King Faisal Specialist Hospital ranks among top 15 globally

King Faisal Specialist Hospital ranks among top 15 globally
Healthcare professionals consider the Kingdom’s King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre to be the leading academic medical centre in the Middle East and North Africa. (SPA/File)
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Updated 31 January 2025

King Faisal Specialist Hospital ranks among top 15 globally

King Faisal Specialist Hospital ranks among top 15 globally
  • Establishment is strongest hospital brand in MENA region for third successive year
  • 12 hospitals from MENA region now recognized among the world’s top 100, according to Brand Finance

RIYADH: Healthcare professionals consider the Kingdom’s King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre to be the leading academic medical centre in the Middle East and North Africa, according to a new report from Brand Finance, the brand evaluation consultancy.
The hospital has improved its ranking by five places to be placed 15th in the world’s top 250 establishments.
The research showed that a large proportion of healthcare professionals spoke highly of KFSH&RC, which also received high scores for research recommendations.
This strong reputation is likely driven by its pioneering leadership in robotic surgery innovations.
Andrew Campbell, the managing director of Brand Finance Middle East, said: “The Middle East is rapidly establishing itself as a global healthcare hub, attracting both medical professionals and international patients through thriving medical tourism.
“Significant investments by regional governments have led to the rise of world-class academic medical centers, many now recognized among the top 250 hospitals globally.
“With continued focus on innovation, infrastructure, and talent development, these institutions are poised to further enhance their global presence and build productive relationships locally and outside the region.”
Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi — the only hospital in the UAE in the top 100 in the rankings — was placed 22nd. It benefits from its association with its US counterpart which ranks at eighth globally.
Hospitals from Qatar and Morocco showed impressive gains in the 2025 rankings, with three Moroccan hospitals entering the top 100, led by Mohammed VI University Hospital at 28th. Qatar also had four hospitals featuring, with Hamad General Hospital at 44th.
For the first time the study also highlighted what made a hospital attractive for employment and what drove healthcare professionals to recommend an establishment for patient care, research, or education.


Golden-backed weaver builds its nest in the mountains of Asir

Golden-backed weaver builds its nest in the mountains of Asir
Updated 52 sec ago

Golden-backed weaver builds its nest in the mountains of Asir

Golden-backed weaver builds its nest in the mountains of Asir
  • Small yellow bird gets its name from the elaborate nests its constructs using its strong beaks and claws
  • Male bird structures the nest by manipulating threads of grass through its claws and beak, resulting in precise geometric shapes

RIYADH: Golden-backed weavers, known for their remarkable nest-building skills, are thriving in the majestic mountains of Asir, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The small yellow bird gets its name from the elaborate nests its constructs using its strong beaks and claws.

Golden-backed weavers (Ploceus jacksoni) first select an area where they want to build a nest, typically choosing the small branches of a tree. They start with a ring of woven straw or grass and then complete the structure by intersecting threads at a specific angle.

The nest usually hangs from the branch to offer safe shelter for the bird’s offspring. The opening to the nest is narrow and faces downward to protect the young chicks from predators and other birds or animals.

Golden-backed weavers are known for their weaving ability, and are one of the most highly skilled species in the wild, according to SPA.

Additionally, the male bird structures the nest by manipulating threads of grass through its claws and beak, resulting in precise geometric shapes.

The bird has unique colors, with either a black or a brown head, and yellow feathers covering its entire body.

Golden-backed weavers, along with many other bird species, thrive in the southern Asir region due to its moderate temperatures, varied plant environment, and biodiversity.

The region has an area of 81,000 sq. km, and borders Yemen in the southeast and the Jazan region in the southwest.

Almost 500 species of birds have been recorded in , along with a variety of wildlife and 2,400 flowering plants, according to estimates.


Saudi team joins training on rainwater harvesting in China

Saudi team joins training on rainwater harvesting in China
Updated 49 min 5 sec ago

Saudi team joins training on rainwater harvesting in China

Saudi team joins training on rainwater harvesting in China
  • Team includes 12 specialists from the ministry’s water agency, the Saudi Irrigation Organization, and the NCVC
  • Course, being held in Lanzhou, China, from July 3-22, focuses on rainwater harvesting technologies and their applications

RIYADH: A Saudi team from the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture is taking part in a training program organized by the Gansu Academy of Agricultural Sciences in cooperation with the Chinese Ministry of Commerce.

The team includes 12 specialists from the ministry’s water agency, the Saudi Irrigation Organization, and the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

The course, being held in Lanzhou, China, from July 3-22, focuses on rainwater harvesting technologies and their applications. It is attended by representatives from China’s Ministry of Water Resources, along with several water experts and specialists.

The ministry said its participation aligns with efforts to implement international agreements and memoranda of understanding with partner countries. The course provides a unique platform for exchanging expertise in water-related fields, particularly rainwater harvesting, it added.

The course also covers the design of harvesting systems in rural and urban areas, improvement of collected water quality management and advanced purification technologies, the SPA added.

Supplementary irrigation techniques, economic evaluation of harvesting projects, concepts of sponge cities, water reuse, and the role of harvesting technologies in combating desertification and promoting sustainability are also explored.

The ministry said that the training features scientific lectures, practical workshops and field visits to innovative projects in several Chinese provinces.

The visits showcase systems for securing drinking water from rain, irrigated agriculture projects, sponge city initiatives, and integrated environmental models linking water technologies with urban and rural sustainability.

The ministry highlighted the importance of strengthening international cooperation and building national capacity in water management, according to the SPA.

This reflects its integrated approach to developing technical competencies, exchanging expertise with leading countries, advancing the water system and promoting sustainable, innovative solutions to water challenges in line with Vision 2030 goals.


Saudi students compete in global chemistry contest

Saudi students compete in global chemistry contest
Updated 08 July 2025

Saudi students compete in global chemistry contest

Saudi students compete in global chemistry contest
  • The event is being held in Dubai until July 14, with more than 300 students from around the world competing for awards

RIYADH: Saudi students are taking part in the 57th International Chemistry Olympiad, the world’s largest high school chemistry competition.

The event is being held in Dubai until July 14, with more than 300 students from around the world competing for awards.

The scientific team has completed the review and translation of the practical exam for the Saudi students, who are preparing to take their first test, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

This year, the Kingdom is represented by four students who have undergone thousands of hours of intensive training under the supervision of the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity, in partnership with the Ministry of Education.

The students are Rand Al-Hassan Awadhah (Riyadh), Haider Yasser Al-Dubaissi (Eastern Province), Ammar Mohammed Al-Turkistani (Jeddah) and Ali Ahmed Baouzir (Riyadh).

has earned 45 awards in past International Chemistry Olympiads, held annually since 1968 in different countries. These include 15 silver medals, 28 bronze medals and two certificates of appreciation.

The olympiad promotes international collaboration in chemistry and encourages young talent to solve complex scientific problems through innovative thinking.

It also serves as a platform for cultural exchange and academic excellence, and supports the development of future leaders in science and technology.


reaffirms support for Afghanistan’s security, stability 

 reaffirms support for Afghanistan’s security, stability 
Updated 08 July 2025

reaffirms support for Afghanistan’s security, stability 

 reaffirms support for Afghanistan’s security, stability 
  • Envoy highlights Saudi humanitarian aid, calls for global cooperation at UN session in New York

RIYADH: ’s permanent representative to the UN, Ambassador Abdulaziz Al-Wasil, has reaffirmed the Kingdom’s support for Afghanistan’s security and stability, emphasizing the importance of respect for its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Speaking during a UN General Assembly session in New York on the situation in Afghanistan, Al-Wasil expressed the Kingdom’s concern over the humanitarian and economic challenges facing the Afghan people.

He called for intensified international efforts to provide urgent relief and essential support to ease their suffering, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

The envoy highlighted the Kingdom’s humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people through its aid agency, KSrelief. He underscored the importance of empowering Afghan women by promoting their rights in education, employment, and public life. 

Al-Wasil also emphasized the critical need to prevent Afghan territory from being used as a base for terrorist activities or drug trafficking, warning of the threats these pose to regional and global security.

He reaffirmed ’s commitment to continuing its support for political, humanitarian, and development initiatives aimed at stabilizing Afghanistan. 

So far, KSrelief has implemented 57 projects worth almost $54 million in Afghanistan, according to the agency’s website. 

The projects cover food security, health, education, water and sanitation, as well as humanitarian emergency relief coordination.


Ithra Children’s Festival inspires creativity, curiosity

Ithra Children’s Festival inspires creativity, curiosity
Updated 08 July 2025

Ithra Children’s Festival inspires creativity, curiosity

Ithra Children’s Festival inspires creativity, curiosity
  • The festival combines creativity, learning, play, and exploration in an interactive setting

RIYADH: The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, Ithra, on Monday launched its inaugural Children’s Festival, themed “What If?”, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The festival combines creativity, learning, play, and exploration in an interactive setting to foster critical thinking, nurture imagination, and develop essential skills.

Running until July 26 at Ithra’s headquarters in Dhahran, the festival offers 50 activities designed to spark curiosity and inspire creative thinking.

These include hands-on workshops, live performances, water and family challenges, art spaces that encourage exploration and questioning, and a book exchange where children can swap books.

An interactive exhibition allows children to transform large white models into colorful artworks using foam tubes, the SPA reported.

The festival will also host the fifth Children’s Book Fair from July 14-19, featuring 20 local and international publishers specializing in children’s and young adult literature.

This year’s fair highlights South Korea as the guest of honor, with book signings, panel discussions, workshops, and opportunities to meet experts.