What We Are Watching Today: ‘New Saudi Voices’ on Netflix

What We Are Watching Today: ‘New Saudi Voices’ on Netflix
Overall, “New Saudi Voices” is an ambitious and effective project that brings an array of diverse storytellers together to depict various facets of Saudi life. (Supplied)
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Updated 22 March 2023

What We Are Watching Today: ‘New Saudi Voices’ on Netflix

What We Are Watching Today: ‘New Saudi Voices’ on Netflix
  • The flicks were first showcased by emerging Saudi filmmakers at the Red Sea Film Festival in 2021

RIYADH: “New Saudi Voices,” a collection of 11 short films, was released by Netflix in 2022. Each story has its own flare and characters on unique journeys.

The flicks were first showcased by emerging Saudi filmmakers at the Red Sea Film Festival in 2021 under the New Saudi/New Cinema Shorts program.

All short movies stayed true to their genre including horror, science fiction, and comedy. The videography shots in the non-animated episodes reflected the mood of the story through light or dark hues.

However, some films fell short and had gaps in the storytelling process, leaving the viewer feeling underwhelmed or surprised by the turn of events. Many others delivered thought-provoking messages.

Khalid Fahad’s “Little Bird” had won the American Film Award and the Best Short Film Award at the Saudi Film Festival.

In the story, a boy named Malik has a difficult life and the film captures his loneliness, sadness, and frustration, with a tragic revelation at the end.

While the idea behind the movie is explained through a statement at the end, the initial viewing alone does not capture it fully and is somewhat shrouded in ambiguity. What makes the project bold is its foray into a topic that is seldom covered by films in the region.

“The Day I Lost Myself” by director Rami Alzayer highlights the daily struggles of people suffering from anxiety disorder. In the film, Salem is on his way to a job interview and gets stuck in an elevator with a stranger where they dive into a conversation about his condition.

The film contributes to an important conversation about mental health and brings awareness and understanding on the topic through the character’s personal journey.

Overall, “New Saudi Voices” is an ambitious and effective project that brings an array of diverse storytellers together to depict various facets of Saudi life.


Princess Rajwa Al-Saif stuns in Elie Saab as Queen Rania wears Dior at Jordan’s Royal wedding

Princess Rajwa Al-Saif stuns in Elie Saab as Queen Rania wears Dior at Jordan’s Royal wedding
Updated 28 min 39 sec ago

Princess Rajwa Al-Saif stuns in Elie Saab as Queen Rania wears Dior at Jordan’s Royal wedding

Princess Rajwa Al-Saif stuns in Elie Saab as Queen Rania wears Dior at Jordan’s Royal wedding

DUBAI: Saudi Arabia's Rajwa Al-Saif tied the knot with Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II of Jordan on June 1 in Amman in a highly-publicized event.

The glowing bride arrived at Zahran Palace and was walked down the aisle by the crown prince's younger brother, Prince Hashem.

Rajwa Al-Saif wore a classic white gown from celebrity-loved Lebanese coutourier Elie Saab. (Reuters)

For her bridal look, the future queen of Jordan wore a classic white gown from celebrity-loved Lebanese coutourier Elie Saab. 

The full-sleeved modest gown featured a dramatic veil that trailed for several meters behind her and stood out for its focus-pulling draped necline.

Al-Saif accessorized the look with a stunning tiara and matching diamond earrings, along with white strappy shoes, as she held a bouquet with white flowers. For his part, the crown prince donned a suit that draws inspiration from the design worn by King Abdullah II on his wedding day in 1993. The suit's sleeves paid homage to the style favored by both King Abdullah II and King Abdullah I.

Jordan’s ever fashionable Queen Rania wore a gown by French label Dior. (Reuters)

Jordan’s ever fashionable Queen Rania wore a gown by French label Dior. The embroidered gown hails from the luxury label’s Fall 2022 couture collection.

Kate, Princess of Wales, and William, Prince of Wales, were among the high-profile royal guests at the ceremony. 

Kate, Princess of Wales, and William, Prince of Wales, were among the high-profile royal guests at the ceremony. (RHCJO)

For the highly-anticipated occassion, Kate represented the Arab world in an elegant Elie Saab gown from the brand's Fall/Winter 2017 coutoure collection. 

The pastel piece featured a high neck, full bell-shaped sleeves as well as embroidery and lace detailing.

She accessorized the look with a metallic clutch.

Prince WIlliam wore a classic navy suit, paired with a white shirt and a blue tie.

Al-Saif stayed true to her Saudi roots at her May 22 henna night by wearing a custom-made gown by Saudi celebrity-loved designer Honayda Serafi.  

The designer took inspiration from the Al-Shaby thobe of the Najd region in Saudi Arabia, where Al-Saif’s family is from.  

“The brief was that she wanted to wear something very modest and something from Saudi Arabian culture, but with a modern twist. She wanted the piece to be very elegant, and she also wanted it to be white,” Serafi previously told Arab News.  

Apart from the references to Al-Saif’s Saudi heritage, the dress also featured nods to Jordanian culture. 

Serafi included the seven-pointed white star that is present on the Jordanian national flag, which symbolized the seven verses of Surat Al-Fatiha in the Qur’an. 

Other details in the dress included Saudi Arabia’s palm trees, which symbolize life and vitality, as well as a verse by famous Tunisian poet Aboul Qacem Echebbi, which translates to, “When my eyes see you, life becomes right,” etched into the dress in Arabic lettering. 

“My intention behind designing this dress was to document the eternal love and the history of the royal wedding. And, of course, I have used traditional threads and it is all hand embroidered,” said Serafi. 

“This is a big moment for the brand to be part of such a historical (event). It is such an honor and I feel that I’m very, very proud to represent Saudi designers, as well as to communicate to the new generation how to not only honor Saudi Arabia’s historical identity and heritage, but to express it in a modern way,” she added.   


European languages event in Riyadh is talk of town

European languages event in Riyadh is talk of town
Updated 9 sec ago

European languages event in Riyadh is talk of town

European languages event in Riyadh is talk of town
  • Second edition of the European Night of Languages was held recently at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Riyadh
  • Among the participants testing out their language skills were ambassadors, members of the diplomatic community, and professional language teachers

RIYADH: An evening’s celebration of languages was the talk of the town at an event hosted by the EU delegation to Saudi Arabia.

The second edition of the European Night of Languages was held recently at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Riyadh in recognition of Europe’s linguistic and cultural heritage.

The event was organized in partnership with the Riyadh language exchange, a Saudi non-profit group, the Alliance Francaise, Goethe Institute, Education First, SEK International School, and the embassies of the EU member states in the Kingdom.

Among the participants testing out their language skills were ambassadors, members of the diplomatic community, and professional language teachers.

Patrick Simonnet, the EU envoy to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Oman, said: “Languages are the most important thing when you want to reach other cultures, and showing interest in other languages is what the event is about.

“The event is not so much about learning other languages because learning another language in one evening is impossible, but it is more about interacting with cultures of different European countries. So, it is really about the exchange of cultures and bridging the gaps between our respective cultures.”

Visitors attending the event were invited to select the national flags of their spoken languages and those they wished to learn before mixing with other attendees.

Among the languages being spoken were French, Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese, Danish, Greek, Romanian, Finnish, and Dutch. Games and quizzes, an oud recital, a performance by Portuguese band Almanata, and a European culinary experience followed the event.

Mohammed Matham, co-founder of the Riyadh language exchange group, said: “We are excited to contribute to strengthening people-to-people relationships between Saudi Arabia and the European Union through the power of language learning.”

Marguerite Bickel, director general of the Alliance Francaise, said: “My goal in teaching French here is to promote the French language to support Vision 2030, especially in tourism, as there are a lot of French tourists that are very eager to discover Saudi Arabia.”

Jason Caranicas, deputy head of mission and head of the consular section at the Greek Embassy, said: “There is certainly an increase in the number of Saudis applying for a Greek visa now, and this year for the first time, there are so many direct flights from the Kingdom to several major cities in Greece, including Mykonos and Athens.”

The event was staged as part of European Diversity Month to promote the importance of languages as a bridge-builder between cultures.


Childhood photos of Rajwa Al-Saif revealed ahead of her wedding to the Jordanian Crown Prince

Childhood photos of Rajwa Al-Saif revealed ahead of her wedding to the Jordanian Crown Prince
Updated 01 June 2023

Childhood photos of Rajwa Al-Saif revealed ahead of her wedding to the Jordanian Crown Prince

Childhood photos of Rajwa Al-Saif revealed ahead of her wedding to the Jordanian Crown Prince

DUBAI: As Saudi citizen Rajwa Al-Saif gets ready to tie the knot with Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II, new photos from the bride’s childhood were revealed as part of the official live stream of the much-anticipated event taking place in Amman today.

While one photo shows a young and beaming Al-Saif on horseback, another features her father Khalid bin Musaed bin Saif bin Abdulaziz Al-Saif.

Rajwa Al-Saif with her father Khalid bin Musaed bin Saif bin Abdulaziz Al-Saif. (Supplied)

Among the photos is also one of Al-Saif at her graduation ceremony at the Syracuse University in New York.

After the wedding, Al-Saif will be known as Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess of Jordan and, when the crown prince takes the throne, she will be Queen Rajwa. 

Among the photos is also one of Al-Saif at her graduation ceremony at the Syracuse University in New York. (Instagram)

The religious ceremony will be held at Zahran Palace, where the crown prince’s parents — King Abdullah II and Queen Rania — wed in 1993. The ceremony will be attended by around 140 guests, including members of the Royal Hashemite family, invited royals and heads of state.

Guests include the Prince and Princess of Wales William and Kate Middleton, senior royals from Europe and Asia, as well as US First Lady Jill Biden.


Jordan’s royal wedding day gets underway with surprise arrival of Britain’s William and Kate

Jordan’s royal wedding day gets underway with surprise arrival of Britain’s William and Kate
Updated 01 June 2023

Jordan’s royal wedding day gets underway with surprise arrival of Britain’s William and Kate

Jordan’s royal wedding day gets underway with surprise arrival of Britain’s William and Kate

AMMAN, Jordan: Jordan’s highly anticipated royal wedding day got underway on Thursday with the surprise announcement that Britain’s Prince William and his wife Kate had arrived to witness the nuptials of Crown Prince Hussein and his Saudi Arabian bride.

The attendance of the British royals had been kept under wraps, and was only confirmed by Jordanian state media a few hours before the start of the palace ceremony.

The wedding of Jordan’s 28-year-old heir to the throne and Rajwa Al-Saif, a 29-year-old architect linked to her own country’s monarch, emphasizes continuity in an Arab state prized for its longstanding stability. The festivities, which are to start Thursday afternoon, also introduce Hussein to a wider global audience.

On Thursday morning, Saudi wedding guests and tourists — the men wearing white dishdasha robes and the women in brightly colored abayas — filtered through the sleek marbled lobby of the Four Seasons Hotel in Amman. Noura Al Sudairi, an aunt of the bride, was wearing sweatpants and sneakers on her way to breakfast.

“We are all so excited, so happy about this union,” she said. “Of course it’s a beautiful thing for our families, and for the relationship between Jordan and Saudi Arabia.”

Excitement over the nuptials — Jordan’s biggest royal event in years — has been building in the capital of Amman, where congratulatory banners of Hussein and his beaming bride adorn buses and hang over winding hillside streets. Shops had competing displays of royal regalia. Royal watchers speculated about which dress designer Al-Saif would select— still an official secret,

Nancy Tirana, a 28-year-old law intern, said she spent the last week scrutinizing Al-Saif's every move and stitch of clothing.

“She’s just so beautiful, so elegant, and it’s clear from her body language how much she loves the queen,” she said, referring to Hussein’s glamorous mother, Rania. “I feel like all of Jordan is getting married,” Tirana gushed as she ate mansaf, Jordan’s national dish of milky mutton and rice, before heading to a wedding-themed concert.

Jordan’s 11 million citizens have watched the young crown prince rise in prominence in recent years, as he increasingly joined his father, King Abdullah II, in public appearances. Hussein has graduated from Georgetown University, joined the military and gained some global recognition speaking at the UN General Assembly. His wedding, experts say, marks his next crucial rite of passage.

“It’s not just a marriage, it’s the presentation of the future king of Jordan,” said political analyst Amer Sabaileh. “The issue of the crown prince has been closed.”

Palace officials have turned the event — a week after Jordan’s 77th birthday — into something of a PR campaign. Combining tradition and modernity, the royal family introduced a wedding hashtag (#Celebrating Al Hussein) and omnipresent logo that fuses the couple’s initials into the Arabic words “We rejoice”

Photos and reels from Al-Saif's henna party — a traditional pre-wedding celebration featuring the bride and her female friends and relatives — and the couple’s engagement ceremony in Saudi Arabia last summer have splashed across state-linked media.

The kingdom declared Thursday a public holiday so crowds of people could gather after the wedding service to wave at the couple’s motorcade of red Land Rover jeeps — a nod to the traditional procession of horse riders clad in red coats during the reign of the country’s founder, King Abdullah I. Tens of thousands of well-wishers are expected to flock to free concerts and cultural events. Huge screens have been set up nationwide for crowds to watch the occasion unfold.

The signing of the marriage contract will take place at Zahran Palace in Amman, which hasn’t seen such pomp and circumstance since 1993, when, on a similarly sunny June day, Abdullah married Rania, who was born in Kuwait to Palestinian parents. Decades earlier, Abdullah’s father, the late King Hussein, sealed his vows in the same garden with his second wife, the British citizen Antoinette Gardiner.

In addition to the Prince and Princess of Wales, the guest list includes an array of foreign aristocrats and dignitaries, including senior royals from Europe and Asia, as well as First Lady Jill Biden and US climate envoy John Kerry. Other likely attendees include Saudi aristocrats, as Alseif’s mother traces her roots to the influential wife of Saudi Arabia’s founder, King Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, Her billionaire father owns a major construction firm in the kingdom.

After the ceremony, the wedding party will move to Al Husseiniya Palace, a 30-minute drive away, for a reception, entertainment and a state banquet. The royals are expected to greet more than 1,700 guests at the reception.


Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II weds Saudi national Rajwa Al-Saif at royal wedding

Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II weds Saudi national Rajwa Al-Saif at royal wedding
Updated 35 sec ago

Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II weds Saudi national Rajwa Al-Saif at royal wedding

Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II weds Saudi national Rajwa Al-Saif at royal wedding
  • Guests at the wedding include Britain’s Prince William and Princess Kate, US First Lady Jill Biden, Qatar’s Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, as well as royals from across the Arab world and beyond
  • The bride wore a custom-made Elie Saab gown, while Queen Rania opted for Dior

AMMAN: It is set to be an affair to remember as Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II weds Saudi national Rajwa Al-Saif on Thursday at Zahran Palace in Amman, before the royal couple will travel by motorcade to Al-Husseiniya Palace for a lavish reception.  

The couple wed at Zahran Palace. (Screenshot)

Al-Saif will now be known as Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess of Jordan and, when the crown prince takes the throne, she will be Queen Rajwa. The bride wore a custom-made Elie Saab gown, while Queen Rania opted for Dior.

The religious ceremony was held at Zahran Palace, where the crown prince’s parents — King Abdullah II and Queen Rania — wed in 1993. The ceremony was attended by around 140 guests, including members of the Royal Hashemite family, invited royals and heads of state.

Guests include dignitaries and royals from around the world, including the UK’s Prince and Princess of Wales William and Kate Middleton; US First Lady Jill Biden; Qatar’s Sheikha Moza bint Nasser; the king and queen of Malaysia; the king and queen of The Netherlands; King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofía of Spain; Prince Sébastien of Luxembourg; Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark; Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Prince Daniel, Duke of Västergötland; Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway and Hisako, Princess Takamado and her daughter, Princess Tsuguko of Takamado of Japan, among others.   

The couple greeted their guests after the wedding. (Screenshot)

Al-Saif arrived at the palace in a 1968 Rolls-Royce Phantom V that was custom-made for the late Queen Zein Al-Sharaf and was escorted by the Crown Prince’s younger brother, Prince Hashem bin Abdullah II, and Princess Salma bint Abdullah II. Prince Hashem walked Al-Saif to the gazebo where the Islamic marriage ceremony is taking place.

Al-Saif arrived at the palace in a 1968 Rolls-Royce Phantom V. (Arab News)

During the ceremony, the bride and groom signed the marriage contract. Royal Hashemite Court Imam Dr. Ahmed Al-Khalaileh, who was appointed to this position in January 2021, is presided over the ceremony, which was followed by several women performing the Zaghrouta.

Meanwhile, crowds lined the 10km route as the couple traveled to the location of the reception party in a custom 1984 Range Rover as part of a convoy worthy of an Arab royal wedding.  

The motorcade featured eight red 1980s Land Rovers and 11 red BMW motorcycles. The vintage machines belong to the Royal Convoy Unit, part of a special military formation known as the Royal Guards. The Jordan Armed Forces Musical Band performed during the event. 

The motorcade featured eight red 1980s Land Rovers and 11 red BMW motorcycles. (Screenshot)

As is customary, the arrival of the bride and groom will be announced with a zaffeh by the Jordan Armed Forces Musical Band. All band members will wear the traditional red and white shemagh, a traditional headdress for men, in addition to their full-dress uniform. After passing through an honorary Arch of Sabers, the couple will proceed through the courtyard amidst a traditional Jordanian zaffeh, toward the greeting stage, where the family will greet more than 1,700 guests. The remainder of the evening will feature a variety of performances by local and regional singers, a choir group, Jordanian bands, the national orchestra, and folk dance troupes.

According to the Royal Hashemite Court, the reception space at Al-Husseiniya Palace has been designed to showcase Jordanian traditions, craftsmanship, and the country’s natural surroundings. Upon arrival, guests enter on a path that evokes the Jordanian desert, featuring a 20-meter-long handwoven Bedouin rug, created specifically for this occasion by the Bani Hamida Women's Weaving Project in the village of Mukawir in Madaba.

Surrounded by foraged wildflowers that reflect the native landscape of the weavers, guests are welcomed with traditional Arabic coffee and music as they make their way down the reception. Once inside the reception space, guests will be greeted by the sight of native olive trees surrounded by a dune-like display of dates, which represent hospitality in both Jordanian and Saudi cultures. The venue features an installation of five large-scale mesh arches, inspired by the architecture of the palace and the hues of the desert landscape of Jordan’s Wadi Rum.

Guest seats are adorned with traditional embroidery patterns, handstitched by women artisans employed by Al-Karma Embroidery Center and the Jerash Women Charitable Society – all of which were established to empower local women and promote traditional handiworks. Guest tables are made from natural Madaba stone and decorated with hand-blown glass vases and traditional clay pottery made by local artisans. The space design also incorporates hand-hammered basalt stone from the north of Jordan. Utilizing local seasonal flowers, the Palace’s archways will be steeped in jasmine. Other design elements will pay homage to Jordan’s wheat harvesting season, which will be in full swing, with items reimagining the traditional threshing board used to shred wheat and release its grain.

The reception will conclude with the bride and groom cutting the wedding cake.

The royal wedding was almost a year in the making, with the couple announcing their engagement in August 2022. The pair got engaged in Riyadh with members of the Jordanian royal family in attendance, as well as Al-Saif’s parents — Khalid bin Musaed bin Saif bin Abdulaziz Al-Saif and Azza bint Nayef Abdulaziz Ahmad Al-Sudairi. 

The Al-Saif family traces its lineage to the Subay tribe, who have been present in the Sudair region of Najd since the beginning of the era of King Abdulaziz, the founder of modern-day Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, Al-Saif’s mother comes from the prominent Al-Sudairi family.