Jeddah Airports Company announced the formation of its new Board of Directors, a strategic move aimed at strengthening governance and leading the next phase of development and growth for King Abdulaziz International Airport. The new board will serve for three years, beginning January 10, 2024, under the chairmanship of Mr. Raed bin Ibrahim bin Sulaiman Al-Mudaiheem, with Mr. Raed bin Hassan Al-Idrisi serving as Vice Chairman.

The council includes a distinguished group of experts and specialists: Professor Ghassan bin Ahmed bin Abdullah Al-Sulaiman, Professor Khalid bin Mansour Al-Salman representing the Public Investment Fund, and Professor Mohammed bin Abu Al-Khair Ismail representing the Guests of God Service Program. This diverse composition reflects the integration of expertise between the public and private sectors and a focus on major national objectives.

Strategic context within the national transformation

This restructuring comes as part of the comprehensive transformation underway in the civil aviation sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a cornerstone of achieving the goals of Saudi Vision 2030. Since its establishment in 2022, Jeddah Airports Company has been responsible for managing and operating King Abdulaziz International Airport, with the aim of transforming it into a leading global aviation hub. The company is working closely to implement the aviation program initiatives stemming from the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, which aim to increase the capacity of Saudi airports, enhance the Kingdom's air connectivity, and strengthen its position as a global logistics platform linking three continents.

The importance of King Abdulaziz International Airport

King Abdulaziz International Airport holds exceptional importance as the main gateway to the Two Holy Mosques, receiving millions of pilgrims and Umrah performers annually. Therefore, developing its services and enhancing the passenger experience is a top priority, directly aligning with the objectives of the "Guests of God Service Program," one of the key programs of the Vision. The presence of a program representative on the board of directors underscores the commitment to providing an exceptional and seamless travel experience for pilgrims.

Expected impact of the new council

The new board of directors is expected to play a pivotal role in accelerating airport development projects, overseeing operational efficiency improvements, and implementing the latest smart technologies to better serve passengers. The board will also work to strengthen strategic partnerships with global airlines and investors, contributing to increased non-oil revenues, diversification of income sources, and the company's financial sustainability. The expertise of the Public Investment Fund representative will be instrumental in guiding major investment decisions that will shape the airport's future and its international standing.

The accused in the murder of artist Saeed Mukhtar has been referred to criminal trial

In a significant legal development, the competent investigative authorities in 6th of October City ordered the referral of the accused in the murder of artist Saeed Mokhtar to urgent criminal trial. This decision comes after the completion of investigations into the incident that shocked public opinion, which ended with the artist's death by stabbing during a fight that broke out due to family disputes concerning visitation rights with his son.

Background to the tragedy: Betrayal and a dispute over seeing a child

The case stems from escalating disputes between the late artist and his wife, who had filed for divorce. According to the artist's lawyer, the crime was not a spur-of-the-moment act, but rather the result of premeditated planning. The lawyer explained that her client was on his way to meet his son at a shopping mall, as previously arranged, when his wife surprised him by changing the meeting place to the vicinity of the Wadi Degla Club in the Hadayek October district, the location where the crime took place.

Shocking legal details: The wife is married to both the victim and the perpetrator

The victim's lawyer revealed a legal twist that could alter the course of the case, asserting that the claim that the wife was the artist's "ex-wife" is legally inaccurate. She explained that the divorce case filed by the wife last September is still pending, meaning she was still legally married to the artist, Saeed Mokhtar, at the time of the crime. Consequently, her customary marriage to the accused murderer is legally invalid, placing her in a complex legal situation. She added that this situation raises questions about the motives behind the crime and whether the disputes extended beyond mere visitation rights.

The caring father and the final meeting

In a related context, the lawyer emphasized that the late artist was extremely keen on providing for all his son's needs. He had rented an apartment for his wife and son at the beginning of last November and had transferred money to her just hours before his murder. She indicated that the wife had been preventing him from seeing the child recently, and that her presence, accompanied by her common-law husband (the accused), at the scheduled visitation was the spark that ignited the bloody altercation, which ended with the artist receiving fatal stab wounds that caused his immediate death.

The importance of referral to criminal courts and the impact of the case

Referring the accused to the Criminal Court is a crucial step towards achieving justice, signifying that the Public Prosecution has concluded its investigations and gathered sufficient evidence to convict the accused of premeditated murder. The case has gained widespread societal importance, highlighting the dangers of family disputes and their disastrous consequences, as well as sparking debate about unregistered marriages and the legal and social problems arising from them. The public now awaits the start of the trial to learn all the details of the crime and to see justice served for the victim.