This collection of articles from a daily newspaper covers a diverse range of topics, providing insight into domestic and international affairs. Key sections highlight Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic efforts, particularly its role in promoting a two-state solution for Palestine, and its economic progress post-2030 Vision. There are also reports on sports, including football and basketball news, as well as cultural features such as art installations and traditional poetry. Additionally, social issues like safety warnings against scorpions and snakes, and reports on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza due to conflict, are addressed. The newspaper also includes advertisements and contact information, indicating its broad scope as a public information source.
Podcast
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030: A National Development Drive
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is currently undergoing a significant developmental drive under an ambitious vision that aims to transform its economy and society. This vision, primarily driven by Vision 2030, focuses on placing the citizen at the heart of prosperity and investing in all vital sectors to achieve comprehensive national targets.
Here’s a breakdown of regional development efforts and their key aspects:
- Overarching Strategy and Goals:
- The Kingdom is actively creating a new developmental narrative, demonstrating continuous work and accelerated national movement towards achieving its Vision 2030 targets.
- This includes building a prosperous, vital society that values its principles and is globally competitive.
- The continuous oversight by the Council of Ministers, guided by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Crown Prince, ensures a diligent work methodology that contributes to state-building and development acceleration.
- International bodies, such as the International Monetary Fund, acknowledge the Kingdom’s economic achievements as a result of a long-term strategy that extends beyond 2030. This strategy emphasizes economic diversification away from oil, aiming to increase the non-oil sector’s contribution to the national GDP.
- Key Pillars of Regional Development:
- Economic Diversification and Local Content:
- New industrial projects are being launched, particularly in the Eastern Province, as part of a comprehensive developmental drive. These initiatives aim to develop local content, enhance competitive industrial capacity, and create an attractive investment environment for innovators and entrepreneurs.
- The “Quality of Life Program,” a Vision 2030 initiative, is vital in developing infrastructure and fostering cultural, recreational, and sports sectors.
- Agricultural areas, especially in the Southern Region (Baha, Asir, Taif), are transforming fruit and rose farms into tourism and recreational destinations, which increases their economic returns and diversifies regional offerings.
- Innovation and Digital Transformation:
- The Hail Region Emirate has organized an “Emara-thon” internal hackathon, a strategic move to foster innovation within government entities and empower employees to generate creative solutions for local developmental challenges. This aims to improve work efficiency and service quality.
- The General Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence (“SDAIA”) is exploring “Agentic AI” (Agentic Artificial Intelligence) and its applications, which represents a qualitative leap in AI capabilities, focusing on independent decision-making and task execution without direct human intervention. This aligns with Vision 2030’s goal of building a leading digital economy.
- The Kingdom’s logistics performance index has notably improved from 49th to 38th globally (as of 2023, according to the World Bank) and among the top four emerging markets (in 2025, according to “Agility” report), reflecting significant investments in infrastructure, digital transformation in trade, and improved service quality.
- Urban and Social Development:
- Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah has seen two of its major cities, Medina and Jeddah, accredited by the World Health Organization as “healthy cities,” showcasing a commitment to preventive health, quality of life, and inter-agency integration.
- The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development is working on developing the elder care system, shifting from a traditional model to a national model based on empowerment and governance. This includes digital solutions like “Imtiaz” cards to ease access to services for the elderly.
- Jazan is undertaking six municipal projects worth 56 million Riyals to improve asphalt, sanitation, and operations in Haroob province, with three projects already completed. The governor emphasizes continuous support for service sectors to enhance performance.
- The General Security noted that the courtyard of the Grand Mosque (“Sahat Al-Mataf”) is designated solely for circumambulation, and praying there impedes the smooth movement of pilgrims, especially during peak times. This highlights efforts to ensure efficient and safe management of religious sites.
- Infrastructure and Connectivity:
- The General Transport Authority conducted over 367,000 inspection operations in land and maritime transport during July 2025, ensuring compliance with regulations and contributing to reliable transport services. Riyadh region had the highest number of inspections.
- Al-Faqra village in Medina, a mountainous tourist destination, suffers from a lack of essential services, especially water supply for drinking and irrigation. Residents rely on expensive water tanks, and internal roads need paving and lighting. This highlights ongoing challenges in some remote areas.
- Education and Human Capital Development:
- The Eastern Province’s Governor emphasized the importance of early preparation for the new academic year to ensure a stimulating educational environment. This aligns with the leadership’s aspirations to build qualified and competitive generations.
- In Al-Jawf, a program for education development (2025-2035) aims to improve the quality of education and its outcomes, aligning with the Ministry of Education’s national initiatives.
- The Medina Book Fair included a seminar on “Teaching Arabic to Non-Native Speakers,” showcasing the Kingdom’s efforts to promote the Arabic language globally as a cultural and value-driven project.
- Security and Governance:
- The Deputy Governor of Riyadh highlighted significant qualitative development in the Ministry of Interior’s system, supported by the leadership, which enhances security and stability across all regions. The Unified Security Operations Center (911) handles emergency reports efficiently across Riyadh city and 22 provinces.
- The Governor of Tabuk emphasized the leadership’s commitment to enhancing integrity, transparency, combating corruption, and safeguarding public funds and national gains.
- Cultural and Heritage Preservation:
- The Al Abu Sarrah Palaces in Asir, a historical site dating back to 1835, have been restored and transformed into a cultural and artistic hub, offering a rich historical experience that aligns with Vision 2030’s aim to showcase the Kingdom’s cultural and heritage wealth.
- The Ministry of Culture’s participation in the Medina Book Fair 2025, celebrating “Handicrafts Year,” highlights the economic and social importance of traditional crafts and aims to preserve cultural heritage.
- The “Al-Haratha” (plowing) event at the Al-Atawlah Heritage Festival in Baha showcases traditional farming methods, preserving regional identity and connecting visitors to the past.
These diverse initiatives demonstrate a comprehensive approach to regional development, aligning with the broader national goals of Vision 2030 to build a diversified, sustainable, and prosperous future for the Kingdom.
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and Global Dynamics
The sources provided offer a comprehensive look at various facets of international relations, primarily through the lens of Saudi Arabia’s engagement, but also touching upon global geopolitical and economic dynamics.
Saudi Arabia is actively pursuing a strategic vision (Vision 2030) that aims to enhance its global standing and influence across multiple sectors. The Kingdom’s developmental drive, overseen by the Council of Ministers, reflects a diligent and accelerated national movement towards achieving comprehensive national targets, building a prosperous and globally competitive society. International bodies, such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), have acknowledged Saudi Arabia’s economic achievements as the result of a long-term strategy extending beyond 2030, which emphasizes economic diversification away from oil and aims to increase the non-oil sector’s contribution to GDP.
Saudi Arabia’s Proactive Role in Global Affairs:
- Economic Influence and Diversification: The IMF has noted the “increasing global presence” of Saudi policies, indicating the Kingdom’s influence beyond the energy market to areas like sustainable finance, digital transformation, and financial governance, solidifying its position as an influential partner in reshaping the global economy.
- Logistics and Connectivity: The Kingdom’s logistics performance index significantly improved from 49th to 38th globally in 2023 (according to the World Bank) and is projected to be among the top four emerging markets in 2025 (Agility report). This improvement is a result of substantial investments in infrastructure, digital transformation in trade, and enhanced service quality, positioning Saudi Arabia as a global logistics hub connecting three continents.
- Hosting Global Events: Saudi Arabia’s hosting of major global events, such as the Riyadh Expo and the FIFA World Cup, is expected to actively contribute to non-oil economic growth, stimulate infrastructure and public utilities investment, and enhance its status as a global and regional hub for events.
- Digital Transformation and AI: The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) is exploring “Agentic AI” applications, which represents a qualitative leap in AI capabilities, focusing on independent decision-making and task execution. This aligns with Vision 2030’s goal of building a leading digital economy and its ambition for global AI leadership.
Diplomatic and Humanitarian Efforts:
- Palestine and the Two-State Solution:The Council of Ministers reviewed with appreciation the positive outcomes of the international high-level conference on the peaceful settlement of the Palestinian issue and the implementation of the two-state solution, which Saudi Arabia co-chaired with France.
- The Council reiterated Saudi Arabia’s call to all United Nations (UN) member states to support the conference’s concluding document, which provides a comprehensive and implementable framework for applying the two-state solution, achieving international security and peace, and contributing to the future of the region and its peoples.
- The Kingdom continues its comprehensive support for the State of Palestine and its brotherly people, particularly on the humanitarian front, by sending aid shipments via air and sea bridges to Gaza, including shelter, medical, and food assistance.
- The sources also highlight the growing international recognition of the Palestinian state, with several countries declaring their intent to do so, including France, the United Kingdom, Canada, Malta, and Portugal, with many aiming for September 2025.
- The final statement of the conference explicitly supported the two-state solution based on the 1967 borders, including East Jerusalem, peaceful coexistence, and mutual recognition, emphasizing ending the occupation and achieving a just and lasting peace.
- The conference’s outcomes included proposals covering political, security, humanitarian, economic, legal, and strategic dimensions, forming a practical and time-bound action plan.
- The Palestinian Ministry of Health and UNICEF have reported dire conditions in Gaza, with 28 children dying daily due to Israeli shelling and deliberate starvation, and over 1,500 Palestinians succumbing while attempting to access food. UNICEF has called for an immediate ceasefire.
- The Palestinian Center for Prisoners’ Affairs condemned an Israeli law allowing detention without charges, stating it violates international and humanitarian laws.
- Australia’s Foreign Minister affirmed that the two-state solution offers the best realistic opportunity for peace and stability in the Middle East.
- Bilateral and Multilateral Cooperation: The Council of Ministers has approved several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), demonstrating Saudi Arabia’s expanding international partnerships:
- An MoU for cooperation in mineral resources with Mongolia.
- An MoU for cooperation in health and medical sciences with Thailand.
- An MoU on customs cooperation and mutual administrative assistance with New Zealand.
- An MoU for the development of non-oil exports with Oman.
- An MoU on competition protection with Kuwait.
- An MoU for cooperation in accounting and auditing with Pakistan’s Auditor General’s Office.
- An MoU on technical and vocational training with SESRIC (Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries).
- The King and Crown Prince also sent congratulatory messages to the President of Burkina Faso on their Independence Day, signifying diplomatic courtesies and state-level communication.
- The Sri Lankan Ambassador to Saudi Arabia expressed pride in the strong relations between the two countries and lauded Saudi Arabia’s leading role in promoting tolerance and moderation globally, particularly through its efforts in Islamic affairs, training imams, and Quranic competitions.
- A seminar on “Teaching Arabic to Non-Native Speakers” at the Medina Book Fair highlighted Saudi Arabia’s commitment to promoting the Arabic language globally as a cultural and value-driven project, fostering communication and understanding.
Global Geopolitical Dynamics and Challenges:
- US-Russia Tensions and the Ukraine Conflict:The world is witnessing a new phase of the Cold War, characterized by heightened tension in US-Russia relations, including military clashes, maneuvers, and sharp rhetoric across various fronts such as Ukraine, the Arctic, and cyberspace.
- US and Russian media outlets are actively reporting on and interpreting these tensions, with US papers focusing on escalated Russian attacks in eastern Ukraine and Russian naval movements near NATO, while Russian media condemns “Western provocations” and accuses Washington of encircling Russia.
- Both sides highlight their military capabilities, with Russia emphasizing its “superiority in new nuclear defense and attack systems”.
- Strategic experts agree that a full-scale war would be catastrophic, leading both sides to rely on proxy and information warfare.
- Proposed solutions include re-establishing direct diplomatic channels (like the Cold War’s “Red Line”), negotiating new arms treaties (nuclear and hypersonic), and strengthening the role of international organizations like the UN and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in monitoring volatile areas.
- US President Trump has threatened to impose “large” tariffs on countries trading with Moscow if a ceasefire in Ukraine is not reached, a move criticized by the Kremlin as an attempt to “force countries to sever their trade relations”.
- Trump also ordered the deployment of two American nuclear submarines in response to provocative statements from Russia, further escalating tensions.
- Russia announced it no longer considers itself bound by its unilateral moratorium on intermediate-range missile deployment due to the West’s actions, signaling a potential arms race.
- Both Russia and Ukraine have escalated attacks on strategic railway lines, aiming to disrupt enemy supply routes.
- Global Economic Challenges: The IMF report, while praising Saudi Arabia’s economic resilience, did not overlook the current global challenges, including escalating trade tensions and continued global uncertainty, which necessitate accelerating structural reforms.
- Trade Relations with the US: The European Union (EU) anticipates some trade disruptions with the United States but believes it has a robust agreement in place regarding tariffs.
- Media and Public Perception: The sources highlight the challenges in international relations posed by the rapid spread of information and misinformation through digital platforms. The article on “Silence in Media Crises” notes that crises often originate from social media (WhatsApp, X, Snapchat), where information spreads virally, making it difficult to control narratives and respond effectively in the fast-paced digital environment. This underlines the importance of effective, rapid, and empathetic communication in managing perceptions on the global stage.
Overall, the sources illustrate Saudi Arabia’s multifaceted approach to international relations, driven by its Vision 2030, which involves active participation in global economic initiatives, robust diplomatic efforts in regional conflicts, and a growing network of bilateral and multilateral partnerships, all while navigating a complex and often turbulent global geopolitical landscape.
Saudi Sports Diplomacy: Vision, Growth, and Global Reach
International Relations, particularly in the context of sports, involve a complex interplay of national strategies, economic investments, diplomatic efforts, and global challenges. The sources highlight Saudi Arabia’s significant push to enhance its global standing and influence through a multi-faceted approach that extends into the sports arena, alongside broader geopolitical and economic dynamics.
Saudi Arabia’s Strategic Vision and Sports Diplomacy:
- Vision 2030 and Global Influence: Saudi Arabia is actively pursuing a “strategic vision (Vision 2030) that aims to enhance its global standing and influence across multiple sectors”. This developmental drive, overseen by the Council of Ministers, reflects an accelerated national movement towards achieving comprehensive national targets and building a globally competitive society. Hosting major global events, such as the FIFA World Cup, is expected to “actively contribute to non-oil economic growth, stimulate infrastructure and public utilities investment, and enhance its status as a global and regional hub for events”.
- Economic Diversification through Sports: The Kingdom’s efforts are aimed at economic diversification away from oil, increasing the non-oil sector’s contribution to GDP. The IMF acknowledged Saudi Arabia’s economic achievements as a result of a “long-term strategy extending beyond 2030”, emphasizing its “increasing global presence” beyond the energy market to areas like sustainable finance and digital transformation, solidifying its position as an “influential partner in reshaping the global economy”. Events like the FIFA World Cup are explicitly mentioned as contributors to this non-oil growth.
- Leveraging Logistics and Connectivity: Saudi Arabia’s logistics performance index significantly improved from 49th to 38th globally in 2023 (World Bank report) and is projected to be among the top four emerging markets in 2025 (Agility report). This improvement, a result of substantial investments in infrastructure and digital transformation, positions Saudi Arabia as a “global logistics hub connecting three continents”. This directly supports the hosting of global sports events requiring efficient logistics.
- Riyadh Season and Local Talent Empowerment: The General Entertainment Authority (GEA) is focusing on empowering Saudi and Gulf musicians and artists for the upcoming Riyadh Season. This move, announced by GEA Chairman Turki Al-Sheikh, aims for a “semi-complete reliance on Saudi and Gulf musicians and performers in concerts” and “Saudi and Gulf theater productions”. This strategy reinforces the Kingdom’s cultural identity and aims to boost the entertainment sector, creating new job opportunities in line with Vision 2030. The Riyadh Season also plans to host major global events, including the Esports World Cup, a comedy festival, boxing matches, UFC, and WWE shows, further cementing Riyadh’s status as a global entertainment hub.
Key Sports News and Developments:
- Saudi Super Cup 2025-2026 and 2026-2027:
- The Disciplinary and Ethics Committee of the Saudi Football Federation banned Al Hilal from participating in the Super Cup 2026-2027 and fined them 500,000 Saudi Riyals for their refusal to participate in the 2025-2026 Super Cup.
- Al Hilal officially apologized for not participating due to exceptional circumstances, including their participation in the FIFA Club World Cup in the USA, which led to a reduced annual leave for players (24 days instead of 28, or 21 days if they participated in the Super Cup), violating professional league regulations.
- The Club World Cup schedule and the late announcement of the Super Cup venue (Hong Kong) also contributed to Al Hilal’s decision, prioritizing the players’ well-being and the national team’s readiness. Al Hilal reached the quarterfinals of the Club World Cup, losing 2-1 to Fluminense. The 2025 Super Cup will be held in Hong Kong from August 19-23.
- Club Friendlies and Transfers:
- Al Ahli drew 1-1 with Emirati club Al Ain in a friendly match in Spain, with Riyad Mahrez scoring the equalizer.
- Al Ittihad won their fifth friendly match 5-1 against Portuguese club Uniao, with goals from Stephen Bergwijn, Saleh Al-Amri, Abdul Rahman Al-Aboud, and Al-Muwalled Al-Shehri. They had previously lost four friendlies. Al Ittihad is preparing for a Super Cup match against Al Nassr in Hong Kong on August 19.
- There is Saudi and English competition for Juventus player Douglas Luiz, with Nottingham Forest interested. Juventus is seeking over 30 million Euros for the player who joined them in 2024 for 51.5 million Euros.
- The Roshn Saudi League summer transfer window closes on September 10th. As of August 4th, 57 deals have been completed, but six clubs (Al-Shabab, Al-Hazm, Al-Najma, Samak, Al-Fateh, Al-Kholoud) have made no signings. The sources list various player movements for Al Hilal, Al Nassr, Al Qadisiyah, Al Shabab, Al Ahli, Al Ettifaq, Al Taawoun, Al-Raed, Al-Riyadh, Al-Khaleej, Al-Feiha, Al-Okhdood, Abha, and Al-Wehda.
- National Team Performances:
- The Saudi Men’s Basketball National Team (Al-Akhdar Al-Salla) lost its opening match in the FIBA Asia Cup 88-93 against China.
- The Saudi Futsal National Team (Al-Akhdar Al-Salat) finished as runner-up in the Continental Championship 2025, losing the final 3-2 to Thailand. Farhan Al-Asmari and Abdullah Maghribi scored for Saudi Arabia. The Saudi goalkeeper, Mohammed Al-Dahan, was recognized as the best goalkeeper of the tournament. This participation is part of their preparation for the AFC Futsal Asia Cup 2026, which Saudi Arabia will host in Dammam.
- The Saudi U15 National Football Team lost their opening match 2-0 to the USA in the CONCACAF Championship in Costa Rica.
- Three Saudi athletes will represent the Kingdom in the World Games 2025 in Chengdu, China, competing in Jujitsu, Karate (Kumite), and Triathlon, reflecting the leadership’s support for non-Olympic sports.
- The Saudi Balloon Federation is participating in the 51st French National Balloon Championship with a notable Saudi female pilot, Captain Afrah Ahmed, marking a significant step for women in adventure sports in the Kingdom.
- International Club and Player News:
- Liverpool won two friendly matches against Athletic Bilbao (4-1) and another Basque team (3-2) in their pre-season tour. Mohamed Salah scored, and Cody Gakpo netted two goals (one of which was an own goal). Manager Arne Slot praised the team’s performance and the new creative players. There was also a tribute to a deceased Liverpool player during the matches.
- Argentine star Lionel Messi will be out indefinitely due to a slight muscle injury in his right leg sustained during a Leagues Cup match with Inter Miami.
- Brazilian star Neymar scored two goals for Santos in their 3-1 victory over Juventude in the Brazilian League.
- South Korean star Son Heung-min made an emotional farewell to Tottenham in a friendly match in Seoul, which ended 1-1 against Newcastle. Son has not yet announced his next club.
- Barcelona has initiated disciplinary action against goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen for refusing to share his medical information with La Liga. This refusal could hinder Barcelona’s ability to register new players due to financial fair play regulations.
- Sports Media and Fan Culture:
- The sources discuss the important role of media in sports, but also highlight issues within Saudi sports media, such as fanatical bias, promotion of hate culture, and external interference.
- There is a strong call for objectivity, promoting love and unity among fans, and focusing on the core values of sportsmanship and ethics.
- The commentary points out that external media outlets often exploit internal rivalries and biases to sow discord, emphasizing that local sports competition should remain an internal matter.
- An example is given of a Saudi media figure, Ali Al-Zahrani, who exemplified national awareness by condemning a Gulf media personality for inciting fans against Saudi sports institutions.
- Al Hilal’s New Presidency:
- Prince Nawaf bin Saad is set to return as President of Al Hilal Club, marking a new chapter after Fahd bin Nafel announced he would not seek re-election.
- Prince Nawaf’s previous tenure (2015-2018) saw the club win five titles, including the league, two Crown Prince Cups, and the Super Cup. His return is seen as a “face of good fortune” (وجه السعد) for Al Hilal fans, promising stability and further success supported by strategic financial and administrative backing from Prince Alwaleed bin Talal.
In summary, the sports news from the sources illustrates Saudi Arabia’s comprehensive and ambitious approach to international relations through sports, encompassing significant investments, strategic event hosting, and a focus on developing local talent and infrastructure, all while navigating the complexities of modern media and global competition.
Saudi Vision 2030: Culture, Tourism, and Economic Diversification
Saudi Arabia is actively and strategically developing its tourism and cultural sectors as key components of its ambitious Vision 2030, aiming to diversify its economy and enhance its global standing. This comprehensive national movement seeks to build a vibrant and competitive society that preserves its values while competing globally.
Here’s a discussion of tourism and culture, drawing on the provided sources:
Saudi Arabia’s Strategic Vision and Cultural Investment
- Economic Diversification: Vision 2030 aims to significantly increase the non-oil sector’s contribution to GDP. Events like the FIFA World Cup are expected to actively contribute to this non-oil economic growth, stimulate infrastructure and public utilities investment, and elevate the Kingdom’s status as a global and regional hub for events. The IMF has acknowledged Saudi Arabia’s economic achievements as a result of a “long-term strategy extending beyond 2030,” emphasizing its “increasing global presence” beyond the energy market to areas like sustainable finance and digital transformation.
- Quality of Life Program: The Quality of Life program, a key Vision 2030 initiative, plays a crucial role in enhancing the quality of life and developing cultural, entertainment, and sports sectors.
Key Cultural and Entertainment Initiatives
- Riyadh Season: The General Entertainment Authority (GEA) is spearheading efforts to bolster the Riyadh Season. A significant focus for the upcoming season is the empowerment of Saudi and Gulf musicians and artists, aiming for “semi-complete reliance on Saudi and Gulf musicians and performers in concerts” and “Saudi and Gulf theater productions”. This strategy reinforces the Kingdom’s cultural identity and aims to boost the entertainment sector, creating new job opportunities in line with Vision 2030. The Riyadh Season also plans to host major global events, including the Esports World Cup (with prize money exceeding $70 million), a comedy festival, boxing matches, UFC, and WWE shows, further cementing Riyadh’s status as a global entertainment hub. The GEA envisions building a “sustainable entertainment industry capable of regional and global competition”.
- Year of Handicrafts 2025: The Ministry of Culture participated in the Madinah International Book Fair 2025 with a special pavilion dedicated to the “Year of Handicrafts 2025”. This initiative highlights handicrafts as a vital component of national cultural heritage, reflecting Saudi identity and its aesthetic and creative values. It aims to raise community awareness about the value of handcrafted products, showcase their diversity, and empower Saudi artisans. It also seeks to open interactive windows for communication between artisans and the public to promote knowledge transfer and support traditional industries.
- King Faisal Center and Manuscript Preservation: The King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies demonstrates its commitment to documenting the nation’s memory and preserving its scientific and cultural heritage. A lecture at the center highlighted the tragic loss of numerous Iraqi manuscripts due to invasions, emphasizing the importance of preserving this valuable heritage for future generations.
Developing Tourism Destinations
- Al Abu Sarrah Palaces (Abha): These historical palaces in Al-Souda, dating back to 1835 CE, are being developed as a key heritage tourism landmark in Asir. They host various cultural and artistic events, including the Asiri Art Festival and Cat Festival. As part of Asir Summer 2025 and Vision 2030, these palaces offer integrated historical tours, showcasing 200-year-old stories of human life, ancestral traditions, and architectural details through artifacts and rare photos. The site includes diverse cafes and restaurants serving traditional Asiri cuisine and a dedicated children’s corner with educational and cultural programs. The management is working to transform the site into a sustainable cultural and tourism platform.
- Hada Al-Taif: This area blends rich history with modern entertainment, featuring amusement parks and attracting tourists and residents for various summer activities.
- Al-Faqra Village (Madinah): Located west of Madinah, this beautiful mountainous tourist center is known for its mild summer climate due to its high altitude (over 1900 meters above sea level), attracting visitors from Madinah and GCC countries. Despite improvements in infrastructure like roads and electricity, the village still requires essential services, particularly water supply for drinking and irrigation, as residents currently rely on expensive water tanks. Internal roads also need paving and lighting.
- Southern Farms (Taif, Al-Baha, Asir): Hundreds of farms in these regions are being transformed into tourism and entertainment destinations. This includes converting fruit and rose farms (such as almond, fig, strawberry, berry, and Taif rose) into attractions, and dairy farms offering fresh products to visitors, catering to high demand. This trend reflects a growing interest in agritourism, providing diverse services and attractive designs.
- Al-Atawlah Heritage Festival (Al-Baha): This festival showcases traditional plowing using oxen and other ancient farming methods, drawing significant visitor interest. It aims to highlight the historical life of the people and their reliance on animals for farming, while also featuring traditional songs. The festival reinforces the connection to identity and ancestral history, preserving the region’s agricultural identity.
- Urban Visual Enhancement: In Makkah, the Holy Capital Municipality signed agreements to enhance the urban visual landscape. This includes a mural initiative inspired by “Remembering Allah” to beautify Makkah’s streets and squares, aligning with its status as a pilgrimage destination. Another project aims to beautify a key intersection in Makkah, contributing to the development of infrastructure and improving the urban scene as part of quality of life projects. Similarly, in Taif and Al-Baha, murals like “Azzah and Shumoukh” and “Al-Qadah” adorn city entrances and centers, embodying national values and reflecting the region’s history and heritage through art.
Promoting Arabic Language and Heritage
- Teaching Arabic to Non-Native Speakers: A seminar at the Madinah Book Fair highlighted Saudi Arabia’s efforts to facilitate Arabic language education through academic programs, specialized virtual centers, and interactive digital tools. This initiative aims to empower learners to master the four language skills (listening, speaking, reading, writing) and reinforces Arabic’s position as a “cultural, spiritual, and value-based project” for Islamic and human knowledge. Saudi Arabia is expanding partnerships with international universities and research centers to support this globally.
- Madinah Fortifications: A seminar explored the natural and military aspects that historically fortified Madinah, noting that the city’s unique natural fortifications are still visible today. The urban planning, initiated by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), created a defensive circular shape, making it resilient to invasions. The seminar showcased rare photos, geological formations (like Uhud, Air, and Sal’ mountains), and ancient markets and castles that formed the city’s defensive architectural fabric.
Overall, Saudi Arabia’s approach to tourism and culture is deeply integrated with its Vision 2030, emphasizing sustainable development, economic diversification, the empowerment of local talent, and the preservation and promotion of its rich heritage and unique cultural identity.
Saudi Arabia’s Vision: Public Safety and Security
Saudi Arabia is deeply committed to public safety and security as a fundamental pillar of its Vision 2030, recognizing its importance for economic diversification, quality of life, and global standing. This commitment is evident across various governmental initiatives and sectors, focusing on robust law enforcement, advanced emergency response, and proactive safety measures.
Here’s a comprehensive discussion of public safety in Saudi Arabia:
- Overarching National Vision for Security
- The Kingdom’s ambitious Vision 2030 aims to build a vibrant and competitive society that preserves its values.
- A key element is the “Quality of Life program,” which plays a crucial role in enhancing the quality of life and developing cultural, entertainment, and sports sectors.
- The Council of Ministers continuously focuses on “reinforcing the security and stability in all regions of the Kingdom” and ensures that developmental efforts align with high-level directives to achieve national goals.
- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has acknowledged Saudi Arabia’s economic achievements, noting its stability despite global challenges and emphasizing a long-term strategy that extends beyond 2030.
- Law Enforcement and Anti-Crime Initiatives
- Combating Corruption: Leadership demonstrates a strong emphasis on promoting integrity, transparency, and combating corruption while safeguarding public funds and national gains. The Head of the Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority underscored the importance of strengthening these concepts as part of building a civilized society.
- Unified Security Operations Centers (911): Riyadh’s 911 center, encompassing 62 operation rooms and serving 22 governorates, represents a significant “qualitative development in the Ministry of Interior’s system”. This advanced platform handles emergency calls efficiently, improving coordination and response times among various agencies.
- Anti-Drug Efforts: The Council of Ministers has approved the Gulf Strategy for Combating Drugs for 2025-2028, indicating a regional approach to this issue. Promotions within anti-narcotics departments reflect the ongoing commitment to security.
- Maintaining Order: The Al-Mujahideen Administration in Al-Qassim undertakes significant field efforts and tasks to “enhance security and cooperation with relevant entities”, contributing to public order and safety.
- Traffic and Road Safety Improvements
- The Eastern Region Traffic Safety Committee actively works to enhance safety on roads and improve quality of life, emphasizing adherence to traffic regulations and avoiding violations.
- Significant progress has been made in reducing accident rates; the committee successfully lowered the death rate by 72% per 100,000 population and severe injuries by 76%. These efforts resulted in savings of over 10 billion Riyals in accident-related costs.
- The Kingdom is urged to continue leveraging modern technologies to further reduce accidents and bolster road safety.
- Emergency Medical Services
- The Saudi Red Crescent Authority in Najran received nearly 1,200 emergency calls in July, dealing with various medical and traffic-related incidents.
- They utilize trained personnel, fully equipped ambulances, and digital tools like the “Is’afni” application (997) to facilitate reporting, track emergency teams, identify caller locations, and locate nearby healthcare facilities.
- Public Health and Environmental Safety
- “World Breastfeeding Week” was launched to promote breastfeeding, which enhances the health of mothers and infants by boosting immunity.
- Warnings about Reptiles: A geographical researcher advised caution regarding snakes and scorpions in open areas, farms, and camping sites during summer. Key safety measures include avoiding dense vegetation at night, using strong lighting, carrying a flashlight, and properly disposing of food waste which can attract these creatures. He clarified that scorpions react to loud sounds or vibrations rather than understanding spoken words.
- Water Resource Management: New regulations for drilling agricultural wells aim to prevent severe drops in groundwater levels, especially in areas vital for drinking water and intensive agriculture, while ensuring land ownership and project completion standards are met.
- Earthquake Monitoring: KAUST is developing advanced AI technology in collaboration with the Saudi Geological Survey to better understand seismic activity and deploy early warning systems to protect buildings and save lives. Despite being largely desert, certain regions, especially in the west, are prone to seismic activity with thousands of minor tremors recorded.
- Safety in Religious Gatherings
- Mataf Area Guidelines: Public Security reiterated that the Mataf (circumambulation) area is exclusively for Tawaf around the Kaaba. Performing prayers there can obstruct the smooth flow of pilgrims and cause significant congestion, particularly during peak times. Pilgrims are urged to adhere to guidelines and pray in designated areas within the Grand Mosque to ensure ease of movement and safety for all.
- Historical Fortifications of Madinah: A seminar highlighted Madinah’s unique natural and military fortifications, including mountains (Uhud, Air, Sal’), and ancient urban planning, which historically made it resilient to invasions.
- International and Regional Security Concerns
- Gaza Conflict: The Council of Ministers has supported international efforts for a two-state solution and condemned provocative Israeli practices, especially regarding Al-Aqsa Mosque. Saudi Arabia continues to send humanitarian, medical, and food aid to Gaza. Reports from UNICEF highlight the devastating impact of the conflict, with 28 children killed daily due to bombing and deliberate starvation. Calls for a full occupation of Gaza by Israeli officials are reported to be met with opposition from within Israeli security institutions. The detention of Palestinians without charge or lawyer access is condemned as a serious violation of international law. Efforts to deliver blood and derivatives to operating hospitals in Gaza continue, though many hospitals are out of service due to Israeli attacks.
- Russia-Ukraine Conflict: The global stage is witnessing escalating tensions between the US and Russia, marked by military maneuvers, cyber threats, and direct support to Ukraine, raising concerns about potential “limited clashes”. Solutions involve reactivating diplomatic channels, new arms treaties, and strengthening international oversight. Threats of increased tariffs and deployment of nuclear submarines by the US have been noted, while Russia has indicated it is no longer bound by previous arms deployment restrictions. Attacks on strategic railway lines between Russia and Ukraine continue.
- Sudan Conflict: The Sudanese government has reported the involvement of hundreds of thousands of foreign mercenaries, posing a threat to regional peace and sovereignty. Human rights groups indicate civilian casualties by the Rapid Support Forces, emphasizing a dire lack of humanitarian aid.
- Kashmir: Pakistan reiterated its commitment to supporting Kashmir against “illegal occupation” and human rights violations, highlighting continued atrocities since 2019.
- UK Weapons Control: New British rules aim to prevent individuals with records of domestic abuse or other unsuitability factors from possessing firearms, following a series of fatal incidents.
- Specific Incidents and Responses
- Murder of Saudi Student in UK: The Saudi Embassy in the UK is actively monitoring and coordinating with British authorities regarding the murder of Saudi student Mohammed Al-Qassem in Cambridge. A suspect has been apprehended, and legal processes are underway, including medical examination and a hearing. The embassy is arranging for the repatriation of the deceased’s body.
- Public Awareness and Crisis Communication
- The role of media in crisis management has evolved, with social media now often initiating crises that demand rapid and effective responses. It is crucial for entities to have an integrated presence across all communication platforms, not just traditional media, and for spokespersons to be trained in rapid, emotionally intelligent, and de-escalating communication. The concept of “silence is a sign of guilt” emphasizes the need for proactive and transparent communication.
Overall, Saudi Arabia’s approach to public safety is multi-faceted, encompassing legislative, operational, and humanitarian dimensions, both domestically and in its engagement with global security issues.
Saudi Vision and Global Affairs: A Newspaper Perspective
Here are the titles of the columns found in the newspaper, along with their first two paragraphs of detail in English:
- Word by Jameel Al-Balawi The Council of Ministers, every time it convenes, treats developmental achievements as a primary concern, enabling them with directives from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. By tracking what the Council presents, we find it reflects the diligent work and vision that delves into all details to form a unified work methodology contributing to nation-building and accelerating the development process to achieve comprehensive national goals. The Kingdom is experiencing a developmental dynamic under an ambitious vision managed and built with efficiency and competence, prioritizing the citizen and investing in all vital sectors to achieve comprehensive prosperity. Moreover, the successes achieved serve as an affirmation of the Kingdom’s methodology and its confident, steadfast march towards the future through unprecedented qualitative reforms that empower the human being, boost the economy, and uplift society.
- Escalating US-Russian Tensions.. Is War on the Horizon? by Azzam Mohammad Al-Mishal The world is witnessing a new chapter of the Cold War, which differs in its tools but retains its danger. While Washington and Moscow exchange threats, hope remains tied to the return of wisdom to dialogue channels, before escalation turns into an irreversible confrontation. The US-Russian relations are witnessing more than one phase of tension since the end of the Cold War, including military clashes, maneuvers, sharp indirect statements on various international stages, most notably in Ukraine, the Arctic, and cyberspace.
- The Article by Talaat Hafez The final report issued a few days ago by the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the year 2025, concerning Article IV consultations, concluded that the economy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has shown strength and resilience in facing economic shocks, indicating that global challenges have had a limited impact on the local economy. The report also indicated the continued expansion of non-oil economic activities, which will enhance the Kingdom’s efforts aimed at diversifying the economy in line and harmony with the effectiveness of the economic policies adopted under Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to enhance the impact of non-oil activities’ contribution to the Kingdom’s GDP.
- The Article by Prince Dr. Majed bin Thamer Al Saud Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 represents a comprehensive strategic project aimed at achieving a radical transformation in the economy and society, and among its most important goals is to strengthen the Kingdom’s position as a global logistics hub connecting the three continents. This goal has become clear in the endeavor to raise the Kingdom’s ranking in the Logistics Services Performance Index from 49th to 25th globally, and first regionally, a goal that reflects the Kingdom’s ambition for excellence in a vital field that constitutes the backbone of trade and economic growth. Improving logistics performance is a fundamental component of diversifying the economy and reducing reliance on oil, as logistics services contribute to attracting investments, expanding the movement of trade exchange, and raising the efficiency of supply chains. To achieve this goal, the Kingdom has launched a number of major initiatives and projects, most notably the establishment of the Public Transport Authority, the development of the national industry and logistics services program, and the modernization of infrastructure for ports and airports, and the establishment of special logistics zones and connecting them with advanced road and railway networks.
- The Article by Hani Khashoggi The Saudi society is witnessing a state of optimism and hope for the Kingdom to have an ideal real estate sector characterized by balance between supply and demand, capable of providing diverse real estate products that meet the needs of citizens and investors, and most importantly, that the prices of these products are affordable for everyone. Here, what the sector witnessed, especially in the capital Riyadh, comes to mind: a crazy rise in the prices of real estate products and rents due to the monopolization by some of these products, and their unwillingness to part with them except at prices that satisfy their ego. In contrast, the state did not stand idly by, and thus came the directives of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to strengthen the sector and restore the lost balance to it. The five measures directed by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince last March had a great effect on the sector; they contributed to curbing the insane increases in real estate product prices, and the citizen who dreamed of buying a housing unit at a reasonable price found his dream becoming achievable, and the businessman who sought to buy a piece of land at a logical price to establish his project or rent an office for his company at a suitable rental value, realized that his endeavor was not impossible.
- Tracing Our Popular Heritage in Western Travelers’ Books by Saud Al-Mutairi The German orientalist Johan Heesch, in 1938, drew from some Bedouins he met, through Moheg Al-Ghanami – may God have mercy on all of them – stating that, due to the great importance of camels among the Bedouins and the richness of their language, there are countless names for camels, not only according to age and breed but also according to the animal’s special characteristics and features, and the circumstances it goes through. Heesch began naming them in his book “Bedouins of Central Arabia,” which Dr. Muhammad Sultan Al-Otaibi reviewed and commented on, starting with their naming according to age stages, from the first month until the seventh month, when a young camel is called a ‘hawar’, and it begins weaning at this stage. When it is weaned, it is called a ‘mafroud’ until it completes its twelfth month, after which it is called a ‘haq’ or ‘haqan’. In its third year, it becomes a ‘laqi’ (plural ‘liqi’), and among some tribes, it is also called ‘masmou’ (plural ‘masamee’). There is another name, ‘saif akhuh’, and at this stage, the female camel (laqiya) is bred and gives birth at the end of the year.
- Silence in Media Crises by Dr. Ibrahim Al-Nahhas In the past, media crisis management was confined to an official statement, a visual coverage, or absolute silence, as is often the case in most situations. Today, however, a crisis begins with a tweet, a Snapchat clip, or even a photo—even if it’s just a rumor—to be circulated within minutes in WhatsApp groups, turning into public opinion or, as it’s known in our media field, a communication crisis demanding a response, explanation, accountability, and action, all within a short period! Unfortunately, in our dear homeland, with the development of its media infrastructure and the increasing presence of digital platforms for its institutions and citizens, over 32 million active Saudi users on social media platforms in 2024, according to a DataReportal report, including over 29 million using ‘X’ (formerly Twitter), 26 million on YouTube, 16.8 million on Snapchat, and 16 million on WhatsApp. Messages spread rapidly, often blurring the line between fact and incitement.
- Two-State Solution Conference Pushes for Establishment of Palestinian State by Eng. Hani Al-Ghufaili The period from July 28 to 30, 2025, marked the beginning of a historic stage for the Palestinian cause, a new phase in the settlement of the legitimate rights of the people of Palestine, whose title is “The Establishment of the Independent Palestinian State with Jerusalem as its Capital.” Yes, it is a new historical stage that began with the invitation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to hold the “International High-Level Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Palestinian Issue and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution” at the headquarters of the United Nations in New York, out of its belief in the importance of moving the Palestinian issue from the level of Arab and Islamic affirmation of the legitimate rights of the people of Palestine to the level of international and global affirmation of the necessity of establishing an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital. The convening of this international conference came as a result of the great efforts exerted by the wise leadership of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia since the beginning of the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip after the events of October 7, 2023. These efforts began with the holding of the extraordinary Arab Summit, which was named “The Summit of Solidarity with Palestine,” in Riyadh on November 9, 2023, followed by the holding of the “Joint Extraordinary Arab and Islamic Summit” in Riyadh on November 11, 2023, with the aim of discussing the developments of the Israeli aggression on the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, which issued important resolutions, including: “Assigning the Foreign Ministers of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as chair of the 32nd Arab Summit, and representatives from Nigeria, Indonesia, Turkey, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, and any other interested countries, and the Secretaries-General of the two organizations, to initiate immediate international action on behalf of all member states of the Organization and the League to formulate an international movement to stop the war on Gaza, and to pressure for the launch of a serious and genuine political process to achieve permanent and comprehensive peace according to approved international references.”
- Negative Criticism by Yousef Al-Qabban The culture of criticism is not available to everyone, and objectivity and credibility are prerequisites for anyone who wants to practice the task of criticism in any field – before specialization qualifies them. Why? Because criticism means evaluating or highlighting the strong or positive aspects, and the aspects that need development, and this is the adopted concept in various fields. Evaluation includes shedding light on the factors of success and discussing the causes of errors based on a specific methodology. As for negative criticism, it is when the critic takes a negative, hostile stance towards anything in life, seeking only to support this stance, aiming to perpetuate the dominance of this work or success and transform the institution into failure! The critic’s eye, in this case, only searches for errors and negatives – as per their perspective – and as for beautiful things, in their view, they do not exist! Those who do this believe in the theory that truth will only become reality to the recipient who agrees with their ideas, or more precisely, that lies have a short lifespan.
- Real Estate Authority by Dr. Talal Al-Harbi The Riyadh Restatex 2025 is considered one of the most important real estate events in the Kingdom, representing pioneering efforts in regulating the real estate market and enabling ownership. This event comes within the framework of continuous efforts to enhance the competitiveness of the real estate sector and meet the aspirations of Saudi families towards ownership, with the participation of major real estate companies, developers, brokers, and financing entities. Eng. Abdullah Al-Hammad, CEO of the General Real Estate Authority and General Supervisor of the Housing Program, affirmed during the exhibition’s opening on behalf of His Excellency the Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing, Mr. Majed bin Abdullah Al-Hogail, that government policies and modern real estate legislations have contributed to stimulating the extraordinary growth of the sector. Over the past three years, more than 1000 developers have been qualified, and 360 licenses have been granted for new residential projects to be sold off-plan, contributing to the provision of 200,000 diverse housing units within integrated communities that meet international standards. Furthermore, the percentage of Saudi families owning their homes increased from 47% to 64% by the end of 2024, thanks to the integrated efforts between the Authority and the Housing Program, which reflects the success of the strategies put in place to achieve the objectives of Vision 2030.
- The Face of Good Fortune: A New Chapter Begins by Mohammed Al-Bakr After a seven-year absence from the presidency, Prince Nayef bin Saad returned through the elegant gate towards a new era after Fahad bin Nafel officially announced that he would not nominate himself for a new presidential term in Al-Hilal Club. This early withdrawal paved the way for competing candidates Hamad Al-Khunaini and Fahad Al-Malik to be endorsed within the club, giving a clear impression that the return was calculated and planned in advance. Prince Nayef is not just a familiar face; he is the “face of good fortune” for Al-Hilal fans after his first experience as president (2015-2018), which saw the team crowned with five official titles: the league, King’s Cup, Crown Prince Cup, and Super Cup twice in a row. He has a successful previous experience that formed a solid foundation for his return; he was Vice President for several years during the era of Prince Abdulrahman bin Musaad, which provided him with extensive experience and precise knowledge of the most minute details of the Al-Hilal household.
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By Amjad Izhar
Contact: amjad.izhar@gmail.com
https://amjadizhar.blog
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