World Economic Forum special meeting in Saudi Arabia becomes latest coronavirus casualty

A logo of the World Economic Forum (WEF) is pictured during a session in Davos, Switzerland, January 22, 2020. (Reuters)
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Updated 07 March 2020
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World Economic Forum special meeting in Saudi Arabia becomes latest coronavirus casualty

  • The special meeting of the World Economic Forum has been rescheduled for Spring 2021
  • It joins a list of events across the region and the world that have been canceled or delayed for public health reasons

LONDON:  The planned special meeting of the World Economic Forum in Saudi Arabia next month has been called off because of fears over the spread of the coronavirus.

Instead, the gathering has been rescheduled for Spring 2021. It would have been the first time the Kingdom had hosted the high-profile gathering.

It joins a list of events across the region and the world that have been canceled or delayed for public health reasons.

“Given the dynamic situation surrounding the Coronavirus globally and after careful consideration, the World Economic Forum and our partners in Saudi Arabia have agreed to reschedule this Special Meeting to Spring 2021,” the World Economic Forum said in a statement to Arab News.
“Public private cooperation has never been more important. We remain committed to driving a forward-looking agenda for the region through digital interactions, bringing together leaders from all stakeholder groups at the highest level.”

The announcement came as global stock markets tumbled on Friday and oil fell to its lowest since July 2017 as world health officials warned some countries were failing to take the coronavirus crisis seriously enough.
“This is not a drill,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters. “This is not a time to give up. This is not a time for excuses. “This is a time for pulling out all the stops.”
The special meeting of the World Economic Forum was due to take place on April 5 and 6.


Saudi Health Ministry launches 5th “Walk 30” at Sports Boulevard

Updated 21 March 2025
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Saudi Health Ministry launches 5th “Walk 30” at Sports Boulevard

  • “Walk 30,” which stems from the “Live Well” initiative, is the biggest walking event in the Kingdom
  • It is also the biggest digital health challenge in the Kingdom, with over 1 million participants tallied via the Sehhaty app

RIYADH: The fifth edition of “Walk 30” will take place on April 26 at the Sports Boulevard’s Sands Sports Park, the Ministry of Health has announced.
The initiative, which aims to promote a healthy lifestyle and encourage more people to adopt walking as a daily habit, is held in partnership with the Sports Boulevard Foundation. It is part of the Healthcare Sector Transformation Program — a Kingdom Vision 2030 program — which seeks to increase life expectancy to 80 by 2030.
“Walk 30,” which stems from the “Live Well” initiative, is the biggest walking event in the Kingdom and has been held each year since 2019. It aims to encourage people to commit to walking 150 minutes each week in an effort to prevent health issues and promote longevity.
It is also the biggest digital health challenge in the Kingdom, with over 1 million participants tallied via the Sehhaty app.
Sports Boulevard Foundation CEO Jayne McGivern said the organization was proud to host the event and that its partnership with the Ministry of Health reflected a commitment to supporting healthy lifestyles and encouraging physical activity.
McGivern added the initiative reflected the foundation’s vision of providing a sustainable sports environment that promoted public health.
“Walk 30” won the Kotler Award in the “Best Health and Wellness Campaign” category. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health continues to develop innovative solutions to support the adoption of healthy and sustainable lifestyles, contributing to the reduction of chronic disease rates and improving quality of life.
The initiative is family-friendly and is held in different parts of the Kingdom, reflecting the “A Vibrant, Healthy Nation” vision.


Saudi design scene is a cultural melting pot, says Princess Nourah

Updated 21 March 2025
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Saudi design scene is a cultural melting pot, says Princess Nourah

  • She applauds Saudis for sense of humor, creating fun designs
  • Princess Nourah highlighted the importance of fashion designers knowing their heritage, culture, and roots

RIYADH: A melting pot of local and international influences defines Saudi design, Princess Nourah Al-Faisal told Arab News on the sidelines of a Torba Studio talk.
In a talk titled “Experience in the Field,” Princess Nourah and Nazek Alkhulaifi, the co-founder and designer at Torba Studio, engaged in a conversation about the next generation of fashion design at the headquarters of Adhlal, a research-based consultancy in Riyadh founded by Princess Nourah.
As a part of its internship program Torba Studio has talks every Thursday and the Riyadh-based fashion brand opened the talk to the public during Ramadan.
As an entrepreneur and designer with more than two decades of experience working in design, Princess Nourah has seen the transformation of the design sector, and she described modern-day Saudi design as eclectic.
She added: “What I was talking about earlier is the community being a melting pot; it really is.
“There are so many influences. It used to be that there were the Saudis and the Europeans, but now there is everything coming in — you see influences from Korea, Japan, India. It has become a melting pot that the silk trade route used to come through. It’s a reawakening of that cultural collision and it is really interesting.
“We are the heart of the Islamic world and our cultures are so varied and that’s where they all meet.”
Princess Nourah highlighted the importance of fashion designers knowing their heritage, culture, and roots, which are elements that allow them to create designs that fit their environment.
She said: “Our clothes need to fit our lifestyles, our culture, and need to help us live. That is what design is for, to solve problems.”
She said that Saudi designers were going through an experimental phase of introducing heritage into their work, such as weaving and embroidery.
She added: “I expect that we will see a vast improvement over the next few years. If you look at Riyadh Fashion Week the first year and then compare it to the second year, imagine what will happen in the next four or five years.
“There is a confidence and embracing of our heritage and culture and trying to understand how to express them with pride.”
Princess Nourah applauds Saudis for their sense of humor and their capability to create fun designs.
She said: “I think you are going to see it in design, not just fashion, you are going to see it all across design and in the way people choose to live their lives.”
Alkhulaifi told Arab News that as Saudi youngsters immersed themselves in the fashion and design industry, guidance was vital for their success.
Alkhulaifi said: “It is very much an increase and the energy is positive. It is like a driving force, like a big wave of creatives that are ready to add something to the industry.
“We need to guide and share the experiences because we want more structured exposure to benefit everyone in the industry.”
Alkhulaifi said every Torba Studio collection revolved around the human experience and the philosophy of the unknown, adding: “Every piece that we do (create) has some sort of symbolism of being human.”


Prophet’s Mosque receives 4,000 worshipers from 120 countries for I’tikaf

Updated 21 March 2025
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Prophet’s Mosque receives 4,000 worshipers from 120 countries for I’tikaf

  • Upon arrival, worshipers were directed to their designated areas
  • Among the services were a dedicated help desk for worshipers

MADINAH: The Prophet’s Mosque welcomed 4,000 worshipers, both men and women, from 120 countries for I’tikaf (staying in a mosque for the purpose of worship) during the last 10 nights of Ramadan.
Upon arrival, worshipers were directed to their designated areas: the western rooftop section for men, accessible via staircases No. 6 and 10, and the northeastern section for women, with entry through doors 24 and 25A.
The General Authority for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque immediately began providing services to facilitate worship with ease and comfort, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Among the services were a dedicated help desk for worshipers, secure lockers for belongings, medical clinics, first aid, multilingual translation support, religious lessons and full meal provisions for iftar, dinner, and sahoor.
Additionally, mobile charging stations were available, and each worshiper received a personal care kit and a wristband to facilitate easy movement, access to designated areas and seamless service provision.


Holy cities experience moderate to heavy rains amid forecast of more until Sunday

Updated 21 March 2025
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Holy cities experience moderate to heavy rains amid forecast of more until Sunday

RIYADH: As Ramadan enters its final 10 nights – Qiyam Al-Layl – several of Saudi Arabia’s regions experienced moderate to heavy rain on Thursday, including the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.

Al-Jami’ah district in Jeddah city recorded the highest levels with 24.8mm of rain.

The National Center for Meteorology has forecast this to continue until Sunday. Parts of Makkah, Al-Baha, Aseer, Jazan and Najran, in addition to parts of Qassim, Riyadh, and Eastern regions, can expect gusty winds, moderate to heavy rain, and hailstorms. There will be dust-stirring winds in Madinah, Tabuk, Al-Jouf and the Northern Borders region,

The rain in Makkah came as a blessing for Umrah pilgrims, giving them some respite from hot weather.

Faiz Al-Najdi, a Yanbu resident, told Arab News: “It was pleasant weather in Makkah, I performed Umrah with family with ease and even performed Friday prayer in the open courtyard at the grand mosque. I feel blessed to perform my religious duty and enjoy good weather.”

Meanwhile, the General Directorate of Civil Defense has called for caution and the need to remain in safe areas, avoiding areas prone to flooding and low-lying valleys. It warned people to refrain from swimming in them and urged adherence to any instructions announced by local authorities via various media outlets and social media platforms.

Text messages sent to residents in Riyadh said: “Forecasts from the NCM indicate that moderate to heavy rains will fall on the Riyadh region (Riyadh, Diriyah, Dhurma, Al-Muzahmiyya, Rimah, Al-Kharj, Al-Dilam, Al-Hariq, Hawtah Bani Tamim). Rain conditions predicted from Wednesday to Saturday, corresponding to March 19 to 22, 2025.”

It also warned of flash floods and high waves on the coasts, as well as hailstorms in the highlands.

Winds over the Red Sea will be northwesterly to northerly, reaching 25-50 km per hour in northern and central parts, and northeasterly to southeasterly, reaching 15-45 km per hour in the south.

Waves might range from 1.5 meters to more than 2 meters and the sea is likely to be choppy.

In the Arabian Gulf, winds will be easterly to southeasterly at speeds of 12-40 km per hour. Waves may range from half a meter to more than 2 meters and the sea will be calm to choppy.


Spanish ambassador bids fond farewell to Saudi Arabia

Updated 21 March 2025
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Spanish ambassador bids fond farewell to Saudi Arabia

  • ‘The future is bright in our bilateral relations,’ says envoy Jorge Sierra, who is returning to Madrid after more than 3 years in the Kingdom
  • ‘It’s been a wonderful experience to know such a beautiful country with such a strong personality, at a moment of social and economic changes that is fascinating to see,’ he adds

RIYADH: As he prepared to say a fond farewell to Saudi Arabia, Jorge Sierra, Spain’s ambassador to the Kingdom, reflected on some of his most cherished memories and shared his perspective on Saudi-Spanish relations.

“It’s been a wonderful experience to know such a beautiful country with such a strong personality, at a moment of social and economic changes that is fascinating to see. There are so many things going on here,” he said.

Sierra was appointed ambassador on Oct. 21, 2021, and arrived in the Kingdom the following month. In an interview with Arab News, he said was already somewhat familiar with Saudi Arabia thanks to conversations with his predecessors and a visit to the country in 2002, and shared some of his fondest memories of working there.

“My most memorable experience, without any doubt, was going to the Empty Quarter; it was amazing,” he said.

“We were a group of 12 and we went with a group of professionals that specialize in that particular kind of tourism. We went for three days and it was great. It was fascinating. I am so happy that I did it.”

Another of his highlights was the ancient city of AlUla, which he said he visited several times.

On the day-to-day business of diplomacy, Sierra said bilateral relations are “excellent” and both countries are “satisfied on a political level.”

Jorge Sierra, Spain’s ambassador to the Kingdom, reflected on some of his most cherished memories and shared his perspective on Saudi-Spanish relations. (Huda Bashatah)

Thanks to exchange visits and ministerial efforts on both sides “trade is in a good position” and “cultural ties are also strong,” he added, but work continues to enhance the relationship even further: “We always think that we can do more. We want more.”

As for what the future might hold for cooperation between the countries, he said: “The future is bright in our bilateral relations. We are working on creating a structure that allows us to upgrade our relations to a strategic level.”

In his role as ambassador over the past three-and-a-half years, Sierra played a significant part in the development of relations between the countries in various fields. But are there any moments he looks back on with particular fondness?

“There is one that I will never forget,” he said. “In the cultural field we organized, in October 2023, a concert with a very famous Spanish musician.”

The musician was Jose Hevia, a renowned Spanish bagpiper, and the concert was a collaboration between the Spanish Embassy, the Saudi Ministry of Culture’s Music Commission, and the Royal Commission for Riyadh City.

“He played with a Saudi musician who played traditional instruments. It was at the Cultural Palace,” he said, adding that there was not a single empty seat in the 600-capacity venue. “I will always remember (it).”

Sierra also noted the political changes that have been taking place in the Kingdom and said: “Saudi Arabia is becoming sort of a world hub of diplomacy.”

His time as ambassador will officially end on March 25, when he will return to Madrid to embark on a new challenge in international law department of Spain’s Foreign Ministry. He said he was looking forward to this new role, which will have a particular focus on humanitarian law, because private and public international law was his favorite subject at university and now he has the chance to work in that field.

“I am so happy because I will pay a debt that I have with myself; I will have the chance to be and work in a field I am really interested in,” he said.

As the Saudi chapter of his career comes to an end, Sierra thanked his team at the embassy, including his counselors in economics and cultural affairs and other topics, for their help spearheading programs designed to advance Saudi-Spanish ties.

His successor as ambassador to Saudi Arabia will be Javier Carbajosa Sanchez, who previously served as Spain’s envoy to Qatar.