Saudi foreign minister calls for ending Syria sanctions during talks in Damascus
Prince Faisal is in Syria for his first official visit there since the downfall of Bashar Assad
Foreign minister meets Syrian leader Ahmed Al-Sharaa and discusses support to help Syria during its transition
Updated 24 January 2025
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Syrian leader Ahmed Al-Sharaa held talks in Damascus on Friday including the Kingdom's efforts to remove international sanctions from Syria.
Prince Faisal traveled to Syria for his first official visit there since the downfall of Bashar Assad to meet top officials in the new Syrian administration.The talks with Al-Sharaa focused on “supporting Syria's security, stability and unity,” the foreign ministry said.
“The talks also addressed efforts to support Syria's political, humanitarian, and economic aspects, emphasizing the ongoing efforts to lift the sanctions imposed on Syria and provide all forms of assistance and support to Syria during this critical phase to restore stability across its entire territory and revive its national institutions in a manner that aligns with the aspirations and hopes of the Syrian people,” the statement said.
Speaking at a press conference alongside the Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan Al-Shaibani, Prince Faisal said it was important to accelerate the “lifting and freezing of all sanctions."
He said Saudi Arabia was engaged in "active dialogue with all relevant countries, whether the United States or the European Union, and we are hearing positive messages.”
The EU and the US placed an extensive sanctions regime on Syria during the rule of Assad, who was toppled from power by Al-Sharaa’s Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) group and its allies in December.
The US said earlier this month that it would ease sanctions on transactions with Syrian government institutions to help the flow of humanitarian assistance.
The EU is reported to be close to agreeing to ease sanctions on certain sectors.
During his meeting with Al-Sharaa, Prince Faisal passed on the greetings of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The new Syrian administration chose Saudi Arabia for its first foreign visit when Al-Shaibani led a delegation to Riyadh earlier this month.
The Kingdom has stepped up humanitarian aid supplies to Syria since the start of the year.
Prince Faisal arrived in Syrian after a visit to Lebanon on Thursday, where he met the new President General Joseph Aoun.
Adventurous couple travel across GCC states on motorcycle
Driven by faith and adventure, the couple traveled thousands of miles in 24 days, enduring long hours on the road, all to reach their target
Updated 8 sec ago
SALEH FAREED
JEDDAH: Two Jeddah-based Indian-Saudi bikers have covered a distance of 62,218 kilometers across the Gulf Cooperation Council region on their motorcycles.
Driven by faith and adventure, the couple traveled thousands of miles, crossing the GCC borders — Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman and Bahrain — and enduring long hours on the road, all to reach their target.
Their 24-day trip stands as a powerful testament to their devotion, determination, and love for an adventurous journey.
Mir Shakeel Ur Rahman from Hyderabad and Amal Ahmed from Jeddah started biking together 6 years ago after their marriage. It has been a journey of self-discovery, shared interest and passion that has made their biking experience more surreal.
The couple have rode across Saudi Arabia to Makkah, Jazan, Abha, Hail, Riyadh, Dammam, and Al-Ahsa to promote Saudi tourism, but this time, the duo decided to go on an epic adventure across the GCC states. “We were excited to start the journey and tackle a route new to us,” said Shakeel.
Mir and Amal taking timeout for a selfie along the road. (Supplied)
For Shakeel and Ahmed, this journey is about much more than reaching and discovering new destinations. It is also about the motorcycle friends they have met and respect.
“Actually this journey was aimed to visit our dear friends and celebrate with them their national days. We really wanted to attend Oman’s national day, UAE’s national days and Bike Week in Bahrain.”
The couple officially left Jeddah at the end of November 2024 to Makkah followed by Taif before riding through Riyadh from where they crossed the border over to Abu Dhabi.
During their stay in Riyadh, the couple met with a number of motorcyclists from all regions of the Kingdom as well as riders from Iraq, and Bahrain. They also participated in the celebration held at the Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman to mark the 54th Omani National Day.
Mir and Amal at the UAE border. (Supplied)
“On our way to the border of UAE from Riyadh, it was not as easy as we expected because of the sandy weather we faced, but we managed to get through with the great help we received from the Saudi patrol officers who kept us safe all the way,” added Shakeel.
Once they reached Abu Dhabi, the couple contacted Sheikh Suhail Bin Hasher Al-Maktoum, widely known as the “Father of All Bikers” in the UAE who invited them to celebrate the UAE’s 53rd National Day along with other motorcyclists from all over the world at his farm.
“It was a great night with Sheikh Suhail who gathered all bikers from all over the world, it was also a great opportunity to exchange our deep relations with our friends while celebrating the UAE’s national day. Actually, we were surrounded by people who were trying their best to help us in any way they can to make our journey safe,” said Ahmed.
The couple with Sheikh Suhail Bin Hasher Al-Maktoum in Abu Dhabi. (Supplied)
Keen to take things further, the pair continued their journey to Oman. Shakeel found riding through Oman particularly enjoyable, from exploring the historic Nizwa Fort and Souq to venturing into the surrounding mountains.
“It was a truly a new experience. It allowed us to explore Oman’s diverse landscapes, immerse ourselves in its rich history, and create lasting memories,” he said.
His wife stated that visiting Oman’s iconic Jebel Akhdar — the Green Mountain — was probably the highlight of their journey.
She added: “Our Omani motorcycle friends also were extremely generous with us all the time we were there; they took us on tours to various parts of Oman and also were very helpful in maintaining our bikes.”
After enjoying their stay for few days in Oman, they rode toward Bahrain and attended the annual Bahrain Bike Week, which featured various activities like motorcycle races, concerts, and street festivals.
“We had wonderful days and the event was filled with energy, passion, and the love for two wheels,” said Shakeel.
While they had reached their final destination, they were informed by KALAM’s World Record that they had officially set the record for the longest motorcycle expedition as a couple.
“It was a great news for us to be recognized by KALAM’s World Record which is an organization that celebrates achievements across various fields. We are extremely happy and I am dedicating this achievement for my wife. We are looking forward to receive this award on Sept. 16, 2025,” said Shakeel.
The couple have no intention of settling down and are already planning their next adventure.
Student-led team develops AI device to detect emergency lane offenders
Project was carried out by a student-led team under the supervision of Department of Geomatics faculty members
Project employs the YOLO algorithm. YOLO, which stands for You Only Look Once, is a real-time object detection algorithm
Updated 19 June 2025
Arab News
JEDDAH: King Abdulaziz University has completed an innovative research project that uses artificial intelligence to monitor violations of emergency lanes on highways in real time.
The project was carried out by a student-led team under the supervision of Department of Geomatics faculty members Kamel Faisal, Abdullah Al-Attas, Muhannad Abu-Hashem and Mahmud Al-Koffash, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The project employs the YOLO algorithm. YOLO, which stands for You Only Look Once, is a real-time object detection algorithm known for its speed and efficiency.
The algorithm works detecting objects directly from an input image, as opposed to older methods which required multiple passes. This approach significantly speeds up the detection process.
The system uses the Raspberry Pi device, a cost-effective mini computer that employs advanced vision techniques.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the project is highly efficient, making it well-suited for smart city applications, traffic authorities and government agencies.
It has the potential to contribute to improving emergency response times and saving lives by ensuring emergency lanes remain unobstructed.
The model was trained using custom image datasets, with specific video Regions of Interest defined to identify any violations by vehicles.
Geomatics, the academic field behind the project, focuses on the science and technology of digital geographic data.
This includes urban surveying, spatial information systems, and is also referred to as “geospatial data science” or “digital surveying engineering.”
It encompasses the collection, processing, analysis, visualization, and mapping of all types of geographic information, as well as the measurement and management of geospatial data.
Saudi Arabia currently utilizes a number of AI technologies to manage the country’s road traffic and improve safety.
The Sawaher system is a national platform designed to analyze streams of images and videos from public roads and provide real-time insights.
Another system, the Smart C platform, uses data to help decision-making in infrastructure projects.
Reem Al-Bliwi honored to be working in Saudi media industry
Rising star is latest guest on Arab News’ The Mayman Show
Saudi-Mexican presenter brings 2 rich cultures to her work
Updated 19 June 2025
HUSSAM AL-MAYMAN
RIYADH: Reem Al-Bliwi, one of Saudi Arabia’s youngest and most recognizable TV presenters, recently spoke on The Mayman Show about the honor of working in the Kingdom’s media industry.
Al-Bliwi burst onto the scene with Studio SBC, a TV show that is a part of the Saudi Broadcasting Authority network.
“Well, I think I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to be doing something I wanted to do, but did not expect to be doing (it) at such an early age,” she said.
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Al-Bliwi quickly earned her spot in the national spotlight with her poise and presence.
With a background in modeling and an identity shaped by her Mexican mother and Saudi father, Al-Bliwi brings a unique blend of confidence, curiosity, and cross-cultural understanding to her work.
Al-Bliwi began pursuing a television media career while she was at university.
“So, I took the opportunity, and at first, I’m not going to lie, I was afraid, because it felt like I had zero experience at the time. I was still doing my bachelor’s degree in public relations — I had just been accepted.”
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Al-Bliwi recalled that she was hesitant due to the difficulty of finding a balance between studying and working.
“So, it felt like I’m either going to succeed or I’m going to ruin it for myself ... like maybe forever who knows. So I took the opportunity, and I said, OK, why not. I’ll do the casting, and I got accepted. I was rehearsing for like maybe a couple of months.”
After her training Al-Bliwi was offered a fashion and beauty segment on SBC’s morning show.
“For me, it was OK, because, I didn’t have much experience at the time. I had just started building my career. I had just been accepted in public relations, so it was fun ... it was a good start.”
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Al-Bliwi dazzled SBC’s morning show editor-in-chief who then told her that she was chosen to be a main presenter of the program.
“I was nervous, but maybe that’s the moment where I felt, ‘OK, this is what I’m supposed to be doing ... this is where I belong.’”
Al-Bliwi recalled how her first outing in the media spotlight was modeling. “I was actually very young. I started doing it very casually, then I found myself actually committed to it.”
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She added that the landscape of the fashion and beauty industry was different five years ago.
“I’m proud of what we have accomplished in those past five years. I mean, we see now the Fashion Commission, everything they are doing — even for the modeling career — and all the programs they have been doing. I’m really proud of that.”
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Al-Bliwi said that her mixed background has shaped her views of how to communicate with the world.
“Saudi is very rich in culture, and also Mexico is very rich in culture. So, I think, having those two parts, I get to appreciate that. And I get to learn more about culture, heritage, history and everything.”
Saudi transport chief elected MENA president of global body
Rumaih bin Mohammed Al-Rumaih was selected in a vote during the International Association of Public Transport’s summit in Hamburg
Al-Rumaih was selected for his expertise in developing modern transport systems, leading national projects and representing Saudi Arabia in international forums
Updated 19 June 2025
Arab News
RIYADH: The acting president of Saudi Arabia’s Public Transport Authority has been elected president of the International Association of Public Transport for the MENA region.
Rumaih bin Mohammed Al-Rumaih was selected in a vote during the association’s summit in Hamburg, Germany, this week. He will occupy the role until 2028.
Al-Rumaih was selected for his expertise in developing modern transport systems, leading national projects and representing Saudi Arabia in international forums, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Having previously served as CEO of the Saudi Railway Company and president of the Transport General Authority, Al-Rumaih has a track record of working to improve the sustainability and quality of transport in urban settings.
“I am delighted to be with you today, and to start this new phase of work with a distinguished team that brings together a number of leaders and professionals,” he said during the conference.
“I believe that public transport is not just about infrastructure, but about experience, justice, accessibility, and sustainability.
Al-Rumaih highlighted the success of the Riyadh Metro system, which became fully operational earlier this year.
He said that the metro is witnessing high rates of usage and is changing commuter behavior in the capital.
“When we provide appropriate transportation services that are clean, safe, accessible, and reliable, people respond to and adapt to them,” he said.
Al-Rumaih also spoke about how building sustainable and people-centered transport systems requires collaboration between governments, operators, the private sector, and civil society.
“The International Association of Public Transport has always been a driver of this collaboration and will grow in importance in the years to come.”
Al-Rumaih also highlighted the findings of the MENA Transport Report 2025, which assessed trends in the industry in 40 cities across 14 countries in the region.
Saudi Arabia displays cultural depth at Seoul, Beijing book fairs
Updated 19 June 2025
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia, led by the Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission, is taking part in the Seoul International Book Fair and the Beijing International Book Fair, both being held from June 18 to 22.
The Kingdom inaugurated its pavilion at the Seoul International Book Fair 2025 on Wednesday at the COEX Convention and Exhibition Center in the South Korean capital, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Commission CEO Abdullatif Abdulaziz Al-Wasel said Saudi Arabia’s participation reflects its growing presence in global cultural events.
He said the initiative underscores the Kingdom’s commitment to fostering partnerships with international publishing houses and building cultural bridges.
The Saudi delegation includes representatives from the King Abdulaziz Public Library, King Fahd National Library, the Publishing Association, and local publishing houses, as well as the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, and Nashir publishing and distribution company.
KSGAAL Secretary-General Abdullah Al-Washmi said the fair provides a platform for engaging with those interested in the Arabic language and culture. It also offers an opportunity to underscore Saudi Arabia’s efforts to support the Arabic language and promote its use in academic and technical fields.
The academy is presenting a selection of its latest publications and introducing visitors to its digital platforms and initiatives for teaching Arabic to non-native speakers, compiling dictionaries, and developing linguistic resources to support Arabic digital content.
The Saudi pavilion is also at the Beijing International Book Fair 2025, which kicked off at the China National Convention and Exhibition Center on Wednesday.
The book fair is part of 2025 being celebrated as Saudi-Chinese Cultural Year, reflecting the strength of bilateral relations built on decades of friendship and cooperation and embodying both countries’ aspirations to enhance cultural and intellectual exchanges between their peoples.
During the five-day book fair, the Saudi pavilion presents a diverse literary and cultural program that reflects the growing momentum of the Saudi cultural scene, displaying the Kingdom’s evolving creative and intellectual landscape.
The pavilion reflects a spirit of cultural dialogue and openness, making the exhibition a key international platform to present Saudi initiatives in the book sector while deepening literary and cultural relations with intellectual figures and global publishing houses.
