Saudi stories pique audience interest, says Bloomberg Media MD
Saudi stories pique audience interest, says Bloomberg Media MD/node/2578301/saudi-arabia
Saudi stories pique audience interest, says Bloomberg Media MD
Amit Nayak, managing director of Bloomberg Media Middle East & Africa, pictured at the Athar Festival of Creativity in Riyadh. (AN photo by Loai Elkelawy)
Saudi stories pique audience interest, says Bloomberg Media MD
Visiting the Athar Festival of Creativity in Riyadh, Amit Nayak told Arab News: “We’ve seen a real appetite from our global audiences for content from here”
Updated 07 November 2024
Tamara Aboalsaud Sulafa Alkhunaizi
RIYADH: Stories and articles about Saudi Arabia and the region are among the most widely read by audiences, according to Bloomberg Media’s managing director in the Middle East and Africa.
Visiting the Athar Festival of Creativity in Riyadh, Amit Nayak told Arab News: “We’ve seen a real appetite from our global audiences for content from here.”
He said that with such a large and diverse team based in the Middle East, Bloomberg Media was able to bring local insights and perspectives to provide content based on what audiences wanted.
“We remain focused on deeply understanding our Middle Eastern audience, fostering direct relationships, and delivering trusted news and insights tailored to their needs,” he said.
“We work with leading entities across the region, such as Saudi Tourism Authority and Red Sea Global, using custom content across different platforms to help tell their stories to regional and global audiences.”
The use of smart technology has been big part of Bloomberg’s strategy for over a decade, with The Bulletin being a predominant feature on the app. Launched by Bloomberg’s Media Innovation Lab in 2018, it provides single-sentence summaries of the top three stories.
“We leverage first-party subscriber data through our AI-powered Audience Accelerator platform,” added Nayak. “This allows us to precisely target key demographics to inform machine learning models that predict the population of users on the site, enhancing campaign performance and building brand credibility.”
In 2022, Bloomberg Media Studios opened a regional studio in Dubai and earlier this year launched “Bloomberg Horizons: Middle East & Africa,” a flagship morning program.
Bloomberg News also launched the Mideast Money newsletter, which focuses on “the intersection of wealth and power, and the impact of regional sovereign investors and dealmakers in global finance.”
Evolving as a commercial team that, 10 years ago, predominantly sold advertising, Nayak said that as clients became more sophisticated and keener to reach global audiences, Bloomberg Middle East was fostering internal talent to better collaborate with them.
“We were well placed because we have invested heavily in our teams on the ground here — whether that’s expanding sales, building a client marketing team, or hosting events on the ground in the region,” he said.
Saudi commission showcases Taif rose heritage at UNESCO meeting in Paraguay
Visitors in the Saudi pavilion are discovering a curated selection of traditional rose-based culinary creations
Updated 4 sec ago
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Culinary Arts Commission has unveiled a pavilion celebrating the newly recognized Taif rose at the 19th UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Committee meeting in Asuncion, Paraguay, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
According to the SPA, visitors in the Saudi pavilion are discovering a curated selection of traditional rose-based culinary creations.
The exhibition features specialty beverages including rose-infused tea and lattes, alongside traditional sweets such as rose-flavored Saqudanah, all representing elements of Saudi national identity and contributing to global cultural diversity.
The commission’s presence at the forum highlights the importance of preserving the Kingdom’s natural resources while promoting sustainable environmental practices in the cultivation of Taif roses.
By marketing local Saudi products internationally, the commission is highlighting the Kingdom’s position as a source of premium agricultural products and stimulating investment in the national agricultural sector, the SPA reported.
Tourism Development Fund celebrates Saudi handicrafts
Fifteen Saudi startups were selected for the Tourism Growth Accelerator for Handicrafts and Souvenirs program
Updated 18 min 51 sec ago
Sulafa Alkhunaizi
RIYADH: The Tourism Development Fund recently celebrated the achievements of 15 Saudi startups in the Tourism Growth Accelerator for Handicrafts and Souvenirs program, in partnership with AlMashtal Creative Incubator in Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter.
Over 560 entrepreneurs and creators applied to the program, with 40 participants advancing to the final challenge phase and 15 projects being completed.
The program provided a competitive training framework involving a range of creative activities that aided local innovators in presenting their ideas with the aim of delivering them in high-quality formats that could find a place in the global market.
Additionally, the fund organized a specialized workshop in collaboration with the Al-Mushtal Creative Incubator focusing on intellectual property protection.
During the event, Qusai AI-Fakhri, CEO of the Tourism Development Fund, expressed his pride in the participants.
“We are proud of what the participants have accomplished through the Tourism Growth Accelerator for Handicrafts and Souvenirs program. The creative entrepreneurs have demonstrated their ability to transform ideas into products that tell inspiring stories,” said Al-Fakhri.
Princess Nourah bint Saud bin Nayef Al Saud, founder and CEO of the Al-Mushtal Creative Incubator, highlighted the importance of collaborating with Saudi brands, as it “contributes to supporting small and medium enterprises in the tourism sector, enabling them to be ambassadors of contemporary Saudi identity through their products,” she said.
Kholoud Attar, CEO of DRB Saudiverse and Souvenirs, one of the event’s spotlighted Saudi brands, presented products inspired by the Arabic love story “Majnun Layla,” in which lovers Qays and Layla, although born into the same tribe, are unable to be together.
“Today in the accelerator, we are doing a product concept called ‘Diar Layla,’ which is inspired by … Saudi culture. We were surprised to find that the poet Qays is from an area in Saudi Arabia called Alflag (a village near Riyadh), which a lot of people, including us Saudis, don’t know,” she said.
In the classic story, Qays becomes obsessed with Layla, and his tribe gives him the nickname “Majnun Layla,” a term that is still used to this day to describe someone who is madly in love.
The souvenirs are a necklace in the shape of a lock and a brooch that serves as a key with a design inspired by the iconic Najdi doors, known for their geometric patterns and colors.
“We created the lock to be the necklace, and the keyhole is the brooch for the men to wear, so it’s a two-in-one gift. She gets to keep the necklace, and he gets to keep the lock,” Attar said.
Attar said that the accelerator provided her with an educational experience that was curated for each brand and individual.
“I have been in several accelerators before, but what was really special about this was that … it was customized to each person … I learned how to create a product, design it, and (pitch) it to the market successfully.”
Royal Commission for AlUla partners with French School of Culinary Arts
Ferrandi Paris Campus AlUla to provide high-quality programs to equip Saudis with skills to enter expanding jobs market
Inaugural intake of 100 students will enroll in culinary arts, hospitality, tourism courses that follow the Ferrandi Paris syllabus
Updated 06 December 2024
Arab News
ALULA: A pioneering new vocational training college will provide the AlUla community with the skills they need to forge new careers in Saudi Arabia’s rapidly developing jobs ecosystem.
Announced during the 8th Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh, the upcoming Ferrandi Paris Campus AlUla is the result of an expansive, multi-year partnership between the Royal Commission for AlUla and the historic French School of Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management, Ferrandi Paris.
The college will provide extensive training in exciting fields to serve AlUla’s growth as a global destination for tourism, investment, and discovery.
The college is set to welcome its first intake of 100 students in 2025, according to a statement by the RCU.
The Ferrandi Paris Campus AlUla will offer diplomas in culinary arts, hospitality and tourism — specialist subjects that will cater to RCU’s comprehensive regeneration goals and equip residents with key skills.
Programs include a preparatory year, followed by two years focused on specialization.
This initiative reflects RCU’s broader commitment to investing in education at all levels, upskilling Saudi men and women in sectors including tourism, film, archaeology, and hospitality.
Culinary arts students can expect to learn the traditions, processes, and techniques of preparing and serving classic French cuisine and pastry.
Hospitality and tourism classes will cover the full range of roles and services required to meet the needs of growing numbers of visitors to AlUla and destinations around Saudi Arabia.
Ferrandi Paris Campus AlUla is aligned with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 and RCU’s successful community upskilling projects such as the Hammayah Program, which has engaged thousands of people from AlUla in cultural, heritage, and tourism initiatives.
Meanwhile, initiatives like the AlUla Scholarship Programme continue to enroll Saudi students at leading international universities.
Establishing the new Ferrandi Paris Campus AlUla supports the deep-rooted relationship between Saudi and French entities, supported by the mission to drive the development of AlUla as an international hub for knowledge exchange.
Ferrandi Paris boasts more than a century of experience providing the highest levels of training to hospitality professionals, which means the new Ferrandi Paris Campus AlUla will be a dynamic addition to AlUla’s education ecosystem and RCU’s network of global partners.
Saudi Arabia, France civil aviation authorities discuss boosting air connectivity
Riyadh and Paris aim to increase the number of flights connecting them
Updated 06 December 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Arabian and French civil aviation authorities signed a record of discussions to boost air transport connectivity between the two countries on Thursday.
Bader Al-Sagri, the director of the international cooperation department at the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation, and Emmanuel Vivet, the deputy director of air services at the French Civil Aviation Authority, signed the document in Paris.
The document aims to strengthen the partnership between Riyadh and Paris in civil aviation, increase the number of flights, and grow air transport between the two countries.
The cooperation will further enhance Saudi Arabia’s position as a global logistics center for civil aviation and air transport services, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The Kingdom’s Vision 2030 aims to position the country as a hub for aviation connectivity to 250 international destinations, serving an expected 330 million passengers annually by 2030.
This week, during French President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to Saudi Arabia, Riyadh and Paris have inked numerous pacts across diverse sectors.
On Wednesday, the Kingdom’s national carrier, Saudia signed a strategic partnership with Air France-KLM to collaborate in aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul services.
How Saudi Arabia is leveraging artificial intelligence to tackle land degradation
Satellite imagery and remote sensing enable AI to detect land degradation early and suggest solutions
The Saudi Green Initiative is using AI to find suitable locations for 10 billion new trees and to rehabilitate land
Updated 06 December 2024
Sulafa Alkhunaizi
RIYADH: As land degradation becomes an increasingly urgent environmental issue for Gulf nations, where arable land and permanent crops make up less than 2 percent of the total area, countries like Saudi Arabia are leveraging artificial intelligence to help forecast trends and guide decisions on land management and conservation.
The UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction defines land degradation as the reduction or loss of land’s biological or economic productivity caused by human-induced activities, including deforestation, overgrazing and unsustainable agricultural practices.
Saudi Arabia’s Climate Envoy and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir believes land degradation is driving the displacement of millions and destabilizing entire regions across the globe.
“When people cannot grow food, they migrate,” he told delegates at the COP16 summit in Riyadh on Tuesday.
“This migration often leads to tension and conflict in the receiving areas, creating a cycle of dislocation and violence. This is an issue that touches every aspect of our lives — food security, national security, migration, air quality and biodiversity,” he said, urging nations to collaborate on finding solutions to reverse environmental degradation.
Samer Al-Chikhani, a partner with the consulting firm Strategy& Middle East, believes the main cause of land degradation in the Gulf region is overgrazing, which has been linked to more than 90 percent of land loss.
“Land degradation affects 20 to 40 percent of land, with the world witnessing the loss of more than 100 million hectares of land each year between 2015 and 2019, roughly twice the size of Saudi Arabia,” he told Arab News.
AI-driven models and digital twins could predict future land degradation trends by analyzing climate data. (UN)
Unregulated access to natural areas was another factor leading to “notable habitat damage,” he said, while “unsustainable agricultural practices contribute to soil degradation by causing salinization, erosion and loss of productivity.”
Meanwhile, urban expansion exacerbated land degradation by encroaching on natural habitats and diminishing the land available for agriculture, Al-Chikhani said.
“It is estimated that urbanization and human activities have led to the modification of 40 percent of the GCC coastline,” he said, adding that similar issues, including deforestation, forest fires, invasive species, drought and other climate impacts, also affected the Levant region and North Africa.
“The loss of healthy ecosystems affects communities that depend on the land for grazing, agriculture and other traditional livelihoods,” he said.
“Grazing is deeply tied to the Bedouin lifestyle, a defining feature of GCC history and culture. Healthy and thriving rangelands support the livestock sector, which contributes significantly to food security and rural economies.”
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Moreover, as land degradation, erosion and salinization increased, land productivity declined, resulting in lower crop yields, Al-Chikhani said.
“For example, studies suggest that salinization has a negative effect on crop yields of up to 38 percent in Saudi Arabia. This impacts key produce such as dates and fodder crops.
“In the long term, land degradation weakens both the environment and the economy, posing a serious challenge to the region’s growth and stability.”
Land plays a crucial role in both adapting to and mitigating climate change, making the fight against land degradation all the more critical.
Al-Chikhani highlighted the emergence of AI as a powerful tool in land conservation and restoration projects worldwide.
In Saudi Arabia, “AI is being used to support the Saudi Green Initiative and identify optimal planting locations,” he said.
The Saudi Data and AI Authority has partnered with several government entities to harness AI solutions in support of the SGI, creating smart solutions for combating climate change. In pursuit of the SGI’s goal to plant 10 billion trees and rehabilitate 40 million hectares of degraded land by 2030, AI is used to analyze regional climate data, soil conditions and water availability to identify optimal planting locations and determine requirements for maximum efficiency.
By using satellite imagery and remote sensing technologies, Al-Chikhani said AI could analyze vast amounts of data to detect land degradation early and identify potential solutions.
AI-driven models and digital twins could predict future land degradation trends by analyzing climate data, rainfall patterns and land-use practices, enabling more informed decisions on land management and conservation, he said.
“Bespoke AI solutions adapted for the specificities of our Middle East environment can go a long way in restoring our degraded lands and reducing the long-term impacts of land degradation.”
DID YOU KNOW?
• About 40 percent of the world’s land is degraded, affecting more than 3.2 billion people.
• By 2050, crop yields in some regions could fall by 50 percent, increasing food prices by 30 percent.
• Investing in land restoration could yield up to $8 in benefits for every dollar spent.
(Source: UN Convention to Combat Desertification)
In the UAE, the Environment Agency of Abu Dhabi recently piloted AI and drone systems to assess soil quality and used AI-powered drone-seeding to help rehabilitate the emirate’s deserts and mangroves.
“AI-driven data analytics can transform decision making by generating precise, actionable insights regarding land management and automatically proposing potential solutions for areas that need interventions,” Al-Chikhani said.
“By consolidating data from satellites, drones, sensors and weather models, AI can help decision makers identify at-risk areas, predict future changes and recommend effective restoration strategies, enabling better resource allocation.”
In fact, the power of AI is being harnessed globally to address environmental issues.
Samer Al Chikhani, Partner at Strategy& Middle East, part of the PwC network. (Supplied)
“MIT’s AI-Screening Reforestation Project uses AI to identify optimal restoration sites across the globe, based on factors such as current soil health, restoration potential and carbon capture potential,” Al-Chikhani said.
“In the Great Green Wall initiative in Africa, AI is being utilized to optimize tree planting locations and monitor soil restoration — in arid regions similar to the Middle East.
“AI tools are also being leveraged in Canada and Spain to predict and detect wildfires, hence supporting in combating deforestation.
“AI can also optimize agricultural water use by analyzing soil moisture, crop health and climate data, potentially reducing water consumption by 30 percent or more compared to traditional practices,” he said.
“In a region where agriculture accounts for 70-80 percent of total water use, this can significantly help reduce water waste and prevent groundwater depletion.”
The Gulf region, in particular, is in need of innovative, low-cost and water-efficient techniques for land restoration.
“This will be key for the successful delivery of large-scale greening programs with ambitious targets such as the Saudi and Middle East Green Initiatives,” Al-Chikhani said.
Land plays a crucial role in both adapting to and mitigating climate change, making the fight against land degradation all the more critical. (UN)
“Combining traditional knowledge with AI technologies offers a comprehensive approach to sustainable land management in the region.”
He highlighted the importance of engaging rural communities and the private sector, which should be supported by the development of practical, bankable business models.
“Advanced technologies, such as AI and satellite remote sensing, will accelerate progress, while cost-effective, water-efficient restoration techniques can also address local challenges at scale,” he said.
“It is important to empower ‘land champions’ and for all stakeholders to leverage platforms like the COP16 meeting in Riyadh, which are significant to spotlight the issue.
“Ultimately, sustainable land management will serve as a cornerstone for securing land and water resources, protecting biodiversity, building climate resilience and achieving lasting socioeconomic stability.”
