It’s a thumbs up from visitors to ‘mesmerizing’ Riyadh Season heritage event

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Nabd Al-Riyadh showcases a different region of the Kingdom every day through folk dances, digital displays, laser shows, musical performances and an exhibition of traditional handicrafts
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Traditional handicrafts decorate a stall at Nabd Al-Riyadh. (Supplied)
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Nabd Al-Riyadh showcases a different region of the Kingdom every day through folk dances, digital displays, laser shows, musical performances and an exhibition of traditional handicrafts
Updated 18 October 2019
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It’s a thumbs up from visitors to ‘mesmerizing’ Riyadh Season heritage event

JEDDAH: Visitors to Riyadh Season have given a massive thumbs-up to a special event that highlights Saudi culture and heritage.

Nabd Al-Riyadh, or “Riyadh’s pulse,” showcases a different region of the Kingdom every day through folk dances, digital displays, laser shows, musical performances and an exhibition of traditional handicrafts.

“It was a great experience, especially as it took place at Al-Masmak Palace which was a significant starting point of the Kingdom’s unification. I appreciated the merging of history, culture and heritage with such a lively atmosphere,” visitor Mohammed Al-Saif told Arab News.

Maha Al-Ammar said Riyadh Season had added color to the city. “Riyadh has really changed. Look at where we were before and where we are now. Everything is so beautiful,” she said. “Nabd Al-Riyadh is such a well organized cultural event.”

Another visitor, Anfal Al-Jaferi, said: “We didn’t get to witness such events in the past, but now they are everywhere, in many zones.

“I didn’t feel the need to shop because the scenery was so enjoyable, and the themes of the events were mesmerizing. The effort that has gone into Riyadh Season is clear to see.”

Riyadh Season continues until Dec. 15 with a raft of artistic, sporting and cultural events, including theater, music performances and fashion shows.

 

 

 


Mawhiba awards 68 students grand prizes for science competition

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Mawhiba awards 68 students grand prizes for science competition

  • The winning students will carry Saudi Arabia’s banner at the International Science and Engineering Fair, “ISEF 2026,” alongside other global talents

RIYADH: The King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity, or Mawhiba, revealed on Thursday the grand prize recipients of the Ibdaa Science and Engineering Fair, marking the conclusion of the 16th National Olympiad for Scientific Creativity.

The event, held from Jan. 25-29, in strategic collaboration with the Ministry of Education, represents the culmination of Saudi Arabia’s premier youth science competition.

The winning students will carry Saudi Arabia’s banner at the International Science and Engineering Fair, “ISEF 2026,” alongside other global talents.

Their selection follows an intensive four-month scientific gauntlet that attracted more than 357,000 participants submitting more than 34,000 research projects.

Sixty-eight exceptional students emerged victorious with grand prizes.

Earlier in the day, Mawhiba announced 84 students as recipients of special recognitions from a consortium of 12 ministries, agencies, and prominent national and international institutions.

The special awards comprised 59 domestic honors and 25 international distinctions for exceptional projects featured at the Ibdaa 2026.

The path to victory proved demanding. Participants navigated multiple elimination rounds, beginning with 16 regional showcases that advanced 500 projects.

Four centralized exhibitions followed, narrowing the field to 200 finalists for the Ibdaa Science and Engineering Fair.

An expert jury of 166 evaluators drawn from more than 40 public and private universities, plus additional research centers, assessed each submission, assigning five judges per project to ensure thorough evaluation.

The Ibdaa Olympiad operates as an annual scientific tournament through the strategic partnership of Mawhiba and the Ministry of Education.

Competitors submit individual research projects adhering to rigorous specifications and protocols.

Distinguished academics and specialists apply systematic scientific benchmarks to identify exemplary work worthy of advancement to elite competitive tiers, ultimately selecting the finest entries for representation at ISEF and comparable international scientific forums and competitions.