logo
Saudi Arabia's Diriyah Named Among Global Eco-Friendly Destinations for 2025

Saudi Arabia's Diriyah Named Among Global Eco-Friendly Destinations for 2025

Asharq Al-Awsat6 days ago

Saudi Arabia's Diriyah has been named one of the Global Eco-Friendly Destinations for 2025 by the British travel platform Wanderlust, which annually highlights leading destinations committed to sustainable tourism.
The recognition stems from a joint effort between the Saudi Tourism Authority and the Diriyah Gate Development Authority, which submitted a comprehensive nomination highlighting Diriyah's initiatives in environmental, cultural, and tourism sustainability.
Chief Executive Officer and Board Member of the Saudi Tourism Authority Fahd Hamidaddin stated that Diriyah's selection underscores the Kingdom's growing commitment to sustainability in tourism.
'This recognition is a testament to our strategy of empowering local partners and showcasing national destinations in international markets,' he said. 'It further solidifies Saudi Arabia's position on the global tourism map as the fastest-growing destination in the world.'
Chief Executive Officer of the Diriyah Gate Development Authority Jerry Inzerillo said: 'This international recognition highlights Diriyah's role as the cradle of the Saudi state and our dedication to preserving its heritage while applying the highest environmental and cultural sustainability standards.'
'We value the continued collaboration with the Saudi Tourism Authority, which is instrumental in promoting Saudi destinations on the world stage.'
The recognition reaffirms the Kingdom's expanding global presence in tourism, driven by Vision 2030. The Saudi Tourism Authority continues to support its partners across the tourism ecosystem, aligning efforts to meet ambitious national targets.
In 2024, the Kingdom welcomed approximately 116 million visitors and remains on track to reach its goal of hosting 150 million visitors by 2030. This growth is supported by significant infrastructure investments and vibrant tourism seasons featuring hundreds of immersive experiences and partnership opportunities.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Trump vowed to remake aid. Is Gaza the future?
Trump vowed to remake aid. Is Gaza the future?

Arab News

time3 hours ago

  • Arab News

Trump vowed to remake aid. Is Gaza the future?

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump has slashed US aid and vowed a major rethink on helping the world. A controversial effort to bring food to Gaza may offer clues on what's to come. Administered by contracted US security with Israeli troops at the perimeter, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation is distributing food through several hubs in the war-ravaged Gaza Strip. An officially private effort with opaque funding, the GHF began operations on May 26 after Israel completely cut off supplies into Gaza for over two months, sparking warnings of mass famine. The organization said it had distributed 2.1 million meals as of Friday. The initiative excludes the UN, which has long coordinated aid distribution in the war-ravaged territory and has infrastructure and systems in place to deliver assistance on a large scale. The UN and other major aid groups have refused to cooperate with GHF, saying it violates basic humanitarian principles, and appears crafted to cater to Israeli military objectives. 'What we have seen is chaotic, it's tragic and it's resulted in hundreds of thousands of people scrambling in an incredibly undignified and unsafe way to access a tiny trickle of aid,' said Ciaran Donnelly, senior vice president of international programs at the International Rescue Committee . Jan Egeland, head of the Norwegian Refugee Council, said his aid group stopped work in Gaza in 2015 when Hamas militants invaded its office and that it refused to cooperate in Syria when former strongman Bashar Assad was pressuring opposition-held areas by withholding food. 'Why on earth would we be willing to let the Israeli military decide how, where and to whom we give our aid as part of their military strategy to herd people around Gaza?' said Egeland. 'It's a violation of everything we stand for. It is the biggest and reddest line there is that we cannot cross.' The UN said that 47 people were injured Tuesday when hungry and desperate crowds rushed a GHF site — most of them by Israeli gunfire — while a Palestinian medical source said at least one person had died. The Israeli military denied its soldiers fired on civilians and the GHF denied any injuries or deaths. Israel has relentlessly attacked Gaza since Hamas's unprecedented attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Israel has vowed to sideline the UN agency for Palestinian refugees UNRWA, accusing it of bias and of harboring Hamas militants. UNRWA said that nine out of thousands of staff may have been involved in the October 7 attack and dismissed them, but accuses Israel of trying to throw a distraction. John Hannah, a former senior US policymaker who led a study last year that gave birth to the concepts behind the GHF, said the UN seemed to be 'completely lacking in self-reflection' on the need for a new approach to aid after Hamas built a 'terror kingdom.' 'I fear that people could be on the brink of letting the perfect be the enemy of the good instead of figuring out how do we take part in this effort, improve it, make it better, scale it up,' said Hannah, who is not involved in implementing the GHF. Hannah, a senior fellow at the Jewish Institute for National Security of America, defended the use of private contractors, saying that many had extensive Middle East experience from the US-led 'war on terror.' 'We would have been happy if there were volunteers from capable and trusted national forces... but the fact is, nobody's volunteering,' he said. He said he would rather that aid workers coordinate with Israel than Hamas. 'Inevitably, any humanitarian effort in a war zone has to make some compromises with a ruling authority that carries the guns,' he said. Hannah's study had discouraged a major Israeli role in humanitarian work in Gaza, urging instead involvement by Arab states to bring greater legitimacy. Arab states have balked at supporting US efforts as Israel pounds Gaza and after Trump mused about forcibly displacing the whole Gaza population and constructing luxury hotels. Israel and Hamas are negotiating a new Gaza ceasefire that could see a resumption of UN-backed efforts. Aid groups say they have vast amounts of aid ready for Gaza that remain blocked. Donnelly said the IRC had 27 tons of supplies waiting to enter Gaza, faulting the GHF for distributing items like pasta and tinned fish that require cooking supplies — not therapeutic food and treatment for malnourished children. He called for distributing relief in communities where people need it, instead of through militarized hubs. 'If anyone really cares about distributing aid in a transparent, accountable, effective way, the way to do that is to use the expertise and infrastructure of aid organizations that have been doing this for decades,' Donnelly said.

What Saudi Arabia's ancient lava fields reveal about its volcanic past — and tourism potential
What Saudi Arabia's ancient lava fields reveal about its volcanic past — and tourism potential

Arab News

time8 hours ago

  • Arab News

What Saudi Arabia's ancient lava fields reveal about its volcanic past — and tourism potential

JEDDAH: Scattered across Saudi Arabia's vast deserts and mountains lie more than 2,500 volcanic craters — relics of a fiery geological past that continues to intrigue scientists and thrill adventurous travellers today. These ancient volcanoes have not erupted in centuries. Their silence, however, belies their significance. 'The Kingdom possesses one of the largest volcanic fields (locally known as Al-Harrat) in the world,' Turki Essam Al-Sehli, senior director of the Geohazard Center at the Saudi Geological Survey, told Arab News. 'These fields cover an area of approximately 90,000 square kilometers — around 4.6 percent of the Kingdom's total area.' The last known eruption was in 1256 AD, when lava from Al-Harrat Rahat flowed within 20 kilometers of Madinah. While dramatic in its time, such activity has long since ceased. 'The Kingdom has experienced relative volcanic stability for centuries,' Al-Sehli said. This dormancy, combined with the dramatic scenery of ancient lava fields, has opened the door to a growing trend: volcano tourism. From stark black cones to craters that plunge deep into the Earth, Saudi Arabia's volcanic landscape offers some of the most breathtaking geological sights in the region. Among the most striking is Al-Wahbah, a vast crater near Taif that is 250 meters deep and more than two kilometers across. In the Asir region, Jabal Farwa — the Kingdom's tallest volcanic peak — rises more than 3,000 m above sea level. Meanwhile, the Khaybar tract is home to Mount Al-Qadar, where lava once flowed for more than 50 km, and the otherworldly Mount Al-Abyad, known for its pale color and unusual formations. 'Fields like Rahat and Khaybar are characterized by hundreds of volcanic cones formed by mild explosive eruptions and vast lava flow areas reaching lava flow length over 50 km on some occasions, which grant them significant geological and scientific importance,' Al-Sehli said. 'Additionally, they are considered the largest in the Arab world and the Middle East.' • The last volcanic eruption in the Hijaz region occurred in 1256 AD, southeast of Madinah. • Its lava flow extended for 23 kilometers, stopping 8.2 km short of the Prophet's Mosque. • Saudi Arabia's volcanic landscape has the potential to become a global tourist destination. While some fields are still classified as 'potentially active,' experts agree there is no cause for alarm. 'Some volcanic fields are categorized as potentially active due to the geophysical indicators of eruptible magma in the mid-crust, which means there is a possibility — even if slight — of future volcanic activity,' Al-Sehli said. 'Currently, there are no signs of imminent danger.' Indeed, any future eruption, while highly unlikely in the short term, would be closely monitored. The Saudi Geological Survey operates a state-of-the-art seismic and volcanic surveillance network designed to detect even the slightest changes beneath the surface. Should a large eruption take place, however, the environmental impact and the effect on the local climate could be significant. 'In the event of a major volcanic eruption, the emission of fine volcanic ash and gases such as sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the upper layers of the atmosphere could lead to temporary cooling of the local or regional climate, as well as generating acid rainfall,' Al-Sehli said. With little risk posed by these sleeping giants and great natural beauty to explore and enjoy, Saudi Arabia is increasingly investing in geotourism — promoting its volcanic fields not as hazards, but as heritage. 'There is growing interest in developing geological tourism in the Kingdom,' Al-Sehli said. 'The ministry of tourism is collaborating with the Saudi Geological Survey to develop and preserve these geological sites.' The Saudi Geological Survey's role extends far beyond monitoring. It produces maps and reports, conducts scientific research, and works to raise public awareness through exhibitions and outreach programs. It also helps identify and conserve key geological sites, ensuring that Saudi Arabia's volcanic past is protected for future generations. From lava trails to towering cones, the Kingdom's volcanic fields offer a window into Earth's ancient forces — and a unique travel experience for those looking to explore a different side of Saudi Arabia. These volcanoes may be dormant, but their potential — for knowledge, for tourism, and for wonder — is anything but.

Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed leads Saudi Sports for All delegation at London investment forum
Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed leads Saudi Sports for All delegation at London investment forum

Arab News

time8 hours ago

  • Arab News

Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed leads Saudi Sports for All delegation at London investment forum

LONDON: Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed led a high-level Saudi delegation at this week's Middle East Sports Investment Forum 2025 in London, where he highlighted the Kingdom's push to promote inclusive, community-based sports as part of its Vision 2030 reform agenda. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport The Saudi Sports for All Federation, represented by Prince Khaled in his capacity as president and Managing Director Shaima Saleh Al-Husseini, joined more than 300 delegates at the event held at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on May 27-28. Organized with the backing of the Saudi Ministry of Investment and in partnership with the Saudi Ministry of Sports, MESIF 2025 brought together investors, policymakers and sports leaders from across the MENA region to explore opportunities in the rapidly growing sports sector. Prince Khaled praised the forum's organizers and sponsors for convening a cross-regional dialogue, highlighting the value of engaging both core and adjacent sectors in driving the future of sport across the Gulf and beyond. Speaking on a panel, Al-Husseini said the SFA remained committed to measuring its social impact using a data-led approach. 'Our metrics are aligned with the World Health Organization's Global Action Plan and are informed by national surveys, digital platforms and direct community feedback,' she said. Al-Husseini added that Saudi Arabia had already seen tangible improvements in public participation and gender equity, and that the SFA's long-term strategy centers on behavioral change, community ownership and evidence-based infrastructure development. Discussions at MESIF 2025 covered a wide range of topics, including sports finance, innovation and technology, fan engagement, stadium infrastructure and the role of tourism in sports development.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store