Saudi-US forum in Riyadh spotlights the projects transforming the Kingdom

Special Saudi-US forum in Riyadh spotlights the projects transforming the Kingdom
At Tuesday’s Saudi-US Investment Forum in Riyadh, a panel moderated by Arab News Editor-in-Chief Faisal J. Abbas (far left), discussed how giga-projects are reshaping the Kingdom’s global image. (AN Photo/Basheer Saleh)
Short Url
Updated 14 May 2025
Follow

Saudi-US forum in Riyadh spotlights the projects transforming the Kingdom

Saudi-US forum in Riyadh spotlights the projects transforming the Kingdom
  • From driverless cars to giga-projects, US and Saudi CEOs and ministers unpacked on Tuesday the ideas powering Vision 2030
  • Milestones in innovation, culture, infrastructure, tourism and tech celebrated at conference attended by President Trump

RIYADH: It is just over 10 years since the Uber smartphone-based car-hailing service launched in Riyadh. Since then, it has expanded to other cities in the Kingdom and, as Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi told a panel at the Saudi-US Investment Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia is now one of the company’s fastest growing markets.

There are now 140,000 Saudi nationals driving on the platform, serving 4 million riders in 20 cities across the Kingdom.  

Now, said Khosrowshahi, the company was poised to take the next technological step — and, he predicted, autonomous vehicles will soon be seen on the streets of the Kingdom.

“You will see autonomous vehicles in Saudi Arabia this year,” Khosrowshahi told the panel on Tuesday. “It's something that we are very focused on.”




US President Donald Trump views plans for Saudi Arabia’s Diriyah during his state visit. (AFP)

He said the vehicles would be much safer for both passengers and other road users.

“Autonomous (technology) 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 the world.”

Ultimately, he added, “autonomous will not only be safer, but will also be a cheaper form of transportation.” Uber is “now working with 18 autonomous partners … to make sure that autonomous technology is introduced in a safe manner.”

Another session at the forum, moderated by Arab News Editor-in-Chief Faisal J. Abbas, focused on the giga-projects that are raising the Kingdom’s profile around the world and writing the next chapter in the story of national transformation.




The Mukaab, a cubed skyscraper being develop in downtown Riyadh. (New Murabba)

The transformation of Diriyah, the birthplace of Saudi Arabia, into a globally important cultural, historical and leisure destination, is one of the projects that is helping to drive the modernization and diversification envisaged by Vision 2030.

Jerry Inzerillo, CEO of Diriyah Company, spoke about the importance of preserving the Kingdom’s history and the ancestral home of Al-Saud, including the royal At-Turaif district, considered the birthplace of the First Saudi State in 1727 and which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2010.

Today, Diriyah is the scene of one of Saudi Arabia’s largest giga-projects, a $63.2 billion transformation of the 14-square-kilometer site of the historic town into a global heritage, cultural and lifestyle destination.

Stating that the project is running on schedule and within budget, Inzerillo added: “We just welcomed to the UNESCO World Heritage site this week our three millionth visitor. We have 45,000 workers currently working in the project. 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 in Riyadh, said the Mukaab, the vast cube-shaped building at its heart, would be one of the world’s top iconic buildings.




Saudi Housing Minister Majed Al-Hogail, left, and Saudi Minister of Tourism Ahmed Al-Khateeb, centre, talk with Arab News Editor in Chief Faisal J. Abbas. (AN Photo/Basheer Saleh)

“It is one of the greatest, largest structures ever known,” Dyke said, comparing it to the MSG Sphere in Las Vegas. That, said Dyke, seats almost 18,000 people; the Mukaab will be 22 times larger.

“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 online from 2030 onward, and “when people come to Riyadh they will see something new, something different. It will be another fantastic place that will complement the amazing projects already happening in the Kingdom.”

FASTFACTS

• Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said autonomous vehicles would be much safer both for the passengers and other road users. 

• New Murabba CEO Michael Dyke said the Mukaab would be one of the world’s iconic buildings.

Another massive project being created as part of the Kingdom’s development is NEOM — the vast city on the Red Sea coast that has already fired imaginations around the world.

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.




Tesla and SpaceX boss Elon Musk with Saudi Minister of Communications & IT Abdullah Alswaha. (AN Photo/Basheer Saleh)

“When we talk about some of the themes that we are spending our time and effort on, infrastructure is a big one. So, whether it is digital infrastructure, 500 kilometers of fiber has already been laid, a data center being built, power and utility infrastructure already has solar, and wind farms up.

“In addition to 194 kilometers of water pipeline, food infrastructure (such as) greenhouses are being developed, because NEOM is not just a real-estate development initiative, it’s an economy building.”

NEOM is, he added, “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 the Green Hydrogen Project.”




US President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visit Diriyah. (AFP)

When Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 comes to fruition, in just five years from now, tourism will be as important for the Kingdom’s economy as oil is today.

That was the prediction of Ahmed Al-Khateeb, the minister of tourism, during a panel at the Saudi–US Investment Forum.

It was, Al-Khateeb added, a measure of how far the country’s tourism sector has come since the launch in 2016 of Vision 2030, the blueprint for reducing the dependence on oil and diversifying the economy, that Saudi Arabia is increasingly seen around the world as a land of green mountains, stunning Red Sea islands and a welcoming, hospitable culture.

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, surpassing the ambitious target of 100 million tourists that was set for the industry under Vision 2030.

In 2024, Al-Khateeb added, with 30 million international visitors among its 115 million tourists, Saudi Arabia was one of the 10 most visited countries in the world.




The Line, a new mega city currently under construction in Neom. (Neom)

"I’m excited,” Al-Khateeb said. “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 the oil as the highest contributor to our economy," he added.

For decades, oil production accounted for 85 to 90 percent of Saudi Arabia’s GDP, but since 2016 significant changes have occurred and oil now accounts for less than 55 percent of GDP.

Since 2019, the Kingdom has opened its borders to nearly 65 countries, issuing electronic visas for those visiting its natural and manmade tourist attractions, from the spectacular mountains of Asir in southern Saudi Arabia to the ancient mysteries of AlUla in the north.




Arab News Editor-in-Chief Faisal J. Abbas moderated a session on the giga-projects in the Kingdom. (AFP)

In Riyadh, he added, tourists can find a wide choice of sports, cultural and adventure attractions, and there is still more to see in the Red Sea and experience in the two holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.

Al-Khateeb emphasized that a well-educated, vibrant young Saudi population is essential for the growth of the tourism sector, which has increased its workforce share 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 said. It also plans to increase the sector's GDP contribution from the current 5 percent to 10 percent by that same year.

"We have created (a tourism) sector that will satisfy the different travelers from 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," Al-Khateeb said.




Business leaders gathered in the Saudi capital on Tuesday for the Saudi-US Investment Forum. (AN Photo/Basheer Saleh)

In discussing the US-Saudi partnership, the minister noted that the tourism sector had adopted best practices from the US, a leading global country in the industry, including conferences, entertainment and air-travel services.

"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)," he added.

 


KAIN welcomes 60 students as part of Mawhiba Research Enrichment Program

KAIN welcomes 60 students as part of Mawhiba Research Enrichment Program
Updated 27 June 2025
Follow

KAIN welcomes 60 students as part of Mawhiba Research Enrichment Program

KAIN welcomes 60 students as part of Mawhiba Research Enrichment Program
  • The program harnesses the potential of gifted students, offering them hands-on experience
  • Albrithen, general supervisor of KAIN, said the institute’s overarching goal is “to serve the community”

RIYADH: The King Abdullah Institute for Nanotechnology, established by King Saud University, will welcome 60 “gifted students” on Sunday as part of the Mawhiba Research Enrichment Program, a four-week initiative aimed at developing scientific skills and research experience among Saudi youth, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Run in collaboration with the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba), the program “harnesses the potential of gifted students, offering them hands-on experience in laboratories and production facilities, while introducing them to the fundamentals and ethics of scientific research under the supervision of specialized researchers,” the SPA wrote.

Hamad Abdulaziz Albrithen, general supervisor of KAIN, explained that the institute’s overarching goal is “to serve the community by transferring knowledge to younger generations through the use of advanced laboratory equipment and the expertise of distinguished researchers from diverse scientific disciplines.”

Ahmed bin Abdulkarim Al-Saleh, head of the Mawhiba program at KSU for 2025, highlighted the importance of such programs in providing exceptional students with the opportunity to conduct scientific research at KSU’s top-tier research chairs and centers.

Al-Saleh also noted that the program offers “a wide range of skill-building activities, including Python programming, AI and its scientific applications, as well as enrichment trips to research centers beyond the university campus.”


‘We will make our country proud’: Joy as Saudi graduates take first professional steps

‘We will make our country proud’: Joy as Saudi graduates take first professional steps
Updated 27 June 2025
Follow

‘We will make our country proud’: Joy as Saudi graduates take first professional steps

‘We will make our country proud’: Joy as Saudi graduates take first professional steps
  • The Red Sea Global Vocational Training Program celebrated the graduation of 466 Saudis
  • RSG is committed to offering employment opportunities for outstanding graduates within its workforce or with partners

JEDDAH: Hundreds of Saudi students on Thursday graduated from a specialized program targeting job creation in the Kingdom’s fast-growing tourism sector.

The Red Sea Global Vocational Training Program, held in partnership with King Abdulaziz University and the Human Resources Development Fund, celebrated the graduation of 466 Saudis, the scheme’s third cohort of students, across specializations including wellness tourism and hospitality.

The ceremony was attended by Jeddah Gov. Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Jalawi and John Pagano, CEO of the Red Sea Development Company.

The two officials delivered a speech highlighting the importance of achieving Saudi Vision 2030 by empowering the nation’s youth, building a thriving Saudi industry, and showcasing the Kingdom’s natural beauty and hospitality to the world.

Pagano said: “We are proud to see our skill development initiative empower youth and transform lives. By providing access to high quality and job-oriented training programs, we empower the students with the tools they need to confidently enter the workforce and contribute meaningfully to the tourism industry of Saudi Arabia.”

RSG is committed to offering employment opportunities for outstanding graduates within its workforce or with partners, he added.

The graduation, held at King Faisal Auditorium, saw the signing of an agreement between the Human Resources Development Fund and Red Sea Global to train and employ 1,000 young Saudi men and women in specialized fields, including wellness tourism, hospitality, tourism security and technical services.

Turki bin Abdullah Al-Jawini, HRDF director general, said that the fund helped more than 153,000 Saudi men and women find employment in the private sector during the first half of 2024.

Al-Jawini showcased the fund’s most prominent campaigns, and said that the HRDF develops its programs in partnership with various sectors, with the aim of improving job opportunities and developing human capital.

The event also included a keynote address by Raed Al-Basseet, group chief environment and sustainability officer at RSG. He praised the graduates for their resilience, hard work and dedication.

“From the first day you entered the Red Sea Vocational Training Program, you’ve proven to us that ambition has no limits, and that those with determination and passion can go further than they imagined. Your hard work has become an accomplishment. Your efforts are the beginning of a great professional journey, filled with opportunities and successes that exceed our expectations,” Al-Basseet said.

“Don’t stop at this achievement; let it be the beginning of a great and prosperous future. We are always behind you, and we are proud of you.”

Later, graduates Naif Najmi, Mishari Al-Jehani, Ghala Al-Buhairi and Ghada Al-Jehani gave thank-you speeches on behalf of their cohort. They highlighted the importance of the support they received, reflected on their journeys and described their hopes for the future.

The ceremony was full of emotion and joy among students and their parents.

Amer Al-Marawani, a graduate student of tourism security, told Arab News: “I’m feeling really happy and excited for the beginning of my new journey. In the future, I hope I can contribute to the tourism sector of my country.”

Hala Nadri, a graduate specializing in hospitality, said: “After graduation, it is an outstanding honor for us to serve the country, we are really looking forward to join the workforce anywhere in our touristic sites.”

Meanwhile, Jood Majed, a graduate of tourism safety, praised the program’s technical depth and encouraged other Saudi women to apply: “The training programs have been a resounding success and we learned a lot from it. Now, it is our time to pay back our leadership who supported us all these years by working hard, and eventually, we will make our country proud.”

Yousef Al-Amri, a graduate in information technology, said: “I consider myself very lucky to be equipped with these invaluable skills and I am forever grateful to RSG and KAU.”


Al-Hussam Park: a tourist attraction in the heart of picturesque Al-Baha

Al-Hussam Park: a tourist attraction in the heart of picturesque Al-Baha
Updated 27 June 2025
Follow

Al-Hussam Park: a tourist attraction in the heart of picturesque Al-Baha

Al-Hussam Park: a tourist attraction in the heart of picturesque Al-Baha
  • The city, which sits high on a mountain plateau, is set for a vibrant summer season
  • The park includes 36 seating areas, 21 shaded structures, 1,400 trees, 4,000 shrubs, a 1,200-square-meter artificial lake

RIYADH: The artificial lake, green landscapes, and waterfalls and fountains of Al-Hussam Park in the heart of picturesque Al-Baha attract a large number of nature lovers, holiday-makers and picnickers every summer season.

The city, which sits high on a mountain plateau, is set for a vibrant summer season this year under the slogan “Color Your Summer,” featuring raffles and daily prize giveaways.

Mohammed Faisal, a botany professor at King Saud University, who has visited the city on several official trips, told Arab News; “Prince Hussam Park is a beautiful destination, I enjoy the exquisite beauty of this summer tourism spot in a refreshing environment with intermittent rains and cold breeze from the nearby foggy mountaintops of Al-Baha.

It stands as one of the key tourist attractions in its region and serves as a recreational destination for residents and visitors alike.”

The park, named after Al-Baha Emir Prince Hussam Bin Saud, overlooks the city on one side and the Tihami sector on the other.

Nadeem Ahmad, an engineer working in the city, told Arab News: “Set on the mountain top and close to the Sarawat Mountains in the Al-Baha city, (the park) is one of the region’s most prominent ecotourism destinations.

Its scenic beauty complements nearby Raghadan Park and adds to the array of parks and gardens scattered across this picturesque region. It’s a must-visit tourist spot if you are in the Kingdom.”

The region’s mayor, Dr. Ali bin Mohammed Al-Sawat, told the Saudi Press Agency that the total area of the park is 160,000 square meters, with green spaces covering 132,264 square meters.

The park includes 36 seating areas, 21 shaded structures, 1,400 trees, 4,000 shrubs, a 1,200-square-meter artificial lake, 500 parking spaces, four children’s play areas, 35 restrooms, a 1,000-square-meter “interactive fountain,” two 10-meter-high waterfalls, a 700-meter walking path, prayer areas for men and women, and a plaza that includes an open-air theater covering some 5,000 square meters with seating for up to 1,000 people.

“Al-Hussam Park hosts a variety of cultural and artistic events every summer, including traditional performances that reflect the region’s heritage, a children’s theater offering educational and entertainment activities, and diverse cultural shows representing various communities,” Al-Sawat noted.

The park has also implemented several new projects to accommodate elderly visitors and people with special needs, the SPA reported.


Tokyo firm partners with Saudi hospital to advance stem cell treatment system

Tokyo firm partners with Saudi hospital to advance stem cell treatment system
Updated 27 June 2025
Follow

Tokyo firm partners with Saudi hospital to advance stem cell treatment system

Tokyo firm partners with Saudi hospital to advance stem cell treatment system

TOKYO: ADR Therapeutics, a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Cytori Cell Research Institute, Inc., has signed a Letter of Intent to conduct a joint clinical trial for “90-minute complete stem cell therapy” with the King Abdullah International Medical Research Center.

The collaboration, reported in PR Times, is expected to drive medical innovation in the Middle East and bring new hope to patients with intractable diseases that were previously considered difficult to treat. 

In conventional stem cell therapy, harvested cells must be cultured for anything between several weeks and months at a dedicated facility, resulting in high costs and long waiting times. ADR Therapeutics’ Cellution System purifies non-cultured cells from a patient’s tissue to the state needed for treatment in just 90 minutes and can be administered on the same day of collection.

This provides a safe and effective treatment option for diseases such as osteoarthritis, diabetic foot lesions, Crohn’s disease and chronic pain. The risk of rejection is extremely low because the patient’s own cells are used and the risk of infection is reduced because no culture process is required.

Saudi Arabia has positioned the medical and healthcare sector as a key strategic area in Vision 2030, the national transformation program led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and aims to become a world-leading medical hub.

The number of patients in the Middle East with diabetes and other chronic diseases is rapidly increasing due to changes in lifestyle, and a rising number of cases are difficult to treat with conventional therapies.

It is expected the strategic partnership between the Kingdom and Japan in the medical field will be further strengthened by the contribution of Japan-originated stem cell therapy technology to solving local medical issues.

The most important feature of the treatment is that it can be performed at ordinary medical institutions without the need for advanced culture facilities or specialized technicians. This will enable the provision of advanced regenerative medicine in regions with limited specialized facilities and is expected to contribute significantly to improving access to medical care.

Saudi medical professionals will be able to acquire the latest stem cell therapy technology through specialist Japanese doctors providing direct technical guidance locally.


The art of diplomacy through Saudi cuisine

The art of diplomacy through Saudi cuisine
Updated 27 June 2025
Follow

The art of diplomacy through Saudi cuisine

The art of diplomacy through Saudi cuisine
  • Food is a way to share cultures and build bridges, says YouTube star

RIYADH: According to Saudi chef and food blogger Eman Gazzaz, diplomacy can be achieved through food and other cultural practices.

The daughter of a diplomat, Gazzaz is more than a home cook — she is an artist and a mother of three who is turning simple dishes into soulful stories. She also wants to form cultural bridges through her work, as she explained when she appeared as a guest on the Mayman Show.

Growing up as the daughter of a Saudi ambassador, she dreamed of following the same path. In many ways, she did — but her “embassy” was her kitchen and she chose food, rather than politics, as her language.

0 seconds of 1 minute, 20 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
01:20
01:20
 

After a childhood spent in various continents, Gazzaz now has a YouTube kitchen that feels like home and has taken it upon herself to show the world what real Saudi food and real Saudi women are all about.

During her interview, she recalled her time living in different parts of the world and her parents’ creative expression.

“My parents are very diverse. And they’re not just diplomats; they are creative in many ways. My dad is a gardener; he collects old antique cars, he collects old pocket watches,” she said.

She has fond memories of living in Pakistan during her father’s tenure in the late 1980s: “It’s a beautiful country; the people are so beautiful. Living in six countries and just being exposed to the world and the different cultures they have, it’s just like … it creates something in you as an individual. It makes you more connected somehow.”

0 seconds of 1 minute, 21 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
01:21
01:21
 

Her exposure to different cultures and the connections she made helped her become the person who is now presenting the joy of Saudi cooking to the world. She carries her experiences with her — the countries, the cultures and the people — and some of what she has seen means she is especially appreciative of the stability and security she enjoys in Saudi Arabia.

“That’s what made me as Eman, what changed me as somebody who lived abroad,” she said. “I appreciate coming to Saudi Arabia and the safety and the security that we experienced. When I was studying in the American school in Karachi, one of my classmates got kidnapped. And he was kidnapped for six months.”

Gazzaz explained that previously she traveled around with a bodyguard and in a bullet-proof car to ensure her safety and security.

0 seconds of 1 minute, 39 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
01:39
01:39
 

“Every time I come to Saudi Arabia I’m just like, ‘We don’t have to lock the door, we don’t have a bodyguard, nobody is carrying a gun.’ That made me feel like… coming back home made me feel so safe,” she said.

Eman also recalls a childhood memory of making a popular Saudi dish with her father.

“Every time we go outdoors, he always cooks the same dish and it’s actually one of my favorite dishes, which is saleeg (a white rice dish, cooked with broth and milk),” she said.

“I used to help him do the chicken, strain the stock and take the food out. And I grew up tasting these flavors and just eating the saleeg outdoors and being part of that experience, just me being so close to saleeg. My daughter loves saleeg as well.”

Cooking was always a family affair. Gazzaz’s mother was known for her delicious salads, while everyone had a role to play in preparing meals.

0 seconds of 1 minute, 23 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
01:23
01:23
 

“From both sides of my parents, they were very good cooks. My dad is very good at barbecuing,” she said. “He loves to go to the beach every weekend. When we were living abroad, he always rented a place, and he used to make the barbecue and marinate (the food) and barbecue it.”

Her own YouTube fame, Gazzaz credits to both her husband and her friend, Alia. Back in 2010, Alia visited for a month and revealed she had her own channel, Cooking with Alia.

“When she came, she’s like, ‘Eman, I have a YouTube channel.’ Back in 2010, YouTube was like five, six years old, It was still very new,” recalled Gazzaz.

Alia wanted her to present Saudi dishes on YouTube — something that made Gazzaz pause. At that time, it was not common for Saudi women to show their faces on social media, so she replied that she would have to ask her husband.

0 seconds of 1 minute, 19 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
01:19
01:19
 

His response, said Gazzaz, was: “Do what you want.”

“He is a Miami boy, so he’s very chilled,” she explained.

She took it as an opportunity to show off her national dress, as well as the food.

“(I thought) I’ll wear my abaya, I’ll put on my tarha (scarf), introduce my clothes and my outfits and things like that, and that’s what we did,” she said. From there, grew the first Saudi channel that introduced the world to the Kingdom’s culture through food.

Gazzaz has also written a book, “A Saudi Mandela,” which is a meditation and coloring book for adults.