Saudi health minister supervises Hajj season readiness

1 / 3
Saudi Arabia’s Health Minister Fahad Al-Jalajel on Wednesday inspected several health facilities in the Makkah Health Cluster. (Supplied)
Short Url
Updated 01 June 2022
Follow

Saudi health minister supervises Hajj season readiness

  • The visit was conducted to assess the readiness and preparations of the integrated health services

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s Health Minister Fahad Al-Jalajel on Wednesday inspected several health facilities in the Makkah Health Cluster.

The visit was conducted to assess the readiness and preparations of the integrated health services. The minister also closely reviewed the progress of work in the sites that provide care to pilgrims ahead of the upcoming Hajj season.

Al-Jalajel was accompanied by the chairman of the advisory council of the Makkah Health Cluster, Dr. Adnan Al-Mazrooa, and the undersecretary, Dr. Hani Jokhdar.

Other officials include the acting CEO of the Makkah Health Cluster, Dr. Hatem Al-Omari, and the director general of health affairs in Makkah, Dr. Wael Mutair.

The tour included the health sectors in the Arafat area represented by East Arafat Hospital, Arafat General Hospital, Jabal Al-Rahma Hospital, Namira General Hospital and Arafat Health Center. The minister was presented with a detailed explanation of the departments in the centers and the services they provide, outlining the application of the health requirements and protocols approved by the ministry.

The minister then went to Mina and made an inspection tour of Mina Al-Wadi Hospital, Mina New Street Hospital, Mina Emergency Hospital, Mina Al-Jaser Hospital, in addition to Mina Health Centers 2 and 17, during which he was briefed on the level of services provided.

Al-Jalajel concluded his inspection tour by visiting King Abdullah Medical City (KMAC) in Makkah, during which he visited various departments — notably the emergency, cardiology, oncology and inpatient sections — and heard a detailed explanation on aspects of the specialized services provided by the medical city. He also met with the directors of the health cluster in Makkah and the holy sites.

After the tour, the minister held a meeting at KAMC headquarters with Al-Mazrooa and the leaders of the Health Cluster in Makkah where he was briefed on work mechanisms, current work focuses and the most prominent challenges faced by the medical staff.

Al-Jalajel urged the staff to raise capacity inside hospitals and reaffirmed their commitments to make all efforts to serve patients, beneficiaries and visitors to the Grand Mosque to improve health services.


Saudi deputy FM receives Turkmenistan’s ambassador in Riyadh

Updated 7 sec ago
Follow

Saudi deputy FM receives Turkmenistan’s ambassador in Riyadh

Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Economic and Development Affairs Abdullah bin Zarah received Oraz Mohammed Charif, Turkmenistan’s ambassador to the Kingdom, in Riyadh.

During the meeting, they reviewed economic issues of common interest, the foreign ministry said in a post on X on Monday.

Meanwhile, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received a phone call from Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger during which they reviewed bilateral relations and regional and international developments


Project management forum highlights AI’s growing impact on industry

Updated 19 May 2025
Follow

Project management forum highlights AI’s growing impact on industry

  • Ali Al-Khabouri: AI will help the project managers to predict some of these situations that can happen based on the existing information and historical patterns
  • Al-Khabouri: AI tools will evolve in a way that they will provide us the information that we need to depend on for making decisions

RIYADH: Industry leaders and innovators discussed the role of artificial intelligence in advancing project management during the final day of the Global Project Management Forum in Riyadh on Monday.

Speaking on the sidelines of the forum, which has Arab News as a media partner, Ali Al-Khabouri, co-founder of Matrix Oman, told Arab News that AI is playing an increasingly important role in supporting decision-making in project management.

“AI will help the project managers to predict some of the information, predict some of these situations that can happen based on the existing information and historical patterns,” he said.

Al-Khabouri also discussed the importance of defining a clear strategy for AI adoption, adding that organizations should evaluate whether adopting AI is a value-adding step or simply a response to market trends.

During a panel discussion titled “The Future of Project Management: Leadership, Innovation and Strategic Integration of People, Process and Technology,” Marko Golob, head of IT PMO at SIJ d.d., highlighted the need for education in project management.

“We have a gap of 30 million project (managers) in the board in the next 10 years — 30 million. It’s a lot.”

Al-Khabouri highlighted the evolving role of artificial intelligence in improving decision-making within project environments.

He said: “AI tools will evolve in a way that they will provide us the information that we need to depend on for making decisions.”

He added that while the essence of decision-making remains constant, the tools, processes and organizational mindset supporting it are evolving in response to technological advancement.

Imad Al-Sadeq, transformation delivery partner at EY MENA, discussed the growing concern of over-reliance on artificial intelligence in project management.

“The risk here (is) that some people, including project managers, will over rely on (AI). Some people will mistrust the human side for the sake of AI,” he said.

Al-Sadeq added that this trend is already emerging in some settings, and he highlighted the need to strike a balance between technology and human insight.

“We still need to keep the human at center, keep the trust with the human judgment. Otherwise, we are not only calling for best effect, but we are calling only for best practice or previous work. And this is a big difference,” he added.


Jazan’s craft revival supports heritage goals

Some 30 artisans are enrolled on a year-long program focused on qa’aid making, taqiyah weaving, and seashell crafts. (SPA)
Updated 19 May 2025
Follow

Jazan’s craft revival supports heritage goals

  • The program aims to revive qa’aid making, once used to create beds and chairs in traditional Jazan homes
  • Trainers teach palm frond binding methods and encourage innovative designs suitable for today’s markets

RIYADH: The Artisans House in Jazan is helping to preserve traditional handicrafts that have declined in recent years in the face of modern technology.

This effort, to help contribute to the region’s cultural heritage, supports the Heritage Commission’s goal of developing Saudi artisans’ skills while promoting the aesthetic and authentic qualities of local crafts through training, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

Some 30 artisans are enrolled on a year-long program focused on qa’aid making, taqiyah weaving, and seashell crafts, reconnecting with regional traditions.

Guided by specialized trainers, participants learn traditional techniques and explore modern design adaptations, the SPA added.

The program aims to revive qa’aid making, once used to create beds and chairs in traditional Jazan homes. Trainers teach palm frond binding methods and encourage innovative designs suitable for today’s markets.

Trainees in taqiyah weaving use white thread for traditional knitted caps.

Artisans also work with seashells to make bracelets, necklaces, ornaments, bags, and sculptures inspired by marine themes.

The Artisans House provides local youngsters with hands-on experience in heritage crafts, serving as a center for cultural education and training.

The initiative supports knowledge transfer to future generations and aligns with the Year of Handicrafts 2025, which aims to preserve and promote Saudi Arabia’s craft traditions.


Tokyo governor to attend top women’s summit in Riyadh

Updated 19 May 2025
Follow

Tokyo governor to attend top women’s summit in Riyadh

  • Yuriko Koike will discuss role of women in public leadership positions
  • Fortune Magazine’s conference features outstanding female leaders from Fortune 500 and Global 500 companies

TOKYO: Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike will attend Fortune magazine’s Most Powerful Women International Summit in Riyadh on May 20 and 21.

Koike, who will be in the country until May 23, will speak at the closing main-stage session and also participate in a panel discussion titled “Leadership: Women in Public Service.”

The theme of the conference this year is “A New Era for Business: Partnering for Global Prosperity.”

Koike will discuss the role of female leaders in the public sector and talk about Tokyo’s advanced initiatives for female leaders and government officials.

She will also have discussions with representatives of local government agencies, and conduct site visits to pursue collaboration on ways to develop city governance.

Fortune Magazine’s conference features outstanding female leaders from Fortune 500 and Global 500 companies, as well as from sectors including government, philanthropy, education, sports, and the arts.


Saudi Arabia condemns escalation of Israeli military operations in Gaza

Updated 19 May 2025
Follow

Saudi Arabia condemns escalation of Israeli military operations in Gaza

  • The Kingdom said Israel's actions contradict the will of the international community, violate human rights law and United Nations charters

DUBAI: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday strongly condemned the Israeli military’s intensified operations in both northern and southern Gaza, denouncing what it described as an expansion of the occupation of large parts of the territory.

In an official statement, the Kingdom said the actions “contradict the will of the international community, violate human rights law and United Nations charters, and obstruct efforts to achieve peace and stability in the region.”

The ministry renewed Saudi Arabia’s firm denunciation of all ground operations conducted by Israeli forces, warning that such actions threaten the lives of Palestinian civilians and further aggravate the already dire humanitarian conditions in the besieged enclave.

The statement also cautioned against the continuation of “flagrant and unjustified violations,” emphasizing that they constitute a breach of international law and a direct assault on the rights of the Palestinian people.