Sultan of Brunei receives Islamic Development Bank president

Sultan of Brunei Darussalam Hassanal Bolkiah, right, meeting with IsDB Group President Mohammed Al-Jasser and his delegation in Bandar Seri Begawan on Thursday. (SPA)
Short Url
Updated 29 August 2024
Follow

Sultan of Brunei receives Islamic Development Bank president

JEDDAH: Sultan of Brunei Darussalam Hassanal Bolkiah received President of the Islamic Development Bank Mohammed Al-Jasser on Thursday at the Istana Nurul Iman Palace in Bandar Seri Begawan.

During the reception, Al-Jasser expressed his appreciation to the Brunei government for its ongoing support to IsDB Group.

He also affirmed IsDB Group’s firm commitment to keeping up with the development vision in Brunei and exploiting untapped potential to achieve multisectoral cooperation with the state.

The agreement signed on Thursday lays the foundation for a comprehensive framework for the 2025-2030 period, providing a strategic road map for future cooperation between IsDB Group and Brunei, Al-Jasser added.
 

 


Grant helps nonprofits to create green jobs

Updated 8 sec ago
Follow

Grant helps nonprofits to create green jobs

JEDDAH: The King Khalid Foundation has opened applications for the fourth round of its Green Grant, aimed at empowering nonprofit organizations across Saudi Arabia.

Applications for the grant are open until Aug. 9, with funding available for projects that equip low-income individuals with vocational and technical skills for green sectors, improving livelihoods through sustainable jobs.

The initiative is aligned with Vision 2030’s goals of economic diversification and green investment, and enables nonprofits to drive sustainable development, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.

Eligible projects include organic farming, ecotourism, recycling, energy efficiency, renewable energy, reforestation, and wildlife protection.

The grant fosters job creation and income opportunities, while preserving the environment and reducing ecological impact, the SPA added.

Launched in 2022 by Princess Nouf bint Mohammed, CEO of the foundation, the program has since expanded nationwide, offering workshops on the green economy and emerging environmental careers.

This cycle accepts proposals only from nonprofit organizations; individual applications are not eligible. Grant amounts vary by project scale and feasibility.

Successful applicants will join workshops from Aug. 18–24, with final recipients announced in October 2025. For guidelines, applications, and more details, visit kkf.org.sa/greengrants.


Saudi FM arrives in Brazil to participate in BRICS summit

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan arrives in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Monday to attend the 17th BRICS summit.
Updated 58 min 6 sec ago
Follow

Saudi FM arrives in Brazil to participate in BRICS summit

  • Prince Faisal is attending on behalf of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
  • He will participate in second day of the summit, which will be attended by partner and guest countries

RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan arrived in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil on Monday to lead the Kingdom’s delegation at the 17th BRICS summit.

The Kingdom, not a full member of the bloc, is participating as a country that has been invited to join the group. Prince Faisal is attending on behalf of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Prince Faisal will participate in the second day of the summit, which will be attended by partner and guest countries invited by the presidency and international organizations, SPA added.

Discussions will focus on global development efforts, including climate issues and the fight against pandemics and diseases.

The original BRICS group gathered leaders from Brazil, Russia, India and China at its first summit in 2009. The bloc later added South Africa and last year included Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran, and the UAE as members.


Cultural gathering calls for youth engagement to preserve traditions

Updated 07 July 2025
Follow

Cultural gathering calls for youth engagement to preserve traditions

  • Event, titled Asir … We Are the Living Heritage, was attended by experts and enthusiasts from the fields of culture and the arts
  • Attendees discussed various issues, including how to engage young people in cultural issues through social media

RIYADH: The Intangible Heritage Association held a workshop to encourage better preservation of cultural heritage in the digital age and urged young people to become the nation’s future storytellers.

Held at the Al-Abo Sarrah Palaces, northwest of Abha, the capital of Asir Province, the event, titled “Asir … We Are the Living Heritage,” was attended by experts and enthusiasts from the fields of culture and the arts.

Othman Al-Seeni, the association’s chairman, described the workshop as part of a broader national effort to safeguard intangible heritage across the Kingdom, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

“We are gathering the opinions and ideas of researchers and enthusiasts, whether on customs, traditions, handicrafts or performing arts, and using them in initiatives to document and preserve this heritage as a vital part of Saudi culture,” he said.

The attendees discussed various issues, including how to engage young people in cultural issues through social media. One concern was how misinformation about folk tales, customs and traditional narratives was being spread online.

The workshop’s conclusion was that heritage endures not through documentation alone but through active, daily practice. Young Saudis should be seen as future storytellers, not just passive recipients, they said.

The organizers also warned against fully automated documentation, recommending “cultural verification” protocols when using AI tools. Digital heritage efforts must retain human oversight from experts to ensure their authenticity, they said.

The association has already completed phase one of a comprehensive heritage inventory with the Heritage Commission, cataloging more than 10,000 cultural elements across six regions, and a second phase is planned.


Saudi program to train future tourism leaders

Updated 07 July 2025
Follow

Saudi program to train future tourism leaders

  • Tourism Oluo Program is a key initiative to attract talented university graduates
  • Program equips graduates with hands-on training aligned to local and global tourism market

RIYADH: The Tourism Development Fund has opened applications for its fourth leadership training program, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.

The Tourism Oluo Program is a key initiative to attract talented university graduates from local and international institutions for careers in the sector, a vital part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 plan.

Implemented with Spain’s IE University, the program equips graduates with hands-on training aligned to local and global tourism market needs, the SPA added.

Participants will receive practical training at the fund’s Riyadh headquarters and attend specialized courses in the Kingdom and abroad with leading academic and training institutions. 

The program provides social insurance, medical coverage, monthly stipends, paid annual leave, and opportunities to contribute to strategic tourism projects.

Targeted fields include finance, accounting, business administration, information technology, and engineering, according to the report. 

This initiative supports the National Tourism Strategy’s aims to meet evolving market demands and strengthen the Kingdom’s position as a global destination.


Japan looks to GCC countries for stability in Middle East

Updated 07 July 2025
Follow

Japan looks to GCC countries for stability in Middle East

  • FM Takeshi Iwaya meets with GCC’s Dr. Jasem Al-Budaiwi
  • Global oil industry, instability in Mideast under discussio

TOKYO: Japan’s Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya met on Monday with the GCC’s Secretary-General Dr. Jasem Al-Budaiwi to discuss the global oil industry and growing instability in the Middle East.

Iwaya said the GCC countries are playing an increasingly important role amid regional and international turmoil, Japan’s Foreign Ministry stated.

Japan wants to deepen political and economic cooperation with the GCC to bring peace and stability to the region, including the conclusion of the Japan-GCC Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations.

Al-Budaiwi said the regional bloc was also hoping for the completion of EPA talks, and further cooperation under the Japan-GCC Action Plan.

Al-Budaiwi added that Tokyo was an important partner and extended an invitation for a meeting of the two parties’ foreign ministers.

The officials spoke candidly about issues in the Middle East, including the Israel and Iran conflict, attacks on the Gaza Strip and situation in Syria.

Iwaya said Japan would continue its diplomatic efforts to ensure the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran is implemented and avenues for dialogue are reopened.

Al-Budaiwi echoed this view and said the GCC nations remained committed to dialogue.

The officials shared their concerns about acts that threaten shipping routes, and attacks on oil facilities.

• This article also appears on Arab News Japan