Tag: Saudi Arabian Records

SAUDI ARABIA re-elected to lead UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Body in 2024

Saudi Arabia will also host UNWTO General Assembly in 2025.

The Executive Council of the UN World Tourism Organization has endorsed the re-election of Saudi Arabia as its president for 2024.

The decision was taken during the council’s meeting in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, this week.

Saudi Minister of Tourism and Chairman of the Executive Council Ahmed Al-Khateeb said: “During the period of the first presidency of the Kingdom in 2023, plenty of initiatives that comprised partnership, innovation, and progress were launched, and the achievements during that period were based on a common vision, cooperation and firm commitment among all members of the organization.

“We have all paved the way to build a vision for a resilient tourism sector, and we look forward to continuing our leadership role in 2024.

“We recall the aspirations and hopes of all member states, and we will strive to implement the goals in a way that ensures the tourism sector continues to achieve economic exchange and cultural and humanitarian rapprochement between countries,” Al-Khateeb added.

He noted the unlimited support of the tourism sector from the Kingdom’s leadership, including the provision of “important international initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable development,” such as the establishment of the Sustainable Tourism Global Center announced by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during the Saudi Green Initiative in October 2021.

Al-Khateeb explained that the center had recently announced the launch of an international research center, intended to be a high-level reference body to help accelerate the tourism sector’s transition to climate neutrality.

The minister said that, in alignment with the Kingdom’s vision and commitment to shaping the future of global travel, it had, during its presidency of the Executive Council in 2023, taken a “pioneering role in the tourism sector,” based on a carefully implemented plan. This vision gave priority to global cooperation and formed the basis for “pioneering initiatives that aim to reimagine the tourism sector.” He cited the outline of “a clear and comprehensive roadmap aimed at supporting global cooperation and pioneering initiatives” as an example.

The UNWTO also announced that Saudi Arabia has been selected to host the 26th session of its General Assembly in 2025. It will be the first UN General Assembly to be held in the Kingdom.

That announcement came during Al-Khateeb’s participation in the 25th session in Samarkand, which ran from Oct. 16 to 20.

Saudi Arabia is “determined to reshape the global tourism scene,” Al-Khateeb said. The General Assembly’s session in Saudi Arabia will feature a variety of activities aimed at raising awareness of the role of tourism in promoting sustainable development and peace in the world, he added, and will also provide an opportunity for the Kingdom to showcase its tourism and cultural developments and “enhance international cooperation in this important sector.”

On his official X account, Al-Khateeb wrote: “It’s my upmost honor to announce that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been selected to host the 26th General Assembly of the UNWTO in 2025. We will continue to ascend and positively impact the tourism sector in order to achieve the global needs and aspirations.”

In another post, the minister said: “The election of Saudi Arabia to chair the Executive Council of the UN World Tourism Organization for a second term is an affirmation of our commitment to the world to empower the tourism sector globally, and support the ambitious development plans to create promising opportunities.”

Princess Haifa bint Mohammed Al-Saud, Saudi Arabia’s vice minister for tourism, also posted on X, saying: “As we continue to move forward with vision and purpose, the Kingdom proudly steps into the global spotlight once again. Happy to share that Riyadh will host the 26th session of the UN World Tourism Organization General Assembly in 2025.”

source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)

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The Executive Council of the UN World Tourism Organization has endorsed the re-election of Saudi Arabia as its president for 2024. (SPA)

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SAUDI ARABIA

SAUDI ARABIA provided $95 billion in Humanitarian Aid to 160 countries, Eng. Waleed Al-Khereiji, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs

Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Eng. Waleed Al-Khereiji emphasized that the Kingdom has never hesitated to harness all its capabilities to serve humanitarian causes. “The humanitarian aid provided by the Kingdom over the past 70 years has exceeded $95 billion and that benefited 160 countries around the world, making it at the forefront of donor countries for humanitarian and development aid,” he said.

Al-Khereiji made the remarks while attending, on behalf of Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, the meeting of the 160th regular session of the Council of the Arab League at the ministerial level, at the league headquarters in Cairo.

He reiterated the Kingdom’s emphasis on the importance of peace in the Middle East, as it is the strategic choice for the Arab countries, and the importance of encouraging accelerated negotiations to reach a just and comprehensive solution that meets the aspirations of the Palestinian people in accordance with international resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative. He expressed the Kingdom’s condemnation of the attacks, unilateral actions and repeated provocations by the Israeli occupation forces, which undermine the peace process.

Al-Khereiji expressed the Kingdom’s backing on Syria’s return to the Arab fold, stressing that this will contribute positively to efforts to resolve the crisis there and restore stability to Syria and the region. He reiterated the Kingdom’s support for all efforts made to reach a political solution to the Syrian crisis in a way that preserves Syria’s unity, security, stability and Arab identity. He repeated the Kingdom’s demand for the withdrawal of foreign forces and armed militias from Syria.

Regarding Sudan, Al-Khereiji said the Kingdom voices its deep concern over the cessation of talks that are aimed at ending the conflict and reaching a permanent ceasefire agreement.

Al-Khereiji also led the Saudi delegation, on behalf of Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan to the third session of the ministerial meeting for the Arab-Japanese political dialogue. The meeting of the foreign ministers from the Arab and Japanese sides was held at the headquarters of the Arab League. The Arab side was headed by Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, while the Japanese side was headed by its Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi.

In his speech, Al-Khereiji expressed the Kingdom’s aspiration to advance Arab-Japanese cooperation to better levels in various fields. He stressed the importance of making the Middle East a safe, stable, and prosperous region that gives hope for a better future for all. “There is broad agreement with Japan regarding the importance of establishing peace, encouraging negotiated solutions, and strengthening security, stability, and development,” he said.

source/content: cdn.saudigazette.com.sa (headline edited)

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Saudi Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Eng. Waleed Al-Khereiji addressing the ministerial meeting for the Arab-Japanese political dialogue in Cairo.

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SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi Economy Joins Trillion-Dollar Club: FSC

Saudi Arabia has reached a significant milestone as its gross domestic product crossed the coveted 1 trillion-dollar mark for the first time, revealed the umbrella body of the Kingdom’s business community. 

According to the state-run news agency, the Federation of Saudi Chambers revealed that the Kingdom achieved the GDP of SR4.15 trillion ($1.11 trillion), meeting the state’s goals for 2025. 

The Saudi Press Agency cited the FSC study reporting that the Kingdom achieved an economic growth rate of 8.7 percent in 2022, the highest among the member states of G20. 

The report also found that the private sector’s contribution to the economy increased to SR1.63 trillion, or 41 percent of GDP in 2022, with a growth rate of 5.3 percent. 

Strengthening the non-oil private sector is a crucial agenda of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, as the Kingdom’s economy has steadily reduced its dependence on oil. 

The report added that non-governmental investments increased to SR907.5 billion, with a growth rate of 32.6 percent in 2022, while the number of private workers rose from 8.08 million in 2021 to 9.42 million in 2022. 

Moreover, the number of Saudis working in the private sector increased from 1.91 million in 2021 to 2.19 million in 2022. 

Highlighting Saudi Arabia’s success in its economic diversification efforts, the Saudi Chamber of Commerce added that the value of non-oil exports reached SR315.7 billion in 2022, accounting for 20.5 percent of commodity exports. 

Earlier this month, the International Monetary Fund said Saudi Arabia’s fiscal prospects are solid in the near term, with risks broadly balanced, driven by Vision 2030, which has been diversifying the Kingdom’s economy since its launch in 2016. 

According to the UN financial agency, Saudi Arabia has sufficient precautionary reserves, and the peg of the exchange rate to the US dollar served the Kingdom’s economy well. 

IMF added that Saudi Arabia has maintained its average consumer price index despite rising inflation in other nooks.

source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)

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The Kingdom achieved an economic growth rate of 8.7 percent in 2022, the highest among the member states of G20. Shutterstock 

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SAUDI ARABIA elected President of ‘Asian Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions’ from 2027-2030, at its 59th meeting in Busan, South Korea

The Kingdom was selected in a vote by the Asian Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions during its 59th meeting, which took place in Busan, South Korea this week.

Saudi Arabia, represented by its General Court of Audit, has been elected to be president of the Asian Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions from 2027 to 2030.

The Kingdom was selected in a vote by the organization’s board of governors during its 59th meeting, a four-day event in Busan, South Korea, that concluded on Friday.

Hussam Al-Angari, president of the General Court of Audit, congratulated the Saudi leadership for the success of the country in being awarded the role, which he said “would not have been achieved without the high status enjoyed by the Kingdom,” the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday.

He added that the honor reflects the great leadership role and reputation of the Kingdom, through its General Auditing Bureau, in the financial sector and in the fields of auditing, drawing up public financial-monitoring policies at the regional and international levels, and its effective participation in policy development and decision-making related to international professional policies and practices.

Established in 1978, the organization has 48 member states and is currently chaired by Thailand’s State Audit Office, while China’s auditor general carries out the duties of its General Secretariat.

The regional branch is affiliated with the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions, which is considered the professional reference and international incubator for public financial oversight and accounting.

source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)

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Hussam Al-Angari, president of the General Court of Audit, takes part in 59th Asian Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions meeting in Korea. (SPA)

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SAUDI ARABIA

SAUDI ARABIA: Winners of 3rd National Cultural Awards shine in Riyadh

The winners of the third National Cultural Awards were honored in a ceremony held in Riyadh on Saturday. The event was a night dedicated to celebrating cultural creativity and promising ambition.

Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan presented the awards to the winners in the presence of Minister of Education Yousef Al-Benyan and Minister of Media Salman Al-Dossary. The ceremony was also attended by a distinguished group of intellectuals, writers and media figures.

The National Cultural Awards, an annual initiative by the Ministry of Culture, aims to recognize and showcase the talents of individuals within the country.

The awards also serve to promote their cultural products both locally and internationally, while providing financial and moral support to encourage their continued growth and success.

The winners were nominated for awards in 16 different categories, covering a range of areas including literature, music, architecture and design, nonprofits and film.

Prince Badr said: “We are happy to honor innovators in our beloved capital,” adding that the initiative aims to “shed light on talents, celebrate achievements, honor innovators and encourage cultural production.”

He said: “The newly launched business owner award for this year reflects the cultural system’s appreciation for the contributions of supporters of cultural activity across all cultural sectors, and acknowledges their vital role as an integral part of the efforts made by the cultural system entities.”

Prince Badr added: “The international cultural excellence award celebrates international cultural personalities and institutions contributing to enriching the contemporary international cultural landscape, in addition to celebrating the significant efforts in the field of international cultural exchange on a global level.”

He concluded by congratulating the winners of the National Cultural Awards for this year, urging them to continue their efforts and wishing everyone a future filled with arts and culture.

Author Abu Abdulrahman Al-Dhaheri received the cultural pioneer award for his extensive contributions to literature and culture. He has produced a diverse collection of publications in languages, literature, philosophy, art, Shariah sciences and history.

Businessman Abdulrahman bin Mahfouz won the business owner award for supporting cultural activity. The International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas received the international cultural excellence award.

In addition, Lubna Al-Khamis, a Saudi journalist, won the youth cultural award. The cultural institutions award was given to the Saudi Research and Media Group in the private sector and the Abdulrahman Al-Sudairy Cultural Center in the nonprofit sector.

The ceremony also recognized winners in other cultural sectors. Mohammed Ibrahim Yaacoub, a poet, received the literature award, and Adab Publishing won the publishing award.

Maha Al-Faleh was honored with the translation award, and Charmaleena Jewellery received the fashion award. Dr. Abdullah Al-Masri, a historian, won the national heritage award, and Bateel International was recognized with the culinary arts award.

Artist Manal Al-Dowayan was given the visual arts award, and the Riyadh Band received the theater and performing arts award.

Abdulrahman Mohammed won the music award, while Ibrahim Al-Hsawi won the film award. Kholoud Attar was recognized with the architecture and design award.

source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)

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/Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan with the winners of the third National Cultural Awards in Riyadh. (SPA)

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SAUDI ARABIA

SAUDI ARABIA: Lamya Al-Nahdi, the First Saudi International Referee in Basketball History

  • Al-Nahdi has been accredited as the first Saudi international referee in the history of basketball in the Kingdom
  • FIBA also accredited three other Saudi international basketball referees

For most teens, picking a sport to play in school relies on passion and love for a particular game; for others, choosing is a tough decision. For Lamya Al-Nahdi, opting to play basketball was not something she knew she wanted, as she had played a few different sports, but basketball resonated with her the most.

“I have been playing basketball since I was 13 years old; it is one of the unique sports that relies on speed, intelligence and teamwork. Those three elements combined really got my attention in this beautiful sport,” Al-Nahdi said.

“Basketball is not only about being healthy and sporty and all of that, it gives you so many values when it comes to teamwork, when it comes to the decision-making phase in the court, it is so much more than just a sport,” she said.

After more than ten years of devotion to the sport, Al-Nahdi has been accredited as the first Saudi international referee in the history of basketball in the Kingdom, having passed the test for becoming an international basketball referee set by the international basketball federation FIBA.

FIBA also accredited three other Saudi international basketball referees: Ahmed Hassan Al-Khamis, Abdullah Marzouq Al-Hujaili and Razen Ahmed Al-Awfi. The accreditation of the three Saudi referees follows them successfully passing the FIBA theoretical and practical exams.

“I had to go through a lot of preparation and training in basketball in the field, and also with the legislation and laws,” Al-Nahdi said.

Al-Nahdi said that becoming the first Saudi international basketball referee was both an honor and a huge responsibility.

“I am not only representing myself but also representing a beautiful sport that I grew up playing for more than ten years, so it represents the love and passion for that sport,” she said.

“And it also represents my country, religion and lots of values that I took along with me.”

While playing basketball, Al-Nahdi graduated from Dar Al-Hekma University with a human resources management degree. After graduating, Al-Nahdi worked in human resources for five years before joining her family business as a business development manager of Blooming, a female clothing brand founded by Saudi women.

Al-Nahdi being accredited as the first Saudi International referee in basketball follows the efforts made by the Saudi Sport Federation to empower Saudi women in the sport sector, particularly Saudi female referees, and to support Saudi women locally and internationally.

“Now is the time for anything, particularly in the Saudi sports industry, with the support system we have,” Al-Nahdi said.

“I am loving the focus on females playing sports, specifically basketball,” she said. “I do believe it is the number one sport when it comes to female sport, gaining much attention among Saudi females compared to other sports.”

Encouraging women to take up sport and providing job opportunities in several sports fields, including football and basketball, has allowed Saudi women to excel in professional and recreational sports.

“In my early years of playing basketball, we actually used to do it not secretly, but no one knew about us back then, compared to the attention, support and the number of basketball coaches available to train Saudi women,” Al-Nahdi said.

“Now is the time. The support structure is there, all you need to do is to believe in yourself and work hard toward your goal.”

Al-Nahdi said that believing in yourself was the first and most important step in achieving anything, the second was surrounding yourself with supportive people to help you along the way.

Her elevation as the first Saudi international referee for basketball has been welcomed enthusiastically.

The Saudi Embassy in the US tweeted: “The @FIBA has approved Lamia Fawzi Al-Nahdi as the first Saudi international referee in the history of Saudi basketball. This is the result of the efforts of the @sbfksa to empower Saudi female referees and support them locally and internationally.”

Saudi Arabia’s first female international referee for football was appointed by the FIFA in January this year, when Anoud Al-Asmari was awarded the international badge, less than a year after the Kingdom’s national women’s team made their debut.

source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)

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Lamya Al Nahdi, is the first Saudi international referee in the history of basketball in the Kingdom

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SAUDI ARABIA

SAUDI ARABIA: Dr. Abdullah Al-Thiabi Invents Device to Relieve a potentially Life-threatening Health Condition ‘ Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)’

Dr. Abdullah Al-Thiabi claims to have developed a way of controlling the condition, known as gastroesophageal reflux disease.

A Saudi consultant specializing in the digestive system has invented a device that could provide relief for millions of people suffering with acid reflux, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.

Dr. Abdullah Al-Thiabi claims to have developed a way of controlling the condition, known as gastroesophageal reflux disease.

GERD is a temporary disorder that occurs when stomach acid repeatedly flows back into the tube (esophagus) connecting the mouth and stomach. This backwash, often referred to as acid reflux, can irritate the lining of the esophagus. If left untreated it can develop into a chronic condition with severe and life-threatening implications.

Also an expert in liver conditions and endoscopy, Al-Thiabi’s procedure involves placing a specialized device underneath the esophagus — using upper gastrointestinal endoscopy — which acts as a valve, preventing the backflow of stomach fluids and acids.

The device regulates medication levels and prevents side effects, while also monitoring esophageal tissue to lower the risk of cancer of the esophagus. In addition, it allows for easy sample collection and initial evaluation before laboratory analysis.

Installation time can be as quick as 15 minutes, and the technology reduces reliance on acidity drugs, surgical procedures, and healthcare costs for both institutions and patients.

After four years of rigorous scientific work following approved standards and methodology, the King Abdullah International Medical Research Center at the Ministry of National Guard has officially registered the device with the relevant authorities.

The next step will be to obtain rights and a local patent certificate from the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property, and globally from the US Office of Innovation and Intellectual Property.

To then bring the product to market, funding from the public and private sectors will be required to support largescale commercial production, manufacturing, storage, shipping, sales, promotion, and marketing.

source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)

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Dr. Abdullah Al-Thiabi claims to have developed a way of controlling acid reflux, known as gastroesophageal reflux disease. (SPA)

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SAUDI ARABIA

SAUDI ARABIA: How the ‘Saudi Pro League’ became the Football World’s Biggest Story

  • Saudi football, not to mention Middle Eastern and Asian teams in general, will be seismic in the years ahead
  • Global interest in the league has skyrocketed, with broadcasters DAZN, Canal Goat and LA7 jumping on board

 Cristiano Ronaldo raised a few eyebrows when, only months into his move to Al-Nassr, he predicted the Saudi Pro League would be one of the top five in the world within a few years. Recent developments have shown his remarks to be right on the mark.

“(The) Saudi league is getting better and the next year will be even better,” he told Saudi sports channel SSC toward the end of last season.

“Step-by-step, I think this league will be among the top five leagues in the world but they need time, players and infrastructure. But I believe that this country has amazing potential, they have amazing people and the league will be great, in my opinion.”

It is a view he has since repeated with confidence and, each time he does so, his belief looks more and more justified and accurate.

On July 18, while in Spain with his Al-Nassr teammates for their preseason training camp, Ronaldo doubled down on his comments. He committed to his Saudi adventure and dismissed many European leagues — and America’s Major League Soccer, the new home of his rival, Lionel Messi — in one fell swoop.

“Europe has lost a lot of quality,” he said. “The only one that is one of the best is the (English) Premier League. It’s way ahead of all the other leagues from my point of view.

“The Spanish league lost its level, the Portuguese one is not a top one, the German has also lost a lot of quality. The USA? No, the Saudi championship is much better than the USA.”

Given the number of major recent signings of top international stars by Saudi Arabia’s leading clubs during the summer transfer window, Ronaldo’s estimate of a “few years” could well be accelerated.

Some of the big moves to the Kingdom from Europe are worth highlighting: Karim Benzema from Real Madrid to Al-Ittihad; Sadio Mane from Bayern Munich to Al-Nassr; Riyadh Mahrez from Manchester City to Al-Ahli; N’Golo Kante from Chelsea to Al-Ittihad; Reuben Neves from Wolves to Al-Hilal; Sergej Milinkovic-Savic from Lazio to Al-Hilal; and the trio of Fabinho, Roberto Firmino and Jordan Henderson from Liverpool to Al-Ittihad, Al-Ahli and Al-Ettifaq respectively.

There are many more, as the number of players signing from abroad seemingly grows by the day.

What has taken place is nothing short of a revolution in Saudi football. It is comfortably the biggest story in the football world, following the unprecedented summer 2023 transfer window.

Of course, there were already many standout past and current foreign players in the Saudi Pro League over the past few years. The likes of Bafetimbi Gomis at Al-Hilal, Talisca at Al-Nassr and Abderrazak Hamdallah at Al-Ittihad, to name just a few, have all been hugely successful in the SPL, not to mention popular with the fans.

But Ronaldo’s arrival in Riyadh on Dec. 31, 2022, redefined the Saudi Pro League. Once dismissed as a mere rumor, his move to Al-Nassr — after being released by Manchester United — changed perceptions of Saudi domestic football overnight. Coming shortly after the Kingdom’s historic 2-1 win over Argentina at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, it showed that the Kingdom had to be taken seriously.

Suddenly, other players began to take notice, as did the fans and the international media. The knock-on effects since then have been astonishing. Saudi Arabia’s top clubs, having been privatized and backed financially by the country’s Public Investment Fund, can now afford to pick off players at the peak of their careers from some of the biggest, and richest, clubs in the world.

Global interest in the league, which is also known as the Roshn Saudi League, has already skyrocketed, with international broadcasters also jumping on board. They include live sports streaming service DAZN, which has the exclusive rights to show games in the UK, YouTube channel Canal Goat, which will screen matches in Brazil, and free-to-air channel LA7 in Italy, according sources.

DAZN is set to stream three matches each week, beginning with Friday’s season opener between newly promoted clubs Al-Ahli and Al-Hazm. Sky Sports had picked up the UK digital broadcast rights to the Saudi top flight halfway through last season, but DAZN was the first to commit to a whole season.

No doubt the effects of all these developments on the future of Saudi football, not to mention that of Middle Eastern and Asian football in general, will be seismic in the season and years ahead. But amid the excitement and euphoria, there are serious issues that need to be addressed.

While the wider picture is clearly positive, and is already ensuring the SPL is a league to be reckoned with, the future of football in the Kingdom will have to be managed carefully and strategically to ensure the overall health of the game is maintained for the benefit of the clubs, the national team and the nurturing of young Saudi talent.

The rate of signings in recent weeks has been relentless and has raised questions as to when the spending spree will end. Officially, the Saudi transfer window closes on Sept. 7, a week after the one in Europe. This has caused concern among clubs, particularly those in the English Premier League, who worry they might lose more players during that overlapping period with no opportunity to replace them.

Beyond this summer’s immediate deadline, however, things will remain somewhat open-ended in terms of outgoing and incoming players, although an obvious end point for some clubs would be when they fill their full quotas for foreign players.

Another area of debate surrounds how this strengthening of the elite clubs will affect some of the league’s smaller teams. This concern was recently addressed by authorities, who said targeted projects will be supported if and when they are implemented for clubs outside the big five.

Then there is the worry that the influx of foreign players will adversely affect the development and progress of young Saudi talent, along with the careers of established local players.

The SPL and the Saudi Arabian Football Federation have moved to allay those fears by formulating a strategy designed to drive competitiveness on and off the pitch. New regulations are being rolled out, designed to increase playing time for young Saudi players. They include a reduction in the age of eligibility from 18 to 16, and a requirement for squads to include 25 senior players and 10 under the age 21 beginning with the 2025-26 season.

It is a policy that Al-Ettifaq coach Steven Gerrard and new signing Jordan Henderson — two former Liverpool captains — have thrown their support behind by committing to help efforts to nurture the next generation of Saudi footballing talent.

“At Ettifaq we have a lot of promising young talent who have a bright future,” said Gerrard. “And I am really proud to be the coach of the team. Hopefully I can help support these players and help develop them into better players in the future.”

For now, there is no denting the sense of optimism and positivity sweeping through Saudi football. For fans of the SPL, old and new, the 2023-24 season’s big kick-off on Friday cannot come soon enough.

source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)

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SAUDI ARABIA Releases More than 1,500 Endangered Animals in AlUla

This winter five-phase release includes about 650 Arabian gazelles, 550 sand gazelles, 280 Arabian oryx and 100 Nubian ibex.

More than 1,500 endangered animals will be released in AlUla as part of the Royal Commission for AlUla’s mission to reintroduce native species into their natural habitats.

The animals will be released across three of AlUla’s nature reserves: Sharaan, Wadi Nakhlah and Al-Gharameel.

This winter five-phase release includes about 650 Arabian gazelles, 550 sand gazelles, 280 Arabian oryx and 100 Nubian ibex. The first phase, on Jan. 10, saw the release of about 80 animals. The species were sourced from respected conservation facilities in the Kingdom and UAE.

Stephen Browne, wildlife and natural heritage executive director of the Royal Commission for AlUla, said: “We are a growing player in conservation through biodiversity initiatives including species reintroduction, habitat restoration, protected area management and Arabian leopard conservation. RCU’s conservation and restoration initiatives are successfully moving forward in the revitalization of AlUla’s natural habitat — and one day we will reintroduce the Arabian leopard back to the wilds of AlUla.”

The reintroduction of the Arabian leopard, an apex predator classed as critically endangered, would serve as a capstone on the regeneration of the reserve. The reintroduction is targeted for 2030.

Monitoring of the newly released animals will be carried out with SMART software analysis tools, camera trapping and satellite tracking collars. It is the first time that the lightweight, solar-powered collars will be used for ungulate species in the region. RCU has conducted extensive genetic and physical screening of the animals to ensure their fitness for release into the wild.

The new release is by far the largest since RCU’s reintroduction program began in 2019. Animal reintroduction enriches RCU’s ambitious plan to activate six nature reserves while regenerating AlUla as a leading global destination for cultural and natural heritage.

source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)

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The animals will be released across three of AlUla’s nature reserves: Sharaan, Wadi Nakhlah and Al-Gharameel. (Supplied)

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SAUDI ARABIA: Neom graduate Rafif Kalantan Wins Yugo BAFTA Award 2023. Creates History – becomes First Female Director & First Non-European to Win in Gamers Category.

Kalantan has become the first female director, the first non-European to win a BAFTA award in the Gamers category.

Rafif Kalantan has become the first student from Saudi Arabia to win a 2023 Yugo BAFTA Award, picking up the accolade in the Games Category for her submission ‘Eros Xavier’s Love Solutions’.

The Yugo BAFTA Student Awards is an annual event celebrating the works of the next generation of highly skilled and creative storytellers from around the world.

Kalantan, the first female director and the first non-European to win a BAFTA award in this category, was one of the students supported by Neom to attend the National Film and Television School (NFTS), one of the top-ranking schools to join its Master’s programme in Games Design and Development.

Kalantan’s entry ‘Eros Xavier’s Love Solutions’ is the culmination of an intensive two-year Master’s programme of training that provides students with the skills and creative knowledge to design, devise and build games, from inception to delivery.

‘Eros Xavier’s Love Solutions’ is a narrative-driven puzzle-like game. The game follows Eros Xavier, a retired cupid who is cynical about love and has decided to open a private business for hire as a match-breaker.

This year’s Yugo BAFTA Student Awards welcomed 754 submissions from 103 schools across 30 countries, including, Argentina, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Hong Kong, India, Mexico, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates.

Speaking about the award, Rafif Kalantan said: “I am honoured to have been selected as the winner of such a globally renowned award, especially being the first female director and first non-European to win this category. This wonderful achievement also showcases the capabilities of the developers from the Kingdom and the Middle East as a whole, and how the game industry in the region has a lot of potential. I am also grateful for the continued support and investment of Neom, which was an integral part of this achievement. Their continued support for us in the gaming field shows how much Neom believes in growing local talents and allowing them to thrive!”

Jon Wardle, Director of the National Film and Television School, commented: “The School is incredibly proud to be celebrating this achievement with Rafif as we celebrate the 10th anniversary of our Games Design MA. We’re also very grateful to Neom for continuing to help make our courses accessible with life-changing funding opportunities.”

Wayne Borg, Managing Director of Media Industries, Entertainment, and Culture at Neom, added: “On behalf of the entire Neom team, we extend our congratulations to Rafif for the well-deserved honour of receiving this prestigious award from BAFTA. This remarkable accomplishment is a testament to her exceptional talents and marks a momentous beginning for Rafif’s journey, and I’m sure she will achieve great things in the gaming world. We will continue to work closely with the National Film and Television School to nurture and empower more talented individuals as we develop our partnership and offer a unique blend of professional development, mentorship, and growth opportunities for emerging talent in the creative industries.”

source/content: broadcastprome.com /BroadcastPRO / (headline edited)

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