Amr Adib referred to trial in his dispute with Mortada Mansour

The competent investigative authorities in the Agouza district of Cairo have ordered the referral of prominent Egyptian media figure Amr Adib to the appropriate court, in the latest development in his ongoing legal and media dispute with Mortada Mansour, the former president of Zamalek Sporting Club. This referral stems from accusations leveled by Mansour against Adib, including slander, defamation, and misuse of social media, opening a new chapter in one of the most controversial cases in Egyptian circles.

Background to the long conflict between Adib and Mansour

This conflict was not a spontaneous outburst, but rather the latest in a long series of tensions and confrontations between the two figures, both known for their combative styles. Amr Adib is one of the most prominent media personalities in Egypt and the Arab world, while Mortada Mansour is a controversial figure who has combined law, politics, and long tenure as president of Zamalek Sporting Club. For years, their relationship has been marked by media and legal skirmishes, the most recent of which occurred in April 2024 when the Economic Court acquitted Mansour in a defamation lawsuit filed against him by Adib, paving the way for a new round of conflict.

The spark of the latest crisis: Zamalek Club's land

The dispute escalated sharply in August 2023 when the issue of withdrawing a plot of land allocated to Zamalek Club in 6th of October City arose. Amr Adib used his popular program "Al-Hekaya" on MBC Egypt to launch a scathing attack on Mortada Mansour, holding him responsible for the loss of the land, which was intended for a new branch of the club. Adib accused Mansour of filing a report that led to the land being withdrawn, describing this action as "a stab in the back for the club's future.".

Fiery statements and media escalation

Adib didn't stop at mere criticism; he used harsh language in the August 29, 2023 episode, stating that "Mortada Mansour is an idea that must die," and describing his tenure as a "council of ruin." He also accused him of harboring "deep-seated resentment" towards the current board of directors, headed by Hussein Labib. These statements sparked a storm of controversy, prompting Mansour to respond forcefully on his social media platforms.

The battle moves to the courts

In response to Adib's attack, Mortada Mansour announced that he had filed 40 reports with the Public Prosecutor against the media personality, accusing him of slander, defamation, and libel. He also submitted a formal complaint to the Supreme Council for Media Regulation, considering what was said on the program to be a "death threat" and a violation of the media code of ethics. For his part, Amr Adib did not remain silent; on September 2, 2023, he filed a report against Mansour on the same charges. After investigating the reports submitted by Mansour, the Public Prosecutor decided to summon Adib, ultimately leading to his referral to trial on October 13, 2023.

The importance and expected impact of the issue

This case is particularly significant because it represents more than just a personal dispute; it reflects the complex intersections between media, sports, and law in Egypt. Observers believe the verdict in this case could reshape the boundaries of freedom of expression and media criticism of public figures. It also casts a shadow over Zamalek Sporting Club, whose current board is striving for stability and distancing itself from the conflicts that have long been associated with its former president. As the battle moves to the courtroom, Egyptian circles are watching with great interest the outcome of this legal confrontation between two of the country's most prominent public figures.

Diriyah Real Estate Development Company has achieved an exceptional global milestone, receiving the prestigious Sword of Honour award from the British Safety Council after achieving a five-star rating in its comprehensive assessment of occupational health and safety systems. With this recognition, Diriyah becomes the first real estate developer in the Middle East to achieve this high international accreditation, setting a new benchmark for excellence in managing major projects.

Historical context and strategic importance

This achievement is not merely a testament to quality; it reflects the profound commitment to a project of immense historical and cultural significance. Diriyah, known as the “Jewel of the Kingdom,” is the birthplace of the first Saudi state and home to the historic At-Turaif district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Diriyah Development Project is a key initiative within Saudi Vision 2030 , aiming to transform this historic site into a leading global cultural and tourist destination. Amidst a massive construction undertaking encompassing integrated infrastructure, world-class hotels, museums, and entertainment facilities, implementing the highest safety standards is not an option but a strategic imperative to safeguard the project's human and material heritage.

Assessment details and excellence criteria

Achieving the five-star rating and the Sword of Honour award was no easy feat. Diriyah Health Services Company underwent a rigorous audit by the British Safety Council. The assessment involved a detailed review of over 50 key elements within the company's health and safety management system. This included examining policies and procedures, conducting interviews with executives, employees, and stakeholders, and performing on-site assessments of operational activities. The assessment compares the company's performance to global best practices, confirming that Diriyah's safety systems meet, and even exceed, international standards.

Local, regional and international impact

Domestically, this achievement reinforces a culture of safety within the Saudi construction sector and sets a benchmark for other major projects aligned with Vision 2030. It also supports the goals of protecting human capital and empowering national talent by providing safe and sustainable work environments. Regionally, this recognition enhances the Kingdom's reputation as a leading center for the efficient and responsible execution of mega-projects. Internationally, this acclaim sends a powerful message to investors, partners, and tourists worldwide that the Diriyah project is built on a solid foundation of quality, sustainability, and a commitment to human safety, further enhancing its appeal as a world-class investment and tourism destination.

Figures reflect commitment

This commitment is embodied in managing a complex work environment with an average workforce of approximately 50,000 employees and operating more than 2,500 pieces of heavy equipment across various development areas. The company has achieved a remarkably low, recordable incident rate of 0.017 on its infrastructure projects, a figure that reflects the effectiveness of its safety system. In this context, Jerry Inzerillo, CEO of Diriyah Group , emphasized that occupational safety is a fundamental pillar of all project operations, not merely an operational priority, noting that this recognition reflects the company's unwavering commitment to establishing leading standards in risk management.

The CEO of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), Dr. Hisham Al-Jadhey, affirmed that artificial intelligence (AI) technologies represent a qualitative leap in the healthcare sector, directly contributing to accelerating the delivery of innovative medications to patients. This came during his participation in a session titled “Human Progress and the Future of Work” at the International Labor Market Conference, where he explained that these technologies shorten the stages of drug development and discovery, as well as the simulation of clinical trials, thus reducing the timeline from years to months and significantly lowering costs.

Historical background: Challenges of the traditional pharmaceutical industry

Historically, developing a new drug has been a long, complex, and extremely expensive journey. It begins with a research and discovery phase that can take years to identify a promising compound, followed by preclinical trials and then clinical trials in humans, which are divided into three main phases, each requiring considerable time, enormous resources, and high failure rates. This cycle, which can extend for more than a decade and cost billions of dollars, has been a major obstacle to making new treatments available to patients quickly, especially in the face of emerging diseases and epidemics.

The importance of digital transformation and its impact on the health sector

Dr. Al-Jadaei explained that artificial intelligence (AI) will enhance the efficiency of regulatory processes at the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) by improving the mechanisms for approving medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and food. Thanks to AI's ability to analyze massive amounts of data and develop products, the SFDA will have greater flexibility in adopting and approving innovations. In line with this approach, the SFDA launched the "SAIL" AI Lab last year, aiming to integrate the latest innovations and create a "digital twin" that supports regulatory efforts and compares their results to ensure accuracy and efficiency.

Saudi Vision 2030 and the role of artificial intelligence

These efforts are fully aligned with the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which prioritizes digital transformation and innovation in the healthcare sector. Adopting artificial intelligence technologies not only contributes to improving the health of citizens and residents but also enhances the Kingdom’s position as a leading regional hub for life sciences and biotechnology, opening new economic horizons. Al-Jada’i added, “We believe that artificial intelligence is the future, as it will contribute to improving the economy and health, and increase work efficiency.”.

The future of work: human-machine integration

Al-Jada'i reassured everyone that artificial intelligence (AI) will not replace humans, but rather serve as a supportive tool enabling employees to focus on more complex tasks that require critical thinking and creativity. He emphasized the importance of equipping human resources with the necessary skills to understand how to apply these technologies and analyze their data, noting that building a culture of adaptability to AI must begin with leadership to positively impact all employees, thus ensuring the effective use of this technology to achieve optimal health and economic outcomes.