JEDDAH: Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal Thursday evening opened the 30th Jeddah summer festival known as Jeddah Ghair (Jeddah Is Different) at the south Obhur corniche.
Speaking on the occasion Jeddah Gov. Prince Mishaal bin Majed said the festival is a reflection of the spectacular development achieved by Jeddah, the Bride of Red Sea.
Prince Khaled also dedicated the logo for this year’s festival. The function was marked by folklore displays, in which 150 dancers participated, and fireworks that lit up the skies across 700 meters of the coastline.
The 37-day festival will consist of over 250 activities depicting the same themes and features of the successful elements of the previous festivals. About more than three million people from inside the Kingdom, the Gulf and other countries are expected to visit the festival, especially as more people come to Saudi Arabia from abroad during summer to perform Umrah and visit Madinah.
Among others, the festival’s activities will include: folklore and heritage markets, photo and arts exhibitions, cultural contests, folk group performances and others. The activities will be held in three different places which are: Obhur, King Abdulaziz Cultural Center and the Historical Area (downtown Balad).
According to the organizing committee, the activities will focus on the family, children and youth through a chain of diversified events, including: motorcycle and 4-wheel-drive car race, remote-controlled cars’ race, wall climbing competitions, roller-skating shows, museums for old cars, open theater, shopping bazaars, zoos, electronic games, special exhibitions for the disabled, fireworks and others.
The activities will also include a film festival during which Saudi, Gulf and foreign movies will be shown.
Jeddah has all geared up for the annual occasion. The director of health affairs in the city, Dr. Sami Badawood, said his department has enhanced medical facilities and increased the numbers of health workers at all its hospitals and health centers around the city. He said the Obhur Model Health Center is ready to receive emergency cases and victims of road accidents.
The chairman of the Board of Directors of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), Muhammad Al-Fadl, said the festival’s activities were designed after careful study of the wishes and preferences of all sections of society. “It will be a distinct and unique festival. A mechanism has been formulated to ensure that the festival is successful in achieving its objective of boosting tourist programs and further developing this beautiful city,” he said.
— With input by Galal Fakkar
