Second edition of Saudi Film Confex will put development of local movie industry in the frame
4-day event in Riyadh will include panel discussions, workshops and an exhibition
Updated 3 sec ago
Arab News
RIYADH: The second Saudi Film Confex will take place in Riyadh between Oct. 9 and 12 with the aim of empowering and developing the film industry in the Kingdom, and promoting investment and partnership opportunities, the Saudi Broadcasting Authority said on Thursday.
The event will include 30 panel discussions and workshops covering key industry topics such as film financing and production planning.
It will also feature activities designed to enrich the visitor experience and explore the various aspects of filmmaking, organizers said, as well as an exhibition of more than 130 local, regional and international businesses and organizations specializing in production, smart studio construction, and cinematic technologies.
It hopes to help boost the Saudi film sector by highlighting filming and production opportunities, encouraging cooperation with leading international industry partners, enhancing local industry infrastructure, supporting startups, and introducing qualitative initiatives that offer added value.
AlUla Dates Festival Auction continues its festivities
Updated 10 sec ago
SPA
ALULA: The AlUla Dates Festival Auction enters its second week on Friday as the annual event gets into full swing.
Organized by the Royal Commission for AlUla in partnership with government and private entities, the weekly auctions are held near Al-Iskan Stadium, south of AlUla, and run until Nov. 9.
The festival provides date farmers with an opportunity to showcase their products to buyers and investors from within the Kingdom and around the world. It also aligns with AlUla Vision and Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to establish the Kingdom as the world’s leading exporter of dates.
Farmers taking part in the festival are also competing for the AlUla Auction Award for Dates 2024, which offers a prize of SR75,000 ($20,000) to the winner, SR50,000 to the runner-up and SR30,000 for third place.
The winners will be chosen based on the quantity and value of their sales and other criteria.
Saudi Fashion Commission releases report showcasing growth to 2.5% of GDP
Updated 10 min 4 sec ago
Arab News
RIYADH: The Saudi Fashion Commission has unveiled its 2024 State of Fashion Report which showcases growth in the Kingdom’s fashion industry, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The report was released during a high-profile investment tour in London, sponsored by the Fashion Futures initiative, at Twenty Two Mayfair, according to the SPA.
The report’s reveal featured a custom-designed briefcase by Saudi brand 1886.
The report provides fresh perspectives on Saudi Arabia’s fashion landscape, revealing exciting trends and opportunities for growth and investment.
It offers readers industry data spanning fashion, luxury goods, jewelry, cosmetics, and business operations, while examining the fashion scene and presenting key insights from industry experts.
It reports that the sector’s contribution to the Kingdom’s gross domestic product has surged to 2.5 percent, a significant increase from 1.4 percent in the previous year.
This growth is mirrored in the jobs market, with the fashion industry employing 320,000 people as of 2023, marking an increase of 90,000 jobs since the 2021-2022 period.
In a notable development for gender equality, women now constitute 52 percent of the fashion workforce in Saudi Arabia.
The report also highlights the expanding economic footprint of the Saudi fashion market. In 2023, the market value reached about $30 billion, a figure that is projected to surge to $42 billion by 2028.
Burak Cakmak, CEO of the Fashion Commission, said: “Data is crucial for understanding our country’s growth.”
He added: “We are proud to lead in this area, offering public access to opportunities across the value chain.”
He also announced the launch of a data center that will publish the State of Fashion Report and make it publicly available, showcasing opportunities across the value chain.
Hundreds of non-native speakers take Saudi Arabia’s standardized Arabic test
Total of 315 candidates from 22 countries take part
Updated 19 September 2024
Hebshi Alshammari
RIYADH: Hundreds of non-native speakers have been tested on their Arabic language skills in Saudi Arabia’s new standardized language test this week, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
A total of 315 candidates from 22 countries took the Hamza Arabic Language Test in person, which was conducted by the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language, in collaboration with seven Saudi universities.
The test is a computerized, codified test which measures the Arabic language proficiency of non-native speakers. It was first introduced in December 2023 and designed in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
Seven tests have been administered since its introduction to evaluate the language skills of 1,979 people in Saudi Arabia, China, Indonesia, and India.
The test is part of KSGAAL’s endeavors to raise the status of the Arabic language locally, regionally, and internationally, according to Dr. Abdullah bin Saleh Al-Washmi, the secretary-general of the KSGAAL.
Dr. Saad Al-Qahtani, head of the Educational Programs Sector at KSGAAL. (Supplied)
Dr. Saad Al-Qahtani, head of the Educational Programs Sector at KSGAAL, told Arab News: “The increasing demand for learning Arabic for various educational, vocational, and cultural objectives has prompted the need to design a unified global test measuring the Arabic language proficiency that helps enroll in educational programs or meets the needs of the labor market.
“Since mastering language skills is a prerequisite for employment, KSGAAL seeks to enhance cooperation with the entities concerned with teaching the Arabic language to non-native speakers.”
The Hamza academic test is designed in accordance with the highest global standards, with a view to consolidating efforts and developing practices in teaching the Arabic language to non-native speakers, Al-Qahtani added, while also hoping that the test would become a reference for measuring the level of the Arabic language proficiency of non-native speakers locally, regionally, and internationally.
The universities participating were: Umm Al-Qura University, Islamic University of Madinah, King Abdulaziz University, King Faisal University, Taif University, Qassim University, and Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University.
Saudi Arabia secures 14th position in Global AI Index, 1st in Arab world
Remarkable milestone of 17-rank improvement among 83 countries underscores Saudi Arabia’s rapid progress in AI adoption and development
Achievement highlights the unwavering support provided by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
Updated 19 September 2024
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has achieved a significant leap in the field of artificial intelligence, securing 14th position globally and topping the Arab world in the Global AI Index for 2024, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.
The Global AI Index is one of the indicators of the international classification of artificial intelligence issued by UK-based news website Tortoise Media.
The remarkable milestone of a 17-rank improvement among 83 countries underscores Saudi Arabia’s rapid progress in AI adoption and development.
The Kingdom’s continued leadership in the Government Strategy sub-pillar solidifies its position as a global AI leader. Its seventh-place ranking in the Commercial Ecosystem sub-pillar further demonstrates its commitment to investing in AI technologies and fostering a thriving AI ecosystem.
The Global AI Index, a comprehensive assessment of AI capabilities across 83 countries, evaluates performance based on 122 indicators grouped into three pillars: Implementation, Innovation and Investment.
These pillars are further divided into seven sub-pillars: Talent, Infrastructure, Operating Environment, Research, Development, Government Strategy and Commercial Ecosystem.
The achievement highlights the unwavering support provided by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who chairs the board of directors of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority, the SPA report added.
Under his guidance, the SDAIA has been instrumental in advancing the field of data and AI, developing national capabilities and fostering innovation. This strategic approach positions Saudi Arabia as a leading data-driven and AI-powered economy.
