Al-Safat Clock: How they used to tell the time in Riyadh

The clock had value when it was placed in the center of the city, helping people to learn about prayer times and organize their day. (Supplied)
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Updated 02 May 2022
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Al-Safat Clock: How they used to tell the time in Riyadh

  • The area has remained a focal spot for nostalgia, telling passersby about the mud houses, the alleys that were home to good people, and the stories of the old Riyadh

RIYADH: “The time now indicates seven in the morning, Riyadh time.”

With this phrase, the residents of central Riyadh used to start their day by hearing a female voice emanating from Al-Safat Clock, located in Al-Dirah market square in the Al-Hukm Palace area.

These days this area, at the end of Al-Thumairi Street, is surrounded by new and imposing buildings. But the clock has remained a focal spot for nostalgia, telling passersby about the mud houses, the alleys that were home to good people, and the stories of the old Riyadh.

Al-Safat Clock, or the “Big Ben of Saudi Arabia” as some called it, was one of King Salman’s achievements in Riyadh while he was the governor of the region.

“It was a unique watch at the time, and there was no parallel in the Middle East except in Beirut,” said social history researcher Mansour Al-Assaf. 

The clock began operating in 1966, and it was a topic of conversation among people, an important stop for their gatherings and meetings, and they relied on it to set their watches.

“The German-made Al-Safat Clock and its sound could be heard at a distance of 2 km through four loudspeakers, and it was tuned to conform to the forefront of daily life for Saudis at that time as it was alarming (sounding) every hour, from morning until sunset,” Al-Assaf said.

The supervisor was a Lebanese engineer, and his wife was the voice of the clock. Then, her voice was removed from the clock’s operations.

Al-Assaf said that despite the clock’s beauty, the timepiece caused a problem for some people because of the woman’s voice and the accompanying musical bell. These people objected to the sound of a woman’s voice because they said it was forbidden.

“The extremists raised their objection and a wide controversy took place which forced Prince Fahd Al-Faisal, the mayor of Riyadh at the time, to replace the woman’s voice with a man’s voice,” Al-Assaf explained.

Mansour Al-Shuwaier, a resident who lived during the golden age of the clock, reminisced about the timepiece.

“From my memories of the clock, we used to hear it at a distance of 1 or 2 kilometers, and it was considered a shift and a feature of the city of Riyadh. We called it Big Ben Al-Riyadh. It was even a symbol and a gathering point, as well as for describing the roads. For example, we said go to the north of the clock or west of the clock.”

Al-Shuwaier said that bringing such a clock to the heart of Riyadh was a big help for residents. The clock was a rarity because people at the time did not own watches because of their high cost.

The clock had value when it was placed in the center of the city, helping people to learn about prayer times and organize their day.


Saudi Justice Ministry to host training conference

Updated 03 May 2024
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Saudi Justice Ministry to host training conference

RIYADH: The Saudi Ministry of Justice is to hold the International Conference of Judicial Training in Riyadh from May 6-7.

The Judicial Training Center hosts the event which will see the participation of several international training institutes, centers, and experts in the field of judicial and legal training. The objective is to facilitate the exchange of experiences and deliberations on contemporary trends in the era of digital transformation.

Called “The Future of Judicial Training in the Era of Digital Transformation,” the event will delve into the prospects of training in the future. It will explore paths for enhancing training content; strategies for harnessing modern technology; artificial intelligence in judicial training; and effective methodologies for measuring the training’s impact.


Saudi energy minister attends Tashkent International Investment Forum

Updated 28 min 38 sec ago
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Saudi energy minister attends Tashkent International Investment Forum

TASHKENT: Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman on Thursday participated in the primary dialogue session at the third Tashkent International Investment Forum.

In the presence of the president of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the energy minister highlighted the distinguished relations between the two nations, emphasizing the leadership’s strong commitment to enhancing and expanding cooperation across all sectors, particularly energy.

The partnership aims to benefit both countries and their citizens.


Who’s Who: Ali Alhasan, CEO and founder of NanoPalm

Updated 03 May 2024
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Who’s Who: Ali Alhasan, CEO and founder of NanoPalm

  • Alhasan co-developed deep tech to leverage large language models for biotech discovery
  • He was granted the Outstanding Researcher Award from the International Institute for Nanotechnology in 2012

Ali Alhasan is CEO and founder of the company NanoPalm. He holds a Ph.D. in nanomedicine, with expertise in nano-drug delivery and gene therapy and five years of experience in executive management.

In his role as CEO, Alhasan formulates the strategic and business plans for accelerating therapy translation globally and trains talents in deep tech, nanotech, and gene editing tech.

Alhasan co-developed deep tech to leverage large language models for biotech discovery. He also co-invented Nanopalm’s biorobots for the delivery of gene editing primers and helped discover four nanomedicines for four different genetic diseases.

He is also an associate professor at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology and an adjunct professor at Alfaisal University, establishing collaboration agreements between the two.

As associate professor, he is the principal researcher for development and innovation in nanomedicine and the fourth industrial revolution.

In his role as adjunct professor, Alhasan teaches nanomedicine and mentors postgraduate and undergraduate students. He also co-established the Cancer Nanoscience Program.

Previously, Alhasan served in executive leadership roles at KACST as deputy at the Joint Centers of Excellence Program (2021), deputy of the Life Science and Environment Research Institute (2020), director of the Center of Excellence for Biomedicine (2020), and director of Strategic Initiatives (2016). 

Alhasan was a post-doctoral scholar at the University of California in 2015 and received his Ph.D. in the Interdepartmental Biological Sciences Program from Northwestern University in 2013. 

In 2008, he received a master’s degree in biotechnology also from Northwestern University, while in 2001, he received his bachelor’s degree in medical technology from King Abdulaziz University. 

Alhasan was granted the Leader of the Year award from the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology in 2024. In 2018, he received the Outstanding Investigator Award from KACST.

He was granted the Outstanding Researcher Award from the International Institute for Nanotechnology in 2012. 


Prince Faisal bin Farhan speaks with Swiss foreign minister

Updated 02 May 2024
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Prince Faisal bin Farhan speaks with Swiss foreign minister

  • two ministers discussed developments of common interest and efforts made by both countries in those areas

RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan spoke on the phone with his Swiss counterpart Ignazio Cassis on Thursday.

During the call, the two ministers discussed developments of common interest and efforts made by both countries in those areas, Saudi Press Agency reported.

Cassis was in the Kingdom last month to attend the Special Meeting of the World Economic Forum held in Riyadh on April 28 and 29, during which he met with Prince Faisal.

Prince Faisal and Cassis also met earlier in the year in February during UN meetings in Geneva.


Saudi FM discusses preparations for Expo 2030 with BIE chief

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan receives the Secretary-General of the BIE Dimitri Kerkentzes in Riyadh.
Updated 02 May 2024
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Saudi FM discusses preparations for Expo 2030 with BIE chief

  • During the meeting, the two officials discussed the Kingdom’s preparations to host Expo 2030 in Riyadh
  • “We underlined the importance of careful planning to deliver a transformational World Expo in 2030,” Kerkentzes said

RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan received the Secretary-General of the Bureau International des Expositions Dimitri Kerkentzes in Riyadh on Thursday.

During the meeting, the two officials discussed the Kingdom’s preparations to host Expo 2030 in Riyadh and coordination to ensure that the exhibition would be “exceptional,” Saudi Press Agency reported.

Writing on social media platform X, Kerkentzes said: “We underlined the importance of careful planning to deliver a transformational World Expo in 2030.”

The BIE chief met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Wednesday.

World Expo 2030 will be hosted in Riyadh after the Kingdom defeated challenges from South Korea and Italy to host the prestigious event in November 2023.