Al-Riyadh Newspaper 3-4th Oct.2025

The sources provide an overview of current events, policy changes, and academic topics, primarily focused on Saudi Arabia, as presented in the daily newspaper Al Riyadh on October 3-4, 2025 (Issue: 20889). Key subjects include an analysis of a Saudi Arabian policy decision to freeze commercial and residential rents to combat inflation and stabilize the housing market, alongside articles detailing the Kingdom’s enhanced global diplomatic role following a major security summit. Additionally, the text covers developments in military technology, examining China’s military expansion and the increasing use of advanced weaponry like laser and electromagnetic systems, and includes a profile of the historical role and significance of the Capital Model Institute in Riyadh. Finally, sections address health topics, notably kidney stones and urinary system disorders, and a variety of cultural critiques ranging from the definition of cultural writing to the intersection of art and science.

Saudi Rent Control and Vision 2030 Strategy

The discussion of rent control policy in the sources focuses extensively on the strategic implementation of rent regulation measures in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, particularly in Riyadh, as a core component of achieving the social and economic goals outlined in Vision 2030.

This policy, referred to as the regulation/control of rents (ضبط الإيجارات) and an “Ejar Freeze” (تجميد الإيجارات), is described as a decisive governmental intervention designed to stabilize the market, alleviate living costs, and combat inflationary pressures.

1. Mechanisms and Scope of the Policy

The core mechanism introduced by this regulatory step is the halting of the annual increase in the total value of rent for residential and commercial contracts in Riyadh for a period of five years, starting on September 25, 2025.

Key aspects of the regulatory framework include:

• Fixed Pricing: The value of vacant rentals is stabilized (fixed) according to the last contract.
• Comprehensive Coverage: The new systemic regulations cover all types of properties, including residential (to ensure family stability), commercial (to support the business sector), and office properties (to promote economic growth).
• Legal Documentation and Transparency: The Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing (in cooperation with the Ministry of Justice) created a legislative framework via the “Ejar” platform. All contracts must be electronic, documented, and possess legal enforceability before judicial bodies.
• Dispute Resolution: The Ejar platform guarantees transparency, reduces disputes between lessors and tenants, and provides channels for mediation and arbitration before resorting to the judiciary.

2. Economic Objectives and Impacts

The policy is seen as a strategic economic tool that goes beyond merely controlling housing prices, aiming to regulate the rhythm of the entire economic market.

• Combating Inflation: The rent freeze is considered a direct and effective weapon against inflation. High, unjustified rent increases have been linked to rising costs for families.
• Supporting Supporting Industries: Real estate is viewed as a “locomotive” for over 70 supporting industries (such as cement, paints, metals, wood, and electrical materials). By freezing commercial and industrial rents, operating costs for factories and workshops decrease.
• Boosting Corporate Competitiveness: The policy reduces operational costs for companies, acting as a potential non-governmental financial subsidy for the private sector, especially Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). This cost reduction is expected to transfer to consumers through lower prices for goods and services.
• Encouraging Long-Term Investment: The regulations aim to encourage investors to commit to long-term residential projects instead of pursuing rapid, short-term profits.
• Supporting Female Entrepreneurship: Rent stabilization particularly aids female-led nascent projects (المشاريع النسائية) which often face difficulty entering the commercial market due to high start-up rental costs, allowing them to redirect capital toward product development and marketing.

3. Social and Quality of Life Objectives

A primary goal of the rent control policy is to translate the principle of “Man First” (الإنصان أوالً) underpinning Vision 2030 by promoting social and family stability.

• Achieving Family Stability: The regulation is a central element in raising the level of social satisfaction and achieving a good quality of life. It ensures continuity of housing for families in a stable environment, mitigating the disruption caused by frequent, unexpected rent increases.
• Protecting Tenants and Owners: The policy is designed to achieve a balance of interests between lessors and tenants. For the tenant, it ensures legal housing and financial stability protected from exploitation or sudden increases. For the lessor, it guarantees the continuity of financial returns and an official way to reclaim rights in case of default.
• Community Cohesion: Enhancing housing stability reduces daily living pressures and contributes to building a more cohesive and sustainable society.

4. Challenges and Sustainability Requirements

Despite the positive aims, the sources acknowledge potential challenges associated with the regulation:

• Reduced Investment Attractiveness: Some stakeholders may view the rent freeze as reducing the anticipated investment returns on commercial real estate, possibly prompting them to shift capital to unrestricted sectors.
• Quality Deterioration Risk: There is a concern that some owners might reduce spending on maintenance and property upkeep to offset the fixed return, which could negatively affect the quality of the tenants’ operational environment in the long run.
• Need for Market Monitoring: The ultimate success relies on rigorous market supervision to ensure that the cost savings achieved by companies are genuinely passed on to consumers in the form of lower prices, rather than being retained as additional profits.
• Long-Term Supply: To ensure market stability after the five-year freeze ends, there must be ongoing efforts to increase the supply of commercial and administrative properties, potentially through incentives and streamlined procedures for developers.

Rent Control and Vision 2030 Economic Stability

Economic stability is presented in the sources as a primary goal of national policy, deeply intertwined with the objectives of Vision 2030. The discussions focus heavily on how strategic governmental actions, particularly the implementation of rent control, function as a crucial mechanism for achieving and sustaining broad economic stability.

Key aspects related to economic stability include direct anti-inflationary measures, the comprehensive stabilization of the real estate market, and broader support for economic growth and diversification.

1. Rent Control as a Stabilizing Intervention

The policy regarding the regulation and control of rents (ضبط الإيجارات), including the “Ejar Freeze” in Riyadh, is characterized as a decisive, qualitative governmental step aimed at direct and fundamental stability.

• Countering Inflation: The freezing of annual rent increases for five years is considered a direct and effective weapon against inflation. This intervention is crucial because unjustified rent increases have historically been linked to rising living costs for families.
• Regulating the Entire Market: The rent regulation is not merely about housing prices but aims to control the rhythm of the entire economic market.

2. Economic Benefits and Cost Reduction

Economic stability is enhanced through the ripple effects of stabilized rents, particularly concerning operating costs and inflation transfer:

• Supporting Private Sector Competitiveness: Stabilizing commercial and industrial rents significantly reduces operational costs for companies. This reduction is described as a potential non-governmental financial subsidy, especially benefiting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), which form the backbone of the economy.
• Lowering Consumer Prices: A key expected outcome is that the cost savings achieved by businesses will be transferred to consumers through lower prices for goods and services.
• Encouraging Productive Investment: By fixing operational costs and freeing up liquidity, companies can redirect capital away from unpredictable rent increases toward expansion, innovation, developing products, and hiring skilled labor, thereby supporting general productivity and growth.
• Stabilizing Supporting Industries: Real estate is viewed as a “locomotive” (قاطرة) for more than 70 supporting industries (including cement, metals, wood, and chemicals). Stabilizing rents in this core sector reduces operating costs for workshops and factories supplying these materials, creating a positive chain reaction throughout the supply chain.

3. Stabilizing the Real Estate Market

Achieving stability within the real estate sector itself is a core component of overall economic health:

• Building Investor Confidence: The regulatory framework, which includes mandatory electronic contract documentation and unified procedures through the “Ejar” platform, is designed to enhance transparency and justice between lessors and tenants. This clarity is essential for increasing the confidence of both local and foreign investors in the real estate market, making it a more attractive and reliable investment environment.
• Promoting Long-Term Investment: Rent regulation encourages investors to focus on long-term residential and sustainable developmental projects rather than seeking quick, short-term profits, contributing to sustainable market growth.
• Addressing Market Volatility: The policy specifically addresses the market volatility (التقلبات الواضحة) and the perceived gap between supply and demand that characterized previous years, establishing clear rules that were previously lacking.

4. The Financial Sector’s Role in Stability

Beyond real estate, the financial sector plays a pivotal role in ensuring broader economic stability and growth, particularly through human capital development:

• Core Economic Pillar: The financial sector is identified as an essential pillar for the transformation trajectory led by Vision 2030, contributing to economic growth and diversification of income sources.
• Developing Competencies: The Financial Academy actively supports the stability and competitiveness of the sector by developing human capital. This involves offering specialized programs in areas critical to stability, such as credit, anti-financial crime, compliance, and cybersecurity.
• Managing Digital Transformation: Sustained stability in the financial sector requires adapting to rapid digital and technological transformations (AI, Big Data). The Academy’s efforts focus on equipping the workforce with new skills (reskilling and upskilling) to manage this shift effectively, as 41% of current skills in the financial services sector are projected to need development by 2030.
• Enhancing Trust: The digital transformation, exemplified by the growth of digital banks, is expected to contribute to achieving the goal of increasing non-cash transactions to 70% by 2025, a key objective of the Financial Sector Development Program.

China’s Rapid Military Technology Transformation

The sources provide an extensive discussion of military technology, primarily focusing on the comprehensive and rapid modernization of the Chinese Armed Forces and detailing various strategic and advanced weapon systems now defining modern conflict environments.

The modern battlefield is no longer confined to traditional warfare but has transformed into a complex domain where electronics intersect with the field, and data intersects with firepower. This technological revolution has fundamentally redefined concepts of military power.

China’s Military Transformation and Goals

In the last decade, the Chinese Armed Forces (PLA) have undergone a “rapid and comprehensive transformation” in their power structure and weaponry. Beijing’s objective is clear: to transition from a traditional regional force to a “multi-dimensional force” capable of long-range operations.

The technological expansion covers space, maritime, nuclear, and cyber capabilities, aiming for a qualitative expansion in weapon systems. These efforts are designed to deter opponents effectively and weaken the ability of adversaries, such as the United States and its allies, to intervene. This modernization is based on accumulating policies, long-term R&D investment, and a strategy of advanced civil-military integration.

Key Categories of Advanced Military Technology

The sources categorize modern military technology into several advanced domains:

1. Nuclear and Hypersonic Capabilities

China is rapidly expanding and upgrading its “nuclear triangle” (land, sea, and air delivery systems).

• Quantity and Quality: There has been a notable increase in the inventory of nuclear warheads and their delivery vectors, including land-based ballistic missiles, missile-carrying submarines, and maneuvering warheads (known as hypersonics).
• DF-17 Missile: This missile, combining boost-glide technology with maneuvering capabilities, allows it to penetrate advanced missile defense systems.
• Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs): China showcased three types of ICBMs capable of carrying nuclear warheads (DF-41, DF-31, and DF-5C). The DF-5C, estimated to have a range exceeding 20,000 kilometers, can cover the entire globe and carry up to 12 warheads.

2. Naval Technology and the “Blue Water” Fleet

China is focused on creating an “ocean-going blue-colored fleet”.

• Aircraft Carriers: The “Fujian” carrier (Type 003) represents a qualitative leap due to its EMALS (electromagnetic catapult system), enabling the launch of heavier aircraft than traditional “ski-jump” systems, significantly extending operational range.
• Unmanned Maritime Vehicles (UMVs): China has demonstrated significant advances in large, unmanned maritime vehicles (XLUUVs), having already produced and tested five models. These can be used for various military operations, including anti-mine warfare.

3. Air and Automated Technology

Modernization includes the development of stealth and automated systems.

• Stealth Fighters: The J-20 fighter jet program has entered the production phase, and continuous improvements are being made to radar and electronic countermeasure systems (ECM).
• Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs): Armed and unarmed UAVs, combined with low-cost precision missiles, are now a critical component of attack and electronic warfare operations.

4. Space and Counter-Space Capabilities

Space has become a competitive arena, with heavy investment in satellite development (e.g., BeiDou navigation system).

• Anti-Satellite (ASAT) Weapons: Beijing has conducted tests of ASAT capabilities and possesses counter-satellite and cyber-attack capabilities that can disrupt space communication and command systems.
• HQ-29 Defense System: China publicly displayed its HQ-29 space defense system, designed to intercept foreign satellites.

5. Directed Energy and Electromagnetic Weapons

The new technologies defining modern conflict include advanced non-traditional weapons:

• Laser Systems: These systems use high-intensity, directed energy beams to neutralize or destroy enemy aircraft, missiles, satellites, or personnel. Laser weapons are seen as an “economical” solution compared to missiles, offering high precision without requiring physical ammunition, and operating silently.
• Laser systems are classified by power: Low-power (for training or sensor disruption), Medium-power (to destroy drones or ground targets), and High-Energy Lasers (HEL) (for anti-aircraft or anti-missile defense).
• Electromagnetic Weapons: These systems use intense electromagnetic energy pulses to destroy or interfere with electronic devices, communication networks, and critical infrastructure.
• Types include Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) bombs (designed to destroy the economic and administrative infrastructure of a state) and Electromagnetic Launchers (Railguns), which convert electrical energy into kinetic energy to launch projectiles at extremely high speed without gunpowder.

6. Hybrid Systems and Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Future conflicts rely on integrated, multi-domain systems that fuse technologies.

• Hybrid Systems: These systems combine different technologies, such as rockets, artillery, drones, and AI, to counter multiple threats simultaneously, often involving automated (suicide) drones.
• AI Integration: AI algorithms are crucial for analyzing vast amounts of data (like wireless signals and radar) in real-time, allowing for rapid threat identification and strategic decision-making in military operations.
• Hybrid Vehicle Development: Future military concepts include hybrid ships (using electric propulsion/fuel cells for extended endurance) and hybrid drones (combining high payload capacity with extended flight range via hybrid engines).

Saudi Financial Academy and Vision 2030 Human Capital Development

Financial education, as discussed in the sources, is primarily centered on the Financial Academy’s pivotal role in developing human capital within the financial sector of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to align with the goals of Vision 2030.

This focus on developing competencies is crucial for ensuring the stability, competitiveness, and readiness of the financial sector to handle global shifts, particularly digital transformation.

1. The Role of the Financial Academy

The Financial Academy is performing a central national role in building the human capital of the financial sector. Its work is guided by an ambitious strategy that relies on accumulated expertise, analysis of professional needs within the sector, and monitoring global trends in competency development.

Key contributions of the Academy include:

• Program Development: The Academy develops training programs and professional certifications that align with the financial sector’s direction and support the objectives of the Financial Sector Development Program, which is part of Vision 2030.
• Enhancing Competitiveness: Its efforts aim to raise the readiness of Saudi competencies and enhance their competitive capabilities. The Academy seeks to develop human capital in line with Vision 2030’s goals of economic growth and income diversification.

2. Specialized Educational Programs and Initiatives

Financial education emphasizes specific, high-demand areas critical for modern financial operations and stability:

• Core Strategic Areas: The Academy offers specialized training programs in crucial areas, including:
• Credit and Financial Management.
• Combating Financial Crimes and Compliance.
• Innovation and Digital Transformation.
• Trading and Investment.
• Cybersecurity.
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Management.
• Leadership Development: The Academy works on developing executive leaders through specialized, high-quality programs, such as the Leadership at the Apex Program (LAP), which focuses on strategic thinking, change management, and decision-making for senior leaders.
• Sector-Specific Programs: Tailored programs target various components of the financial sector, including banking, insurance, financing, and the financial market.
• Partnerships and Global Benchmarking: Educational programs are executed in partnership with prominent global centers and universities to expose Saudi leaders to international best practices and experience exchange, strengthening their readiness to lead in a competitive regional and global environment. For instance, it executed seven programs that certified over 246 trainees in the financial sector, and delivered five executive programs in partnership with the Swiss Re Institute to develop 150 leaders in the insurance sector.

3. Addressing Digital Transformation and Future Skills

A critical component of financial education is preparing the workforce for the rapid digital and technological shifts occurring globally.

• Integration of Technology: The Academy integrates advanced technologies like AI, Big Data, and Cybersecurity into training curricula to equip trainees with the necessary knowledge and digital skills for the financial sector’s future.
• Reskilling and Upskilling: International reports indicate that business leaders in the Kingdom are preparing for technological transformations. Leaders anticipate that 40% of current skills in the Saudi labor market will require re-skilling by 2030, a figure consistent with the global average.
• Re-skilling focuses on preparing employees for entirely new roles requiring different skill sets, while up-skilling focuses on developing existing competencies.
• Future Skill Focus: By 2030, AI and Big Data are projected to be the most crucial skills in the financial services and capital markets sector, with a required development rate reaching 95%. Technical knowledge is ranked second (84%), followed by cybersecurity and networking skills (82%).
• Talent Enhancement: 71% of financial sector leaders view providing effective programs for reskilling and upskilling as the primary opportunity to enhance talent availability.

4. Supporting Financial Stability

The ultimate goal of this enhanced financial education is sector stability and robust growth:

• Sector Stability: The development of human capital contributes to the stability and competitiveness of the financial sector, which is a core pillar of the Vision 2030 transformation.
• Public Awareness: Initiatives also include awareness sessions for university students to enhance their understanding of the financial sector’s promising future and connect them early with the required job market skills.
• Non-Cash Transactions: The efforts support the objectives of the Financial Sector Development Program, including the goal of raising the percentage of non-cash transactions to 70% by 2025.

Saudi Cultural Transformation: Vision 2030 and Heritage

The sources present the cultural landscape of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a dynamic environment undergoing profound transformation under Vision 2030, characterized by the preservation of rich historical heritage alongside massive investment in new creative and intellectual institutions.

Key elements of this cultural landscape include the reassertion of historical roots, the establishment of modern artistic and academic spaces, the elevation of culture to an economic and human priority, and the celebration of traditional arts and symbols.

1. Cultural Transformation under Vision 2030

Culture has been designated a fundamental part of national development and is no longer viewed as a luxury but as a soft power (قوة ناعمة) that enhances national identity and opens the doors to the cultural economy.

• Human-Centric Approach: The national vision has powerfully restored focus on the nation’s cultural roots, recognizing that culture is a way of life and a means for deeper understanding of the Saudi individual.
• Strategic Investment: Upcoming events, such as an international conference on cultural investment in Riyadh, underscore the strategic importance and amplified presence culture now holds.
• Institutional Framework: The establishment of new bodies and “Years” dedicated to culture reflects the scale of efforts being made to highlight the diverse aspects of Saudi culture.

2. Physical and Historical Landscapes

The cultural landscape is strongly defined by its geographical and historical components, which are being actively preserved and developed:

• Al-Ula and Global Role: Al-Ula is no longer merely a symbol of history and geography, but has become a symbol for hosting the future and a crucial hub for redefining global security debates.
• Diriyah and Sustainability: Historical sites, such as the Turaif Museum in Diriyah, serve as powerful testaments to historical sustainability, where ancestors relied on local, eco-friendly materials. The mud-brick walls stood for centuries, demonstrating a “philosophy of life” built on self-sufficiency and harmony with nature.
• The Turaif Museum’s physical existence in its original location enhances the narrative’s credibility, connecting the visitor to the story’s genuine context (a concept referred to as Situated Learning).
• Al-Ahsa Oasis (Green Life): The Al-Ahsa Oasis, located in the Eastern part of the Kingdom, represents one of the oldest irrigation systems globally, stretching over 85 kilometers.
• This oasis is a unique cultural landscape (واحة ثقافية استثنائية) that testifies to human adaptation to the desert environment. Its wealth of historical sites (like Qasr Ibrahim and Qasr Sahoud) and traditions earned it a place on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2018, recognized for its environmental uniqueness and rich cultural and civilizational wealth.
• Al-Ahsa has historically been a nexus of trade and culture, influenced by Phoenicians, Nabataeans, and Islamic and Ottoman eras, contributing to its rare spiritual and human dimension.

3. New Artistic and Intellectual Spaces

The modernization effort includes creating advanced venues for creativity and knowledge:

• Riyadh Arts University: Announced by the Minister of Culture, Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, the University of Riyadh for Arts is defined as an innovative creative space. It is not just an educational institution but a comprehensive vision for cultural education in the Kingdom.
• It aims to train generations of creators in visual, performing arts, music, film, culinary arts, and cultural administration.
• The university’s strategy involves extensive partnerships with prestigious international institutions to benchmark quality and form a bridge between Saudi culture and global theories, making it a center for civilizational interaction.

4. Literary and Journalistic Contributions

Intellectuals and literary figures play a crucial role in shaping and documenting the cultural landscape:

• Ahmad Attar as a Cultural Pioneer: The work of the encyclopedic litterateur and journalist Ahmad Abdul Ghafour Attar (d. 1411 AH) is highlighted. His life’s work, which spanned the late Hijazi and early Saudi literary eras, included poetry, short stories, essays, and critical studies focused on defending the Arabic language and the Islamic identity.
• He founded Okaz newspaper, which became an influential cultural and literary platform.
• The Role of Cultural Writing: Cultural writing is seen as vital because it transcends fleeting moments, serving as a permanent reference for researchers. It aims to document the environment, customs, and noble values, thereby deepening the connection between the environment and the individual, and ensuring the cohesion and continuity of society.

5. Symbols and Traditional Arts

The traditional aspects of the cultural landscape are preserved through performance and art:

• The Saudi Ardah: The national dance, the Saudi Ardah, is celebrated as a primary symbol of national identity. It embodies values of pride, loyalty, and bravery, symbolizing the cohesion between the leadership and the people through the raising of the flag, accompanied by rhythmic movement, drums, and patriotic poetry.
• Historically, the Ardah served to encourage morale in battles, but with the establishment of security, it transformed into an expression of joy performed at national and happy occasions.
• Contemporary Art and Heritage: Contemporary fine art, such as the sculptural work “Soul of the City” (روح البلد) by Khalid Al-Anqari, attempts to capture the spirit of Jeddah’s historical region using local marble. Such works are seen as a form of sculptural testimony that preserves history and bridges heritage with contemporary formation.