RIYADH: The King Abdul Aziz Palace in Al-Muwayh in Makkah province was built in 1357 AH of stone in an ancient Islamic architectural style amid the ruins of mud houses. It was the residence of the founder of Saudi Arabia, King Abdul Aziz. He used to rest in it during his trips between Riyadh and Makkah and on his way to Hajj, Umrah or summer vacation.
Whenever King Abdul Aziz arrived in Al-Muwayh, he was received by its governor, judge and the governorate’s officials. In addition to meeting them and urging them to look into the citizens’ issues, the king would also meet the locals, discuss their concerns and explore their needs.
King Abdul Aziz Foundation for Research and Archives (Darah) said the palace occupied an area of 14,850 square meters and played a significant role in turning the arid desert into a modern city with decent living standards.
Al-Muwayh, a name derived from “Ma’a”, meaning water in Arabic, is 180 kilometers east of Taif. King Abdul Aziz rested here several times in his quest to unite the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Fouad Shaker, author of “Rihlat Al-Rabi’e” (The Journey of Spring), published by Darah, wrote about King Abdul Aziz’s trip from Makkah to Riyadh in 1365 AH: “From Makkah to Riyadh, we had reached Al-Muwayh, a small village made big by its luxurious architecture, one of the privileges of this glorious Saudi era. The government of King Abdul Aziz had built in that remote and unknown area a luxurious royal place for the king to rest during his travels between Makkah and Riyadh.”
Darah explained that the palace was designed in different forms for fortification and defense, creating a structure with outstanding architectural specifications, surrounded on all sides by walls built of black stone 4.5 meters high and 90 centimeters thick. The complex comprises the royal palace, which is a rectangular building located on the western side of the citadel. It has two entrances, the first of which is the main entrance from the south. It contains several building blocks with 19 benches to the left after entering through the main north gate, the official “Al-Mokhtasar” assembly hall, a dining room, a bedroom and a toilet.
The complex also includes a guest palace, which is a rectangular building adjacent to the royal palace to the east and comprises a range of rooms overlooking the open courtyard with a 3.4-meter-wide main entrance from the north.
In addition, the palace has several towers, two coffee-making rooms, toilets, lodgings for guests, guards and servants, a gas station outside the southern side of the citadel, lodging for the gas station’s workers, and the residential palace, which is a rectangular building in the center of the citadel on the southern side.
The residential palace has six rooms, four of which are bedrooms and one is a living room, in addition to a kitchen, a storage room and a toilet. It also includes lodging for workers, while the towers and attached buildings accommodate the palace’s staff and their families. Sometimes, they were used to accommodate non-official guests. Sheep sheds and warehouses for feed and firewood are located in the eastern part of the residential palace’s courtyard.
Moreover, the King Abdul Aziz Palace compound contains the administrative palace, which is a rectangular building with two entrances, one from the south and the other from the east, in addition to two other entrances, the first of which leads to the mosque while the second leads to the residential palace.
A medium-size mosque is located to the west of the administrative palace and adjacent to the judge’s residence. It has an open-air rectangular courtyard that stretches over 22 meters from west to east and 19.90 meters from north to south.
The judge’s office is located north of the mosque in the palace compound. It is a rectangular building with six rooms, a small hall and a courtyard.
The palace has six observation towers, two of which rise above the northern and southern gates while the remaining four are in the corners of the citadel to secure and defend the palace.
The average length of the north, west and southeastern elevations is 155 meters, while the average length of the south, west and northeastern elevations is 120 meters. The palace’s main gate is in the center of the northwestern elevation, and another gate was set up in the southeastern elevation to serve as an entrance to the emirate.
According to Darah, the airport in which the king’s first airplane landed is northeast of the King Abdul Aziz Palace and the ancient city of Al-Muwayh. The airport comprises a four-room reception hall, a sandpit, and a mosque named King Abdul Aziz Mosque amid the mud houses. The mosque has maintained its original structure but was damaged, making it unfit for holding prayers after Al-Muwayh was transferred to the new location known as the New Al-Muwayh on the Riyadh-Taif highway.
King Abdul Aziz Palace: A perfect blend of history and architecture
King Abdul Aziz Palace: A perfect blend of history and architecture
- The palace has six observation towers, two of which rise above the northern and southern gates while the remaining four are in the corners of the citadel to secure and defend the palace
- The complex comprises the royal palace, which is a rectangular building located on the western side of the citadel
Health professionals discuss technology in medicine at Tabuk forum
The first Tabuk International Forum for Health Promotion concluded on Thursday at the King Salman Armed Forces Hospital in the northwest region, with the participation of more than 18 speakers from various medical fields and related sectors.
The forum discussed treatment methods for diabetes, the technical uses of mobile phones to promote health, and the role of education, in addition to telemedicine and the importance of clinics, and the latest medical developments in tackling obesity.
It discussed human health rights, drug health standards, and modern drainage techniques, as well as water and food health standards.
It also focused on safety measures for the quality of work life and ways to avoid burnout. The conference concluded with a discussion on the latest methods in combating addiction, the effect of drugs on individuals and society, and the role of smoking cessation clinics and education on addiction and its causes.
Candlelight concerts return to Riyadh
- Events bring a rich classical music experience to Saudi audiences
RIYADH: Candlelight concerts are returning to Riyadh in three different settings, bringing a rich classical music experience to Saudi audiences following a thrilling series in December last year.
The iconic concerts, supported by the live entertainment platform Fever, have been held in more than 150 cities across the world, including Dubai, New York City, London, Singapore and Tokyo.
Running until the end of June, the shows are held in several places in Riyadh, including The Ritz-Carlton Hotel and the Crowne Plaza Riyadh Palace. Performers play music from greats such as Mozart, Vivaldi and Ludovico Einaudi.
In an interview with Arab News, Magdalena Wajdzik, a Polish pianist who performed in the Ritz-Carlton ballroom, discussed how Einaudi has inspired her career.
HIGHLIGHTS
• Running until the end of June, the shows are held in several places in Riyadh, including The Ritz-Carlton Hotel and the Crowne Plaza Riyadh Palace. Performers play music from greats such as Mozart, Vivaldi and Ludovico Einaudi.
• The Candlelight Concerts in December featured hits from British rock band Coldplay as well the outstanding works of Polish composer Chopin.
• The concerts held around the world have celebrated works from classical, jazz, pop, film soundtracks, ballet and more.
“I have watched Ludovico Einaudi’s work in movies a long time ago and absolutely loved the soundtracks. So, I obviously Googled the soundtracks, and I started playing his music ever since,” said Wajdzik.
The pianist resides in Dubai and performs in concerts for Fever throughout the Gulf.
“The Saudis are eager for this form of art and are really welcoming. It was my first time playing for a Saudi crowd, and I thought it was fantastic. I really enjoyed the atmosphere, and I believe the Saudi audience is quite curious,” she said.
It was my first time playing for a Saudi crowd, and I thought it was fantastic.
Magdalena Wajdzik, Polish pianist
“The ballroom is just gorgeous. Their location is excellent, and I believe Fever distinguishes our candlelight concepts by always looking for truly wonderful sites, such as this ballroom at the Ritz-Carlton.”
The Candlelight Concerts in December featured hits from British rock band Coldplay as well the outstanding works of Polish composer Chopin.
Candlelight concerts held around the world have celebrated works from classical, jazz, pop, film soundtracks, ballet and more.
Opposites attract as artists explore beauty in Diriyah exhibition
- The exhibition is curated by Khayria Refaat, who said in a statement: “This exhibition exemplifies the power of artistic collaboration and the ability of artists to create profound narratives
RIYADH: In Shashai Studio’s latest exhibition, “Delicacy of Dualities,” seven artists and one creative studio from the Kingdom explore the theme “intricate dance of opposites”.
The exhibition in Diriyah’s Jax District showcases a series of thought provoking artworks and installations from artists Nada Al-Ali, Maan Alabbadi, Nouf Alsharif, Rasha Saddiq, Abdullah Al-Bugami, Eida Alzahrani, Ahmad Haddad, and Makhtut Studio.
Each artist tells a profound and personal story, including Al-Bugami, who dedicated his three artworks to the powerful duality of woman and man.
In some traditional and conservative societies, such as parts of Saudi Arabia, some women may choose to wear the burqa, a cultural garment that covers the entire body and includes a mesh screen to cover the face.
This exhibition exemplifies the power of artistic collaboration and the ability of artists to create profound narratives.
Khayria Refaat, Curator
Women who practice this tradition choose to cover themselves in front of everyone, including their husband and family members.
“The burqa is considered the identity of the badu woman. Some people may see it as something that is quiet or sad, because it is black, but I decided to portray my aunt, who is in her 70s and I have never seen her face,” he said.
“One time, I accidentally saw her face and I could not recognize her. But, with that being said, behind the covering, when I greet her, I feel a deep and profound sense of love and belonging.”
One of Al-Bugami’s artworks is handwoven using the sadu sewing technique, an ancient skill made famous by Saudi women in the north of the Kingdom. It is characterized by its bright colors and intricate weaving, and is registered on UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage.
Sadu is usually performed by women, but Al-Bugami chose it as his medium to portray the sense of woman in his work.
“The pattern in the middle is an old design used in the past, and I decided to depict this pattern as if it resembles a woman. I decided to put the design in the middle because she is the foundation of the home; she is the most important part. I could not put the design in a corner, otherwise the home won’t be balanced.”
Al-Bugami has worked on a series of artworks that reflect his views on the vital role of women in life.
“For a while I have been working on a concept that depicts things within humanity that complete one another, such as the man and woman, life and death, Adam and Eve ... I have worked on this project using charcoal, acrylic, and sadu.
“Life is man and woman; what would a man do without a woman and what would a woman do without a man? You can’t have one thing without the other. We have to have the duality of both, like night and day.”
The exhibition is curated by Khayria Refaat, who said in a statement: “This exhibition exemplifies the power of artistic collaboration and the ability of artists to create profound narratives. ‘Delicacy of Dualities’ invites viewers to question and explore the boundaries of perception while discovering the hidden beauty within the dance of opposites.”
Maldives president arrives in Madinah for official visit
- Muizzu greeted upon arrival by Prince Salman bin Sultan
RIYADH: The president of the Maldives, Mohamed Muizzu, arrived in Madinah on Friday for an official visit to Saudi Arabia and to pray at the Prophet’s Mosque, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Muizzu and his accompanying delegation was greeted upon arrival at Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport by Prince Salman bin Sultan, the governor of Madinah Region, and other local officials.
International conference in Korea concludes with aim to spread Arabic language
RIYADH: The international conference, Challenges and Prospects of Teaching Arabic Language and Literature, concluded on Friday in the South Korean capital, Seoul.
Held over two days at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, the event was organized by the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language in cooperation with the Korean Association of Arabic Language and Literature and Hankuk University of Foreign Studies.
Dr. Abdullah Al-Wosheemi, secretary-general of the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language, emphasized the center’s commitment to strengthening its strategy and objectives in promoting the Arabic language worldwide.
He highlighted the center’s ongoing efforts to enhance Arabic language education in Korea by implementing courses, publishing books, and organizing lectures.
Al-Wosheemi expressed the center’s aspirations for the international conference to serve as a platform for reaching global audiences, establishing communication channels, and drawing upon diverse global experiences in teaching Arabic as a second language. He further emphasized the center’s dedication to unifying scientific references internally and externally in the Arabic language and its sciences.
Dr. Jong Wha Lee, president of the Korean Association for Arabic Language and Literature, provided a historical overview of the Arabic language in Korea, mentioning the establishment of several departments, the oldest dating back to 1965.
He also discussed the rapidly evolving language education landscape with the advent of artificial intelligence. He intends to develop a plan for revitalizing Arabic language instruction through collaboration with organizations in Arab countries, he said, as well as exchanges among Arabic language specialists to explore various approaches to ensuring effective teaching methodologies.
The conference’s sessions addressed six key themes: Modern methodologies in teaching Arabic as a second language; preparing teaching materials for Arabic as a second language; measurement and evaluation in the context of teaching Arabic as a second language; means and techniques for teaching Arabic as a second language; the current state of Arabic language teaching in Korea; and language planning for teaching Arabic and other languages in Korea.
