Saudi permanent representative to the UN, Abdallah Al-Mouallimi, held a virtual reception to mark the celebration of Eid Al-Adha.
Attendees included UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, President of the UN General Assembly’s 74th session Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, Under-Secretary-General of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism Vladimir Voronkov, Chef de Cabinet to the UN secretary-general Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, and a number of permanent representatives of different UN member countries.
The delegates congratulated Saudi Arabia on its success in organizing Hajj despite the exceptional circumstances caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and expressed their admiration for the precautionary measures taken by the Kingdom to ensure the safety of pilgrims.
Exchanging Eid wishes with Al-Mouallimi, the attendees thanked the Kingdom’s delegation for bringing together ambassadors and senior UN officials from different religions and cultures on the occasion of Eid which was celebrated by Muslims around the world.
Al-Mouallimi thanked the envoys, UN officials, and state representatives for joining the virtual reception which he hoped would contribute toward further strengthening communication and solidarity between nations.
He pointed out that Eid Al-Adha marked the culmination of the Hajj season, bringing together millions of Muslims from all over the world in expressing their feelings of unity, solidarity, and humanity.
Saudi UN envoy hosts virtual international reception to mark Eid
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Saudi UN envoy hosts virtual international reception to mark Eid
Saudi capital celebrates Philippine culture with music, art, tradition
- Festival spotlights Filipino creativity through live performances, crafts, authentic cuisine, and community’s cultural contributions
RIYADH: The Philippine Culture Days launched on Friday evening as part of the Global Harmony 2 initiative organized by the Ministry of Media, in cooperation with the General Entertainment Authority and supported by the Quality of Life Program.
The event is being staged at Al-Suwaidi Park, one of Riyadh Season’s zones, from Dec. 5-8, and has already welcomed thousands of visitors, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
It offers an immersive cultural journey highlighting the richness of Philippine culture and its traditional arts, while also showcasing the success stories of Filipino residents in the Kingdom, their social, economic, and cultural roles, and their diverse contributions.
The program includes musical performances by leading Filipino artists and influencers, as well as cultural pavilions that introduce visitors to everyday Filipino life through bazaars of traditional clothing, popular food stalls, and themed photo-shoot experiences with folkloric costumes, creating a vivid celebration of Philippine identity.
Filipino artisans also present live demonstrations of traditional crafts, including shellcrafting, accessory-making, and handcrafted art, giving visitors a close look at the intricate craftsmanship involved.
The opening day featured the first musical concert with Filipino performers, along with more than 70 exhibitors and artistic performers presenting musical and folk shows that blend traditional arts with modern rhythms, drawing strong audience engagement.
The four-day Philippine Culture Days event is part of a broader series of global cultural activities aimed at fostering cultural exchange and highlighting the Kingdom’s embrace of diversity.
The Global Harmony 2 initiative continues to offer more than 200 children’s activities over 49 days, with steady turnout from families throughout the week. This year’s initiative aims to celebrate 14 world cultures, each representing a different community in the Kingdom.
So far, more than 2 million visitors have taken part in the cultural initiative, with only three exhibitions remaining in the Global Harmony 2 initiative.
Following Philippine Culture Days are Uganda (Dec. 9-10), Ethiopia (Dec. 11-13), and Sudan (Dec. 14-20).
Officials hope to shed light on the lives of expatriates living in Saudi Arabia, celebrating their social and recreational activities, contributions to the Kingdom’s economy, and personal success stories.
