New platform launched to connect global talent in Riyadh

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Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, governor of Riyadh region, inaugurated the 3-day conference on Nov. 24, 2024. (SPA)
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Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, governor of Riyadh region, inaugurated the 3-day conference on Nov. 24, 2024. (SPA)
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Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, governor of Riyadh region, inaugurated the 3-day conference on Nov. 24, 2024. (SPA)
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Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, governor of Riyadh region, inaugurated the 3-day conference on Nov. 24, 2024. (SPA)
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Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, governor of Riyadh region, inaugurated the 3-day conference on Nov. 24, 2024. (SPA)
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Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, governor of Riyadh region, inaugurated the 3-day conference on Nov. 24, 2024. (SPA)
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Updated 25 November 2024
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New platform launched to connect global talent in Riyadh

  • More than 300 experts, innovators gather in Riyadh to explore creative solutions

RIYADH: Riyadh Gov. Prince Faisal bin Bandar has launched Mawhiba Meta Minds, an online platform connecting gifted individuals globally to foster innovation and creativity.

The launch took place at the third Global Conference for Giftedness and Creativity, which has been organized by the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity, known as Mawhiba.




Khaled Al-Sharif, secretary-general of Mawhiba. (Supplied)

Themed “Beyond Creative Minds,” the three-day event is being held at the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center in Riyadh until Tuesday.

The conference aims to showcase the potential of gifted individuals; develop a support system for their care; strengthen strategic partnerships; and enhance global exchange and collaboration.

HIGHLIGHT

Khaled Al-Sharif, secretary-general of Mawhiba, said that registration for the platform was open to scientists and gifted individuals worldwide in all scientific and creative fields.

The event brings together more than 300 gifted participants, experts, and speakers in science, technology, and innovation from more than 50 countries.

The conference features six dialogue sessions, eight workshops, and the Creative Creathon, with four tracks and keynote speakers. These activities help participants explore innovative solutions to contemporary challenges.

An exhibition and cultural visits are also taking place on the sidelines of the conference. Mawhiba has also signed several agreements with local universities and institutions during the event.

Khaled Al-Sharif, secretary-general of Mawhiba, said that the conference served as a global platform for talented youth to collaborate and exchange ideas in order to build a prosperous future.

He added that the conference highlighted Saudi Arabia’s leadership in nurturing gifted talents and shaping future aspirations.

Al-Sharif told Arab News that the platform would allow countries, organizations, and companies to request support as it aimed to deliver innovative solutions from the talented individuals connected through it.

He added: “The platform unites global talents to develop creative solutions for challenges presented by any country or organization seeking assistance.”

Al-Sharif said that registration for the platform was open to scientists and gifted individuals worldwide in all scientific and creative fields.

The event’s launch was attended by Prince Miteb bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, chairman of the King Abdullah Humanitarian Foundation; Minister of Education Yousef Al-Benyan; and Suleiman Al-Zaben, Mawhiba chairman.

Prince Faisal also honored the Quality of Life Program, a key component of Saudi Vision 2030, recognizing it as a knowledge partner of the event.

The Quality of Life Program’s CEO Khalid Al-Baker spoke of the conference’s significance in supporting talent, fostering innovation to tackle future challenges, and recognizing creativity’s role in achieving Saudi Vision 2030.

 


Fragrance artisans weave heritage into Jazan Festival experience

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Fragrance artisans weave heritage into Jazan Festival experience

Riyadh: Perfumes are emerging as living connections to ancestral memory at the Jazan Festival 2026, which opened on Friday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

A narrative rooted in botanical origins is unfolding as veteran craftswomen showcase decades of accumulated wisdom, transforming the contents of native plants into small vessels that distill the human bond with terrain.

Aromas wafting through the space suggest imagery of regional ecosystems — fragrant vegetation cultivated across highland and lowland zones, harvested during optimal periods, then subjected to extended drying and distillation processes before materializing as perfumes and essences embodying geographical character, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Arranged fragrance containers resemble nature’s output, composed by skilled practitioners versed in harvest timing, plant dormancy requirements and scent extraction methods, yielding products preserving organic integrity and territorial identity.

Craftswoman Fatima bint Mohammed Al-Faifi has dedicated two decades to perfume production, characterizing regional practice as social custom interwoven throughout daily existence — deployed in guest reception, featured at celebrations, accompanying community gathering — elevating scent to cultural signature, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Festival attendees are discovering aromatic botanicals, absorbing production methodology explanations and discerning nuanced olfactory distinctions, demonstrating how craftsmanship blends persistence with expertise, tradition with innovation.

Perfume artisan involvement aligns with Jazan Festival’s initiative repositioning traditional crafts as dynamic, evolving culture while spotlighting women’s contributions safeguarding regional inheritance and expressing this through modern methods, the Saudi Press Agency reported.