Jeddah’s cultural canvas bursts into life for Ramadan Nights at Hayy Jameel

Ramadan Nights by Art Jameel have returned for a month of cultural celebration at Hayy Jameel in Jeddah. (Supplied)
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Ramadan Nights by Art Jameel have returned for a month of cultural celebration at Hayy Jameel in Jeddah. (Supplied)
Ramadan Nights by Art Jameel have returned for a month of cultural celebration at Hayy Jameel in Jeddah. (Supplied)
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Ramadan Nights by Art Jameel have returned for a month of cultural celebration at Hayy Jameel in Jeddah. (Supplied)
Ramadan Nights by Art Jameel have returned for a month of cultural celebration at Hayy Jameel in Jeddah. (Supplied)
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Ramadan Nights by Art Jameel have returned for a month of cultural celebration at Hayy Jameel in Jeddah. (Supplied)
Ramadan Nights by Art Jameel have returned for a month of cultural celebration at Hayy Jameel in Jeddah. (Supplied)
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Ramadan Nights by Art Jameel have returned for a month of cultural celebration at Hayy Jameel in Jeddah. (Supplied)
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Updated 09 March 2025
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Jeddah’s cultural canvas bursts into life for Ramadan Nights at Hayy Jameel

Ramadan Nights by Art Jameel have returned for a month of cultural celebration at Hayy Jameel in Jeddah. (Supplied)
  • Guests can also enjoy traditional board games, live music and Ramadan-inspired culinary offerings
  • Free and open to all, Ramadan Nights also offers a shopping experience at the cultural markets

JEDDAH: Following the popularity of last year’s program, Ramadan Nights by Art Jameel have returned for a month of cultural celebration at Hayy Jameel in Jeddah.

Running until March 29 from 9:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. daily, it is held under the slogan “Hayy lights up,” and features a range of activities including public programs, craft-inspired bazaars, pop-up eateries, film screenings and hands-on workshops exploring handicrafts, wellness and heritage.

Guests can also enjoy traditional board games, live music and Ramadan-inspired culinary offerings.

Uns Kattan, deputy director and head of learning and research at Art Jameel, said that the debut program last year welcomed more than 40,000 visitors of diverse ages and backgrounds. “This year, we recognize the thirst and passion for the community-focused program and created more opportunities that embody the spirit of togetherness, creativity and cultural exchange,” she said.

“Through a dynamic program that focuses on craft, film and storytelling, we celebrate the holy month by bringing people together in an inspiring and inclusive space that bridges the wide spectrum of creative endeavors under one roof.”

Free and open to all, Ramadan Nights also offers a shopping experience at the cultural markets. One of the highlights of this year’s program was Jebna Al-Eid, which took place from March 2-4, and Ramadaniyat Lavendar, which concluded on March 8. These markets, set across Rukn Hayy, Fenaa Hayy and Saha (the community courtyard), were a blend of local eateries, artisanal products and the sounds of Oud melodies, creating a lively atmosphere.

Ghada Khalid, co-founder of Lavender Events, told Arab News that Ramadaniyat Lavender presents a selection of products, from fashion items such as dresses, abayas and traditional wear, to a diverse food area featuring Mexican, Italian sweets, Uzbekistani cuisine, specialty coffee and desserts.

“This year, we introduced a makeover offer that can be used for Eid. Through this festival, we reach a diverse audience, catering to their needs and helping them experience the true essence of Ramadan,” she said.

Abeer Dahlawi, founder of Muse, an arts, culture and entertainment center, said: “We are here at Ramadan Nights to create an enjoyable experience for everyone, offering traditional games like carrom, chess and dominoes. Our goal is to encourage people to have fun, connect and socialize with one another.”

At the Hayy Markets, curated bazaars showcase a mix of books, fashion, artisanal crafts and design pieces that promote local creativity.

Meanwhile, the pop-up eateries, located at Saha and Rukn Hayy, offer a range of local and fusion-inspired cuisine, featuring notable names such as Aysh Academy, Sofia’s Bistro and Cookie Boo.

Visitors can also enjoy the Hayy Cinema experience, which features screenings of the “My Heritage” short film series. These films tell different stories about World Heritage sites in the Arab region and are screened repeatedly from 10 p.m. onwards.

Kattan highlighted that the special programming throughout the month includes handicraft and cultural workshops, where participants can explore heritage through interactive sessions such as lino-cut printmaking using Hejazi patterns, traditional crafts by local and refugee artisans, and Arabic calligraphy.

There will also be community talks on topics ranging from Jeddah’s history and Ramadan rituals to mental health and healing. These discussions are led by experts and provide both informative and enriching experiences for attendees.

For younger visitors, the Hayy Explorers program offers an interactive experience from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m., featuring storytelling, arts and crafts. Meanwhile, the Hayy Arts and Studios section highlights contemporary art with group exhibitions such as “We Saw an Endless Cycle” and “Thread Memory: Embroidery from Palestine,” as well as open studios and workshops hosted by Jeddah-based creatives.

Dalia Rahman, who was visiting with her friends, said: “The atmosphere here is so welcoming. We came to shop for Eid dresses and found unique designs that aren’t available in regular stores. During Ramadan, I prefer to focus on worship and prayer rather than spending time in malls. This place offers everything in one spot while also celebrating cultural and traditional activities.”


KSrelief continues to aid Lebanon’s refugee population

KSrelief continues to aid Lebanon’s refugee population
Updated 37 sec ago
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KSrelief continues to aid Lebanon’s refugee population

KSrelief continues to aid Lebanon’s refugee population

RIYADH: Dozens of ambulance missions have been carried out by the Souboul Al Salam Association’s ambulance service in the Miniyeh district, northern Lebanon, in a Saudi-funded initiative.

Financially backed by KSrelief, the initiative ran from May 2-5.

The mission aimed to provide transportation and burn treatment for Syrian refugees and the local community.


WWE, Riyadh Season to host Night of Champions in June

WWE, Riyadh Season to host Night of Champions in June
Updated 31 min 23 sec ago
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WWE, Riyadh Season to host Night of Champions in June

WWE, Riyadh Season to host Night of Champions in June
  • Kingdom Arena to hold event on June 27

RIYADH: World Wrestling Entertainment, in collaboration with Riyadh Season, will host the Night of Champions event at the Kingdom Arena, part of the Kingdom’s ongoing commitment to creating international entertainment, the Saudi Press Agency has reported.

The SmackDown show will take place on Friday, June 27.

The event will be exclusively live on Peacock in the US but will also be available on Netflix and other outlets for people in Saudi Arabia.


Saudi Arabia, US explore ways to build next generation of AI

Saudi Arabia, US explore ways to build next generation of AI
Updated 13 May 2025
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Saudi Arabia, US explore ways to build next generation of AI

Saudi Arabia, US explore ways to build next generation of AI
  • Partnerships key, says David Sacks, Silicon Valley veteran
  • Google’s Ruth Porat outlines her firm’s work in Kingdom

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and US officials discussed ways to further collaborate on artificial intelligence at the Saudi-US Investment Forum here on Tuesday.

The discussions took place during two sessions titled “Pioneering Digital Futures: Joint Leadership in AI and Emerging Technologies,” and “Digital Foundations: Building the Next Generation of AI and Infrastructure.”

In the first session, the speakers were Saudi Minister of Information and Communications Technology Abdullah Alswaha and David Sacks, a Silicon Valley veteran who is helping the administration of President Donald Trump develop the crypto industry.

Sacks said he was impressed, during his tour of some technology companies, that founders and entrepreneurs in Saudi Arabia “are really on the cutting edge of what’s happening with AI.”

“The thing that that I’ve learned in Silicon Valley for the past 25 years is that every successful company in Silicon Valley gets to be that way by creating an ecosystem, and the biggest, the most powerful companies … are the ones that create the biggest ecosystem.”

“In fact, they do that by creating a standard. They want everyone to build on top of them. They create app stores, things like that. In fact, they’re able to build these ecosystems without even having any lawyers involved.

“There’s no need for a contract. You just publish an API (Application Programming Interface) and people will build. And I think in a similar way, the United States needs to encourage the world to build on our text that.

He spoke about how Trump challenged them to be at the forefront of the AI race. “He said, we have to win the AI race. The United States has to win the AI race,” Sacks said.

“And the answer is that we have to build the biggest partner ecosystem. We need our friends like the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and other strategic partners and allies to want to build on our cap.”

Sacks also criticized what has become known as former US President Joe Biden’s diffusion rule.

This restricted access to mainstream computing applications and set caps on the number of advanced chips that could be exported to most countries.

“Over the past few years, that’s been the opposite of the approach in Washington,” said Sacks.

“The Trump administration just announced that (it) would be rescinding what’s known as the Biden diffusion rule, which was a rule that came out in January.”

Using iPhones as an example, Sacks said that if Trump had created a rule for these products, the technology backing it would not have spread throughout the world.

He said that the diffusion of iPhones was “a very good thing” for the US.

“I think in a similar way, we want our technology to diffuse or to spread. We want people to use it. We want to become the standard.

“And I think that in Washington, that mentality is, I think that sorely lacked over the past few years, but we’re gonna bring it back.”

In the later session CEOs and tech innovators discussed growth in this sector globally, and developments in the Kingdom.

Ruth Porat, president and chief investment officer of Alphabet and Google, outlined her company’s work in Saudi Arabia.

“Google is now building data centers, bringing graphic processing units, tensor processing units, and developing the most advanced version of our AI software Gemini which is now available in 16 Arabic dialects,” said Porat.


Saudi Stock Exchange chair says Vision 2030 has turned Kingdom into ‘reliable, investible destination’

Saudi Stock Exchange chair says Vision 2030 has turned Kingdom into ‘reliable, investible destination’
Updated 13 May 2025
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Saudi Stock Exchange chair says Vision 2030 has turned Kingdom into ‘reliable, investible destination’

Saudi Stock Exchange chair says Vision 2030 has turned Kingdom into ‘reliable, investible destination’

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has become a more attractive destination for investment since the Kingdom introduced its ambitious Vision 2030, according to the head of the Saudi Stock Exchange Sarah Al-Suhaimi.

“Eight years into Vision 2030, (it) has turned Saudi Arabia to a reliable and investible destination; this has been proven by numbers and I think this is just the beginning,” Al-Suhaimi said during the Saudi-US Investment Forum on Tuesday.

It had been made possible under the Kingdom’s leadership and by everyone working in the Saudi capital market to “create a market that is globally integrated, open and trustworthy” — from local and international participants alike, she said.

“Particularly, as we are in the Saudi-US investment forum, I would like to mention a few examples of a very old relationship (between both countries).

“One of them, if we talk about capital market infrastructure, our partnership between Nasdaq — an American stock exchange — goes more than 20 years back. And now we’re working together on upgrading those systems.”

Tuesday's session hosted Saudi Stock Exchange Sarah Al-Suhaimi alogside BlackRock CEO Larry Fink (R), and Saudi economist Muhammed Al-Jasser (L). (Supplied)

Al-Suhaimi said that the Saudi Stock Exchange, or Tadawul, was among the world’s largest stock exchanges.

“We have a very advanced stock exchange, which also led us to be one of the tenth largest exchanges in the world.”

The same session also hosted Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser, who said it was “quite remarkable what Saudi Arabia has done” in diversifying its economy — whether in tourism, life sciences, gaming and sports, and AI.

“I think it is so wonderful and but also quite remarkable what the Kingdom has done,” Fraser said.

“This is now mutually a beneficial relationship. Now, this isn’t the US coming in saying to Saudi what the advice is and what to do, this is about trying to support a partner, but equally a partner supporting the US back home as well,” she said.

Meanwhile, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink said tens of trillions of dollars of financial firepower is sitting idle in cash amid trade war worries and uncertainty over the United States economy, whose deficits are beginning to spook investors.

“There is 12 trillion euros sitting in bank accounts in Europe. In the United States, there's $11 trillion sitting in money markets funds. When there is uncertainty, you are going to keep more and more money in cash and that is what we witnessed,” Fink told delegates at the Riyadh forum. 

He also praised Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 economic transformation program, saying the kingdom was building a diversified economy that had potential to become a 21st century global leader.

(with input from Reuters) 

 


Saudi Arabia sees private sector surge, unemployment at record low, says finance minister

Saudi Arabia sees private sector surge, unemployment at record low, says finance minister
Updated 13 May 2025
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Saudi Arabia sees private sector surge, unemployment at record low, says finance minister

Saudi Arabia sees private sector surge, unemployment at record low, says finance minister
  • Mohammed Al-Jadaan spoke at US-Saudi Investment Forum in Riyadh 

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan said on Tuesday the Kingdom had tackled difficult structural changes at an incredible pace over the past seven years.

Speaking at the US-Saudi Investment Forum in Riyadh, Al-Jadaan said private investment as a percentage of gross domestic product could take decades, but Saudi Arabia was boasting growth in the private sector from 16 to 23 percent.

He added: “Saudi Arabia currently has the lowest unemployment rate in the country’s history with about 3.5 percent, and among the nationals the Kingdom achieved its target for Vision 2030 with the rate being 7 percent.”

Al-Jadaan also said there had been major structural changes regarding women’s empowerment.

He said: “Bringing half of your society to the productive part of the economy is significant and that drives a serious change. Moving from 17 percent of women participating in the workforce to 36 percent is a serious structural change.”

Meanwhile, the minister said the Kingdom’s target of 100 million tourists by 2030 had been achieved two years ago, and added: “When you have a leadership that sets a clear vision and mobilizes the nation behind it, the people of Saudi Arabia then own it and see that this is their vision, their country and their transformation.”

US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent said the US prioritized its relationship with Saudi Arabia.

He added: “President Trump’s economic agenda focuses on three parts: trade, tax bills and deregulation.”

Bessent said the US was working to rebalance its economy with the focus on manufacturing, and hoped China would shift to a consumer economy.

Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Investment Khalid Al-Falih welcomed attendees at the event and thanked the Kingdom’s leadership for hosting the event. 

“We are here to realize the intentions of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to broaden Saudi Arabia’s investment and trade in the amount of $600 billion,” he said.