Islamic Development Bank President Ahmed Muhammad Ali has signed a number of loan agreements worth more than $388 million with Egyptian officials.
IDB will give $250 million to finance a 1,950-megawatt electricity station in the country’s south, an official statement said.
The new power plant will eventually be linked to Egypt’s national electricity grid with additional stations to be constructed soon.
The ministry received an initial $200 million loan for the project from the IDB last summer.
IDB will give $50 million to support small and medium enterprises in the country and $32.3 million to finance a national agricultural development program.
The bank signed a $31 million deal to finance a medical college hospital at Al-Azhar University and a $25 million loan deal to support a youth training program.
Since its inception, IDB has given more than $8 billion to finance 66 projects in the country and $3.5 billion to finance trade.
$388m IDB loans to boost Egypt economy
$388m IDB loans to boost Egypt economy
‘Masterpieces of Saudi Orchestra’ shine at Maraya in AlUla
- The concert on its opening night presented a seamless artistic journey, where orchestral works met Saudi musical identity
- It underlined the Music Commission’s aim to present Saudi artistry at a high professional level
RIYADH: The “Masterpieces of Saudi Orchestra” concert opened at Maraya Concert Hall in AlUla on Thursday under the patronage of the Kingdom’s Minister of Culture and Chairman of the board of the Music Commission Prince Bader bin Abdullah.
Organized by the Music Commission, the concert on its opening night presented a seamless artistic journey, where orchestral works met Saudi musical identity.
The Saudi National Orchestra and Choir, conducted by Maestro Hani Farhat, led audiences through carefully curated pieces reflecting heritage and modern creativity.
The repertoire combined traditional influences with orchestral scoring, offering listeners heritage-based compositions alongside recent arrangements.
Regional rhythms and layered musical textures were used to echo the Kingdom’s history, while pieces rooted in Saudi classical music tradition connected audiences with familiar cultural references in a fresh format.
The concert underlined the Music Commission’s aim to present Saudi artistry at a high professional level.
The series seeks to honor national heritage while encouraging contemporary artistic engagement, and its growing local and international presence was highlighted throughout the evening.
The program also featured a visual dimension led by the Theater and Performing Arts Commission, which staged live performances of Saudi folk arts.
Audiences saw presentations of Samri, Dahha, Rafeihi, Yanbawi, Zair and Khabeeti, synchronized with the orchestra to create one integrated artistic experience.
These folk elements were arranged to complement the orchestral sound, reinforcing the richness and variety of Saudi cultural identity. The combination of music and movement aimed to show how traditional forms can engage with large-scale concert settings while retaining their historical character and community roots.
This performance is an extension of the series of successes achieved by the Saudi Orchestra’s masterpieces both locally and internationally, and reaffirms the Music Commission’s commitment to showcasing Saudi music in its finest form.
