Saudi Energy Exhibit celebrates 60 years of ‘making facts fun’

For the past six decades, the oil and energy exhibit has attracted thousands of visitors, from students to world leaders. (Instagram/Ithra)
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For the past six decades, the oil and energy exhibit has attracted thousands of visitors, from students to world leaders. (Instagram/Ithra)
Saudi Energy Exhibit celebrates 60 years of ‘making facts fun’
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Photo from a recent panel discussing the 60th anniversary of the Energy Exhibit. (Supplied)
Saudi Energy Exhibit celebrates 60 years of ‘making facts fun’
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Temporary building for the Aramco Oil Exhibit Center in Dhahran, September 1986. (Supplied)
Saudi Energy Exhibit celebrates 60 years of ‘making facts fun’
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Saudi Energy Exhibit celebrates 60 years of ‘making facts fun’
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Saudi Energy Exhibit celebrates 60 years of ‘making facts fun’
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Saudi Energy Exhibit celebrates 60 years of ‘making facts fun’
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Saudi Energy Exhibit celebrates 60 years of ‘making facts fun’
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Updated 02 September 2023
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Saudi Energy Exhibit celebrates 60 years of ‘making facts fun’

For the past six decades, the oil and energy exhibit has attracted thousands of visitors, from students to world leaders.
  • Dhahran drawcard digs deep into the past — but with an eye to the future

DHAHRAN: The Energy Exhibit, formerly the Oil Exhibit, celebrates its 60th anniversary this year as one of the Kingdom’s premier attractions, a space dedicated to making “facts fun” — and all without asking visitors to pay a penny to enter.

For the past six decades, the exhibit has showcased the knowledge and techniques behind the extraction of oil and related energy resources in Saudi Arabia, attracting thousands of visitors, ranging from young students to world leaders, every year.

At its headquarters, located on top of the Dammam field where oil was discovered in the Kingdom in 1938, the exhibit offers 40 programs throughout the year — a perfect juxtaposition of the old and the new.




For the past six decades, the oil and energy exhibit has attracted thousands of visitors, from students to world leaders. (Instagram/Ithra)

From the start, the space catered mostly to the youth. Each year, between 30,000 and 50,000 students from local towns and villages across the Eastern Province visit as part of the site’s educational program.

Fuad Al-Therman, a senior manager with Saudi Aramco and former director of King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, told Arab News that in the early years of the project, the visit for many students was a “transformative moment in their lives and the inspiration for what to pursue in the future.”

Some chose science and energy-related studies, becoming engineers and scientists, and subsequently making their own contributions to the growth and development of Aramco and the Kingdom, he said.

HIGHLIGHTS

• The Energy Exhibit is located on top of the Dammam field where oil was discovered in the Kingdom in 1938.

• It offers 40 informative and educational programs throughout the year.

The journey that eventually brought the exhibition to Dhahran actually began outside the Kingdom. In 1955, Aramco took part in the Saudi Pavilion in the annual Damascus International Fair, the largest trade exhibition in the Arab World at the time. The company’s display generated so much interest that it returned the following year.

Shortly after, Aramco planned a large-scale exhibition that would travel around the Kingdom as part of an outreach program. The “Mobile Oil Industry Exhibit Project” was produced in collaboration with Sheikh Abdullah Al-Tariki, who later became Saudi Arabia’s first oil minister.




Local school children take the Aramco bus to visit the Saudi Aramco Oil Exhibit Center, October 1990. (Supplied)

The mobile exhibit was launched in Jeddah in late 1957, and for two months hosted almost 2,000 people daily from Saturday to Thursday, and 5,000 on Fridays. The exhibit went on to host 49 separate events in Saudi cities, including Makkah and Taif, with people from neighboring towns and villages traveling to witness the offerings.

For many visitors from remote parts of the Kingdom, the exhibit was the first time that they had seen a film on screen.

Given the popularity of the traveling exhibit, Aramco decided to establish a permanent facility near its headquarters in Dhahran. In 1963, Prince Abdul Mohsen bin Jalawy, acting Prince of the Eastern Region, inaugurated the “Oil Industry Exhibit.”




For the past six decades, the oil and energy exhibit has attracted thousands of visitors, from students to world leaders. (Instagram/Ithra)

In 1987, the space moved to its current location, with eight pavilions outlining the history of the Kingdom’s oil industry, including drilling, production and reservoir management, refineries and transport network.

The late Ismail Nawwab, Aramco’s general manager of public affairs at the time, helped transform the exhibit into an interactive educational center, shaping a new vision for the project.

With instructions in Arabic and English, interactive spaces have been inclusive and immersive from the first day. Exhibits use the latest technology to showcase the history of oil exploration, discovery and production — a journey that began with the formation of oil in shallow oceans millions of years ago.




Fuad Al-Therman, Saudi Aramco senior manager

Al-Therman recalls British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher visiting in 1991, as well as dozens of global personalities and leaders.

“The exhibit brings out the child in them; they become curious and playful, even if they are heads of states or prime ministers. It’s worth noting that the exhibition has been described as one of the best places in the world to learn about the fundamentals of the energy industry. The operating team has always been in search of new ways to excite visitors and present its content,” he said.

“I remember 20 years ago when the ‘Energy to the World’ film was introduced at the exhibition theater, using 3D film technology. Visitors were given special glasses to watch the movie. It was an exciting experience for them to see things in a way they hadn’t experienced before.”

In essence, the place where the black gold or hydrocarbon energy was produced is now a place to produce human and creative energy.

Fuad Al-Therman, Saudi Aramco senior manager

The design of the space, overseen by Saudi architect Zuhair Fayez, reflected a modern spirit that integrated Arabic and Islamic identity.

“It is a historically significant building. When the renewal project was conceived in 2008, it was given careful consideration, and efforts were made on how to modernize the facility, yet retain its defining features, thereby ensuring continuity and change within both the architecture and the upgrade project,” Al-Therman said.

One of the events still remembered by the local community was the 1997 “Dinosaur Exhibition,” which attracted more than half a million visitors during a five-week run.




For the past six decades, the oil and energy exhibit has attracted thousands of visitors, from students to world leaders. (Supplied)

By 1999, the Aramco exhibit was drawing an average of 200,000 visitors per year with offerings that included an aquarium with colored fish and coral reefs; an elevator-like “terrascope” that simulated travel between geological layers; and a simulation of a giant oil tanker explaining shipping and unloading operations.

In 2010, the exhibition space was temporarily shuttered for renovations while Ithra was being built. The following year, the facility morphed once again, becoming a full-fledged science center focusing not only on oil and gas, but all energy.

To reflect its newfound mission, the name was changed to the Energy Exhibit.

As with Ithra, architects worked to ensure harmony with the surrounding topography. Instead of the original Oil Exhibit’s dark brown granite facade, the building’s exterior featured a lighter stone palette that matched the sand in the area. The new building opened in 2017 to coincide with the soft opening of Ithra.

Today, visitors often begin their tour in the exploration area, where they can discover how oil was formed tens of millions of years ago on the ocean floor.

In the next hall, visitors learn about oil exploration techniques. Later, a hall with a floating globe illustrates how tectonic plates moved long ago to form continents and oceans. Visitors are then transported to the modern era, where they can see the first geologists and their Saudi guides pinpointing locations to begin exploration and drilling operations.

It is a tale of the land and the people who worked it.

Visitors touring the space today can learn about oil treatment plants, refineries, gas plants, marine platforms, and the numerous petrochemical products such as plastics and textiles. Instructions are available in English and Arabic, with experts ready to answer any questions.

This year, Ithra celebrates five years since its official opening in 2018. At a recent gathering, the previous generation of leaders who worked on the various iterations of the exhibition came together to celebrate the exhibit’s 60th anniversary.

Dhahran, now an administrative center for the Saudi oil industry, is again the focus of attention.

Lujain Abahussain, manager of the Energy Exhibit, told Arab News in 2022 that she grew up in the city, went to school just a short drive away, and still takes great pride in the historic site where her office stands.

“The fascination is in the location. We are located close to Well No. 7, the Prosperity Well, which is where petroleum was discovered in Saudi Arabia for the first time back in 1938,” she said.

For Al-Therman, the Saudi Aramco senior manager, the focus is on the future.

“In essence, the place where the black gold or hydrocarbon energy was produced is now a place to produce human and creative energy,” he said.

 


Riyadh exhibition pays tribute to Zakia Al-Dubaikhi, acclaimed painter, loving mother

Riyadh exhibition pays tribute to Zakia Al-Dubaikhi, acclaimed painter, loving mother
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Riyadh exhibition pays tribute to Zakia Al-Dubaikhi, acclaimed painter, loving mother

Riyadh exhibition pays tribute to Zakia Al-Dubaikhi, acclaimed painter, loving mother
  • The exhibition is being hosted by Al-Dubaikhi’s daughter, Basma Al-Zamil, and the artist’s husband, in celebration of the painter’s profound work and legacy
  • She began painting at a young age, encouraged by her late father who bought her all the required tools

RIYADH: The late Saudi artist Zakia Al-Dubaikhi’s artwork is showcased at the “Once Upon a Time” exhibition at Ahlam Gallery in Riyadh.
Her work focused on Saudi women’s rights at a time when it was not common to do so, while celebrating multicultural neighborhoods in the Eastern Province.
The exhibition is being hosted by Al-Dubaikhi’s daughter, Basma Al-Zamil, and the artist’s husband, in celebration of the painter’s profound work and legacy.
Al-Zamil said: “It is important to me in this exhibition to keep her legacy and her name alive and to kind of help people know that art never dies.”
Al-Dubaikhi was born in Dammam, in a multicultural neighborhood with narrow streets, and played and grew up with children from different nationalities.
She began painting at a young age, encouraged by her late father who bought her all the required tools, from brushes to painting colors and canvases.
In the 1980s, at a time when being a Saudi artist was uncommon, Al-Dubaikhi overcame many obstacles, taking painting lessons from renowned female Saudi artists, which led to her work being showcased in Dammam, Riyadh, and Jeddah.
Later focusing on her family and her career as an English teacher, Al-Dubaikhi parted company with her brushes but never deserted her artistic inclinations, using her knowledge to help her students.
Her artistic mindset and love for painting never left her and she aspired to present a solo exhibition and open an art gallery.
Her ambitions were never achieved, though, and she died in November 2018.
Al-Zamil and her father have showcased Al-Dubaikhi’s artwork in several cities around the Kingdom, including Dammam, Al-Ahsa, Riyadh, and Jeddah, and outside the Kingdom in Manama, Bahrain.
The “Once Upon a Time” exhibition opened its doors on Sept. 27 and runs until Oct. 2.
Tania Mehanna Cantone, the wife of the Italian ambassador to the Kingdom, attended the opening day of the exhibition.
Pointing at one of Al-Dubaikhi’s paintings, Cantone said: “It is an expression of what Saudi women were feeling in the middle of between 2000 and 2016, and really it touches each one of us because you see the call for freedom.
“You see this hope in the eyes of the different ladies, lots of ladies that she has been painting, and it is a beautiful way of looking at Saudi Arabia.”
Another guest of honor on opening night was Ahmed bin Abdullah Al-Maghlouth, an artist and cartoonist from the Eastern Province.
He said: “I was very happy to attend this exhibition. I was impressed with her interest in the environment and heritage portrayed through her paintings, and the depth of her work showcasing the history of the Kingdom and the Gulf region at large.”
Al-Dubaikhi’s paintings reveal her take on Saudi women’s rights, along with her other interests, including Indian culture and her love of cats.
Al-Zamil said: “She was living with neighbors from different nationalities in the Eastern Province, and she was interested in Indian culture, music, and food.”
Al-Dubaikhi saw early changes toward women’s rights in the Kingdom just before her death.
Al-Zamil added: “My mother recorded a time in our history, and not too many artists were able to do that.
“In her humble way she covered the times of Saudi Arabia before Vision 2030 and after Vision 2030.”
“Once Upon a Time” is a walk through Al-Dubaikhi’s life, passing significant moments from her early childhood in the Eastern Province to her artistic journey and roles as Saudi artist and loving mother.
 


Melody festival’s pitch perfect celebration of Saudi music

Melody festival’s pitch perfect celebration of Saudi music
Updated 29 September 2023
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Melody festival’s pitch perfect celebration of Saudi music

Melody festival’s pitch perfect celebration of Saudi music
  • The festival opened with a poignant tribute to pioneers of Saudi composition
  • Singer Mohammed Abdu opened the musical evening with a stirring performance of compositions by Kadars and Idris

JEDDAH: The inaugural Kingdom’s Melody Festival is taking center stage in Jeddah, captivating audiences with a celebration of Saudi Arabia’s musical heritage.
The three-day festival began on Thursday with a mission to illuminate the history of music and composers in the Kingdom, highlighting their deep-rooted cultural ties to the local community.
The festival opened with a poignant tribute to pioneers of Saudi composition.
Deputy Minister of Culture and Vice Chairman of the Music Commission Hamed Fayez honored Saudi composer Abdulrab Idris and late artist Omar Kadars.
Singer Mohammed Abdu opened the musical evening with a stirring performance of compositions by Kadars and Idris.
Before the concert, Abdu said: “Kingdom’s Melody is a wonderful initiative by the Ministry of Culture. Today, we honor the distinguished figures in Saudi music, and this is a new beginning for us.”
The Jeddah Superdome was transformed into a vast musical tent, resonating with applause and cheers from a capacity audience mainly clad in the traditional Saudi shemagh, a red-and-white headscarf.
The festival continued with two events: “Send Love” allowed the audience to send greetings to beloved composers, while “Melodic Memories” showcased songs from various musical figures.
Samar Moghrabi told Arab News: “I am very happy about the Kingdom’s interest in Saudi song composers, and I thank the Ministry of Culture for this unique event.”
Shadi Tashkandi, who was attending with his family, said:, “This grand event brings together iconic artists who have shaped the musical history of our country. I am proud to attend this event in my beloved city, Jeddah.”
The festival also featured performances by Abdel Majeed Abdallah, who presented a selection of songs composed by Fawzi Mahsoon and Saleh Al-Shehri.
The final night promises a showcase by Saudi composer Abadi Al-Johar, featuring songs composed by Talal Bagher.
Complementing the performances, an accompanying exhibition narrated the stories and experiences that shaped Saudi music and its composers.
Jeddah’s historical significance in Saudi music was underlined, as diplomatic missions recorded the earliest Saudi musical compositions. Smart screens and high-definition speakers allowed visitors to explore Saudi music from its inception to the present.
The festival is set to become an annual event, with each year focusing on the influence of other cultures on Saudi music.
This initiative aligns with the Quality of Life program, part of the Vision 2030 framework, which strives to enhance cultural experiences and foster the arts in Saudi Arabia.

 


Job-seekers explore opportunities at career fair in Riyadh

Job-seekers explore opportunities at career fair in Riyadh
Updated 29 September 2023
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Job-seekers explore opportunities at career fair in Riyadh

Job-seekers explore opportunities at career fair in Riyadh

RIYADH: Hundreds of job-seekers explored opportunities as dozens of public and private sector entities participated in the 9th “A Step Ahead” career fair that concluded on Friday in Riyadh.

The fair and conference that ran for three days brought together employers, job-seekers and professionals under one roof, allowing them to find opportunities, highlight their skills for immediate personal interviews, through a digital process in most of the booths.

During the fair, about 120 group counseling and career guidance sessions were conducted.

The fair was accompanied by a scientific conference dedicated to human resources leaders, under the slogan “War of Talents” in which many leaders in the human capital sector are present.

The fair included a pavilion of the mega-projects in Saudi Arabia, attracting large numbers of visitors.

The pavilion of the Ministry of Culture and its various bodies reflected the artistic cultural heritage of the Kingdom.  It also offered visitors the opportunity to learn about Saudi arts, in addition to presenting the initiatives of the National Strategy for Culture.

The pavilions of the Ministry of Defense, the Royal Commission for AlUla and the General Organization for Social Insurance were also visited by dozens of job-seekers.

The fair was also accompanied by a conference that hosted Saudi entrepreneurs and prominent figures to present their experiences to job-seekers.

Sarah Al-Tasan looked excited as she searched for a suitable job opportunity in the cyber-security sector.

Al-Tasan graduated in May from the MAS Institute accredited by the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation, and traveled abroad less than a week after graduation to develop her English language skills.

She praised the interaction of the establishments participating in the fair saying: “It is something that honors and gives a positive energy.”

Al-Tasan submitted her CV to more than one company, and said “everyone gets me excited as they really need this specialization.”

Abdulrahman Al-Dawsari, who holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Qassim University, heard about the fair from his brother, and is optimistic about obtaining a job.

Al-Dawsari was keen to attend the first day of the fair because he expected that, on the opening day, those in charge of the booths would be crowded.

“I am confident that the participants in the fair are keen to attract talent for the vacant opportunities they have through … I advise the unemployed to attend such employment fairs and seriously search for job opportunities there,” he said.


Jeddah’s Art Jameel seeks curator for Red Sea exhibition 

Jeddah’s Art Jameel seeks curator for Red Sea exhibition 
Updated 29 September 2023
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Jeddah’s Art Jameel seeks curator for Red Sea exhibition 

Jeddah’s Art Jameel seeks curator for Red Sea exhibition 
  • Art Jameel has announced a curatorial open call for exhibition proposals centered around the Red Sea

JEDDAH: Art Jameel has announced a curatorial open call for exhibition proposals centered around the Red Sea.

The Jeddah gallery is seeking proposals that explore the geography, history, ecology, and movement of people and ideas related to the Red Sea for an exhibition due to open in May 2024.

The selected curator will collaborate with the Art Jameel team, receiving guidance on various aspects of the exhibition’s development, including production, design, logistics and installation.

Nora Razian, deputy director (arts) at Art Jameel, said: “Part of our core strategy at Art Jameel is fostering curatorial development in the region and beyond. This fellowship is catered toward early-career curators, based anywhere in the world, and is centered on the idea of curatorial exchange and supporting original and timely curatorial knowledge production.”

The gallery is seeking applicants from Saudi Arabia and worldwide to “develop an original exhibition with our team,” she said.

The open call invites curators and collectives whose research and exhibition-making engage with topics such as Jeddah/Hejaz histories, Red Sea ecologies, Red Sea histories of migration, and connected geographies across the Red Sea, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti, Palestine, and Jordan.

Early-career curators with limited institutional curatorial experience or from three to five years of postgraduation experience are particularly encouraged to apply.

Deadline for submissions is Oct. 15, 2023.
 
Art Jameel offers full financial support for the exhibition, including curator fees, travel and accommodation expenses, artist fees, and all other related exhibition costs.


Video shows lightning strike Makkah clock tower

Video shows lightning strike Makkah clock tower
Updated 29 September 2023
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Video shows lightning strike Makkah clock tower

Video shows lightning strike Makkah clock tower

A photographer has captured the moment lightning presented a stunning backdrop to Makkah’s famous clock tower as Muslims around the world marked the Prophet’s birthday.

 

 

The remarkable images have been shared across social media, including a video that showed lightning spread into the purple sky, creating an image like a tree – the clock tower providing the trunk to this remarkable electrical show.

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Muslim (@muslim)

 

And there’s a chance for more stunning images.

Saudi Arabia’s authorities have warned that more wet and windy weather is expected in the Kingdom, bringing with it, dust storms and more thunder and lightning.