Earth Day in AlUla to connect nature, community at Arch Rock

The Earth Day experience in AlUla is designed to deepen connections with nature and will be held at Arch Rock on Tuesday. (Supplied)
The Earth Day experience in AlUla is designed to deepen connections with nature and will be held at Arch Rock on Tuesday. (Supplied)
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Updated 21 April 2025
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Earth Day in AlUla to connect nature, community at Arch Rock

Earth Day in AlUla to connect nature, community at Arch Rock
  • Bilal Fahad: “Arch Rock was chosen because it’s a significant landmark in AlUla, and its setting perfectly aligns with the Earth Day theme and the nature of the experience”

JEDDAH: In the heart of AlUla, a Saudi community platform, Motnfs, is hosting an Earth Day event on April 22 at the iconic Rainbow Rock, also known as Arch Rock.

The 2025 theme, “Our Power, Our Planet,” highlights the vital role of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind in creating a cleaner, greener future.

The experience in AlUla is designed to deepen connections with nature, foster social bonds, and promote environmental awareness in a fun and engaging setting.

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The 2025 Earth Day theme, ‘Our Power, Our Planet,’ highlights the vital role of renewable energy sources in creating a cleaner, greener future.

Bilal Fahad, founder and experience designer at Motnfs, said: “We decided to align the initiative with the Earth Day 2025 theme through an experience that practically incentivizes teamwork despite the diversity of the participants in a way that raises environmental awareness, creating an environment that encourages the adoption of sustainable eco-friendly habits that reflect our common strength to protect the planet and reflect on this year’s Earth Day theme.”

Rainbow Rock earns its name from its distinctive shape. It resembles an arch or rainbow flanked by two cloud-like formations. The site’s surreal beauty, paired with AlUla’s minimal light pollution, makes it a prime destination for camping and stargazing under crystal-clear skies.

“Arch Rock was chosen because it’s a significant landmark in AlUla, and its setting perfectly aligns with the Earth Day theme and the nature of the experience,” Fahad added.

Earth Day, marked globally on April 22 since 1970, unites more than 1 billion people across 193 countries to advance environmental protection. Initiatives like tree planting and sustainability workshops highlight collective efforts to combat climate change, preserve biodiversity and reduce waste.

The core of the Earth Day event in AlUla is a community clean-up designed to raise awareness about environmental care and promote a shared sense of responsibility for preserving natural spaces.

“Success is measured by the area cleaned and the level of participant engagement during the activity,” said Salman Al-Kanani, co-founder and social media manager at Motnfs.

Motnfs encourages environmental consciousness not only during Earth Day, but also throughout its activities.

“We design experiences in an innovative way that instills a sense of environmental responsibility in participants. This is what characterizes our experiences — redefining people’s connection with nature and bringing themselves away from the pressures of modern life,” said Batool Al-Humaidi, co-founder and public relations lead.

The Earth Day event includes a treasure hunt, blending fun with environmental education.

“The experience is centered around a treasure hunt, where the real treasure is the earth we live on and the participants themselves — highlighting that with the right practices, they are true treasures of our treasure earth,” added Al-Humaidi.

Another key moment of the day will be stargazing, which Fahad believes is a powerful way to connect with the environment.

“The astronomy guide leads participants through a journey of the night sky, sharing stories and facts that spark awe and awareness. By looking up, we’re reminded of our place in the universe and the importance of protecting our planet, tying back to Earth Day’s message of care and responsibility,” Fahad said.

Motnfs operates in Riyadh, Jeddah and AlUla, with plans to expand to more destinations within and beyond the Kingdom.

 


Saudi researchers develop AI system for camel herders

Saudi researchers develop AI system for camel herders
Updated 55 min 34 sec ago
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Saudi researchers develop AI system for camel herders

Saudi researchers develop AI system for camel herders
  • AI-powered drone system can recognize and track camels from the air 
  • Prof. Basem Shihada and his team at KAUST developed the low-cost system

RIYADH: A research team at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology has created a low-cost, AI-powered drone system that can recognize and track camels from the air.

The system promises an affordable option for camel herders to continue one of Saudi Arabia’s oldest labors and for scientists to learn more about camel migration patterns and habits, according to a KAUST press release.

Created by Professor Basem Shihada and his labmates, the system uses inexpensive commercial drones and cameras to enable camel herders to track their camels in real time without relying on expensive GPS collars or satellite connections.

The team used a single drone-mounted camera to capture aerial footage of small camel herds in Saudi Arabia, then trained their AI model using machine learning. The model revealed new insights into the animals’ behaviors.

“We found their migration patterns were not random but showed identifiable patterns,” said KAUST scientist Chun Pong Lau, who was also involved in the project.

The release added that camels, especially elders, showed coordinated grazing migration, covering long distances throughout the day, but always returned to their herder by sunset. They also showed high sensitivity to the drone’s sound, which is why the KAUST scientists kept the drone at least 120 meters above the ground.

For centuries, camels have been central to Arabian life by providing transport, food and a cultural link to the desert. Today, they contribute more than SR2 billion ($534 million) annually to the Saudi economy through industries such as food, textiles and tourism.

However, herding remains a challenge, with camels roaming up to 50 km a day across isolated terrain. This mobility often leads to road accidents, overgrazing and loss of livestock.

As a next step, Shihada and his colleagues plan to collect video of larger camel herds of more heterogeneous sizes and colors to train their AI system for higher performance.