153,000 Saudis secure private sector jobs in first half of 2024

The Human Resources Development Fund has assisted more than 153,000 Saudis in securing employment in the private sector during the first half of 2024. (Human Resources Development Fund)
The Human Resources Development Fund has assisted more than 153,000 Saudis in securing employment in the private sector during the first half of 2024. (Human Resources Development Fund)
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Updated 06 August 2024
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153,000 Saudis secure private sector jobs in first half of 2024

Human Resources Development Fund.
  • Saudi development fund disburses $1bn for training, employment, support programs

RIYADH: Director General of the Human Resources Development Fund Turki bin Abdullah Al-Jawini said that the fund has assisted more than 153,000 Saudi men and women in securing employment in the private sector during the first half of 2024.

Al-Jawini said that the fund disbursed SR3.79 billion ($1 billion) to private sector establishments for training, employment and empowerment support programs during this period, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

He added that 1.4 million Saudi men and women and some 100,000 establishments operating in vital sectors in the Kingdom benefited from the program.

Al-Jawini emphasized the fund’s commitment to keeping pace with the Kingdom’s development across all fields, addressing the needs of the business sector, and meeting the demand for a skilled national workforce.

The fund, he said, aimed to develop Saudis’ skills, increase their participation in the labor market and encourage the private sector to contribute to localization. It also worked to boost partnerships with entities concerned with training, employing and empowering the national workforce, and increasing their competitiveness and continuity in the labor market.

Al-Jawini said that the fund’s programs and services had helped to increase the benefit of individuals and establishments, and stressed the fund’s continuous efforts to keep pace with labor market changes and requirements.

He said that the fund was also working on developing training, empowerment and guidance support programs targeting national personnel, contributing to achieving the objectives of the Saudi Vision 2030 for human capacity development and labor market strategy.


Saudi crown prince, European council president discuss cooperation

Saudi crown prince, European council president discuss cooperation
Updated 14 sec ago
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Saudi crown prince, European council president discuss cooperation

Saudi crown prince, European council president discuss cooperation

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received a phone call from European Council President Antonio Costa, the Saudi Press Agency said early Thursday.

The pair discussed enhancing cooperation between the Kingdom and European Union countries.

They also tackled a number of regional and international issues and the efforts made to achieve security and stability.


Interpol to establish regional office in Saudi Arabia

Interpol to establish regional office in Saudi Arabia
Updated 48 min 43 sec ago
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Interpol to establish regional office in Saudi Arabia

Interpol to establish regional office in Saudi Arabia
  • The Kingdom and the international police organization sign host country agreement

RIYADH: Interpol is to establish an office in Saudi Arabia that will serve the Middle East and North Africa region.

Hisham Al-Faleh, undersecretary at the Kingdom’s Ministry of Interior, and Jurgen Stock, secretary-general of the international police organization, signed a host country agreement on Wednesday.

Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud, the Saudi Minister of Interior, and Maj. Gen. Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi, the president of Interpol, also attended the signing ceremony, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

In addition, they discussed Interpol’s activities during a meeting that also included Nasser Al-Dawood, the deputy minister of interior; Brig. Gen. Abdulmalik Al-Saqeeh, the director general of Saudi Interpol; and other senior officials.


Saudi Shoura Council speaker receives Japan’s newly appointed envoy

Saudi Shoura Council speaker receives Japan’s newly appointed envoy
Updated 29 January 2025
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Saudi Shoura Council speaker receives Japan’s newly appointed envoy

Saudi Shoura Council speaker receives Japan’s newly appointed envoy

Saudi Shoura Council Speaker Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al-Asheikh received Japan’s newly appointed Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Morino Yasunari in Riyadh on Wednesday.

The Japanese ambassador praised the strong ties between Saudi Arabia and Japan, affirming his country’s commitment to enhancing cooperation across various sectors, Saudi Press Agency reported.

During the meeting, the two sides also discussed ways to bolster parliamentary collaboration between the Shoura Council and the Japanese Parliament, and other topics of mutual interest.


Qassim governor praises green initiative’s success

Qassim governor praises green initiative’s success
Updated 29 January 2025
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Qassim governor praises green initiative’s success

Qassim governor praises green initiative’s success
  • The Green Qassim Land Initiative has completed planting 5 million trees as part of the broader Saudi Green Initiative

RIYADH: Qassim Gov. Prince Faisal bin Mishaal commended the success of the Green Qassim Land Initiative in planting 5 million trees as part of the broader Saudi Green Initiative.

In a meeting on Wednesday, he praised government and private sector efforts, particularly the contributions of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture and the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification.

The governor also lauded the ministry’s and center’s innovative approach to repurposing materials confiscated from environmental regulation violators for sustainable reforestation, notably in Qassim National Park.

Prince Faisal reaffirmed the region’s commitment to expanding vegetation cover and strengthening environmental protection, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The ministry’s Qassim branch director general, Salman Al-Suwainea, said that the initiative has progressed through various stages of collaboration with governmental and nonprofit organizations, playing a key role in advancing the Saudi Green Initiative’s objectives.


King Faisal Prize announces winners for Service to Islam

King Faisal Prize announces winners for Service to Islam
Updated 29 January 2025
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King Faisal Prize announces winners for Service to Islam

King Faisal Prize announces winners for Service to Islam
  • The prize was awarded jointly to the Mushaf Tibyan Project for the Deaf, and Sami Abdullah Almaghlouth, consultant at the General Authority for Survey and Geospatial Information

RIYADH: The 2025 King Faisal Prize for Service to Islam has been awarded jointly to the Mushaf Tibyan Project for the Deaf, and Sami Abdullah Almaghlouth, consultant at the General Authority for Survey and Geospatial Information.

Mushaf Tibyan Project for the Deaf is a Saudi initiative by the Liajlehum Association, which serves people with disabilities.

Prince Turki Al-Faisal announced the laureates for the Service to Islam category at a ceremony in Riyadh on Wednesday.

Mushaf Tibyan Project for the Deaf has been awarded the prize for its provision of a complete Qur’anic interpretation in sign language, and for providing an interactive Qur’an for those with hearing disabilities.

It offers an innovative approach to Qur’anic interpretation, using techniques that enable the deaf to reflect on and understand the meaning of the Holy Qur’an.

Sami Abdullah Almaghlouth has been awarded the prize for his outstanding efforts in documenting Islamic history, his achievements in the field of historical and geographical atlases, and his accomplishments in both the diversity and comprehensiveness of the topics covered, which include most aspects of Islamic history, its figures, monuments and stages.

The Saudi national’s work includes atlases on the life of Prophet Muhammad, the history of the prophets and messengers, the Rashidun caliphs, atlases on religions, places in the Holy Qur’an, Islamic sects and schools of thought, Hadith scholars, and Holy Qur’an interpreters.

His work has been translated into several languages.

Earlier, on Jan. 8, the KFP, awarded in five categories, was announced, except for the Service to Islam prize. Announcing the winners then, Dr. Abdulaziz Alsebail, KFP secretary-general, said: “The selection committees, after meticulous deliberations, have reached decisions for ... Islamic studies, Arabic language and literature, medicine, and science. ”

The coveted prize for Islamic studies for 2025 was awarded jointly to Professor Saad Abdulaziz Alrashid and Professor Said Faiz Alsaid. Both are Saudi nationals and professors at King Saud University.

The prize for Arabic language and literature was withheld due to the nominated works not reaching the set criteria.

The prize for medicine was awarded to Michel Sadelain (Canada), and the prize for science awarded in physics to Sumio Iijima, a professor at Meijo University, Japan. 

The KFP was established in 1977, and given for the first time in 1979 in three categories — Service to Islam, Islamic studies, and Arabic language and literature. Two additional categories were introduced in 1981 — medicine and science. The first medicine prize was awarded in 1982, and in science two years later.

Each prize laureate is endowed with $200,000, a 24-carat gold medal weighing 200 grams, and a certificate inscribed with the laureate’s name and a summary of the work that qualified them for the prize.