Latest news with #PrinceSultan
Arab News
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Riyadh to host major airshow in November
RIYADH: Prince Sultan bin Salman, founder and chairman of the Saudi Aviation Club, chaired a meeting attended by Ahmed Al-Fahaid, the club's general supervisor, where the executive plans and airshow programs for the Sand & Fun exhibition were approved. Prince Sultan said the Sand & Fun exhibition is a national platform combining aerial entertainment, education, and interactive experiences. The event supports the Kingdom's role as a regional and global hub for general aviation, aligned with Vision 2030 goals in tourism, education, and local content development, he added. This year's edition is special as it marks the 25th anniversary of the Saudi Aviation Club, highlighting the sector's growth since its founding. The exhibition will be held from Nov. 25 to 29 at Al-Thumamah Airport in Riyadh. It will include live day and night airshows, youth and children's zones, innovation pavilions, and investor platforms, aiming to boost local and international aviation collaboration. Prince Sultan called for stronger national partnerships and engagement with education, training, entertainment, and technology sectors to ensure the event's success. The exhibition demonstrates Saudi Arabia's organizational capabilities and opens new opportunities for future generations in aviation. Founded in 2000 following a Cabinet decision, the Saudi Aviation Club leads the Kingdom's general aviation sector, promoting its culture, supporting talent, and organizing educational and entertainment initiatives.
Arab News
29-06-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Islamabad's mission, Saudi non-profit join hands to assist Pakistani special needs children in Kingdom
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani embassy in Riyadh has signed an agreement with Saudi Arabia's Children with Disabilities Association (CDA) non-profit group to provide Pakistani children with special needs in the Kingdom with a 60 percent discount on clinical and rehabilitation services at CDA facilities, Pakistan's ambassador to Saudi Arabia said on Sunday. Founded in 1982, the CDA is one of the largest child rehabilitation institutions in the region, providing care and support through rehabilitation and education to disabled children from birth until they are 12 at 11 CDA branches supported by a community of 4,900 members. Pakistan's Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ahmed Farooq and CDA Board of Directors Chairman Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz signed a cooperation agreement in Riyadh on June 24 for Pakistani special needs children for a period of one year, extendable with the mutual consent of both parties. 'We are pleased to share that a long-standing demand of our community has been fulfilled,' Ambassador Farooq told Arab News, adding that the embassy can now refer specially abled Pakistani children below the age of 14, who require evaluative clinic and rehabilitative services, to the CDA. 'All centers of the association will offer these children the support they need, including a 60 percent reduction in their rates.' The Pakistani envoy said the CDA would offer rehabilitative services to these children in both English and Arabic languages, and thanked Prince Sultan for his support in this regard. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy strong trade, defense, cultural and brotherly relations. The Kingdom is home to over 2.5 million Pakistani expatriates and serves as top source of remittances to the cash-strapped South Asian country. To avail this service, Ambassador Farooq said, Pakistani community members will have to send a written request to the embassy, including full name, age and passport details of the child. 'Upon receiving requests, the embassy will refer them to the association for further processing, after which the child will be enrolled as a student at a [CDA] center,' he said, hoping this important step will not only address the immediate needs of the community but will also help build confidence in the mission's public service. The implementation of the cooperation instrument began on the date of signing of the agreement between both sides and will remain in effect for one year, according to the agreement seen by Arab News. The agreement was driven by the Pakistani mission's interest in providing rehabilitation services to the expat community and the CDA's goal to enhance the level of services provided to children with disabilities in different regions of the Kingdom, whether citizens or residents. 'The second party [CDA] will offer a special discount for assessing and providing rehabilitative services to referred beneficiaries,' the document said, adding that the beneficiaries' guardians were responsible for covering the costs of assessment and therapeutic services after the discount was applied. It stated that the association would provide an annual report on the services rendered to patients under this cooperation. 'A contact officer and coordinator shall be appointed by both parties, with each party providing the other with names and information before commencing work under this instrument of cooperation,' the document said.
Zawya
24-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
GACA releases punctuality and performance rankings of Saudi airports and national carriers during May
RIYADH — The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) on Monday issued its monthly report on the punctuality and performance of airports and national carriers during the last month of May. This is based on flights departing or arriving within 15 minutes of their scheduled time, as well as the airport performance based on 11 operational standards. GACA released the punctuality report to provide travelers with a clear overview of adherence to flight schedules and to support efforts to enhance service quality and improve the overall passenger experience. According to the report, King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, AlUla International Airport, and Turaif Airport ranked among the top-performing airports in May. Airports were categorized into five groups. In the first category, which includes international airports with over 15 million passengers annually, King Abdulaziz International Airport ranked first with an on-time performance rate of 89 percent. In the second category, for airports handling 5 to 15 million passengers annually, King Fahd International Airport in Dammam topped the list with 88 percent. In the third category, which includes airports handling 2 to 5 million passengers annually, Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk ranked first with 91percent. AlUla International Airport led the fourth category for airports with fewer than 2 million passengers, with a 96 percent on-time performance rate, while Turaif Airport topped the fifth category for domestic airports with a 97 percent on-time performance rate. At the airline level, Saudia recorded a 90 percent on-time rate for both arrivals and departures; flynas achieved 89 percent for arrivals and 91percent for departures; and flyadeal recorded 90 percent for arrivals and 92 percent for departures. The report also highlighted key domestic and international routes. Domestically, the Jazan–Jeddah and Jeddah–Abha routes achieved a punctuality rate of 95 percent. Internationally, the Jeddah–Abu Dhabi route ranked first with a 97 percent on-time performance rate. These efforts align with the objectives of the National Aviation Strategy, which seeks to position the Kingdom as a leading regional aviation hub by enhancing operational standards, improving efficiency, and raising the quality of services provided to travelers. GACA issued on Sunday its monthly performance report for Saudi international and domestic airports during May. The report assesses airport performance based on 11 operational standards aligned with strategic objectives aimed at improving services, enhancing quality, and ensuring a seamless traveler experience. King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Abha International Airport, Arar Airport, and Qurayyat Airport ranked top positions in the report. GACA categorizes airports for performance evaluation based on annual passenger volumes, ensuring a transparent approach. Among international airports with more than 15 million passengers annually, King Khalid International Airport ranked first with an 82 percent compliance rate, outperforming King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, which also recorded 82 percent but scored lower in key performance criteria. In the category of international airports serving 5 to 15 million passengers annually, King Fahd International Airport in Dammam ranked first with a 91 percent compliance rate, while Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah came second with 82 percent. Among airports with 2 to 5 million annual passengers, Abha International Airport achieved a 100 percent compliance rate, leading in metrics related to average waiting time for departing and arriving flights. In the category of airports with fewer than 2 million annual passengers, Arar Airport also achieved a 100 percent compliance rate, outperforming peers in average waiting time. Qurayyat Airport ranked first among domestic airports, achieving a 100 percent compliance rate and leading in efficiency for departing and arriving flight procedures. GACA evaluates airport performance based on key passenger service areas to ensure a smooth and efficient travel experience aligned with international standards. © Copyright 2022 The Saudi Gazette. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Gulf Business
17-06-2025
- Science
- Gulf Business
Saudi Arabia marks 40 years since Prince Sultan bin Salman's historic space mission
Image: Supplied Saudi Arabia today commemorated the 40th anniversary of Prince Sultan bin Salman's landmark journey aboard On June 17, 1985, Prince Sultan, then a 28-year-old Royal Saudi Air Force pilot, joined the international crew of the STS-51-G mission as a payload specialist. The seven-day mission saw the successful deployment of the Arabsat-1B satellite, a significant achievement for the Arab Satellite Communications Organization (ARABSAT) and the wider Arab world. During the mission, which completed 111 orbits of Earth, Prince Sultan conducted scientific experiments, including studying the interaction of oil and water in microgravity, and became the first person to read the holy Qur'an in space — a moment that resonated deeply across the Muslim world. 'Prince Sultan's mission was more than a historic achievement; it set the stage for what has become a shining example of what the future holds for the Arab world,' said Lisa La Bonte, CEO of TSEC and a pioneer in the MENA space education sector. 'His legacy drives the kingdom's — and the region's — space ambitions, fostering innovation and supporting economic initiatives like Vision 2030.' Read: Saudi Arabia's first 'najmonaut' Prince Sultan's achievement has become a symbol of Saudi Arabia's commitment to scientific advancement and its leadership in the region's emerging space sector. Often referred to as the first 'najmonaut' (Arab astronaut), his legacy continues to inspire new generations of explorers and innovators. 'Seeing Earth from space gave me a new perspective on our shared humanity,' Prince Sultan reflected. 'It's a reminder that our ambitions must always serve the greater good, pushing technology and knowledge to improve life on our planet.' The 40th anniversary serves as both a celebration of past achievement and a reaffirmation of the kingdom's long-term vision for space exploration and technological progress.
Arab News
19-04-2025
- Science
- Arab News
1985 - Saudi prince's pioneering journey into space
RIYADH: On June 17, 1985, Saudi Arabia made history when the NASA space shuttle Discovery blasted off from Cape Canaveral in Florida on its fifth mission, carrying the first Arab, Muslim and royal astronaut — and with him, the dawn of a new era of Arab space exploration. Prince Sultan bin Salman, a 28-year-old Royal Saudi Air Force pilot, spent seven days conducting experiments in space as part of an international crew of seven. During Discovery's voyage, the prince, the second son of Saudi Arabia's King Salman, also monitored the deployment of Arabsat-1B, the second satellite launched by the Arab Satellite Communications Organization, designed to boost telephone and television communication between Arab nations. Saudi Arabia's leadership in the regional space-exploration sector began at that moment, setting the stage for the remarkable progress that followed and has shaped its vision. Confidence in the Kingdom's ability to spearhead the Arab world's journey into space was evident when Arab League member states nominated Prince Sultan as a payload specialist to travel aboard the space shuttle. The Kingdom had played a pivotal role in the Arab League's founding of satellite communications company Arabsat. Its first satellite, Arabsat-1A, was launched into space on a French rocket in February 1985. During 10 weeks of intensive training in Saudi Arabia and with NASA in the US, Prince Sultan made the transition from Royal Saudi Air Force pilot to an astronaut ready for a mission on which he would be the youngest person on the crew. He returned to a hero's welcome in Saudi Arabia and the wider Arab world when the space shuttle touched down safely at Edwards Air Force Base in California at 6:11 a.m. local time on June 24, 1985, and inspired a generation of Arabs to turn their gaze toward the stars. His own mission in the space sector was far from over, however. Upon his return, the prince was promoted to the rank of major in the Royal Saudi Air Force and, when Saudi Arabia decided to accelerate its space-exploration endeavors as part of Vision 2030, there was no better choice of chairperson for the Saudi Space Commission when it was established in 2018. Prince Sultan's efforts to develop a new generation of Saudi astronauts quickly began to bear fruit. And on May 21, 2023, the Kingdom celebrated another milestone in its journey into space when the first female Saudi and Arab astronaut took flight. Rayyanah Barnawi was joined by Ali Alqarni, the second Saudi man in space after Prince Sultan, on the first mission of the Saudi Space Commission's Human Space Flight program. During their 10-day mission to the International Space Station as part of the four-person Axiom Mission 2, the two Saudi astronauts conducted 11 microgravity research experiments. Prince Sultan and his Saudi Air Force backup, Maj. Abdul Al-Mohsin Hamad Al-Bassam, arrive in the US to begin intensive training for a space shuttle mission. Prince Sultan becomes first Arab in space after he blasts off from Cape Canaveral on the shuttle Discovery. Discovery's crew deploys the Arabsat-1B satellite. After orbiting Earth 111 times and traveling more than 4.6 million km, Discovery lands at Edwards Air Force Base, California. Muhammed Faris from Syria becomes second Arab in space, flies to the Soviet Mir space station. Prince Sultan appointed chairperson of newly established Saudi Space Commission. Emirati Hazza Al-Mansouri carries the UAE flag to the International Space Station during an 8-day mission. He is the third Arab in space and the first on the ISS. First Saudi and Arab female astronaut, Rayyanah Barnawi, and Ali Alqarni, the second Saudi man in space after Prince Sultan, visit the ISS on a 10-day mission. Cabinet resolution changes name of Saudi Space Commission to Saudi Space Agency. A month later, the commission was renamed the Saudi Space Agency by a Cabinet resolution. Its aims are to develop space technologies, boost economic diversification, support research and development in the sector, and nurture future generations of Saudi astronauts. 'This country has been built for so many generations, and each generation paves the way for the next generation, and creates the platform for the next generation to take it to the next level,' Prince Sultan said during an interview with Arab News in 2019. In 2020, Saudi Arabia announced the allocation of $2.1 billion to its space program as part of the diversification efforts outlined in the Vision 2030 strategic framework for national development. Two years later, the Saudi space sector generated $400 million in revenue, and the figure expected to reach $2.2 billion by 2030. Beyond Saudi Arabia, Prince Sultan's pioneering journey into space also inspired Arabs elsewhere in the region. Two years later, in July 1987, Muhammed Faris from Syria was a research cosmonaut on an eight-day, three-person mission aboard a Soviet spacecraft to the Mir space station. Joined by two Soviet cosmonauts, he conducted several research experiments in the fields of space medicine and materials processing. Hazza Al-Mansouri, the third Arab in space, who in September 2019 became the first Emirati astronaut and the first Arab to set foot on the International Space Station, also took inspiration from Prince Sultan. 'Al-Mansouri's passion for space and desire to pave the way for future generations to explore it had been inspired by Prince Sultan's 1985 mission,' Mohammed Nasser Al-Ahbabi, a former director general of the UAE Space Agency, wrote in 2020 in an article marking the 45th anniversary of Arab News. 'As a young student, the future astronaut saw a photo of Prince Sultan, the first Arab in space, in his fourth-grade schoolbook — a turning point in his life.' In 1988, the then president of the UAE, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan, met Prince Sultan and quizzed him about every detail of his journey into space. 'Prince Sultan's experience had a great impact on the UAE in particular, a country that has demonstrated a strong commitment to space since the time of its founder and first president, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan,' wrote Al-Ahbabi. 'Sheikh Zayed's vision and Prince Sultan's historic milestone were the stepping stones for driving the UAE and the region's enthusiasm for space exploration.' The UAE Space Agency signed an agreement with the Saudi Space Agency in 2020 to enhance cooperation in space activities for peaceful purposes, build technical and scientific capabilities, and exchange knowledge and expertise. As the Arab region continues to expand its projects and investments in the space sector, the role of the Saudi prince in reminding younger generations to reach for the stars will always be remembered. When they see the Earth from space they will find, as Prince Sultan told Arab News in 2019, that 'your care and your passion for things become more global, more universal.'
