Music Commission to host Arabic Jazz Music Festival at Dhahran Expo
Saudi festival to feature top Middle East, Europe jazz musicians, composers
Updated 21 July 2022
Arab News
DAMMAM: Top musicians and composers from the Middle East and Europe are to take part in a Saudi festival dedicated to celebrating the important contribution of the oud to jazz music, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The Kingdom’s Music Commission will host the first Arabic Jazz Music Festival at the Dhahran Expo in Dammam over two days starting Friday.
German Lebanese oud master Rabih Abou Khalil, a 10-time German Jazz Music Award winner, and Bands Across Borders, are among the event’s biggest names.
A jazz orchestra comprised of leading vocalists, instrumentalists, jazz, pop, and rock musicians from the Arab world and Europe will also perform some of the region’s best-known Arabic tunes.
In addition, the festival will feature Egyptian oud master Hazem Shaheen in his new jazz formation, as well as Mohamed Abozekry, at 14 years old the youngest officially recognized Arab oud master.
The lineup will be supported by rising Saudi music stars such as Bahraini Saudi fusion band Majaz, Saudi band Al Farabi, and Dammam jazz fusion band, Mosaic.
In organizing the festival at Dhahran Expo, one of the largest exhibition companies in Saudi Arabia, the Music Commission aims to promote national and Arab talent and participation in such events.
Jeddah students get closer look at electric motorsport
A PIF-linked initiative highlights technical and engineering careers behind electric racing events
Updated 24 January 2026
SALEH FAREED
JEDDAH: Students from local and international schools in Jeddah were introduced to STEM-related career pathways in electric motorsport this week, as part of an education program linked to the UIM E1 World Championship held on the Red Sea.
The sessions formed part of Driving Force Presented by the Public Investment Fund, an initiative run by Formula E and its electric racing series partners, to familiarize students aged eight to 18 with science, technology, engineering and mathematics through electric racing and sustainability-focused industries.
The sessions for students formed part of Driving Force Presented by the Public Investment Fund, an initiative run by Formula E and its electric racing series partners. (Supplied)
The programme took place alongside the 2026 E1 Jeddah GP and included workshops, school visits and trackside access designed to show how engineering, data, broadcast technology and event operations function within professional motorsport.
According to organisers, the initiative reached more than 60,000 students globally in 2025, with further expansion planned this year.
HIGHLIGHTS
• The program took place alongside the 2026 E1 Jeddah GP and included workshops, school visits and trackside access.
• Students learned about E1 races and their technical and environmental dimensions and discussed the engineering and marine aspects of electric boats.
• According to organisers, the initiative reached more than 60,000 students globally in 2025, with further expansion planned this year.
John Williams, managing director at E1, told Arab News: “The PIF is absolutely vital to everything we do here at the E1. They were crucial initial investment partner since the start of the championship and they continue to support us in a number of ways and more specifically around the Driving Force program.”
The sessions for students formed part of Driving Force Presented by the Public Investment Fund, an initiative run by Formula E and its electric racing series partners. (Supplied)
Elaborating more on the program, he said: “What we are doing is presenting and showing these students the available careers of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, as well as careers in sports, not only pilots but also engineers and mechanics.”
Williams added that the main key to the program was bringing a new generation to the mechanism of sport.
“We are introducing to these exciting new technologies around the race but it could be our technology on the boat or our broadcast products, as well as how to manage the event its self. There are a range of opportunities to show it to the children in addition to enjoying the excitement of the race and meeting the pilots.”
The program’s Jeddah activities began at King Abdulaziz University’s faculty of maritime studies, where students took part in a hands-on workshop focused on STEM careers in the motorsport and sustainability areas conducted by technology experts and famous water pilots such as Dani Clos, Emma Kimilainen and Patricia Pita.
Students learned about E1 races and their technical and environmental dimensions and discussed the engineering and marine aspects of electric boats.
They also enjoyed exclusive behind-the-scenes access at the E1 Jeddah GP, pilot meet-and-greets, and front-row seats to watch the RaceBird boats in action.
