RIYADH: Saudi Arabia hosted a cultural evening in Kuala Lumpur, bringing together Malaysian and Saudi diplomats, officials, academics, and cultural figures, highlighting strong ties between the two countries and the Kingdom’s rich cultural heritage.
The “Saudi Night” event was recently held on the sidelines of Saudi Arabia’s participation as guest of honor at the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair.
Attendees included Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission CEO Abdulatif Al-Wasel, Saudi Ambassador to Malaysia Osama Al-Ahmadi, Malaysian Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek, as well as ambassadors, diplomats, university leaders, intellectuals, and media representatives.
Speaking at the event, Al-Wasel said the Kingdom’s role as guest of honor reflects the growing international presence of Saudi culture and its commitment to cultural exchange worldwide.
He noted that Saudi-Malaysian relations are built on longstanding friendship and cooperation, and expressed appreciation to Culture Minister Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan for supporting the Kingdom’s cultural initiatives.
Al-Ahmadi said the event is part of broader efforts to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s cultural presence internationally and introduce global audiences to the Kingdom’s traditions, including music, literature, fashion, and heritage arts.
He added that such initiatives deepen cultural understanding between nations and showcase Saudi Arabia’s cultural transformation under Vision 2030.
Guests were treated to performances of traditional Saudi folk arts, including Al-Khatwah, Samri, and Khubaiti, along with a selection of dishes representing the Kingdom’s diverse regional cuisines.
The evening offered visitors a chance to experience the richness of Saudi cultural heritage, reflecting the Kingdom’s efforts to promote intercultural dialogue through arts, literature, and culinary traditions.
The event was part of a wider cultural program organized by the Saudi commission during the book fair, featuring seminars, panel discussions, and artistic performances through June 7.
The Saudi pavilion is witnessing strong attendance from visitors, officials, cultural figures, and media professionals, with wide interest in its cultural content highlighting the diversity of the Saudi cultural scene.
Accompanying events have also drawn notable attendance, particularly cultural seminars featuring Saudi specialists discussing literature, translation, cultural exchange, and Saudi-Malaysian relations, alongside interactive corners introducing visitors to Saudi arts and heritage.
A cultural symposium exploring myth in Arabic and Malaysian literature and its intersections with symbol and identity was held as part of the program organized by the commission.
The symposium was presented by writer and novelist Abdullah Al-Hawas and moderated by journalist Ahmed Al-Alkami, drawing attendance from several intellectuals and literature enthusiasts.
During the session, Al-Hawas discussed the concept of myth and its role in shaping the cultural memory of societies, noting its continued presence in modern and contemporary literature as a means of expressing identity and reflecting human transformation.
He also highlighted myth in Arabic literature, citing Scheherazade and Sinbad as prominent narrative symbols associated with imagination, travel, and the pursuit of knowledge.
Al-Hawas noted that Arabic literature has drawn many of its myths from desert landscapes, the sea, and inherited human stories.
