RIYADH: The Qiddiya Investment Co. (QIC) has awarded the first construction contract of the year to a major Saudi company, as building continues at the Qiddiya site.
“As Qiddiya strives ahead with its construction execution, we are delighted to begin the mass grading and site preparation of our two anchor development nodes: The Resort Core and the City Center,” said Michael Reininger, CEO of QIC.
“This is the first of many announcements for 2020 and we are proud to partner with a long-standing Saudi firm, the Abdul Ali Al-Ajmi Company, for this significant milestone.”
The start of the 12-month project will include the landscaping of 7 million cubic meters of earth to ensure the site preparation of a combined area of more than 4 million square meters. This will require upward of 500 pieces of major earthmoving equipment to grade and develop the plots, in addition to 4,000 tons of steel and 30,000 cubic meters of concrete for storm water management to prepare the area for the next stage of development.
Ali Abdul Ali Al-Ajmi, chairman of Abdul Ali Al-Ajmi Company, said: “As a Saudi company, it is an honor to be part of this unique project as Qiddiya’s partner. Over the past 40 years we have a demonstrated history of providing our clients with superior excavation, material transport, site preparation and development and so we look forward to using these skills to help Qiddiya achieve their vision.”
Saudi Arabia’s Qiddiya awards 1st construction contract of 2020
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Saudi Arabia’s Qiddiya awards 1st construction contract of 2020
- The start of the 12-month project will include the landscaping of 7 million cubic meters of earth to ensure the site preparation of a combined area of more than 4 million square meters
Minzal brings Saudi traditions to life in Diriyah
- From leather crafts and archery to Saudi coffee, Minzal offers a lesson in ‘Sloum Al-Arab’
RIYADH: This season of Minzal places social norms and traditional etiquette at its center, with tents set up to teach what is locally known as “Sloum Al-Arab” alongside gatherings for coffee, dinner and stargazing around campfires.
“Sloum Al-Arab” refers to the unwritten customers and values that have shaped Arab and Bedouin society for centuries, including generosity, coffee preparation, courage and archery.
In Saudi Arabia, these traditions are closely ties to cultural identity and religious belief.
Leather products and the making of leather goods is one of the crafts featured at Minzal this year and is one of the oldest crafts still practiced in the kingdom.
“The most difficult thing I faced to work on was camel leather because it is a little tough,” Nada Samman, a leather trainer and craftsman at Minzal, told Arab News.
“The work on leather is wonderful whether it is goat leather, cow leather, Sawakni sheep, and of course, camel leather. At Minzal, we are offering multiple handicraft workshops, most specifically the leather handicrafts. We want visitors to spend time at something useful and fun."
Samman explained the workshops allowed participants to preserve heritage while engaging in meaning, hands on activities.
Faisal Al-Khaled, a visual artist and craftsman specializing in Saudi designs at Minzal, shared a similar goal: “I want people to have, by the end of this experience, a unique and traditional art piece created by them, and that I know I helped them to preserve this craft.”
Minzal, which has been organized for several years now, continues to evolve with each season, offering activities that highlight Bedouin values, traditional skills and sports. Archery is a key feature, reflecting its deep roots in Arab and Islamic history.
Mohammed Al-Sharif, a certified archery player and coach with the Saudi Archery Federation since 2028, said the sport was closely connected to Saudi culture. It was encouraged by the Prophet Muhammad, which led people to learn and teach it through generations.
“Our traditional bow is considered one of the most important and widely used bows in Arab culture,” Al-Sharif said. “We have several styles, and professional archers specializing in traditional bow shooting … There are various types of archery, such as horseback archery and standing archery, where bow sizes vary according to specific needs, such as types used for hunting and others used during warfare.”
He explained that archery was historically part of daily life, used for protection and hunting.
Saudi coffee also plays a significant role in the Minzal experience, with live demonstrations. One of the most frequently consumed beverages in the Kingdom, it is a symbol of hospitality and generosity.
Ahmed Al-Shuaibi explained how it was prepared at the Sloum tent, first by roasting the beans and then allowing them to cool. The beans are ground with spices in a Nigr.
“Coffee is passed from our grandparents,” he added. “In significant majlis, you see them offering our local coffee and not other types of coffee. We organized this corner so that young generations can visit and learn this.”
