Saudi ‘Alhasalah’ Social Initiative Ranks First in King Khalid Development Partners Award

Prince Faisal bin Khalid, the emir of Asir and chairman of King Khalid Award Committee, during the announcement of the winners | Asharq Al-Awsat
Prince Faisal bin Khalid, the emir of Asir and chairman of King Khalid Award Committee, during the announcement of the winners | Asharq Al-Awsat
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Saudi ‘Alhasalah’ Social Initiative Ranks First in King Khalid Development Partners Award

Prince Faisal bin Khalid, the emir of Asir and chairman of King Khalid Award Committee, during the announcement of the winners | Asharq Al-Awsat
Prince Faisal bin Khalid, the emir of Asir and chairman of King Khalid Award Committee, during the announcement of the winners | Asharq Al-Awsat

The world’s childhood must-have “Alhasalah” (Arabic for piggy bank) has transformed through Saudi community efforts into an initiative for raising awareness on monetary management, investment and savings.
Alhasala initiative won first place in the King Khalid Development Partners Award.

Saad Al Hamoudi, who founded the initiative back in 2009, explains that it is one of the most important Saudi voluntary works when it comes to raising the public’s monetary awareness and promoting savings and rationalization of consumption.

Those two principles are in line with the Kingdom's national transformation program Kingdom Vision 2030.

The initiative aims to increase savings of individuals and families by 6 to 10 percent, Hamoudi told Asharq Al-Awsat.

“Alhasala initiative is active in various social networks, in addition to setting up countless workshops and exhibitions with a grassroots audience.”

“Over 3,000 children have been trained so that young people can get used to saving since childhood,” he added.

According to Hamoudi, some 800 men and women were trained on raising awareness about family saving plans and cost-cutting.

At least 40 informative videos simplifying fiscal management were released in different languages by Alhasala’s team.

Asked about the future plan of the initiative, Hamoudi reveals hopes for going fully into e-training so that the program reaches more people, and possibly regionally.

Awareness podcasts and films are covered by the initiative as well.

Prince Faisal bin Khalid, of the Asir region and chairman of the King Khalid Award Committee, announced that the initiative won 42 percent of the total votes in a mass email voting mechanism through the King Khalid Foundation website.

He said that the Foundation embraced prosperity by activating the role of the development partners, as well as empowering them through social investment and building capabilities to ensure the emergence of a Saudi community with equal opportunities.

There are intentions to expand the competition for the award beyond Saudi borders to include fellow countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Bahrain and Kuwait, he added.

“Adam Campaign” came in second place with 29 percent of the total votes. Launched in 2014, the initiative raises public awareness, among youth in particular, on coexistence and tolerance with the objective of curbing racism and extreme practices and emboldening the creation of inclusive and peaceful societies.



Riyadh to Host Second Human Capability Initiative Conference on Sunday

A night view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA file)
A night view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (SPA file)
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Riyadh to Host Second Human Capability Initiative Conference on Sunday

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

Under the patronage of Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince, Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Human Capability Development Program Committee—a key initiative in achieving the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—the second edition of the Human Capability Initiative Conference will open in Riyadh on Sunday.

The two-day conference, themed "Beyond Readiness," underscores the Kingdom's unwavering commitment to investing in human capital as a cornerstone of national development and future progress, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Saturday.

Organized by the Human Capability Development Program, this premier global platform will bring together more than 300 distinguished speakers, including influential leaders, policymakers, and global experts from academia, the private sector, and non-profit organizations, for over 100 panel discussions.

The second edition will emphasize the vital role of unlocking potential to advance human capabilities through the strategic application of cutting-edge technologies. The goal is to cultivate an educational ecosystem that promotes lifelong learning and empowers individuals and communities to adapt effectively to rapid transformation.

Furthermore, the conference will highlight the importance of embedding values that underpin growth and development, contributing to the formation of interconnected societies capable of addressing both local and global challenges. A key focus will be on forging partnerships and creating opportunities that amplify the role of individuals in devising sustainable solutions for a brighter future.

Building on the success of its first edition, the conference further solidifies the Kingdom's efforts in human capability development and makes a significant contribution to the global discourse on the future of human potential in an era of rapid change.