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Saudi charity drives support for mosque projects, Umrah trips and Zakat Al-Fitr

Saudi charity drives support for mosque projects, Umrah trips and Zakat Al-Fitr
The fifth National Campaign for Charitable Work, has funded more than 3,000 Umrah trips. (SPA)
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Updated 23 March 2025

Saudi charity drives support for mosque projects, Umrah trips and Zakat Al-Fitr

Saudi charity drives support for mosque projects, Umrah trips and Zakat Al-Fitr

RIYADH: The fifth National Campaign for Charitable Work, hosted on the Ehsan platform during Ramadan, continues to attract significant donations, focusing on mosque enhancements and worship services.

The campaign has funded more than 3,000 Umrah trips, built five mosques, maintained 46, and provided essential resources to 12, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.

Donations can be made via ehsan.sa or the donor service center at 8001247000, the SPA added.

Ehsan has also begun accepting Zakat Al-Fitr donations digitally to ensure prompt distribution to eligible recipients across the Kingdom.

This follows the approved charitable methods of Ehsan’s Shariah Committee, chaired by Royal Court Adviser Sheikh Abdullah Al-Mutlaq, a member of the Council of Senior Scholars.

Donors can pay Zakat Al-Fitr via the Ehsan app or website, specifying the administrative region and the number of recipients. This is done in coordination with relevant authorities across all regions.

As part of the fifth National Campaign for Charitable Work, Zakat Al-Fitr distribution aims to empower the community during this season of giving and fulfill religious obligations, according to the SPA.

Supporting charitable initiatives, King Salman donated SR40 million ($10.6 million), while Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman contributed SR30 million for the fifth campaign. So far, total donations have exceeded SR1 billion.

This achievement reflects Saudi society’s commitment to unity, solidarity, and compassion during Ramadan. Contributions have come from individuals, companies, institutions, and philanthropists.

The 2024 campaign has raised more than SR1.8 billion through 15 million transactions, reinforcing the Kingdom’s leadership in charitable work and sustainable development.


Ƶ to host 2027 IASP World Conference

Ƶ to host 2027 IASP World Conference
Updated 25 September 2025

Ƶ to host 2027 IASP World Conference

Ƶ to host 2027 IASP World Conference
  • Successful bid to host the 2027 World Conference of the International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation
  • Dhahran Techno Valley saw off competition from science parks in Norrkoping in Sweden and Chiang Mai in Thailand

DHAHRAN: Ƶ, represented by Dhahran Techno Valley at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, has won its bid to host the 2027 World Conference of the International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation.

The decision was announced during the IASP General Assembly Beijing, with the Kingdom beating off competition from science parks in Norrkoping in Sweden and Chiang Mai in Thailand.

The conference will underline Ƶ’s position as a leader on the global innovation map and reflects its growing capabilities in the areas of energy, sustainability and future technologies.

It also highlights the Kingdom’s attractive and supportive environment for innovation and investment, with the event expected to draw more than 1,000 attendees including academics, investors and entrepreneurs.

Dhahran Techno Valley secured 87 votes out of 118 participating members, surpassing the 59 votes required to win in the final round.

The 2026 IASP World Conference will be held in Sophia Antipolis, France, before the spotlight turns to Dhahran.


Ƶ, OIC officials discuss labor issues in Baku

Ƶ, OIC officials discuss labor issues in Baku
Updated 25 September 2025

Ƶ, OIC officials discuss labor issues in Baku

Ƶ, OIC officials discuss labor issues in Baku
  • OIC plays a critical role in promoting sustainable development
  • Abdullah Abuthnain, Saudi’s vice minister, attended the meeting

RIYADH: Abdullah Abuthnain, Ƶ’s vice minister of human resources and social development for labor, led the Kingdom’s delegation to the executive council meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s Labour Centre in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Sep. 23 and 24.

The meeting included ministers and senior officials from OIC member states and addressed issues including employment and social protection, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.

It also examined the major challenges facing labor markets across the Islamic world and explored opportunities for growth and sustainable employment.

In his remarks, the minister highlighted the pivotal role of the OIC’s Labour Centre in coordinating efforts and facilitating the exchange of expertise among member states.

He underscored the need to sustain this cooperation to overcome labor market challenges, strengthen social protection, and promote sustainable development across the Islamic world.

He also underlined key initiatives in the Kingdom’s labor market aimed at empowering youth, enhancing their economic participation, and advancing digital transformation in service delivery.

Abuthnain also took part in a roundtable titled “Innovative Labor and Employment Strategies in a Changing World: Global Challenges – National Solutions”, which was attended by ministers and representatives from nearly 30 OIC member states.

The meeting concluded by stressing the importance of strengthening cooperation among member states and adopting innovative labor policies that foster the development of human capital across member states.


Saudi internal auditors share expertise at Japan conference

Saudi internal auditors share expertise at Japan conference
Updated 25 September 2025

Saudi internal auditors share expertise at Japan conference

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

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

Saudi foreign minister participates in quadrilateral meeting on Sudan
Updated 25 September 2025

Saudi foreign minister participates in quadrilateral meeting on Sudan

Saudi foreign minister participates in quadrilateral meeting on Sudan

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

Saudi firm signs deal with Syria to develop digital healthcare services
Updated 24 September 2025

Saudi firm signs deal with Syria to develop digital healthcare services

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

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.