RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s bid to make innovation a pillar of its development is gathering momentum, with several major collaborative ventures helping to drive growth across a broad range of knowledge-led industries, said Prince Turki bin Saud bin Mohammed Al-Saud, president of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST).
Strategic partnerships with academic institutions and private industry players were pivotal in Saudi plans to take research and development (R&D) to the next level in manufacturing and production, he told the Oxford Business Group’s (OBG) online broadcasting service Global Platform.
“We are targeting collaborations with the world’s leading research organizations which will enable us to move from innovation to commercialization,” Prince Turki said.
He highlighted some of the partnerships that are already delivering results and will enhance the national economy, notably collaboration with Ukrainian aircraft manufacturing and services company Antonov.
The Kingdom has teamed up with Antonov to build the AN-132, a multipurpose transport aircraft that began test flights in December.
The technology for the aircraft is jointly owned by Saudi Arabia and Antonov, Prince Turki said, with manufacturing to be undertaken in the Kingdom.
“This aircraft, which is used for cargo and can take up to 90 passengers, will be soon flown in Saudi Arabia,” he said.
He mapped out plans to create a facility at King Khalid International Airport in the next few years where aircraft such as the Airbus 380 and Boeing 777 could also be built.
This commitment shows progress in Saudi plans to create an aerospace industry by entering into key partnerships that will realize its goals and future plans, he said.
Prince Turki also noted the diverse range of R&D under way in the Kingdom, from genomics and renewable energy to value-added manufacturing and nanotechnology.
The decision to galvanize domestic production will help Saudi Arabia move toward its target of increasing local content by at least 70 percent by 2030, he said.
The country’s innovation drive has allowed it to sharpen its focus on harnessing human resource wealth, in line with the Vision 2030 development plan, he added.
“Saudi Arabia’s economic development will depend on innovation, which requires a lot of R&D,” he said.
“The country is now concentrating on the real revered wealth of the country, and that’s its people, in addition to other resources that Allah granted it.”
Strategic partnerships key to Saudi innovation drive: Prince Turki
Strategic partnerships key to Saudi innovation drive: Prince Turki
Saudi Arabia ready to host Art Week Riyadh
- Held under the theme “At The Edge”, the inaugural edition will unfold across key cultural venues in the capital
RIYADH: The Visual Arts Commission is preparing for the launch of the first-ever Art Week Riyadh, a week-long celebration of Saudi Arabia’s vibrant art scene, which starts on Sunday and runs until April 13, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Held under the theme “At The Edge”, the inaugural edition will unfold across key cultural venues in the capital, including the JAX District and the Al-Mousa Center.
The event will bring together leading local, regional, and international galleries, artists, institutions, collectors, and art enthusiasts.
The flagship exhibition will showcase works from more than 45 galleries, exploring cultural dialogues between Saudi Arabia, the wider Middle East, and the global contemporary art landscape.
The exhibition will be curated around three themes — Everyday Life, Landscapes, and Motifs — highlighting the intersection of tradition and innovation in Saudi visual culture.
Al-Mousa Center, now a thriving arts hub, will host over 15 specially curated exhibitions, while the JAX District will also present Collections in Dialogue — a trio of exhibitions developed with leading cultural institutions and private collectors.
In addition to exhibitions, Art Week Riyadh will feature a series of talks and workshops tackling contemporary issues in the visual arts across the Kingdom and beyond.
AAccording to the Visual Arts Commission, the initiative aims to cultivate a dynamic and collaborative art environment, while honoring Saudi Arabia’s artistic heritage and its evolving creative future.
‘Bahr’ play brings maritime heritage to Baha in Theater Tour initiative
- Organized by the Theater and Performing Arts Commission, the event attracted a large audience for the award-winning play “Bahr” (Sea)
RIYADH: The three-day Theater Tour initiative ended on Saturday at the Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Theater in Baha, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Organized by the Theater and Performing Arts Commission, the event attracted a large audience for the award-winning play “Bahr” (Sea).
Inspired by maritime heritage, “Bahr” explores the traditions of sailors’ lives, particularly diving and pearl hunting.
The production is part of the commission’s strategy to promote culture across the Kingdom, according to the SPA.
Nasser Al-Qasabi, chairman of the commission, thanked the governor of Baha for supporting the initiative and providing the resources for its launch in the region.
The Theater Tour initiative brings exceptional performances to cities, governorates and villages throughout the Kingdom. The first phase features “Bahr,” running from April 3 to May 3.
The production debuted in Baha from April 3-5. It now moves to Jubail from April 17-19, Dammam from April 24-26 and concludes in Al-Ahsa from May 1-3.
The project aims to raise awareness of theater, increase access to cultural services in underserved areas and support local theater groups.
Written by Abdulrahman Al-Marikhi and directed by Sultan Al-Nawa, “Bahr” has won several awards, including best actor, best script and best overall production at the Riyadh Theater Festival, as well as best musical effects and best director at the 19th Gulf Theater Festival.
Saudi governor of Digital Government Authority met Rwandan minister
Ahmed Alsuwaiyan, governor of the Digital Government Authority, recently met with Paula Ingabire, Rwandan minister of information and communications technology and innovation, at the Global AI Summit on Africa.
During their meeting, they discussed the Riyadh AI Declaration, ways to foster growth in the digital economy, and approaches to strengthen collaboration between Saudi Arabia and Rwanda, the organization wrote in a post on X.
The governor also met with Ghana’s Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations Samuel George, and discussed opportunities for cooperation in harnessing AI technologies in digital government.
New initiative turns road trips into cultural journeys
- Signage across highways introduces travelers to the Kingdom’s diverse traditional crafts, arts
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Roads General Authority and the Royal Institute of Traditional Arts — also known as Wrth — have launched an initiative called Wrth Saudi, which features signage on highways across the Kingdom marking significant locations connected with national crafts.
This initiative comes in what has been designated the Year of Handicrafts in Saudi Arabia. The first phase of Wrth Saudi will cover three highways: the Riyadh-Dammam Highway, the Makkah-Madinah Highway, and the Riyadh–Qassim Expressway, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.
Subsequent phases will extend the initiative to other vital roads throughout the country, the SPA added.
Wrth Saudi will showcase traditional regional arts such as Najdi door craftsmanship, mud construction, carpentry, wood carvings, and bisht making.
“Saudi Arabia’s vast road network, the largest in the world in terms of connectivity, serves as a platform to highlight the Kingdom’s cultural heritage and showcase its crafts,” the SPA reported.
The Royal Institute of Traditional Arts plays a key role in promoting Saudi traditional arts locally and internationally, supporting local artisans, and encouraging the teaching and development of these crafts.
Earlier this year, the institute also launched the Wrth Community program to raise awareness of Saudi traditional arts and cultural heritage while “empowering individuals to learn and develop these crafts locally and globally.”
The program featured discussion sessions with academics, artisans, trainers, and entrepreneurs, along with workshops. Activities focused on four key materials used in Saudi traditional arts: stone, wood, ceramics, and metals.
The Ministry of Culture designated 2025 as the Year of Handicrafts to “solidify the position of handicrafts as authentic cultural heritage while promoting the practice, preservation and documentation of the craft, as well as its presence in contemporary life,” according to the SPA.
Throughout 2025, the Ministry of Culture will organize an array of events, exhibitions, educational programs and competitions under the banner Year of Handicrafts.
Muslim World League condemns Israeli strikes on Saudi cultural center, school in Gaza
- Deadly attacks that killed, injured dozens described as ‘horrific crimes against civilians and civilian facilities’
- MWL chief calls for urgent international action over what he says are war crimes
RIYADH: The Muslim World League has condemned Israeli airstrikes that hit a Saudi cultural facility and a school in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, as Israel resumed military operations following the collapse of a temporary truce with Hamas.
In a statement carried on the Saudi Press Agency on Friday, MWL Secretary-General Sheikh Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa denounced the targeting of the Saudi Center for Culture and Heritage’s warehouse, which destroyed medical supplies intended for the sick and wounded in Gaza.
He also condemned the strike on Dar Al-Arqam School, which reportedly killed and injured dozens, describing the attacks as “horrific crimes against civilians and civilian facilities.”
Al-Issa said: “These acts represent a flagrant violation of all international and humanitarian laws and norms.”
He called on the international community to take urgent action, and urged global bodies to activate accountability mechanisms and hold perpetrators responsible for what he described as war crimes.
The condemnation comes amid renewed violence in Gaza since March, following a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Israel has resumed its bombardment of the enclave, saying it is targeting militant infrastructure, while humanitarian agencies have warned of deepening crises and mounting civilian casualties.
