• 423 reporters from international news agencies accredited to cover 29th Arab Summit
• 25 young Saudis at 2 media centers to assist more than 600 journalists

The Ministry of Culture and Information has set up two media centers to cover the 29th Arab Summit, which opens today in the city of Dhahran.

One of the centers is in the Hotel Mercure in Alkhobar, while the second is in the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture in Dhahran.

Culture and Information Minister Awwad Al-Awwad on Saturday visited the media center in the Hotel Mercure in Dhahran to check preparations set by the ministry for the coverage of the summit.

The center is managed by 25 young Saudis, and provides support and assistance to more than 600 journalists.

The journalists include 423 reporters from outside the Kingdom, representing the most significant Arab, Islamic and international news agencies and channels.

Khaled Mataen, the ministry’s director of media and public relations with foreign media, said: “The ministry has equipped the centers with the latest equipment. They include computers, and a complete Internet network that allows journalists to send their news and reports faster. They also include fax machines, international phone lines and studios for live coverage using satellites for all local and international channels.”

He said: “A group of young Saudis are managing the centers. They will be ready to offer any assistance the journalists may need from data, statistics and information. This would make their jobs easier either in the centers or on the field with tasks related to the summit coverage.”

Mataen said “their job also consists on keeping up with all news related to the summit on different news channels and on social media platforms and displaying them on a live screen for the journalists in the media centers.”

He said that “the number of registered journalists to cover the Arab summit has reached 618. Among those are journalists from international news agencies in addition to satellite channels reached through the Ministry’s Government Communication Center and International Communication Center.”

Algerian journalist Kareem Ali Loch said he was happy to be covering the summit.

He commended the ministry’s efforts to help journalists covering the event.

Turkish state television journalist Talib Abdullah Oglo praised the media service and equipment provided in the media centers.

He also thanked the organizers for the facilities and their welcoming reception.

Al-Awwad inspected the summit’s interactive statistics charts that show the number of journalists taking part in its coverage.