Happy days in Madinah with Quba’s Entertainment Boulevard

Updated 16 January 2018
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Happy days in Madinah with Quba’s Entertainment Boulevard

MADINAH: The Madinah Development Authority, in cooperation with the Culture and Arts Society, organized the activities of Quba’s Entertainment Boulevard that began last Thursday and witnessed heavy attendance by visitors, Madinah residents and Umrah performers.
The visitors also saw various events of the customs of the people of Madinah, which included the children’s procession in traditional Madinah dress, in addition to other activities.

Quba’s Entertainment Boulevard included corners for photography, calligraphy and visual arts, and a productive family corner.

Ali Jaber Al-Qahtani told Arab News that he came from the city of Khamis Mushayt to visit Madinah. “I heard about the activities of Quba’s Entertainment Boulevard so I came here and saw the various shows. I liked the activities that represent the originality of Madinah,” he said.

Abdel Karim Abdel Rahman from Sudan told Arab News that the events are wonderful, especially the open theater. “I am so pleased to see the various events from the corner of fine arts and practicing drawing and graphic art in front of the public. Quba’s boulevard location is distinguished as it is very close to the Prophet’s Mosque,” he said.

In the calligraphy corner, Youssef Bakhsh practices his hobby of writing calligraphy and the names of the visitors for free. He writes their names using his wooden pen. Bakhsh told Arab News that he has been practicing calligraphy for five years and that the public loves Arabic calligraphy.

“My corner is considered one of the busiest and most popular by the public. I write their names and phrases they request. I write using the kasbah, which is considered one of the best tools in writing calligraphy. I also can do handwriting in three types of Arabic script: Diwaniya, Reqaah, and Naskh.”

Visual artist Ghofran Al-Ansari told Arab News that she is practicing visual drawing in front of the public on Quba’s Entertainment Boulevard. “The turnout is big; I did not expect this attendance.”

Tariq Abbas also talked about his role as mayor of the neighborhood around Quba Boulevard.

“Despite the cold weather, the turnout is big. The public is asking about the different social images and the most important social events are the groom’s wedding procession and the delivery of the dowry to the bride. The most prominent social images are the educational sessions or the katatib.”


Sneakerheads from around world descend on Riyadh for Sneaker Con 2026

Updated 10 sec ago
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Sneakerheads from around world descend on Riyadh for Sneaker Con 2026

  • Capital’s edition highlights Saudi Arabia’s rising profile in global lifestyle, pop culture scene

Sneaker Con 2026 brought global sneaker culture to the Saudi capital, transforming Cool Arena at Boulevard City this week into a vibrant meeting point for youngsters in search of streetwear and collectibles.

The event, which ran from Monday to Wednesday, is known for gathering collectors, resellers, brands, influencers, and fans under one roof, and its Riyadh edition highlighted Saudi Arabia’s rising profile in the global lifestyle and pop culture scene.

It featured a large-scale marketplace in which visitors could buy, sell and trade rare and limited-edition sneakers, supported by authentication services that ensured credibility and trust in a market driven by exclusivity.

Beyond commerce, the event offered panel discussions, live DJ sets, interactive challenges, art installations and appearances by regional and international creators, capturing the broader street culture that surrounds sneakers.

Free to attend with prior registration and running daily from late afternoon into the night, the event formed part of the wider Riyadh Season calendar, reinforcing the city’s ambition to host world-class cultural experiences that resonate with a young, creative and globally connected audience.

Sneaker Con 2026 brought global sneaker culture to the Saudi capital.  (AN photo/Rahaf Jambi)

International brands from across the globe were among the standout participants. Puerto Rican brand We Got Kicks made its presence felt, with representative Jorge Andres highlighting the brand’s enthusiasm for entering the Saudi market.

Andres said the invitation to Riyadh marked an important milestone, and he told Arab News: “We really want to bring our brand to Saudi Arabia and raise awareness. Everyone here is very nice, and people genuinely care.”

Another major draw was Urban Necessities, a globally recognized consignment shop known for sourcing hard-to-find sneakers.

Jaysse Lopez, one of the brand’s founders, shared his journey and strong connection to Saudi Arabia. Originally from Puerto Rico and now based in Las Vegas, Lopez explained that Urban Necessities focused on rare pieces not commonly found in mainstream retail.

He said: “Urban Necessities is a consignment shop that focuses on all the things you don’t see every day: the hard-to-find sneakers. It’s for all walks of life.”

Lopez noted that the brand has been present in Riyadh for nearly three years, with a store in Boulevard City, and had played a role in helping bring Sneaker Con to the Kingdom.

Speaking about popular collaborations, he highlighted the continued demand for Travis Scott releases.

Sneaker Con 2026 brought global sneaker culture to the Saudi capital.  (AN photo/Rahaf Jambi)

“He has a very big following, and his collaborations with Nike and Jordan always sell out,” Lopez said. “The demand is extremely high.”

Reflecting on his visits to the Kingdom, Lopez described Saudi Arabia as a place of rapid change and opportunity, and added: “This is my third time here. It’s amazing to see how much has changed in just one year, and over the three years I’ve been coming.

“The people are kind, the culture is beautiful, and it gets harder to leave every time.”

Regional participation was also strong. From Qatar, sneaker brand Size Run took part in the event, represented by Hussain Nabeel, who described the experience as overwhelmingly positive.

Nabeel said: “From the first day it was fantastic for us. We are very happy to be here and to show everyone who Size Run is.”

He added that the brand aimed at strengthening connections across the Gulf, saying: “We have online platforms, and we can ship to Saudi Arabia for free.”

Local Saudi businesses also used Sneaker Con as a platform. Siraja, a Saudi brand specializing in customized apparel and brand development, highlighted its locally based production capabilities.

Waleed Al-Khaled, representing the brand, said the company’s mission was to support aspiring entrepreneurs, and added: “Anyone who wants to start a business and doesn’t know how to, we are here to help — from design to production, all made in Riyadh.”

By attracting international, regional, and local players, Sneaker Con Riyadh underscored the Kingdom’s growing influence in global sneaker and streetwear culture.

The event served as a cultural exchange, reflecting how Riyadh is positioning itself as a hub where global trends meet local creativity.