Saudi Shoura delegation participates in IPU meetings

The IPU General Assembly in its 144th session in Bali, Indonesia, with the participation of the Saudi Shoura Council delegation headed by Abdullah bin Muhammad bin Ibrahim Al Sheikh. (Twitter/@ShuraCouncil_SA)
Short Url
Updated 25 March 2022
Follow

Saudi Shoura delegation participates in IPU meetings

JEDDAH:With the participation of Saudi Arabia, the 144th session of the General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, held at the Bali International Convention Centre in Indonesia, has come to an end.

Representing Saudi Arabia, the Shoura Council delegation, headed by Dr. Abdullah Al-Asheikh, took part in the meetings, held under the topic ‘“Getting to Zero: Mobilizing Parliaments to Act on Climate Change.”

Mohammed bin Dakheel Al-Mutairi, secretary-general of the Shoura Council, participated in the meetings of the Assembly of Secretaries-General of the IPU, during which the latest developments in the union and the draft agenda for the next meeting were discussed. 




Saudi Shoura Council Secretary-General Mohammed bin Dakheel Al-Mutairi participates in the meetings of the Assembly of Secretaries-General of the IPU in Bali on Thursday. (Twitter/@ShuraCouncil_SA)

Dr. Ayman bin Saleh Fadel, a member of the Shoura Council, participated in the meeting of the Standing Committee for Sustainable Development, titled “Leveraging information and communication technology as an enabler for the education sector, including in times of pandemic.”




Saudi Shoura Council member Ayman Fadel participates in the meetings of the Permanent Committee on Sustainable Development of the IPU. (Twitter/@ShuraCouncil_SA)

Dr. Amal Al-Shaman, another member of the Shoura Council, participated in the meetings of the Standing Committee on Democracy and Human Rights in the IPU. During the meetings, the parties discussed the draft resolution to be adopted in the upcoming General Assembly regarding the parliamentary motion to advance local and regional development in countries with high levels of international migration. Participants discussed the importance of stopping all forms of human trafficking, in addition to other topics on the committee's agenda.




Amal Al-Shaman, a member of the Saudi Shoura council, participates in the meetings of the Permanent Committee on Democracy and Human Rights of the IPU. (Twitter/@ShuraCouncil_SA)

Hoda Al-Helaissi, also a Shoura Council member, took part in the meetings of the IPU’s Standing Committee on UN Affairs. She, along with her colleagues, discussed the UN’s High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, among other topics.




Huda Al-Halisi, a member of the Saudi Shoura council, attends the meetings of the Standing Committee on United Nations Affairs at the Inter-Parliamentary Union. (Twitter/@ShuraCouncil_SA)

Meanwhile, members of the Permanent Committee for International Peace and Security in the IPU, including Dr. Hani bin Yousuf Khashoggi, held a meeting during which they discussed a draft resolution on reformulating the approach to peace operations in order to promote lasting stability.

The IPU is an international organization of national parliaments. It began in 1889 as a small group of parliamentarians dedicated to promoting peace through diplomacy and has since grown into a global organization.

With 178 member parliaments, 14 associate members and increasing numbers of parliamentarians from all over the world, IPU assemblies are held twice a year, with more than 1,200 representatives attending.


Joy Awards 2026 spotlights arts in Arab world

Updated 18 January 2026
Follow

Joy Awards 2026 spotlights arts in Arab world

  • Event held annually since 2022

RIYADH: Riyadh hosted its annual Joy Awards on Jan. 17, bringing together stars and creative projects from across the Arab world for an event that has been held annually since 2022.

The 2026 ceremony continued its focus on recognizing storytelling and creative work, while highlighting projects released over the past year.

Awards were presented across six sectors; music, cinema, series, directors, sports and influencers. In addition to the category awards, the ceremony also honored recipients of special accolades, including Personality of the Year, Lifetime Achievement, and Joy Honorary awards.

Previous events have recognized Arab and international figures for their contributions to the arts, including Matthew McConaughey, who received the Personality of the Year Award in 2025.

Amid the Kingdom’s expansion of its entertainment sector — spanning film, music and sports — the Joy Awards reflected Riyadh Season’s role in hosting large-scale cultural events.

This year’s fan-favorite nominees, many of whom were Saudi nationals, were cheered as they walked the Joy Awards’ iconic lavender carpet, where fashion once again took center stage as a key expression of the region’s evolving creative identity.

Among winners who took home the awards was Saudi 14-year-old Rateel Alshehri, who won Favorite Female Influencer. Speaking to Arab News on the lavender carpet, Alshehri shared her excitement, saying: “I’m so excited about being at the Joy Awards. It’s something I’ve been looking forward to. Everyone here deserves to be here.”

Alshehri shared that she was wearing a sky-blue gown by Saudi designer Adnan Akbar.

Alshehri’s excitement was echoed by both Arab and non-Arab guests on the lavender carpet, as many took in the unique atmosphere that Riyadh offers.

Lebanese actor Laila Abdullah also shared her enthusiasm toward both the award show and the Kingdom’s ambitions in creating a hub for creative voices.

Speaking to Arab News, she said the awards had “this mix of culture and luxury. It has that Gulf Arab character, the Saudi touch, you know? And that’s what really makes it stand out.”

The event was filled with a bustling energy that gave a platform to artists and talents who have been waiting to showcase their visions within the Arab world.

It was a celebration that went beyond mere award-giving; reflecting the same ambition and creative momentum that defines Riyadh Season.

Speaking to Arab News, Australian actor Luke Arnold shared his excitement toward attending the event, and added: “What I’m most excited about is kind of what I love about film and television, which is people from all over the world coming together to tell stories and share their expertise.

“It’s really exciting hearing about some of the potential projects happening (and) meeting some of the local talent here. (I am) just really excited to have more stories out in the world.”

Lebanese fashion influencer Karen Wazen reiterated the sentiment on Riyadh giving the Joy Awards a special and unique energy for the arts, saying: “I am so impressed. I’m so proud to be at an event like this in our region, in Saudi Arabia. This is probably the most impressive and big carpet that I’ve ever seen. I’m very excited to watch the ceremony, but also I think to just meet so many people from our industries; it’s a beautiful place to do so.”

Millie Bobby Brown won the Personality of the Year Award while the Lifetime Achievement honor went to actor Forest Whitaker.

On the stage, American pop star Katy Perry performed her iconic songs, while British singer Robbie Williams also gave a standout performance.

The Joy Awards 2026 once again proved that setting new benchmarks in entertainment and creative expression is not only achievable, but celebrated when driven by local talent and support.

As stars from around the world took to Riyadh’s lavender carpet, Arab culture was placed firmly at the forefront — spanning film, music, and digital creativity. The Joy Awards stand as a symbol of the broader cultural transformation that Riyadh is championing across the Arab world’s entertainment industry.