Egyptian screenwriter Mariam Naoum to mentor young Saudi female filmmakers 

Egyptian screenwriter Mariam Naoum to mentor young Saudi female filmmakers 
A still from the 2021 series 'Take Care of Zizi,' written by Mariam Naoum. (Supplied)
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Updated 02 August 2024
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Egyptian screenwriter Mariam Naoum to mentor young Saudi female filmmakers 

Egyptian screenwriter Mariam Naoum to mentor young Saudi female filmmakers 
  • Netflix’s Saudi Female Future Filmmakers Program will launch in September 

JEDDAH: Fifteen new and emerging female filmmakers from Saudi Arabia are about to get the opportunity of a lifetime: mentorship from famed Egyptian screenwriter Mariam Naoum, as part of a new training program from Netflix run in partnership with Naoum’s Sard Writing Room and NEOM Media Industries. 

The first of the Saudi Female Future Filmmakers Program’s two phases will launch in September. 

“The first phase is an intense introduction to the processes of writing, directing and production. It will involve extensive time being spent with all the participants taking them through the basics,” Naoum tells Arab News. “And then the second phase will be more hands-on work done in groups. The participants will be separated or grouped into teams of four or five, and each group will write their own projects or their own short film.” 




Mariam Naoum. (Supplied)

Participants will then be given the opportunity to pitch their scripts to a panel of experts in a simulation pitch exercise at the upcoming Red Sea International Film Festival. They will also be guests at the festival, attending workshops and panel discussions as well as networking events.  

Sard, or the Sard Writing Room, was founded by Naoum in 2016 and is a “dedicated hub” for scriptwriters that has so far spawned 17 TV series and a feature film. Sard is billed as “a safe space for aspiring screenwriters to develop their projects, improve their writing skills, and practice their creative freedom.” 

Netflix previously partnered with Sard to launch the Because She Created writing program in Egypt to train women in writing and develop their storytelling and creative expression skills. 

“Sard believes that expressing oneself through writing is the first step to self-discovery and we’re proud to have discovered talent through this program that we feel will one day become the scriptwriters of the future,” Naoum said at the time. 

When asked about the kind of talent they are looking to attract for the new Saudi-based program, Naoum said: “We are looking for passionate participants. We want to discover indie filmmakers or women who are now looking at filmmaking as a career option and are looking to discover their abilities to express themselves through writing, directing and production. 




The first of the Saudi Female Future Filmmakers Program’s two phases will launch in September. (Supplied)

“We are looking for women who want to tell their own authentic stories, and through the application process, we are trying — through the questions — to discover that with them. The application form features questions like their favorite films, their favorite books, their favorite story that changed the lives, a moment in their life that they appreciate… We are trying to discover them as humans and discover their passion and the reason behind why they are looking into this.” 

Naoum — known for her work on films like “One-Zero” and “Between Two Seas,” as well as TV series including “Take Care of Zizi” — has garnered acclaim for writing stories that focus on issues facing everyday people, especially women. Most of her work is based on true stories. 

“I think this is my way to reflect on what is happening in the region and my feelings toward the society I am living in. I’m always reflecting on current happenings, how we arrived here — how did Egyptians end up at this point in this kind of situation in society? And then I want to share my thoughts with the audience,” she says. 

Naoum is bullish about the prospects for the Saudi entertainment industry. “I think it has great potential because there is a will for doing things and creating opportunities and there is a true wealth in terms of a young generation of filmmakers. And I can see how they are investing in studying cinema with workshops and more. And I think this will lead to a new wave,” she says. 

Applications for the Saudi Female Future Filmmakers Program are open until August 10 for women aged 21 and over, residing in Saudi Arabia with no prior experience working in the film and TV industry. 


Jennifer Lopez to perform in Abu Dhabi as part of Saadiyat Nights concert series

Jennifer Lopez to perform in Abu Dhabi as part of Saadiyat Nights concert series
Updated 43 min ago
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Jennifer Lopez to perform in Abu Dhabi as part of Saadiyat Nights concert series

Jennifer Lopez to perform in Abu Dhabi as part of Saadiyat Nights concert series

DUBAI: US singing sensation Jennifer Lopez has been announced as the latest addition to the lineup of performers for Saadiyat Nights.

The global superstar is set to take the stage in the UAE capital on Feb. 20.

 

 

Fans can look forward to chart-topping tracks such as “If You Had My Love,” “Jenny From The Block,” “Love Don’t Cost A Thing” and “On The Floor.”

Fresh off her critically acclaimed Sundance world premiere of “Kiss of The Spider Woman,” Lopez is joining a star-studded lineup for the second edition of Saadiyat Nights, including Robbie Williams, Michael Buble, and Boyz II Men, with much-anticipated performances still to come from Christina Aguilera on Feb. 15, Gwen Stefani on Feb. 21 and Lionel Richie on Feb. 22.

 

 


Hammer time: Highlights from the Kingdom’s first international auction 

Hammer time: Highlights from the Kingdom’s first international auction 
Refik Anadol, Machine Hallucinations Mars (Infinite AI Data Painting), 2021 (estimate $800,000-1,200,000) - in situ
Updated 06 February 2025
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Hammer time: Highlights from the Kingdom’s first international auction 

Hammer time: Highlights from the Kingdom’s first international auction 
  • From local legends to international icons, Sotheby’s Feb. 8 sale is packed with classics 

RIYADH: On Feb. 8, the auction house Sotheby’s will host “Origins” in Riyadh. The sale is billed as “the first international auction in Saudi Arabia’s history.” Many of the lots have already been on display in the accompanying week-long exhibition in Diriyah’s Bujairi Terrace, which ends tomorrow. 

Here, Ashkan Baghestani, Sotheby’s head of contemporary day sale, contemporary art, New York and Middle East, talks us through some of the highlights from the artworks up for sale in “Origins.” 

Abdulhalim Radwi 

‘Untitled’ 

He played a crucial role in the development of Saudi modernism, alongside Mohammed Alsaleem and a few others. He was actually one of the first artists to be sent abroad by the Kingdom to study in Europe, and he’s one of the rare artists who blends European traditions like cubism and expressionism with Saudi traditions. Personally, he’s one of my favorite Saudi modernists — maybe because of his European influences. This particular work hasn’t actually been seen since the Eighties. It was acquired directly by the current owner from the artist himself. We selected this one from a few others we were offered because we felt it really described Saudi culture and the color palette is quite rare for Radwi. You see a lot of his work with blue hues or green tones, but rarely with red.  

Abdulhalim Radwi, Untitled (estimate $150,000-200,000). (Supplied)

Monir Farmanfarmaian 

‘Variations of Hexagon’ 

No one created works like Monir — blending Western abstraction with Persian traditions — she’s so distinctively unique; a lot of her practice and technique was very much informed by traditional Persian craftsmanship that you would find in mosques and palaces from the Safavid era up to the Qajar era. The specific technique is called aina-kari, which is mirror work. So she brought some of these sophisticated American techniques of construction and building and architecture and sculpture into traditional Persian craftsmanship with mirror works like this one.  

Monir Farmanfarmaian, Variations of Hexagon, 2008 (estimate $120,000-180,000). (Supplied)

René Magritte 

‘L’État de Veille’ 

Magritte may be the most celebrated European surrealist of all. He’s broken records season after season. He’s of Belgium origin. He died in 1967. This work is from 1958, so later in his career, but very much informed by his most iconic motifs — the architectural blend with the environment. This is a gouache that depicts the bright blue skies dotted with cottony clouds, and what seem very close to old Belgian facades. And there’s always this idea of trompe l’oeil with Magritte, where you’re not really sure what you’re looking at or when you’re looking at it.  

René Magritte, L'État de veille (estimate $1,000,000-1,500,000). (Supplied)

Refik Anadol 

‘Machine Hallucinations: Mars’ 

Anadol embraces new technology, but his works are deeply human-centric, exploring emotions and the interplay between people and their environments. “Machine Hallucinations” is his best-known body of work. He collaborated with NASA, feeding millions of pictures from satellites and spacecraft of deep space into an algorithm which generated these images that are constantly morphing and transcend any understanding of what we’re seeing. They’re extremely abstract. They’re also very spiritual. They’re constantly in flux. This one is blends images from the International Space Station, the Hubble Telescope, and the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. One of the reasons I really wanted a digital artwork is that I thought it was a perfect nod to a country that’s heavily invested not only in many forms of traditional art but also in the art of the future.  

Refik Anadol, Machine Hallucinations Mars (Infinite AI Data Painting), 2021 (estimate $800,000-1,200,000) - in situ. (Supplied)

Louay Kayyali 

‘Then What ??’ 

This is probably the most important iconic Arab modern work ever to come to auction. It’s a very important moment for us and for the market. Kayyali is regarded as one of the most socialist artists in the region, alongside Mahmoud Sabri, and he was really committed to representing ‘normal people.’ He was deeply angered and moved by the Naqba — the exile of the Palestinians — and the title of this painting asks: After the exile, what is left? There’s real psychological depth and a real division in the canvas. On the left, looking at the past, and on the right looking towards God and the future.  

Louay Kayyali, Then What__, 1965 (estimate $500,000-700,000). (Supplied)

Asim Abu Shakra 

‘Untitled’ 

Abu Shakra died aged 28. He painted a cactus most of his life, and his works are always in these earthy colors — greens, browns, gray. They have a certain nostalgic tone to them. And the brush strokes are sudden, they’re very spontaneous. They sort of sit in nothingness.  Abu Shakra was living in Israel as an Arab artist, so there’s this analogy of a cactus surviving in arid conditions in the desert, without much help. It doesn’t need a lot of water. It has the needles to protect it from exterior harm. It’s a symbol for dislocation and endurance but also a deeply personal reckoning with the artist’s own mortality. The cactus offered hope because some actually produce flowers when they’re about to die, which is a beautiful analogy.  

Asim Abu Shakra, Untitled (est. $60,000-80,000). (Supplied)

Fernando Botero 

‘Society Woman’ 

Botero has transcended every generational guideline and every geographical region; he speaks to such a wide audience. His works became iconic in the Nineties. They are easy and playful, but they’re also serious paintings. Botero anchors himself in the tradition of Old Master paintings, but gives them a twist: most of his paintings and sculptures are always a bit inflated. And regardless of the size and the scale, they have an elegant, commanding posture. He showed that even if you’re voluptuous, you can have grace, femininity, confidence and celebrate your fullness. He often highlights the contrast between the soft sensuality of the body and the sculptural qualities of the human form. He really reconsidered conventional ideals of beauty and proportion.  

Fernando Botero, Society Woman (estimate $800,000-1,200,000). (Supplied)

 


Inside Red Sea Global’s newly opened Desert Rock Resort 

 Inside Red Sea Global’s newly opened Desert Rock Resort 
Updated 06 February 2025
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Inside Red Sea Global’s newly opened Desert Rock Resort 

 Inside Red Sea Global’s newly opened Desert Rock Resort 

RED SEA: As Saudi Arabia expands its portfolio of luxury hotel offerings, the newly opened Desert Rock Resort stands out for its otherworldly terrain and exceptional service. 

There will be no quibbling about the benefits of Saudi Arabia versus the Maldives here — an issue that has crept up when potential visitors discuss Red Sea Global’s other outposts, such as the futuristic overwater resort Shebara. When it comes to Desert Rock there is simply nowhere else like it and the resort has leaned in heavily to make use of the spectacular landscape. 

Set amid humbling mountains pockmarked with caves, the resort is a 20-minute drive from Red Sea International airport. 

Desert Rock Resort. (Supplied)

Home to 32 Wadi Villas on the valley floor, 17 Cliff Hanging Villas, four Mountain Crevice Villas, one Royal Villa and and 10 Mountain Cave Suites carved into the rockface itself — yes, it’s as mind-boggling as it sounds — the hotel boasts private, temperature-controlled pools in every room and amenities that go a long way to helping guests understand the eye-watering price tag — Dyson hairdryers, Frette sheets and an array of luxe poolside accessories — while an assigned “Villa Host” takes care of your every need via WhatsApp. 

While the mountain-top Cave Suites and their views of endless rolling deserts and soaring rust-colored mountains are an influencer’s ticket to viral fame, the two-bedroom Mountain Crevice Skyline Villa is ideal for a larger group — with a conversation-starting bathtub (it fit at least five giddy, fully-clothed adults on our press tour) and glass-ringed fire pit. 

Desert Rock Resort. (Supplied)

Descend to the valley floor and Oppenheim Architecture’s bunker-like structures melt into the Martian landscape. Use your chic wooden key card — the details are everything at Desert Rock — and you’ll be met by cozy interiors by Toronto’s Studio Paolo Ferrari. Earthy tones, a focus on luxury stone and bronze-brown accents make the large villas and suites opulent without losing the warmth of the desert. 

A pool, kids’ club and star-gazing evenings are complemented by the Akun adventure hub, which offers thrilling ziplining, via ferrata, abseiling, rock climbing and archery, with more activities planned for 2025. 

Desert Rock Resort. (Supplied)

A team is on hand to keep visitors safe, but this is no easy experience — we climbed up to the ziplining jump off point on the bare mountain face, at some points resorting to all fours as we followed a rough path hewn into the rock that often became no path at all. 

That refusal to bend to lazy luxury is also shown in the 622 steps one can climb to the highest point of the hotel, an observatory reached by crossing a rope bridge at a dizzying height. The lack of a lift was a wise choice –— it may not be easily accessible but that is exactly what makes the astounding view once there so worth it. 

Desert Rock Resort. (Supplied)

The flipside, of course, is that certain areas of the resort are not accessible for guests with physical disabilities. It’s also important to note that — due to the space this hotel takes up — travel between rooms, restaurants and the spa is usually by buggy. 

Desert Rock Resort. (Supplied)

The four main eateries — NYRA, helmed by Turkish chef Osman Sezener whose restaurant in Bodrum has one Michelin star; MICA, a buzzy mocktail bar that also offers small plates; breakfast spot Basalt, which transforms into an Indian eatery at night; and the poolside Wadi that offers Peruvian cuisine — rival the brightest stars in the Gulf’s major cities, with NYRA and Wadi standing out for their fresh, colorful dishes including tender beef tongue and artfully presented seafood plates. Many of the courses were presented with specific beverage pairings that drew out the flavors of their accompanying dish and pushed experimental mocktails to heights not before experienced by this writer. 

Round that all off with a spa that boasts views of soaring, craggy cliffs, as well as indoor and outdoor treatment rooms, a water therapy room and a couple’s hammam room, and you’ve got the ideal recipe for a serene sojourn in the Saudi desert. 


Jordanian artist aims to ‘inspire and heal’ through her book

Jordanian artist aims to ‘inspire and heal’ through her book
Updated 06 February 2025
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Jordanian artist aims to ‘inspire and heal’ through her book

Jordanian artist aims to ‘inspire and heal’ through her book
  • Aida Murad hopes that she can help people to feel seen through life lessons and navigate the different emotions that humans experience
  • Murad: In the book, you would find harder emotions like sadness and confusion and being lost, and also happier ones, and how to navigate both

RIYADH: Jordanian-American impact artist Aida Murad hosted an exhibition in Riyadh’s St. Regis on Wednesday, commemorating the launch of her new book, “Life Is a Miracle.”

Through the book, Murad told Arab News, “I want them to feel seen. I think that my purpose in life is to help people feel seen, heard and loved. I think because I wanted that the most, and there is something so beautiful when a human sees you and loves you, even when they see you fully.”

She hopes that she can help people to feel seen through life lessons and navigate the different emotions that humans experience.

“In the book, you would find harder emotions like sadness and confusion and being lost, and also happier ones, and how to navigate both. As Arabs, I don’t think we do a good job of talking about the spectrum of emotions,” she said.

Through her art and her book, Murad hopes to inspire readers to appreciate and celebrate the smallest of miracles in life, such as breathing.

“The title, ‘Life is a Miracle,’ came to me because I find that people, including my past self, would wait until big things happened in our lives to be like, ‘Wow, this is a miracle’ or ‘Wow, this is beautiful.’

“I started realizing that to train myself to be happier, whole, human and more content, I started training myself to notice the small miracles,” she said.

“Just by me waking up, you know how many miracles have happened, you know how many trillions of cells are moving,” Murad said.

The book has been five years in the making: “The real-time that it took was the courage. I feel that the content could have been ready years ago, but I think it’s the courage to take a step out and say, ‘This is me.’”

Murad stressed the importance of courage when it came to publishing the book: “You just have to trust and share.”

The book has sections titled “key messages” that serve as reminders of important life lessons.

She encourages readers to open to a random page, find their message of the day, or flip through until they connect to a message.

“I decided to compile my pieces into the ones that are ready to be shared with the world and their stories and a key life message because I don’t want people just to be passive; I want them to be involved, and that is why I created the creative activity,” she said.

Along with the launch of her book, Murad is co-hosting an art exhibition at St. Regis Riyadh, which she described as her “dream partner.”

The exhibition that opened on Wednesday features 30 paintings with a common theme of “accepting your higher mission on Earth.

“It’s about connecting with your inner purpose and accepting it,” the artist said.

Each of her pieces comes with lessons and themes that help people to unlock their mission in life through greater understanding.

Murad underlined that her aim through the book and her art was to heal, inspire and help people be seen.

Originally from Jordan, Murad has lived in US cities such as New York, Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles. She has called Riyadh home for more than a year.

Speaking about her year living in Saudi Arabia, Murad said: “The people are the kindest people I have ever met. I do not want to be anywhere else in the world other than here. The land inspires me, the energy inspires me, everything, and I am grateful to be here.”


Miss Universe 2024 walks for Michael Cinco at Dubai Fashion Week

Miss Universe 2024 walks for Michael Cinco at Dubai Fashion Week
Updated 05 February 2025
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Miss Universe 2024 walks for Michael Cinco at Dubai Fashion Week

Miss Universe 2024 walks for Michael Cinco at Dubai Fashion Week

DUBAI: Miss Universe 2024 Victoria Kjær Theilvig took to the runway for Dubai-based Filipino designer Michael Cinco on day four of Dubai Fashion Week (DFW). 

Theilvig closed the show wearing a red gown – with a strapless, sweetheart neckline – that featured intricate sequin embellishments. 

Cinco’s collection showcased detailed craftsmanship and dramatic silhouettes. (Supplied)

The dress included a dramatic, structured peplum detail at the waist over a fitted silhouette. The look was completed with a floor-length, flowing train. 

Cinco’s collection showcased detailed craftsmanship and dramatic silhouettes, reinforcing his signature aesthetic that has been touted by celebrities including Mariah Carey, Sofia Vergara and Aishwarya Rai, among others.

Tuesday showcased a diverse lineup of brands, including Viva Vox, Lama Jouni, CHOICE, and Riva, which all brought bold styles, modern femininity and refined elegance to the runway.

Russian brand Viva Vox’s creative director Oleg Ovsiyov unveiled an Autumn/Winter 2025-26 collection. (Supplied)

Russian brand Viva Vox’s creative director Oleg Ovsiyov unveiled an Autumn/Winter 2025-26 collection characterized by striking silhouettes, vibrant colors, and experimental fabric choices, reflecting the brand’s avant-garde identity.

Lebanese designer Jouni blended luxury and streetwear in a collection featuring muted tones, waist-enhancing separates, and structured dresses. The designs emphasized versatility and practicality, offering a balance of comfort and sophistication.

Dubai-based brand CHOICE channelled the 1970s for its Spring/Summer 2025 line, incorporating linen, cotton, tweeds, chiffons and silks. The collection featured feminine silhouettes with dramatic draping, bold accessories and a palette of caramel, bronze and desert sand-like hues. Metallic fringes, sequins and textured details added depth, while structured trench coats and waist-cinching designs completed the lineup.

Riva presented a collection of flowing kaftans, flattering silhouettes, and intricate embroidery. Lightweight fabrics like linen and cotton, paired with a soft color palette, offered versatile designs suited for formal and relaxed settings.

Theilvig won the Miss Universe crown in November. The dancer, entrepreneur and animal rights activist beat out more than 120 contestants in the pageant’s 73rd edition held in Mexico City. 

“I have been waiting for my whole life for this moment,” she said during the swimsuit round of the pageant.

“No matter where you come from, no matter your past, you can always choose to turn it into your strengths,” she also said on the Miss Universe stage at the time.