Al Riyadh Newspaper – May 26, 2025: Shura Council’s Recommendations, Growth of Digital Economy, Hajj Pilgrims

These excerpts from Al Riyadh newspaper cover a broad range of topics relevant to Saudi Arabia. The articles discuss governmental affairs such as the Shura Council’s recommendations on economic and transportation matters, and the Ministry of Interior’s focus on prison affairs. They also highlight various aspects of national development, including the growth of the digital economy and efforts to boost employment through the Human Resources Development Fund. Additionally, the excerpts touch upon cultural and social initiatives like the Diriyah development project, support for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims, and updates on sporting events.

Shura Council Review of Authority and Center Reports

Based on the sources provided, the Shura Council is involved in reviewing and voting on recommendations related to government reports.

Specifically, the sources detail discussions held within the Shura Council concerning the annual reports of two entities:

• The Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority: The Shura Council is set to vote on recommendations regarding the annual report of the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority. These recommendations resulted from the Committee on Financial and Economic Affairs and Customs. Key recommendations included:
• Studying the reduction of financial burdens imposed on importers and exporters, as well as transport companies and storage areas.
• Studying the reasons for the increase in objections to both direct and indirect taxes.
• Proposing solutions to address these objections.
• The National Center for Transport Safety: The Shura Council also voted on recommendations related to the annual report of the National Center for Transport Safety for the fiscal year 1445-1446 AH. This discussion followed hearing a report from the deputy head of the Transport, Communications, and Information Technology Committee. The recommendations included:
• Conducting detailed inspections and auditing for road safety according to two methodologies: preventative inspections and auditing.
• Calling on the center to activate institutional integration with relevant government entities concerned with transport.

During the discussion on the National Center for Transport Safety report, Dr. Aisha Arishi, a member of the Shura Council, made several points:

• She noted that the center, according to its report, had only responded to a very small percentage (1.4%) of the total 1738 reports received, stating this indicates a lack of clarity in the center’s tasks and specializations.
• She highlighted that many believe the center is a reference for all road accidents, which she stated is incorrect. She added that the center is not a first responder for accidents and does not attend all incidents, and its procedures and investigations are purely technical and investigative, focusing on factors like road components and driver condition.
• Dr. Arishi pointed out that the center’s outputs are closer in content to specialized studies and research.
• She proposed that the council recommend that the center coordinate with the Ministry of Transport and the Broadcasting Authority to clarify its tasks and specializations to the public through media campaigns and social media.
• She also stressed the necessity of establishing mandatory time frames for the immediate completion of accident investigations, using modern technologies for documenting the event quickly so that traffic is not disrupted.
• Dr. Arishi identified speed bumps as one of the most significant risks on most roads, particularly on secondary roads and in neighborhoods, noting their varying heights and sharpness. She emphasized the importance of standardizing their size across all roads in the Kingdom according to technical specifications to ensure the safety of pedestrians and vehicles.
• In concluding her intervention, she suggested the council recommend that the center coordinate with specialized entities to work on applying the technical specifications of the Saudi Road Code to existing roads to ensure public safety.

The sources indicate that the Shura Council relies on applying advanced technical verification methods and scientific practices according to the latest international standards.

Human Resources Development for National Goals

Based on the provided sources, the discussion around Human Resources Development appears in several contexts, highlighting its importance for adapting to technological changes, achieving national goals, and enhancing various sectors.

Here’s a breakdown based on the sources:

• Strategic Importance and National Vision: Human resources development, referred to as “rehabilitation” and skill enhancement, is seen as crucial for keeping pace with transformations and achieving national objectives. The launch of the “Human” company, aimed at developing AI technologies, is explicitly linked to placing AI at the core of national development efforts, implying a significant need for skilled personnel in this field to achieve Vision 2030 goals. The Kingdom’s leading position in government AI strategy demonstrates its capacity to transform AI into a driver of economic and social change, which inherently relies on developing human capital capable of implementing and utilizing these technologies.
• Development in Specific Sectors:
• Financial Sector: A strategic report from the Saudi Financial Academy highlights the impact of digital transformation, AI, and big data. It states that adopting these technologies requires rehabilitating 40% of the current skills in the financial market by 2030. Essential necessities for enhancing the workforce readiness include technical skills like data analysis, sustainable finance, and cybersecurity. The report emphasizes continuous learning as a cornerstone for a workforce capable of adapting to rapid changes and notes the re-design of training programs to align with actual market needs. It identifies future jobs in the sector requiring specific skills development, such as Green Finance Specialist, Sustainability Analyst, Fraud Detection Expert, Digital Privacy Officer, and Sustainable Portfolio Manager. Reshaping the skills of the financial workforce is considered an essential pillar in the national transformation path and a key to achieving national competency objectives.
• Education and Language: There is mention of a program to qualify experts in the Arabic language in the Arab world, providing advanced educational experiences and enhancing participants’ skills. This program supports the vision of empowering the Arabic language globally by qualifying competent educational leaders. A university college offers an Applied College diploma in Human Resources Management aimed at enhancing students’ practical and theoretical skills to meet labor market needs.
• Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Support is provided for innovative projects through specialized consultations and professional support for female students to help them develop projects aligned with market requirements.
• Inmate Rehabilitation: The General Directorate of Prisons provides awareness and rehabilitation programs for inmates to contribute to their reform.
• Key Concepts in Development: The sources touch on:
• The need for skill adaptation in response to technological advancements.
• The importance of continuous learning.
• The identification of future job roles requiring specific training.
• The alignment of training programs with actual market needs.
• The focus on enhancing practical and theoretical skills through education and training.
• Providing professional support.

In summary, the sources demonstrate that human resources development is viewed as a critical element in Saudi Arabia, particularly in preparing the workforce for the demands of digital transformation, AI adoption, and the broader goals of Vision 2030, through targeted training, qualification programs, and skill enhancement initiatives across various sectors.

Trade Tensions and Oil Prices

Based on the sources provided, the discussion regarding Oil and Energy is limited but present, focusing primarily on the impact of trade tensions on oil prices.

Specifically, the sources state that oil prices are under pressure amid new customs threats. The President of the European Central Bank (who previously held the position of head of the International Monetary Fund until 2019) warned that international trade has changed forever because of tensions resulting from the imposition of customs duties. This warning suggests that the imposition of tariffs and the resulting trade tensions are a significant factor affecting global markets, including oil.

The sources also indicate that, as a result of these tariffs, the flow of goods, services, and capital among large economies is expected to shrink.

While not directly about oil, one source provides an example of how customs duties and trade tensions can impact markets, discussing a trade dispute over tomatoes that began in the 1990s. This dispute arose from the unprecedented growth in tomato imports from Mexico to the United States. This led American producers to demand an investigation by the Clinton administration into whether the tomatoes were being sold at unfairly low prices, which would constitute a violation of World Trade Organization rules and US anti-dumping policy. Washington responded by conducting an investigation into anti-dumping. The US Department of Commerce and the US International Trade Commission were tasked with examining whether the imports were being sold in the United States for less than their fair market value. The sources mention that these customs duties threaten to cause damage to product distributors, wholesalers, and retailers in California, as well as American consumers.

This example, while specific to agriculture, illustrates the mechanisms and potential consequences of the trade tensions mentioned in the context of oil prices – how tariffs can lead to investigations, accusations of unfair practices, and negative impacts across the supply chain.

Therefore, the sources primarily discuss Oil and Energy in the context of how broader international trade tensions and the imposition of customs duties exert pressure on oil prices and are expected to impact global trade flows.

Pilgrim Services and Initiatives for Hajj

Based on the provided sources, the discussion around Hajj Services highlights several key initiatives and facilities aimed at facilitating the pilgrimage journey and ensuring the well-being of pilgrims.

Here are some of the prominent Hajj services discussed:

• The “Makkah Route” Initiative (مبادرة طريق مكة): This initiative is presented as a significant effort to facilitate the journey of pilgrims arriving from outside the Kingdom.
• Goal: It aims to provide high-quality services for the guests of Rahman and improve the Hajj experience from the moment pilgrims depart their home countries.
• Procedures Covered: The initiative includes services starting with easily receiving pilgrims in their countries, issuing Hajj visas electronically, completing passport procedures, taking biometric data, checking health requirements, and arranging accommodation and transport. Crucially, it involves sorting and coding pilgrims’ luggage at the departure airport according to their accommodation and transport arrangements. All these procedures are completed at the departure airport before the pilgrim travels.
• Implementation: The initiative was first launched in Malaysia in 2017. For the current year (1446H/2025M), it is being implemented in 11 international airports across seven countries: Malaysia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Morocco, Turkey, and Côte d’Ivoire.
• Impact & Benefits: The initiative has received wide praise from some international officials and institutions for its prominent role in facilitating Hajj procedures and improving the experience. It makes the process easy and quick. Pilgrims like the 82-year-old Hajjah Munirah from Morocco expressed joy and gratitude for the ease of travel, contrasting it with her grandfather’s arduous journey decades ago. She noted completing all her procedures in Casablanca quickly and traveling in a comfortable and organized atmosphere. Another pilgrim felt reborn and described the initiative as the “greatest prize” for a mother, completing electronic visa, passport, medical checks, and luggage sorting in her country without needing to stand in long queues or move between offices in Saudi Arabia. The initiative is seen as opening the way not just to Mecca but also Medina, bringing hope to elderly and needy pilgrims, and replacing the hardship of the journey with an experience befitting the guests of Rahman.
• Pilgrim City in Al-Jouf (مدينة الحجاج بالجوف): This facility is specifically designed to serve pilgrims passing through the Al-Jouf region on their way to the Holy House of God.
• Support: It is under the supervision of the Emirate of Al-Jouf region and involves the participation of various service and volunteer entities, including the General Authority for Endowments, Al-Jouf Municipality, Dumat Al-Jandal Municipality, the Ministry of Transport branch, and the Hajj and Umrah Services Association in Al-Jouf.
• Services Provided: The Hajj and Umrah Services Association provides services for guests of Rahman, especially the elderly. These services include hospitality, providing water (Siqaya), and meals. Pilgrims stopping here benefit from integrated services including awareness, education, hospitality, and care, aimed at ensuring they can perform Hajj easily, with participation from government entities and volunteers. The city hosted 14,250 crossing pilgrims.
• Health Services: The Riyadh Health Cluster emphasizes its commitment to providing integrated health services to achieve the health goals for Hajj.
• Campaigns: This is supported by campaigns like #Hajj_with_Health (#حج_بصحة) which aim to enhance awareness, prevention, and ensure the safety of pilgrims during their rituals.
• Targeted Care: There is a specific focus on diabetic pilgrims, providing services for follow-up, preventing complications, and controlling blood sugar levels. These services are accessible through primary health care centers or specialized foot screening clinics at the diabetes unit in King Salman Hospital’s Endocrinology and Diabetes Center.
• Availability: Medical, nursing, and technical staff are available around the clock. They are equipped with necessary medical equipment and supplies to ensure a rapid response to urgent health conditions, thereby helping to ease the burden of travel for pilgrims.
• Transport and Technology Services within the Holy Sites:
• Mashaer Train (قطار المشاعر): This is described as a modern transport method connecting Mina, Muzdalifah, and Arafat. Its key benefit is significantly shortening travel time between these locations to just minutes, which reduces crowding and pressure on buses and helps organize the movement of pilgrim groups accurately and safely. It enhances the Hajj experience by providing more flexibility and organization.
• Smart Applications (تطبيقات ذكية): Applications such as “Tawakkalna” and “Nusuk” services provide instant information on prayer times, crowding locations, visit bookings, and entry/exit times. These tools help pilgrims manage their movements effectively.
• General Hajj Season Initiatives: The “Your Service is an Honor and Pride” initiative is mentioned in the context of the Hajj season of 1446 AH, aimed at serving pilgrims.

While the source mentions that the General Directorate of Prisons provides awareness and rehabilitation programs for inmates, its direct connection to Hajj services for pilgrims is not explicitly detailed, although it appears in a section discussing government entity reports.

Saudi Digital Transformation and Vision 2030

Based on the provided sources, Digital Transformation emerges as a crucial theme, influencing various sectors and strategic initiatives within the Kingdom.

The sources highlight the significance of the digital economy, noting its growing contribution to the national GDP, reaching 15.6% in 2023, an increase of 1.6% compared to 2022. This sector is seen as having the potential for further growth, positively influenced by the programs and initiatives of Vision 2030, which aim to make the Kingdom a center for technology and innovation in the region. The methodologies used for digital economy statistics are based on international standards, ensuring international comparability of the Kingdom’s indicators.

A significant aspect of digital transformation discussed is the increasing reliance on Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies and big data. This shift necessitates the re-skilling of 40% of the workforce in the financial sector by 2030. Essential technological skills, such as data analysis, sustainable finance, and cybersecurity, are becoming core requirements. The financial sector is recognized as a fundamental pillar in the national transformation path, and re-shaping the skills of its workforce is a strategic priority to align with future transformations. Investment in national competencies is highlighted as a crucial element for achieving Vision 2030 goals. Employees in the financial sector are noted to be moving towards more advanced operational and technological changes.

Saudi Arabia is positioning itself as a key player in the AI race. The launch of the “Human” company and its fund, by the Crown Prince, is presented as a starting point for developing and enabling an integrated system for AI technologies at local and international levels. This initiative represents a qualitative transformation in the path of the Saudi digital economy and places AI at the core of national development efforts. “Human” aims to develop and manage AI solutions and technologies to achieve Vision 2030 goals and supports the strategic national objective of making the Kingdom an incubator for innovation. The sources emphasize Saudi Arabia’s leading position, having topped the government strategy classification in the global AI index for 2024. This demonstrates the Kingdom’s capacity to turn AI from a mere tool into a driver of economic and social change. International reports, such as one by PwC, predict a substantial contribution of AI to the Middle East’s economy by 2030, with Saudi Arabia alone anticipated to capture $135 billion of this value, reinforcing its role as a major regional AI hub and preferred destination.

Digital transformation is also evident in the application of technology and smart services across various sectors:

• Hajj Services: The government employs the latest technological means and smart services as part of Vision 2030 to enhance pilgrim services, aiming for greater comfort and ease. Examples include the “Tawakkalna” and “Nusuk” smart applications providing real-time information on prayer times, crowding locations, visit bookings, and entry/exit times. Smart robots are utilized in the Two Holy Mosques for religious guidance in multiple languages and direct remote communication with scholars, making accessing religious information easier and more modern. The overall management of the large Hajj gathering leverages modern technologies and integrated services to make the experience more comfortable, organized, and safe.
• Environmental Management: A new building is described as incorporating environmental sustainability and keeping pace with modern technologies. It features integrated smart systems for control and management. There is a focus on utilizing the latest technologies in geospatial information systems for monitoring and managing nature reserves, including automating field observation tasks.
• Transportation and Road Safety: Modern technologies are discussed in the context of investigating road accidents. The use of Drones is mentioned for documenting and analyzing traffic accident data to help reduce their impact on traffic flow. While discussing transportation efficiency for pilgrims and residents, the importance of adhering to the Saudi Roads Code is noted, and replacing shuttle buses with trains featuring safe, comfortable routes is suggested.

Furthermore, digital transformation impacts the workforce beyond the financial sector, emphasizing the need for continuous learning and re-designing training programs to align with market needs and rapid technological and regulatory changes. Future job roles highlighted in the financial sector, such as sustainable finance analyst and digital privacy officer, underscore the link between digital trends and evolving professional requirements.

In summary, the sources portray digital transformation in Saudi Arabia as a multifaceted, strategic effort driven by Vision 2030, significantly boosting the digital economy, focusing on leadership in AI, and leveraging technology and smart services to improve services and efficiency across critical sectors like finance, Hajj, environment, and transportation, while also emphasizing the crucial need for workforce adaptation and re-skilling.

By Amjad Izhar
Contact: amjad.izhar@gmail.com
https://amjadizhar.blog

Affiliate Disclosure: This blog may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you click on the link and make a purchase. This comes at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products or services that I believe will add value to my readers. Your support helps keep this blog running and allows me to continue providing you with quality content. Thank you for your support!