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Mount Muhajjah — a living record of ancient civilization

Mount Muhajjah — a living record of ancient civilization
Mount Muhajjah is also surrounded by sand dunes, with desert plants such as arta, ramth, and various spring flora thriving in its low-lying pasturelands. (SPA)
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Mount Muhajjah — a living record of ancient civilization

Mount Muhajjah — a living record of ancient civilization
  • The mountain is home to a vast collection of Thamudic rock inscriptions and drawings of people, camels, horses, gazelles, and lions, dating back to ancient civilizations and eras

RIYADH: Mount Muhajjah, one of the Hail region’s most well-known natural landmarks, is an example of the Kingdom’s history and culture.

Situated 240 kilometers southwest of the Hail region, the rocky cavities of the mountain take on a range of shapes and layered gradients, revealing details of ancient earth layers and the effects of past eras, due to sand erosion and weathering on the mountain.

The mountain, in Al-Shamli Governorate, holds exceptional historical and geological significance, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Its sandy, sedimentary rock formations contrast starkly with striking natural features resembling pathways and arches.

Mount Muhajjah is also surrounded by sand dunes, with desert plants such as arta, ramth, and various spring flora thriving in its low-lying pasturelands.

With its clear skies and diverse terrain, the site is an ideal destination for outdoor adventurers, tourists, visitors, and locals alike, especially during the winter and spring seasons.

The Heritage Commission said that Mount Muhajjah is a living record of ancient civilizations, a prominent landmark, and a destination for natural and cultural tourism.

It is distinguished by its special drawings and engravings, along with the surrounding sites that have been recorded and discovered through survey and rock art documentation projects.

The mountain is home to a vast collection of Thamudic rock inscriptions and drawings of people, camels, horses, gazelles, and lions, dating back to ancient civilizations and eras.

Documented among the Thamudic inscriptions is “traveler’s journal” — traces left by travelers who passed through the area because it lay along ancient caravan and trade routes.

The mountain has long attracted the attention of travelers, both ancient and modern, as well as Saudi and Western researchers, leading to the publication of several studies and books focused on the interpretation of Thamudic inscriptions and the broader analysis of rock art in the region.

The Heritage Commission affirmed its ongoing efforts to protect the Mount Muhajjah site and highlight its scientific and cultural significance.

These efforts reflect the Hail region’s status as a hub of antiquities and rock art and supports the goals of ֱ’s Vision 2030 to preserve national heritage and elevate its global profile.



ֱ to host 2027 IASP World Conference

ֱ to host 2027 IASP World Conference
Updated 25 September 2025

ֱ to host 2027 IASP World Conference

ֱ to host 2027 IASP World Conference
  • Successful bid to host the 2027 World Conference of the International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation
  • Dhahran Techno Valley saw off competition from science parks in Norrkoping in Sweden and Chiang Mai in Thailand

DHAHRAN: ֱ, represented by Dhahran Techno Valley at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, has won its bid to host the 2027 World Conference of the International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation.

The decision was announced during the IASP General Assembly Beijing, with the Kingdom beating off competition from science parks in Norrkoping in Sweden and Chiang Mai in Thailand.

The conference will underline ֱ’s position as a leader on the global innovation map and reflects its growing capabilities in the areas of energy, sustainability and future technologies.

It also highlights the Kingdom’s attractive and supportive environment for innovation and investment, with the event expected to draw more than 1,000 attendees including academics, investors and entrepreneurs.

Dhahran Techno Valley secured 87 votes out of 118 participating members, surpassing the 59 votes required to win in the final round.

The 2026 IASP World Conference will be held in Sophia Antipolis, France, before the spotlight turns to Dhahran.


ֱ, OIC officials discuss labor issues in Baku

ֱ, OIC officials discuss labor issues in Baku
Updated 25 September 2025

ֱ, OIC officials discuss labor issues in Baku

ֱ, OIC officials discuss labor issues in Baku
  • OIC plays a critical role in promoting sustainable development
  • Abdullah Abuthnain, Saudi’s vice minister, attended the meeting

RIYADH: Abdullah Abuthnain, ֱ’s vice minister of human resources and social development for labor, led the Kingdom’s delegation to the executive council meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s Labour Centre in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Sep. 23 and 24.

The meeting included ministers and senior officials from OIC member states and addressed issues including employment and social protection, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.

It also examined the major challenges facing labor markets across the Islamic world and explored opportunities for growth and sustainable employment.

In his remarks, the minister highlighted the pivotal role of the OIC’s Labour Centre in coordinating efforts and facilitating the exchange of expertise among member states.

He underscored the need to sustain this cooperation to overcome labor market challenges, strengthen social protection, and promote sustainable development across the Islamic world.

He also underlined key initiatives in the Kingdom’s labor market aimed at empowering youth, enhancing their economic participation, and advancing digital transformation in service delivery.

Abuthnain also took part in a roundtable titled “Innovative Labor and Employment Strategies in a Changing World: Global Challenges – National Solutions”, which was attended by ministers and representatives from nearly 30 OIC member states.

The meeting concluded by stressing the importance of strengthening cooperation among member states and adopting innovative labor policies that foster the development of human capital across member states.


Saudi internal auditors share expertise at Japan conference

Saudi internal auditors share expertise at Japan conference
Updated 25 September 2025

Saudi internal auditors share expertise at Japan conference

Saudi internal auditors share expertise at Japan conference
  • Saudi Authority of Internal Auditors CEO Abdullah bin Saleh Al-Shebeili stressed the need for international cooperation in developing the profession
  • Al-Shebeili emphasized the importance of academic programs and partnerships with leading global universities

RIYADH: Representatives from the Saudi Authority of Internal Auditors joined other international leaders and experts in Japan for the National Internal Audit Conference.

One of their aims is to strengthen cooperation between the authority and its foreign counterparts, reaffirming the Kingdom’s role in leading change and professional leadership at the global level. It will also highlight the authority’s experience in areas such as oversight, governance, transparency and compliance.

The authority’s CEO, Abdullah bin Saleh Al-Shebeili, was one of the keynote speakers. He stressed the need for international cooperation in developing the profession and said ֱ attached great importance to internal auditing as a crucial tool for progress as it improved performance quality and helped ensure high standards.

He added initiatives presented by the authority, such as “From Riyadh to the World,” contributed greatly to the exchange of expertise and the building of professional networks that included China, Russia, Australia, Switzerland, Austria and the US. This in turn was reflected in developing methods of applying internal auditing in line with modern technological advances.

Al-Shebeili emphasized the importance of academic programs and partnerships with leading global universities, which the authority is currently undertaking with Harvard University in the US and Cambridge University in the UK.

These partnerships resulted in more than 200 professional leaders graduating from the Internal Audit Leadership program and 45 from Governance, Risk and Compliance.

He added the Kingdom had become a global hub for developing the profession by enhancing the quality of internal auditing, raising the efficiency of practitioners and building generations capable of leading the future.

The shared vision, he said, was to build an “audit profession without borders” based on knowledge, cooperation and innovation.


Saudi foreign minister participates in quadrilateral meeting on Sudan

Saudi foreign minister participates in quadrilateral meeting on Sudan
Updated 25 September 2025

Saudi foreign minister participates in quadrilateral meeting on Sudan

Saudi foreign minister participates in quadrilateral meeting on Sudan

RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan participated in a quadrilateral meeting on Sudan, which included the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and the US on Wednesday.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.
The meeting addressed developments in the Sudanese crisis and the need to unify efforts to overcome humanitarian challenges.
It also tackled implementing the commitments outlined in the Jeddah Declaration regarding the protection of civilians, and ensuring Sudan’s stability, while preserving its sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity.


Saudi firm signs deal with Syria to develop digital healthcare services

Saudi firm signs deal with Syria to develop digital healthcare services
Updated 24 September 2025

Saudi firm signs deal with Syria to develop digital healthcare services

Saudi firm signs deal with Syria to develop digital healthcare services
  • PIF-owned Lean Business Services will work with Syrian health ministry
  • Partnership will create ‘sustainable digital foundations,’ CEO says

LONDON: A Saudi company that specializes in providing digital health solutions and e-services this week signed a deal with Syria to help develop its healthcare infrastructure.

Lean Business Services CEO Mohanned Al-Rasheed and Syria’s Minister of Health Musab Al-Ali oversaw the signing of a memorandum of understanding in the presence of Saudi Minister of Health Fahad Abdulrahman Al-Jalajel.

The deal will involve the use of innovative technologies developed by Lean, which is owned by the Kingdom’s Public Investment Fund.

The company will also provide technical support, consultations and staff training to help Syria’s Ministry of Health build digital health and record systems.

The partnership will create data management and analytics solutions to ensure data flow between health systems and support the establishment of national standards and policies.

Al-Rasheed described the deal as “an important step toward building bridges of knowledge cooperation.”

“(This is) a strategic partnership to share the expertise we have built in the Kingdom, which has proven successful in achieving a qualitative leap in health services,” he said.

“Our strategic vision is to empower the Syrian health sector by building sustainable digital foundations that support evidence-based decision-making and develop national capabilities.”

Lean’s teams would help Syrians digitize their health sector and pave the way for “a modern and flexible health future,” Al-Rasheed said.