Diriyah, Jewel of the Kingdom: Diriyah affirms commitment to intergenerational solidarity ahead of International Youth Day

The strategy has paved the way for bright young people from the local community to join the authority. (Supplied)
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Updated 12 August 2022
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Diriyah, Jewel of the Kingdom: Diriyah affirms commitment to intergenerational solidarity ahead of International Youth Day

On the occasion of International Youth Day, the Diriyah Gate Development Authority has affirmed its commitment to this year’s theme of intergenerational solidarity, highlighting its achievements in bringing people of all ages together as the city moves into the future.

International Youth Day, designated by the UN, aims to draw attention to contemporary issues affecting today’s youth.

The goal of this year’s International Youth Day is to amplify the message that all generations need to take action to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Solidarity across generations is key for sustainable development, and Saudi Arabia’s major development projects address age-related barriers in order to “build back better” in a way that leverages the strengths, knowledge and experience of all age groups.

Ahlam Al-Thunayan, community engagement director at DGDA, said: “What we want to create within Diriyah is an environment where everyone can succeed, no matter their background or age. Diriyah was once a bastion of knowledge, understanding and cultural and commercial exchange. By capitalizing on the skills across generations here at DGDA and building a knowledge exchange program, we can empower the young people in our community and see this become a reality once again.

“Our youth have so much to give to our community, and we have so much to give them. Young people contribute an enormous amount to our project, and we want to see them thrive, whether that be through the provision of multiple career development opportunities or youth-focused community engagement initiatives. They are our nation’s pride, and we see them as the architects of the Kingdom’s future,” she added.

One of the ways DGDA is achieving this is through the implementation of its Community Engagement Strategy and Human Capital Development Strategy, which aim to discover, develop, transform and energize future leaders through the mentorship of the vast talent within the organization and broader community.

The strategy has paved the way for bright young people from the local community to join the authority through the graduate training program, engage in global events like Formula E, become cultural ambassadors at the Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale or take Diriyah’s message to an international audience as tour guides at Saudi Arabia’s Expo 2020 Pavilion in Dubai.

The authority has also overseen the implementation of empowerment programs for Diriyah’s young residents, including Program Your Passion, to teach game development and animation to middle and high school students.

Sixty-seven percent of Saudi Arabia’s population is under 35, according to a 2020 study released by the General Authority for Statistics, with almost half of the Kingdom’s workforce (47 percent) falling into this young demographic.

The Kingdom’s Vision 2030 strategy aims to unleash this young potential through new initiatives, investments and opportunities.

 


City Walk Jeddah reopens with new attractions until June 14

Updated 13 sec ago
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City Walk Jeddah reopens with new attractions until June 14

  • Seven sections spanning 281,000 sq. m offer a range of activities
  • Rides, theatrical performances and dining options on offer

JEDDAH: City Walk, part of Jeddah Season, officially reopened on Wednesday with a range of new attractions.

Running until June 14, this year’s event features seven themed zones spanning 281,000 sq. m. — Wonder Wall, Tomorrow Land, Fantasy Land, Cairo Nights, Black Forest, Adventure Land and The Garden.

Each section features games, rides and other family-friendly activities.

Salma Al-Harbi, a visitor from Makkah, told Arab News: “We’ve been visiting City Walk for the past three years, but this year truly stands out.

“There are so many new attractions, the experience is more affordable, and the waiting times are much shorter.

“My kids especially loved Luca Land where they got to play with different dog breeds. And for the whole family, the horror zone was definitely the highlight.”

Another, visitor Yazeed Al-Harbi, said: “There’s a great mix of thrills and relaxation. I didn’t expect to enjoy the painting area as much as I did. It’s really inclusive and well thought-out.”

For those seeking light-hearted fun, Joy Plex offers activities for children with characters such as Shaun the Sheep, Masha and the Bear, and Bluey leading interactive adventures.

The nearby Joy Plex-X expands on this with activities such as the Slime Festival, Stumble Guys, and Jelly Zone.

“City Walk is amazing this year, my kids loved the Slime Fest and meeting their favorite cartoon characters in the air-conditioned space, which was a great relief from the hot weather outside,” said Rana Khalid, who came with her children.

“There’s so much to do for everyone in the family.”

Beyond the rides and characters, the 2025 event includes a number of creative and educational activities.

Splash Studio invites guests to paint on the walls, while Navigation Land has air rifle shooting, archery and remote-controlled vehicles.

The Birds & Reptiles Cave gives nature lovers a chance to interact with and learn about exotic species through guided tours.

City Walk also hosts theatrical shows such as A Thousand and One Nights, Pasha, and Broken World.

Beyond the attractions, the event features 77 retail outlets and 65 restaurants and cafes.

Oat Chayanin, from Thailand, who is showcasing handmade cotton owls and other products, said: “I brought a selection of handmade owls from Thailand, along with some medicinal products.

“It’s been wonderful to see how excited people in Saudi Arabia are to learn about Thai culture and show such respect for the products.

“I’m looking forward to engaging with customers and learning more about Saudi culture so I can better understand what to bring for future events.”

Project manager, Mohammed Fahad, said: “The horror-themed attractions are a major highlight this year.”

“Experiences like Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach plunge visitors into a chilling maze of terrifying challenges, while Music Hell offers ghostly concerts brought to life by a skeleton band.

“Le Grand Hotel takes guests on a suspense-filled journey through a haunted building, testing their nerves at every turn.”


KSrelief completes volunteer medical project for pediatric open-heart surgery in Yemen

Updated 01 May 2025
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KSrelief completes volunteer medical project for pediatric open-heart surgery in Yemen

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s aid agency KSrelief has completed a medical service offering open-heart surgery and cardiac catheterization for children in Aden, Yemen, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.

The initiative ran from April 19-26. Ten volunteers from various medical backgrounds were on-site.

The team performed 24 open-heart operations and 98 cardiac catheterization procedures.


Japan’s foreign minister, GCC’s secretary-general discuss partnership

Updated 01 May 2025
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Japan’s foreign minister, GCC’s secretary-general discuss partnership

  • Officials meet in Riyadh to discuss energy security

RIYADH: Japan’s Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi has told Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi that Japan “attaches importance to its partnership with the GCC.”

The two officials met in Riyadh on Thursday to discuss the Gulf region’s partnership with Japan in energy security.

Iwaya added that the GCC region was playing an “increasingly important role in achieving peace and stability amid the current turbulent regional and international situation.”

The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that Albudaiwi had said that the relationship between Japan and the GCC member states was of “strategic importance,” and that the GCC also hoped to further strengthen its relationship with Japan.

The two officials welcomed the first round of negotiations on the Japan-GCC Economic Partnership Agreement, which resumed in December 2024.

They also agreed to cooperate in a wide range of areas, including politics and security, trade and investment, based on the Japan-GCC Action Plan adopted during the first Japan-GCC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in September 2023.

Iwaya and Albudaiwi exchanged views on Gaza, the Syrian Arab Republic, Iran, the Red Sea, and East Asia.

They both stressed their intention to further strengthen Japan-GCC relations and to maintain close cooperation through the implementation of the action plan.

This article also appears on Arab News Japan


LCGPA honors 26 winners at third Local Content Awards in Riyadh

Updated 01 May 2025
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LCGPA honors 26 winners at third Local Content Awards in Riyadh

  • The theme of the event was “Applauding Your Impact”

RIYADH: The Local Content and Government Procurement Authority recognized 26 public, private, nonprofit and individual contributors at its third Local Content Award ceremony on Wednesday in Riyadh.

The theme of the event was “Applauding Your Impact.”

Organized under the patronage of Bandar Al-Khorayef, Saudi Arabia’s minister of industry and mineral resources, the event celebrated efforts to advance local content development — a pillar of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030.

This aims to strengthen the economy by boosting domestic industries, reducing reliance on imports and empowering national talent.

The awards highlight achievements in meeting Local Content Requirements, or LCRs, which have raised government procurement spending on domestic goods and services from 28 percent in 2018 to 47 percent.

During his keynote speech, Al-Khorayef said that 396 Local Content Development Teams operated across government entities, while 270 state-owned firms had embedded LCRs into policies, driving their local spending to 50.7 percent in 2023.

In the government entities category, awards were distributed across two main paths and three subcategories.

In the path for Excellence in Local Content for Medium and Low-Spending Entities, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs claimed first place, the Roads General Authority ranked second, and the Digital Government Authority, or DGA, came in third.

Abdulaziz Al-Bader, general manager of procurement at the DGA, told Arab News: “We have focused on localizing industries through technology-related agreements, such as those for digital circuits, where we have achieved impressive results.”

He said that advances in cloud computing and the unification of technical specifications for government technology purchases had further streamlined procurement.

Al-Bader said that “our investment colleagues have made significant efforts, and the entity managing these investments has begun to see tangible outcomes.”

These measures, he explained, directly contributed to “a reduction in government spending on such procurements and accelerated the purchasing process” — an outcome he attributed to rigorous standardization and localized industry partnerships.

STC Group secured the top award for Local Content Preference, while the National Water Company was among other notable honorees.

In the private sector, telecom company TAWAL and manufacturing firm FIPCO stood out among large enterprises. Small and medium enterprises such as Suwar Technology and Intra Defense Technologies were recognized for driving innovation in niche markets.

Reef National Foundation became the first nonprofit to be awarded for advancing local content goals. Individuals Lama Al-Hussein (first) and Abdulmajeed Marzouq (second) earned top honors for raising awareness of local content’s economic impact.


KSrelief completes Syria health initiative, continues in Sudan

Updated 01 May 2025
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KSrelief completes Syria health initiative, continues in Sudan

  • Eight volunteer surgeons on the medical team in Port Sudan have already performed eight specialized operations

RIYADH: The Saudi Arabian aid agency KSrelief has completed its neurology and urology program in Syria, while continuing a similar initiative in Sudan, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.

Eight volunteer surgeons on the medical team in Port Sudan have already performed eight specialized operations.

In Damascus, Syria, the Amal volunteer program has concluded.

Twenty-six volunteers in Damascus examined 285 patients and performed 153 neurology and 162 urology operations.