Latest news with #Qassim
Arab News
3 hours ago
- Health
- Arab News
Healthy demand — pumpkin production on the rise in Qassim
BURAIDAH: It may be classed as a fruit, but pumpkin has become a key ingredient in cuisines around the world, thanks to its versatility and nutritional value. And in Qassim, thanks to a favorable climate and agricultural conditions coupled with rising local demand, pumpkin production is enjoying significant growth. Recorded health benefits of eating pumpkin include enhanced vision and better immunity. It also supports heart health, helps weight loss and promotes healthy skin and hair, as well as providing important nutrients and being low in calories. Farmer Saleh bin Hamad Al-Saab spoke to the media about his experience of growing the fruit. Possible, beneficial and promising 'Pumpkin cultivation in Qassim is not only possible, but also beneficial and promising,' he said. 'There are different kinds, including field pumpkin, butternut squash, kabocha squash, and even spaghetti squash, which is gaining increasing popularity.' Each variety has its own uses and benefits. Field pumpkin is used in soups and baked goods, while butternut squash is a rich source of beta-carotene and spaghetti squash is a healthier alternative to pasta. As for white pumpkin, it is especially popular for festive decorations and seasonal occasions. Al-Saab said that as pumpkin did not need huge amounts of water or pesticides to grow successfully, and it could be stored for long periods without deteriorating, it was considered a promising economic crop. Drip irrigation systems and the cultivation of diverse varieties have also significantly enhanced crop quality and boosted productivity. The farmer highlighted the public's growing awareness of pumpkin as a healthy food choice and said there were a number of opportunities to develop other industries around the crop, such as juices, dehydrated foods and cosmetics. This promising crop supports local food safety and achieves notable economic revenues, reflecting the agricultural sector's role in meeting the Kingdom's sustainable development targets.
Zawya
12 hours ago
- Business
- Zawya
Saudi: Industrial cities in Qassim operate at 77% capacity
BURAIDAH — Deputy Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Industry Affairs Eng. Khalil bin Salamah has revealed that industrial cities in Qassim operate at 77% capacity, which is a healthy rate and evidence of the existence of a stimulating environment. There are a total of 158 factories in Qassim's industrial cities. The value of industrial investments in the region during the first quarter of 2025 amounts to SR700 million, with Buraidah owning the largest share. Bin Salamah made the remarks during a meeting organized by Qassim Chamber of Commerce, which brought together investors in the region's industrial sector to highlight key ministerial services and programs and discuss the sector's aspirations for continued development and investment growth. The meeting was held at the chamber's headquarters in Buraidah. The meeting addressed a number of topics related to the industrial sector, including standard incentives for the sector, which enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of the industrial sector in Saudi Arabia. The meeting also discussed the environment of industrial facilities and presented solutions to help raise efficiency and quality. It also included a review of the Future Factories Program, an introduction to it, and the process of converting these factories to adopt modern manufacturing practices, automation, and digitalization, which directly contributes to the development of the industrial sector in Saudi Arabia in general. The meeting also included a review of the "Industry Links" program of the General Administration of Localization and Local Content, which connects manufacturers with major projects to achieve the goals of the national strategy for increasing local content. © Copyright 2022 The Saudi Gazette. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Arab News
a day ago
- Business
- Arab News
Industrial cities in Saudi Arabia's Qassim region hit 77% occupancy rate, official reveals
RIYADH: Industrial cities in Saudi Arabia's Qassim region are performing at occupancy rates of up to 77 percent, with 158 factories currently in operation, reflecting strong growth and a supportive business environment, according to a top official. During a meeting organized by the the area's chamber of commerce, the Kingdom's Deputy Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Industrial Affairs Khalil Ibrahim bin Salamah explained that the value of industrial investments in the region during the first quarter of 2025 reached SR700 million ($186 million), with the city of Buraydah accounting for the largest share, the Saudi Press Agency reported. This reflects the Kingdom's National Industrial Strategy, introduced in October 2022, which aims to increase the number of factories in the Kingdom to approximately 36,000 by 2035. This approach is designed to attract investment, scale up local production, and strengthen non-oil exports. The SPA statement said: 'The meeting aimed to introduce the most prominent ministerial services and programs and discuss the sector's aspirations to achieve continued growth in development and investment.' It added: 'The meeting addressed several topics related to the industrial sector, including standard incentives for the industrial sector, which enhance the competitive sustainability of the industrial sector in the Kingdom.' The statement further revealed that the assembly addressed the environmental impact of industrial facilities and presented solutions to help improve efficiency and quality. It also included a review and introduction to the Factories of the Future Program, as well as the process of converting these facilities to adopt modern manufacturing practices, automation, and digitization, which directly contribute to the development of the industrial sector in the Kingdom. The gathering also saw a review of the Industrial Links Program, which connects manufacturers with major projects to achieve the goals of the national strategy for increasing local content. The Qassim region experienced 25 percent growth in its business sector over the past seven years, reflecting increased economic activity and contributing to the Kingdom's goal of balanced development, the Ministry of Commerce reported in a post on its official X account in May. The number of commercial records in the central region rose from 68,000 in 2018 to 85,000 by the end of the first quarter of this year, the ministry said at the time. In 2024, Qassim Municipality announced that the region had successfully concluded 711 investment contracts, with a total value exceeding SR740 million. The municipality also provided 1050 diverse investment opportunities aimed at supporting economic development and enhancing the quality of life in the region. The increase comes as the Kingdom pushes ahead with its economic diversification strategy, aiming to increase the private sector's share of the gross domestic product from 40 percent to 65 percent by 2030.
Daily Record
12-06-2025
- Daily Record
Jay Slater bombshell as AirBnB host says he told teen plan was 'mad'
Private investigator Mark Williams-Thomas has uncovered why the tragic teen left the AirBnB apartment. An investigator digging into the tragic disappearance and death of British teen Jay Slater in Tenerife, has revealed why the lad left a property alone. Mark Williams-Thomas interviewed family, pals and key witnesses in the days after Jay vanished on the Spanish holiday island, having been to the NRG music festival with friends at the Papagayo nightclub in the resort of Playa de las Americas on June 16 last year. Jay went to an AirBnB apartment in the early hours of the next day, which was the last place he was seen alive before his body was found on July 15 by a mountain rescue team from the Spanish Civil Guard near the village of Masca on the Canary Island. Now, Mr Williams-Thomas has revealed he spoke to Ayub Qassim who had rented the AirBnB about the last time he spoke to Jay, on the morning he left the apartment. Mr Qassim said: "He (Jay) said to me 'Pal I'm off, this woman told me I can get a bus every 10 minutes', I told him that he's mad, there's no bus that's coming here every 10 minutes, chill out for a bit and I'll drop you off later on. He said, 'No, no I've got to go to Los Cristianos, I need to scram, I need to chip out'. There's nothing more that I could do. "I saw him walk off maybe down the steps. I maybe shut the door and said if you need me..." That was the last time Jay was seen alive. Earlier, the teen from Lancashire had sent a pal an image on snapchat, revealing he had two knives at the AirBnB. He captioned the image: I've got these for my protection". Asked about the photo Mr Qassim said that he know nothing about it. 'I was asleep upstairs this is the first I've heard of knives,' he said. "I let him come to my house. ' Mr Qassim did not attend the inquest into Jay's death last month. The hearing was adjourned at the request of the teen's mum Debbie, who said it must not be allowed to go ahead until multiple key witnesses are tracked down to give evidence. In a tearful plea she called for witnesses who had been with her son on the island to tell what they knew. She said: "We want these people to be sat in front of us, because our son went on holiday and didn't come back, so there's questions we need to ask." The mum said the inquest must not go ahead until multiple key witnesses are tracked down to give evidence. It included her son's friend Lucy Law, who is believed to currently be holidaying on the island, as well as Brandon Hodges and Bradley Hargreaves.
Irish Daily Mirror
12-06-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Jay Slater bombshell as AirBnB host says he told teen plan was 'mad'
An investigator looking into the heartbreaking disappearance and death of British teen Jay Slater in Tenerife has uncovered the reason why the young lad ventured out on his own. Mark Williams-Thomas has been piecing together Jay's last movements following his time at the NRG music festival with mates at Papagayo nightclub in Playa de las Americas on 16 June last year. Jay headed to an AirBnB flat in the early hours, which was the final place he was spotted alive before his remains were discovered on 15 July by a mountain rescue squad from the Spanish Civil Guard close to the hamlet of Masca. Now, Mr Williams-Thomas disclosed that he conversed with Ayub Qassim, the AirBnB tenant, about his last dialogue with Jay on the morning he departed. Mr Qassim recounted: "He (Jay) said to me 'Pal I'm off, this woman told me I can get a bus every 10 minutes', I told him that he's mad, there's no bus that's coming here every 10 minutes, chill out for a bit and I'll drop you off later on. "He said, 'No, no I've got to go to Los Cristianos, I need to scram, I need to chip out'. There's nothing more that I could do," reports the Mirror. "I saw him walk off maybe down the steps. I maybe shut the door and said if you need me." The last sighting of Jay alive was chilling. Shortly before, the young lad from Lancashire had fired off a photo to a mate on Snapchat, showing off two knives at his AirBnB, with the haunting label: "I've got these for my protection." When quizzed about the snap, Mr Qassim insisted he was clueless about it. "I was asleep upstairs this is the first I've heard of knives," he stated. "I let him come to my house." Last month's inquest into Jay's death went ahead without Mr Qassim's presence. The probe was put on hold at the behest of the teenager's mum, Debbie. She demanded a halt until all crucial witnesses who might shed light on her lad's tragic demise are rounded up for testimony. In a heart-wrenching plea, she urged those who were with her son on the fateful holiday to step forward with the truth. She expressed: "We want these people to be sat in front of us, because our son went on holiday and didn't come back, so there's questions we need to ask." She underlined the necessity for the inquest to remain on pause until every key witness could be corralled to testify. This list involves Jay's pal Lucy Law, currently reported to be vacationing on the island, alongside Brandon Hodges and Bradley Hargreaves.
