The works of 17 well-known Pakistani artists, including the calligraphic artist of the Prophet’s Mosque Shafiq Al Zaman, featured in the exhibition “Turathuna” (Our Heritage) at the Ana Ghair Mall. The exhibition was inaugurated by Princess Jawaher bint Majed and Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah, Pakistan's religious affairs minister, on Tuesday.
“I always admire the work and identity of Muslim artists. It’s a pleasure to have Pakistani artists in our home. It’s a great opportunity for me to inaugurate this exhibition of wonderful art and meet the great artists,” said Princess Jawaher.
She said the artists of both countries have many things in common. “It would be a great success if such exhibitions are organized both ways. I would be very glad and happy if such an opportunity is given to Saudi artists to display their works in Pakistan,” she said.
She said efforts should be made to preserve Islamic heritage of the Muslim world, because “we cannot expect to be known abroad if we do not know our own countries.”
Shah hoped the exhibition would help strengthen the relationship between the two countries. Islamic heritage art work is the best medium of dialogue.
“The artwork of Pakistani artists will create a philosophical relationship between us and Saudi Arabia, and we wish the same efforts are undertaken to showcase Saudi artists’ works in Pakistan. This will improve mutual understanding and strengthen cultural and business relations,” said Shah.
Pakistan's Ambassador Naeem Khan said the exhibition displayed the common heritage of both Pakistan and Saudi Arabia as Islamic calligraphy traveled to Pakistan from Saudi Arabia and the Middle East and was well nourished.
“We enjoy a lot of common things in our culture, the work of the very best artists of Arabic calligraphy are displayed here. We also brought Pakistani traditional handmade wooden furniture, jewelry and miniature art to showcase our culture and to promote Pakistani products. I hope this will help in bringing the two countries closer,” said Khan.
He also said that Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, minister for commerce & industry, would visit Pakistan to a attend a joint commission meeting on Sept. 26-27. A meeting of businessmen from both countries was also planned.
Mohammed Salem Ba-Junaid, famous Saudi calligrapher, expressed his wish to take part in a joint venture with Pakistani artists. “Arabic calligraphy is one which can be beautified in different forms through different shades,” said Ba-Junaid.
“This exhibition is displaying vibrant and distinctive features of Islamic art and crafts. It is a continuation of the calligraphic exhibition, which was held in Jeddah last year. Such events will help portray a positive image of Islam to people of all faiths,” said Abdul Salik Khan, Pakistan's consul general. “The purpose behind the exhibition is to build and strengthen Islam’s image among people of all faiths, and promote cultural ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia,” he said.
To introduce calligraphy by Pakistani artists to Arabic and English-speaking audiences, the consulate will publish a book under the title “Alla’ma bil Qalam”. Darussalam will print the book. It will be launched during the first week of October in Makkah, the consul general said.
Khan thanked Princess Jawaher for her continuous support for and sponsorship of the exhibition.
The exhibition is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 1.30 p.m., and again from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Sept. 26-27 at Ana Ghair Mall. The map of the venue and more details about the exhibition are available at www.expoturathuna.com.
Pakistani artists showcase work
Pakistani artists showcase work
Saudi House kicks off Davos with push on Vision 2030, AI platform and ‘humanizing’ tourism
- Saudi ministers dominate pre-summit spotlight at Saudi pavilion, touting Vision 2030’s next phase and human capital as key to global edge
- Ministry of Economy and Planning announced the SUSTAIN Platform which aims to accelerate AI-enabled, cross-sector collaboration for sustainable development
DAVOS: For regulars at the World Economic Forum, Monday in Davos is usually a chance to ease into the week, a time to reconnect, plan meetings and prepare for the intense schedule ahead.
This year, Saudi Arabia moved quickly to fill that lull, taking center stage with a packed program of panels ahead of Tuesday’s official opening.
At the Saudi House — the Kingdom’s official pavilion on the Promenade, returning after its debut as a standalone venue at the 2025 WEF Annual Meeting — Saudi ministers and global executives set out how the Kingdom sees the next phase of its transformation.
Established by the Ministry of Economy and Planning, the venue is pitched as a platform for international thought leaders to tackle the challenges, opportunities and solutions shaping the global economy.
Opening a session on the Kingdom’s role at this year’s Forum and the next phase of Vision 2030 — now in its 10th year and roughly two-thirds complete — Princess Reema bint Bandar, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the US, said human capital “is the actual driver if you want a competitive, modern economy.”
She described one of the biggest achievements of the past decade as the emergence of a highly qualified cohort of young Saudis who could work anywhere in the world but “choose to come home, choose to build at home and choose to deliver at home,” calling this “the biggest symbol of the success of Vision 2030.”
Who can give you optimum access to opportunities while addressing risks? I contend that Saudi Arabia has been able to provide that formula.
Khalid Al-Falih, Saudi minister of investment
On the same panel, Minister of Finance Mohammed Aljadaan said this success is rooted in a “behavioral change” that has strengthened the Kingdom’s credibility with both international partners and its own citizens.
“Credibility comes from being very pragmatic, making sure that you maintain your fiscal policy discipline, but at the same time refocus your resources where it matters,” he said, warning that “markets will call your bluff if you’re not serious.”
The Saudi House, a cross-ministerial initiative led by the Ministry of Economy and Planning, is intended to underscore the Kingdom’s “commitment to global cooperation” by offering “a platform where visionary ideas are shared and shaped,” while showcasing opportunities and lessons from its “unprecedented national transformation.”
Echoing earlier comments to Arab News, Economy and Planning Minister Faisal Alibrahim said the Kingdom’s role as an anchor of stability has helped unlock its potential, stressing that while the objective is to decouple from reliance on a single commodity, “2030 is not the finishing line.”
Khalid Al-Falih, Saudi minister of investment, said Saudi Arabia has been able to enable access to opportunities while addressing major risks, arguing that few countries can match the Kingdom’s overall mix.
“No country has all of those to 100 percent,” he said. “But who can give you the mix that gives you optimum access to opportunities while addressing all of those risks?
“I contend that Saudi Arabia has been able to provide that formula and the proof is in the pudding,” noting that local investment has doubled in recent years to reach levels comparable with India and China.
While societal transformation dominated the morning discussions, the afternoon turned to technology, tourism, sport and culture, four strategic sectors expected to spearhead Vision 2030’s next phase.
The Ministry of Economy and Planning used the day to announce the SUSTAIN Platform, due to launch in 2026, which aims to accelerate AI-enabled, cross-sector collaboration for sustainable development.
The ministry said SUSTAIN will translate the Kingdom’s public and private-sector coordination mandate into a practical national tool to help government entities, businesses, investors, academia and civil society identify credible partners, form trusted coalitions and move initiatives “from planning to implementation more efficiently,” addressing a global challenge where fragmented partnerships often slow delivery and blunt impact.
“We are in a moment in time where technology may well impact the face of humanity,” said Dina Powell McCormick, recently appointed president and vice chairman of Meta, welcoming the Kingdom’s “desire” to partner with technology companies and its embrace of innovation.
Minister of Tourism Ahmed Alkhateeb, discussing how technology is being deployed in his sector, underlined that “in travel and tourism, people are very important. We learn about other people’s culture through interacting with people. We digitalize the unnecessary and humanize the necessary.”
He added that while technological transformation is a priority, “we don’t want to replace this big workforce with technology. I think we need to protect them in Saudi Arabia, where we’re being a model. I’m an advocate of keeping the people.”
Throughout the week, Saudi House will host more than 20 sessions, including over 10 accredited by the WEF, across six themes: Bold Vision, Insights for Impact, People and Human Capability, Quality of Life, Investment and Collaboration, and Welcoming the World.
The pavilion will also launch “NextOn,” a new series of influential and educational talks featuring leading global voices.
