Prince Faisal bin Bandar, Emir of Riyadh, Wednesday inaugurated the first phase of the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Science Oasis. In a press statement on the occasion, the prince said: “Riyadh receives this gift, which was built upon orders by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud for Saudis in the region and the homeland, so that they can benefit from this science and communicate in a new environment where they can enjoy limitless support and future visions from Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. This oasis is part of the wise leadership’s support and a big achievement that was realized through Prince Sultan bin Salman, who created this in a beautiful way with useful knowledge.” Prince Faisal also referred to benefits from the oasis and the approach it offers, praising the supporters who provided around SR400 million for the oasis. He congratulated everyone who worked to realize this achievement. He toured the oasis building located on a plot of land of 200,000 square meters, and houses a scientific museum with an indoor basement for learning and seven halls that stimulate scientific creativity in the fields of energy, space, mining, water, transformative industries, information and communication technology, and multi-purpose flexible scientific laboratories concerned with science and technology and coffee shops that enjoy special characteristics. Prince Faisal watched a presentation on the scientific and entertainment activities and festivals that the oasis offers to its visitors through halls, scientific laboratories and interactive screens. During the inauguration ceremony of the oasis, the Emir of Riyadh attended the signing ceremony of seven agreements by Oasis Supervisor General Dr. Khalid bin Abdulqader Taher and the Ministry of Education, Princess Nourah University, Saudi Electronic University, Prince Sultan University, King Abdulaziz and Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba), King Abdulaziz Public Library, and Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority (Monshaat). For his part, Prince Sultan bin Salman, Special Advisor to Custodian of the Two Holy and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the King Salman Science Oasis, expressed appreciation for the King and the Crown Prince for their continuous support to creating the oasis project to be a scientific, cultural and tourist destination, a beacon to stimulate scientific creativity, and a national investment for all members of society. He also conveyed his gratitude to Emir of Riyadh for inaugurating the oasis that is considered an incubator for knowledge and one of the landmarks of Riyadh, which is envisioned to contributing to the development of tourist resources, praising the support of top founding partners in creating this monument, naming Riyadh Charitable Establishment for Science, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, and sponsors, whether they are companies, institutions, citizens or businessmen. The prince said: “The non-for-profit oasis aims at participating in realizing national targets led and supervised by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and President of the Higher Committee for Research, Development and Innovation. The oasis has effective partnerships with not-for-profit organizations in Saudi Arabia, such as Mohammed Bin Salman Foundation (MiSK Foundation) and the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Non-Profit City Project to serve development, scientific and technological goals to realize the Saudi Vision 2030. Prince Sultan said the oasis participates in realizing the vision of the Crown Prince in employing the local content with its young human capabilities to develop alternative income sources to use the huge resources of the Kingdom through spreading scientific knowledge and supporting innovation, in addition to highlighting entrepreneurship opportunities in the fields of science and technology. The entertainment educational environment of the oasis constitutes one of the channels to activate young creative energies among citizens through its diversified programs. The prince said the oasis contributes to spreading applied sciences, supporting innovation and promoting investment opportunities in the cognitive economy that forms one of the pillars of enabling the community to participate in Shareek Program that was launched by the Crown Prince in 2021. He added: “Today we celebrate the inauguration of a national monument that carries the name of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, who adopted the idea when he was the emir of Riyadh with the sharp vision of an inspiring leader who runs the development and prosperity process in our country with wisdom to keep pace with the civilization and further develop the homeland and its citizens.” Concluding his statement, the prince considered the King Salman Science Oasis an educational, social and economic investment and an important addition to the educational system in Saudi Arabia to add on the role of other educational institutions through the utilization of modern technologies. — SPA