ÂÜÀòÊÓÆµ

ÂÜÀòÊÓÆµ awards top startups in global blue economy challenge

ÂÜÀòÊÓÆµ awards top startups in global blue economy challenge
The Regenerative Blue Economy Challenge is funded by the Saudi ministry of Economy and Planning and spearheaded by WAVE and Friends of Ocean Action, along with various ecosystem partners. (Shutterstock)
Short Url
Updated 23 September 2024

ÂÜÀòÊÓÆµ awards top startups in global blue economy challenge

ÂÜÀòÊÓÆµ awards top startups in global blue economy challenge
  • 15 winners presented innovative solutions for ocean protection, restoration, and sustainability challenges

RIYADH: ÂÜÀòÊÓÆµâ€™s Ministry of Economy and Planning has announced the 15 winners of the .Ìý

The winners, revealed at the UN Summit of the Future in New York over the weekend, showcased innovative solutions to protect and restore the oceans and address challenges to their sustainability, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

They were chosen from 203 submissions by startups around the world for their groundbreaking contributions to addressing marine pollution, promoting ecosystem restoration and rewilding, and accelerating ocean-based climate solutions.

The winning cohort will benefit from exclusive networking opportunities, targeted support, increased visibility, and a share of 300,000 Swiss francs ($353,000) in prize money to further develop their projects.

They will join a support program to scale their work, backed by ecosystem partners offering business advisory, market access, global event opportunities, and financial grants and investments.

The top five finalists will present their projects to a high-level panel from ÂÜÀòÊÓÆµ and international organizations.

The three highest-scoring projects will receive additional funding and entry into the UpLink Accelerator Program, which offers targeted support to further develop their work.

The Regenerative Blue Economy Challenge is funded by the Saudi ministry and spearheaded by WAVE and Friends of Ocean Action, along with various ecosystem partners.

The call for proposals was launched by Vice Minister of Economy and Planning Ammar Nagadi on April 29 during the World Economic Forum Special Meeting on Global Collaboration, Growth and Energy for Development in Riyadh.

ÂÜÀòÊÓÆµ has played a pivotal role in shaping opportunities for the private and public sectors by enabling early-stage startups and facilitating their growth and scalability.

The winners include CHITELIX (Tunisia), SolarDuck (Netherlands), Kind Designs (US), Rongbient Biotech Company Ltd. (Vietnam), GREENOV (France), Rrreefs (Switzerland), Mwani Zanzibar (Tanzania) and Blue Ocean Gear (US).

The others are SEA CRAS d.o.o. (Croatia), Polychaeta (Tunisia), Reefgen (US), Advanced Third Age Renewable Energy Co. (Morocco), Swiss Ocean Tech Ltd. (Switzerland), NextProtein (France) and PolyGone Systems (US).


Saudi play ‘The Hoop’ premieres at Edinburgh festival

Saudi play ‘The Hoop’ premieres at Edinburgh festival
Updated 1 min ago

Saudi play ‘The Hoop’ premieres at Edinburgh festival

Saudi play ‘The Hoop’ premieres at Edinburgh festival

RIYADH: The Scottish capital hosted the premiere of the Saudi play “The Hoop,†directed by Fahad Al-Dosari, as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

The festival, one of the world’s largest theater events, is celebrating cultural diversity this year, featuring more than 2,000 artists from 256 countries in 3,350 performances.

Supported by the Saudi Theater and Performing Arts Commission, the play marks a key milestone in the Kingdom’s expanding presence on the global stage, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Running until Aug. 5, the production is part of the Sitar program — an initiative launched by the commission to support local theater and promote emerging Saudi talent.

Presented in English translation, the play explores modern human life in a bleak, repetitive setting, using symbolic drama to express existential concerns.

ÂÜÀòÊÓÆµâ€™s participation reflects its continued commitment to supporting the arts and strengthening its global cultural presence, the SPA added.

The play previously won Best Contemporary Show at the second Riyadh Theater Festival in 2024 and recently featured in the 79th Avignon Festival in France, as part of a series celebrating the Arabic language.


Saudi scouts showcase heritage, culture in Portugal

Saudi scouts showcase heritage, culture in Portugal
Updated 5 min 14 sec ago

Saudi scouts showcase heritage, culture in Portugal

Saudi scouts showcase heritage, culture in Portugal

Riyadh: The ÂÜÀòÊÓÆµn Scout Association participated in a cultural exchange event during the 16th World Scout Moot in Portugal.

The global event brought together more than 7,100 scouts from 118 associations worldwide, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.

The Saudi delegation showcased the country’s culture by serving traditional coffee, displaying regional men’s attire, and offering popular local dishes.

The association also performed the traditional Ardah dance and other folk arts reflecting the Kingdom’s rich cultural heritage, the SPA added.

A photo exhibition highlighted Saudi scouts’ community service, especially their support for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims and environmental protection efforts.

Participation reflected the association’s commitment to empowering Saudi scouts to represent the Kingdom on the international stage, expand their global presence, and strengthen their leadership capabilities.

The delegation joined global celebrations of World Scout Scarf Day on Aug. 1, exchanging scarves with other national scout organizations to promote unity and pride in the movement.

The World Scout Moot is held every four years and is designed for young people aged 18 to 25. Those aged 26 and above can participate as members of the International Service Team.


Baha festival honors women’s traditional roles

Baha festival honors women’s traditional roles
Updated 13 min 24 sec ago

Baha festival honors women’s traditional roles

Baha festival honors women’s traditional roles
  • The aim was to highlight and celebrate the vital roles women played in the past, reflecting their daily contributions to their families and communities

BAHA: The eighth Alatawelah Heritage Festival in Baha held a special event celebrating the traditional work of women in the past, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.

The aim was to highlight and celebrate the vital roles women played in the past, reflecting their daily contributions to their families and communities.

Live demonstrations showcased key tasks traditionally performed by women, including food preparation, wool spinning, basket and mat weaving, and firewood collection.

A group of young girls replicated traditional methods for visitors, offering an immersive glimpse into rural life of the past, the SPA added.

The event drew enthusiastic engagement, especially from children and youth, many of whom captured the moments on their phones.

It was part of the festival’s broader goal to preserve local heritage, strengthen national identity, and deepen connections to the past.

The festival includes a variety of heritage-focused activities, such as booths run by local families showcasing traditional clothing and cuisine, live demonstrations of historic stone building techniques, and displays of agricultural and harvest practices.

A visual arts section is also featured, along with poetry evenings, competitions, and performances of traditional folk arts on the festival stage.


Makkah museum displays massive ²Ï³Ü°ù’a²Ô mosaic

A mosaic panel of Surah Al-Fatiha and the beginning of Surah Al-Baqarah is made up of over a million porcelain pieces. (SPA)
A mosaic panel of Surah Al-Fatiha and the beginning of Surah Al-Baqarah is made up of over a million porcelain pieces. (SPA)
Updated 36 min 38 sec ago

Makkah museum displays massive ²Ï³Ü°ù’a²Ô mosaic

A mosaic panel of Surah Al-Fatiha and the beginning of Surah Al-Baqarah is made up of over a million porcelain pieces. (SPA)
  • Artwork is based on an original ²Ï³Ü°ù’a²Ô manuscript written by calligrapher Mustafa Dhul-Fiqar in 1656

MAKKAH: The Holy ²Ï³Ü°ù’a²Ô Museum in the Hira Cultural District in Makkah features a mosaic panel of Surah Al-Fatiha and the beginning of Surah Al-Baqarah, spanning 76.67 sq. meters and composed of over a million porcelain mosaic pieces.

This artwork is based on an original ²Ï³Ü°ù’a²Ô manuscript written by calligrapher Mustafa Dhul-Fiqar in 1656, preserved at the King Abdulaziz Complex for Endowment Libraries in Madinah.

As the first museum in Makkah dedicated solely to the Holy ²Ï³Ü°ù’a²Ô and located near the historic Mount Hira, it serves as a cultural and civilizational beacon for the holy city, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The museum houses a rich collection of rare artifacts and ²Ï³Ü°ù’a²Ô manuscripts from various Islamic eras, showcasing diverse calligraphic styles throughout history.

It also features educational exhibits tracing the evolution of ²Ï³Ü°ù’a²Ôic writing, along with modern interactive technologies that highlight the ²Ï³Ü°ù’a²Ô’s profound significance.

Visual displays further illuminate the history of ²Ï³Ü°ù’a²Ôic documentation through the ages. The museum also holds Guinness World Records for the largest ²Ï³Ü°ù’a²Ô and the largest ²Ï³Ü°ù’a²Ô stand.


Saudi tech initiative to accelerate AI adoption in industrial, logistics sectors

Initiative aims to create innovation-friendly environment and accelerate adoption of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies.
Initiative aims to create innovation-friendly environment and accelerate adoption of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies.
Updated 03 August 2025

Saudi tech initiative to accelerate AI adoption in industrial, logistics sectors

Initiative aims to create innovation-friendly environment and accelerate adoption of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies.
  • The initiative aims to create an innovation-friendly environment and accelerate the adoption of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies
  • Also seeks to strengthen public-private partnerships in developing and deploying digital solutions

RIYADH: The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has launched the third phase of its Technology Adoption initiative, known as AdopTech, supporting 15 projects that showcase artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies in key industrial and logistics facilities.

The initiative aims to create an innovation-friendly environment and accelerate the adoption of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.

This phase focuses on enabling technology companies and entrepreneurs to deliver innovative solutions for real-world operational challenges in targeted sectors.

Proof-of-concept projects will be carried out in collaboration with selected industrial and logistics facilities to enhance efficiency and boost sector competitiveness.

The initiative seeks to strengthen public-private partnerships in developing and deploying digital solutions, according to the SPA.

It provides a dynamic environment for participants to test and refine their technologies in real-world settings, improving readiness for wider deployment and market growth.

The ministry has invited interested tech companies and entrepreneurs with relevant solutions to register via mcit.gov.sa/ar/eti.