Author: Mahdeehassan

Saudi Minister of Municipalities and Housing Majed Al-Hogail recently took part in the 2026 Global Investor Summit on Financing Affordable Housing in Alexandria, Virginia. Al-Hogail highlighted investment opportunities in Saudi Arabia’s housing finance market, including sukuk and real estate financing, and discussed ways to strengthen partnerships with international investors and financial institutions. During the summit, he met US Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner to discuss expanding cooperation between the two countries in housing, urban planning and real estate finance, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday. The two sides reviewed ways to increase housing supply, encourage private-sector…

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia ranks third globally in the development of leading artificial intelligence models, according to the Saudi Data and AI Authority, reflecting the Kingdom’s growing position in the rapidly evolving AI sector. According to SDAIA, Saudi Arabia had developed eight large language models by 2025, five of them considered world-leading. These include national models such as ALLaM, alongside specialized models developed by other Saudi entities. The authority also said 58 AI applications had been developed locally by 2025. Meanwhile, the BALSAM index, developed in collaboration with more than 10 institutions, has been used to evaluate 20 Arabic-language AI models.…

MADINAH: The holy city of Madinah embodies a people-centered urban model that integrates authentic cultural identity with sustainable development, balancing heritage preservation, modern infrastructure, and environmental stewardship to enhance quality of life. The city's urban development targets include planting 2.1 million trees, ensuring extensive green space, and establishing a 777 km network of cycling paths to foster a healthier environment. In public transportation, an integrated network of 177 buses operating across 15 routes and 371 stations connects districts throughout the city, improving mobility efficiency for both residents and visitors. To humanize urban spaces and reconnect communities with history, the 175…

RIYADH: The Saudi Ministry of Interior recorded 11,952 violations during recent inspection campaigns across the Kingdom to ensure compliance with residency, labor and border security laws. These included 6,163, related to residency; 3,225 to border security; and 2,564 to labor laws. Border authorities apprehended 1,653 individuals attempting to cross into Saudi Arabia illegally. They also arrested 29 people for attempting to leave the Kingdom illegally. A total of 15 people involved in transporting, sheltering and employing violators were arrested. A total of 40,762 expatriates, including 38,383 men and 2,379 women, are currently undergoing procedures to enforce regulations. Meanwhile, 22,451 individuals…

ALEPPO: The Saudi aid agency KSrelief implemented a year-long agricultural project to support the wheat production chain in eastern Aleppo, Syria. Launched on Sept. 21, 2025, the project benefited 2,750 farming families comprising 16,500 people, along with 100 staff members and consultants, the Saudi Press Agency reported. It will benefit 540,000 people across the region. The project included rehabilitating irrigation and drainage networks, as well as water pumping stations. Solar-powered pumping units were also installed to improve irrigation efficiency and reduce soil salinity across 2,750 hectares of farmland. The center also provided a mobile wheat seed cleaning machine capable of…

JEDDAH: Interlocking circular stone formations discovered through aerial imagery in Al-Qunfudhah governorate, in southwestern Saudi Arabia, have drawn researchers' attention to a potentially ancient site whose unusual geometric patterns may have served a mathematical or astronomical purpose. Photographs captured by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) in the Hali area of Al-Qunfudhah show rings of varying sizes and configurations built from local volcanic rock, forming overlapping patterns that are difficult to distinguish from ground level. Historian and researcher Dr. Mohammed Al-Marhabi told SPA that the precision and arrangement of the formations suggest deliberate design rather than random placement. He said their…

RIYADH: Riyadh Air has completed manufacturing of its first Airbus A321neo narrow-body aircraft, marking another milestone in the Saudi carrier’s fleet expansion as it builds a mixed fleet of Airbus and Boeing aircraft to support its international growth ambitions. The aircraft, registered as HZ-RXFA, emerged from Airbus’ paint facility in Hamburg, Germany, on Friday in the airline’s signature pearl livery, according to an announcement carried by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). Its design draws inspiration from Saudi heritage, combining flowing lines modeled on traditional Bedouin tents with elements reflecting Arabic calligraphy. The exterior features shades of indigo and lavender, feather-inspired…

RIYADH: As the Saudi Green Initiative moves from setting targets to delivering results, a central challenge remains: How can the Kingdom grow more than 600 million trees by 2030 without placing further pressure on its scarce water resources? More than 159 million trees had been planted and 1 million hectares of degraded land restored by early 2026, the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture announced in March. Thomas Crowther, professor of environmental science and engineering at KAUST, told Arab News that the target is achievable, but success will depend on more than planting trees. “That scale of regeneration is undoubtedly…

DAMMAM: For the first time, the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, or Ithra, a Saudi Aramco initiative, will transform Dhahran Expo into a winter wonderland. Arab News toured the family-friendly space with Munirah Alsafra, head of outreach programs at Ithra, who told us what to expect. “Ithra Winter is different this year. We used to always present the experience within the Ithra premises, but this time we wanted to be closer to the visitors — we wanted to present a different experience, so we came to you. We moved from the center’s walls to be closer to our community,”…

RIYADH: Saudi customs authorities found 413,450 amphetamine pills hidden in a shipment of canned fava beans entering the Kingdom from Jordan through Al-Haditha border crossing, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Hamoud Al-Harbi, a spokesperson for the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority, said the pills were discovered during a routine inspection of a truck at the northern land crossing. The authority continued to work with the Ministry of Interior and the General Directorate of Narcotics Control on efforts to enhance customs controls at land, sea and air ports and combat drug smuggling, he added. Al-Harbi urged the public to report any…