Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Friday, Sep 12, 2025

Pact inked to launch AlUla Manara Observatory

Pact inked to launch AlUla Manara Observatory

The Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) announced plans to launch the AlUla Manara Observatory as a leading global destination in space science and stargazing.
Minister of Culture and RCU Governor Prince Badr Bin Abdullah and Minister of Communications and Information Technology Eng. Abdullah Al-Swaha, signed a cooperation agreement to launch the observatory.

This is in line with the directives of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed Bin Salman, who is also chairman of the Board of Directors of RCU.

The observatory will be the first destination for scientific discoveries, innovative research and sustainable economic opportunities, and that would transform the governorate into the largest living museum in the world. It will also represent a new window for scientific exploration and innovation.

The observatory is tipped to be a new landmark in Saudi Arabia, which is visited by people from all over the world to enjoy an exceptional opportunity to observe the stars, and to watch interesting shows to learn about ancient and modern scientific discoveries.

On its part, the Saudi Space Commission, which dedicated its efforts to launch the manara or lighthouse, confirmed that the observatory will enable the local space sector to achieve its quest to promote scientific discoveries, and provide the necessary infrastructure for human resources and research.

“The commission’s cooperation to launch the observatory is in support of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and its ambition to have a fundamental role in the field, in addition to creating economic value in line with the country’s aspirations in research, development and innovation.”

For its part, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) participates in investing in the technologies of future economies through the AlUla Manara Observatory.

It invited the scientific community locally and internationally to the project, and see Saudi Arabia’s scientific and research efforts in the space sector, as well as employing the future technologies it provides to achieve sustainable development and raising the local content in the sector.

In terms of research and innovation projects related to the project, KACST will support through its in-depth research projects in the field of space, to reflect Saudi Arabia’s capabilities in the sector and its leadership at the regional level.

The observatory supports making the AlUla region, which is full of charming heritage and natural elements, a leading global destination in innovative and distinguished fields and businesses.

These include space science and star observation, which play a major role in transforming the governorate into the largest living museum in the world, combining the city’s vibrant heritage with a depth of history, and its promising modern aspirations in various fields.

Apart from the archaeological sites and cultural centers of AlUla, the observatory joins a new generation of elements of the knowledge economy, empowering the people of the region in modern scientific and economic aspects, and attracting global investments.

The observatory will also help in creating job opportunities in the field of science and tourism, and achieving the commission’s goal to transform the province into a leading knowledge destination.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Turkish authorities seize leading broadcaster amid fraud and tax investigation
Qatari prime minister says Netanyahu ‘killed any hope’ for Israeli hostages
Apple Introduces Ultra-Thin iPhone Air, Enhanced 17 Series and New Health-Focused Wearables
Big Oil Slashes Jobs and Investments Amid Prolonged Low Crude Prices
Social Media Access Curtailed in Turkey After CHP Calls for Rallies Following Police Blockade of Istanbul Headquarters
Did the Houthis disrupt the internet in the Middle East? Submarine cables cut in the Red Sea
Gold Could Reach Nearly $5,000 if Fed Independence Is Undermined, Goldman Sachs Warns
Uruguay, Colombia and Paraguay Secure Places at 2026 World Cup
Trump Administration Advances Plans to Rebrand Pentagon as Department of War Instead of the Fake Term Department of Defense
Tether Expands into Gold Sector with Profit-Driven Diversification
Trump’s New War – and the ‘Drug Tyrant’ Fearing Invasion: ‘1,200 Missiles Aimed at Us’
At the Parade in China: Laser Weapons, 'Eagle Strike,' and a Missile Capable of 'Striking Anywhere in the World'
Information Warfare in the Age of AI: How Language Models Become Targets and Tools
Israeli Airstrike in Yemen Kills Houthi Prime Minister
After the Shock of Defeat, Iranians Yearn for Change
YouTube Altered Content by Artificial Intelligence – Without Permission
Iran Faces Escalating Water Crisis as Protests Spread
More Than Half a Million Evacuated as Typhoon Kajiki Heads for Vietnam
HSBC Switzerland Ends Relationships with Over 1,000 Clients from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, and Egypt
Sharia Law Made Legally Binding in Austria Despite Warnings Over 'Incompatible' Values
Dogfights in the Skies: Airbus on Track to Overtake Boeing and Claim Aviation Supremacy
Tim Cook Promises an AI Revolution at Apple: "One of the Most Significant Technologies of Our Generation"
Are AI Data Centres the Infrastructure of the Future or the Next Crisis?
Miles Worth Billions: How Airlines Generate Huge Profits
Zelenskyy Returns to White House Flanked by European Allies as Trump Pressures Land-Swap Deal with Putin
Beijing is moving into gold and other assets, diversifying away from the dollar
Cristiano Ronaldo Makes Surprise Stop at New Hong Kong Museum
Zelenskyy to Visit Washington after Trump–Putin Summit Yields No Agreement
High-Stakes Trump-Putin Summit on Ukraine Underway in Alaska
Iranian Protection Offers Chinese Vehicle Shipments a Cost Advantage over Japanese and Korean Makers
Saudi Arabia accelerates renewables to curb domestic oil use
Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgina Rodríguez announce engagement
Asia-Pacific dominates world’s busiest flight routes, with South Korea’s Jeju–Seoul corridor leading global rankings
Private Welsh island with 19th-century fort listed for sale at over £3 million
Sam Altman challenges Elon Musk with plans for Neuralink rival
Australia to Recognize the State of Palestine at UN Assembly
The Collapse of the Programmer Dream: AI Experts Now the Real High-Earners
Armenia and Azerbaijan to Sign US-Brokered Framework Agreement for Nakhchivan Corridor
British Labour Government Utilizes Counter-Terrorism Tools for Social Media Monitoring Against Legitimate Critics
WhatsApp Deletes 6.8 Million Scam Accounts Amid Rising Global Fraud
Nine people have been hospitalized and dozens of salmonella cases have been reported after an outbreak of infections linked to certain brands of pistachios and pistachio-containing products, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada
Texas Residents Face Water Restrictions While AI Data Centers Consume Millions of Gallons
Tariffs, AI, and the Shifting U.S. Macro Landscape: Navigating a New Economic Regime
India Rejects U.S. Tariff Threat, Defends Russian Oil Purchases
United States Establishes Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and Digital Asset Stockpile
Thousands of Private ChatGPT Conversations Accidentally Indexed by Google
China Tightens Mineral Controls, Curtailing Critical Inputs for Western Defence Contractors
OpenAI’s Bold Bet: Teaching AI to Think, Not Just Chat
BP’s Largest Oil and Gas Find in 25 Years Uncovered Offshore Brazil
JPMorgan and Coinbase Unveil Partnership to Let Chase Cardholders Buy Crypto Directly
×