Saudi entities sign housing deal to support vulnerable families

Saudi entities sign housing deal to support vulnerable families
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Sakan Secretary-General Abdulaziz Al-Karidis and Social Development Bank CEO Sultan Al-Humaidi signed the agreement. (SPA)
Saudi entities sign housing deal to support vulnerable families
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Sakan Secretary-General Abdulaziz Al-Karidis and Social Development Bank CEO Sultan Al-Humaidi signed the agreement. (SPA)
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Updated 02 March 2025
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Saudi entities sign housing deal to support vulnerable families

Saudi entities sign housing deal to support vulnerable families
  • This partnership builds on a previous agreement that secured housing for 1,000 families

RIYADH: The National Developmental Housing Foundation, known as Sakan, and the Social Development Bank have partnered to provide 4,000 housing units for eligible families across Saudi Arabia as part of the second phase of the Joud Regions campaign.

The agreement was signed during a ceremony attended by Minister of Municipalities and Housing Majed Al-Hogail, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Ahmed Al-Rajhi, and Deputy Minister of Interior Nasser Al-Dawood.

This partnership builds on a previous agreement that secured housing for 1,000 families. The initiative directly supports Vision 2030’s goal of increasing homeownership rates among citizens, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.

Sakan Secretary-General Abdulaziz Al-Karidis and Social Development Bank CEO Sultan Al-Humaidi signed the agreement.

Al-Humaidi confirmed that the agreement is part of the bank’s efforts to strengthen strategic partnerships that provide sustainable financing solutions.

He noted that cooperation with Sakan through the construction completion program will help eligible families complete their housing units.

The program aims to finance 5,000 beneficiaries nominated by Sakan from social security recipients and similar categories, according to SPA.

Al-Humaidi said: “At the Social Development Bank, we are committed to leveraging our capabilities to support the most vulnerable groups and enable them to access suitable housing.

“We believe housing stability is key to enhancing quality of life and achieving the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 targets of increasing homeownership rates among citizens.”

Al-Karidis explained that the agreement is part of efforts to develop sustainable solutions for eligible families and highlighted the bank’s crucial role in supporting housing empowerment for beneficiaries.

He thanked the attending ministers for their continued support of developmental and housing initiatives, emphasizing that this collaboration reflects the integration of concerned entities to achieve Vision 2030 goals of providing suitable housing and enhancing quality of life.

Meanwhile, the Joud Regions campaign headquarters was inaugurated at Misk City in Riyadh on Saturday under the patronage of Al-Hogail.

During the ceremony, the regional governors announced their participation in the initiative, demonstrating strong support for community programs aimed at enhancing housing stability for citizens.

Al-Hogail expressed his gratitude to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their generous support of the campaign, which included an SR150 million ($40 million) contribution, and for their ongoing interest in supporting developmental housing programs and community initiatives.

He emphasized that the campaign embodies the spirit of social solidarity and strengthens the partnership between the government and the community in achieving the objectives of Vision 2030.

Al-Karidis also praised the vital role of governmental, nonprofit entities, and individuals in supporting housing initiatives that help ensure housing stability for needy families.

The initiative allows both citizens and residents to contribute to housing support for vulnerable families through the Joud Housing platform and application, furthering national efforts to enhance quality of life and promote sustainable development in the housing sector.


Saudi agency KSrelief delivers dates and food globally

Saudi agency KSrelief delivers dates and food globally
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Saudi agency KSrelief delivers dates and food globally

Saudi agency KSrelief delivers dates and food globally

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s aid agency KSrelief has gifted 100 tonnes of dates to several countries around the world as a part of its humanitarian mission.

The agency delivered 25 tonnes of dates each to Mauritius, Tajikistan, Thailand and Guinea, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.

KSrelief also recently provided 770 food parcels to 4,679 people in Libya’s Al-Abyar town, and 536 food parcels to the Al-Azhar Islamic Culture School in Ghana, reaching 3,216 individuals.

The distribution is a part of Saudi Arabia’s projects aimed at providing support to countries in need during Ramadan.


Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve welcomes recruits to fifth ranger corps

Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve welcomes recruits to fifth ranger corps
Updated 03 March 2025
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Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve welcomes recruits to fifth ranger corps

Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve welcomes recruits to fifth ranger corps
  • The recruits, comprising 40 women and 26 men, are from local communities. They will join the existing 180-strong ranger force
  • They will be working alongside the Special Forces for Environmental Security and the Border Guard

RIYADH: The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve has welcomed 40 women and 26 men to its fifth ranger corps.

They were recruited from local communities following their successful graduation from the reserve’s nine-week training program, and will join the existing ranger team of 180 to help in conservation work.

Andrew Zaloumis, the CEO at the reserve, said the rangers were pivotal in helping achieve the body’s mission.

Andrew Zaloumis, CEO of the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve, signs the new rangers’ contracts at the reserve’s head office in the historic Al Wajh Castle. (Supplied)

He said: “These local people, from across the reserve, know its land, its flora and fauna and its communities. They are the natural guardians of the Kingdom’s rich natural and cultural heritage.”

The reserve received 18,000 applications and candidates underwent written and physical tests and multiple interviews to win a coveted place on the ranger training program.

Run by Ali Al-Balawi, the nine-week program provides the skills required to join the ranger corps.

Modules include conservation management, data collection, patrolling, cultural heritage management, tracking, fitness, self-defense, first aid and 4x4 driving.

Rangers at Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve test teamwork skills. (Supplied)

Al-Balawi said: “I take great pride in training rangers from the local community at Prince Mohammed bin Salman Reserve.

“When the protector comes from the same place, there is a profound sense of responsibility towards the nature they know and cherish, making them more capable of protecting and conserving it.

“These rangers are not just trained to perform specific tasks — they are true ambassadors of nature, and I am honored to be part of fostering this spirit that connects people to their land and their role in conserving it for future generations.”

The 66 new recruits will join the 180-strong ranger force, working alongside the Special Forces for Environmental Security and the Border Guard to safeguard the natural and cultural assets of the reserve — both on land and at sea.

Their duties will include ecological monitoring to inform conservation strategies; supporting animal reintroductions; managing wildlife populations; and overseeing development projects to ensure compliance with environmental and social impact assessments.

The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve is home to the Middle East’s first female ranger corps. Of the 246 rangers, 34 percent are women.

Rangers learn to track under the guidance of international experts. (Supplied)

The objectives of the royal reserves are to support the Kingdom’s efforts in sustainability and environmental conservation, contributing to the Saudi Green Initiative’s goal of protecting 30 percent of the Kingdom’s terrestrial and marine areas by 2030.

One of eight royal reserves, the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve stretches from the lava plains of the Harrats to the Red Sea in the west, connecting NEOM, Red Sea Global, and AlUla. It is home to PIF’s Wadi Al-Disah project and Red Sea Global’s destination AMAALA.

The reserve includes 15 distinct ecosystems. At just 1 percent of the Kingdom’s terrestrial area and 1.8 percent of its marine area, it boasts over 50 percent of the Kingdom’s species, making it one of the most biodiverse protected areas in the Middle East.

Map showing the area covered by the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve in Tabuk province. (Google maps)

The reserve is committed to restoring and conserving the natural and cultural environment, including the reintroduction of 23 native species — including the Arabian leopard, cheetah, Arabian oryx and lappet-faced vulture — as part of a wide-ranging rewilding program.

The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve was established by royal decree and is overseen by the Royal Reserves Council, which is chaired by the crown prince.

Its program is integrated with Saudi Arabia’s wider sustainability and conservation schemes, including the Saudi and Middle East Green Initiatives.


A tapestry of traditions: Saudi Arabia’s Farasan Islanders embrace spirit of holy month

Farasan women used to prepare their homes by painting walls to highlight intricate engravings. (SPA)
Farasan women used to prepare their homes by painting walls to highlight intricate engravings. (SPA)
Updated 02 March 2025
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A tapestry of traditions: Saudi Arabia’s Farasan Islanders embrace spirit of holy month

Farasan women used to prepare their homes by painting walls to highlight intricate engravings. (SPA)
  • Blend of faith, maritime charm at Ramadan

RIYADH: Steeped in history, the Farasan Islands have long embraced unique Ramadan traditions, welcoming the holy month with a blend of faith and maritime charm.

Farasan women used to prepare their homes by painting walls to highlight intricate engravings and plasterwork, while laying smooth pebbles on courtyards to add a maritime-inspired touch.

Farasan women used to prepare their homes by painting walls to highlight intricate engravings. (SPA)

Amnah Aqili spoke to the Saudi Press Agency about these preparations, recalling the renewal of wooden bed frames, the polishing of utensils, the preparation of spices, and the weaving of doum palm frond carpets.

Aqili noted that with the arrival of Ramadan, the air would be filled with the scent of mastic from clay water jugs and the sweet aroma of coffee from traditional pots. The exchange of Ramadan dishes among neighbors was another cherished tradition in the community.

FASTFACTS

• The exchange of Ramadan dishes among neighbors is a cherished tradition in the Farasan community.

• The community continues to honor the spirit of Ramadan through acts of worship, compassion, and the exchange of gifts, strengthening both spiritual and social bonds.

Abkar Al-Mashrai’i recalled a time over 70 years ago when the islanders would rely on news from Jazan to begin Ramadan.

Nightly recitations of the Qur’an by the glow of lanterns would echo through the alleys, and the muezzin’s melodic call would announce sahoor. Children and young men filled the evenings with traditional games, Al-Mashrai’i added.

The Farasan community continues to honor the spirit of Ramadan through acts of worship, compassion, and the exchange of gifts, strengthening both spiritual and social bonds.

 


Saudi Arabia condemns Israeli decision to block humanitarian aid to Gaza as ‘blackmail’

Saudi Arabia condemns Israeli decision to block humanitarian aid to Gaza as ‘blackmail’
Updated 02 March 2025
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Saudi Arabia condemns Israeli decision to block humanitarian aid to Gaza as ‘blackmail’

Saudi Arabia condemns Israeli decision to block humanitarian aid to Gaza as ‘blackmail’
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its denunciation of Israel’s move, warning that it constitutes a direct violation of international humanitarian law

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia strongly condemned on Sunday the Israeli government’s decision to halt the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip, calling it an act of “blackmail and collective punishment” that violates international law.

In a statement on Sunday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its denunciation of Israel’s move, warning that it constituted a direct violation of international humanitarian law amid the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

“The Kingdom renews its call on the international community to stop these serious Israeli violations, activate international accountability mechanisms, and ensure sustainable access to aid,” the statement said.

The condemnation comes as Israel blocked the entry of aid trucks into Gaza over the weekend, escalating tensions over a truce that had temporarily halted fighting for the past six weeks.

Hamas has called on Egyptian and Qatari mediators to intervene in the standoff.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced that Israel had adopted a proposal from US envoy Steve Witkoff for a temporary ceasefire during the upcoming Ramadan and Passover periods. If agreed upon, the truce would pause hostilities until the end of Ramadan around March 31 and the Jewish Passover holiday around April 20.


Islamic nations back Riyadh Charter for AI

The charter was approved during the 45th session of the ICESCO Executive Council held in Tunisia. (X @ICESCO_En)
The charter was approved during the 45th session of the ICESCO Executive Council held in Tunisia. (X @ICESCO_En)
Updated 02 March 2025
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Islamic nations back Riyadh Charter for AI

The charter was approved during the 45th session of the ICESCO Executive Council held in Tunisia. (X @ICESCO_En)
  • The charter was approved during the 45th session of the ICESCO Executive Council, held in Tunisia, with all member states in attendance and the Saudi AI authority participating

RIYADH: Fifty-three member states of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, have unanimously approved the Riyadh Charter for Artificial Intelligence in the Islamic World.

The charter was announced during the Global AI Summit, organized by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority in September 2024 in Riyadh, the Saudi Press Agency reported Sunday.

A milestone in the field, it establishes a shared ethical and strategic framework for AI in the Islamic world, the SPA added.

The charter was approved during the 45th session of the ICESCO Executive Council, held in Tunisia, with all member states in attendance and the Saudi AI authority participating.

The session discussed the Riyadh charter as a comprehensive strategic framework for AI development, aligning with Islamic values, promoting sustainable development, and enhancing international cooperation.

Member states affirmed their commitment to strengthening AI governance and supporting its responsible adoption in the Islamic world.

During the session, the organization’s Center of Foresight and Artificial Intelligence director, Kais Hammami, presented the charter, outlining its key pillars and strategic objectives.

He emphasized its significance in guiding AI development to serve the shared interests of Islamic countries.