RIYADH: It was a big day on Tuesday for the 65,000 spectators at the King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in Jeddah who witnessed a memorable moment — seeing their team qualify to the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Team Saudi Arabia secured their place for the 2018 FIFA World Cup next summer by winning a 1-0 crucial match against top scorer Japan in the last AFC Round 3 Group B match. With the win, Saudi Arabia finished in second place in the group behind Japan.
As soon as the referee blew the final whistle to announce the end of the match, the house-packed stadium burst into celebration, as was the case in Saudi cities and villages, with people watching the most-awaited result on TV screens.
Reacting to the victory Mona Salahuddin Al-Munajjed, a Saudi team fan, on Wednesday told Arab News: “This is indeed a great achievement for our football team; we are very proud of them taking the green flag high to the 2018 FIFA World Cup.”
“It is an honor for us to go to Russia in 2018,” she added. She exuded hope that the march to victory will prevail and, “Inshallah, the team will keep the flag high, playing very well in the World Cup and succeed in raising the trophy.”
Speaking to Arab News, Majed Abdullah Al-Hedayan, another fan, expressed his delight over the decisive win saying: “The national football team was able to outplay the Japanese team and surpass a lackluster Japan in Jeddah on Tuesday night with a spectacular winning goal from Fahad Al-Muwallad, and qualified the side for the FIFA World Cup, for the first time since 2006.”
The disciplined team, united in rank and file, showed their playing abilities by controlling the ball well, which speaks volumes about their place at the regional, Arab and international levels, he said.
Moreover, the presence of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had a positive impact on the team, he said, adding that the prince’s strong support for the team raised their morale, which pushed them to make the extra effort to qualify for FIFA 2018.
Echoing the sentiment, a keen sports enthusiast, Abdullah Inayat, who watched the crucial match in Jeddah, told Arab News: “We are proud of our team which played an outstanding match to ensure a place in the FIFA 2018.”
“We salute the team for this extraordinary result by outplaying the powerful Japanese side,” he said.
FIFA 2018 will be the fifth appearance for Saudi Arabia in the World Cup after qualifying for the first time back in 1994. The team featured in three consecutive World Cups afterwards (1998, 2002 and 2006) before missing the last two editions in South Africa 2010 and Brazil 2014.
Saudis optimistic as team qualifies for 2018 FIFA World Cup
Saudis optimistic as team qualifies for 2018 FIFA World Cup
Crown prince sponsors launch of world-class Arabic calligraphy center in Madinah
- The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Global Center for Arabic Calligraphy was inaugurated by Prince Salman bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz
RIYADH: A new center for Arabic calligraphy under the patronage of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman officially opened in Madinah on Monday.
The Prince Mohammed bin Salman Global Center for Arabic Calligraphy was inaugurated by Prince Salman bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, governor of Madinah region.
He was joined by Culture Minister Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, touring the new facility’s exhibition spaces and receiving briefings on cultural programming and the center’s achievements.
They also viewed collections highlighting Arabic calligraphy’s artistic and historical importance.
Speaking at the opening, Prince Badr said: “From this land of enlightenment and scholarship, we proudly launch a global platform dedicated to Arabic calligraphy as an invaluable cultural asset.”
He went on to credit the crown prince’s “generous and boundless support” for the cultural sector.
The minister said that the center demonstrated to the world the legacy of Arabic calligraphy while underscoring Saudi Arabia’s commitment to safeguarding its cultural identity and heritage.
According to Prince Badr, the facility represents an ambitious vision to elevate Arabic calligraphy as both a universal communication tool and an integral element of Arab heritage, art, architecture and design.
The center further aims to enhance the Kingdom’s cultural identity and strengthen its international presence, targeting calligraphers, emerging talents, visual artists, Islamic arts researchers, educational and cultural institutions, as well as art and heritage enthusiasts worldwide.
It will deliver specialized programs including research and archival services, calligraphy instruction, academic grants, a permanent museum, touring exhibitions, an international calligraphy association and a business incubator supporting calligraphy enterprises.
Additional offerings feature artist residency programs, expert-led workshops, and standardized curriculum development, complemented by international educational partnerships aimed at heritage conservation and expanding global appreciation for this time-honored art form.
The center’s establishment in Madinah carries particular significance, given the city’s historical role as the cradle of Arabic calligraphy and its association with transcribing the Qur’an and preserving Islamic knowledge.
