First Saudi female fencer appointed student sports ambassador

First Saudi female fencer appointed student sports ambassador
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Ruba Mohammed Al-Masri has been appointed as the first female fencer to represent Saudi Arabia as a student ambassador for the International University Sport Federation (FISU). (Supplied)
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Updated 20 September 2024
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First Saudi female fencer appointed student sports ambassador

First Saudi female fencer appointed student sports ambassador

JEDDAH: The first female fencer has been appointed as Saudi Arabia’s student sports ambassador to the International University Sport Federation.

The appointment of Ruba Mohammed Al-Masri to the role highlights the Kingdom’s empowerment of female athletes in recent years.

The FISU Student Ambassador program aims to promote the development of university sports and support sporting volunteer programs in ambassadors’ home countries.

Al-Masri told Arab News: “I consider this historic achievement for Saudi sports as a true turning point. It fills me with pride and honor. This success is not just an individual accomplishment; it reflects the tremendous efforts being made by the Kingdom to support women’s sports and empower youth. Seeing a Saudi girl shine on the international stage represents a dream come true, and it opens new doors for young talents.”

Princess Reema bint Bandar, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the US, highlighted Al-Masri’s achievement as an example of the Kingdom’s dedication to advancing women in sports.

She posted on X: “Women’s fencing in Saudi Arabia has made great strides from 2016 when Lubna Al-Omair competed in the Olympic Games in Rio to today with athletes like Ruba.”

https://x.com/rbalsaud/status/1835840617261252823

The acknowledgement from Princess Reema was an emotional milestone for Al-Masri. She said: “It felt like a validation of all the hard work, dedication and sacrifices I had made throughout my journey as a female athlete.

“Her support and recognition not only inspired me but also underscored the importance of empowering women in sports. Knowing that such a prominent figure believes in my potential is a tremendous honor and a powerful encouragement to keep pushing forward.”

Al-Masri’s fencing journey began in April 2018 and was deeply influenced by her father, a former champion in the Arab region.

“Growing up, I was always surrounded by his memorabilia — photos and medals that showcased his accomplishments throughout his athletic career,” she said. “Moreover, with the recent initiatives led by our Crown Prince to empower women in sports, I felt encouraged to follow in his footsteps.”

Support from her family, particularly her parents, was instrumental in shaping her passion and ambition. But there were challenges along the path — Al-Masri faced several obstacles, including finding suitable training facilities and balancing her academic and professional commitments.

“Finding suitable training facilities and the ability to register female athletes in clubs were significant hurdles,” she said. “Despite these challenges, I am proud to say that I have persevered and built a name for myself in various fields. I hold a double major in law and aesthetic specialization, and I have simultaneously worked for three different marketing companies while excelling in my sport.”

As a student-athlete ambassador, Al-Masri intends to make a real impact on future generations.

“I aim to inspire young women to pursue their passions in sports while balancing their educational and personal lives,” she said.

“Having successfully navigated my own journey … I believe my experiences can serve as a powerful testament to what is achievable.”

A defining moment in Al-Masri’s career came with the challenge of establishing her name on the international stage, overcoming issues such as unfair judging.

“Despite these challenges, my determination only grew stronger,” she said. “With the guidance and expertise of my father, I developed a unique training plan which enabled me to achieve significant milestones, including winning the first Saudi bronze medal in the Under-23 European Championships in 2023. This was a groundbreaking accomplishment for Saudi fencers in Europe.”

Looking ahead to the 2024/25 season, Al-Masri is eager to engage with the FISU Student Ambassadors Program.

“I look forward to collaborating on group proposals, participating in educational webinars, celebrating the International Day of University Sport, and presenting our action plans,” she said. “This structured approach will empower me to support female athletes and contribute effectively to the broader student-athlete community.”

The support from her community and mentors has been pivotal.

“The Saudi University Sports Federation, particularly Dr. Professor Khalid Al-Muzaini and Salma Ibrahim, has played a crucial role in my development,” she said. “I am also grateful to my coach, Fawad Al-Nasiri, for selecting me as the first Saudi female athlete to represent our country at the 2023 Summer Universiade in China. Their influence has been profound, motivating me to strive for greater heights.”

And to young girls in Saudi Arabia interested in sports, Al-Masri advised: “Embrace every opportunity that comes your way, and don’t shy away from challenges. Surround yourselves with supportive mentors and friends who believe in you and encourage your growth. Your dreams and aspirations are valid, and you have the potential to achieve greatness in the world of sports.”


Saudi defense minister meets senior US officials in Washington

Saudi defense minister meets senior US officials in Washington
Updated 26 February 2025
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Saudi defense minister meets senior US officials in Washington

Saudi defense minister meets senior US officials in Washington

RIYADH: Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the State Department on Tuesday.
The pair reviewed Saudi-US relations and the shared vision of both nations.
They discussed their nations’ common vision to “overcome shared challenges and promote international peace and security,” the minister wrote on social media platform X. “We also addressed several issues of mutual interest.”
Their meeting was attended by senior Saudi and US officials.

Prince Khalid with Mike Waltz. (SPA)


Earlier, Prince Khalid also met US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.
On Monday, Prince Khalid met his US counterpart Pete Hegseth and discussed the strategic relationship between the Kingdom and the US.


New Riyadh Metro station opens to the public

New Riyadh Metro station opens to the public
Updated 26 February 2025
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New Riyadh Metro station opens to the public

New Riyadh Metro station opens to the public
  • Qasr Al-Hokm stop, which covers 22,500 sq. m. across 7 levels and reaches a depth of 35m, links the Blue and Orange Metro lines to city’s bus network
  • The station is conveniently located for government institutions, historical sites, markets and shopping centers

RIYADH: A new station on the Riyadh Metro opens to the public at 6 a.m. on Wednesday morning.

The Royal Commission for Riyadh City said Qasr Al-Hokm is one of four key stations in the Metro network, serving as a vital hub linking the Blue and Orange lines with the city’s bus services.

The stop is also conveniently located for government institutions, palaces, historical sites, markets, shopping centers and residential neighborhoods in the heart of the city, it added.

The station, which covers 22,500 sq. meters across seven levels and reaches a depth of 35 meters, features a blend of traditional and modern elements in its design, the commission said, which allow natural light to illuminate the interior while providing shade in open spaces. It has 17 elevators and 46 escalators, along with several shops and a shaded public garden.

The Riyadh Metro, which opened to the public on Dec. 1, consists of six interconnected lines with 85 stations. It aims to help address issues arising from the rapid expansion of the capital by reducing traffic congestion and lowering carbon emissions through a more environmentally friendly transportation option. It has already carried 18 million passengers since opening.


Saudi Arabia welcomes holding of Syrian national dialogue conference

Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa greets delegates during Syria’s national dialogue conference at the People’s Palace in Damascus
Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa greets delegates during Syria’s national dialogue conference at the People’s Palace in Damascus
Updated 25 February 2025
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Saudi Arabia welcomes holding of Syrian national dialogue conference

Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa greets delegates during Syria’s national dialogue conference at the People’s Palace in Damascus
  • Foreign Ministry reiterated the Kingdom’s position in support of Syria’s security, stability, sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia welcomed the national dialogue conference that took place in Syria on Tuesday, the Kingdom’s Foreign Ministry said.

The ministry said it hoped the gathering at the presidential palace in Damascus would contribute to achieving the aspirations of the Syrian people and strengthen their national unity.

It affirmed Saudi Arabia’s support for efforts to build Syrian state institutions and achieve stability and prosperity for its citizens, reiterating the Kingdom’s position in support of Syria’s security, stability, sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity.

Syrians agreed on Tuesday to form a committee to draft a constitution that enshrines justice, freedom, and equality for all, according to a closing statement.


Saudi Arabia’s vaccination commitment sets stage for global efforts

Saudi Arabia’s vaccination commitment sets stage for global efforts
Updated 25 February 2025
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Saudi Arabia’s vaccination commitment sets stage for global efforts

Saudi Arabia’s vaccination commitment sets stage for global efforts
  • Riyadh forum unites humanitarian leaders to tackle funding and efficiency in aid efforts

RIYADH: Hundreds of members of the humanitarian community are in the Kingdom’s capital for the Fourth Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum as Saudi Arabia strives connect relevant bodies to improve access and funding.

Speaking to Arab News, Thomas Fletcher, UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator said that the biggest challenges in providing life-saving aid worldwide are the lack of funding, lack of access and, an often sidelined factor: lack of efficiency.

“There is too much duplication, too much bureaucracy, too much waste,” he said. “We agreed last week at the IASC (Inter-Agency Standing Committee) that we need to cut through all of that … Yes, we need more money, but we also need to spend the money that we have more effectively.”

Thomas Fletcher, UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator

Attending the conference in Riyadh to connect with the humanitarian community and drive the movement’s future operations, Fletcher was a part of the World Health Organization 2025 Emergency Appeal launched on Monday.

The appeal was launched during a panel session attended by Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, adviser to the royal court and general supervisor of the Saudi aid agency KSrelief, WHO director-general Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus Adhanom, and members of other international humanitarian parties.

Another big focal point of the conference was on the eradication of polio, as Saudi Arabia has confirmed $500 million to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, an agreement that will allow the initiative and its partners to help provide 370 million children with polio vaccines and permanently eliminate the disease.

Yes, we need more money, but we also need to spend the money that we have more effectively.

Thomas Fletcher, UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator

Fletcher said that the Kingdom is an exporter of ideas as well as engagement and action on the ground: “You can see by the number of UN agencies who’ve come, the importance of their individual partnerships and that collective partnership for the UN family with Saudi Arabia.

“KSrelief has been around 10 years now and their funding will have saved millions of lives in that time … but it’s not just about the money, it’s about the partnership. It’s about actually sharing ideas and innovations and experience and a knowledge of the region as well.”

Dr. Sania Nishtar, chief executive officer of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, an international public-private partnership providing access to vaccinations for low-income countries, was also part of the polio eradication initiative.

In addition to supporting international health systems and strengthening governments’ ability to inject vaccinations, Gavi works to provide childhood and adult vaccines as well as provide vaccines during public health emergencies and pandemics.

“Over a period of time we are increasingly finding ourselves in situations … in geographies, where there are humanitarian situations in contexts that are fragile,” she told Arab News. “And those contexts are fragile because of armed conflict, because of natural disasters, because of internal migrations. And increasingly we find our scope of work cross cutting with humanitarian operations.”

Gavi has recently incorporated new standard operating procedures to deal with humanitarian situations, and the conference in Riyadh opens doors to furthering those operations through fruitful partnerships.

Nishtar said that the alliance has approached the Saudi government to partner with them for their 6.0 Strategy.

The 6.0 Strategy is Gavi’s next operational plan expected to be in order from 2026 to 2030. It will double down efforts to reach more people and tackle diseases quicker than ever before.

“That is a very important period because the (UN) Millenium Development Goals also sunset during that time,” Nishtar said.

Fletcher said that the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs must remain neutral and independent among geopolitical boundaries to provide unfiltered aid for those in need.

“It doesn’t mean we don’t pick a side, it means we pick the side of the people that we’re there to serve … we can’t be pushed around by governments no matter how rich they are.”

Delivering aid in conflict zones is a unique challenge; with the ceasefire in effect in Gaza, OCHA has been able to deliver more than 20,000 aid trucks in one month and provide food to 2 million people.

If the ceasefire collapses, however, as Fletcher noted it was “hanging by a thread,” then OCHA’s ability to provide aid at that scale will collapse as well.

Nishtar added that Gavi has recently made $20 million available for the procurement of vaccines and their administration in Gaza.

According to Fletcher, the new caretaker administration in the Syrian Arab Republic under Ahmed Al-Sharaa has been removing obstacles previously placed by the Assad regime.

There is a big opportunity in Syria, he said, but from food to electricity and more, the needs are massive.

“We’ve got to clear all that unexploded ordnance. We’ve got to help people return to their homes, start to rebuild their lives, their communities. It’s a moment of fragile hope,” he said.

As a humanitarian, Fletcher said that he does not believe sanctions should get in the way of any aid delivery.

The OCHA team is also helping those displaced in Ukraine and providing food and shelter to those fleeing the conflict.

Nishtar said that the biggest challenge Gavi faces in areas of conflict is that the conventional modalities of operation become inadequate.

For Gavi’s Zero Dose Program’s current work in Africa, for example, the International Rescue Committee has partnered with them in 11 countries to provide access to children who have never received a single dose of vaccines.

“So, it’s both the policy side, the institutional framework, the human resource side, the norms, the funding arrangements, and the execution partners that comprise our new approach to dealing with conflict and fragile settings,” she said.

On how climate change and climate-induced food insecurities affect their operations, Fletcher said that it is continually seen that the climate crisis overlaps with existing inequality, poverty, conflict, and political fragility, creating a “perfect storm” of humanitarian crises.

“I think the risk at the moment is that some governments want us to stop talking about climate change, but climate change isn’t going to go away just because of a few elections. For every degree the climate heats up, a billion people will be displaced,” he said.

Climate change also plays a role in the re-emergence of diseases once thought to be minimized or eradicated, such as dengue in many parts of Latin America, malaria, and yellow fever, Nishtar said.

Vectors, the insects that carry certain diseases, start to behave differently with changing temperatures.

“With climate change, you have a number of different catastrophes, there are droughts and floods, and these situations bring additional challenges in their wake,” she said. “I come from Pakistan where there have been massive floods in the last 10 years and every time there’s a flood, you know, there’s a cholera outbreak and there’s a typhoid outbreak.”

Due to the cyclical nature of humanitarian crises constantly giving birth to one another, one of the toughest parts of the job is ruthless prioritization, Fletcher said.

OCHA launched an annual global humanitarian overview where it identifies the present global trends in humanitarian needs and crises.

Their 2024 overview identified 300 million people in dire need of help, out of which 190 million had to be prioritized for action should funding, in the amount of $47 billion, come through.

“Yemen, Syria, occupied Palestinian territory, Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo are all right up there on that list,” Fletcher said.

Last year, US funding accounted for about 40 percent of the contributions received for the UN-coordinated global humanitarian appeal, so the pause in the US and other nations’ funding has created a difficult monetary environment.

“Almost half of our campaigns are currently funded by the US government. So, to lose that support would be really a huge setback for our work with the world’s poorest people.”

 


Kingdom and Gates Foundation forge ‘strong and growing partnership’

Kingdom and Gates Foundation forge ‘strong and growing partnership’
Updated 25 February 2025
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Kingdom and Gates Foundation forge ‘strong and growing partnership’

Kingdom and Gates Foundation forge ‘strong and growing partnership’
  • Foundation is preparing to open a regional office in Riyadh to help strengthen the collaboration
  • Organization says it is working with Saudi authorities to protect children from polio and alleviate poverty

RIYADH: The Gates Foundation is working with Saudi Arabia to help protect 370 million children from polio each year and lift millions out of poverty in 33 Islamic Development Bank-member countries, a leading official from the foundation said on Tuesday.

The organization is also preparing to open a regional office in Riyadh, at Mohammed bin Salman Nonprofit City, to enhance its collaborations with authorities in the Kingdom.

“We have had a very strong and growing partnership with Saudi Arabia for some time. We work together on a variety of issues,” Dr. Chris Elias, the foundation’s president of global development, told Arab News at the 4th Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum.

During a special meeting of the World Economic Forum in Riyadh last year, Saudi aid agency KSrelief and the foundation announced a joint initiative to eradicate polio, improve global health and alleviate poverty.

“As we saw at the signing ceremony in the opening session of the RIHF on Monday … Saudi Arabia signed these agreements with the World Health Organization and UNICEF for $500 million over the next five years for the Global Polio Eradication Initiative,” Elias said. The funding provided by these agreements will be allocated to UN agencies that help implement the initiative.

“We also fund WHO and UNICEF,” he added. “So our partnership is that we together give money to the key organizations that are fighting to eradicate polio.

“I currently chair the board of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, which is implemented by WHO and UNICEF, and we have made tremendous progress on eradicating polio from the world.

“We are down to two countries; for the last eight years, the only countries with endemic polio have been Pakistan and Afghanistan. So the majority of our effort at present is to finish the job on the eradication of polio in those two countries.”

Speaking about the Kingdom’s contributions to these efforts, he said: “Saudi Arabia made a very large pledge and, as a consequence, we added a representative from the Kingdom to the governing board of what’s called the Polio Oversight Board for the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, that actually reaches about 370 million children a year with immunization.

“The second major component of our collaboration has been with the Islamic Development Bank on the Lives and Livelihoods Fund, that began five or six years ago. After a very successful first phase, we announced the Lives and Livelihoods’ second phase last year, to which Saudi Arabia pledged $100 million.

“And our pledge was up to $100 million, to a limit of 20 percent of the funds, because we have other funders coming in: the government of the UAE, the government of Qatar, as well as support from the Islamic Development Bank itself through the Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development.”

Elias also pointed out that the Gates Foundation, a charitable organization established 25 years ago by Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and his former wife, Melinda, has been working to support UNICEF’s humanitarian relief efforts in Gaza.

As for the opening of a regional office in Riyadh, he said: “We are in the process, following through on the registration.”

During the Misk Global Forum in Riyadh last November, the Gates Foundation and the Mohammed bin Salman Foundation, also known as Misk, announced Challenge for Change, a program that aims to provide support for nonprofit organizations and social enterprises across Saudi Arabia.

This assistance includes seed funding for researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs and nonprofits that have the potential to make a social impact in the Middle East and North Africa, Elias explained.

In Afghanistan, “which has one of the most significant humanitarian situations in the world,” he said that the foundation is working with the Kingdom, the governments of the UAE and Qatar, and the Islamic Development Bank to help strengthen the healthcare system in the country.

“We also work with the Kingdom on disease outbreaks,” Elias added. “We have a partnership, together with the WHO, for the Global Health Emergency Corps that sets out actions to save lives during health emergencies. It involves many countries but Saudi Arabia is serving as a pilot country for that emergency core.”

It is very important to get disease outbreaks under control quickly, he said, and this is something that is particularly relevant in Saudi Arabia, a country that welcomes so many visitors from around the world every year for Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages.

“The Kingdom takes the protection of the holy sites and the protection of pilgrims who come to the holy cities, Makkah and Madinah, very seriously,” Elias noted.

Regarding the recent decision by President Donald Trump to withdraw the US from the WHO, Elias said: “WHO provides important guidance for countries around the world in public health. Gates Foundation is a major supporter of the WHO. The work of the WHO is going to remain extremely important and we will continue to work with them on these critical health issues.

“Our partnership will remain strong with them. I don’t see us being able to step in to replace funding from the US, or anybody else, but we will continue to partner with the WHO on the most important health issues, polio eradication being one of them.”

KSrelief, the Saudi aid agency, this year celebrates its 10th anniversary and Elias said: “We have worked with KSrelief for many of these projects, on the Polio Legacy Challenge and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.

“I was very impressed at the forum’s opening ceremony to see they had a wonderful video that documented their 10-year history of humanitarian assistance.

“We have been working with them very intensely for, probably, the last five years. I think it’s really impressive what KSrelief has achieved in the first 10 years. We look forward to working with them for the next 10 years.”