Iran foreign minister to meet Saudi counterpart in near future

Iran foreign minister to meet Saudi counterpart in near future
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian during a press conference in Ankara, on June 27, 2022. (AFP)
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Updated 20 March 2023

Iran foreign minister to meet Saudi counterpart in near future

Iran foreign minister to meet Saudi counterpart in near future
  • Iran also announced its readiness to reopen the two embassies
  • Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed on March 10 to re-establish relations

RIYADH: Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said on Sunday he will meet his Saudi Arabian counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan “in the near future”, adding that three locations have been proposed for the meeting.

Amirabdollahian made it clear that based on the latest messages exchanged with Saudi Arabia, Iran also announced its readiness to reopen the two embassies. 

“We agreed with Saudi Arabia on visits by technical delegations for both embassies in preparation for their opening,” he added.  

Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed on March 10 to re-establish relations and re-open embassies within two months after years of hostility, following talks in China.

On Yemen, the Iranian minister said that the situation in Yemen is an internal matter, but added that “we are working to stabilize the region in cooperation with Saudi Arabia.” 

“We will not accept any threat to our security from neighboring countries,” he said.

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Two holy mosques ready to receive millions of Ramadan visitors

The Grand Mosque in Makkah is ready to host millions of worshipers and visitors during Ramadan. (@ReasahAlharmain)
The Grand Mosque in Makkah is ready to host millions of worshipers and visitors during Ramadan. (@ReasahAlharmain)
Updated 18 sec ago

Two holy mosques ready to receive millions of Ramadan visitors

The Grand Mosque in Makkah is ready to host millions of worshipers and visitors during Ramadan. (@ReasahAlharmain)
  • Muslims will increase their visits to the two holy mosques during Ramadan
  • Presidency said it strives to provide the best services so that worshipers can carry out rites with ease and comfort

RIYADH: The Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah are ready to host millions of worshipers and visitors during Ramadan, the head of the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques said on Monday.

Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Sudais said that all stairs, elevators, sound systems, guidance services, and technical services have been prepared to receive the influx of visitors that the two mosques will see during the holy month.

Muslims from all over the world and within the Kingdom will visit the two holy mosques, especially during the last ten days of Ramadan, to pray taraweeh, perform Umrah, and pay their respects to the Prophet.

The presidency said it strives to provide the best services and coordinate with the relevant authorities so that pilgrims and worshipers can carry out their religious rites with ease and comfort.


Entertainment events in Saudi Arabia since 2019 have attracted a total audience of 120m

Entertainment events in Saudi Arabia since 2019 have attracted a total audience of 120m
Updated 27 min 26 sec ago

Entertainment events in Saudi Arabia since 2019 have attracted a total audience of 120m

Entertainment events in Saudi Arabia since 2019 have attracted a total audience of 120m
  • The entertainment authority also held over 50 exhibitions in various fields, including animation, games, cars and jewelry

RIYADH: The entertainment events held by the General Entertainment Authority have attracted a total audience of 120 million since 2019 and until the first quarter of 2023, according to GEA Chairman Turki Al-AlSheikh.

The record number is a result of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s support for this vital and promising sector, Al-AlSheikh added.

He revealed that the authority has issued 11,136 licenses for various entertainment activities since the launch of the new licensing system in 2019.

In addition, 470 entertainment destinations have been licensed in over 42 cities and governorates in the Kingdom, while 1,402 restaurants have been licensed in 50 cities and governorates, Al-AlSheikh added.

The number of activities during this period was estimated at 8,732.

The most prominent events included the Saudi Seasons, Joy Awards, Super Classico Championship, Maradona Cup, Riyadh Season Cup, WWE shows, Oud Festival, Arabian horse beauty contests, and chess and baloot tournaments.

The entertainment authority also held over 50 exhibitions in various fields, including animation, games, cars and jewelry.

The Merwas art and entertainment factory was also established for music recording, podcasting and cinematography, and includes 22 studios in one building. It was certified by Guinness World Records as the largest music production studio in the world.

The authority has obtained several Guinness World Records certificates, which have contributed to the creation of a large number of jobs, Al-AlSheikh added.


Saudi ministry introduces 3 new fonts to celebrate Kingdom’s culture

Saudi ministry introduces 3 new fonts to celebrate Kingdom’s culture
Updated 32 min 25 sec ago

Saudi ministry introduces 3 new fonts to celebrate Kingdom’s culture

Saudi ministry introduces 3 new fonts to celebrate Kingdom’s culture
  • The fonts, celebrating the Kingdom’s culture, will be available free of charge

RIYADH: The Ministry of Culture on Monday launched an initiative creating three new Saudi fonts.

The fonts, celebrating the Kingdom’s culture, will be available free of charge to individuals and organizations wishing to use them in design, artistic, and creative works, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The Masmak font has been named after the historic Masmak Fortress, characterized by its durability and strong structure. The font has been described as clear and easy to read and was developed without reference to traditional calligraphy methods, the SPA said.

The second new font, Al-Naseeb, resembles handwritten notes, and has been recommended for use in headlines, texts, literary works, poetry, and children’s stories.

Watad, the third font, was inspired by the tent peg with its letters having curved corners. Its suggested use was for text relating to festivals and sporting events.

The Ministry of Culture launched the initiative in celebration of the Arabic language. In a statement, it said: “It is introducing a unique touch that gives a Saudi identity to Arabic fonts and celebrates Saudi heritage and cultural symbols.”

The fonts can be downloaded at https://engage.moc.gov.sa/fonts.


French-speaking Saudis host cultural night in Jeddah

French-speaking Saudis host cultural night in Jeddah
Updated 58 min 52 sec ago

French-speaking Saudis host cultural night in Jeddah

French-speaking Saudis host cultural night in Jeddah

JEDDAH: French-speaking Saudis recently hosted a cultural event for the Francophone community for the first time in Jeddah, at the Quorana campsite.

The French Club of Jeddah hosted the first Saudi Francophone Night to showcase Saudi culture as part of the Francophonie Festival held in March each year.

The honorary guest, French Ambassador to the Kingdom Ludovic Pouille, said: “I am pleased to participate in this Francophone evening organized by the French Club of Jeddah at this new tourist site of Quorana on the occasion of the Francophonie Festival of this year.

“More than 88 countries have joined this community, as there are 321 million French speakers and 51 million people learning French.”

Visitors of various nationalities attended the event, designed by Fahd Al-Safah with recreational facilities that included tents and models of traditional buildings from different regions, such as the Hijazi House, the Southern Stone Fort, the Jizaniya Nest, the Najrani House, the Hail House, and the Heritage Well of Al-Mahala.

“We aimed to offer an immersive experience for visitors by presenting our culture and heritage in an entertaining way,” says Layan Damanhouri, a Saudi graduate of Sciences Po Paris where she studied political science.

While presenting a segment on the empowerment of Saudi women under Vision 2030, she said: “We chose to include a theme on women’s empowerment within the program to showcase the developments and milestones over the years, as well as to highlight important female figures in different fields who have achieved major successes.”

Sumaya Jokhdar, a graduate of English literature from King Abdulaziz University, said: “It was a wonderful experience thus far and an opportunity to present our traditional dress of the Hejaz region to visitors.”

Activities included camel riding in the desert, a visit to a national heritage museum displaying traditional dress, cultural items and materials, in addition to a French poetry recital translated into Arabic.

Ibrahim Al-Ghamdi joined the group after completing his law degree at Bordeaux University last year. He said: “We are here to celebrate Saudi tradition and values, including generosity, hospitality and maintaining strong family ties.”

Saudi pastry chefs Afrah and Mohammed Mashat, graduates of Le Cordon Bleu, the renowned culinary institute in Paris, participated in the event by presenting French sweets with a Saudi taste, such as macarons flavored with Saudi coffee.

A photo exhibition was also offered by photographer and decorator Fahd Al-Safah highlighting the diversity of the Kingdom’s regions.

The Francophonie Festival is held every March to promote the French language and cultural and linguistic diversity.


Saudi Arabia ranks second for world’s happiest people: Ipsos global survey 

Saudi Arabia ranks second for world’s happiest people: Ipsos global survey 
Updated 20 March 2023

Saudi Arabia ranks second for world’s happiest people: Ipsos global survey 

Saudi Arabia ranks second for world’s happiest people: Ipsos global survey 
  • Of all the countries surveyed, Saudi Arabia came second for residents with the highest proportions of happiness 

Saudi Arabians are the second happiest group of citizens in the world according to a new survey.
The results of the new Ipsos global survey showed that 86 percent of residents in Saudi Arabia say they are “very or rather happy.”  
This put Saudi Arabia second out the 32 countries that were polled.  
China came in first with 91 percent, and the Netherlands third with a 85 percent, followed closely by India at 84 percent, and Brazil 83 percent.  

Meanwhile respondents from Hungary, South Korea and Poland reported the lowest, ranging from 50 to 60 percent.

The US hovered around the middle of the pack, with 76 percent.

The survey found that on average, nearly three in four adults described themselves as “happy.”  
With 73 percent of people on average saying they “happy,” the survey shows that global happiness has gone up by six points since last year.  
Globally, people say they are most satisfied with their relationships with their friends and family.