Saudi Arabia marks Arabian Leopard Day, raising awareness of endangered cat
Fewer than 200 Arabian leopards thought to remain in wild
RCU driving efforts to preserve and repopulate species
Updated 10 February 2025
Marco Ferrari
RIYADH: Organizations in Saudi Arabia and abroad marked the International Day of the Arabian Leopard on Monday, raising awareness of efforts to preserve the endangered species.
Historically widespread across the Arabian Peninsula, today there are thought to be fewer than 200 Arabian leopards living in the wild.
Their numbers declined rapidly in the 20th century due to habitat loss and illegal poaching, and they are considered critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Saudi Arabia declared Feb. 10 Arabian Leopard Day in 2022 in a bid to raise awareness.
This was followed in June 2023 by a UN General Assembly declaring Feb. 10 as International Day of the Arabian Leopard.
The Royal Commission for AlUla is implementing one of the Kingdom’s most noteworthy preservation campaigns for the big cat.
“We are honored with the remarkable progress made in safeguarding this majestic species. From the birth of Hope in 2021 to the arrival of seven cubs in 2023 and the exceptional triplets in 2024, each step has been a leap of hope in our conservation efforts,” Royal Commission of AlUla spokesperson Abdulrahman AlTrairi told Arab News.
The commission more than doubled the number of leopards in its Arabian Leopard Conservation Breeding Center to 32 since 2021, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
Members of the public are now invited to participate in naming the triplet cubs through the rcu.gov.sa website.
The commission also established the Arabian Leopard Fund, with initial funding worth $25 million to support Arabian leopard conservation efforts in the Kingdom and abroad.
To mark this year’s Arabian Leopard Day, the commission held a conservation event at the London Zoo, attended by Saudi Ambassador to the US Princess Reema bint Bandar.
Princess Reema founded the initiative Catmosphere in 2021, and the organization has held “cat walk” events featuring more than 190,000 people in 136 countries to raise awareness of conservation issues.
Princess Modhi bint Fahd, chairwoman of the Saudi Animal Welfare Society REFQ, shared with Arab News her thanks to the Kingdom’s leadership for their conservation efforts.
“We at REFQ are happy and thrilled to witness the International Day of the Arabian Leopard for an animal that was on the verge of extinction,”
“The credit goes to our great leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as he is the man behind all regional environmental and ecological initiatives.”
Saudi Arabia’s Embassy in Kyrgyzstan celebrated the occasion with a “cat walk” event in which a number of officials walked through the streets of the capital Bishek to raise awareness of the big cat’s plight.
A similar initiative was held by the Kingdom’s Embassy in Albania, where participants walked from Lake Tirana to the city’s zoo.
High-ranking officials from the Saudi Embassy in Sri Lanka also took part in a cat walk in Colombo.
Saudi crown prince meets Iranian foreign minister amid regional diplomacy push
Leaders discuss ties and regional stability
Prince Mohammed urges dialogue and diplomacy as means of resolving disputes
Updated 08 July 2025
Arab News
JEDDAH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his delegation at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah on Tuesday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Their meeting came as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen ties between the two countries and navigate a turbulent regional landscape.
During the meeting, Prince Mohammed and Araghchi reviewed the state of Saudi-Iranian relations and exchanged views on recent developments across the region.
The crown prince underscored the Kingdom’s hope that the current ceasefire agreement between Iran and Israel would help lay the groundwork for enhanced regional security and stability.
Reaffirming Saudi Arabia’s longstanding support for diplomatic solutions, the crown prince stressed the importance of dialogue in resolving regional disputes and reducing tensions.
For his part, Araghchi expressed gratitude for the Kingdom’s stance in condemning Israeli aggression, and praised Prince Mohammed’s personal commitment to promoting peace and stability in the Middle East.
The meeting was attended by several senior Saudi officials, including Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, and National Security Advisor Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban.
Cabinet commends HRC adoption of resolution to protect children in cyberspace
Crown prince briefed the Cabinet on the contents of his discussions with Indonesian president and phone call he received from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz
Updated 08 July 2025
Arab News
RIYADH: The Cabinet commended on Tuesday the Human Rights Council’s unanimous adoption of a resolution submitted by the Kingdom to protect children in cyberspace.
The resolution, submitted by Saudi Arabia, aims to protect children in cyberspace and is rooted in the global initiative “Child Protection in Cyberspace” launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in October 2024.
The Cabinet said that Saudi Arabia maintaining its position as the top-ranked country in global cybersecurity according to this year’s edition of the International Institute for Management Development World Competitiveness Yearbook adds to a series of achievements made by this sector in record time.
Saudi Minister of State and Cabinet member Issam bin Saad bin Saeed said the Kingdom’s first-place ranking globally in the ICT Development Index 2025 issued by the International Telecommunication Union is a confirmation of the strength of the its digital infrastructure.
It was also testament to the attractiveness of its investment environment and the development of the local digital economy, which has reached SR 495 billion ($132 billion) in size, he added.
The Cabinet also discussed the Kingdom’s efforts and contributions at the international level to support multilateral action and enhance global economic growth rates, including continued cooperation with OPEC+ producers to maintain stability in oil markets.
The crown prince also briefed the Cabinet on the contents of his discussions with the President of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto and a phone call he received from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
A Saudi-developed navigation platform signals a deeper shift in how smart cities are designed
Updated 08 July 2025
Nada Hameed
JEDDAH: As cities such as Riyadh and Jeddah grow at an unprecedented pace, they face mounting pressures that come with rapid urban expansion: increased traffic, infrastructure demands, and changing mobility patterns.
These challenges have sparked new conversations — and innovations — to support evolving everyday life.
Among the latest digital tools to emerge is Balady+, a Saudi Arabia-developed navigation app that is gaining traction with more than 1 million downloads on Google Play according to the app’s listing.
As the country continues its digital transformation, mobility solutions such as Balady+ are becoming a part of the conversation on how to make urban environments more efficient, accessible and responsive. (Supplied)
Launched in May, the app offers a locally tailored alternative to global platforms such as Google Maps and Waze to address navigation needs across Saudi cities.
Developed by Balady, a subsidiary of NHC Innovation, the app’s features include real-time traffic updates, indoor navigation in malls and multistory buildings, and alerts for roadworks and speed bumps with accurate spatial and timing information.
FASTFACT
Balady+, a Saudi-developed navigation app, is gaining traction with more than 1 million downloads on Google Play.
A notable moment for the platform came during this year’s Hajj season, when Balady+ collaborated with the Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites to support pilgrims with an interactive mapping system.
Yasser Alobaidan, CEO of Balady+
Over 11,000 key landmarks — including mosque entrances and exits, surrounding streets, hospitals, Red Crescent stations, restrooms, fountains, and more than 160 critical facilities — were updated in real time to ease the flow of people through dense and high-pressure areas.
“Navigation apps aren’t just tools anymore; they’re daily essentials,” said Abdulrahman Al-Babtain, a Riyadh-based commuter who has been using Balady+ for the past two months.
“What makes this app more useful for me is how it reflects the real condition of roads, especially when it comes to closures or construction zones.”
“Navigation apps aren’t just tools anymore; they’re daily essentials,” said Abdulrahman Al-Babtain, a Riyadh-based commuter who has been using Balady+ for the past two months. (SPA)
Built with an artificial intelligence-powered search engine, the app has generated a mix of enthusiasm and thoughtful critique from users on app stores.
Many have praised its realistic 3D mapping, with comments including “extraordinary” and “custom made” to better visualize surroundings.
Some reviews highlight standout features such as the “snap and send” municipal reporting tool, with one user noting that a damaged road was fixed within 12 hours of being reported.
Adel Alzahrani, ROSHN executive director of community development charters
While one review described the app as a “decent alternative to Google Maps,” others note a learning curve for new users and hope for future updates that make the interface more user-friendly and inclusive.
According to Al-Babtain, speed-bump alerts and government data integrations are particularly helpful in avoiding unexpected delays during his daily commute.
“The GPS is smart, but what really matters is having the most current local info — and that’s where Balady+ wins,” he said.
If we design cities for cars, we get traffic. If we design cities for people, we get life.
Adel Alzahrani, ROSHN executive director of community development charters
For Adel Alzahrani, executive director of community development charters at ROSHN, the app is part of a larger conversation about urban design and mobility.
“We’re not just developing real estate — we’re influencing how people move, live, and interact. Mobility behavior starts with design. I often say the cities of the future won’t be shaped by concrete alone — they’ll be sculpted by intelligence, data, and empathy,” he said.
While international apps dominate global markets, Alzahrani — who has used them all — sees Balady+ as an attempt to address local needs through an initiative that is “culturally aware, government-backed, and citizen-focused.”
“If we design cities for cars, we get traffic. If we design cities for people, we get life,” he said.
As Saudi cities are increasingly digitized, apps such as Balady+ represent a broader shift in how people interact with their surroundings, not just as commuters but also data contributors and active participants in shaping smart urban systems.
Yasser Alobaidan, CEO of the app, told Arab News it was built on a combination of local and global technologies.
It was “created through 3D modelling programs for areas like Hajj camps, the Grand Mosque, the Prophet’s Mosque, and key landmarks across cities — and global technologies that convert residential and commercial buildings into 3D visualizations.”
“Work is currently underway to render the main roads across Saudi cities in 3D to provide drivers with a more realistic navigation experience,” he added.
Available on Android, iOS, and Huawei Store, it supports both Arabic and English, and features a voice assistant that guides users in both languages.
Alobaidan explained the technical challenges of rendering 3D environments, such the Grand Mosque and Hajj camps, on users’ mobile devices.
“Managing and optimizing the processing power and battery usage on users’ mobile devices when rendering 3D models was not easy.”
As the country continues its digital transformation, mobility solutions such as Balady+ are becoming a part of the conversation on how to make urban environments more efficient, accessible and responsive.
“Saudi Arabia stands at a unique moment. We have the chance to leapfrog the mistakes of car-first urbanism and become a global model of people-centered innovation — where design, policy, and technology converge to create cities that breathe, move, and serve with grace,” Alzahrani explained.
“It’s not just a digital tool, it’s a statement of intent. It tells us that Saudi Arabia isn’t just building smart cities — we’re designing smarter ways to live in them.”
Looking ahead, he said: “I’d love to see Balady+ connect with multimodal platforms, so users can seamlessly move between metro, bus, walking, or even autonomous shuttles.
“I’d also advocate for opening up APIs (Application Programming Interfaces), so urban developers and municipal agencies can build on top of the platform, creating custom layers for districts or temporary events.”
As the Kingdom rethinks how cities function, the role of local digital infrastructure is becoming more central.
Balady+ may not be the only tool in that transition, but it points to a growing appetite for locally developed, tech-driven solutions to urban challenges.
“It’s not following global models. It’s redefining them through a uniquely Saudi lens. And I think that’s something worth celebrating,” Alzahrani said.
Jazan’s stone castles draw travelers into the past
Residents ingeniously utilized available resources to create functional homes tailored to the needs and lifestyles of their communities
Updated 08 July 2025
Arab News
RIYADH: The stone castles and ancient homes scattered across Jazan stand as silent witnesses to a rich history and architectural legacy spanning generations.
Beyond their aesthetic appeal, the structures play a crucial role in promoting sustainable tourism and form an integral part of Jazan’s tourism and cultural heritage.
For generations, Jazan’s castles and houses served as vibrant hubs of social and cultural activity. (SPA)
The designs of these castles and stone houses vary widely and visitors are invited to gain insight into the traditional building methods and local materials used.
Residents ingeniously utilized available resources to create functional homes tailored to the needs and lifestyles of their communities.
For generations, Jazan’s castles and houses served as vibrant hubs of social and cultural activity. (SPA)
Far from being mere dwellings, these castles and houses served as vibrant hubs of social and cultural activity. They hosted countless family gatherings, celebrations and social events, highlighting the strong cohesion of the local community.
They remain emblematic of regional identity. Today, the castles and stone houses of Jazan draw history buffs and eco-tourists alike, offering a glimpse of the Kingdom’s cultural tapestry and efforts to preserve Jazan’s legacy.
HRC adopts Saudi-submitted resolution to protect children in cyberspace
Resolution mirrors the key pillars of the crown prince’s initiative, calling for enhanced global cooperation, the exchange of best practices and raising awareness
Updated 08 July 2025
Arab News
RIYADH: The Human Rights Council has unanimously adopted a resolution submitted by Saudi Arabia aimed at protecting children in cyberspace, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.
The resolution is rooted in the global initiative “Child Protection in Cyberspace” launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in October 2024.
Presented during the council’s 59th session, the draft resolution was introduced by the Kingdom’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations and International Organizations in Geneva, Abdulmohsen bin Khothaila.
The resolution, co-sponsored by Kuwait, Algeria, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, and Vietnam, received unanimous approval, reflecting broad international support.
In his address to the council, the official highlighted the dual nature of the digital space in children’s lives, noting that while it offers valuable opportunities for learning and interaction, it also presents growing risks that demand coordinated international responses.
He emphasized the need for strengthened national frameworks and international cooperation to ensure safety for children online.
The resolution mirrors the key pillars of the crown prince’s initiative, calling for enhanced global cooperation, the exchange of best practices, raising awareness, and the development of skills necessary to foster a safe and empowering digital environment for children.
It further underscores the importance of providing tailored technical assistance to meet each country’s specific needs and priorities, thereby building sustainable national capabilities in digital child protection.
With its unanimous adoption, the resolution underscores the Kingdom’s ongoing leadership in international efforts to create a secure, inclusive cyberspace for children worldwide, SPA said.
It also affirms Saudi Arabia’s growing influence in shaping global policy on child protection and cybersecurity.