RIYADH: Saudi aid agency KSrelief, in cooperation with the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization, launched a project distributing Eid Al-Fitr clothing to 1,000 orphaned children from underprivileged Jordanian and Syrian refugee families in Jordan.
The project aims to improve living standards by providing monthly financial support for essential needs and educational sponsorship, including school supplies, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.
It also organizes recreational activities during festive seasons to help integrate the children into local communities and boost their psychological well-being.
This initiative reflects Saudi Arabia’s humanitarian commitment through KSrelief to support orphans and vulnerable groups worldwide.
Meanwhile, KSrelief distributed 3,398 food baskets and hygiene kits, benefiting 10,194 people in Tell Abyad, Raqqa governorate, Syria.
KSrelief also sent a new shipment of medical supplies to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East to support hospitals and health care centers in Gaza, which are facing critical shortages.
The aid agency distributed 850 food baskets in Hayya village, Red Sea State, Sudan, benefiting 5,688 people.
In Lebanon, more than 800 food baskets were distributed in Sidon and Arsal, benefiting more than 4,000 people.
Azka Farmer’s Market returns with a monthly celebration of Saudi produce
As Saudi Arabia, we can reach ethical foods and self-sufficiency, says initiative founder
Updated 36 sec ago
Afshan Aziz
JEDDAH: Starting this month, the two-day Azka Farmer’s Market will take place every month at Hayy Jameel.
The market is not just a shopping destination for fresh produce, but also a platform for cultivating awareness around healthy food choices, sustainability and Saudi Arabia’s rich agricultural heritage.
Visitors can explore the best of locally grown seasonal fruits, vegetables and grains, as well as bread and other specialty items sourced from farms and producers from across the Kingdom.
At Azka Farmer’s Market visitors can explore locally grown produce and other specialty items sourced from farms and producers from across the Kingdom. (Supplied)
Organized as part of Art Jameel’s community programming under the Hayy Markets initiative, the market creates an ideal atmosphere for families and food lovers. It also features a chef’s corner, Azka’s specialty coffee pop-up, free public programming and engaging activities for children at Hayy Explorers, including drawing stations and reading areas.
Zaki Kamel, Azka Foods founder, told Arab News: “We are trying to reach an ethical food system and self-sufficiency based on the ethics of food production, which I understood from the Qur’an over the last eight years of contemplation.”
He said that organisers were working with more than 74 food vendors from around the Kingdom in categories ranging from honey and dairy to vegetables, fruits and meat.
At Azka Farmer’s Market visitors can explore locally grown produce and other specialty items sourced from farms and producers from across the Kingdom. (Supplied)
“As Saudi Arabia, we can reach ethical foods and self-sufficiency. This monthly farmer’s market at Hayy Jameel is a step toward that. It offers an alternative to the modern supermarket model of sourcing food, where the consumer is directly connected with the producer and farmer,” he said.
“We can hopefully export this philosophy of ethics to the rest of the world.”
Each month, 16 booths from producers and farms across the region will be featured.
At Azka Farmer’s Market visitors can explore locally grown produce and other specialty items sourced from farms and producers from across the Kingdom. (Supplied)
“For the farmers who cannot have a booth, we have the ‘Azka Selection’ section where we take the responsibility of selling their produce for them,” Kamel said.
One of the core elements of the Azka Farmer’s Market is interaction and education. Visitors can meet producers face-to-face, ask questions during Q&A sessions, and attend panel discussions with key figures in the local agricultural community.
On April 11, the first day of the market’s new season, a panel hosted Jassim Almughrabi, the first organic honey producer in Saudi Arabia and owner of Mugribi Apiaries Est.
He shared insights into the differences between organic and conventional beekeeping, drawing from his expertise as a former honeybee specialist at the Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture.
“We discussed which honey is better organic or regular — and explored the lives of bees that stay in one place all year versus those moved seasonally,” Almughrabi said.
“Many people attended, asked questions, and left with new knowledge. They were very happy about the material, and I hope we meet again for another discussion in the future.”
Panel discussions were also held the following day with producers from Baha, who cultivate ancient strains of wheat and grains, and food historians from Lebanon and Canada, who explored Saudi Arabia’s culinary history and its global connections.
Nagwat Al-Nanaa Farms, an award-winning organic farm based in Madinah, is among the local food producers at the market.
Fahad Al-Raddadi, CEO of the farm, said: “Our farm was proudly recognized as the best farm in Madinah in 2021 and 2022, a reflection of our commitment to quality and sustainability.
After five years in the market, Nagwat Al-Nanaa earned its organic production certification with the support of Azka Foods.
“Ahmad Kamel played a crucial role in guiding us through the certification process, helping us formalize and validate the organic practices we had already embraced. The farmers market always proves to be a major success and opened the door to a broader network within the local agricultural community,” he said.
“Our journey has also taken us beyond Saudi borders. We were honored to be one of 22 companies selected to represent Saudi Arabia internationally, participating in events across Italy, the UK, Australia, Japan, and more in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and the Culinary Arts Commission.”
Alongside the stalls and panels, the Hayy Cinema screens related films such as “Flow” and “Thank You For Banking With Us,” weaving culture and conversation into the market experience.
The next Azka Farmer's Market event will be held on May 9 and 10.
Hope blooms in Najran with sandalwood, aloeswood cultivation project
Al-Harith highlighted the economic, environmental, and cultural benefits of sandalwood, its deep roots in Saudi heritage and its use in celebrations
Updated 54 sec ago
Arab News
RIYADH: In Najran, an agricultural project by the Jazan Mountainous Development Authority is testing sandalwood and aloeswood cultivation, with about 200 seedlings planted across three regional farms.
Ali Al-Harith, agricultural committee chairman at the Najran Chamber, told the Saudi Press Agency that Najran’s inclusion in the national sandalwood cultivation map aligns with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals.
Ali Al-Harith
It will boost the local economy, achieve sustainable development and diversify income through the economically and aromatically valuable sandalwood, the SPA reported.
Al-Harith added that Najran’s favorable agricultural conditions, mainly its moderate climate, fertile soil and ample water, are expected to contribute to the success of the initiative and build on previous similar efforts with crops such as rice, sesame and coffee.
FASTFACTS
• Sandalwood and aloeswood are valuable sources of fragrance and natural oils for local and international markets.
• Sandalwood oil is widely used in the perfume and cosmetics industries, a local farmer told SPA.
• The cultivation project offers new investment opportunities and strengthens the national economy.
He highlighted the economic, environmental, and cultural benefits of sandalwood, its deep roots in Saudi heritage and its use in celebrations.
Al-Harith called for collaborative efforts to raise awareness about the agricultural benefits and proper care of the trees.
Najran’s inclusion in the national sandalwood cultivation map aligns with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals. (SPA)
Farmer Qasila Al-Hamam, who has been tending 60 seedlings for six months in Rir, said that although sandalwood and aloeswood require special care, they are valuable sources of fragrance and natural oils, for both local and international markets. He added that sandalwood oil is widely used in the perfume and cosmetics industries.
The cultivation project offers new investment opportunities, strengthens the national economy, supports sustainable development and preserves environmental heritage for future generations.
Saudi deputy minister meets Croatian foreign minister
The two diplomats reviewed bilateral relations and the latest international developments
Updated 1 min ago
Arab News
ANTALYA: Saudi Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji met with Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grli Radman at the 4th Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Antalya, Turkiye, which ends April 13.
During the meeting, the two diplomats reviewed bilateral relations and the latest international developments, the Saudi Press Agecy reported on Saturday.
Saudi Ambassador to Turkiye Fahad Abualnasr was among the officials in attendance.
The forum, held under the theme “Reclaiming Diplomacy in a Fragmented World,” examines global challenges and ways to enhance multilateral cooperation to support international peace and security and achieve sustainable-development goals.
Taif will unveil the Kingdom’s largest rose tifo through the “Tifo Rose Walk” at Arruddaf Park, creating a striking public artwork that celebrates the city’s floral identity
Updated 1 min 17 sec ago
Arab News
JEDDAH: The inaugural Rose and Aromatic Plants Global Forum opens on Sunday in Taif, aiming to promote the city’s floral heritage and support national efforts to grow the aromatic plant sector.
It will be held under the patronage of Makkah Deputy Gov. Prince Saud bin Mishaal, with Taif Gov. Prince Saud bin Nahar in attendance, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Running until April 26, the forum will feature dialogue sessions and workshops organized by Taif University, along with an exhibition showcasing key innovations and products in the field.
Taif will also unveil the Kingdom’s largest rose tifo through the “Tifo Rose Walk” at Arruddaf Park, creating a striking public artwork that celebrates the city’s floral identity.
The forum is a strategic initiative to enhance the Kingdom’s role as a global hub for rose and aromatic plant production, particularly the Taif rose — a symbol of Saudi perfumery and a nationally recognized export.
It aims to foster strategic partnerships and attract investment in the rose and aromatic plant sectors, in line with Vision 2030’s goals to diversify income sources and elevate national products.
Saudi Arabia, France chair UN briefing on Palestinian cause
UN members back joint initiative for peace talks in June
Updated 12 April 2025
Arab News
RIYADH: The permanent representatives of Saudi Arabia and France to the UN, Abdulaziz Al-Wasel and Jerome Bonnafont, co-chaired a briefing for UN member and observer states at the UN headquarters in New York, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.
The session “discussed preparations for the upcoming high-level international conference on the peaceful resolution of the Palestinian cause and the implementation of the two-state solution, which is scheduled to be held in June under the joint chairmanship of Saudi Arabia and France,” the SPA stated.
In his remarks, Al-Wasel stressed that the establishment of an independent Palestinian state is the “cornerstone for achieving security and stability in the region,” adding that the Kingdom’s support for the two-state solution is a “longstanding and unwavering position.”
Al-Wasel also announced the formation of several working groups to address key issues related to the peaceful settlement of the conflict. He called on member states to contribute their visions and proposals to support preparations for June’s conference.
Al-Wasel noted that the conference represents “a formal and comprehensive track to enhance international efforts aimed at reaching a just and lasting resolution.”
Most UN member states and observer delegations from regional blocs expressed full support for the efforts led by Saudi Arabia and France to organize the conference and reaffirmed their commitment to the two-state solution as the only internationally agreed-upon formula to resolve the conflict, stressing the need for tangible outcomes, including the recognition of a Palestinian state.
They also voiced their rejection of land annexation and the forced displacement of Palestinians and underscored the importance of supporting the Palestinian government and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees.
“Participating countries praised the Kingdom’s leading role in supporting the Palestinian cause, its co-chairmanship of the conference, and its efforts to promote collective action and maintain the political and diplomatic momentum necessary for the conference’s success,” the SPA reported.
