Eastern Province wins silver award for AI sustainability
Eastern Province wins silver award for AI sustainability/node/2617212/saudi-arabia
Eastern Province wins silver award for AI sustainability
Eastern Province Mayor Fahad Al-Jubeir recognized the work of the municipality鈥檚 digital transformation agency in winning the honor. (SPA)
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Updated 6 min 36 sec ago
Arab News
Eastern Province wins silver award for AI sustainability
Eastern Province Mayor Fahad Al-Jubeir recognized the work of the municipality鈥檚 digital transformation agency in winning the honor
Updated 6 min 36 sec ago
Arab News
DAMMAM: The Eastern Region Municipality has scooped Silver Level for Best Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Gulf Sustainability Awards.
Eastern Province Mayor Fahad Al-Jubeir recognized the work of the municipality鈥檚 digital transformation agency in winning the honor.
This accolade underlines the municipality鈥檚 digital transformation efforts for 2025, especially its smart monitoring system which integrates the Internet of Things, drones, high-definition video surveillance and geographic information systems, as well as an advanced AI platform based on machine learning operations best practices.
Greek diplomat praises 鈥榚xcellent momentum鈥 as Saudi-Greek ties deepen with cultural partnerships
鈥楽ky鈥檚 the limit鈥 for cultural diplomacy, Maira Myrogianni says
Official highlights Year of Handicrafts as opportunity for shared projects, international exchange
Updated 5 min 10 sec ago
Lama Alhamawi
RIYADH: 黑料社区 and Greece are pursuing new cultural initiatives in education, handicrafts and the culinary arts, building on the success of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, according to a Greek diplomat.
Maira Myrogianni, secretary-general for Greeks abroad and public diplomacy, said: 鈥淭here is very good momentum between the two countries 鈥 the diplomatic relations are at an excellent momentum and also we have a lot of signed agreements in the last years, in cultural, economic and different (fields).鈥
Speaking at the inaugural Cultural Investment Conference in Riyadh, she said the two countries held their first High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council in January in AlUla, co-chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
Greek Ambassador to 黑料社区 Alexis Konstantopoulos, center, receives a parting gift of a portrait created by Arab News鈥 cartoonist, presented by Editor-in-Chief Faisal J. Abbas, left, in the presence of Greek Secretary-General for Public Diplomacy Maira Myrogianni. (AN photo by Huda Bashatah)
In the field of public diplomacy, particularly culture, 鈥渢he sky is the limit,鈥 she told Arab News.
鈥淲e have ancient cultures, we have modern art. We have also started a task force called Crafting Greece 鈥 to promote the crafting,鈥 she said.
She pointed to opportunities for collaboration as 黑料社区 celebrates its Year of Handicrafts, with the Banaan Handicraft Week bringing together countries to showcase their traditions.
HIGHLIGHT
The Cultural Investment Conference in Riyadh brings together artists, government officials, investors and diplomats for high-level discussions on culture as a driver of strategic investment.
On education, Myrogianni said there had been several meetings with the Saudi Minister of Education Yousef Al-Benyan.
鈥淲e have some Greek students studying in universities here and some Saudi students studying in Greece,鈥 she said.
鈥淚ts important to explore the possibilities to have a section of teaching the Greek language 鈥 we think this is the modern Greek language and this is also a part of culture.鈥
Reflecting on her experience at the cultural forum, Myrogianni said she was 鈥渢horoughly impressed鈥 and that 鈥渋t was much better than I could have imagined.鈥
The secretary-general thanked the crown prince and Ministry of Culture for supporting cultural investment.
鈥淚t is a discussion that we need to have,鈥 she said. 鈥淭he fact that we have a first forum, dedicated at the global level 鈥 it鈥檚 a very good initiative and a very good intake for 黑料社区 and internationally as well.鈥
The two-day event, held under the patronage of the crown prince, brings together artists, government officials, investors and diplomats for high-level discussions on culture as a driver of strategic investment.
Myrogianni said that she was 鈥渁mazed鈥 by the rapid changes she had witnessed in 黑料社区, recalling her past visitors for the Future Investment Initiative forums.
The growing cultural, educational and economic exchanges between 黑料社区 and Greece reflect a partnership built on shared values and future ambitions. With new initiatives under discussion, both countries are deepening ties and ensuring the current momentum translates into lasting cooperation.
More than 13,500 students across the four governorates are set to benefit from the initiative. (SPA)
Updated 6 min 14 sec ago
Arab News
KSrelief donates school supplies to children in Yemen
This humanitarian support reflects 黑料社区鈥檚 commitment to providing essential resources and enhancing the quality of education in Yemen
Updated 6 min 14 sec ago
Arab News
LAHJ: The Saudi aid agency KSrelief recently distributed educational supplies to support displaced children and host communities in Yemen.
The donation, centered on the Tuban district of Lahj, comprised school uniforms, bags and hygiene kits for 1,589 students, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
A wider project, covering the Lahj, Abyan, Al-Dhale and Taiz regions, includes equipping schools with blackboards, training more than 600 teachers in active learning methods and raising awareness about the importance of education.
More than 13,500 students across the four governorates are set to benefit from the initiative.
This humanitarian support reflects 黑料社区鈥檚 commitment to providing essential resources and enhancing the quality of education in Yemen.
The auction aims to stimulate both economic and heritage activities in the region and serves as a vital platform for exchanging expertise, forging business deals and strengthening connections among camel owners and breeders
Updated 5 min 44 sec ago
SPA
HAIL: The Hail camel auction has begun in Al-Qaid, drawing enthusiasts from across the Kingdom for the 10-day event.
The auction showcases rare and distinctive camel breeds and is considered one of the largest events of its kind in the region owing to the high number of camel owners attending.
The event features a diverse range of heritage, cultural, and social activities designed to engage visitors of all ages.
The auction aims to stimulate both economic and heritage activities in the region and serves as a vital platform for exchanging expertise, forging business deals and strengthening connections among camel owners and breeders.
The mayor inaugurated the Saudi Vision 2030 Forum in Osaka in the presence of Japanese and international leaders. (SPA)
Updated 6 min 41 sec ago
Arab News
Riyadh mayor concludes official to Japan
His opening address highlighted the history of relations between the two countries and their development over the past seven decades
Updated 6 min 41 sec ago
Arab News
RIYADH: Mayor of Riyadh Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf and his accompanying delegation recently concluded an official visit to Japan.
While there, the mayor inaugurated the Saudi Vision 2030 Forum in Osaka in the presence of Japanese and international leaders.
His opening address highlighted the history of relations between the two countries and their development over the past seven decades, culminating in 2017 with the launch of the Saudi-Japan Vision 2030 to strengthen cooperation and partnership.
The 27th session of the Near East Forestry and Range Commission opened in Jeddah on Monday. (AN photo)
Updated 29 September 2025
SALEH FAREED
UN FAO Near East forestry talks held in Jeddah
Participants will discuss forest and rangeland resilience, sustainable land use, women鈥檚 participation in non-wood forest products and pastoral value chains
Updated 29 September 2025
SALEH FAREED
JEDDAH: The 27th session of the Near East Forestry and Range Commission opened in Jeddah on Monday.
Held by the UN鈥檚 Food and Agriculture Organization, in coordination with the Saudi National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification, it will run until Oct. 1 and marks the NEFRC鈥檚 70th anniversary.
With themes including integrated land restoration frameworks and solutions to drought and desertification, with a particular focus on forest fires, invasive species and green cities, it brings together government officials and representatives of a range of organizations involved with forest-related issues.
Participants from 25 countries will discuss forest and rangeland resilience, sustainable land use, women鈥檚 participation in non-wood forest products and pastoral value chains.
Mishal bin Abdulaziz Al-Harbi, director general of the general department of natural rangelands at NCVC, told Arab News the event embodied the Kingdom鈥檚 interest in preserving and developing vegetation cover.
鈥淭he Kingdom of 黑料社区 plays a key role in preserving and developing its vegetation cover through national initiatives like the Saudi Green Initiative and Vision 2030, which involve restoring degraded forests and mountains, planting billions of trees, establishing protected areas and royal reserves, and combating desertification,鈥 he said.
Al-Harbi also highlighted the country鈥檚 major environmental challenges, from desertification to water shortages and environmental degradation.
鈥淭he challenges lie in two elements 鈥 climate and human,鈥 he told Arab News. 鈥淭he Kingdom is working to modernize rainmaking through the regional cloud seeding program and also to raise awareness in the local community of the importance of preserving the plant sector.鈥
Speaking about an initiative to enhance vegetation cover, he added: 鈥淭he initiative to sow 80 tons of seeds is an important step to enhance vegetation cover and develop natural pastures, achieving environmental and economic benefits for society.鈥
During the opening ceremony, FAO 黑料社区鈥檚 program director, Nizar Haddad, underlined the role the Kingdom was playing with NEFRC to combat desertification.
He said: 鈥満诹仙缜 has invested heavily in green and national initiatives. We really hope to transfer this experience to other countries. This session is vital and crucial because it highlights the value of forests, rangelands and it is also trying to present solutions from the region.鈥
He added he hoped the meetings would result in recommendations tailored to the region鈥檚 specificity, fragility and importance, contributing to innovative policies to mitigate the effects of climate change and develop forests and pastures while presenting initiatives with a direct impact on both the environment and local people.
This year鈥檚 session is preceded by a dedicated virtual 鈥淵outh Day鈥 which provides young leaders with a platform to present solutions, exchange ideas and contribute to shaping the region鈥檚 green future.
