Senegalese president visits Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah
Updated 20 April 2023
SPA
MADINAH: Senegalese President Macky Sall prayed at the Prophet’s Mosque on Wednesday.
Several officials from the Agency of the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Prophet’s Mosque received the president.
The Senegalese president arrived in Madinah earlier in the day, where he was received at the Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport by the Director General of the Royal Protocol Office in Madinah Ibrahim bin Abdullah Berri and several other officials.
Bahrain says soldier and person killed in Houthi attack near Saudi-Yemen border
Updated 9 sec ago
Arab News
RIYADH: A Bahraini officer and person was killed in a Houthi attack along the border between war-torn Yemen and Saudi Arabia, the Bahraini military said on Monday.
Saudi Arabia’s AlUla, UNESCO sign deal for cultural programs, heritage fellowships
The two-year program will emphasize the role of heritage and creativity in constructing sustainable sites and a development model founded on cultural and social interaction in AlUla
Updated 49 min 7 sec ago
Arab News
RIYADH: Royal Commission for AlUla and UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization officials recently triggered the second phase of a cultural programs agreement signed in Paris in 2021.
The inking of the deal to activate the next stage of the initiative came in coordination with a steering committee represented by bodies including the RCU, UNESCO, the Saudi National Committee for Education, Culture, and Science, and the Saudi permanent delegation to UNESCO.
Part two of the accord will focus mainly on projects related to building an integrated cultural scheme and developing a fellowship program in antiquities protection in cooperation with UNESCO and the Al-Mamalek Institute. Both initiatives aim to preserve heritage, promote education, nature, and creative arts.
The AlUla vision aligns with Vision 2030 in bolstering strategic partnerships in development, including with UNESCO. (SPA)
The RCU UNESCO program will provide technical support while concentrating on capacity building and promoting international relations.
It also aims to highlight cultural heritage and creativity as drivers of AlUla’s sustainable development plan, aligning with the AlUla vision and Saudi Vision 2030.
The two-year program will emphasize the role of heritage and creativity in constructing sustainable sites and a development model founded on cultural and social interaction in AlUla.
The fellowship program in antiquities protection will welcome its first fellows to AlUla this year, enabling researchers and heritage professionals to conduct work focused on conservation, management, and the exchange of knowledge.
The AlUla vision aligns with Vision 2030 in bolstering strategic partnerships in development, including with UNESCO. It aims to enhance education, culture, and science to stimulate economic opportunities, generate employment, and achieve comprehensive sustainable development.
“The Phantom of the Opera” is a globally popular show that premiered at Her Majesty’s Theatre in London in 1986. It tells the story of a disfigured musical genius haunting the Paris Opera House
Updated 57 min 57 sec ago
Arab News
RIYADH: Riyadh will host the famous Broadway production, “The Phantom of the Opera,” at The Arena from Oct. 14 to Dec. 5.
In partnership with Broadway Entertainment Group and The Really Useful Group, the Saudi capital will host 54 days of magnificent shows, aligning with Riyadh’s vision to become a global art destination and enhance entertainment offerings as part of the Quality of Life Program.
During the showing period, there will be 59 performances featuring a cast of 100 participants, including actors, crews and orchestra members. The play will also feature 230 intricate costume designs.
“The Phantom of the Opera” is a globally popular show that premiered at Her Majesty’s Theatre in London in 1986. It tells the story of a disfigured musical genius haunting the Paris Opera House.
The show has received more than 70 major theatrical awards, including seven Tony Awards on Broadway and four Olivier Awards in London’s West End.
In 2022, the play was performed in Riyadh with Tim Howar as the Phantom and Laura Tebbutt as Christine Daae.
The play will be a recent addition to Riyadh’s repertoire of plays and performances. It will mark the beginning of many exciting events on Riyadh Season’s entertainment calendar.
Riyadh recently delighted audiences with family favorites such as “Shrek The Musical” and the return of “Disney on Ice” as part of their “100 Years of Wonder” celebration.
More than 10 million visitors have attended Riyadh Calendar events this year so far.
Tickets for the show are currently being sold at a 20 percent “early bird” discount, starting from SR280 ($75), and can be bought on https://phantom.platinumlist.net/ and https://www.ticketingboxoffice.com/the-phantom-of-the-opera-tickets/group/916/en
Grape and Pomegranate Festival to begin in Taif on Wednesday
The festival includes a display of grape and pomegranate crops and products, as well as activities on the festival stage over four days
Updated 25 September 2023
Rahaf Jambi
RIYADH: The Grape and Pomegranate Festival will begin on Wednesday under the patronage of Prince Saud bin Nahar Al-Saud, governor of Taif, with various activities at Al-Hokair Park.
The festival aims to highlight the diversity of seasonal agricultural products in Taif governorate and to support farmers and encourage them to market their agricultural products.
The festival includes a display of grape and pomegranate crops and products, as well as activities on the festival stage over four days.
Majid bin Abdullah Al-Khalif, director general of the branch of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture in the Makkah region, said that the festival was held under the supervision of the ministry in Taif.
The director of the ministry's office in Taif, Hani bin Abdul Rahman Al-Qadi, stressed the ministry’s keenness to support farmers and encourage them to increase production, in addition to highlighting the importance of marketing their agricultural products through festivals.
Al-Khalif and Al-Qadi said that they appreciated the interest of the governor of Taif in developing the agricultural sector, supporting stimulating initiatives to increase agricultural production, and his sponsorship of the Taif Grape and Pomegranate Festival.
Fruits such as figs, cherries, grapes and pomegranates are among the well-known produce grown in Taif. Roses, which are grown on more than 700 farms, are another well-known export.
Saudi students showcase ‘virtual classroom’ Metaverse project
Allows faculty and students to engage and interact with the content
Ahmed Khoja and Abdulaziz Hashem created immersive environment
Updated 25 September 2023
Arab News
RIYADH: Students at the College of Architecture and Planning at King Abdulaziz University recently unveiled their latest project called “Building in the Metaverse,” which allows faculty and students in the education field to engage and interact with the content.
Students Ahmed Khoja and Abdulaziz Hashem used virtual reality technology to create the fully immersive environment.
Hashem said that while “colleges and universities have not fully embraced the concept yet, they may explore its potential for creating virtual classrooms and lecture halls.”
Khoja said the project aligns with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 plan to improve quality of life, develop cultural infrastructure such as museums, enhance tourism, and enable Saudi artists to reach global audiences.
Despite the challenges, Hashem and Khoja said that these technologies could reduce material costs significantly.
The Metaverse is a virtual reality realm where users can engage with each other in an interactive environment to transcend the limitations of the physical world.
It encompasses group video games that allow players to convene, compete, and collaborate within virtual worlds. Additionally, it can be utilized for learning, social networking, exhibitions and e-commerce.
It could allow an unlimited number of participants, and see products displayed and sold using digital currency.
