ROSHN Group, Saudi Tourism Ministry Sign Memorandum of Collaboration

ROSHN and the ministry will discuss potential tourism investments and sector-specific opportunities. SPA
ROSHN and the ministry will discuss potential tourism investments and sector-specific opportunities. SPA
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ROSHN Group, Saudi Tourism Ministry Sign Memorandum of Collaboration

ROSHN and the ministry will discuss potential tourism investments and sector-specific opportunities. SPA
ROSHN and the ministry will discuss potential tourism investments and sector-specific opportunities. SPA

ROSHN Group, a Public Investment Fund-owned company, has signed a Memorandum of Collaboration with the Saudi Ministry of Tourism that will support the realization of the Kingdom’s National Tourism Strategy and the achievement of targets, including welcoming 150 million tourists and generating one million tourism-related jobs by 2030.

The partnership between ROSHN, a major player in Saudi Arabia’s property development sector, and the Ministry will advance the Kingdom’s tourism industry through collaborative efforts in developing tourism destinations, sharing data, insights, and knowledge, and rolling out training programs for young Saudis for different career opportunities in the industry.

ROSHN and the ministry will discuss potential tourism investments and sector-specific opportunities.

“ROSHN is a leading player nationally in developing destinations and communities, and we are looking forward to working with ROSHN to collaborate on how we can best support the Kingdom’s tourism aspirations as spelt out by the National Tourism Strategy,” said Mahmoud Abdulhadi, Deputy Minister of Tourism Destinations Enablement.

The collaboration includes a comprehensive framework to support the development of tourism capabilities and infrastructure across Saudi Arabia, promoting quality of life for both Saudi nationals and visitors from abroad. ROSHN’s current development portfolio includes retail and entertainment to complement its community living for its current and future residents.

“With a portfolio that includes communities and destinations throughout the Kingdom, ROSHN is already playing a role in promoting Saudi Arabia as a preferred place to visit,” explained Yassen Kattan, Head of Strategy and Corporate Affairs, ROSHN Group. “Our collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism underscores our dedication to pursuing developments that create memorable experiences for all, with a focus on quality of life and entertainment as we look to contribute to Saudi Vision 2030.”



World Leaders Descend on Azerbaijan’s Capital Baku for United Nations Climate Talks

 Leaders arrive for a group photo at the COP29 UN Climate Summit, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Baku, Azerbaijan. (AP)
Leaders arrive for a group photo at the COP29 UN Climate Summit, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Baku, Azerbaijan. (AP)
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World Leaders Descend on Azerbaijan’s Capital Baku for United Nations Climate Talks

 Leaders arrive for a group photo at the COP29 UN Climate Summit, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Baku, Azerbaijan. (AP)
Leaders arrive for a group photo at the COP29 UN Climate Summit, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Baku, Azerbaijan. (AP)

World leaders are converging Tuesday at the United Nations annual climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan although the big names and powerful countries are noticeably absent, unlike past climate talks which had the star power of a soccer World Cup.

But 2024's climate talks are more like the World Chess Federation finals, lacking the recognizable names but big on nerd power and strategy. The top leaders of the 13 largest carbon dioxide-polluting countries will not appear with their countries responsible for more than 70% of 2023's heat-trapping gases.

Biggest polluters and strongest economies China and the United States aren't sending their No. 1s. The four most populous nations with more than 42% of all the world's population aren't having leaders speak.

“It’s symptomatic of the lack of political will to act. There’s no sense of urgency,” said climate scientist Bill Hare, CEO of Climate Analytics. He said this explains “the absolute mess we’re finding ourselves in.”

On Tuesday, Azerbaijan’s president Ilham Aliyev, United Kingdom’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan are the headliners of among the nearly 50 leaders set to speak.

But there'll be a strong showing expected from the leaders of some of the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries. Several small island nations presidents and over a dozen leaders from countries across Africa are set to speak over the two-day World Leaders’ Summit at the COP29 conference.