Saudi pupils explore Shamal reserve in sustainability initiative
Saudi pupils explore Shamal reserve in sustainability initiative/node/2590426/saudi-arabia
Saudi pupils explore Shamal reserve in sustainability initiative
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The Shamal reserve, located within the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve, covers 2,000 sq. km. (SPA)
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The visit aimed to introduce students to the reserve’s wildlife, enhancing their ecological awareness and connection with nature. (SPA)
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Updated 16 February 2025
Arab News
Saudi pupils explore Shamal reserve in sustainability initiative
Field visit highlights wildlife conservation and deepens connection with nature
Updated 16 February 2025
Arab News
RIYADH: The Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Natural Reserve Development Authority organized a field visit for school pupils to the Shamal Reserve for Sustainable Hunting.
This initiative is part of the authority’s drive to promote ecological awareness and foster community development, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The Shamal reserve, located within the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve, covers 2,000 sq. km. It offers comprehensive services and a unique hunting experience, attracting enthusiasts from the Kingdom and Gulf states.
The visit aimed to introduce students to the reserve’s wildlife, enhancing their ecological awareness and connection with nature, the SPA added.
It also highlighted the authority’s environmental protection efforts, sustainability initiatives, and tourism programs.
During the tour, experts emphasized the importance of ecosystem preservation and biodiversity in supporting sustainability and promoting ecotourism.
This initiative is part of a series of awareness programs designed to engage the local community in environmental conservation. These programs align with Saudi Vision 2030, which prioritizes sustainability and natural area development.
Covering 91,500 sq. km, the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve is the second-largest royal reserve, home to 138 wildlife species and 179 plant species. It is known for its rich ecology, stunning landscapes and heritage sites.
Initiatives over the past four years have significantly increased populations of endangered species such as Arabian oryx, sand gazelle, houbara bustard and red-necked ostrich, while also fostering a resurgence of reptiles and insects.
NEW DELHI: India is seeking to expand cooperation with ֱ in the pharmaceuticals and ceramics sectors, following virtual meetings earlier this week between Indian Trade Minister Piyush Goyal and his Saudi counterparts.
Goyal held separate discussions with ֱ’s Economy and Planning Minister Faisal bin Fadel Al-Ibrahim and Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih to explore ways to deepen trade and investment ties.
His meeting with Al-Ibrahim focused “on enhancing our trade & investment partnership and collaborating in key sectors” like pharmaceuticals, petroleum, and ceramics, while his conversation with Al-Falih centered on mutual growth, innovation, and long-term collaboration, Goyal wrote on X.
“We are confident of exciting growth prospects ahead for both nations,” he added.
In 2023–24, bilateral trade between India and ֱ reached nearly $43 billion, making India the Kingdom’s second-largest trading partner. ֱ, in turn, is India’s fifth-largest trading partner. Energy trade accounts for a major share, with ֱ being the third-largest source of India’s crude oil, petroleum, and LPG imports, valued at $25.7 billion in the last fiscal year.
India’s cumulative investment in ֱ reached $4 billion in 2023, marking a 39 percent increase from $2.39 billion in 2022.
The two countries have been in regular talks to deepen their strategic partnership.
During Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Jeddah in April 2024, “both sides reaffirmed the strong commitment to advance economic and investment partnership,” Indian Ambassador to ֱ, Suhel Ajaz Khan, told Arab News on Friday.
He noted that India’s pharmaceutical and ceramics sectors, in particular, have the potential to contribute meaningfully to ֱ’s Vision 2030 transformation initiative.
NEW PARTNERSHIPS
India is the world’s third-largest drug producer by volume, after the US and China, and accounts for over 20 percent of the global supply of generic medicines. New Delhi is looking to boost exports to the Kingdom and enter into new partnerships in the pharmaceutical space.
“With annual pharmaceutical exports exceeding $30 billion, Indian pharmaceutical companies play a vital role in ensuring affordable and reliable health care across the globe. The Kingdom of ֱ currently accounts for only about $200 million of India’s pharmaceutical exports — a relatively small share that underscores significant untapped potential,” Ambassador Khan said.
“As KSA pursues the goals of Vision 2030, which include building domestic manufacturing capacity, fostering knowledge-based industries, and ensuring health care security, the Indian pharmaceutical sector stands out as a natural strategic partner.”
India is also the world’s second-largest ceramics producer and the top global exporter of ceramic tiles. The government is looking to leverage this advantage in sectors such as construction and infrastructure.
“Indian ceramics are widely recognized for their quality, cost-efficiency, and manufacturing scale, particularly in segments such as tiles, sanitaryware, and refractories,” Khan said.
“Given the Kingdom of ֱ’s growing infrastructure, construction, and industrial development needs under Vision 2030, deeper cooperation with India’s ceramic sector holds significant potential.”
Riyadh Expo 2030 hosts reception in Osaka to boost international cooperation
Updated 18 July 2025
Arab News Japan
OSAKA: Riyadh Expo 2030, in collaboration with the Kingdom’s Embassy in Japan, hosted a reception in Osaka on Thursday to highlight ֱ’s readiness and promise to deliver an exceptional World Expo.
There were more than 200 local and international guests at the event, including ambassadors and commissioners-general participating in Expo 2025 Osaka.
The evening featured discussions on the theme and three subthemes of Riyadh Expo 2030: “The Era of Change: Together for a Foresighted Tomorrow;” and “Innovative Technologies,” “Sustainable Solutions,” and “Thriving Communities.”
Dr. Ghazi Faisal Binzagr, ambassador of ֱ to Japan and commissioner-general of the Saudi Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, opened the event.
In his speech, Binzagr praised the organizers of Expo 2025 Osaka and emphasized the crucial role of diplomatic cooperation in supporting such global events.
“It has been an honor to serve as commissioner-general of the Kingdom’s Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, where I’ve witnessed firsthand the vital role expos play in strengthening international ties and collaboration.
“Tonight’s event provided a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas and engage in meaningful dialogue with participants from across the globe.”
Abdulaziz Al-Ghannam, commissioner-general of Riyadh Expo 2030, said: “Our journey to host the expo in Riyadh has already begun, and we treat this as a national priority.
The Kingdom of ֱ — its leadership and people — are fully prepared to welcome the world.
“From the outset, we’ve committed to making Riyadh Expo 2030 a global platform that embraces diverse ideas and perspectives.”
Thamer Al-Saadoun, executive vice president of Riyadh Expo 2030, underscored the importance of the expo’s themes.
“The theme of Riyadh Expo 2030, ‘The Era of Change,’ invites the world to achieve real progress through visionary thinking, innovation, and collaboration.
“It is built upon the UN Sustainable Development Goals and Saudi Vision 2030, with subthemes that reflect the Kingdom’s ongoing transformation and its ambition to create lasting positive global impact,” Al-Saadoun said.
The event is part of a broader effort to foster early engagement and collaboration with participants, with similar initiatives planned in the lead-up to Expo 2030.
Riyadh Expo 2030 will take place from Oct. 1, 2030, to March 31, 2031, spanning an area of 6 million sq. meters, making it one of the largest expos in history.
Umbrella thorn acacia is vital ecological asset in Tabuk
Highly adaptable, stabilizes soil and fights desertification
Acacia is food for bees, producing high-quality wild honey
Updated 18 July 2025
SPA
UMLUJ: In ֱ’s northwestern region of Tabuk, Acacia tortilis, commonly known as umbrella thorn acacia, thrives in the coastal plains, providing significant ecological and aesthetic benefits, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.
Highly adaptable to harsh climatic conditions, the umbrella thorn acacia grows around wadi estuaries, forming shaded canopies that moderate temperatures and provide shelter for wildlife.
With gnarled, reddish-brown trunks and dense branches, these trees create a striking visual spectacle. Their shadows on the sand offer excellent photographic opportunities, attracting enthusiasts and explorers.
As a vital plant species, the umbrella thorn acacia stabilizes soil and combats desertification. It also serves as a food source for bees, enhancing the production of high-quality wild honey.
Environmental authorities prioritize the preservation of these trees to maintain diversity and improve vegetation cover, aligning with the Saudi Green Initiative and national sustainability efforts, the SPA reported.
ֱ’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. (File/SPA)
Updated 17 July 2025
Arab News
Saudi leadership extends condolences after Iraq shopping mall fire kills more than 60
A fire tore through a shopping mall in the Iraqi city of Kut on Wednesday night, killing at least 61 people
Updated 17 July 2025
Arab News
RIYADH: ֱ’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman extended their condolences on Thursday to Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid after a fire tore through a shopping mall in the Iraqi city of Kut overnight, killing at least 61 people.
Officials said many people suffocated in the bathrooms of the newly opened shopping mall. A civil defense spokesperson told state media that the fire erupted in the perfume and cosmetics section on the second floor.
Most victims were on the upper floors, while many on the ground floor managed to escape, he said.
The king and crown prince prayed that God forgive the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
Saudi youth engineer their way to STEM Racing triumph
Updated 17 July 2025
Waad Hussain
DHAHRAN: Cheers and confetti filled the stage at Ithra’s theater in Dhahran on Wednesday night as four teams of Saudi students were crowned national champions in the 2025 STEM Racing competition.
All four teams earned the honor of representing the Kingdom at the Aramco STEM Racing World Finals 2025, supported by Formula 1, in Singapore from Sept. 27 to Oct. 2.
The fourth edition of STEM Racing ֱ, held under the umbrella of the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra), brought together finalists from six cities: Riyadh, Jeddah, Dhahran, Dammam, Al-Ahsa, and Abha.
From regional qualifiers to wind tunnel testing, digital simulations, enterprise planning, and brand building, students spent months building mini Formula 1-style race cars and pitching their ideas in front of judges and mentors.
First place nationally was claimed by Team Rimah from Dhahran, a returning competitor who missed out on a qualifying spot the previous year. Second place went to Giddam from Riyadh, followed by Sadeem from Dhahran in third, and YLA Accelerate from Jeddah in fourth.
Team Rimah member Fares Al-Garaawi said the team’s experience has been all about growth. “This wasn’t my first year. I competed last year, too, but we didn’t qualify. I took that lesson and came back stronger,” he said.
First place nationally was claimed by Team Rimah from Dhahran. (AN Photo by Waad Hussain)
Fajer Al-Ameer from Giddam, who also won the Best Pit Display award, said the competition helped her to rebuild after setbacks.
“Last year, I didn’t win. But I came back with a clear goal. I wanted to win — not just make memories or enjoy the events. And this time, I did both,” she said.
More than 1,000 students took part in this year’s edition, with finalists selected through a series of rigorous regional qualifiers. The program blends engineering and enterprise with creative branding, public speaking, digital marketing, and sustainability.
Alongside the four winners, 14 special awards were made to recognize outstanding achievements in areas such as speed, design, sustainability, branding, and communication.
Using advanced tools such as CAD modeling, 3D printing, and wind tunnel simulations, each team was tasked with building a high-performance miniature race car powered by compressed carbon dioxide, and refined for aerodynamics, branding, and data precision.
Held under the theme “Engineering the Future,” the final ceremony celebrated not only winners, but also resilience, creativity, and collaboration. Students shared stories of failure turned into learning, and learning turned into leadership.
Fajer Al-Ameer from Giddam team. (AN Photo by Waad Hussain)
The top four teams will now represent ֱ in Singapore at the F1 in Schools World Finals, where students from over 30 countries will compete. Past Saudi teams have gained global attention, and expectations are high for this year’s delegation.
The initiative is part of Ithra’s broader mission to empower young Saudis through experiential learning that aligns with Vision 2030. By combining technical training with soft skills and national representation, STEM Racing is turning passion into purpose.
As the lights dimmed on the ceremony, students stood smiling with their medals, trophies, and mentors. The cars may be small, but their dreams are running full speed ahead.
