Al-Riyadh Newspaper, July 11, 2025: Water Security: A Saudi Priority, Financial Market, Growth of Food Truck Industry

This collection of texts from “20817.pdf” provides a comprehensive look into various facets of Saudi Arabia, particularly highlighting the nation’s Vision 2030. It details the transformation of the financial market through digital infrastructure and increased investment, and emphasizes the kingdom’s commitment to water security by showcasing advancements in desalination, water management, and innovative technologies. Furthermore, the sources explore the growth of the food truck industry, discuss Saudi Arabia’s burgeoning mining and industrial sectors, and touch upon the country’s increasing global influence in areas like defense and humanitarian aid, reflecting a shift towards a diversified and sustainable economy.

Podcast

Saudi Arabia’s Water Security: Challenges, Strategies, and Global Leadership

Water security is a vital and strategic issue for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) due to its desert geography, limited natural water resources, and rapid population and economic growth. It is considered one of the most important pillars of sustainability in the Kingdom. The concept of water security in Saudi Arabia extends beyond merely providing water for daily use to encompass sustainable management of resources for human consumption, industry, agriculture, and energy, balancing current needs with future aspirations. Water is a crucial element for achieving food and industrial security, directly impacting quality of life in both urban and rural areas.

Challenges to Water Security in KSA

KSA faces significant water challenges:

• Geographical and Resource Limitations The Kingdom’s desert nature and the absence of permanent surface water sources make it one of the most water-scarce regions globally. The per capita share of renewable fresh water is less than 100 cubic meters annually, far below the absolute water scarcity benchmark of 500 cubic meters.
• Over-reliance on Non-Renewable Groundwater Historically, KSA heavily relied on groundwater, but this source is not sustainable and has been severely depleted (80% since the 1990s).
• High Consumption Rates Individual daily water consumption averages around 284 liters (103.66 cubic meters annually), which is significantly higher than in countries with similar income levels, like Germany (around 120 liters per person per day). Urban expansion, population growth, and economic development exacerbate these rates.
• High Demand in Key Sectors The agricultural sector, a cornerstone of food security, accounts for 80-83% of water consumption. Industrial projects and large-scale future ventures like NEOM also require vast amounts of water.
• High Costs and Suboptimal Service The government bears high costs for water production and wastewater services in urban areas, yet service levels remain suboptimal, and the sector suffers from institutional and governance issues.

KSA’s Strategies and Efforts for Water Security (Vision 2030)

In line with Saudi Vision 2030, KSA has adopted a comprehensive national water strategy to transform from a water-scarce nation into a global leader in sustainable water resource management. This strategy focuses on several key axes:

• Desalination (SWCC – Saline Water Conversion Corporation):
• KSA has made desalinated water a top priority. It is the largest producer of desalinated water globally, providing nearly half of the world’s desalinated water, with SWCC alone producing about 20%.
• Technological advancements, including continuous innovation in membrane technologies and energy efficiency, have drastically reduced the cost of desalinated water from $5 per cubic meter in the 1980s to 40-50 cents in modern projects.
• There is a move towards integrating renewable energy (solar and nuclear power) into desalination processes to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and lower carbon emissions.
• The Kingdom has the largest desalination capacity globally, totaling 4.19 million cubic meters annually, and the largest network of water transmission pipelines, spanning 14,210 kilometers.
• There are 33 desalination plants on the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf coasts, producing about 5.6 million cubic meters of desalinated water daily.
• Wastewater Treatment and Reuse:
• KSA is among the top five countries globally in treated water reuse.
• The Kingdom aims to reuse 100% of treated wastewater by 2025.
• Treated wastewater is used for irrigating green spaces, agriculture, and industrial activities, reducing pressure on fresh water sources.
• There are 133 wastewater treatment plants across various regions in KSA, in addition to 353 water treatment plants built on dams and groundwater wells.
• Groundwater Management:
• Strict regulations have been imposed on extracting non-renewable groundwater, including licensing requirements for well drilling.
• Programs are in place to enhance artificial wells and increase groundwater productivity to reduce reliance on desalinated water.
• Agricultural Water Efficiency:
• Efforts include reforming the water agriculture sector and promoting smart irrigation technologies like drip irrigation to reduce water waste.
• The Kingdom is encouraging the use of protected houses and vertical farming.
• It has also halted the local cultivation of water-intensive crops such as wheat and green fodder.
• Distribution Efficiency and Loss Reduction:
• Strategies include improving water distribution efficiency, reducing unaccounted-for water (physical losses), and upgrading water networks with smart meters for accurate consumption monitoring.
• Water Pricing and Awareness:
• New water pricing policies aim to incentivize rationalization and ensure equitable distribution, while supporting low-income families.
• Awareness programs encourage sustainable water consumption behaviors among citizens and institutions.
• Technological Innovation and Patents:
• KSA invests in advanced water management technologies and research, including new desalination methods, agriculture, and recycling.
• The Kingdom has secured significant patents in water security, such as clean energy production from saline reject water, devices for seawater sample collection, and protection systems for water intakes from marine life.
• Innovative techniques like cloud seeding are being employed to increase natural water resources.
• Strategic Water Storage:
• KSA has expanded its strategic water storage capacity to over 27 million cubic meters, aiming for a three-day supply for emergencies. It possesses the largest network of drinking water reservoirs with a capacity of 8.9 million cubic meters daily.
• Public-Private Partnerships (PPP):
• The Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC) was established to manage and oversee water projects, including purchasing desalinated, purified, and treated water.
• The private sector is actively involved in financing, building, operating, and maintaining desalination and wastewater treatment plants and distribution networks. This partnership has attracted significant investments, exceeding 47 billion Saudi Riyals for 49 projects, and has earned prestigious international awards.

KSA’s Global Leadership in Water

KSA’s proactive approach has positioned it as a global leader in water management:

• It has hosted and will host major international water events, including the One Water Summit in Riyadh (December 2024), the World Desalination Conference in 2026, and the World Water Forum in 2027.
• The establishment of the Global Water Organization in September 2023, headquartered in Riyadh, underscores the Kingdom’s leadership and commitment to addressing global water challenges and sharing its expertise.

Global Context of Water Scarcity and Conflict

Globally, water scarcity is a complex issue with economic and political ramifications.

• Water-Related Conflicts: Major rivers like the Nile, Indus, Tigris, and Euphrates are at the forefront of water disputes.
• The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Blue Nile has caused ongoing disputes between Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan.
• Turkish dam projects on the Tigris and Euphrates (e.g., Ilisu Dam) have significantly reduced water flow to Iraq and Syria.
• The Indus Waters Treaty between India and Pakistan faces challenges, with India threatening to suspend its operation.
• Even flash floods and groundwater issues contribute to border tensions, as seen between Iran and Afghanistan over the Helmand River.
• Socio-Economic Impacts: Water scarcity exacerbates economic and political crises, fuels inflation, and drives migration. Water-related violence is on the rise globally.
• Lack of International Frameworks: Despite some scattered initiatives, there is no strong international legal framework to protect water rights among nations, leading to potential conflicts.
• Water as a Commodity: Water itself has become a strategic commodity for investment and speculation, leading to concerns about monopolization and inequality. There are calls to prevent water from becoming a tradable commodity, emphasizing its status as a fundamental human right.
• Ethical and Environmental Concerns: The excessive construction of dams and alteration of river courses disrupt ecological balance, leading to desertification and loss of biodiversity.
• Need for Rational Management: Experts advocate for strengthening joint international governance mechanisms, developing treaties that consider future generations’ rights, and linking international aid to clean water projects.

Saudi Arabia’s Financial Market: Powering Vision 2030 Transformation

Water security is a crucial element for achieving food and industrial security, directly impacting the quality of life in both urban and rural areas in Saudi Arabia (KSA). While water security itself is not a financial market, the Kingdom’s strategies to achieve it heavily rely on the development and efficiency of its financial market to attract investment and fund ambitious projects.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia aims to be at the forefront of countries leading digital transformation, with an integrated strategy focused on enabling and accelerating this transformation. A key goal of this national project is to achieve the objectives of Vision 2030, which seeks a comprehensive economic and social transformation, reducing reliance on oil as a primary income source, diversifying the economy, empowering citizens, and improving the quality of life.

Transformation and Efficiency of the Financial Market

KSA’s financial market has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years. This development is centered on several strategic pillars:

• Enhancing the efficiency of the digital infrastructure.
• Strengthening its global position.
• Increasing the number of listed companies.
• Expanding foreign investor ownership in the market.

Companies now view the financial market as an effective platform for raising capital and expanding their commercial activities, aligning with the Kingdom’s economic development visions and Vision 2030. This rise in listed companies is a natural outcome of an attractive and prepared investment environment that encourages both domestic and foreign investment through streamlined procedures.

Impact of Investments and Reforms

The presence of foreign investments has not been limited to providing capital; it has also contributed to the transfer of technical expertise and knowledge to local entities, positively impacting the quality of performance in financial and management aspects within the market. It has created new opportunities for strategic partnerships among local companies and international institutions, boosting the Saudi market’s competitiveness at regional and global levels. These reforms have enhanced investor confidence, increased financial flows, stimulated innovation across various sectors, and solidified the Kingdom’s position as a regional financial hub, supported by advanced digital infrastructure and modern regulatory policies that encourage investment and economic growth.

Key Data and Achievements

According to the Capital Market Authority (CMA) data:

• The number of investment funds reached 1,549.
• The number of individual subscribers through various subscription channels was 7.5 million.
• The total value of managed assets exceeded 1 trillion Saudi Riyals by the end of 2024.
• The value collected from debt and sukuk offerings amounted to 40.43 billion Riyals.
• The value of managed portfolios through automated advisory platforms reached 3.4349 million Riyals.
• Foreign investor ownership reached 423 billion Riyals.

The CMA’s strategic plan for 2024-2026 aims for the Saudi financial market to become a primary source of funding and investment for national economic development and one of the most important financial markets globally. Efforts are concentrated on maximizing the financial market’s funding capacity, developing various financing channels to meet the needs of public and private sector projects, and supporting financial market institutions. The CMA also supports the FinTech sector to make the Kingdom a leader in this area, enhancing diversity and depth for the financial sector.

Investor protection is a major priority for the CMA, achieved by allocating an independent pillar for oversight, enhancing transparency and governance, and protecting investor rights to build confidence in the Saudi financial market.

Digital Government and Economic Diversification

The Kingdom has made significant progress in digital government, jumping to the 25th position globally in the UN e-government survey 2024, placing it among leading countries worldwide. It ranked 4th regionally and 2nd among G20 countries in the digital services index. Riyadh achieved the 3rd rank among 193 cities globally.

Investments in infrastructure have led to substantial progress:

• The Telecommunications Infrastructure Index (TII) jumped 53 ranks.
• The Human Capital Index (HCI) advanced 31 ranks.
• The e-services index (OSI) jumped 67 ranks to 4th globally in 2024.
• Government digital regulations, as well as the provision of open government data and data sharing for citizens and businesses, have reached 100% completion.

The number of listed companies in the financial market increased by 50% from 207 companies in 2020 to 310 in 2023. Foreign investor ownership also saw a record increase of 93%, from 208 billion Riyals in 2020 to 401 billion Riyals by the end of 2023.

Financial Market’s Role in National Development

The financial market is integral to Vision 2030’s broader goals. Dr. Majed bin Thamer Al Saud highlights that a key financial objective is to increase household savings from 6% to 10% of their total income. This reflects financial awareness and preparedness for the future, contributing to overall economic stability and increasing domestic funding sources. Achieving this goal requires integrated efforts across several programs, especially the “Financial Sector Development Program”. Government bodies and large companies are encouraged to establish savings funds for their employees with attractive returns, and providing diverse investment channels is crucial for motivating individuals to save and invest their savings for financial growth and national economic circulation.

The success in achieving this goal depends not only on the financial sector but also on the collective efforts of various government entities such as the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, and the Ministry of Economy and Planning. Their collaboration in creating a supportive legislative and regulatory environment for savings and investment is vital. Instilling financial literacy from an early age, along with government incentives like tax exemptions or promotional prizes, will further encourage regular saving.

The development of the financial sector is a unifying framework for these efforts, ensuring coordination and integration among various entities to achieve shared objectives. This cooperation between governmental entities and the private sector is the cornerstone for building a financially stable society capable of achieving long-term prosperity.

Financial Market Supporting Key Sectors

The robust financial market, with its capacity to attract investment, directly supports critical national projects and sectors:

• Water Security: The Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC), established in 2003, plays a pivotal role in public-private partnerships (PPP) for water projects. It manages and oversees water projects, including the purchase of desalinated, purified, and treated water. These partnerships have attracted significant investments exceeding 47 billion Saudi Riyals for 49 projects, producing over 10 million cubic meters of desalinated water daily and treating over 600,000 cubic meters of wastewater daily. This demonstrates the financial market’s ability to fund essential infrastructure.
• Industrial and Mining Sectors: The Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Bandar Al-Khorayef, affirmed that the Kingdom aims to lead advanced technology sectors and enhance productive capabilities in global value chains. The mining sector, for example, has seen its estimated mineral reserves value increase from $1.3 trillion to $2.5 trillion. This growth relies on significant investments attracted through the financial market.
• Regional Investment Hubs: Regions like Jazan are being promoted as significant investment gateways due to their natural resources (fisheries, livestock, agriculture, minerals) and strategic location. The Jazan Chamber of Commerce actively works to attract and develop quality investments, fostering an attractive business environment for investors. These initiatives inherently depend on a developed financial market to facilitate funding and transactions.

In essence, the Saudi financial market, propelled by Vision 2030, is transforming into a sophisticated, digitally advanced, and globally competitive hub that is crucial for diversifying the economy, attracting local and international investments, and supporting the Kingdom’s strategic development goals across various vital sectors.

Saudi Food Trucks: Growth, Culture, and Entrepreneurship

The Financial Market itself is not a food truck, however, your query about Food Trucks can be discussed by drawing on the information provided in the sources regarding Saudi Arabia’s vibrant entrepreneurial landscape and economic diversification efforts, which the financial market indirectly supports by fostering an environment for investment and growth.

Food trucks in Saudi Arabia have undergone a significant transformation, moving from simple mobile kiosks to a well-established phenomenon that reflects urban ambition, entrepreneurial spirit, and a connection to popular heritage.

Here’s a comprehensive discussion of food trucks in Saudi Arabia based on the sources:

• Emergence and Growth:
• The roots of food trucks in Saudi Arabia trace back to the 1980s with simple mobile “kiosks” selling “balila and ice cream” that roamed neighborhoods.
• A radical shift occurred in 2016 when concerned authorities began issuing the first official licenses for equipped food trucks. This was a response to the high rents of fixed establishments and a new vision to stimulate commercial activity.
• This initiative transformed food trucks from a limited economic activity into a remarkable social and commercial phenomenon.
• The number of commercial registrations related to food trucks and restaurants saw a steady increase, reaching 10% in 2024, surpassing 136,000 commercial registrations for food activities.
• This growth is not just a bureaucratic statistic; it signifies a change in community taste and a trend among youth to venture into entrepreneurship with minimal costs.
• Role in Youth Entrepreneurship and Economic Diversification:
• Food trucks offer a more accessible option for young people to enter the market compared to fixed restaurants that require significant capital.
• They provide a platform for direct market experience and developing a personal commercial brand.
• The sector is seen as feeding the dreams of thousands of young Saudis, blending popular heritage with an evolving, diverse society, driven by innovation and entrepreneurship.
• Offerings and Social Impact:
• Food trucks now offer a rich and innovative variety of choices, ranging from traditional Saudi Kabsa to modern burgers, luxury cold drinks, and Asian sweets.
• They have become a social scene, attracting enthusiastic crowds of youth and families, reflecting an unmistakable shift in contemporary urban lifestyle. This food culture is no longer a fleeting trend but an integral part of modern life.
• Regulations and Challenges:
• To manage this growing popularity, platforms like “Baladi” offer electronic licensing for an annual fee of 720 Riyals, along with strict regulations for routes and parking.
• The stated goal is to balance encouraging youth investment with controlling random congestion and avoiding visual and traffic disturbances.
• The Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing recently issued new municipal regulations for mobile carts to enhance public safety, service quality, and maintain urban aesthetics.
• Permitted locations include sites affiliated with municipalities, government entities, private sectors, and public spaces, investment areas, and event locations approved by the municipality.
• Prohibited stopping areas include traffic intersections, main and secondary roads, high-traffic areas, parking spots for police, civil defense, ambulance, disability, or within residential neighborhoods.
• Prohibitions also extend to stopping near pollution sources like gas stations, landfills, sewage treatment plants, or fuel stations, with a mandatory safety distance of at least ten meters.
• Technical requirements for carts include a wash basin, non-slip and easy-to-clean floors, sufficient ventilation with appropriate air conditioning, and thermal insulation.
• They are prohibited from using loudspeakers (except during events) and operating or smoking inside the cart after midnight without a 24-hour permit.
• Owners are mandated to remove waste from their sites and provide a first-aid box, while the sale or serving of all types of tobacco is prohibited.
• Challenges include public health risks (food contamination, improper storage), the need for continuous education for owners, and intense competition which might tempt some to compromise on health standards.
• An economic debate persists regarding the unfair competition faced by fixed restaurants due to food trucks’ lower rents and taxes.
• Success Stories:
• Bandar’s Ice Cream Carts: A university student, Bandar Al-Ateeq, started his ice cream business with a limited budget of 20,000 Riyals, using his university allowance and some family help. He began by setting up a simple wooden cart with used equipment on park sidewalks. Despite initial difficulties, including days with no sales, he learned to attract customers, innovate flavors, and be present during peak times. He now owns 16 ice cream food trucks. Bandar emphasizes his project is fully Saudi in idea, execution, team, and flavors, and prides himself on his innovation in creating unique mixtures and packaging.
• “Masghout Al Shaqa” Food Truck: This food truck, located on Prince Mohammed bin Salman Road in Riyadh, offers authentic Saudi dishes. The idea originated from three friends living together and sharing cooking duties. They are committed to high quality, choosing the best ingredients, grinding fresh, un-ground spices themselves, and refusing to use cheap or expired chicken, using only reputable brands. Their success has led them to consider opening a fixed restaurant due to overwhelming demand.
• Consumer Trust and Future Outlook:
• Consumer trust is crucial for success. Consumers often choose carts that appear clean and are well-known.
• While some food trucks maintain competitive pricing, others, especially those focusing on details, now have prices comparable to fixed restaurants.
• Forecasts predict the Saudi food truck market to exceed $70 million by 2030, driven by the expansion of urban lifestyles, government support, and local manufacturing of food trucks.
• This expansion aligns with the regional trend, with the MENA food truck market valued at $461 million in 2022 and an expected annual growth rate of 8.8% until 2030.

In summary, food trucks in Saudi Arabia represent a dynamic and evolving sector, embodying the Kingdom’s drive for economic diversification and youth empowerment under Vision 2030, balancing rapid growth with structured regulation and a commitment to quality.

Defense Industry Transformations: Germany’s Zeitenwende and Saudi Vision 2030

The defense industry, as discussed in the sources, is undergoing significant transformations and strategic advancements, particularly in Germany and Saudi Arabia, reflecting broader global geopolitical shifts and national economic diversification goals.

Germany’s Defense Industry Transformation

Germany, traditionally a cautious player in the global arms market, has experienced an “unprecedented radical transformation” in its defense policies since World War II. This shift is primarily driven by the war in Ukraine and direct support to Kyiv, positioning Germany as a leading arms exporter.

• Record Export Growth: In 2023, Germany’s arms exports reached a record 11.7 billion euros, the highest in the country’s history, surpassing traditional restrictions on arms sales to conflict zones. This growth is fueled by increased global demand, especially from Ukraine.
• Strategic Policy Shift: Berlin has adopted a bolder approach, sending heavy weaponry like “Leopard 2” tanks and “Iris-T” air defense systems to Ukraine, which were previously forbidden under German law. Chancellor Scholz emphasized that the “Russian threat necessitated a comprehensive review of German defense doctrine”. This new strategic phase is termed “Zeitenwende” (Turning Point), supported by an emergency program of 100 billion euros to modernize its armed forces.
• Industrial Cooperation: There are ongoing discussions to establish joint arms and ammunition factories within Ukraine, aiming to build a “sustainable Ukrainian defense capability” through long-term industrial cooperation. Ukraine’s increasing reliance on German military technology, particularly for air defense and heavy artillery, is noted.
• Key Industry Players and Growth: German defense companies like Rheinmetall, KMW, and Diehl Defence are at the forefront of this expansion.
• Rheinmetall, the largest German defense company, saw its order backlog more than double from 24.5 billion euros in 2021 to 62.6 billion euros by March of the latest year. Its stock price has increased 18-fold since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and it is building a new ammunition factory.
• Hensoldt, a supplier of sensor and radar systems, aims to reach 6 billion euros in revenue by 2030.
• ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, a global leader in non-nuclear submarines, has an order backlog valued at 18 billion euros.
• Other companies like Dynamit Nobel Defence (anti-tank grenades), Heckler & Koch (assault rifles), MBDA Germany (guided missiles), Airbus (helicopters and fighter jets), and Quantum Systems (drones) are also experiencing significant growth and investment in expanding their production capacities.
• Reactions to Germany’s Shift:
• NATO allies have praised Germany’s transformation as “historic,” seeing it as a strengthening of the Western defense front and a restoration of confidence in Berlin as a responsible European power.
• Internally, some leftist and green factions criticize the expansion, viewing it as a contradiction of Germany’s ethical and historical commitments and a risk of involvement in external conflicts.
• Russia views Germany’s arming of Ukraine as a “red line”, threatening “unforeseen responses” or sabotage against critical infrastructure.

Saudi Arabia’s Strategic Industrial Development

Saudi Arabia, under Vision 2030, is implementing a “qualitative and comprehensive industrial transformation” aimed at reshaping its national economy, reducing reliance on oil, and establishing a “leading position in advanced technology sectors” [141, 126, My previous response]. This comprehensive strategy includes a focus on defense and related industries as part of its broader economic diversification [My previous response].

• National Industrial Strategy (2022): The strategy is built on three main pillars, with the first pillar explicitly focusing on industries related to national security, including military industries, along with food and medicine. The goal is to localize these industries through effective partnerships.
• Investment in Future Technologies: The Kingdom emphasizes the early adoption of future technologies, supporting research and development, artificial intelligence, Industry 4.0 applications, and 3D printing. It also promotes policies that prioritize local content and leverage national capabilities.
• Mining Sector as a Growth Driver: The mining sector, a new focus area under Vision 2030, has seen significant geological exploration efforts. This has increased the estimated value of Saudi mineral reserves from $1.3 trillion to $2.5 trillion, including strategic minerals like phosphates and copper. This provides a strong foundation for industries with high added value.
• International Engagement: Saudi Arabia is actively enhancing international partnerships, notably through the International Mining Conference. This platform facilitates discussions on critical raw materials for energy transition and fosters coordination among governments, the private sector, and academic institutions.
• Economic Impact and Soft Power: The Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources highlighted the excellent relations with Russia, noting a substantial increase in trade exchange, which aligns with Vision 2030’s goals for economic diversification, digital transformation, and technological leadership. While not directly about the defense industry, this context underscores Saudi Arabia’s strategic efforts to enhance its global economic standing and influence, including through “soft power” initiatives such as sports, which can indirectly support its overall strategic goals and reputation.

In essence, both Germany and Saudi Arabia are demonstrating robust and deliberate strategies to develop their defense and related industrial sectors. Germany’s transformation is a direct response to immediate geopolitical threats, leading to unprecedented arms exports and industrial growth. Saudi Arabia’s approach, embedded within Vision 2030, is a long-term strategic endeavor to diversify its economy, localize critical industries (including military), and establish a leading position in advanced technology and global value chains.

Echoes of Identity: Documenting Culture Across Time and Media

Cultural documentation, as depicted in the sources, encompasses a diverse array of efforts to preserve, interpret, and disseminate various aspects of a society’s heritage, practices, and contemporary trends, often leveraging both traditional and modern mediums. This includes documenting traditional customs, emerging social phenomena, artistic expressions, historical narratives, and even humanitarian endeavors.

Traditional Practices and Heritage: The sources highlight the documentation of long-standing cultural elements. Saudi coffee, for instance, is presented as a profound symbol of hospitality and generosity, deeply ingrained in Saudi culture and traditions. Its preparation, involving specific tools and rituals passed down through generations, is meticulously described, acting as a form of cultural preservation through detailed narrative. Similarly, the palm tree (Nakhla) is noted as a “symbol of identity and authenticity,” with its historical significance as a food source and its revered status in culture also being documented. The Saudi Ardha dance is explicitly identified as an “important historical and cultural witness” that embodies the concept of civilizations and their characteristics, originating from the heart of Diriyah as a military display and transforming into a cultural icon and source of pride signifying joy and celebration. Even natural elements, like the Al-Haza plant, are documented as part of the Kingdom’s “environmental identity” and a symbol of adaptation to harsh desert conditions. The historical practice of bird rearing in traditional homes, and its evolution into a widespread hobby and trade of ornamental birds, is also described in detail, providing a form of historical documentation of a cultural pastime. One article even explicitly states, “A weekly page documented the gap between two generations” when discussing traditional versus modern bird rearing, directly using the term “documented”.

Documentation through Arts and Literature: Cultural documentation extends significantly into artistic and literary domains, serving as powerful mediums for expression and reflection:

• Literature as Documentation: Novels and poetry are shown to capture and reflect societal transformations and human experiences. Examples include a novel detailing the history of modern Egypt, a Palestinian novel written from prison exploring identity, and a personal narrative about family and societal change. Significantly, a Syrian author, Samar Yazbek, is noted for being the “first to document the genocide in Gaza through testimonies” of its people, underscoring literature’s unique ability to convey individual experiences and humanize events beyond generalized media coverage. Another novel focuses on the importance of antiquities and historical value, especially during wartime, with the author being an architect researcher interested in architectural heritage, implicitly linking literary works to the preservation of tangible and intangible heritage.
• Cinema: Cinema is highlighted as a potent tool for “shaping consciousness, reinterpreting reality, and moving history from behind the scenes”. It is described as transforming “knowledge from an elitist discourse into a popular one,” making philosophy accessible and presenting history as a living event. This positions cinema itself as a form of dynamic cultural documentation.
• Visual Arts: The sculpture “Ego – The Ego” by Saudi artist Khaled Al-Anqari, is presented as a “philosophical and deep visual vision” of identity and human experience, with its detailed description serving to document the artwork’s conceptual and aesthetic significance. The Ministry of Arts and Culture Authority is noted for fostering an environment for these talents under Vision 2030, indicating a systemic support for cultural production that inherently contributes to cultural documentation.

Digital and Modern Documentation Initiatives: The digital age has brought new avenues for cultural documentation, moving beyond traditional institutional roles:

• Social Media and Self-Narrative: The rise of digital media platforms (e.g., YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat) has led to a significant shift where individuals actively participate in documenting their lives and experiences. This includes the emergence of “self-narratives” and visual biographies (Sira Dhatiyah) through personal vlogs and shared content, transforming personal stories into publicly documented experiences. These digital narratives, described as having “vitality and beauty” through their vibrant colors and sounds, provide interactive and engaging forms of cultural documentation.
• TV Programs: The Ramadan TV program “Dhat” (Self) is cited as an example of televised self-narrative, showcasing diverse personal experiences and serving as a valuable subject for specialized study in the field of self-literature.
• Humanitarian Work Documentation: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) actively documents its humanitarian work, demonstrating a commitment to recording the Kingdom’s extensive aid efforts, which were historically performed “silently and without promotional campaigns”. This includes documenting their projects and the impact on beneficiaries, emphasizing the Kingdom’s global humanitarian role.
• Economic and Social Trends: The detailed discussion of the “Food Truck” phenomenon in Saudi Arabia, including its growth statistics, regulatory frameworks, and inspiring entrepreneurial stories, acts as a documentation of a contemporary social and commercial cultural trend.

In summary, cultural documentation in the provided sources is portrayed as a multifaceted and evolving process that leverages traditional preservation methods alongside modern digital and artistic expressions to capture and communicate the rich tapestry of a society’s culture, history, and ongoing transformations.

Saudi Visions and Global Reflections

Here are the column titles and their first two paragraphs of detail from the sources:

• كلمة Spontaneous reactions are often sincere, especially when they are not driven by self-interest or a pre-existing agenda. Whoever sees or hears someone dealing with others they don’t know, and who don’t know them, in a compassionate manner, their actions are a sincere response to what they saw or heard, without flattery or pretense. We witness this firsthand on social media from foreigners working in or visiting our country, even if their initial ideas about it were unclear or perhaps negative due to misinformation. However, once they experienced the reality for themselves, they found it completely different from their preconceived notions. They found a welcoming country, especially in summer, that honors and protects their safety, security, and privacy.
• انطباعات حقيقية The opinions filling social media are truly astonishing, reflecting unprecedented development in all fields that they never expected to find in this country. They are also full of admiration for the sophisticated treatment they received and the warm feeling of safety that they admit is not present in their home countries. They also express strong admiration for the authenticity combined with modernity, which is reflected in the hospitality and authenticity of Saudi Arabia. The victorious opinions, regardless of nationality, or even if they were from a specific nationality, were varied and from different cultures, but their views converged in the same positive direction, stemming from their personal experiences on the ground and across the Kingdom, not just a specific city.
• »السوق المالية«.. كفاءة البنية الرقمية The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is working to be at the forefront of leading countries in digital transformation, as transformation is a comprehensive strategy aimed at enabling and accelerating digital transformation, developing the necessary infrastructure, and creating an empowered environment that enables public, private, and non-profit sectors to achieve the goals of Vision 2030 with high efficiency and effectiveness. The Saudi financial market has witnessed a remarkable transformation over recent years. This development has been reflected in several strategic axes focused on raising the efficiency of the digital infrastructure and enhancing its global position, which contributed to a qualitative leap that led to an increase in the number of listed companies and the expansion of foreign investor ownership in the financial market.
• نصنع أمنًا بكل قطرة ماء The issue of water security is considered one of the vital and strategic issues for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia due to its desert geographical nature, the limited natural water resources, and the accelerating population and economic growth. The Kingdom aims to ensure the sustainability of water resources and the availability of water for various uses in line with Saudi Vision 2030. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has ensured the sustainability of water resources and the availability of water for various uses through a set of integrated policies and strategies, which have focused on the following axes of expansion:
• األمن المائي.. أولوية المملكة في زمن الندرة والتوسع The Gulf Cooperation Council countries, at the heart of which is the Kingdom, face a difficult environmental and economic reality characterized by global water scarcity. With an almost complete absence of surface water and increasing reliance on the depletion of limited groundwater resources, this region has become among the most affected by water shortages. The per capita share of renewable fresh water in the Kingdom is less than one hundred cubic meters per year, which places it very far from the global standard for absolute water scarcity, set at five hundred cubic meters per person per year. This challenge is exacerbated by the high rates of individual consumption in the Kingdom, as the average daily consumption is about 284 liters (equivalent to 103.66 cubic meters annually), a large figure that places immense pressure on scarce water resources.
• مـن محـدوديـة المــوارد إلـى ريــادة التـحــول المـائــي Water security constitutes a strategic vital resource, one of the most important vital pillars that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has given great attention to among its strategic priorities, recognizing that water is not just a natural resource, but a fundamental element in the comprehensive national security system. In the Saudi context, the concept of water security extends beyond providing water for daily uses to include the sustainable management of resources, ensuring water availability for human consumption, industry, agriculture, and energy, in a way that balances current needs and future aspirations. This concept is consistent with the directions of Saudi Vision 2030, which emphasized that water is a strategic resource that requires smart management based on efficiency, governance, and innovation.
• األمن المائي.. أولوية وطنية The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia faces a strategic challenge in achieving water security in light of the limited natural resources and the accelerating demand resulting from urban expansion, population growth, and industrial and agricultural renaissance. This challenge has become a national priority, no longer just a service matter, but is directly linked to national economic and social stability. Within the framework of Saudi Vision 2030, the Kingdom has adopted a comprehensive developmental approach to restructure the water sector through policies aimed at increasing production efficiency, improving service quality, rationalizing consumption, and localizing water-related industries and technologies. The Kingdom no longer relies on traditional solutions, but is racing against time to adopt the latest global technologies in desalination and treatment, benefiting from its previous experience and leading position in water desalination.
• »الماء ال يكفي الجميع« صراع يقلب التوازن الجيوسياسي ندرة المياه والتضخم والهجرة مالمح أزمة مركبة تهدد النظام العالمي Global concerns have escalated in recent years regarding water security as a primary source of tensions, both strategic and regional, as riparian countries dispute their shares of shared rivers. As a United Nations report titled “Water for Peace” warns, increasing water scarcity, amidst groundwater resources, weakens food security and threatens livelihoods, which could lead to very dangerous conflicts. Agriculture experts at FAO explain that agriculture needs about 70% of available fresh water, so every lost drop means less food production and more hunger globally. World Bank data also confirm that water shocks – mainly drought – account for about 10% of the increase in global migration, and have reduced the growth of major cities by more than 12% in cases of severe drought.
• زيادة كفاءة استخدام الموارد المائية وتقليل االعتماد على “الجوفية” Water is a fundamental resource for meeting human needs, ensuring environmental sustainability, and is one of the most important axes of economic and social development. Despite the importance of water, the Kingdom faces significant challenges due to unsustainable use of water resources, in addition to the limited non-renewable groundwater reserves, which are experiencing accelerated depletion in arid climatic conditions. Renewable water is extremely rare, and in addition, the high demand for water in the agricultural sector exacerbates the problem of water scarcity in the Kingdom. The government also bears a high cost for water production and wastewater services in the urban sector, yet service levels remain suboptimal, and the sector also suffers from inadequate institutional arrangements and governance mechanisms.
• شراكة القطاعين العام والخاص.. العب رئيس لتوفير مصادر المياه واستدامتها بالمملكة Investment in water projects began early in the Kingdom with the first desalination unit in Jeddah in 1907 AD, and from that day, investment grew and expanded, and projects multiplied. The partnership between the public and private sectors in this regard was carefully organized and studied, indicating the development and goodness of this important partnership between the two sectors. The establishment of the Saudi Water Partnerships Company (SWPC) as a limited liability company in 2003, with a 50% contribution from each of the Saline Water Conversion Corporation and the Saudi Electricity Company, is evidence of this. The company was established to be the primary buyer of all types of water, including desalinated, purified, and treated water, and others.
• تربية الطيور.. من الهواية إلى المتعة والتجارة In the past, and for a few decades, poultry and pigeon rearing was widespread and abundant in most homes, especially earthen houses. After the owners of these earthen and then traditional houses joyfully bid farewell to them without looking back, the residents benefited from the eggs produced by chickens, as well as the meat of pigeons, which filled the house with their cooing. The most beautiful sight was the pigeon perching on the balcony. Rearing pigeons in a cote on rooftops was appealing to young people at that time. They would fly freely in the air, moving in circles, then return to their cote, cooing and circling the house as if expressing their love for their dwelling in this house, its inhabitants, and the beautiful earthen buildings.
• »الفود ترك«.. The statistics for 2019 indicate that the official licenses for food trucks in six Saudi regions reached about 1301 vehicles, with Riyadh leading at 496 licenses, followed by Jeddah with 450. However, this number no longer accurately reflects the current reality, as the Ministry of Commerce recorded a steady increase in commercial registrations related to food trucks and restaurants alone, with a growth of 10% in 2024, exceeding 136 thousand commercial registrations for food activities. This growth is not just a number in bureaucratic reports; it is a living testament to a changing societal taste and a generation of young people venturing into entrepreneurship at the lowest possible cost. Instead of a fixed restaurant requiring significant capital, the mobile cart offers an easier option to enter the market, test recipes, develop a personal brand, and directly connect with the public.
• مدخرات األسرة.. ورؤية 2030 The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 is an ambitious national project that aims to bring about a comprehensive economic and social transformation in the country, reducing reliance on oil as a primary source of income, diversifying the economy, empowering citizens, and enhancing the quality of life. Among the important financial goals that the Vision seeks to achieve is raising the percentage of family savings from their total income from 6% to 10%. This goal is an important indicator of families’ financial awareness and their ability to plan and prepare for the future, and it also reflects positively on the overall economy by improving financial stability and increasing sources of domestic funding.
• »السوق المالية في المملكـة«.. كفـاءة البنيـة الرقميـة The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is working to be at the forefront of leading countries in digital transformation, as transformation is a comprehensive strategy aimed at enabling and accelerating digital transformation, developing the necessary infrastructure with high efficiency, and creating an empowered environment that enables public, private, and non-profit sectors to achieve the goals of Vision 2030. The Saudi financial market has witnessed a remarkable transformation over recent years. This development has been reflected in several strategic axes focused on raising the efficiency of the digital infrastructure and enhancing its global position, which contributed to a qualitative leap that led to an increase in the number of listed companies and the expansion of foreign investor ownership in the financial market.
• رفع قيمة مخزون المعادن في المملكة إلى »2.5« تريليون دوالر The Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Bandar bin Ibrahim Al-Khorayef, affirmed that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is leading a qualitative and comprehensive industrial transformation; it aims to re-form the structure of the national economy and establish an advanced position in technology sectors through early adoption of advanced technologies and enhancing its production capabilities in global value chains. Al-Khorayef reviewed the developments in the mining sector, which is considered one of the new sectors adopted by Vision 2030, where work has been done according to many tracks, including increasing geological explorations, which raised the estimated value of minerals in the Kingdom from “1.3” to “2.5” trillion dollars.
• جازان.. بوابة استثمار غنية بالموارد البحرية والزراعية Jazan region represents a prominent economic destination thanks to its distinguished natural components and rich resources, which include coasts extending along the Red Sea, rich agricultural resources, and enormous mineral wealth, in addition to its strategic location as a commercial gateway between East and West, and continuous government support. All of this strengthens what it is witnessing of a qualitative leap for projects, accelerating major initiatives and investment incentives, and keeping pace with accelerating economic developments in light of Saudi Vision 2030, to be a pioneer in qualitative investments for sustainable development in all developmental, investment, service, and tourism fields.
• أوكرانيا تشكل خريطة جديدة لصادرات السالح األلماني The war in Ukraine has succeeded in reshaping Germany’s role and the map of international military industries. After being a cautious player, Germany has now become a leading arms exporter with influence, walking a fine line between supporting allies and avoiding direct escalation with Russia. This is considered an unprecedented radical transformation in Germany’s defense policies since World War II. Therefore, Germany is steadily moving towards leadership in the arms export market, driven by the war in Ukraine, with direct support for the Kyiv government, which has placed Berlin at the heart of one of the largest rearmament waves in Europe.
• الشعر وندوب العالم Under the weight of wars, conflicts, environmental and economic crises, and existential divisions, it seems that rationality alone is no longer sufficient to quell this noise. In this context, poetry emerges as a soulful medium that transcends the pragmatic, penetrates the depths of the human psyche, and grants it meaning, solace, and awakens in it a dormant sense of belonging, beauty, and mercy. Poetry, then, is not a linguistic luxury or a literary pastime, but a human necessity that contributes to addressing the world’s problems from an emotional perspective that traditional solutions lack. Indeed, one of the primary problems of the world today lies in the spiritual isolation created by extreme individualism and cold technology.
• القهوة السعودية.. عنوان الضيافة ورمز الكرم Saudi coffee has an ancient history, a long-standing heritage, and its existence has been rooted since ancient times in our culture, behavior, traditions, and customs. It is offered on all public occasions such as weddings, Eid celebrations, and receptions, where it is considered an authentic Arab tradition passed down from generation to generation as a symbol of welcome, honor, and an expression of respect and hospitality. It may seem somewhat astonishing how this bitter coffee, which is in fact its sweetness and attraction, reached its invention and preparation with its two main components (coffee beans and cardamom) to give that distinctive taste, especially when we realize that coffee beans and cardamom are products of our authentic agricultural lands. And specifically cardamom, which comes from its original source (India), is not ground as they do, but rather we add it with its whole, original seeds as a spice to rice and other foods, like raisins and nuts, for example.
• ألعاب اللغة و»الشريعة« When a child learns a language or is taught a language, if the educational process is centered on ‘the word,’ then the word, which is sometimes called according to its uses, then branched out by ‘the word,’ in order for language to enable its conceptual map, its lexical entry. For the child, a word with multiple uses is presented, such as ‘eye,’ so the word ‘eye’ is written for him, then the hurting eye is drawn for him, then a story is told to him about a person who uses his ‘eye’ correctly… These linguistic games are educational, and they are the first level, which the learner may revert from his deficiency with time, finding that the lexicon is not fixed except as an educational tool, not as a means to clarify the criterion from others. This is what “Baudouin de Pre” confined himself to at the level of “education” when discussing the meaning of “Sharia,” and then he carried this level to explain that the levels of usage of the word “Sharia” from this side, depending on how it was used throughout history, point to individuals and trends among Muslims, according to the level of lexical linguistic education, and he explicitly stated it in the manner of Wittgenstein’s “language games” to explain the ambiguity of the meaning of “Sharia”.
• دوغمائية اللغة This article raises the following question: Can language transform into a form of dogmatism that extinguishes the flame of reason, freedom, and thought? At first glance, language appears to be an innocent and benign tool, merely a means of understanding and exchanging meanings. However, when it is subjected to deep reflection and criticism, it is revealed from another angle; it transforms from a means of communication into an entrenched authority that imposes a kind of symbolic constraint on thought and reality. In the beginning, the word hovered above man and was a miracle.
• المثقف بين األفكار واالأخالق In a time when platforms increase and titles compete, the intellectual is no longer just a mere carrier of knowledge, but has become an ethical symbol under scrutiny. In light of the complete exposure on social media, an old question arises in a new form: Is culture alone enough to create an intellectual to be emulated? Or are ethics what give thought its legitimacy and truthfulness? Knowledge is a powerful tool, but it can turn into a means of deception if it is devoid of conscience. History is full of names that embodied thought and others whose actions betrayed their intellect, and whose reason was darkened, revealing the rarity of consistency in the enlightened human being.
• ثقـافـة التوثيــق The visual self-narrative belongs to the visual arts, and the interactive self-narrative, which benefits from digital technologies, electronic communication channels, and social media platforms (such as YouTube, Snapchat, TikTok, WhatsApp, or similar), belongs to these interactive visual genres. Here I would like to refer to the efforts of Dr. Amal Al-Tamimi in her attention to this type of visual self-narrative, as she authored her book on this subject: ‘The Self-Narrative in Digital Literature: A Television Self-Narrative as a Model,’ which then became ‘The Self-Narrative,’ in which she monitored examples from some personal pages on social media and their social impact on the transformation of self-literature. We can find in the Ramadan TV program ‘Dhat’ (Self), prepared by the player Sami Al-Jaber, an example of this type of self-narrative. It is a talk show where he hosts a personality every night and talks with them about themselves. This program was shown on Saudi TV during Ramadan 1443 AH (2022 AD). The program was then rebroadcast on the same channel in Ramadan 2023 AD. This program is considered one of the forms of televised self-narrative, and it is worthy of study by specialists in the field of self-literature and its critique, as it contains rich examples and diverse experiences that deserve attention and care.
• ُصَباَبُة الَقول السِّيَرة الذَّاتيَّة الَمْرِئيَّة For the writer to flow with the moment of his creativity, he must seize the precise subject during writing and adopt instantaneous expression to express his feelings and the power of his mind and the cinematic images that he chooses. He must also move towards a state of direct imagination towards broad and conscious philosophical concepts that give him the ability to establish a deep philosophical connection to reveal the deep structure of things and beings, and to return to their essence, as well as to review and ponder after that with the writer to a state of illuminating gnosis of writing. This writing is a descriptive and silent text, and for it to be an innovative literary activity, its ultimate outcome is that when a dry branch sees himself in the desert, he reads and circulates and roams, and he sees the branch swaying and vibrating with freshness and wetness, and those who drink from it, and crowds of bees, and here there may be a paradox in the meaning of the scene and an intensification of the vision, expanding its scope to its reality, which moves us to another charming and captivating feature that has no end or limits.
• مساعدات المملكة It is possible for a poet and writer to forget that Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, head of King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, in one of the meetings, relied on writers and their role in translating the humanitarian situation and its impact on society, and the role of literature in conveying the humanitarian message with influential language and emotions. Literature translates, perceives, documents, and touches the recipient; and King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center plays a major global role in aiding distressed peoples, whether from wars or natural disasters, and it is a specialist in the Kingdom’s extensive efforts, which began since the days of the founder King Abdulaziz – may God rest his soul. Those in charge of it have made great efforts in documenting the great aid provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia since early times, as the Saudi government used to provide its aid to peoples and countries silently and without promotional campaigns, unlike other countries that planted and cultivated for showing off and media exaggeration.
• جدلية القرية والمدينة I have just finished reading a biographical novel whose narrator was the son of the village where he lived his childhood and then moved to the city, and it raised a deep question within me: Is the dialectic of village and city still present, or has it disappeared? And does the human self in the novel – in our present time – indicate the existence of this dialectic? In fact, the answer to this question is not a simple “yes” or “no,” but rather requires a reading into the transformations of consciousness in the human self and its reflections on what it writes. Does this disparity still mean something in the era of postmodernity, globalization, and the digital city, or not?
• مارسيل بروست والزمن اللولبي The sunset rays used to melt shyly on the wall of the church in Combray, drawing pink lines on the stones. Every ray would withdraw as if bidding farewell to my childhood, until it left, whispering to me: ‘Everything is memory.’ This is how Proust begins, not from a specific hour or date, but from a sensory moment, a faint light, a scent of loss that ignites memories, and unleashes a connection between memory and the present moment. Do we live time, and is life in time what lives in us? Does memory preserve what it recalls, or does it recreate it every time we try to remember? Why do we miss moments we never longed for with a vague nostalgia for unknown times? Is the past a fixed reality, or just a story we tell ourselves to live?
• الت لغوية َعالن( تأمُّ َ In the depths of the Arabic structure, words are formed like waves that expand and contract according to meaning. One of the most prominent of these forms is “Fa’alan,” which comes loaded with movement, saturated with emotion, and rich with suggestion. We say: ‘Sakran’ (drunk), ‘Walhan’ (ardent), ‘Atshan’ (thirsty), ‘Ghadban’ (angry). Here, the form draws a picture of an overwhelming feeling or an urgent need, encompassing both body and soul. It refers to the internal state and describes it in detail, conveying the emotional wave itself. And if we move to the context of the Holy Quran, we find a unique presence for this form in Surah Al-Ankabut, where Allah Almighty says: ‘And indeed, the home of the Hereafter is the Hayaawan (true life)’.
• المعنى في زمن االنفجار In times when the word was measured by its weight, its meaning was meant to be understood. But today, much of what is said is said just to be said. We do not live in an era of linguistic abundance only, but of linguistic explosion. Shiny phrases are copied, concepts are reproduced without depth, and words multiply. It may seem to us that this linguistic explosion is innocent, but it is in fact a confusing linguistic phenomenon where everything is said but not understood. It is as if the language has lost its basic function, and the discourse has become accumulation rather than production of meaning; the language, which was meant to enlighten, has turned into a dense fog that obscures the truth under the embellishment of words. We no longer even search for words; we try to escape from them. Everything around us speaks: platforms, screens, and people, but in reality, the more words, the less understanding, as if we live in a time where language overflows and the understanding of truth diminishes.
• األنا )Ego( منحوتة تغوص في فلسفة الذات The visual arts sector in the Kingdom possesses exceptional talents among pioneers and youth. The state – may God protect it – through the ‘Ministry of Arts and Culture Authority’ has created the best possible environment for these talents to flourish in various fields of the sector, in line with Vision 2030, through qualitative programs and initiatives. These include plastic art in painting, photography, digital arts, calligraphy, sculpture, installation works, video art, multimedia art, and others. The plastic artist Khaled bin Suleiman Al-Anqari is one of these artists who invested in this care, producing a number of creative sculptures, including his sculpture titled “Ego – The Ego,” through which he presents a deep visual and philosophical vision of the meaning of human identity and the accumulation of experience, where a local marble block has transformed into a vibrant entity of thought and contemplation.
• وما يمنع من اإلنجليزية؟! I hope that this acquired victory of the English language does not disturb us, as I see it as a divine gift that has built bridges of communication between the East and the West, and has removed many language barriers in communication between different cultures and languages. Language, with all its dialects and lexicon, is a sign among the signs of God Almighty. ‘And among His Signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the diversity of your languages and your colors. Indeed, in that are signs for those of knowledge’. The English language reaching this level of circulation recently, whether spoken or written, certainly has its reasons and factors, which are not hidden from many of us. But what concerns us is the function of this language, its role, and its importance, and whether it has achieved communication between people? The answer is certainly yes, and this is a matter that does not require study or any kind of sophisticated analysis.
• خمسة كتب توصي سوسن األبطح بقراءتها In this section, Dr. Sawsan Al-Abtah, the Lebanese journalist and writer specialized in literary criticism, theater, cinema, and television culture, will take us. She has written dozens of critical articles and worked in journalistic preparation and coverage. She recommends what she recently read to readers. Faces of Modern Egypt by Robert Solé, the French-Egyptian novelist. Many have written about the history of Egypt, but Robert Solé took it upon himself in this book to present a vision, not to narrate events. He did so while bringing to life two hundred years of Arab history, in which he broadcast pivotal profiles for twenty personalities of modern life in his fluid style, succeeding in delivering a captivating work that the reader begins and does not give up until he finishes its three hundred pages.
• مازن حيدر: الُمواطنة تبدأ بالتعّرف على التاريخ The novel “Widow of Sarouphim and Her Mornings” by the Lebanese writer Mazen Haidar appears on the surface to be a story of young men and their teacher who solve riddles to discover treasures in a remote village in Lebanon. In essence, however, it is an invitation to shed light on the importance of antiquities and their historical value, and the responsibility of each of us to protect them, especially during wars. Haidar said in a recent interview with Al Riyadh newspaper in Paris, that his novel “Widow of Sarouphim” “is not about the war itself, but rather about shedding light on the course of life in places relatively far from the battles.” He explained that the Lebanese civil war is “a constant backdrop that shaped the identity of people and places, setting rules for social relations that go beyond displacement and killing”.
• السينما وعي In a dark hall, the lights are turned off, and a white screen is illuminated. It seems like a fleeting moment, but philosophically, it is a moment of new birth for the collective mind since its inception. Cinema has never been just a visual luxury, but an effective mechanism for generating meaning, shaping consciousness, and moving history from behind the scenes. Cinema does not just convey reality; it reconstructs it, questions its logic, and opens its gaps, as one described it, ‘a flipped mirror.’ It does not reflect the world as it is, but as it should be seen. It is a philosophy that walks on two feet, conveying ideas not through proof, but through a complete sensory experience, not through logic, but through image, sound, rhythm, and emotion.
• مدائننا الخفية In every city, there are hidden cities that are not seen with the naked eye, but are perceived by the eye of the heart, through the magic of imagination and the illusion of time. Cities like Troy, which celebrates its ideal landmarks, but its vanished specters never cease to seek a way to emerge anew. Shadows of cities in every Arab city, there is a corner that holds the secrets of years. In Riyadh, one can stroll through the old Al-Zal market, imbued with the scent of centuries, where the echoes of merchants’ footsteps resonate, carrying incense and spices through the desert. When one stands on the ruins, like Imru’ al-Qais, recalling a city, he is struck by a hidden sense of nostalgia: ‘Stop, let us weep from the memory of a beloved and a dwelling / At the curve of Al-Liwa between Al-Dakhul and Hawmal’.
• القوة الناعمة.. السعودية غير؟! It has become an aspiration for many to have their country similar to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and for how many peoples aspire to see their country enjoy the progress it now experiences in all fields, relying on the strength of its residents.. a true soft power that loves good for everyone and shares with the world the search for excellence and spreading happiness locally and globally. Saudi Arabia today realizes that it is in a world concerned with a positive reputation, especially after it closed and erased the paths of those who wanted it to be a source of partisan, isolationist, sectarian, and even tribal tendencies. It did so to be concerned with intellectual elevation and civilization, as humanitarian aid, for example, is part of its global role, but according to the concept of principles.. this was a great achievement that was difficult to realize.
• التستر.. سرطان االقتصاد The ‘commercial concealment,’ with its multiple forms and destructive impacts, has become a real economic cancer that has cast its heavy shadow on the business environment in the Kingdom for decades. It is no longer just a temporary defect, but an entrenched phenomenon that weakens the market structure, undermines efforts to localize jobs, and leads to the formation of a hidden economy with far-reaching tentacles, isolated from oversight, and not contributing to the GDP as it should. This concealment is manifested in enabling non-Saudis to practice commercial activities for their own benefit, disguised under the names of citizens who receive a meager monthly income, without any effective role in management. These practices have led to the spread of commercial fraud, money laundering, and poor product quality, in addition to causing a real unemployment problem among citizens who find themselves facing unfair competition with this informal economy.
• الطاقة الزائدة واستدرار الضحك It is undoubtedly true that the concept of theater is still associated with laughter, especially in our Arab society, and it is also true that individuals these days, under the pressures of life, need laughter for its biological, psychological, and health functions. Jean Cohen presented his theory of ‘comic drama,’ and this theory received much attention from critics and analysts for the modernity of its subject and the breadth of its scope. For example, Catherine Krebser-Orkision and Alain Brunschein presented their analyses of the function and goal of this theory.
• لماذا يداوي القائد المجروح؟ We are now in 1997. At that time, Japan did not succeed in qualifying for the 1998 World Cup in France, and the biggest challenge was not once for the biggest qualifier, the World Cup. At that time, the team’s star was the legend Kazuyoshi Miura, the only Japanese player who played in the Italian league. After great difficulties, Japan qualified for the Asian playoff by the skin of their teeth. In the middle of the decisive match against Iran, the coach decided to replace the legend Kazuyoshi Miura. The player protested this decision, saying: “Are you sending me out?” After moments, the player yielded to the decision and left the field. The beautiful thing is that the Japanese team managed to turn the result around and win and qualify for the World Cup. The biggest surprise, however, was when the Japanese team’s squad for the World Cup was announced, where the coach decided to deprive Kazu of playing in the global event, which was a shocking decision for everyone, confirming at that time that discipline and team spirit are more important than stardom and fame, and that there is no place for a player who does not adhere to the coach’s instructions.
• الوظيفة النقدية لإلعالم من النخبة إلى جمهور التواصل In a rapidly changing world, the role and functions of media change with the changing social, cultural, and technological structure of society. Perhaps one of the most prominent of these transformations is what has happened to the critical function of media, a function that has formed over decades a fundamental pillar in shaping consciousness, questioning authority, enhancing public dialogue, and correcting deviations in various fields: political, economic, cultural, sports, and even social. However, this function is no longer exclusive to traditional media institutions; rather, in the era of ‘complete digitalization,’ it has become part of the daily actions of millions of individuals who participate in varying levels of criticism of reality through social media.

Here are all the headings from the newspaper and their first two paragraphs of detail:

1. كلـمة (Word) Spontaneous reactions in situations are often sincere, especially if they are not driven by self-interest or a desire to appease someone. This is evident in the behavior of foreigners working or visiting our country, whose sincere interactions demonstrate their good nature, without pretense or ulterior motives. Even if they initially had negative or incorrect preconceptions, they found reality to be entirely different from their prior ideas once they experienced it for themselves. They discovered a country that welcomes them warmly in the summer, honors them, and safeguards their security and privacy.
2. انطباعات حقيقية (Real Impressions) These experiences and opinions enhance the Kingdom’s standing as an advanced nation that rivals and surpasses many developed countries in several areas. This progress, blended with a rich heritage, has had a profound impact on visitors who witness what they never expected, inspiring them to wish for similar progress, security, and safety in their own countries, thanks to wise leadership that has transformed our nation into an oasis of security. (Only one paragraph of detail is directly under this heading in the source).
3. »السوق الماليـة«.. كفـاءة البنيـة الرقمـية (The Financial Market.. Efficiency of the Digital Infrastructure) The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is working to be at the forefront of leading nations in digital transformation, adopting an integrated strategy aimed at enabling and accelerating this transformation. Digital transformation is considered to involve developing the necessary high-efficiency and effective infrastructure, and creating an empowering environment for governmental, private, and non-profit sectors to achieve the objectives of Vision 2030. The Saudi financial market has witnessed a remarkable transformation in recent years. This development manifested in several strategic axes focused on enhancing the efficiency of the digital infrastructure and strengthening its global position, leading to a qualitative leap that increased the number of listed companies and expanded foreign investor ownership in the financial market.
4. نصنع أمنًا بكل قطرة ماء (We Create Security with Every Drop of Water) The issue of water security is considered one of the vital and strategic issues for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia due to its desert geographical nature, the limited natural water resources, and the accelerating population and economic growth. The Kingdom aims to ensure the sustainability of water resources and the availability of water for various uses in line with Saudi Vision 2030. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has ensured the sustainability of water resources and the availability of water for various uses through a set of integrated policies and strategies, which focused on the following axes of expansion: desalination of seawater, treatment and reuse of wastewater, preservation of groundwater, reform of the aquatic agriculture sector, increasing distribution efficiency and reducing losses, and awareness programs to change consumer behavior and stimulate rationalization.
5. المياه محرك التنمية واالستثمار (Water: The Engine of Development and Investment) The availability of water is not just a luxury; it is a vital artery for every aspect of comprehensive economic and industrial development and prosperity. Water is indispensable in all stages of complex industrial processes, from basic industries to petrochemical and manufacturing industries, on which the Kingdom heavily relies. Without reliable water supplies, the Kingdom’s ambitious industrial and economic aspirations would face significant challenges that could impede the achievement of Vision 2030’s development goals. In the agricultural sector, which represents a cornerstone of food security, water is fundamental.
6. تحلية المياه.. ريادة سعودية (Water Desalination… Saudi Leadership) Recognizing this challenge, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has taken strong and innovative measures to secure its water future. The Kingdom has given the highest priority to developing water desalination technology, leveraging its massive financial and human resources. With continuous innovations and astonishing progress in membrane technologies and energy efficiency, the cost of desalinated water has drastically decreased from 5 dollars per cubic meter in the 1980s to between 40 and 50 cents in modern projects, making water desalination an economically viable option.
7. المملكة.. قوة مائية عالمية ورؤية مستقبلية (The Kingdom… A Global Water Power and Future Vision) The Kingdom’s pioneering role in water desalination began in the 1970s, and today it leads the world in this field without peer. Half of the world’s desalinated water production, approximately, comes from the Gulf, even though it accounts for less than 1% of the world’s population. The Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) in Saudi Arabia is the largest water desalination company globally, producing alone about 20% of the world’s desalinated water. The Corporation’s leadership is not limited to production but extends to specialized training programs through its Water Academy, which has trained thousands of water specialists worldwide.
8. تحديات التوسع.. وحلول مبتكرة (Expansion Challenges… and Innovative Solutions) With urban expansion and ambitious project plans to increase homeownership among Saudis to 70% by 2030, the Kingdom faces additional pressure on its water resources, leading to a significant increase in water demand to meet the needs of these new communities. Similarly, the expansion in industrial projects and attracting global investments poses another challenge, as these industries require vast quantities of water to ensure the continuity of their operations and growth. Moreover, the public health of citizens and residents is closely linked to the quality and availability of clean water, making its provision a paramount, non-negotiable priority.
9. الأمن المائي.. أولوية المملكة في زمن الندرة والتوسع (Water Security.. The Kingdom’s Priority in Times of Scarcity and Expansion) Gulf Cooperation Council countries, and at their heart the Kingdom, face a difficult environmental and economic reality represented by global water scarcity. With an almost complete absence of surface water and increasing reliance on depleting limited groundwater resources, this region has become among the most affected by water shortage. The per capita share of renewable fresh water in the Kingdom is less than one hundred cubic meters annually, which places it very far from the global standard for absolute water scarcity, set at five hundred cubic meters per capita annually. This challenge is exacerbated by the high rates of individual consumption in the Kingdom, as the average daily consumption is about 284 liters (equivalent to 103.66 cubic meters annually), a significant figure that puts enormous pressure on scarce water resources.
10. »المملكة والمياه« (The Kingdom and Water) In the framework of Saudi Vision 2030, the Kingdom adopted an integrated national strategy aimed at improving water management and confronting challenges, such as the limitation of non-renewable groundwater, high demand for water in residential, industrial, and agricultural sectors, and scarcity of renewable resources. Through this strategy, it seeks to develop water resources using advanced technologies to achieve water security and preserve groundwater for future generations. His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Chairman of the Council of Ministers, announced the establishment of the Kingdom’s Global Water Organization in September 2023, headquartered in Riyadh.
11. »تحلية مياه البحر« (Seawater Desalination) The Kingdom has succeeded in building an integrated and sustainable model for water security, despite its arid desert nature, thanks to the unlimited support from the wise leadership – may God protect them – and massive investments in water desalination and developing giant water networks that provide reliable supplies to meet the needs of society and various sectors. The Kingdom is the largest producer of desalinated water in the world, with modern desalination plants built on the coasts of the Arabian Gulf and the Red Sea. The Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture has previously revealed that the Kingdom has maintained its global leadership as the largest producer of desalinated water.
12. »تبني التقنيات« (Adopting Technologies) The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia seeks to achieve sustainable water security by building an integrated and sustainable model that confronts water scarcity challenges and balances water supply and demand. In this model, the Kingdom relies on several axes, including investing in water desalination, developing advanced water networks, improving water management, and adopting innovative technologies for water conservation. This includes improving the management of available water resources, whether renewable or non-renewable, in addition to rationalizing water consumption in all sectors. The Kingdom adopts modern technologies in water management, such as treating and reusing wastewater and developing modern irrigation techniques, to benefit from non-traditional water sources.
13. »براءات اختراع« (Patents) The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has achieved significant accomplishments in water security-related patents, having obtained patents for advanced innovations in the water industry during 2024. Among the prominent achievements is the registration of a patent for producing clean energy from the brine leftover from desalination processes. A patent was registered for a control device specifically designed for collecting seawater samples, reflecting a development in water quality monitoring technologies. A patent was also registered for a system protecting water intakes from marine organisms, ensuring the safety and reliability of water supplies.
14. »قيود صارمة« (Strict Restrictions) The strategy includes imposing strict restrictions on the extraction of non-renewable groundwater and mandating licenses for drilling wells. It also involves halting the local cultivation of water-intensive crops like wheat and green fodder, working to reform the aquatic agriculture sector, supporting smart agriculture technologies and drip irrigation to reduce waste, and encouraging the transition to greenhouses and vertical farming.
15. المملكة أكبر منتج للمياه المحالة عالميًا تحقيق عدالة التوزيع وتقليل الاستهلاك المفرط (The Kingdom is the largest producer of desalinated water globally, achieving fair distribution and reducing excessive consumption) The issue of water security is considered one of the vital and strategic issues for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia due to its desert geographical nature, limited natural water resources, and accelerating population and economic growth. The Kingdom aims to ensure the sustainability of water resources and the availability of water for various uses in line with Saudi Vision 2030. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has guaranteed the sustainability of water resources and the availability of water for various uses through a set of integrated policies and strategies that focused on the following axes of expansion: seawater desalination, wastewater treatment and reuse, preservation of groundwater, reform of the aquatic agriculture sector, increasing distribution efficiency and reducing losses, and awareness programs to change consumer behavior and stimulate rationalization.
16. مـن محـدوديـة المــوارد إلـى ريــادة التـحــول المـائــي (From Resource Scarcity to Water Transformation Leadership) Water security is one of the vital pillars that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has given great attention to within its strategic priorities, recognizing that water is not merely a natural resource but a fundamental element in the comprehensive national security system. In the Saudi context, the concept of water security extends beyond providing water for daily uses to include the sustainable management of resources, ensuring water availability for human consumption, industry, agriculture, energy, in a way that balances current needs with future ambitions. This concept aligns with the directions of Vision 2030, which emphasized that water is a strategic resource requiring intelligent management based on efficiency, governance, and innovation.
17. رؤية 2030 وتحول قطاع المياه (Vision 2030 and Water Sector Transformation) With the launch of Saudi Vision 2030, the water sector in the country entered a new phase of development and structural transformation, after this sector became a key axis in sustainable development plans. The Vision was keen to address the issue of water not merely as a consumer service, but as a strategic pillar linked to water security, the economy, and the sustainability of resources and the quality of life. From this standpoint, ambitious policies were drawn up to restructure the sector, raise the quality of its services, and ensure the continuity of its infrastructure and resources for future generations. Vision 2030 came to embody environmental and economic sustainability at the heart of water policies, stemming from a deep understanding of the importance of this vital resource at the national level.
18. هيكلة شاملة لقطاع المياه (Comprehensive Restructuring of the Water Sector) In response to the requirements of the Vision, the water sector in the Kingdom underwent a comprehensive regulatory restructuring aimed at increasing efficiency, clarifying roles, and facilitating performance monitoring. Among the most prominent steps in this direction was the establishment of the National Water Company as a main operator for water and wastewater services in various regions of the Kingdom, with clear powers to improve operational and commercial performance. The launch of the National Water Strategy 2030 set precise goals for water management, including surface water, desalinated water, and recycled water. It also provided opportunities for the private sector to participate in providing services, operating stations, and the gradual privatization of water services, which helped raise the level of operational efficiency and provided new investment opportunities.
19. توطين الصناعات المرتبطة بالمياه (Localizing Water-Related Industries) Within the framework of the economic transformation led by the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, localizing water-related industries is considered one of the most important strategic paths that the state attaches great importance to. Water is not just a consumer service; it is an integrated industrial and technological sector that includes hundreds of tools, systems, and products, the local manufacturing of which contributes to strengthening local content, creating job opportunities, and transferring technology, reducing reliance on imports. The Kingdom has begun taking serious and tangible steps towards building a national industrial base capable of manufacturing and developing components of water systems, such as pumps, filters, smart meters, control systems, and advanced desalination devices. Concerned parties are keen to support this trend through launching incentive programs for local industry, providing attractive regulatory environments and licenses for investors.
20. تجربة محلية تنمو بثبات (A Local Experience Growing Steadily) Over the past few years, successful Saudi models have emerged in the field of manufacturing water technologies, including factories that began producing small and medium-sized desalination equipment, and others that entered the manufacturing of smart meters and modern irrigation systems that save water, supported by localization programs and government readiness. This has contributed to reducing import costs, shortening project implementation time, and raising the level of local readiness to meet increasing demand. These experiences have proven that localizing water industries is not just a developmental option, but a strategic path that enhances national decision-making sovereignty over one of the most vital resources in the country, and creates an integrated industrial environment that supports the economy.
21. الأمن المائي.. من الرؤية إلى الواقع (Water Security.. From Vision to Reality) Water security in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is no longer managed by traditional means or frameworks; rather, it has become an integrated national project where sustainable development intersects with economic sovereignty, and modern technologies integrate with long-term strategies. Through its programs and initiatives, the Kingdom has demonstrated that water conservation is not limited to managing consumption or expanding infrastructure; it also includes investing in people, empowering national competencies, localizing industries, stimulating innovation, and strengthening partnerships between the public and private sectors. Achieving water security today is an investment in the future, ensuring a more stable and quality life for coming generations.
22. أنهار في قلب النزاع الدولي (Rivers at the Heart of International Conflict) There is no doubt that major rivers such as the Nile, Indus, Tigris, and Euphrates appear to be at the forefront of water conflict areas, serving as a stark example of regional conflict. Specifically, the Nile witnessed Ethiopia’s commencement of building the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam in 2011, a massive project for power generation. This step sparked a continuous tripartite dispute between Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan over water shares. As a report by the “International Crisis Group” indicates, the dispute “has not yet been resolved,” especially concerning the dam’s reservoir filling rate and sharing of storage. The report urged the countries to reach a comprehensive framework for managing the Nile’s shared resources.
23. الماء سلعة استراتيجية للمضاربة (Water: A Strategic Commodity for Speculation) In the international arena, water itself has become an attractive commodity for investment and speculation; concepts of water management have become a subject of controversy in Western financial markets. In the American market, water futures contracts have emerged on the “California Water Exchange,” allowing farmers and investors to speculate on water prices as if it were gold or oil. Calls have increased to stop the expansion of the phenomenon of buying groundwater rights by companies and investment funds, leading Senator Elizabeth Warren to state: “Water is not a commodity that can be exploited by the rich and monopolists, we will not allow a vital resource like this to be sold to the highest bidder”.
24. الأبعاد األخالقية والبيئية (Ethical and Environmental Dimensions) The water conflict cannot be separated from its ethical and accompanying environmental dimensions. Many activists view water as a fundamental human right that should not be sold or protected solely for monetary value. With the emergence of issues such as the privatization of water networks in some cities and rising prices, fears have arisen that water will become a commercial commodity where fundamental rights are confiscated for those who cannot afford it. For example, popular protests erupted in Latin America when private contracting companies tried to raise water tariffs in some poor neighborhoods, resembling revolutions for water.
25. نحو إدارة عقالنية للمياه (Towards Rational Water Management) If the scales of international interests raise a big question mark over the future of water security, and the conflict over water has reached a critical level that warns of potential “water wars,” then the warnings of experts and researchers are escalating. Regional and international governance mechanisms suggest the necessity of strengthening cooperation, developing treaties that adapt to deteriorating climate realities, and launching initiatives that consider the rights of future generations. Some also call for recognizing the right to fresh water within international human rights charters and linking international aid to clean water projects.
26. »الماء ال يكفي الجميع« صراع يقلب التوازن الجيوسياسي ندرة المياه والتضخم والهجرة مالمح أزمة مركبة تهدد النظام العالمي (“Water is Not Enough for Everyone” A Conflict that Tips the Geopolitical Balance Water Scarcity, Inflation, and Migration: Features of a Complex Crisis Threatening the Global Order) In recent years, global concerns have escalated regarding water security as a major source of regional and strategic tensions, with riparian countries vying for their shares of common rivers, amid growing pressures from groundwater resources. As a United Nations report titled “Water for Peace” warns, water scarcity undermines food security and threatens livelihoods, which could lead to very dangerous conflicts. Agricultural experts at FAO explain that agriculture needs about 70% of available fresh water, so every lost drop means less food production and more hunger globally. World Bank data also confirms that water shocks—primarily drought—explain about 10% of the increase in global migration, and have reduced the growth of major cities by more than 12% in cases of severe drought. In other words, increasing water scarcity does not only threaten people’s security in their homes and crops, but also acquires economic and social dimensions, leading to increased inflation, market disruption, and mass migration towards cities or across borders.
27. زيادة كفاءة استخدام الموارد المائية وتقليل الاعتماد على “الجوفية” (Increasing Water Resource Use Efficiency and Reducing Reliance on Groundwater) Water is a fundamental resource for meeting human needs and is one of the most important axes of economic and social development, ensuring the sustainability of economic development and the environment. Despite the importance of water, the Kingdom faces significant challenges due to unsustainable water use, as well as the limited and rapidly depleting non-renewable groundwater reserves. Renewable water is extremely rare, and in addition, the high demand for water in the agricultural sector exacerbates the problem of water scarcity in the Kingdom. The government also bears a high cost for water production and wastewater services in the urban sector, yet service levels remain suboptimal, and the sector also suffers from inadequate institutional situations and governance mechanisms.
28. »معالجة وتطوير« (Treatment and Development) The Kingdom, being the largest producer of desalinated water in the world, spearheads water desalination and invests heavily in seawater desalination to meet its growing water needs. It also works on reusing treated water and developing the infrastructure for wastewater treatment and its reuse in various fields such as agriculture and industry, which contributes to conserving groundwater. The Kingdom invests billions of dollars in projects to improve wastewater and sewage networks with the aim of increasing water resource use efficiency and reducing reliance on groundwater. Moreover, Vision 2030 aims to achieve water sustainability by enhancing water use efficiency, diversifying its sources, and developing modern technologies in this field.
29. »تقنيات متقدمة« (Advanced Technologies) The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia invests in advanced infrastructure for green spaces through several initiatives involving treated water, most notably the reuse of treated water for irrigating gardens and green areas, developing technologies to improve water use efficiency in agriculture, and managing rainwater and recycling it to reduce pressure on fresh water sources. The use of treated wastewater for irrigating gardens and green areas reduces the need for fresh water for these purposes. The Kingdom is also working on developing advanced water treatment technologies, such as reverse osmosis, to reduce energy consumption and improve the quality of treated water.
30. »استثمارات مستدامة« (Sustainable Investments) These investments also contribute to achieving the Kingdom’s vision of building sustainable green cities by providing green spaces and developing green infrastructure. These investments support the national economy by creating job opportunities, achieving sustainability in the water sector, and developing new industries related to water technology. This includes improving water resource management in urban areas and reducing rainwater runoff, which contributes to improving water quality and promoting its reuse. The Kingdom works to educate citizens and institutions about the importance of rationalizing water consumption and the best practices for water conservation.
31. »جودة وتحسين« (Quality and Improvement) Water treatment plays a vital role in achieving sustainability in water resource management and meeting the increasing demand for water by reducing pressure on natural fresh water sources, improving water quality, and providing new water sources. Water treatment contributes to sustainability by reducing the consumption of fresh water and treating and reusing unusable water, especially in industry and agriculture, which preserves these precious resources for future generations. Through the removal of pollutants and harmful substances, water treatment works to improve the quality of water discharged into the environment, protecting aquatic ecosystems and human and animal health.
32. »مستقبل مستدام« (Sustainable Future) Water treatment is considered a vital investment in a sustainable future; it is essential to meet the world’s increasing water needs, preserve water resources, and protect the environment. With increasing population and industrial growth, the need for clean and reliable water sources is growing. Water treatment, including wastewater treatment and reuse, provides an additional source of water and relieves pressure on natural water resources. Through water treatment, the depletion of water in rivers and lakes can be reduced and surface and groundwater preserved, which contributes to environmental balance and ensures water availability for future generations.
33. »محطات المعالجة« (Treatment Plants) Water treatment plants are spread throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, playing a vital role in providing safe and potable water and reusing treated water. The Kingdom is a leader in water desalination, owning the largest fleet of desalination plants in the world. The Saudi Water Authority currently manages and operates 33 desalination plants on the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf coasts, producing about 5.6 million cubic meters of desalinated water daily. There are also 133 wastewater treatment plants spread across various regions of the Kingdom.
34. بداية الاستثمار بمشروعات المياه (Beginning of Investment in Water Projects) Investment in water projects began early in the Kingdom with the first desalination unit in Jeddah in 1907. Since then, investment has grown and expanded, and partnerships between the public and private sectors have multiplied. This partnership was carefully regulated and studied, indicating significant growth and progress. The establishment of the Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC) serves as an example of this, as it acts as the primary buyer for all types of water (including desalinated, purified, and treated water) and other related services. In addition, it undertakes the tasks of tendering and managing water, wastewater, and dam projects, strategic storage and transmission lines, and contributes to providing specialized consulting services in privatization.
35. طفرة قطاع المياه (Water Sector Boom) The launch of Vision 2030 brought about an expansive boom in the water sector, with a focus on achieving sustainability, developing infrastructure, improving water use efficiency, and limiting the negative impacts of water and water treatment and reuse on water resources. This led to a multitude of programs and initiatives that involved various governmental and private entities. Examples include the initiative to deliver potable water to consumers, which aims to expand water services and increase coverage to meet drinking water needs in line with population growth and demand. The initiative seeks to raise the level of water service coverage and facilitate citizens’ access to their drinking water needs by implementing water networks and household connections.
36. مبادرة تعزيز مصادر المياه الجوفية (Groundwater Resource Enhancement Initiative) Among the initiatives is also the initiative to enhance groundwater resources from artificial wells to increase the productivity of groundwater sources, to provide additional water for drinking and reduce reliance on desalinated water. The initiative also includes drilling new wells and developing existing ones, as well as establishing purification plants, pumping stations, transmission lines, and reservoirs. The initiative aims to increase groundwater production and provide additional water quantities to meet the needs of the population and various projects, and to alleviate pressure on desalination plants by diversifying water sources for drinking.
37. قطاع التوزيع (Distribution Sector) Another example is the private sector participation initiative in the distribution sector. This initiative includes the privatization of existing and new wastewater treatment plants by tendering management contracts for operation and maintenance for six sectors, contracts for independent wastewater treatment plants, and long-term operation and maintenance contracts for treated wastewater plants. The initiative also aims for sustainability in providing high-quality services with high operational efficiency, attracting and incentivizing local and foreign capital, increasing the use of locally manufactured materials and products, reducing capital costs, in addition to reducing operational expenses and improving technical, operational, and environmental aspects to enhance the quality of life in Saudi cities and increase the coverage of water and wastewater services.
38. مبادرة زيادة سعة الخزن الاستراتيجي (Strategic Storage Capacity Increase Initiative) Among the initiatives is also the initiative to increase strategic storage capacity, which seeks to establish strategic reservoirs in cities that do not have groundwater storage. The initiative aims to build reservoirs in cities that do not have groundwater and no storage to face supply shortages during emergencies, to reach a storage capacity sufficient for three days of consumption. Among the initiative’s objectives is to establish strategic reservoirs with a capacity of 640 thousand cubic meters for water, as the Kingdom has expanded strategic storage to more than 27 million cubic meters and now owns the largest network of storage tanks for drinking water with a capacity of 9 million cubic meters, including the Amaq reservoir in Riyadh with a capacity of 3 million cubic meters.
39. مبادرة إعادة استخدام مياه الصرف الصحي المعالجة (Treated Wastewater Reuse Initiative) Among the initiatives and programs of the Vision that enhance this vital sector is the initiative to reuse treated wastewater. This initiative works on rehabilitating, establishing, expanding, and implementing networks and lines from treatment plants to beneficiary sites in the agricultural and industrial sectors, as well as reservoirs and channels. It aims to expand the reuse of treated water to conserve water resources and raise the percentage of treated wastewater reuse, along with enhancing compliance with reuse standards and environmental standards for wastewater disposal. This activity is characterized by its scale in projects.
40. شراكة القطاعين العام والخاص.. لاعب رئيس لتوفير مصادر المياه واستدامتها بالمملكة (Public-Private Sector Partnership.. A Key Player in Providing Water Sources and Ensuring Their Sustainability in the Kingdom) The Kingdom, which ranks first globally in the production of desalinated water through integrated systems, has followed all necessary measures to provide water and has been keen to adopt all supporting means for its extraction and provision. Recognizing its importance and role in human survival and building civilizations, the National Water Strategy, an essential part of Saudi Vision 2030, reinforces this direction aimed at achieving water security and environmental and economic sustainability. It has worked to develop water sources, rationalize their consumption, and maximize the benefit from treated water to ensure safe and high-quality water supplies. It has encouraged the expansion of joint projects between the public and private sectors to provide sustainable water sources, given the effectiveness of such partnerships and their ability to contribute to providing clean, high-quality water at competitive prices that meet needs and achieve fairness among consumers, while ensuring the continuity of treated water, reducing waste, and rationalizing consumption.
41. تربية الطيور.. من الهواية إلى المتعة والتجارة في الماضي كانت تربى في البيوت.. واليوم في محميات متنوعة (Bird Rearing.. From Hobby to Pleasure and Trade In the Past, They Were Raised in Homes.. Today in Diverse Sanctuaries) In the past, and for a few decades, poultry and pigeon farming were widespread and abundant in most homes, especially earthen houses. After the owners of these earthen houses cheerfully moved on, never looking back, and then from the popular ones, the residents of the house benefited from the eggs produced by chickens, in addition to their meat, as well as pigeon meat, which filled the house with its cooing. The most beautiful sight was the pigeon perched on a balcony. Pigeon rearing was attractive in popular homes, especially among young people, during that era. It would fly freely in the air, then return to its nest, coo and circle the house from within itself, as if expressing its love for its abode on the beautiful earthen rooftops, bringing affection and warmth to its inhabitants.
42. طيور زمان (Birds of Yesteryear) Previously, birds raised in homes were limited to only two types: chickens and pigeons. Pigeons would share the coop with chickens, though chickens lived on the coop floor, scratching and pecking the ground to find their food, while pigeons were given boxes in the coop walls, out of reach of children or cat attacks. You would see it fly freely, eating what was provided for it from the chickens’ food. If it didn’t find food, it would search for it, but in the end, it would return to its nest to sleep. It is known that chickens provided eggs for breakfast and sometimes meat when they multiplied and the number of males increased, as these were not useful for egg production.
43. هواية وشهرة واسعة (A Widespread Hobby and Fame) The hobby of raising ornamental and rare birds enjoys great attention among families as a way to add beauty to the family home environment. It is one of the hobbies that has gained wide popularity in the Kingdom, as some families are keen on dedicating small gardens in their homes to raise birds with beautiful sounds and vibrant colors from various countries around the world. Most home ornamental bird gardens include a variety of birds such as parrots, canaries, and finches, allowing breeders to choose types that suit their tastes and needs. In addition, these activities provide an opportunity to interact with nature and teach children about the responsibility of animal care.
44. أنواع وأصناف عالمية (Global Types and Varieties) There are various types of ornamental birds and global varieties that are raised, most notably: Victoria crowned pigeons, Amazon parrots, nightingales, peacocks, macaws, and other categories. They are brought from various countries around the world such as Brazil, South Africa, Australia, and the Amazon rainforests, like the cockatoo. And the Galah (pink cockatoo), Scarlett Macaw, goldfinch, jasmine, canary, zebra finch, turtle dove, and other birds like birds of paradise and tailorbirds, and sandgrouse are imported from several countries around the world such as India and Japan, Holland, Germany, Australia, and North Africa, in addition to local environmental birds such as sandgrouse, pigeons, and quail.
45. انتشار محالت بيع طيور الزينة (Spread of Ornamental Bird Stores) With the increasing demand for owning ornamental birds, stores selling ornamental birds and their supplies, such as cages, food, fortifiers, and treatments, have spread across all cities of the Kingdom. The demand for them has become significant, as the number of people interested in raising ornamental birds in their homes has increased. As a result, many enthusiasts of this hobby have sought to expand bird rearing, acquire many rare species, and establish large sanctuaries housing hundreds of birds. These sanctuaries have found a wide audience among young people wishing to acquire the best and rarest types of birds, with the aim of increasing their production and competing with them, and sometimes for trading and financial gain.
46. »الفود ترك«.. (Food Truck..) The statistics for 2019 indicate that the number of food truck licenses in six Saudi regions reached about 1301 vehicles, with Riyadh leading with 496 licenses, followed by Jeddah with 450. However, this number no longer accurately reflects the current reality, as the Ministry of Commerce recorded a steady increase in commercial registrations related to food trucks and restaurants alone, reaching a growth of 10% in 2024. This growth is not just a figure in bureaucratic reports; it is a living testimony to the changing taste of society and the direction of a whole generation of young people towards embarking on entrepreneurship at the lowest possible cost. Instead of a fixed restaurant requiring large capital, the mobile cart offers an easier option for entering the market, experimenting with recipes, and developing a personal brand with direct communication with the public.
47. نمو قطاع الفود ترك (Growth of the Food Truck Sector) The statistics for 2019 indicate that the number of food truck licenses in six Saudi regions reached about 1301 vehicles, with Riyadh leading with 496 licenses, followed by Jeddah with 450. However, this number no longer accurately reflects the current reality, as the Ministry of Commerce recorded a steady increase in commercial registrations related to food trucks and restaurants alone, reaching a growth of 10% in 2024. This growth is not just a figure in bureaucratic reports; it is a living testimony to the changing taste of society and the direction of a whole generation of young people towards embarking on entrepreneurship at the lowest possible cost. Instead of a fixed restaurant requiring large capital, the mobile cart offers an easier option for entering the market, experimenting with recipes, and developing a personal brand with direct communication with the public.
48. تنوع العروض (Diversity of Offers) A tour through Riyadh’s streets today reveals a rich and innovative diversity. Elegantly designed carts offer everything from traditional Saudi Kabsa to modern burgers, luxury cold dishes and drinks that alleviate the summer heat, and Asian sweets. An excited crowd of young people and families gathers around, in a social scene that reflects an undeniable transformation. But this increasing popularity is not without regulatory challenges and clarity issues. Platforms like “Baladi” now offer electronic licensing services with annual fees up to 720 riyals, along with strict regulation of truck routes and parking locations. The stated goal is to achieve a delicate balance between encouraging youth investment and controlling random congestion and avoiding visual and traffic congestion that trucks might cause in some locations.
49. تنظيم النشاط (Activity Regulation) Recently, the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing issued new municipal regulations for mobile food truck activities across various cities in the Kingdom. This step aims to enhance the quality of services and regulate public safety at locations, thereby preserving the urban aesthetic. The regulations permit trucks to park in locations belonging to municipalities or secretariats, governmental or private sectors, and in public spaces, investment areas, and event sites as determined by the municipality. On the other hand, stopping at traffic intersections, main and secondary roads, exits and entrances of high-traffic roads, police, civil defense, and ambulance parking, or inside residential neighborhoods is prohibited. It also prohibits parking trucks near gas stations, waste disposal sites, sewage treatment plants, or gas stores, with a mandatory safety distance of at least ten meters.
50. تحديات وآفاق السوق (Market Challenges and Prospects) Public health, in turn, represents a precise challenge. The risks of food contamination or poor storage require strict oversight and continuous education for truck owners, amidst competition that might push some to be lenient with health regulations. There is also an unresolved economic debate: some fixed restaurant owners believe that food trucks enjoy advantages such as reduced rents and lower taxes, which might upset the balance of fair competition in the market. Despite these challenges, the significant opportunities offered by this sector cannot be overlooked. A recent research report by Bonafide Research (May 2025) expects the Saudi food truck market size to exceed 70 million dollars by 2030, driven by the expansion of urban lifestyles, supportive government initiatives, and the growth of local truck manufacturing.
51. ريادة وإصرار سعودي (Saudi Leadership and Determination) In one of the public park pavements in eastern Riyadh, an ice cream truck decorated with vibrant colors stands, surrounded by queues of children. The sound of the machine, the fresh waffle scent, and the metallic cups gleaming under the evening sun all tell a story that started from scratch and ended in an inspiring success story. This is a scene that has become familiar today in the capital, but it was not present with such intensity a decade ago. Food trucks in general, and ice cream trucks in particular, have become part of the modern urban culture in the Kingdom, defying the summer heat with their cold layers and invigorating a small economy that has become a source of livelihood and hope for thousands of young people.
52. رحلة كفاح صعبة (A Difficult Struggle Journey) The beginnings were very difficult.. Bandar recounts with a smile mixed with pride and fatigue: “I used to arrive at the park before ten, prepare myself and arrange the cart. Sometimes I would return with almost no sales, but I learned how to win customers, how to invent a flavor that children love, and how to be present during peak hours”. The path was not paved with roses. Bandar says that the challenges were many, some financial and some regulatory. “There were no clear guidelines. I used to wonder where to park my cart? Is the place allowed? Will I be allowed to sell?” He also faced difficulty convincing people that his small cart sold clean, delicious ice cream.
53. دعم وتمكين (Support and Empowerment) Bandar’s journey was not isolated from the general development in the Kingdom. With Vision 2030, municipalities launched regulatory initiatives such as the “Baladi” platform, which allows issuing mobile truck licenses with clear annual fees and designates official routes and parking locations for them. Bandar emphasizes the importance of this support: “The state allocated locations for us, where we organize our trucks. Prince Faisal bin Bandar supported us and provided land completely”. “These initiatives moved us from randomness to professionalism.” Bandar is proud of his Saudi team, confirming that they are not just vendors, but young entrepreneurs who learn management, marketing, and customer service skills. He says: “We all wish the best for each other. It’s true we are competitors, but we complement each other”.
54. مشروع أصدقاء الشقة (Apartment Friends Project) On Prince Mohammed bin Salman Road in Riyadh, a food truck bearing the striking name “Masghout Al-Shaqa” (The Crowded Apartment) is parked, gaining wide fame day by day among lovers of authentic Saudi dishes. But behind this funny name is a story of friendship and a beautiful transformation from a simple idea to a successful project that imposes itself on the local food truck scene. “We were three friends living in one apartment,” recounts Ali Al-Harthi, one of the partners and the owner of the project idea. “We used to share cooking daily, and each day one of us was responsible for preparing a ‘masghout’ meal. Over time, we loved the idea of ‘masghout al-shaqa’ and decided to share it with people”.
55. حلم أصبح حقيقة (A Dream Come True) The truck opens its doors from six in the evening until midnight, attracting customers of various ages. Customers wait eagerly for their turn, sharing their recommendations with friends. Al-Harthi says that the daily demand has become very large, exceeding their expectations: “Sometimes we cannot fulfill all orders. That’s why we have actually started studying opening a fixed restaurant instead of relying solely on the truck”. “Masghout Al-Shaqa” today presents an inspiring model for youth entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia: an idea stemming from daily life, developed with a spirit of friendship and determination, and implemented with high standards that respect consumer tastes. Amidst the intense competition in the food truck sector, they are distinguished by their commitment to quality and their refusal of easy and cheap solutions at the expense of their reputation and the taste of their food.
56. اختيار مسار مختلف (Choosing a Different Path) Despite obtaining a prestigious university degree in business administration from King Saud University, Masa’il Al-Subaie, a thirty-year-old, chose a completely different path from the traditional one many expected for her. Instead of joining a large company or an office job, she decided to establish a vibrant and ambitious project through a mobile food truck that offers unique dishes combining local recipes with global touches. “I always dreamed of having my own business,” Masa’il says as she arranges her tools in the morning next to her white truck decorated with quiet, earthy colors inspired by Najdi heritage. “The university gave me academic tools, but I wanted to apply them in something I love and that resembles me. The idea started four years ago when I discussed it with her cousin Maha, who studied interior design and shares her passion for cooking”.
57. روح الفريق الواحد (One Team Spirit) The journey was not easy, as they faced many obstacles. The most important was proving their seriousness to society. Masa’il comments: “Some people used to wonder: ‘How can you, a university graduate, sell from a truck?’ I used to tell them: ‘This is my profession and my project that I am proud of. We are not just selling food, but selling an idea and an experience’”. The truck now stands in a semi-permanent location on one of Riyadh’s most important northern streets, and has built a loyal customer base. Among these customers is Mona Al-Abdullah, an employee at a nearby bank, who says with a wide smile while holding her usual order: “For two years now, I’ve been coming to them continuously. I’ve gotten to know Masa’il and Maha personally. Their food is truly different; you feel like they put their heart into it”.
58. ثقة المستهلك مطلوبة (Consumer Trust is Required) As for the young man Abdulilah Al-Mutairi (27 years old), an employee in the private sector, he says he is keen to try mobile food trucks, especially during the weekend. He explains: “Honestly, I like the idea. I feel they are closer to people, and it’s like you get to know the seller and see your order being prepared right in front of you”. As for their safety, he replies thoughtfully: “I choose trucks that look clean and are well-known. Not all trucks are the same, but I feel that many of them are now more committed to cleanliness and regulations than before.” Regarding prices compared to restaurants, he smiles, saying: “Some trucks have very competitive prices and are cheaper than restaurants, especially for light meals, but some of them now have prices exactly like restaurants, especially those that pay attention to details”.
59. »الفود ترك«.. (Food Truck..) In a scene that summarizes a diverse blend of urban ambition, entrepreneurial spirit, and nostalgia for popular heritage, mobile food trucks, or “food trucks,” have established a firm presence in the streets and cities of the Kingdom, drawing new features for its evolving urban food landscape. A first-time visitor to the Kingdom might think that this phenomenon is recent, but its roots are deeper than they seem, deeply embedded in popular memory. Since the 1980s, simple mobile “kiosks” roamed neighborhoods selling balila and ice cream. These early carts were very primitive by today’s standards, but they laid the first idea for the concept of mobile food, and they created moments of joy for children.
60. مدخرات الأسرة.. ورؤية 2030 (Family Savings.. and Vision 2030) The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 is an ambitious national project that aims to bring about a comprehensive economic and social transformation in the country, reducing reliance on oil as a main source of income, diversifying the economy, empowering citizens, and enhancing the quality of life. Among the important financial goals that the Vision seeks to achieve is raising the percentage of household savings from their total income from 6% to 10%. This goal is an important indicator of families’ financial awareness and their ability to plan and prepare for the future, and it also reflects positively on the overall economy by improving financial stability and increasing domestic funding sources.
61. »السوق الماليـة في المملكـة«.. كفـاءة البنيـة الرقمـية (The Financial Market in the Kingdom.. Efficiency of the Digital Infrastructure) The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is working to be at the forefront of leading nations in digital transformation, adopting an integrated strategy aimed at enabling and accelerating this transformation. Digital transformation is considered to involve developing the necessary high-efficiency and effective infrastructure, and creating an empowering environment for governmental, private, and non-profit sectors to achieve the objectives of Vision 2030. The Saudi financial market has witnessed a remarkable transformation in recent years. This development manifested in several strategic axes focused on enhancing the efficiency of the digital infrastructure and strengthening its global position, leading to a qualitative leap that increased the number of listed companies and expanded foreign investor ownership in the financial market.
62. رفع قيمة مخزون المعادن في المملكة إلى »2.5« تريليون دولار (Raising the Value of Mineral Reserves in the Kingdom to “2.5” Trillion Dollars) The Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Bandar bin Ibrahim Al-Khorayef, affirmed that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is leading a qualitative and comprehensive industrial transformation aimed at reshaping the structure of the national economy and establishing an advanced position in future technologies. This involves adopting early and strengthening its productive capabilities in global value chains. Al-Khorayef reviewed developments in the mining sector, which is considered one of the new sectors adopted by Vision 2030. Much work has been done according to several tracks, including increasing geological explorations, which raised the estimated value of minerals in the Kingdom from “1.3” to “2.5” trillion dollars.
63. جازان.. بوابة استثمار غنية بالموارد البحرية والزراعية (Jazan.. An Investment Gateway Rich in Marine and Agricultural Resources) Jazan region represents a prominent economic destination due to its distinguished natural components and rich resources, which include coasts extending along the Red Sea, rich agricultural resources, and enormous mineral wealth, in addition to its strategic location as a commercial gateway between East and West. Continuous government support, rapid initiatives for qualitative projects, and accelerated economic and investment development reinforce its position in light of Saudi Vision 2030, to become a pioneer in qualitative investments for sustainable development across all developmental, investment, service, and tourism fields. The region produces about 45% of the Kingdom’s fish wealth, providing significant investment opportunities in industries related to fish. Animal wealth represents about 8.7% of the total animal wealth in the Kingdom, in addition to imported livestock entering the Kingdom through Jazan’s ports, which has created significant investment opportunities in industries related to animal wealth such as fodder, veterinary medicines, and meat processing and freezing industries.
64. طفرة غير مسبوقة في صادرات األسلحة (Unprecedented Boom in Arms Exports) According to federal government data, arms exports from Germany recorded a record figure of 11.7 billion euros in 2023, the highest in the country’s history, exceeding traditional restrictions imposed on arms sales to countries in a state of disarmament. German defense companies such as Rheinmetall, KMW, and Diehl Defence emerged as major drivers of this growth, following increased global demand, especially from Ukraine, which has become one of the largest importers of German weapons since 2022.
65. الحرب في أوكرانيا.. نقطة التحول (The War in Ukraine.. The Turning Point) Since the outbreak of the war, Berlin has adopted a bolder approach, sending Leopard 2 tanks and Iris-T air defense systems to Ukraine, a move that was previously prohibited under former German laws. Chancellor Scholz repeatedly affirmed that “the Russian threat necessitated a comprehensive rethinking of German defense doctrine”. Indeed, the German government launched an emergency program worth 100 billion euros to modernize its armed forces, within a new strategic framework called “Zeitenwende” (turning point), a term that has become a title for the new phase of German policy.
66. الحليف الاستراتيجي والصناعي (The Strategic and Industrial Ally) Military relations between Germany and Ukraine were not limited to arms support, but extended to discussions about establishing joint arms and ammunition factories inside Ukraine. This was confirmed by German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, who indicated that “industrial cooperation with Kyiv will be long-term and aims to build a sustainable Ukrainian defense capability”. Satellite images and intelligence information indicate Ukraine’s increasing reliance on German military technology, especially in open-source defense systems, air defense, and heavy artillery.
67. انعكاسات داخلية وخارجية (Internal and External Repercussions) Despite this expansion, the German government faces criticism from leftist and green movements, which believe that expanding arms exports might conflict with Germany’s ethical and historical commitments and threaten to drag the country into foreign conflicts. In contrast, NATO countries praised the German transformation, considering it a “historic” step that strengthens the Western defense front and restores confidence in Berlin as a responsible European power after years of military hesitation.
68. روسيا تراقب بقلق (Russia Watches with Concern) On another note, Moscow was not absent from the scene, considering the arming of Ukraine by Germany a “red line” and threatening Berlin with “unexpected responses” or sabotage operations that might target its critical electronic infrastructure, especially in the energy and defense sectors. In the details of this report, the German giant defense industries company “Rheinmetall” established a factory in Weeze (North Rhine-Westphalia) at a cost of about 200 million euros to produce main components for the F-35 stealth fighter.
69. دبابات – مدفعية – دفاع جوي (Tanks – Artillery – Air Defense) The total value of orders for Germany’s largest defense company reached 62.6 billion euros by the end of last March. This includes backlogs, framework agreements, and expectations from other trade relations. At the end of 2021—before the start of the Russian war in Ukraine—this total was less than half of this amount (24.5 billion euros). Sales and profits are also rising sharply, and the number of employees at the company is expected to increase by a quarter to reach 40,000 employees within two years. The company’s share price has increased by about 18 times since the Russian attack on Ukraine in February 2022.
70. أجهزة الاستشعار والرادارات (Sensors and Radars) The war in Ukraine highlights the importance of electronic warfare. “Hensoldt,” headquartered in Taufkirchen near Munich, a supplier of sensor devices and radar systems, benefits from this trend. The company’s sales have nearly doubled to about 2.2 billion euros since the war began. The company, which employs about 9,000 people, aims to achieve revenues of no less than 2.5 billion euros this year and 6 billion euros by 2030. Hensoldt radars are used to protect Ukraine’s population from Russian air attacks and are also used in Eurofighter aircraft.
71. تيسنكروب لألنظمة البحرية )غواصات( (ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (Submarines)) ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) is a company belonging to the ThyssenKrupp industrial group. Headquartered in Kiel, the company’s data indicates that its non-nuclear submarines enjoy a global leading position in the market, and it has an order book that requires it to operate at full capacity until the early 2040s. Last December, the German parliament’s budget committee approved the construction of four additional submarines of the Type 212CD for the German navy. This raises the total for these submarines to ten, six for Germany and four for Norway. The company also recently received an 800 million euro contract from the German government to modernize six navy submarines.
72. قنابل مضادة للدبابات (Anti-Tank Grenades) “Dynamit Nobel Defence” Limited remains largely hidden from the public eye. It is known that the company supplied Ukraine with a total of 16,000 Matador anti-armor grenades and 917 in April 2025, partly funded by the German government. For the company, which employs more than 300 people, the war in Ukraine represents a huge growth boom. In a mandatory disclosure in March 2023, the company stated that its sales in 2022—the year the war began—reached about 140 million euros, which is more than double the sales of 58 million euros in 2021.
73. بنادق هجومية (Assault Rifles) Less than ten years ago, “Heckler & Koch” was suffering huge losses, and its debts accumulated. The deterioration peaked to the extent that the workforce agreed to unpaid overtime. But all that is over now; the profitable arms company is now rapidly moving from success to success. The company is investing heavily in its largest German site in Unterlüß in Lower Saxony, building a new ammunition factory costing around 300 million euros. The central part of the F-35 aircraft fuselage is manufactured in Weeze, where “Rheinmetall” acts as a supplier to the American defense company “Northrop Grumman”.
74. إم بي دي إيه ألمانيا )صواريخ موجهة وصواريخ كروز( (MBDA Germany (Guided Missiles and Cruise Missiles)) The German branch of the European company “MBDA” is witnessing strong growth for defense industries even before the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. The company, which had about 1100 employees, has now increased this number by about 300 employees. This number is expected to rise to more than 1700 employees by the end of this year. MBDA is investing in a new production facility in Schrobenhausen, Bavaria, to manufacture guided missiles for the American “Patriot” air defense system – after the company won a contract to supply these missiles to the German armed forces and NATO partners.
75. مروحيات – طائرات مقاتلة (Helicopters – Fighter Jets) While the European company “Airbus” is witnessing accelerated growth in the defense industries sector, the total value of the group’s orders (or backlogs, rather) reached 43.1 billion euros in 2021. This figure rose after three years to 55.3 billion euros in this field. Revenues have also seen a significant increase. The company is currently making intensive investments, building a maintenance center for transport aircraft belonging to the German Air Force in Wunstorf (Lower Saxony) by 2027, which will create 300 jobs.
76. رات( “كوانتوم سيستمز” )ُمسيَّ (Quantum Systems (Drones)) Companies manufacturing drones are currently experiencing a significant boom, with strong demand from investors who anticipate great growth potential for these companies. “Helsing,” a defense technology company based in Munich, recently raised an additional 600 million euros from investors. The company already manufactures the “IT-X2” suicide drone, which the German armed forces are slated to test. It also recently demonstrated an artificial intelligence system designed to guide fighter jets in complex air combat scenarios.
77. الشعر وندوب العالم (Poetry and the World’s Scars) In a world burdened by conflicts, suffering under the weight of wars, and groaning under environmental and economic crises and divisions, rationality alone seems insufficient to quell this clamor. In this context, poetry emerges as an emotional medium that transcends the rational, penetrating the depths of the human psyche to give it meaning, console it, and awaken within it a forgotten sense of belonging, beauty, and mercy. Poetry, then, is not a linguistic luxury or literary entertainment, but a human necessity that contributes to addressing the world’s problems from an emotional perspective that traditional solutions lack. One of the primary problems of the world today lies in the spiritual isolation created by extreme individualism and cold technology.
78. القهوة السعودية.. عنوان الضيافة ورمز الكرم (Saudi Coffee.. The Epitome of Hospitality and a Symbol of Generosity) Saudi coffee boasts a rich history and an ancient heritage deeply rooted in our culture and behavior. Its presence dates back to ancient times, serving as a tradition and custom. It is typically served at major social occasions and receptions such as weddings, holidays, and gatherings, where it is considered an authentic Arab tradition passed down from generation to generation, symbolizing welcome, honoring, and expression of reverence. It may seem somewhat astonishing how this bitter-tasting coffee, with its two main ingredients (coffee beans and cardamom), was invented and gained such wide popularity and attachment. This is especially true when we realize that cardamom, the key ingredient that imparts that distinctive taste, is not a product of our country’s authentic agricultural produce.
79. ألعاب اللغة و»الشريعة« (Language Games and “Sharia”) When a child learns a language, if the learning process is centered on “the word,” then the language, to be uttered, must first be given a meaning according to its uses, then branched out through the centrality of the word to its conceptual semantic map. For example, a child is presented with a word like “eye,” which has multiple uses. The word “eye” is written for them, then a drawing of an injured eye is shown, then a story is told about a spy called “eye.” Then a story is told about someone hitting the air with “his own eye”… These linguistic games are educational and represent the first level, which the learner may revert to over time, finding that the lexicon is not fixed except as an educational tool, not as a means to differentiate the standard from others.
80. دوغمائية اللغة (Dogmatism of Language) At first glance, language seems like an innocent and benign tool, merely a means of understanding and exchanging meanings. However, when subjected to deep contemplation and criticism, it transforms, revealing itself as a powerful authority that imposes a kind of symbolic constraint on thought and reality. In the beginning, the word hovered above humanity, and from it, humans saw the world and transformed it. From the softness of their nails, thoughts turned into acceptable sentences through a magical, vast process, slowly becoming a delicate chain.
81. المثقف بين ألافكار والاخالق (The Intellectual Between Ideas and Ethics) In an era where platforms multiply and titles proliferate, the intellectual is no longer merely a bearer of knowledge; rather, they have become an ethical symbol under scrutiny. In light of the complete exposure on social media, an old question arises in a new form: Is culture alone sufficient to produce an admirable intellectual?. Or is ethics what grants thought its legitimacy and truth? Knowledge is a powerful tool, but it can turn into a means of deception if stripped of conscience. History abounds with names of those who embodied ideas and others who betrayed behavior, darkening the mind.
82. معضلة المثقف: هل يعيش ما يقول؟ (The Intellectual’s Dilemma: Does He Live What He Preaches?) Among the intellectuals whose behavior betrayed their ideas is Jean-Jacques Rousseau, the author of “The Social Contract,” who theorized on ideal education but abandoned his five children to orphanages. Similarly, Martin Heidegger, one of the prominent philosophers of existence, joined the Nazi party despite his later apologies for his knowledge of the atrocities of its rule. Pablo Neruda, who wrote revolutionary poetry, later supported Soviet communism before retracting after the invasion of Hungary. Leo Tolstoy, who wrote about asceticism, lived a luxurious life, and his relationship with his wife was strained. As for Nietzsche, he used his culture in an elitist manner, and the Nazis found in his ideas justification for their extremism.
83. ثقافة التوثيق (Culture of Documentation) The visual self-narrative belongs to the visual arts and benefits from interactive technologies, digital platforms, and electronic communication channels, and any of those with which we interact, such as YouTube, Snapchat, WhatsApp, TikTok, or similar platforms. I would like to refer here to the efforts of Dr. Amal Al-Tamimi in caring for this type of visual self-narrative. She authored a book on it: “The Self-Narrative in Mediatic Literature: The Television Self-Narrative as a Model,” which later transformed into “The Visual Self-Narrative.” In this book, she monitored examples from some personal pages on social media and their social impact that transformed into self-literature.
84. ُصَباَبُة الَقول (The Essence of Speech) For the writer to delve into their moment of creativity, they must utilize the precise subject during writing, capturing the momentary expression that stems from the strength of emotion and the blossoming of the mind, and also departing from any specific visual image towards broad philosophical and conscious concepts that grant them the ability to establish a deep philosophical connection to reveal the underlying structure of things and beings, and to return to their essence. This involves pondering various stages and reflecting upon the writer’s inner journey towards a state of epistemic enlightenment in writing. This writing is a descriptive and comprehensive text, and its ultimate outcome can only be worthy of an artistic and creative literary endeavor if it is like reading and contemplating a branch swaying in dryness.
85. مساعدات المملكة (Kingdom’s Aid) The Kingdom realizes that in today’s world, it is concerned with a positive reputation, especially after it closed doors and erased the influence of those who sought sectarianism, isolation, and tribalism. It achieved this by striving to be a nation concerned with intellectual advancement, considering it a major achievement. Its aid to the world is part of its principles; it has always been known for standing with countries afflicted by disasters and tribulations, fostering community stability and security, and maintaining rational, balanced relations with other nations. This is in addition to performing its duties towards Muslims in Mecca and Medina by providing facilities and services. All these collective actions have made it a living example of embodying effective soft power.
86. جدلية القرية والمدينة (The Dialectic of Village and City) “The sunset rays were gently dissolving over the church in Combarbalá, casting pink lines of flame on the stones as if time itself was withdrawing with each ray, until it vanished into light, whispering to me: ‘Everything leaves a memory.’” This is how Proust begins, not from a specific hour or date, but from a sensory moment, a faint light that ignites memories, unleashing a current of longing and sadness simultaneously. Are we living time, or is time living within us? Does memory preserve what it remembers, or does it recreate it every time we try to recall it? Why do we yearn with a vague nostalgia for unknown times, for moments we never lived? Is the past a fixed reality, or just a story we tell ourselves to live?.
87. مارسيل بروست والزمن اللولبي (Marcel Proust and the Helical Time) “The sunset rays were gently dissolving over the church in Combarbalá, casting pink lines of flame on the stones as if time itself was withdrawing with each ray, until it vanished into light, whispering to me: ‘Everything leaves a memory.’” This is how Proust begins, not from a specific hour or date, but from a sensory moment, a faint light that ignites memories, unleashing a current of longing and sadness simultaneously. Are we living time, or is time living within us? Does memory preserve what it remembers, or does it recreate it every time we try to recall it? Why do we yearn with a vague nostalgia for unknown times, for moments we never lived? Is the past a fixed reality, or just a story we tell ourselves to live?.
88. صيغة )ف حين يفيض المعنى ويكتمل (The Form of (Fa’al) When Meaning Overflows and Completes) In the deep structure of Arabic, words form like waves that expand and contract according to meaning. One of the most prominent of these forms is “Fa’al” (فعلان), which comes charged with movement, imbued with emotion, and rich with suggestion. When we say “Sakran” (drunk), “Walhan” (yearning), “Atshan” (thirsty), “Ghadban” (angry), we are painting a picture of an urgent need or an overwhelming feeling, immersing both body and soul. Here, the form indicates and shapes the internal state, conveying the emotional wave itself.
89. المعنى في زمن الانفجار (Meaning in the Age of Explosion) In times when words were measured by their weight in meaning, they were spoken to be understood. But today, much of what is said is said just for the sake of saying it. We live not only in an era of linguistic abundance but also of linguistic explosion. Gleaming phrases are copied and rephrased in ornate sentences, yet they are hollow of deep meaning. Terms are reproduced, and words multiply. It might seem to us that this linguistic explosion is innocent, but in reality, it is a confusing linguistic phenomenon where everything is said but nothing is understood, as if language has lost its fundamental function.
90. الأنا )Ego( منحوتة تغوص في فلسفة الذات (The Ego Sculpture: Delving into the Philosophy of Self) The visual arts sector in the Kingdom possesses exceptional talents among pioneers and youth. The state – may God protect it – through the “Ministry of Culture” and the “Arts Commission,” has prepared the best possible environment for these talents to flourish, in accordance with Vision 2030, through qualitative programs and initiatives that cover various areas of the sector, including plastic art, photography, drawing, sculpture, installation art, calligraphy, digital arts, video art, multimedia art, and others. The plastic artist Sulaiman bin Khalid Al-Anqari is one of those artists who invested in this patronage, producing a number of creative sculptures, including his sculpture titled “Ego – The Self,” through which he presents a deep visual and philosophical vision of the meaning of identity and the accumulation of human experience. A local marble block transformed into a vibrant entity of thought and contemplation.
91. وما يمنع من الإنجليزية؟! (And What Prevents English?!) I hope that the acquired triumph of the English language does not bother us. I see it as a divine gift that has built bridges of communication between East and West, and has greatly removed the language barrier in communication between different cultures, languages, and dialects. It is a sign among God’s signs, as He, the Almighty, says: “And among His Signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the diversity of your languages and your colors. Indeed, in that are signs for those who know”. The English language reaching this level of circulation, whether recently or historically, certainly has its reasons and factors, which are not hidden from many of us. But what concerns us is the function, role, and importance of this language, and whether it has achieved communication between people. The answer is certainly yes, and this is an issue that does not require analysis or study of any kind.
92. توصيات (Recommendations) In this corner, Dr. Sawsan Al-Abtah, the Lebanese journalist and writer specialized in literary criticism, theater, and cinema, and a university lecturer, will take us. She has written dozens of critical articles and press coverages. She worked in preparing programs and recommends reading what she recently reviewed. “Faces of Modern Egypt” by Robert Solé. Many books have been written about the history of Egypt, but Robert Solé took it upon himself in this book to present a vision, not to narrate events. He did so by bringing to life two hundred years of Arab history, in which he broadcast a pivotal message through twenty profiles of modern life figures.
93. »وجوه مصر الحديثة« لروبير سوليه (Faces of Modern Egypt by Robert Solé) Many books have been written about the history of Egypt, but Robert Solé took it upon himself in this book to present a vision, not to narrate events. He did so by bringing to life two hundred years of Arab history, in which he broadcast a pivotal message through twenty profiles of modern life figures, with his smooth style, and succeeded in delivering a captivating work that the reader begins and does not surrender until they finish its three hundred pages. The writer moves lightly between a political and a thinker, a writer and a singer, to compose a vibrant painting that brings together Rifa’a Al-Tahtawi, Saad Zaghloul, Umm Kulthum, Taha Hussein, Naguib Mahfouz, and others. He succeeded in narrating the grand story of Egypt through the eyes of men and women who rose, fell, revolted, and sang… and each left an indelible mark.
94. »قناع بلون السماء« لباسم خندقجي (A Mask the Color of the Sky by Basem Khandaqji) The Palestinian novelist Basem Khandaqji succeeded in extracting from prison cells “A Mask the Color of the Sky” and delighting us with a merciless novel in it. A novel pulsating with everything: its streets, its alleys’ scents, its houses, its trees, its events, its heroes, its love. Written in prison, it won the Arab Booker Prize for 2024. Its hero, the young Palestinian Nour, assumes an Israeli identity, which he finds in a coat pocket, to move around his stolen land. Khandaqji, through this dual character, embarks on an intellectual and human adventure that questions identity, the enemy, and belonging. It is his first novel, followed by a second part, “The Holocaust Hunter,” and we await the third part.
95. »حكايتي شرح يطول« لحنان الشيخ (My Story is a Long Explanation by Hanan Al-Shaykh) One of Hanan Al-Shaykh’s most charming writings. It is not so much a novel as it is the story of the writer’s mother, who left her children and husband and loved another man. She did not choose the first man, who was her sister’s husband before she passed away; rather, he was chosen for her when she was a child. Born in the 1930s, the mother experienced Beirut’s effervescence and the beginning of women’s liberation, opening her eyes to a life filled with cinema, beautiful stars, dancing, and smoking, a vibrant life with its accompanying events. We read about the daughter Hanan’s upbringing with her father after the mother’s separation, then these conversations between mother and daughter, filled with rare confessions, reconciliation, and forgiveness after abandonment and cruelty.
96. »ذاكرة النقصان« لسمر يزبك (The Memory of Loss by Samar Yazbek) The Syrian writer Samar Yazbek was able to be the first to document the genocide in Gaza through testimonies narrated by Gazan families whom she met in Doha after their evacuation for treatment. She wrote what cameras, which broadcast reality live around the clock, failed to convey. We discover that writing has the ability to describe what filmed recordings, which tend to generalize, cannot achieve. The focus on the individual, as Yazbek did with each testimony, and the disclosure of their hellish experience, makes us closer to understanding the catastrophic experience they endured.
97. »درس قرن من الحياة« لإدغار موران (A Century of Life Lessons by Edgar Morin) This is a book written by the philosopher Edgar Morin after the Corona pandemic, as the essence of his experience to celebrate his centenary. He has now passed it and still raises his voice, having lived through the First World War and the Spanish Flu that claimed his mother, the Great Depression, and reviewing his convictions over time, from being a communist to a Nazi, and his resistance to Nazism, the Second World War, the rise of colonialism, and the collapse of ideologies. In his testimony, he harshly criticizes Western civilization and its illusion of humanity achieving self-sufficiency through economic growth and technology, and that nature is “hunted.” He blames neoliberal policies for the exacerbation of poverty during Corona, and suggests restoring humanity and justice to the global order, instead of a “nonsense and deception economy”.
98. مازن حيدر: الُمواطنة تبدأ بالتعّرف على التاريخ (Mazen Haydar: Citizenship Begins with Knowing History) Ostensibly, it is the story of a group of young people and their teacher in a remote Lebanese village, “Afreets of Ruins and Dawn.” They solve riddles to discover treasures. However, deep down, “Sarofim’s Widow,” the novel by Lebanese writer Mazen Haydar, is an invitation to shed light on the importance of antiquities and their historical value, and everyone’s responsibility to protect them, especially during wars.
99. السينما وعي (Cinema is Consciousness) In a dark hall, the lights are turned off, and a white screen appears—a moment that seems fleeting, but philosophically, it is a moment of new birth for the collective mind, for meaning, and for production. Since its inception, cinema has not been merely visual luxury; rather, it is an effective mechanism for generating and shaping consciousness, and stirring history from behind the curtain. Cinema does not merely transmit reality; it reconstructs it and questions its logic, opening up its voids. It is, as someone described it, an “inverted mirror.” It does not reflect the world as it is, but as it should be seen, or as it is intended to be understood. It conveys ideas not through proof, but through a complete sensory experience.
100. مدائننا الخفية (Our Hidden Cities) In every city we inhabit, there are hidden cities that are not seen with the naked eye, but are perceived by the eye of the heart, with the spirit of imagination, and with the whispers of time that has passed. Cities like Troy are ideals that celebrate their perfect features, yet their extinct specters relentlessly seek a way to emerge anew. In every Arab city, there is a corner that preserves the secrets of years. In Riyadh, one can wander through the ancient Al-Zal market, where the echoes of merchants who crossed the desert carrying incense and spices still resonate. As Imru’ al-Qais said, standing on the ruins when he was afflicted: “Stop, let us weep from the remembrance of a beloved and a dwelling, by the sandy bends between Al-Dakhul and Hawmal”.
101. القوة الناعمة.. السعودية غير؟! (Soft Power.. Saudi Arabia is Different?!) In a rapidly changing world, the role and functions of media change with the transformation of society’s social, cultural, and technological structure. Perhaps one of the most prominent of these transformations is what has happened to the critical function of media, a function that for decades constituted a fundamental pillar in shaping awareness, questioning authority, promoting public dialogue, and correcting deviations in various fields: political, economic, cultural, sports, and even social. However, this function is no longer exclusive to traditional media institutions; rather, in the era of “full digitization,” it has become part of the daily actions of millions of individuals who participate in varying degrees of critical awareness through social media platforms.
102. التستر.. سرطان الاقتصاد (Commercial Concealment.. The Cancer of the Economy) Commercial concealment, with its multiple and devastating faces, has become a real economic cancer that has cast a heavy shadow on the business environment in the Kingdom for decades. It is no longer just a transient defect, but an entrenched phenomenon that weakens the market structure, undermines efforts to localize jobs, and leads to the formation of a hidden economy with sprawling tentacles, beyond regulation, and not contributing to the GDP as it should. This concealment manifests in enabling non-Saudis to engage in commercial activities for their own benefit, disguised under the names of citizens who receive a meager monthly income, without any actual role in management. These practices have led to the spread of commercial fraud, money laundering, and poor product quality, in addition to causing a real unemployment problem among citizens who find themselves facing unfair competition with this unofficial economy.
103. لماذا يداوي القائد المجروح؟ (Why Does the Wounded Leader Heal?) We are now in 1997. At that time, Japan had not succeeded in qualifying for the 1998 World Cup in France, which was the biggest challenge globally and for the first time. At that time, the team’s star was the legend Kazuo Miura, the only Japanese player who played in the Italian league. After great difficulties, Japan barely qualified for the Asian playoffs. In the middle of the decisive match against Iran, the coach decided to substitute the legend Kazuo Miura. The player resented this decision, saying: “Are you substituting me?!” After moments, the player complied and left the field. The beautiful thing is that the Japanese team managed to turn the result around, win, and qualify for the World Cup.
104. الوظيفة النقدية لإلعالم من النخبة إلى جمهور التواصل (The Critical Function of Media From the Elite to the Public) In the past, the critical function was entrusted to trained journalistic pens and institutions that often adhered to professional standards and editorial guidelines. The media’s discourse was often directed by political and economic pressures that limited its ceiling of freedom. Media was somewhat elitist, reaching the public only through official channels and written only by opinion leaders and experts, or those allowed to appear in the public sphere. Those were the “eras of media guardianship” where the journalist decided what was worthy of discussion, what should be ignored, and which issue had “news value” or “critical potential”.
105. الساركوما.. الورم المنسي في شهره العالمي أحد ألنواع النادرة والمعقدة (Sarcoma.. The Forgotten Tumor in its Global Month, One of the Rare and Complex Types) July is the global awareness month for sarcoma, one of the rare and complex types of tumors, often described as the “forgotten tumor” due to the lack of awareness about it compared to more common types of cancer such as breast, lung, or colon cancer. However, despite its rarity, sarcoma presents significant challenges for both patients and doctors, due to its diversity and the difficulty of its diagnosis and treatment in many cases. In this article, we shed light on sarcoma, its types, symptoms, diagnostic and treatment methods, and the importance of awareness and community support for those affected.
106. ما الساركوما؟ (What is Sarcoma?) Sarcoma is a type of tumor that originates in soft tissues (muscles, fat, blood vessels, nerves, tendons, and fibrous tissues) or bones. Unlike most tumors that affect organs (such as the liver, lungs, colon), sarcoma originates in the structures that support and move the body. Sarcoma is classified into two main types: 1. Soft Tissue Sarcoma and 2. Bone Sarcoma. Under these two classifications, there are more than 70 subtypes, each with its own specific biological and behavioral characteristics.
107. إحصائيات وأرقام: (Statistics and Figures:) Although sarcoma accounts for less than 1% of all cancer cases in adults, it is more common in children and adolescents, representing about 15% of childhood cancers. Approximately 13,000 sarcoma cases are diagnosed annually in the United States alone. The figures may be lower in developing countries due to weak diagnostic and reporting programs.
108. ألعراض والعلامات المبكرة: (Symptoms and Early Signs:) Sarcoma symptoms depend on the tumor’s location and type, but some common symptoms include. The tumor is often painless at first, which leads many to ignore it, resulting in delayed diagnosis.
109. تشخيص الساركوما: (Sarcoma Diagnosis:) Diagnosing sarcoma poses a challenge due to its symptoms resembling benign conditions such as lipomas or fatty cysts. The diagnostic journey typically begins with a physical examination, followed by. Imaging (such as X-rays, MRI, or CT scans) to determine if the mass is cancerous is considered the crucial step, taking into account that the biopsy must be taken correctly to avoid complications.
110. العلاج والتعامل مع المرض: (Treatment and Management of the Disease:) Sarcoma treatment depends on several factors, such as its type, location, size, and extent of spread. Treatment plans may include. Surgery: This is the primary option in most sarcoma cases, where doctors aim to completely remove the tumor with a sufficient safety margin.
111. دور العائلة والمجتمع في دعم المصابين بالساركوما: (The Role of Family and Community in Supporting Sarcoma Patients:) In the journey with sarcoma, the challenge is not only physical but also psychological and social. Therefore, family and community support plays a pivotal role no less important than medical treatment in boosting the patient’s morale and enhancing their ability to cope and confront. The family is the first line of defense, starting its mission by listening to the patient and providing psychological comfort, moving on to for rebuilding and growth. Regular medical follow-up is an essential part of this stage, as the risk of tumor recurrence or appearance in other places remains for some time. Follow-up periods vary depending on the type of sarcoma and its stage at diagnosis, and may include periodic visits, blood tests, and imaging.
112. كلمة أخيرة: (Final Word:) Sarcoma may be a rare disease, but it is not rare for those who suffer from it. Every patient is a complete world of emotions, hope, and challenges. On the occasion of the Global Sarcoma Awareness Month, let us extend our hands in support to everyone who bravely faces this tumor. And let us be a voice for the afflicted, a beacon for research, and a source for awareness.
113. الهالل خير ممثل وسفير (Al-Hilal, the Best Representative and Ambassador) Sports investment is considered one of the most prominent tools of influence in the modern era. Sports are no longer just a recreational or physical activity; rather, they have become a cross-border industry and an effective tool for countries to enhance cultural and economic influence. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia realized this transformation early on and embarked on its ambitious sports project, which aims not only to win championships but also to redefine the role of sports in shaping the mental image of the Kingdom and investing in it as a means of Saudi “soft power”.
114. إعجاز الهالل صنع الفارق (Al-Hilal’s Miracle Made the Difference) In a world that measures victories by market value and number of sponsors, no one expected a Saudi team from another continent to stand face-to-face against giants like European champions and a team that comes after Real Madrid in terms of market value and player strength, as a formidable rival in a match classified among the historical matches that will not be forgotten in the history of world football. Camping World Stadium was set to witness an unexpected scene: Saudi Al-Hilal, in its blue kit, challenging a team whose market value is 1.56 billion dollars, with a budget not exceeding 188 million, and emerging victorious, not by luck, but with four real goals and a well-planned strategy which used to confidently speak about the negative impact of the project, began to rethink everything it said about Saudi football.
115. من الملعب إلى المنصات السياسية.. الهالل يوّسع دوائر التأثير (From the Stadium to Political Platforms.. Al-Hilal Expands Circles of Influence) The impact of Al-Hilal’s victory did not stop at the boundaries of the green rectangle or the headlines of sports newspapers; rather, it quickly extended to the corridors of politics and diplomacy, confirming that the Saudi sports project is far from being merely competitive or commercial; it is a sovereign national project par excellence. In a striking symbolic image published by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) on Friday, Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi and National Security Advisor in the UAE, appeared wearing the Al-Hilal Saudi Club badge during his meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
116. الهالل مشروع دولة (Al-Hilal: A State Project) What Al-Hilal did was not just a victory in a match, but a clever breakthrough of the Western system that used to look down on non-European experiences in sports. Al-Hilal entered through the narrowest of gates – with a limited budget, fewer sponsors, and a squad missing its biggest stars and young players – and emerged through the widest gates with global respect. This would not have been possible without political leadership that believed in sports investment as a national leverage, and without a harmonized system that sought long-term goals beyond short-term calculations.
117. التعصب ظاهرة سلبية ونعاني ندرة القدوات الرياضية (Fanaticism is a Negative Phenomenon, and We Suffer from a Scarcity of Sports Role Models) Facing difficulties is a natural occurrence for individuals in many aspects, and they differ in the degree or type of these difficulties. However, the word “facing” means our ability not only to overcome them, but also to interact with them as challenges that should be transformed into opportunities that enhance the motives for continuity and achievement. This achievement becomes enjoyable when it is born from the womb of those difficulties, with the availability of passion and belonging behind every accomplishment, which is the true fuel for facing any difficulty. I would not hide from you that the difficulty lies in the desire and ability to do the work we undertake. Therefore, when I am asked about the best job, my answer is that of a university professor.

• دكتور إبراهيم.. هل واجهتك صعوبات في مجال تخصصك؟ (Dr. Ibrahim… Did you face difficulties in your field of specialization?) Facing difficulties is a natural occurrence for individuals in many aspects, and they differ in the degree or type of these difficulties. However, the word “facing” means our ability not only to overcome them, but also to interact with them as challenges that should be transformed into opportunities that enhance the motives for continuity and achievement. This achievement becomes enjoyable when it is born from the womb of those difficulties, with the availability of passion and belonging behind every accomplishment, which is the true fuel for facing any difficulty. I would not hide from you that the difficulty lies in the desire and ability to do the work we undertake. Therefore, when I am asked about the best job, my answer is that of a university professor.
• the World Cup, continental championships, and Olympics, among others. The returns are not necessarily purely financial. On this basis, we see today the leadership’s interest in sports, and sports are now considered one of the soft powers that various countries are keen on.
• أوجه الهدر أحد توافقني بأن منشآت الأندية المالي لدينا؛ ماذا لو استغلت بالتشغيل؟ (Do you agree that one aspect of financial waste in our club facilities is what if they were utilized for operation?) We need scientific proof that confirms the existence of financial waste, but I believe we need to accelerate investment in developing club facilities to make them suitable for investment. It is strange that the value of a foreign player can equal the cost of building a sports stadium that some of our old clubs lack!. I also want to remind you of the Ministry of Sports’ initiatives in this regard, including providing investment opportunities for the private sector in the Ministry’s assets, including sports clubs. We also need to develop club facilities as we are about to organize global competitions, most notably the Asian Cup and the World Cup.
• هل نصميه أن ميكن هل التصجيع.. يف التعصب تطرفًا فكريًا رياصيًا، وملاذا؟ (Can we call fanaticism in cheering a form of sports intellectual extremism, and why?) In general, fanaticism is a negative phenomenon that represents extremism in opinion, resulting in unacceptable behavior such as offending others. It poses a challenge in the sports field and is a general phenomenon that affects societies of all differences, not just one specific community. Fanaticism in cheering is considered sports intellectual extremism that emerged from several reasons, most notably low sports culture, scarcity of role models in the sports field, and weakness in sportsmanship and not accepting others’ opinions. It is worth noting that the existence of sports clubs and their general support had several factors, most notably alleviating other forms of fanaticism such as tribal, religious, sectarian, and intellectual fanaticism.
• هل ترى أن التعصب الرياضي وصل مداه وبات الحوار المتزن غائباً؛ أم نعيش عكس ذلك حالياً؟ (Do you think sports fanaticism has reached its peak and balanced dialogue is now absent; or are we living the opposite?) Perhaps asserting the absence of balanced dialogue contains some harshness towards sports fans in general. I might recall here the story of Amr ibn al-Aas in the horse race, where he was not pleased with losing, despite it being an equestrian competition with many values, not to mention that he was raised in the home of a venerable companion. We should not burden those involved in sports and the public more than they can bear, as sports might lose some of its distinctive qualities. This is not at all an invitation to fanaticism, but rather to look at things according to the nature of our children at the international level. The difference lies in the popularity of innovators and the media spotlight on their achievements in the sports field, especially football. This is a natural matter that occurs in social and media contexts that appear in this way. We need greater efforts to highlight the achievements of specialists in all fields and improve the financial and moral returns for them. I remember years ago, a patent reward was 10,000 riyals! When compared to the return from sports achievements, the picture becomes clear.
• هل سبق أن أقدمت على عمل وكانت النتيجة تصلًل يف لغة كرة القدم؟ (Have you ever taken an action and the result was an offside in football language?) I do not remember ever falling into the offside trap, perhaps because the referee does not have offside detection technology, or perhaps due to the influence of specialization; for someone who plans their work according to a scientific methodology will not fall into it. (Only one paragraph of detail is directly under this heading in the source).
• انعدام إقامة المنتديات القيادية المغلقة ومن تحمل الأندية والصالات التربوية في مسؤولية القصور؟ (Lack of holding closed leadership forums, and who bears the responsibility for this deficiency in clubs and educational halls?) I don’t know if it is acceptable for there to be no leadership-related forums in club halls, but it is certain that they are few and perhaps rare, even though sports clubs need leadership in terms of knowledge and practice, and they are also considered one of the institutions for social and educational upbringing. (Only one paragraph of detail is directly under this heading in the source).
• هل ترى أن الرياضة ثقافة، وإن كانت كذلك فكيف نتعامل مع الثقافة تلك على الوجه الأكمل؟ (Do you think sports is a culture, and if so, how do we deal with that culture in the best way?) Sports is a culture and a part of any society. It is also an ancient culture of human communities. It contributes to enhancing positive values and attitudes. Therefore, countries are keen to spread sports culture among individuals and enhance it, especially among women, due to its great importance. Sports culture and educating generations require achieving sports accomplishments such as winning championships and titles. The influence of football players’ fame on the masses, especially youth, is evident. Therefore, these players have always been under scrutiny due to their direct impact. Sports organizations try to leverage this fame to promote positive behavior among young people, despite potential fears of a negative impact that might affect cultural aspects, community beliefs, norms, traditions, and values.
• أصبحت والآن والمتعة، للصحة الرياضة كانت للمال أكثر؛ من أفسد بياضها؟ (Sports used to be for health and enjoyment, and now it’s more for money; who spoiled its purity?) If sports are more about money than health and enjoyment, then I agree that it is an issue that must be addressed. However, with the development of sports, it has become a field like other fields, subject to investment, with its own returns and subject to governance for achieving a planned outcome and reducing waste in its operations. This is what influential countries in politics and economy seek today. Sports are no longer a luxury but an investment in health, and an investment in money, economy in return for a reward that exceeds the cost. High returns are supposed to guarantee quality performance, and Saudi players are not an exception to this; in fact, I believe they are more sincere than others, while trying to balance both aspects.
• الواسطة لا تصنع النجوم.. هل ترى في الوسط الرياضي نجوماً صنعتها الواسطة؟ (Nepotism does not create stars.. Do you see stars in the sports scene who were created by nepotism?) It might be convincing to say that “Wasta” (nepotism/connections) can create individuals who work in a field, but there are unseen requirements that the work must adhere to. In fields such as sports performance, performance is visible, so everyone watches, observes, and evaluates. So, performance is evident to sports fans. The belief that some players do not deserve stardom might be due to fanaticism or personal inclinations. Conversely, media and public enthusiasm for a team might create exaggerated stardom for some players, but I believe they all possess sufficient abilities and potential to be in the position they deserve.
• لمن توجه الدعوة من الرياضيين لزيارة منزلك؟ (To which athletes do you extend an invitation to visit your home?) Years ago, I was collaborating with one of the universities, and Captain Sami Al-Jaber was among the students of the course I was teaching. After the course ended, he promised to visit me at that time. I asked him, and he did not come, perhaps due to his busy schedule and my lack of insistence at the time. From this platform, I renew the invitation for him to visit me. I also extend an invitation to His Royal Highness Prince Abdulrahman bin Musa’id, as he is a sportsman, poet, and writer. I believe he is the most influential personality with a diverse audience encompassing culture, literature, poetry, and sports, and I am one of them.
• لأي الأندية تدين الغلبة في منزلك؟ (Which clubs dominate your household?) It leans heavily towards Al-Hilal club. (Only one paragraph of detail is directly under this heading in the source).

1 compass point globally? And what is your local team?) I used to be like any young person who followed, cheered, and attended matches. At that time, not all matches were broadcast. However, after starting my higher education and getting married, and my interest weakened, I no longer followed closely. Now, my children have grown up, and I have returned to following and enjoying matches with them. (Only one paragraph of detail is directly under this heading in the source).

• الأندية في بعض تركيز عدم سبب ما برأيك استقطاب دورات في مجال القيادة والإدارة لمنسوبيها؟ (In your opinion, what is the reason for some clubs’ lack of focus on attracting courses in leadership and management for their staff?) Perhaps it’s their belief that leadership is a practice and an art more than it is a science. (Only one paragraph of detail is directly under this heading in the source).
• بطاقة صفراء لمن ترفعها؟ (To whom would you show a yellow card?) To those who do not practice sports and do not enjoy sports activity. (Only one paragraph of detail is directly under this heading in the source).

1. عدوى السرقات تجتاح ألمانياً (Theft Epidemic Sweeps Germany) Theft from stores in Germany has risen again, according to a study conducted by the EHI Retail Institute in Cologne, Germany. According to the study, customers stole goods worth about 2.95 billion euros last year, an increase of 4.6% compared to 2023. Total losses increased for the third consecutive year, reaching their highest level ever – although the increase is less than in 2023, which recorded a 15% annual increase. “There is a growing number of people who can no longer afford to buy goods, or who do not want to bear the cost of certain products, or even protest prices,” said Frank Horst, the study’s author.
2. قطة تهرب مخدرات (Cat Smuggles Drugs) A guard at a Costa Rican prison intercepted an unusual smuggler after a cat entered the prison at night carrying drugs tied to its body. The cat was carrying 235 grams of marijuana and 67 grams of cocaine in two bags secured with adhesive tape. The Ministry of Justice announced in a statement that the cat was “caught red-handed” when it climbed the fence surrounding the prison located in Pocosí canton (northeast). A video clip published by the ministry showed guards climbing a fence to catch the black and white cat before one of the officers carefully removed the drugs.
3. العرضة السعودية (The Saudi Ardhah) The Ascent road is considered one of the vital roads in Jazan region, with a length exceeding 10 km. It contributes to connecting a number of mountain villages in Haroub governorate through two lanes that serve the movement of residents and enhance connectivity in rough terrain. The road is of great importance to the region’s residents, as it saves time and effort in accessing daily services, in addition to its role in supporting movement in mountainous areas.
4. نبات مزهر يتحدى قسوة الصحراء (Flowering Plant Defies the Harshness of the Desert)

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

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