of career advancement was very much evolutionary, organic, as I come from an advertising and marketing background.” 

 

Before entering the world of filmmaking and immersive storytelling, Hussein started out in Dublin, Ireland, pioneering digital advertising in a market far from his cultural roots. Hussein left the marketing agency life and now leads Katara’s mission to produce bold, meaningful stories that resonate with a global audience with an unapologetically Arab perspective.

“I had my own advertising agency, and we had so much work that I had to found a film production company to be able to shoot our TV commercials,” Fakhri said. “I would hire filmmakers, and we started doing short films, more brand films and documentaries, and that just sort of evolved. I just love the craft, although I’m not a filmmaker myself, but I just love the business of it.” 

 

Part of the work was instrumental in what eventually evolved into Katara Studios, founded by a group of talented filmmakers, he said. “Watching them work and watching the kind of stuff that they do — just the love for it grew, to be honest.” 

The need for premium Arabic content that resonates with a global audience is the main driver for what Katara does creatively, he said.

 

“We have a huge audience. We have 500 million Arabic speakers. And we have very little premium content for them. There was a gap there that was spotted and an opportunity to be able to create premium content for this primary audience.” 

The demand for premium Arabic content and the interest in Arabic culture made for a great recipe for success, he said.

 

“We also have a lot of people around the world that are very interested in our culture, are very interested in our part of the world. And I don’t think we’ve given them enough content to engage with us, and that’s what we are trying to do, ultimately.”  

With a culture as rich and layered as the Arab world’s, authenticity is not simply a goal — it is a responsibility for Katara Studios projects, he said, as they aim to bring stories to life with depth, accuracy, and heart, even when they are infused with other styles of filmmaking. 

 

Katara Studios is producing a fantasy Bedouin Western, and according to Fakhri, a balance for this genre experimentation and cultural authenticity is critical to telling a good story and being innovative without losing its Arab essence.

Asked how Bedouin storytelling could be showcased with this approach to experimental filmmaking, Fakhri said: “You know, I’m so glad you brought up that word because authenticity is the foundation for everything that we try to do. Genuinely, it has to be authentic. Because if it is not authentic — if you’re trying to please an audience just by throwing stuff in there — it shows every time.”

 

Authenticity required cultural integrity — such as maintaining dialect, accents, costumes and other small and important details in the presentation — and this would then reflect very positively to the film, he said.

“You get every element of it right; it really comes through in the final product. So, we’re very careful to try to be as authentic as possible. And I think we’ve done that with this project,” Fakhri said.

 

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Rare kidney operation performed at King Faisal Specialist Hospital

KFSHRC-Riyadh performs ESG on a patient who had previously undergone a kidney transplant. (SPA)
Updated 12 June 2025
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Rare kidney operation performed at King Faisal Specialist Hospital

  • Precise medication management needed for surgery
  • No stomach incisions, with suture done via the mouth

RIYADH: King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Riyadh recently performed a rare Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty on a patient who had previously undergone a kidney transplant.

In a statement, KFSHRC said the operation was considered “the first of its kind in the region.”

It required “meticulous management of immunosuppressive medications and the prevention of any complications that could jeopardize the transplanted organ.

“This procedure marks a significant advancement in providing safe treatment solutions for transplant recipients, to improve their graft survival and quality of life.”

The ESG procedure differs from surgical sleeve gastrectomy in that it requires no abdominal incisions, which is important for transplant patients.

Instead, it uses an endoscope inserted through the mouth to suture the stomach internally, effectively reducing its volume and enabling the patient to lose weight and improve overall health.

The procedure was performed by a multidisciplinary team of experts led by Dr. Ehab Abufarhaneh, consultant in adult transplant gastroenterology and hepatology.

Abufarhaneh told Arab News: “Performing endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty on a kidney transplant patient is exceptionally rare and complex due to the need to protect the transplanted organ while carefully managing immunosuppressive therapy.”

“This procedure provides a safe therapeutic option for transplant recipients, addressing a critical medical challenge and helping preserve graft function through a minimally invasive approach tailored to their condition,” Abufarhaneh added.

The team included gastroenterologists, various transplant surgeons, anesthesiologists, and nursing staff.

In the statement, the hospital said it was “adopting innovative techniques tailored to the unique needs of transplant patients and developing treatment protocols that address post-transplant challenges.”

The facility “reinforces its position as a regional referral hub for cases beyond the scope of conventional treatment pathways,” and as a leading healthcare provider in the region.

It was fulfilling its vision of being the optimal choice for patients supported by an integrated ecosystem of education, research, and clinical excellence that aligns with Saudi Vision 2030, the hospital stated.

The hospital has been ranked by Brand Financing 2025 as first in the Middle East and North Africa, and 15th globally on the list of the world’s top 250 Academic Medical Centers for the third consecutive year.

Additionally, it was included in the World’s Best Smart Hospitals list for 2025 by Newsweek magazine.


Hadiyah launches program to promote cultural and humanitarian engagement with pilgrims

Updated 12 June 2025
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Hadiyah launches program to promote cultural and humanitarian engagement with pilgrims

RIYADH: The Hajj and Mutamer’s Gift Charitable Association (Hadiyah), based in Makkah, has launched the “Let Them Witness the Benefits” to offer enriching experiences to pilgrims after completion of the Hajj rituals, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The program aims to build bridges of cultural and humanitarian engagement between pilgrims and Saudi society by hosting pilgrims in Saudi homes, where they experience traditional hospitality and learn about the Kingdom’s values, customs and traditions, fostering a sense of closeness and belonging.

The chairman of Hadiyah, Hatem Al-Marzouki, said that the program is one of several initiatives designed to create a lasting positive effect after Hajj by strengthening cultural and humanitarian ties between pilgrims and Saudi society.

“Hadiyah’s services go beyond hospitality, offering a comprehensive and unforgettable experience that reflects the human values of the Saudi people,” he said.

Al-Marzouki said the program is part of an integrated system of high-quality initiatives aligned with the aspirations of Saudi leadership.

According to SPA, these initiatives aim to enhance the pilgrims’ experience and strengthen the Kingdom’s image as a global center for serving and caring for pilgrims, culturally and humanely.


420,070 workers served during Hajj 2025: Saudi statistics authority 

Updated 12 June 2025
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420,070 workers served during Hajj 2025: Saudi statistics authority 

  • Over 1.6m pilgrims undertook Hajj, according to General Authority for Statistics

RIYADH: A total of 420,070 workers from the public and private sectors, including security services, worked to serve 1,673,230 pilgrims during this year’s Hajj, the General Authority for Statistics has reported.

Of the number, 92 percent were male and 8 percent female, GASTAT said in its Hajj Statistics Publication carried by the Saudi Press Agency recently.

The publication said there were 34,540 male and female volunteers at the holy sites, contributing a total of 2,134,398 volunteer hours during the Hajj season.

Elderly, infirm and disabled pilgrims are given assistance in moving around the holy sites. (SPA)

It also stated that 314,337 male and female pilgrims from eight countries benefited from the Makkah Route Initiative this year, representing 20.9 percent of all pilgrims.

This initiative, launched during the 2017 Hajj season, aims to streamline travel procedures for pilgrims.

GASTAT announced earlier that of this year’s 1,673,230 registered pilgrims, 1,506,576 arrived from abroad through various entry points. There were 166,654 citizens and residents who performed Hajj this year.

This year there were 877,841 male and 795,389 female pilgrims, the authority stated.

GASTAT said the statistics are based on records provided by the Ministry of Interior.

Workers spend a lot of effort to keep facilities in the holy sites clean and safe. (SPA)