Saudi Arabia Pavilion launches cultural exchange program at Osaka Expo

Saudi Arabia Pavilion launches cultural exchange program at Osaka Expo
The Saudi Arabia Pavilion has launched a cultural exchange program to provide unique career and personal development opportunities for staff at the Osaka-Kansai Expo. (Supplied)
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Updated 01 July 2025
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Saudi Arabia Pavilion launches cultural exchange program at Osaka Expo

Saudi Arabia Pavilion launches cultural exchange program at Osaka Expo
  • First round of CEP placements includes assigning 13 staff members of the Saudi Arabia Pavilion team to five international pavilions
  • Visiting international exchange staff members will be engaged in a comprehensive cultural engagement module conducted by the Saudi Arabia Pavilion leadership

TOKYO: The Saudi Arabia Pavilion has launched a cultural exchange program to provide unique career and personal development opportunities for staff at the Osaka-Kansai Expo while opening new avenues to share the Kingdom’s cultural heritage and global impact, Saudi Arabia’s Expo office announced on Tuesday.

The first round of CEP placements includes assigning 13 staff members of the Saudi Arabia Pavilion team to five international pavilions, while 15 visiting international staff will spend three months on rotation at the Saudi Arabia Pavilion.

Throughout the CEP, visiting international exchange staff members will be engaged in a comprehensive cultural engagement module conducted by the Saudi Arabia Pavilion leadership. This induction process includes workplace health and safety, an overview of Saudi Arabia’s operational objectives at the Expo and venue specific training, including heat management.

The CEP includes a buddy system under which visiting staff are provided with full support from their new team members.

Eng. Adel Alfayez, director of the Saudi Arabia Pavilion, said: “The cultural exchange program is a celebration of unity through diversity, where pavilions across Expo 2025 Osaka come together to share stories, spark new friendships, and build bridges that extend far beyond our pavilion walls.”

Alfayez said he was especially keen to hear from the Saudi Arabia Pavilion staff after they had experienced new cultures and operational skills during their time at other pavilions as this will prove invaluable in preparation for Expo 2030 in Riyadh.


Saudi Arabia praised at UN for global leadership on dust storm early warnings

Saudi Arabia praised at UN for global leadership on dust storm early warnings
Updated 6 sec ago
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Saudi Arabia praised at UN for global leadership on dust storm early warnings

Saudi Arabia praised at UN for global leadership on dust storm early warnings
  • The meeting highlighted the Kingdom’s $10 million commitment over five years to strengthen early warning systems

NEW YORK: Saudi Arabia’s international efforts to combat sand and dust storms were commended this week during a high-level meeting at the UN Headquarters in New York, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday.

The meeting highlighted the Kingdom’s $10 million commitment over five years to strengthen early warning systems and support countries vulnerable to dust storm impacts.

The initiative, led by Saudi Arabia in cooperation with regional centers affiliated with the World Meteorological Organization, was praised for enhancing forecasting and response capabilities.

Jumaan bin Saad Al-Qahtani, deputy CEO of the National Center of Meteorology, emphasized the Kingdom’s work through Vision 2030 programs such as the Saudi and Middle East Green Initiatives.

He also noted the establishment of the Regional Center for Dust and Sand Storms in Jeddah as a strategic hub for regional coordination, data exchange, and capacity building.

Saudi Arabia has hosted major research events, including the First International Conference on Dust and Sand Storms in Riyadh, and plans to hold a second edition in 2026.

Its environmental efforts have resulted in planting over 142 million trees and reclaiming more than 436,000 hectares of degraded land.

Al-Qahtani reaffirmed the Kingdom’s readiness to expand international partnerships to reduce dust sources, protect the environment, and improve resilience against climate change, SPA added.


Postponed Saudi-Franco conference on Palestinian statehood rescheduled

Postponed Saudi-Franco conference on Palestinian statehood rescheduled
Updated 32 min 1 sec ago
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Postponed Saudi-Franco conference on Palestinian statehood rescheduled

Postponed Saudi-Franco conference on Palestinian statehood rescheduled
  • Originally scheduled for June, event was postponed when Israel launched a military attack on Iran

NEW YORK: A postponed Saudi-Franco conference to discuss Palestinian statehood has been rescheduled for July 28 to 29, it was announced on Friday.

“The two state solution ministerial conference will resume on the 28th and 29th July 2025, details will be shared shortly,” diplomats at the UN confirmed to Arab News.

Originally scheduled for June, the International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Palestinian Question and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution was postponed when Israel launched a military attack on Iran.


Saudi Arabia observes World Population Day

Saudi Arabia observes World Population Day
Updated 11 July 2025
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Saudi Arabia observes World Population Day

Saudi Arabia observes World Population Day

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia marked World Population Day, observed annually on July 11, with a focus on raising awareness of population issues and their impact on sustainable development and the environment.

World Population Day was established in 1989 by the UN Development Program amid rapid population growth, which required accurate and reliable data to support development strategies.

In this context, the Saudi General Authority for Statistics has enabled the Kingdom to stay abreast of global statistical advancements by adopting the latest international technologies and methodologies in conducting its census.

These efforts ensure the quality and accuracy of data, enhancing the reliability of statistical indicators that form the foundation of national plans and policies.

An integrated team at the authority is tasked with reviewing and verifying census data in accordance with the highest international standards, using advanced techniques for analysis and statistics. This work is carried out in cooperation with other government entities, ultimately contributing to the development of an accurate database that serves as a key reference for shaping economic and social policies.


Saudi Arabia aims to foster entrepreneurial ecosystem

Saudi Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Mansour bin Hilal Al-Mushaiti. (SPA)
Saudi Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Mansour bin Hilal Al-Mushaiti. (SPA)
Updated 11 July 2025
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Saudi Arabia aims to foster entrepreneurial ecosystem

Saudi Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Mansour bin Hilal Al-Mushaiti. (SPA)
  • The Sidra Accelerator is a 12-week intensive program targeting startup companies in the environmental technology field, the ministry said

RIYADH: Saudi Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Mansour bin Hilal Al-Mushaiti has launched the second phase of the Sidra Accelerator initiative in Riyadh, SPA reports.

The initiative is designed to foster an entrepreneurial ecosystem in Saudi Arabia’s environmental sector in line with the Saudi Vision 2030.

The Sidra Accelerator is the first initiative of its kind in the region in terms of its targeted sectors and the locations of its selected entrepreneurship systems in Riyadh and Boston, SPA reports. 

The accelerator focuses on promoting collaboration and strategic partnerships. It also supports startup companies in navigating complex regulatory frameworks.

The Sidra Accelerator is a 12-week intensive program targeting startup companies in the environmental technology field, the ministry said.

It supports their development and scaling by connecting them to a wide network of local and international experts, providing access to global systems and markets, and facilitating cooperation with leading venture capital firms. Ultimately, the program will help them expand globally, the ministry said.

 

 


Saudi Arabia’s Mawhiba program empowers female students in Yanbu

The program is part of Mawhiba’s efforts to support gifted men and women. (X @mawhiba)
The program is part of Mawhiba’s efforts to support gifted men and women. (X @mawhiba)
Updated 11 July 2025
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Saudi Arabia’s Mawhiba program empowers female students in Yanbu

The program is part of Mawhiba’s efforts to support gifted men and women. (X @mawhiba)
  • The program’s activities include scientific visits, applied workshops and mini exhibitions, featuring active interaction from students and parents

RIYADH: Mawhiba’s Academic Enrichment Program continues in Yanbu Industrial City on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast, SPA reports.

The program, which is implemented by the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity, also known as Mawhiba, has targeted a select group of talented female students in various scientific and cognitive fields.

According to SPA, the program is part of Mawhiba’s efforts to support gifted men and women, and integrates specialized scientific content, practical application and personal and leadership skills development in a stimulating learning environment.

Some 95 female students participating in the program are receiving rich scientific content in tracks that include inventions, chemistry and engineering design, in addition to developing thinking, innovation and entrepreneurship skills, under the supervision of a select group of qualified female trainers.

The program’s activities include scientific visits, applied workshops and mini exhibitions, featuring active interaction from students and parents.

Scientific and creative outputs will conclude the event, showcasing the efforts of the students and education team, which contributes to the discovery, development and support of talents in the field of excellence and creativity, SPA reports.