Deal includes equestrian club, polo grounds, luxury resorts
Jerry Inzerillo: Wadi Safar will be one of the most beautiful residential developments in the world
Updated 24 July 2024
Lama Alhamawi
RIYADH: Diriyah Co. has signed a $2 billion contract with Urbacon Saudi Co. and Al-Bawani Group to develop the Wadi Safar project, including the Royal Diriyah Equestrian and Polo Club and several luxury hotels.
“Today is a very big day,” Diriyah Co. Group CEO Jerry Inzerillo told Arab News. “It is unusual for development companies worldwide to sign $2 billion contracts, but this is a giant construction package for our Wadi Safar, which will be one of the most beautiful residential developments in the world,” he said.
The MoU was signed on Wednesday at the DGDA headquarters in Riyadh by Inzerillo, Urbacon Trading & Contracting President Ramez Al-Khayyat, and Al-Bawani Group CEO Fakher Al Shawaf.
“Wadi Safar will be home to the Royal Diriyah Equestrian and Polo Club, a Greg Norman-designed 27-hole golf course, and 10 spectacular resorts,” Inzerillo said. “Four of these resorts are included in this package: Aman, which will be one of the most beautiful Amans in the world, Oberoi, a spectacular hotel operator from India, Faena from Argentina and Miami, and Chedi from the Far East. These four resorts are beautiful.”
The CEO said that Wadi Safar “will be one of the greatest luxury residential high-end developments in the world, with a $2 billion package.”
Inzerillo said that last week they signed another $2 billion package for their multi-use northern district, which will include King Salman Library, King Salman University, and Diriyah Square.
“And before December, we will be issuing additional contracts with big numbers close to this as well,” he said.
“This indicates that Diriyah is moving full speed ahead to realize Vision 2030. Diriyah will be finished in time for Expo 2030 Riyadh, which will be the greatest expo in the world.”
Located west of Diriyah, Wadi Safar aims to be a residential cultural hub offering the world’s finest experiences in polo, luxury hotels, and golf courses.
Mohamed Saad, president of Diriyah Co., highlighted the significance of the new partnership: “This is the main construction of many assets in Wadi Safar, including the Royal Diriyah Equestrian and Polo Club, which will be the largest equestrian polo club in the region. This will also include a range of hotels: Amaala Resort, Six Senses, and Chedi.
“Everything we do has to go back to the roots and culture of Diriyah. We are designing all of our buildings and assets to present and celebrate the legacy, culture and heritage of Diriyah,” he said.
Saad highlighted that assets would open gradually each year, and by 2030, all of Diriyah’s assets would be operational.
“We have already delivered the golf course at Wadi Safar and will soon invite people to play on it,” he said.
He said that the Wadi Safar hotels would gradually begin opening in 2026.
President Trump welcomes Saudi ambassador to White House iftar
President Trump tells iftar guests that people around the world want peace
Updated 1 min 37 sec ago
Arab News
RIYADH: The Saudi Arabian ambassador to the US, Princess Reema Bandar Al-Saud, received a personal welcome from President Trump at the White House iftar on Thursday.
During his opening speech, the American president said: “Every day we are keeping our promises to the Muslim community. My administration is engaged in relentless diplomacy to forge a lasting peace in the Middle East, building on the historic Abraham Accords which everyone said would be impossible … We’re all looking for peace for the entire world.”
He added: “As we approach the end of (the) Islamic holy month of Ramadan, we’re also deeply honored to be joined by many of the international friends and partners including the Ambassador from Saudi Arabia to the United States, a very, very special woman, Princess Rema — princess, thank you, thank you, princess.”
The princess was among several ambassadors from Arab countries, including the UAE, Egypt and Jordan.
Later, posting on X, the princess thanked Trump and said: “Honored to attend the iftar dinner hosted by @POTUS. Grateful for his kind invitation and thoughtful gesture toward the Muslim community. It’s a testament to the spirit of friendship and cooperation that brings our nations together.”
Honored to attend the Iftar dinner hosted by @POTUS. Grateful for his kind invitation and thoughtful gesture toward the Muslim community. It’s a testament to the spirit of friendship and cooperation that brings our nations together. pic.twitter.com/aNTawbeMQu
Saudi minister awards ICDO medal to acting representative of the National Guard
Updated 28 March 2025
Arab News
RIYADH: Prince Abdullah bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, minister of the Saudi Arabian National Guard, awarded acting representative of the National Guard, Maj. Gen. Saleh bin Abdulrahman Al-Harbi with the Knight Medal of the International Civil Defence Organization.
The Knight Medal is a prestigious honor awarded by the ICDO in recognition of exceptional service to the organization and outstanding contributions to advancing civil defence efforts on a global scale.
Pilgrims discover Makkah’s cultural treasures during Ramadan
Every place carries a story and significant Islamic memory, says tour guide
Updated 28 March 2025
Tareq Al-Thaqafi
MAKKAH: Pilgrims in the holy city of Makkah are making the most of their stay by exploring its wealth of historical and cultural sites.
The daylight hours of Ramadan are an ideal opportunity for tourists to enjoy sightseeing tours that enrich both their spiritual journey and knowledge.
Makkah has seen steady traffic to archeological sites, with guided tour buses providing organized visits to key historical locations. These excursions enhance cultural awareness about significant places and give visitors an opportunity to engage with the city’s legacy.
Dr. Fawaz Al-Dahas, an expert Makkah historian, highlighted the importance of enriching pilgrims’ experiences by directing them along established routes, helping them discover the pivotal chapters of the city’s history.
Specialized tourism programs allow visitors to maximize their stay while strengthening their connection to the heritage of the two holy cities.
Al-Dahas emphasized the importance of preserving Makkah’s historical value through visits to archeological sites and first-hand exploration of treasures and museums that highlight its cultural significance.
This helped people truly understand the city, which he described as a “global heritage mine” with outstanding landmarks that make it one of the most important destinations for Muslims around the world.
Makkah also features natural sites of religious and historical importance, such as Jabal Al-Noor (Mountain of Light), the Cave of Hira and the developing Hira Cultural Club, and Mount Thawr,
He added that its unique geography radiated spirituality throughout its mountains and valleys, while traditional markets that served as trade hubs between Syria and Yemen and ancient Islamic fortresses told the story of a glorious past.
Tour guide Mahdi Nafaa Al-Qurashi explained how Makkah has witnessed defining moments in Islamic history, from Prophet Ibrahim’s call through to the life of Prophet Mohammed and his companions.
He said every location in Makkah carried a story and significant Islamic memory, as the routes leading to the holy city and surrounding the Holy Kaaba were rich with landmarks tied to pivotal events.
Mohamed Salama, an Egyptian pilgrim, said visits to the holy sites had been simplified by the available facilities and electronic visas. He appreciated how everyone worked to ensure pilgrims’ comfort and ensure their experience was as good as it could be.
Despite dealing with millions of visitors, he described the organization as “exceptional, creating a wonderful blend between spiritual worship and exploration of Makkah’s historical richness.”
Rabab Hussein, an Iraqi making her first visit from Manchester, in the UK, described the harmony between historical and spiritual depth as unique to Makkah and Madinah.
“The place has its own majesty and ancient historical extension, with its mountains and stones guiding you to historical stories of prophets and messengers,” she said.
The place made a special impression on first-time pilgrims, she added, and visiting Makkah went beyond performing rituals — it was a chance to gain insights into its history.
How researchers in Saudi Arabia leveraged AI in the fight against plastic pollution
Researchers at King Saud University used artificial intelligence to design peptides that bind to plastic particles
Microplastics can persist in the environment for centuries, posing risks to ecosystems and human health
Updated 28 March 2025
Waad Hussain
RIYADH: In a groundbreaking scientific effort, researchers have leveraged artificial intelligence to unlock a powerful new tool in the fight against microplastic pollution — microscopic protein fragments known as peptides.
These AI-engineered peptides can bind to plastic particles, making it possible to remove microplastics from water more efficiently.
A large accumulation of plastic waste floating in the ocean. Researchers are now turning to AI-designed biodegradable peptides to tackle microplastic buildup in marine environments. (Getty Images)
Microplastics — tiny plastic fragments smaller than five millimeters — are now alarmingly widespread in oceans, rivers, soil, and even human bodies. These particles persist in the environment for centuries, threatening ecosystems and public health.
Traditional cleanup methods have struggled to address this growing crisis. Now, a team of scientists from Saudi Arabia, the US and beyond has unveiled a revolutionary solution: biodegradable peptides that latch onto microplastic particles with impressive precision.
Discovered using advanced deep learning models, these peptides could mark a turning point in the global fight against plastic pollution.
“We combined advanced biophysical simulations, which show how short proteins behave on plastic surfaces, with deep learning or AI to spot hidden patterns in those simulations,” Abdulelah Al-Shehri, assistant professor of chemical engineering at King Saud University and the study’s co-author, told Arab News.
“This allowed us to pinpoint specific peptides that latch onto microplastics up to 34 percent more effectively than older methods.”
Unlike conventional filtration methods, these AI-guided peptides offer a scalable, biodegradable alternative that could transform microplastic remediation.
This photo taken on October 14, 2021 shows researchers taking samples collected by a funnel-shaped net nicknamed "the sock" during a joint project of the French Tara Ocean Japan. (AFP)
“Essentially, AI guided us to protein sequences that traditional approaches might miss, leading to stronger and more efficient cleanup capabilities,” Al-Shehri added.
While this discovery was initially made in a computational setting, laboratory tests have confirmed the peptides’ real-world potential.
“We recently ran experiments to evaluate how strongly the AI-designed peptides bind to plastic,” Michael Bergman, a PhD candidate at the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at North Carolina State University, told Arab News
“No one has designed plastic-binding peptides before, and we relied solely on computational predictions for peptide design, so we were curious to see how our computational predictions bear out in experiment.
“Excitingly, the AI-designed peptides did very well. The peptides had much higher affinity for plastic compared to random sequences of amino acids and performed as well as our best biophysical designs.
“This work will hopefully be published in the coming months. Having checked this box, the next step is to apply the peptides to remediate microplastic pollution.”
Infographic courtesy of King Saud University website
Bringing these peptides from the lab to real-world applications presents a major challenge: scalability.
“A major obstacle is producing these specialized peptides on a large scale while ensuring they remain stable and effective in different aquatic environments, whether in fresh, salt or even grey water,” Al-Shehri said.
“Beyond manufacturing, there needs to be close collaboration among researchers, policymakers and industry to streamline regulations, secure funding and ensure safe, cost-effective deployment where pollution is most critical.”
Abdulelah Al-Shehri, assistant professor of chemical engineering at KSU. (Supplied)
Bergman agrees, highlighting the vast potential applications of these peptides.
“We see many possible applications, such as detecting (and perhaps quantifying) microplastic pollution in water using a biosensor, removing microplastics either through filtration or by inducing aggregation, and aiding the adhesion of plastic-degrading organisms to microplastics,” he said.
This breakthrough is particularly relevant for Saudi Arabia, which is balancing its ambitious sustainability goals with its role as a global petrochemical leader.
Key milestones in AI-driven environmental cleanup
2022 Initial AI experiments in peptide-based plastic binding begin.
2023 AI-enhanced biophysical modeling predicts plastic-binding peptides with greater precision.
2025 Researchers at King Saud University, North Carolina State, and Cornell publish findings on biodegradable peptides with record-breaking plastic adhesion.
FUTURE AI-driven peptide research expands to augment capture and detection technologies and broader environmental remediation efforts.
Maher Al-Rashed, associate professor in plastics science at King Saud University, sees this dual role as an opportunity rather than a conflict.
“Saudi Arabia’s ongoing transition toward sustainability, particularly through Vision 2030, offers a fertile ground for the integration of AI-driven biodegradable peptides as part of a multifaceted strategy to combat plastic pollution,” he told Arab News.
“A practical application could involve incorporating these peptides into wastewater treatment plants in cities like Riyadh and Jeddah, where microplastic contamination in water sources has been documented.”
He also referenced international benchmarks such as France’s Carbios and Japan’s Ideonella sakaiensis as models for Saudi Arabia to adapt and lead in this space.
“Saudi Arabia could adopt similar AI-engineered enzymatic solutions, particularly in industrial zones like Jubail and Yanbu, where high plastic waste output necessitates sustainable disposal methods,” he said.
While peptides offer a powerful new tool for microplastic cleanup, experts stress that they are not a replacement for reducing plastic waste at its source. “Reducing plastic use is crucial to stem the flow of new pollutants,” said Al-Shehri.
Small fragments of plastic and debris floating in contaminated seawater. Experts warn that microplastics can persist in ecosystems for centuries and pose risks to human health. (Getty Images)
“However, we already have a staggering amount of microplastics in circulation, some of which may persist for centuries. AI-powered strategies like our peptide designs serve as a necessary complement to source reduction, actively targeting and removing existing contaminants while broader efforts to improve recycling continue.”
Al-Rashed agrees but adds that for these peptides to be effective long term, they must be optimized for various types of plastics and environmental conditions.
“One fundamental challenge is ensuring that these peptides exhibit substrate specificity… meaning they must effectively degrade a variety of plastic polymers such as polyethylene, polypropylene and PET without harming natural organic matter,” he said.
He also emphasized the importance of ensuring environmental safety.
Infographic courtesy of King Saud University website
“AI-driven peptides must degrade into environmentally safe byproducts. Research conducted by Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology is exploring how peptide-mediated polymer degradation can be designed for maximum ecological safety.”
Bringing these peptides from theory to widespread use requires clear regulatory frameworks. Al-Rashed stressed the need for biosafety and industrial scalability.
“From a regulatory perspective, Saudi Arabia would need to establish stringent biosafety and environmental risk assessment protocols before approving the environmental release of AI-engineered peptides,” he said, referencing the role of the Saudi National Center for Environmental Compliance.
On an industrial level, he pointed out that cost efficiency and integration with existing waste management systems would be key factors in success.
“Saudi Arabia’s municipal waste collection and processing facilities are currently optimized for mechanical and chemical recycling, meaning that transitioning to bioenzymatic plastic degradation would require significant infrastructure modifications,” he said.
A photo taken on December 8, 2022, in Vaasa, Finland, shows plastic pieces in frozen water. (AFP)
As Saudi Arabia explores this innovation, researchers like Al-Shehri emphasize the importance of framing the message carefully — especially in a country where the plastics industry is economically significant.
“In essence, microplastic research is as critical as the plastics industry itself,” Al-Shehri said. “We must balance the lifesaving benefits of plastic with urgent research to eliminate and remove these tiny particles from our environment.
“Propelled by innovative academic efforts, short peptides now shine as a new technology in the global effort to combat microplastic pollution. Yet forging true progress — and preserving the plastics industry’s long-term viability — demands concerted efforts and research among governments, industries, academic institutions, and communities alike.”
South Korean environmental activists hold placards reading "I will protect the sea from microplastics" during a campaign to mark World Water Day at a park along the Han River in Seoul on March 22, 2022. (AFP)
As researchers worldwide explore how AI can revolutionize science and sustainability, the development of microplastic-binding peptides stands out as a clear example of how data, biology, and innovation intersect.
“There are almost endless possibilities in combining AI with biophysics,” said Bergman. “Of particular relevance to plastic and microplastic pollution is the development of enzymes that break down plastics.
“In recent years, biophysics-guided AI helped optimize an enzyme that rapidly breaks down the plastic PET. Other researchers are looking to optimize similar enzymes for other common plastics like polystyrene and polyethylene.”
From the lab benches of Riyadh to simulation labs in North Carolina, one message rings clear: AI has the potential to reshape how we approach one of the planet’s most pressing environmental challenges — and Saudi Arabia is ready to lead the charge.
Environment ministry intensifies inspection campaigns in Hail
Updated 28 March 2025
SPA
HAIL: The Saudi Ministry of Environment has intensified its field monitoring campaigns in Hail.
These efforts focus on slaughterhouses, as well as meat, vegetable and fruit markets, to ensure compliance with precautionary measures and health regulations. The initiative aims to guarantee the safety of food products in preparation for Eid Al-Fitr.
Fahd bin Muidh Al-Hasani, director general of the ministry’s Hail branch, said that monitoring teams operated around the clock. They followed a field plan that included health, awareness and guidance inspections, with increased field visits to public markets and slaughterhouses during the Eid Al-Fitr holiday, particularly during peak times when consumer demand was high.
He said that the teams were actively engaged in sanitation and disinfection of slaughter areas to ensure a healthy and safe environment, and emphasized that the regulatory teams would impose the strictest penalties on those who violated health and safety protocols.
He urged store owners to adhere to the regulations and guidelines to avoid penalties that would be enforced in accordance with legal procedures.
