Category: General

Riyadh– Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Investment (MISA) today welcomed major investment from Lucid Group as the firm began construction of an advanced automotive manufacturing plant that targets 150,000 vehicles per year.

First announced at the end of February this year, the facility is also expected to contribute significantly to job creation and developing the skill base of the Saudi automotive manufacturing sector. Once full production capacity is established, the facility is expected to employ several thousand people, the majority of which are expected to be Saudi citizens.

Speaking on the commencement of construction, His Excellency Khalid Al-Falih said: “We extend our warm congratulations to Lucid on the latest step on what we hope will be a long and fruitful investment journey in Saudi Arabia. The development of the electric automotive manufacturing sector forms part of our wider efforts to develop our manufacturing sector. The sector will also play an important role in our transition to a greener economy and in the Kingdom’s efforts to realize its commitment to reach net zero by 2060. This project demonstrates that Saudi Arabia’s competitiveness, its ability to provide access to key growth markets and its ability to create opportunities through cross-government co-ordination mean that we can provide a compelling investment offer for those, like Lucid, looking to shape the future of the global economy.”

Saudi Arabia has seen strong increases in FDI in recent years, with FDI in 2021 at its highest level for more than a decade. This investment has been driven by the Kingdom’s ambitious economic transformation agenda set out in Vision 2030 and the National Investment Strategy, launched last year.

The development of the electric automotive manufacturing sector forms part of Saudi Arabia’s wider efforts to develop its manufacturing sector, create high-skilled employment and play a leading role in the development of the future of mobility and urban living. The sector will also play an important role in Saudi Arabia’s transition to a greener economy and in the Kingdom’s efforts to realize its commitment to reach net zero by 2060.

Lucid selected KAEC after reviewing multiple opportunities, with the company citing competitively priced commodities and energy, a newly emerging domestic supply chain and a factory location that facilitates global logistics among the reasons for its decision.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh– Grand Mufti and Head of the Islamic Sheikhdom in the Republic of Kosovo Sheikh Naim Ternava Tuesday visited the King Fahd Complex for the Printing of the Holy Quran in Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah.

Sheikh Ternava toured the facilities of the complex and production lines and listened to a briefing on the stages of printing and work mechanisms of the complex, commending the perfect work and big efforts in serving the Holy Quran and publishing more than 350 million copies of the Holy Quran and translating of the meanings of the Holy Quran into more than 80 global languages, including Albanian, that were distributed to all countries of the world, which highlights the care of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s leadership in the Holy Quran.

He also referred to what the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has offered in the Balkans through the gift of one million copies of the Holy Quran in Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia and Montenegro, which contributed to the happiness of Islamic peoples around the world.

The complex has witnessed a qualitative leap over the past few years through increasing the number of printed copies of the Holy Quran with a percentage exceeding 100% with a production volume of 20 million copies per year.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Abyan– King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) distributed yesterday 500 food baskets to the needy groups in Abyan Governorate, Yemen, benefiting 3,000 individuals.

This comes within the framework of the efforts provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the KSrelief to alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people and meet their basic food needs.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh– Saudi Arabian Mining Company “Ma’aden” participated in the Global Health, Safety, and Environment Conference 2022, held between 16-19 May at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Center as a Strategic Sponsor.

Ma’aden said its executives and leaders highlighted the company’s Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) strategy and solutions during the conference’s sessions and workshops.

Abdulaziz Al-Harbi, Deputy CEO, delivered the keynote speech on the first day, addressing the transformation of safety and leadership excellence along with sustainability, and keeping pushing the boundaries of excellence.

Ma’aden noted that its participation in the conference aims to highlight the company’s efforts and vision in the fields of environment, human health, safety and security, and its goal of achieving an injury-free workplace.

It also aims to share its practices and initiatives with international experts who participate in this conference, and learn about their experiences and expertise, as well as use the conference platforms to strengthen its position as a leader in the Saudi mining industry.

The organization is dedicated to achieving world-class performance in health, safety, and the environment by supporting the safety culture transformation program, learning about new breakthroughs and trends in these fields, and sharing knowledge.

Ma’aden had a dedicated pavilion during the accompanying exhibition showcasing the technologies the company employs in EHS activities, and how to develop these technologies, in addition to highlighting its safety activities and initiatives.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Jeddah– As part of 2022 Jeddah season, “City Walk” zone received its visitors with many interesting shows and various events that meet all desires and suit family members.

City Walk includes 9 main event zones spread over an area of 282,000 square meters, and includes Anime Village, Splash, Horror Village, Fashion Village, Adventure Village, Wall of Wonders, Jeddah Live, interactive waterfall zone with a height of 50 meters and the grill yard, in addition to (6) Arab theaters, (3) international shows, live experiences, bands and surprises for visitors.

City Walk offers many shows and events that give visitors the opportunity to enjoy many options available in it, watch entertainment events, experience adventures and exciting shows, various games and try the balloon, in addition to a distinguished group of stores, restaurants and cafes.

The zone is characterized by its activities for all ages, catering to all tastes and desires, and provides integrated services for its visitors to spend unforgettable times of fun and entertainment.

The management of Jeddah Season had organized an introductory tour for the media to the zone of City Walk, during which they were briefed on the various sites and events it contains, and the most prominent tourist components that are available to them, so that the city of Jeddah is a permanent tourist destination.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh– The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia participated in celebrating the International Women’s Day in the Maritime Sector, which falls on the eighteenth of May of each year, and approved by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 2021 as an annual occasion, with the aim of introducing women’s achievements in the maritime sector, and the importance of their participation in the national economy and social and economic development and their main contributions to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, in addition to strengthening their role in the maritime sector.

On this day, the Transport General Authority, based on its legislative role for the maritime sector, conducted a number of activities and events that focus on the importance of the role of women in the maritime sector, through the implementation of a discussion workshop entitled: “Providing a work environment free of obstacles”, in cooperation with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, in addition to the Arab Women’s Association in the Maritime Sector (AWIMA), IMOGENder Network, and a number of organizations supporting women’s empowerment, with the participation of 23 speakers from maritime sector leaders.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s permanent representative to the IMO also participated in a virtual symposium held by the organization entitled: “Training – Vision – Recognition – Supporting a barrier-free work environment for women in the maritime field”, aimed at raising awareness and introducing the sector and access to the best solutions and pioneering models in work environments for women.

On the other hand, the Saudi Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Prince Khalid bin Bandar bin Sultan, met with Eng. Reem Al-Khuwaiter, as one of the prominent females in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s maritime sector. He also met with IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim, a delegation that included influential women in the maritime sector, and AWIMA.

The Transport General Authority implemented a social initiative for children in a primary school for a girls, with the aim of raising awareness about the sector and introducing the profession of seafarers, through their sharing of clips, and the use of new educational methods.

This comes as an extension of the importance of the vital role of women in all fields, particularly in the transport and logistics sector, and the Authority’s relentless efforts to provide many opportunities for women competencies, especially in the maritime transport sector.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Hajjah– Mobile medical clinics, affiliated with the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), in Walan camp for the displaced people in Haradh District of Hajjah Governorate continued providing its treatment services, where 554 individuals benefited from their services during April. Medicines were prescribed to 277 individuals.

In the field of accompanying services, nursing services department received 78 patients, while 8 garbage disposal activities were implemented during April.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Tabuk– Hisma Desert with its red sands and sand mountains in the northwestern area of the Tabuk Region adds a natural beauty and geological dimension to this desert that has longstanding history, where this desert dates back to 500 million years.

Geological expert Professor Abdulaziz bin Labon attributed these unique rock contents to erosion factors that affected this area over years to make beautiful paintings that are rare in the world, stressing, in a statement to the Saudi Press Agency, that these formations are rocks of sand and some green and mud, where it includes reservoirs of ground water, noting that the age of these rocks and formations date back to 542 million years to 488 million years.

Bin Labon said: “The time that these formations have witnessed contributed to having all these beautiful forms of valleys, mountains, Gharamil – straight pillars that are part of the remains of a huge mountain-, and madakheel with beautiful shapes that made the desert open natural museums and tourist and scientific attractions.

He also noted that the Hisma Desert has a lot of writings and inscriptions on the tops of its rocks, which highlights what the area enjoys of historical heritage of great importance to researchers in the history and the development of the Arabic language.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Taiz– The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) yesterday distributed 523 food baskets for the needy classes in Al-Shamaitin District in Taiz Governorate, Yemen, which benefited 3,138 individuals.

This is part of assistance extended by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the KSrelief, to alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people and meet their basic food needs.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Madrid– Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met here today with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

During the meeting, they discussed cooperation relations between the two countries and prospects for enhancing them in various fields, especially in the fields of politics, energy, economy, investment, trade, industry and culture, in addition to the most prominent developments.

They also witnessed the signing of an agreement and a number of memoranda of understanding between the governments of the two countries in the fields of education, law, health and medical sciences, economy and finance, and military cooperation, in addition to a number of other fields.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Lilongwe– The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Malawi, Nancy Tembo, announced her country’s support for the bid of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to host the Expo 2030 in Riyadh.

She explained, in a press conference today, following the meeting of the Advisor at the Royal Court, Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Qattan, with President Lazarus Chakwera of the Republic of Malawi, that her country supports the Kingdom’s bid file to host Expo 2030 in Riyadh, appreciating the Kingdom’s support for Malawi in various fields.

For his part, Qattan expressed thanks and appreciation of the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for this support, stressing that this support reflects the distinguished relations between the two countries.

Source: Saudi Press Agency

Abu Dhabi– President of the Transport General Authority (TGA) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Dr. Rumaih bin Mohammed Al-Rumaih, reviewed the most prominent qualitative projects the Kingdom’s railways have been witnessing.

This came during Dr. Al-Rumaih’s participation in the 16th edition of the Middle East Rail 2022 Dubai, which is being held over two days at the Exhibition Center in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates under the patronage of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, in cooperation with the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure and the Department of Culture and Tourism in Abu Dhabi, as well as with the participation of a number of decision makers in the Arab transport sector and 250 exhibitors from different countries of the world, in addition to 600 dignitaries and CEO of all major railway operators from across the region.

During his presentation at the conference, the Saudi TGA president stressed that the railway transport industry in the Kingdom is witnessing rapid development and steady growth that embodies the unlimited support of the Kingdom’s leadership, contributing to the expansion of railway projects and networks so that railway transport services are available to all beneficiaries in various parts of the Kingdom, explaining that since the inauguration of the railways by late King Abdulaziz more than 70 years ago, the Kingdom is experiencing a growth that reaches us today to more than 5,000 km, linking the heart of the Kingdom to its outskirts by providing services to transport passengers and transport goods and natural resources.

Dr. Al-Rumaih also pointed out that the National Strategy for Transport and Logistics Services aims to link more than 8,000 km of railways by 2030 with the latest technologies and the highest standards of quality and safety.

He explained that the Kingdom is actively striving to preserve the environment in accordance with several national initiatives, in addition to using modern rail transportation, which has contributed to a decrease of 85% of carbon emissions.

He added that the number of railway passengers increased during the first quarter of 2022 to 3.11 million passengers, with a growth rate of 208% over last year, and transported more than 3 million tons of goods, with an increase of 26%, noting that during March 2022, the service of transporting cars by trains from Riyadh station to Al-Qurayyat station was launched as the first service of its kind in the Middle East.

Dr. Al-Rumaih also talked about the contribution of Jubail network that is currently being established in linking the industrial facilities with Jubail port.

He went on saying that we aim to transport more than 345 containers, 2700 truckloads per day, and reduce harmful carbon emissions in Jubail by 573 kg of carbon dioxide.

Regarding localization and the creation of competencies, Dr. Al-Rumaih said that the strategic role of the Saudi Railways Technical Institute (SERB) in localizing and developing Saudi professional competencies in specializing in train driving, station operation and management, communication and control systems, and maintenance of trains and vehicles.

He concluded that as of the beginning of 2022, SERB started offering train driving diplomas to national trainees to enable them to drive trains, as an extension of the march of localization for this vital industry.

Source: Saudi Press Agency