Saudi National Music Band makes its Rome debut/node/2203131/saudi-arabia
Saudi National Music Band makes its Rome debut
The Saudi artists performed in the Sala della Protomoteca, one of the biggest and most prestigious halls of the Musei Capitolini. (File/Musei Capitolini)
The concert, attended by Arab News, took place at one of the oldest museums in Italy’s capital
The band was founded in 2019 with the aim of promoting Saudi musical heritage worldwide
Updated 20 November 2022
Francesco Bongarrà
ROME: Residents of Rome attended the first concert in Italy of the Saudi National Music Band on Saturday night as part of the 12th edition of “Musei in Musica” (“Museums in Music”) at one of the capital’s oldest museums.
At the concert, attended by Arab News, the band was represented by Emad Lufti Zari, Reaab Ahmed Bukhari, Abdulaziz Abdullah bin Shannan and Saud Abdulaziz Al-Khulaif.
The Saudi artists performed in the Sala della Protomoteca, one of the biggest and most prestigious halls of the Musei Capitolini, where priceless masterpieces from ancient Roman and baroque art have been preserved and kept on display for centuries.
The Saudi National Music Band was founded in 2019 on the initiative of the Ministry of Culture, with the aim of representing the Kingdom in regional and international events, as well as promoting its musical heritage worldwide, in line with the Vision 2030 reform program.
Twenty-six members make up the band, which is also engaged in the training of over 200 young musicians.
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.
