Latest news with #Taif
Arab News
an hour ago
- General
- Arab News
Taif Municipality launches tree-planting initiative
RIYADH: Taif Municipality launched the 'Neighborhood Friends' initiative to establish a volunteer team to plant trees around housing units in the Taif governorate and identify the needs of occupants, the Saudi Press Agency reported. According to SPA, the initiative aims to enhance communication with beneficiaries of developmental housing, identify the units' issues, engage volunteers in tree planting, activate professional volunteering, encourage individual participation, and acknowledge the importance of social responsibility in serving the community. Engineers and specialists are also involved in this project. The mayor of Taif, Abdullah bin Khamis Al-Zaidi, affirmed that the municipality will help everyone meet the development needs of their neighborhoods. He also pointed out that this initiative is a pivotal intersection between community engagement and urban development, as it represents a collaborative process in which residents and other stakeholders work together to create a shared vision for their neighborhood's future.
Arab News
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Taif governor receives Two Holy Mosques chief
TAIF: Prince Saud bin Nahar bin Saud, the governor of Taif, on Thursday received Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, head of the Presidency of Religious Affairs at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque. Prince Saud welcomed the attendees and praised the efforts exerted to serve visitors to the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque according to the directives of the Kingdom's leadership.
Arab News
07-06-2025
- Health
- Arab News
East Arafat Hospital's mobile unit performs 14 emergency cardiac procedures during Hajj
MAKKAH: A mobile unit of East Arafat Hospital's Cardiology Department has successfully performed 14 emergency cardiac catheterization procedures since it began operations on the first day of Hajj, the Makkah Health Cluster has announced. The procedures are being conducted under the direct field supervision of King Abdullah Medical City based in Makkah city, the health cluster said in a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency, or SPA. Composed of a specialized cardiology team, supported by qualified Saudi professionals in anesthesia, nursing, and urgent cardiac care, the mobile cardiac catheterization unit is deployed at the holy sites to provide immediate on-site intervention. Officials said the initiative eliminates the need to transfer patients to specialized centers, 'thereby enhancing patient safety and ensuring continuous medical care.' Meanwhile, the Air Medical Evacuation team at the Ministry of Defense rescued an Indonesian pilgrim who suffered a cardiac arrest on June 5 in Makkah. The patient was airlifted from Al Noor Hospital in Makkah to King Abdulaziz Specialist Hospital in Taif city. Air evacuation units stationed near the holy sites ensure rapid emergency response, improving rescue times and increasing survival rates. Health officials had earlier announced the successful test of a new service transporting medicine with drones during Hajj, which started June 4 and will run until June 9. As reported earlier by Arab News, Health Minister Fahad AlJalajel the drone delivery trials over the past two years tested for safe takeoff and landing, as well as high temperatures. The drones are equipped with cooling systems, he said. The drone initiative is a part of the comprehensive healthcare transformation taking place in the Kingdom, under the Saudi Vision 2030 program.
Vogue Arabia
03-06-2025
- Business
- Vogue Arabia
Meet the Saudi Entrepreneur Turning Taif's Roses into Luxury Products
The damascene rose is a natural treasure bestowed by God upon the city of Taif, bringing hope and love to its inhabitants. They're beautiful in appearance, exquisite in scent, elegant in presence and their reputation precedes them. They live in the peaks and are nourished by the sky. In Taif, roses mean hospitality. They represent a combination of tenderness and toughness. There are tales of women in Taif who continued to tend to their husbands' rose farms out of loyalty after they passed away. They symbolise life renewed; when picked, a new bud appears in its place. Taif's rose industry is steeped in the city's cultural and social fabric. The first damascene rose was planted in Taif 300 years ago and the Taif rose industry has been around as long as modern-day Saudi Arabia. In December 2024, UNESCO included all practices related to the Taif rose in its list of intangible cultural heritage. With a practice so deeply rooted in Taif tradition, it was paramount to me, as Wardat's founder, that we retained its authenticity at all costs. So far we have had a beautiful journey – from increasing the number of Taif rose products on the market to offering Taif rose farm tours and experiences, and creating rose-related content. This delicate flower, which is often known as the 'shy rose', has opened so many doors for me – and not just economically. It has introduced me to the social, cultural and religious heritage of my city. The demand for our Taif roses is huge, far surpassing the city's capacity supply. At Wardat, customers often reserve our roses in December, ahead of the harvest season in April, and our client list includes sheikhs from GCC countries. Taif rose oil is considered one of the most expensive perfumes in the world – the price of 1 tola (the equivalent of 12ml) costs over SAR 2,000. For this reason, it is called 'the royal perfume' and is one of the most highly coveted natural products in the world. Photo: Fahad Al Shanbari shot near Jabal Cafe, Taif
Arab News
30-05-2025
- Science
- 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.
