Jeddah Season 2024 gets underway with dazzling fireworks show

Jeddah Season 2024 gets underway with dazzling fireworks show
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Jeddah Season 2024 kicks off with a dazzling opening ceremony. (AN Photo)
Jeddah Season 2024 gets underway with dazzling fireworks show
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Jeddah Season 2024 kicks off with a dazzling opening ceremony. (AN Photo)
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Updated 28 June 2024
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Jeddah Season 2024 gets underway with dazzling fireworks show

Jeddah Season 2024 gets underway with dazzling fireworks show
  • ‘The whole crowd was mesmerized,’ local man says
  • 60-day event features concerts, art exhibitions, lots of family fun

JEDDAH: Jeddah Season 2024 officially opened on Thursday, under the theme “Once Again.”

The opening ceremony was held at the Jeddah Art Promenade under the patronage of Prince Saud bin Mishal bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, deputy governor of the Makkah region and chairman of the National Evaluation Committee for Jeddah governorate, and Prince Saud bin Abdullah bin Jalawi, governor of Jeddah.

Visitors were treated to drone shows, fireworks and other visual displays as the lineup of events for the season was announced.

“The fireworks were amazing!” said local man Abdul Rahman. “They lasted for a good 15 to 20 minutes and the whole crowd was mesmerized.”

Another visitor, Sana Hamid, said: “I have never seen so many people at an opening ceremony. It was absolutely magical and I can’t imagine how incredible the rest of the events will be.

“The crowd management was impressive, too. Even though we had to walk a bit, the arrangements were well organized.”

Jeddah Season 2024 runs for 60 days and is packed with activities and events to suit all tastes. It is also designed to boost the Kingdom’s economy and provide jobs for young people.

Art lovers can immerse themselves in “Imagine Monet,” an exhibition showcasing 200 of the French artist’s works, while children are sure to enjoy Joy Plex, which includes lots of fun areas, each with a different theme.

Among the opening day treats were the Beach Club — a resort-style haven at Ash Shati, which offers relaxing escapes until Aug. 17 — and Warner Bros. Discovery, where visitors can engage with their favorite carton and comic book characters, like Tom and Jerry, Batman and Superman.

City Walk returns for its fourth year, serving up interactive experiences, games, plays, dining and shopping, while there will be lots of events and concerts at Prince Majid Park over the coming weeks.

Tickets for all events can be booked through the Saudi Events website.


Fruit Festival gets underway in Al-Baha’s Baljurashi

Fruit Festival gets underway in Al-Baha’s Baljurashi
Updated 05 July 2024
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Fruit Festival gets underway in Al-Baha’s Baljurashi

Fruit Festival gets underway in Al-Baha’s Baljurashi
  • Among the products on display are fruits, honey and other rural and agricultural goods
  • The event was an opportunity to promote the region’s products

AL-BAHA: A range of agricultural products are on offer at the second Fruit Festival in Al-Baha, Baljurashi governorate.
The three-day event is organized by the regional branch of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture in cooperation with other government entities, agriculture associations and the Culinary Arts Commission.
Among the products on display at the 20 stalls are fruits, honey and other rural and agricultural goods.
Fahd bin Muftah Al-Zahrani, director general of the local arm of the ministry, said the event was an opportunity to promote the region’s products.
It also includes events and programs to raise farmers’ awareness of sound agricultural practices that can help them maximize their output.
Al-Zahrani said agricultural festivals were a key part of the ministry’s support for farmers and rural families and its drive to improve incomes and living conditions in line with the Vision 2030 initiative.


More than 15,000 beneficiaries from ‘Hedayh’ programs in Alkhobar

More than 15,000 beneficiaries from ‘Hedayh’ programs in Alkhobar
Updated 05 July 2024
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More than 15,000 beneficiaries from ‘Hedayh’ programs in Alkhobar

More than 15,000 beneficiaries from ‘Hedayh’ programs in Alkhobar
  • Adeeb Al-Zamil, chairman of the association’s board of directors, said the beneficiaries included 12,458 people from community programs
  • The association also published 973 items and distributed gifts to pilgrims

ALKHOBAR: The “Hedayh” Association for Dawah, Guidance and Community Awareness implemented several educational and outreach programs in Alkhobar last June, benefiting 15,098 people.
Adeeb Al-Zamil, chairman of the association’s board of directors, said the beneficiaries included 12,458 people from community programs, the Saudi Press Agency reported. These encompassed mobile dawah initiatives, outreach tours, Friday sermon translations, public lectures, community outreach programs, electronic dawah, informational brochures, educational lessons, and video and audio clips.
The association also published 973 items and distributed gifts to pilgrims arriving and departing through orts in the Kingdom’s Eastern Province.
Al-Zamil said 680 individuals benefited from the Dawah management programs, including 360 from dawah speeches, lessons and courses, and 320 from lectures.
The women’s section activities reached 1,960 beneficiaries through lessons and speeches, while 180 benefited from the new Muslim follow-up program. Additionally, 138 books were distributed to beneficiaries, and classes for non-Muslim outreach benefited 360 women.


Saudi aid chief, Palestinian health minister meet to discuss Gaza

Saudi aid chief, Palestinian health minister meet to discuss Gaza
Updated 05 July 2024
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Saudi aid chief, Palestinian health minister meet to discuss Gaza

Saudi aid chief, Palestinian health minister meet to discuss Gaza
  • The meeting happened during Al-Rabeeah’s visit to Jordan to sign a number of humanitarian project deals
  • The two officials also discussed ways to deliver aid to displaced individuals

RIYADH: The head of Saudi aid agency KSrelief Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah has held talks on the humanitarian situation in Gaza with Palestinian Minister of Health Dr. Majid Awni Abu Ramadan.
The meeting happened during Al-Rabeeah’s visit to Jordan to sign a number of humanitarian project deals, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Friday.
Abu Ramadan expressed his gratitude for the Kingdom’s support, through KSrelief, in aiding the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis caused by Israeli assault.
He also thanked Saudi Arabia for its support of the Palestinian health sector, which he said had been instrumental in helping those affected in Gaza.
The two officials also discussed ways to deliver aid to displaced individuals.
The meeting was also attended by the Saudi ambassador to Jordan and non-resident ambassador to Palestine, Naif bin Bandar Al-Sudairi.
On Thursday, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan met UN Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza Sigrid Kaag in Madrid on the sidelines of the annual meeting of the European Council on Foreign Relations.
They discussed the importance of delivering adequate and sustainable humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and the need to reach a ceasefire to end the crisis.


Saudi citizenship granted to selection of researchers, innovators, and specialists

Saudi citizenship granted to selection of researchers, innovators, and specialists
Updated 05 July 2024
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Saudi citizenship granted to selection of researchers, innovators, and specialists

Saudi citizenship granted to selection of researchers, innovators, and specialists
  • The citizenship was granted as part of a royal order to people with distinguished legal, medical, scientific, cultural, sports and technical expertise
  • It is also in line with Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to create an appealing environment that attracts, invests in and retains exceptional creative minds

RIYADH: Saudi citizenship has been granted to a number of scientists, doctors, researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs, and people who have unique capabilities, expertise, and specializations, Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.
The granting of citizenship was issued as part of a royal order granting Saudi citizenship to people with distinguished legal, medical, scientific, cultural, sports and technical expertise for the benefit of the nation in various fields.
It is also in line with Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to create an appealing environment that attracts, invests in, and retains exceptional creative minds.
A number of specialists, whose expertise in the economic, health, cultural, sports and innovation fields was considered distinguished, were previously awarded citizenship in 2021.


Saudi FM calls for sanctions on Israeli officials amid Gaza war

Saudi FM calls for sanctions on Israeli officials amid Gaza war
Updated 05 July 2024
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Saudi FM calls for sanctions on Israeli officials amid Gaza war

Saudi FM calls for sanctions on Israeli officials amid Gaza war
  • Israel’s expansion of settlements undermines peace process, says Prince Faisal bin Farhan

MADRID: Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan has urged European nations to impose sanctions on Israeli officials violating international human rights laws as he warned that Israel’s war on Gaza was affecting the entire Middle East, including southern Lebanon.

“The situation in the Gaza Strip does not only affect the Palestinian issue but the entire region and contributes to further escalations, which is currently happening in southern Lebanon,” he said on Thursday.

He was speaking at a panel discussion titled “Wars and shadow wars: What are Europe’s options in the Middle East?” at the European Council on Foreign Relations meeting in Madrid.

 

 

Prince Faisal highlighted the international community’s silence on Israel’s continued expansion of settlements in the West Bank that undermine the peace process in Palestine.

He said the least that European countries can do is condemn Israel’s failure to abide by its commitments.

And they should take stricter steps such as imposing sanctions on those officials violating international human rights laws, the SPA reported.

He said the Palestinian people have the right to self-determination and deserve an independent state recognized internationally.

“The majority of the international community agrees that the permanent and just solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is the two-state solution, yet they stand idle in the face of matters that could undermine the two-state solution, such as Israel’s continued expansion of settlement activities.”

He praised those European countries that have recognized Palestine as a state, including Spain. This was “a very important move” that supports the peace process and the push toward a two-state solution, he said.

Prince Faisal reiterated calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and the delivery of urgent humanitarian aid to the besieged population.