Saudi Scouts participate in youth forum/node/2561316/saudi-arabia
Saudi Scouts participate in youth forum
The Saudi Arabian Boy Scouts Association will participate in the Arab Scout Youth Forum for Digital Transformation to be held from Aug. 3-8 in Salalah, Oman. (SPA)
The forum aims to enhance the capabilities of youth, while empowering and engaging them
It also provides national coordinators with the opportunity to fulfill their role
Updated 02 August 2024
SPA
RIYADH: The Saudi Arabian Boy Scouts Association will participate in the Arab Scout Youth Forum for Digital Transformation to be held from Aug. 3-8 in Salalah, Oman.
Organized by the Arab Scout Region in cooperation with the National Organization for Scouts and Guides in Oman, the forum aims to enhance the capabilities of youth, while empowering and engaging them. It also provides national coordinators with the opportunity to fulfill their role.
During the forum, several topics will be reviewed, namely the basic characteristics of scouting and introducing the global scout policy — including youth policy, youth participation, protection of harm, and adults in scouting.
The forum will also review the results and impact of the participation of the youth in the September 2023 edition, introduce the policy of diversity, inclusion and integration, the new scouting initiatives, sustainable development goals, and personal development planning.
It will host an interactive workshop on preparing future action plans designed for youth empowerment nationally, a panel discussion to exchange views and experiences with the Arab Scout Youth advisers committee, in addition to activities and programs designed to enhance scouting skills.
Umrah guests laud Saudi efforts to preserve holy sites
Updated 27 sec ago
Arab News
JEDDAH: The third group of guests from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Program for Umrah and Visit, organized by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, visited the King Abdulaziz Complex for the Holy Kaaba kiswa.
They toured the facility and learned about the kiswa’s production process and raw materials, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The guests also visited the Revelation Exhibition in the Hira Cultural District, where they explored the story of the Qur’an’s revelation.
The group includes 250 Umrah performers from 18 African countries, the SPA reported.
Guests praised Saudi Arabia’s efforts to preserve historical sites in Makkah and Madinah, and highlighted projects that recreate the Prophet Muhammad’s journey, enriching visitors’ connections to his life.
They acknowledged development projects enhancing the experience for Umrah performers, pilgrims and visitors, according to the SPA.
RIYADH: The final phase of the 15th annual National Olympiad for Scientific Creativity, or Ibdaa, will be held from Feb. 3-6 at the Imam Mohammed bin Saud Islamic University conference center in Riyadh.
The event is being organized in partnership with the Ministry of Education and the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity, known as Mawhiba.
The olympiad will feature 200 research and innovation projects submitted by students from 22 scientific fields, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The projects were selected from more than 23,000 entries received during earlier stages of the competition, the SPA added.
Sixty-eight winners will be chosen to represent Saudi Arabia at international and regional competitions, including the International Science and Engineering Fair in the US.
The olympiad is an annual international contest for middle and high school students in standards and technology. It started as a local event in South Korea in 2006, and became an international contest in 2014.
RIYADH: Saudi authorities arrested 21,564 people in one week for breaching residency, work and border security regulations, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.
A total of 13,883 people were arrested for violations of residency laws, while 4,668 were held over illegal border crossing attempts, and a further 3,013 for labor-related issues.
The report showed that among the 1,477 people arrested for trying to enter the Kingdom illegally, 55 percent were Ethiopian, 41 percent Yemeni, and 4 percent were of other nationalities.
A further 90 people were caught trying to cross into neighboring countries, and 18 were held for involvement in transporting and harboring violators, the SPA reported.
The Ministry of Interior said that anyone found to be facilitating illegal entry to the Kingdom could face imprisonment for a maximum of 15 years and a fine of up to SR1 million ($260,000).
Suspected violations can be reported on the toll-free number 911 in the Makkah and Riyadh regions, and 999 or 996 in other regions of the Kingdom.
RIYADH: Al-Yanfeh, a 1,400-year-old archaeological village in Asir, has become a hub for contemporary arts following restoration efforts over the past two years, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Located 40 km southwest of Abha, the village features terraced stone buildings, an agricultural area irrigated by more than 70 wells — including seven rock-carved wells — and about 50 circular grain storage graves.
Ali Abu Alwa of the Saudi Heritage Preservation Society emphasized Al-Yanfeh’s historical and cultural value, citing its architecture, houses and water channels.
The site includes 400 historic houses, six mosques and 36 ancient passages connecting neighborhoods, the SPA reported.
Project supervisor Ali Al-Ghathimi said that the village’s red sandstone mountain facilitated well digging.
At 2,600 meters above sea level, the village benefits from a moderate climate influenced by monsoon winds and two rainy seasons, Al-Ghathimi said.
Recent upgrades by the Asir municipality include rehabilitated passages, stone-clad squares, period-appropriate lighting and a natural wood drainage system for rainwater.
How Saudi Arabia is preserving its precious freshwater resources
Vision 2030 prioritizes sustainable water management through conservation programs, advanced irrigation, and public awareness initiatives
US firm Ecolab partners with Saudi companies like Aramco to develop water-saving technologies and improve resource management
Updated 01 February 2025
Haifa Alshammari
RIYADH: Water scarcity is a pressing issue in Saudi Arabia, significantly impacting the country’s socio-economic development as well as its environmental sustainability.
As one of the hottest and driest regions in the world, the Kingdom faces many challenges owing to its limited natural freshwater sources and high rates of evaporation.
These harsh realities have forced the country to rely on limited groundwater and desalination plants, where 75 percent of the country’s water supply comes from.
However, the nature of the desalination process raises concerns about environmental sustainability and carbon emissions due to the amount of energy used by these technologies.
In addition, the over-extraction of groundwater for agricultural and domestic use could exhaust natural aquifers and deteriorate water quality.
This realization has pushed officials to explore solutions to develop the water sector in order to meet the needs of the Kingdom’s growing population.
Opinion
This section contains relevant reference points, placed in (Opinion field)
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 reform agenda emphasizes green development, and sustainable water sources are a key aspect of the plan.
To achieve this objective, the Kingdom is collaborating with foreign companies including the US firm Ecolab to mitigate the severity of water loss.
Christophe Beck, chairman and CEO of Ecolab, outlined some of the company’s strategies to preserve water while reducing energy usage.
“In 2024, we helped preserve enough water for 800 million people, and we are on the path to 1 billion by 2030,” Beck told Arab News.
“We have built our capabilities around the world because of the science we have at our disposal. We have 3,000 people in research and development and digital technology.
Ecolab has been operating in Saudi Arabia for 47 years, collaborating with local firms in managing water supplies, combating potential pollutants and infections, and on human and natural resource protection. (Supplied)
Ecolab employs around 3,000 people in research and development and digital technology to run its operations in 40 different industries across 172 countries. (Supplied)
Ecolab operates in 40 different industries across 172 countries, managing water supplies, combating potential pollutants and infections, and focusing on human and natural resource protection.
The company has been operating in Saudi Arabia for 47 years, collaborating with local firms such as Saudi Aramco, SABIC, and Almarai.
“This country has a lot of natural resources and a lot of ambition. But one thing is missing — water. There are no lakes, no rivers, but there is a lot of sea around us. However, this is not freshwater. That’s a big challenge,” said Beck.
In the oases of Al-Ahsa in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, scientists have found that traditional farming techniques stretching back centuries helped preserve one of the region’s green gems. (Supplied)
The necessity to preserve freshwater has led the Kingdom to introduce water conservation programs, along with promoting efficient irrigation technologies and enhancing public awareness about water usage.
In addition, the National Water Co. has completed several operations to ensure easy access to fresh water for all in any location within Saudi Arabia, including rural areas.
NWC distributed more than 3.7 billion cubic meters of water during the past year in various regions of the Kingdom and treated more than 2.1 billion cubic meters of wastewater during the same year.
DID YOUKNOW?
• Ecolab operates in 172 countries, including Singapore, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and Taiwan.
• 10% of animal species rely on freshwater ecosystems, according to Nature Conservancy Canada.
• Two-thirds of the world’s population experiences water shortages at least once a year, according to WWF.
However, achieving water security will require a holistic approach that integrates technology, media, and community engagement.
“Awareness helps, as does realizing that no one can solve it alone,” said Beck.
“When I think about Saudi Arabia, I think we have all we need. The natural resources, the industries, the means, and the ambition. But we don’t have water, and we have too few water experts who know how to reuse or recycle water to power the future industries of the Kingdom.
“What I hope to accomplish in Saudi Arabia, and again, we’ve been here for 47 years, is really thinking in the long term, to turn Saudi Arabia into an example of a country that can grow without using more water at the same time.
General view of the Ras al-Khair water desalination plant, owned by the Saudi government's Saline Water Conversion Corporation, along the Gulf coast in eastern Saudi Arabia. (AFP)
“And if Saudi Arabia can do it, many countries around the region can do it, and around the world as well.”
Addressing water scarcity is crucial for ensuring the long-term viability of Saudi Arabia’s economy and overall quality of life.
Without significant and immediate action, the challenges associated with water scarcity and with the increasing heat conditions and drought worldwide, are likely going to intensify not only for Saudi Arabia but for several other countries in the region in the coming years.
