RIYADH: More than 800,000 people had visited the Riyadh International Book Fair 2019 by the end of Friday, according to Abdullah Al-Kinani, supervisor of cultural affairs at the Ministry of Media.
Al-Kinani said that the support of the book fair by King Salman and the crown prince encouraged the staff responsible for organizing the event to go the extra mile.
The fair committees worked according to operational plans to ensure the success of the region’s largest cultural event and to help realize the targets of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 by paving the way for an attractive cultural environment.
The fair’s cultural program featured seminars, lectures, poetry evenings, plays, films and workshops, targeting all age groups and supported by the King Abdul Aziz Center for World Culture (Ithra).
The children’s pavilion presented nine quality programs and attracted more than 1,000 young visitors a day.
The Saudi Arabian Society for Culture and Arts (SASCA) took part in the fair through a number of movies and interactive workshops on reading and writing.
The Bahrain pavilion presented a number of events including a live evening on the art of “Al-Hajjri.”
More than 800,000 visit Riyadh book fair
More than 800,000 visit Riyadh book fair
- The Saudi Arabian Society for Culture and Arts (SASCA) took part in the fair through a number of movies and interactive workshops on reading and writing
Jeddah students get closer look at electric motorsport
- A PIF-linked initiative highlights technical and engineering careers behind electric racing events
JEDDAH: Students from local and international schools in Jeddah were introduced to STEM-related career pathways in electric motorsport this week, as part of an education program linked to the UIM E1 World Championship held on the Red Sea.
The sessions formed part of Driving Force Presented by the Public Investment Fund, an initiative run by Formula E and its electric racing series partners, to familiarize students aged eight to 18 with science, technology, engineering and mathematics through electric racing and sustainability-focused industries.
The programme took place alongside the 2026 E1 Jeddah GP and included workshops, school visits and trackside access designed to show how engineering, data, broadcast technology and event operations function within professional motorsport.
According to organisers, the initiative reached more than 60,000 students globally in 2025, with further expansion planned this year.
HIGHLIGHTS
• The program took place alongside the 2026 E1 Jeddah GP and included workshops, school visits and trackside access.
• Students learned about E1 races and their technical and environmental dimensions and discussed the engineering and marine aspects of electric boats.
• According to organisers, the initiative reached more than 60,000 students globally in 2025, with further expansion planned this year.
John Williams, managing director at E1, told Arab News: “The PIF is absolutely vital to everything we do here at the E1. They were crucial initial investment partner since the start of the championship and they continue to support us in a number of ways and more specifically around the Driving Force program.”
Elaborating more on the program, he said: “What we are doing is presenting and showing these students the available careers of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, as well as careers in sports, not only pilots but also engineers and mechanics.”
Williams added that the main key to the program was bringing a new generation to the mechanism of sport.
“We are introducing to these exciting new technologies around the race but it could be our technology on the boat or our broadcast products, as well as how to manage the event its self. There are a range of opportunities to show it to the children in addition to enjoying the excitement of the race and meeting the pilots.”
The program’s Jeddah activities began at King Abdulaziz University’s faculty of maritime studies, where students took part in a hands-on workshop focused on STEM careers in the motorsport and sustainability areas conducted by technology experts and famous water pilots such as Dani Clos, Emma Kimilainen and Patricia Pita.
Students learned about E1 races and their technical and environmental dimensions and discussed the engineering and marine aspects of electric boats.
They also enjoyed exclusive behind-the-scenes access at the E1 Jeddah GP, pilot meet-and-greets, and front-row seats to watch the RaceBird boats in action.
