Latest news with #Al-Ghamdi
Arab News
26-03-2025
- Arab News
Saudi AI chief reviews crowd management tech in Makkah
RIYADH: Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority President Abdullah Al-Ghamdi has visited the Grand Mosque Operations Center in Makkah, the Saudi Press Agency reported. He met the director of Public Security and chairman of the Hajj Security Committee, Lt. Gen. Mohammed Al-Bassami, along with several security officials and Saudi programmers from the authority working at the center. Al-Ghamdi reviewed the operations of the Baseer platform, developed by the authority in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior, represented by Public Security. The platform uses computer vision and AI to monitor and analyze the movement of visitors to the Grand Mosque, ensuring smooth crowd management and assisting in locating missing persons. He also reviewed the Sawaher platform, designed to enhance the safety of the Grand Mosque, contributing to a secure and smart environment that facilitates worshippers and Umrah performers in performing their rituals seamlessly. Al-Ghamdi also visited the Highway Security Center in Al-Shumaisi, where he was briefed on the Banan device, which enhances identity verification using biometric features. He observed the center's operations, the command room and the advanced technology used in the Saudi Lucid vehicle, which is equipped with AI tools.
CairoScene
12-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CairoScene
Nada Al Ghamdi Becomes First Saudi Woman to Photograph Grand Mosque
Earlier this month, Saudi authorities enforced a ban on filming and photography at the Grand Mosque without a permit. Mar 12, 2025 This Ramadan marks a significant milestone for Saudi women in photography, as Nada Al-Ghamdi becomes the first Saudi woman officially licensed to photograph inside Makkah's Grand Mosque. As worshippers gather at Islam's holiest site, Al-Ghamdi will document the spiritual atmosphere, capturing the warmth and grandeur of the sacred space, especially during this holy month. Meanwhile, Saudi authorities have enforced a ban on filming and photography inside Masjid Al-Haram and Masjid An-Nabawi during Ramadan 2025 without a permit, citing the need to maintain respect for worshippers and minimize distractions. Violators risk fines and confiscation of equipment.
Yahoo
09-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
City's $2 trillion plan includes massive, game-changing power plant: 'Build a foundation of expertise'
This new hydrogen facility could change the future of green energy. At the 29th Conference of the Parties to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, or COP29, Neom Green Hydrogen Co. CEO Wesam Al-Ghamdi gave good news regarding the development of the world's largest green hydrogen facility. The green hydrogen facility is expected to begin production in late 2026 and "will rely entirely on solar and wind energy to power a 2.2 gigawatt electrolyzer that will produce hydrogen continuously," according to CleanTechnica. The facility is part of a nearly $2 trillion Saudi Arabian city that will operate on renewable energy when completed in 2040. Green hydrogen is produced through electrolysis, which uses electricity to separate hydrogen from water. However, according to CleanTechnica, not all electrolysis is sustainable, as some "electricity is made from thermal generation that relies on coal or methane." If the hydrogen could be made solely from renewable energy, including wind or solar, then "this method of obtaining green hydrogen would save the 830 million tonnes [915 million U.S. tons] of CO2 that are emitted annually when this gas is produced using fossil fuels," Iberdrola explained. Fossil fuels are nonrenewable energy sources, such as coal, oil, and gas. Burning them, which we do for the majority of our energy needs, releases polluting gases including carbon dioxide. Excess carbon dioxide warms the planet, causing rising sea levels, extreme weather events, ocean acidification, and habitat loss, among other issues. These dirty fuels won't last — they're on track to be depleted by 2060. In order to meet the planet's growing energy needs, we need to switch to sustainable methods of creating green energy. Al-Ghamdi hopes the new facility will not only effectively produce hydrogen but also bring tourism, sustainability, and a boost to the economy. Do you think America could ever go zero-waste? Never Not anytime soon Maybe in some states Definitely Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. "Our goal isn't just to produce hydrogen but to build a foundation of expertise here in Saudi Arabia," Al-Ghamdi said, per Arab News. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Argaam
16-02-2025
- Business
- Argaam
NUPCO procurement exceeds SAR 25B annually: CCO
The size of National Unified Procurement Co.'s (NUPCO) purchases exceeds SAR 25 billion annually, said Chief Commercial Officer Khalid Al-Ghamdi, adding that the company is ready to keep pace with the expected expansion in the healthcare sector, which includes boosting hospital capacity and increasing the number of beds to 43,000 by 2030. In an interview with Argaam at the PIF Private Sector Forum, Al-Ghamdi indicated that the agreements signed by the company during the forum included three financial agreements with a total value of SAR 2.5 billion, including a deal worth SAR 500 million with Banque Saudi Fransi (BSF), FAB Bank KSA (SAR 1 billion) and Taameed Co. (SAR 1 billion). He further stated that these agreements aim to facilitate obtaining the necessary financing by suppliers, especially SMEs, to enhance their investments in the sector, and achieve greater flexibility in cash flows. NUPCO has an advanced infrastructure that includes seven main logistics centers with a storage capacity of up to 430,000 square meters. It seeks to develop its warehouses and introduce automated storage systems to improve the efficiency of distribution operations and ensure the availability of medicines and medical supplies by 100%, while reducing the time required for delivery and increasing accuracy in inventory management, according to the CCO. Al-Ghamdi also stated that the "Wasfaty" platform, managed by NUPCO, has contributed to facilitating patients' access to their medicines, as it currently serves more than 15 million patients and includes more than 5,500 pharmacies. NUPCO also signed an agreement with the "Foras" platform to support suppliers' access to investment opportunities, in addition to five agreements with logistics companies, including DHL, Aramex, Samsa and UPS, to improve distribution efficiency and ensure the delivery of medicines and medical supplies to all regions of the Kingdom, said the executive, noting that these partnerships help boost the company's ability to cover 97% of the regions of the Kingdom, while ensuring the speed and efficiency of delivery to hospitals and pharmacies. He added that NUPCO is studying opportunities for expansion outside Saudi Arabia in the future, especially in light of the Kingdom's preparations to host major events such as Expo 2030 and the 2034 World Cup.
Leaders
12-02-2025
- Business
- Leaders
SDAIA President at UNESCO: Saudi Arabia Leads in Global Tech, AI Rankings
Dr. Abdullah bin Sharaf Al-Ghamdi, President of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), highlighted Saudi Arabia's position as a global leader in technology, data, and artificial intelligence (AI) during the ministerial session at UNESCO, held alongside the AI Action Summit. EGDI He noted that Saudi Arabia ranked sixth globally in the 2024 UN E-Government Development Index (EGDI) and placed among the top 14 nations in the Global AI Index, securing the highest position in the region. Additionally, UNESCO's recently released AI Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM) recognized SDAIA as a model for integrating data and AI under a unified entity. Dr. Al-Ghamdi reaffirmed the Kingdom's commitment to a strategic partnership with UNESCO to promote ethical AI development. This commitment is demonstrated by Saudi Arabia's role in hosting the UNESCO-affiliated International Centre for AI Research and Ethics (ICAIRE) and being among the first ten nations to complete the AI RAM report. Reflecting on the Kingdom's AI journey, he emphasized that SDAIA's establishment in 2019 and the launch of the National Strategy for Data and AI in 2020 have positioned Saudi Arabia as a global leader in AI governance. The UNESCO report also highlighted the Kingdom's balanced approach to AI regulation, which includes an ethics framework supported by eight regulatory tools for guiding AI developers and users. Saudi Arabia is set to expand its AI efforts in alignment with UNESCO's RAM recommendations. Dr. Al-Ghamdi assured that ICAIRE is ready to support countries conducting their AI RAM assessments. AI Ecosystem On both local and international fronts, Saudi Arabia continues to strengthen its AI ecosystem. He noted that 46 Saudi AI companies recently received accreditation under the AI Ethics Program in Riyadh, reinforcing the Kingdom's dedication to ethical AI. As a result, Saudi Arabia ranked 11th globally and first regionally in the Global AI Safety Index, announced at the AI Action Summit. Regarding national capacity building, SDAIA has trained over 700,000 Saudis in AI since 2020, with the goal of equipping 40% of the workforce with AI-related skills. The Kingdom's Vision 2030 initiative has also increased Saudi women's participation in the technology sector to 35%, aligning with the UN's 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Internationally, Saudi Arabia recently hosted the International AI Olympiad in Riyadh, in collaboration with Slovenia, with participation from 25 countries. The session was attended by Gustavo Lino Adrianzén Olaya, Prime Minister of Peru, alongside ministers of technology, innovation, and communications from various countries, as well as representatives of UNESCO member states. Related Topics : Paris AI Action Summit: SDAIA Highlights Saudi Arabia as Comprehensive Governance Model SDAIA Winter School Boosts AI Sector with International Researchers NEOM Ignites AI Revolution with $5 Billion Oxagon Data Center Saudi Arabia Hosts Catwalk 2025 in Al-Jouf, Hail Short link :
