The “Tom and Jerry” theme park allows visitors to experience exciting adventures and comedic chases between the iconic cat and mouse
Updated 06 August 2024
Arab News
JEDDAH: The Warner Bros. Discovery zone at Jeddah Season is proving a must-visit attraction, featuring live performances of “Tom and Jerry.”
Spanning 15,000 sq. meters, the zone offers an immersive experience that brings the beloved cartoon characters to life.
The “Tom and Jerry” theme park allows visitors to experience exciting adventures and comedic chases between the iconic cat and mouse.
The zone also offers interactive games, theatrical performances and creative workshops.
Guests can watch classic clips of “Tom and Jerry” on a big screen, accompanied by live music from a band playing the soundtrack.
In the Cheese City area of the zone, visitors can explore the “Tom and Jerry” cartoon series through interactive exhibits, original artworks, and statues, featuring famous locations like Jerry’s house and the kitchen.
‘Marvels of Saudi Orchestra’ event coming to London in September
The concert, featuring the Saudi National Orchestra and Choir and the UK’s Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, follows similar events in Paris, Mexico City and New York
Updated 5 sec ago
Arab News
RIYADH: The Saudi National Orchestra and Choir will be joined by the UK’s Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for a “Marvels of Saudi Orchestra” concert on Sept. 28 at the Central Hall Westminster in London.
The event is organized by the Saudi Music Commission as part of its efforts to promote and raise the international profile of Saudi arts and culture. It follows similar shows at the Place du Chatelet in Paris, the National Theater in Mexico City, and the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City.
The Saudi musicians and singers will perform a variety of musical numbers chosen to reflect the cultural heritage and artistic diversity of music in the Kingdom, and the collaboration with the Royal Philharmonic will treat the audience to a distinctive mix of Saudi and British music, organizers said. Ticket details are yet to be announced.
Saudi Arabia condemns militant attacks in Pakistan’s Balochistan
The Kingdom confirmed its rejection of all forms of violence, extremism, and the targeting of civilians
Updated 48 min 10 sec ago
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia condemned on Tuesday attacks by separatist militants in Pakistan’s southwestern province of Balochistan that started late on Sunday.
At least 73 people were killed in Pakistan’s province of Balochistan when separatist militants attacked police stations, railway lines, and highways.
The Kingdom confirmed its rejection of all forms of violence, extremism, and the targeting of civilians.
It also offered its condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims and to the Pakistani government and people.
Pakistani security forces have been battling sectarian, ethnic, and separatist violence for decades in impoverished Balochistan, but the coordinated attacks that took place in several districts throughout the province were one of the worst in the region’s history.
Prophet’s Mosque calligrapher describes ‘unbelievable’ life in Madinah
Three works by Pakistani artist Shafiq Uz-Zaman Khan hang in Al-Rawdah Al-Sharifa
Updated 17 min 42 sec ago
SALEH FAREED
JEDDAH: Nearly 55 years ago, a young Pakistani calligrapher embarked on a captivating journey to master the Islamic art form of calligraphy. Today, his work adorns the walls of the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah.
Shafiq Uz-Zaman Khan, known in Saudi Arabia as “Al-Haram Calligrapher,” is proud that his journey into calligraphy, which began in childhood, brought him to the second holiest and largest mosque in the world.
Three of Khan’s paintings hang in Al-Rawdah Al-Sharifa, each of which are made of 24-karat gold and took six months of work. (Supplied)
“In my childhood I used to write on the walls of my house, other houses on our street, on school notebooks and the covers of my brothers’ books. I had a passion for beautiful handwriting,” he told Arab News.
Khan, who has lived in the Kingdom for 45 years, said coming to Madinah was the probably the greatest thing happened in his life: “I spent half of my life in Madinah and wish to live the rest of my life there.”
HIGHLIGHTS
• Shafiq Uz-Zaman Khan, known in Saudi Arabia as ‘Al-Haram Calligrapher,’ is proud that his journey into calligraphy brought him to Madinah.
• He was awarded the President’s Award for Pride of Performance in Pakistan, considered the highest literary award given by the state.
• He finds a peace while doing calligraphy in Madinah that he has not discovered anywhere else, he said.
He continued: “Living in Madinah and at the same time being the calligrapher of the Prophet’s Mosque … that’s unbelievable.”
He finds a peace while doing calligraphy in Madinah that he has not discovered anywhere else, he added.
Born in Rawalpindi and raised in Karachi, the 68-year-old’s passion for calligraphy was ignited while painting signboards for shops around the Pakistani capital to earn a modest living.
I was happy to move to the place that I dreamed of since I was young and the most important thing for me was just to be close to the Prophet’s Mosque.
Shafiq Uz-Zaman Khan, Arabic calligrapher
In 1979, a Saudi businessman visiting Karachi saw some of Khan’s paintings and engaged him to work at the company he owned in Riyadh. After proving his prowess as a calligrapher in the advertising industry, he was offered a job in Madinah.
“Despite my good status in Riyadh and the great relationship I had with my sponsor, I was so happy to move to the place that I dreamed of since I was young and the most important thing for me was just to be close to the Prophet’s Mosque,” said Khan.
“In 1991, the management of the Prophet’s Mosque announced a competition to choose a calligrapher to restore the Qur’anic writings in the mosque dating back to the Ottoman era. I decided to enter the competition, but the organizing committee refused my registration because I was not a professional calligrapher and also my native language was not Arabic, and they thought it would be hard to compete against other Arab calligraphers.”
Shafiq Uz-Zaman Khan, Arabic calligrapher
Khan managed to convince the organizing committee that his skills and passion for his craft meant he should be given a chance. He went on to win the contest.
“There were calligraphers from Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Iraq and other Arab countries but I was confident and was so happy to be selected as the winner,” said Khan.
His work did not stop at restoring the existing writings and verses. He was assigned to write in a number of domes in the Haram, combining “revitalizing ancient writings with the implementation of new calligraphic paintings.”
He was also entrusted with writing new plaques for several chapters, including the Chapter of Peace, the Chapter of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, the Chapter of Mercy and the Chapter of Gabriel.
“All the works that I executed carry the same importance, whether they are the Qur’anic paintings that I executed in a number of domes, on the walls, or the names of the doors. This place is unusual for every Muslim, and it was an honor for me to work there,” he said.
After completing calligraphy on the 177 domes, he received positive feedback on his work. One dome takes approximately two months to complete, including the design and implementation.
Three of Khan’s paintings hang in Al-Rawdah Al-Sharifa, each of which are made of 24-karat gold and took six months of work.
The calligrapher enjoyed a proud moment when the President of the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz Al-Sudais, honored him for his efforts and proficiency.
“It was unforgettable moment for me … I will always cherish it,” he said.
Khan has also won several competitions at national and international level and was awarded the President’s Award for Pride of Performance in Pakistan, considered the highest literary award given by the state.
Candles and potions: Saudi entrepreneurs mix it up with passion
Products bring joy and calm to people’s lives
Updated 27 August 2024
Waad Hussain
RIYADH: From whimsical and fragrant candles to oils and sage, small business entrepreneurs in Saudi Arabia are boosting the market with products that bring joy and calm to people’s lives.
Their journeys showcase the vibrant entrepreneurial spirit which is thriving as part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
In 2021, from a modest room in Saudi Arabia, one woman embarked on an entrepreneurial journey with no initial capital and only a dream.
Glowr was born out of Atheer Al-Harbi’s desire to create healthier candle options. (Instagram/glowrr.sa)
Mawadda Al-Surehi’s brand Agape & Co. offers organic oils, candles, incense and high-quality gemstones, and is driven by her resilience and innovative spirit.
“My interest in candle making was sparked by my love for crafting and the satisfaction of creating products,” she told Arab News. “My passion for blending scents and creating unique designs led me to start my business.”
Al-Surehi’s journey began with a single candle made on a portable stove. As a self-taught candlemaker, she credits online courses and hands-on experience for pushing her forward.
Al-Surehi meticulously sources products with a focus on sustainability and eco-friendly materials. (Supplied)
She added: “I always dreamed of offering something I have full faith in.”
Her brand’s rise started in a modest room at home and, by 2024, she had a registered trademark, a warehouse, staff, and a factory partnership.
Reflecting on her career, Al-Surehi said: “I’m not going to lie, I faced a lot of challenges, including keeping the handmade spirit of the products. It’s not easy at all to produce a large quantity where every piece has been overseen by me.”
Despite the challenges of selling scents online, Al-Harbi remains steadfast in conveying the product’s essence. (Supplied)
Al-Surehi meticulously sources products with a focus on sustainability and eco-friendly materials.
This included partnering with an organic oils farm in Hungary. “It was a dream come true,” she said, as it allowed her to ensure that every product is made with top-notch organic oils.
She added: “I have always been fascinated by gemstones and their healing properties.”
Like many small business owners in Saudi Arabia and around the world, social media has proved to be a potent platform for marketing products and growing a loyal customer base. Agape’s Instagram, which boasts more than 7,500 followers, provides an album of photographs to introduce its products to new and old customers.
Al-Surehi is looking forward to the future at Agape, and adds that she never stops planning and thinking about the company.
She said: “I literally think about it around the clock. There will always be new products and collections.”
She is not alone in the vibrant entrepreneurial landscape of Saudi Arabia, and there are other stories unfolding parallel to her own.
Glowr was born out of Atheer Al-Harbi’s desire to create healthier candle options. “The frequent headaches from conventional candles pushed me to explore organic alternatives,” Al-Harbi told Arab News.
This led to the creation of scented, eco-friendly candles. Despite the challenges of selling scents online, Al-Harbi remains steadfast in conveying the product’s essence.
She added: “I believe in connecting with customers through storytelling and providing samples to help them choose the right fragrance.”
Abaq started as a creative endeavor to create personalized gifts, and has grown into a business propelled by positive feedback. Its founder reflected: “Finding affordable raw materials was tough, but perseverance and creativity kept us going.”
Embracing platforms like TikTok has been a pivotal marketing strategy, allowing the brand to showcase its products to large audiences. “Understanding our customers and pricing competitively is key to our success,” its founder added.
Bassam Al-Ghamdi’s Shiro Studio began as a family project with a vision to create meaningful and joyful products, and now sells soy candles and home accessories like cups and cup holders. “Our inspiration comes from nature and culture, and we continually seek to refine our craft,” Al-Ghamdi told Arab News.
Despite the challenges of sourcing quality materials, local resources like beeswax have been utilized in an innovative way.
Al-Ghamdi added: “Staying updated on market trends and adapting to them is crucial.”
The business has plans to expand both locally and internationally, and with nearly 8,000 followers on Instagram it has tapped into the power of social media to uplift the brand.
Qassim region produces 35% of Saudi Arabia’s dates
The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture branch in Qassim plays a pivotal role in supporting the region’s palm cultivation efforts
Updated 15 min 33 sec ago
Arab News
RIYADH: Qassim region, renowned for its fertile soil, abundant freshwater, and favorable climate, has flourished as a hub for palm cultivation.
Home to over 11 million palm trees, the region produces approximately 528,000 tonnes of dates annually, accounting for roughly 35 percent of the Kingdom’s total date production of 1.6 million tonnes.
Palm farmers in Qassim are renowned for their commitment to quality and variety, cultivating over 80 distinct date varieties. (SPA)
Palm farmers in Qassim are renowned for their commitment to quality and variety, cultivating over 80 distinct date varieties. Among these, Sukkari stands out as a highly sought-after variety due to its exceptional taste, quality, and ease of preservation.
Other notable date varieties in the region include saq’i, shaqra, hashishi, nabut ali, khalas, sukkariya hamra, ruthan, halwa, maktoumi, wanana and buraimi, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Palm farmers in Qassim are renowned for their commitment to quality and variety, cultivating over 80 distinct date varieties. (SPA)
The palm tree has been a cornerstone of food production in the region since ancient times, offering a sustainable and adaptable source of nutrition. Its fruits are rich in proteins, fats, and minerals, while various parts of the palm tree have been utilized for daily living and traditional crafts.
With advancements in agricultural and irrigation techniques, palm cultivation in Qassim has expanded significantly, transforming the region into a picturesque landscape of thriving date palm farms.
The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture branch in Qassim plays a pivotal role in supporting the region’s palm cultivation efforts. By focusing on agricultural development and pest control, the ministry helps ensure the quality and sustainability of date production.
