‘Future’ List Triumphs in Saudi Journalists Association Elections

The President and members of the board of the Saudi Journalists Association after their election. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The President and members of the board of the Saudi Journalists Association after their election. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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‘Future’ List Triumphs in Saudi Journalists Association Elections

The President and members of the board of the Saudi Journalists Association after their election. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The President and members of the board of the Saudi Journalists Association after their election. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi journalists and media figures, running on the “Future” list, were elected members of the board of directors of the Saudi Journalist Association.

The elections, held on Sunday, drew significant participation from the Saudi journalistic community.

Adhwan Alahmari, Editor-in-Chief of Independent Arabia, was elected president of the Saudi Journalist Association.

The elected board members of the board are: Zaid bin Kami, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Asharq Al-Awsat; Mohammed Al-Bishi, Editor-in-Chief of Al-Eqtisadiah; Faisal Abbas, Editor-in-Chief of Arab News; Adhwan Alahmri, Editor-in-Chief of Independent Arabia; Ali Al-Hazmi, Editor-in-Chief of Sabq; Hamed Alshehri, Editor-in-Chief of the Saudipedia platform; Fatima Al-Awfi from the Media Department at the Ministry of Sports; Lama Al-Shethry, Editor-in-Chief of Sayidaty; May Al-Sharif, Assistant Editor-in-Chief of Independent Arabia; Noor Nugali, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Arab News; Bushra Alrabiah from the Government Communication Center; Thekra Al-Atyawi from the Saudi Broadcasting Authority; and Mamdouh Al-Muhaini, General Manager of Al-Arabiya and Al-Hadath television stations.

Saudi Media Minister Salman Al-Dosari, in a statement posted on “X,” highlighted the importance of civil society in developing journalists’ skills and enhancing media performance.

He congratulated the newly elected board of the Saudi Journalists Association, thanked the outgoing council led by Khaled Al-Malik, and expressed optimism about a productive partnership for advancing the media industry.

Following the election, the Board of Directors held its first meeting, electing Alahmari as president, and Faisal Abbas as president while Bushra Alrabiah was elected as treasurer.

Alahmari thanked his colleagues for the confidence entrusted in him.

He hoped that the new team can achieve their hopes and aspirations. He also praised the great efforts made by the members of the previous boards who made outstanding contributions in meeting objectives.

He said his colleagues will present their visions at the next meeting to develop an organized strategy for their work that stems from the main objectives of the association and is consistent with the aspirations of Saudi media and journalists.



Spain Foreign Tourist Numbers Break Record in Early 2025

FILE PHOTO: Tourists tour along the Puente Nuevo (New Bridge) on a hot summer day in Ronda, Spain July 4, 2023. REUTERS/Jon Nazca/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Tourists tour along the Puente Nuevo (New Bridge) on a hot summer day in Ronda, Spain July 4, 2023. REUTERS/Jon Nazca/File Photo
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Spain Foreign Tourist Numbers Break Record in Early 2025

FILE PHOTO: Tourists tour along the Puente Nuevo (New Bridge) on a hot summer day in Ronda, Spain July 4, 2023. REUTERS/Jon Nazca/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Tourists tour along the Puente Nuevo (New Bridge) on a hot summer day in Ronda, Spain July 4, 2023. REUTERS/Jon Nazca/File Photo

Spain welcomed a record 17 million foreign tourists in the first three months of 2025 as the buoyant sector drives an economy outshining European peers, official data showed on Monday.

The 17.1 million foreign tourists arriving in Spain from January to March was a 5.7-percent increase on the same period in 2024, the National Statistics Institute said.

Britain, France and Germany supplied the most holidaymakers to the world's second most-visited country, which last year hosted a record 94 million foreign tourists seeking its sun, beaches and culture, AFP reported.

Spending by foreign tourists also climbed 7.2 percent to 23.5 billion euros ($26.7 billion), the tourism ministry said in a statement, a welcome development for the government which wants visitors to splash more cash during their stay.

The tourist sector was one of the drivers of Spain's standout growth of 3.2 percent in 2024, well above the EU figure of one percent.

But the bonanza has sparked a growing backlash among locals who complain that an unsustainable influx of foreign visitors is driving up rents, saturating infrastructure and changing the fabric of neighborhoods.

Spain aims to "diversify" destinations, make the sector less dependent on key seasons and "share out the benefits" across the country, Tourism Minister Jordi Hereu said in a statement.