The patent details the creation of biodegradable organic nanomembranes designed to replace synthetic membranes currently used in laboratories
Updated 24 June 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: Imam Mohammad ibn Saud Islamic University has been granted a new patent by the US Patent and Trademark Office for a pioneering X-ray film made from bio-materials.
This innovation, developed by a team of researchers including Sharif Hussein, Mohammed Saad Al-Issa, Hassan Ahmed Rudaini, Nasser Adam Ibrahim, Mohammed Mousa Al-Zahrani, and Salem Ali Al-Yami, represents a significant advancement in the field of biological sciences.
The patent details the creation of biodegradable organic nanomembranes designed to replace synthetic membranes currently used in laboratories, surgeries, biomedical engineering, bioengineering, and dentistry.
These innovative membranes are not only biodegradable but also environmentally friendly, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional synthetic films.
This accomplishment is a result of the university’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center’s Patent Deposit and Registration Program, an initiative aimed at supporting and enhancing patent registrations by university staff, thereby safeguarding the institution’s intellectual assets.
Oman ambassador’s touching farewell message to Saudi Arabia
It was an extraordinary journey of 4 years, he says
Highlights include new road access inauguration, top level visits to boost bilateral ties, Gulf railway project
Updated 31 January 2025
Rashid Hassan
RIYADH: In a heartfelt farewell message, the outgoing Oman ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Sayyid Faisal bin Turki said: “My dearest Saudi Arabia, from the moment I landed in Riyadh to serve as the ambassador, you have felt like home.”
In an exclusive interview with Arab News before concluding his duty in Riyadh on Friday, Turki said: “It was an extraordinary journey of four years. I remember, back in early 2021 when I joined, it was the time of [the] COVID pandemic.
“It was my first appointment as an ambassador, and it turned out to be an amazing year because in the same year it was planned for the first state visit for His Majesty Sultan Haitham and in the same year, before the end of the year, we inaugurated the new road access between Saudi Arabia and Oman, and before concluding that year, we had the visit of the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as well, along with a big delegation.
“A number of agreements were signed at the personal as well as diplomatic level I spent a lot of time, along with my team, to strengthen the relationship and contribute to that.
“On an average, we had about anything between 80 to 115 delegations per year coming. There have been numerous agreements, MoUs signed between the two countries in various fields. And I think what we have been privileged to do is to contribute to this magnificent growth in the relationship between Oman and Saudi Arabia,” said the envoy.
He added: “There is much more that can be done. We have been putting a lot of emphasis on supporting the private sector in the past three years, we have seen at least about 20 to 25 Omani companies exploring opportunities and venturing into the Saudi market in various fields, whether it is IT, tourism, event management, oil and gas, you name it, which hasn’t been the case before.”
Saudi Arabia is the right place to be at the right time, he said, whether that was politically, diplomatically or for business.
Speaking about the Gulf Cooperation Council countries proceeding with the practical steps of the Gulf Railway Project, he said: “That is obviously at the level of the GCC, Oman is part of the GCC and we are more or less ready when the consensus happens in terms of building that network.
“For us, the railway network is very important primarily for the goods and trade between the Gulf countries and, beyond as well.”
GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Al-Budaiwi, speaking at the 26th meeting of the Committee of GCC Ministers of Transport and Communications in November last year, said the GCC had achieved practical steps for the Gulf railway project on the ground with advanced levels of implementation.
The outgoing ambassador said the latest of these achievements was the establishment of Hafeet Rail between the Sultanate of Oman and the UAE, which aims to design, develop and operate a railway network connecting Sohar to the UAE’s national railway network.
“We believe that Oman enjoys an excellent logistic positioning, but that needs to be strengthened through our bilateral relations as well,” said Turki.
“Saudi Arabia is a strategic market that needs to have a lot of emphasis. Saudi Arabia looks at Oman as well as a gateway, an access across to Asia, and we look forward to seeing the fruits of all these efforts.”
He added: “We have managed to get the [agreement of] key stakeholders from Oman to participate in annual cultural, economic events, such as the FII, the biggest investment forum that happens every October in Saudi Arabia and the Book Fair. We have as well a growing interest in LEAP, which is all about technology and getting more companies to participate.”
Food and fun come to Alkhobar at the Food Culture Festival
Updated 31 January 2025
Jasmine Bager
ALKHOBAR: The Food Culture Festival, running until Feb. 2, has transformed Alkhobar’s seafront into a hub of culinary and cultural exchange.
The event features oversized food sculptures — including a giant hamburger and pizza slice — leading visitors into a world of flavors.
With 30 food varieties, 12 kiosks, and interactive spaces, the festival offers a rich culinary journey, complemented by live music.
In collaboration with the Quality of Life Program, the festival features a lineup of international cuisines, including Saudi, Italian, Turkish, American, Chinese and Thai, offering a diverse range of dishes, from street food favorites to gourmet specialties.
On arrival, visitors receive a festival passport that guides them through culinary quests. Completing all challenges earns them a free prize — either a T-shirt or a mug — but participation is optional. Guests can simply walk around, purchase food, and enjoy the live performances without following the passport activities.
One vendor, Norah Mari of Soma, shared her pride in showcasing a local twist on a dish. “People are coming to sample culinary delights from around the world, and we are proud to showcase our Saudi twist on a dish that originates in Syria. We added Hasawi lemon to our new variation, and this festival gives everyone a chance to sample it,” she told Arab News.
Workshops led by expert chefs cover food decoration, sushi making, pasta preparation and food photography, requiring a separate ticket for participation.
Entertainment takes center stage with live performances, including Arabic music, Indian Bharatanatyam dance and a Chinese dragon dance in celebration of the lunar new year. Carnival games and shows add to the excitement.
For families, there are interactive workshops introducing children to global food cultures through fruit tastings, baking sessions and farm experiences.
“We are now here in Alkhobar, Saudi Arabia, promoting Filipino products with the help of our Philippine embassy,” said vendor Philip Lim, highlighting the festival’s diverse offerings.
Cousins Lama Al-Shaikh, 7, and Haya Al-Shaikh, 8, attended with their mothers to explore the festival: “The event is so fun, and the food is so good!” they told Arab News.
Open from 4 p.m. to midnight, the festival provides an ideal setting for residents and visitors to gather, indulge in world-class cuisine and enjoy a festive atmosphere.
“As a Saudi entrepreneur, I’m so pleased that we were able to participate in this festival in the same city where my journey began,” Mari said.
Following its stopover in Alkhobar, the festival will move to Riyadh from Feb. 5-9 and Jeddah from Feb. 12-16.
How AI-programmed robotic pets could transform therapy and mental health support
AI advancements make therapy pets a viable alternative for those unable to own real animals due to allergies or living constraints
Despite their potential, AI-powered companions face challenges due to cultural perceptions, cost, and data privacy
Updated 31 January 2025
Waad Hussain
RIYADH: Pet ownership has long been associated with positive mental well-being, from the company and affection animals provide their owners to the health and social benefits offered by regular walks and interactions.
Domesticated animals like cats and dogs are routinely used to comfort people in distressing situations, including those being treated in hospital or suffering anxiety on commercial flights.
In fact, pet ownership and interactions with animals are regularly touted by doctors to help address a range of mental health issues and improve a patient’s social, emotional, or cognitive function.
A 2024 review in the Journal of Medical Internet Research highlighted animal-assisted therapy’s measurable impact on reducing stress and promoting good mental health across diverse demographics and settings.
However, for those who suffer from allergies or who for whatever reason are unable to keep a pet at home, this may not be an option.
Now, thanks to new advances in robotics and artificial intelligence, a synthetic form of animal-assisted therapy has emerged with the potential to transform the healthcare landscape.
“The future of using pet-like AI-driven robots for therapy has great potential,” Imed Gallouzi, chair of the Center of Excellence for Smart Health at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, told Arab News.
“For individuals dealing with mental health issues, AI therapy pets could provide privacy, immediate reactions to crises, and even companionship to alleviate loneliness.”
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AI therapy pets could also be integrated with other smart health solutions. “These devices could link with wearable technology and remote monitoring tools to offer personalized treatment plans,” said Gallouzi.
For example, an AI pet could sync with a wearable device to monitor a patient’s heart rate and alert healthcare providers to any irregularities.
Such AI advancements in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of mental health conditions have come at a critical time.
The World Health Organization recently warned that mental health disorders are a major contributor to the global disease burden, with depression being the leading cause of disability worldwide.
Illustration from the WHO's "world mental health report"
Mental health issues among young people are a growing concern in Saudi Arabia. A 2023 study based on the Saudi National Mental Health Survey revealed that at least 40.1 percent of young Saudis had experienced a mental health condition at some point in their life.
Despite the prevalence of these issues, the study, published in the Scientific Reports journal, found that just 14.47 percent of young people with mental health issues had received treatment for their condition.
The Kingdom has sought to prioritize the well-being of its citizens as part of the Vision 2030 reform agenda. In 2022, it allocated 4 percent of its healthcare budget to mental health issues — far above the global average.
But for AI-programmed robotic pets to catch on as an effective therapy tool, Noor Al-Faraj, a data AI and automation expert at IBM, says the technology must exhibit sufficient emotional intelligence and offer the right response.
“For these pets to really work, they need to understand human emotions on a deeper level,” Al-Faraj told Arab News.
Despite their potential, the adoption of AI therapy pets faces significant challenges, particularly in the Middle East. (AFP)
“Imagine an AI pet that notices your heart rate increasing and reacts with a calming purring sound or a soft nudge. It’s about combining emotional intelligence with physical presence to feel real.”
Despite their potential, the adoption of AI therapy pets faces significant challenges, particularly in the Middle East.
One of the main hurdles is cultural perceptions. Indeed, the very concept of pet ownership — particularly of dogs — differs significantly in Arab cultures compared to Western norms.
“In our Arab culture, imagining that pets — let alone robotic pets — could contribute to health is a relatively new idea,” said Gallouzi.
Domesticated animals like cats and dogs are routinely used to comfort people in distressing situations. (AN Photo/Huda Bashatah)
Another challenge to the adoption of AI pet therapy is technical infrastructure, as their effectiveness will likely depend on a reliable cloud-driven system or one that requires advanced internet connectivity.
Cost and accessibility also pose significant barriers. The technology would likely be prohibitively expensive for the average user. Indeed, research published in Emerging Technologies Quarterly in 2021 highlighted the high cost of advanced AI solutions in emerging markets.
Data privacy is also a critical issue, as AI therapy pets require the collection of sensitive personal information to function effectively.
DID YOUKNOW?
• Equipped with sensors, AI, and machine learning, robotic pets can respond to touch, voice, and movement.
• Research shows AI-powered pets can reduce stress and anxiety, improving mental well-being.
• Studies estimate one in two people will develop a mental health disorder in their lifetime.
• The global market for robotic pets was valued at $1.2 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow 9.5 percent annually (Grand View Research).
Al-Faraj says strict privacy measures are needed to ensure public trust, as concerns over data protection could hinder the technology’s uptake.
Similarly, ethical concerns surrounding AI therapy pets require attention. “If someone starts relying on an AI pet too much, it could make them pull away from real relationships, which would defeat the purpose of emotional support,” said Al-Faraj.
World Health Organization illustration
Given these drawbacks, it seems unlikely these AI companions will replace human therapists altogether — at least not any time soon. But mental health practitioners would be wise to keep up with developments.
“AI will never replace doctors, but professionals who don’t understand AI might find themselves out of work in the future,” said Gallouzi.
Creating a market for AI therapy pets in Saudi Arabia will require significant investments in education and infrastructure.
“We need to train professionals in AI and smart health technologies to prepare the next generation of experts,” Gallouzi added.
Although impressed by these developments, Al-Faraj is not yet convinced that real animals can be substituted by AI therapy pets, no matter their sophistication.
She said: “They’re unpredictable, warm, and have this way of connecting with us that feels almost magical.”
Saudi Shoura Council speaker receives Sudan’s ambassador in Riyadh
Updated 30 January 2025
Arab News
Saudi Arabia’s Shoura Council Speaker Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Asheikh received Sudan’s ambassador to the Kingdom, Dafallah Al-Hajj Ali Othman, in his office in Riyadh on Thursday.
Al-Asheikh wished the ambassador well in his duties and efforts to strengthen relations between the people of the two nations.
The two officials discussed issues of common interest during the meeting, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Boomerang competition held after findings suggest Arabian invention
Competitors from the US, Europe and Brazil flock to Hail
Traditionally thought to be Australian, recent findings indicate Arabian origin
Updated 30 January 2025
Hebshi Alshammari
RIYADH: An international boomerang tournament is being held in Hail in commemoration of a recent discovery of evidence showing that the hunting implement may have been invented in Arabia.
“The Prince Abdulaziz bin Saad International Boomerang Tournament” begun on Thursday and brings together competitors from the US, Europe and Brazil, as well as Saudi Arabia’s Boomerang Club.
Saudi researcher Mishari Al-Nashmi recently published findings of rock engravings in the mountains of Al-Masma, Joba and Arnan, depicting hunting scenes from the Neolithic era using curved tools resembling the Australian boomerang.
In collaboration with Professor Qusay Al-Turkiye, a Saudi archaeologist based in Australia, it was confirmed that these engravings date them as older than the Australian boomerang models, which were previously believed to be the original source.
Al-Nashmi said: “Together with Professor Qusay Al-Turkiye, we successfully gathered comprehensive insights into the Australian boomerang.
“Our extensive research led to a groundbreaking discovery: This tool was not exclusive to Australia, but was, in fact, known in the Hail region for millennia.
“The rock engravings, which depict various forms of the boomerang, serve as undeniable evidence that the inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula possessed knowledge of this tool long ago.”
“The repeated discovery of boomerang models in various regions such as Europe, Australia and Saudi Arabia indicates that this tool was used for multiple purposes in ancient cultures.
“It is clear that the diverse uses of the boomerang required the development of different shapes, designs and sizes, suited to specific purposes such as hunting, games, music and digging,” Al-Nashmi said.
Al-Nashmi, who also vice president of the Boomerang Club in Hail, added: “It is also likely that these designs did not transfer between different peoples but were locally crafted within each region, maintaining similar goals.”
“We are confident that this discovery underscores the profound depth of civilization and the storied history of the Hail region,” Al-Nashmi said.
Professor Al-Turkiye added: “The rock engravings portray skilled hunters wearing masks shaped like birds or ibexes, using hunting tools that flew with remarkable precision to capture deer, birds, and even wild cattle.
“These details underscore that the Arabian boomerang was not just a hunting instrument, but a significant component of a highly developed culture.”
The tool is globally known as the “boomerang,” a term derived from the Dharuk language of one of the Australian indigenous tribes, the Turuwal people.
However, Saudi researchers revealed that its linguistic roots trace back to the Akkadian word “taqntu/taqttu,” meaning to kill or hunt, which appears in cuneiform inscriptions dating to the fourth millennium BCE.
The Arabic name “Al-Arjoon” refers to the tool’s curved shape, reminiscent of the frond of a palm tree, giving it a local identity that has redefined its global recognition.
The event unfolds over four days under the patronage of the governor of Hail, Prince Abdulaziz bin Saad, and includes tests of accuracy, distance and technique.
Athletes challenge one another to throw the boomerang in a way that ensures it returns with a precise curve, drawing inspiration from the techniques of ancient hunters.
The championship also coincides with a rock art exhibition at Rata, one of the archaeological sites in the Hail region, featuring rare specimens of a range of ancient boomerangs.
In his speech at the opening ceremony, Prince Abdulaziz bin Saad said that the event was “a tribute to a profound human legacy.”
“Hail once again confirms its status as the cradle of civilizations, demonstrating its ability to revive its heritage in a manner that resonates globally.”
The prince embraced the idea of turning the discovery into a living heritage, establishing the Hail Boomerang Club, led by Nasser Al-Shammari, who designed a boomerang specifically for the championship.
In collaboration with the International Federation of Boomerang Associations, the event was co-organized by world champion Logan Broadbent from the US and Roger Perry, president of the Boomerang Association of Australia.
Perry said: “The world will discover that this sport is not just a game, but a story of humanity using nature to craft its tools, and Hail has written a new chapter in this story.”
