Jazan’s jasmine promises blooming business opportunities

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Updated 11 January 2023
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Jazan’s jasmine promises blooming business opportunities

  • Farmers launch new body to boost industry
  • Modeled on Taif’s flourishing rose markets

RIYADH: A trip to this southwest part of the Kingdom, to the province of Jazan, will offer travelers an immersive experience in a distinctive and alluring culture.

Flowers and plants are among the most significant elements of Jazan’s way of life because of the region’s rich and fertile soil that supports its horticulture.

About six months ago, a group of farmers came together and formed the Association of Jasmine and Aromatic Plants in Jazan.




Visitors enjoy wearing jewelry made of flowers. (AN photos Huda Bashatah)

Mohammed Al-Hobani, chairman of the body, told Arab News this was a “promising” way for the industry to reach its objectives. “The most important of these goals is to set up a factory in the Jazan region to distill jasmine and aromatic plants, just like … in the Taif region.”

Al-Hobani also spoke about the marketing of jasmine in various regions of the Kingdom, including supporting locals through small development projects such as embroidery and design.

FASTFACTS

• The second edition of the Jasmine and Aromatic Plants Festival will take place this year.

• Flowers and plants are among the most significant elements of Jazan’s way of life because of the region’s rich and fertile soil that supports its horticulture.

Together with Al-Mayadeen Company, a training firm hired by the Ministry of Agriculture, Environment and Water, a three-month training course was offered on how to make jewelry inspired by jasmine flowers.

There were 130 people in the first intake, rising significantly to 640 in the second.




Mohammed Al-Hobani. (AN photos Huda Bashatah)

Al-Hobani believes it is important to invest in jasmine and other aromatic plants because they symbolize the region and have an ancient agricultural heritage.

The most important of these goals is to set up a factory in the Jazan region to distill jasmine and aromatic plants, just like ... in the Taif region.

Mohammed Al-Hobani, Chairman Association of Jasmine and Aromatic Plants

He said all wedding ceremonies in Jazan feature these plants. Brides must wear necklaces and crowns made of jasmine flowers due to their cultural significance.

“Because it is in high demand, farmers want to grow it and make money from it,” he said.




(AN photos Huda Bashatah)

The first Jasmine and Aromatic Plants Festival was held in 2018, overseen by Jazan Governor Prince Mohammed bin Nasser. The second edition will take place this year.

The event will include the Jazan Winter Festival and other special attractions showcasing locally sourced harid, mango, coffee and honey.

Dafer Al-Fahad, director general of the Jazan Mountains Development Authority, told Arab News: “Jazan Province has many comparative advantages. The six mountainous governorates are full of investment opportunities especially in agriculture, agritourism, wellness tourism, and heritage sites.”

 

 


‘SAMAI’ initiative has enabled over 330,000 Saudi citizens to use AI, says SDAIA chief

Updated 04 July 2025
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‘SAMAI’ initiative has enabled over 330,000 Saudi citizens to use AI, says SDAIA chief

  • Launched in September 2024, SAMAI targets citizens across all age groups and professional backgrounds.

RIYADH: Some 334,000 Saudis have so far have benefitted from the government program aimed at empowering citizens with AI capabilities, according to the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority, or SDAIA.

During the keynote session of the Non-Profit Sector Forum in Education and Training 2025 in Riyadh on July 2, SDAIA chief Abdullah Alghamdi also said that partnerships the authority had forged with other government agencies have positioned the Kingdom first globally in empowering women in AI and second globally in community awareness.

Launched in September 2024 at the Global AI Summit (GAIN), the SAMAI initiative targets citizens across all age groups and professional backgrounds.

The program is a joint undertaking of the SDAIA, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, according to SPA.

Alghamdi also cited several national initiatives that resulted from this collaboration, including the National Olympiad for Programming and Artificial Intelligence, “ATHKA Competition.” 

More than 260,000 male and female students from intermediate and secondary schools participated, with 10,000 advancing to the final stage, he said. 

One key initiative cited by the SDAIA chief was the  “Road to ATHKA,” which trained more than 570,000 students on artificial intelligence concepts.

Yet another initiative was the “Future Intelligence Programmers” program, which has successfully trained over 10,000 teachers.

The SDAIA and Education ministry had likewise jointly established the Center for Excellence in Education, "designed to institutionalize technological integration within the education sector, sustain future-oriented initiatives, and leverage AI to enhance learning outcomes."

 


Saudi crown prince receives UAE national security advisor

Updated 04 July 2025
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Saudi crown prince receives UAE national security advisor

RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received UAE National Security Advisor Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan at Salam Palace in Jeddah, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The crown prince and Shiekh Tahnoun, who is also the deputy ruler of Abu Dhabi, discussed relations between the Kingdom and the UAE and ways to enhance them.


Saudi authorities close 996 establishments over health violations 

Updated 03 July 2025
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Saudi authorities close 996 establishments over health violations 

RIYADH: A total of 5,912 inspections covering 4,307 establishments were carried out across the Kingdom by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority in April and May.

A total of 996 were shut down due to various violations, while 136 were closed for operating without required licenses and for product safety breaches.

Additionally, production lines at 127 establishments were halted and 1,750 types of products were seized.

The initiative is part of the SFDA’s efforts to ensure compliance with approved regulations and to uphold high quality standards.

At one food establishment, inspectors found raw materials of an unknown origin, employees without health certificates, the absence of a tracking system and inadequate measures being taken to prevent cross-contamination. These led to the closure of the business and the implementation of necessary legal measures.
 


Need for global collaboration to fight drought stressed

Updated 03 July 2025
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Need for global collaboration to fight drought stressed

  • Saudi Arabia, along with partners, launched the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership on the first day of the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development

RIYADH: As part of the Kingdom’s efforts to mitigate the impacts of desertification, improve air quality and achieve its sustainable development goals, Saudi Arabia, along with partners, launched the Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Partnership on the first day of the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development.

Held in Seville, Spain, from June 30 to July 3, the four-day event saw the participation of 70 countries, including attendance by local and international ministers, environmental organizations and financial development entities.

Among the participants was Saudi Deputy Minister for Environment, Water and Agriculture Osama Faqeeha.

Faqeeha, who is also the adviser to the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties Presidency, emphasized the significance of collaborative efforts and innovation to address the escalating threat of climate change that resulted in complicated and devastating environmental issues such as drought.

Faqeeha said: “The Riyadh Drought Resilience Partnership will serve as a global facilitator, a ‘one-stop shop’ for drought resilience, promoting the shift from reactive relief response after drought hits to proactive preparedness.

“We also seek to amplify global resources to save lives and livelihoods around the world.”

The deputy minister said that solutions should be applied through strategies and mechanisms to ensure enhanced resilience in the areas that were mostly affected by drought and climate change globally.

He praised the partnership with the International Drought Resilience Alliance, a global coalition that aims to build resilience against droughts and climate change. 

He said it was fundamental to bridging the gap between the political and financial aspects to ensure the achievement of long-term sustainable development objectives.

The discussion highlighted some of the national efforts and strategies for environmental sustainability, including efforts by the OPEC Fund for International Development, the Islamic Development Bank and the CAF Development Bank of Latin America.


Saudi Shoura Council members visit Turkish parliament

Updated 03 July 2025
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Saudi Shoura Council members visit Turkish parliament

ANKARA: Members of the Saudi-Turkish Parliamentary Friendship Committee of the Saudi Shoura Council met with their counterparts from Turkiye during a visit to the country.

During the meeting, held in Ankara, the two sides reviewed ways to further boost their relations and discussed other topics of common interest.

The Saudi delegation also met with Numan Kurtulmus, president of the Turkish Grand National Assembly.