Safety first as Saudi firm puts smart tech in the driving seat

The Najm initiative, a collaboration with US-based Cambridge Mobile Telematics and analytics platform AiGenix, will provide an advanced system for measuring driving behavior. (Twittet @najm_ksa)
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The Najm initiative, a collaboration with US-based Cambridge Mobile Telematics and analytics platform AiGenix, will provide an advanced system for measuring driving behavior. (Twittet @najm_ksa)
The Najm initiative, a collaboration with US-based Cambridge Mobile Telematics and analytics platform AiGenix, will provide an advanced system for measuring driving behavior. (Twittet @najm_ksa)
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The Najm initiative, a collaboration with US-based Cambridge Mobile Telematics and analytics platform AiGenix, will provide an advanced system for measuring driving behavior. (Twittet @najm_ksa)
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Updated 08 July 2024
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Safety first as Saudi firm puts smart tech in the driving seat

Safety first as Saudi firm puts smart tech in the driving seat
  • Under an initiative launched in Riyadh on Monday by Saudi Insurance Services Company (Najm), smart devices installed in vehicles will monitor speed, acceleration, braking, turns, and compliance with traffic regulations
  • Initiative to help reduce road accidents and death rates: Najm CEO

RIYADH: Saudi drivers could soon benefit from pioneering AI technology that will measure driver behavior and provide feedback, helping to improve road safety across the Kingdom.

Under an initiative launched in Riyadh on Monday by Saudi Insurance Services Company (Najm), smart devices installed in vehicles will monitor speed, acceleration, braking, turns, and compliance with traffic regulations.

The telematic technology can analyze data, and evaluate drivers’ risk levels compared with accepted standards.

Drivers will earn rewards and discounts on their vehicle insurance based on their driving habits.

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The telematic technology can analyze data, and evaluate drivers’ risk levels compared with accepted standards.

The Najm initiative, a collaboration with US-based Cambridge Mobile Telematics and analytics platform AiGenix, will provide an advanced system for measuring driving behavior.

AiGenix spokesperson Asad Irshad told Arab News that the service will include AI-driven technology that studies driver behavior based on collected data and offers user assistance to improve driving habits.

“It goes not only from how you drive but when you drive, where you drive, what the road conditions are, what the weather conditions are, and whether that can change the risk factors on the road,” Irshad said.

Mohammed Al-Shehri, CEO of Najm, said that the initiative will help reduce road accidents and death rates, and offer protection against road hazards, helping meet the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals.

Najm will also launch a social media awareness program promoting road safety.

“Media is essential in this partnership, especially because the main goal is that we want to raise awareness of road safety in the Kingdom, which began with today’s signing,” Al-Shehri said.

“Through pioneering technology and strategic partnerships with global leaders like CMT and AiGenix, Najm is setting a new standard for road safety in Saudi Arabia. The initiative not only works to improve driving standards, but also creates a qualitative shift in driving behavior and insurance practices, which will enhance safety for all road users, enabling a safer and smarter driving environment across the country.”

William Powers, co-founder and CEO of Cambridge Mobile Telematics, said that the collaboration with Najm is a critical step toward creating safer, smarter roads.

“CMT has rapidly expanded worldwide in the past few years. Today, we power the most sophisticated mobility programs in the world, making roads and drivers safer on five continents, protecting millions of people every day. We are thrilled to partner with Najm on this groundbreaking telematics initiative and to bring safer roads to Saudi Arabia.”

Najm has already partnered with a number of insurance companies to adopt the new telematics system, and encourage customers to use sensors that measure driving behavior and compliance with traffic rules.

 


Saudi Arabia marks 80th anniversary of historic King Abdulaziz–Roosevelt meeting with special exhibition

Saudi Arabia marks 80th anniversary of historic King Abdulaziz–Roosevelt meeting with special exhibition
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Saudi Arabia marks 80th anniversary of historic King Abdulaziz–Roosevelt meeting with special exhibition

Saudi Arabia marks 80th anniversary of historic King Abdulaziz–Roosevelt meeting with special exhibition
  • Historic encounter took place on Feb. 14, 1945 aboard USS Quincy in Bitter Lakes of the Suez Canal
  • Laid foundation for long-standing strategic partnership between Saudi Arabia and US

RIYADH: A special exhibition commemorating the 80th anniversary of the landmark meeting between King Abdulaziz and US President Franklin D. Roosevelt has opened in Riyadh, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday.

The historic encounter, which took place on Feb. 14, 1945 aboard the USS Quincy in the Bitter Lakes of the Suez Canal, laid the foundation for the long-standing strategic partnership between Saudi Arabia and the US.

The exhibition was inaugurated by the King Abdulaziz Foundation, in collaboration with the US Embassy in Riyadh.

The event, hosted at the stone building of the King Abdulaziz Historical Center in Riyadh, will be open to visitors until Feb. 17.

It features a collection of rare documents and archival photographs that detail the meeting’s significance — not merely as a diplomatic exchange but as a turning point in international relations.

The event marked the beginning of formal diplomatic ties between the two nations, leading to the establishment of embassies, diplomatic representation and a bilateral relationship grounded in shared interests.

Over the past eight decades, Saudi-US relations have expanded across various sectors, including politics, economics, culture and technology. This enduring partnership has played a crucial role in regional and global stability.

Through this exhibition, the King Abdulaziz Foundation aims to educate new generations about the impact of the meeting.

Visitors will have the opportunity to engage with an immersive display that explores the diplomatic, political and cultural dimensions of the meeting and how the alliance forged that day continues to shape global affairs and remains a cornerstone of strategic cooperation between the two nations.


Next Hamza Arabic language test to take place on Sunday

Next Hamza Arabic language test to take place on Sunday
Updated 36 min 51 sec ago
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Next Hamza Arabic language test to take place on Sunday

Next Hamza Arabic language test to take place on Sunday
  • It will be administered by the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language, or KSGAAL

RIYADH: The second Saudi Arabian Arabic language proficiency test for non-native speakers — Hamza — will be held on Sunday.

It will be administered by the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language, or KSGAAL, in collaboration with a number of Saudi universities in-person.

The inaugural Hamza test in September was intended as a step toward creating a standardized Arabic proficiency test.

Building on this, the second event is set to broaden its reach both locally and internationally, offering in-person and remote testing in collaboration with the Education and Training Evaluation Commission, or Qiyas.

Dr. Abdullah Al-Washmi, secretary-general of KSGAAL, spoke about how the Hamza test serves as a benchmark assessment accredited by the academy.

“The test evaluates four key language skills — listening comprehension, reading comprehension, writing and speaking — over 155 minutes, comprising 75 questions. Designed to meet the highest international standards, it aligns with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages,” Al-Washmi said.

The test fulfilled the requirements of certain employers that mandate language proficiency assessments for job applicants, he said.

Through the “Hamza” test, KSGAAL aims to strengthen the academic prominence of the Arabic language regionally and globally.

By offering a precise and reliable assessment of linguistic competence, the test enables educational institutions to effectively evaluate Arabic learners and non-native Arabic instructors, ensuring accurate placement and skill development.

The test has now been administered in person to more than 2,000 candidates across Saudi Arabia and multiple other countries, encompassing more than 60 nationalities.

As part of its commitment to advancing the Arabic language, KSGAAL continues to refine and expand the test, leveraging educational and technological resources to enhance accessibility for non-native speakers both within the Kingdom and beyond.

Mansoor Almalki, director of Linguistic Testing at KSGAAL, told Arab News that collaborating with 19 Saudi universities to administer the Hamza test marked a significant step in expanding its adoption and solidifying its status as a trusted benchmark for Arabic language proficiency in academic institutions.

“This partnership ensures the test meets the evolving needs of educational institutions while reinforcing its role as a standardized assessment tool for non-native Arabic speakers,” he said.

“The integration between higher education institutions and KSGAAL, as the primary authority for Arabic language learning, teaching and assessment in the Kingdom, plays a crucial role in developing Arabic language curricula based on rigorous scientific standards.”

Almalki said that partnering with universities expanded the research database on Arabic as a second language assessment, paving the way for more effective educational strategies.

On international expansion, he revealed a strategic plan to strengthen partnerships with global universities and educational institutions, particularly in countries witnessing a growing interest in learning Arabic.

These efforts aimed to enhance the test’s international recognition and ensure its broader adoption worldwide.

“The standardized assessment model plays a crucial role in advancing research on Arabic language education. Test results provide analytical data that drive the development of more effective teaching methods,” Almalki said.

He said that the diverse nationalities of test-takers served as a strong indicator of the global success of Hamza as an international test.

“Such diversity underscores the trust that learners and academic institutions place in KSGAAL, as well as the test’s reliability as a precise standardized measure of linguistic competence,” Almalki said.


Saudi Arabia praises US-Russia call, welcomes possible summit in Kingdom

Ukrainian President Zelensky, US President Trump and Russian President Putin. (AFP/AP)
Ukrainian President Zelensky, US President Trump and Russian President Putin. (AFP/AP)
Updated 14 February 2025
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Saudi Arabia praises US-Russia call, welcomes possible summit in Kingdom

Ukrainian President Zelensky, US President Trump and Russian President Putin. (AFP/AP)
  • Foreign ministry statement reaffirmed Kingdom’s commitment to mediating resolution to war in Ukraine

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Friday welcomed a recent phone call between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, as well as the possibility of hosting a summit between the two leaders in the Kingdom, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia commends the phone call that took place between His Excellency President Donald J. Trump, President of the United States of America, and His Excellency President Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, on February 12, 2025,” the statement read.

It further expressed Saudi Arabia’s readiness to host any potential summit and reaffirmed its commitment to mediating a resolution to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has reiterated the Kingdom’s support for mediation since the beginning of the war, and during separate calls with both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on March 3, 2022.

“The Kingdom affirms its continued efforts to achieve lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine,” the statement added, underscoring Riyadh’s ongoing diplomatic initiatives over the past three years.


Riyadh Metro records more than 18 million passengers in just over two months

Riyadh Metro records more than 18 million passengers in just over two months
Updated 14 February 2025
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Riyadh Metro records more than 18 million passengers in just over two months

Riyadh Metro records more than 18 million passengers in just over two months

RIYADH: More than 18 million passengers have used the Riyadh Metro since its launch on Dec. 1, 2024, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday.

The metro has now completed more than 162,000 trips across its six-line network, covering about 4.5 million km.

The Royal Commission for Riyadh City revealed that the Blue Line running north-south parallel to Olaya street has been the most popular, serving nearly 10 million passengers in only two months.

This line runs through some of Riyadh’s most commercially active and densely populated areas, making it popular with commuters.

The King Abdullah Financial District station recorded the highest number of users, exceeding three million passengers.

The Riyadh Metro was designed to address the capital’s rapid expansion and increasing traffic congestion.

The system spans 176 km and is equipped with driverless trains, air-conditioned cabins, designated seating for different passenger groups and state-of-the-art automation.

The metro is integrated with the Riyadh Bus network, forming a comprehensive public transport system that can be accessed with wireless card payments or tickets that can be purchased at stations or through the Darb application.

The Riyadh Metro is a key component of the broader King Abdulaziz Project for Riyadh Public Transport and plays a crucial role in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

The system is designed to have a maximum capacity of 3.6 million passengers a day.

As well as the north-south Blue Line, the system has an Orange Line that stretches for 41 km, connecting Jeddah Road in the west to the Second Eastern Ring Road in the east, running parallel to Khashm Al-Aan in the east.

The Red Line runs 25.1 km east to west along King Abdullah Road, connecting King Fahd Sports City, King Saud University and the Riyadh International Convention & Exhibition Center.

The 13.3 km Green Line runs from King Abdullah Road near the Ministry of Education to the National Museum, serving the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Finance, and Ministry of Commerce.

The Violet Line runs between Abdurrahman bin Awf Road and Sheikh Hassan bin Hussain bin Ali Road, at a length of 29.7 km, and the Yellow Line connects the KAFD Station with King Khalid International Airport Road.

The project aims to reduce congestion, lower carbon emissions and promote environment-friendly transportation.

With 85 stations spread strategically across the city, the metro contributes significantly to Riyadh’s urban landscape.

Some stations stand out as architectural landmarks, including the King Abdullah Financial District Metro Station, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, and STC Station, designed by Germany’s Gerber Architekten.

The rapid success of the Riyadh Metro, as reported by SPA, highlights a fundamental shift in how residents and visitors move around the city.


BLVD Runway: Soaring to new heights with activities inside retired Boeing 777s

BLVD Runway: Soaring to new heights with activities inside retired Boeing 777s
Updated 14 February 2025
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BLVD Runway: Soaring to new heights with activities inside retired Boeing 777s

BLVD Runway: Soaring to new heights with activities inside retired Boeing 777s
  • Aircraft were repurposed as a restaurant, haunted house and trampoline area
  • Planes were dismantled and transported from Jeddah before joining Riyadh Season

RIYADH: 

Visitors are flocking to a unique Riyadh Season dining experience that hosts a variety of activities inside three retired Boeing 777 aircraft.

BLVD Runway is inviting people to dine inside the repurposed planes that were set up after being transported from Jeddah to Riyadh in a highly publicized road journey in September last year.

Before the aircraft were transported, they were dismantled by Saudia, the Kingdom’s flag carrier. It was the first time that the process had been completed outside a Boeing facility.

Saudia completed the operation in just 45 days, well ahead of an expected 60-day timeline.

The three aircraft were redesigned for multiple purposes: One as a restaurant, another as a haunted house and the third as a trampoline area for children.

To access the attraction, visitors only need to pay for parking, with free entry for all passengers.

Inside the aircraft, guests can experience a unique dining adventure featuring authentic Saudi cuisine at the restaurant “Am Hussain” (Uncle Hussain).

The dining space immerses guests in a dining experience that highlights the richness and diversity of Saudi culinary traditions.

The restaurant’s owner, Hussain Ashmawi, expressed deep appreciation for the vision of General Entertainment Authority Chairman Turki Alalshikh, who conceptualized the idea.

Ashmawi told Arab News: “This wonderful and modern idea showcases our heritage through the diverse foods of Saudi Arabia and the Middle East.

“Our offerings garner admiration from both local and international visitors, many of whom are experiencing Saudi dishes for the first time.”

He added: “The food we present on the plane has won the admiration and appreciation of many visitors.

“It allows them to connect with the flavors of our land in a way that is both memorable and enjoyable.”

Ashmawi warmly welcomed visitors to enjoy authentic Saudi flavors, naming his restaurant a must-visit spot for anyone attending Riyadh Season.

The menu features a variety of traditional dishes, showcasing the culinary talents of local chefs.

The restaurant’s decor features traditional Najd-style Sadu red prints and seating inspired by Hijazi designs, creating an inviting environment that celebrates regional aesthetics.

“I was honored to represent Saudi cuisine, and the reactions from our guests are truly priceless,” Ashmawi said.

Visitors can also dine at another restaurant, 10/10 Burger, located in the control tower.

The establishment offers a more contemporary dining experience, catering to a different audience.

Turki Alalshikh announced that Riyadh Season 2024 had surpassed 19 million visitors to date. The remarkable turnout highlights the widespread appeal of the event.

The annual medley of events launched in October and recently introduced new offerings, including world-class boxing and wrestling matches, international concerts, unique dining options and public gardens.

Pleasant weather in Riyadh and a mid-semester school break have drawn families to Riyadh Season activities, particularly the “Dunes of Arabia” area, which has attracted camping and winter enthusiasts.