CPH Post Saudi Arabia Supplement 2020

REALISING OPPORTUNITIES OF THE 21ST CENTURY FOR ALL

AMBASSADOR’S MESSAGE Dear Copenhagen Post reader, It is my pleasure to introduce to you this special edition on the occasion of Saudi National Day, which will be celebrated on September 23 as the 90th Anniversary of the unification of our country, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

2020 has, no doubt, been a unique year in our modern history, marked before all by the global outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. No country has been spared from its damaging effects. Saudi Arabia was one of the first countries to react to it promptly and to take every necessary measure to protect its people against its spread and damage. The economy has also been given due consideration in light of the pandemic’s destructive consequences, while continuing to facilitate necessary activities and services. Both the public and private sectors have worked together, profiting from the excellent technical and digital infrastructure that the country enjoys to promote working from home and providing services online. Advanced human resources and generous governmental spending have contributed to the success of these efforts.

Internationally, the Saudi Government has multiplied its efforts, enhancing both global cooperation and coordination to contain the pandemic and its negative impact, working in this regard with all friends, states and international organisations.

In March 2020, Saudi Arabia hosted an urgent extraordinary G20 virtual Summit dedicated to coordinating the world’s responses to address the virus’s threat, protecting the world economy and trade, and supporting the most vulnerable countries and peoples against its devastating effects. Several G20 ministerial and expert meetings are being held to coordinate policies and common plans across all the important sectors, including health, economy, trade, and finance. Preparations for the G20 Summit, which is scheduled to be held in Riyadh in November 2020, are going well, with appropriate care given to urgent issues relating to COVID-19.

Saudi Arabia’s role as a member of the G20 is part of its wider role and responsibilities as a leading global member of the international community. Despite the pandemic-related strict precautions and the sharp fluctuation of oil prices, Saudi Arabia continues steadily on its path to its goals of sustainable development in all of its three pillars – economy, society and the environment – as guided by its Vision 2030 roadmap. Infrastructural megaprojects are also proceeding in full swing and without delay.

Human development still occupies a high position on the government’s agenda. The latest annual report of the United Nations Development Program on Human Development Index (HDI) ranks Saudi Arabia 36th out of 189 countries in the category of ‘very high human development’. Earlier this year, the World Bank report ’Women, Business, and the Law 2020’ recognised Saudi Arabia as the world’s top reformer, applauding the progress that the Kingdom has achieved in several indicators including mobility, workplace, entrepreneurship and pension.

Overseas, Saudi Arabia continues its work to promote cooperation and partnership with the rest of the world. The friendly, ever-growing Saudi-Danish relations are a good ex-

ample in this regard. The two countries celebrated this year (in 2020) the 45th anniversary of the commencement of diplomatic relations, which began with the opening of respective embassies in the two countries. Cooperation between the two kingdoms has been progressing smartly on all levels: political, economic and cultural.

When it comes to the political-security sphere, Saudi Arabia and Denmark work together, both bilaterally and multilaterally, to promote international peace and security, as well as advancing stability and prosperity for all.

With regard to economy and trade, the two countries enjoy a decades-long, well-established, ever-evolving partnership that runs deep in many industries, including pharmaceuticals, food industries, water management, renewable energy, IT and entertainment. Danish companies, in turn, are helping Saudi Arabia to realise national strategic plans in the fields of architecture, design, entertainment and the service sector in general.

Educationally, several Saudi students are continuing with their high education at prestigious Danish universities and institutes, including some PhD and Post-PhD researchers. While Saudi students based elsewhere often visit Denmark educational and technical institutions for training and field visits.

Culturally, Saudi Arabia will next month (October 2-7) participate in the Aarhus Arab Film Festival, and some Saudi award-winning films will be released to Danish and Scandinavian audiences.

The future of Saudi-Danish relations has a lot of potential for progress, and I am confident that the two countries and their respective peoples will continue forging this cooperation further and be able to bring it to new wider horizons.

Thank you.

Fahad Alruwaily Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Kingdom of Denmark

SAUDI ARABIA SPECIAL EDITION

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G20

On 26 March 2020, the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz chaired the Extraordinary G20 virtual summit convened to coordinate global efforts against the COVID-19 pandemic. In their final statement of the summit, the G20 leaders pledged to strengthen their cooperation to address the pandemic’s health, economic and trade implications, and to support the most vulnerable countries and peoples against the virus’s effects.

The G20 summit this year will be held under the presidency of Saudi Arabia in Riyadh for the period 21-22 November 2020. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and all other competent authorities are working hard for the preparation of the summit – which this year are particularly stringent in light of the unprecedented concerns presented by COVID-19. The Group’s leaders will meet under the summit’s theme ‘Realising Opportunities of the 21st Century for All’. The summit will focus on three objectives: Empowering People, Safeguarding the Planet and Shaping New Frontiers.

“In hosting the G20, the Kingdom will have an important role to play by sharing the perspective of the Middle East and North Africa region ” HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud

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G20

Last November, HH Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah Al Saud, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, was officially handed over the G20 baton from Japan’s Foreign Minister, Toshimitus Motegi, signalling the presidency of Saudi Arabia of G20 for 020.

WHAT IS THE G20?

The G20 is the premier forum for international co-operation on key issues involving the global economic and financial agenda. It is a grouping of 20 of the world’s most important industrialised and developing economies, and it has since evolved to become a venue for discussing other international challenges such as climate change and health concerns.

The bloc represents about 80 percent of the world’s economic output, twothirds of the global population and three-quarters of international trade.

Its members include 19 countries and the European Union. These nations are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Formed in 1999 in the wake of financial crises, the G20 was envisioned to be more representative of the changing global balance of power than the G7, the G8, and the Bretton Woods system.

It recognises the growth of emerging economies and increasing integration of financial markets. The annual summit of G20 leaders began in 2008 and the group is credited for its robust response to that year’s financial crisis.

G20 LEADERS’ SUMMIT The Leaders’ Summit will be held from November 21-22 in Riyadh, the culmination of the Saudi G20 Presidency. The

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summit gathers the G20 heads of state and government. It will be the Kingdom’s first hosting of the summit, thus putting the international spotlight on Riyadh like never before. Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud will chair the summit.

The Kingdom has initiated its own measures to stop the spread of COVID-19 including testing travellers and dramatically scaling back the Hajj pilgrimage by banning international visitors. It also imposed a curfew and lockdown measures that were lifted in June.

Besides G20 members, Saudi Arabia has invited guest countries and international organisations to the meeting. Among the guests are Jordan, Singapore, Spain and Switzerland. Regional organisations such as the Arab Monetary Fund, the Islamic Development Bank and the Gulf Cooperation Council are also invited.

Global organisations including the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Trade Organization will also take part.

THEME AND AGENDA

VIRTUAL OR REAL? As of July 24, the G20 lists the Leaders’ Summit as a physical meeting. Yet Saudi Arabia’s finance minister, Mohammed al-Jadaan, said that there is still no final decision on whether the summit will be held physically or virtually as the issue is still being considered due to the Coronavirus Crisis.

Since March, the bloc has changed arrangements for its meetings due to the pandemic, with some being postponed and others moving online. Saudi Arabia is in contact with the WHO and its own health ministry for precautions related to the virus.

The focus of discussions will be the theme of the Saudi G20 Presidency: ‘Realising Opportunities of the 21st Century for All’. Highlighting inclusive and sustainable growth, the theme has three objectives: ‘Empowering People’, ‘Safeguarding the Planet’ and ‘Shaping New Frontiers’.

Under this agenda, the G20 will focus on policies that aim to provide employment for youth, support the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and build investment capacity in developing and least developed countries. There will also be emphasis on developing smart cities, addressing the entry of large technology firms in financial services, and advancing efforts to manage emissions.

In particular, the group aims to reach a consensus on global rules concerning tax digital giants like Google, Amazon and Facebook. An agreement is necessary to avoid a proliferation of different digital tax regimes worldwide. The issue is rooted in concerns that digital giants do not pay enough taxes in countries where they have customers and users.

G20

CORONAVIRUS CRISIS While not originally on the agenda when Saudi Arabia assumed the G20 presidency in December 2019, the Coronavirus Crisis has become front and centre of the bloc’s meetings and is expected to dominate the Leaders’ Summit.

Crucially, the gathering may have historic significance as other international organisations urge the G20 to support stronger international co-operation to tide the global economy through the deep recession that it faces this year. What the world leaders agree or not agree on will impact on the twin health and economic crises caused by COVID-19.

The Leaders’ Summit is expected to build on the G20’s efforts so far to address the pandemic, as follows:

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In March, King Salman led an emergency video conference regarding the crisis where G20 leaders agreed to present a “united front” and inject over 5 trillion US dollars into the global economy to counter the pandemic’s impact. The king stressed the need to help developing and least developed countries.

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In April, G20 finance ministers and central bank governors held a virtual meeting where they agreed on a debt service suspension initiative for the poorest countries to help them cope with the fallout from the pandemic.

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In June, the G20 said it had pledged over 21 billion US dollars to fight the pandemic, with the money directed towards vaccines, diagnostics, research and development.

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In July, G20 finance ministers said they will consider extending debt relief for coronavirus-hit countries in the second half of 2020. They added that 42 countries have requested to benefit from the initiative, with 5.3 billion US dollars of 2020 debt service to be deferred. Groups including the World Bank have called for an extension of the initiative until the end of 2021, while Oxfam wants it stretched through 2022.

SAUDI ARABIA AS HOST Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the G20 is not only a first for the Kingdom, but also for the region. As the only Middle Eastern G20 member and a representative of the Islamic World, the country is highlighting its place in the global economy and geopolitics.

“In hosting the G20, the Kingdom will have an important role to play by sharing the perspective of the Middle East and North Africa region,” said Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

Saudi Arabia has launched its own initiatives to help fight the Coronavirus Crisis, pledging 500 million US dollars in April to supporting global efforts to combat the pandemic. The funding is meant for groups charged with epidemic preparedness, vaccine development and other health programs.

PREPARATIONS Leading up to the summit, the Saudi Arabian Presidency is hosting more than 100 meetings and conferences. These include gatherings of ministers, business leaders and representatives of civil society, labour groups, the scientific and research community, and think-tanks.

Meetings have been held in Riyadh, Jeddah and Khobar – and also virtually.

By Ayee Macaraig

HISTORY

KEYS TO THE

KINGDOM The story of how Saudi Arabia was unified and rapidly modernised

By Nathan Walmer

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he seeds of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s rise to regional and global prominence in the economic and political arena today were first sown with the country’s founding in September 1932, when Abdulaziz Ibn Saud assumed the role as its founding father and first king. As such, it is a relatively young country, though with ancient roots, in a very old part of the world.

A series of consequential events leading up to the formation of the country in 1932 saw Ibn Saud’s decades-long campaign to unite the fractured regions and competing tribal factions within the Arabian Peninsula come to fruition. The regions of Eastern Arabia, Northern Arabia, Southern Arabia, Hijaz and Najd unified to make up Saudi Arabia.

ROAD TO UNIFICATION

The road to unification had started a full three decades earlier. In 1902, before establishing the kingdom of his namesake, Ibn Saud – accompanied by only 40 followers – staged a daring, successful night march into his family’s ancestral home city, the future Saudi capital of Riyadh, where he seized the Masmak Fortress in 1902.

After establishing his Riyadh headquarters, he took over the regions of Hijaz and Najd between 1921 and 1925 under the banner of a sunni Islamic revival. They are home to two of the holiest cities in the Muslim faith: Mecca (captured in 1924) and Medina (captured in 1925).

Arabian Peninsula.

Resistance to his new status as the absolute monarch of the country never materialised and his supreme authority was solidified, while his lineage was established the following year in 1933 with the selection of his son Saud as heir apparent to the throne.

A REMARKABLE LEADER

Ibn Saud’s diplomatic prowess and charisma would prove to carry over well into his ascendency and reign as the first king of Saudi Arabia. King Abdulaziz was a highly sophisticated statesman who made a deep impression on foreign leaders and diplomats, who were impressed by his integrity and honesty.

He was famous for dispensing with diplomatic niceties in favour of frank and candid discussion, and he also became well known for keeping his promises.

These characteristics are exemplified well in an article published in July 1939 in the British newspaper The Yorkshire Post entitled ‘Arabia in European Politics’, in which a columnist hails the relatively new king of his young country as someone whom “history will probably describe as the greatest man produced

by Arabia since the Prophet”. In the high praise that followed, the columnist explained that despite the conquests of Ibn Saud, “it soon became apparent that the King’s aim was something higher than mere enlargement of boundaries”.

The regions of Hijaz and Najd were from 1927 administered as dual kingdoms, until Ibn Saud mandated their consolidation by royal decree. On this day, 23 September 1932, the now unified country was named the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, an Islamic nation with Arabic as its national language and the Holy Qur’an as its constitution. Since its inception, the kingdom has been ruled

by Ibn Saud and his descendants.

In the assessment, the column pointed to the 1934 conflict between Saudi Arabia and Yemen in which “the Saudi victory was complete, and then, to the astonishment of the world, Ibn Saud proceeded to readjust the frontier as though he were a third party. He took no land from his vanquished enemy, nor demanded an indemnity.

What European State has shown such impressive statesmanship in recent times?”

The decree worked to not only unify two distinct regions, but also to diminish the opportunity for Hijazi separatist sentiment to take hold.

Shrewd diplomatic moves like these put on display Ibn Saud’s innate ability as a leader and statesman in fulfilling his +30 year campaign to unify much of the

All these qualities enhanced his stature as a reliable and responsible leader dedicated to peace and justice. Under his reign, Saudi Arabia was one of the world’s founding members of the United Nations, the League of Arab States and several other regional and international organisations and treaties.

The emerging state also started a wide establishment of diplomatic relations with other nations worldwide.

On the domestic front, King Abdulaziz was a remarkable leader of great imagination and vision who set Saudi Arabia on the road to modernisation. It was during his rule that the country’s infrastructure began to be established as he guided the construction of roads and basic communications systems, introduced modern technology, and improved education, healthcare and agriculture.

READY TO PROSPER

Shortly after weathering the worldwide traumas of the Great Depression, oil was discovered in considerable quantities in 1936 by the US-owned Arabian Standard Oil Company, which would become the Arabian American Oil Company (Aramco), and commercial production began in 1938. Up until then, Saudi Arabia was largely an agrarian society with its economy reliant upon agricultural goods, nomadic pastoralism and pilgrimage revenues. The discovery would radically shape the young nation’s trajectory as an emerging, modernising power of enormous wealth in the region, with sizeable political leverage internationally.

Ultimately, Saudi Arabia would come to be known to possess a quarter of the world’s known oil reserves.

Revenue from its oil production and the subsequent oil boom following World War II would help to fuel its investments domestically, from major infrastructure projects to the construction of schools, hospitals, homes and deep water ports open for trade.

All of these events leading up to the country’s inception and in its infancy established the foundation of Saudi Arabia’s role in the world and help to explain its international influence on the world stage today. In its relatively short history it has remained politically stable and adhered to its conservative Islamic traditions, all while utilising its vast wealth from its oil reserves and foreign trade to invest in its future as a modernised society and economic power in the global arena.

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PEOPLE

PEERLESS PEOPLE PROSPECTS Unlike many of its peers on the world stage, Saudi Arabia has a youthful population thriving thanks to the huge strides taken in the areas of education, life expectancy and gender equality

By Gulden Timur

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sk a Saudi national what their country’s biggest asset was at any time between the mid-1930s and relatively recently, and their answer would undoubtedly be oil. But today, they might reconsider.

universities (with several more in the pipeline), as well as some 30,000 schools, colleges and other institutions. The recent trend towards private universities is further driving an increase in the overall education level in the country.

With 60,000 Saudis currently studying at US universities, 30,000 in the UK and 640,000 at home (of which 58 percent are women), you might get another answer.

To fuel these developments, the government sets aside 25 percent of its GDP for the meeting of the population’s educational needs, with the system open to all citizens and residents, providing students with free education, books and healthcare services.

At a time when most economic powers have ever-ageing populations, Saudi Arabia stands out as a country where young people dominate.

When the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was founded in 1932, only the children of the urban rich were educated. But, in more recent times, oil-revenue has been channelled into social welfare for Saudi nationals, with education a key priority.

As a result, the country has managed to reshape the profile of its youth, along with their prospects. Now it is they who are leading the way in business and science, whilst emerging as their Kingdom’s greatest asset.

MODERN, FREE EDUCATION Previously, education was of a largely traditional variety, with Islamic classes held in mosques. It was basic in its content, limited in its reach and accessed by just a small segment of the population.

KING SALMAN BIN ABDULAZIZ Nowadays, the Saudi Arabian educational system includes over 50 public and private

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RAPID PROGRESS Currently, around 640,000 students are enrolled at Saudi universities and colleges, compared to just 7,000 in 1970 – with over half of this number being female. Women attend all major universities, as well as numerous all-female colleges and private women’s universities.

Saudi students also have the opportunity to pursue specialised graduate and postgraduate degrees abroad, supported by government scholarships, with thousands of Saudi students enrolled in universities outside the Kingdom.

CONQUERING ILLITERACY Literacy levels, from just 8 percent of the Saudi population in 1979, have skyrocketed to almost 95 percent by 2015, thanks largely to the government-launched literacy foundation.

In the most recent Human Development Index, the Kingdom ranked in the top 40

DEMOGRAPHIC SHIFT The Saudi Arabian population currently totals around 34.8 million. Of this, about 25 percent are aged between 0 and 14 years, while the 15-24 age group equates to another 15 percent. This amounts to a country that is typified by youthfulness.

With this demographic shift, the government has become increasingly concerned with the prospect of Saudis reaching adulthood and entering the job market without the necessary qualifications to compete in the employment market.

The population itself can be considered mono-ethnic: with 90 percent Arabic and 10 percent of Afro-Asian descent.

Following their economic diversification strategy, the Saudi government has been encouraging the skilled and semiskilled workers to arrive, and it is now listed among the top five immigrant destination countries globally, with 5.3 million international migrants residing within its borders today.

in the world – situated higher than a number of European countries, including Portugal, Latvia, Hungary and Croatia.

GENDER EQUALITY Since 2017, Saudi Arabia has seen the greatest increase globally in gender equality indicators, according to a report from the World Bank. These indicators include mobility, sexual harassment, age of retirement and economic activity.

2019 was a turning point in terms of the economic opportunities available to women: amendments were adopted to protect women from discrimination in employment, prohibiting employers from dismissing a woman during her pregnancy and maternity leave, as well as prohibitions on gender-based discrimination in accessing financial

services. The male and female retirement ages have also been aligned.

In terms of mobility, the most significant change has been a recent amendment to the male guardianship law. Now, women above the age of 21 no longer need permission from a male guardian to have a passport and to travel abroad.

On top of that, women are now allowed to hold a driver’s licence and seek child custody when married to a foreigner.

The understanding of women’s roles in the Saudi Arabian future has been a foundation of Vision 2030. Although the starting point for gender equality was quite low, and crucial issues surrounding domestic abuse and equal pay remain, Saudi Arabian progress has been truly remarkable.

VISIONS FOR THE FUTURE In 2016, the country unveiled its ambitious Vision 2030 plan to further boost the living standards of its citizens leading up to 2030.

Among the initiatives were the encouragement of healthy lifestyles, hoping to increase the number of citizens who exercise weekly from 13 to 40 percent, and a goal of having at least five of the top 200 universities in the world.

Other key elements with Vision 2030 include female empowerment, promoting youth engagement and, critically, striving towards an economic diversification that will allow it to move away from being a strictly oil-based economy.

One of the targets of the Vision 2030 strategy is to further improve life expectancy by another six years to 80 – an average gain of 0.43 years annually. That would be some achievement – particularly as Denmark’s life expectancy in 2016 was 80.7.

If it succeeds in its ambitions, it is safe to say that the Saudi Kingdom of 2030 will have emerged as an educational world leader, with a reinvigorated cultural outlook.

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PEOPLE

MORE REFORMS FOR

WOMEN EMPOWERMENT World Bank report praises Saudi Arabia’s outstanding improvements in key areas

In March 2020, Her Highness Princess Haifa Bint Abdulaziz Al Moqrin presented her credentials as Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Audrey Azoulay, the Director General of UNESCO, in Paris.

Earlier in November 2019, Saudi Arabia was elected a member of the UNESCO Executive Board for the period 2019-2023.

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he last two years have seen huge advances for women’s rights and prosperity in the Kingdom.

The empowerment of women in Saudi Arabia and their participation in public and economic life is key to Vision 2030.

The rapid progress, which has coincided with many other advancements in society, has become a major talking point all over the world.

In October 2018, Lubna Olayan was appointed Chairwoman of SABB, the third biggest bank in Saudi Arabia. Olayan is a wellknown businesswoman in Saudi Arabia and the Arab World.

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TOP REFORMER Earlier this year, the World Bank’s annual report ‘Women, Business and the Law 2020’ ranked Saudi Arabia as the top reformer and top improver among the 190 countries that it covers.

The report also placed Saudi Arabia as the first among the GCC countries and second in the Arab World.

Saudi Arabia has made outstanding improvements in six out of eight indicators measured by the report: mobility, workplace, marriage, parenthood, entrepreneurship and pensions.

WORLD-LEADING HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE

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ccording to the last report of the United Nations Financial Tracking Platform, Saudi Arabia ranked fifth in the world, as well as number one in the Arab World, for providing humanitarian assistance.

Its global assistance in 2019 amounted to 1.281 billion US dollars, which represents 5.5 percent of the total amount of humanitarian aid worldwide.

The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre currently works in 49 countries under the motto ‘Towards an Unrestricted Humanity’.

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EDUCATION

EDUCATION:

TOWARDS A KNOWLEDGE-BASED SOCIETY

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz with a group of Saudi students in the US who are sponsored by the Oversees Scholarship Program

In August 2019, General Entertainment Authority sent the first group of its scholarship students to the United States for graduate and postgraduate entertainment studies.

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S

aud Arabia has 30 public and 12 private universities, where about 350,000 students, both male and female, continue their academic education.

WOMEN PRESENTLY OWN ABOUT 31% OF THE TOTAL CAPITAL OF INVESTMENT FUNDS IN SAUDI ARABIAN BANKS AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

Some choose, however, to study abroad as Saudi Arabia has one of the most ambitious governmental scholarship programs to support overseas students.

According to latest reports, around 93,000 Saudi students are currently studying abroad, including about 32,000 women. Most of them study in the United States where statistics show that Saudi students account for third largest overseas contingent, behind only China and India. Many also study in Europe, Australia and Asia.

Ambassador Fahad Alruwaily welcomes Dr Solaiman Alotaibi , who in November 2019 obtained a PhD with honours in health sciences from the University of Copenhagen.

There are currently 18 Saudi students pursuing their post-graduate studies in Denmark on governmental scholarships.

A Saudi team of trainees under the sponsorship of Naif University in Riyadh, who had a short training course in Denmark in March 2019.

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TRADE

TWO KINGDOMS IN COLLABORATION

Greetings to all readers and a happy 90th National Day to Saudi Arabia COVID-19 IN REAR WINDOW COVID-19 have had a significant impact on all of us this year. When we first entered the new decade, we were not expecting that this year would become deeply affected by a global pandemic, economic recession and social strains. The COVID-19 crisis has forced global leaders to initiate strong counter-measures to combat the pandemic and mitigate the effects of a long and devastating economic recession.

The authorities in Denmark and Saudi Arabia reacted rapidly to the pandemic and with drastic measures such as full lockdowns, social distancing and increased hygiene focus, and the swift reactions delivered results.

The Danish and Saudi societies have reopened and resumed a somewhat normal situation for a couple of months now, while cautiously monitoring the development until we have an efficient vaccine.

Due to travel restrictions, people around the world have enjoyed domestic tourism to a new extent this year. An unexpected aspect of the COVID-19 situation was that I enjoyed a ‘staycation’ in Saudi Arabia this year.

I had the pleasure of a hiking trip in the beautiful Asir region in the southern part of Saudi Arabia. I enjoyed beautiful sights, outdoor cooking and sleeping, as well as remarkable conversations around the bonfire. Saudi Arabia offers various different climates, nature and wildlife, and it has an extraordinary potential for tourism.

G20 ON THE ROAD AHEAD 2020 has been a remarkable year for the Kingdoms of Denmark and Saudi Arabia. On 1 February 2020, Denmark and Saudi Arabia marked the 45th year anniversary of diplomatic relations. It has been 45 years of interesting developments and continuously strong bilateral relations – politically and commercially.

Denmark and Saudi Arabia have ambitions in the field of renewable energy. Renewable energy is a major priority for Denmark and it also has a prominent position in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. Denmark aims to cover 100 percent of the national energy demand by renewable energy by 2030 and Saudi Arabia aims to cover 50 percent. in 2030. One of the latest initiatives by Saudi Arabia towards realising the ambitions in renewable energy was to sign a deal with the Danish company Vestas to deliver wind turbines for a 400 MW wind farm in Dumat Al-Jandal.

The wind energy farm will become Saudi Arabia’s first utility-scale wind power source. I am excited to follow this development and will be looking forward to witnessing the Danish wind turbines spin in northern Saudi Arabia in 2021.

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Saudi Arabia’s G20 presidency this year has caused an increased focus on the country’s activities on the global stage. Saudi Arabia has been engaged under difficult global circumstances and has taken extraordinary measures to facilitate G20 discussions regarding how to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic and the global economic consequences. I look forward to following the continued G20 efforts heading towards the summit in November 2020.

In conclusion, allow me to share my best wishes for a joyful and happy Saudi National Day on 23 September 2020. With yet another engaging year behind us, I am looking forward to the coming year and the new opportunities it will bring for Denmark and Saudi Arabia.

Ole E Moesby Ambassador of Denmark to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Yemen

SAUDI CANDIDATE’S

STRONG CONVICTIONS Mohammad al-Tuwaijri is among the favourites to be elected the next director-general of the World Trade Organization this November

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he World Trade Organization is in need of reform, claims Mohammad al-Tuwaijri, the Saudi candidate to become its director-general this November, following the decision of the incumbent, Brazil’s Roberto Azevedo, to leave the position a year earlier than planned.

It’s a strong statement of intent to criticise the body you intend to take over, but Al-Tuwaijri has the goods to back up his convictions.

As the Saudi Arabian Minister of Economy and Planning from 2016 to 2020, he has overseen much of the economic transformation under the umbrella of the Vision 2030 plan. And with over two decades of experience working for some of the world’s biggest banks, he also has an impressive financial background.

“I have been part of one of the biggest reforms in recent history: a major transformation involving economic diversification, job creation and the private sector – very much the original goals of the WTO,” he said.

“I can bring that experience hot from the oven to the WTO, where the management and leadership are very similar.”

WTO members will perhaps be most impressed by Al-Tuwaijri’s vision to use the coronavirus pandemic to the organisation’s advantage, as it effectively offers a clean slate ideally suited to reform.

“Amid the uncertainty of COVID-19, why not rethink some of the rules and processes, and introduce some new ideas to the members, to get this ship moving,” he said.

“For an organisation drifting away from its true north, a director-general should be like a compass. We need to dig deep and find out what the root causes are of this drift and how the members can be aware of the root causes, and how we can in the future – and this is my key point – have key performance indicators to ensure the organisation doesn’t drift again.”

The WTO is currently beset by challenges: most notably the coronavirus pandemic and the escalating trade war between the US and China.

And it needs a “solid, necessary reform agenda” if it is to remain relevant, contends Al-Tuwaijri.

“There have been some good successes in the past; however, the world has changed and has changed significantly and particularly in the last few years,” he said.

Al-Tuwaijri even went as far as suggesting that a “fully dedicated director-general” should be subjected to greater scrutiny, suggesting the establishment of a set of performance indicators to ensure that members can see progress being made by the WTO. “I think the director-general in his mandate for the next few years should focus on delivery, process enhancement, and building key performance indicators, so members can appraise the progress,” he said.

In reference to his experience in the banking sector, Al-Tuwaijri noted that he is ideally suited to delivering results on schedule.

While his implementation of some of the vast changes necessary to fulfil Vision 2030, he points out, make him the best candidate to see through the necessary reform.

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FUTURE

NEW FUTURE ON THE WAY

NEOM

A new mega city embracing futuristic technology overlooking the Red Sea could be completed as early as 2025

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s part of its progressive approach, Saudi Arabia is not only aiming to take centre stage in world affairs, but it has also adopted a futuristic approach. The kingdom is building a mega city some 33 times the size of New York City, which will be totally powered by renewable energy sources.

Neom, which has been described by Saudi officials as the “world’s most ambitious project”, is located in the northwestern Saudi province of Tabuk on the coast of the Red Sea. It will eventually comprise 16 boroughs and cost an estimated 500 billion US dollars to build.

In 2018, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said that it would be completed by 2025. It is a part of the nation’s multifaceted Vision 2030 program, which aims to transform Saudi society into a technology hub.

IN THE REALMS OF SCI-FI Some of the technology planned for Neom hasn’t been invented yet! This includes flying cars, robot maids, dinosaur robots, and a giant artificial moon.

Most intriguing of all, perhaps, are plans (inspired by the film Superman III, perhaps?) for ‘cloud seeding’ technology to produce artificial clouds that are expected to result in higher rainfall than is naturally the case in a desert.

Education is also taking a sci-fi path, as

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SAUDI ARABIA SPECIAL EDITION

By Kaukab Tahir Shairani Neom intends to become a world leader in providing classes taught by holographic teachers.

Most of all, the project will entail setting up an innovation centre to explore 5G opportunities. With Saudi Telecom Co (STC), the country’s leading telecom provider, on board, the cognitive cities project aims to build a wireless 5G network enabling present and future 5G applications across Neom. The service is expected to be ten times faster than regular 4G networks.

In addition, 5G in Neom will provide numerous segments including Internet of Things (IoT), data analytics, virtual reality, augmented reality, smart homes and autonomous vehicles.

While Neom will trial and test 5G solutions to boost sectors such as robotics, artificial intelligence (AI) and human machine interface technologies.

TOURIST RESORT AS WELL Skiing in the morning and swimming in the afternoon is the ultimate boast of some resorts, and Neom is more than capable of joining the club!

Spread across an area some 26,500 sq km in size, the site is bordered by a vast number of beaches and coral reefs running 460 km along the Red Sea coastline and a mountain range that is regularly covered in snow during

the winter.

The snow-capped peaks, of which some are as high as 2,500 metres, play their part in keeping the area relatively cool compared to the rest of the country, and it also benefits from a strong ocean breeze.

Additionally, while Saudi Arabia does not border Egypt, Neom will bring it closer than ever to its fellow Arab state, as it is just a quick boat ride away on the other side of the Red Sea.

ECONOMIC DRIVER The Saudi 2030 agenda aims to utilise Neom as an economic driver, and Nadhmi Al Nasr, the CEO of Neom, envisages a bright future ahead.

“We are glad to form this partnership with a leading national digital enabler such as STC to support our ambition and goal to be an accelerator of human progress and to create the world’s leading digitally sustainable, cognitive cities,” he said.

“The procurement and deployment of a future proof wireless network is a critical first for Neom in realising its goal of driving innovation in the future digital economy.”

It’s no wonder they decided to call the city Neom. It’s derived from ‘neo’, the Ancient Greek word for new, and an abbreviation of the Arabic word for future. It would appear that the ‘New Future’ has arrived.

NOW THAT’S

ENTERTAINMENT! Walt Disney taught us that dreams come true, but even he would have had a hard time comprehending a megaproject like Qiddiya could be possible

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audia Arabia’s ‘new capital of entertainment’ is like Disneyland, but bigger – 874 times bigger in fact.

While the world’s most famous capital of entertainment encompasses a mere 40 hectares, Saudi Arabia’s new Qiddiya entertainment megaproject, once completed, will inhabit an area of land 34,400 hectares in size.

That’s five times bigger than Gibraltar and the same size as Granada!

BOOST FOR SPORTS On a site just southwest of the capital Riyadh, the Qiddiya megaproject will not only become the Kingdom’s capital of entertainment, but also of sport and the arts.

It will include themeparks, entertainment centres, animal show venues, and untold sports and fitness facilities with a focus on sports career development.

Qiddiya has its eyes on the 26 billion US dollars Saudis annually spend on entertainment abroad. It accordingly envisages a doubling of household spending on entertainment.

GREAT INVESTMENT Michael Reininger, the CEO of Qiddiya, is confident the megaproject can recapture much of the spending that ends up disappearing abroad.

By Maria el Youssif “Capturing as much as we possibly can is the objective and at the same time creating a bigger pie so that we can get the disproportionate share of that bigger pie that we create at the same time,” Reininger said.

“It’s a giant market, and there’s not a lot of competition, so there’s a clear opportunity.

That’s the kind of thing you want to invest in.”

DENMARK’S BIG ONBOARD Complemented by two other tourism mega-projects – Neom and the Red Sea Project – Qiddiya is part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.

The masterplan was unveiled in 2019 following a working collaboration with the Danish architecture firm Bjarke Ingels Group.

It is being described as a new experience where speed merges with science, but nature will also play a big role, accounting for around two-thirds of the 344 sqkm site.

ASPIRATION SIZED TO SCALE Work on Phase 1 has already started.

Entailing 45 projects encompassing venues for 300+ activities, along with educational and recreational facilities, it is scheduled to open in 2022. Phase 2 will then follow two years later, with an expected opening date

Photo: Pixabay

of 2026.

“This is an aspiration sized to the scale of this epic site and a business opportunity of equal proportion,” enthused Reininger.

“On this land, which is 2.5x the size of Disney World, or 100x the size of Central Park in New York, we will welcome some 17 million visitors by 2030 across our various and distinctive entertainment, retail and hospitality outlets.”

TECH INNOVATION As well as becoming a huge generator of jobs in the region, Saudi Arabia regards Qiddiya as a catalyst for national transformation, serving as an interactive space for Saudi youth and families, as well as tourists, to create memories that will last them a lifetime.

Additionally it wants to become a hub for tech innovation and a fostering of advancement. As part of Vision 2030, there are huge expectations Qiddiya can become the epitome of what an entertainment capital should look like.

“We will seek the best to help us, as we invent a new entertainment experience for all residents and visitors to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” concluded Reininger.

Even Walt himself would be impressed.

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GOING GREEN

OIL THE NEW

ALTERNATIVE

In keeping with Vision 2030, the Kingdom is switching its focus onto solar and wind energy

By Edward Owen

B

oil reserves and they account for the largest proportion of its exports, making the energy sector the backbone of the Kingdom’s economy.

So it was no surprise last June when it announced its first major project in Saudi Arabia: the 415MW Dumat Al Jandal wind farm in the southerly Al Jouf region.

As well as wind, the country is busy investing in developing alternative energy sources as it looks to address global and domestic requirements in a sustainable manner. And given its huge supply of sunshine, solar power is a logical choice.

Dumat Al Jandal, the country’s first utilityscale wind farm, will consist of 99 turbines.

Furthermore, Vestas has signed a deal to service the site for 20 years.

With some of the most intense and enduring sunshine in the world, solar power is an incredibly important renewable energy source in Saudi Arabia.

At the time of the announcement, Saudi Arabia only had one operational turbine (a 2.75 MW unil installed by oil giant Saudi Aramco and GE in the northern city of Turaif in 2017, which powers 250 households), but all that will change over the next decade.

In the summer months, sunshine can average 11 hours per day. And in the winter, sunshine still averages seven hours per day – which is not far shy of a good summer’s day in Copenhagen.

In total, this equates to 105 trillion kilowatt hours per day, which in energy terms is equivalent to 10 billion barrels of crude oil.

ack in 2014, the Danish wind energy company Vestas had no doubts that the Middle East had huge potential, predicting the “significant wind resources” of the region could yield a capacity of 1,200MW by 2020.

In order to fulfil the 16GW target set out by Vision 2030, the National Renewable Energy Programme (NREP) is expected to confirm deals amounting to 850MW of wind capacity in 2021 and 2022.

SKY’S THE LIMIT!

Long gone are the days of Saudi Arabia being solely dependent on oil, even though it possesses a quarter of the world’s proven

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Furthermore, given the remoteness of some locations in Saudi Arabia with vast stretches of desert roads, solar energy is highly appropriate as a reliable source of power.

Among other things, solar energy is being used within the Kingdom to power water pumps, refrigeration, air conditioning and even communications equipment.

Blades of Wind Turbines have just started to arrive to Dumat Aljandal Wind Farm, north of Saudi Arabia

LONG-TERM PLAN

Thanks to the NREP, Saudi Arabia has significantly improved its long-term goals for achieving more extensive use of green energy.

Vision 2030 aims to maximise the potential of renewable energy by providing a roadmap for establishing and supporting a renewables industry.

RESEARCH, DEVELOP, PROSPER The King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) and its scientists are working on groundbreaking projects to make solar power a more economically feasible solution.

Furthermore, KACST is running programs that focus on using solar energy for water desalination, agriculture, and the generation of hydrogen.

In addition to solar energy, the institute carries out research on combustion and engines, plasma applications, fuel cells and batteries, and automotive technology.

Other key aspects of research for a green and sustainable energy sector seek to improve storage and recovery. Improved storage means greater efficiency, and implementing recovery means salvaging energy that would otherwise be wasted – perhaps in the form of a by-product.

Research is also carried out on electrical power systems with the aim of making improvements to voltage stability and remote control of systems.

Publisher: CPH POST • Editor: Hans Hermansen • Journalist: Ben Hamilton, Ayee Macaraig, Nathan Walmer, Gulden Timur, Edward Owen, Arushi Rajput, Kaukab Tahir Shairani, Maria el Youssif, Daria Shamonova • Layout: CPH POST • Info: hans@cphpost.dk • Tel: +45 2420 2411

At the end of 2019, the existing grid was able to harvest up to 13.5 GW of power from renewable sources.

In the long term, the targets for 2030 are to reach a 40 GW capacity for solar power and a 16 GW capacity for wind.

They will help to power an electricity distribution network that consists of 8,750 miles of transmission lines, 52,000 miles of distribution lines and over 53,000 miles of service connections.

GAS AND STEAM RECOVERY

Saudi Arabia boasts vast reserves of natural gas that are used as an environmentally friendly energy source.

Until the 1970s, most of the Kingdom’s natural gas was allowed to dissipate at the wells of oil production. Following an ambitious project known as Master Gas System, natural gas is collected and distributed around the country.

Desalination plants are also used to recover energy. Desalination is the process of purifying water by removing salts and minerals, creating steam that is then recovered to generate electricity.

It is a long-held aim of the Saudi government that the electricity produced by desalination plants will eventually account for half of its total output.

A DOMESTIC BEGINNING Saudi Arabia has a growing population, and so the development of more sustainable and renewable energy technology is not just of interest but a necessity.

The demand for electricity has been growing 9 percent annually since 2010 (compared to 1 percent in the EU and other developed countries).

In addition to the concerted efforts being made via programs such as NREP, bold moves have also been made to increase the domestic price of gasoline and traditional electricity, illustrating the Kingdom’s desire for change, and to start a nuclear power plant program.

Saudi Arabia is considered to be one of the richest countries in solar energy due to its geographic location in the “Sun Belt”. This location and having vast areas of sand deserts give more advantage to get energy and produce silicon needed for PV solar cells.

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GOING GREEN

HOW THE KINGDOM IS EMBRACING WATER-TECH AND INNOVATIVE AGRICULTURAL METHODS TO FIND AN EQUILIBRIUM IN ITS DRY LAND THAT IS BEST DESCRIBED AS A MIRACLE

By Arushi Rajput

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O

ver the past few decades, many of Saudi Arabia’s arid desert lands have been turned into large oases – an indication of the Kingdom’ astounding agricultural development.

For a country where it almost never rains, this truly is a miracle.

The overall result is that today Saudi Arabia can claim to be one of the world’s biggest exporters of food – most notably wheat, dates, dairy products, eggs, fish, poultry, fruit and vegetables – and in this age of sustainability it has cultivated quite a reputation for pursuing green policies and giving away its surplus food to humanitarian causes.

WATER: THE DRIVER OF GROWTH Water is the key driver of agricultural growth in the region. It enables vegetation development and livestock rearing in what is otherwise an arid land. It has helped the nation to fulfil its ambition to feed itself rather than relying on imports.

With the help of advanced technology and innovative methods, it has been sourced way below the desert and brought to the surface. The Kingdom has set up a vast network of dams, reservoirs and desalination plants to provide vast supplies of water to achieve high yields in the agricultural sector.

These massive accomplishments have been made possible with the help of a plethora of government programs working towards bettering the agricultural state of the country.

The initiatives include interest-free loans; technical and support services; and incentives such as free seeds, fertilisers, low-cost water, fuel and electricity, and duty-free imports of raw materials and machinery that have particularly aided the private sector.

GOING GREEN And in the wake of climate change, Saudi Arabia is taking various efforts to go green. It is now focused on reusing water to serve the agricultural and domestic needs of the country. Plants have been built in Riyadh, Jeddah and other industrial cities for the purpose of recycling water. Additionally, organic farming methods are being adopted to reduce water usage.

The nation also takes pride in the natural cultivation techniques it employs over the chemical interventions and pesticide usage, which results in a high quality yield.

AGRICULTURAL WONDERS Saudi’s serious agricultural development began in the 1970s after roads, irrigation networks, storage spaces and export facilities were established, and investments were made into agricultural research as well as training institutions.

Today the Kingdom is home to some of the Middle East’s most modern and largest dairy farms, with its milk production being one of the highest in the world. It is also praised worldwide for its quick transformation from being an importer to becoming a fundamentally large exporter of wheat by 1984.

The fruit and vegetable sector has stepped up, as watermelons, grapes, squash and tomatoes continue to be important export commodities. Tropical fruits such as pineapples, mangoes and guavas are also grown.

The fishing industry has been on a constant rise, and better methods are underway to expand the scope. The private industry is making investments in aquaculture – fish farms, shrimp farming and water animal colonies – along the Red Sea coast.

The overall upshot is that Saudi residents have a wide diversity of foods to choose from – a status that was unimaginable decades ago.

RECORD-BREAKING OLIVES In 2018, the Al-Jouf Olive Farm, situated near the Jordanian border, was recognised as being the world’s largest modern olive farm by the Guinness World Records.

The farm comprises 7,730 hectares of land planted with approximately 5 million trees that produce olives of a very high quality.

The company has received eight quality certificates so far, not to mention the quality checks carried out by the Guinness World Records’ delegation before awarding them with the certificate.

Out of Saudi Arabia’s 30,000 tonnes annual consumption of olive oil, almost 50 percent comes from the Al-Jouf Company, and over the next year it plans to diversify by producing pickled olives as well as olive-oil derived body care products.

The farm’s managing director Al-Hussein pointed out that the company is working hard to develop plans that comply with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

FORGET THE SELL-BY DATE Saudi Arabia is among the top three global producers of dates, supplying 8.8 percent of the world’s dates – the equivalent of 94 tonnes a year. The 30 million date palms hold immense importance, as they are depicted in the emblem of Saudi Arabia, signifying the traditional, cultural and economic prominence they hold for the country.

Saudi grows 400 different varieties of the fruit, which has numerous health benefits and high nutritional value. The holy city of Madinah is the land to the king of dates – the ajwa date – while the Al Ahsa region is considered to have the most optimum production conditions.

Related products include date syrup, vinegar, gourmet gifts, paste as well as chocolate and coffee-flavoured dates.

And in recent years Saudi Arabia has chosen to give its date surplus to impoverished countries in Africa.

“The Kingdom is very keen to fulfill its humanitarian role at an international level and its commitment to humanitarian principles that focus on alleviating the suffering of all people in distress,” explains Al-Rabeeah, the supervisor of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center.

Earlier this year, Saudi distributed 4,000 tonnes to 43 states through the United Nations World Food Program – making it the second largest contributor, after the United States.

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NATURE

RESERVES AND PROTECTED

WILDLIFE IN SAUDI ARABIA

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audi Arabia is a big country with a highly diverse geography, climate and nature. Vision 2030 gives high priority to environmental sustainability and the preservation of natural resources.

The Saudi Government is working hard for the protection of the country’s flora and nature. In June 2018, HM King Salman issued a royal decree expanding the area of natural reserves, adding more sites and parks to the list of officially protected natural sites.

The royal decree also ordered the establishment of the Council of Royal Reserves to take charge of the reserves and the implementation of relevant laws.

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There are currently in the Kingdom 15 designated protected areas, 12 wildlife reserves and 3 marine sanctuaries.

Black-winged stilts have their habitats near the Red Sea shores of Saudi Arabia

Farasan Islands, 40 km offshore of Jazan, in the Red Sea south of Saudi Arabia are already on the Tentative List of the UNESCO’s World Heritage List. It has a unique and diversified wildlife of outstanding universal value. https://whc.unesco.org/en/list SAUDI ARABIA SPECIAL EDITION

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NATURE

BEFORE FOOTBALL ...

THERE WAS FALCONRY Football has displaced falconry as the nation’s most popular sport. Its practice pays homage to the country’s Bedouin history. Other traditional sports include camel racing, horse racing, and hunting with hounds.

In falconry, participants hunt for wild quarry with a trained hawk, which itself was ritualistically captured during the migration season. Preparation for the trapping season begins early in June and July. Training a falcon requires a great deal of time and patience, but it is a communal affair. Children are even encouraged to carry a falcon so that the proud tradition can be passed on to the next generation.

Passionate falconers are ready to pay a high price up to SR 500,000 and more for a rare breed. The price is linked to the colour and the size of the bird. Female falcons are considered the best because they are bigger and thus bring bigger prey.

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LOOKING AFTER

ARABIAN GAZELLES AND LEOPARDS

Wildlife conservation and management is important to the Kingdom – not least the people’s continued coexistence with their revered big cats In February 2019, Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), launched the Sharaan Nature Reserve in the AlUla governorate.

HUGE INVESTMENT The RCU is committed to investing 20 million US dollars over the next 10 years towards the conservation of the wild animal. ln July last year the RCU announced that two leopard cubs, mail and female, were born at the Prince Saud Alfaisal Wildlife Research Center in Taif , and that they are healthy and growing well.

The Arabian leopard, which is indigenous to AlUla in the northwest of the country, is a critically endangered species according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

In June 2019, HH Prince Bader bin Abdullah Al Saud, the Minister of Culture and Governor of the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU), accordingly signed an agreement with Dr Thomas Kaplan, the Chair of the international conservation organisation Panthera (panthera.org), to safeguard its future.

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TOURISM

NOW A TOP DRAW

FOR TOURISTS Following in the footsteps of the multitude of pilgrims who regularly visit two of Islam’s holiest cities, tourists are also discovering the appeal of a trip to the Kingdom

By Daria Shamonova

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ast autumn, Saudi Arabia began issuing electronic visas to tourists from 49 countries, including Denmark, thus permitting leisure trips to the kingdom for the first time in its history.

Previously, only expat workers, business visitors and pilgrims interested in visiting the holy cities of Mecca and Medina could receive visas.

The open-door policy is in line with Saudi Arabia’s efforts to become more tourist-friendly as a part of its economic reform to lower the country’s dependency on oil.

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HUGE INTEREST International tourists have embraced the opportunity enthusiastically. In the space of just one week, visas were introduced to more than 24,000 foreigners interested in visiting the country.

These numbers are not surprising since Saudi Arabia has a lot to offer: thrilling scuba diving in the Red Sea, road trips through the misty mountains of the Asir region and a chance to visit the country’s five UNESCO World Heritage Sites and much more besides.

Here is a quick overview of the five sites, along with plenty of other attractions that all underline why it makes such good sense to book a trip to Saudi Arabia while the experience is relatively novel.

THE BIG FIVE: Al-Ahsa Oasis

The largest oasis in the world was recognized as a World Heritage Site in 2008. It is filled with millions of date palms and dozens of springs, canals, lakes and other freshwater sources. AlAhsa used to be the main city of Al-Bahrain Province. Today, its visitors have a chance to see a vast number of archaeological wonders that serve as a proof of the region’s historical importance. The site reminds us that the image of the Gulf Region has been identified by humankind throughout its whole history – from the Neolithic Age to present times – covering the area with fortresses, mosques, wells and canals. Indeed, Al-Ahsa is a fascinating geocultural ecosystem and a prime illustration of human interaction with the environment.

WORTHY OF ATTENTION:

Al-Hijr Archaeological Site At the Archaeological Site of Al-Hijr (Madâin Sâlih), huge efforts have been made to conserve the world of the Nabataean civilization (formerly known as Hegra). When visitors enter the site they travel back to the 1st century BC as they walk among the well-preserved monumental tombs with decorated facades. And dating even further back are 50 inscriptions of the pre-Nabataean period and also some cave drawings.

Al-Hijr was the first place in Saudi Arabia to be recognised by UNESCO (originally as a Site of Patrimony) due to its monumental tombs and water wells that celebrate the Nabataeans’ architectural excellence.

At-Turaif District The site, the country’s first capital, was the original home of the Saudi Royal Family. It was founded in the 15th century in the middle of the Arabian Peninsula, northwest of Riyadh.

Throughout its history, the At-Turaif District has strengthened its political and religious influences, making it the first historic centre with a unifying power in the Arabian Peninsula.

Today, it is distinguished by the Najdi architectural style, which is specific for that geographical area. Due to the AlTuraif District’s royal past, it is now filled with the remains of many palaces and urban ensembles.

Historic Jeddah, the Gate to Mecca Tourists will find Historic Jeddah on the eastern shore of the Red Sea. Back in the 7th century, it was used as a major port for Indian Ocean trade routes, while the Muslim pilgrims who arrived in Makkah by sea would treat it as a gateway to a holy city. The commercial and religious ideas have therefore intertwined in the city and helped create a blooming multicultural centre that is easily distinguished by unique architecture: tower houses built three centuries ago by the city’s elites still stand beside historic mosques and colourful bazaars.

Rock Art Of The Hail Region Rock Art in the Hail Region was added to the list of Saudi Arabia’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2015, which makes it the newest addition among the existing five. It is situated in the Jabal Umm Sinman hill range, which spreads across 2,043 hectares of land. The site is best known for its petroglyphs rock art, which chiefly depicts humans and animals. The inscriptions were created by the area’s earlier settlers, who crafted stone hammers specifically for this purpose. Around 10,000 years of human history can be reflected in the rock art.

If these five sites are not enough to spark your enthusiasm, the country has 11 more sites on the Tentative List waiting for World Heritage Site recognition. Although they are not yet officially protected by UNESCO, they still deserve your attention.

Darb Zubayda This pilgrim road from Kufa to Mecca is the perfect choice of journey for those who would like to get more acquainted with the country’s religious traditions. It passes through the Arabian Peninsula, connecting it with major neighbouring countries such as Egypt or Iraq. Darb Zubayda is regarded as one of the most significant material relics of the Islamic civilisation in Saudi Arabia since historically pilgrims would use the road to get to Mecca by land. Even today, millions of pilgrims do the same as the religious meaning behind the road has been deeply rooted in the country’s history.

Uruq Bani Mu’arid Protected Area For nature lovers, this must-see place can claim to have one of the most stunning desert landscapes in the world, thanks to its copious sand dunes and gravel plains.

Dûmat Al-Jandal Historical Oasis For those who prefer greener options, this oasis in the Al-Jawf Region is overflowing with palm plantations, orchards and gardens.

Zee Ain Heritage Village If you are looking for an authentic experience, this village in the Al-Baha Region should draw your attention. The 4,000-year-old village is located on the top of a mountain so that visitors will not only get to know the traditional way of living but also will be taken aback by the scenic view beside the village.

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