Saudi Arabia opens to tourists from around the world. Courtesy of Consulum Balloons flying over the Unesco World Heritage Site of Al Ula.
Saudi Arabia opens to tourists from around the world. Courtesy of Consulum Balloons flying over the Unesco World Heritage Site of Al Ula.
Saudi Arabia opens to tourists from around the world. Courtesy of Consulum Balloons flying over the Unesco World Heritage Site of Al Ula.
Saudi Arabia opens to tourists from around the world. Courtesy of Consulum Balloons flying over the Unesco World Heritage Site of Al Ula.

From renewables to reforms: how Saudi Arabia made strides in 2021


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In 2021, Saudi Arabia kept up the breakneck speed of reforms that have, in recent years, propelled it to become a dynamic business, tourism and cultural destination.

From education reform and changing women's role in society to investing billions in green energy, every month of 2021 appeared to bring a bold new announcement from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Critics might dismiss many of these ideas as being based on slogans more than substance, but this view is increasingly outdated as the effects of reforms from years past are felt, with women's participation in the workforce rising from 13 per cent in 2018 to 20 per cent in 2020 and with construction on major projects — such as the Red Sea tourism development project focused on 90 islands on the country's eastern coastline — well under way.

On the social scene, the kingdom hosted its first F1 race this year. It also held large outdoor festivals and even built a winter wonderland.

Green ambitions

  • Delegates take part in the opening ceremony of the Saudi Green Initiative forum in Riyadh. AFP
    Delegates take part in the opening ceremony of the Saudi Green Initiative forum in Riyadh. AFP
  • Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan addresses delegates during one of the sessions at the forum. Reuters
    Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan addresses delegates during one of the sessions at the forum. Reuters
  • Nigeria's Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Timipre Sylva takes part in one of the sessions. AFP
    Nigeria's Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Timipre Sylva takes part in one of the sessions. AFP
  • Azerbaijan's Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov makes a point at the forum. Reuters
    Azerbaijan's Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov makes a point at the forum. Reuters
  • Nigeria's Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Timipre Sylva speaks at the forum. Reuters
    Nigeria's Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Timipre Sylva speaks at the forum. Reuters
  • Kuwait's Oil Minister Mohammed Al Fares attends the Saudi Green Initiative forum. Reuters
    Kuwait's Oil Minister Mohammed Al Fares attends the Saudi Green Initiative forum. Reuters
  • Amin Nasser, president and chief executive of Saudi Aramco, speaks during a discussion with TotalEnergies chairman and chief executive Patrick Pouyanne at the forum. Reuters
    Amin Nasser, president and chief executive of Saudi Aramco, speaks during a discussion with TotalEnergies chairman and chief executive Patrick Pouyanne at the forum. Reuters
  • The UAE's Minister of Climate Change and Environment, Mariam Al Mheiri, speaks during the opening ceremony of the forum in Riyadh. AFP
    The UAE's Minister of Climate Change and Environment, Mariam Al Mheiri, speaks during the opening ceremony of the forum in Riyadh. AFP
  • Delegates at the opening ceremony of the forum. AFP
    Delegates at the opening ceremony of the forum. AFP
  • Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman arrives for the opening ceremony. AFP
    Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman arrives for the opening ceremony. AFP
  • Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman delivers a speech during the opening ceremony of the forum. AFP
    Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman delivers a speech during the opening ceremony of the forum. AFP
  • Princess Reema bint Bandar, Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the US, addresses delegates at the forum. Reuters
    Princess Reema bint Bandar, Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the US, addresses delegates at the forum. Reuters

In October, Prince Mohammed inaugurated the Middle East Green Initiative summit in Riyadh. It is hoped the initiative will contribute to clean fuel solutions that will affect the lives of more than 750 million people around the world.

As to its own green development, Saudi Arabia has focused on renewable energy. When the country's ambitious solar energy projects are realised, the kingdom will have added 60 gigawatts of solar power to its national grid by 2030. For comparison, the peak electricity demand of New York in winter is close to 25 gigawatts.

The Green Initiative announcement came after the kingdom announced the establishment of a regional centre for sustainable development to further coordinate renewable energy efforts across the Middle East. The Saudi Green Initiative aims to double the kingdom's current targets for reducing carbon emissions.

The world's biggest tourism promotion

Saudi Arabia plans to invest more than $1 trillion in the tourism sector over the next 10 years, Tourism Minister Ahmed Al Khateeb announced in October.

Investment in the sector is one of the pillars of the Vision 2030 transformation initiative that seeks to diversify the economy and reduce its reliance on oil. Saudi Arabia aims to increase the contribution of the tourism sector to its economy to more than 10 per cent of gross domestic product by 2030 from about 3 per cent.

  • A still from 'The Architects of Ancient Arabia' shows Jebel Al Fil (or Elephant Rock), Al Ula. Courtesy Discovery Channel
    A still from 'The Architects of Ancient Arabia' shows Jebel Al Fil (or Elephant Rock), Al Ula. Courtesy Discovery Channel
  • A still from 'The Architects of Ancient Arabia' shows Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first Unesco World Heritage Site, at Al Ula, Saudi Arabia. Courtesy Discovery Channel
    A still from 'The Architects of Ancient Arabia' shows Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first Unesco World Heritage Site, at Al Ula, Saudi Arabia. Courtesy Discovery Channel
  • Ahmed Aliman, Al Ula historian. Courtesy Discovery Channel
    Ahmed Aliman, Al Ula historian. Courtesy Discovery Channel
  • A still from 'The Architects of Ancient Arabia' shows part of Al Ula's Old Town. Courtesy Discovery Channel
    A still from 'The Architects of Ancient Arabia' shows part of Al Ula's Old Town. Courtesy Discovery Channel
  • A still from 'The Architects of Ancient Arabia' shows three women having Arabic coffee in Al Ula, Saudi Arabia. Courtesy Discovery Channel
    A still from 'The Architects of Ancient Arabia' shows three women having Arabic coffee in Al Ula, Saudi Arabia. Courtesy Discovery Channel
  • Rebecca Foote, director, archaeology and cultural heritage research at Royal Commission for Al Ula. Courtesy Discovery Channel
    Rebecca Foote, director, archaeology and cultural heritage research at Royal Commission for Al Ula. Courtesy Discovery Channel
  • A still from 'The Architects of Ancient Arabia' shows the Tomb of Lihyan, son of Kuza at Hegra, Al Ula. Courtesy Discovery Channel
    A still from 'The Architects of Ancient Arabia' shows the Tomb of Lihyan, son of Kuza at Hegra, Al Ula. Courtesy Discovery Channel
  • A still from 'The Architects of Ancient Arabia' shows Hegra, Al Ula, Saudi Arabia. Courtesy Discovery Channel
    A still from 'The Architects of Ancient Arabia' shows Hegra, Al Ula, Saudi Arabia. Courtesy Discovery Channel

Under the Vision 2030 plan, the kingdom seeks to attract 100 million local and international visitors annually by 2030 through making the most of its archaeological sites, bustling cities and pristine beaches.

Promoting Neom

Neom, the completely new, green and “smart” city development north of the Red Sea in Tabuk province, is one of the world's most ambitious megaprojects.

The $500 billion city, with a planned population of one million and a 176-kilometre layout, will have vertical take-off and landing public transport as well as giant “solar domes” to provide desalinated drinking water. The entire development will be dotted with parks and pedestrian areas.

The city will also host Oxagon, the world's largest floating industrial complex, strategically situated near the Suez Canal.

In December, 250 Saudi business leaders gathered at the Discover Neom event in London to promote investment in the project, described by Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the UK, Khalid bin Bandar, as “a global hub for innovation and an accelerator for growth".

Reopening the Grand Mosque in Makkah

Saudi Arabia's Grand Mosque in Makkah started receiving pilgrims at full capacity in October for the first time since the pandemic began in late 2019. The kingdom removed the mask requirement and social distancing rules in open spaces after a decline in coronavirus infections.

Worshippers perform taraweeh prayer at the Kaaba in the Grand Mosque on the first day of Ramadan. Reuters
Worshippers perform taraweeh prayer at the Kaaba in the Grand Mosque on the first day of Ramadan. Reuters

In November, Saudi Arabia announced a new service for overseas pilgrims, which will issue permits for Umrah and prayers at the Grand Mosque in Makkah as well as for visiting the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah.

The non-profit city

At present, the world's largest business incubator hub is in France, known as Station F, a sprawling mini-city for brainstorming in Paris that covers 34,000 square metres and has Facebook, Microsoft and Naver as business partners.

Now, Saudi Arabia is planning its own incubator with a twist — one that focuses on projects for the public good.

In November, Prince Mohammed announced a grand plan for a “non-profit city”, comprising a huge network of business incubators, training facilities and facilities for non-profit and non-governmental organisations on an international scale.

He said the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Non-Profit City will "host academies, colleges, ‘Misk schools’, a conference centre, a science museum and a creative centre offering a space to support the ambitions of innovators in sciences and new generation technology such as AI, Internet of Things and robotics".

Sweeping education reform

In September, Prince Mohammed launched a programme to shake up education, teach the values of global citizenship and adapt the kingdom to a changing world.

The Human Capability Development Programme (HCDP) is part of Vision 2030 and the Crown Prince said he hopes the HCDP will give Saudis the skills needed to compete globally in the 21st century, including in areas such as creative thinking, data analysis, technical capabilities, and emotional and social skills.

Saudi schoolgirls standing on the red carpet at the Red Sea Film Festival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Red Sea Film Festival / AFP
Saudi schoolgirls standing on the red carpet at the Red Sea Film Festival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Red Sea Film Festival / AFP

It will introduce subjects including digital skills, Islamic studies, national unity and self-defence to school syllabi next year and will add smart-learning tools to its education system. Life and family skills, critical thinking, social studies and English at the primary level will also feature in the new curriculum.

Women in the armed forces

In September, Saudi Arabia's first recruits graduated from the Armed Forces Women's Cadre Training Centre, the first time in the kingdom's history that women will begin serving in front-line roles.

The decision to allow women in the Saudi military came as part of Vision 2030, which focuses on issues such as women's empowerment and gender equality in all fields.

First group of women Saudi soldiers graduate from the Armed Forces Women’s Cadre Training Centre. Photo: Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defence
First group of women Saudi soldiers graduate from the Armed Forces Women’s Cadre Training Centre. Photo: Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defence

Saudi women can now climb the ranks from soldier to officer in the Royal Saudi Air Defence Force, Royal Saudi Navy, Royal Saudi Strategic Missile Force and the Armed Forces Medical Services.

Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
  • George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
  • Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
  • Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
  • Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills. 
Hunting park to luxury living
  • Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
  • The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
  • Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds

 

Countdown to Zero exhibition will show how disease can be beaten

Countdown to Zero: Defeating Disease, an international multimedia exhibition created by the American Museum of National History in collaboration with The Carter Center, will open in Abu Dhabi a  month before Reaching the Last Mile.

Opening on October 15 and running until November 15, the free exhibition opens at The Galleria mall on Al Maryah Island, and has already been seen at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta, the American Museum of Natural History in New York, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
HIJRA

Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy

Director: Shahad Ameen

Rating: 3/5

Emergency

Director: Kangana Ranaut

Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry 

Rating: 2/5

Company%20profile
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Infobox

Western Region Asia Cup Qualifier, Al Amerat, Oman

The two finalists advance to the next stage of qualifying, in Malaysia in August

Results

UAE beat Iran by 10 wickets

Kuwait beat Saudi Arabia by eight wickets

Oman beat Bahrain by nine wickets

Qatar beat Maldives by 106 runs

Monday fixtures

UAE v Kuwait, Iran v Saudi Arabia, Oman v Qatar, Maldives v Bahrain

What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

Squad

Ali Kasheif, Salim Rashid, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Khalfan Mubarak, Ali Mabkhout, Omar Abdulrahman, Mohammed Al Attas, Abdullah Ramadan, Zayed Al Ameri (Al Jazira), Mohammed Al Shamsi, Hamdan Al Kamali, Mohammed Barghash, Khalil Al Hammadi (Al Wahda), Khalid Essa, Mohammed Shaker, Ahmed Barman, Bandar Al Ahbabi (Al Ain), Al Hassan Saleh, Majid Suroor (Sharjah) Walid Abbas, Ahmed Khalil (Shabab Al Ahli), Tariq Ahmed, Jasim Yaqoub (Al Nasr), Ali Saleh, Ali Salmeen (Al Wasl), Hassan Al Muharami (Baniyas) 

Company%20profile
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20SAMSUNG%20GALAXY%20S23%20ULTRA
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDisplay%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%206.8%22%20edge%20quad-HD%2B%20dynamic%20Amoled%202X%2C%20Infinity-O%2C%203088%20x%201440%2C%20500ppi%2C%20HDR10%2B%2C%20120Hz%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EProcessor%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204nm%20Qualcomm%20Snapdragon%208%20Gen%202%2C%2064-bit%20octa-core%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMemory%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208%2F12GB%20RAM%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStorage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20128%2F256%2F512GB%2F1TB%20(only%20128GB%20has%20an%208GB%20RAM%20option)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPlatform%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Android%2013%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMain%20camera%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20quad%2012MP%20ultra-wide%20f%2F2.2%20%2B%20200MP%20wide%20f%2F1.7%20%2B%2010MP%20telephoto%20f%2F4.9%20%2B%2010MP%20telephoto%202.4%3B%203x%2F10x%20optical%20zoom%2C%20Space%20Zoom%20up%20to%20100x%3B%20auto%20HDR%2C%20expert%20RAW%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EVideo%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%208K%4024%2F30fps%2C%204K%4060fps%2C%20full-HD%4060fps%2C%20HD%4030fps%2C%20full-HD%20super%20slo-mo%40960fps%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFront%20camera%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2012MP%20f%2F2.2%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBattery%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%205000mAh%2C%20fast%20wireless%20charging%202.0%2C%20Wireless%20PowerShare%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EConnectivity%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%205G%2C%20Wi-Fi%2C%20Bluetooth%205.2%2C%20NFC%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EI%2FO%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20USB-C%3B%20built-in%20Galaxy%20S%20Pen%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ESIM%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20single%20nano%20%2F%20nano%20%2B%20eSIM%20%2F%20nano%20%2B%20nano%20%2B%20eSIM%20%2F%20nano%20%2B%20nano%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EColours%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20cream%2C%20green%2C%20lavender%2C%20phantom%20black%3B%20online%20exclusives%3A%20graphite%2C%20lime%2C%20red%2C%20sky%20blue%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dh4%2C949%20for%20256GB%2C%20Dh5%2C449%20for%20512GB%2C%20Dh6%2C449%20for%201TB%3B%20128GB%20unavailable%20in%20the%20UAE%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Company%20profile
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Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021

Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.

The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.

These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.

“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.

“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.

“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.

“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”

Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.

There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.

“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.

“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.

“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”

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Tamkeen's offering
  • Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
  • Option 2: 50% across three years
  • Option 3: 30% across five years 
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Expert advice

“Join in with a group like Cycle Safe Dubai or TrainYAS, where you’ll meet like-minded people and always have support on hand.”

Stewart Howison, co-founder of Cycle Safe Dubai and owner of Revolution Cycles

“When you sweat a lot, you lose a lot of salt and other electrolytes from your body. If your electrolytes drop enough, you will be at risk of cramping. To prevent salt deficiency, simply add an electrolyte mix to your water.”

Cornelia Gloor, head of RAK Hospital’s Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy Centre 

“Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can ride as fast or as far during the summer as you do in cooler weather. The heat will make you expend more energy to maintain a speed that might normally be comfortable, so pace yourself when riding during the hotter parts of the day.”

Chandrashekar Nandi, physiotherapist at Burjeel Hospital in Dubai
 

Electric scooters: some rules to remember
  • Riders must be 14-years-old or over
  • Wear a protective helmet
  • Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
  • Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
  • Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
  • Do not drive outside designated lanes
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Updated: January 11, 2022, 12:01 PM