Saudi-led project clears 484,949 mines, explosive devices in Yemen
Updated 14 sec ago
Arab News
RIYADH: A Saudi-led humanitarian initiative in Yemen has seen a milestone 484,949 land mines and unexploded ordnance cleared since the start of the project in 2018, according to a recent report.
These include 323,793 items of unexploded ordnance, 146,207 anti-tank mines, 8,200 improvised explosive devices, and 6,749 anti-personnel mines, according to Ousama Al-Gosaibi, the project’s managing director.
Project Masam, overseen by the Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief, continues to remove deadly devices laid in the war-torn country by the Houthis.
Last week, the project’s special teams destroyed 515 items of unexploded ordnance, 25 anti-tank mines, five anti-personnel mines, and three improvised explosive devices.
Explosives planted indiscriminately by the Houthis across Yemen pose a threat to civilians, including children, women, and the elderly.
Project Masam is one of several initiatives undertaken by Saudi Arabia on the orders of King Salman to help the Yemeni people, clearing routes for humanitarian aid to reach the country’s citizens.
Demining operations took place in Marib, Aden, Jouf, Shabwa, Taiz, Hodeidah, Lahij, Sanaa, Al-Bayda, Al-Dhale, and Saada.
The initiative trains local demining engineers and provides them with modern equipment. It also offers support to Yemenis injured by the devices.
About 5 million people have been forced to flee their homes since the start of the conflict in Yemen, many of them displaced by the presence of land mines.
Masam teams are tasked with clearing villages, roads, and schools to facilitate the safe movement of civilians and the delivery of humanitarian aid.
New bus routes launched to serve Diplomatic Quarter
New bus routes will run from the King Saud University Station to the Diplomatic Quarter daily
Updated 5 sec ago
Arab News
RIYADH: The public bus network in Riyadh has been extended to serve the city’s Diplomatic Quarter, which houses many of the foreign embassies in the capital.
New bus routes will run from the King Saud University Station to the Diplomatic Quarter daily starting from 6:30 a.m. and ending at midnight.
The full schedule can be found on the Darb application for public transport.
The new routes come as the Royal Commission for Riyadh City continues its efforts to expand the public transport network in the city.
As well as the high-profile launch of the Riyadh Metro in December 2024, which now has six lines covering an area of more than 176 km, the commission is also working to expand the bus network.
There are now more than 2,860 bus stops and stations in the city, covering a total length of 1,905 km with a daily capacity of 500,000.
Saudi Arabia now 66 percent self-sufficient in grape production: MEWA
National production in 2023 exceeded 122,000 tonnes
7.13 million grapes planted in over 4,720 hectares of land
Updated 16 March 2025
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's grape production surpassed 122,000 tonnes in 2023, reflecting the growth of the local agricultural sector and its ability to meet a big portion of market demands, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported Saturday.
The figure accounts for 66 percent of current market demand in the Kingdom, said the report, citing a statement by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, or MEWA.
MEWA said more than 7.13 million grape plants, with more than 6.1 million bearing fruit.
Grape farming is considered profitable because of the ease of cultivation in various soils with minimal water requirements and the plant’s adaptabilty to various climates in the Kingdom. (SPA)
In a separate report last year, the ministry reported a grape production area of 4,720 hectares across the Kingdom.
The same report highlighted Tabuk as the top grape-producing region, yielding 46,939 tonnes annually, adding that Qassim, Hail, and Asir also contributed significantly to the national production.
Grape farming is considered profitable because of the ease of cultivation in various soils with minimal water requirements. The plant could easily adapt to various climates in Saudi Arabia.
To encourage farmers to plant grapes, the ministry has assured its continuing efforts to support and empower them by providing modern technologies, such as smart irrigation systems and organic farming.
The ministry also aims to encourage increased local fruit consumption, saying that grapes are packed with nutrients, and have health benefits.
The harvest season for grapes is from June to September, the ministry said.
Sustainable Ihram initiative launched by Culture Ministry
Tonnes have been recycled, says Fashion Commission CEO
Updated 15 March 2025
Nada Hameed
JEDDAH: With the arrival of Ramadan and many Muslims from around the world performing Umrah, a compulsory garment for male worshippers is the ihram, a simple, white garment symbolizing purity, unity and devotion.
The ihram is a critical part of the Umrah and Hajj experience, consisting of two pieces of unstitched cloth.
The Ministry of Culture’s Fashion Commission recently introduced its Sustainable Ihram initiative, which focuses on recycling and repurposing used ihrams.
The ihram is a critical part of the Umrah and Hajj experience, consisting of two pieces of unstitched cloth. (Anadolu via Getty Images/SPA)
The project aims to not only honor sacred Islamic traditions but also contribute to the protection of the planet by embracing eco-friendly solutions.
Previously used garments are transformed into new, sustainable ihrams through a circular, textile recycling system.
The initiative is a collaboration with the Saudi Investment Recycling Co. and the eco-fashion firm Tadweem.
HIGHLIGHTS
• Tadweem is a Saudi eco-friendly company focused on improving sustainability in the fashion industry through initiatives such as textile recycling.
• Saudi Arabia’s Fashion Commission and Tadweem installed 336 collection bins in Mina to gather several tonnes of ihrams, and worked with partners to transform them into new fabric.
It aims to promote sustainable practices, raise consumer awareness about fashion recycling, and support the development of a circular textile economy in Saudi Arabia.
The project aims to not only honor sacred Islamic traditions but also contribute to the protection of the planet by embracing eco-friendly solutions. (SPA)
Recognizing that millions of ihrams are manufactured and discarded annually, the commission identified an opportunity to reduce the large volume of textile waste.
Burak Cakmak, CEO of the Saudi Fashion Commission, told Arab News: “Ihram is not the first thing that comes to mind when you think of fashion, but at the same time, it’s a product that is sold and used in volumes, repeated every year, especially during Hajj.”
He continued: “We wanted to create the first circular product in the country, and what better way to start than with ihram, a textile deeply linked to Saudi Arabia’s religious and cultural heritage.”
The ihram is a critical part of the Umrah and Hajj experience, consisting of two pieces of unstitched cloth. (Anadolu via Getty Images/SPA)
“To make this possible, we installed 336 collection bins in Mina, gathered several tonnes of ihrams, and worked with partners to transform them into new fabric, creating a fully circular process,” Cakmak explained.
The collected garments underwent a meticulous recycling process: sorting, cleaning, shredding, and reweaving into fresh ihrams, which “pilgrims can use with a deeper sense of purpose.”
“There is no better way to do this than for your religious pilgrimage, where you want to focus on spirituality, the core values of purity, and ensure that the product you wear represents how pure your thoughts are as you go through that journey,” Cakmak said.
We wanted to create the first circular product in the country, and what better way to start than with ihram, a textile deeply linked to Saudi Arabia’s religious and cultural heritage.
Burak Cakmak, Fashion Commission CEO
Mustafa Bukhari, the CEO of Tadweem, told Arab News about their production process. “Currently, manufacturing is done outside Saudi Arabia, but our plans include moving the manufacturing operations inside the Kingdom.”
Tadweem is a Saudi Arabia eco-friendly company focused on improving sustainability in the fashion industry through initiatives such as textile recycling.
For this project, the ihrams were converted into raw materials in Dubai, sent to Turkiye for manufacturing, and then returned to the Kingdom.
Burak Cakmak, Fashion Commission CEO
“We have ensured that the entire product is made from recycled materials, including the packaging and bags used, with no environmentally harmful materials,” Bukhari said.
He added: “The main material is recycled cotton, which we used in the ihrams and even in the packaging, where we also made the packaging bags from recycled cotton, ensuring the environmental sustainability of the entire product.”
At the Jeddah Hajj and Umrah conference held in January this year, Tadweem showcased how the fabric from recycled ihrams was incorporated into high-quality leather bags.
Priced at SR98 ($25.98), the ihrams are currently available in Madinah, with the distribution to be expanded to Makkah, major airports, and other regions in the future.
They will also be available via a dedicated store for sustainable ihrams in the Kingdom, and at the Islamic Arts Biennale in Jeddah, which runs until May 25.
Cakmak said: “The hope is that we are highlighting the importance of sustainability not just through art and creativity, but through everyday products that people can adopt.
“This is about offering a conscious choice, aligning the spiritual journey with sustainability.”
Spirituality meets sustainability at Indian Consulate iftar in Jeddah
The Indian ambassador, Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan, spoke about the significance of Ramadan, highlighting its values of reflection, compassion and service
Updated 15 March 2025
Arab News
JEDDAH: Warmth and unity reigned supreme at an iftar organized by the Consulate General of India in Jeddah to celebrate Ramadan.
The event featured organic flavors to highlight the theme of sustainability and brought together a distinguished group of guests including representatives of the Saudi government, diplomatic community, Indian diaspora, and leaders from sectors such as business, media and culture.
Consul General Fahad Ahmed Khan Suri reflected on 'Organic Iftar,' the theme of the evening. (Supplied)
The Indian ambassador, Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan, spoke about the significance of Ramadan, highlighting its values of reflection, compassion and service. He emphasized the strong ties between his country and the Kingdom, particularly in areas like trade, cultural exchange and sustainable development.
FASTFACTS
• The Indian ambassador, Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan, spoke about the significance of Ramadan, highlighting its values of reflection, compassion and service.
• Consul General Fahad Ahmed Khan Suri discussed the consulate’s focus on sustainability and the growing importance of organic farming in India and beyond.
Consul General Fahad Ahmed Khan Suri reflected on “Organic Iftar,” the theme of the evening, and discussed the consulate’s focus on sustainability and the growing importance of organic farming in India and beyond.
Indian Consulate’s iftar in Jeddah featured the theme of sustainability and emphasized the strong ties between Saudi Arabia and India. (Supplied)
The iftar featured a variety of dishes representing the rich flavors of India, made using organic ingredients to reflect not only a commitment to health and wellness but also to protect the environment for future generations.
These were supplied by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, Government of India, with additional support from local partners like LuLu Group and Siafa Dates.
Al-Azm Mosque in AlUla latest to undergo restoration in crown prince project
The mosque, which dates back more than 14 centuries to the era of the Prophet Muhammad, holds significant historical and religious importance
Updated 15 March 2025
Arab News
RIYADH: The second phase of the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Project for the Development of Historic Mosques has expanded to include the restoration of Al-Azm Mosque in AlUla, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.
The mosque, which dates back more than 14 centuries to the era of the Prophet Muhammad, holds significant historical and religious importance.
It is believed that the Prophet Muhammad marked his direction of prayer at the site using bones while en route to the Battle of Tabuk in the ninth year of the Hijra, SPA added.
The renovation will be carried out in the traditional architectural style of Madinah, and will ensure the mosque can accommodate up to 580 worshippers.
The project will use natural materials, including clay, stone, and wood sourced from local trees. Historically built with stone and plastered interior walls, the mosque has undergone multiple architectural changes over the centuries.
A key feature of the restoration will be the use of cut stones of varying sizes, bonded with clay mortar, and palm tree components for roofing, providing both structural support and insulation, SPA reported.
The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Project for the Development of Historic Mosques seeks to strike a balance between traditional craftsmanship and modern construction standards, ensuring the preservation of historic mosque elements while integrating sustainable development practices.
The restoration efforts are being carried out by Saudi firms specializing in heritage architecture.
Al-Azm Mosque’s updates come as part of a broader initiative, which in its second phase includes the rehabilitation of 30 mosques across all 13 regions of Saudi Arabia.
This phase follows the successful completion of the first phase, which restored 30 mosques across 10 regions.
