National Day events to explore Saudi heritage, civilization

The GAC has organized a wide range of activities in the Kingdom to celebrate the 88th Saudi National Day. (AN photo)
Updated 20 September 2018
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National Day events to explore Saudi heritage, civilization

  • General Authority for Culture (GAC) organizing folk festivals, music concerts, arts exhibitions, during the Kingdom's 88th National Day celebrations

JEDDAH: Poets, authors, artists and folk musicians are gearing up for a host of cultural events organized by the General Authority for Culture (GAC) to mark celebration of the 88th Saudi National Day around the Kingdom.

These activities, in which citizens and residents participate, include folk festivals, poetry evenings, music concerts, arts shows, film events, and interactive activities.

GAC has organized the “Adwaa wa Atyaf” (lights and spectra) event in Riyadh, which includes a range of activities such as falling green balloons, 3D visual shows, horse shows, sand painting shows, and many others.

The Culture Authority celebrates aviation in Riyadh by playing live national music for the passengers. It has also organized an arts exhibition in Riyadh and a pavilion for cultural heritage.

Between Sep. 19 and 27 a variety of cultural events will run in the provinces of Al-Kharj, Al-Majma’ah, Al-Aflaj, and Thadig, including theatrical performances, poetry evenings, poetry recital competitions, children-only events, women-only events, events for the Ensan Organization for orphans, and cultural seminars.

In Jeddah, GAC has organized the “Naghmet Watan,” a traditional Saudi music event, on Sep. 22. It aims to explore the evolution of the Saudi folklore as well as the Kingdom’s civilization and its heritage, cultural and artistic development through folk music concerts performed by emerging young singers.

In Tabuk, cultural events will take place between Sep. 23 and 25. The program includes a poetry evening, a folk night, and a contest for the best poem, picture, tweet, and article.

The “Lilwatan Maw’ed” (the day of the homeland) event will be held in Al-Ahsa between Sep. 23 and 27. It includes a performance of the Saudi traditional Ardha dance, cultural seminars, and a show about the founder of Saudi Arabia, the late King Abdul Aziz Al Saud.

GAC has organized the “Ya Dar Nestahlak” (we deserve our homeland) event to be held in Buraidah on Sep. 24. This event includes performances by a folk arts band, a photography exhibition, theatrical performances, poetry evenings, and cultural seminars.

In Taif on Sep. 25, the Omsiyat Watan or Saudi evening event will be held, accompanied by a lecture about Taif, an art exhibition, and live poetry recitals.

The Laylat Aflam or movie night event is to be held in Jizan. It will feature the national film “Joud,” which discusses the status of the Kingdom in the Islamic world as well as its cultural and heritage status.

GAC has organized the “Qalo Aan Al-Watan” (they said about Saudi) event in Najran for poets and authors. The event also features a documentary film.

In Al-Jawf, the “Ihtifaliyat Watan” to be held between Sep. 23 and 25 will include poetry and writing competition as well as interactive activities for children.


Riyadh to host final of Global Minerals Innovation Competition

Updated 23 sec ago
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Riyadh to host final of Global Minerals Innovation Competition

  • 350 people in 70 teams to attend ‘boot camp’ next month
  • Competition attracted more than 1,800 people from 57 countries

JEDDAH: More than 350 people will take part in the final stage of the inaugural Global Minerals Innovation Competition, to be held next month in Riyadh.

The closing event, titled Future Minerals Pioneers, marks the end of a nationwide tour that began in October to find the best talent in the industry, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The tour was sponsored by Saudi Mining Services Co. and attracted more than 1,800 people from 57 countries. Just over two-thirds of the members of the 70 teams that made it through to the final stage are from Saudi Arabia.

The so-called final boot camp will take place from Jan. 8-10, with the winners announced during the fifth edition of the Future Minerals Forum on Jan. 14.

The camp will comprise workshops and mentoring sessions, after which the teams will make their final presentations to the judges.

Held under the patronage of Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef and led by Vice Minister for Mining Affairs Khalid bin Saleh Al-Mudaifer, the contest was organized by the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program in partnership with the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources and Saudi Arabian Mining Co.

It features three main tracks: smart technologies, security and safety, and resource sustainability, with the focus on creating practical solutions to challenges across the mining value chain and fostering an integrated innovation ecosystem, the report said.

According to a report by the Canada-based Fraser Institute, the Kingdom rose to 23rd place on the Mining Investment Attractiveness Index in 2024, up from 104th a year earlier. It also rose to 20th (from 82nd) on the Policy Perceptions Index and to 24th (from 58th) on the Geological Potential Index, indicating growing global confidence in the sector.

The indicators also align with national efforts to unlock the country’s vast mineral wealth, estimated at SR9.4 trillion ($2.5 trillion).

That work is being driven by the General Program for Geological Surveying, which aims to stimulate investment and enhance competitiveness through the creation of a national geological database. About two-thirds of the first phase of the program, covering 630,000 sq. km. of the Arabian Shield, has been completed.