Miniature model helps bring Saudi history to life
Featuring miniature representations of Saudi cities from the past, these creations transport visitors through time, highlighting the details of daily life and the beauty of historic architecture.
Artist and craft trainer Abdullah Al-Khazam, a native of Hail, has presented a clay model of the ancient commercial area of Hail city at the event.
The model has attracted the attention of thousands of visitors and illustrates the techniques used to craft such works, enriching the festival's depiction of the Kingdom's heritage.
Al-Khazam based the model on historic sources, using precise measurements and conducting field visits. He also consulted historians, researchers, and elderly residents for accuracy.
The model features key landmarks, including Barzan Palace, a mosque, the commercial square, and various government offices, the SPA added.
Built with traditional materials such as clay and palm trunks, the model uses classic construction techniques and incorporates period ornaments and engravings, effectively recreating the city center of the past.
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Can Beirut's new bus network succeed where past reforms failed?
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'In Beirut, there are also vans, but their routes are limited and fixed,' Diab added. 'They don't operate citywide.' These vans and buses, he noted, are primarily used by working-class commuters and students, largely due to their affordability. Beyond Beirut, shared taxis and buses connect major cities such as Tripoli, Tyre and Sidon. But in rural and mountainous regions, Diab said, residents still depend on private cars. That dependence is becoming increasingly unviable. The World Bank's Beirut office recently warned that Lebanon's 'reliance on private vehicles is increasingly unsustainable,' particularly amid rising poverty rates and vehicle-operation costs. Lebanon is reeling from one of the world's worst economic crises since 1850, according to the World Bank. Since 2019, currency collapse and high inflation have wiped out savings, shrunk incomes and pushed millions of people into poverty. A 2024 World Bank report revealed that poverty has more than tripled over the past decade, now affecting 44 percent of the population. A separate study by Walid Marrouch, an economics professor at the Lebanese American University, found that at least 60 percent of citizens live below the poverty line. Against this economic backdrop, the government's partnership with ACTC represents a promising policy shift. In 2023, the company won a competitive bid launched by the Ministry of Public Works to operate the bus system under specific contractual conditions. As part of the deal, ACTC contributes 10 percent of its revenues to the ministry. Despite the financial risks, ACTC leaders believe in the project's potential. 'We took a risk during a difficult time and invested in a project that's close to our hearts — one we believe adds real value to the country,' Aoni Ahdab, the ACTC CEO, told Lebanese media. 'We're hopeful it will succeed.' The service officially launched in July 2024, despite regional instability and periodic hostilities between Israel and the militant group Hezbollah that temporarily disrupted routes. Israel's escalation of attacks from September through late November did not halt the project. The 2024 conflict caused heavy damage to Lebanon's transport infrastructure. The World Bank estimates $1 billion is needed for infrastructure sectors, including transport, within an $11 billion national recovery plan. Much of the new fleet's foundation was laid earlier. In 2022, France donated 50 buses to Lebanon, with more expected. Meanwhile, the Railway and Public Transport Authority refurbished 45 vehicles locally, raising the operational fleet to 95 — a modest but tangible effort to ease the transportation burden. Although the ACTC contract did not mandate fleet upgrades, the company voluntarily refurbished and standardized the buses, repainting them in navy blue for easy identification and installing safety and tracking technologies. To test viability, a pilot phase launched in April. Buses operated from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily to assess travel times, stop durations and operational needs. The goal was to ensure departures every 25 minutes. Pricing was designed to be accessible. Fares vary by distance: 70,000 Lebanese pounds within Beirut, 100,000 to Baabda, and 150,000 to Tripoli, according to local passengers. Riders can purchase single-use tickets or opt for rechargeable cards. For now, those without cards can still pay drivers directly and receive a scannable paper ticket. As Beirut confronts long-standing infrastructure challenges, this initiative is viewed as cautious progress. Yet its success will depend on earning public trust and expanding service sustainably. 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Arab News
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Where We Are Going Today: Fika & Go – Swedish Restaurant in Al-Khobar
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Saudi King Salman chairs weekly Cabinet meeting in Jeddah
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