Japan ambassador attends manga exhibition in Riyadh

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The exhibition celebrates the work of renowned Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai. (Supplied)
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Updated 15 January 2025
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Japan ambassador attends manga exhibition in Riyadh

  • ‘Manga Hokusai Manga’ exhibition held to mark 70 years of diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Japan

RIYADH: Japan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Yasunari Morino attended the opening ceremony of the “Manga Hokusai Manga” exhibition here on Tuesday.

Held at the Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art, the show is one of many upcoming events celebrating the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations.

The exhibition celebrates the work of renowned Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai.

In his speech, Morino said it was a “delight to see more and more Saudi people enjoying the Japanese culture from (the) traditional to contemporary.”

He added that he was happy to see “Saudi artists being inspired by the Japanese manga to create their artworks.”

“I sincerely hope this exhibition will make another footprint of the Japanese culture in KSA and give a great impact in the Saudi art scene,” he said.

The exhibition has been organized in cooperation with the Saudi Museums Commission and the Japan Foundation and is open to the public until Feb. 8.

A version of this article appeared on Arab News Japan

 


Tourism to match oil as biggest contributor to Saudi Arabia’s economy by 2030, minister says

Updated 5 sec ago
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Tourism to match oil as biggest contributor to Saudi Arabia’s economy by 2030, minister says

  • Kingdom is 1 of the 10 most-visited countries globally, receiving 30m international visitors in 2024
  • Country has opened doors to nearly 65 countries, electronic visas for tourists
  • Ministry of Tourism aims to welcome 50m international visitors by 2030

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is increasingly seen as a country of impressive mountains, stunning Red Sea islands, and a hospitable culture, with aspirations to make tourism as significant as oil to its economy by 2030, according to Ahmed Al-Khateeb, the minister of tourism.

Al-Khateeb made his remarks on Tuesday during a panel at the Saudi–US Investment Forum 2025 in Riyadh, which included Majid bin Abdullah Al-Hogail, the Saudi minister of municipalities and housing, and was chaired by Arab News’ Editor-in-Chief Faisal J. Abbas.

The minister said that the tourism sector had come a long way since the 2016 launch of Vision 2030, which established a plan to reduce the country’s dependence on oil and create a diverse economy.

The tourism and hospitality sectors have experienced a significant increase in visitors, rising from 50 million domestic and international tourists in 2019 to 115 million in 2024, which surpasses the target of 100 million tourists set for the industry under Vision 2030.

Saudi Arabia was one of the 10 most-visited countries globally in 2024, receiving 30 million international visitors, Al-Khateeb said.

He added: “I’m excited. We are full of energy to build (this) new sector to unlock the potential we have in our great country and to share the beautiful culture with the visitors coming from all around the world.

“By 2030, the tourism sector will be, next to oil, the highest contributor to our economy.”

Saudi Arabia had been viewed for decades as a country that mainly produced crude oil — making up 85 to 90 percent of its gross domestic product — and boasted hot weather and sand dunes, he said.

However, since 2016, significant changes have occurred. Oil now accounts for nearly 55 percent of the country’s GDP and, since 2019, the Kingdom has opened its borders to nearly 65 countries with electronic visas in operation, the minister added.

The spectacular mountain ranges of Asir and the beauty of AlUla are both attracting visitors, while Riyadh offered its own experiences, along with the Red Sea and the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.

Al-Khateeb said that well-educated, young Saudis were essential for the growth of the tourism sector, which had increased its workforce from 2 percent to 7 percent in less than a decade.

The ministry aims to welcome 50 million international tourists by 2030, placing the Kingdom among the top five most-visited countries, he added. It also plans to increase the sector’s GDP contribution from the current 5 percent to 10 percent in the same timeframe.

Al-Khateeb said: “We have created (a tourism) sector that will satisfy the different travelers of different segments who are coming for business or leisure and entertainment, or people who are coming for religious purposes to visit the two holy cities.”

The minister noted that the tourism sector had adopted best practices from the US, a leading country in the industry, attracting conferences, entertainment, and airline services.

He added: “We are working closely with our friends and partners in the US. We are sending young Saudis to get the best education in the US and the best vocational training (in tourism).”


Uber CEO tells Riyadh-based forum AV cars to be seen in Saudi Arabia this year

Updated 7 min 11 sec ago
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Uber CEO tells Riyadh-based forum AV cars to be seen in Saudi Arabia this year

  • Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi: You will see autonomous vehicles in Saudi Arabia this year. It’s something that we are very focused on
  • Khosrowshahi: Ultimately, autonomous will not only be safer, but will also be a cheaper form of transportation

RIYADH: The CEO of Uber announced Tuesday that autonomous vehicles will soon be seen in Saudi Arabia.

“You will see autonomous vehicles in Saudi Arabia this year”, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi told a panel at the Saudi-US Investment Forum on Tuesday. “It’s something that we are very focused on.”

He said the vehicles would provide a much safer environment both for the passengers and other road users.

“Autonomous holds incredible potential for us,” he added. “First of all, it represents a safer street, as the autonomous driver isn’t distracted, isn’t going be texting while they’re driving, etc. And it’s a driver that continues to learn from all the experience of all the miles driven all over all over the world.”

“Ultimately, autonomous will not only be safer, but will also be a cheaper form of transportation.”

“We are now working with 18 autonomous partners... to make sure that autonomous technology are introduced in a safe matter.”

He also discussed how the Kingdom represented one of Uber’s top growing markets.

“First of all, the Kingdom represents one of our top growing markets,” he added.

He said there were 140,000 drivers who were now Saudi nationals on the platform, 4 million riders, and he said they operated in 20 cities across the Kingdom.

On the competition with other transport services he added: “Uber and public transit really do complement each other. There’s a perception that to some extent Uber competes with public transit, but actually our top competitor is personal car ownership and what we see in cities that have a strong public transit infrastructure, we see people using their cars less and Uber becomes a first mile and last mile solution to public transits.”

“So, for example, with the Riyadh Metro system… we offer discounted rides for first mile and last mile ... what we’re trying to then build is a lifestyle that essentially complements public transit.”

This session on Saudi Arabia’s GIGA projects, an in-depth conversation on the next chapter of national transformation, was moderated by Arab News Editor-in-Chief Faisal J. Abbas.

Saudi Arabia has committed itself to an abundance of giga projects as part of Vision 2030 in the Kingdom’s ongoing modernization.

One such project is Diriyah, the birthplace of Saudi Arabia.

Jerry Inzerillo, CEO of Diriyah company, spoke on preserving the Kingdom’s history, and the ancestral home of Al-Saud, the center of cultural heritage and diplomacy,

Celebrating that the project was running to schedule and on budget, he added: “We just welcomed to the UNESCO World Heritage site this week our three millionth visitor. We have 45,000 workers on their job now. We are very honored and pleased to say that right now we’re doing business with 83 American companies.”

Michael Dyke, CEO of the New Murabba Development Project, a vast cube-shaped building in Riyadh forming another part of the Vision 2030 project, said it would be one of the world’s iconic buildings and landmarks.

Dyke said the New Murabba in Riyadh, which is home to the Mukaab structure, would span 2 million square meters of floor space.

“It is one of the greatest, largest structures ever known,” Dyke said.

Drawing a comparison in size to entertainment MSG Sphere in Las Vegas, that seats almost 18,000 people, Dyke said the Mukaab would be 22 times larger.

“So when people enter the Mukaab, they will enter another world, there will be holograms and there will be strong AI driving through the whole of the facility.”

“The Mukaab will come on line in 2030 onwards, when people come to Riyadh they will see something new, something different. It would be another fantastic place that will complement the amazing projects already happening in the Kingdom.”

Another massive project being created as part of the Kingdom’s development is NEOM – a vast city on the Red Sea coast.

Rayan Fayez, Deputy CEO of NEOM, said the 26,500 square kilometer project would be the size of Massachusetts.

“Building a city and a region of this scale, requires significant infrastructure,” Fayez said.

“When we talk about some of the themes that we are spending our time and effort on, infrastructure is a big one. So whether its digital infrastructure, 500 kilometers of fiber has already been laid, a data center being built, power and utility infrastructure already have solar, and wind farms up. In addition to 194 kilometers of water pipeline, food infrastructure, greenhouse is being developed because NEOM is not just a real-estate development initiative, it’s an economy building.”

“It’s an 8.4 billion investment, a joint venture between Neom Aqua Power and Air products, which is, of course, a US company with a significant investment coming into Neom, developing what will become Green Hydrogen Project.”

John Pagano, CEO of Red Sea Global, in terms of investment opportunities he said they ere with numbers American companies and hospitality brands, including Marriot, Hayat and Hilton.


Massive shading project underway at Namira Mosque courtyards for Hajj

Updated 13 May 2025
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Massive shading project underway at Namira Mosque courtyards for Hajj

  • Project will be implemented during the Hajj season to help to alleviate heat and to facilitate the movement of pilgrims as they perform their rituals
  • Features planting 2,000 trees in the eastern courtyards, installing complete infrastructure for water and electricity networks, constructing 320 canopies, and setting up 350 misting fans

MAKKAH: Kidana Development Co., the master developer of the holy sites and the executive arm of the Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites, has implemented a project to provide shade and cooling in the courtyards surrounding the Namira Mosque in Arafat.

The project will be implemented during the Hajj season to help moderate the climate — especially given the intense heat during that time — and to facilitate the movement of pilgrims as they perform their rituals, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

The project, covering 85,000 square meters, includes planting 2,000 trees in the eastern courtyards, installing complete infrastructure for water and electricity networks, constructing 320 canopies, and setting up 350 misting fans.

Additionally, the company has completed the planting of 20,000 trees across 290,000 square meters as part of the Green Holy Sites initiative, in line with the Saudi Green Initiative, which aims to expand green areas and improve the environment.


Royal Saudi Air Force joins search and rescue drill in Turkiye

Updated 13 May 2025
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Royal Saudi Air Force joins search and rescue drill in Turkiye

  • Saudi team brought two Cougar search and rescue helicopters, along with full aircrews and technical support
  • 11-day drill focuses on combat search and rescue operations that support broader air missions

RIYADH: The international combat search and rescue exercise Phoenix of Anatolia began on Monday at Turkiye’s Konya Air Base, with the Royal Saudi Air Force joining units from several other countries.

The Saudi team brought two Cougar search and rescue helicopters, along with full aircrews and technical support, according to Lt. Col. Pilot Abdulrahman Al-Mansour, who leads the Saudi contingent.

“Our team includes six air controllers and aims to improve readiness in realistic conditions while exchanging expertise with other forces,” Al-Mansour said.

The 11-day drill focuses on combat search and rescue operations that support broader air missions. One focus is training tactical air control teams to coordinate with allied systems, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

The Saudi delegation arrived last week and was received by Rear Adm. Abdullah bin Gaith, the Kingdom’s military attache in Ankara.


KSrelief continues to aid Lebanon’s refugee population

Updated 13 May 2025
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KSrelief continues to aid Lebanon’s refugee population

RIYADH: Dozens of ambulance missions have been carried out by the Souboul Al Salam Association’s ambulance service in the Miniyeh district, northern Lebanon, in a Saudi-funded initiative.

Financially backed by KSrelief, the initiative ran from May 2-5.

The mission aimed to provide transportation and burn treatment for Syrian refugees and the local community.