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The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, has sent a cable of congratulations to the President of the Federative Republic of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on the anniversary of his country’s Independence Day.
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques wished the president continued good health and happiness and the government and people of the Federative Republic of Brazil steady progress and prosperity.
Source: Saudi Press Agency
Saudi Advisor at the Royal Court Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Qattan met today with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, Kandia Kamissoko Camara.
Qattan expressed appreciation to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Côte d’Ivoire for her government’s support for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s bid to host the World Expo 2030 in Riyadh, and to hold the first Saudi-African Summit and the fifth Arab-African Summit in the Kingdom this year.
During the meeting, the two sides reviewed relations of friendship and joint cooperation, and discussed enhancing cooperation in various fields and ways to develop them.
Source: Saudi Press Agency
The “Seamless Saudi Arabia 2023” conference and exhibition concluded yesterday in Riyadh.
This edition of the annual event witnessed the participation of over 450 local and international companies, more than 200 startups, and 450 expert speakers from across the globe.
Over two days, the latest innovations in payments, fintech, retail, e-commerce, home delivery and digital marketing were discussed through various dialogue sessions and several agreements and memoranda of understanding to enable innovation in financial services and to provide seamless electronic and secure payment solutions were signed.
“Saudi Payments” signed in August 2022 a strategic partnership agreement to sponsor Seamless for the period 2022-2024. This strategic partnership stems from the Kingdom’s leading position in the financial sector regionally and internationally and affirms Saudi Payments’ pivotal role in revolutionizing the financial landscape in the kingdom.
Source: Saudi Press Agency
The Permanent Representative of Saudi Arabia to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Dr. Saleh bin Hamad Al-Suhaibani, at his office in Jeddah today, received the Secretary-General of the International Union of Muslim Scouts Dr. Zuhair Hussain Ghunaim.
The meeting addressed several topics pertaining to scouting and youth activities in the OIC member states, the union’s efforts to develop the spirit of work and solidarity among Muslim youth, and the development of scouting educational curricula that contribute to the spiritual construction and voluntary work of the Muslim youth personality that make them active members of their countries.
Talks during the meeting stressed the importance of containing and guiding young people and enhancing their loyalty to their homelands and the values of moderation and combating extremism among them, as well as spreading the culture of volunteerism among young people and enhancing the role of scouts in the service of their communities’ issues as one of the most prominent volunteers in modern societies, referring to young people’s active role in community development, mainly that young people in Islamic countries constitute 25% of the global youth, where this rate is expected to increase to 33% in 2050, which highlights the significance of caring for this important segment, where the youth will make up 60% of the population of the Islamic world.
Source: Saudi Press Agency
His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, has sent a cable of congratulations to the President of the Federative Republic of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, on the anniversary of his country’s Independence Day.
HRH the Crown Prince wished the president continued good health and happiness and the government and people of the Federative Republic of Brazil steady progress and prosperity.
Source: Saudi Press Agency
The Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Eng. Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al-Fadhli has stressed the Kingdom’s leadership in tackling water issues regionally and globally, commending the decision by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to establish the Global Water Organization. The organization will strengthen cooperation between countries and stimulate a collective response to water challenges.
Commenting on the announcement, Al-Fadhli said: “The announcement demonstrates the Kingdom’s firm commitment to the sustainable management of water resources, ensuring communities globally have access to clean water.” He emphasized that the next steps will be to start collaborating with partners globally and rolling out critical projects addressing the need for sustainable water management.”
He affirmed that the newly established organization will prioritize facilitating knowledge exchange on global water issues. Moreover, the organization will support the voices of those most in need of joining this critical dialogue, especially the countries of the Global South.
He added, “The Kingdom’s vision for this initiative is not just about creating a research and policy formulation platform. We aim for inclusivity, ensuring every international voice contributes to shaping the dialogue and decision-making process in water resource management, which is at the core of the organization’s mission.”
The minister emphasized that this initiative reflects the Kingdom’s recognition of the vital role of water supplies in ensuring the future of humanity, achieving sustainable development goals, and mitigating the risk associated with global freshwater supplies in the world. This need is further elevated by the devasting impacts of drought, floods, and pollution, which can destabilize economic and geopolitical stability, food and energy security, and environmental sustainability.
Al-Fadhli added that through the Global Water Organization, Saudi Arabia intends to mobilize international support towards enhancing global water resources’ safety. He noted that humanity faces a distinct opportunity to unite its efforts, integrate its resources and knowledge, and change the path of water sustainability. He stressed the collective realization that tackling water challenges is not any single country’s responsibility but a shared responsibility in which efforts are combined to pave the way for a safe and sustainable water future for all.
The Deputy Minister of Regulatory Affairs and General Supervisor of the Executive Body of the Water Regulator, Dr. Fahad Abu-Mouti, praised the positive international responses following the announcement of HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, and Prime Minister about the establishment of a Global Water Organization. He highlighted that many governments, financing, and regulatory bodies worldwide expressed interest in learning more about the organization’s mission, operational framework, and potential involvement opportunities.
Abu-Mouti added: “In the coming days, proactive steps will be initiated to liaise with relevant authorities, allowing the organization’s work to begin its operations with global representation. We will focus on harnessing global efforts to enhance technology experiences, innovation, research and development. This will enable the establishment of priority qualitative projects and effectively address water risks billions of people face worldwide.”
He further shared that the new global organization would set a benchmark in the water sector, leveraging Saudi Arabia’s decades-long expertise. “The organization will also play a key role in bringing about a serious shift in finding sustainable financing solutions to water issues through facilitating financing. The international community will find the organization is a partner ready to provide technical, scientific, and financial support to water projects around the world.”
Adding to this, Abu-Mouti emphasized: “This organization will be a hub for research, scientific innovation, and cooperation between technologically advanced and adversely affected countries. Its focus will be on enhancing the proactive approach to water management by changing the current situation and creating a platform that allows countries to access resources, exchange knowledge, and collectively address current and future water challenges. Membership in the organization represents a strategic investment for various countries of the world, as it is an opportunity to influence global water policies, benefit from financing water projects, and share best practices and experiences so that these countries are part of a unified global effort that ensures the sustainability for present and future generations.”
The Global Water Organization, with its robust research, policy development, and practical implementation approach, recognizes the interconnection between water challenges and other global issues. By pooling global resources, Saudi Arabia aims to contribute significantly to achieving sustainable development goals and ensuring abundant water, sanitation services, and management.
Given its geopolitical significance, strong economic and political influence, and extensive global experience, particularly in saltwater desalination, Saudi Arabia is ideally placed to host this global water organization. Through the Saudi Fund for Development, the Kingdom has funded sustainable water projects that provide safe drinking water to millions worldwide.
Source: Saudi Press Agency
The Housing Program, one of the programs of Saudi Vision 2030, is participating in the activities of the Cityscape Global 2023 exhibition, which will be held from September 10 to 13 at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center (Malham). The program is held under the theme ‘The Future of Living’ to showcase real-estate projects, discuss the global and local future of the sector, increase the contribution of startups to the local sector’s development, and provide opportunities for individuals to search for properties and housing units. It also aims to support a culture of innovation and creativity in design and architecture.
The exhibition is hosting visitors from 170 countries, with the participation of 350 exhibitors and 250 global and local speakers who will share their insights and experiences through 250 hours of discussions across various platforms. Among the sessions is ‘Housing Program and its Impact on the Real Estate Market,’ featuring the CEO of the Housing Program, Eng. Nofel bin Saleh Al-Salama. The session will highlight the initiatives launched by the program and their impact on the housing and real-estate markets. It will also discuss their role in empowering the real-estate sector and achieving its targets, as well as the program’s future ambitions.
Source: Saudi Press Agency
Deputizing for the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Prince Badr bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, the Deputy Governor of Makkah region Crowned the winners of the 43rd King Abdulaziz International Competition for the Memorization, Recitation and Interpretation of the Qur’an, in the presence of the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance, Sheikh Dr. Abdullatif bin Abdulaziz Al Al-Sheikh.
The prizes worth SAR4,000,000 were given to the winners during the closing ceremony organized by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call, and Guidance, with the participation of 166 contestants from 117 countries worldwide.
A wide range of their Highnesses, Excellencies, scholars, sheikhs, and ambassadors of Arab and Islamic countries, officials of government agencies and security leaders, Imams attended the ceremony.
Initiating the ceremony, the Deputy Governor of Makkah and the attending audience listened to the contestants’ recitations and watched a visual presentation on the competition, its goals, and the developmental stages it witnessed during the past years.
Source: Saudi Press Agency
The Saudi Investment Recycling Company (SIRC), wholly owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), has partnered with the King Faisal University on an initiative to turn palm fronds, which are rich natural resources abundantly found in Saudi Arabia, into high-quality wood panels.
SIRC is developing a strategy to enforce this initiative that aims to turn palm fronds, after being processed through techniques based on using heat, pressure and chemicals, into a material similar to wood in shape, texture and properties.
This produced wood is durable since palm fronds have high resistance to corrosion and various weather factors. Compared to natural wood, it is produced at a low cost due to its abundance and ease of manufacturing. Additionally, wood produced from palm fronds is environmentally friendly, as no tree cutting is involved.
SIRC is a specialized Saudi company in the recycling sector, with a number of partnerships in waste recycling. It is developing new projects in the sector in cooperation with local and international companies to expand environmentally friendly projects, in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 and in support of the Saudi Green Initiative’s objectives.
Source: Saudi Press Agency
The Council of the Arab League hailed the Saudi announcement of establishing a Global Water Organization in Riyadh, voicing aspiration to cooperate with the new entity.
The council made the remarks in a statement issued today by its 160th ordinary session at the ministerial level held in Cairo.
The new organization seeks to develop and integrate efforts made by states and organizations to tackle water challenges in a comprehensive way. It will carry out this duty through the exchange and enhancement of technical expertise, innovation, research, and development.
The organization will also work to establish priority excellent projects and facilitate their funding to ensure the sustainability of water resources and enhance everyone’s access.
The council praised the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s role in confronting water challenges around the world and the country’s commitment toward issues of environmental sustainability.
The council highlighted the pioneering international experience presented by the Kingdom in producing, transferring, and distributing water and devising technical solutions for water challenges.
The council also praised the Saudi effort to place the issue of water on top of the global agenda, including by providing more than $6 billion in funding for water and sanitation projects in four of the world continents.
The Arab League looks forward to cooperating with the organization to achieve sustainable development goals and ensure the abundance of water through concerted efforts aimed at paving the way for a safe and sustainable future for water.
Source: Saudi Press Agency
The Social Development Bank (SDB) has announced the launch of its enhanced identity for the Jusoor platform, accompanied by an expansion of its financing services tailored for companies and entities in the private sector listed on the Saudi stock market. This transformative initiative facilitates services for businesses seeking financing through SDB.
Aligned with SDB’s digital transformation strategy and its commitment to bolstering contributions to the Kingdom’s economic growth and the national transformation envisioned in Saudi Vision 2030, this step by the Social Development Bank (SDB) aims to empower a larger segment of the target beneficiaries to access concessional financing programs and address one of the challenges faced by staff in this sector when seeking funding. It provides a positive environment for all those working in it and expands the implementation of the comprehensive development agenda for the sector to support economic growth.
In this context, the Jusoor platform aims to provide financial services and features that facilitate financing and support requests for employees of targeted companies and establishments. It aims to become a platform that encompasses all three sectors in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Through its programs, it seeks to enhance economic productivity by offering products, solutions, and enhanced financial alternatives supported by complementary services that align with the needs of the targeted sectors.
This step marks a significant evolution in the SDB’s responsibilities, as it bridges the gap between the SDB and the three sectors through an innovative platform that provides financial solutions tailored to their needs. SDB offers opportunities for growth and diversification in the delivery of financial and non-financial programs and products, reflecting its impact on society and the job market and becoming a significant economic catalyst.
SDB has allocated a financing volume of SAR 24 billion for entrepreneurs, small and emerging businesses, and self-employed individuals over the next three years. In this step, products and programs will be provided to empower entrepreneurs to conduct their businesses, contribute to the national economy, and create a vibrant and productive society.
Source: Saudi Press Agency
The Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance, Sheikh Dr Abdullatif bin Abdulaziz Al Al-Sheikh has approved the results and names of the winners in the 43rd edition of King Abdulaziz International Competition for Memorization, Recitation and Interpretation of the Holy Qur’an.
The competition, held at the Grand Mosque, witnessed the participation of 166 contestants representing 117 countries, competing in all five categories of the competition, with the total prize amount for this edition reaching SAR4,000,000.
In the first category, Ayoub bin Abdulaziz Al-Wahibi from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia secured first place and received a prize of SAR500,000. Saad bin Saadi Sleim from Algeria came in second place, earning SAR450,000, while Abu Al-Hasan Hassan Najm from Chad achieved the third position, receiving a prize of SAR400,000.
In the second category, Ammar bin Salem Al-Shahri from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia claimed the first position and was awarded a prize of SAR300,000. Mohammed bin Adnan Al-Omari from Bahrain secured second place, receiving a prize of SAR275,000. The third position went to Abdulaziz bin Malik Atli from Syria, who received a prize of SAR250,000.
In the third category, the winners include Mohammed bin Ibrahim Mohammed from Somalia, who clinched first place and received a prize of SAR200,000. Second place went to Shuaib bin Mohammed Hassan from Sweden, who was awarded SAR190,000 while Faisal Ahmed from Bangladesh secured the third position, earning SAR180,000 Saudi Riyals, and Mohammed Mufid Al-Azza from Indonesia claimed the fourth spot and received SAR170,000. Siraj Al-Din Muammar Kandi from Libya rounded off the top five, receiving a prize of SAR160,000.
Regarding the fourth category, the winners are as follows: Mohammed Ghai from Senegal secured the top position, earning a prize of SAR150,000. Hatem Abdulhamid Falah from Libya claimed the second spot, receiving an award of SAR140,000 and Yassin Abdulrahman from Uganda achieved the third position, with a prize of SAR130,000. Mashfiqur Rahman from Bangladesh attained the fourth position and was granted SAR120,000 while rounding off the top five, Abdulkader Yousef Mohammed from Somalia received a prize of SAR110,000.
As for the fifth category, Elias Abdou from the country of Larionion secured the first position, earning a prize of SAR65,000 while the second place went to Ibrahim Shahbandari from India who was awarded SAR60,000. Marwan bin Shalal from the Netherlands achieved the third position, receiving SAR55,000 and Mustafa Sinnanovic from Bosnia and Herzegovina attained the fourth position and received SAR50,000. Lastly, Hassib Amrullah from North Macedonia took fifth place, earning a prize of SAR45,000.
Source: Saudi Press Agency