Cabinet commends HRC adoption of resolution to protect children in cyberspace
Crown prince briefed the Cabinet on the contents of his discussions with Indonesian president and phone call he received from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz
Updated 08 July 2025
Arab News
RIYADH: The Cabinet commended on Tuesday the Human Rights Council’s unanimous adoption of a resolution submitted by the Kingdom to protect children in cyberspace.
The resolution, submitted by Saudi Arabia, aims to protect children in cyberspace and is rooted in the global initiative “Child Protection in Cyberspace” launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in October 2024.
The Cabinet said that Saudi Arabia maintaining its position as the top-ranked country in global cybersecurity according to this year’s edition of the International Institute for Management Development World Competitiveness Yearbook adds to a series of achievements made by this sector in record time.
Saudi Minister of State and Cabinet member Issam bin Saad bin Saeed said the Kingdom’s first-place ranking globally in the ICT Development Index 2025 issued by the International Telecommunication Union is a confirmation of the strength of the its digital infrastructure.
It was also testament to the attractiveness of its investment environment and the development of the local digital economy, which has reached SR 495 billion ($132 billion) in size, he added.
The Cabinet also discussed the Kingdom’s efforts and contributions at the international level to support multilateral action and enhance global economic growth rates, including continued cooperation with OPEC+ producers to maintain stability in oil markets.
The crown prince also briefed the Cabinet on the contents of his discussions with the President of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto and a phone call he received from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Noor Riyadh announces artists for this year’s festival of light and art
This year’s curatorial theme, “In the Blink of an Eye,” reflects the rapid transformation shaping Riyadh
Updated 05 November 2025
Nada Alturki
RIYADH: The annual Noor Riyadh, the region’s largest international festival of light and art, has announced its list of participating artists, gearing up for the 2025 launch that will run from Nov. 20-Dec. 6.
The show, curated by Mami Kataoka, Li Zhenhua and Sara Almutlaq, takes place in various hubs across Riyadh and will include 60 artworks by 59 artists, representing 24 nationalities, with 35 newly commissioned pieces.
“Noor Riyadh is defined by its artists; their ideas, their courage and their vision,” said Nouf Almoneef, festival director of Noor Riyadh. “Each work captures the city’s momentum through light, reminding us that creativity is a universal language that connects cultures and inspires dialogue.”
Italian artist Michelangelo Pistoletto's "Love Difference" (2025). (Supplied)
This year’s curatorial theme, “In the Blink of an Eye,” reflects the rapid transformation shaping Riyadh.
The festival will present work responding to the theme by leading international and local artists, including Saad Al-Howede, Monira Al-Qadiri, Abdulrahman Al-Soliman, James Clar, Ivana Franke, fuse*, Ayoung Kim, Shinji Ohmaki, Michelangelo Pistoletto and Muhannad Shono.
The show will also include a special installation dedicated to the work of the late Safeya Binzagr (1940–2024), a leading figure of Saudi Arabia’s modern art movement and the first female Saudi artist to hold a solo exhibition in 1968.
Croatian artist Ivana Franke's "Center" (2024). (Supplied)
“Light is both a medium and a metaphor for transformation,” said Kataoka, the curatorial advisory lead. “‘In the Blink of an Eye’ reveals how quickly perception can shift — offering a moment to pause within the momentum of change and see beauty in what is constantly evolving.”
The 2025 festival is led by an international curatorial team that brings together distinct perspectives on contemporary culture, whose vision connects Riyadh’s historical heart to its modern skyline and metro network. The show invites audiences to encounter light as a medium for perception, memory and momentum.
The festival’s program will have Noor Riyadh unfold across six locations this year: Qasr Al-Hokm District, King Abdulaziz Historical Center, stc Metro Station, KAFD Metro Station, Al-Faisaliah Tower and JAX District.
Saudi artist Saad Al-Howede's "Memory Melting" (2025). (Supplied)
Held under the umbrella of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City and Riyadh Art, Noor Riyadh echoes Riyadh Art’s mission to transform the Kingdom’s capital city by sparking creativity and enriching daily lives.
Since its inception, Riyadh Art has showcased more than 550 artworks by 500 Saudi and international artists, attracting more than 9.6 million visitors and spectators through its major programs. Noor Riyadh transforms everyday public spaces into distinctive encounters, hoping to create a sense of shared wonder across communities through art.
The full list of the festival’s 2025 participating artists includes: Addie Wagenknecht (US), Abdulrahman Al-Soliman (Saudi Arabia), Abdelrahman Elshahed (Saudi Arabia), Ahmad Angawi (Saudi Arabia), Alex Schweder (US), Alexandra Gelis (Colombia and Canada), Ayoung Kim (South Korea), atelier oi + WonderGlass (Switzerland), Christian Partos (Sweden), Christophe Berthonneau (France), dies_ (Italy), Saad Al-Howede (Saudi Arabia), Edwin van der Heide (Netherlands), Encor Studio (Switzerland), Fatma Abdulhadi (Saudi Arabia), Francesco Simeti (Italy), fuse* (Italy), Guillaume Cousin (France), Hmoud Alattawi (Saudi Arabia), Iregular (Canada), Ivana Franke (Croatia), James Clar (Philippines and US), Karolina Halatek (Poland), Khalid Zahid (Saudi Arabia), Kurt Hentschlager (Austria), Laszlo Zsolt Bordos (Hungary), Loris Cecchini (Italy), Marnix De Nijs (Netherlands), Michelangelo Pistoletto (Italy), Mohammed Farea (Saudi Arabia), Monira Al-Qadiri (Kuwait), Muhannad Shono (Saudi Arabia), n + n Corsino (France), Nebras Aljoaib (Saudi Arabia), Obaid Alsafi (Saudi Arabia), Otolab (Italy), Plastique Fantastique (Germany), Random International (UK), Rejane Cantoni (Brazil), Robert Seidel (Germany), Roman Hill (US and France), Ryoichi Kurokawa (Japan), Safeya Binzagr (Saudi Arabia), Saeed Gebaan (Saudi Arabia), Shinji Ohmaki (Japan), Shiro Takatani (Dumb Type, Japan), Shun Ito (Japan), Six N. Five (Ezequiel Pini, Argentina), someform Studio (Germany), Studio Above&Below (UK), Tonoptik (Russia), Traumnovelle (Belgium), Vali Chincisan (Romania), Wang Yuyang (China), Wu Chi-Tsung (Taiwan), Zeitguised (Germany), Zhang Zengzeng (China), Zheng Da (China) and Ziyad Alroqi (Saudi Arabia).
