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Saudi crown prince receives Syrian president, Chinese VP in Riyadh

Update Saudi crown prince receives Syrian president, Chinese VP in Riyadh
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Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa attended the FII9 in Riyadh. (SPA)
Update Saudi crown prince receives Syrian president, Chinese VP in Riyadh
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Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa met at Al-Yamama Palace. (SPA)
Update Saudi crown prince receives Syrian president, Chinese VP in Riyadh
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Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman hosted a meeting with Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa and Kosovan President Vjosa Osmani in Riyadh on Wednesday. (SPA)
Update Saudi crown prince receives Syrian president, Chinese VP in Riyadh
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Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received Han Zheng, the vice president of China. (SPA)
Update Saudi crown prince receives Syrian president, Chinese VP in Riyadh
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Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. (SPA)
Update Saudi crown prince receives Syrian president, Chinese VP in Riyadh
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Han Zheng, the vice president of China. (SPA)
Update Saudi crown prince receives Syrian president, Chinese VP in Riyadh
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Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with Han Zheng, the vice president of China. (SPA)
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Updated 13 min 12 sec ago

Saudi crown prince receives Syrian president, Chinese VP in Riyadh

Saudi crown prince receives Syrian president, Chinese VP in Riyadh
  • Ahmed Al-Sharaa spoke at the ninth Future Investment Initiative conference in Riyadh
  • Crown prince met Al-Sharaa during the FII9 and at Al-Yamama Palace alongside president of Kosovo

RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa on Wednesday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Al-Sharaa spoke at the ninth Future Investment Initiative conference in Riyadh on Wednesday, where he also met Saudi ministers to discuss Syria’s economic recovery and partnerships in energy, investment and security.

The crown prince met Al-Sharaa during the FII9 and at Al-Yamama Palace.

He earlier met Han Zheng, vice president of China, at Al-Yamama Palace. The meeting centered on enhancing cooperation between Riyadh and Beijing, discussing regional developments and international issues, and the collaborative efforts of both countries, according to SPA.

Several Saudi ministers representing energy, sports, commerce, investment, transport, interior, foreign affairs, royal affairs and security affairs attended the meeting.

Saudi Ambassador to China Abdulrahman Al-Harbi and Chinese Ambassador to the Kingdom Chang Hua were also present, along with several Chinese officials from the transport, commerce and development sectors.


Saudi minister, Vietnam deputy PM discuss strengthening economic ties

Saudi minister, Vietnam deputy PM discuss strengthening economic ties
Updated 13 min 21 sec ago

Saudi minister, Vietnam deputy PM discuss strengthening economic ties

Saudi minister, Vietnam deputy PM discuss strengthening economic ties
  • Meeting took place on the sidelines of the ninth Future Investment Initiative conference, which runs until Oct. 30
  • Officials discussed ways to enhance economic, commercial, and investment cooperation, including in agriculture, infrastructure, technology, and energy

RIYADH: ֱ’s Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Alibrahim met with Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung in Riyadh for talks, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the ninth Future Investment Initiative conference, which runs until Oct. 30.

The officials discussed ways to enhance economic, commercial, and investment cooperation, including in agriculture, infrastructure, technology, and energy.

In a separate meeting, Alibrahim held talks with International Finance Corp. Managing Director Makhtar Diop on the latest economic and financial developments in the Kingdom.

Alibrahim also met with World Economic Forum President and CEO Borge Brende to discuss ongoing collaboration, and recent global economic developments.


10KSA announces new campaign for cancer-prevention awareness

10KSA announces new campaign for cancer-prevention awareness
Updated 42 min 54 sec ago

10KSA announces new campaign for cancer-prevention awareness

10KSA announces new campaign for cancer-prevention awareness
  • Princess Reema, envoy to the US, is leading the initiative
  • Regular check-ups, healthy living are vital, says princess

RIYADH: Princess Reema bint Bandar Al-Saud has announced a new campaign to raise awareness for cancer prevention and early detection through regular checkups, screenings and lifestyle changes.

On Tuesday, through her health initiative 10KSA, Princess Reema, who is the Kingdom’s ambassador to the US, urged members of the public to take preventative action, and encourage others to do the same.

For the upcoming “Lavender Ribbon” day on Dec. 8, 10KSA invites people to post their stories on social media. The color lavender represents all cancers, globally.

Princess Reema said at the launch: “By joining us, you’ll help more people grasp the vital role of prevention through regular check-ups and screenings, which can lead to earlier diagnoses.

“Let’s stand together for health today, on Dec. 8, and every single day, because together, we will build a healthier future for ourselves, our loved ones, and our nation.”

Under the slogan, “Together for Health,” the initiative urges everyone to post a photo or video of their Lavender Ribbon, with a caption that highlights the steps they are taking for their health, with the tag @10KSA2025 and hashtag #10KSA.

Coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the initiative, activities will include planting 10,000 lavender bushes in the Asir region.

10KSA is also providing a toolkit, which can be downloaded from their website, setting out how to participate.

It includes educational material about cancer, information on preventative care, as well as brand guidelines and social media posts for everyone to use.

10KSA was launched by Princess Reema in 2015 to promote cancer awareness and preventative health.

It still holds the Guinness World Record for the Largest Human Awareness Ribbon, which brought together almost 9,000 women in 2015.

The 10KSA campaign is supported by the Ministry of Health and the Ministerial Committee of Health in All Policies.

There is also backing provided by the Aseer Development Authority, Environment Fund, and the ministries of education, foreign affairs, and water and agriculture.

10KSA receives further support from partners including the Arab National Bank, Mukatafa, ROSHN Group, Morooj and webook.


Efforts underway to build localized EV charging network in ֱ

Efforts underway to build localized EV charging network in ֱ
Updated 29 October 2025

Efforts underway to build localized EV charging network in ֱ

Efforts underway to build localized EV charging network in ֱ
  • Smart Mobility is one of the companies working in the Kingdom’s emerging EV ecosystem
  • Vice president of sales at Smart Mobility Ben Jia: Our mission is to bring our experience from China and Europe to establish a Saudi-based charging manufacturer

RIYADH: As ֱ moves toward its goal of increasing electric vehicle adoption, efforts are underway to build a fully localized EV charging network.

Smart Mobility, a joint venture between China’s Foxconn Interconnect Technology and ֱ’s Saleh Suleiman Al-Rajhi and Sons, is one of the companies working in the Kingdom’s emerging EV ecosystem.

Speaking to Arab News at the EV Auto Show Riyadh 2025, which has Arab News as a media partner, Ben Jia, vice president of sales at Smart Mobility, outlined the company’s mission to build the country’s first fully localized EV charging network — from hardware and software to manufacturing.

“Our mission is to bring our experience from China and Europe to establish a Saudi-based charging manufacturer,” Jia said.

“We want to create solutions designed for Saudi heat, Saudi users and Saudi roads. This market has unique challenges, and we are engineering around them.”

At the EV Auto Show, Smart Mobility signed a strategic memorandum of understanding with Al-Bassami Transport Group, one of ֱ’s leading logistics operators.

The agreement marks a major milestone in the Kingdom’s commercial fleet electrification efforts, starting with a pilot installation of chargers at Al-Bassami’s headquarters, followed by assessments across its logistics hubs.

“Fleet electrification is the fastest path to EV adoption in ֱ,” Jia said. “By working with logistics leaders like Al-Bassami, we can prove that electric transport isn’t just sustainable — it’s commercially viable. Once the model works for logistics, it can expand to other sectors.”

The company’s next major milestone will be the unveiling of its “Saudi Made” EV charger factory design before the end of 2025, paving the way for the first Foxconn EV charging equipment factory in the Middle East.

“We’ve already started shipping chargers from Taiwan and China, but soon we’ll be making them right here in ֱ,” Jia said. “It’s about building capability, not just importing technology.”

Beyond hardware, Smart Mobility is also developing charging software tested specifically for Saudi conditions.

Its Charging Point Management System, scheduled for commercial release in early 2026, has undergone six months of local field testing.

“What works in Europe doesn’t always work here,” Jia said. “Our testing phase taught us the importance of localizing everything — from Arabic interfaces to payment systems. Saudi users deserve technology built for them.”

With a decade of experience in China’s fast-moving clean energy industry, Jia brings a global perspective on localization.

“In China, we built scale through data and accessibility,” he said. “But ֱ has different needs — it’s about heat resistance, grid readiness and long-distance reliability. What worked in China won’t work here, and that’s why local development is essential.”

As the Kingdom moves closer to its ambitious clean mobility goals, Smart Mobility’s strategy represents a shift from importing EV technology to creating it within Saudi borders.


Global Health Exhibition spotlights ֱ’s advancements in the sector

Global Health Exhibition spotlights ֱ’s advancements in the sector
Updated 13 min 21 sec ago

Global Health Exhibition spotlights ֱ’s advancements in the sector

Global Health Exhibition spotlights ֱ’s advancements in the sector
  • AI being harnessed, industry leaders tell Arab News
  • Optimization of research, costing and supply chains

RIYADH: ֱ’s advancements in the health care industry were under the spotlight at the Global Health Exhibition in Malham on Wednesday, including research for chronic diseases, building of institutional capacity, and the harnessing of technology. 

Abdulrahman Sabra, general manager of Roche, told Arab News: “One of the major pillars we focus on, whether in the Vision 2030 goals, or in the strategy for us as well, is how to build capabilities within ֱ, and one of the areas we focus on is clinical research.”

Saad Albattal, chief medical officer of chronic diseases at Health Holding, highlighted a recent initiative, the Diabetic Command Center.

“The best example of that is the Diabetic Command Center, which is the first in the world. We are following all the patients with CGM (continuous glucose monitoring) and all their readings, and the glucose monitoring system is reflected on our screens.” 

Albattal said this command center uses built-in, artificial-intelligence technology to send monitoring notifications to beneficiaries.

“Once a patient is way off the track, interventions will be made by healthcare providers either by calling the patient or even by sending an emergency ambulance to the location of the patient,” he said. 

The provision and accessibility of medical devices are also a focus of companies in the Kingdom. 

Fahad Albuthi, COO at ֱ’s National Unified Procurement Co., one of the nation’s primary suppliers of devices, highlighted the role of his firm.   

“We are focusing on supporting health care to increase efficiency and also reducing the cost of the service provider, and this is with the full supply chain cycle we are responsible for, from the planning to the delivery of the item to the healthcare provider.” 

“At NUPCO, we are combining a proven track record in delivery with AI-driven innovation, digital procurement platforms, and predictive analytics to enhance efficiency, accessibility, and quality across ֱ’s healthcare ecosystem,” said Albuthi.

“By using AI to optimize delivery routes and prioritize critical orders, we have significantly reduced delays and improved patient outcomes. 

“We have also automated more than 15 core operations through Robotic Process Automation, cutting repetitive administrative tasks and boosting efficiency.”

Giving an example of the operations, Albuthi said: “During Hajj, urgent delivery times on our longest route dropped to under 6 minutes, which is clear proof that when the systems are reliable, frontier technology can transform emergency response nationwide.”

The firm announced earlier this year that it had secured three significant financing agreements totaling SR2.5 billion ($666.6 million) to strengthen supply-chain financing for healthcare suppliers.


Kingdom’s Seha Virtual Hospital confirms AI accuracy in heart disease diagnosis

Kingdom’s Seha Virtual Hospital confirms AI accuracy in heart disease diagnosis
Updated 29 October 2025

Kingdom’s Seha Virtual Hospital confirms AI accuracy in heart disease diagnosis

Kingdom’s Seha Virtual Hospital confirms AI accuracy in heart disease diagnosis
  • The study included more than 1,000 participants and received approval from the Saudi Food and Drug Authority and the Research and Studies General Department

The Seha Virtual Hospital, through its Digital Clinical Research Center, has successfully conducted a pioneering clinical study to verify the accuracy of the AI-powered digital platform iSelfie.ai in the early detection of heart disease and related chronic conditions.

The study included more than 1,000 participants and received approval from the Saudi Food and Drug Authority and the Research and Studies General Department, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

The clinical trial was conducted in collaboration with leading national medical institutions, highlighting the importance of partnerships in advancing medical research in the Kingdom.

The study’s primary goal was to verify the accuracy of the Canadian-developed iSelfie.ai platform, which uses artificial intelligence to analyze facial selfies taken with a standard smartphone camera.

Within seconds, it can measure vital signs such as blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation and respiratory rate.

The study’s results showed that the platform’s accuracy is comparable to traditional medical devices, positioning it as an innovative, rapid and cost-effective solution for early diagnosis.

This technology had previously achieved promising results in clinical trials conducted in the US, Canada and Brazil, the SPA reported.

The Digital Clinical Research Center, launched during the Global Health Exhibition last year, continues to conduct five pioneering digital studies involving artificial intelligence, wearable devices and telemedicine.

This initiative aligns with a strategic direction to accelerate treatment development, enhance research innovation and empower healthcare professionals with advanced tools, ultimately improving quality of life and patient safety in line with health transformation goals and Vision 2030.