Art, music, fireworks shows on for Saudi National Day celebrations

Saudi folklore shows, air shows and many other events are taking place across the Kingdom as part of Saudi National Day celebrations. (SPA)
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Updated 20 September 2024
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Art, music, fireworks shows on for Saudi National Day celebrations

  • Events taking place in Riyadh, Jeddah, AlUla over 4-day holiday
  • Traditional arts, theater events also on the schedule nationwide

RIYADH/JEDDAH/ALKHOBAR: With the Saudi National Day holiday running from Friday to Monday, what better way to mark the annual Sept. 23 occasion than by immersing oneself in the Kingdom’s most breathtaking landscapes as well as fireworks, music and art shows.

The General Entertainment Authority has announced there will be fireworks displays across Saudi Arabia. On Sept. 22, Umm Ajlan Park in the capital is hosting, for free, the nation’s biggest fireworks display, a drone show, and a folklore event, starting at 9 p.m.




Saudi folklore shows, air shows and many other events are taking place across the Kingdom as part of Saudi National Day celebrations. (SPA)

There will also be fireworks displays at Jeddah Promenade from Friday to Monday starting at 6 p.m. On the same day, as a part of the festivities, there will be an air show at Jeddah’s North Corniche with planes flying in formation and leaving green smoke trails across the sky.

Having started on Sept. 19, the Mishkat Interactive Exhibition is hosting the “Energy of Glory” celebration until Sept. 21, from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., focusing on Saudi Vision 2030 and the nation’s sustainable energy goals.




September 23 will feature a local band performing traditional and modern songs, a Saudi folklore show, and a marine show at the Jeddah Yacht Club. (Supplied)

At Nakheel Mall Riyadh, Fontana Circus will be performing with gravity-defying aerialists. There will also be a musical fountain on display.

At The Globe, one of Riyadh’s most iconic dining spots, which is a glass-enclosed venue with panoramic city views, diners can enjoy afternoon tea from Sept. 20 to 23.




In Alkhobar, the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture will have a series of curated interactive cultural programs from Sept. 20 to 23. (Supplied)

Other dining options in the capital include the Mandarin Oriental and Al-Faisaliah where cuisine from the Kingdom’s 13 regions is on the menu.

At Jeddah Yacht Club and Jeddah Art Promenade, a local band will perform traditional and modern songs, in addition to a Saudi folklore show, and a marine show on Sept. 23.

One of the standout events this weekend is “Shojaa,” a family-friendly musical show at The Club in Al-Shallal Theme Park. Running from Sept. 20 to 23, this performance celebrates Saudi Arabia culture with music, storytelling, and a homage to the Year of the Camel.

In Jeddah’s Historic District, the cultural history of Saudi Arabia will be presented at the Tariq Abdulhakim Center. From Sept. 21 to 24, the center will host museum tours, karaoke sessions, art workshops, face painting for children, and an Arabic calligraphy booth.

Zawiya 97 in the Historic District will have an artisan souq on Sept. 23, with handmade crafts for sale, and educational and cultural offerings. From Sept. 22 to 23, there will be performers playing traditional music on the oud at Social Shot Lounge & Bar.

In AlUla, the Azimuth Festival is on from Sept. 19 to 21 at Wadi Al-Fann, featuring international and regional artists. Also, Hero Experiences Group is offering hot-air balloon flights above AlUla’s ancient landscapes

Also on offer is the Sharaan Platinum Dinner Safari, a tour of the nature reserve led by expert guides in the afternoon. There will be tours of canyons with ancient petroglyphs and rock formations. Canapes will be available as the sun sets over the valley.

In the evening, a traditional South African braai, or barbecue, will be on offer in a canyon aglow with lanterns, and later a stargazing session under the vast desert sky.

In Alkhobar, the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture will have a series of curated interactive cultural programs from Sept. 20 to 23. The activities include live performances, workshops, exhibitions and film screenings which highlight Saudi heritage.

In addition, there will performances of traditional Saudi art forms, including the Al-Ardah dance.

From Sept. 19 to 23, Alkhobar’s new performing arts center, Fantakah, will stage an original play titled “The Law of Attraction.” Fantakah founder and chief operating officer, Husain Zaber, is the writer and director.

 


Saudi armed forces chief of staff meets Iranian counterpart in Tehran

Updated 21 sec ago
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Saudi armed forces chief of staff meets Iranian counterpart in Tehran

RIYADH: The chief of staff of Saudi Arabia’s armed forces visited Tehran on Sunday to meet with his Iranian counterpart and discuss defense ties, the Saudi Ministry of Defense said.

Fayyad Al-Ruwaili and Iran’s Major General Mohammad Bagheri discussed opportunities to develop relations between the two countries in the military and defense fields. 

They also discussed cooperation between the two in a way that might contribute to enhancing security and stability in the region, the MoD added.

 


Program to combat human trafficking concludes in Riyadh

Updated 24 min 37 sec ago
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Program to combat human trafficking concludes in Riyadh

  • The five-day program was delivered to 20 committee members in the field of combating human trafficking

RIYADH: The National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking, chaired by President of the Saudi Human Rights Commission Hala Al-Tuwaijri, recently concluded the second phase of its “Train-the-Trainers” program.

The five-day program was delivered to 20 committee members in the field of combating human trafficking, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Held at the commission’s headquarters in Riyadh, it was organized in collaboration with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime.

It featured the participation of several experts and specialists from relevant government agencies and covered key topics including communication strategies with trainees, the role and responsibilities of the trainer, and speech skills.

It also addressed building trust, time management, and effective leadership.

The program is part of the Kingdom’s ongoing efforts to combat human trafficking and strengthen national capacity in the field.

It aligns with the implementation of the second phase of the memorandum of understanding between the commission and the UN for technical cooperation in combating human trafficking.


Experts discuss importance of geographical names at Jeddah forum

An attendee visits an exhibition at the 10th Forum of the Arab Division of Experts in Geographical Names. (AN photo)
Updated 59 min 36 sec ago
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Experts discuss importance of geographical names at Jeddah forum

  • Conference aims to facilitate unification of place names

JEDDAH: An event to strengthen cooperation and facilitate the exchange of ideas about geographical place names in Arab countries began in Jeddah on Sunday.

Experts from 22 Arab nations and international organizations gathered for the start of the 10th Forum of the Arab Division of Experts in Geographical Names, which is scheduled to run for three days.

The event is being held under the theme “Strengthening Relations and Links Between Arab States in the Field of Geographical Names,” and is hosted under the auspices of Prince Khalid bin Salman, the minister of defense and chairman of the board of directors of the General Authority for Survey and Geospatial Information.

The conference, which was opened by Jeddah Gov. Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Jalawi, aims to facilitate joint Arab action in various fields, including the documentation of geographical names; unifying geographical names in Arabic, avoiding the use of colloquial dialects; and launching new national committees.

Mohammed bin Yahya Al-Sayel, president of the authority, noted that Saudi Arabia placed great importance on the topic of geographical names.

The authority on the opening day signed 10 memorandums of cooperation with a number of entities in the government sector, the academic sector, and the nonprofit sector.

Tim Trainer, a part-time consultant to the UN and former chief geospatial scientist for the US Census Bureau, told Arab News: “The collaboration, from a regional perspective, is very impressive, and it seems there is a positive path to that collaboration.”

Meanwhile, Tariq Aba Al-Khail, the official spokesperson for the Saudi Geological Survey, spoke of the importance of documenting data on mineral sites through the National Geological Information Database.


Saudi Arabia condemns bombing at rail station in Pakistan

Passengers’ belongings are seen scattered on the platform after an explosion at a railway station in Quetta, in Balochistan.
Updated 10 November 2024
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Saudi Arabia condemns bombing at rail station in Pakistan

  • “The Kingdom reiterates its position rejecting all forms of violence and terrorism,” a Foreign Ministry statement said
  • At least 24 people were killed and more than 40 injured in the bomb blast in Quetta, Balochistan province

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Sunday condemned a bomb blast at a railway station in the city of Quetta in southwestern Pakistan that killed 24 people on Saturday.

“The Kingdom reiterates its position rejecting all forms of violence and terrorism,” a Foreign Ministry statement said. 

The ministry extended its condolences to the families of the victims and to the government and people of Pakistan. It also wished the injured a speedy recovery.

At least 24 people were killed and more than 40 injured in the bomb blast in Quetta, Balochistan province. The Baloch Liberation Army, a separatist militant group, claimed responsibility for the attack.


Platform inspires children to learn about Saudi cultural heritage

Platform offers interactive content on historic landmarks, renowned cultural figures and vibrant art forms. (MoC)
Updated 10 November 2024
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Platform inspires children to learn about Saudi cultural heritage

  • Initiative aligns with the ministry’s broader children’s program aimed at nurturing national pride by providing gateway for children to explore their cultural heritage

RIYADH: The Ministry of Culture has launched the Child’s Culture digital platform to spark children’s interest in Saudi Arabia’s rich cultural heritage.

The platform offers interactive content on historic landmarks, renowned cultural figures and vibrant art forms, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.

Young explorers can delve into various sections, such as Cultural Monuments, which showcases iconic heritage sites; Cultural Luminaries, which introduces influential Saudi figures; and Cultural Recommendations, which features weekly updates on cultural experiences.

The Puzzle Game section challenges players to assemble fragments of paintings from different regions to reveal a complete masterpiece.

Catering to auditory learners, the platform offers the “Podcast Tawela,” with content tailored to capture the imagination of young audiences.

The platform also offers a variety of training activities to nurture children’s cultural talents. These include Be Creative with Your Handwriting with Arabic Poetry, which provides handwriting lessons for young Arabic learners; Let’s Discover Culture Together, a coloring book that introduces children to cultural concepts through art; and The Little Writer, which guides children in writing and composition.

The initiative aligns with the ministry’s broader children’s program aimed at nurturing national pride by providing an accessible and engaging gateway for children to explore their cultural heritage.

Through innovative and interactive content, the platform fosters knowledge, skills development, and a deep appreciation of Saudi culture and identity.

The platform is accessible at moc.gov.sa/en/Modules/Pages/Child-Culture.