Saudi entrepreneur converts farm into a tourism attraction in Al-Baha

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia condemned on Thursday a deadly shooting at a school in Orebro, Sweden, that left several people dead.

At least 11 people died and many people were wounded in an attack at the Risbergska adult education center in Orebro, central Sweden, on Tuesday.

A Saudi Foreign Ministry statement expressed the Kingdom’s rejection and denunciation of all forms of violence.

It also expressed Saudi Arabia’s solidarity and sincere condolences to the families of the victims.

RIYADH: Quality of life, the economy and culture in Madinah are improving under Vision 2030, according to the Madinah Region Development Authority.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday, officials from the authority said they are aiming to highlight regional achievements and the transformation taking place there.

Ihab Salem, chief strategy officer at Madinah Region Development Authority, said: “With the support of the emir of the region, we will achieve (Vision 2030 goals) through all relevant sectors of work in the region.

“This also helps in achieving developmental mobility, economic growth, and increasing investment opportunities and local content in the Madinah region, thus opening many opportunities for male and female entrepreneurs in various sectors.”

Economically, local gross domestic product reached SR118 billion ($31 billion) in 2023, with SR53 billion in foreign investment, while the second quarter of 2024 saw a decrease in unemployment.

Tourism is the rise, with 18 million visitors to the region in 2024. Visitors stayed an average of 10 days in 2023. The region was ranked 88 globally on Euromonitor International’s 2024 index of the world’s top 100 city destinations, ranked seven globally on the Tourism Performance Index, and 3,200 locations are registered in the National Urban Heritage Register.

It was recently announced that foreigners can now invest in Saudi-listed companies owning real estate in Makkah and Madinah, following a landmark decision by the Saudi Capital Market Authority.

Al-Madinah Smart City has also gained a number of achievements, including an advancement in 11 ranks in the International Institute for Management Development Smart City Index, ranking 74th globally after ranking 85th in 2023, alongside a number of other milestones.

Other notable initiatives implemented in collaboration with the Vision Realization Program include the King Salman Project to expand Quba Mosque, which aims to expand the area tenfold and develop 57 historical sites to reach a capacity of 66,000 worshipers; and the Dar Al-Hijra project in Madinah, which aims to retrace the steps of the Prophet Muhammad’s journey.

Madinah is considered one of the most accessible regions in the Kingdom through land, sea and air. Its three airports transported 10 million passengers in 2024, across more than 72,000 flights operated by 77 airlines to 36 local and international destinations.

Public buses in Madinah now have 123 stations, and the Haramain High Speed Railway Depot has transported 9 million passengers, according to the authority.

Salem added that a number of projects can be attributed to private investors and entities like Maqsad Quba, Jabal Ayr and As Safiyyah Museum & Park.

The authority is highlighting Madinah’s economic diversification through the agriculture and mining industries, its global connectivity through tourism and cultural heritage offerings, and the vision achieved by its residents in the health, education private and nonprofit sectors.

Officials said that 58 initiatives have been launched under the Pilgrim Experience Program, 104 under the Quality of Life Program and 30 under the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program.