Saudi Arabia’s AlUla Launches Eventful ‘Summer Untold’ Program

Enjoying a milder climate with temperatures 5 to 10 degrees Celsius cooler than neighboring cities, AlUla is an ideal destination for both remote work and leisure. (SPA)
Enjoying a milder climate with temperatures 5 to 10 degrees Celsius cooler than neighboring cities, AlUla is an ideal destination for both remote work and leisure. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia’s AlUla Launches Eventful ‘Summer Untold’ Program

Enjoying a milder climate with temperatures 5 to 10 degrees Celsius cooler than neighboring cities, AlUla is an ideal destination for both remote work and leisure. (SPA)
Enjoying a milder climate with temperatures 5 to 10 degrees Celsius cooler than neighboring cities, AlUla is an ideal destination for both remote work and leisure. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia’s AlUla has launched its summer program under the theme “Summer Untold,” offering a rich collection of experiences that blend ancient heritage sites with breathtaking natural landscapes.

Enjoying a milder climate with temperatures 5 to 10 degrees Celsius cooler than neighboring cities, the governorate is an ideal destination for both remote work and leisure.

The program features exclusive hotel packages at AlUla’s luxury resorts nestled in nature, alongside a series of artistic events at the local amphitheater that combine live music performances with AlUla’s stunning surroundings. Guests can also enjoy musical experiences by the pool, set against a backdrop of majestic mountains and golden sands.

Returning this August for its third edition, the AlUla Desert Blaze trail race offers an ideal challenge for adventure seekers, who will race through some of AlUla’s most iconic landmarks amid its spectacular desert terrain.

The program also invites visitors to explore the summer oasis farms and discover the traditional lifestyles of farmers in AlUla’s Old Town.

Furthermore, AlUla Adventure Hub is rolling out an exciting lineup of thrill-seeking activities this summer, beginning in the early morning hours among the region’s striking desert landscapes. Highlights include the AlUla Zipline, the longest and fastest of its kind in the Kingdom, offering breathtaking mountain views, as well as the Giant Swing, the AlUla Stairway, mountain rappelling, the Via Ferrata, the Canyon Hammock, and rock-climbing adventures.



China's Humanoid Robots Generate More Soccer Excitement than their Human Counterparts

Billboard illustrating humanoid robots at 2018 China International Robot Show in Shanghai. Reuters
Billboard illustrating humanoid robots at 2018 China International Robot Show in Shanghai. Reuters
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China's Humanoid Robots Generate More Soccer Excitement than their Human Counterparts

Billboard illustrating humanoid robots at 2018 China International Robot Show in Shanghai. Reuters
Billboard illustrating humanoid robots at 2018 China International Robot Show in Shanghai. Reuters

While China's men's soccer team hasn't generated much excitement in recent years, humanoid robot teams have won over fans in Beijing based more on the AI technology involved than any athletic prowess shown.

Four teams of humanoid robots faced off in fully autonomous 3-on-3 soccer matches powered entirely by artificial intelligence on Saturday night in China's capital in what was touted as a first in China and a preview for the upcoming World Humanoid Robot Games, set to take place in Beijing.

According to the organizers, a key aspect of the match was that all the participating robots operated fully autonomously using AI-driven strategies without any human intervention or supervision.

Equipped with advanced visual sensors, the robots were able to identify the ball and navigate the field with agility

They were also designed to stand up on their own after falling. However, during the match several still had to be carried off the field on stretchers by staff, adding to the realism of the experience.

China is stepping up efforts to develop AI-powered humanoid robots, using sports competitions like marathons, boxing, and football as a real-world proving ground.

Cheng Hao, founder and CEO of Booster Robotics, the company that supplied the robot players, said sports competitions offer the ideal testing ground for humanoid robots, helping to accelerate the development of both algorithms and integrated hardware-software systems.

He also emphasized safety as a core concern in the application of humanoid robots.

“In the future, we may arrange for robots to play football with humans. That means we must ensure the robots are completely safe,” Cheng said. “For example, a robot and a human could play a match where winning doesn’t matter, but real offensive and defensive interactions take place. That would help audiences build trust and understand that robots are safe.”

Booster Robotics provided the hardware for all four university teams, while each school’s research team developed and embedded their own algorithms for perception, decision-making, player formations, and passing strategies—including variables such as speed, force, and direction, according to Cheng.

In the final match, Tsinghua University’s THU Robotics defeated the China Agricultural University’s Mountain Sea team with a score of 5–3 to win the championship.

Wu, a supporter of Tsinghua, celebrated their victory while also praising the competition.

“They (THU) did really well,” he said. “But the Mountain Sea team (of Agricultural University) was also impressive. They brought a lot of surprises.”

China's men have made only one World Cup appearance and have already been knocked out of next years' competition in Canada, Mexico and the United States.