Conversations under the tree: Saudi community space encourages discussions on environment

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Updated 26 April 2025
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Conversations under the tree: Saudi community space encourages discussions on environment

Conversations under the tree: Saudi community space encourages discussions on environment
  • Riyadh venture part of wider network with sites around world  

RIYADH: A Saudi nonprofit organization has created a “tree library” in Riyadh, which aims to educate the public while providing a community space for environmental discussions.

AEON Collective’s initiative is raising awareness of environmental topics through organized discussions and offering opportunities for knowledge exchange.

Princess Mashael Al-Shalan, co-founder of AEON Collective, told Arab News: “We have a firm belief that if we are trying to tackle a lot of these issues we’re talking about in our day-to-day operations — climate change, energy security, biodiversity loss, land degradation — as we heard in Saudi last year, you need to have a way of talking truly about the complexity of these issues.”

The tree library was developed during the COVID-19 lockdowns, when in-person meetings were restricted.

Princess Al-Shalan added: “We needed to find some way to make it a bit safer for people to congregate again in person, to have some of these difficult conversations and do them in a way that was consistent, of delivering on actionable dialogs, not necessarily just conversation for its (own) sake.”

The tree library is not only an area for dialogue, but also a garden where people can enjoy conversation while surrounded by nature.

Co-founder Princess Noura bint Turki compared it to a majlis, or traditional gathering.

She added: “They’re just respectful interactions and exchanges of ideas which then, even if you have a problem, you end up solving this problem or finding solutions. That is a win-win for everyone.”

The tree library is now growing and has become a haven for all types of environmental health and well-being activities.

Princess Noura explained that health and wellness were essential to creating a healthy community.

She said: “We provide them with the space, they have these conversations together, they work out or they do some healing practices and exercises, but at the same time they reflect on the space where they feel connected to nature and they start thinking about sustainability issues.

“They can have conversations around sustainability, around challenges that we’re facing, and come up with solutions. That way you get people from various backgrounds, various interests, to talk about subjects, to speak to them at the individual level. That’s how you create a community.”

AEON Collective has created a number of tree libraries around the world, including in Italy, Kuwait, Jamaica, Liberia, and the US.

Princess Al-Shalan described how these interconnected libraries were a representation of the underground mycelium networks that trees use to communicate.

She said: “(This) romantic paradigm is something that we’re trying to replicate in the physical and digital realm with these locations of the tree library, so that the notion of a system coming to the aid of its weakest constituents in a specific way is how we’re trying to address it.”

Although interconnected, each tree library is designed to serve its own local community.

Princess Al-Shalan said: “The priorities of each of those different jurisdictions are most definitely different from those in Riyadh.

“So while, for example, Failaka Island used to be the food basket of Kuwait prior to the First Gulf War, after it a lot of the land there was no longer productive.

“The return of those lands to something that’s a bit more productive as a vehicle for food security for Kuwait is immensely important.”

The co-founders of AEON Collective speak of how collaborative discussions often lead to stronger advocacy efforts and policy changes, with open communication empowering people to take action and promote a sustainable future for the planet.

Princess Noura said: “The whole idea is you want to inspire a new generation of support, and the way you inspire a new generation is by showing them through action.

“If we can work with people from our generation or our younger generation to showcase the positive impacts that can happen through an individual and at a community level, when it comes to environmental conservation, human well-being, then you are charting a way for the new generations and the upcoming generations to really have urgency moving forward.

“We hope that everyone feels that this is a space for them, where they can come and learn and contribute and also educate others, because that’s how we learn from each other and create stronger communities.”


Family of Saudi student killed in UK pay tribute to ‘best of brothers’

Family of Saudi student killed in UK pay tribute to ‘best of brothers’
Updated 55 min 52 sec ago
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Family of Saudi student killed in UK pay tribute to ‘best of brothers’

Family of Saudi student killed in UK pay tribute to ‘best of brothers’
  • Mohammed Al-Qasim, 20, was stabbed to death in Cambridge on Friday
  • Relatives set up fundraiser to provide Saudi families in need with clean water as tribute

RIYADH: Family and friends of Mohammed Al-Qasim, the 20-year-old Saudi student who was stabbed to death in Cambridge, UK on Friday, have been sharing their condolences and memories online.

His relatives have also set up a fundraiser to provide families in need in Saudi Arabia with clean water as a tribute. At the time of writing it had raised more than SR30,000 ($8,000).

Al-Qasim was on a 10-week placement at the EF International Language Campus in the city when he was killed. Two men from Cambridge have been arrested on suspicion of murder and assisting an offender.

Al-Qasim’s uncle, Majed Abalkhail, said on X that his nephew’s death “has been a huge shock for all of us — especially since Mohammed came to Cambridge as a student, carrying nothing but dreams and hopes for the future.”

“We truly hope … that this will be the last such tragedy, and that full justice will be served, with everyone responsible held fully accountable. May Allah have mercy on Mohammed and grant him the highest place in paradise.”

Abalkhail described his nephew as “a young man raised upon goodness, and our hearts still weep over his loss.”

Al-Qasim’s sister, Jana, wrote on X that he was “a man worth a thousand men, the true meaning of support, strength, and dignity.”

“I never knew the taste of fear for a single day, because I knew Mohammed was my backbone and my support after Allah,” she said.

“With the magnitude of his pride and love for me, I was proud of him and loved him many times more. Since our childhood, I would hear that brothers often annoy, quarrel, and fight with their siblings, but by Allah, he never raised his voice at me once, and I never saw from him anything but kindness and love.”

Another sister, Thekra, said: “O Allah, your servant Mohammed Al-Qasim was the best of brothers. Kind, gentle, and fearful of you among us. He never once raised his voice since the day my mother gave birth to him until you took him back to you.”

Abdallah Al-Matrafi, who described himself as a neighbor of the family, said on X that Al-Qasim’s “late father, his brothers and his sons are among the finest people we have known in manners, character, appreciation, respect, and good neighborliness.”

“To this day, we remember them fondly, and we will continue to do so for the rest of our lives.”

Professor Fahad Al-Olayan said: “May Allah have mercy on Mohammed. I was honored to have him as one of my students at the university last semester. He was a hardworking student, eager to learn.”

Nawaf Al-Darrab, a friend of Al-Qasim, said he knew the young man to be “close to Allah … always smiling, committed to his prayers, and forgiving toward everyone.”

“Until we meet again, my beloved and my brother, in the highest paradise with the prophets, the truthful, the martyrs, and the righteous — what an excellent company they are.”

In a public statement, his family described Al-Qasim as a “young man brimming with enthusiasm, with chivalry, and courage,” and said he was “the family’s charisma” and “his father’s support.”

“He was the most compassionate person to ever visit a mother’s heart,” they said.

The fundraiser set up in Al-Qasim’s name can be found at https://ehsan.sa/donationcampaign/details/1828254.


First satellite data platform launched to advance Kingdom’s space economy

First satellite data platform launched to advance Kingdom’s space economy
Updated 05 August 2025
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First satellite data platform launched to advance Kingdom’s space economy

First satellite data platform launched to advance Kingdom’s space economy
  • Earth Observation platform was launched to meet the growing demand for high-resolution satellite imagery and space analytics across key sectors
  • Neo Space Group CEO Martijn Blanken: Earth Observation data supports infrastructure development, urban growth, and resource management

JEDDAH: Neo Space Group, a space and satellite communications company under the Public Investment Fund, has launched Saudi Arabia’s first dedicated Earth observation marketplace, advancing the Kingdom’s space economy.

Operated by UP42, a subsidiary of Neo Space Group, the Earth Observation platform was launched to meet the growing demand for high-resolution satellite imagery and space analytics across key sectors.

It supports the Kingdom’s economic transformation under Vision 2030 by integrating Earth Observation data into sectors such as environment, infrastructure, energy, real estate, mining, logistics, agriculture, and urban planning.

Martijn Blanken, CEO of the Neo Space Group, said that the platform reflects increasing demand for space-based intelligence in the Kingdom, according to a Saudi Press Agency report.

“Earth Observation data is essential today,” said Blanken. “It supports infrastructure development, urban growth, and resource management. With more than 2.15 million sq. km, Saudi Arabia requires scalable, data-driven tools for strategic decisions.”

The platform provides access to global data providers and AI-powered services, allowing government agencies, local companies, and international users to acquire and analyze high-resolution imagery and geospatial data through a digital interface.

Frank Salzgeber, acting deputy governor for the space sector at the Communications, Space and Technology Commission, called the launch an important step for the Kingdom’s space economy.

“Alongside enhancing national capabilities, the platform is expected to accelerate the adoption of space technologies in the Kingdom. It reflects our national priorities: fostering technological innovation, ensuring regulatory compliance, and building secure infrastructure.”

The platform follows Neo Space Group’s acquisition of UP42 GmbH from Airbus in December 2024. The German company runs a cloud-native Earth observation platform that simplifies satellite data access and processing.

Available at sa.up42.com, the platform lets users search, access, and process satellite data at scale using automated workflows, unified formats, and user-friendly tools. It complies with Saudi regulations and is hosted on secure local infrastructure.


9 teams make finals of Jameel Deep Tech Initiative startup contest

9 teams make finals of Jameel Deep Tech Initiative startup contest
Updated 05 August 2025
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9 teams make finals of Jameel Deep Tech Initiative startup contest

9 teams make finals of Jameel Deep Tech Initiative startup contest
  • Supports 30 STEM teams to transform research into startups
  • King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology backs project

RIYADH: Nine teams have advanced to the finals of the SR2.25 million ($600,000) Jameel Deep Tech Initiative startup competition, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

The teams that advanced are Plansulin, Queed, iRama, Quantasphere Ltd., Advanced Future Technology, Novo Genomics, Larimar, Visi Ground, and iBoat.

The King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology hosted the semifinal stage at its Academy 32 facility, the SPA reported.

The event was set up to support 30 teams in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics to transform research projects into market-ready startups.

Jameel, organized by StartSmart Entrepreneurship Center, and implemented through partnerships with KACST, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, and the Research, Development and Innovation Authority.

It targets deep tech innovations in the health, energy, environment and climate sectors, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030 objectives to empower research-based startups.

The semifinal event featured sector-specific training sessions, interactive product development challenges within fixed timeframes, cross-disciplinary workshops and business model refinement exercises.

Participants received specialized mentorship to overcome technical and commercial hurdles.

Radwan Noor, KACST’s general manager of Venture Attraction, said in a statement that they are enabling researchers to convert scientific outputs into viable tech companies with tangible market impact.

KACST supports this through scientific expertise, mentorship, judging, and access to laboratories and research infrastructure.

He said several participating startups graduated from KACST’s Ventures Program, demonstrating successful pathways from national labs to market solutions.

Mohammed Abdulghaffar, senior general manager at Community Jameel, added that this collaboration empowers scientists and innovators to commercialize research.


Saudi club hosts global falcon auction in Riyadh

Saudi club hosts global falcon auction in Riyadh
Updated 05 August 2025
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Saudi club hosts global falcon auction in Riyadh

Saudi club hosts global falcon auction in Riyadh
  • Running until Aug. 25, the event attracts top breeders and farms from within the Kingdom and around the world
  • Auction provides an opportunity for people across the world of falconry to meet, interact and share ideas

RIYADH: The International Falcon Breeders Auction opened on Tuesday at the headquarters of the Saudi Falcons Club in Malham, north of Riyadh.

Running until Aug. 25, the event attracts top breeders and farms from within the Kingdom and around the world, with Europe, the Americas and Asia all represented, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

More than just a sales platform, the auction provides an opportunity for people across the world of falconry to meet, interact and share ideas on this ancient sport. The many pavilions, including a “Falconer of the Future” stand, provide a showcase for breeding farms and equipment suppliers.

The event also supports the Saudi Falcons Club’s efforts to promote the heritage, culture and development of falconry, including pioneering breeding farms, and reinforcing the Kingdom’s position as a global hub for the sector.

Last year’s auction saw 872 birds changing hands for a combined value of more than SR10 million ($2.7 million). That represented a 25 percent increase in revenue and a 36 percent rise in the number of birds sold from 2023.

This year’s event is expected once again to attract the very best falconers and breeders from across the globe, highlighting Saudi Arabia’s leadership in preserving intangible cultural heritage and its growing international stature in the falconry world.


Sri Lankan envoy hails Kingdom’s Islamic efforts

Sri Lankan envoy hails Kingdom’s Islamic efforts
Updated 05 August 2025
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Sri Lankan envoy hails Kingdom’s Islamic efforts

Sri Lankan envoy hails Kingdom’s Islamic efforts

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Islamic Affairs Sheikh Abdullatif Al-Asheikh received Sri Lankan Ambassador Omar Lebbe Ameer Ajwad and his accompanying delegation in Riyadh.

The officials discussed various topics related to Islamic affairs and ongoing cooperation between the two countries, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, the envoy praised the Kingdom’s leading role in supporting Islamic causes and promoting the values of tolerance and moderation globally, particularly in Sri Lanka.

Ameer Ajwad emphasized that these efforts reflect the true message of Islam, the SPA reported.

“We take pride in the Kingdom’s remarkable role in promoting the values of tolerance and moderation — a noble mission that truly represents the lofty message of Islam,” the envoy said.

He thanked King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their generous support to Sri Lanka across various fields, and especially their service in response to Qur’anic injunctions.

The ambassador also praised the Ministry of Islamic Affairs for spreading a message of moderation worldwide.

He commended the ministry’s awareness programs, training for imams and preachers, and its organization of Qur’an competitions.