This extensive collection of sources primarily focuses on Saudi Arabia’s advancements and initiatives across various sectors. It highlights the Kingdom’s economic diversification efforts, including reforms in the labor market, investments in renewable energy like geothermal, and the promotion of non-oil sectors. The text also underscores cultural and societal development, featuring international collaborations in arts and intellectual property, educational programs for gifted students, and efforts to preserve local dialects. Furthermore, it touches upon geopolitical strategies, showcasing Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic role in regional conflicts and its commitment to humanitarian aid, alongside discussions on domestic sports and health issues.

Podcast

Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030: Economic and Social Transformation

Saudi Arabia is actively pursuing a wide range of economic reforms, primarily under the ambitious Vision 2030, with the goal of diversifying its economy, improving productivity, and enhancing the quality of life for its citizens. These reforms span various sectors, including the labor market, regulatory bodies, strategic industries, and the digital economy. The Kingdom’s vision aims for a comprehensive and balanced modern nation, moving beyond a focus on any single sector to a broader set of priorities including education, economy, health, tourism, technology, and culture.

Labor Market Transformation The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has praised the tangible results of Saudi labor market reforms, noting a decrease in unemployment rates and a significant increase in employment in the private sector. The unemployment rate among Saudi citizens has continued to decline, reaching 6.3% in the first quarter of 2025, which is a notable improvement compared to previous years and indicates that the Saudi economy is actively creating more opportunities for its citizens. A remarkable aspect of these reforms is the increase in women’s participation in the labor market, which reached 36.3% in the first quarter of 2025, up from 19.7% in 2018. This is considered one of the most important social and economic transformations in the Kingdom’s modern history and reflects the success of the policies and evolving social standards. The unemployment rate among Saudi women has also fallen to a historic low of 10.5%. The private sector is playing an increasingly vital role in job creation, with more Saudi citizens finding sustainable employment outside the government sector. This transformation is supported by continuous reforms aimed at enhancing productivity and developing skills, involving employers. The IMF also highlighted a rise in wages for high-skilled jobs, reflecting growing demand for advanced competencies in fields like engineering, digital services, and the financial sector. The IMF emphasized the importance of continuing to develop and qualify national cadres in these sectors to enhance competitiveness and long-term wage stability. The Deputy Minister of Human Resources and Social Development for Labor affirmed that the IMF’s statement underscores the scale of the transformation in the Saudi labor market and the effectiveness of the labor market strategy in achieving tangible results. The IMF also noted that the Kingdom’s adoption of a higher fiscal policy than budgeted in 2025 is an appropriate measure to mitigate the impact of cyclical fluctuations that could exacerbate economic downturns resulting from lower oil prices.

Governmental and Regulatory Enhancements The Shura Council has been active in proposing reforms across various sectors:

• Financial Market: It called on the Capital Market Authority to study establishing a special market for qualified investors to trade debt instruments backed by real estate mortgages and to expand dual listing of shares.
• Municipal and Housing: Recommendations included finding funding solutions for basic services in housing grant projects, speeding up studies for a comprehensive flood plan, and encouraging the establishment of non-profit organizations related to the Ministry’s tasks. It also pushed for reviewing and amending municipality classifications based on growth and density, and re-evaluating housing support programs and residential unit design standards. The Shura Council further urged the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing to collaborate with relevant entities to update regional and local plans for all cities, governorates, and centers across the Kingdom.
• Vocational Training: The Council approved studies for launching expansive training and vocational improvements in promising investment areas, aligning with the Public Investment Fund, and emphasizing enhanced efficiency in managing human capabilities development initiatives. It also stressed the importance of accelerating the accreditation of all training facilities and enabling their human resources through advanced international scholarships in technical and vocational fields, while expanding partnerships with the private and non-profit sectors for funding and operating training facilities.
• Energy: It urged the Ministry of Energy to raise awareness of its strategy and accelerate the readiness of Public Investment Fund factories for renewable energy projects, calling for the private sector to establish electric vehicle charging stations.
• Water Sector: The Council recommended the Saudi Water Authority develop a strategy for its academy and programs to build capabilities, ensure government entities adhere to wastewater services, and transform innovative ideas into startups. It also pressed for a review of wastewater contract assignments by the National Water Company to promote fair competition and prevent monopolistic practices affecting consumers. The Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture expressed gratitude for the approval of the new regulation for the General Organization for Irrigation, highlighting it as a pivotal step to manage treated water and integrate dam management into the national water system, enhancing water security and diversification.
• Public Health: Recommendations included developing guiding documents for epidemiological surveillance of infectious diseases, enhancing community awareness about safe food-contact plastics, and an early detection initiative for brain diseases, especially for the elderly, by the Public Health Authority. The Council of Ministers’ adoption of “World Drowning Prevention Day” reflects the leadership’s support for the health sector and the Kingdom’s commitment to human health and safety, aligning with Vision 2030’s “Health Transformation Program”. This policy has already reduced drowning-related fatalities by 17%, saving significant economic burdens. Hospital accreditation, such as “Friend of the Child” received by Ohud Hospital in Madinah, aims to provide optimal care for mothers and children and reduce rates of diseases related to early childhood nutrition. The Riyadh First Health Cluster also launched a “Summer with Health” initiative to provide medical consultations and comprehensive treatment services, along with awareness programs, aiming to raise health awareness and facilitate access to specialized services. King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center demonstrated an “integrated care system” for a rare genetic disorder, culminating in a successful liver transplant, the first of its kind globally for the specific condition, highlighting the Kingdom’s investment in quality healthcare.
• Royal Institute: The Shura Council demanded setting quality standards for projects and expanding professional programs for traditional heritage.
• Geological Survey: It called for completing exploration and expanding mineral resources in the Arabian Shield to include the sedimentary cover area, offering them as investment opportunities.
• Family Affairs: The Shura Council emphasized the necessity of a comprehensive study to review systems and regulations related to family affairs to introduce legal provisions that consider the balance between work and family life. This includes flexible work hours and expanding remote work opportunities for women to support parents in raising their children and achieve work-life balance. It also highlighted the importance of protecting families from financial fraud and cybercrimes through awareness and education. The General Presidency for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice inaugurated a new cybersecurity administration, reflecting the Kingdom’s progress and commitment to achieving a high level of cybersecurity amidst its full electronic transformation. The General Presidency also received five ISO certifications in risk management, quality, business continuity, and compliance, reflecting its commitment to international standards and continuous improvement. A program supporting vulnerable groups embodies the Kingdom’s commitment to providing an integrated environment for the needy, with the Social Development Bank exceeding 160 billion riyals in cumulative financing, benefiting over 10 million people and supporting the national economy and financial inclusion. The General Authority of Zakat, Tax and Customs recorded 1334 cases of prohibited items at land, sea, and air customs outlets, as part of continuous efforts to enhance security and protect society from all types of prohibited items.

Strategic Sector Development and Sustainability Saudi Aramco is integrating sustainable practices into its strategy, focusing on climate change, energy transition, and environmental impact reduction. It’s increasingly replacing oil with gas in power generation, aiming for over 60% increase in gas production by 2030 compared to 2021. The company actively seeks to reduce methane emissions and improve energy efficiency across all its operations. Aramco is involved in establishing the world’s largest carbon capture and storage project in Jubail and exploring investments in blue hydrogen and mineral exploration with Ma’aden. Aramco has significantly increased local content spending in its supply chain (from 35% to 67%) and is keen on integrating artificial intelligence to enhance efficiency and reduce emissions. The Eastern Province Municipality and Lucid Motors signed a memorandum of understanding to expand the infrastructure for electric vehicles, supporting smart transportation and environmental preservation, aligning with Vision 2030’s goals for quality of life and sustainable transportation. The National Program for Combating Commercial Concealment conducted 8,007 inspection visits during the second quarter of 2025, revealing violations and the practice of professions by unqualified individuals, particularly in the engineering sector. The Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry urged stricter oversight to protect the engineering profession and support national offices. The National Program for the Development of Livestock and Fisheries announced plans to increase milk production by improving dairy cows through genetic enhancement and genotyping techniques over the next five years. This initiative aims to improve herd productivity by 25% to 90% and reduce the incidence of genetic diseases and production-related issues by up to 60%. The expansion of seasonal fodder production is aimed at strengthening livestock by providing good quality local feed, mitigating the impact of international market fluctuations, and contributing to reducing imports. This also helps in breaking the cycle of harmful weeds and reducing land degradation. Furthermore, large green fields act as significant carbon storage, supporting the Kingdom’s efforts to achieve carbon neutrality, and enhancing biodiversity. The Kingdom also has significant potential in geothermal energy, particularly in the western regions, which could play a crucial role in diversifying energy sources and reducing reliance on oil. In the health sector, Saudi research centers are participating in the growth of cancer treatments, including conducting clinical trials for CAR-T and CAR-NK cell therapies. These advanced therapies aim to overcome the challenges of high cost, long production times, and severe side effects of traditional CAR-T therapies, making them more accessible and effective for patients.

Digital Economy and Service Sector Evolution The Saudi food delivery market is projected to grow significantly, from $9-10 billion in 2024-2025 to $13-16 billion by 2030, with an annual growth rate of 8-9%. The Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing launched the “Home Delivery Permit” (mandatory since July) via the “Balady” platform to regulate food and non-food delivery services, ensuring quality and safety. Concerns persist regarding companies’ adherence, leading to calls for stricter oversight, penalties for violations, and addressing issues like reckless motorcycle delivery behavior. Proposed solutions include using eco-friendly vehicles, adopting AI/robotics, smart delivery containers, and localizing the delivery profession. The Public Investment Fund is encouraged to establish a national company for home delivery, especially for food, drawing on its proven success in elevating service quality in other sectors, such as the security services provided by “Safe” company. The Al-Qassim region launched a digital platform for afforestation as part of its efforts towards environmental sustainability and to enhance the green cover, making it easier for environmental enthusiasts to communicate and access information on afforestation projects. The King Salman Global Academy for the Arabic Language is working on documenting 52 local dialects for its “Sounds of the Kingdom” project, integrating artificial intelligence generative technologies to convert spoken language into text, aiming to enhance the use and spread of Saudi dialects. The Saudi tourism sector showed growth in the first quarter of 2025, with hotel room occupancy reaching 63%, compared to 50.7% for serviced apartments. The number of licensed hotel buildings increased from 2,300 in 2023 to 4,000 in 2024, and the number of hotel rooms from 280,000 to 475,000 in the same period. The tourism minister indicated that Saudi Arabia is ready to host the FIFA World Cup in 2034, with plans to increase hotel rooms significantly by 2030. The Saudi Federation for Sports for All launched “ASICS Innovation,” a program in partnership with ASICS to stimulate entrepreneurial companies within the Kingdom to develop digital solutions that enhance community participation in physical activity. This initiative aligns with the Kingdom’s goal to increase physical activity among adults to 64% and among younger age groups to 21% by 2030. The Kingdom is also hosting major international sports events, such as the World Billiards Championship in Jeddah, which provides a historical opportunity for Saudi and regional players to compete with international professionals and develop young talents.

Gulf Diplomacy Amidst Middle East Escalation

The sources discuss various aspects of regional stability, particularly in the context of recent escalations in the Middle East, and the diplomatic efforts of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states to manage these tensions.

Recent Regional Tensions: The Middle East experienced significant escalation in mid-June 2025, marked by a direct and intense military confrontation between Israel and Iran that lasted twelve days, dubbed the “Twelve-Day War”. Unlike previous conflicts, this confrontation was not confined to traditional adversaries but expanded to affect areas of influence, vital corridors, and bases globally. This included an Iranian attack on the American “Al-Udeid” military base in Qatar, which was seen as a shocking event that redefined the boundaries of engagement and highlighted the fragility of regional security. The confrontation triggered widespread concern about a broader conflict that could impact the security of the Gulf and its maritime passages, especially the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global energy artery.

Gulf States’ Response and Diplomacy: Amidst these escalating tensions, the GCC states, led by Saudi Arabia, adopted a unified and cautious diplomatic approach aimed at de-escalation and safeguarding regional stability. This approach involved calling for calm, rejecting the transformation of their territories into proxy battlefields, and activating their security, health, and economic plans to ensure protection without falling into alignment traps. The Gulf capitals emerged as influential regional players, rather than mere followers of external powers’ agendas.

Saudi Arabia’s Role: Saudi Arabia demonstrated a model of preventive diplomacy, particularly through its political efforts to reduce escalation and protect Gulf security without being drawn into conflict. The Kingdom’s stance from the outset was decisive, choosing a path of de-escalation rather than allowing the crisis to escalate. Saudi Arabia utilized its influence in international forums, such as the G20 and the United Nations, to emphasize the importance of self-restraint and to keep the energy sector separate from armed conflicts. This significantly helped in calming markets and alleviating fears of a comprehensive escalation that could threaten global supply stability. The Kingdom, as the world’s largest oil exporter, showcased its pivotal role in protecting global energy markets, supported by its exceptional production capacity, strategic reserves, and advanced infrastructure.

Responses of Other GCC States:

• Kuwait: As the chair of the current GCC session, Kuwait played a central role in coordinating the Gulf’s unified response. Kuwait’s leadership was characterized by precision, balance, and foresight, taking into account immediate and long-term impacts of events. It activated its diplomatic and security tools, holding an emergency meeting via visual communication, an unprecedented event since the COVID-19 pandemic, underscoring the gravity of the situation. Kuwait also implemented internal emergency plans to ensure security and stability.
• Bahrain: Bahrain condemned the Israeli attack on Iran from the onset, warning of its dangerous repercussions on regional security. It also strongly denounced the Iranian attack on Qatar’s Al-Udeid base, viewing it as a blatant violation of Qatar’s sovereignty and international law. Bahrain emphasized the principle of Gulf solidarity and stressed the need to resume dialogue with Tehran on clear foundations.
• United Arab Emirates (UAE): The UAE maintained a balanced diplomatic stance, leveraging its robust international relations and strategic partnerships. It relied on soft power tools, economic diversification, and security coordination, which provided it with broad maneuverability away from impulsive reactions. The UAE demonstrated high readiness in crisis management, rooted in strong public and institutional trust.
• Oman: Oman continued its traditional role of quiet mediation, acting as a neutral state in moments of tension. Oman condemned the Iranian attack on Qatar’s Al-Udeid base, stressing its solidarity with Gulf security and reiterating that dialogue remains possible. It emphasized that aggression would not solve problems and called for the international community to hold Israel accountable for its violations of international law.

Challenges to Stability: The Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea pose a direct threat to freedom of navigation and regional security. These attacks have resulted in casualties among sailors and increased concerns about maritime safety. The US Department of State condemned these unjustified Houthi terrorist attacks, affirming its commitment to taking necessary measures to protect navigation and commercial shipping. The ongoing Israeli conflict in Gaza further exacerbates regional instability, with reports highlighting civilian massacres, extensive damage to infrastructure, and a looming collapse of the medical system due to a severe fuel shortage and overcrowding in hospitals.

Overall Outlook: The GCC’s diplomatic approach, characterized by wisdom and flexibility, underscores its deep understanding of the region’s importance and its ability to navigate challenges. This collective effort aims to contain crises, prevent further escalation, and promote dialogue and political solutions, highlighting the crucial role of the Gulf states, particularly Saudi Arabia, in ensuring global energy security and regional stability.

Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030: Technological Advancement Across Sectors

Technological advancements are extensively discussed across the sources, highlighting Saudi Arabia’s strategic focus on integrating various innovative solutions across multiple sectors to achieve its Vision 2030 objectives. These advancements span environmental sustainability, healthcare, urban development, digital services, and sports infrastructure, aiming to enhance quality of life and diversify the economy.

In the realm of environmental sustainability and energy, Aramco, a global energy giant, is actively pursuing initiatives involving cutting-edge technologies. The company aims to transition towards lower carbon energy solutions, investing significantly in innovation and the latest technologies. A notable project is the establishment of the world’s largest carbon capture and storage (CCS) center in Jubail Industrial City. Aramco also plans to increase its gas production capacity by over 60% by 2030, which contributes to reducing emissions. Furthermore, the company employs advanced monitoring technologies, such as a new satellite network, to track emissions from its facilities, including methane gas emissions, and improve energy efficiency across its operations. Aramco’s venture arm, Aramco Ventures, is noted as a significant investor in climate-related activities globally. The Kingdom also explores geothermal energy, especially in its western regions, for electricity generation and heating, despite initial challenges in exploration and high costs, as part of its renewable energy goals. The Shura Council supports plans for renewable energy projects and encourages companies to establish electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, contributing to a sustainable energy transition. The Eastern Province Municipality has signed an agreement to expand the infrastructure for electric vehicles, emphasizing smart transportation and environmental preservation. Additionally, the afforestation office in Qassim Emirate has launched a digital platform to govern environmental efforts, facilitate communication with stakeholders, and manage data for afforestation projects, demonstrating the use of digital tools for ecological initiatives.

Healthcare and medical technology are also areas of significant advancement. King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Riyadh achieved a global first by successfully performing a liver transplant for a patient with a rare genetic blood clotting disorder, showcasing its expertise in highly complex medical procedures. The hospital’s operations are underpinned by a commitment to integrated care that blends scientific expertise with humanitarian values. New cancer treatments, such as CAR-T and next-generation CAR-NK cell therapies, are being developed and tested, with Saudi research centers participating in international clinical trials. These advancements aim to offer more affordable treatments with fewer side effects and explore the potential for “universal” cell therapies that could reduce financial burdens. The “Health Humanitarians in Qassim” initiative highlights the use of technology, such as QR code-based interactive guides, to enhance patient experience and recovery. The Saudi Commission for Health Specialties has introduced training programs for specialized roles like medical sterilization technicians and medical coding technicians, indicating a focus on building national capacity in advanced medical fields.

Digital transformation and urban development are central to Vision 2030. The Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing launched the “Delivery Permit” service through the “Baladi” electronic platform, setting technical and regulatory standards for home delivery services, reflecting a push for digital governance in urban services. Riyadh Chamber emphasizes strengthening supervision and coordination among relevant authorities to protect the engineering profession and empower national offices, which likely involves leveraging technology for oversight. The Eastern Province Municipality conducted a workshop focused on improving building facades using artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance urban aesthetics and streamline design processes, indicating an innovative application of AI in urban planning. Madinah Municipality is also developing “environmentally friendly paths” for various users, including pedestrians, cyclists, and individuals with disabilities, aiming to create human-friendly cities using advanced urban planning concepts. The Shura Council has called for a study to create a specialized market for trading mortgage-backed debt instruments and expand dual listing of shares, which would require robust financial technology infrastructure. There is also a push to convert innovative ideas into startups, particularly in water management and sanitation, implying support for tech entrepreneurship. However, concerns regarding the misuse of modern technology are also acknowledged, with warnings about increased financial fraud and information crimes due to greater internet usage, emphasizing the need for cybersecurity and digital literacy initiatives to protect society.

In the domain of digital services and cultural heritage, the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language is undertaking a significant project to document 52 local Saudi dialects and integrate them into generative AI applications. Their “Sawtak” system allows for the conversion of spoken language into highly accurate written text in both classical Arabic and local dialects, showcasing advanced linguistic technology development. Vision 2030 also aims to transform cultural creativity into an industry, supporting authors and artists through initiatives that include digital publishing and global marketing. There’s even a discussion on the impact of AI on short story development, where AI acts as an “innovative partner” for generating narrative ideas, plot development, and character creation, while acknowledging the continued essential role of human creativity. An art exhibition in Osaka, for the Saudi-Chinese Cultural Year, showcases artwork that combines mathematical principles with spiritual and pioneering engineering, creating a synergy between science, art, and technology.

Sports is another sector leveraging technological advancements. The Saudi Federation for Sports for All has launched the “Asics Innovation” program to invite Saudi startups to develop digital solutions that enhance community participation in physical activity, aiming to boost engagement rates among adults and youth. This program is part of positioning the Kingdom as a regional innovation hub in sports. High-profile sports events, such as the World Pool Championship in Jeddah, now feature extensive digital streaming and TV coverage, demonstrating the reliance on modern broadcasting and digital communication technologies. Major Saudi football clubs are investing in state-of-the-art training facilities, like Al-Hilal’s partnership with Princess Nourah University, which boasts facilities designed to international standards, incorporating experiences from top European clubs. These efforts reflect a broader national determination to achieve global leadership across various fields, including sports, facilitated by digital transformation, AI, renewable energy, and space technologies.

Saudi Vision: Culture, Innovation, and Global Exchange

Cultural exchange is a prominent theme in the sources, particularly in the context of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which aims to diversify the economy and enhance its global standing through various cultural and artistic initiatives. The Kingdom is actively working to transform cultural creativity into an industry, supporting authors and artists through initiatives that include digital publishing and global marketing. This strategic shift aims to make cultural endeavors not only prestigious but also profitable, moving beyond the traditional notion of “writing for survival” to a point where “writing can earn a living”.

One significant aspect of cultural exchange is seen in international exhibitions and events. The Ministry of Culture is organizing the “Saudi Cultural Week in Japan” in Osaka, focusing on Saudi handicrafts as a prominent cultural element. This event, held from July 12-15, 2025, also commemorates the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Japan. Participants like the Heritage Authority, the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts, and the Prince Salman bin Mohammed Center for Arabic Calligraphy Initiative will showcase interactive activities that embody Saudi heritage and its cultural richness. The King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives is also participating with a photographic exhibition. These efforts aim to present Saudi culture to a global audience and highlight the synergy between science, art, and technology, as exemplified by an art exhibition in Osaka for the Saudi-Chinese Cultural Year that combines mathematical principles with spiritual and pioneering engineering. The art exhibition serves as a cultural bridge connecting peoples. The Saudi Pavilion at Expo Osaka 2025 provides visitors with an authentic taste of Saudi hospitality and cuisine, featuring traditional dishes from various regions and unique Saudi coffee, allowing guests to experience the concept of Saudi hospitality and culinary arts.

Technological advancements are being leveraged to promote and preserve cultural heritage. The King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language is undertaking a project to document 52 local Saudi dialects and integrate them into generative artificial intelligence applications. Their “Sawtak” system allows for the conversion of spoken language into highly accurate written text in both classical Arabic and Saudi dialects. This initiative aims to define and transfer these dialects beyond national borders. The impact of artificial intelligence on short story development is also being explored, with AI acting as an “innovative partner” for generating narrative ideas, plot development, and character creation. While AI can offer creative suggestions and assist in overcoming writer’s block, the essential role of human creativity and emotional impact in storytelling is still acknowledged.

Furthermore, Saudi Arabia’s participation in the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) meetings underscores its commitment to protecting intellectual property and promoting innovation globally. The Kingdom’s efforts in registering its accession document to the Hague Agreement for industrial designs and its role as an international preliminary examination and search office for patent applications demonstrate a commitment to supporting creative industries on a global scale. The activation of the “Sustainability Fund” and the emphasis on building national capacities in intellectual property further enhance the environment for cultural and creative endeavors.

The sources also highlight the importance of cultural exchange through education and artistic programs. The “Journey of Art” training camp, supported by the Ministry of Culture and various educational associations, provides specialized artistic training to students in different fields like theater, cinema, music, and visual arts. This program aims to discover and empower emerging artistic talents, allowing them to develop their skills in a stimulating educational environment. Such initiatives are part of a broader vision to position Saudi Arabia as a global leader in various fields, leveraging digital transformation, AI, renewable energy, and space technologies. The commitment to cultural development is intertwined with broader national goals of improving quality of life and fostering a vibrant society.

Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030: Enhancing Public Services

Saudi Arabia is deeply committed to enhancing and expanding its public services across various sectors, aligning these efforts with its ambitious Vision 2030 goals for improving the quality of life and fostering a vibrant society. This commitment is evident in the strategic focus on leveraging technology, fostering social welfare, strengthening infrastructure, and ensuring public safety and health.

In urban and municipal development, the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing has introduced digital platforms like “Baladi” to streamline services such as the “Delivery Permit,” setting regulatory and technical standards for home delivery, which has seen immense growth. This initiative aims to enhance service quality and safety, particularly for food deliveries, by enforcing stringent health and safety standards for transport and containers. The Ministry also supports non-profit organizations in areas related to its mandate and works on reviewing and updating municipality classifications based on growth and density. Riyadh Chamber emphasizes strengthening supervision and coordination to protect the engineering profession, which indirectly ensures the quality of public infrastructure projects. Furthermore, the Eastern Province Municipality is exploring artificial intelligence (AI) to improve building facades, enhancing urban aesthetics and streamlining design processes, reflecting an innovative application of technology in city planning. Madinah Municipality is developing environmentally friendly paths for pedestrians, cyclists, and people with disabilities, aiming to create human-friendly cities and promote walking and cycling for better public health and environmental preservation.

Healthcare services are undergoing significant advancements. King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Riyadh has demonstrated global leadership by successfully performing a liver transplant for a patient with a rare genetic blood clotting disorder, showcasing its expertise in highly complex medical procedures and its commitment to integrated care that blends scientific expertise with humanitarian values. The hospital’s long-term care for patients with rare diseases highlights the state’s investment in quality healthcare. New cancer treatments, such as CAR-T and next-generation CAR-NK cell therapies, are being developed and tested, with Saudi research centers participating in international clinical trials to make treatments more affordable and effective. The Saudi Commission for Health Specialties is actively building national capacity by introducing training programs for specialized roles like medical sterilization technicians and medical coding technicians. The Riyadh First Health Cluster launched a “Summer with Health” convoy, offering free medical consultations and awareness programs in various specialties to communities. Uhud Hospital in Madinah received “Child-Friendly Hospital” accreditation for promoting natural breastfeeding and providing optimal care for mothers and infants, underscoring a focus on maternal and child health. The Qassim Health Cluster has honored staff for humanitarian initiatives that enhanced patient experience and recovery, emphasizing the human aspect of healthcare. The Minister of Health also commended the adoption of the World Drowning Prevention Day, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s commitment to public health and safety and its alignment with Vision 2030’s “healthy society” goal.

In terms of essential infrastructure and utilities, the General Authority for Irrigation has been reorganized to manage treated water for agricultural, industrial, and urban uses, and to oversee dams, contributing to national water security and diversifying water sources. The Shura Council has called for a strategy for the Saudi Water Academy to build capacities in water sectors and for a mandatory mechanism to ensure government entities utilize sanitation services. Furthermore, there is an emphasis on increasing awareness of renewable energy projects and encouraging companies to establish electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. The Eastern Province Municipality signed an agreement with Lucid Motors to expand EV infrastructure, promoting smart transportation and environmental preservation. Saudi Aramco is also investing heavily in lower carbon energy solutions, including the world’s largest carbon capture and storage (CCS) center in Jubail, and is increasing gas production to reduce emissions, utilizing satellite networks for emissions monitoring and improving energy efficiency across its operations. Efforts are also underway to explore geothermal energy, particularly in western regions, for electricity and heating, as part of renewable energy goals.

Public safety and social welfare are critical areas. The Presidency of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice has opened a new cybersecurity management headquarters, emphasizing digital transformation and the Kingdom’s achievements in this field to protect society. The Shura Council highlighted concerns about the misuse of modern technology, such as increased financial fraud and information crimes, stressing the need for cybersecurity and digital literacy initiatives for families. Customs authorities at land, sea, and air ports recorded numerous seizures of prohibited items, highlighting ongoing efforts to combat smuggling and protect society and the national economy, with public reporting channels available. Tabuk Municipality conducts extensive pest control campaigns using large volumes of pesticides to safeguard public health. The “Arzaq” association’s efforts in food preservation and distribution are also noted as a valuable social service. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states have demonstrated collective readiness in crisis management, with the Gulf Emergency Management Center playing a key role in coordinating responses to cross-border emergencies, updating risk registers, and developing unified platforms and systems for information management and resource coordination.

In education and talent development, the Tabuk Emirate reviewed the comprehensive report on general education programs and activities, commending the support from the wise leadership and the Ministry of Education’s efforts to develop the educational environment. The General Organization for Technical and Vocational Training has been called upon to improve the efficiency of managing initiatives in human capacity development and to accelerate the accreditation of training facilities. The King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language is undertaking a significant project to document 52 local Saudi dialects and integrate them into generative AI applications, developing a “Sawtak” system that converts spoken language into highly accurate written text, aiming to transfer these dialects beyond national borders. The “Journey of Art” training camp, supported by the Ministry of Culture and educational associations, provides specialized artistic training to students, aiming to discover and empower emerging artistic talents. The “Asics Innovation” program, launched by the Saudi Federation for Sports for All, invites Saudi startups to develop digital solutions that enhance community participation in physical activity, aiming to boost engagement rates among adults and youth and positioning the Kingdom as a regional innovation hub in sports.

Overall, the sources indicate a broad, integrated approach to public services in Saudi Arabia, driven by Vision 2030, which seeks to create a modern, comprehensive, and sustainable nation focused on the well-being of its citizens and residents.

Current Perspectives from the Saudi Press

Here are the titles of the columns found in the newspaper, along with their first two paragraphs of detail, as requested:

• كلـمة The establishment of the Kingdom is a great unitarian project, a significant event in modern history that deserves contemplation and study. It is one of the profound and worthy readings of the transformations in the nine political and historical transformations from its position among the nations that wrote its narrative and the story of its pioneering in its surroundings, but it went beyond this surrounding to become of vital and pivotal role, not content with mere participation in action and economy, but rather has become an industry of peace, love, dialogue, and harmony. From here, it is unjust to reduce the Kingdom to familiar roles and a natural presence that does not reflect its depth, influence, and impact. The Kingdom, since its unification by the genius hand of the great King Abdulaziz — may God bless his soul — works on combining authenticity and openness, and on promoting the values of coexistence and human dialogue, a path firmly established by the unitarian founder who launched his project from an existential concern and a deep conviction that there is no way to a safe, dignified life for humanity without creative, effective dialogue that embraces the other, extends a helping hand, and cooperates with them in promoting values of coexistence and all goodness for humanity.
• جسرنا الحضاري Today, the center reactivates this legacy, but in the language of work: dialogue, communication, integration, and openness to the other without compromising one’s identity. It does not merely present cultural showcases but strives to be a space for exchange and mutual influence, through workshops, meetings, where the Kingdom conveys its messages of art, thought, and humanity, and welcomes other cultures with a deeper understanding. This presence of the center was not a mere coincidence or an arbitrary choice; rather, it is values that the center carried from the name of its founder, this great unifier of this entity, who unified the scattered parts and opened up nations, and built a being based on combining authenticity and openness.
• الصورة الذهنية للمملكة The power of nations is no longer measured solely by military or economic factors; soft power has become a crucial element in building a compelling image before global public opinion. This is where the efforts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia stand out, as they work to build an attractive mental image through the integrated roles and continuous achievements of the public, private, and non-profit sectors. The image is not complete without highlighting the humanitarian dimension embodied by the Kingdom’s institutions and charitable initiatives, which reflect noble Saudi values and pioneering sustainable giving in humanitarian fields, such as the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre, and the King Faisal Foundation, among others. This reinforces the Kingdom’s position as a global humanitarian center in the fields of education, health, environmental protection, and humanitarian aid.
• فوضوية خدمات التوصيل والحلول According to ChatGPT sources, the size of food delivery activity in Saudi Arabia during the period (2024–2025) ranges between 9 to 10 billion dollars, with expectations to rise to between 13 and 16 billion dollars annually by 2030. The market is expected to record annual growth rates ranging between 8% and 9%. In light of the widespread adoption of home delivery services and the accelerating growth in demand for them, this service witnessed a state of regulatory chaos in its early stages, coinciding with the enormous and unprecedented growth in the number of orders, which reached about 290 million orders in one year across different regions of the Kingdom. This rapid figure reflected the large expansion in the services market, and the increasing demand for faster and more flexible delivery solutions, driven by an increase in the number of licensed applications and companies, which reached 61 companies.
• النظام الدائري.. يغوص في دهاليز النفس The book “The Circular System – A Journey Towards the True Self” relies on an innovative concept called “The Circular System” by the Syrian writer and doctor residing in Nemosa, in a unique attempt to understand the visual self, emotions, and reactions within closed loops that unconsciously reproduce our behavioral patterns. The author approaches this concept from a deep personal experience, as the recently published book by Dar Al-Khayal exposes his repeated exposure to professional burnout, which led him to self-questioning and a search for an internal explanation for human transformations.
• تأثير الذكاء الاصطناعي في تطوير القصة القصيرة Short stories in Arab literature have witnessed many creative developments, with modern technology significantly contributing to improving writing styles and presenting new perspectives on building literary texts. Among these developments, the role of artificial intelligence emerges, which has begun to notably influence the short story industry. Artificial intelligence is no longer just a tool for interaction; it has become a creative partner capable of presenting ideas and generating texts that contribute to expanding the horizon of literary writing.
• طلقة مصابة بالزهايمر Recently, the Saudi poet Al-Tariqi released a book titled “A Bullet with Alzheimer’s” from Rasm Publishing and Distribution House. In the book, texts explode silently, as if the bullet forgot its way, and though it doesn’t open, it leaves no trace in you… Al-Tariqi writes as if he gathers the shattered fragments of the soul scattered between memory and oblivion, and the body that desires, and the soul that contemplates its destiny. A language laden with burning questions, and profound images that blend the story of reality with the abstraction of poetry.
• في كراهية النساء Recently, a book by the Lebanese researcher and writer was published titled “In Misogyny: A Story and Its Sisters” from Al-A’idoun Publishing House – Jordan. The book spans 80 small-sized pages and includes an introduction and four chapters, a conclusion, in which the researcher focuses on the stories of women and the family. Especially when the oppressed woman herself is subject to oppression from her mother, since childhood, and from society. In the last cover note, it states clearly the main goal of this research, which is to shed light on the psychological and mental effects of contempt, rejection, and hatred towards women.
• ريف في الخريف Recently, the poetess Amal Ghazal published her first children’s literature story titled “Reef in Autumn” through Dar Al-Shorouk for Publishing and Distribution in Amman. The story, written in eloquent Arabic, is suitable for the early educational stage, from kindergarten to primary school. The story features wonderful colors and drawings by artist Nisal Al-Bazm, designed to match the text and provide the child with enjoyable and passionate reading and education about their surroundings, nature, and environment. It also addresses many aspects of the child’s inner world and psychological aspects, whether social, sensory, or emotional.
• عتمة النور Recently, a book by the Egyptian writer Farouk Ahmed was published, titled “The Darkness of Light,” by Ain Hurus for Printing, Publishing, and Distribution. In an overview of the work, Ali wrote that within the darkness of light inside every human being, there is an unseen force, untouched by footsteps. It is a hidden stage on which the eternal struggle between good and evil, virtue and vice, purity and worldliness, is played out—a struggle that cannot be decided in a single round, nor a battle after which an eternal victory or final defeat is declared. Instead, it is an unending ebb and flow.
• التمثالت الكرونولوجية في مدارات النصوص البصرية Dr. Hassan Sobhi Hassan reviews through an article the essence of visual content, which illuminates chronology or the term “Chronology” derived from Greek “Chronos” – meaning time – and “Logos” – meaning science or methodology – for the science of assigning dates and arranging the sequence of events. This is a study that aims to partition time into intervals and precisely date events, and the chronological ordering of events according to their historical sequence and visual rhythm. While history came to be concerned with understanding and analyzing events and their impact on human and societal development, and analyzing the course of events that occurred in the past through understanding their context, causes, and complex interactions of events and changes that occurred.
• في انتظار الإلهام Inspiration, the moment you write or don’t write, paint or don’t paint, you wait for a moment you don’t know where it comes from or why, but it has surprised you many times before, and you produced wonderful stories, you wake up with words on your lips, maybe you dreamed them, or someone put them on your lips, you don’t know, but you are a prisoner of those moments. I was sitting with a visual artist who complained to me about his inability to paint. His friend supported him, saying that he waited for the moment, that the artist waited intensely, and I strongly objected. This is how I lost a potential friend, but I might consider it a superstition, as for me, saving my friend from surrender, which destroys the artist, is more important than the indifference I usually practice.
• لوكيات االعتدال في السُّلوكيات God Almighty made this nation a chosen and moderate nation, not extreme or lax in its choice, and made its book dominant over other scriptures, and its law a seal for all laws, and ordained for it among rituals and behaviors the most moderate and temperate. It is a nation of moderation and temperance, and whoever deviates from the circle of moderation – whether by excess or neglect – contradicts its tolerant teachings. To establish its moderation, the Sharia texts confirmed this by quoting comprehensive general rules such as God Almighty’s saying: “And He has not placed upon you in religion any difficulty,” and His saying: “Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity.” Among these are descriptions of this religion as lenient, as in the Prophet’s saying, peace be upon him: “The most beloved religion to Allah is the Hanifiyyah, the lenient.”
• إنتاج الأعالف الموسمية تعزيز للأمن الغذائي It is impossible to speak of self-sufficiency or food security and animal wealth without rural agricultural development and without providing diverse, thriving, stable, and inexpensive sources of local feed of all kinds. It is not possible to rely entirely on imported feed for various reasons. The expansion of seasonal fodder production, focusing on types that have proven successful and taking into account the climatic diversity in different regions of the Kingdom, will enhance animal wealth by providing good local fodder available to beneficiaries, and protect this sector from the fluctuations of international fodder markets.
• السعودية تحصد ثمار رؤيتها الشاملة Since the launch of Saudi Vision 2030, the country has witnessed a qualitative transformation at various levels, driven by a strategic orientation from the wise leadership towards building a modern, comprehensive, balanced, and integrated nation. The focus has not been on one sector to the exclusion of others. Rather, the comprehensive vision has prioritized education, economy, health, tourism, technology, and culture. Riyadh has reaped a bountiful share of this ambitious transformation. The goal was not merely to improve the quality of life, but for the Kingdom to become a soft power with a real, global impact, using sports as one of its effective tools in this path.
• حين يتحول الطلاق إلى كرنفال شماتة In the exhausted corners of hearts, the word “divorce” used to be written silently in a book choked by disappointments and drowned by tears after long nights, a difficult decision taken with caution and silent weeping, and folded with sadness, and whispered with shame, as if one were burying a part of their soul with a relationship that was not meant to live. But today, in this era of uproar, we witness a strange inversion of concepts; divorce has become an occasion for laughter, not weeping, a field for displaying cakes adorned with humiliating images that deserve nothing but discretion and tranquility, a moment for celebration, not for contemplation.
• أنا أكره مديري One morning, a new colleague entered my office, and during our conversation, he asked me about the best departments in the council. I started talking about the nature of some departments, but he interrupted me, saying: “I mean the best manager.” And when I paused to think and talk, I said to myself: “If there was an ideal manager, I would swear allegiance to him and cling to him fiercely.” This situation brought me back to a book I had read titled “I Hate My Manager” by Bob Winsett, which presents real experiences with some managers, offers advice in this field, and answers many questions that bother some subordinates. The book is amusing in its genre and stirs the emotions of many who have suffered the tyranny of work and its masters.
• الطاقة الحرارية الأرضية في المملكة The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is known as one of the largest oil producers in the world and is famous for its vast fossil fuel reserves. However, the Kingdom also possesses significant potential for utilizing renewable energy sources, including geothermal energy, which can play an important role in diversifying energy sources and reducing reliance on oil. The Kingdom enjoys geological and thermal diversity that can provide suitable geothermal energy sources, especially in areas close to active faults and tectonic zones, such as the Western Region, particularly around the Hijaz and Asir mountains.
• ما بعد (CAR-T) وثورة عالجات السرطان After CAR-T cell therapies (transfer of genetically modified T-cells) revolutionized the field of oncology with their ability to cure some cases that were in advanced stages, immunologists and scientists today are heading towards the next generation of modified immune cells, a technology that aims to overcome the major obstacles facing CAR-T. These obstacles include high financial cost (exceeding one million riyals per patient in many cases), long production time (weeks), and occasional dangerous side effects, as well as their ineffectiveness in some types of tumors such as breast and colon cancer.
• الهلال بّيض الوجه وما قّصر What was expected of him and more in the Asian Champions League, the leader of world clubs presented and stood with courage and strength to fight the best club teams in the world and even defeat them in a stunning scene that surprised European giants with Saudi depth. The most optimistic did not expect the champion of Europe, Manchester City, to be one of the victims of the leader, especially since the brilliant Guardiola was looking forward to the Club World Cup as the first major title, and the return was expected through America, but the final word was for the leader of Asia.
• في الشباك A phenomenon recently emerged and occupied the sports scene and followers of Saudi football and the Saudi sports project in general. The new phenomenon, which many considered negative and a great waste of money, is the use of foreign professional players in football for some clubs with huge sums of money and lending them out after a short period, then dispensing with them, amounts that equal the budgets of some Turkish clubs, specifically Fenerbahçe, who get these players for free and even their salaries are paid from here! The impartial critics and analysts, zealous for the nation’s reputation, its sports, and its money, enriched the arena with rational arguments and constructive criticism that serves the public interest!
• كابتن المنتخب يتألم اليوم بأمل وقفة لوضع حد لمعاناته الصحية Saudi clubs suffer from the absence of a captain, a player who is almost a rare commodity, and his influential presence has become lacking today. This negative impact has extended to the national team, as the captain plays an influential role in supporting his team’s ranks and his word is effective among his teammates inside the stadium or in the dressing room. This includes good guidance and instilling a spirit of enthusiasm among them before and during the match. In the absence of a true leader, we see some players who consider themselves captains… Yesterday, they were preoccupied during the match with adjusting the captain’s armband on their arm, more concerned with admonishing their teammates than guiding them correctly and convincingly, far from emotional outbursts.
• الفصحى لم يتكلم بها العرب أبًدا The Saudi Dr. Sulaiman Al-Aayid believes that the language called Classical Arabic only reflects the level of the clear Arabic tongue, and the strict grammatical and syntactical rules, and that no Arab spoke it, even during the time of the Noble Prophet, peace be upon him. One of the proofs is that the Quraish, who were the most eloquent Arabs, did not use the hamza in their speech, meaning they did not pronounce the hamza. Even stranger is the existence of words that are not Arabic but are used in daily speech, like the Persian word “ustadh” which has no Arabic equivalent, and English words like “computer,” “mobile,” and “printer” have entered daily Arabic.

Saudi Kingdom: Vision, Progress, and Global Impact

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

امر ملكي بتعيين الفياض مستشارًا بالديوان الملكي The Kingdom’s great project of magnificent unification, an amazing event that is hard to forget, and it deserves contemplation and study. It is one of the most important historical and political transformations that have not yet been revealed, defining its position among nations that have written its story and narrative in its surroundings, but it has gone beyond this surrounding to become a vital and pivotal role, not content with merely participating in action and economy in the world and the region, but rather it has become an industry of peace, love, cooperation, and spreading the values of dialogue and harmony. From here; it is unjust to reduce the Kingdom to familiar roles and a natural presence that does not reflect its depth, influence, and impact. The Kingdom, since its unification by the genius hand of King Abdulaziz – may God rest his soul – has worked on combining authenticity and openness, and on strengthening the values of human communication and dialogue, and it is an approach that the unifying founder, who embarked on his project from an existential concern and a firm conviction, has also established, believing that there is no way to a safe and dignified life except through a creative, effective dialogue that embraces the other, extends a helping hand, and cooperates with him in promoting all good for humanity.

خالد بن سلمان يبحث المستجدات مع وزير الدفاع المجري Jeddah – SPA. His Royal Highness Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Defense, received yesterday in his office in Jeddah, His Excellency the Hungarian Minister of Defense, Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky. During the reception, bilateral relations between the two countries in military and defense fields were discussed, as well as broader regional and international developments and efforts made towards them.

إصالحات سوق العمل السعودية تحقق نتائج ملموسة Riyadh – SPA. The International Monetary Fund praised the reforms in the Saudi labor market, which have begun to yield tangible results, including a decrease in unemployment rates, an increase in women’s participation in the labor market, and increased employment in the private sector. The report was published on June 26, days before the General Authority for Statistics confirmed the rapid progress made by the Kingdom in labor market reform in its first quarter 2025 labor market bulletin.

»الشورى« يدعو إليجاد سوق لتداول أدوات الدين المضمونة برهن عقاري Riyadh – Abdulsalam Al-Balawi. The Shura Council emphasized that the Capital Market Authority should conduct a study to create a special market for qualified investors to trade debt instruments secured by real estate mortgages, demanding that the authority expand dual listing of shares. Regarding the annual report of the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing, the Council approved recommendations to find financing solutions that ensure the provision of basic services to housing grants in coordination with relevant authorities, and emphasized expediting the completion of studies for the comprehensive flood plan for all cities of the Kingdom, confirming in its decisions issued during its session yesterday that the Ministry should coordinate with relevant authorities to find solutions for licensing owners of heritage villages, to enable them to sell their local products inside them.

الخليج في مرمى النار.. واتزان القرار The Middle East entered one of its most volatile moments in decades in mid-June 2025, when a direct and intensive military confrontation erupted between Israel and Iran that lasted twelve days. Unlike previous wars, this confrontation was not confined to two traditional adversaries, but its repercussions extended to areas of influence, vital corridors, and bases from which the entire world’s interests pass. The Arabian Gulf, with its strategic geography and network of international alliances, was at the heart of this event, not on its sidelines. The Iranian attack on the American base in Qatar represented a shocking moment that redefined the limits of engagement and highlighted the fragility of regional security if left hostage to uncontrolled military calculations. However, in response to the military explosion, the Gulf response was different: a calculated balance and collective awareness of the importance of curbing escalation.

تفاؤل بنجاح التوصل لهدنة في غزة رغم الخالفات Gaza, Occupied Jerusalem – Nadir Taha, AFP. The Israeli Prime Minister expressed yesterday Wednesday his optimism about reaching a ceasefire agreement with the Palestinian Hamas movement and the release of hostages in Gaza, despite the failure to achieve a breakthrough in the talks so far. In the besieged and devastated Gaza Strip, whose residents suffer from starvation, the Civil Defense announced the killing of 22 civilians, including six children, in the daily Israeli shelling, 21 months after the war.

القيادة تهنئ رئيس األرجنتين بذكرى بالده Jeddah – SPA. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, sent a congratulatory cable to His Excellency President Javier Milei, President of the Republic of Argentina, on the occasion of his country’s Independence Day. The King expressed his sincere congratulations and best wishes for health and happiness to His Excellency, and to the friendly government and people of the Republic of Argentina, and further progress and prosperity.

أمير تبوك يطلع على تقرير عن البرامج والفعاليات التعليمية Tabuk – Nawaf Al-Otaibi. His Royal Highness Prince Fahd bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Tabuk Region, received yesterday in his office at the Emirate in Tabuk, Mr. Majed bin Abdulrahman Al-Qa’ir, Director General of Education in the region. His Highness reviewed during the reception the comprehensive annual report on the performance of the General Directorate of Education in the region during the past year, which included the most prominent indicators and results, in addition to future targeted programs and initiatives aimed at developing the educational environment and improving learning outcomes.

سعود بن نايف يشهد اتفاقية استثمارية بين »أمانة الشرقية« و»لوِسد« Dammam – Salem Al-Subaie. His Royal Highness Prince Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz, Governor of the Eastern Province, sponsored yesterday in his office at the Emirate the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Eastern Province Municipality and Lucid Motors, an electric vehicle company affiliated with the Public Investment Fund. The agreement was signed by Dr. Fahd bin Mohammed Al-Jebri, Mayor of the Eastern Province, on behalf of the Municipality, and Faisal Sultan, President and Managing Director of Lucid Middle East.

فيصل بن مشعل: جائزة »صيتة« تعزز العمل االجتماعي المؤسسي Buraidah – Malfi Al-Harbi. His Royal Highness Prince Dr. Faisal bin Mishaal bin Saud bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Al-Qassim Region, received in his office at the Emirate His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Mohammed bin Salman, a member of the Princess Seeta bint Abdulaziz Award for Excellence in Social Work’s Board of Trustees, and Her Highness Princess Fahd bint Saad bin Faisal bin Saad, a member of the executive committee, in the presence of His Highness the Deputy Governor of Al-Qassim and the Secretary-General of the Award, Dr. Fahd Al-Maghlouth.

إطالق المنصة الرقمية لمكتب تشجير إمارة القصيم Buraidah – Malfi Al-Harbi. His Royal Highness Prince Dr. Faisal bin Mishaal bin Saud bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Al-Qassim, launched the digital platform for the afforestation office at the Emirate of Al-Qassim yesterday, in the presence of Prince Fahd bin Saad, and a number of officials from the Emirate and relevant authorities. The Governor of Al-Qassim emphasized that this platform comes as a translation of the directives of the wise leadership – may God support them – in achieving the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, especially in environmental sustainability and digital transformation.

نائب أمير الرياض يلتقي محافظ عقارات الدولة Riyadh – SPA. His Royal Highness Prince Muhammad bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of Riyadh Region, received yesterday in his office at Al-Hakam Palace, His Excellency the Governor of the State Real Estate Authority, Dr. Abdulrahman bin Hamad Al-Harkan. His Highness was briefed on the developmental and economic efforts and roles of the Authority in the region during the past period.

تقرير »الخطوط السعودية« نائب أمير القصيم يتسل Medina Monawara – Khalid Al-Zaidi. His Royal Highness Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah Region, praised the efforts of the Saudi Geological Survey in supporting sustainable development paths and preserving natural resources, indicating that these efforts are a fundamental element in achieving the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to develop the national economy and open new horizons for researchers and interested parties in the sector.

المساحة الجيولوجية« تستعرض الدراسات واألبحاث العلمية أمام أمير المدينة» Medina Monawara – Khalid Al-Zaidi. His Royal Highness Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah Region, praised the efforts of the Saudi Geological Survey in supporting sustainable development paths and preserving natural resources, indicating that these efforts are a fundamental element in achieving the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to develop the national economy and open new horizons for researchers and interested parties in the sector. His Highness also pointed to the Emirate’s keenness to cooperate with relevant authorities to enhance Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah’s position as a leading scientific and tourist destination at both local and international levels, reflecting its historical and cultural status, and contributing to highlighting its natural sites of geological importance and utilizing them in building sustainable tourism that preserves the environment and achieves tangible benefits for the community.

وزير البيئة يشكر القيادة على التنظيم الجديد لمؤسسة الري Riyadh – SPA. His Excellency the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Eng. Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al-Fadley, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the General Organization for Irrigation, extended his thanks to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and to His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Chairman of the Council of Ministers – may God protect them – on the occasion of the Cabinet’s approval of the new regulation for the General Organization for Irrigation. On this occasion, Engineer Al-Fadley affirmed that the organization of the institution is a pivotal step in developing its work, pointing out that the text of the regulation states that the institution will manage treated water for its various uses (agricultural, industrial, and urban), as an integral part of the Kingdom’s water system, in addition to its responsibility for designing, constructing, operating, and maintaining dams in various regions of the Kingdom, which contributes to supporting water security and diversifying water sources.

الراجحي: برنامج كفالة الفئات األكثر احتياًجا يجسد حرص القيادة لتعزيز الشمول المالي Riyadh – SPA. His Excellency the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, Ahmed Al-Rajhi, affirmed that the “Sponsorship Program for the Most Needy Categories” embodies the wise leadership’s keenness – may God support them – to support the most needy categories and enhance financial inclusion. His Excellency explained that this program embodies the Kingdom’s commitment to providing a supportive and integrated environment for the most needy categories, and the Bank will work to develop and implement it with high efficiency to achieve its goals, keeping pace with the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, to empower the largest number of beneficiaries and achieve sustainable development.

مفتي المملكة يستقبل »جمعية أرزاق لحفظ النعمة« Taif – SPA. His Eminence the Grand Mufti of the Kingdom, Chairman of the Council of Senior Scholars and Head of the General Presidency for Research and Ifta, Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al Al-Sheikh, received in his office in Taif, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of “Arzaq Society for Food Preservation,” Salman bin Abdulhameed Al Ali, and the accompanying delegation. Al Ali reviewed the efforts, activities, and services provided by the society related to food preservation and distribution methods.

وزير الصحة يثمن تبني مجلس الوزراء »اليوم العالمي للوقاية من الغرق« لـ Riyadh – SPA. His Excellency the Minister of Health, Professor Fahd bin Abdulrahman Al-Jalajil, praised the adoption by the Council of Ministers of the “Global Day for Drowning Prevention” (July 25 of each year), indicating that this decision embodies the great support enjoyed by the health sector from the wise leadership – may God support them – and the Kingdom’s firm commitment to human health and safety. This is in line with the “Health Transformation Program” stemming from Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to build a “healthy society” whose members enjoy full health. Al-Jalajil praised the prominent role played by health and national authorities in drafting and implementing the “National Policy for Drowning Prevention,” whose effects were reflected in a 17% reduction in drowning-related deaths (for every 100 people), which contributed to avoiding economic burdens estimated at approximately 800 million riyals, according to accredited local and international reports.

رئيس »األمر بالمعروف« يفتتح المقر الجديد إلدارة األمن السيبراني Riyadh – SPA. His Excellency Dr. Abdulrahman bin Abdullah Al-Sanad, President of the General Presidency for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, opened yesterday at the General Presidency’s headquarters the new building for the Cybersecurity Department. He inspected the department’s headquarters and its sections, the work and efforts it provides, and the modern technical equipment it contains. He also reviewed a visual presentation on the fundamentals of the Cybersecurity Department’s work.

»التخصصات الصحية« تعلن بدء التقديم على أربعة برامج تدريبية Riyadh – SPA. The Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS), in cooperation with the Human Resources Development Fund (Hadaf), announced the start of applications for four training programs: Assistant Dentist Program, Patient Care Technician Program, Medical Sterilization Technician Program, and Medical Coding Technician Program, through which trainees will acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to practice the profession after passing the tests and program requirements. The SCFHS made applications available for the Medical Sterilization Technician program and the Medical Coding Technician program through its electronic portal, while applications for the Assistant Dentist program and the Patient Care Technician program will be open on the 19th of the same month.

300 طالب في »موهبة اإلثرائي« بالقصيم Buraidah – Malfi Al-Harbi. The enriching “Mawhiba” program continues its activities at the General Administration of Education in Al-Qassim region with the participation of 300 male and female students from primary and intermediate levels, organized by King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness. The program is implemented at Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Musaihiq Center for Scientific Research and Innovation, and Prince Sultan Complex for Giftedness in Buraidah and Unayzah. The program aims to develop the capabilities of gifted students in advanced scientific fields including: programming, biology, and robotics, through intensive enriching content and an interactive educational environment, supervised by highly qualified specialists.

»الديوان الملكي«: وفاة بزه بنت سعود.. ووالدة عبدالله بن سعود بن سعد Riyadh – SPA. The Royal Court issued a statement yesterday announcing the passing of Her Royal Highness Princess Bazza bint Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, who passed away on Thursday after a long illness. Funeral prayers will be performed on her today after Asr prayer at Imam Abdullah bin Turki Mosque in Riyadh. May God encompass her with His vast mercy and forgiveness, and admit her to His spacious gardens. Indeed, to God we belong, and to Him we shall return. The Royal Court also issued yesterday a statement announcing the passing of the mother of His Royal Highness Prince Abdullah bin Saud bin Saad bin Abdulrahman Al Saud. Funeral prayers were performed on her yesterday after Maghrib prayer at the Grand Mosque in Makkah Al-Mukarramah.

الداخلية تشارك في اجتماعات الحماية المدنية الدولية في أذربيجان Azerbaijan – SPA. A delegation from the Ministry of Interior, headed by the Director General of Civil Defense, Major General Dr. Sulaiman bin Mohammed Al-Faraj, participated in the 58th Executive Council meetings and the Extraordinary Session of the International Civil Defense Organization, held in the Republic of Azerbaijan. The meeting discussed the most important topics related to the organization’s work and areas of common interest.

“االصطناعي” ُيحّسن واجهات المباني بالشرقية Khobar – Ibrahim Al-Shaiban. The Eastern Province Municipality, represented by the Agency for Reconstruction and Projects, held a specialized workshop for specialists and engineers under the title “Improving Building Facades in the Eastern Province Using Artificial Intelligence: Innovative Solutions for a Better Urban Landscape”. This workshop is a continuation of the General Administration’s efforts to improve the urban landscape and enhance the aesthetic of cities by limiting elements of visual distortion for buildings, in cooperation with the office of Moath bin Abdullah Ababtain for Engineering Consultations.

حد صديقًا للطفل ُ أمانة تبوك تكافح اآلفات بمليون لتر من المبيدات”اليونيسيف” تعتمد مستشفى أ Medina Monawara – Khalid Al-Zaidi. Ohud Hospital in Madinah Al-Munawwarah obtained the “Baby-Friendly Hospital” accreditation certificate after successfully passing the official evaluation according to the criteria of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, in line with the requirements of UNICEF and the World Health Organization, and under the sponsorship of the Ministry of Health’s program to encourage natural breastfeeding and the General Administration of Nutrition. The Madinah Al-Munawwarah Health Cluster explained that this accreditation confirms the hospital’s commitment to providing a health-supportive environment for natural breastfeeding, and implementing the best international practices that ensure providing optimal care for mothers and newborns, which contributes to improving the health and safety of newborns.

إطالق “صيف بصحة” في الخرج Riyadh – Khalid Al-Oufi. As part of its commitment to enhancing community health and expanding specialized medical services, Riyadh First Health Cluster is launching a qualitative health initiative titled “Summer with Health Caravan,” a voluntary medical convoy that will be held at King Khalid Hospital in Al-Kharj governorate on Saturday, July 19, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The caravan aims to provide medical consultations, comprehensive treatment services, in addition to awareness and educational programs for hospital beneficiaries, with the participation of an elite group of specialized doctors and specialists from various cluster facilities, to cover a wide range of specialized medical specialties that meet the needs of the community.

مجمع الدكتور سـليمان الحبيب بالعليا يجري جراحة »السـاركـومـا« ناجحة الستبدال مفصل فخذ مصابة بـ Riyadh – “Al-Riyadh”. Dr. Sulaiman Al-Habib Medical Complex in Al-Olaya performed a successful surgical operation that ended the suffering of a 26-year-old young man who had been suffering from a cancerous tumor called “Sarcoma” at the end of his femur. Dr. Ibrahim bin Saleh Al-Sayyaji, Consultant of Bone Tumor Surgery and Reconstructive Surgery of the Lower Limbs, and head of the medical team treating the patient, explained that the patient came to the complex suffering from severe, continuous pain in his right knee.

“سلمان لإلغاثة”.. جهوده إنسانية في اليمن والسودان وتركيا Riyadh – Turki bin Mansour. King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center continues to implement its relief and humanitarian projects in a number of countries, as part of supporting the displaced, within the date distribution project in Yemen. In Sudan, the center provided 1,200 food baskets to displaced families in Damazin province, Blue Nile State, benefiting 8,874 people, as part of supporting food security and improving living conditions for those affected by the humanitarian crisis.

“القصيم الصحي” يكرم المتميزين في مبادرة “إنسانيون الصحة” Buraidah – Malfi Al-Harbi. Dr. Musa bin Mohammed Al-Harbi, CEO of Al-Qassim Health Cluster, honored a number of the cluster’s staff in various health facilities in appreciation of their efforts and qualitative initiatives that contributed to improving the beneficiaries’ experience and humanitarian care, as part of the “Humanitarians of Health” initiative. This initiative is part of a continuous program concerned with honoring distinguished human models in providing care and services to beneficiaries. Dr. Al-Harbi praised during the honoring ceremony what the honored individuals provided of humanitarian work that embodied the values of responsibility and dedication in serving the patient, stressing that these initiatives represent the essence of comprehensive health care that places the human being at the center of attention.

المملكة تشارك في اجتماع »دول »WIPO« »منظمة الملكية الفكرية Geneva – SPA. The Kingdom, represented by the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property, participated in the meeting of the member states of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) at its headquarters in Geneva, from July 8 to 17, 2025, with a delegation headed by the CEO of the Authority, Dr. Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Al-Suwailem, and a number of Authority officials. Al-Suwailem opened his speech by congratulating the Chairman of the session on assuming the presidency, stressing the Kingdom’s full support for the statement of the Asia-Pacific Group regarding the proposed issues, and praising the adoption of the “Designs Treaty” at the Diplomatic Conference hosted by Riyadh with the participation of 151 countries, describing it as a landmark in the history of the system.

»الشورى« يقر دراسة إنشاء سوق لتداول أدوات الدين والتوسع باإلدراج المزدوج الجوهرة آل سعود تطالب بمراجعة األنظمة لتلبية احتياجات األبوين واألطفال Riyadh – Abdulsalam Al-Balawi. The Shura Council emphasized that the Capital Market Authority should conduct a study to create a special market for qualified investors to trade debt instruments secured by real estate mortgages, demanding that the authority expand dual listing of shares. Regarding the annual report of the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing, the Council approved recommendations to find financing solutions that ensure the provision of basic services to housing grants in coordination with relevant authorities, and emphasized expediting the completion of studies for the comprehensive flood plan for all cities of the Kingdom, confirming in its decisions issued during its session yesterday that the Ministry should coordinate with relevant authorities to find solutions for licensing owners of heritage villages, to enable them to sell their local products inside them.

النفط يتراجع.. مع تطورات الرسوم وارتفاع المخزونات Jubail Industrial City – Ibrahim Al-Ghamdi. Oil prices fell yesterday, Wednesday, after rising to their highest levels in two weeks in the previous session, after industry data showed a sharp increase in US crude inventories, as investors cautiously awaited new developments regarding US tariffs. Benchmark Brent crude futures fell 15 cents, or 0.2%, to settle at $70 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell 16 cents, or 0.2%, to $68.17 a barrel.

أرامكو تواصل نجاحاتها باالستعاضة عن النفط بالغاز في توليد الطاقة إنشاء أكبر مشروع في العالم الستخالص الكربون وتخزينه بالجبيل الصناعية Jubail Industrial City – Ibrahim Al-Ghamdi. Saudi Aramco, the energy and chemicals giant, announced that it has taken measures to integrate sustainability into its operations and strategy, addressing challenges that affect the company’s business and stakeholders. Sustainability is at the core of the company’s environmental, social, and economic values. To this end, it focuses on four key areas: climate change and energy transition, operational reliability and safety, limiting environmental impact, and maximizing societal value. Saudi Aramco, according to its recently released 2024 Sustainability Report, has continued its journey to become one of the leading integrated energy and chemicals companies in the world, operating its business safely, reliably, and sustainably. The company strives to provide reliable and more sustainable energy to communities around the world at affordable prices, and to create economic value for its shareholders across various economic cycles.

477 ريااًل متوسط السعر اليومي للغرف الفندقية بالمملكة االقتصادي Riyadh – “Al-Riyadh”. The average hotel room occupancy rate in the Kingdom increased during the first quarter of 2025 by 2.1 percentage points compared to the same quarter of 2024, reaching approximately 63%. Meanwhile, the average occupancy rate for rooms in serviced apartments and other hospitality facilities in the same quarter reached 50.7%, a decrease of 3.8 percentage points compared to the corresponding quarter of 2024. According to the tourism establishments statistics bulletin for the first quarter of 2025, issued by the General Authority for Statistics, the average daily price for a hotel room in the Kingdom reached approximately 477 Saudi riyals, a decrease of 3.4% compared to the first quarter of the previous year.

الذهب يهبط ألدنى مستوى.. وارتفاع النحاس London, Athens, Washington – Reuters. Gold prices tumbled in Asian trading on Wednesday, as safe-haven demand eased, with uncertainty over US tariffs and rising US interest rates pushing traders toward the dollar. Copper prices, by contrast, were an exception among metals in the United States, as they rose to record levels after President Donald Trump threatened to impose a 50% tariff on imports of the red metal. Overall, other metal prices fell widely amid pressure from a stronger dollar, which held largely at its highest level in three years.

فوضوية خدمات التوصيل والحلول According to ChatGPT sources, the size of food delivery activity in Saudi Arabia during the period (2024-2025) ranges between 9 and 10 billion dollars, with expectations of it rising to between 13 and 16 billion dollars by 2030. The market is expected to record annual growth rates ranging between 8% and 9%. In light of the widespread expansion of home delivery services and the accelerating growth in demand for them, this service witnessed a state of regulatory chaos in its early stages, coinciding with the massive and unprecedented growth in the number of orders, which reached about 290 million orders in one year across various regions of the Kingdom.

هل ت ؤكل الكتابة عيشًا؟ ُ Dr. Khalid Al-Khodari. Literature remains between the passion of the soul and economic opportunities. The popular proverb “Writing does not feed you,” uttered by writers and authors, has long resonated. Many have felt the bitterness of this proverb in reality, as writing remained a noble hobby that did not generate a stable income for writers for many years, nor did it guarantee them a decent living. So, does this proverb remain valid in a time where equations change? And can we reach a stage where writing “feeds us” not by wishful thinking, but through practical investment and conscious involvement?.

»الثقافة والفنون« تختتم فعاليات »رحلة الفن« Riyadh – Salah Al-Qarni. The Saudi Association for Culture and Arts in Riyadh concluded on Friday the activities of the “Journey of Art” training camp for culture and arts, which offered special artistic training programs and workshops for male and female students in various artistic fields (theater, cinema, music, visual arts), with the support of the Public Investment Fund and in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and various cultural and educational associations. Her Royal Highness Princess Haifa bint Abdulmohsen bin Saud bin Abdulaziz, Director General of Education in the region, Dr. Abed bin Al-Zare’, and Dr. Anwar Abu Abah, Director of Education Policies and Standards at the Ministry of Education, and the esteemed artist Abdullah Al-Sadhan, and a number of artists and media professionals attended the ceremony.

التمثالت الكرونولوجية في مدارات النصوص البصرية Dr. Hassan Sobhi Hassan*. He reviewed the essence of the visual text that illuminates chronology, or the term “Chronology” (from Greek “chronos” meaning time, and “logos” meaning science or methodology) as a methodology for determining times, identifying events, and arranging their sequence, i.e., “sequence of events” (absolute chronological sequence or temporal arrangement and absolute time determination for media). This tends towards dividing time into periods, identifying precise dates for events, and arranging historical events chronologically. While history came to focus on understanding and analyzing events and their impact on human and societal development, and analyzing the course of events that occurred in the past through understanding their context, causes, and complex impacts, chronology emerged as a tool for studying and arranging events according to time and creating chronological tables according to dates and chronological sequence, which enhances comparisons and reflections and other complex operations that produce thought.

الفن النقي.. يحتفي بتجربة الفنان الصيني شو لي On the occasion of the Saudi-Chinese Cultural Year, the Pure Art Foundation, in cooperation with the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, organized the “Art Rhythms in the Realm of Nature” exhibition for the Chinese artist Shu Li. The exhibition, held at the Pure Art Gallery, will run until July 25, 2025. It embodies the role of art as a cultural bridge connecting peoples and reflects the deep and growing relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the People’s Republic of China.

في انتظار االٕلهام Hana Hegazi. Inspiration, a moment you write or don’t write, paint or don’t paint, you wait for it, but it comes from somewhere you don’t know, it steals from you many times before, and it produced wonderful stories, you wake up with words on your lips, maybe you dreamed them, or someone put them on your lips, you don’t know, but you are a prisoner of those moments. I was sitting with a plastic artist who was complaining to me about his inability to paint, and his friend supported him, saying that he should wait for the moment, that the artist waits for that moment intensely, and I strongly objected, this is how I lost a potential friend, but, I might consider it a superstition, as for me, saving my friend from surrendering is more important than the indifference I usually practice.

الفصحى لم يتكلم بها العرب أبًدا Dr. Sulaiman Al-Aayid, a Saudi scholar, believes that the Arabic language, known as Classical Arabic, only reflects the level of the clear tongue, grammatical rules, and that it is only used in writing, and that no Arab spoke it, even during the time of the Noble Prophet, peace be upon him. Among the evidence is that the Quraish, who were the most eloquent of Arabs, did not pronounce the hamza (glottal stop) in their speech. What is even more surprising is the existence of words that are not Arabic in origin, but are commonly used in daily speech, such as the Persian word “ustadh” (teacher), which has no Arabic equivalent in its origin, and with it, words that have entered daily Arabic despite their English origins, such as “computer”, “mobile”, “printer”, and others.

أنا أكره مديري Abdulmohsen bin Mansour Al-Khamis. A phenomenon that has recently surfaced and occupied the sporting community and observers of Saudi football and the Saudi sports project in general. This new phenomenon, which many considered negative and a great waste of money, is the use of foreign professional players in football for some clubs with huge sums, and then loaning them or getting rid of them after a short period, with salaries that sometimes equal the budgets of some Turkish clubs, specifically Fenerbahçe, which is the luckiest club, as these players come to it for free and even their salaries are paid from here!.

جدة تستعد الستقبال نجوم البلياردو Medina Monawara – Saleh Al-Hubaishi. Jeddah Governorate is preparing once again to host the most prominent billiard stars. The Russian champion Fedor Gorst returns to defend his title in the most expensive billiard championship in the history of 9-ball pool, which is held for the second consecutive year in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from July 21 to 26 at the Green Sports Halls in Jeddah. The event is organized jointly by the Saudi Federation of Billiards and Snooker and Matchroom, under the supervision of the Ministry of Sports. The event tickets go on sale starting June 22. Fans of the game from all over the world await intense competitions featuring 128 of the world’s elite players competing in a double-elimination system for record-breaking prize money totaling one million US dollars, including 250,000 dollars for the first-place winner.

كابتن المنتخب يتألم اليوم بأمل وقفة لوضع حّد لمعاناته الصحية The Saudi clubs suffer from the absence of a captain or a leading player, which has become a rare commodity. His influential presence has become negatively affecting the national team’s ranks, as the other players now lack the captain’s influential role in supporting his team’s ranks and his influential word among his teammates inside the stadium or in the players’ room. Through good guidance between the two halves of the match and instilling a spirit of enthusiasm among them before and during its course.

التخصصي« يرسم قصة إنسانية في عالج مرض نادر» Riyadh – SPA. In one of the rare stories of an extended relationship between a patient and a medical facility, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Riyadh continued to embrace a patient since she was a baby, suffering from a rare genetic blood clotting disorder, on a 22-year journey of continuous care, culminating recently in a liver transplant that is the first of its kind globally for her condition. When the signs of the disease began to appear on the girl in her first months, specialized teams were proactive in anticipating them to ensure her stability, as she suffered from a congenital deficiency in the plasminogen protein, which hinders the body’s ability to dissolve clots and causes fibrous deposits that threaten tissues and organs.

»المنافذ الجمركية« تسجل 1334 حالة ضبط Riyadh – SPA. Land, sea, and air customs ports recorded 1334 cases of prohibited items seizure, as part of the continuous efforts made by the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority to enhance the security aspect and protect society from prohibited items of all types and forms. The seized items included 117 types of narcotic substances, such as hashish, heroin, cocaine, Captagon, and others, in addition to 700 types of prohibited pills.

مسارات صديقة للبيئة في المدينة Medina Monawara – Khalid Al-Zaidi. The Municipality of Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah continues to implement a series of qualitative initiatives that aim to reshape the urban landscape of the region with human-friendly and environmentally-friendly paths. This is part of its efforts to enhance the quality of life and achieve the goals of the city’s humanization program, as it seeks to allocate exclusive paths for each category of road users, ensuring a safe environment for all residents and visitors. The initiative included paths for bicycles to encourage sports, in addition to special bus lanes to facilitate public transportation. The initiative also paid special attention to people with visual impairments by allocating a path for the blind with international standards, in addition to a vehicle path that organizes traffic and maintains traffic flow.

المذاق السعودي في إكسبو أوساكا Riyadh – SPA. Visitors to the Kingdom’s pavilion at Expo Osaka 2025 will enjoy an authentic tasting experience that reflects Saudi hospitality and the richness of Saudi cuisine. The “Ert” restaurant will offer dishes from various regions of the Kingdom, and Saudi coffee with its unique flavor. The “Ert” corner allows its visitors to enjoy a wide range of delicious flavors and dishes, including seafood and other dishes from various regions of the Kingdom. The “Ert” restaurant offers a distinctive and enriching experience, where guests can learn about the concept of Saudi hospitality by viewing stories that revive the experience of dining in a Saudi home or tent.

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

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These sources are excerpts from Al Riyadh newspaper, issue 20815, published on Wednesday, July 9, 2025. The articles cover a wide array of topics concerning Saudi Arabia, including its economic initiatives, social development programs, technological advancements, and efforts to enhance the quality of life in line with Vision 2030. The newspaper also reports on international relations, global events like the Chemistry Olympiad and Club World Cup, and various regional issues, including conflict and human rights concerns. Sports news features prominently, with updates on football, handball, and tennis, highlighting Saudi teams and athletes.

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Saudi Arabia’s Economic Development & Global Contributions

Economic development is a recurring theme across the sources, highlighting various initiatives, strategies, and challenges within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and globally.

Here’s a comprehensive overview:

• Holistic and Balanced Development
• Development in the Kingdom is characterized by inclusivity and balance, with the citizen at its core. The state has adopted numerous programs and initiatives, such as the Citizen’s Account Program, housing initiatives, and the developed social security program, to alleviate financial burdens on the most needy categories. These programs also aim to transform aid recipients into opportunity creators, providing facilitated financing for work, professional training through the Social Development Bank, and supporting micro and small projects. This approach seeks to enhance individuals’ financial independence and reduce reliance on direct support. The Council of Ministers approved a program from the Social Development Bank specifically to support the most needy categories, aiming to improve the efficiency of social protection and targeted support, aligning with Vision 2030’s goals of building a vibrant society where individuals enjoy equal opportunities and contribute effectively to national development.
• Strategic Partnerships and Global Economic Contribution
• The Council of Ministers emphasized the Kingdom’s efforts and contributions at the international level to support multilateral action and enhance global economic growth rates. This includes continued cooperation and coordination with producers within the OPEC+ group to maintain stability in the oil markets. The Kingdom also highlighted the importance of strengthening economic, knowledge, and cultural ties with countries like Indonesia, as evidenced by the first meeting of the Saudi-Indonesian Higher Coordination Council, which resulted in agreements in petrochemicals, clean energy, and aviation fuel, fostering an advanced economic partnership.
• Digital Economy and Innovation
• The Kingdom’s continued top ranking in the Global Cybersecurity Index for 2025 is a testament to the rapid achievements in this sector, contributing to technical prosperity, localizing priority technologies, and enhancing international cooperation. Furthermore, achieving first place globally in the Telecommunications and Information Technology Development Index by the International Telecommunication Union confirms the robustness of the digital infrastructure and the attractiveness of the investment environment. The local digital economy has reached a significant volume of 495 billion riyals.
• The “Mawhiba” Enrichment Program for the Gifted 2025 aims to enhance research, development, and innovation among gifted students, connecting them with research centers and experts to contribute to national priorities and enrich local content. This initiative reflects the leadership’s focus on human capabilities development as part of Vision 2030.
• The Shura Council advocated for the National Information Technology Sector Development Program to increase targeted funding for advanced technologies and ensure technology transfer and localization. It also urged expanding partnerships with Saudi universities to leverage national cadres, accelerators, and business incubators.
• Key Economic Sectors and Growth Drivers
• Real Estate: The General Real Estate Authority aims to foster a transparent and compliant real estate market, recognizing it as a key driver of development. The “Real Estate Excellence Award” aims to elevate standards, reward innovation, and attract qualitative investments.
• Transport and Logistics: The Council of Ministers approved an updated “National Strategy for Transport and Logistics Services”. This aligns with efforts to enhance logistic services and contribute to Vision 2030. The Al-Ahsa Public Transport Project (“Hafalat Al-Ahsa”) is highlighted as a model for urban development, offering safe, comfortable, and sustainable transport options, reducing reliance on private vehicles, easing traffic, and cutting carbon emissions. It also supports local tourism and makes Al-Ahsa a leading example of smart infrastructure in medium-sized cities.
• Aviation: The King Abdulaziz International Airport recorded significant growth in the first half of 2025, serving 25.5 million passengers, a 6.8% increase from the previous year, reflecting the National Aviation Strategy’s goals to serve over 100 million passengers by 2030. However, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) expressed disappointment over proposed solidarity taxes on air travel, arguing they would hinder the sector’s ability to invest in long-term emission reduction solutions, despite the sector’s commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. IATA notes that aviation directly contributes 3.9% of global GDP and supports 86.5 million jobs worldwide.
• Agriculture: The Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture reported a continuous growth in cooperative societies, with 198 societies across the Kingdom by Q1 2025, supporting rural development and food security in line with Vision 2030. However, climate change is projected to significantly reduce the productivity of staple crops globally, highlighting a major challenge to food security.
• Water Projects: The National Water Company has initiated 38 water and sanitation projects in the Asir region, costing nearly 2 billion riyals, to enhance water distribution and environmental balance.
• Challenges and Considerations for Economic Development
• AI Divide: There is a growing disparity between countries in their ability to leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI), with most specialized AI data centers concentrated in the US, EU, and China. This concentration grants immense influence to these regions, creating a gap between nations that can benefit from AI and those that cannot. This also impacts scientific research, startup development, and talent retention in less capable countries.
• Trade Wars: The potential for new, higher US tariffs (as announced by President Trump) on imports from various countries, including key trading partners like Japan and South Korea, creates uncertainty in the market and raises concerns about negative impacts on the global economy and oil demand. This could disrupt trade flows and industrial production.
• Political Selfishness: An article highlights “political selfishness” as a significant threat to communities and nations, leading to conflicts, instability, and hindering comprehensive development. It emphasizes that solving political differences through dialogue and diplomatic means, rather than escalation, is crucial for fostering sustainable development.
• Governance and Financial Stability
• Experts have called for Islamic economic, banking, and financial organizations to transform from a defensive stance to a leadership role in global governance, strengthening the application of legal and administrative governance in their internal performance and inter-organizational relations. This includes building rapid response systems for crises and establishing a common Arab electricity market. The importance of independent Islamic credit rating agencies and a common market for Islamic financial products was also noted to reduce reliance on the dollar.
• The Shura Council urged the General Organization for Social Insurance to review its reinsurance policies periodically to balance local content enhancement with the efficiency and competitiveness of the Saudi insurance market.Economic development is a recurring theme across the sources, highlighting various initiatives, strategies, and challenges within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and globally.

Here’s a comprehensive overview:

• Holistic and Balanced Development
• Development in the Kingdom is characterized by inclusivity and balance, with the citizen at its core. The state has adopted numerous programs and initiatives, such as the Citizen’s Account Program, housing initiatives, and the developed social security program, to alleviate financial burdens on the most needy categories. These programs also aim to transform aid recipients into opportunity creators, providing facilitated financing for work, professional training through the Social Development Bank, and supporting micro and small projects. This approach seeks to enhance individuals’ financial independence and reduce reliance on direct support. The Council of Ministers approved a program from the Social Development Bank specifically to support the most needy categories, aiming to improve the efficiency of social protection and targeted support, aligning with Vision 2030’s goals of building a vibrant society where individuals enjoy equal opportunities and contribute effectively to national development.
• Strategic Partnerships and Global Economic Contribution
• The Council of Ministers emphasized the Kingdom’s efforts and contributions at the international level to support multilateral action and enhance global economic growth rates. This includes continued cooperation and coordination with producers within the OPEC+ group to maintain stability in the oil markets. The Kingdom also highlighted the importance of strengthening economic, knowledge, and cultural ties with countries like Indonesia, as evidenced by the first meeting of the Saudi-Indonesian Higher Coordination Council, which resulted in agreements in petrochemicals, clean energy, and aviation fuel, fostering an advanced economic partnership.
• Digital Economy and Innovation
• The Kingdom’s continued top ranking in the Global Cybersecurity Index for 2025 is a testament to the rapid achievements in this sector, contributing to technical prosperity, localizing priority technologies, and enhancing international cooperation. Furthermore, achieving first place globally in the Telecommunications and Information Technology Development Index by the International Telecommunication Union confirms the robustness of the digital infrastructure and the attractiveness of the investment environment. The local digital economy has reached a significant volume of 495 billion riyals.
• The “Mawhiba” Enrichment Program for the Gifted 2025 aims to enhance research, development, and innovation among gifted students, connecting them with research centers and experts to contribute to national priorities and enrich local content. This initiative reflects the leadership’s focus on human capabilities development as part of Vision 2030.
• The Shura Council advocated for the National Information Technology Sector Development Program to increase targeted funding for advanced technologies and ensure technology transfer and localization. It also urged expanding partnerships with Saudi universities to leverage national cadres, accelerators, and business incubators.
• Key Economic Sectors and Growth Drivers
• Real Estate: The General Real Estate Authority aims to foster a transparent and compliant real estate market, recognizing it as a key driver of development. The “Real Estate Excellence Award” aims to elevate standards, reward innovation, and attract qualitative investments.
• Transport and Logistics: The Council of Ministers approved an updated “National Strategy for Transport and Logistics Services”. This aligns with efforts to enhance logistic services and contribute to Vision 2030. The Al-Ahsa Public Transport Project (“Hafalat Al-Ahsa”) is highlighted as a model for urban development, offering safe, comfortable, and sustainable transport options, reducing reliance on private vehicles, easing traffic, and cutting carbon emissions. It also supports local tourism and makes Al-Ahsa a leading example of smart infrastructure in medium-sized cities.
• Aviation: The King Abdulaziz International Airport recorded significant growth in the first half of 2025, serving 25.5 million passengers, a 6.8% increase from the previous year, reflecting the National Aviation Strategy’s goals to serve over 100 million passengers by 2030. However, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) expressed disappointment over proposed solidarity taxes on air travel, arguing they would hinder the sector’s ability to invest in long-term emission reduction solutions, despite the sector’s commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. IATA notes that aviation directly contributes 3.9% of global GDP and supports 86.5 million jobs worldwide.
• Agriculture: The Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture reported a continuous growth in cooperative societies, with 198 societies across the Kingdom by Q1 2025, supporting rural development and food security in line with Vision 2030. However, climate change is projected to significantly reduce the productivity of staple crops globally, highlighting a major challenge to food security.
• Water Projects: The National Water Company has initiated 38 water and sanitation projects in the Asir region, costing nearly 2 billion riyals, to enhance water distribution and environmental balance.
• Challenges and Considerations for Economic Development
• AI Divide: There is a growing disparity between countries in their ability to leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI), with most specialized AI data centers concentrated in the US, EU, and China. This concentration grants immense influence to these regions, creating a gap between nations that can benefit from AI and those that cannot. This also impacts scientific research, startup development, and talent retention in less capable countries.
• Trade Wars: The potential for new, higher US tariffs (as announced by President Trump) on imports from various countries, including key trading partners like Japan and South Korea, creates uncertainty in the market and raises concerns about negative impacts on the global economy and oil demand. This could disrupt trade flows and industrial production.
• Political Selfishness: An article highlights “political selfishness” as a significant threat to communities and nations, leading to conflicts, instability, and hindering comprehensive development. It emphasizes that solving political differences through dialogue and diplomatic means, rather than escalation, is crucial for fostering sustainable development.
• Governance and Financial Stability
• Experts have called for Islamic economic, banking, and financial organizations to transform from a defensive stance to a leadership role in global governance, strengthening the application of legal and administrative governance in their internal performance and inter-organizational relations. This includes building rapid response systems for crises and establishing a common Arab electricity market. The importance of independent Islamic credit rating agencies and a common market for Islamic financial products was also noted to reduce reliance on the dollar.
• The Shura Council urged the General Organization for Social Insurance to review its reinsurance policies periodically to balance local content enhancement with the efficiency and competitiveness of the Saudi insurance market.

Saudi Arabia’s Digital Transformation and Vision 2030

Saudi Arabia is actively pursuing a comprehensive digital transformation across various sectors, aligning with its Vision 2030 goals to build a vibrant society and a thriving economy. This transformation is underscored by significant investments in advanced technologies, infrastructure, and human capabilities, aiming to enhance efficiency, quality of life, and global competitiveness.

Here are some key areas and initiatives related to digital transformation:

• Cybersecurity and Digital Infrastructure
• Saudi Arabia has achieved the first rank globally in the Cybersecurity Index for 2025, a rapid accomplishment supported by contributions to technological prosperity, localization of priority technologies, and international cooperation.
• The Kingdom also holds the first global ranking in the Telecommunication and Information Technology Development Index, issued by the International Telecommunication Union, which affirms its robust and developed digital infrastructure and attractive investment environment.
• The local digital economy has reached a volume of 495 billion Riyals, indicating strong growth in the digital sector.
• The Crown Prince’s initiative, “Protecting Children in Cyber Space,” received a unanimous UN resolution endorsement, emphasizing technical cooperation, capacity building, awareness, and skill development to ensure a safe digital environment for children. This initiative acknowledges that the digital space has become an essential part of children’s lives, offering learning and communication opportunities but also presenting increasing challenges and risks.
• E-Government and Public Services
• The Ministry of Justice reported over 11.8 million electronic judicial notifications in the first half of 2025, significantly enhancing efficiency, reducing procedures, and shortening litigation times. This transformation involves using mobile phone notifications via the “Absher” platform, replacing traditional methods. This is viewed as a fundamental shift in litigation, where technology is crucial for swift justice and transparent, effective services.
• The Municipality of Medina issued 4729 licenses and permits digitally in June 2025, facilitating municipal procedures through digital platforms and contributing to sustainable development goals under Vision 2030.
• The Shura Council has called on the Ministry of Islamic Affairs to address delays in digital services related to mosque permits and imam appointments, stressing the need for clear and transparent procedures for digital services. It also highlighted the importance of digital transformation for Islamic leadership through publications and translations via digital applications.
• Education and Human Capabilities Development
• The “Madrasati” (My School) platform was recognized with the Grand Prize in e-learning at the WSIS Forum, serving over 6 million students and 500,000 teachers in general education.
• Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University hosts an “Academic Enrichment Program” focusing on data science and artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, physics, and medical biological sciences for gifted students, aiming to foster research, development, and innovation skills. This program includes advanced computer, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence labs.
• The Human Capabilities Development Program aims to prepare a new generation with skills for technological advancements, from early childhood through vocational training and lifelong learning.
• Saudi Arabia’s International Artificial Intelligence Olympiad, organized by SDAIA, won an award at the WSIS Forum, featuring 90 students from 25 countries.
• Healthcare
• King Fahd University Hospital launched “Voice of the Beneficiary” and “Your Opinion Matters” initiatives to enhance communication and healthcare quality, utilizing digital channels for patient feedback and engagement.
• An “AI Platform for Animal Health” from the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, analyzes veterinary disease data to predict future cases and aid in preventive measures, demonstrating AI’s application in healthcare.
• The Shura Council recommended that the Saudi Red Crescent Authority develop mechanisms for managing ambulance service reports using modern technologies like AI and smart technologies.
• Economic Sectors (Real Estate, Transportation, Aviation)
• The General Authority for Real Estate is working on building an integrated digital infrastructure, developing regulations, and updating legislation to create a transparent, governed, and compliant real estate market, aligning with Vision 2030 objectives.
• The “Real Estate Excellence Award” aims to foster innovation and quality, ultimately moving Saudi real estate projects to global standards.
• The updated “National Strategy for Transport and Logistics Services” was approved, enhancing overall efficiency in the sector.
• King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah recorded significant growth in passenger traffic (25.5 million in H1 2025), reflecting continuous development of services and a qualitative leap in passenger experience, aligned with the National Aviation Strategy’s goals of reaching over 100 million passengers by 2030. This implies significant digital transformation in airport operations.
• The “Al-Ahsa Buses” public transport project represents a significant urban transformation, implementing a modern transport system with smart technologies to reduce reliance on private vehicles, ease traffic, and cut carbon emissions. This project aims to transform Al-Ahsa into a smart, green, and sustainable city.
• Cultural and Religious Services
• The King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language launched a program to teach Arabic to non-native speakers, in cooperation with Saudi Railways (SAR), using both in-person and remote (hybrid) learning and smart applications to enhance the use of Arabic in professional contexts and promote its presence across various sectors.
• The Presidency of Religious Affairs for the Grand Mosque and Prophet’s Mosque launched an “Enriching Our Visitors” initiative for the Umrah season, utilizing smart devices and applications to enrich the spiritual experience of visitors and deliver the message of the Two Holy Mosques.
• Challenges
• Despite these advancements, there are concerns about the widening gap in Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities between “rich” and “poor” countries. Only 32 out of 193 countries have specialized AI data centers, and US and Chinese companies operate over 90% of global AI data centers, granting them significant influence. Over 150 countries lack any AI data centers, and the cost of building these massive, power-hungry centers runs into billions of dollars, making them inaccessible to many. This concentration of AI power impacts scientific research, startup development, and talent retention in less developed nations. For instance, Harvard’s computing capacity alone surpasses that of the entire African continent, partly due to a lack of reliable electricity.

In conclusion, Saudi Arabia is vigorously implementing digital transformation initiatives across multiple domains, leveraging technology to improve governance, public services, economic sectors, education, and quality of life, while also actively addressing its role in the global digital landscape and the challenges associated with technological disparities.

Saudi Arabia’s Quest for Regional Stability

Saudi Arabia is actively engaged in comprehensive efforts to foster regional stability, aligning its actions with its Vision 2030 goals which aim to build a vibrant society and a thriving economy [Source: Conversation history]. This commitment is demonstrated through diplomatic initiatives, technological advancements, and a focus on both internal strength and international cooperation.

Saudi Arabia’s Approach to Regional Stability

The Kingdom consistently emphasizes the importance of dialogue through diplomatic means as a way to settle disputes. The Crown Prince has reiterated Saudi Arabia’s position in supporting this approach to achieve security and stability in the region. This stance extends to condemning aggression, as seen when the Iranian Foreign Minister thanked Saudi Arabia for its condemnation of Israeli aggression and its efforts to enhance regional security and stability. The Council of Ministers also supports multilateral work and global economic growth, including continued cooperation with OPEC+ to maintain stability in oil markets, which is crucial for global and regional economic stability.

Key Regional Issues and Diplomatic Engagements

• Gaza Conflict:
• The sources highlight the ongoing violence in Gaza, with Israeli occupation forces committing massacres and targeting civilian areas and displacement camps, resulting in numerous casualties.
• Despite the conflict, there is a “political atmosphere of cautious optimism” regarding a potential ceasefire agreement due to increasing pressure from the US administration and Qatari mediation efforts.
• US President Donald Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the war, with Trump expressing confidence that Hamas desires a ceasefire. A new round of indirect negotiations between the parties has commenced in Qatar, based on a proposal from mediators that draws on US envoy Steve Witkoff’s ideas.
• Lebanon and Hezbollah Disarmament:
• The US envoy, Thomas Bark, expressed “great relief” regarding Beirut’s response to Washington’s request for Hezbollah’s disarmament.
• Bark warned that Lebanon “will fall behind” if it fails to align with “regional changes”.
• The US administration formally requested Lebanon’s commitment to disarm Hezbollah.
• Lebanese Prime Minister Salam stated that the security arrangements are focused on “implementing arrangements for stopping hostile acts between Lebanon and Israel” based on the principle of “consecutive steps”. These arrangements aim to stop hostilities and assert state authority over all Lebanese territory.
• Iran and Sanctions:
• US President Trump indicated a willingness to lift severe US sanctions on Iran “at the appropriate time,” expressing hope that Iran would reciprocate.
• Despite an Iranian presidential candidate accusing Israel of assassination attempts and stating readiness to resume nuclear talks with the US, Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman noted that Tehran has not formally requested such a meeting.
• Red Sea Security:
• Attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea by the Houthis continue, with vessels experiencing significant damage and loss of power. This ongoing aggression highlights a critical threat to maritime security and regional stability.

Challenges to Regional Stability

• Political Egoism:
• The sources present a critical analysis of “political egoism,” defining it as a mindset that prioritizes personal desires and short-term goals over collective and long-term interests.
• This egoism is linked to traits like ignorance, hastiness, and corruption of the mind, and it is “devastating and destructive for individuals and communities”, threatening state security and stability.
• Historical examples like World War I and II are cited, where political egoism led to the downfall of empires.
• Regionally, it is blamed for the demise of populations, disintegration of societies, and occupation by foreign powers and terrorist groups in some Arab countries.
• The events of October 7, 2023, are specifically mentioned as an instance where political egoism led to “highly complex political, security, and military decisions without realizing the consequences”.
• Trade Wars and Economic Instability:
• US President Trump’s threat of high tariffs on imports from various countries, including key Asian and African trade partners, created market uncertainty and fears about negative impacts on the global economy and oil demand. Such trade wars are described as “systematic restrictions that target points of weakness in the economic and administrative structures of countries”. This instability can spill over into regional political tensions.
• Technological Disparity (AI Gap):
• There is a “widening gap in Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities between ‘rich’ and ‘poor’ countries”. Only 32 out of 193 countries (16%) possess specialized AI data centers, with US and Chinese companies operating over 90% of global AI data centers.
• This concentration of AI power grants significant influence and impacts scientific research, startup development, and talent retention in less developed nations. This technological disparity creates an imbalance that can affect global and regional stability by exacerbating economic and developmental inequalities.

Pathways to Stability and Future Outlook

• Dialogue and Wisdom:
• To counteract political egoism and its negative consequences, dialogue, diplomatic means, and negotiations are crucial for resolving differences.
• Avoiding media escalation is also vital, as it tends to transform political issues into emotional public debates that hinder peaceful solutions.
• Such rational approaches help political systems continue their developmental plans by avoiding disruptions and the depletion of human, material, and financial resources.
• Economic Cooperation and Governance:
• There is a call for Islamic economic organizations to move from a defensive to a leadership position by implementing robust governance, emphasizing transparency, accountability, and careful oversight.
• The establishment of a joint Arab market for electricity and an independent Islamic credit rating system is proposed to enhance financial stability and reduce reliance on the dollar.
• Developing “rapid response systems for crises through independent governance committees” and leveraging “digital governance and technological transformation” through smart platforms can help manage economic fluctuations.
• Leadership Development and Youth Empowerment:
• Initiatives like Project1932 aim to prepare a new generation of young leaders in Saudi Arabia and Gulf countries for future transformations. These programs focus on “bridging the gap between theory and reality” in leadership, fostering strategic thinking, and nurturing talents to contribute to national and regional development.

In conclusion, regional stability is a complex issue influenced by geopolitical conflicts, economic policies, technological disparities, and governance. Saudi Arabia, through its diplomatic efforts, emphasis on dialogue, and internal development, positions itself as a key actor in promoting a more secure and stable region, while also acknowledging the global challenges that affect this stability.

Saudi Arabia’s Environmental Stewardship and Global Challenges

Saudi Arabia’s broader commitment to regional stability, as highlighted in the conversation history, encompasses significant efforts and acknowledges critical challenges related to environmental concerns, aligning with its Vision 2030 goals [Source: Conversation history, 3, 153, 276]. These efforts span various sectors, from agriculture and water management to urban development and the aviation industry, reflecting a holistic approach to sustainability.

Key Environmental Concerns and Initiatives:

• Climate Change Impact on Agriculture and Food Security: A recent study reveals that climate change is severely limiting the global capacity of agricultural crops to provide food. The study projects that the productivity of calories from six fundamental crops—wheat, rice, corn, soy, sorghum, and cassava—is expected to decline globally by 11% to 24% by the year 2100, even if agricultural practices adapt to warming temperatures. Researchers noted that for every additional degree Celsius of warming, the world’s capacity to produce food decreases by approximately 120 calories per person daily, which is equivalent to about 4.4% of the current daily intake.
• Specific regional impacts are also noted: major plains in the U.S. “corn belt” are anticipated to experience a sharp decline in productivity.
• Cassava production in Africa, a staple for many impoverished communities, is predicted to drop by 40%. This direct link between climate change and food production poses a severe food security challenge, particularly for vulnerable populations.
• Sustainable Aviation and Emissions: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has expressed “deep disappointment” regarding proposals for new solidarity taxes on the air transport sector, arguing these would impede sustainability efforts. The aviation sector is committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, with an estimated cost of nearly $4.7 trillion in sustainability investments between 2024 and 2050. IATA argues that increasing taxes on airlines would reduce their ability to invest in long-term solutions for emission reduction. The sector already operates under CORSIA (Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation), a globally agreed mechanism for managing carbon emissions in international aviation. IATA contends that these proposed taxes, while framed as not affecting ordinary citizens, would increase the cost of air travel for all passengers and undermine the industry’s capacity to meet its carbon neutrality goals.
• Water Management and Sustainability: Saudi Arabia is actively involved in efforts to ensure water sustainability. A national team from the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture participated in a training course in China focusing on rainwater harvesting techniques. The course aimed to develop designs for such systems in both rural and urban areas, enhancing the management of collected water quality. The importance of combating desertification and promoting water sustainability was emphasized. This initiative aligns with the development of national capacities in water resource management.
• Furthermore, significant investments are being made in water and sanitation projects, such as those in the Asir region, costing nearly 2 billion riyals. These projects aim to improve water distribution networks, eliminate environmental damage, and strengthen water security and environmental balance within the region.
• Sustainable Urban Development and Reduced Emissions: The launch of the Al-Ahsa Public Transport project represents a “qualitative leap” in public services, aiming to enhance the quality of life and improve infrastructure in line with Vision 2030. This modern transport system is designed to reduce reliance on private vehicles, alleviate traffic congestion, and significantly lower carbon emissions. It is presented as a model for sustainable urban development, contributing to cleaner air in urban areas and aligning with Vision 2030’s “Quality of Life Program” and “Municipal and Rural Development Program”.
• Public Health and Environmental Well-being: The city of Taif has been recognized as the “first healthy city in the Kingdom” by the World Health Organization (WHO) for the second time, indicating robust efforts in environmental health and well-being. The city’s authorities are actively preparing green spaces, public squares, and parks for summer visitors, showcasing their commitment to maintaining a healthy and sustainable environment.

Challenges to Addressing Environmental Concerns:

• Technological Disparity (AI Gap): A significant concern impacting the global capacity to address complex issues, including environmental ones, is the widening gap in Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities between developed and developing nations. Only 32 out of 193 countries (16%) possess specialized AI data centers, with over 90% of global AI data centers operated by American and Chinese companies. This concentration of AI power grants immense influence to the owning countries and severely limits less developed nations in areas such as scientific research, startup development, and talent retention. This technological disparity means that many countries lack the necessary tools and infrastructure to leverage AI for crucial environmental solutions like climate modeling, sustainable resource management, and green technology innovation.

In summary, while Saudi Arabia demonstrates a strong commitment to addressing environmental concerns through strategic initiatives and investments in water, urban development, and sustainable practices, it also acknowledges the broader global challenges, such as the impact of climate change on food security and the technological disparities that could hinder universal progress toward environmental sustainability.

Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030: Sports and Entertainment Development

Saudi Arabia is actively pursuing ambitious goals in the realms of sports and entertainment, with many initiatives aligned with its Vision 2030, aimed at enhancing the quality of life, fostering economic growth, and boosting the Kingdom’s global standing.

Sports Development and Events:

The Kingdom is making significant strides in professional sports, hosting major events, and developing national talent:

• Football:
• Player Transfers: There is widespread speculation about Liverpool star Luis Diaz potentially transferring to Al-Nassr Football Club to play alongside Cristiano Ronaldo. Diaz reportedly expressed a desire to play with Ronaldo and acknowledged the “wonderful passes” that could result. While he has a contract with Liverpool until 2027, he is reportedly in negotiations with several top clubs including Al-Nassr.
• Club Leadership: Fahad Sendi has officially announced his candidacy for the presidency of Al-Ittihad Club, succeeding Loai Musallam. Sendi’s vision for the club emphasizes an extension of its institutional building, focusing on values and identity, and aims for continued success in the 2025-2026 season.
• Club World Cup: The Club World Cup features a highly anticipated semi-final between Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, highlighting the growing stature of international club football events hosted globally. This match marks a notable confrontation, particularly due to Kylian Mbappé’s recent move to Real Madrid from PSG.
• Goalkeeper Contracts: FC Barcelona extended the contract of Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczęsny until 2027, a key player in their recent successes. This extension, however, raises questions about the future of their other prominent goalkeeper, Marc-André ter Stegen, amid Barcelona’s financial challenges.
• Managerial Appointments: Davide Ancelotti, son of Brazil’s national team coach, has been appointed as the new coach for Brazilian club Botafogo. Additionally, Newcastle United has agreed to a $75 million deal to sign Swedish forward Alexander Isak, marking a significant transfer for the English club.
• Ronaldo’s Influence: Cristiano Ronaldo’s presence in Saudi Arabia is seen as a powerful tool for promoting the country’s image. A video of Ronaldo discussing the Kingdom is highlighted as an opportunity to brand Saudi Arabia as “The Kingdom of Humanity”. Ronaldo himself has expressed great satisfaction with his life in Saudi Arabia, praising it as a “wonderful country” and predicting that the World Cup hosted there would be “the most beautiful”. This positive sentiment is encouraged to be leveraged for national pride and overcoming “blind fanaticism”.
• New Coaching Standards: The Saudi Arabian Football Federation is enhancing coaching standards by opening registration for new coaching courses for the 2025-2026 season, introducing new requirements like a bachelor’s degree in physical education and first aid certification. Exceptions are noted for former international players. New specialized courses for video analysts and fitness coaches are also being introduced.
• National Team Participation: The Saudi women’s national futsal team completed its first participation in the Asian Qualifiers for the 2026 AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup, showcasing the Kingdom’s commitment to developing women’s football. Similarly, the Saudi men’s national futsal team will participate in the Continental Championship in Thailand as part of their preparation for the 2026 AFC Futsal Asian Cup qualifiers.
• Al-Khaleej Club Stability: The president of Al-Khaleej Club, Ala’a Al-Hamal, has assured fans that the club’s football operations are under control, with all player files ready for the upcoming season, aiming for stability and success.
• Handball:
• The Saudi national handball team for juniors has begun an intensive indoor training camp in the Eastern Province, preparing for the World Championship in Egypt in August 2025. The training regimen includes physical, tactical, and video sessions.
• Tennis:
• The “Six Kings Slam” tennis tournament is set to return to Riyadh Season in October, featuring six of the world’s best male players, including Jannik Sinner, who will defend his title, and Novak Djokovic.
• Player Injuries: Bayern Munich star Jamal Musiala is expected to be out for several months due to a fractured fibula and dislocated ankle sustained during the Club World Cup, a significant blow to his team.
• Retirements:
• Croatian international Ivan Rakitić has announced his retirement from football at age 37, after a distinguished career that included significant time with Sevilla and Barcelona.

Entertainment and Tourism Initiatives:

Saudi Arabia is heavily investing in tourism and entertainment, transforming various regions into attractive destinations:

• Regional Tourism Development:
• Taif is highlighted as a unique tourist destination that successfully blends historical authenticity with modern beauty. Recognized as the “first healthy city in the Kingdom” by the World Health Organization (WHO) for the second time, it boasts a moderate climate, historical sites, and modern attractions, making it appealing year-round.
• Al-Baha is experiencing a surge in visitors during the summer due to its pleasant weather and natural beauty, offering various recreational and cultural activities within the “Al-Baha Summer 2025” program.
• Najran’s “Summer of Najran” festival provides a wide array of recreational, cultural, and sports activities, featuring local handicrafts, family entertainment, and popular markets.
• Souda in Asir attracts visitors with its delightful summer weather, characterized by continuous rain and hail, creating picturesque natural scenes with flowing waterfalls and green terraces.
• The Al-Ahsa Public Transport project (buses) is a “qualitative leap” in public services, improving quality of life and infrastructure. This modern system aims to reduce private vehicle reliance, ease traffic, and lower carbon emissions, making it a model for sustainable urban development. It supports local tourism by connecting various sites, including heritage and natural attractions.
• Poetry reflects the Kingdom’s appeal as a summer destination, inviting visitors to experience the beauty and pleasant weather of cities like Taif, Abha, Al-Baha, Najran, and Souda.
• Cultural and Artistic Ventures:
• The Ministry of Media, through its “Saudi Treasures” initiative, launched “The Destination” documentary, a film that chronicles the Kingdom’s journey in overcoming challenges and achieving significant advancements across various sectors, embodying the Vision 2030 transformation. This documentary required over 600 hours of editing and 52 hours of filming, involving a large production team and prominent figures.
• A cultural workshop in Asir focused on introducing intangible heritage (customs, traditions, handicrafts, performing arts) to new generations, with efforts to document over 10,000 intangible heritage elements in six regions.
• “Resin Art” in Hail is gaining attention, with exhibitions showcasing artworks inspired by Hail’s natural and historical landmarks. This modern handicraft involves blending resin with other liquids to create solid, aesthetically pleasing items for various uses.
• The book “From the Mysteries of the Wolf: Its Life in the Arabian Desert” by Fayhan bin Bajjad Al-Otaibi delves into the characteristics of wolves, their historical significance in Arabic culture, and reasons for their declining numbers in Saudi Arabia due to urbanization and human activities.
• “Assateen Al-Fan Al-Khaliji” (Masters of Gulf Art), a new book by Dr. Khalid Al-Qallaf, documents the journey of pioneers who shaped Gulf music and art, aiming to serve as a reference for researchers and young artists.
• An article reflects on the profound connection between artistry and emotional depth, citing legendary artists Talal Maddah and Abdel Halim Hafez, whose works transcended mere entertainment to become a mirror of societal experience.
• Saudi artist Hor Al-Abdullah released her new song “Sa’a Sa’a”, showcasing contemporary Gulf music.
• A critical discussion addresses the phenomenon of “fake fame” and “shops of illusion” (Dakkakeen Al-Wahm), highlighting how some social media figures promote misleading narratives, quick wealth schemes, or superficial self-development programs, often at the expense of genuine artistic or professional integrity.

These wide-ranging initiatives demonstrate Saudi Arabia’s comprehensive approach to fostering a vibrant society through enhanced sports and diverse entertainment offerings, integral to its national development strategy.

Reflections on Society, Culture, and Politics

Here are the titles of the columns found in the newspaper, along with their first two paragraphs of detail:

• Column Title: كلـمة (Word/Editorial)
• Paragraph 1: Development in the Kingdom is characterized by comprehensiveness and balance, and amidst its giant projects and the launch of the Vision 2030 development train, its primary goals are for the citizen, who is considered its fundamental محور (axis). The state has adopted numerous programs to support the most in-need categories of citizens, alleviate financial burdens, and initiatives like housing programs, the developed social protection program, and other initiatives aimed at enhancing the quality of life and achieving social justice.
• Paragraph 2: These programs, in addition to their humanitarian dimensions, also carry a different vision aimed at transforming beneficiaries of support into creators of economic opportunities, through empowerment programs, providing facilitated financing and professional training via the Social Development Bank, and supporting small and micro-enterprises, which enhances the financial independence of individuals and reduces reliance on direct support.
• Column Title: الطـائـف.. أصالـة وجمـال (Taif.. Authenticity and Beauty)
• Paragraph 1: Taif has surpassed the stage of mere introduction as one of the most attractive tourist sites in the Kingdom, elevating its position with the components it possesses to become a competitive and complementary destination that greatly contributes to enriching the tourist experience for visitors, due to its diverse geographical characteristics, and its unique charm where values can be experienced and tourists can live a unique journey of its kind within its familiar territories, allowing them to touch the details and live unforgettable moments.
• Paragraph 2: Taif is considered a peerless model for a summer resort in the Kingdom, and one of the influential regions in the tourism industry due to its geographical characteristics that have shaped its natural beauty, in addition to its moderate climate. It is rapidly flourishing, keeping pace with the evolving tourism trends, in parallel with development, as the historical elements, represented by archaeological sites and landmarks, have complemented it. Since ancient times, it has been a high-ranking tourist destination sought by those seeking natural origins in a homeland of beauty, where live nature harmoniously blends with history, artifacts, and moderate dry greenery.
• Column Title: المقال (The Article)
• Paragraph 1: The gap between the rich and the poor has dramatically widened due to artificial intelligence, leading to a split in the world into two camps: countries that rely on Chinese technology and countries that rely on American technology. We can imagine that out of 193 countries, only 32 countries, mostly in the northern hemisphere, possess specialized data centers for artificial intelligence, which is equivalent to 16% of the world’s countries. These centers grant immense influence to the owning countries, as the United States, the European Union, and China control over half of the world’s most powerful data centers that operate AI systems, while the rest of the world’s countries remain in the spectator seats.
• Paragraph 2: The United States and China dominate the rising sector at rocket speed, with American and Chinese companies operating over 90% of AI data centers. In contrast, Africa and South America barely have any presence in this field. For example, India has five centers, and Japan has four, while over 150 countries have no data centers at all. This means that current centers surpass their predecessors, which used to perform simple tasks in the past. These enormous centers, equipped with chips for email, video streaming, and are power-hungry, cost billions of dollars to build. This implies that they are not accessible to everyone, as their ownership is concentrated in the hands of a few giant, powerful countries, which widens the gap between countries capable of benefiting from AI and those deprived of it.
• Column Title: »الوجهة«.. فيلم يوثق رحلة وطن (The Destination.. A Film Documenting a Nation’s Journey)
• Paragraph 1: The Saudi Ministry of Media, through its “Saudi Treasures” initiative, launched the documentary film “The Destination,” as part of its efforts to document national transformations. The film narrates the Kingdom’s story in overcoming challenges and achieving qualitative accomplishments in various fields, within the national transformation journey of Saudi Vision 2030.
• Paragraph 2: The film, which began its broadcast on Saudi channels and digital platforms, offers a rich visual experience that highlights the Kingdom’s global standing and its aspirations for rapid development. It focuses on sectors such as economy, politics, culture, health, sports, and media.
• Column Title: تأمالت في زمن الشهرة الزائفة (Reflections in the Era of Fake Fame)
• Paragraph 1: During my viewing of the الخليجي series “My Ideas,” a scene caught my attention, reflecting a painful reality we have been living for a long time: the trivial personalities that social media platforms impose on us, which do not relate to our reality and have no connection to us.
• Paragraph 2: In the series “My Ideas,” artistic personalities have emerged and played roles that embody artistic creativity and a journey that has spanned years, despite some artists’ reluctance to take on roles that restrict their creativity. In some works, certain producers use these methods to gain “trends” and attention, even if the reactions are negative.
• Column Title: »أساطين الفن الخليجي« يوثق تجربة الرواد األصيلة (Masters of Gulf Art” Documents the Authentic Experience of Pioneers)
• Paragraph 1: A new book titled “Masters of Gulf Art,” published recently by the National Council for Culture, Arts, and Literature, is authored by Dr. Khalid Al-Qallaf, a researcher and academic. In it, he addresses the journey of documentation and research on a number of pioneers who contributed to shaping the features of lyrical art in the Arabian Gulf region.
• Paragraph 2: According to Al-Qallaf, this publication aims to highlight prominent figures who left their mark on the artistic memory and shaped the collective consciousness of Gulf society, creating timeless melodies and songs. He points out that the goal of this work is to document the beginnings of Gulf art and highlight the symbols that contributed to solidifying its identity.
• Column Title: الخزامى (Al-Khozama – a type of desert flower, implying a local/traditional theme)
• Paragraph 1: The past discussed smallpox, which was endemic in Al-Hilla and other parts of the Arabian Peninsula, spreading to the Najd region since the early 1930s before turning into a widespread epidemic that swept across the entire Najd region in 1939 (1358 AH). Violet Dickson, the British author, states in her book “Forty Years in Kuwait” that the disease began to infiltrate Kuwait from Najd in the early 1930s, carried by two Najdi patients who were visiting Kuwaiti markets to buy food and supplies. Some of them were admitted to the American Mission Hospital in Kuwait, which forced the Kuwaiti government to establish vaccination centers against the disease. In its early days, there was public aversion to vaccination, with rumors spreading that it led to immediate death, which forced the Amir of Kuwait to compel people to get vaccinated.
• Paragraph 2: To bring in cooling methods due to the lack of continuous refrigeration, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Jaber (may God have mercy on him) had to take people by force to be vaccinated. Violet states in her book that the number of deaths exceeded 4,000 inhabitants by June of that year. She also mentions that her husband, Commissioner Harold Dickson, left Kuwait for England with their two children, but he stayed in Kuwait for the entire summer during which he witnessed the suffering among Kuwaitis.
• Column Title: شهادة رونالدو في مملكة اإلنسانية ال تشوهوها بتعصبكم (Ronaldo’s Testimony in the Kingdom of Humanity, Do Not Distort It with Your Fanaticism)
• Paragraph 1: Cristiano Ronaldo’s testimony in Saudi Arabia, which spread across social media platforms, is a great testimony from a global sports icon, universally followed. I ask God to let him utter the Muslim testimony. I ask God to let him speak out and be utilized by us all, as it serves national goals, away from sectarian fanaticism. This is natural for our planned project, which needs someone globally beloved in his field, in addition to our global distinction in serving pilgrims, Islam, economics, health, politics, humanitarian aid, peace, and environment. Based on this, I proudly coined the phrase “Saudi Arabia is the Kingdom of Humanity” for my country.
• Paragraph 2: Cristiano Ronaldo said, “I and all my family members are happy living on its land.” He predicted confidently that the World Cup hosted in Saudi Arabia would be “the most beautiful.” He added, “You have a wonderful country, and I feel at home in Saudi Arabia. Prince Mohammed bin Salman is the most influential figure, and he is behind the development and security in Saudi Arabia.” In response to those who wondered about his happiness since coming to Saudi Arabia, he said that they should come and see for themselves what he has seen, and then they can judge. He concluded by saying that if he had not found comfort and safety during the summer by the Red Sea with his family, he would not have spent his time there.
• Column Title: األنانية السياسية وسلبياتها على المنطقة العربية (Political Selfishness and Its Negative Impacts on the Arab Region)
• Paragraph 1: If political selfishness offers personal desires, self-serving ambitions, private interests, and short-term immediate goals, then rationality offers collective desires, objective ambitions, public interests, and constructive long-term goals. If selfishness is based on ignorance, haste, recklessness, and folly, then rationality is based on wisdom, deliberation, foresight, and intellect. If we recognize these significant differences between egoism and rationality in their general meanings, then we will certainly realize the grave danger of individual selfishness, which leads to utterly negative outcomes for the individual who possesses it, destroying even their future. At the political level, it leads to devastating and destructive outcomes for societies and destabilizes the security, peace, and stability of nations. The magnitude of the danger of political selfishness on the safety of individuals, stability of societies, and nations has been proven by great political events and conflicts, including the wars that stained the pages of history throughout the twentieth century, such as World War I and World War II. Indeed, the short-sightedness, haste, recklessness, and ignorance that characterized political selfishness among decision-makers in European empires, which decided to start World War I (1914–1918), led to the disintegration and disappearance of those empires from the international political map forever, while the power and standing of countries characterized by rationality and political wisdom prevailed and strengthened.
• Paragraph 2: The political selfishness that occurred in World War I recurred and intensified in some European countries, leading to the start of World War II (1939–1945). By its end, and due to the distinction of their leaders, they led to the demise of their lands, occupation of their societies, and destruction of their peoples, while the power and standing of other countries that were characterized by rationality and wisdom advanced, gaining influence and leadership in international and global politics at all levels. In addition to these international and global examples that prove the danger and short-sightedness of political selfishness, and its contribution to the collapse of empires and the decline of the power and status of those nations, there are also regional examples that truly express the extent of the danger of political selfishness on individuals, societies, and political systems. Indeed, if the regional examples witnessing the danger and negativity of political selfishness have been numerous, then one can look at the Arab region to understand the extent of the negativity and danger of political selfishness on some Arab countries whose societies have perished and their peoples disintegrated, whose political systems have collapsed, and which have been colonized by foreign powers, terrorist groups, and armed factions, to the extent that they have lost their independent political decision and regional standing.
• Column Title: دكاكين الوهم األربعة (The Four Shops of Illusion)
• Paragraph 1: Those are the enticing and numerous shops, or for individuals and groups, that promote illusion and falsehood. They operate with full readiness and efficiency, propagating all those dazzling illusions and deceptive dreams. Writing about these shops of illusion and fake fame requires many studies and articles specializing in selling illusion and creating falsehood. I will try, briefly and concisely, to focus on only four of those shops and stalls that sell illusion and deception, or, in marketing and attraction terms, the four most popular and sought-after shops among the targeted and exploited segments and groups.
• Paragraph 2: The first shop: the shop of heroism and slogans. These are merely vocal phenomena, or “shops of illusion,” but their impact at the first test is one of the most dangerous sources of illusion and superficiality in thought and conviction among simple, young generations. You might find many who have been deceived by the experience, the buyers and the enthusiasts, even from older age groups and experienced individuals.

Saudi Kingdom: Development, Diplomacy, and Society

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

• the Kingdom reaffirms continued coordination to support petroleum markets: approval of the agreement to establish the common Arab electricity market the Ministry of State, Member of the Council of Ministers, and Consultant of the National Security, Dr. Musaid bin Mohammed Al-Aiban were present at the meeting. This development in the Kingdom is characterized by comprehensiveness and balance, and amidst its colossal projects and the launch of the most in-need categories, the development remains within the context of Vision 2030, considering the citizen as its fundamental focus and most important goal.
• Crown Prince receives Iranian Foreign Minister: the Kingdom supports dialogue through diplomatic means During the meeting, bilateral relations between the two brotherly countries were reviewed, and regional developments and efforts towards them were discussed. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince expressed the Kingdom’s aspiration that the ceasefire agreement would create conditions to enhance security and stability in the region, reaffirming the Kingdom’s stance in supporting dialogue through diplomatic means as a way to settle disputes.
• Word the Ministry of State, Member of the Council of Ministers, and Consultant of the National Security, Dr. Musaid bin Mohammed Al-Aiban were present at the meeting. This development in the Kingdom is characterized by comprehensiveness and balance, and amidst its colossal projects and the launch of the most in-need categories, the development remains within the context of Vision 2030, considering the citizen as its fundamental focus and most important goal.
• The Citizen… A Priority the Ministry of State, Member of the Council of Ministers, and Consultant of the National Security, Dr. Musaid bin Mohammed Al-Aiban were present at the meeting. This development in the Kingdom is characterized by comprehensiveness and balance, and amidst its colossal projects and the launch of the most in-need categories, the development remains within the context of Vision 2030, considering the citizen as its fundamental focus and most important goal.
• UN Resolution Strengthens Crown Prince’s Initiative for Child Protection in Cyberspace Based on the global initiative “Child Protection in Cyberspace” launched by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Chairman of the Council of Ministers, the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the United Nations and other relevant international organizations in Geneva presented a draft resolution. This resolution strengthens the objectives of this initiative at the international level and translates its vision into practical steps to protect children in the digital space through supporting technical cooperation and capacity building.
• Oil declines affected by tariffs and increased OPEC+ output Oil prices fell yesterday, Tuesday, by about 2% after rising in the previous session, as investors assessed new developments regarding US tariffs and an increase in OPEC+ production that exceeded expectations in August. Brent crude futures fell by 22 cents, or 0.3%, to reach $69.36 per barrel. US West Texas Intermediate crude fell by 27 cents, or 0.4%, to reach $67.66 per barrel.
• Lebanon’s move to disarm Hezbollah welcomed by US The American envoy Thomas Barak announced from Beirut on Monday his “satisfaction” with the Lebanese authorities’ response to Washington’s request to disarm Hezbollah, warning at the same time that Lebanon “will fall behind” if it does not move in line with the current regional changes. During a previous visit to Beirut in June, Barak handed Lebanese officials a message from the American administration requesting a formal commitment to disarm Hezbollah, which incurred huge military losses during its recent war with Israel, making it more vulnerable on the political scene in Lebanon.
• Gaza… Signs of a Breakthrough in Ceasefire Talks The Israeli occupation army continues to commit massacres against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, directly targeting displaced persons’ tents and civilian areas, resulting in martyrs and injuries in a series of raids and artillery shelling during the past hours, most of which were concentrated in the governorates of Khan Younis and Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, in addition to Gaza City. In Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Israeli warplanes and helicopters launched intensive raids on the Al-Mawasi area, west of the city, where a tent housing displaced persons near “Rivera” was targeted, resulting in the martyrdom of at least one Palestinian and the injury of others.
• Saudi Arabia reaffirms continued coordination to support petroleum markets, approves agreement to establish Arab common electricity market His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Chairman of the Council of Ministers – may Allah protect him – chaired the session held by the Council of Ministers yesterday in Jeddah. At the beginning of the session, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince briefed the Council of Ministers on the content of his official discussions with His Excellency the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, and on the content of the phone call he received – may Allah protect him – from the Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Friedrich Merz.
• Khaled bin Salman and Iraqchi discuss developments in the region His Royal Highness Prince Khaled bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Defense, met yesterday in his office in Jeddah with His Excellency the Iranian Foreign Minister, Dr. Abbas Araqchi. During the meeting, bilateral relations and aspects of cooperation between the two countries were reviewed, and developments in the regional and international situation were discussed, including their contribution to achieving security and stability, in addition to discussing a number of common issues and matters of interest.
• Fahd bin Sultan praises leadership’s support for the health sector His Royal Highness Prince Fahd bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Tabuk Region, received yesterday in his office the Chairman of the Founding Council of the Health Sector Cluster, Eng. Abdullah bin Samail Al-Rakhis, and the CEO of the newly appointed Tabuk Health Cluster, Dr. Ayed bin Fares Al-Hamzani. His Royal Highness congratulated Dr. Al-Hamzani on his appointment, wishing him success in serving the health sector in the region, improving the quality of health services provided to beneficiaries, and increasing operational efficiency and integration in health facilities.
• Prince of Eastern Province honors donors of “Joud Al-Manateq” campaign His Royal Highness Prince Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz, Governor of the Eastern Province, honored yesterday at the Emara Diwan the donors and supporters of the “Joud Al-Manateq” campaign in its second edition, on the occasion of its success in providing 459 housing units worth more than 68 million Saudi Riyals. This was attended by Eng. Fahd bin Muhammad Al-Jubairi, Secretary of the Eastern Province, and a number of sponsors and donors.
• Prince Saud bin Nayef sponsors graduation ceremony for 400 orphans from Binaa Society On another note, Prince Saud bin Nayef sponsored yesterday the graduation ceremony of more than 400 male and female students benefiting from the Binaa Society for Orphan Care in the Eastern Province, at the Grand Conference Hall in the Emara Diwan. The Governor of the Eastern Province emphasized that the Kingdom, under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince – may Allah protect them – has given great attention to education as a fundamental pillar in the journey of development and an effective tool in building human beings and enhancing their capabilities.
• Faisal bin Mishaal: Al-Ras enjoys developmental and service projects His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Mishaal bin Saud, Governor of Al-Qassim Region, paid a visit to Al-Ras Governorate, accompanied by His Royal Highness Prince Fahd bin Saad bin Faisal bin Saad, Deputy Governor of Al-Qassim. During the visit, His Royal Highness met with officials, citizens, and residents of Al-Ras Governorate and its affiliated centers, at Prince Sultan Hall.
• Deputy Governor of Riyadh receives British Ambassador His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of Riyadh Region, received yesterday morning at his office in Al-Hukm Palace in Riyadh, the British Ambassador to the Kingdom, Neil Crompton, on the occasion of the end of his term of work in the Kingdom. His Royal Highness thanked Ambassador Crompton for his efforts during his tenure, wishing him success.
• Fahd bin Mohammed promotes Director of Al-Kharj Police to new rank His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Saad bin Mohammed bin Fahd, Governor of Al-Kharj, yesterday promoted the Director of Al-Kharj Governorate Police, Brigadier Rakan bin Sahu Al-Mutairi, to his new rank after the issuance of the Royal Order for his promotion to the rank of Brigadier.
• Governor of Al-Ahsa witnesses signing of MoU to enhance investment fields His Royal Highness Prince Saud bin Talal bin Badr, Governor of Al-Ahsa, and His Excellency Eng. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Hogail, Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing, witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Al-Ahsa Development Authority and Al-Ahsa Oasis for Development and Investment Company, “the investment arm of Al-Ahsa Municipality”. The Al-Ahsa Development Authority was represented in the signing by its Deputy CEO for Strategy and Sector Development, Abdulaziz bin Omar Al-Mulhim, while Al-Ahsa Oasis for Development and Investment Company was represented by its CEO, Eng. Abdullah bin Ahmed Al-Mulhim.
• Prince Saud bin Talal reviews Al-Ahsa International Airport’s annual report On another note, Prince Saud bin Talal bin Badr, Governor of Al-Ahsa, yesterday reviewed the annual report of Al-Ahsa International Airport. Eng. Al-Husseini presented a summary of the report’s key development projects and achievements that were implemented during the past year, which contributed to enhancing operational efficiency, facilitating air traffic, and improving the quality of services provided to passengers through the airport.
• Faisal bin Nawaf: Developmental housing is a social tributary His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Nawaf bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Al-Jouf Region, chaired the 31st executive committee meeting for developmental housing in the region, to follow up on the progress of tasks, targets, and development projects, within the framework of efforts aimed at enhancing quality of life and increasing homeownership rates for beneficiaries. During the meeting, His Royal Highness emphasized the importance of developmental housing as a social and developmental tributary that contributes to providing suitable housing for the most deserving categories.
• Environmental Ministry: 198 agricultural societies support rural development The Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture affirmed that the cooperative societies sector is witnessing continuous growth, with the number of societies in various regions of the Kingdom reaching 198 by the end of the first quarter of 2025. This includes 111 societies in the agriculture sector, 42 in the animal wealth sector, 16 in the fish wealth sector, and 29 in the environment sector.
• King Fahd University Hospital launches “Voice of the Beneficiary” King Fahd University Hospital in Al-Khobar, affiliated with Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, launched the “Voice of the Beneficiary” service as part of its patient experience week activities. The event was attended by the Dean of the College of Medicine and General Supervisor of the Hospital, Dr. Bassam Awari, and the Executive Director, Dr. Mohammed Al-Shehrani, along with a number of specialized doctors.
• Launch of “Enriching Our Visitors for Our Personnel” Initiative The Presidency for Religious Affairs at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque launched the “Enriching Our Visitors for Our Personnel” initiative within the framework of the operational plan for the Umrah season 1447 AH to enrich the spiritual experience of visitors. The presidency explained that the initiative includes a package of field awareness and guidance services for pilgrims and worshippers, in addition to distributing Qurans, enrichment gifts, and booklets at the Grand Mosque.
• Madinah Municipality issues 4729 licenses and permits The Municipality of Madinah Region issued a total of 4729 licenses and permits through the “Baladi” platform during June 2025, as part of its continuous efforts to support the business sector, promote urban development, and stimulate the investment environment in the region. The issued statistics included the approval of 492 new building permits, 460 demolition decisions, in addition to 127 licenses for commercial activities operating for 24 hours, and the issuance of 824 professional licenses and 2822 health certificates.
• Red Crescent in Makkah: Over 30,000 volunteer hours provided Volunteers of the Saudi Red Crescent Authority in Makkah Region recorded over 30,362 volunteer hours during the second quarter of 2025, during which the Authority organized 509 volunteer opportunities. These opportunities varied between providing ambulance services to visitors of the Grand Mosque, pilgrims, and worshippers in the squares of the Holy Mosque, in addition to social, health, and sports volunteer opportunities, as well as participation in international days, events, and exhibitions.
• Environment Ministry participates in a course on rainwater harvesting A national team from the Environment, Water, and Agriculture System, comprising 12 specialists from the Ministry’s Water Agency, the National Center for Irrigation, and the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification, participated in the activities of the training course organized by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce in cooperation with “Qanshu” on rainwater harvesting technologies and their uses. This was attended by representatives of the Chinese Ministry of Water Resources and a number of experts and specialists in the field of water during the period from July 3rd to 22nd in Lanzhou City, People’s Republic of China.
• Imam University supports 120 talented students from schools Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University, represented by the Deanship of Student Affairs, is hosting the activities of the “Mawhiba Academic Enrichment Program 2025” at the College of Computer Science and Information. The program focuses on supporting and developing the capabilities of more than 120 talented students from middle and high school in an integrated academic environment.
• Jeddah Airport welcomes 25 million passengers in 2025 King Abdulaziz International Airport continued to set record operational numbers and announced unprecedented results in passenger and flight traffic during the first half of 2025, with a total of 25.5 million passengers, reflecting a 6.8% growth compared to the same period last year. The airport witnessed significant growth in the total number of flights, reaching over 150 thousand flights, an increase of 6.3% over the previous year.
• Kingdom’s students compete with over 90 countries in Chemistry Olympiad The activities of the 57th International Chemistry Olympiad 2025, organized by the United Arab Emirates, kicked off in Dubai and will continue until July 14, with the participation of the Saudi national team alongside over 90 countries. The Olympiad, in which more than 300 male and female students from the second stage participate, is considered the largest international competition in the field of chemistry, and is held annually in a different country since its launch in 1968.
• 2 Billion Riyals for Water and Sanitation Projects in Aseer The National Water Company began implementing 38 water and sanitation projects in the Asir region, covering coastal areas. These projects include the implementation of lines and networks exceeding 2,534 linear kilometers, with a total cost approaching 2 billion riyals. This comes within the framework of its continuous efforts to implement its strategic plans for preparing infrastructure and environmental services in the water sector, and to raise coverage rates for the services it provides to its customers.
• Shura Council calls for addressing delays in mosque permit issuance and Imam appointments The Shura Council emphasized to the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawa, and Guidance the need to address delays in issuing permits for mosque construction, permits for holding Friday prayers, and appointments for imams and muezzins. It also called for studying the reasons for these delays. The Council also approved coordination with relevant authorities to encourage the expansion of non-profit organizations dedicated to mosque care and maintenance.
• Oil prices retreat as markets assess new tariffs and increased OPEC+ output Oil prices fell yesterday, Tuesday, by about 2% after rising in the previous session, as investors assessed new developments regarding US tariffs and an increase in OPEC+ production that exceeded expectations in August. Brent crude futures fell by 22 cents, or 0.3%, to reach $69.36 per barrel.
• Signs of strong US demand limit crude losses The American President Donald Trump intensified on Monday by notifying 14 countries that much higher tariffs will come into effect on August 1st. The list included major American suppliers such as Japan and South Korea, in addition to smaller exporters such as Serbia, Thailand, and Tunisia.
• Gold stable amid dollar gains.. Trade war fuels inflation fears Gold prices stabilized yesterday, Tuesday, after US President Donald Trump’s threats to impose tariffs on his trading partners, including Japan and South Korea, spurred some safe-haven demand, although the dollar’s recovery and rising US Treasury yields limited gains in precious metals markets. Spot gold prices fell by 0.1% to reach $2,331.85 per ounce as of 06:12 GMT.
• IATA: Aviation sector contributes 3.9% of global GDP The International Air Transport Association (IATA) expressed its deep disappointment at the recommendation of the global working group on solidarity taxes to target the air transport sector “to improve domestic revenue mobilization for developing countries and support international solidarity, especially with regard to mitigating and adapting to the effects of climate change, and confronting epidemics and other development challenges”. The announcement lacks important details and is based on estimates from the CI Consulting company, which states that the luxury air travel tax may generate 78 billion US dollars annually.
• Our Generation and the Passion for Innovation and Creativity The interest and patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Chairman of the Supreme Committee for Research, Development, and Innovation, is an expression of the national priorities in research, development, innovation, and creativity, and the acceleration of progress towards growth, diversification, and development of our national economy. This aims to create numerous job opportunities in related sectors and lead them, facilitating the lives of citizens, taking into account modern developments and their evolution in energy, industry, and their derivatives, and capable of contributing effectively to building a knowledge society.
• Four Illusions Shops There are many exciting groups or individuals, whether they are small shops that sell illusions and lies, and are fully ready to promote all those dazzling illusions and deceptive dreams. I will try to be brief and concise, but I will try to focus on only four of those shops and stalls that sell illusions and mirages, or to put it in marketing and attraction language: the four most popular and best-selling shops among the targeted and exploited segments and categories.
• The First Shop: The Shop of Heroics and Slogans In reality, they are merely vocal phenomena that vanish at the first test. They are one of the most dangerous sources of selling illusions and deceptive appearances, even for small and simple generations. You might find many who bought into the experience and were deceived, even among older and experienced individuals, who were later let down by their age.
• The Second Shop: The Shop of Illusory Rapid Wealth This is the shop that unsuspecting buyers seek in the markets of illusion and deception through those deceptive promises and attractive wealth. The temptations are so immense that many young men and women, and even older and experienced individuals, fell victim to this fever and illusion, abandoning their jobs and businesses in pursuit of quick wealth after those shops promoted illusions and deceptive wealth.
• The Third Shop: The Shop of Illusory Self-Development This is hidden behind the deceptive cover of self-development training courses and programs, and the illusory stars of illusion and trickery. I wish the illusion would stop at that, but the mirage continues and expands, and the deception spreads through thousands of books, courses, energies, and misleading reports.
• The Fourth Shop: The Shop of Illusory Certificates and Titles This begins with the illusion of “buying certificates” and progresses through honorary memberships and illusory positions from those nominal universities, and ends – if there is an end to this long illusory path – with illusory awards and titles like Ambassador of Good Intentions, Exceptional Thinker, Pioneer of Ethics, and others, such as the great sports critic and distinguished literary figure.
• Political Selfishness and Its Negative Impacts on the Arab Region The general political selfishness, if it were to lead to great negative consequences for individuals, societies, and states at all levels, whether individual, collective, regional, international, or global. And if the historical events, both near and far, testify to the extent of the danger of political selfishness, then the regional states in the region must avoid political selfishness and seek to distance themselves from it through wisdom, foresight, and rationality.
• Public Transportation Project in Al-Ahsa… Towards a Sustainable Urban Mobility Future In a scene reflecting the Kingdom’s aspirations for a modern, developed future, Al-Ahsa Governorate witnessed the launch of the public transportation project in Al-Ahsa, “Al-Ahsa Buses,” which is considered a qualitative leap in the services system, and an ambitious step towards achieving the goals of Vision 2030 in improving the quality of life and developing municipal and infrastructure in urban areas. The “Al-Ahsa Buses” project is one of the most prominent public transportation projects that embody the scale of transformation and development witnessed by the governorate in its various sectors, especially in the field of infrastructure and public services.
• Ronaldo’s Testimony in the Kingdom of Humanity, don’t spoil it with your fanaticism Cristiano Ronaldo’s testimony in Saudi Arabia, the most famous and widely followed sports icon globally, is a great testimony (we ask Allah to make him utter the Shahada as a Muslim) for a nation that he witnesses and is worthy of it (we ask Allah not to make him betray). We all must exploit it in the media as a soft power and a testimony that serves our national goals, far from sectarian fanaticism. This is natural, and Saudi Arabia has already attracted this globally beloved icon due to our global excellence in serving pilgrims, and economically, health-wise, politically, in humanitarian services, peace, relief, and environmentally.
• Liverpool star welcomes Ronaldo’s company at Al-Nassr Liverpool star Luis Diaz appeared happy in a widely circulated video on social media when he was asked about moving to Al-Nassr club during the current summer transfer period and playing alongside Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo. In recent hours, a video circulated by the famous Colombian content creator, Linda, in which the Liverpool player stated that he wishes to see himself playing with Ronaldo at Al-Nassr in the future, as it will provide him with excellent passes.
• Sindi nominates himself for Al-Ittihad presidency Fahd Sindi, a member of Al-Ittihad Club’s Board of Directors, officially announced his candidacy for the club’s board presidency, succeeding the former president, Luay Mashaabi, who announced his departure from the presidency after the end of the last season. Fahd Sindi addressed a message to Al-Ittihad club members and fans through his official account on the X platform, stating: “In an exceptional season where the spirit of Al-Ittihad embodied all its meanings, and the Dean was crowned with a wonderful double.
• Green Hand starts Eastern Province camp The training sessions for the Saudi national handball youth team began at the open indoor camp held in the Eastern Province, specifically at Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz Sports City Hall in Qatif during the period from July 7 to 12. This comes as part of the preparation program for the World Championship scheduled to be held in Egypt from August 5 to 15, 2025.
• Newcastle agrees to sign Swedish Isak English club Newcastle United has agreed to a $75 million deal to sign Swedish striker Alexander Isak from Real Sociedad, marking their first transfer of the summer window, according to media reports on Tuesday. The Athletic, BBC, and Sky Sports announced that the Swedish international is on his way to St. James’ Park.
• Ancelotti coaches Botafogo Brazilian first-division football club Botafogo announced the appointment of Davide Ancelotti, son of Brazilian national team coach Carlo Ancelotti, as the team’s coach. Davide, 35, who worked as an assistant to his father at Bayern Munich, Napoli, Everton, and most recently at Real Madrid, signed a one-year contract with Botafogo.
• Szczesny stays with Barcelona Barcelona football club announced that Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has extended his contract with the club until 2027, according to the Spanish League champions of the past season. The Catalan giant announced in a statement regarding its 35-year-old goalkeeper: “Barcelona club and its player Wojciech Szczesny have reached an agreement to extend his contract with the club until June 30, 2027”.
• Musiala out for five months Bayern Munich’s German star Jamal Musiala will be out for a “long period” after suffering a fractured fibula and dislocated ankle during the Club World Cup on Sunday, according to an announcement by the German football champions. The 22-year-old German international suffered the injury during a collision with Paris Saint-Germain’s Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma in the quarter-final match, which the French capital club won 2-0 on Saturday in Atlanta.
• Croatian Rakitic retires Croatian international Ivan Rakitic, who spent most of his career with Spanish clubs Sevilla and Barcelona, announced his retirement from football on Monday at the age of 37. Rakitic wrote a message on social media about his career: “Football, you have given me more than I ever dreamed of, you have given me friends, joy, emotions, and tears”.
• Green Futsal participates in Continental Championship The Saudi national futsal team will participate in the Continental Futsal Championship 2025, hosted by Thailand from July 29 to August 3, 2025. Seven national teams will participate in the tournament: Saudi Arabia, Thailand (host), Belarus, New Zealand, Australia, Zambia, and Chinese Taipei.
• In the Net The Club World Cup is nearing its end, with Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain playing in the semi-finals. Initial predictions and preferences do not favor one team over the other, as both are equally strong European teams.
• Al-Hamal: We prepared Al-Khaleej for the upcoming administration Al-Khaleej Club President, Alaa Al-Hamal, dispelled the concerns of the fans about the club’s inability to handle the upcoming administration after his presidency ended, stating: “Everything I could do to prepare the team, which is about to start its training soon, is done”. Al-Hamal assured Al-Khaleej fans about the future of the football team, saying that “things are under control, and all the files of foreign and local players are ready, as they have been submitted to the association for approval, and then they will be announced through the club’s official channels”.
• Registration opens for football coaching courses The Technical Department of the Saudi Football Federation announced the opening of registration for football coaching courses for the 2025-2026 sports season. This comes within the framework of continuing to implement the technical development plan and connecting target groups with the latest training and educational developments.
• Women’s national team concludes Asian participation The Saudi women’s national team concluded its first participation in the Asian Qualifiers for the 2026 Asian Cup, which was held in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, as part of the group that included the national teams of the Philippines, Hong Kong, and Cambodia. During the qualifiers, which lasted from June 29 to July 3, the Green Falcons played three matches.
• Al-Taif… Authenticity and Beauty Al-Taif has moved beyond being merely known as one of the most prominent and attractive tourist destinations in the Kingdom, to a stage where its components have elevated it to the level of competitive integration, making it a destination that greatly contributes to enriching the tourist experience. It is characterized by its unique geographical location, which offers a wide range of options for visitors and tourists to enjoy a unique experience and live unforgettable moments in its familiar surroundings.
• Tourism in Al-Baha… Increasing Demand The tourist sites in Al-Baha region are witnessing increasing demand from visitors and locals during these days, benefiting from the moderate summer weather that characterizes the region, and what it holds of charming nature and breathtaking mountain terrains. Visitors and locals flocked to a number of famous parks and forests, such as Raghdan Forest, Prince Hussam Park, and Al-Safa Heights, where visitors enjoyed the beauty of nature and green spaces.
• “Summer of Najran”… Entertainment and Cultural Options The “Summer of Najran” festival, organized by the Najran Region Municipality under the slogan “Saifna Hail,” offers a wide range of recreational, cultural, and sports activities that meet the needs of all community members, in a pleasant atmosphere. The municipality has prepared over 160 municipal parks and gardens, and a main pedestrian walkway, to welcome visitors in cooperation and coordination with various government and private entities, enabling them to enjoy the festival’s activities, which will last for 45 days.
• Sudah Asir… Hail and Rain A delightful journey of continuous rain formed a joyful scene for tourists and visitors to these high mountains, whose elevation reaches over 3000 feet above sea level. These atmospheres were inspired by the hail and abundant rain that covered the region, transforming it into a beautiful painting on these towering heights and their agricultural terraces.
• “The Destination”… A Film Documenting a Nation’s Journey The Saudi Ministry of Media, through its “Treasures of Saudi Arabia” initiative, launched the documentary film “The Destination,” as part of its efforts to document the major national transformations. The film tells the story of the Kingdom in confronting challenges and achieving qualitative achievements in various fields, as part of the national transformation journey for Saudi Vision 2030.
• Cultural Workshop to Discuss Mechanisms for Introducing Intangible Heritage A cultural workshop organized by “Baitukum… Ya Hii” in Aseer region discussed the new generations’ relationship with intangible heritage, and mechanisms for introducing them to traditional arts, some of which were almost lost with modern technological developments. The researcher, Muhammad Al-Baqami, presented the workshop activities at the “Qusoor Abu Al-Khashab” – 11 km northwest of Abha – attended by a group of those interested in culture and arts, under the main theme “Aseer… We are the Living Heritage”.
• Chinese University Signs Agreement with “Research and Communication” The Research and Knowledge Communication Center in Riyadh hosted a high-level academic delegation from the China and Arab Countries Studies Institute at Ningxia University, as part of a visit during which a discussion session was held titled: “Exploring avenues of cooperation between the Research and Knowledge Communication Center and Ningxia University”. The Chinese delegation included Professor Ke Guoji, President of Ningxia University, Dr. Peng Zhihong, Deputy Secretary-General of the Self-Governing Region’s Education Committee, and Mr. Zhao Yafeng, Director of the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange, Dr. Gu Haian, Party Branch Secretary of the College of Foreign Languages, Professor Wang Li, Executive Dean of the College of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, and Professor Liu Dongning, Professor of Arabic Language at the University.
• Launch of an educational program between King Salman Complex and “SAR” The King Salman Global Academy for the Arabic Language launched the “Arabic Language Teaching for Non-Native Speakers” program in cooperation with the Saudi Railways “SAR”. This comes within the Academy’s efforts to support the use of the Arabic language in professional and specialized contexts, and to enhance its presence in various work sectors, in line with the objectives of the Human Capability Development Program.
• “From the Secrets of the Wolf” The researcher: Faihan bin Bajad Al-Otaibi completed a book about the wolf titled: “From the Secrets of the Wolf… Its Life in the Arabian Peninsula”. The book, consisting of 133 pages, covered many topics about the wolf, most notably: the wolf in the Holy Quran and prophetic hadith, the wolf’s message, its testimony before us, its intelligence in proverbs, the wolf’s age, its way of walking during night and day, its method of attack, the difference between a den and a lair, the wolf’s approach to prey, its way of chasing camels, attacking humans, the wolf and eating jinns, its access to water, the wolf’s situation with the hunting dog, the wolf’s revenge and leap, the difference between wolves, the migration of the wolf, the belief of pre-Islamic Arabs in it, and stories and situations with the wolf.
• Reflections on the Age of Fake Fame During my viewing of the الخليجي series “Afkar Ommi” yesterday, a scene caught my attention that reflected a painful reality we have been living for a long time. This reality is imposed on us by the social media figures who offer nothing relevant to our lives and have no connection to us. In the “Afkar Ommi” series, artistic personalities emerged who played roles that, despite their lack of conviction, some artists have abandoned for years.
• Hour Al-Abdullah sets the emotional timing “hour by hour” The Saudi artist, Hour Al-Abdullah, released her new song “Hour by Hour,” a lyrical work that breathes emotion and captures the details of waiting and longing in a contemporary dramatic and lyrical style. She collaborated with the poet Hamid Al-Gharbawi for the lyrics, and Maytham Alaa El-Din for the melody and arrangement.
• “Talal and Halim”… Beauty not born of comfort The creativity has been linked to the psychological state throughout history, that deep sensitivity that grants the artist an exceptional ability to perceive what others cannot see or hear. This state is not madness in its medical sense, but an internal transcendence, and a passion that leads him to delve into the layers of the soul and hope.
• “Pillars of Gulf Art” documents the authentic experience of pioneers A new book titled “Pillars of Gulf Art” was recently published by the National Council for Culture, Arts, and Literature. In it, Dr. Khaled Al-Qallaf, the academic researcher, delves into the research and documentation journey of a number of pioneers who contributed to shaping the features of vocal art in the Arabian Gulf.
• Omar Al-Jasser is a member of the “Mednine” Film Festival jury The Higher Authority for the Madnin Cities Administration, the general secretariat of the Arab Union for Cinemas – represented by director Dr. Omar Al-Jasser – approved the jury for the 28th session of the Mednin International Film Festival in Jerba, from October 25-28. Al-Jasser expressed his thanks and appreciation to the festival administration for this nomination, hoping for the success of the 2025 Mednin Film Festival.
• Walid Al-Shami agrees with Rotana Music As an extension of the brilliant and successful journey that united the star Walid Al-Shami with Rotana Music Group over the past years, the two parties have agreed on a new cooperation contract for five more years. The contract signing ceremony took place yesterday at Rotana Music Group’s offices, presided over by Professor Salem Al-Hindi, the CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Rotana Music Group.
• Kuwaiti Sheikh cured his servant of smallpox with the scent of a bustard bird The previous disease of smallpox, which was endemic in the region and other parts of the Arabian Peninsula, spread from the early thirties of the twentieth century in the Najd region before turning into a widespread epidemic that swept across the entire Najd region in 1939 (1358 AH). Violet Dickson, the British author, states in her book “Forty Years in Kuwait” that the disease began to infiltrate Kuwait from Najd in the early thirties through Najdi patients who visited Kuwait’s markets to buy their food supplies and goods.
• Who wants the summer resort while the heat is upon him… The Kingdom has wonderful resorts The poet Saleh Al-Bashiri from Al-Qassim wrote a verse last week. It says: “O you who seek the summer resort while the heat is upon you… The Kingdom has wonderful resorts”.
• Modern Environment The Northern Borders region is witnessing increasing demand during the summer season. This is especially true for pedestrian walkways and sports facilities, as locals flock to them, reflecting a growing community awareness of the importance of a healthy lifestyle.
• The Golden Weaver… An Engineer of Nests The golden weaver, or “Al-Nassaj,” is considered one of the most skilled and intricate birds in building nests globally. It possesses amazing natural abilities in weaving its nests with threads of grass, using its beak and small claws to create precise geometric designs, making its nest a natural masterpiece hanging between branches.
• “Resin”… A Craft Mimicking Ha’il and its Landmarks The “Resin Art” pavilion showcased its artistic works and designs, inspired by Ha’il’s diverse nature and unique landmarks, at the “Al-Bait Beitkum… Ya Hay” exhibition, in its fourth edition at Aja Park in Ha’il. This was met with admiration from art connoisseurs and enthusiasts, and the festive, cultural, heritage, and entertainment atmosphere surrounding the festival added to its beauty.
• Real Estate Registration Begins in Eastern Province and Makkah The General Real Estate Authority announced the start of in-kind real estate registration for 14,878 real estate parcels in 20 neighborhoods in Al-Ahsa Governorate, Eastern Province, starting from July 27, 2025 (corresponding to Safar 2, 1447 AH) until October 23, 2025 (corresponding to Rabi’ Al-Awwal 1, 1447 AH). In-kind real estate registration will begin in Makkah Region, specifically in Jeddah Governorate, from August 24, 2025, until November 27, 2025 (corresponding to Jumada Al-Akhirah 6, 1447 AH).
• 11.8 Million Judicial Electronic Notifications in Six Months The Ministry of Justice revealed that the number of notifications sent electronically to parties in judicial cases reached over 11.8 million messages during the first half of the current year 2025. Electronic notification contributed to enhancing the effectiveness of judicial procedures and reducing the duration of the first session, which in turn enhances the quality of judicial guarantees for parties in legal cases and achieves justice.
• “WSIS” The Kingdom… Excellence in the Forum The Kingdom won the Grand Prize and 3 Certificates of Excellence at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) forum, organized by the International Telecommunication Union in partnership with several UN organizations in Geneva. This recognition came for its innovative projects, competing with over 194 countries.
• Yemeni Al-Houthi resumes attacks on commercial ships A cargo ship has been under continuous attack in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen since Monday, leaving “severe damage” to the ship, according to an update to the British Maritime Trade Operations Authority’s report on Monday. The authority stated that the ship “suffered severe damage and lost propulsion… it is surrounded by small boats and is under continuous attack,” adding that “authorities are investigating the matter”.
• US President: Sanctions on Iran will be lifted at the appropriate time US President Donald Trump said he wants to lift tough US sanctions on Iran at the appropriate time. Speaking to reporters on Monday evening after meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump said the latest move would escalate a similar step by Iran, expressing his hope that “I want to be able, at the appropriate time, to lift those sanctions and give them a chance to rebuild, because I want to see Iran rebuild itself peacefully, not to repeat slogans like: Death to America, Death to the United States, Death to Israel, as they used to do”.
• BRICS: Between limited interest and benefit for Russia Russian President Vladimir Putin was the strongest supporter of the BRICS group, an international grouping that until recently included Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. In 2024, the group’s membership was expanded to include Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia. Other countries from what Russia calls the “Global Majority” have also submitted applications to join the group and are expected to join in the coming years.
• “Climate Change” Impacts Global Agricultural Productivity Climate change limits the ability of agricultural crops to provide food, as the productivity of calories for six of them, and for wheat and rice, will decrease globally by between 11% and 24% by the year 2100, even if agricultural practices adapt to warming, according to a study published recently. The study, published in the journal “Nature,” states that for every additional degree Celsius of warming, the world’s ability to produce food will decrease by 120 calories per person per day, which is equivalent to 4.4% of the daily consumption starting from the reference period chosen by the researchers, which is the beginning of the first decade of the twenty-first century.

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

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