France holds equestrian day to boost economy, Saudi relations

Special France holds equestrian day to boost economy, Saudi relations
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French Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ludovic Pouille. (AN Photo/Meshal Al-Qadeer)
Special France holds equestrian day to boost economy, Saudi relations
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Director of Business France Invest Cecile Tardieu. (AN Photo/Meshal Al-Qadeer)
Special France holds equestrian day to boost economy, Saudi relations
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Director General of the French Institute of Horse and Riding Jean Roch Gaillet. (AN Photo/Meshal Al-Qadeer)
Special France holds equestrian day to boost economy, Saudi relations
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The French Equestrian Day takes place in Riyadh from December 12 to 14. (AN Photo/Meshal Al-Qadeer)
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Updated 14 December 2022

France holds equestrian day to boost economy, Saudi relations

France holds equestrian day to boost economy, Saudi relations
  • French seek partners for its $2.6bn equine industry
  • Over 10 firms, several sports bodies participated

RIYADH: Business France, the agency supporting economic development initiatives, held a special equestrian event here to seek partners in Saudi Arabia for its equine industry.

The “French Equestrian Day” in Riyadh from Dec. 12 to 14 saw the participation of several of the European nation’s firms and government entities, including over 10 equestrian companies and those in charge of megaprojects.

Organized for the first time in the Kingdom, the event was inaugurated by the French Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ludovic Pouille. It was held in line with the goals of the Saudi Vision 2030 to promote healthy and active lifestyles.

On the first day, the Ministry of Sport, the Saudi Equestrian Federation, the Sports Boulevard Foundation and the Equine Hospital in Riyadh presented their strategic objectives.

The director of the Jockey Club, Salem bin Mahfouz, explained how international standards should be adopted and applied in horse racing management. In comments to Arab News en Franҫais, and welcoming the experts, he said France had “expressed its wish to be part of this project.”

Cecile Tardieu, director of Business France Invest, underlined the importance of the mission of the agency, which was to increase exports and attract investments.

Tardieu said France has an established equestrian industry, and has since January 2019 entrusted private partners with supporting small- and medium-sized equestrian businesses worldwide.

Tardieu told Arab News en Franҫais that this partnership project was decided a year ago during the Dubai World Expo. She recognized the potential of the Saudi market and the interest shown by the Kingdom’s authorities to develop sport, including the equestrian industry.

Jean Roch Gaillet, director general of the French Institute of Horse and Riding, said the industry was worth EUR2.5 billion ($2.6 billion) in 2022, providing 22,287 fulltime jobs, and 24.5 percent of total exports.

Among the entities that participated included Pole Hippolia, the only state-certified competitiveness cluster dedicated to the equine sector. Based in Normandy, it brings together a network of more than 210 members throughout France, including business creators, startups, small and medium businesses, research teams, training establishments and institutions.

Other companies present included Antares Sellier, European Horse Services, Equ’Institut, Equi-rider, Equiways, Fornells, Franquet, Gregori International and Labeo, who came specially to Riyadh to showcase their skills in the field.

Arab News en Franҫais also spoke with Ismail Himdi, exclusive representative of Gregori International, which specializes in the development of training grounds and outdoor stadiums. Himdi said “the Saudi market presents a lot of opportunities.”


Pilgrims ‘overjoyed’ as Philippines goes out of way to accommodate Hajj

Pilgrims ‘overjoyed’ as Philippines goes out of way to accommodate Hajj
Updated 15 sec ago

Pilgrims ‘overjoyed’ as Philippines goes out of way to accommodate Hajj

Pilgrims ‘overjoyed’ as Philippines goes out of way to accommodate Hajj
  • Philippines runs special immigration arrangements for 7,500 Hajj pilgrims
  • National Commission on Muslim Filipinos grateful for Saudi support

MANILA: Philippine pilgrims departing for Hajj are overjoyed with the experience, the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos has told Arab News, as the government is employing special measures to accommodate their journey. 

In the predominantly Catholic Philippines, Muslims constitute roughly 5 percent of its 110 million population. Most live on the island of Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago in the country’s south, as well as in the central-western province of Palawan. 

As 7,500 members of the religious minority are traveling to Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj pilgrimage this year, they are enjoying new services at various airports across the Philippines designed to ensure a speedy immigration process during the spiritual journey that is one of the five pillars of Islam. 

“It was the first time in the history of the Muslim community performing Hajj that there is a special lane at the airport designated for pilgrims … We can feel their excitement,” National Commission on Muslim Filipinos spokesperson Yusoph Mando told Arab News as Hajj flights from the Philippines started over the weekend.   

The first batch of pilgrims was sent off by Antonio Lagdameo, special assistant to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and on arrival in Madinah, they were greeted by the Philippine Embassy staff. 

“Just imagine it’s your lifetime dream to do the Hajj, and finally you already have your ticket … Then you see the NCMF and other ranking government officials and a representative of the president, Secretary Anton Lgdameo Jr., all present to send you off,” Mando said. 

“They know that the government did everything for them … and we also attribute it to the efforts and support of the Office of President.” 

According to NCMF data, the majority of Filipino pilgrims embarking on Hajj this year come from Lanao, Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Cotabato. 

As they reach Saudi Arabia, they are attended to by Philippine officials. 

“We have a medical team that will be part of the contingent, as well as a supervisory team that will ensure their needs will be attended to. Medical teams were sent already sent ahead of the arrival of the pilgrims,” Mando said, adding that the commission was doing its best to make sure everything went smoothly as many pilgrims, especially senior ones, had waited their whole lives to embark on the journey. 

Throughout the process, the pilgrims have also been assisted by Saudi authorities. 

“We want the public, especially in the Arab world, to know that we are appreciative of their support and accommodation for the Filipino pilgrims,” Mando said.   

“Since time immemorial, we have been accommodated by the Saudi government. We have to tell them that we are thankful. Filipinos are looking up to them.” 


Investigators clear Saudi-led military alliance of alleged human rights violations in Yemen

Investigators clear Saudi-led military alliance of alleged human rights violations in Yemen
Updated 41 min 40 sec ago

Investigators clear Saudi-led military alliance of alleged human rights violations in Yemen

Investigators clear Saudi-led military alliance of alleged human rights violations in Yemen
  • The JIAT conducted an inquiry into four allegations of so-called operational misbehavior made against the alliance
  • Investigators dismissed claims by human rights organizations and media outlets that the coalition carried out airstrikes

RIYADH: Investigators have cleared a Saudi-led military alliance of alleged human rights violations in Yemen.

The Joint Incident Assessment Team on Monday said it had dismissed claims by human rights organizations and media outlets that the coalition had carried out airstrikes, including one on Sanaa airport in 2020.

The JIAT conducted an inquiry into four allegations of so-called operational misbehavior made against the alliance.

Medical care charity Doctors Without Borders had reported the coalition for what it described as an air mission on Sanaa airport on Dec. 8, 2020. But team spokesman, Mansour Al-Mansour, said that an investigation had concluded that the coalition’s nearest military target on that date was in Amran governorate, 22 kilometers away.

Another claim — made by the Panel of Experts on Yemen in January 2020 — related to an alleged airstrike on a water truck in As Sawadiya district of Al-Bayda governorate in April 2019.

Al-Mansour pointed out that on the day in question, the closest coalition forces had been operating was 158 km away in Sanaa governorate.

The JIAT also exonerated the coalition over an alleged human rights breach relating to a detention center in Saada city, northwest Yemen, reported by the UN secretary-general’s spokesman in January 2022.

The team found that the site targeted had been the Central Security located in Saada, approximately 2,400 meters south of Saada airport.

And separately, Physicians for Human Rights had accused coalition forces of carrying out an airstrike on Al-Karama Hospital in Taiz in March 2020 that resulted in severe damage to the building and the death of a civilian.

JIAT specialists discovered that the hospital was on a coalition list of sites banned from being targeted by its forces and that no air missions had taken place in Taiz governorate on the date.

Al-Mansour noted that the team’s investigations had shown that “procedures were safe, following the rules of international humanitarian laws.”

JIAT officials, he added, had met with relevant military personnel and individuals inside Yemen and field units, and had taken into consideration the rules and values of international humanitarian law in arriving at its conclusions.


‘We support creative ideas to provide best services for pilgrims,’ says Hajj minister

‘We support creative ideas to provide best services for pilgrims,’ says Hajj minister
Updated 06 June 2023

‘We support creative ideas to provide best services for pilgrims,’ says Hajj minister

‘We support creative ideas to provide best services for pilgrims,’ says Hajj minister
  • Winning project Muyassar provides virtual-reality, pre-Hajj experience

JEDDAH: The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah held an annual ceremony on Monday in Jeddah to celebrate the first group of graduates from the business accelerator program, which comes in partnership with the Saudi National Bank.

The program aims to enable entrepreneurial projects in the Hajj and Umrah sector and develop existing services and products to improve pilgrims’ experience, from transportation and accommodation to assistance for travelers who do not speak Arabic or who have special needs.  

The ceremony was held under the theme, “Change, impact, and sustainability,” in line with the ministry’s efforts to promote a culture of creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship and raise the level of competitiveness between Hajj and Umrah companies in providing services and products to pilgrims.

The ceremony showcased 20 startups and creative projects, offering investors the chance to review them.

Maryam Kutob, director of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center at the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, told Arab News: “Today, we celebrate the graduation of the Hajj and Umrah business accelerator participants. Ten startups were incubated by the business accelerator in partnership with the Saudi National Bank.

“We are also celebrating another 10 creative projects from the Ambassadors of Creativity program that deal with challenges from the Hajj and Umrah sector.”

Kutob added that the program’s graduates developed several distinct products that can be implemented during this Hajj season.

The first-place winner of the Ambassador of Creativity program was the project Muyassar, which in Arabic means “in ease.”

Muyassar is a website that provides a virtual-reality, pre-Hajj experience, where pilgrims can enter the holy sites and visit their actual camp to check all the details in advance.

Shahd Nasreddin, a team member of the winning project, told Arab News: “Most of the pilgrims do not have an idea of ... (what) they will experience upon their arrival. Our project aims to prepare pilgrims mentally and physically by providing them with the correct image so their expectations meet reality.”

She added: “The trainers and lecturers provided by the ministry through the program helped us greatly to reflect our ideas well.”

A panel discussion was held to highlight the importance of facilitating Hajj and Umrah travels, especially for international pilgrims and those with special needs, and consolidating services.

The discussion featured four keynote speakers: Hajj and Umrah Minister Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah; Abdulrahman Tarabzouni, CEO of STV, the largest technology investment firm in the Middle East; Amr Al-Maddah, deputy minister of Hajj and Umrah services; and Bandar Al-Rayhan, assistant governor of the General Authority of Awqaf.

Regarding the role of creativity, entrepreneurship, and innovation in improving the experience of pilgrims, which is one of the most important goals of Vision 2030, Al-Rabiah that the “private sector is an essential partner.”

There are several opportunities to improve upon the services offered to pilgrims and overcome challenges, Al-Rabiah said, citing electronic payment systems as an example: “Some pilgrims from around the world deal with special payment systems and do not use the credit cards we are familiar with. There is a huge opportunity to link the systems of payments in their country with the ones in the Kingdom, especially since the number of pilgrims is expected to increase dramatically in the coming years.

“We support creative ideas to provide the best services to the pilgrims,” he said.


Saudi authorities seize large haul of narcotics across the Kingdom

Saudi authorities seize large haul of narcotics across the Kingdom
Amphetamines are largely used by young men and teenaged boys across the Middle East. (AFP)
Updated 06 June 2023

Saudi authorities seize large haul of narcotics across the Kingdom

Saudi authorities seize large haul of narcotics across the Kingdom
  • The busts took place in the Asir region, Jazan, Duba port, Al Haditha and Riyadh

RIYADH: Saudi authorities seized a large haul of narcotics in five locations across the Kingdom on Tuesday. 

The busts took place in the Asir region, Jazan, Duba port, Al Haditha and Riyadh. 

Three attempts to smuggle 651,909 captagon pills were stopped by the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority. 

The drugs were smuggled in during three different attempts in Duba port and Al Haditha. 

Authorities found the pills hidden in a consignment in the first two attempts and hidden in the floor cavities of a truck in the third attempt. The seven involved were arrested. 

The Saudi General Directorate for Narcotics Control arrested three residents of Palestinian and Sudanese nationalities in Riyadh for selling 133,008 tablets of amphetamine and hashish.

The estimated street value of the pills seized in the various smuggling attempts ranged between $7.8 million and $19.5 million, according to research published in the International Addiction Review Journal, based on assumptions that users pay in the range of $10-$25 a pill.

Border guards in the Asir region stopped an attempt to smuggle 100 kg of khat – a leaf that is chewed for its effects.

In another operation at Aldair governorate of Jazan, a security patrol thwarted an attempt to smuggle khat by three Ethiopian nationals. The quantity of the substance was not disclosed.

Saudi Arabia has lately intensified its crackdown on drug smuggling operations.

In May, Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif vowed that the Kingdom will “remain resolute and not leave room for smugglers or dealers to target our youth or tamper with security in any way.”

The Saudi government has urged anyone with information related to suspected smuggling operations or customs violations to call the confidential hotline 1910, the international number 00 966 114208417, or email [email protected]

Tips received by the authority related to smuggling crimes and breaches of common customs law are treated with strict confidentiality. Financial rewards are offered for valid tips.

The Kingdom vs Captagon
Inside Saudi Arabia's war against the drug destroying lives across the Arab world
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Saudi crown prince, Venezuela president discuss relations in Jeddah 

Saudi crown prince, Venezuela president discuss relations in Jeddah 
Updated 06 June 2023

Saudi crown prince, Venezuela president discuss relations in Jeddah 

Saudi crown prince, Venezuela president discuss relations in Jeddah 
  • The meeting also reviewed enhancing cooperation in all fields

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro in Jeddah, the Saudi Press Agency reported early Tuesday.

The meeting reviewed bilateral relations and enhancing cooperation in all fields, in addition to discussing issues of mutual interest.

Senior Saudi and Venezuelan officials attended the meeting.

President Maduro arrived in Jeddah on Monday and was received by deputy governor of Makkah region Prince Badr bin Sultan.

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and his Venezuelan counterpart Yvan Eduardo Gil Pinto also met in Jeddah on Monday.

The diplomats reviewed  ways to enhance and develop bilateral cooperation in various fields.

They also discussed efforts in laying the foundations for international peace and security, and contributing to the achievement of global sustainable development goals.