Diriyah festival to celebrate heritage of the Arabian horse
Diriyah festival to celebrate heritage of the Arabian horse/node/2413931/saudi-arabia
Diriyah festival to celebrate heritage of the Arabian horse
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The Ubayyah in Diriyah horse festival was announced to start on November 28 to December 2 of this year at the international equestrian resort. (Supplied)
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Several activities are being held for the first time in the festival, with the support of the Ministry of Culture. (Supplied)
Diriyah festival to celebrate heritage of the Arabian horse
The horse festival will continue until Dec. 2 at Diriyah’s international equestrian resort
Updated 23 November 2023
Dhai Al-Mutairi
RIYADH: The rich history of the Arabian horse in the Kingdom will be on display at the Ubayyah festival in Diriyah from Nov. 28.
The horse festival will continue until Dec. 2 at Diriyah’s international equestrian resort.
Ubayyah’s supreme organizing committee on Wednesday announced the details of the event, which will be held in partnership with the Diriyah Gate Development Authority.
Prince Salman bin Faisal bin Salman, vice chairman of the supreme organizing committee, Talal Kansara, head of the strategic management sector at DGDA, and Abdulrahman Al-Rajhi, owner of the international equestrian resort, shared the details in a press briefing.
“A common goal that we at DGDA shared with the supreme organizing committee of the Saudi Arabian horse festival is to shed light on Diriyah and the history of the First Saudi State in all its aspects,” said Kansara.
He added: “The Arabian horses represent a very important part of the history of Diriyah. Ubayyah horses were the best ambassador resembling the rich history of Diriyah and the First Saudi State.”
The inaugural ceremony on Nov. 28 will be followed by the Pride of Diriyah horse auction. More than 30 rare purebred Arabian horses will showcased and sold, with a portion of the proceeds going to charity.
The festival will also host an international championship for purebred Arabian horses, which begins on Nov. 30 under the supervision of the King Abdulaziz Center for purebred Arabian horses.
An elite crew of international judges will measure the performance of more than 200 purebred Arabian horses, with over SR1 million ($266,000) in prize money on offer.
The championship will continue for three days before a winner is decided.
“The purebred Arabian horse, since the establishment of the First Saudi State, as well as the Second Saudi State, has been the most important horse breed, and today, with great pride, we say Ubayyah is finally back home in Diriyah,” said Prince Salman.
The festival will mix equestrianism and authentic Saudi heritage in a bid to host a modern local festival that could be presented globally in the future.
With the support of the Ministry of Culture, several activities will be held for the first time at the festival, including the cinematic show “Qumra,” the cultural salon “Beit Ubayyah,” as well as special horse shows.
There will also be music shows, a horse-riding arena and other activities in the Al-Qamra, Suhail, and Al-Thuraya areas, which open their doors daily to visitors from 4 p.m.
Saudi road project linking Makkah and Asir regions expected to improve traffic safety
Updated 18 sec ago
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's road development project connecting the western regions of Makkah and Asir is now complete, the General Authority for Roads said in a report carried by the Saudi Press Agency on Saturday.
The two-lane Qunfudhah-Sabt al-Jarah road is 8 kilometers long and has three bridges, the report said.
The new concrete road is expected to reduce accidents resulting from vehicles slipping into valleys during torrents, as well as increase road capacity and reduce travel time between the two regions.
Engineers have modified the path of the old Sabt Al-Jarah Road to bypass flood channels, installed 100 guidance panels, 2,000 ground reflectors, 97,000 meters of paint lengths, and warning vibrations, to raise the level of safety, said the report.
Saudi interior minister arrives in Egypt on official visit
Updated 07 September 2024
Arab News
CAIRO: Saudi Arabia’s interior minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif arrived in Egypt on Saturday evening on an official visit.
His trip is being made on the directives of the Kingdom’s leadership, Saudi Press Agency reported.
Prince Abdulaziz was received at Cairo International Airport by his Egyptian counterpart Major General Mahmoud Tawfiq and the Saudi ambassador to Egypt Saleh bin Eid Al-Hussaini.
Young Saudi paves way in tech, artificial intelligence
Abdullah Hakeem is pursuing his dream to advance AI in the Kingdom
His journey has led to his involvement in the upcoming Global AI Summit
Updated 07 September 2024
Waad Hussain
RIYADH: As the Kingdom forges ahead in the tech industry, young Saudis like Abdullah Hakeem are playing a crucial role in shaping its future while inspiring others to follow in their footsteps.
The King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals graduate, 25, is tapping into the power of technology to bridge gaps, enhance communication, and empower communities.
Hakeem’s story began during his studies at KFUPM, where he quickly became a well-known figure among students for his inventive spirit. His first major project was a WhatsApp bot designed to enhance the platform’s functionality.
Abdullah Hakeem, SDAIA strategic competitiveness specialist
“It was a learning tool for me,” Hakeem told Arab News. “I applied new skills and implemented user-suggested features, evolving it based on feedback.”
The bot garnered over 1,000 users, primarily students at the university.
One notable challenge was maintaining the bot’s efficiency amid numerous simultaneous requests. “I overcame this by employing various technical solutions and continuously refining them over time,” he explained.
Understanding the value of community-building, he founded around 30 WhatsApp groups that fostered connections among students interested in development and skill enhancement.
Contributing to the success of my country is a key goal for me.
Abdullah Hakeem, SDAIA strategic competitiveness specialist
Hakeem also organized competitions to encourage peers to challenge themselves and learn. “Bringing people together to learn and grow has always been my passion,” he added.
This commitment to community engagement facilitated a collaborative environment in which students could share knowledge and support one another.
His internship at Takamul Technologies in 2022 marked a pivotal moment in his career. Tasked with resolving a critical issue on the company’s website, he reduced the load time of the 3D section from a cumbersome 70MB to a lightning-fast 100KB.
“This impressive feat earned me a part-time job offer from the CEO, a rare opportunity for an intern,” he said. “It was a confidence boost (to have) my abilities recognized in a professional setting.”
This experience fueled his desire to tackle complex challenges in the tech industry. His innovative spirit culminated in a series of competitions, notably the KFUPM Innovation Hackathon last year, in which he led his team to victory in both web and mobile development tracks.
The hackathon provided a platform for students to showcase their skills and creativity. It honed Hakeem’s leadership skills and also reinforced the importance of collaboration in achieving common goals.
“I adapted my approach to motivate each team member according to their needs,” he said. “Being closely involved in every task allowed me to guide the project effectively.”
Hakeem’s graduation project won first place at the KFUPM Graduation Expo in May last year. The project involved integrating with Foodics, the largest point-of-sale system in the Middle East.
He said: “One of our major challenges was securing a partnership with a restaurant to facilitate the integration process. We designated one team member to manage communications with Foodics and the sponsorship, allowing the rest of us to focus on development.”
This strategic division of responsibilities proved crucial in overcoming obstacles and delivering the project.
Recognition followed, especially through social media. Hakeem and his team shared their journey on X, attracting almost 400,000 views. This exposure led to an invitation from the MISK Foundation to join the prestigious MISK Launchpad program in 2023, where they secured a grant to bring their product to market.
“The experience taught me to build real products, not just software solutions,” he said.
The program provided valuable insights into the product development process, shaping Hakeem’s perspective on the importance of creating meaningful solutions that address real-world problems.
His talents caught the eye of major players in the tech industry. During the Metathon competition toward the end of 2023, he impressed judges, including Rehab Alarfaj from the Saudi Data and AI Authority, who offered him a position on her team.
“Joining SDAIA (this year) was a dream come true,” he added. “It’s a sought-after opportunity in the tech community … my goal is to secure recognition for Saudi Arabia in global AI rankings.”
In his current role within the General Management of Partnership and Competitiveness, Hakeem is committed to advancing artificial intelligence in the Kingdom.
He is currently involved in organizing the Global AI Summit, which is set to take place between Sept. 10-12. This event will showcase the Kingdom’s advances in AI and foster collaboration among international experts.
“Contributing to the success of my country is a key goal for me,” Hakeem said.
As Hakeem continues to contribute and innovate, he embodies the spirit of a new generation of young Saudis supported by the nurturing ecosystem of Vision 2030, and dedicated to paving the way and leaving a mark on the tech industry and beyond.
The commission aims to attract global interest in Saudi stories and productions while fostering connections with filmmakers worldwide
Updated 07 September 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Film Commission is participating in Canada’s 2024 Toronto International Film Festival, which runs until Sept. 15.
One of the world’s top film festivals, it attracts filmmakers, critics and audiences from around the globe, serving as a key platform for the genre.
The commission is this year showcasing a pavilion which features major Saudi film projects and initiatives, offering visitors a chance to explore the Kingdom’s creative film industry.
A delegation from the commission is representing the diverse talent of the Kingdom’s film community, along with some Saudi filmmakers.
The pavilion also highlights the commission’s commitment to advancing Saudi Arabia’s film industry, showcasing recent achievements and opportunities for international collaboration.
The commission aims to attract global interest in Saudi stories and productions while fostering connections with filmmakers worldwide.
Its participation aligns with its strategy to promote Saudi cinema internationally, support local talent, and contribute to the film industry on a global level.
Sixteen awards will be presented, including Cultural Pioneer of the Year, Youth Culture Award, International Cultural Excellence Award, and awards for film, fashion, heritage, music, literature, and theater
Updated 07 September 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture will host the National Cultural Awards at Riyadh’s King Fahd Cultural Center on Monday.
The awards, which are being held for the fourth time, will honor cultural pioneers from various fields, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.
The awards recognize individuals, groups, and institutions for their cultural achievements and artistic talent and “aim to promote excellence across 16 cultural sectors, offering financial and moral support, media exposure, and opportunities to represent the sectors at domestic and international events,” the SPA stated.
Sixteen awards will be presented, including Cultural Pioneer of the Year, Youth Culture Award, International Cultural Excellence Award, and awards for film, fashion, heritage, music, literature, and theater.
Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan thanked Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for his patronage of the awards, which he said highlights “the leadership’s commitment to supporting creativity in the cultural sector.”