Water freezes as polar wave grips Tabuk, northern region experiences chilly spell
Water freezes as polar wave grips Tabuk, northern region experiences chilly spell/node/2589377/saudi-arabia
Water freezes as polar wave grips Tabuk, northern region experiences chilly spell
The Tabuk region in northwestern 蹤獲弝け experienced a sharp drop in temperatures with the mercury level nosediving to below zero in the early hours on Friday, particularly in open desert areas, where ice formed on water ponds and basins. (Supplied)
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Updated 07 February 2025
Rashid Hassan
Water freezes as polar wave grips Tabuk, northern region experiences chilly spell
Sandstorm hits Riyadh, Qassim, and Eastern regions
Updated 07 February 2025
Rashid Hassan
RIYADH: The Tabuk region in northwestern 蹤獲弝け experienced a sharp drop in temperatures with the mercury level nosediving to below zero in the early hours on Friday, particularly in open desert areas, where ice formed on water ponds and basins.
The phenomenon underscores the impact of the polar wave on the region, which often faces harsh cold waves during winter due to polar air masses from northern Europe.
Consequently, temperatures have significantly dropped to the sub-zero with the winter landscapes continuing to be an integral aspect of the seasonal character of the Tabuk region.
The National Center for Meteorology has forecast cold to very cold temperatures in the Northern Borders, Al-Jouf, Hail, and Tabuk regions, as well as the northern parts of Madinah region, with a possibility of frost in some of these regions.
The NCM has also predicted the possibility of fog formation in parts of Jazan, Aseer, Al-Baha and Makkah regions.
An intense sandstorm engulfed several areas in 蹤獲弝け on Friday as the NCM had forecast, dust-stirring winds with low temperatures in the Qassim, Riyadh, and Eastern regions as well as parts of Najran.
The sandstorm gripped Riyadh, enveloping the Saudi capitals skyline with gray haze on Friday morning, hampering visibility due to the widespread dust, and forcing authorities to issue a weather warning.
The traffic department has advised motorists to drive slowly and exercise restraint.
A speeding BMW car was seen upturned after it rammed into a roadside fence near Takhassusi Street on Makkah road on Friday afternoon. Riyadh police rushed to the site and were seen providing assistance.
The General Directorate of Civil Defense has advised residents to avoid going to outskirt spots to avoid accidents during the sandstorm.
Abdul Ghaffar, a Riyadh resident, told Arab News: Friday being (the) weekend, we had an outing plan with family for a barbeque party at Wadi Namar, but the sandstorm that enveloped the city and its outskirts in gray haze this morning has forced us to change the plan, and we decided to remain indoors instead.
RIYADH: 蹤獲弝け, represented by the General Directorate of Civil Defense, will host the World Fire and Rescue Championship in Riyadh from Oct. 26 to Nov. 1.
The event, organized in partnership with the International Sport Federation of Firefighters and Rescuers, will feature participants from 22 countries.
Firefighting and rescue sports simulate real-life firefighting operations in a competitive framework that tests athletes speed, endurance and teamwork, according to the Saudi Press Agency report.
The championship includes four main competitions: hook ladder climbing; the 100-meter hurdles race; the 400-meter relay race; and the water pump and hose firefighting race.
蹤獲弝け joined the federation in 2022 to help develop fire and rescue sports locally and globally, enhance international cooperation, and build human capabilities.
This is achieved through sharing knowledge, expertise and skills, and introducing new rescue and firefighting technologies, the SPA reported.
Aleksandr Chupriyan, president of the federation, praised the Kingdoms efforts, expressing confidence that 蹤獲弝け will deliver an outstanding championship.
He said this years event will feature elite civil defense and rescue teams from around the world competing in a humanitarian profession dedicated to safeguarding human life.
JEDDAH: The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, in partnership with the Pilgrim Experience Program, will hold the fifth Hajj Conference and Exhibition in Jeddah from Nov. 9 to 12, under the theme From Makkah to the World.
The event will feature more than 80 sessions and 60 workshops, with participants including academics, researchers, and representatives of Hajj affairs offices and diplomatic missions.
Additionally, more than 2,400 trainees from around the world are expected to attend, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
More than 260 exhibitors from 137 countries will showcase the latest technologies and services related to the Hajj and Umrah ecosystem.
This years conference is expected to launch high-impact initiatives. And officials will sign new agreements to enhance the integration of technology, urban development, and services for pilgrims.
On Monday, Makkah Deputy Gov. Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz met with Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq Al-Rabiah in Jeddah to review pilgrim services.
The officials also discussed final preparations for the conference, which will include representatives from the public and private sectors.
Burj Al Khazzan reimagined for a sustainable Riyadh
Riyadhs landmark water tower could be transformed into a cultural and ecological space by 2030
The concept will blend Najdi architecture, bioclimatic innovation, and sensory experience
Updated 16 min 26 sec ago
Zeina Zbibo
RIYADH: In the heart of Al-Watan Park, in the historic district of Al-Futah, stands a familiar yet overlooked silhouette: the Burj Al Khazzan. This 61-meter-tall water tower, built in the 1970s by Swedish architect Sune Lindstrom, long served a crucial role: storing water for a rapidly growing capital.
Today, as Riyadh redefines its urban identity under Vision 2030 and the Green Riyadh initiative, the Burj may soon begin a new life cultural, ecological, symbolic.
Still at the conceptual stage, the transformation project was envisioned by Stella Amae, a Franco-Japanese architecture firm based in Paris and Barcelona, after a consultation launched by the Public Investment Fund.
The Burj is a unique object. It speaks of heritage, of water, of collective memory. We want to make it a living landmark, a Tree of Life, said Alexandre Stella, co-founder of Stella Amae.
The concept structure : a bioclimatic fa癟ade that interacts with air, light, sound and humidity. (Supplied)
The design draws inspiration from the trunk of the date palm a regional symbol and the triangular patterns of Najdi architecture. The structure would become a bioclimatic facade, interacting with air, light, sound, and humidity to create a true sensorial ecosystem.
We envisioned a living skin, one that breathes. It would capture the sounds of the city, diffuse soft light, include bird nesting boxes This would not be a frozen monument, but a living urban organism, he added.
More than an architectural gesture, the project aims to meet a social need: to create a space for gathering, contemplation, and transmission in a district already rich in cultural institutions.
FASTFACT
The proposed structure includes
A public space at the base of the tower combining cultural and commercial activities
A rooftop designed to host events and offer breathtaking views over the park
Subtle lighting of the structure, activated during celebrations and special occasions
The neighbourhood lacks a central point, a gathering space. The water tower could become that symbolic core, Stella said.
A sustainable, reversible, and experimental architecture
The project follows a sustainable and experiential design approach, with particular attention to environmental impact and long-term viability.
One of its key technical features is the use of ultra-high performance fiber concrete a cutting-edge French engineering innovation that ensures structural strength and durability over time.
The design is inspired by the trunk of the date palm and the triangular motifs of Najdi architecture. (Supplied)
Another central principle is reversibility. The bioclimatic facade is designed as a lightweight, removable structure, non-invasive to the original building allowing full restoration of the water tower if needed, in a spirit of heritage preservation and architectural temporality.
The project involves international creative talent, including Studio Jouan for sound design and BOA Light Studio for lighting. No local partners have been involved yet, because the project is still in the exploratory phase.
The targeted potential delivery date is 2030 echoing the broader transformation milestones of the Saudi capital.
While the project is at a design phase, Stella Amae is currently working on an archaeology research center and museum in Al-Sufouh, Dubai, with X-Architects.
Concept overview: a lively public space at the base of the tower, an event rooftop overlooking the park, and discreet lighting activated for special occasions. (Supplied)
The firm has also contributed to several major projects in the Middle East, including a residential project at Diriyah Gate 2 with AS.Architecture Studio in Paris and the Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Grand Mosque in Diriyah, in collaboration with X-Architects from Dubai.
However, the potential Burj Al-Khazzan project holds a unique place in their approach: It raises questions about urban heritage, water, memory It is not just an architectural object. It is a piece of the city, a piece of history that we want to turn into the future, Stella said.
Turning a former water tower into a Tree of Life is a powerful metaphor for a city seeking to grow a new kind of urbanism one that honors its past and looks toward a more sustainable future.
Saudi cultural movement in the spotlight at Central Saint Martins college in London
Symposium aims to highlight the significant effects of Saudi arts, culture and innovation in shaping the future of creativity across the region
Titled New Directions from the Middle East and Asia, the event is organized by Ghadah Alharthi, a cultural adviser and associate professor in culture and innovation
Updated 20 min 54 sec ago
Arab News
LONDON: Central Saint Martins college in London has hosted an arts and culture symposium that explored the cultural transformation in 蹤獲弝け, and its influence across the wider region.
The event, titled New Directions from the Middle East and Asia, was organized by Ghadah Alharthi, a cultural adviser and associate professor of culture and innovation at the college, which is part of the University of the Arts London. It aimed to highlight the significant effects Saudi arts, culture and innovation are having in shaping the future of creativity across the Middle East and Asia.
It offered the gathered experts and creative professionals a day of panel discussions showcasing the Kingdoms cultural movement and its role in connecting the Middle East and Asia to the wider world.
Alharthi told the participants how the Saudi Vision 2030 plan for national development and diversification emphasizes the development of people as a foundation for cultural innovation. The symposium also highlighted the role of cultural institutions in efforts to support and nurture emerging talent, and examined the role innovation and creativity play in enhancing cultural communities and boosting the creative economy.
The participants included Saudi artist Lulwah Al-Homoud, the founder of Isdar in Riyadh, whose works were on display at the event; Sheikha Marwa bint Rashid Al-Khalifa, president of the Bahrain Arts Society; Aryana Khan, head of cultural networking organization Frieze Connect; Suzy Sikorski, director of business development at Bonhams auction house; Mimi Nguyen, a lecturer in digital innovation and founder of Nguyen Wahed Gallery in New York; and Peter Harrigan from Medina Publishing in the UK.
Saudi crown prince congratulates Japans new premier
Updated 22 October 2025
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman congratulated Sanae Takaichi as she become Japans first female prime minister, the Saudi Press Agency reported early on Wednesday.
Japans parliament elected Takaichi on Tuesday and she underlined her commitment to boosting Japanese defense as she prepared to host visiting U.S. President Donald Trump next week.
Takaichi replaces outgoing Shigeru Ishiba after the long-ruling Liberal Democratic Party suffered disastrous losses in July elections for parliaments upper house and lost its majority in the lower house last year.
Her election comes a day after the LDP struck a deal in a fragile coalition with a new partner expected to pull her governing bloc further to the right.
