Athar Festival begins in Riyadh

Athar Festival begins in Riyadh
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The audience is pictured on the first day of the Athar Festival in Riyadh on Nov. 5, 2024. (Loai Elkelawy)
Athar Festival begins in Riyadh
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Ian Fairservice, managing partner of Motivate Media Group and chairman of Athar Festival is pictured on the first day of the festival on Nov. 5, 2024 in Riyadh. (Loai Elkelawy)
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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.


Saudi team wins top Arab spot at World Robot Olympiad in Turkiye

Saudi team wins top Arab spot at World Robot Olympiad in Turkiye
Updated 36 sec ago
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Saudi team wins top Arab spot at World Robot Olympiad in Turkiye

Saudi team wins top Arab spot at World Robot Olympiad in Turkiye
  • The Kingdom sent 15 teams of 30 students from various regions, supported by 11 advisers and 15 trainers

Riyadh: Saudi Arabia’s Al-Jawhara Al-Qahtani and Aseel Al-Jasser secured first place among Arab countries and ninth globally on debut in the Future Engineers category at the World Robot Olympiad International Final.

Held in the Turkish city of Izmir from Nov. 26 to 30, the contest drew participants of all ages from more than 90 countries, with a focus on creativity in robotics and artificial intelligence.

The Kingdom sent 15 teams of 30 students from various regions, supported by 11 advisers and 15 trainers, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The collaborative effort involved the Saudi Ministry of Education, the Saudi Federation for Robotics & RC Sports, Tuwaiq Academy, and Tatweer Education Holding Co.

The competition featured categories such Robo Missions, Robo Sports, Innovators of the Future, and Future Engineers.

Al-Qahtani and Al-Jasser credited their success to months of work at a camp at Tuwaiq Academy, SPA reported.

They built the robot using artificial intelligence, machine learning, 3D printing, and sensors connected to camera and radar technologies.

A training camp for Saudi participants was held at Tuwaiq Academy, the training arm of the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones, aimed at enhancing students’ creativity, design capabilities and problem-solving skills through robotics competitions and activities aligned with educational plans.


Saudi aid supports Nigerian orphans, Yemen’s displaced

Saudi aid supports Nigerian orphans, Yemen’s displaced
Updated 48 min 46 sec ago
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Saudi aid supports Nigerian orphans, Yemen’s displaced

Saudi aid supports Nigerian orphans, Yemen’s displaced

Riyadh: Saudi aid agency KSrelief has signed a joint agreement to support orphans in Ilorin, Nigeria.

Under the agreement, 800 orphans aged 2 to 18 will receive housing, food, healthcare and education through orphanages in collaboration with the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in Kwara State.

About 150 orphans between the ages of 15 and 18 will be trained in craft trades to help them earn a living, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.

KSrelief also signed a cooperation agreement with a civil society organization to establish a residential complex for internally displaced persons in the Midi district of Yemen’s Hajjah governorate.

The project, valued at $3.81 million, will benefit 4,094 people, SPA reported.

The initiative will provide 232 housing units, each consisting of two rooms, a kitchen, a bathroom, and an open courtyard.

Additional facilities will include a secondary school, a mosque and a children’s playground to support residents and the host community.

Both agreements were signed by KSrelief’s Assistant Supervisor General for Operations and Programs Ahmed Al-Baiz at the center’s headquarters in Riyadh.


KSrelief continues humanitarian activities in Lebanon, Sudan

KSrelief continues humanitarian activities in Lebanon, Sudan
Updated 01 December 2024
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KSrelief continues humanitarian activities in Lebanon, Sudan

KSrelief continues humanitarian activities in Lebanon, Sudan

RIYADH: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center’s (KSrelief) activities in Lebanon and Sudan continues, with its latest humanitarian and medical outreach for needy individuals.

In Lebanon, Saudi Arabia’s humanitarian agency distributed vouchers on Thursday, enabling beneficiaries to purchase winter clothing according to their needs from approved stores.

The latest undertaking benefited 520 individuals from Syrian and Palestinian refugee families, as well as host communities in Lebanon’s Naema and Sidon, as part of the center’s Kanaf-3 project for 2024.

The KSrelief-funded Souboul Al-Salam Association ambulance team in Miniyeh of northern Lebanon meanwhile carried out 38 ambulance missions from Nov. 8 to 14, which included transporting patients to and from hospitals and assisting individuals injured in road accidents.

In Sudan, a team of 13 specialist volunteers conducted orthopedic surgeries on Thursday for nine patients as part of the Kingdom’s effort to support the Sudanese people amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis.


Saudi ambassador presents credentials to Cameroon’s president

President Paul Biya of Cameroon (L) receives credentials from Saudi ambassador Ibrahim Al-Ghamdi in Yaoundé. (X @KSAmofaEN)
President Paul Biya of Cameroon (L) receives credentials from Saudi ambassador Ibrahim Al-Ghamdi in Yaoundé. (X @KSAmofaEN)
Updated 01 December 2024
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Saudi ambassador presents credentials to Cameroon’s president

President Paul Biya of Cameroon (L) receives credentials from Saudi ambassador Ibrahim Al-Ghamdi in Yaoundé. (X @KSAmofaEN)
  • Ambassador Al-Ghamdi conveyed the greetings of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to President Biya

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Cameroon, Ibrahim Al-Ghamdi, on Saturday presented his credentials to President Paul Biya of Cameroon, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Ambassador Al-Ghamdi conveyed the greetings of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to President Biya, wishing the people of Cameroon and the government continued progress and prosperity.

 


Brazil conference discusses Islamic education, identity

Brazil conference discusses Islamic education, identity
Updated 30 November 2024
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Brazil conference discusses Islamic education, identity

Brazil conference discusses Islamic education, identity
  • Forum highlights Saudi commitment to Shariah education, support for Muslim minorities

RIYADH: The 37th International Conference of Latin American and Caribbean Muslims is being held in Sao Paulo, Brazil, under the theme “Shariah education in Latin American and Caribbean countries, and its impact on preserving identity,” from Nov. 29 to Dec. 1.

Organized by the Islamic Dawah Center in Brazil in collaboration with the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs, the three-day event brings together ministers, scholars, researchers and specialists from Arab, Islamic, Latin American and Caribbean countries.

The conference promotes Islamic education among Muslim minorities, the religion’s role in preserving identity and social cohesion, and addressing challenges facing Muslim minority communities.

Saudi Arabia’s presence reflects its commitment to supporting Islam and Muslims, promoting moderation and balance, and strengthening the connection of Muslim minority communities to Islamic values that foster harmony, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

Awwad Al-Anzi, undersecretary for Islamic affairs at the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs, represented the Kingdom and delivered the opening speech on behalf of Minister Abdullatif Al-Asheikh.

He said that education is the “foundation of virtuous deeds,” guiding correct beliefs and practices, and highlighted the role of Shariah education in clarifying concepts and combating ignorance.

Al-Anzi praised Saudi Arabia’s commitment to education, noting its mandatory education policy and substantial investment in the sector, which has positively impacted society.

He also highlighted the Kingdom’s focus on applied sciences and scholarships, enabling it to produce distinguished graduates across various fields.

Additionally, he underscored Saudi Arabia’s global contributions to education, including building schools and universities, offering scholarships to Muslim students and fostering scientific partnerships.

Al-Anzi reviewed the Ministry of Islamic Affairs’ efforts in spreading Shariah education worldwide through its cultural and Islamic centers.

Ahmed Ali Al-Saifi, head of the Islamic Dawah Center, expressed gratitude to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their steadfast support of Muslims in Latin America and the Caribbean, particularly in bolstering religious and educational institutions.

He highlighted the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs for its diligent oversight of mosques and religious institutions in the region.

Al-Saifi saids that the forum aims to address challenges in teaching Arabic and Shariah sciences, and establish Shariah and Arabic language departments in major universities to meet the growing demand for Shariah education.

He expressed hope that the conference would produce scientific recommendations and scholarly works that support its mission.

Federal Deputy Vicentinho Paulo da Silva delivered a speech on behalf of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, highlighting the respectful relationship between the government and Brazil’s Muslim community, and acknowledging their vital role in the country’s development.

He noted the strong ties between Brazil and Saudi Arabia, built on solidarity, sovereignty and mutual respect, highlighting Brazil’s high regard for Arabs, particularly through its relationship with Saudi Arabia.

Delegation leaders praised Saudi Arabia, represented by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, for sponsoring the event and enriching it with contributions from ministry experts and Saudi university professors.

Hassan Musa, deputy chairman of the Swedish Fatwa Council, expressed gratitude to the Saudi leadership for their efforts in serving Islam and Muslims, and promoting moderation worldwide.