Saudi Arabia elected chair of UNESCO World Heritage Committee
Unanimous vote ‘opens new chapter in Kingdom’s evolving history’
Updated 25 January 2023
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia will chair UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee following a unanimous decision at the organization’s headquarters in Paris.
The committee will be chaired by Princess Haifa bint Abdulaziz Al-Mogrin, the Kingdom’s permanent representative to UNESCO, and chairperson of the organization’s programs and external relations committee.
The Paris meeting also agreed that Saudi Arabia will host the committee’s 45th session, which will be held in Riyadh from Sept. 10-25.
The selection was approved during the 18th session of the World Heritage Committee, which was held in the presence of all member states of the committee.
Princess Haifa tweeted: “In completion of the Kingdom’s prominent role in supporting and preserving human heritage, I am proud today of accrediting Saudi Arabia as chairman of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, and for hosting of the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee for the first time in September.”
The permanent delegation of the Kingdom to UNESCO tweeted: “Saudi Arabia is home to 6 millennial world heritage sites and 11 intangible heritage elements, Saudi Arabia will proudly host the 45th session of UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee in September— it’s a new chapter in our evolving history.”
The decision is the culmination of efforts led by the Kingdom in UNESCO, in light of unlimited support to the cultural sector by King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as well as the support and directives of Culture Minister Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan.
Princess Haifa praised the decision and said that it is simply the result of the Kingdom’s prominent role in supporting heritage, and its extended endeavors toward documenting human heritage alongside the member states of the committee, as well as achieving the goals of UNESCO in general, and the goals of the World Heritage Committee in particular.
The UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of representatives of 21 states elected by the General Assembly, examines the proposals of states wishing to place their sites on the World Heritage List, assists experts to report on the sites, and provides the final assessment of the decision of the proposed sites on the list.
The Kingdom has two other members of UNESCO’s main committees, as well as its membership in the World Heritage Committee: membership of the Executive Council and membership of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, which highlights the Kingdom’s role as a pivotal and international center of action in the organization’s decision-making.
Soundstorm expands Saudi Arabia’s music scene with talent programs, global collaborations
Young people see music as industry with variety of career paths beyond performing, says general manager of MDLBEAST Foundation
Updated 11 December 2025
Afshan Aziz
RIYADH: MDLBEAST is placing sustainability and the growth of Saudi Arabia’s creative economy at the center of Soundstorm 2025, its annual music festival which is taking place until Dec. 13.
In an exclusive interview with Arab News, Ramadan Alharatani, the CEO of MDLBEAST, said the festival was not just about entertainment, but about creating long-term economic and social value.
He said: “Soundstorm plays a major role in the creative economy by creating jobs, attracting international talent, and giving local artists real opportunities to perform on a large stage.
“We are also investing in long-term programs that support training, production, and creative development beyond the festival weekend.
“This year we are focusing more on accessibility and sustainability. We are improving transportation options, making the site easier to navigate, and introducing better systems for recycling and energy use. Inclusion is also a priority, so we are working on creating spaces and experiences that welcome all types of audiences.”
Looking at the festival’s role in nurturing emerging talent, Alharatani said: “We are continuing to build on programs that help new talent grow.
“Through XP Music Futures, our year-round initiatives under the MDLBEAST Foundation, and partnerships with regional and international labels, we are giving young artists more access to mentorship, training, and performance opportunities.
“We are also supporting new ideas in music tech, sound design, and creative production, so emerging talent can experiment with different forms of expression. These partnerships help us develop the next generation of artists and build a stronger presence in the region.”
Ramadan Alharatani, the CEO of MDLBEAST
This year’s edition of Soundstorm offers audiences more stages, a wider variety of genres, and increased international collaborations.
The festival layout has been redesigned to make it easier for fans to explore areas dedicated to live music, hip-hop, regional talent, and emerging artists, alongside the main stages featuring global performers.
These changes focus on the rapid growth of Saudi Arabia’s music scene, with local audiences embracing diverse genres, and international artists showing greater interest in performing in the Kingdom.
“Soundstorm has always been a place where these worlds meet, but this year that connection is stronger and more visible,” Alharatani said.
Regarding the future and MDLBEAST’S vision, he said: “Our main priority is growth that feels sustainable and meaningful.
“We want to build more cultural experiences, support more local talent, and expand our presence globally without losing our connection to the region. In the next few years we will continue developing our festivals, expanding our live event calendar, increasing our year-round venue offerings, and investing in talent development.
“The goal is to create long-term value for the music and entertainment scene in Saudi Arabia.”
Building on MDLBEAST’S efforts to expand the Kingdom’s creative ecosystem, Nada Alhelabi, general manager of the MDLBEAST Foundation and founder of XP Music Futures, said the foundation was creating professional pathways for emerging talent.
She said: “This year we are expanding XP’s educational and professional programs to give young people clearer pathways into the music industry. We are introducing more workshops, mentoring sessions, and hands-on training across areas such as sound engineering, event production, artist management, and creative business.
“The aim is to help young talent understand how the industry works and how they can build real careers in it. Alongside our XP Music Futures program we have nine initiatives that the MDLBEAST Foundation works on all year round to develop a sustainable music ecosystem in our region.”
Nada Alhelabi, general manager of the MDLBEAST Foundation and founder of XP Music Futures. (Supplied)
She added that the landscape of creative careers in Saudi Arabia had transformed rapidly, with more venues, festivals, and studios creating a growing demand for skilled professionals.
Alhelabi added: “Young people now see music as a real industry with a variety of career paths beyond performing. XP Music Futures provides a space where talent, executives, startups, and educators can connect, giving young creatives access to industry leaders, hands-on learning, and opportunities to network and exchange ideas.”
On the impact of key programs, Alhelabi said: “This year we saw strong progress across all three programs. Hunna continues to support the development of female talent and leaders, and several participants have already stepped into new roles across production, performance, and creative management.
“XPERFORM (has) helped emerging artists grow their audiences and secure new performance opportunities, and a major milestone this year was our new partnership with Shahid.
“As the region’s leading streaming platform, Shahid is now broadcasting XPERFORM, giving our artists wider visibility and bringing their stories to a much larger audience.
“Sound Futures also supported a new wave of music-tech startups, many of which are now testing or launching their ideas in the market.
“Together, these stories show how year-round support can make a real difference and they highlight how XP is helping shape the next generation of creatives.”
