Saudi Arabia intensifies its efforts to provide aid to Gaza

Saudi Arabia intensifies its efforts to provide aid to Gaza
KSrelief vehicles are pictured on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border with Gaza. (KSrelief)
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Updated 06 October 2024
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Saudi Arabia intensifies its efforts to provide aid to Gaza

Saudi Arabia intensifies its efforts to provide aid to Gaza
  • The Kingdom demonstrates steadfast commitment to give humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people

RIYADH: As violence continues to spill across borders, Saudi Arabia has ramped up its long-standing humanitarian efforts in Palestine, enhancing both financial contributions and essential medical resources.

Since the conflict erupted on Oct. 7 last year, Saudi Arabia has directly donated $185 million in humanitarian aid to Palestine through the Saudi aid agency KSrelief, Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan told the UN General Assembly.

Prince Faisal also noted in his speech on Sept. 28 that Saudi Arabia is working with different UN agencies to raise a total of $106 billion for reconstruction and humanitarian aid.

According to KSrelief, total Saudi support for the Palestinian people over the years has exceeded $5.3 billion in a total of 289 projects.

Since Oct. 7 the Kingdom has significantly intensified its support, broadening the capacity, scope, and effectiveness of its aid initiatives to meet the urgent needs of those affected by the ongoing crisis in Palestine.

Saudi Arabia has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people.

One of the major donations following Oct. 7 involved the Kingdom donating $34.8 million of relief and humanitarian aid to provide food, shelter, health, and logistical support via sea and air support, with a total weight of about 6,535.5 tonnes.

In an interview conducted by Arab News’ “Frankly Speaking” on Dec. 3, 2023, Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, the supervisor general of KSrelief, noted the effectiveness of the organization’s donation platform Sahem.

He said: “Nobody can deny the evidence and the numbers, and I think the Sahem platform is seen by the world.”

Al-Rabeeah insisted that “we haven't stopped yet,” adding: “Our businessmen have donated ambulances, medical equipment, food supplies, nutritious food, and formula for children. These are not reflected on the platform, so we’re talking about a lot of donations.”

KSrelief launched the Saudi National Campaign to Support the Palestinian People in the Gaza Strip on Nov. 2, 2023.

On the first day of the campaign, the total number of donors to have accessed the platform stood at 72,375 and by that afternoon donations had reached SR64,274,009 ($17,139,735).

Five days following the launch, donations had exceeded SR375 million.

By Dec. 1, total donations to the Saudi campaign to aid the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip had exceeded SR600 million, with over 350,000 donors.

Samer Al-Jutaili, the spokesman for KSrelief, told Arab News in 2023 that 32 relief aircraft with 695 tonnes of food and supplies had been sent to the Palestinians in Gaza as of Dec. 18.

Under the leadership of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia has not only reaffirmed its dedication to the Palestinian cause, but has also actively sponsored humanitarian initiatives on the international stage.

When looking internationally, the Kingdom has signed agreements with multiple international agencies, including the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, the World Food Programme, the World Health Organization, and the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Addressing a virtual summit of the BRICS group on Nov. 21, 2023, the crown prince said that there was no way to achieve security and stability in Palestine except through the implementation of international decisions related to a two-state solution.

He added: “We demand an immediate halt to Israeli military operations in Gaza.”

On Nov. 23, 2023, KSrelief and the Egyptian Red Crescent signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in aid delivery to Gaza, facilitating the sending of aid by land and air routes.

In the same month, KSrelief supported the UNRWA Emergency Appeal for the Occupied Palestinian Territories with a $15 million donation. This provided and distributed ready-made meals to benefit more than 180,000.

The project also distributed mattresses and blankets to 40,000 beneficiaries and provided medicines, doctors and nurses to 97 UNRWA shelters in the Gaza Strip.

KSrelief in March this year provided $40 million in support of UNRWA to further aid its emergency appeal in the Gaza Strip.

UNRWA’s Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini was moved to comment: “As UNRWA continues to provide food, water, and medical services in Gaza, this generosity by KSrelief reflects the solidarity that the Kingdom has always shown Palestinians, especially during dire times.

“One knows their friends during hardship, and for this we are grateful to Saudi Arabia, to Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah and KSrelief, and to the Saudi people for their solidarity with the people of Gaza.”

The arrangement ensured the food security of 250,638 and provided tents and non-food items to more than 200,190 people.

In continuing its legacy of support of the Palestinian cause, Saudi Arabia has recently announced a monthly financial grant intended to tackle the urgent humanitarian crisis in Gaza and its surrounding areas.

According to Saudi Arabia’s Center for International Communication, the grant is a “direct response to the suffering inflicted by the Israeli occupation and its blatant violations of international law.”

Most recently, on the sidelines of the 79th UN General Assembly in New York, KSrelief signed a cooperation agreement with UNRWA to share knowledge, expertise, research, and best practices in humanitarian efforts.

The agreement also includes cooperation on training, capacity building, media outreach, and implementing volunteer medical projects such as surgeries, medical clinics, and educational programs.

KSrelief donated $10 million this year to support the healthcare system in Gaza by providing medical supplies, ambulances, and logistical support to those affected in Gaza.

The organization then donated $5 million in food baskets to help save the lives of displaced Palestinians.


TeamLab Borderless Jeddah marks 1 year of compelling digital art

TeamLab Borderless Jeddah marks 1 year of compelling digital art
Updated 01 July 2025
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TeamLab Borderless Jeddah marks 1 year of compelling digital art

TeamLab Borderless Jeddah marks 1 year of compelling digital art
  • Part of Culture Ministry’s use of heritage sites as platforms for contemporary art

JEDDAH: One year after its debut in Historic Jeddah, TeamLab Borderless continues to draw curious visitors into a world where digital art responds to movement, light and season.

As Saudi Arabia’s first permanent digital art museum, it has welcomed visitors from more than 25 countries — especially young people and art enthusiasts.

The interactive artworks at TeamLab Borderless respond to movement and evolve with time, ensuring no two visits are the same. (Supplied)

It is serving as a cultural hub that reflects their aspirations and introduces new ways of engaging with contemporary art.

The museum has an open layout allowing for exploration and engagement. The interactive artworks respond to their movements and evolve with time, ensuring no two visits are the same.

FASTFACT

TeamLab Borderless is a part of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture’s broader initiative to activate heritage sites as platforms for contemporary art.

In an interview with Arab News at the museum’s launch, Toshiyuki Inoko, TeamLab Borderless’ founder, explained the concept behind the museum, noting that “everything is in a continuous relationship.”

TeamLab Borderless Jeddah marks its one-year anniversary since opening its doors in June 2024. (Supplied)

“Even though each element is independent, there are no boundaries in between, and they even influence each other,” he said.

Many of the installations reflect natural rhythms. In “Proliferating Immense Life,” for example, the flowers change with the months.

The interactive artworks at TeamLab Borderless respond to movement and evolve with time, ensuring no two visits are the same. (Supplied)

The “Forest of Lamps” and “Flowers in Infinite Transparency” installations also shift with the seasons, while “Memory of Topography” presents a static landscape that subtly transforms through movement.

Inoko also revealed that several artworks were developed exclusively for the Jeddah museum.

TeamLab Borderless Jeddah marks its one-year anniversary since opening its doors in June 2024. (Supplied)

“(One) work that is very unique to Jeddah is the work of the staircase, where you see the cascading waterfall of sand,” he said.

“Through that sand falls, you see gigantic flowers persistently trying to grow very powerfully. They keep growing, they keep falling, and they continue that cycle forever.”

The interactive artworks at TeamLab Borderless respond to movement and evolve with time, ensuring no two visits are the same. (Supplied)

TeamLab Borderless is a part of Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture’s broader initiative to activate heritage sites as platforms for contemporary art.

These efforts align with Saudi Vision 2030, which seeks to empower the cultural and creative sectors and elevate the Kingdom’s position as a global hub for art and technology.

TeamLab Borderless Jeddah marks its one-year anniversary since opening its doors in June 2024. (Supplied)

The museum stands as an example of this ambition, a space where art is in constant motion and where every visit becomes a unique, personal journey.

“The message that we wanted to convey to the world and the visitor is that the world itself is in a continuous relationship, and everything affects each other,” Inoko said.

 


Nationwide drive trains Saudi youth in sustainability

The initiative aims to strengthen funding for environmental efforts and provide incentives for standout projects. (SPA)
The initiative aims to strengthen funding for environmental efforts and provide incentives for standout projects. (SPA)
Updated 01 July 2025
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Nationwide drive trains Saudi youth in sustainability

The initiative aims to strengthen funding for environmental efforts and provide incentives for standout projects. (SPA)
  • Initiative boosts environmental awareness in 331 schools across 13 regions for a greener future

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Environment Fund has concluded its “Friends of the Environment” initiative, which benefited 13,552 students from 331 schools across 13 administrative regions.

The program aimed to raise environmental awareness among youth and was carried out in partnership with INJAZ Saudi Arabia, a nonprofit that empowers young Saudis with practical skills for the workforce.

Munir bin Fahd Al-Sahli, acting CEO of the fund, said the initiative aligns with Vision 2030 and the National Environment Strategy, which seek to enhance and sustain the environmental sector and strengthen the Kingdom’s leadership in the field. The fund plays a central role in realizing these goals.

HIGHLIGHT

Munir Al-Sahli, acting CEO of the fund, said that the project is a model of collaboration between environmental, educational, and nonprofit sectors, and reflects the fund’s goal of fostering a generation that values and protects natural resources.

More than 200 student counselors were trained to deliver the program, logging 135,520 training hours — exceeding the initial plan of 125,000 hours. The initiative also surpassed its target of reaching 12,500 students.

Al-Sahli said that while the program has met its objectives, the fund remains committed to supporting similar efforts that raise environmental awareness among youth.

He added that the project is a model of collaboration between environmental, educational, and nonprofit sectors, and reflects the fund’s goal of fostering a generation that values and protects natural resources.

The “Friends of the Environment” initiative is part of the Incentives and Grants Program, an online platform launched by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture in mid-2024.

The program supports 16 tracks across various environmental fields, and applicants can apply through the Environmental Fund’s website.

Earlier this year, Saudi Arabia introduced a new environmental financing initiative worth SR1 billion ($267 million), backed by Riyad Bank, to boost private sector involvement in sustainable projects. It was announced by Minister Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli, who is also the chairman of the fund.

The initiative aims to strengthen funding for environmental efforts and provide incentives for standout projects. It forms part of a wider national strategy to protect the environment and promote sustainable development.

 


Deputy minister receives Romanian ambassador to Saudi Arabia

Abdulrahman Al-Rassi (R) and Sebastian Mitrachi in Riyadh. (Supplied)
Abdulrahman Al-Rassi (R) and Sebastian Mitrachi in Riyadh. (Supplied)
Updated 01 July 2025
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Deputy minister receives Romanian ambassador to Saudi Arabia

Abdulrahman Al-Rassi (R) and Sebastian Mitrachi in Riyadh. (Supplied)
  • All sides discussed bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest

RIYADH: Saudi Deputy Minister for International Multilateral Affairs Abdulrahman Al-Rassi received Romanian Ambassador to the Kingdom Sebastian Mitrachi in Riyadh on Tuesday.

Separately, Al-Rassi also met Raymond Balatbatto, ambassador of the Philippines to the Kingdom.

During the meetings, all sides discussed bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest, the Foreign Ministry said in a post on X.

 


Saudi Cabinet hails Hajj success, backs peace efforts and greenlights series of international agreements

Saudi Cabinet hails Hajj success, backs peace efforts and greenlights series of international agreements
Updated 01 July 2025
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Saudi Cabinet hails Hajj success, backs peace efforts and greenlights series of international agreements

Saudi Cabinet hails Hajj success, backs peace efforts and greenlights series of international agreements
  • In its weekly session held in Jeddah, the Council of Ministers approved several global agreements

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet, chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, on Tuesday praised the successful delivery of this year’s Hajj season, which saw more than 1.6 million pilgrims complete their rituals smoothly, and reaffirmed the Kingdom’s global leadership in crowd management and services to visitors of the Two Holy Mosques.

The Cabinet also reviewed efforts to support pilgrims from Iran in returning home safely, following recent domestic unrest in the country, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

In its weekly session held in Jeddah, the Council of Ministers welcomed messages to King Salman from the leaders of Venezuela, Vietnam, and Angola on bilateral cooperation.

It also reiterated the Kingdom’s positions on regional and global developments, reaffirming support for diplomatic solutions and condemning any violation of Qatar’s sovereignty.

The Cabinet called on the international community to end the humanitarian crisis caused by Israel’s war in Gaza and pressed for peace in line with international legitimacy.

It also welcomed the recent peace agreement between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo and voiced optimism about its potential to boost regional stability and prosperity.

Ministers noted the launch of the World Water Organization’s activities in Riyadh as further evidence of Saudi Arabia’s role in advancing global cooperation.

They also highlighted several recent international recognitions, including the Kingdom’s election as Vice-Chair of the World Health Organization’s Executive Board, its appointment to the UN’s High-Level Group for the 2030 Agenda, and the inclusion of the Uruq Bani Ma’arid Reserve on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Green List.

The Cabinet welcomed the IMF’s latest Article IV report, which commended the Saudi economy’s resilience amid global headwinds, citing strong non-oil growth, controlled inflation, and historically low unemployment rates — all in alignment with Vision 2030 goals.

The session also saw the approval of several international cooperation agreements. These included a draft pact with Algeria to combat organized crime, a mutual visa exemption deal with Italy for diplomatic and special passport holders, and the initiation of negotiations with Russia on a similar visa waiver agreement.

The Cabinet also endorsed a memorandum of understanding on Islamic affairs with Pakistan, an agreement with the International Consultative Group on Agricultural Research to promote innovation in Saudi Arabia’s agriculture sector, and a new partnership with Zambia in the field of mineral resources.

Saudi Arabia will also proceed with joining the Integrated Industrial Partnership for Sustainable Economic Development, following Cabinet authorization.

Other decisions included renaming the Supreme National Investment Committee to the National Investment Committee at the Council of Economic and Development Affairs, approving new procedures for biometric verification of cruise ship passengers, and assigning the Ministry of Education as the supervisory authority over the Saudi Arabian Boy Scouts Association.

The Cabinet also approved restructuring of the Insurance Disputes and Violations Resolution Committee in Dammam and reviewed the final accounts of the Saudi Red Crescent Authority and the General Authority for Food Security.

Several senior civil service promotions were confirmed, including appointments at the Ministries of Interior, Justice, Foreign Affairs, Hajj and Umrah, Human Resources, and Municipal Affairs. Notably, Manal Radwan was promoted to Minister Plenipotentiary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The session ended with reviews of annual reports from the Ministry of Tourism, the National Development Fund, and the Tourism Development Fund, with the Cabinet taking the necessary actions on each.


Saudi FM receives written message from Iranian counterpart

Iran’s ambassador to Kingdom Alireza Enayati hands over the message to Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Al-Khuraiji.
Iran’s ambassador to Kingdom Alireza Enayati hands over the message to Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Al-Khuraiji.
Updated 01 July 2025
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Saudi FM receives written message from Iranian counterpart

Iran’s ambassador to Kingdom Alireza Enayati hands over the message to Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Al-Khuraiji.
  • Message was received by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed bin Abdulkarim Al-Khuraiji during a meeting with Iran’s ambassador to the Kingdom

RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received a written message from his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi regarding relations between their countries.

The message was received by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed bin Abdulkarim Al-Khuraiji during a meeting with Iran’s ambassador to the Kingdom Alireza Enayati on Tuesday, Saudi Press Agency reported.

Al-Khuraiji and Enayati reviewed Saudi-Iranian relations and discussed topics of common interest.