Saudi teams step up relief work in Syria, Turkiye

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A Saudi search-and-rescue team is carrying out operations in 46 locations in three Turkish cities. (SPA)
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Updated 18 February 2023
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Saudi teams step up relief work in Syria, Turkiye

  • The 12th Saudi aircraft recently landed at Gaziantep Airport, carrying 75 tons of food parcels, medical supplies and other relief items

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center recently sent 10 trucks carrying aid to earthquake-hit areas in Syria.

The trucks, which crossed through the Bab Al-Salameh border, carried tons of food, shelter and other life-saving items to be distributed among victims of the disaster, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Meanwhile, the Kingdom has sent 12 relief planes to affected areas in Turkiye, carrying food, tents, blankets, rugs, shelter bags and medical supplies.




The team is equipped with specialized vehicles, technical tools, and medical and communication devices. (SPA)

The 12th Saudi aircraft recently landed at Gaziantep Airport, carrying 75 tons of food parcels, medical supplies and other relief items.

The shipments were part of the Saudi relief mission on the directives of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to help quake victims.

A Saudi search-and-rescue team is also carrying out operations in 46 locations in three Turkish cities, helping to recover bodies from the rubble.




Saudi Arabia’s 12th relief plane arrived at Gaziantep Airport in Turkiye, carrying 75 tons of food baskets and medical supplies. (SPA)

The team, which received high-level training on dealing with disasters and accidents, includes rescuers, medics, engineers and doctors, as well as telecommunications, safety and security specialists.

The team is equipped with specialized vehicles, technical tools, and medical and communication devices.

The Saudi team of the General Directorate of Saudi Civil Defense has been classified high on the INSARAG Search-and-Rescue Directory. It has represented the Kingdom in joint drills in several countries, and also joined relief efforts in areas hit by floods and other natural disasters around the world.




Authorities are supporting the efforts of Saudi Red Crescent Authority colleagues on the ground in Turkiye and Syria. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia is also offering virtual health assistance to quake survivors in Syria and Turkiye.

The Seha Virtual Hospital, which was launched by the Kingdom’s Ministry of Health last year, is supporting the medical efforts of the Saudi Red Crescent Authority to help alleviate the suffering of the earthquake survivors in the two countries.

Health Ministry spokesperson Mohammed Al-Abd Al-Aly said he was honored to see Saudi male and female specialists in various fields working in the virtual hospital and providing care to survivors.

He added: “This is an extension of the humanitarian relief work in which Saudi Arabia’s efforts are combined through the relief air bridge that the KSrelief operates and supports.”

Specialists are supporting the efforts of Saudi Red Crescent Authority colleagues on the ground in Turkiye and Syria, he said.

Specialist teams included cardiologists, internists, pediatricians, dermatologists, infectious disease specialists, obstetricians, gynecologists and ophthalmologists.

He said that they provided the necessary medical support and advice to their colleagues in the region through video communication.

 


How Saudi Arabia is leveraging AI to strengthen cybersecurity and combat cybercriminals

Updated 5 sec ago
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How Saudi Arabia is leveraging AI to strengthen cybersecurity and combat cybercriminals

  • Generative AI enables hyper-realistic phishing, voice cloning, and deepfakes, making scams harder to detect
  • Saudi Arabia’s National Cybersecurity Authority offers a toolkit to help bolster digital protection across sectors

RIYADH: As generative artificial intelligence reshapes industries and transforms daily life, it is also fueling a new generation of cybercrime — smarter, faster, and harder to detect. Across the Gulf region, governments and tech leaders are working hard to stay one step ahead. 

At the heart of this regional defense is Saudi Arabia’s National Cybersecurity Authority and its Cybersecurity Toolkit, which offers a template to shield critical infrastructure and public services from digital threats.

“The Cybersecurity Toolkit offers public and private sector organizations a comprehensive suite of tools to enhance cyber readiness and reduce cyber risks,” Zainab Alamin, vice president of national digital transformation at Microsoft Arabia, told Arab News.

Available in Arabic and English, the toolkit is part of the NCA’s mission to embed cyber resilience across the Kingdom.

But the NCA’s efforts go beyond templates. Its national cybersecurity portal, HASEEN, helps manage and develop cyber services, while the CyberIC Program cultivates homegrown expertise to defend Saudi systems from evolving threats.

“Recognizing the importance of public awareness, the authority also launched the National Cybersecurity Awareness Campaign, which aims to raise cybersecurity awareness among all segments of society,” said Alamin.

And the investment is substantial. “Saudi Arabia has significantly increased its investment in cybersecurity, with spending reaching SR13.3 billion ($3.5 billion) in 2023, underscoring the Kingdom’s commitment to safeguarding its digital infrastructure,” she added.

But while Saudi Arabia is stepping up, so are cybercriminals. Generative AI has made it drastically easier to forge realistic emails, clone voices, and generate deepfake videos, giving fraudsters a dangerous new edge.

“As AI models improve, the output becomes more authentic, contextually accurate, and emotionally manipulative — making it increasingly difficult for traditional detection systems and even well-informed users to distinguish real from fake,” said Alamin.

Gone are the clumsy phishing emails littered with typos. Today’s scams are polished and personalized. “AI is transforming impersonation scams by making them more convincing, more scalable, and harder to detect,” said Alamin.

Microsoft Arabia’s latest Cyber Signals report revealed the extent to which criminals are exploiting generative AI.

“In this new wave of fraud, AI is being used to produce everything from hyper-realistic images and fake videos to cloned voices, personalized phishing messages, and even entire fraudulent websites,” said Alamin.

The threat is not theoretical. “Imagine receiving a voicemail that sounds exactly like your manager asking you to urgently transfer funds, or an email that looks and reads just like one from your bank, complete with branding and a personalized message,” said Alamin.

“These are no longer far-fetched scenarios; they are happening right now.”

Deepfakes can hijack video calls. Voice clones mimic family members or executives. Even phishing links now use language models to tailor tone and content.

“Thousands of phishing emails can now be tailored with just a few prompts, mimicking tone, language, and even regional nuances,” said Alamin.

In response, Microsoft is deploying its own AI-powered defenses. From April 2024 to April 2025, its systems blocked $4 billion in fraud attempts and prevented over 49,000 fraudulent partnership enrolments.

“We also work closely with law enforcement and industry partners to share threat intelligence and combat criminal misuse of AI,” said Alamin. “Scammers are evolving fast, but so are we.”

Microsoft’s platforms, such as Defender for Cloud and Entra, use AI to detect and neutralize cyber threats across email, chat, and cloud infrastructure.

Edge, the company’s browser, now offers typo and domain impersonation protection, as well as a “Scareware Blocker” to shut down alarming pop-up scams.

“In addition, our identity and access management tools, like Microsoft Entra, help organizations enforce Zero Trust principles, ensuring that no one is trusted by default, whether human or AI-generated,” said Alamin.

Yet the battle is not just technical — it’s also behavioral. “In the age of AI-assisted scams, both individuals and organizations need to adopt a more proactive, layered approach to cybersecurity. This means combining technology, awareness, and policy to build digital resilience.”

Education remains key. “Scammers often try to short-circuit your judgment with fear or pressure. A perfect example of this is ‘limited-time’ deals and countdown timers when online shopping,” said Alamin.

Other signs of AI-generated deception include overly formal language, generic greetings, or unusual phrasing. “If something ‘feels’ off, trust your instincts and immediately stop engaging,” she added.

For deepfakes and voice clones, look for unnatural lip-sync, poor lighting, or glitchy visuals. Subtle typos in domain names or email addresses can also be giveaways. And always verify communications that involve sensitive information — especially money.

“If you receive a call, video, or email that seems unusual — even from someone you know — double-check it via another trusted channel,” said Alamin. “Also, avoid direct bank transfers or cryptocurrency payments, which lack fraud protections.”

Saudi Arabia is not alone in its response. Gulf nations, from the UAE to Oman, are advancing cybersecurity frameworks aligned with global standards. The UAE recently launched its Green Bond and Sukuk Framework, with cybersecurity embedded in its digital finance architecture. 

Microsoft’s regional partnerships reflect this shared urgency to modernize defenses without stifling innovation.

“Tools that generate text, synthesize voice, or create hyper-realistic imagery can empower innovation in education, accessibility, and customer service,” said Alamin. “However, in the wrong hands, they can be weaponized for scams, misinformation, and manipulation.”

That dual-use challenge is at the heart of the cybersecurity conundrum. “A key challenge is intent. AI doesn’t have ethics, but its users do.”

 


Saudi Arabia unveils robotic surgery and PET-CT scanner to boost Hajj healthcare services

Saudi Minister of Health Fahad Abdulrahman AlJalajel visits King Abdullah Medical City in Makkah. (Supplied)
Updated 26 min 1 sec ago
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Saudi Arabia unveils robotic surgery and PET-CT scanner to boost Hajj healthcare services

  • Developments are in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which emphasizes innovation and excellence in healthcare, ministry said

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has introduced robotic surgery at King Abdullah Medical City in Makkah, the Kingdom’s Ministry of Health said on Thursday.

The new robotic system marks a major advancement in healthcare services provided to Hajj pilgrims and will support procedures in thoracic surgery, urology, and oncology, enabling greater surgical precision and faster recovery for patients.

The initiative is part of the Ministry of Health’s efforts to leverage technology to improve the quality and efficiency of care delivered during the annual pilgrimage.

The hospital has also launched the first-ever PET-CT scanner within the ministry’s hospitals in the western region.

The diagnostic tool allows for early detection of cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and neurological disorders, significantly enhancing diagnostic capabilities.

These developments are in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which emphasizes innovation and excellence in healthcare, the ministry said.

The expansion of high-tech medical services during Hajj reflects Saudi Arabia’s continued commitment to ensuring the health and safety of pilgrims from around the world.


India’s parliamentary delegation meets Saudi officials, underscores strong position against terrorism

Updated 39 min 57 sec ago
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India’s parliamentary delegation meets Saudi officials, underscores strong position against terrorism

  • Delegation met a cross-section of political dignitaries, government officials, thought leaders and members of the Indian community
  • Delegation held an extensive interaction with the Indian diaspora organized by the Indian Embassy in Riyadh

RIYADH: An all-party parliamentary delegation from India visited Riyadh to convey the country’s firm stance against terrorism and its continued efforts to combat it.

The delegation is visiting various countries to convey India’s response to terrorism in the aftermath of the military campaign, “Operation Sindoor.”

During the Riyadh visit, from May 27-29, the delegation met a cross-section of political dignitaries, government officials, thought leaders and members of the Indian community.

Led by BJP MP Baijayant Panda, the delegation held an extensive interaction with the Indian diaspora organized by the Indian Embassy in Riyadh on Thursday. The delegation shared with them the national consensus in the fight against terrorism.

Praising the Indian community, Panda said: “Our Indian diaspora in Saudi Arabia continues to make India proud through its success, contributions and standing in local society. Today, we are here with you to share India’s united national stance, the success of Operation Sindoor, and our unwavering commitment to combat cross-border terrorism with a zero-tolerance approach.”

On Wednesday, the all-party delegation had discussions with Adel Al-Jubeir, minister of state for foreign affairs, and underscored India’s position.

The Indian delegation appreciated the support received from the political leadership in Saudi Arabia in condemning the terrorist attack in Pahalgam.

Delegates reiterated India’s policy of zero tolerance toward terrorism, highlighting what Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in his speech earlier this month: “This is certainly not the era of war but this is also not the era of terrorism.”

It also held a meeting with Dr. Mishaal Al-Sulami, deputy speaker of the Shoura Council, and Maj. Gen. Abdulrahman Alharbi, chairman of the Saudi-India Parliamentary Friendship Committee of the Shoura Council, and conveyed India’s strong position against terrorism.

It expressed deep gratitude for Saudi Arabia’s strong condemnation of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam.

The delegation also met Dr. Mushabab bin Ayed Al-Qahtani, director general of the Prince Saud Al-Faisal Institute of Diplomatic Studies, and held discussions with the Institute on India’s approach to countering terror.

In all the meetings, the Indian delegation underlined that India has received unwavering support from Saudi Arabia on issues related to counter-terrorism. Both countries will continue to work together in their efforts toward de-radicalization and curbing extremism.

On Wednesday night, the Indian Embassy hosted a dinner interaction with distinguished personalities from Saudi civil society, which gave an opportunity for further discussions on countering terrorism as well as broader topics related to the India-Saudi bilateral partnership.


Saudi FM meets with chairperson of African Union Commission

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan receives the chairperson of the African Union Commission Mahmoud Ali Youssouf.
Updated 29 May 2025
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Saudi FM meets with chairperson of African Union Commission

  • During the meeting, the two officials reviewed aspects of relations between the Kingdom and the union

RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received the chairperson of the African Union Commission Mahmoud Ali Youssouf in Riyadh on Thursday.

During the meeting, the two officials reviewed aspects of relations between the Kingdom and the union and ways to strengthen them in various fields. Topics of common interest were also discussed.


Heritage Commission records 53 violations in March and April as oversight efforts continue

Updated 29 May 2025
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Heritage Commission records 53 violations in March and April as oversight efforts continue

RIYADH: The Heritage Commission recorded 53 violations related to antiquities and urban heritage across several regions of the Kingdom during March and April 2025, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.

It comes as part of the commission’s efforts to protect Saudi Arabia’s cultural heritage and address irregular practices that threaten its preservation, SPA added.

In March, 29 violations were identified, including the unauthorized sale of antiquities and the carrying out of archaeological survey and excavation activities without the required permits.

Several violations were also detected via social media platforms.

Two cases were referred to the Public Prosecution, seven were sent to the Violations Review Committee, and 20 were passed on to the relevant security authorities.

In April, the commission monitored 24 violations, including encroachments on archaeological sites in Madinah, the Eastern Province, Tabuk, Hail, the Northern Borders Region and Al-Jouf.

These included unauthorized entry into sites, tampering with fencing or signage, and the unlicensed use of metal detectors. Additional violations were uncovered through digital platforms, involving the possession and display of manuscripts, coins and historical replicas intended for illegal trade.

The commission has initiated legal action in several cases, referring some to the Public Prosecution and others to Public Security. The Violations Review Committee has issued financial penalties ranging from SR5,000 ($1,332) to SR50,000.

The Heritage Commission stressed that monitoring and enforcement efforts are part of a broader strategy to raise awareness about the importance of preserving the Kingdom’s antiquities and preventing actions that could damage their historical or cultural significance.

It also emphasized the vital role of community members and institutions in safeguarding the nation’s heritage.

Citizens and residents are encouraged to report suspicious activity or attempts to trade antiquities through official channels, including the “Archaeological Report” service, the Commission’s social media accounts, or the Unified Security Operations Center at 911.

The commission reiterated that preserving national heritage was a shared responsibility that requires collective action.