MAKKAH: More than 7,000 men from government and national sectors are volunteering to serve pilgrims once they arrive at King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah.
The volunteers ensure pilgrims’ comfort and receive them with hospitality and generosity. Golf vehicles are available to transport the elderly. Using the latest technology, the volunteers serve pilgrims with honor and pride.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has launched the United Hajj e-system, which integrates and connects entities involved in serving pilgrims. Available in seven languages, it is the first system of its kind in the Middle East.
The ministry stressed the importance of expanding the use of technology to serve pilgrims from arrival until departure.
Furthermore, a group of Saudi women and girls have been devoting themselves for eight years to taking care of children who have become lost among the crowds in the holy city during Hajj.
Lina Abu Znadeh, the head of the women’s volunteer scout team for receiving and taking care of lost children during Hajj, confirmed in an interview with Al Arabiya that their teams have an integrated network connected to the Saudi police, hospitals and scouts to help reunite lost children with their loved ones as quickly as possible.
“The volunteers started their work eight years ago, working around the clock during Hajj season,” she said. “We receive lost children and give them all the psychological and moral support. We start by calming them down, because they are usually afraid and panicked. Then we give them a shower and let them change their clothes,” she added.
“The mechanism of reuniting children with their parents or relatives is organized with the relevant authorities operating in the field. First, we report to the state network any details about the lost child, identifying the child by name or by any specific characteristics. Parents come to our center and are reunited with their child, after all the necessary paper work. The child leaves our center with a bracelet containing their name and their parents’ contact numbers in case they get lost again,” said Abu Znadeh.
In the interview, Abu Znadeh revealed some of the obstacles they faced in the early years of their work, such as the difference of languages. However, this helped them become more experienced in finding immediate solutions.
She indicated that the number of lost children has decreased throughout the years due to the increasing awareness among parents. In the center’s first year of operation, 80 lost children were found against 64 children the following year. This number kept decreasing until last year, when there were only 26 lost children.
Abu Znadeh added: “We will start our around-the-clock field work this year Aug. 29 up and finish Sept. 5. Over the years, we had special needs children come to the center (Ex: autistic children), and thus we have now an autism specialist and a therapist on our team.”
Over 7,000 volunteers serve Hajj pilgrims at Jeddah airport
Over 7,000 volunteers serve Hajj pilgrims at Jeddah airport
Joy Awards 2026 spotlights arts in the Arab world
RIYADH: Riyadh hosted its annual Joy Awards, bringing together stars and creative projects from across the Arab world as part of an event that has been held annually since 2022. The 2026 ceremony continued its focus on recognizing storytelling and creative work, while highlighting projects released over the past year.
As audiences anticipated the winners following the release of the nominees, awards were presented across six sectors; music, cinema, series, directors, sports and influencers. In addition to category awards, the ceremony also honored recipients of special accolades including Personality of the Year, Lifetime Achievement, and Joy Honorary awards.
Previous events have recognized Arab and international figures for their contributions to the arts, including Matthew McConaughey, who received the Personality of the Year Award in 2025.
Amid the Kingdom’s expansion of its entertainment sector — spanning film, music and sports — the Joy Awards reflected Riyadh Season’s role in hosting large-scale cultural events.
This year’s fan-favorite nominees, many of whom were Saudi nationals, were cheered on as they walked the Joy Awards’ iconic lavender carpet, where fashion once again took center stage as a key expression of the region’s evolving creative identity.
Among winners who took home the Joy Awards was Saudi 14 year old Rateel Alshehri, who won Favorite Female Influencer. Speaking to Arab News on the lavender carpet, Rateel shared her excitement towards Joy Awards:
“I’m so excited about being at Joy Awards today, it’s something I’ve been looking forward to (…) Everyone here deserves to be here.” On her beautiful sky-blue gown, Rateel shared that she was wearing Saudi designer, Adnan Akbar.
Rateel’s excitement towards the awards was echoed by both Arab and non-Arab guests on the lavender carpet as many took in the unique atmosphere that Riyadh offers Joy Awards; where Arab entertainment and art is celebrated.
Lebanese actress Laila Abdullah also shared her enthusiasm towards both the award show and the Kingdom’s ambitions in hosting the Joy Awards and creating a hub for creative voices.
Speaking to Arab News she emphasized Saudi’s unique qualities: “It’s this mix of culture and luxury (…) It has that Gulf Arab character, the Saudi touch, you know? And that’s what really makes it stand out” Joy Awards was filled with a bustling energy that was eager and excited to give a platform to dreamers, artists, and talents who have been waiting to showcase their visions within the Arab world. It was a celebration that went beyond mere award-giving, reflecting the same ambition and creative momentum that defines Riyadh Season.
The lavender carpet paved way for international guests to speak to Saudi media on how it feels to be a part of an artistic celebration of Arab talent. Speaking to Arab News, Australian actor Luke Arnold shared his excitement towards attending the Joy Awards: “What I’m most excited about is kind of what I love about film and television, which is people from all over the world coming together to tell stories and share their expertise (…) It’s really exciting hearing about some of the potential projects happening, meeting some of the local talent here…just really excited to have more stories out in the world.”
Speaking to Arab News, Lebanese fashion influencer Karen Wazen reiterated the sentiment on Riyadh giving Joy Awards a special and unique energy for the arts, saying: “I am so impressed, I’m so proud to be at an event like this in our region, in Saudi Arabia. This is probably the most impressive and big carpet that I’ve ever seen (…) I’m very excited to watch the ceremony, but also I think to just meet so many people from our industries, it’s a beautiful place to do so.”
That vibrant atmosphere was on full display at the Joy Awards as the ceremony continued with stars like Millie Bobby Brown winning the Personality of the Year Award and the Lifetime Achievement Honor presented to acting legend Forest Whitaker. The stardom was not limited to the film sector, as American pop star Katy Perry performed her iconic songs live; and British singer Robbie Williams took to stage to give a standout performance.
The Joy Awards 2026 once again proved that setting new benchmarks in entertainment and creative expression is not only achievable, but celebrated when driven by local talent and support. As stars from around the world took to Riyadh’s lavender carpet, Arab culture was placed firmly at the forefront — spanning film, music, and digital creativity. The Joy Awards stand as a symbol of the broader cultural transformation that Riyadh is championing across the Arab world’s entertainment industry.
