A story of young Saudi hospitality

Omar and Aya’s journey through Saudi Arabia is a testament to the power of friendship, cultural exchange and the hospitality that the Kingdom offers. (Supplied)
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Updated 07 January 2024
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A story of young Saudi hospitality

  • Omar and Aya take an unforgettable journey through the Kingdom embracing friendship and cultural exploration

JEDDAH: In a heartwarming tale of friendship and cultural exploration, 14-year-old Omar from Jeddah took it upon himself to be the guide for 12-year-old Australian Aya during a two-week adventure through Saudi Arabia.

From the bustling cities of Riyadh and Jeddah to the scenic landscapes of Taif, Baha and Asir, Omar and Aya embarked on a journey that not only showcased the beauty of the country but also highlighted the hospitality deeply ingrained in the Saudi DNA.




Omar and Aya’s journey through Saudi Arabia is a testament to the power of friendship, cultural exchange and the hospitality that the Kingdom offers. (Supplied)

Their journey was captured in a series of videos published by Saudi Tourism Authority’s Visit Saudi website, documenting their experiences and capturing the essence of the Kingdom. As they navigated their way through historical sites, natural wonders and vibrant markets, the friends discovered the true essence of Saudi culture and formed lasting memories.

One of the videos captures Aya’s awe as she says: “I can see why you would be so proud of your country, and you should be.” This sentiment was echoed throughout their journey, as Aya and Omar encountered the warmth and kindness of the Saudi people.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Omar and Australian visitor Aya’s journey was captured in a series of videos published by Saudi Tourism Authority’s Visit Saudi website.

• In Baha they were guided by Abu Fahd, an experienced local.

• Dr. Saleh Al-Ghamdi, an eye surgeon, took them on a tour of his olive farm.

• The Red Sea, with its mesmerizing shades of blue, reminded Aya of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.

During their visit to Diriyah, Aya expressed her admiration for Omar’s connection to his heritage: “It’s really beautiful how you care about your heritage.” The duo continued their exploration, visiting the bustling Souq Al-Zal, where they interacted with local merchants. Aya said to one of the merchants: “I thank you for what you are doing, showcasing the Saudi culture.”

Their adventure took them to Jeddah’s historic district, Al-Balad, where Omar expressed his joy in sharing the experience with Aya: “I’m really happy that you’re here with me, discovering it (Al-Balad).” The friends also ventured to Baha, where they were guided by Abu Fahd, an experienced local. It was an exciting experience for Omar as well, as it was his first time visiting Baha.




Omar and Aya’s journey through Saudi Arabia is a testament to the power of friendship, cultural exchange and the hospitality that the Kingdom offers. (Supplied)

Aya’s favorite memory was their visit to the waterfalls, surrounded by lush greenery and mesmerizing natural beauty. She also cherished the opportunity to explore a traditional village, where she learned about the rich history and customs of Saudi Arabia.

Reflecting on his motivation to showcase his country, Omar told Arab News: “I really love my country and I really want to show people my country and show them our special culture.”




Omar and Aya’s journey through Saudi Arabia is a testament to the power of friendship, cultural exchange and the hospitality that the Kingdom offers. (Supplied)

His passion resonated with both Saudis and international viewers, inspiring him to create more videos and share the beauty of the Kingdom.

Aya, too, had her perceptions of Saudi Arabia transformed by the journey: “My perspective on Saudi Arabia before I went there was that most of the country would be flat and made up of desert, so logically very hot. However, my opinion of Saudi Arabia completely changed when I arrived.”

Aya expressed her gratitude to Abu Fahd for showing them the incredible places in Baha and credited his kindness and hospitality for changing her initial perceptions.

I really love my country and I really want to show people my country and show them our special culture.

Omar, 14-year-old local

She also recounted their meeting with Fatma, a local Saudi woman who gifted them a traditional Saudi mask. Aya also cherished the opportunity to meet Dr. Saleh Al-Ghamdi, an eye surgeon with a passion for olive tree farming. He took them on a tour of his olive farm, leaving a lasting impression.

Aya’s favorite spots in Saudi Arabia included the traditional village, where she had the opportunity to learn about the country’s past practices and child protection methods, deepening her understanding of Saudi culture.

Another memorable location was the Red Sea, with its mesmerizing shades of blue that reminded her of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. As a swimming enthusiast, this spot held a special place in her heart.

As their journey came to an end, Aya expressed her desire to return: “We had such a good time, hopefully I would like to come and visit again here.”

Omar and Aya’s journey through Saudi Arabia is a testament to the power of friendship, cultural exchange and the hospitality that the Kingdom offers. Their experiences serve as an inspiration for others to explore the untold stories and hidden gems of the country, bridging gaps and fostering understanding between cultures.

 


How Saudi Arabia is embracing AI to drive healthier lifestyles in line with Vision 2030

Updated 13 sec ago
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How Saudi Arabia is embracing AI to drive healthier lifestyles in line with Vision 2030

  • From smart hospitals to intelligent PE planning, the Kingdom is harnessing tech to improve public health outcomes
  • King Faisal Specialist Hospital uses AI to streamline patient care and educate families on managing long-term health conditions

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is leveraging artificial intelligence to build a healthier, more active population — a central objective of Vision 2030, which commits to raising the quality of life for all citizens through physical wellbeing.

AI is playing a pivotal role in this national transformation, with its applications extending across the healthcare sector, educational institutions and even mobile fitness apps that support healthier daily habits.

One leader in this field is the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, which uses AI to streamline patient care, support post-treatment recovery and empower families through personalized health education.

Early this year, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Riyadh announced that it has successfully performed a robotic-assisted implantation of an artificial heart pump (HeartMate 3) developed by Abbott. (Photo courtesy of KFSHRC)

“Today, we live in a golden digital innovation ecosystem in the Kingdom,” Dr. Ahmad AbuSalah, director of the Center for Healthcare Intelligence at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, told Arab News.

“It is a golden time for entrepreneurs, for innovators, for organizations and for researchers. In the hospital, we have a digital transformation journey that we take really seriously.”

Driven by the healthcare transformation program of Vision 2030, the hospital’s strategy focuses on lowering costs, expanding access to care and delivering outstanding services — all supported by AI.

However, Dr. AbuSalah said that adoption of these new technologies must be strategic and sustainable if they are to have the desired effect on patient outcomes and medical practice.

“Some organizations build AI models, keep it for a couple of years, and then shut it down. Why? Because it wasn’t bringing value,” he said.

One of the most impactful uses of AI at King Faisal Specialist Hospital is operation intelligence, which helps to guide the patient journey from admission to discharge. The system uses predictive analytics to inform patients about their health and encourage targeted lifestyle changes.

“We built a system that will proactively predict a patient’s experience three days before their appointment for the cancer treatment unit,” Dr. AbuSalah said.

This helps doctors anticipate outcomes, manage expectations and intervene early where needed.

Dr. Ahmad AbuSalah

The hospital’s AI tools also alleviate administrative burden on medical staff — a major cause of burnout. “If we remove the noise around the doctor, the care quality will be enhanced by itself,” Dr. AbuSalah said.

“You always hear the term ‘physician burnout’ because they are spending a lot of time on non-clinical tasks, on documentation, submitting orders here and there, generating reports. How can they focus on patients?”

By automating those tasks, AI frees up time for direct patient care, improving both staff wellbeing and service quality.

Outside the hospital setting, the same technology is helping Saudis to make better everyday health choices. AI-enabled apps now track sleep, diet and exercise, offering personalized insights to encourage small, achievable steps — such as walking or cycling.

In fact, walking and cycling are now the most popular forms of physical activity among Saudi adults, according to a 2024 General Authority for Statistics report.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Predictive AI can forecast patient experiences before appointments, enabling more personalized treatment.

• AI-powered apps help users to track their sleep, diet and activity for smarter, healthier daily habits.

• Schools are using AI to plan tailored PE lessons, making physical activity more engaging for students.

However, the report also noted a gender gap, with 23.2 percent of men being physically active compared to just 14 percent of women.

AI could help to close that gap, offering flexible, accessible ways for women to engage in exercise from home or within their communities.

Meanwhile, in schools across the Kingdom, AI is transforming physical education by helping teachers to tailor activities to individual students’ needs. This has made PE more engaging and inclusive — and part of a broader campaign to instill lifelong habits of fitness.

Last year, the Saudi Ministry of Education added rugby as an elective sport in its physical education curriculum, as part of an effort to promote the importance of having a healthy lifestyle among children. (AFP photo)

In a landmark move last year, the Ministry of Education introduced rugby as an elective sport — an initiative that underscores the growing importance of physical activity in the national curriculum.

But technology alone is not enough. To ensure lasting impact, experts say that the Kingdom must continue investing in infrastructure, educator training and custom tools that align with Saudi culture and goals.

Through such initiatives, Saudi Arabia is turning AI into more than just a technological leap — it is becoming a public health revolution, helping the nation move, live and feel better every day.
 


KSrelief chief meets UNICEF official in Brussels

Updated 46 min 40 sec ago
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KSrelief chief meets UNICEF official in Brussels

BRUSSELS: Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, adviser at the Royal Court and supervisor general of the Saudi aid agency KSrelief, recently conducted high-level discussions with UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell during the European Humanitarian Forum in Brussels.

The meeting, which included Saudi EU Ambassador Haifa Al-Jedea, focused on joint humanitarian and relief initiatives designed to enhance child welfare programs across global crisis zones.

Russell praised the ongoing partnership between UNICEF and KSrelief, highlighting how their collaboration has successfully delivered aid to millions of vulnerable children worldwide. She described the relationship as “an outstanding example of international humanitarian cooperation dedicated to serving children globally.”


Madinah university launches ‘Legacy and Impact’ project

Updated 22 May 2025
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Madinah university launches ‘Legacy and Impact’ project

 MADINAH: The Islamic University of Madinah has launched the “Irth Wa Athar” (Legacy and Impact) project, which aims to document its graduates’ educational impact and rectify data digitization.

The university said the initiative included documenting and rectifying graduates’ certificates from 1961-97 and collecting the data of 173,000 international scholarships offered by the university to its graduates from 179 countries since its establishment in 1961.

The international scholarships include more than 41,000 awarded to students in the fields of religious sciences, in addition to over 15,000 granted for studies in the principles and skills of Islamic preaching.

Some 27,000 scholarships were granted to students of Arabic language education, while 24,000 were offered for training specialists in other scientific fields.


Sakan wins Qassim excellence award

Updated 22 May 2025
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Sakan wins Qassim excellence award

RIYADH: The National Developmental Housing Corporation, or Sakan, has won the Qassim Award for Excellence and Creativity in the National Excellence Branch in its fifth session.

Yazeed Al-Rasheed, vice president for shared services at Sakan, received the award on behalf of the organization. He expressed his gratitude to officials for their support and recognition of national initiatives, saying that this was an incentive to continue efforts in cooperation with all parties.

Abdulaziz Al-Karidis, secretary-general of Sakan, thanked the Qassim governor for his support for Sakan’s initiatives and for following up and encouraging activities that achieved the foundation’s goals. Receiving the award would inspire the foundation to further enhance its performance and reinforce its core values, he said.

The win marks a milestone in the foundation’s journey and its commitment to excellence and innovation. The foundation continues to strive toward creating a positive and sustainable impact in the developmental housing sector by offering the best solutions and practices.


Black mulberry and damask rose seedlings distributed to farmers in Baha

Updated 22 May 2025
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Black mulberry and damask rose seedlings distributed to farmers in Baha

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s National Research and Development Center for Sustainable Agriculture — known as Estidamah — has distributed over 20,000 black mulberry and damask rose seedlings to farmers in Al-Baha.

The initiative, carried out through the center’s tissue culture laboratory, is part of efforts to support farmers and transfer modern agricultural techniques to areas with comparative advantages. It continues Estidamah’s contribution to a former agricultural project which saw 52,000 black mulberry, damask rose and strawberry seedlings distributed across the area.

The aim is to introduce new types of seedlings, increase production efficiency and achieve a qualitative leap in the region’s agricultural landscape.

It reflects the center’s keenness to support sustainable agricultural development by spreading highly economically viable plant varieties, which are propagated using tissue culture techniques to ensure quality, genetic purity and suitability to the targeted climatic and environmental conditions.

The center continues to implement several programs that aid farmers by providing research and technical solutions based on sustainable agricultural practices, achieving optimal efficiency in using resources and maximizing production value, in line with National Agriculture Strategy objectives.