Reconnect and revitalize: AlUla Wellness Festival returns in October/node/2572745/saudi-arabia
Reconnect and revitalize: AlUla Wellness Festival returns in October
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The Middle East’s largest wellness festival returns to AlUla from 17th October to 2nd November, 2024, offering renewal, reflection, and personal development. (Supplied)
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This year’s edition presents an expanded schedule of revitalization activities spanning celebrity-led workshops, fully immersive retreats and much more. (Supplied)
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AlUla Moments promises experiences that reimagine one’s lifestyle while enhancing their mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. (Supplied)
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The Middle East's largest wellness festival returns to AlUla from 17th October to 2nd November, 2024, offering renewal, reflection, and personal development. (Supplied)
Reconnect and revitalize: AlUla Wellness Festival returns in October
AlUla Wellness Festival program features a series of immersive retreats, unique wellness activities, and celebrity-led workshops
Some of the highlights include the Five Senses Sanctuary, where visitors can engage in meditation, yoga, and mindfulness sessions led by world-class experts
Updated 25 September 2024
Arab News
JEDDAH: The AlUla Wellness Festival is returning from Oct. 17 to Nov. 2, inviting relaxation seekers, nature lovers, and free-spirited individuals to join a like-minded community for an expanded schedule of activities amid the stunning scenery of AlUla.
For centuries, AlUla has served as a haven for renewal, reflection, and personal development, benefiting both residents and travelers.
This year, the festival celebrates and revives this legacy, offering visitors the opportunity to indulge their senses in harmony with nature.
The AlUla Wellness Festival program features a series of immersive retreats, unique wellness activities, and celebrity-led workshops.
Some of the highlights include the Five Senses Sanctuary, where visitors can engage in meditation, yoga, and mindfulness sessions led by world-class experts.
The All Day I Dream music concert is an immersive experience that brings music, art, and community together through carefully curated melodic and soulful tunes.
The Hegra Sound Bath allows nature lovers to recharge under the bright moonlight with holistic sound therapy that combines yoga for all levels with soothing tunes.
Guests can explore a diverse array of healing experiences and embark on a profound journey of self-discovery through mindfulness practices, bodywork, art therapy, and more.
As the largest wellness festival of its kind in the Middle East, the AlUla Wellness Festival offers a stimulating yet blissful escape from urban life, immersing visitors in holistic living, life-changing practices, adventure activities, and a spirit of community.
Tickets will go on sale soon, with further news and updates to follow in due course. For more information, visit experiencealula.com.
The AlUla Wellness Festival is part of the AlUla Moments Calendar, which features five major festivals, each offering unique experiences in art, culture, music, nature, and wellness.
Other highlights include Winter at Tantora, the Ancient Kingdoms Festival, the AlUla Skies Festival, the AlUla Arts Festival, AZIMUTH, Richard Mille AlUla Desert Polo, and heritage events blending fashion, adventure, and sports.
Preliminary legal procedures were completed and all seized items were handed to the relevant authorities
Updated 4 sec ago
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi authorities have reported multiple drug-related arrests and seizures across the Kingdom, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.
Security officers in Asir region arrested two Ethiopians for smuggling 4 kg of qat, and two Yemenis with 10 kg of qat, in separate operations in Al-Farsha governorate.
In addition, officers in Jazan region arrested three Ethiopians for selling amphetamine; and in Jeddah, a citizen was arrested for selling hashish.
Border Guard patrols in Al-Dayer governorate, Jazan, thwarted the smuggling of 116 kg of hashish; and in another operation, two Yemenis were arrested for smuggling 240 kg of qat.
Border Guard patrols in Asir’s Al-Raboah sector thwarted the smuggling of 32,900 medically-regulated tablets, and arrested five Ethiopians for smuggling 100 kg of qat.
Preliminary legal procedures were completed and all seized items were handed to the relevant authorities.
The authorities have urged the public to report drug smuggling or selling by calling 911 in Makkah, Riyadh and the Eastern Province, or 999 in other regions.
Reports can also be submitted, in strict confidence, to the General Directorate of Narcotics Control at 995 or via email at [email protected].
Princess Sara announces launch of Misk heritage museum ‘Asaan’ in Diriyah
The goal of the museum is to become a global cultural hub celebrating Saudi Arabia’s heritage.
The museum will cover more than 40,000 sq. meters
Updated 50 min 38 sec ago
Arab News
RIYADH: Princess Sara bint Mashhour bin Abdulaziz, the wife of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, announced the launch of Misk Heritage Museum program “Asaan,” a cultural institution expected to open in the coming years in Diriyah.
The goal of the museum, backed by the Mohammed bin Salman Foundation “Misk,” is to become a global cultural hub celebrating Saudi Arabia’s heritage.
It will play a key role in cultural sustainability through various exhibitions and educational programs.
“Asaan will showcase the Kingdom’s rich legacy, including artifacts, customs, and societal values,” Princess Sara, chairperson of Asaan, said in a statement.
“Our goal is to cultivate a generation that takes pride in its heritage and actively works to preserve and revitalize it.”
The museum will cover more than 40,000 sq. meters and will feature Zaha Hadid Architects’ designs, and blend traditional Najdi architecture with contemporary creativity.
Exhibits will include thousands of heritage artifacts that illustrate Saudi history and cultural evolution.
The site will also feature permanent exhibitions, art galleries, an arts courtyard, and the “Asaan’s Majlis,” a dedicated space for dialogue, workshops, and cultural discussions.
The museum will also house conservation laboratories and interactive learning programs, providing visitors with immersive experiences that bring Saudi history and traditions to life.
Princess Sara is a strong advocate for cultural preservation and empowerment, particularly in supporting young people and individuals with disabilities through educational and professional initiatives. Her efforts align with Saudi Vision 2030’s focus on heritage conservation and national identity, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.
Asaan is expected to become a major cultural landmark, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s leadership in heritage preservation and its commitment to celebrating its historical legacy on a global stage.
RIYADH: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday on his first tour of the Middle East as Washington’s top diplomat.
Rubio’s plane earlier took off from Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv, bound for Riyadh, where he is set to meet Saudi leaders including his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan.
Rubio is leading a delegation to Saudi Arabia in preparation for direct talks between US and Russian officials in the coming days to seek an end to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
The trip follows last week’s telephone call between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in which Trump said they “agreed to have our respective teams start negotiations immediately.”
SINDBAD Collective takes creativity for a road trip across Saudi Arabia and Bahrain
Together, the aim of the SINDBAD Collective is to form a community of creatives who believe in breaking barriers, taking risks and making art more accessible
Updated 31 min 40 sec ago
Jasmine Bager
ALKHOBAR: If you were in the right place at the right time, you might have caught a glimpse of something unexpected — a vehicle led by eight art experts, transformed into a roving exhibition, rolling across Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.
From Feb. 6-20, the fourth annual exhibition of the SINDBAD Collective took to the road, turning highways into hallways and city streets into gallery spaces.
This year’s edition, “SINDBAD: On the Road!,” is a mobile exhibition that challenges the traditional idea of gallery spaces. The collective modified an existing vehicle with a custom extension, allowing the team to exhibit, collect and connect with creative communities throughout the journey. They started in Jeddah, their home base, and made stops in Riyadh, Alkhobar and Bahrain before returning to Jeddah for a final showcase.
Moving art was just one part of the journey; it was about redefining how and where art can be experienced. (Supplied)
The journey began with a pre-launch event in Jeddah on Feb. 5, featuring an open mic and pickup event at Wasl Art Space.
The road trip officially kicked off on Feb. 6, as the SINDBAD team set out for Riyadh. A car meet took place on Feb. 7, followed by a pickup and open mic at Lamaat and Beast House in JAX district on Feb. 8.
In Alkhobar, where Arab News met the fun and dynamic team, the event was held on a rooftop at Bohemia Art Cafe on Valentine’s Day. The vehicle wouldn’t fit for logistical reasons, so people had to climb the stairs to witness — and submit — art.
HIGHLIGHTS
• From Feb. 6-20, the fourth annual exhibition of the SINDBAD Collective took to the road, turning highways into hallways and city streets into gallery spaces.
• In Alkhobar, where Arab News met the fun and dynamic team, the event was held on a rooftop at Bohemia Art Cafe on Valentine’s Day.
• The journey then crossed into Bahrain, where Riwaq Art Space hosted an exhibition on Feb. 15.
The journey then crossed into Bahrain, where Riwaq Art Space hosted an exhibition on Feb. 15.
Every year, the collective hosts an open call, inviting artists and researchers to submit work that challenges traditional formats. (Supplied)
The adventure will return to Jeddah, where on Feb. 20 Naqsh Art Studio will host a final exhibition showcasing the collected works and research from the entirety of the trip.
But the journey won’t stop there. SINDBAD will also participate at the N.E.S.T. Book Launch in AlUla on March 13.
This year, the structure itself was a modular three-panel system, designed to collapse, adapt and cross boundaries — literally and figuratively. The journey wasn’t just about moving art; it was about redefining how and where art can be experienced. Each city hosted a mix of guerrilla-style pop-ups and community activations.
Moving art was just one part of the journey; it was about redefining how and where art can be experienced. (AN photo)
This year, the team introduced SINDBAD Radio, an online platform featuring open-mic performances, artist submissions and curated music playlists to accompany the journey.
“Whenever somebody submits a work, they come and record a voice note explaining it,” Abdullah Al-Amoudi, a co-founder of the collective, told Arab News. “We put it on SINDBAD Radio, so when you tune in, you hear their story.” The radio station also broadcast live updates from the road, allowing audiences to follow along as the team made their way across the Kingdom.
SINDBAD Collective was founded in 2021 in Jeddah by a group of artists, designers, curators and researchers who wanted to create a more inclusive and experimental art platform.
The SINDBAD has been collecting artwork, sharing music, and engaging with communities since Feb. 6. (Supplied)
Every year, the collective hosts an open call, inviting artists and researchers to submit work that challenges traditional formats.
“The space of SINDBAD is a space of discovery. It’s a space for learning. It’s a space to make mistakes,” said his sister Ahaad Al-Amoudi, a founding member of the collective. “We take most of the works that are submitted. We never say no to any work.”
Ahaad is an accomplished artist whose work addresses history and representation. She earned degrees in visual communication from Dar Al-Hekma University in Jeddah and a master’s degree in print from the Royal College of Art, London.
Safwan Fallatah, also known as Mista Safwan, is a music producer, photographer and filmmaker. (Supplied)
In her research about Saudi Arabia’s ethnography, Ahaad’s photography, video and print installations are meant to reinterpret historical renditions of a reforming culture.
Ahaad and Abdullah’s mother, Effat Fadag, is an associate professor of fine arts at the University of Jeddah and a multidisciplinary artist — and the biggest champion of the group.
Abdullah is a designer and artist trained in film and landscape architecture, and the co-founder of THIRD SPACE* Studio. Together, they form the core of the collective.
They chose the name SINDBAD because of its deep cultural resonance. “Everybody has a different memory of who Sindbad is, but he’s always journeying,” Ahaad explained. “That’s why we thought he fit really well. He’s young, he’s fresh, he’s journeying.”
For the SINDBAD team, this year was all about community-building. “There’s so much happening in Riyadh, in Bahrain, in Jeddah,” Ahaad said. “We wanted to create a bond where we’re coming to you in Alkhobar, but you’re also coming to us.”
The idea of an open, evolving exhibition resonated deeply with people.
“We got to Alkhobar, and we thought — Bahrain is close enough, right?” Ahaad recalled. “We can cross the border. We can take this even further.”
As they traveled, something unexpected happened: Artists started pulling out artworks from their pockets. “They would see the truck open, see the artworks inside, and then literally take pieces out of their pockets and hand them to us,” Abdullah said. “They were ready for it. Some would even go back home, grab their artworks, and return.” The trip became a testament to artistic spontaneity and inclusivity.
“A lot of young artists feel like they have to apply to an open call, that they have to be at a certain level,” the siblings said. “We’re trying to break that barrier. We want them to feel safe, to feel like they can showcase their work, even if it’s a work in progress or something they made years ago. It’s time for them to take that step.”
Since Feb. 6, the SINDBAD team has been on the road, collecting artwork, sharing music, and engaging with communities.
Abdullah, who drove the entire 15-hour stretch from Riyadh to Alkhobar, described it as part of the fun. “I enjoy it a lot,” he said. “We have a radio station this year with SINDBAD Radio. It’s curated, and we go live on Instagram. People can tune in and listen as we drive — ‘We’re coming, we’re passing through this city, we’re on our way to that city.’”
With each stop, SINDBAD brought new voices into the fold, proving that art isn’t confined to galleries — it’s everywhere.
Beyond the Al-Amoudi family, SINDBAD Collective includes a diverse group of artists and researchers.
Mohsin Ali is an architectural researcher and curator exploring post-colonial migration and decolonial processes through architecture. He is currently an assistant curator at Art Jameel.
Damon James Owen is a multidisciplinary artist and educator working in printmaking, publishing, and experimental media.
Manar Eissa is a graphic designer and illustrator whose nature-inspired art reflects her passion for storytelling.
Yasser Al-Zahrani is a production manager and art director specializing in Saudi Arabia’s contemporary art scene.
Natalie Al-Sarraj is a visual storyteller and film studies graduate, who explores untold stories through film and digital media.
Safwan Fallatah, also known as Mista Safwan, is a music producer, photographer and filmmaker.
Together, the aim of the SINDBAD Collective is to form a community of creatives who believe in breaking barriers, taking risks and making art more accessible. And if you missed them this time, keep your eyes on the road. You never know when SINDBAD might roll through your city next.
Deputy foreign minister meets Russian ambassador to Saudi Arabia
The two sides discussed bilateral relations and ways to enhance cooperation
Updated 16 February 2025
Arab News
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Elkhereiji met with Ambassador of Russia to the Kingdom Sergey Kozlov in Riyadh on Sunday.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed bilateral relations and ways to enhance cooperation, as well as other topics of common interest, the Foreign Ministry wrote on X.
Meanwhile, Riyadh Gov. Prince Faisal bin Bandar received Ambassador of New Zealand to the Kingdom Charles Kingston on Sunday in Riyadh, where they engaged in cordial talks, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
