Culture Ministry hosts Foundation Day celebrations across Saudi Arabia

Culture Ministry hosts Foundation Day celebrations across Saudi Arabia
Cultural and historical events held across the Kingdom by Ministry of Culture to celebrate the third Saudi Founding Day. (Instagram)
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Updated 20 February 2024
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Culture Ministry hosts Foundation Day celebrations across Saudi Arabia

Culture Ministry hosts Foundation Day celebrations across Saudi Arabia
  • ‘Founding Village’ event to showcase Kingdom’s cultural legacy
  • Attendees will be treated to poetry and melodies performed by esteemed poets and artists, bringing to light important facets of Saudi heritage

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture is set to host cultural and historical celebrations across the country from Feb. 21 to 26 in honor of Founding Day, observed annually on Feb. 22, to mark the state’s foundation by Imam Mohammed bin Saud in 1727 CE.
Spanning various cities across the Kingdom, the ministry’s curated events will present a diverse cultural feast, with “Founding Nights” billed as a main attraction.
Scheduled for Feb. 21 and 22 at the Abu Bakr Salem Stage in Boulevard City, Riyadh, this event promises a “nostalgic voyage through time with an evening of poetry and music.”
Attendees will be treated to poetry and melodies performed by esteemed poets and artists, bringing to light important facets of Saudi heritage.
Another event, “Symphony of the Beginning,” will take place on Feb. 25 and 26 at the same venue. It features an orchestral performance that melds traditional Saudi instruments with contemporary ones, and tells the tale of the nation’s founding through music. Prominent Saudi poets, composers, and the National Music Band will be performing.
The “Path of History” experience at King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh invites visitors to make their way through “an engaging display” of 19 scenes that chronicle the Saudi state’s evolution from its inception in 1727 to the present day. It consists of three distinct zones — The Gathering, The Journey, and The Celebration — each of which is designed to immerse visitors in the Kingdom’s history through cultural performances, art displays, and interactive installations.
Meanwhile, the “Founding Village,” which will be held in 14 locations from Feb. 22 to 24, aims to “resurrect the Kingdom’s historical narratives through immersive experiences that spotlight the country’s cultural legacy.”
This event will take visitors on a journey through 300 years of history, and includes traditional crafts, cultural stories, interactive children’s areas, digital innovations, family entertainment, authentic Saudi culinary delights and other cultural activities across various domains, including heritage and oral traditions.
These celebratory events underscore the Ministry of Culture’s dedication to commemorating a pivotal moment in Saudi history — the establishment of the Saudi state, and celebrating “the deep-rooted pride in national heritage, the solid bond between the citizenry and leadership, and the enduring legacy of progress and prosperity,” according to a ministry statement.
For tickets, visit: https://dc.moc.gov.sa/home/ar/founding-day/


The Saudi foreign minister meets with the US Secretary of State in Brazil

The Saudi foreign minister meets with the US Secretary of State in Brazil
Updated 19 November 2024
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The Saudi foreign minister meets with the US Secretary of State in Brazil

The Saudi foreign minister meets with the US Secretary of State in Brazil

RIO DE JANEIRO: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
During the meeting, they discussed bilateral relations, developments in the Middle East, and the efforts being made in these regards.
The meeting was attended by the Director-General of the Office of the Foreign Minister Abdulrahman Aldawood.


Saudi minister highlights nation’s leadership in digital innovation and AI during G20 Summit

Saudi minister highlights nation’s leadership in digital innovation and AI during G20 Summit
Updated 19 November 2024
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Saudi minister highlights nation’s leadership in digital innovation and AI during G20 Summit

Saudi minister highlights nation’s leadership in digital innovation and AI during G20 Summit
  • IT minister Abdullah Al-Swaha says the Kingdom aims to drive economic growth and productivity through adoption of AI technologies
  • He also underscores nation’s achievements in its efforts to empower women and youth in the technology sector

RIO DE JANEIRO: Saudi Arabia on Monday reaffirmed its desire to be a global leader in digital innovation and artificial intelligence, and its commitment to leveraging advanced technologies for the benefit of humanity.

Speaking on the sidelines of the opening day of the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Brazil, the Kingdom’s minister of communications and information technology, Abdullah Al-Swaha, highlighted Saudi Arabia’s efforts to drive economic growth and productivity through the adoption of AI technologies.

He also underscored the nation’s achievements in its efforts to empower women and youth in the technology sector, noting that participation by women increased from 7 percent in 2018 to 35 percent in 2024.

He credited Saudi Vision 2030, the national plan for development and diversification, as a key enabler of this progress, in particular its promotion of digital governance as a cornerstone for digital inclusion and trust.

Al-Swaha pointed out the growing global international recognition of the Kingdom as a leader in digital services; in September it ranked fourth worldwide in the Digital Services Index, which is part of the UN’s E-Government Development Index.

The minister also highlighted the launch of the nation’s AI Readiness Framework, in collaboration with the UN International Telecommunication Union, and the establishment of the International Center for AI Research and Ethics, in partnership with UNESCO.

He reiterated the Kingdom’s commitment to the enhancement of international cooperation and the development of policies that promote technological innovation and global welfare.


Saudi Arabia calls for peace, addresses global challenges at opening of G20 Summit

Saudi Arabia calls for peace, addresses global challenges at opening of G20 Summit
Updated 19 November 2024
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Saudi Arabia calls for peace, addresses global challenges at opening of G20 Summit

Saudi Arabia calls for peace, addresses global challenges at opening of G20 Summit
  • Prince Faisal bin Farhan leads Kingdom’s delegation on behalf of crown prince 

RIO DE JANEIRO: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan led the Kingdom’s delegation at the first session of the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, which opened on Monday.

Prince Faisal, who is leading the delegation on behalf of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, spoke at the summit’s opening session which was called “Social Inclusion and Combating Hunger and Poverty.”

Prince Faisal highlighted pressing global challenges, noting that increasing tensions, military conflicts, and humanitarian crises were significant obstacles to achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals for 2030, adding: “Development and prosperity cannot be achieved on the ruins of death and destruction.”

Moving on to the ongoing crises in the Middle East, Prince Faisal pointed to Israeli military actions in Gaza and Lebanon, describing them as sources of severe human suffering and catalysts which were pushing the region toward broader conflict.

He said: “The ongoing Israeli aggression in Gaza and Lebanon has caused unprecedented levels of human suffering; is pushing the region to the brink of a wider war … and is undermining the credibility of international law and institutions.”

Prince Faisal reiterated Saudi Arabia’s commitment to peace, stating the Kingdom’s unwavering stance on the need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza; unrestricted access to humanitarian assistance; the release of hostages; and a serious commitment to lasting peace based on the two-state solution according to the 1967 borders, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The minister also addressed the situation in Sudan, expressing concern over the severe human toll due to the conflict, and obstacles preventing the delivery of humanitarian aid to affected communities.

In addition to political challenges, Prince Faisal commended Brazil’s initiative in launching the International Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, which aligns with Saudi Arabia’s development and humanitarian objectives. He announced the Kingdom’s participation in the alliance, which resonates with its long-standing global efforts.

He said: “The Kingdom is pleased to be part of this alliance that is in line with its development goals and its global role in this regard, which is expressed by the programs of the King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Aid (and) the Saudi Fund for Development, in addition to its global contributions to the programs of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to support developing countries.”

The Kingdom’s delegation included Minister of Finance Mohammed Al-Jadaan, Deputy Minister of Finance (Saudi Sherpa for the G20) Abdul Mohsen bin Saad Al-Khalaf, and Ambassador to Brazil Faisal bin Ibrahim Ghulam.

The G20 Summit in Brazil serves as a platform for the world’s leading economies to address global challenges and promote collective solutions aimed at fostering sustainable development and social equity.

On the sidelines of the summit, Prince Faisal met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. During their meeting they discussed US-Saudi relations, as well as regional developments and the efforts made in this regard.


Saudi defense minister meets governor of US State of Indiana

Saudi defense minister meets governor of US State of Indiana
Updated 18 November 2024
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Saudi defense minister meets governor of US State of Indiana

Saudi defense minister meets governor of US State of Indiana
  • The two discussed bilateral ties and other issues of common interest

RIYADH: Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman met with Governor of the US state of Indiana Eric Holcomb in Riyadh on Monday.

During the meeting, the two discussed bilateral ties and other issues of common interest, the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

Saudi Deputy Minister of Defense Prince Abdulrahman bin Ayyaf and Chief of Staff Gen. Fayyad bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili were among the Saudi officials present.

Commander-in-Chief of the Indiana National Guard Maj. Gen. Roger Lyles and head of the US Military Training Mission in the Kingdom Col. Dirk Smith were among the US officials present.

 


Misk City, Samsung Saudi Arabia to collaborate in smart city technology

Misk City, Samsung Saudi Arabia to collaborate in smart city technology
Updated 18 November 2024
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Misk City, Samsung Saudi Arabia to collaborate in smart city technology

Misk City, Samsung Saudi Arabia to collaborate in smart city technology
  • Partnership forms part of vision to create ‘integrated system that supports innovation and creativity among Saudi youth’

RIYADH: Mohammed bin Salman Nonprofit City, which is also known as Misk City, on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding with the tech giant Samsung Electronics to cooperate in the sectors of smart city technology, sustainability, and youth empowerment.

Misk City’s CEO David Henry signed the memorandum with the President of Samsung Electronics Saudi Arabia Hendrick Lee, on the sidelines of the Misk Global Forum in Riyadh, which finishes on Tuesday.

Henry said that the partnership with Samsung “represents an important step in line with Misk City’s strategic vision of creating an integrated system that supports innovation and creativity among Saudi youth,” the Saudi Press Agency reported.

He stressed the importance of working with Samsung “to create a vibrant and innovative environment that presents a unique model for smart cities.” 

Lee said that Samsung’s “cooperation with Misk City represents our unified commitment to leading innovation and sustainability with the aim of developing transformative solutions that enhance urban life and empower future generations in the field of technology, which benefits our communities.” 

The two parties will also collaborate on developing training programs specifically designed to hone the skills of Saudi’s youth to help enhance smart city experiences. These programs will later be hosted and delivered in Misk City, the SPA added.

Samsung Electronics is also considering setting up a showroom in Misk City to showcase its latest artificial intelligence-powered smart technologies, providing visitors with a firsthand experience of smart homes and understanding of future innovations.