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Misk Foundation Celebrates Results of Saudi Coding Initiative

Misk Foundation celebrates results of Saudi Coding Initiative. (SPA)
Misk Foundation celebrates results of Saudi Coding Initiative. (SPA)
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Misk Foundation Celebrates Results of Saudi Coding Initiative

Misk Foundation celebrates results of Saudi Coding Initiative. (SPA)
Misk Foundation celebrates results of Saudi Coding Initiative. (SPA)

The Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Foundation, Misk, concluded on Sunday the second edition of the Saudi Coding Initiative, reported the Saudi Press Agency.

The event, which was launched on September 2, 2018, concluded with a ceremony in Riyadh that the saw the handing out of awards for winners of coding competitions.

Targeting all parts of the Kingdom, the initiative saw the participation of users from 139 countries and 192 cities and villages from across Saudi Arabia, bringing the total beneficiaries to 1 million since the project’s launch.

The Initiative toured 10 Saudi cities, organized a number of workshops and training courses to teach logical and analytical thinking and problem-solving techniques and allow society members to acquire 21st century skills.

A total of 1,025,971 participants attended distance courses. Women accounted for 52 percent of participants, while 2 percent of all participants were above the age of 65.

Executive Manager of Misk Innovation Deemah Alyahya welcomed the partnership between the public, private and non-profit sectors, saying: “This partnership has brought new skills and opportunities to a wider array of people than ever before.”

“Together we are demonstrating that coding skills can and should be brought within anyone’s reach, and together we are empowering people with knowledge, skills and coding confidence they need for a bright future in the Knowledge Economy.”

“In doing so, we are driving the digital transformation of the Kingdom and ensuring its place on the global frontline of innovation.”

The Saudi Coding Initiative is one of the Misk Foundation's projects that aim at bolstering technical knowledge. It is one of the largest interactive training programs being implemented in the Kingdom.

The second edition of the Initiative took place in partnership with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and Saudi Telecom Company (STC), with the participation of 71 schools, universities, government and private sector institutions, as well as a number of digital, social, technical and cultural initiatives.

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Iran Envoy: Jareesh is Part of Our Culture, I Prefer It to Mandi

Enayati says regional ties run deep through shared history (Photo: Turki Al-Oqaili)
Enayati says regional ties run deep through shared history (Photo: Turki Al-Oqaili)
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Iran Envoy: Jareesh is Part of Our Culture, I Prefer It to Mandi

Enayati says regional ties run deep through shared history (Photo: Turki Al-Oqaili)
Enayati says regional ties run deep through shared history (Photo: Turki Al-Oqaili)

With a warm smile and a calm tone, Dr. Alireza Enayati, Iran’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, reflects on nearly two years in Riyadh, describing a personal journey shaped by culture, cuisine, and diplomacy.

“I’ve visited different regions and tasted traditional Saudi dishes,” Enayati told Asharq Al-Awsat in an interview. “Jareesh –a dish made from cracked wheat and cooked with meat, spices, and vegetables– has become my favorite—I choose it over mandi and other dishes on any occasion.”

According to the Iranian envoy, the two countries share more than just geography. “There are many common dishes between Saudi Arabia and Iran,” he said.

But food is only one layer of the ambassador’s experience. Enayati, who has spent over two decades immersed in Middle East diplomacy, sees deep historical ties binding the region’s peoples together.

“I recently read Al-Hadaqi, a novel about Al-Jahiz—Abu Uthman Amr ibn Bahr—and his life between Baghdad, Basra, and Iran. It left me with a strong sense that the relationships among peoples in this region go far back in history,” he said. “Reading it felt like tracing our steps backward to better understand the present.”

“These are not new connections,” he added. “We’re not creating the relationship—we’re nurturing what has always existed. The cultural and civilizational dialogue has never ceased.”

His comments come against the backdrop of a thaw in relations between Tehran and Riyadh, after both sides agreed in March 2023—under Chinese mediation—to restore diplomatic ties following a seven-year rift.

The ambassador pointed to culinary overlaps as another reflection of cultural convergence. “Stews, for example, are common in both countries,” he said. “Jareesh is part of Iranian culture too, as are lamb and camel meat. And as everyone knows, kebab originated in Iran, but it’s also very popular here in the Kingdom.”

Enayati has built his career around the region. “I’ve spent more than 20 years working on regional affairs and never served outside this part of the world,” he said with a smile. “I’m not sure if that’s a strength or a limitation, but my focus has always been here.”

Appointed to Riyadh as part of a diplomatic breakthrough, Enayati said he is proud to represent Iran in Saudi Arabia. “It’s a great honor. I dedicate my efforts to enhancing bilateral ties and supporting regional peace and stability.”

Looking ahead, Enayati hopes to help build stronger cultural bridges—not only between Saudi Arabia and Iran, but across the broader region. “Arabic and Persian cultures both occupy a distinguished place,” he said. “We must deepen mutual understanding between them.”

He concluded with a nod to Tehran’s long-term vision for cooperation with Riyadh. “Iran and Saudi Arabia are both pillars of regional stability,” he said. “This region belongs to its people, and we view our relationship with the Kingdom through that lens.”