Who’s Who: Dr. Badar Al-Harbi,  deputy director general  at Saudi Arabia’s Institute of Public Administration

Dr. Badar Al-Harbi
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Updated 21 June 2021
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Who’s Who: Dr. Badar Al-Harbi,  deputy director general  at Saudi Arabia’s Institute of Public Administration

Dr. Badar Al-Harbi has been the deputy director general for training affairs at the Institute of Public Administration (IPA) since 2016.

Al-Harbi, who has also been an assistant professor of health administration at the IPA since 2011, received a bachelor’s degree in health services administration from King Saud University in 2000. 

Four years later, Al-Harbi was granted a master’s degree in the same field from Florida International University, US. In 2011, he obtained a Ph.D. in health services management from the University of New England, Australia.

In 2005, he received Prince Bander bin Sultan Al-Saud’s Award for Academic Excellence from the Saudi Embassy in the US. The same year, he was listed on the American Chancellor’s List for High Academic Performance.

In June 2016, he spent four months as the director general of the IPA’s center for the development of administrative leaders. Prior to that, he worked for nearly two years as the institute’s manager of health sector, He had also served as a health sector coordinator at the IPA from 2013 to 2014.

From 2004 to 2011, Al-Harbi was a lecturer in the health administration of the IPA, where he had worked as an assistant trainer for four years beginning in 2000.

Al-Harbi has been a board member of the National Institute for Educational Development since January 2021. He has also been a member of the IPA’s scientific council since 2019. Moreover, he is a board member of the Human Resources Development Fund since 2018, where he is also the chairman of the internal audit committee since 2019.


UNESCO honors Al-Bisht Al-Hasawi as thousands flock to Al-Ahsa festival

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UNESCO honors Al-Bisht Al-Hasawi as thousands flock to Al-Ahsa festival

RIYADH: The third edition of Al-Bisht Al-Hasawi Festival is drawing thousands of local and international visitors to Ibrahim Palace in Al-Hofuf.

Running until Feb. 7 at the historic palace, the event features a bisht exhibition, a rare bisht gallery, a handicrafts zone and workshops led by skilled artisans.

The festival showcases a convergence of cultures, with international pavilions highlighting the global appeal of this authentic Saudi heritage. 

The bisht’s allure has drawn international visitors eager to explore Al-Ahsa’s rich history and traditional crafts.

Tourists enthusiastically don the traditional robe, admiring its royal designs. Many participate in workshops with master artisans, learning the intricate art of Zari embroidery.

Organized by the Heritage Commission, this year’s festival celebrates the inscription of the bisht on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The event showcases Al-Ahsa’s centuries-old tradition of hand-weaving and gold embroidery, a craft passed down through generations of local families.

Visitors can explore interactive displays, participate in live workshops, and witness the meticulous process of tailoring this iconic symbol of prestige.

With UNESCO’s participation and representatives from six countries, the festival has evolved into a global platform for cultural dialogue, cementing the bisht’s status as a world-class cultural treasure.

At the heart of the festival is the story of the “Golden Threads” (Al-Zari), intricate gold-plated silver threads that define the bisht’s character and prestige.

Visitors can discover them in the Golden Threads VIP Area, where they can watch master artisans demonstrate the full bisht-making process at the Host’s Majlis, offering insight into Al-Ahsa’s centuries-old craftsmanship.