Festivals showcase Al-Jouf region

Festivals showcase Al-Jouf region
The Al-Jouf region in Saudi Arabia has recently experienced a surge in economic and tourism activity, thanks to three festivals that have provided diverse entertainment for families and youth across the region. (SPA)
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Updated 02 August 2024
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Festivals showcase Al-Jouf region

Festivals showcase Al-Jouf region
  • The third Al-Jouf Bounties Festival in Sakaka drew an impressive crowd of nearly 70,000 visitors
  • The event exceeded sales expectations for participating farmers

SAKAKA: The Al-Jouf region in Saudi Arabia has recently experienced a surge in economic and tourism activity, thanks to three festivals that have provided diverse entertainment for families and youth across the region.
The third Al-Jouf Bounties Festival in Sakaka, which ended on Thursday, drew an impressive crowd of nearly 70,000 visitors over its four-day run. The event exceeded sales expectations for participating farmers and featured a variety of children’s activities, entertainment programs, as well as health awareness and service booths.
In Dumat Al-Jandal, the second Summer Fun Festival proved popular for visitors, offering a wide range of activities and family-friendly entertainment. The event also provided a platform for food truck owners, entrepreneurs and productive families to showcase their offerings, promoting sustainable development. Additionally, the festival incorporated games designed to enhance cognitive skills.
Meanwhile, the third Fruit Festival in Tubarjal governorate, which began two days ago, is capitalizing on the region’s bountiful fruit production, which reaches 170,000 tons annually. The festival features 32 pavilions displaying agricultural products, highlighting fruits produced in the region. Complementing the agricultural focus, the event also includes entertainment activities such as a performance theater and a fine arts exhibition.


JAX District hosts dialogue sessions on contemporary arts

JAX District hosts dialogue sessions on contemporary arts
Updated 21 sec ago
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JAX District hosts dialogue sessions on contemporary arts

JAX District hosts dialogue sessions on contemporary arts
  • Talks held as part of Noor Riyadh blend creativity, critical thinking to explore new horizons in realms of art, society
  • The discussions also focused on the role of cultural institutions in boosting art and culture

RIYADH: JAX District in Diriyah, northwest of Riyadh, has hosted a week-long series of Noor Talks as part of community engagement activities accompanying the light festival Noor Riyadh 2024.
Noor Riyadh is running until Dec. 14 with the theme “Light Years Apart.”
The talks served as a platform for cultural dialogues, reinforcing Riyadh’s status as a global hub for art and creativity.
They blended creativity with critical thinking, inspiring participants to explore new horizons in the realms of art and society.
The talks were held to explore the dimensions of art and culture from a multifaceted perspective.
Sessions addressed topics related to art and culture and featured the participation of artists, curators, specialists, and cultural experts, as well as those interested in the sector.
The discussions also focused on the role of cultural institutions in boosting art and culture, as well as their importance in promoting communication between generations.
In a session moderated by Gaida Al-Mogren, artistic director of the Noor Riyadh Festival, Effat Abdullah Fadag and Alfredo Cramerotti, the festival’s co-curators, discussed the symbiotic relationship between the Earth and the stars and how this influenced both the symbolic and practical aspects of the festival.
They emphasized that curators and artists benefited from exchanging diverse viewpoints which allowed artworks to evolve and highlighted the festival’s theme, along with the variety of artistic perspectives.
In another session, Refik Anadol, Lachlan Turczan and Ebtehal Al-Rajhi discussed the creative process behind designing public art, emphasizing its importance in resonating with the audience to enhance community participation and strengthen cultural identity.
The session emphasized the ability of public art to seamlessly integrate with the surrounding environment, relying on technology, environmental harmony, and narrative approaches to interact with the public on multiple levels.
In a session moderated by Miguel Blanco-Carrasco, and featuring panelists Vilma Jurkute, Nawaf Alharbi, and Nour Kelani, building creative communities through collaborative work was discussed.
The session also touched on the role of music and artistic performances in fostering cultural innovation; the importance of creating sustainable networks to support creators; and providing spaces for dialogue and education.
The talks, which were held throughout last week, concluded with a dialogue moderated by cultural expert Sara Al-Mutlaq, in which the role of cultural institutions in the 21st century was discussed. The session featured Noura Al-Maashouq, Jack Persekian, Farah Abushullaih, and Nora Aldabal.
The participants emphasized the importance of museums and cultural institutions as platforms for inspiration and learning, especially for the young.


Saudi Arabia poised to expand manufacturing ecosystem with inaugural CPHI Middle East

Saudi Arabia poised to expand manufacturing ecosystem with inaugural CPHI Middle East
Updated 4 min 14 sec ago
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Saudi Arabia poised to expand manufacturing ecosystem with inaugural CPHI Middle East

Saudi Arabia poised to expand manufacturing ecosystem with inaugural CPHI Middle East
  • Event expects over 400 exhibitors, representatives from more than 100 countries
  • ‘We are thrilled to launch the show and play a role in building a new heart of pharma in the Middle East,’ says CPHI Middle East’s brand manager

RIYADH: Efforts to build a new manufacturing and research and development hub in Saudi Arabia and across the wider Middle East are accelerating as more than 30,000 pharma professionals and decision-makers are expected to attend the inaugural CPHI (Convention on Pharmaceutical Ingredients) Middle East at Riyadh Front Exhibition and Convention Center.

CPHI Middle East, which is to be held from Dec. 10-12, will be the largest-ever gathering of pharma companies in the region as government officials, global pharma companies, biotechs and manufacturing partners meet to begin the next phase in the Kingdom’s plans to build a world-class R&D and manufacturing infrastructure.

Tahaluf, Saudi Arabia’s fastest-growing business event organizer, has been behind the event which has garnered the support of the Saudi Ministry of Health.

April Hung, brand manager for CPHI Middle East, said: “CPHI Middle East is set to be the portfolio’s most successful launch to date, with incredibly impressive attendee and exhibitor numbers. This level of interest reflects the region’s ambitions and strong demand for partnerships.”

Hung added: “The public-private collaboration here is impressive, and by bringing CPHI to Saudi Arabia we are helping accelerate the development of partnerships and supply ecosystems that will fuel growth over the next five years.

“We are thrilled to launch the show and play a role in building a new ‘heart of pharma’ in the Middle East.”

The event is expecting over 400 exhibitors, and representatives from more than 100 countries.

Pharma leaders predict that the first CPHI event in the Kingdom will help speed up efforts to establish a robust domestic manufacturing base.

Hala Audi, the CEO of Unizima, a consultancy specialising in public and private partnerships for bioproduction facilities in emerging markets, said: “The event’s success is just another indicator of the significant investment underway in the region.

“The rate of change is only accelerating, and the Kingdom is building pharma infrastructure at pace. The government is rightly driving the momentum, by focusing on its strengths — a sizable domestic market, growing scientific and medical talent, and financing power.

“I believe that with the right technology partnerships, the region is poised to build a biotech ecosystem that will compete with the best globally. Next generation technologies for vaccines and therapeutics, including for instance RNA-based treatments, offer an opportunity for the Kingdom and the region to leapfrog and lead the way in biotech.”

More than 150 experts are presenting at the event and a ministerial panel on Dec. 10 will outline the Kingdom’s strategy to develop a biopharma ecosystem, in alignment with the Kingdom’s vision to be the leading biotech hub in MENA (Middle East and North Africa) by 2030 and globally by 2040.

The Kingdom has ambitious plans to reduce its reliance on imported drugs. Saudi Arabia relies heavily on imports for its pharmaceutical needs, with only 30 percent of drugs manufactured locally. To address this, the government aims to increase local production to 40 percent as part of its Vision 2030 plan.

Among the event’s highlights, Audi will share insights on building biologics capabilities in emerging markets, while Greg Licholai, chief medical and innovation officer at Icon and faculty member at Yale School of Management, will explore “The Patient Singularity: How the Middle East can use AI to Improve Bio-Pharmaceutical Outcomes.”

The event will also feature prominent panel discussions, including a session on expanding Saudi Arabia’s domestic manufacturing hub, moderated by Eleonora Brero, head of consulting and financial institution consulting at IQVIA Middle East and Africa.

 


Saudi commission showcases Taif rose heritage at UNESCO meeting in Paraguay

Taif roses have secured a place on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list. (SPA)
Taif roses have secured a place on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list. (SPA)
Updated 4 min 33 sec ago
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Saudi commission showcases Taif rose heritage at UNESCO meeting in Paraguay

Taif roses have secured a place on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list. (SPA)
  • Visitors in the Saudi pavilion are discovering a curated selection of traditional rose-based culinary creations

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Culinary Arts Commission has unveiled a pavilion celebrating the newly recognized Taif rose at the 19th UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Committee meeting in Asuncion, Paraguay, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

According to the SPA, visitors in the Saudi pavilion are discovering a curated selection of traditional rose-based culinary creations.

The exhibition features specialty beverages including rose-infused tea and lattes, alongside traditional sweets such as rose-flavored Saqudanah, all representing elements of Saudi national identity and contributing to global cultural diversity.

The commission’s presence at the forum highlights the importance of preserving the Kingdom’s natural resources while promoting sustainable environmental practices in the cultivation of Taif roses.

By marketing local Saudi products internationally, the commission is highlighting the Kingdom’s position as a source of premium agricultural products and stimulating investment in the national agricultural sector, the SPA reported.


Tourism Development Fund celebrates Saudi handicrafts

Fifteen Saudi startups were selected for the Tourism Growth Accelerator for Handicrafts and Souvenirs program. (Arab News)
Fifteen Saudi startups were selected for the Tourism Growth Accelerator for Handicrafts and Souvenirs program. (Arab News)
Updated 42 min 34 sec ago
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Tourism Development Fund celebrates Saudi handicrafts

Fifteen Saudi startups were selected for the Tourism Growth Accelerator for Handicrafts and Souvenirs program. (Arab News)
  • Fifteen Saudi startups were selected for the Tourism Growth Accelerator for Handicrafts and Souvenirs program

RIYADH: The Tourism Development Fund recently celebrated the achievements of 15 Saudi startups in the Tourism Growth Accelerator for Handicrafts and Souvenirs program, in partnership with AlMashtal Creative Incubator in Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter.
Over 560 entrepreneurs and creators applied to the program, with 40 participants advancing to the final challenge phase and 15 projects being completed.
The program provided a competitive training framework involving a range of creative activities that aided local innovators in presenting their ideas with the aim of delivering them in high-quality formats that could find a place in the global market.
Additionally, the fund organized a specialized workshop in collaboration with the Al-Mushtal Creative Incubator focusing on intellectual property protection.
During the event, Qusai AI-Fakhri, CEO of the Tourism Development Fund, expressed his pride in the participants.
“We are proud of what the participants have accomplished through the Tourism Growth Accelerator for Handicrafts and Souvenirs program. The creative entrepreneurs have demonstrated their ability to transform ideas into products that tell inspiring stories,” said Al-Fakhri.
Princess Nourah bint Saud bin Nayef Al Saud, founder and CEO of the Al-Mushtal Creative Incubator, highlighted the importance of collaborating with Saudi brands, as it “contributes to supporting small and medium enterprises in the tourism sector, enabling them to be ambassadors of contemporary Saudi identity through their products,” she said.
Kholoud Attar, CEO of DRB Saudiverse and Souvenirs, one of the event’s spotlighted Saudi brands, presented products inspired by the Arabic love story “Majnun Layla,” in which lovers Qays and Layla, although born into the same tribe, are unable to be together.
“Today in the accelerator, we are doing a product concept called ‘Diar Layla,’ which is inspired by … Saudi culture. We were surprised to find that the poet Qays is from an area in Saudi Arabia called Alflag (a village near Riyadh), which a lot of people, including us Saudis, don’t know,” she said.
In the classic story, Qays becomes obsessed with Layla, and his tribe gives him the nickname “Majnun Layla,” a term that is still used to this day to describe someone who is madly in love.
The souvenirs are a necklace in the shape of a lock and a brooch that serves as a key with a design inspired by the iconic Najdi doors, known for their geometric patterns and colors.
“We created the lock to be the necklace, and the keyhole is the brooch for the men to wear, so it’s a two-in-one gift. She gets to keep the necklace, and he gets to keep the lock,” Attar said.
Attar said that the accelerator provided her with an educational experience that was curated for each brand and individual.
“I have been in several accelerators before, but what was really special about this was that … it was customized to each person … I learned how to create a product, design it, and (pitch) it to the market successfully.”


Royal Commission for AlUla partners with French School of Culinary Arts

Royal Commission for AlUla partners with French School of Culinary Arts
Updated 06 December 2024
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Royal Commission for AlUla partners with French School of Culinary Arts

Royal Commission for AlUla partners with French School of Culinary Arts
  • Ferrandi Paris Campus AlUla to provide high-quality programs to equip Saudis with skills to enter expanding jobs market
  • Inaugural intake of 100 students will enroll in culinary arts, hospitality, tourism courses that follow the Ferrandi Paris syllabus

ALULA: A pioneering new vocational training college will provide the AlUla community with the skills they need to forge new careers in Saudi Arabia’s rapidly developing jobs ecosystem.

Announced during the 8th Future Investment Initiative in Riyadh, the upcoming Ferrandi Paris Campus AlUla is the result of an expansive, multi-year partnership between the Royal Commission for AlUla and the historic French School of Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management, Ferrandi Paris.

The college will provide extensive training in exciting fields to serve AlUla’s growth as a global destination for tourism, investment, and discovery.

The college is set to welcome its first intake of 100 students in 2025, according to a statement by the RCU.

The Ferrandi Paris Campus AlUla will offer diplomas in culinary arts, hospitality and tourism — specialist subjects that will cater to RCU’s comprehensive regeneration goals and equip residents with key skills.

Programs include a preparatory year, followed by two years focused on specialization.

This initiative reflects RCU’s broader commitment to investing in education at all levels, upskilling Saudi men and women in sectors including tourism, film, archaeology, and hospitality.

Culinary arts students can expect to learn the traditions, processes, and techniques of preparing and serving classic French cuisine and pastry.

Hospitality and tourism classes will cover the full range of roles and services required to meet the needs of growing numbers of visitors to AlUla and destinations around Saudi Arabia.

Ferrandi Paris Campus AlUla is aligned with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 and RCU’s successful community upskilling projects such as the Hammayah Program, which has engaged thousands of people from AlUla in cultural, heritage, and tourism initiatives.

Meanwhile, initiatives like the AlUla Scholarship Programme continue to enroll Saudi students at leading international universities.

Establishing the new Ferrandi Paris Campus AlUla supports the deep-rooted relationship between Saudi and French entities, supported by the mission to drive the development of AlUla as an international hub for knowledge exchange.

Ferrandi Paris boasts more than a century of experience providing the highest levels of training to hospitality professionals, which means the new Ferrandi Paris Campus AlUla will be a dynamic addition to AlUla’s education ecosystem and RCU’s network of global partners.