Saudi Cabinet welcomes US-Ukraine talks

RIYADH: The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority has ramped up its support for government agencies providing digital services to Umrah performers during Ramadan, as the Two Holy Mosques experience high volumes of visitors.

These initiatives align with directives from King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed to enhance services for pilgrims.

SDAIA has ensured the technical readiness of all entry points to Saudi Arabia — air, sea, and land borders — by deploying a national team working around the clock with relevant authorities.

This team maintains primary and backup communication systems to guarantee uninterrupted service for Umrah visitors.

A key development in crowd management is the Baseer platform, launched in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior’s General Security Directorate.

This advanced computer vision system uses AI to monitor and analyze visitor movement within the Grand Mosque, including crowd tracking, detecting counter-directional movement, and assisting in locating missing persons.

SDAIA has also established a strategic partnership with the Ministry of Interior’s Special Forces for Hajj and Umrah Security to develop algorithms that improve services at both the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque.

In a recent initiative with the Civil Aviation Authority and Ministry of Interior, SDAIA has implemented 70 AI-powered electronic gates at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. These gates streamline the entry process for Umrah performers and visitors, ensuring both security and convenience while enhancing the overall visitor experience.

NEW YORK CITY: Vision 2030 has become a reality of empowerment for all women and girls in Saudi Arabia, according to Sima Bahous, the executive director of UN Women.

She predicted that the rise of women and their role in the Kingdom in recent years is just the beginning — “and the beginning of a very good story.”

Bahous was speaking at a high-level event on the sidelines of the 69th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women, during which Abdulaziz Alwasil, the Kingdom’s envoy to the UN and chairperson of the commission this year, outlined the transformative strides Saudi Arabia has taken to advance gender equality and the empowerment of women in various sectors.

The event, titled “From Vision to Reality: Saudi Arabia’s Story of Women’s Empowerment,” highlighted the policies and initiatives that have helped to propel the participation of women in the Kingdom’s labor market, and promote their roles in diverse fields such as technology, innovation and renewable energy.

“We have seen the removal of employment restrictions, growing opportunities for female entrepreneurs, and the rise of women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and leadership roles,” Bahous said.

“This is a shift not just about numbers but it is a shift about impact, and it is only the beginning of the story — and the beginning of a very good story.”

The way forward, she continued, is clear: partnerships need to be strengthened, policies must be implemented and institutions should be reinforced.

“We need inclusive economies, gender-balanced leadership and data-driven solutions to track and sustain progress,” Bahous said.

“And we need to listen to young women, to grassroots leaders, to those driving change from the ground up.”

The momentum in Saudi Arabia is undeniable, she added, and continues to build: “The journey is going but it is not over. The path ahead demands more transformative action. It calls for more progress that is not just imagined by some, but lived by all.”

Vision 2030 is Saudi Arabia’s plan for national development and the diversification of its economy to reduce the reliance on oil.