How a KAUST team is using AI to transform date harvesting in Saudi Arabia

The university is developing an AI-driven robotic system to support local date farmers. (Supplied)
Short Url
Updated 15 May 2025
Follow

How a KAUST team is using AI to transform date harvesting in Saudi Arabia

  • How a KAUST team is using AI to transform date harvesting in Saudi Arabia
  • Scientists developing smart robotics to automate harvesting and maintenance, addressing labor challenges, boosting crop yields

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is transforming its agriculture sector with advanced robotics aimed at boosting productivity and sustainability.

Artificial intelligence-powered machines are automating date-palm harvesting and managing irrigation, addressing labor shortages while optimizing water use in the Kingdom’s arid climate.

Backed by major investments and ongoing field trials, the country is also positioning itself as a leader in smart farming, with the goal of increasing crop yields and enhancing food security.

A key initiative in this push is a research project led by a team at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, which is developing an AI-driven robotic system to support local date farmers.

The project, headed by KAUST Assistant Prof. Shinkyu Park, focuses on automating critical tasks in date palm cultivation — including harvesting, pollination, and tree maintenance. By integrating robotics with AI, the team aims to improve efficiency and deliver higher yields of more nutritious dates.

The research was motivated by the pressing need to modernize and automate traditional practices in Saudi Arabia’s date palm industry, a sector that has long been central to the nation’s food security and economy, Park told Arab News.




The research was motivated by the pressing need to modernize and automate traditional practices in Saudi Arabia’s date palm industry. (SPA)

He said: “This research project seeks to reduce labor-intensive risks, enhance agricultural efficiency, and align with national priorities by positioning Saudi Arabia as a global leader in agricultural innovation.”

Saudi Arabia is the world’s second-largest date producer, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization, with production topping 1.9 million tonnes in 2024, as per data from the General Authority for Statistics.

But date harvesting is physically demanding. It requires farmers to climb tall trees and rely on years of experience to judge fruit ripeness — a clear opportunity for AI-powered robotics to make a meaningful impact, Park says.

To this end, the KAUST team, with support from the National Center for Palms and Dates, focused on precise date assessment to enable accurate harvesting using robotic systems.

Their research began with a well-established AI model that leverages high-resolution visual sensor data to identify individual dates and, at a later stage of the project, to classify both their species and ripeness — one of the project’s key milestones, Park noted.

“These models are continuously refined as we collect additional experimental data and gain insights from ongoing trials,” he said.




Date harvesting is physically demanding work that requires farmers to climb tall trees and rely on years of experience to judge fruit ripeness. (SPA)

Park said AI will be integrated into every major stage of the process — from identifying ripe dates and guiding robotic arms around palm trees, to optimizing grasping and harvesting using advanced machine learning.

Building on that foundation, the system combines robotic arms with specialized tools and AI-driven software to handle essential tasks such as harvesting, pollination and palm tree maintenance.

“The system will be developed to autonomously identify dates, female flowers, and tree trunks to support these operations,” Park said. “The robotic arms are engineered for high-precision movement, enabling the selective harvesting of ripe dates without damaging surrounding fruit.”

In addition to harvesting, the robotic platform is designed to promote overall tree health. “Beyond harvesting, the system will also enhance palm tree health by enabling timely pesticide application to help prevent pest infestations and disease,” he said.

He pointed out that “the use of modern AI tools that leverage data is becoming essential in robotics, particularly when developing systems for deployment in complex, unstructured environments like date palm farms.”

“These AI-driven methods allow the system to adapt and improve over time,” he added. “AI will play a critical role in enhancing productivity by learning from operational data and continuously refining the robot’s performance across a range of agricultural tasks.”

To support this adaptability, the KAUST team’s robots are also fitted with vision-based systems and a range of sensors, including force/torque sensors at each joint. These components measure physical interactions during manipulation and provide real-time feedback to guide the robot’s actions.

Just as human farmers rely on fingertip pressure to sense whether they have successfully grasped a date, these sensors enable the robot to evaluate the quality of its grip on individual fruits.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Saudi Arabia is the world’s second-largest date producer, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization.

• The Kingdom has more than 33 million palm trees — about 27 percent of the global total.

• It grows over 400 varieties of dates, though only about 40 have significant economic value.

Further improving the system’s learning capabilities, human input plays a key role. Demonstrations of date palm harvesting, pollination and tree maintenance serve as valuable feedback for refining the AI models.

By continuously integrating sensory data with human expertise, the system evolves over time — much like a human apprentice gaining skill through guided, hands-on experience.

Still, a key challenge is how to deploy these systems reliably in natural outdoor environments. Park said this is where the AI models and sensing technology must prove themselves.

“The camera systems we currently use have demonstrated strong performance in other complex domains — such as underwater robotics, as validated in other projects in our lab,” he said.




The date palm industry has long been central to the nation’s food security and economy. (Supplied by Khalid Al-Ramadan)

“However, to achieve the level of precision required for accurate date detection in outdoor agricultural settings, we are also exploring additional sensing modalities, including LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), to improve robustness under diverse environmental conditions.”

He noted that “these efforts are closely integrated with the iterative refinement of our AI models, particularly as we gather more data during upcoming field trials to ensure accurate and reliable classification of date varieties and maturity levels.”

As Saudi Arabia increasingly embraces AI across industries, concerns about automation replacing human labor have surfaced. Park emphasized, however, that this technology is intended to complement — not replace — human expertise.

“Experienced date palm farmers remain indispensable for advancing best practices and overseeing day-to-day operations,” he said. “The primary goal of the system is to reduce the physical demands of harvesting while making advanced technologies accessible, even to smallholder farmers.

“Beyond its technical objectives, the project also aims to cultivate local talent and attract global expertise, fostering sustainable development and promoting knowledge exchange within the field of agricultural robotics.”




Saudi Arabia is the world’s second-largest date producer. (SPA)

Looking ahead, the KAUST team is preparing for real-world validation. During the 2025 field trial, Park said the research team aims to validate the first-year robotic system design under real-world farming conditions and collect extensive data to further enhance their AI models.

“These trials are essential for evaluating system performance, strengthening robustness, and accelerating progress toward full-scale deployment over the planned three-year development period,” he said.

“We intend to conduct field trials during every date harvesting season. While most of the engineering work is carried out in the KAUST robotics lab, these trials are critical for testing and validating the robotic system in practical agricultural environments.”

 


Japan Park showcases art, culture at Riyadh’s Esports World Cup

Updated 4 sec ago
Follow

Japan Park showcases art, culture at Riyadh’s Esports World Cup

  • Japanese anime, manga, videos, and learning calligraphy at Boulevard City

RIYADH: Japan Park has become a major attraction at the Esports World Cup in Riyadh with its displays of anime, manga and video games.

Being held at Riyadh’s Boulevard City, visitors can wear traditional Japanese kimonos on entry and engage with actors wearing costumes of popular characters, including Gundam and Vegapunk.

The park also has traditional Japanese games, including Kendama and Go, dances, and stage shows inspired by well-known anime series.

Additionally, experts have been holding daily workshops on Japanese calligraphy, allowing visitors to learn more about traditional techniques, and how to write their names in kanji.

The park also features workshops on origami and uchiwa conducted by Japanese professionals.

The area has various restaurants, serving dishes including ramen, sushi, and mochi.

The Esports World Cup is an annual tournament that takes place from July to August.

• This article also appears on Arab News Japan


From ‘What If?’ to ‘Wow!’ at Ithra children’s festival

The Children’s Festival, which runs until July 26 at Ithra, blends creativity, learning, play and discovery. (Supplied)
Updated 14 July 2025
Follow

From ‘What If?’ to ‘Wow!’ at Ithra children’s festival

  • The festival at Ithra offers shared space for children and parents to express curiosity, creativity

DHAHRAN: The inaugural Children’s Festival being held under the theme “What if?” at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture is designed to “inspire imagination, encourage connection, and make space for discovery,” an official told Arab News recently.

Nouf Al-Jama, the head of learning at Ithra, added: “The program invites children to express themselves, engage with their surroundings, and experience culture in new and exciting ways.”

The Children’s Festival, which runs until July 26 at Ithra, blends creativity, learning, play and discovery. (Supplied)

The event, which began on July 7 and runs until July 26 between 4 p.m. and 11 p.m., blends creativity, learning, play and discovery.

The festival features 50 diverse activities including live performances, interactive stations, creative zones, workshops and a book fair, to encourage critical and creative thinking.

FASTFACTS

• The Children’s Festival’s artistic zones invite kids and their families to explore color, motion, and self-expression.

• The five-day Children’s Book Fair runs until July 19 and includes 20 local and international publishing houses.

• South Korea is this year’s guest of honor, offering a window into its culture through stories and illustrations.

The artistic zones invite children and their families to explore color, motion, and self-expression.

One such experience combines rhythm and culinary arts, transforming everyday kitchen utensils into instruments of sound and joy.

The Children’s Festival, which runs until July 26 at Ithra, blends creativity, learning, play and discovery. (Supplied)

“(The festival) gives children the freedom to express themselves and feel heard — whether through painting in the interactive art space, uncovering clues in the museum adventure, or stepping onto the open mic stage,” said Al-Jama.

The sessions have experts from local and regional institutions including the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language, Abu Dhabi Children’s Library, House of Wisdom in Sharjah, and King Abdulaziz Public Library.

The Children’s Festival, which runs until July 26 at Ithra, blends creativity, learning, play and discovery. (Supplied)

Parents and guardians are invited to join workshops, engage in conversations with other parents and build memories.

“It is this sense of togetherness, where children and families learn and grow side by side, that makes the festival so special,” Al-Jama added.

The Children’s Festival, which runs until July 26 at Ithra, blends creativity, learning, play and discovery. (Supplied)

With schools closed and summertime in full swing, local children are immersing themselves in the festival.

“The response so far has been incredibly encouraging. From the very first day, we have seen families arriving early and staying for hours, moving from one experience to the next.

The Children’s Festival, which runs until July 26 at Ithra, blends creativity, learning, play and discovery. (Supplied)

“Children have embraced the festival with curiosity and confidence,” she said of the opening week.

Additionally, the five-day Children’s Book Fair at Ithra runs until July 19, and includes 20 local and international publishing houses specializing in literature for children and young adults.

South Korea is this year’s guest of honor, offering a window into its culture through stories and illustrations.

“It is part of Ithra’s ongoing efforts to support the next generation by using culture as a tool for exploration, growth, and shared experience,” Al-Jama said.

 


From Nigeria to Makkah, sereh finds a home on Saudi tables

Updated 14 July 2025
Follow

From Nigeria to Makkah, sereh finds a home on Saudi tables

  • The introduction of sereh to Saudi Arabia is believed to be linked to the Hajj pilgrimage, when people from across the world brought with them their cultural traditions, including food

RIYADH: Sereh, a beloved African dish rooted in Nigerian tradition, has carved out a place for itself in the culinary landscape of Saudi Arabia.

Once popular as a street food in Makkah’s older neighborhoods such as Al-Mansour, Al-Hafayer, and Al-Barno, sereh has grown beyond its origins to reflect a story of migration, cultural exchange, and shared taste.

Traditionally, sereh consists of skewered beef seasoned with a bold blend of African spices. (AN photo by Huda Bashatah)

Traditionally, sereh — also known as tsire or suya — consists of skewered beef seasoned with a bold blend of African spices, then roasted over an open flame. This method creates not only a flavorful dish but an aromatic experience that draws people in.

“Tamiz, or Afghani bread, was also a street food, so they were often enjoyed together,” said Rodwan Fallatah, owner of the African restaurant AfriQ in Riyadh.

FASTFACT

Sereh’s journey from West African street stalls to Saudi dinner tables captures the essence of Makkah’s openness.

“You roast the sereh until it’s hot, and with tamiz nearby, you simply grab some hot bread to enjoy with it.”

The dish originates from the Hausa tribe, an ethnic group with a strong presence in northern Nigeria, southern Niger, and beyond.

Traditionally, sereh consists of skewered beef seasoned with a bold blend of African spices. (AN photo by Huda Bashatah)

“As a proud member of the Hausa tribe, I take great pride in seeing our traditional dish being enjoyed far beyond Hausa land, reaching communities across Africa and even here in Saudi Arabia,” said Zainab Hawsawi, a Saudi writer and businesswoman.

She noted that the typical Hausa kitchen is a treasure trove of rich and diverse flavors, featuring meat dishes like dambu nama, delicately shredded and seasoned dried beef; kilishi, thinly sliced, spiced, and sun-dried meat; and balangu, famous for its juicy, freshly grilled pieces.

“But nothing compares to the explosion of flavors you experience when eating suya, especially as you dip each piece into yaji, the signature blend of spicy suya dipping spices,” she added.

The introduction of sereh to Saudi Arabia is believed to be linked to the Hajj pilgrimage, when people from across the world brought with them their cultural traditions, including food.

Sereh gradually integrated into the local food scene, creating a fusion of flavors that captivated the taste buds of residents.

“I think the logical answer would be migration,” said Fallatah, emphasizing how pilgrims helped introduce the dish into Makkah’s multicultural food scene.

Makkah, long regarded as a cultural crossroads, provided fertile ground for this culinary exchange. As locals encountered new dishes, they began to experiment and adapt.

Originally from Madinah, Fallatah moved to Riyadh in 1997 and opened AfriQ, where he serves sereh among other dishes.

His passion for African cuisine has made his restaurant a popular spot for both locals and visitors.

“The spices are unique, and the preparation of sereh is different. Locals observe and learn, and soon they want to try it themselves,” he explained, noting that demand is especially strong in hotels catering to pilgrims and tourists.

Sereh’s journey from West African street stalls to Saudi dinner tables captures the essence of Makkah’s openness and the Kingdom’s growing embrace of cultural diversity through food.

As it continues to evolve, sereh stands as a flavorful reminder of how Saudi kitchens are becoming more globally inspired — one skewer at a time.

 


Hungary’s ambassador bids farewell to Saudi Arabia after a decade of diplomacy

Updated 14 July 2025
Follow

Hungary’s ambassador bids farewell to Saudi Arabia after a decade of diplomacy

  • Balazs Selmeci hails Vision 2030 reforms, societal change, stronger bilateral ties

RIYADH: Hungarian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Balazs Selmeci bid farewell to the Kingdom as he concluded his decade-long tenure.

Selmeci visited Arab News headquarters in Riyadh on Monday, where he met with Editor-in-Chief Faisal J. Abbas.

The envoy said his goals were to strengthen political and diplomatic relations, expand economic ties and promote a positive image of Hungary in Saudi Arabia.

Hungarian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Balazs Selmeci with Arab News Editor-in-Chief Faisal J. Abbas in Riyadh on Monday. (AN photo by Huda Bashatah)

At the same time, Selmeci sought to highlight Saudi Arabia’s changes and opportunities in Hungary, as well as the hospitality and kindness of the Saudi people.

“I believe I achieved good results in both areas, thanks to the support of Saudi institutions, the people and my colleagues at the embassy,” Selmeci told Arab News.

Reflecting on his time in the Kingdom, Selmeci highlighted the significant changes he witnessed over the years. He singled out the closing ceremony of Riyadh Season at King Fahd Stadium as a moment that symbolized Saudi Arabia’s rapid transformation.

Saudi society showed commitment to the reforms, leading to a more open and globally connected country.

Balazs Selmeci, Hungarian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia

He recalled that the stadium was full of men and women together, and Saudi ballet dancers performed on stage — something that would have been unimaginable earlier.

“At that moment, I realized how much Saudi Arabia had changed. I saw many talented Saudis and felt their happiness, both on stage and in the audience,” the envoy said.

Over more than 10 years in Saudi Arabia, Selmeci observed the transformative impact of Vision 2030, including societal reforms and economic diversification.

He added that social reforms — such as involving women in the workforce, increasing their participation across sectors, welcoming international visitors and events, and balancing tradition with modernization — laid the foundation for economic progress.

“Vision 2030 itself required great courage from the leadership and strong support from the Saudi people,” Selmeci said.

From the outset, Saudi society showed commitment to the reforms, leading to a more open and globally connected country, he added.

“These social and ongoing economic reforms have increased Saudi Arabia’s international presence and influence,” Selmeci said.

He added that the reforms have allowed foreigners to better understand the Kingdom and build trust, and that the dedication of both the government and the people provides a strong foundation for success.

Selmeci began his tenure as ambassador on Nov. 14, 2019, presenting his credentials to Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on Dec. 12, and to King Salman on Jan. 8, 2020.

Before then, he served in Riyadh as deputy head of mission from March 2014 to June 2018, marking more than a decade since he first began working to strengthen Saudi-Hungarian relations.

During his tenure, he oversaw the first-ever bilateral meeting between the two countries’ foreign ministers in the Kingdom, as well as the first bilateral meeting between their defense ministers.

Selmeci said that among the economic cooperation projects during his tenure, his favorites were the reestablishment of the Saudi-Hungarian Business Council, the launch of the Saudi-Hungarian Digitalization Cluster and the creation of the first Saudi-Hungarian joint venture in the Kingdom.

He also extended his best wishes to the Saudi people, encouraging them to continue working with determination toward a better life, making the country more prosperous while preserving its traditions and heritage.

Asked what message he would leave for his successor, Selmeci expressed hope that they would build on these achievements and accomplish even greater successes, while creating as many memorable experiences as he did.

He added that his successor could count on the full support of the Saudi leadership, officials, the people, the diplomatic corps and embassy staff.

In his closing remarks, the ambassador said he planned to return to the Kingdom in the future — “even as a simple tourist, to walk in King Salman Park, visit Qiddiya or attend Expo 2030.”


Open call for 12th Red Sea International Conference in Jeddah

Updated 14 July 2025
Follow

Open call for 12th Red Sea International Conference in Jeddah

  • Museums, heritage commissions invite experts to submit proposals for 2026 event
  • Grants available to successful bidders

JEDDAH: Experts in the fields of archaeology, history, anthropology, environmental studies and museum curation are being invited to apply to take part in the 2026 edition of the Red Sea International Conference.

The event, which will run from April 9-12, will be held at the Bab Al-Bunt building, which sits within Jeddah’s UNESCO-listed Historic District and is the future home of the Red Sea Museum.

Launched in 2002, the conference is regarded as a key platform for interdisciplinary dialogue on the Red Sea’s historical significance. Previous editions have been held in partnership with the British Museum, University of Southampton, University of Warsaw and University of Crete, among others.

The open call for the 2026 event was issued by Saudi Arabia’s Museums Commission and Heritage Commission. Participants will explore a broad range of themes, from ancient maritime trade and the archaeology of coastal cities and ports, to environmental history, underwater heritage and the Red Sea’s legacy as a crossroads of cultures linking Africa, Arabia and the Indian Ocean.

Anyone interested in taking part should submit an abstract, limited to 300 words and written in English, to rsm.info@moc.gov.sa by Oct. 15. Poster proposals are also welcomed and will be reviewed by a scientific committee.

To support broad participation in the conference, the commissions will provide five grants to cover the cost of travel, accommodation and registration to researchers whose papers are accepted.

Priority will be given to applicants from the Red Sea region and developing countries.

By hosting the conference in Jeddah, the commissions aim to bolster Saudi Arabia’s academic and cultural standing, while reaffirming the Red Sea’s enduring significance as a living archive of human history, exchange and civilization.