Saudi Arabia Pavilion launches cultural exchange program at Osaka Expo
Saudi Arabia Pavilion launches cultural exchange program at Osaka Expo/node/2606523/saudi-arabia
Saudi Arabia Pavilion launches cultural exchange program at Osaka Expo
The Saudi Arabia Pavilion has launched a cultural exchange program to provide unique career and personal development opportunities for staff at the Osaka-Kansai Expo. (Supplied)
Saudi Arabia Pavilion launches cultural exchange program at Osaka Expo
First round of CEP placements includes assigning 13 staff members of the Saudi Arabia Pavilion team to five international pavilions
Visiting international exchange staff members will be engaged in a comprehensive cultural engagement module conducted by the Saudi Arabia Pavilion leadership
Updated 01 July 2025
Arab News Japan
TOKYO: The Saudi Arabia Pavilion has launched a cultural exchange program to provide unique career and personal development opportunities for staff at the Osaka-Kansai Expo while opening new avenues to share the Kingdom’s cultural heritage and global impact, Saudi Arabia’s Expo office announced on Tuesday.
The first round of CEP placements includes assigning 13 staff members of the Saudi Arabia Pavilion team to five international pavilions, while 15 visiting international staff will spend three months on rotation at the Saudi Arabia Pavilion.
Throughout the CEP, visiting international exchange staff members will be engaged in a comprehensive cultural engagement module conducted by the Saudi Arabia Pavilion leadership. This induction process includes workplace health and safety, an overview of Saudi Arabia’s operational objectives at the Expo and venue specific training, including heat management.
The CEP includes a buddy system under which visiting staff are provided with full support from their new team members.
Eng. Adel Alfayez, director of the Saudi Arabia Pavilion, said: “The cultural exchange program is a celebration of unity through diversity, where pavilions across Expo 2025 Osaka come together to share stories, spark new friendships, and build bridges that extend far beyond our pavilion walls.”
Alfayez said he was especially keen to hear from the Saudi Arabia Pavilion staff after they had experienced new cultures and operational skills during their time at other pavilions as this will prove invaluable in preparation for Expo 2030 in Riyadh.
Absher Hackathon finalists highlight scale of Saudi tech talent
World’s largest hackathon underscores growing national enthusiasm for tech innovation
Updated 50 min 5 sec ago
Ghadi Joudah
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s push to position itself as a global hub for digital innovation was on display this weekend as the Absher Tuwaiq Hackathon 2025 — billed as the world’s largest hackathon — concluded with the announcement of finalist teams competing for prizes totaling SR1 million ($266,000).
The three-day hackathon, organized by the Ministry of Interior in partnership with Tuwaiq Academy, brought together innovators from across the Kingdom to develop digital solutions aligned with the ministry’s digital transformation goals.
The finalist teams recognized for their projects were: Shadow, Wusool, Watheeq , Tanabbah, HRS, Ikhlaa, Amal, Mustabiq, Al‑Dahna, Inspire, Saqour Al‑Watan, Thaqib, Sawt Al‑Mustaqbal, Manee, and YS Advance International.
The finalists were announced at the end of the three-day Absher Tuwaiq Hackathon organized by the Ministry of Interior in partnership with Tuwaiq Academy. (AN photo/Supplied)
In addition to cash prizes, the competition offered SR450,000 in support from the National Technology Development Program, along with incubation opportunities at Invi Lab to help teams turn prototypes into market-ready products.
Tariq Al‑Hamid, official spokesperson for the Absher Conference, told Arab News that the hackathon has generated strong momentum nationwide.
This year’s event included more than 4,000 participants from all regions of the Kingdom — “a reflection of the growing national enthusiasm for digital innovation,” he said.
HIGHLIGHT
The Absher Tuwaiq Hackathon brought together innovators from across the Kingdom to develop digital solutions aligned with the ministry’s digital transformation goals.
According to Al‑Hamid, the 2025 event was structured around four specialized tracks: digital identity and security applications; artificial intelligence for predictive and proactive security; Internet of Things applications supporting field operations; and innovations to enhance or expand services on the Absher Platform.
Tariq Al-Hamid (center) said that the hackathon’s impact extends beyond prize money. (Supplied)
He added that this focused approach allowed participants “to present high‑quality ideas and advanced prototypes at levels comparable to international competitions.”
Participants also took part in more than 80 training programs delivered by global partners including Google Cloud, Meta, NVIDIA, and Huawei, an experience Al-Hamid said significantly strengthened both the competition and participants’ skills.
Al-Hamid said that the hackathon’s impact extends beyond prize money. “More important than the cash reward is the opportunity to turn creative ideas into real products that make an impact on citizens, residents, and visitors.”
Standout participants often attract the attention of leading national technology companies seeking new talent, he added.
Participation was open to individuals and teams from across Saudi Arabia, from high school students to industry professionals, highlighting the inclusivity of the event and the breadth of the Kingdom’s innovation ecosystem.
The hackathon forms part of the wider Absher Tuwaiq initiative, a core pillar of the upcoming Absher Conference 2025, which will empower more than 100,000 participants across seven technical tracks in 16 cities, in partnership with 20 local and international organizations.
The conference, organized by the Ministry of Interior and Tuwaiq Academy, sponsored by Elm Company and held in strategic partnership with the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority, will take place in Riyadh from Dec. 17 -19.
The event will showcase national digital innovations and reinforce Saudi Arabia’s role in global technology.
