Crown prince: World is facing mounting challenges in water sector

Update The crown prince also confirmed that Saudi Arabia is preparing to host the World Water Forum 2027, in cooperation with the World Water Council. (SPA)
The crown prince also confirmed that Saudi Arabia is preparing to host the World Water Forum 2027, in cooperation with the World Water Council. (SPA)
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Updated 04 December 2024
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Crown prince: World is facing mounting challenges in water sector

Crown prince: World is facing mounting challenges in water sector
  • Kingdom ‘has contributed $6bn in supporting 200 water-related projects in over 60 developing countries’
  • Prince Mohammed also confirmed Saudi Arabia preparing to host World Water Forum 2027

RIYADH: The world is facing mounting challenges in the water sector, including rising drought rates that lead to multiple crises represented by a shortage of usable water, the exacerbation of desertification, and the subsequent threat to human life and societies, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said on Tuesday.

He was speaking while inaugurating the One Water Summit in Riyadh in the presence of several presidents and top officials, including French President Emmanuel Macron.

Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and several ministers and officials were also present.

The crown prince said the summit was being held in conjunction with the Kingdom hosting the 16th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, which aims to reduce land degradation and drought.

He said that the Kingdom had contributed $6 billion in supporting 200 water-related projects in more than 60 developing countries around the world.

The summit is being jointly chaired by Saudi Arabia, France and Kazakhstan, and supported by the World Bank.

It underscores Saudi Arabia’s pioneering international role in confronting water challenges across the world and its commitment to sustainable environmental issues.

The crown prince also confirmed that Saudi Arabia is preparing to host the World Water Forum 2027, in cooperation with the World Water Council.

According to the Saudi Press Agency, he called on UN member states and international private sector organizations to join the World Water Organization that the Kingdom will establish to develop and integrate efforts to address water challenges.

The crown prince expressed his hope that the efforts of the international community to address water challenges will contribute to achieving the goals to which all aspire.

The Saudi-French Investment Forum in Riyadh, also on Tuesday, marked an important milestone in bilateral relations, with the signing of multiple memorandums of understanding and investment agreements worth billions of dollars.

Held to coincide with the state visit of President Macron, the event brought together officials, policymakers, and business leaders from both nations, aiming to align their national visions for a prosperous future.

Saudi Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih welcomed French stakeholders in his opening remarks, emphasizing the strong ties between the two countries.

He praised Macron as a “good friend of the Kingdom, leading a strong delegation.” 

Al-Falih highlighted the enduring economic partnership, the breadth of sectors covered, and the presence of French companies in Saudi Arabia.

“Every time there is an event involving Saudi Arabia and France, there is a special magic and attraction,” he said, noting France’s early support for Riyadh’s bid to host Expo 2030.

Macron highlighted in his remarks opportunities for collaboration in clean energy, mobility, technology, culture, and artificial intelligence, noting the synergy between Saudi Vision 2030 and France 2030.

He said: “For all the French business people and investors, I want to encourage them to invest more in this country because investing here is investing in the cornerstone of the whole region.”

Tuesday’s forum hosted six panels, featured 50 keynote speakers, and facilitated hundreds of bilateral meetings.

Marc Ferracci, French minister delegate for industry, underscored the forum’s importance in strengthening ties amid Saudi Arabia’s unprecedented transformation. “The Kingdom is undergoing one of the biggest transformations in recent history,” Ferracci said.

Detailed coverage Page 3 Spotlight


Thai Embassy joins Riyadh greening initiative

Thai Embassy joins Riyadh greening initiative
Updated 4 sec ago
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Thai Embassy joins Riyadh greening initiative

Thai Embassy joins Riyadh greening initiative

RIYADH: The Royal Thai Embassy recently took part in a volunteer initiative at Aba Samri National Park in the Murat governorate of Riyadh region, in collaboration with the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification.

Part of the National Greening Season, the activity aims to enhance vegetation, curb land degradation, and plant native and adaptive species, supporting the Saudi Green Initiative, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The embassy’s involvement promotes vegetation restoration and aligns with the center’s call for broader environmental engagement from all sectors. The scheme improves air quality, reduces dust storms and restores ecosystems, the SPA added.

The National Greening Season, a core element of the broader program, fosters public-private partnerships, volunteerism, and awareness about afforestation and combating desertification.

The center leads efforts to protect and restore vegetation sites across Saudi Arabia, addressing challenges such as wildfires, illegal logging and unregulated grazing to safeguard natural ecosystems.


Hayy Matsuri celebrates Japanese, Saudi cultural traditions

Hayy Matsuri celebrates Japanese, Saudi cultural traditions
Updated 33 min 14 sec ago
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Hayy Matsuri celebrates Japanese, Saudi cultural traditions

Hayy Matsuri celebrates Japanese, Saudi cultural traditions
  • Three-day festival features performances by Japanese and Saudi artists alongside a host of cultural-inspired activities 
  • Event coincides with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Kingdom

JEDDAH: Art Jameel, in collaboration with the Consulate General of Japan in Jeddah and Abdul Latif Jameel Motors, has launched the second edition of Hayy Matsuri, a cultural festival celebrating the fusion of Japanese and Saudi traditions, arts, and innovation. 

The festival runs until Jan.11 at Hayy Jameel, and marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Saudi Arabia.

This year’s event features exclusive performances by Japanese music project Electronicos Fantasticos! and sound artist Daisuke Tanabe, both making their Saudi debut. 

Their groundbreaking work, which transforms everyday objects and repurposed electronics into musical instruments, will be showcased in collaboration with Saudi artists such as DesertFish, Akram Ali, and Abstract Crew. Together, they explore memories of the past, present, and future through immersive audiovisual performances.

The festival has already garnered immense public interest, with more than 3,000 visitors attending on its opening day.

The festival runs until Jan.11 at Hayy Jameel, and marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Saudi Arabia. (Arab News)

Antonia Carver, director of Art Jameel, highlighted the festival’s importance in fostering cultural exchange.  “Through the Jameel family’s great history of philanthropy and long-standing relationship with Japan through ALJ Motors and Toyota, we have a special cultural connection here to explore through Hayy Matsuri. 

“This year marks 70 years of Toyota in Saudi Arabia and 70 years of diplomatic relations between Japan and Saudi Arabia, making it a particularly significant year for us. 

“The enthusiasm for Japanese culture in Saudi Arabia is immense, as demonstrated by the overwhelming response we received during our open call for the Hayy Matsuri market and the crowds here tonight — the creativity and passion for Japan that exists here is truly remarkable. 

“This year’s highlight is a set of performances and workshops by Electronicos Fantasticos!, a groundbreaking band that transforms old technology into instruments. Their fusion performance with Saudi musicians is a perfect example of the cross-cultural exchange we aim to foster at Art Jameel, showcasing how music, cinema and the arts can unite and communicate across cultures in an exciting and compelling way.”

Daisuke Yamamoto, consul general of Japan in Jeddah, expressed his enthusiasm for the event and its role in strengthening Saudi-Japanese ties. “Hayy Matsuri, held in wonderful cooperation with Hayy Jameel for the second consecutive year, strengthens the bonds of friendship and cultural exchange between Japan and Saudi Arabia. 

“This festival showcases various forms of Japanese culture, introducing them to Saudi society, and we are excited to have welcomed over 5,000 visitors last year, with hopes of seeing even more this year. 

The festival runs until Jan.11 at Hayy Jameel, and marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Saudi Arabia. (Arab News)

“As Saudi Arabia embraces cultural openness through its Saudi Vision 2030, Japan is proud to partner with the Kingdom in achieving these cultural goals, and Hayy Matsuri plays a vital role in this mission. 

“This year, as Japan and Saudi Arabia celebrate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations, we are reminded of the importance of cultural exchange, as demonstrated by the recent signing of an MoU between Saudi Arabia’s minister of culture and Japan’s minister of education, culture, sports, science, and technology.”

The festival offers an array of workshops, performances, and activities that reflect Japanese and Saudi cultural practices. Visitors can enjoy a traditional tea ceremony, Ikebana flower arrangements, Japanese calligraphy, and origami. 

Interactive sessions such as manga drawing, fan art illustration, a board games zone, printmaking activations and cosplay competitions provide creative outlets for all ages.

An open cultural market, supported by Monochrome Community, brings together over 30 vendors, celebrating a fusion of local and Japanese creativity. 

The market features brands and artisans, such as Taiyo Matcha, The Boba Bar, and Onigiri Bites, offering visitors a range of authentic and innovative cultural experiences. 

Founders of Taiyo Matcha, Anas Jeelani and Ai Nakamura, launched their products at the festival, aiming to elevate matcha standards in Saudi Arabia. 

“We noticed that the matcha sold in the Saudi market is not as authentic as we are used to in Japan. We thought if we could bring authentic matcha from Japan and sell it at competitive prices, it would raise the standard for matcha in Saudi Arabia,” Jeelani said.

Workshops such as “Manga Drawing: The Hero’s Story” by Mohamed Almadan immerse participants in Japanese art techniques.

Almadan said: “In this workshop, we focused on creating a space-themed story where everyone had the chance to both write and draw their own manga. 

“My goal is to guide participants in building their unique stories and characters while making the process approachable and fun.”

Alliance Française Saudi Arabia, in collaboration with Hayy Cinema, presents Rendez-vous with French Cinema as part of the Hayy Matsuri 2025 festival. 

Larry Lamartiniere, managing director of Alliance Française, expressed his excitement about the collaboration, saying: “As the newest resident of Hayy Jameel, we are thrilled to partner on Hayy Matsuri 2025 to highlight the strong cultural ties between France and Japan.”

“Our collaboration features two key components: the screening of ‘The Truth,’ a French-Japanese film directed by Hirokazu Kore-Eda, and a workshop dedicated to exploring the influence of Japanese culture on French traditions. 

“France, now the second-largest market for Japanese animation and manga, has embraced various aspects of Japanese culture, from martial arts like judo to the growing popularity of sushi. 

“Through this partnership, we aim to showcase the cultural synergy between the two nations and emphasize France’s role as a global cultural powerhouse. 

“We hope to introduce audiences to the French perspective, encourage them to learn French, and offer them a deeper understanding of the fascinating world of manga, anime, and Japanese pop culture. 

“The workshop will provide a unique opportunity to explore these cultural connections, and attendees can also dive into our newly available French manga collection at the Alliance Francaise library.”


Saudi fund supports Tunisia with hospital projects

Saudi fund supports Tunisia with hospital projects
Updated 39 min 57 sec ago
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Saudi fund supports Tunisia with hospital projects

Saudi fund supports Tunisia with hospital projects

RIYADH: The Saudi Fund for Development recently signed agreements to strengthen Tunisia’s healthcare sector by completing hospitals in Sbiba, Kasserine governorate, and El Jem, Mahdia governorate.

Funded through a soft loan, this initiative highlights Saudi Arabia’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties and supporting development in Tunisia, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The signing ceremony, held at the Tunisian Ministry of Health in Tunis, was attended by Tunisian Minister of Health Mustapha Ferjani, Saudi Ambassador to Tunisia Abdulaziz Al-Saqr, and the fund’s director general for Arab countries operations, Bandar Al-Obaid.

Ferjani expressed gratitude to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their continued support of Tunisia, emphasizing that this project reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to the Tunisian healthcare sector.

Al-Saqr reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s dedication to advancing joint development projects in Tunisia, financed through various Saudi entities, and stressed the fund’s commitment to completing all its initiatives in the country.

The Saudi Fund for Development so far has financed 32 development projects and programs in Tunisia through soft loans exceeding $1.23 billion, along with four grants worth over $105 million to support key sectors, SPA reported.


Kingdom arrests 19,418 illegals in one week

Kingdom arrests 19,418 illegals in one week
Updated 56 min 51 sec ago
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Kingdom arrests 19,418 illegals in one week

Kingdom arrests 19,418 illegals in one week

RIYADH: Saudi authorities arrested 19,418 people in one week for breaching residency, work and border security regulations, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.

According to an official report, a total of 11,787 people were arrested for violations of residency laws, while 4,380 were held over illegal border crossing attempts, and a further 3,251 for labor-related issues.

The report showed that among the 1,221 people arrested for trying to enter the Kingdom illegally, 56 percent were Ethiopian, 42 percent Yemeni, and 2 percent were of other nationalities.

A further 136 people were caught trying to cross into neighboring countries, and 19 were held for involvement in transporting and harboring violators, SPA reported.

The Ministry of Interior said that anyone found to be facilitating illegal entry to the Kingdom, including providing transportation and shelter, could face imprisonment for a maximum of 15 years, a fine of up to SR1 million ($260,000), as well as confiscation of vehicles and property.

Suspected violations can be reported on the toll-free number 911 in the Makkah and Riyadh regions, and 999 or 996 in other regions of the Kingdom.


Ninth Saudi relief plane for Syria lands in Damascus

Ninth Saudi relief plane for Syria lands in Damascus
Updated 11 January 2025
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Ninth Saudi relief plane for Syria lands in Damascus

Ninth Saudi relief plane for Syria lands in Damascus

RIYADH: The ninth relief plane from Saudi Arabi landed on Saturday at Damascus International Airport, state news agency SPA has reported.

The aircraft, operated by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), was loaded with essentials supplies including food, shelter and medical supplies for the Syrian people to help them cope with the difficult conditions they are into.

This assistance is an extension of Saudi Arabia’s continuous humanitarian and relief efforts through its humanitarian arm, KSrelief, to support those in need worldwide during crises, SPA reported.