UN competition calls on Saudi startups using AI in travel

UN competition calls on Saudi startups using AI in travel
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The UN World Tourism Organization's regional office for the Middle East in Riyadh. (@AhmedAlkhateeb)
UN competition calls on Saudi startups using AI in travel
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Updated 23 April 2025
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UN competition calls on Saudi startups using AI in travel

UN competition calls on Saudi startups using AI in travel
  • UN tourism competition aims to drive innovation in the travel industry
  • Saudi entrepreneurs urged to join as sector embraces digital transformation

RIYADH: A Riyadh-based UN tourism official has called on companies to take part in a competition spotlighting startups using AI in the tourism sector.

The Global Artificial Intelligence Challenge runs until Friday and aims to recognize companies that are using AI to improve user experience and sustainability.

“The tourism sector is undergoing a rapid transformation, with artificial intelligence at the forefront, reshaping how we travel, experience destinations and operate within the industry,” said Samer Al-Kharashi, director of the UN Tourism Regional Office for the Middle East in Riyadh.

The competition calls on entrepreneurs who are “integrating AI solutions into their tourism businesses.” It aims to “identify and support start-ups driving innovation with AI technologies that enhance experiences and contribute to the sustainable growth of the sector.”

Al-Kharashi said: “This initiative is part of UN Tourism’s broader mission to innovate and lead digital transformation, drive growth through improved operations and impact; collaborate across sectors; and shape the future of a smarter, more resilient tourism sector.”

Startups that reach the final stages will gain access to a global network of mentors and industry leaders. Winners will pitch at the UN Tourism Demo Day and join an acceleration program at SPARK, the innovation hub of Les Roches. Support also includes connections to more than 90 venture capitalists and institutions across 150-plus countries, as well as potential pilot opportunities and additional backing from Plug and Play.

Al-Kharashi noted the importance of engaging entrepreneurs from the Middle East, saying that the regional office was “committed to recognizing and advancing the region’s innovation, fostering cross-border collaboration, and ensuring that local entrepreneurs are actively engaged in shaping the future of global tourism.”

He also pointed to the Kingdom’s strategic positioning. “Saudi Arabia, under its Vision 2030 initiatives, has placed a strong emphasis on adopting digital solutions ... This competition aligns directly with the Kingdom’s broader objectives, offering a platform for the younger generation, particularly AI enthusiasts and start-ups.”

Examples of AI integration in Saudi tourism include NEOM’s use of the Arena OneBrain system, which combines “the Large Human Behavior Model” and a real-time adaptation engine to create hyper-personalized travel experiences. “These innovations ... exemplify Saudi Arabia’s commitment to driving digital transformation in the tourism sector,” Al-Kharashi said.

AI is also being applied in environmental maintenance. “Red Sea Global introduced an AI-powered beach-cleaning robot ... capable of detecting and removing debris as small as one cubic centimeter,” Alkharashi said. He added that this shift toward “behind-the-scenes efficiency” reflected broader trends in AI-driven tourism innovation.


Saudi industry minister tours Danish technology, pharmaceutical hubs

Saudi industry minister tours Danish technology, pharmaceutical hubs
Updated 11 May 2025
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Saudi industry minister tours Danish technology, pharmaceutical hubs

Saudi industry minister tours Danish technology, pharmaceutical hubs
  • At Novo Nordisk, Alkhorayef examined cutting-edge insulin and biopharmaceutical production technologies
  • At DTU Science Park, he was briefed on innovative solutions driving industrial growth and sustainability

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s minister of industry and mineral resources toured key Danish industrial and scientific sites as part of his current trip to Denmark, the Saudi Press Agency reported recently.

Minister Bandar Alkhorayef’s visit to the Nordic country is focused on boosting industrial cooperation and exploring joint investment opportunities.

His tour included stops at pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk and the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) Science Park.

At Novo Nordisk, a global leader in diabetes care, Alkhorayef examined cutting-edge insulin and biopharmaceutical production technologies, the report said.

Alkhorayef highlighted the strategic partnership between the company and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), via Lifera, aimed at localizing the production of GLP-1 drugs and insulin within the Kingdom, it added.

Saudi officials have said the partnership is aimed at meeting domestic demand and position Saudi Arabia as a regional hub for pharmaceutical manufacturing and research.

At the DTU Science Park, Denmark’s premier technology and innovation hub, Alkhorayef was briefed on advanced research and development units, key industrial research projects, and innovative solutions driving industrial growth and sustainability.

The Science Park fosters a competitive environment for scientific research, innovation, and modern technology development.

The visits underscore the Kingdom’s dedication to bolstering strategic international partnerships, facilitating the exchange of expertise, and enabling technology and knowledge transfer. Such efforts aim to localize promising industries within Saudi Arabia and realize the Saudi Vision 2030’s goals to diversify the national economy.


Built by hand, rooted in history: National Historical Palace in Taif is one man’s tribute to Saudi heritage and Islamic history

Built by hand, rooted in history: National Historical Palace in Taif is one man’s tribute to Saudi heritage and Islamic history
Updated 11 May 2025
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Built by hand, rooted in history: National Historical Palace in Taif is one man’s tribute to Saudi heritage and Islamic history

Built by hand, rooted in history: National Historical Palace in Taif is one man’s tribute to Saudi heritage and Islamic history
  • Built by Majid Al-Thabiti, the site blends Islamic history with contemporary design, rooted in the symbolism of the number seven
  • Spanning 70,000 sq. meters, the palace features seven museums, seven facades, seven gates and almost 7 million stones cut and laid by the man himself

MAKKAH: In the heart of Wadi Qarn in Taif governorate, one man’s vision has resulted in one of Saudi Arabia’s most striking heritage landmarks: the National Historical Palace for Islamic Civilization.

Built by Majid Al-Thabiti, the site blends Islamic history with contemporary design, rooted in the symbolism of the number seven.

In an interview with Arab News, Al-Thabiti said: “The number symbolizes perfection and completeness in several Qur’anic verses, including the seven heavens, the seven earths and the seven shaded by God in his shadow, among others.”

The palace includes flooring adorned with colored stones and inspired by the historical art of Sadu, an intangible cultural heritage recognized by UNESCO.  (SPA)

The project was born out of Al-Thabiti’s strong will. He believed in his dream and devoted his effort, time and energy to bring it to life.

Spanning 70,000 sq. meters, the palace features seven museums, seven facades, seven gates and almost 7 million stones cut and laid by the man himself.

The museums offer distinct cultural and education experiences. Exhibits cover Islamic architecture, local heritage, plastic arts and sculpture, rare collections, astronomy, military history documenting the unification of the Kingdom and an agricultural museum featuring seeds mentioned in the Holy Qur’an.

The palace includes 600 square meters of flooring adorned with colored stones and inspired by the historical art of Sadu, an intangible cultural heritage recognized by UNESCO.

Al-Thabiti said that he personally cuts, shapes and stacks the stones himself. “The manual labor is what gives the project its true spirit, as every corner bears (my) imprint, effort and dedication,” he added.

He used seven types of stone sourced from across Saudi Arabia, including basalt, quartz and shale. His attention to detail is reflected in features such as hand-shaped facades, floor mosaics inspired by Sadu art and stonework colored in seven hues that mirror the Kingdom’s geological diversity.

Majid Al-Thabiti used seven types of stone sourced from across Saudi Arabia, including basalt, quartz and shale. (SPA)

Highlights at the palace include an Abbasid-style minaret with a water fountain in honor of Zubaida, the wife of Harun Al-Rashid; an observatory used to track the crescent moon; and stone engravings of Saudi megaprojects like NEOM and The Line.

The site also includes engravings on stone of the Kingdom’s military vehicles, such as a fighter jet and ship.

Al-Thabiti also built a 700-meter sports track along the banks of Qarn valley, a stable for purebred Arabian horses, as well as replicas of symbolic gates like Makkah Gate, Taif Gate and King Abdulaziz Islamic Gate, with stones from Mounts Al-Nur, Thawr and Uhud. Other exhibits, like Diriyah and Yawm Badina (The Day We Began), commemorate key moments in Saudi history.

According to Al-Thabiti, his goal is to transform the palace into a cultural and educational destination that celebrates the Kingdom’s history and heritage.

“We possess a great civilizational legacy and a deep-rooted history. It is our duty to present it to the world in the finest way. This palace is the beginning,” he said.
 


Ancient terrace farming technique shapes Asir’s agricultural heritage

Ancient terrace farming technique shapes Asir’s agricultural heritage
Updated 11 May 2025
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Ancient terrace farming technique shapes Asir’s agricultural heritage

Ancient terrace farming technique shapes Asir’s agricultural heritage
  • Together, the thumalah and mughayyid systems stand as a testament to early innovation sustaining life in one of Saudi Arabia’s most challenging landscapes

 

RIYADH: For centuries, the people of Saudi Arabia’s Asir region have cultivated food on steep mountain slopes using stone terracing systems.

They began with the construction of stone retaining walls known locally as “thamayil,” the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Each individual wall, called “thumalah,” is anchored into bedrock and can rise two to six meters in height.

They serve as critical infrastructure for mountain agriculture by creating level growing surfaces on otherwise impossible terrain.

Each individual wall, called “thumalah,” is anchored into bedrock and can rise two to six meters in height. (SPA)

“The thumalah represents a stone containment system designed to capture sloping mountain terrain,” Ahmed Al-Bariqi, an architectural heritage researcher, said in an interview with the SPA. “After building the stone barrier, the enclosed space is filled with a mixture of clay, soil and rocks to create a flat, arable surface suitable for both farming and habitation.”

Local builders adapted to their surroundings, often reinforcing these structures with juniper and sidr tree trunks, as well as massive stones to withstand the pressure of heavy seasonal rains.

Water management is equally sophisticated. The “mughayyid” regulates irrigation and controls flooding by channeling water flow between terraced fields.

The “mughayyid” regulates irrigation and controls flooding by channeling water flow between terraced fields. (SPA)

“Ancient builders displayed remarkable engineering precision in the mughayyid’s construction,” Al-Bariqi has said in his book “Antiquities and Heritage in Bariq Governorate.”

He added: “Square or elongated stones formed the base structure, while carefully polished flat stones were placed at the top, precisely leveled to allow water to flow at calculated rates between terraces.”

Positioned at strategic elevations, the mughayyid retains optimal water volumes while preventing destructive flooding that could compromise the entire terrace system.

Terraces were reinforced by stone retaining walls known locally as “thamayil.” (SPA)

These terraces do more than support agriculture. According to Dr. Ghaithan bin Jurais of King Khalid University, they reflect a deep-rooted civilization in Asir dating back thousands of years.

“These structures preserve soil resources, establish clear property boundaries between neighboring farms, and historically served as recognized markers of family and tribal land ownership,” he said.

Together, the thumalah and mughayyid systems stand as a testament to early innovation sustaining life in one of Saudi Arabia’s most challenging landscapes.
 


Saudi, British foreign ministers discuss regional and international developments

Saudi, British foreign ministers discuss regional and international developments
Updated 10 May 2025
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Saudi, British foreign ministers discuss regional and international developments

Saudi, British foreign ministers discuss regional and international developments
  • Two ministers also discussed Saudi-UK relations

RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on Saturday spoke with his British counterpart David Lammy, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The two ministers discussed Saudi-UK relations, as well as regional and international developments and the efforts being made in this regard, SPA added.

The call came on the same day as Prince Faisal's meeting with Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi in Jeddah.


Saudi minister meets with UNIDO director-general

Saudi minister meets with UNIDO director-general
Updated 11 May 2025
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Saudi minister meets with UNIDO director-general

Saudi minister meets with UNIDO director-general

During his official visit to Denmark this weekend, Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef met with Gerd Muller, the director-general of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization.

The Saudi Press Agency reported that the two men “discussed ways to deepen the strategic partnership between the Kingdom and the organization in a way that supports the goals of sustainable industrial development.”

Alkhorayef also held bilateral meetings with leaders of several leading Danish companies in the industry and mining sectors, according to the SPA, to discuss “joint investment opportunities, as well as the incentives offered by the Kingdom to investors.”