Saudi tourism ministry opens new offices to boost services
Saudi tourism ministry opens new offices to boost services/node/2618782/saudi-arabia
Saudi tourism ministry opens new offices to boost services
A recent report indicated that tourism is a major economic sector in Madinah, employing 11 percent of the region鈥檚 workforce in the first quarter of 2025. (SPA)
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Updated 7 sec ago
Arab News
Saudi tourism ministry opens new offices to boost services
Madinah ranks second after Makkah in average length of stay, with visitors spending about four nights
Updated 7 sec ago
Arab News
JEDDAH: The Ministry of Tourism has inaugurated new offices in the Makkah and Madinah regions as part of its initiative to improve the efficiency of tourism services, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
Ministry spokesperson Mohammed Al-Rasasimah said that the offices would oversee inspections, ensure regulatory compliance, support investors, enhance service quality, coordinate with government entities and provide a more integrated approach to managing tourism services for pilgrims and visitors.
A recent report indicated that tourism is a major economic sector in Madinah, employing 11 percent of the region鈥檚 workforce in the first quarter of 2025.
The Madinah Chamber of Commerce鈥檚 sectoral report also highlighted strong performance in hospitality, with the highest hotel occupancy rate in the Kingdom during the last quarter of 2024. Serviced apartments recorded an occupancy rate of 48.7 percent, the SPA reported.
Madinah ranks second after Makkah in average length of stay, with visitors spending about four nights. These trends align with Vision 2030鈥檚 aim to develop tourism and hospitality as sustainable economic sectors that create diverse job opportunities.
The E-commerce Door aims to attract global and local companies to showcase innovative solutions that support the growth of the e-commerce ecosystem
Updated 8 sec ago
Arab News
RIYADH: The Biban Forum, which is organized by the Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority, will feature 44 exhibitors from various supporting sectors within e-commerce.
The event, which takes place from Nov. 5-8 in Riyadh, will bring together entrepreneurs, investors, and service providers to share expertise and explore new solutions in the e-commerce field.
The E-commerce Door aims to attract global and local companies to showcase innovative solutions that support the growth of the e-commerce ecosystem, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
It includes six specialized sections offering visitors a comprehensive professional and educational experience aligned with global trends.
The Online Marketplaces Zone will feature leading digital platforms helping businesses reach new customers locally and internationally.
The Digital Solutions Zone will present tools and technologies that support online store growth, while the Digital Payments and FinTech Zone showcases secure and efficient payment systems and financial technologies.
The Emerging Technologies Zone will focus on artificial intelligence, data analytics, and cloud solutions, while The Supply Chains Zone will highlight logistics solutions that enhance delivery efficiency and speed.
The Products and Services Development Zone offers entrepreneurs and companies the space to refine innovations, improve products, and build scalable business models for the digital market.
Through such seminars and lectures, the coalition emphasizes that education is the first line of defense against extremism, and that awareness and knowledge are key to safeguarding societies
Updated 22 sec ago
Arab News
RIYADH: The Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition on Monday launched a seminar in the Maldives titled 鈥淢anifestations of Ideological Extremism in the Educational Environment鈥 as part of its prevention initiative focused on intellectual awareness.
The event aims to strengthen intellectual resilience among educators and communities, and prevent the spread of extremist and deviant ideas in educational settings, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The seminar brought together academics, intellectuals and experts in education, thought and media from the Maldives, along with representatives from government bodies, educational institutions and other relevant entities.
It is part of the coalition鈥檚 broader efforts to bolster ideological prevention systems in member states by helping educators identify early signs of extremism, address its roots, and promote moderation and tolerance in schools and communities.
Through such seminars and lectures, the coalition emphasizes that education is the first line of defense against extremism, and that awareness and knowledge are key to safeguarding societies.
Sheikh Abdullah Al-Asheikh (R) holds talks with Attila Tar in Riyadh. (Supplied)
Updated 40 sec ago
Arab News
Shoura Council speaker receives Hungary鈥檚 ambassador to 黑料社区
The two officials reviewed bilateral ties and discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between the Shoura Council and the Hungarian parliament
Updated 40 sec ago
Arab News
RIYADH: 黑料社区鈥檚 Shoura Council Speaker Sheikh Abdullah Al-Asheikh has received Hungary鈥檚 Ambassador to the Kingdom Attila Tar in Riyadh, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.
The two officials reviewed bilateral ties and discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between the Shoura Council and the Hungarian parliament.
Meanwhile, Riyadh Gov. Prince Faisal bin Bandar received the UAE鈥檚 ambassador to the Kingdom, Matar Salem Ali Marran Al-Dhaheri, wishing him success in his new role.
Humanity鈥檚 time capsule on the moon to include Saudi heritage
French engineer Benoit Faiveley is visiting 黑料社区 to discuss items to include in lunar time capsule
黑料社区 will represent the cultural voice of the Arab world, reflecting its ancient heritage and innovation of Vision 2030
Updated 13 October 2025
Arab News
LONDON: Saudi cultural heritage will be included in the Sanctuary on the Moon, a project creating a time capsule that carries a compendium of human knowledge, art, and science to the lunar surface with the support of NASA and UNESCO.
French engineer Benoit Faiveley is leading a team of scientists, researchers, designers and artists to deposit 24 sapphire discs engraved with humanity鈥檚 cultural and scientific heritage.
He is visiting 黑料社区 to coordinate with leading institutions in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam. They aim to explore cultural and scientific facets that could be included in the lunar time capsule, according to a statement from the project.
鈥淲ith the extraordinary cultural dynamism taking place under Saudi Vision 2030, now is the perfect time to collaborate with Saudi museums and art institutions,鈥 Faiveley said.
Sanctuary on the Moon brings together leading international experts, including astrophysicists, paleontologists, cosmologists, historians, artists and engineers.
鈥淲e hope Sanctuary will be a 鈥榗osmic hello鈥 to our descendants, or perhaps to other intelligent life forms,鈥 said Faiveley.
He added: 鈥淢ost of the material is told through images, diagrams and data, a narrative mosaic of what humanity knows and creates.鈥
黑料社区 will represent the cultural voice of the Arab world, while also reflecting the Kingdom鈥檚 ancient heritage, including the rock art of Hima and the ancient city of Diriyah, as well as the cultural renaissance and innovation of Vision 2030.
The Sanctuary on the Moon鈥檚 time capsule will travel aboard mission CT-4, a container designed according to NASA鈥檚 space standards. It will land on the moon鈥檚 southern polar region, a site considered ideal for future inhabited bases by NASA.
The 24 sapphire discs will preserve examples of mathematics, culture, art, science and the complete human genome for the future. A section of the archive will be dedicated to UNESCO World Heritage sites, with eight located in 黑料社区.
By integrating Saudi culture into the lunar capsule, 鈥淪anctuary鈥 ensures that the Kingdom鈥檚 heritage will remain accessible for millennia, the statement added.
Dammam airport opens sensory room for travelers with disabilities
Initiative developed in partnership with Saudi Aramco and the King Salman Center for Disability Research
Facility equipped with adjustable lighting, sound, color and tactile elements
Updated 13 October 2025
Waad Hussain
DAMMAM: A new sensory room opened at King Fahd International Airport in Dammam to support travelers with disabilities and the elderly on Sunday.
The initiative was developed in partnership with Saudi Aramco and the King Salman Center for Disability Research and aims to improve the airport鈥檚 inclusivity.
The facility, located in the departure terminal, is equipped with adjustable lighting, sound, color and tactile elements to create a calming and controlled environment for travelers with autism spectrum disorder, sensory sensitivities or developmental conditions.
It serves both children and adults and is managed by a multidisciplinary team trained in behavioral and sensory support.
The move follows the success of a similar facility at Riyadh鈥檚 King Khalid International Airport, opened in 2021.
Prince Sultan bin Salman attended the inauguration ceremony of the sensory room. (AN photo by Waad Hussain)
Parents attending the opening event welcomed the initiative as a long-awaited step toward inclusive travel. In interviews with Arab News, they described the sensory room as transformative for families of children with special needs.
鈥淔or the first time, I can travel with my son without fearing a sensory overload,鈥 said Rana Al-Qahtani, the mother of a child with autism. 鈥淭his space gives families like ours peace of mind.鈥
Another parent, Faisal Al-Mutairi, told Arab News that the new facility sends 鈥渁 message that our children belong in every public space. Seeing this at an international airport makes us feel truly seen.鈥
Prince Sultan bin Salman inaugurated the new facility, praising it as 鈥渁 model of collaboration that reflects 黑料社区鈥檚 humanitarian commitment.鈥
He noted that a similar facility will soon open at Jeddah鈥檚 King Abdulaziz International Airport.
鈥淭he Kingdom continues to invest in specialized programs that empower individuals and ensure they enjoy equal access to public facilities,鈥 he said.
Saudi Aramco鈥檚 executive vice president for human resources and corporate services, Nabil Al-Jama鈥, said: 鈥淎ramco remains committed to supporting national initiatives that strengthen community cohesion and promote social inclusion.
鈥淭hese sensory rooms embody our belief that accessibility and empathy must guide development.鈥
Dammam Airports Co. chief executive, Mohammed Al-Hassani, said: 鈥淭he sensory room reflects our long-term commitment to building an inclusive airport environment that welcomes all segments of society. It is about comfort, dignity and equality in travel.鈥
Kholoud Al-Shaya, adviser to Prince Sultan and director of the project, said the decision to expand the initiative followed feedback from families who used the Riyadh facility.
鈥淭he positive emotional and behavioral impact we witnessed over the past four years confirmed that inclusive design is not optional 鈥 it is essential. We鈥檙e proud to see this concept take root in more Saudi airports,鈥 she said.
Beyond the sensory room, Dammam Airports Co. announced the signing of development contracts worth SR500 million ($133.3 million) and three strategic agreements with civil-society organizations to promote sustainability, recycling and the training and empowerment of persons with disabilities.
The agreements reinforce the company鈥檚 role in advancing the Vision 2030 goals of quality of life, community engagement, and environmental stewardship.
