Seven wonders of Arab world to be named in bid to improve global recognition

Special The Qasr Al-Farid tomb (The Lonely Castle) is carved into rose-coloured sandstone in Madain Saleh, a UNESCO World Heritage site, near Saudi Arabia's northwestern town of Al-Ula. (File/AFP)
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The Qasr Al-Farid tomb (The Lonely Castle) is carved into rose-coloured sandstone in Madain Saleh, a UNESCO World Heritage site, near Saudi Arabia's northwestern town of Al-Ula. (File/AFP)
Special A view of Dubai's landmark Burj Khalifa skyscraper, the world's tallest building. (File/AFP)
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A view of Dubai's landmark Burj Khalifa skyscraper, the world's tallest building. (File/AFP)
Special A view of Sanaa’s old city with its UNESCO-listed buildings. (File/AFP)
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A view of Sanaa’s old city with its UNESCO-listed buildings. (File/AFP)
Special Seven ancient and modern wonders of the Arab world are expected to get a surge in global recognition as a major campaign prepares to get underway. (Supplied)
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Seven ancient and modern wonders of the Arab world are expected to get a surge in global recognition as a major campaign prepares to get underway. (Supplied)
Special Bernard Weber, President and Founder of New7Wonders, and Jean-Paul de la Fuente, Director of New7Wonders, honour Chichen Itza, Mexico, during Expo 2020 Dubai. (Supplied)
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Bernard Weber, President and Founder of New7Wonders, and Jean-Paul de la Fuente, Director of New7Wonders, honour Chichen Itza, Mexico, during Expo 2020 Dubai. (Supplied)
Special Bernard Weber, President and Founder of New7Wonders, and Jean-Paul de la Fuente, Director of New7Wonders, honour Chichen Itza, Mexico, during Expo 2020 Dubai. (Supplied)
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Bernard Weber, President and Founder of New7Wonders, and Jean-Paul de la Fuente, Director of New7Wonders, honour Chichen Itza, Mexico, during Expo 2020 Dubai. (Supplied)
Special Bernard Weber, President and Founder of New7Wonders, and Jean-Paul de la Fuente, Director of New7Wonders, honour Chichen Itza, Mexico, during Expo 2020 Dubai. (Supplied)
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Bernard Weber, President and Founder of New7Wonders, and Jean-Paul de la Fuente, Director of New7Wonders, honour Chichen Itza, Mexico, during Expo 2020 Dubai. (Supplied)
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Updated 29 September 2024
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Seven wonders of Arab world to be named in bid to improve global recognition

The Qasr Al-Farid tomb (The Lonely Castle) is carved into rose-coloured sandstone in Madain Saleh, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
  • Seven Arabian Wonders of the World project aims to recognize the accomplishments of Arab civilizations past and present

RIYADH: Seven ancient and modern wonders of the Arab world are expected to get a surge in global recognition as a major campaign prepares to get underway.

Organized by the foundation that led the campaign to name the Colosseum, Taj Mahal, Petra and others as the new seven wonders of the world in 2007, the Seven Arabian Wonders of the World project aims to recognize the accomplishments of Arab civilizations past and present.

The Zurich-based New7Wonders Foundation has now invited Arab states to bid for the exclusive rights to host the campaign, which is expected to take place by the summer of 2025.

Some of the architectural and engineering marvels poised to qualify include the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the World Trade Centre in Bahrain, Riyadh’s futuristic King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center designed by Zaha Hadid, and I.M. Pei’s Museum of Islamic Art in Qatar.

New7Wonders founder Bernard Weber believes these “modern monuments” deserve to be honored alongside equally remarkable achievements of ancient Arab civilizations: AlUla (Saudi Arabia), the Old City of Sanaa (Yemen), the Samarra Tower (Iraq), and reaching as far as the Alhambra Palace (Spain).

“The Arab world is in the midst of a remarkable renaissance that has witnessed the construction of a series of extraordinary landmarks. These kinds of modern world wonders are the product of an evolving Arab civilization that is confidently projecting itself to the world in a bold and dynamic way,” he told Arab News.  

Weber is confident that this latest chapter of his “wonders” movement will generate a significant wave of international enthusiasm and recognition.

“Our 7 Wonders of the Arabian World campaign will draw attention to not only the pathbreaking architectural and engineering wonders of a modern Arab world, but will also connect them symbolically to those of an ancient Arab civilization that should stand proudly alongside that of the Greeks and Romans,” Weber told Arab News.

“Arabian culture and its impact on humanity has not been properly recognized and celebrated in comparison with Greek, Roman, Chinese and other great cultures of the past.”

According to Weber, the event has the potential of generating more than $1 billion in tourism, branding and ancillary revenue to the host nation.

Weber’s original campaign to choose seven new world wonders

The Arab Wonders campaign is expected to build on the success of Weber’s landmark 2007 N7W competition that invited the public to choose from 400 historic structures from all over the world that led to more than 100 million ballots being cast between 2005 and 2007.

The final tally resulted in the proclamation of a new set of seven world wonders: Chichen Itza, The Great Wall of China, Machu Picchu, Petra, the Roman Colosseum, the Statue of Christ Redeemer, and the Taj Mahal.

The campaign fulfilled Weber’s dream of a democratic, worldwide vote that served as a long overdue revival of Herodotus’ ancient Greek concept of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World — declared in the fifth century B.C. — of which only the Pyramids of Giza are still standing.

Apart from reviving the ancient Greek “world wonders” classification, Weber also had the underlying goal of driving renewed efforts to preserve and protect those leading examples of human civilization. 

His faith was rewarded in the wake of the original 2007 world wonders declaration, after which many countries responded by undertaking badly-needed restoration work on their national treasures while promoting popular awareness and pride in their nations’ collective heritage.

China and the other countries where the new seven wonders are situated have all experienced a huge boost in tourism since joining New7Wonders movement. A case study by Pearson UK estimated that the net worldwide economic effect of New7Wonders exceeds $5 billion owing to the “Wonder Effect” on tourism as well as on national marketing and brand value generation.

The follow-up 2011 campaign enjoyed a similar level of spectacular success — with 600 million online votes cast. This is why Weber believes that the Seven Arab Wonders vote could well exceed the billion mark.

Today, the enormous impact of global social media interactive platforms such as TikTok and Instagram as well as YouTube will further energize the voting and campaigning for the Seven Arab Wonders “in a way that Herodotus could never have imagined,” Weber said.

An official declaration ceremony was held in 2007 in front of 60,000 spectators at the Benfica Stadium of Light in Lisbon, Portugal on July 7, 2007, or “7/7/7” day, a date chosen by Weber for its numerical affinity to the New7Wonders concept.

The star-studded event was headlined by Portuguese football legend Cristiano Ronaldo and Apollo astronaut Neil Armstrong, and featured performances by pop star Jennifer Lopez and operatic tenor Jose Carreras.

The ceremony was simulcast on TV networks on all continents and streamed online (a pioneering moment in broadcasting) to a global audience of more than one billion spectators.

‘Wonder Markers’ first unveiled at Expo 2020 Dubai

In 2022, the New7Wonders Foundation demonstrated its commitment to the Arab region when it took part in the Expo 2020 Dubai as an official participant. This historic event served as an ideal moment for Weber and his long-time N7W director Jean-Paul de la Fuente to unveil a series of symbolic “Wonder Markers” that were prepared specifically for the Expo.

The first of these almost three-meter signposts was installed and unveiled by De la Fuente in 2023 at the Huangyaguan Great Wall in China, featuring six panels pointing out the precise distance and geographical direction of the other world wonders.

“China was the first nation to install our permanent Wonder Marker. This served as unique recognition of the New7Wonders as a global brand promoting their most precious icon, the Great Wall, that would now be connected to six other ‘wonders’ across our planet,” De la Fuente explained.

Weber — an abiding passion for art and architecture

While living in Montreal, Canada in the late 1990s, Weber began formulating the elements of his New7Wonders project. He originally became fascinated by architecture while growing up in Switzerland where he was raised by his single mother Heidi, an ambitious entrepreneur.  

She became famous in the late fifties for persuading the legendary Swiss architect Le Corbusier to allow her to revive, reconfigure and relaunch the series of four modernist furniture designs — including the fabled chaise longue — that he first conceived in 1927.

On the day of this interview, the 61-year-old Weber — a champion freestyle skier as a teenager who later scaled the Matterhorn — was relaxing on one of the original Le Corbusier chaise longues that rolled off his mother’s assembly line in the late fifties. 

Weber has long cultivated a passion for art, aviation and film.

After serving as Donald Sutherland’s double in Federico Fellini’s “Casanova,” (“I was the only one who Fellini could find that was as tall as Sutherland,” Weber recalled) he decided to get behind the camera, making his directorial debut with the award-winning feature film “Hotel Locarno” in 1978.


Madinah research center releases map of 50 prominent archaeological sites

Madinah research center releases map of 50 prominent archaeological sites
Updated 30 min 43 sec ago
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Madinah research center releases map of 50 prominent archaeological sites

Madinah research center releases map of 50 prominent archaeological sites
  • Map includes documented historical landmarks, their current locations, and their association with the life of the Prophet Muhammad
  • Forms part of the center’s scientific and cultural documentation efforts, with the map featuring an interactive barcode for each historical landmark

RIYADH: The Madinah Research and Studies Center has released an updated version of the Innaha Taybah map, which features 50 historical and archaeological sites in the region.

The map includes documented historical landmarks, their current locations, and their association with the life of the Prophet Muhammad.

This comes as part of the center’s scientific and cultural documentation efforts, with the map featuring an interactive barcode for each historical landmark that introduces the place and allows users to view the historical site’s details.

It contains significant landmarks that tourists can visit, starting with the Prophet’s Mosque, the most prominent site in Madinah and a destination for Muslim visitors throughout the year.

Also featured are Baqi’ Al-Gharqad, Al-Safiyyah Museum and Park, the Architecture of the Prophet’s Mosque Exhibition and the International Fair and Museum of the Prophet’s Biography.

The map also includes prominent historical mosques that were built during the Prophet’s era and are still standing, such as the Mosque of Al-Ghamama, Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq Mosque, Omar bin Al-Khattab Mosque, Ali ibn Abi Talib Mosque, Al-Sajdah Mosque, Al-Ijabah Mosque, Al-Suqya Mosque, Al-Manaratain Mosque, Bani Haram Mosque, Al-Fatah Mosque, Al-Rayah Mosque, Bani Harithah Mosque, Al-Shaikhain Mosque, Al-Jumu’ah Mosque, and Quba Mosque.

The Innaha Taybah map includes numerous archaeological landmarks, notably the Sela Mountain, Jabal Aynayn (Al-Rumat), the Martyrs of Uhud Cemetery, and ancient wells that have been rehabilitated as part of a project to restore historical sites in the region. These include Bir Al-Khatam (Well of Arees), Athq Well, Al-Ihn Well, the Well of Ghars and Al-Foqair Well. Other sites include the Urwa Palace, Al-Jamawat, the King Fahd Complex for the Printing of the Holy Qur’an, and natural landmarks connected to events that took place in Madinah during the time of the Prophet Muhammad and subsequent eras.


Saudi cabinet calls for Arab-Islamic summit, urgent political solutions amid regional crises

Saudi cabinet calls for Arab-Islamic summit, urgent political solutions amid regional crises
Updated 05 November 2024
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Saudi cabinet calls for Arab-Islamic summit, urgent political solutions amid regional crises

Saudi cabinet calls for Arab-Islamic summit, urgent political solutions amid regional crises

RIYADH: The Saudi cabinet discussed the Kingdom’s call for an Arab-Islamic summit to address ongoing Israeli aggression in Palestinian territories and Lebanon, in a session chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday.

The cabinet also stressed the urgent need for a political resolution to the crisis in Sudan, urging all parties to honor the commitments outlined in the "Jeddah Declaration" of May 2023. It emphasized the importance of an immediate ceasefire in Sudan, a cessation of hostilities, and the unobstructed delivery of humanitarian aid to those in need.

The cabinet also reviewed the Kingdom’s recent hosting of the inaugural meeting of the Global Alliance to Implement the Two-State Solution, which brought together representatives from 90 countries and international organizations.


Understanding fans key to building sports brands, says football marketing guru 

Understanding fans key to building sports brands, says football marketing guru 
Updated 21 min 39 sec ago
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Understanding fans key to building sports brands, says football marketing guru 

Understanding fans key to building sports brands, says football marketing guru 
  • Manchester United connects with audiences and “converts followers to fans”
  • Saudi clubs should find their own unique point of view 

RIYADH: Understanding your fan base is a key element of successfully marketing your sports brand, Manchester United’s director of marketing told the audience at the Athar Festival of Creativity in Riyadh.

During his keynote speech, “Cultural Connection, Unbreakable Bonds and the Power of Stories: Lessons Learnt From a Career in Sports Marketing,” Matt McKie talked about his experience working in notable roles for the Olympics, Nike and EA Sports.

Whether you are a football fan or not, there is no denying that Manchester United is one of the most well-known clubs in the world. But how did it gain its reputation?

Like many popular teams, it is about connecting with your audience and Manchester United has a unique way of “converting followers to fans,” McKie told Arab News.

“I would say the absolute key to finding an audience and growing is really understanding your fans and, in the UK and in Europe, football clubs are bigger than just sports assets, than community assets, they mean more,” he said. “There will be generations of families that have gone to watch the team and support them, so honoring that and respecting that is absolutely key.”

An important marketing tactic for McKie involves researching the upbringing and backgrounds of athletes before their rise to stardom. This is a way to humanize them and create campaigns with a personal touch.

Manchester United's director of marketing Matt McKie talked about his experience working in notable roles for the Olympics, Nike and EA Sports. (AN photo/Loai Elkelawy)

“I think humanizing athletes is an important marketing tactic (and) I think it’s an important human tactic,” he said. “These are individuals in the public eye, there are millions and millions of people watching them, expecting things from them. They have the same problems we have ... so it’s incredibly important that we understand that.”

McKie highlights unique brand identities for emerging football clubs, such as FC Como and Venezia, in Italy, and Forest Green Rovers in England. Venezia is known for its love of fashion while the latter has claimed the title of becoming the first fully vegan football club.

“It’s really about building a profile and understanding who the audience is and then you can serve them the things that will drive them down towards being a fan, and a committed fan, that comes to games etc.

“It’s very important in women’s sports because of the very high proportion of fandom that exists there. It’s important as marketers that we actually bring them closer, we understand them, we give them content that’s going to engage them and not just bring the ideas of men’s football across and expect it to work.”

For Saudi teams, McKie’s advice is to “have a point of view.”

“Within Saudi, a lot of these teams are new or relatively new in the grand scheme of football. So there’s an opportunity to have a point of view and stand for something … to form a team that plays a certain way and isn’t bound by baggage that can come from being a really big heritage brand.”


KSA showcases urban initiatives at Cairo forum 

KSA showcases urban initiatives at Cairo forum 
Updated 05 November 2024
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KSA showcases urban initiatives at Cairo forum 

KSA showcases urban initiatives at Cairo forum 
  • The pavilion highlights Saudi Arabia’s initiatives in urban development and sustainable city planning

RIYADH: Egypt’s Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf, head of the Kingdom’s delegation, visited Saudi Arabia’s pavilion at the 12th World Urban Forum in Cairo, which began on Monday and ends on Nov. 8.

The pavilion, organized by the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, features spaces for meetings, workshops and dialogue sessions. It includes over 40 interactive activities and hosts 150 representatives from various Saudi entities. 

The pavilion highlights Saudi Arabia’s initiatives in urban development and sustainable city planning, showcasing innovative projects and successful experiences, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday. 

Egyptian Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly and Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz bin Ayyaf, head of the Saudi delegation, visited the Saudi pavilion at the 12th World Urban Forum in Cairo. (SPA)

It also showcases the Kingdom’s achievements under Vision 2030, including sustainable transport networks, infrastructure improvements, and enhanced municipal services in cities. 

On the sidelines of the forum, Prince Faisal met with several delegation heads to discuss enhancing cooperation and exchanging expertise. 

He discussed potential collaboration between Riyadh and Istanbul with Ekrem Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul, focusing on the exchange of skills.

He also met with Anar Guliyev, a member of the cabinet and chairman of the State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture in Azerbaijan, to discuss cooperation.


Athar Festival begins in Riyadh

Athar Festival begins in Riyadh
Updated 05 November 2024
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Athar Festival begins in Riyadh

Athar Festival begins in Riyadh
  • Almost 2,000 people registered for second edition, says organizer
  • Veteran Gulf publisher aims to gather region’s creative community

RIYADH: The second Athar Saudi Festival of Creativity kicked off on Tuesday with a full house in Crowne Plaza Riyadh RDC.

Hosted by UAE-based Motivate Media Group and communications consultancy TRACCS, the festival will feature 100 regional and international speakers and is expected to bring together almost 2,000 professionals and leaders from the creative marketing industry.

Ian Fairservice, managing partner and group editor-in-chief of Motivate Media Group, will chair the event, with Mohammed Al-Ayed, CEO of TRACCS, as vice chairman.

In an interview with Arab News, Fairservice said: “Athar has a role in bringing together the creative community, and the marketing community.

“The whole ethos of Athar is to create a community, albeit just for a couple of days, where everybody can come together and communicate and share ideas and develop new ones.”

He highlighted the increase of attendees this year, compared to last year’s event.

Ian Fairservice, managing partner of Motivate Media Group and chairman of Athar Festival, delivers a speech on the first day of the festival on Nov. 5, 2024 in Riyadh. (Loai Elkelawy)

“All of our numbers have pretty much doubled on last year. We have almost 2,000 attendees registered and, as you can see around us here, it’s absolutely buzzing. The main stage area is completely full. There are probably 100 people standing at the back watching our first keynote speaker today,” he said.

“In terms of other numbers, we have 400 entries for the awards for tomorrow night, of which there are 211 shortlisted.”

Fairservice’s knowledge of the region comes from living in Dubai for 47 years. He formed Motivate Media Group back in 1979 and launched one of the country’s first English-language magazines, “What’s On,” which had a primary readership of tourists and expatriates.

The inspiration behind it was simple — there was no media. It was, he recalls, an era “with no television, no radio, no newspapers, no magazines.”

Today, Motivate Media Group publishes numerous magazines such as “Emirates Woman,” “Gulf Business” and “Business Traveler Middle East.”

“We’ve grown the company organically and have gone into every different aspect of media across the board,” said Fairservice. “It’s been a privilege and a fantastic opportunity to have been able to do this from the ground floor.”

Athar Festival will continue on Wednesday with panel discussions, presentations and fireside chats focused on growing the creative landscape in Saudi Arabia, the Middle East and beyond, covering various sectors such as sports, entertainment, and tourism.

The event will conclude with the Athar Awards ceremony on the evening of Nov. 6.