Makkah festival boosts culture, local economy

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The festival features more than 25 diverse events and programs for residents, visitors, and Umrah performers. (SPA)
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The festival features more than 25 diverse events and programs for residents, visitors, and Umrah performers. (SPA)
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The festival features more than 25 diverse events and programs for residents, visitors, and Umrah performers. (SPA)
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The festival features more than 25 diverse events and programs for residents, visitors, and Umrah performers. (SPA)
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Updated 09 February 2026
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Makkah festival boosts culture, local economy

  • Culture is central to the festival, with activated sites, exhibitions, and knowledge landmarks highlighting Makkah’s historical and civilizational depth

MAKKAH: The Makkah Winter Festival is leveraging seasonal events to enhance quality of life, energize the urban scene, and support local economic growth through integrated cultural, entertainment, and social programs.

Running for four months, from mid-December 2025 to the end of April 2026, the festival reflects a shift toward sustainable events, delivering lasting social and economic benefits beyond short-term seasons.

The festival features more than 25 diverse events and programs for residents, visitors, and Umrah pilgrims, with expected attendance exceeding 800,000, reflecting growing demand for high-quality, family- and community-oriented activities.

Culture is central to the festival, with activated sites, exhibitions, and knowledge landmarks highlighting Makkah’s historical and civilizational depth.

It connects visitors to the city’s cultural identity through interactive, informative content that raises awareness of its history and human value, presented in a modern style suited to all age groups.

The festival is expected to boost the local economy by supporting commercial activity and increasing footfall at markets, restaurants, and accommodation facilities.

It also empowers productive families and entrepreneurs through sales platforms and direct marketing opportunities, strengthening the contribution of events to the city’s gross domestic product.

 

 


Saudi Arabia’s KAUST named FIFA’s first research institute in MENA

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Saudi Arabia’s KAUST named FIFA’s first research institute in MENA

  • The recognition highlights KAUST’s commitment to integrating sports, academic research and industry through advanced, high-level initiatives grounded in rigorous scientific methodologies, contributing to the advancement of football studies

RIYADH: FIFA has designated the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology as its first research institute in the Middle East and Asia to support the development of innovative football research, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

The recognition highlights KAUST’s commitment to integrating sports, academic research and industry through advanced, high-level initiatives grounded in rigorous scientific methodologies, contributing to the advancement of football studies.

KAUST President Prof. Sir Edward Byrne said that the university’s selection as the fifth FIFA Research Institute in the world — and the first in the region — marks a significant achievement, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s growing presence in international football.

The accreditation aligns with national efforts to invest in research and development and promote the knowledge economy, supporting Saudi Vision 2030’s goals of building an advanced sports system based on innovation and sustainability.

The collaboration’s first project focuses on developing advanced AI algorithms to analyze historical FIFA World Cup broadcast footage, transforming decades of match videos into structured, searchable data, according to the KAUST website.

This work opens new opportunities to apply state-of-the-art computer vision techniques and deepen understanding of how football has evolved over time.

The second project uses player and ball tracking data from the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar and the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 in Australia and New Zealand to compile comprehensive datasets capturing in-game dynamics.

These datasets provide deeper insights into human movement, playing techniques and performance dynamics through AI-driven analysis.