Riyadh to host International Restoration Week in October

Various organizations, institutions, and companies from at least 12 countries are expected to take part in the event. (SPA)
Various organizations, institutions, and companies from at least 12 countries are expected to take part in the event. (SPA)
Short Url
Updated 23 September 2025
Follow

Riyadh to host International Restoration Week in October

Various organizations, institutions, and companies from at least 12 countries are expected to take part in the event. (SPA)
  • The exhibition is as part of Heritage Commission efforts to protect and develop Saudi Arabia’s urban heritage — there are more than 34,000 heritage assets recorded in the National Urban Heritage Register

RIYADH: The Heritage Commission will organize the International Restoration Week exhibition from Oct.1-5 in the Jax district of Diriyah.

The event will bring together leading local and international institutions specializing in restoration and the preservation of urban heritage, to exchange expertise and strengthen cooperation by demonstrating the latest practices and technologies in conserving historic buildings and sites, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The exhibition is as part of Heritage Commission efforts to protect and develop Saudi Arabia’s urban heritage — there are more than 34,000 heritage assets recorded in the National Urban Heritage Register.

The commission also seeks to raise awareness of restoration as an integrated process that safeguards historic sites and cultural identity while supporting their sustainable development in line with contemporary needs.

Various organizations, institutions, and companies from at least 12 countries are expected to take part in the event.

The Heritage Commission said the International Restoration Week is a specialized platform for cooperation and knowledge exchange in the field of urban heritage conservation.

It further reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to advancing restoration standards in line with global best practices and strengthening its position in cultural heritage preservation.

 


Japan, Saudi Arabia foster gaming talent through Tokyo bootcamp

Japan, Saudi Arabia foster gaming talent through Tokyo bootcamp
Updated 6 sec ago
Follow

Japan, Saudi Arabia foster gaming talent through Tokyo bootcamp

Japan, Saudi Arabia foster gaming talent through Tokyo bootcamp
  • Sessions cover design, scenario writing, sound, esports
  • Best industry training ever received, say 10 participants

TOKYO: Emerging Saudi Arabia gamers recently received specialized training at a “Japan Game Business Bootcamp” in Tokyo.

The program was run by the Japan Cooperation Center for the Middle East, in partnership with the Saudi Digital Academy under the Kingdom’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.

The three-week JCCME program ran from Oct. 13 to 31, bringing together 10 developers, including four women, selected by the SDA for their ambition to turn professional.

The bootcamp aimed to equip participants, who had already mastered the basics of game creation, with the technical and business skills needed to work independently. Training was led by leading figures from Japan’s game development and business sectors.

The 2025 edition was officially recognized as a commemorative event marking the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Saudi Arabia.

With support from the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Japan, the program concluded with a final pitch session attended by the Kingdom’s ambassador Dr. Ghazi Faisal Binzagr, during which participants presented their own game projects.

Entertainment is a key pillar of the Japan–Saudi Vision 2030 plan, developed by both governments.

In line with this framework, Saudi Arabia launched its National Gaming and Esports Strategy in 2022, identifying the industry as a major national growth sector.

To support this goal, the JCCME, working with Ludimus Inc., created the bootcamp to tap into Japan’s gaming expertise and train the next generation of Saudi creators.

The three-week course combined lectures, studio visits, and hands-on mentoring.

Twenty sessions covered topics including game design, development planning, XR games, scenario writing, sound design and esports.

Instructors included producers of hit Japanese titles, virtual reality pioneers and university lecturers, sparking lively exchanges between participants and mentors.

The developers toured leading Japanese gaming companies and startups, gaining firsthand insight into the country’s creative ecosystem and meeting professionals behind global hits.

Participants refined their own game projects throughout the program. On the final day, they pitched their games and business plans at the Saudi Embassy in Tokyo.

Feedback from the participants was overwhelmingly positive.

“I learned about the history of the Japanese gaming industry and how to collaborate with it,” said one participant.

“The best experience was visiting the studios and talking directly to developers,” another added.

Others described the program as the best training they had received, praising both the technical insights and the networking opportunities it provided.