Saudi space mission aiming to benefit science

The experiment will also contribute to improving researchers’ understanding of rain-seeding technology, which will contribute to increasing rainfall in many countries. (Shutterstock)
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Updated 20 March 2023
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Saudi space mission aiming to benefit science

  • Experiments range from cell science to artificial rain in microgravity

RIYADH: The Saudi Space Commission has revealed the tasks and scientific research that will be conducted during the journey of Saudi astronauts Rayyanah Barnawi and Ali Al-Qarni as part of a mission to the International Space Station later this year.

The commission announced that the two astronauts would carry out 11 pioneering experiments in microgravity during the flight, the results of which would help to enhance the Kingdom’s global position within space exploration and service to humanity.




Saudi astronaut, Rayyanah Barnawi. (SPA)

Officials noted that the Saudi tests in space would range from human research and cell science to artificial rain in microgravity.

In the artificial rain experiment, water vapor will be condensed on plankton and salt atoms in microgravity to simulate the cloud seeding process that is used in Saudi Arabia and other countries to increase precipitation rates.

Led by Dr. Ashraf Farahat, the trial is for the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals and will help scientists and researchers devise new ways to provide suitable conditions for humans — including the work of artificial rain — to live in space colonies on the surface of the Moon and Mars.

HIGHLIGHT

In addition to 11 pioneering experiments, three educational awareness studies will be conducted aboard the International Space Station in real time with students throughout Saudi Arabia, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Mawhiba, Riyadh Schools, and Misk Schools.

The experiment will also contribute to improving researchers’ understanding of rain-seeding technology, which will contribute to increasing rainfall in many countries.

To better understand the impacts of being in space on human health, Saudi Arabia’s Nebula Research and Development, led by Dr. Bader Shirah, is conducting six experiments aboard the ISS, which will be performed by the astronauts.




Saudi astronaut, Ali Al-Qarni. (Photo/@AstroAli11)

The tests will utilize novel neuroscience tools including measuring blood flow to the brain and the brain’s electrical activity, assessing intracranial pressure by non-invasive assessment of the pupil of the eye, and monitoring changes in the optic nerve over time.

Improved monitoring of neurological health may help make spaceflight safer in the future and allow for the development of rapid, non-invasive monitoring, as well as early interventions and the development of countermeasures.

Blood and bio-sample specimens will also be taken to examine multiomic biomarkers related to spaceflight and to map changes in the length, structure, and epigenetics of chromosomes and telomeres.

The cell science experiments led by the world-renowned King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center and its team of scientists, Dr. Khalid Abu Khabar, Dr. Wijdan Alahmadi, and Dr. Edward Hitti, will be investigating the inflammatory response of human immune cells in microgravity.

More specifically their research will be focused on changes in messenger ribonucleic acid (needed for protein production) decay, a process that can turn inflammation off. In addition, response to therapy is mimicked by utilizing the same cellular model. The crew will take RNA samples for analysis on ground, where the investigators will monitor RNA expression patterns, and hopefully thousands of mRNA half-lives will be measured.

Results are expected to contribute to a better understanding of space health and uncover biomarkers or potential therapies for inflammatory diseases in both space and on Earth.

In addition to these experiments, three educational awareness studies will be conducted aboard the ISS in real time with students throughout Saudi Arabia, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Mawhiba, Riyadh Schools, and Misk Schools.

The objectives will be to enhance students’ knowledge of space science and its contribution to improving the quality of life on Earth, by juxtaposing their terrestrial-based experiments to the ones being conducted in real-time by the Saudi crew on the ISS.

Students will be able to see at first-hand how the experiment environment can have a real effect on results. The real-time interaction will ensure that students have access to the Saudi crew live as they perform their experiments together, one on Earth, and one in space simultaneously.

The efforts by the Saudi Space Commission are designed to prepare future astronauts and engineers, through quality education and training programs, participation in scientific experiments, international research, and future space-related missions – all of which will contribute to raising the status of the Kingdom and to achieving the goals of Vision 2030.

 

 


Qatari emir invites Saudi leaders to attend global social development summit

Updated 4 sec ago
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Qatari emir invites Saudi leaders to attend global social development summit

  • The 2nd World Summit for Social Development will take place in Doha from Nov. 4 to 6

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have each received an invitation to attend the Second World Summit for Social Development, which will take place in Doha from Nov. 4 to 6.

The letters, sent by Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, were presented by the nation’s ambassador to the Kingdom, Bandar Al-Attiyah, to the Saudi minister of foreign affairs, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, in Riyadh on Monday.

Other officials present at their meeting included Abdulrahman Al-Rassi, the undersecretary for multilateral international affairs at the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs.


Saudi Arabia topped MENA region in e-government services for third successive year in 2024

Updated 05 May 2025
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Saudi Arabia topped MENA region in e-government services for third successive year in 2024

  • Kingdom outperformed 16 other countries, achieving maturity rate of 96% in delivering services
  • Governor of Digital Government Authority praises achievement

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia ranked first for the third successive year among countries in the Middle East and North Africa region in the 2024 Government Electronic and Mobile Services Maturity Index.

The index, published by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, measures the maturity of government services provided through electronic applications and portals.

Saudi Arabia ranked first in the 2024 index, outperforming 16 other countries and achieving a maturity rate of 96 percent in delivering digital government services, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Ahmed Alsuwaiyan, the governor of the Digital Government Authority, praised the achievement on Monday, saying it was the result of collaboration among government agencies, the use of technologies and artificial intelligence, and the introduction of digital products to deliver government services.

The Kingdom ranked fourth in the index in 2020 and second in 2021 before taking the top spot in 2022 and 2023. Alsuwaiyan noted that the progress was due to significant improvements in digital services across essential sectors, including health, education, and smart cities.

Saudi Arabia has made significant strides in the healthcare sector by offering citizens and residents digital prescriptions, appointment bookings, and telehealth services, while remote learning platforms and electronic university admissions have been established in the education sector.


Saudi minister receives copy of Omani ambassador’s credentials

Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji receives a copy of the credentials of the newly appointed Omani ambassador.
Updated 53 min 37 sec ago
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Saudi minister receives copy of Omani ambassador’s credentials

RIYADH: Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji has received a copy of the credentials of the newly appointed Omani ambassador to the Kingdom Sayyid Najib bin Hilal Al-Busaidi.

Al-Khuraiji welcomed the ambassador and wished him success in his new duties, Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday. 


Fintech founder describes journey in shaping Saudi finance

Updated 05 May 2025
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Fintech founder describes journey in shaping Saudi finance

  • Adel Alateeq: Entrepreneurship is part of me. I’ve always wanted to do something on my own, to have the freedom to do creative things out of the boundaries of large organizations
  • Adel Alateeq: I think today, the transformation that Saudi is going through is probably a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity

Adel Alateeq, co-founder and CEO of Awaed, reflected on a career that has witnessed the evolution of Saudi Arabia’s investment landscape.

In a discussion with The Majlis podcast produced in partnership with Arab News, Alateeq described his career path from traditional finance to fintech startup cofounder.

Alateeq’s early roles involved managing public equity funds, an area significantly affected by Saudi Arabia’s market crash in February 2006.

“The market was booming, a lot of Saudis were participating in the Saudi markets,” he said.

“But, then, all of a sudden, came February 2006, a crash happens, and a lot of people lost trust, lost money, a lot of money in the market, and then they started looking for other things, and they started deserting the local markets.”

The financial turmoil, coupled with the 2008 global financial crisis, highlighted the vulnerability of relying solely on public equities and spurred a search for alternative investments.

This led Alateeq to work on the first real estate investment trust in Saudi Arabia with Riyad Capital, a project initiated around 2008 and eventually launched in 2016.

Simultaneously, he championed the development of a venture capital fund with Riyad Capital.

Discussions began in 2012, but it took four years to convince investors, primarily due to skepticism about the potential for startups in Saudi Arabia at the time.

“We started talking about the fund back in 2012. We only launched in 2016,” Alateeq said.

“It took us four years to convince investors, and to fundraise for our first VC fund, because a lot of investors did not believe that there would be startups coming out of Saudi.”

Not long afterwards, Alateeq was tapped by the Public Investment Fund to join Jada Fund of Funds, founded in 2018.

He said the mandate was to “catalyze the private equity and venture capital industry” in Saudi Arabia.

Despite the challenges of building a team remotely during the global pandemic, Jada achieved its five-year key performance indicators within just three years.

Speaking about his move to establish the Awaed digital wealth management platform, Alateeq said: “Entrepreneurship is part of me. I’ve always wanted to do something on my own, to have the freedom to do creative things out of the boundaries of large organizations.”

Alateeq believes that Saudi retail clients are “underserved” by existing players who struggle to reach them effectively.

He challenges the notion that Saudis lack financial literacy, arguing that the key issue is one of “access, not knowledge.”

In line with the unique aspects of the Saudi market, Awaed allows users to screen out non-Sharia compliant investment options.

Reflecting on the Saudi banking and investment sector, Alateeq said that its profitability can lead to complacency and a lack of innovation among many established players.

“The market is hungry,” he said. “There’s so much to do. But because of that, creativity is not at its best.”

Alateeq is optimistic about the country’s reforms under Vision 2030. “I think today, the transformation that Saudi is going through is probably a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” he said.


Riyadh International Industry Week 2025 to feature 524 exhibitors from 20 countries

Updated 05 May 2025
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Riyadh International Industry Week 2025 to feature 524 exhibitors from 20 countries

  • Event will cover an area of 20,550 sq. meters and be the largest industrial gathering in the region
  • Activities will include live demonstrations of the latest industrial technologies

RIYADH: The Saudi capital will host “Riyadh International Industry Week 2025” under the patronage of the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center from May 12 to 15. 

It will feature more than 524 exhibitors from around the world, with an expected attendance of over 25,000 visitors, including specialists and those interested in the industrial sector, according to a press release issued by the organizer.

The event will cover an area of 20,550 sq. meters and be the largest industrial gathering in the region, bringing together more than 48,000 products and advanced technologies under one roof. 

It will include national pavilions representing major industrial countries, while the activities will feature speakers and experts, with more than 60 speakers presenting strategic insights in more than 20 sessions and specialized workshops.

The exhibition agenda includes several strategic themes that will highlight the latest global trends in the industrial sector and provide a platform for dialogue with experts, investors, and decision-makers. 

Activities will include live demonstrations of the latest industrial technologies, along with highlighting government initiatives aimed at supporting and empowering the sector, while highlighting key enablers of the industrial environment in the Kingdom.

The events will be spread over four specialized industrial exhibitions. The “Saudi Plastics and Petrochemicals Exhibition,” in its 20th edition, will celebrate its history of supporting these industries and offer a comprehensive platform to show the latest innovations and sustainable solutions. 

The event will also host the “Saudi Print and Pack Exhibition,” featuring the latest advances in printing technology and smart packaging solutions.

It will feature the “Saudi Smart Logistics Exhibition,” highlighting the latest solutions in material handling, storage, and supply chains.

The journey of innovation will continue through the “Saudi Smart Manufacturing Exhibition” dedicated to automation and digital transformation solutions for industrial facilities in the Kingdom.

The Industry Week is a major platform for empowering the national industrial sector and exploring future opportunities in supply chains and advanced technologies. 

It represents an extension of the Kingdom’s longstanding efforts to support national priorities in the industrial sector. It will foster international partnerships, facilitate knowledge transfer, and present innovative solutions that enhance industrial competitiveness regionally and globally, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.