Thousands of volunteers join Madinah’s green future drive
Thousands of volunteers join Madinah’s green future drive/node/2577626/saudi-arabia
Thousands of volunteers join Madinah’s green future drive
Madinah's greening plans include planting 50,000 water-efficient and environmentally sustainable trees, alongside wild plant species. (SPA)
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Updated 01 November 2024
SPA
Thousands of volunteers join Madinah’s green future drive
Updated 01 November 2024
SPA
MADINAH: Ayman bin Mohammed Al-Sayed, director general of the environment, water and agriculture branch in Madinah, has launched the “2024 National Planting Season” in the city.
The program extends the ministry’s nationwide campaign “We Plant for Our Future,” supporting sustainable environmental development and vegetation growth as part of the Saudi Green Initiative.
The regional campaign features 36 volunteer programs involving more than 1,800 female and male participants. Plans include planting 50,000 water-efficient and environmentally sustainable seedlings, comprising mesquites, thorn jujube and sweet acacia trees, alongside 20 other wild plant species, aiming to boost environmental and agricultural awareness.
The campaign’s first phase targets education facilities, Prince Sultan Military Medical City and the Saudi Authority for Industrial and Technology Zones, or Modon.
This effort focuses on expanding green spaces, streamlining planting processes, and encouraging community-wide participation in vegetation preservation and planting initiatives.
Saudi internal auditors share expertise at Japan conference
Saudi Authority of Internal Auditors CEO Abdullah bin Saleh Al-Shebeili stressed the need for international cooperation in developing the profession
Al-Shebeili emphasized the importance of academic programs and partnerships with leading global universities
Updated 5 sec ago
Arab News
RIYADH: Representatives from the Saudi Authority of Internal Auditors joined other international leaders and experts in Japan for the National Internal Audit Conference.
One of their aims is to strengthen cooperation between the authority and its foreign counterparts, reaffirming the Kingdom’s role in leading change and professional leadership at the global level. It will also highlight the authority’s experience in areas such as oversight, governance, transparency and compliance.
The authority’s CEO, Abdullah bin Saleh Al-Shebeili, was one of the keynote speakers. He stressed the need for international cooperation in developing the profession and said Ƶ attached great importance to internal auditing as a crucial tool for progress as it improved performance quality and helped ensure high standards.
He added initiatives presented by the authority, such as “From Riyadh to the World,” contributed greatly to the exchange of expertise and the building of professional networks that included China, Russia, Australia, Switzerland, Austria and the US. This in turn was reflected in developing methods of applying internal auditing in line with modern technological advances.
Al-Shebeili emphasized the importance of academic programs and partnerships with leading global universities, which the authority is currently undertaking with Harvard University in the US and Cambridge University in the UK.
These partnerships resulted in more than 200 professional leaders graduating from the Internal Audit Leadership program and 45 from Governance, Risk and Compliance.
He added the Kingdom had become a global hub for developing the profession by enhancing the quality of internal auditing, raising the efficiency of practitioners and building generations capable of leading the future.
The shared vision, he said, was to build an “audit profession without borders” based on knowledge, cooperation and innovation.
Saudi foreign minister participates in quadrilateral meeting on Sudan
Updated 25 September 2025
SPA
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan participated in a quadrilateral meeting on Sudan, which included the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and the US on Wednesday.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.
The meeting addressed developments in the Sudanese crisis and the need to unify efforts to overcome humanitarian challenges.
It also tackled implementing the commitments outlined in the Jeddah Declaration regarding the protection of civilians, and ensuring Sudan’s stability, while preserving its sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity.
Saudi firm signs deal with Syria to develop digital healthcare services
PIF-owned Lean Business Services will work with Syrian health ministry
Partnership will create ‘sustainable digital foundations,’ CEO says
Updated 24 September 2025
Arab News
LONDON: A Saudi company that specializes in providing digital health solutions and e-services this week signed a deal with Syria to help develop its healthcare infrastructure.
Lean Business Services CEO Mohanned Al-Rasheed and Syria’s Minister of Health Musab Al-Ali oversaw the signing of a memorandum of understanding in the presence of Saudi Minister of Health Fahad Abdulrahman Al-Jalajel.
The deal will involve the use of innovative technologies developed by Lean, which is owned by the Kingdom’s Public Investment Fund.
The company will also provide technical support, consultations and staff training to help Syria’s Ministry of Health build digital health and record systems.
The partnership will create data management and analytics solutions to ensure data flow between health systems and support the establishment of national standards and policies.
Al-Rasheed described the deal as “an important step toward building bridges of knowledge cooperation.”
“(This is) a strategic partnership to share the expertise we have built in the Kingdom, which has proven successful in achieving a qualitative leap in health services,” he said.
“Our strategic vision is to empower the Syrian health sector by building sustainable digital foundations that support evidence-based decision-making and develop national capabilities.”
Lean’s teams would help Syrians digitize their health sector and pave the way for “a modern and flexible health future,” Al-Rasheed said.
Saudi pavilion sheds light on Riyadh’s transformation
New Murabba’s presence at Expo 2025 Osaka underlines Ƶ’s growing international profile while offering visitors interactive exhibitions, augmented reality experiences, and diverse cultural experiences
Updated 24 September 2025
Arab News
RIYADH: The Saudi pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka marked the Kingdom’s 95th National Day with a vibrant program celebrating culture, innovation and cross-cultural exchange.
The festivities drew senior officials including Saudi Ambassador to Japan and Commissioner General of the Kingdom’s Pavilion Ghazi Faisal Binzagr, Saudi Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih, and Japan’s State Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Masaki Ogushi.
At the heart of the celebrations was the Saudi Vision 2030 Forum, which highlighted the ambitious roadmap guiding the Kingdom’s future. It focused on the three pillars of the vision — building a vibrant society, fostering a thriving economy and creating an ambitious nation.
The immersive event featured a program which included panel discussions, Saudi films and interactive presentations.
Image: Supplied
The New Murabba Development Company, a Public Investment Fund entity, used its participation to emphasize Riyadh’s transformation under Vision 2030. It highlighted a future-ready, smart and sustainable downtown Riyadh, designed to enhance everyday life for residents and visitors alike.
During his keynote speech, New Murabba CEO Michael Dyke outlined the project’s ambitions.
“Our goal is simple — create a place that is easy to live in, exciting to visit and rewarding to build with,” he said. “We believe the best cities are both human and high tech — comfortable at street level and intelligent under the hood.”
Dyke also pointed out standout investment opportunities such as the Mukaab — a cube-shaped skyscraper inspired by Salmani architecture — and a world-class stadium set to host more than 45,000 fans during the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
A panel discussion called “Thriving Economy,” with New Murabba’s chief development officer, Carl Schibrowski, underlined Riyadh’s role as a global hub, shaped by innovation, cultural identity and economic transformation.
The event offered visitors a taste of all things Saudi, from a flag-raising ceremony and Ardah dance to traditional arts, shows, coffee and a parade. The evening closed with an artistic collaboration between a Saudi flute player and a Japanese Noh performer, blending tradition and modernity across cultures.
The National Day celebrations also reflected the strong diplomatic bond between Ƶ and Japan, which marks its 70th anniversary this year. They were part of more than 700 activities at the pavilion, which opened in April and runs until Oct. 13.
New Murabba’s presence at Expo 2025 Osaka underlines Ƶ’s growing international profile while offering visitors interactive exhibitions, augmented reality experiences, and diverse cultural experiences.
This initiative aims to enhance community resilience and stability by economically empowering vulnerable groups
Updated 24 September 2025
SPA
RIYADH: Ƶ’s aid agency KSrelief has signed a cooperation agreement with the UN Development Programme to empower internally displaced youth and women in Cameroon through vocational training and livelihood support.
The initiative will directly benefit 350 individuals and indirectly reach 2,100 other people in Kolofata, Mayo-Sava district, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
The agreement was signed during the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in New York City.
This initiative aims to enhance community resilience and stability by economically empowering vulnerable groups.
It will provide training in solar and hydraulic energy systems, essential tools for personal projects, as well as support in financial literacy, marketing, and entrepreneurship.
Additionally, it will offer business support services and grants to new project groups.
