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New project to plant 90,000 trees in Hali Wildlife Park

New project to plant 90,000 trees in Hali Wildlife Park
The National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification has launched a project to restore Hali Wildlife Park in Al-Qunfudhah governorate, Makkah. (SPA)
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Updated 18 November 2024

New project to plant 90,000 trees in Hali Wildlife Park

New project to plant 90,000 trees in Hali Wildlife Park

RIYADH: The National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification has launched a project to restore Hali Wildlife Park in Al-Qunfudhah governorate, Makkah region.

Part of the Saudi Green Initiative, the project aims to enhance vegetation cover and promote sustainable environmental goals, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

The initiative involves planting 90,000 native and wild trees, such as vachellia tortilis, tamarix aphylla, vachellia seyal, balanites aegyptiaca, maerua crassifolia, delonix elata, salvadora persica, leptadenia pyrotechnica and acacia nilotica.

The trees will cover approximately 6 million sq. meters, irrigated using water from nearby dams. A 6-kilometer pipeline will be built to channel water from Wadi Hali Dam to the park.

Hali Wildlife Park is known for its scenic landscapes, diverse vegetation and proximity to Wadi Hali Dam, attracting local and international visitors.

The center’s afforestation efforts contribute to creating green spaces, preserving endangered native plants, lowering temperatures, improving air quality, and controlling sand encroachment.

The center is committed to enhancing and managing vegetation sites, protecting natural resources, combating illegal logging, and safeguarding biodiversity, the SPA reported.

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Hali Wildlife Park

Known for its scenic landscapes and diverse vegetation, Hali Wildlife Park is close to the Wadi Hali Dam in Al-Qunfudhah, a governorate of Makkah region in western Ƶ. The park is now the target for a massive tree planting program of the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification, covering up to 6 million square meters of land irrigated using water from nearby dams. A 6-kilometer pipeline will be built to channel water from Wadi Hali Dam to the park.


Gulf, Arab foreign ministers welcome US call for Israel to end Gaza hostilities

Gulf, Arab foreign ministers welcome US call for Israel to end Gaza hostilities
Updated 05 October 2025

Gulf, Arab foreign ministers welcome US call for Israel to end Gaza hostilities

Gulf, Arab foreign ministers welcome US call for Israel to end Gaza hostilities
  • In a joint statement, the envoys expressed their appreciation for Trump’s commitment to establishing peace in the region
  • The ministers also reiterated their support to preventing the displacement of the Palestinian people, protecting civilians, the release of hostages

RIYADH: Foreign ministers of Ƶ, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkiye, Qatar and Egypt have welcomed US President Donald Trump’s call for Israel to immediately cease its bombing and begin implementing the exchange agreement in Gaza.
In a joint statement, the envoys expressed their appreciation for Trump’s commitment to establishing peace in the region, and stressed that these developments for a sustainable ceasefire and to address the critical humanitarian conditions facing the population of the Gaza Strip.
The ministers welcomed Hamas’s announcement of its readiness to hand over the administration of Gaza to a transitional Palestinian administrative committee of independent technocrats, and stressed the need to immediately begin negotiations to agree on the mechanisms for implementing the proposal and address all its aspects, state news agency SPA reported.
They also affirmed their joint commitment to supporting efforts aimed at working to end the war on Gaza immediately, and reaching a comprehensive agreement that guarantees the unimpeded delivery of all humanitarian aid to Gaza.
The ministers also reiterated their support to preventing the displacement of the Palestinian people, protecting civilians, the release of hostages, the return of the Palestinian Authority to Gaza, the unification of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, and reaching a security mechanism that guarantees the security of all parties, leading to a full Israeli withdrawal and the reconstruction of Gaza, paving the way for achieving a just peace based on the two-state solution.


Riyadh mayor launches municipal transformation program

Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf, Riyadh Mayor. (SPA)
Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf, Riyadh Mayor. (SPA)
Updated 04 October 2025

Riyadh mayor launches municipal transformation program

Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf, Riyadh Mayor. (SPA)
  • The aim of the program is to improve the efficiency of city operations — raising the quality of services provided to beneficiaries — and align them with the needs of residents and the particularities of each geographic sector of the Saudi capital

RIYADH: Riyadh Mayor Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf has launched the Riyadh Municipal Transformation Program, which aims to keep pace with the rapid growth witnessed by the capital, in response to the city’s needs and in a manner befitting its global status.

The program is intended to ensure the ability to provide services that match the scale of existing and future projects, as well as the global events that Riyadh will be hosting in the coming years.

The aim of the program is to improve the efficiency of city operations — raising the quality of services provided to beneficiaries — and align them with the needs of residents and the particularities of each geographic sector of the Saudi capital.

This will be achieved by transforming all of Riyadh’s 16 sub-municipalities into five sectors tasked with providing both direct and indirect municipal services.

 


Ƶ marks World Animal Day

Ƶ marks World Animal Day
Updated 04 October 2025

Ƶ marks World Animal Day

Ƶ marks World Animal Day
  • The society coordinates with regional and international associations, trains interested parties, consults with government and private agencies to overcome obstacles, and represents the Kingdom in international animal welfare forums

JEDDAH: Ƶ marked World Animal Day, observed annually on Oct. 4, to raise awareness about animal protection and care while intensifying efforts to advance global animal welfare standards.

The Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture leads the Kingdom’s efforts by organizing exhibitions and events for all segments of society, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

It aims to strengthen communication with stakeholders and support veterinary facilities.

The Saudi Animal Welfare Society, also known as Refq, complements these efforts by promoting a culture of animal welfare in line with Islamic teachings, working to reduce the spread of stray animals through scientific principles, providing treatment and shelter, facilitating re-adoption, and curbing poaching, the SPA reported.

The society also coordinates with regional and international associations, trains interested parties, consults with government and private agencies to overcome obstacles, and represents the Kingdom in international animal welfare forums.

 


Math competition seeks to discover Ƶ’s best young brains

Children from private and public schools can apply and the registration process will remain open until Nov. 9. (SPA)
Children from private and public schools can apply and the registration process will remain open until Nov. 9. (SPA)
Updated 04 October 2025

Math competition seeks to discover Ƶ’s best young brains

Children from private and public schools can apply and the registration process will remain open until Nov. 9. (SPA)
  • Youngsters will have the chance to win prizes and take part in a summer math camp to be hosted next year by KAUST and the University of Cambridge in the UK

JEDDAH: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology has launched a competition to find the most talented middle and high school students in mathematics.

Youngsters will have the chance to win prizes and take part in a summer math camp to be hosted next year by KAUST and the University of Cambridge in the UK.

The competition adheres to international standards for algebra, geometry, combinatorics and number theory and provides a pathway to KAUST's pre-university academic programs.

Children from private and public schools can apply and the registration process will remain open until Nov. 9. The preliminary rounds will take place in several cities on Dec. 13, with the final to be held at KAUST from April 3-5 next year.

Further information is available from the KAUST website.

 


GCC secretary general praises region’s health care system

GCC secretary general praises region’s health care system
Updated 04 October 2025

GCC secretary general praises region’s health care system

GCC secretary general praises region’s health care system
  • Albudaiwi highlighted advances in disease prevention, workforce training and medical services, saying the region now surpasses global averages in health indices

RIYADH: Jasem Albudaiwi, secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council, praised the progress of the region’s health system at the 11th meeting of the Committee of GCC Health Ministers chaired by president of the session Ahmed Al-Awadhi, Kuwaiti minister of health, in Kuwait on Saturday.

Albudaiwi highlighted advances in disease prevention, workforce training and medical services, saying the region now surpasses global averages in health indices, according to a report by the General Secretariat.

“The GCC countries are working in partnership with the World Health Organization on the project to accredit the Healthy Cities Program, which seeks to achieve the highest level of health and well-being in sustainable and socially effective cities,” he said.