Riyadh to Host International Conference on Arabic Language Computing

A view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
A view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
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Riyadh to Host International Conference on Arabic Language Computing

A view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
A view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)

The King Salman Global Academy for the Arabic Language will hold its third international conference in Riyadh from October 6 to 7.

Tackling "Arabic language computing and linguistic data enrichment", the event is expected to draw local, regional, and international institutions involved in the field.

University professors, and 40 researchers from 22 countries will attend to tackle subjects, such as computational linguistics, computer science, and Arabic language.

Through this conference, the academy hopes to contribute to the integration of the work of computer scientists and linguists in computational linguistics, bridge the knowledge gap, present their work and projects, and enrich Arabic datasets to improve and develop AI models.

It also seeks to support Arabic language automated processing and make it accessible, in line with the objectives of the Human Capability Development Program, one of Saudi Vision 2030 programs.

The conference will address topics related to the automated processing of the Arabic language, including machine learning, speech-to-text conversion, automated recognition of images, and topics related to computational linguistics, used in learning and teaching Arabic.



Alia Palace in Makkah: A Historic Witness to a Lost City from 1,300 Years Ago

Alia Palace in Makkah. (SPA)
Alia Palace in Makkah. (SPA)
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Alia Palace in Makkah: A Historic Witness to a Lost City from 1,300 Years Ago

Alia Palace in Makkah. (SPA)
Alia Palace in Makkah. (SPA)

Standing tall southeast of Rabigh governorate in Makkah Region and a few kilometers from Miqat Al-Juhfah, the historic Alia Palace is a testament to one of the ancient Hajj pilgrimage and trade routes that connected Makkah to Madinah.

Perched on the left bank of the Wadi Al-Ghaidah, Alia Palace resembles the remnants of a crumbling fortress dating back to the Abbasid era. It forms part of a long-lost city, with only the foundations of basalt stone structures remaining, the Saudi Press Agency said on Monday.

The archaeological features of Alia Palace and its surrounding historic sites underscore the significance of the ancient city of Al-Juhfah, known anciently as Mahya'ah, which faded into obscurity during the early Abbasid period.

Constructed with exquisite Abbasid architectural style, the palace was built using black basalt stone sourced from the nearby mountains. The site also contains fragments of green-glazed pottery, which provide insights into the historical period of the palace through shards of various vessels.