RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has been a unique travel destination for centuries, offering a wide range of tourism options to visitors, from religious tourism to visiting the historical wonders and seeing the Kingdom’s natural beauty.
While the two holy cities of Makkah and Madinah, with their rich Islamic history epitomizing religious tourism, the natural and heritage wonders are best visited in picturesque Abha, Al-Baha, Al-Turaif distirct in historic Diriyah, Riyadh, historic Jeddah, the mountain resorts of Taif, heritage rock arts in Hail and the majesty of ancient Nabatean tombs in Madain Saleh whereas the multicolored coral reefs of the Red Sea remained a well-kept secret.
Unveiling an ambitious plan for tourism revolution to make Saudi Arabia a world-class travel destination, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in August announced the launch of “The Red Sea” tourism project.
Envisioned as a resort built across a lagoon of 50 pristine islands, the ambitious tourism project will be situated in one of the world’s last natural hidden treasures between the cities of Um Laj and Al-Wajh on the west coast.
It will be developed in partnership with the world’s leading hospitality firms.
Situated just a few kilometers from one of the most diverse Saudi natural reserves in Harrat Al-Rahat, the resort promises to be a blissful coastal island retreat set against a backdrop of the ancient ruins at Madain Saleh, renowned for its natural beauty and heritage value.
With the completion of the project’s first phase expected by 2022, which will include development of hotels, luxury residential units and all logistical infrastructure such as air, land and sea transport hubs, visitors will be able to explore hidden treasures including a natural reserve that boasts a stunning diversity of flora and fauna.
Moreover, an array of marine-oriented resort developments will allow for unparalleled scuba diving among stunning coral reefs.
The project, upon completion, will form an archipelago that is home to environmentally protected coral reefs, mangroves and several endangered marine species, including the hawksbill sea turtle, a critically endangered sea turtle belonging to the family Cheloniidae.
Moreover, the area boasts dormant volcanoes, the most recently active of which recorded history of activity dating back to the 17th century AD.
The natural reserve, which is part of the ambitious project, is inhabited by rare wildlife including leopards, wolves, wildcats and falcons.
Furthermore, the Red Sea project will offer parachuting, trekking and rock climbing. With the tourism sector witnessing a remarkable growth, becoming the second most important sector in the Kingdom after the energy sector, this significant project is expected to spearhead the diversification of the Saudi leisure industry as envisioned under Vision 2030.
In a major boost to the travel and tourism sector, the Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced the development of a new company to act as its investment arm in the entertainment sector to make deals with strategic partners, in a quest to provide more fun and entertainment at home that will help reduce foreign travel, as well as spending on vacations abroad.
Announcing this, the PIF on Wednesday said that this company will expand the scope and variety of entertainment offerings that conform to the latest global standards.
The new company, with an initial capitalization of SR10 billion, will play an active investment role in various areas of the entertainment sector, and seek to attract strategic partnerships to build the cultural eco-system within the Kingdom.
The new company’s establishment is consistent with the ambitions within Vision 2030 to increase the Kingdom’s cultural and entertainment offering, to create new employment opportunities, and to make use of the wealth of talent and energy among Saudi youth.
The company is planning to invest in a number of entertainment projects, which includes an entertainment complex that will be launched by 2019, and is expected to generate more than 22,000 local jobs and contribute SR8 billion ($2.133 billion) to the economy by 2030. An estimated 50 million visitors annually are also expected by that time.
Welcoming the move, Majed bin Abdullah Al-Hedayan, a senior legal adviser and an expert in foreign direct investments, told Arab News: “As there were few entertainment attractions available in the Kingdom, it is indeed a significant initiative to have more entertainment and fun at home and take fewer vacations abroad, which will help cut on spending abroad.”
Al-Hedayan underlined that in line with Vision 2030, the General Authority for Entertainment was established to organize and develop the leisure sector in the Kingdom; provide entertainment and recreational opportunities for all segments of the society in all regions in the Kingdom; enrich life and make it cheerful; and stimulate the role of the private sector in building and developing entertainment activities.
In a great leap forward, the PIF is now establishing a new company as an investment arm in the growing leisure sector to play an effective investment role in developing cultural and recreational elements in the Kingdom.
Furthermore, the Kingdom has already reached an agreement to open a Six Flags theme park in Riyadh, and announced the Red Sea tourism project on the western coast, paving the way for partnerships with the world’s leading tourism companies.
Riyadh is also witnessing massive-scale growth in tourism in both urban and rural areas.
The hospitality sector, in particular, has registered exponential expansion, and the capital is now a shopping hub with a wide range of shopping centers, malls and hypermarkets.
With the tourism sector growing by leaps and bounds recording faster rates of growth with the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National History (SCTH) expanding its footprint across the Kingdom since its formation in 2000, there is a marked difference with emphasis on all aspects of tourism as an industry par excellence, which not only promotes domestic tourism and protect Kingdom’s rich cultural heritage, but at the same time, creates employment avenues for Saudi youth.
Moreover, the SCTH in July announced the launch of six initiatives that have been approved under the National Transformation Program (NTP) 2020. The launch of these initiatives is carried out by the SCTH under the National Tourism Development and National Heritage project of the Kingdom, which is consistent with its strategy approved by the Cabinet in 2004.
Mohammed Al-Nashmi, head of the achievements of the Vision 2030 at the SCTH, said that the commission has begun revising its strategy to meet the “Vision 2030.” The government budget for fiscal year 2017 covered all national heritage and tourism initiatives, 15 of which belong to the SCTH and 16 to its partners.
The total amount of the fund allocated to initiatives of the SCTH and its partners is approximately SR9.93 billion, 40 percent of which will be paid to the SCTH and 60 percent to its partners in government institutions. Total private sector investment is expected to reach SR16 billion, representing 64 percent of total expenditures until 2020.
The SCTH initiatives include “The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Program of Kingdom’s Cultural Heritage Care,” the first phase of which includes 79 projects under the initiatives of the NTP 2020, proposed during the first quarter of 2017. The SCTH will undertake rehabilitation and operation of 15 handicraft centers to raise their total to 17. In addition, it will rehabilitate 18 urban heritage sites, bringing their total to 28, and establish 18 regional museums to bring the total in the Kingdom to 24.
SCTH will also rehabilitate 80 archaeological sites, and ready them for the public, bringing their total to 155, in addition to registering three more sites on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, bringing the Kingdom’s total registered sites to seven.
The UNESCO included Historic Jeddah and the Hail Rock Arts in the World Heritage List in consecutive years during the 38th UNESCO world heritage committee session in Qatar (2014) and 39th session of UNESCO world heritage committee in Bonn, Germany (2015).
The Hail Rock Arts are the fourth UNESCO heritage site in the Kingdom as earlier, UNESCO declared Madain Saleh as a site of patrimony in 2008, and it became Saudi Arabia’s first World Heritage Site.
It was chosen for its well-preserved remains from late antiquity, especially the 131 rock-cut monumental tombs, with their elaborately ornamented facades of the Nabatean kingdom.
Subsequently, the Kingdom mounted a concerted effort to further upgrade heritage tourism infrastructure and other facilities at historical and cultural sites as part of its effort to eventually get other historical sites of the Kingdom included in the World Heritage List. The Turaif district in Al-Diriyah was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010.
The registration of these four heritage sites plays vital role toward promoting heritage tourism in the Kingdom.
Acknowledging the continuous effort, the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), at its 22nd session held in China, honored Prince Sultan bin Salman, president of the Saudi SCTH on Sept.13. for his exemplary support of global tourism, the UNWTO’s efforts and his innovative initiatives to promote tourism in the Kingdom.
UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai stressed that this is the first tribute that is given to a person who had given much effort and time for the success of tourism in the world.
Saudi Arabia witnessing a remarkable growth in tourism industry
Saudi Arabia witnessing a remarkable growth in tourism industry
KSrelief continues food aid projects globally
RIYADH: KSrelief, Saudi Arabia’s aid agency, continues to provide food assistance to vulnerable populations in several countries.
KSrelief distributed 500 cartons of dates on Thursday in the Red Sea State of Sudan, benefiting 5,162 individuals from displaced families.
The agency also handed out 175,000 bags of bread to needy families, including Syrians, Palestinians and members of the host community in northern Lebanon.
This initiative benefited 125,000 individuals.
In Pakistan, KSrelief has distributed 2,300 food boxes in flood-affected areas of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, benefiting 14,227 individuals.
In Syria’s earthquake-hit regions, KSrelief has distributed 747 food parcels and 747 hygiene kits to affected families in Al-Dana of the Idlib Governorate.
The aid, which benefited 4,482 individuals, is part of a continuing project that supports people affected by the recent earthquake in northern Syria.
Border guards thwart drug smuggling attempts
RIYADH: Saudi border guards have foiled several attempts to smuggle illegal drugs into the country, state news agency SPA reported.
Border personnel seized 1.3 tonnes of hashish, 1,388,622 narcotic pills and 136 tonnes of qat in separate operations in Jazan, Aseer and Najran and also arrested 959 Ethiopians, 849 Yemenis, three Somalis and Eritreans and 12 nationals suspected of involvement in the smuggling attempt.
Security authorities urge the public to report any information related to drug smuggling or selling by calling 911 in Makkah, Riyadh, and the Eastern regions, and 999 in other regions of the Kingdom.
People may also contact the General Directorate of Narcotics Control at 995 or via email: [email protected]. All reports will be treated with strict confidentiality.
Young Saudi rug makers weave kaleidoscope of dreams
- Bassam Al-Khalifi, Saud Al-Rasheed master the art of tufting rugs
RIYADH: In the wake of the pandemic Bassam Al-Khalifi and Saud Al-Rasheed transformed their isolation into creativity, leading to the birth of Ghazlah Studio — a hub for unique, hand-tufted rugs.
The Saudi men’s story is not just about artistry but a testament to how challenging times can inspire innovation and passion.
Al-Khalifi’s journey began when he sought to decorate his room. Frustrated by the lack of appealing rugs in the market, he decided to create his own.
“I wanted something different, so I ordered the equipment and dedicated a year to learning how to tuft,” he told Arab News. What started as a personal project quickly evolved into a larger vision.
Initially, neither Al-Khalifi, an artist and designer, nor Al-Rasheed, an avid art collector, had any experience in weaving. They faced a steep learning curve but were undeterred.
“We took six months to learn how to conceive designs, source materials, and weave the rugs,” Al-Khalifi explained.
HIGHLIGHTS
• The journey of Ghazlah Studio began when Bassam Al-Khalifi, frustrated by the lack of appealing rugs in the market, decided to create his own.
• Their debut collection titled ‘Color as a Scene’ evokes a range of emotions, reflecting the complex sentiments many experienced during the pandemic.
They experimented with various techniques, ultimately settling on a “cut and loop” method using 100 percent acrylic yarn. This approach stands in contrast to traditional Arabian carpet-making methods which often utilize wool and time-honored designs.
Their learning process was filled with challenges, but their determination pushed them forward.
Al-Khalifi pored over tutorials, consulted with experts, and practiced tirelessly. Al-Rasheed, with his keen eye for aesthetics, contributed by curating color palettes and design concepts.
What started as a hobby soon blossomed into a commercial venture. With their rugs gaining traction, Al-Khalifi and Al-Rasheed launched Ghazlah, featuring a debut collection titled “Color as a Scene.”
The collection evokes a range of emotions, reflecting the complex sentiments many experienced during the pandemic. “I wanted to splash all these emotions on the piece itself,” Al-Khalifi said. The vibrant tapestries of feelings capture the essence of joy, nostalgia, and hope.
The vibrance of their work makes a statement piece in any room. Each piece is unique, with some featuring Saudi themes that enhance their significance and appeal. The artists also draw inspiration from their heritage, incorporating traditional motifs and modern designs, creating a fusion that resonates with a broad audience.
In Ghazlah’s Riyadh workshop, the atmosphere is filled with creativity and energy. The walls are lined with neatly organized shelves filled with spools of yarn in every imaginable color. There are some of Al-Khalifi’s paintings and rugs still in progress, showcasing their journey.
Al-Rasheed gestured around the space, saying: “This place is full of rugs that we made but decided not to sell. Why? Because we love them. I’m trying to push Al-Khalifi to sell them, but he won’t.”
Ghazlah Studio has made a notable impact in Riyadh, showcasing creations in three galleries. Their work has garnered attention not just locally but also from international platforms, leading to collaborations with major brands such as Vogue and Sephora.
These partnerships have elevated their profile and allowed them to reach a wider audience with which they can share their artistry and craftsmanship.
The duo’s success can also be attributed to their innovative marketing strategies. They leverage social media to share their creative process, engage with customers, and build a community around their brand.
By showcasing behind-the-scenes footage, they invite their audience into their world, allowing them to witness the transformation of raw materials into stunning art pieces.
As they continue to grow, Al-Khalifi and Al-Rasheed are committed to exploring new design possibilities, as well as looking into creating home decor items. They plan to expand their collections, experimenting with different textures, materials, and techniques.
From a simple idea born during quarantine to a noteworthy business, Ghazlah Studio continues to make waves in the art scene, proving that even in isolation, inspiration can thrive.
As they weave their stories into every rug, Al-Khalifi and Al-Rasheed invite us all to find beauty and meaning in our own creative pursuits.
Hail governor inaugurates Middle East’s largest salmon production center
- The 10,000-square-meter facility features the latest marine technology
HAIL: Prince Abdulaziz bin Saad bin Abdulaziz, the governor of Hail, inaugurated the Excellence Center for Salmon Production on Saturday, the largest facility of its kind in the Middle East.
A collaboration between the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture and King Abdulaziz University, the center aims to produce 100,000 tons of salmon annually, bolstering Saudi Arabia’s food security and aquaculture sector, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The 10,000-square-meter facility features the latest marine technology, including recirculating aquaculture systems and aquaponics units, which integrate fish and vegetable production.
It is designed to reduce the Kingdom’s reliance on salmon imports, currently at 23,000 tons per year.
Prince Abdulaziz hailed the project as a cornerstone of Vision 2030, promoting sustainable development and economic diversification, while attending officials highlighted its potential to enhance innovation, create jobs, and serve as a model for sustainable aquaculture in the region, SPA added.
Islamic minister highlights Saudi Arabia’s role in promoting peace
- European guests praise Saudi Arabia’s hospitality, cultural outreach efforts
JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Islamic Affairs hosted a cultural event for the second group of Guests of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Program for Umrah and Visit, featuring various cultural and entertainment activities.
The group comprised 250 pilgrims from 14 European countries, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
They expressed their gratitude to the leadership and the ministry for hosting them, allowing them to perform Umrah rituals and visit historic sites in Madinah and Makkah.
Minister of Islamic Affairs Sheikh Abdullatif Al-Asheikh said Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was committed to being a beacon of goodness and moderation.
HIGHLIGHT
The minister also highlighted the Kingdom’s commitment to providing humanitarian aid to those in need around the world, in line with Islam’s core values of promoting compassion and support.
During a reception for the guests, he said the Kingdom would continue to serve Islam and Muslims, and promote tolerance, coexistence and understanding worldwide.
Al-Asheikh, who is also the general supervisor of the program, met the guests, conveyed the greetings of the Saudi leadership and along with members of the program’s working committees reviewed the services provided and received a briefing on their work.
Under its leadership, the Kingdom strove to offer top-tier services to the visitors of the Two Holy Mosques from around the world, he said.
The guests commended the Kingdom on its efforts to promote Islam’s message of tolerance and foster appreciation for its historical and spiritual legacy. They also praised the new projects and expansions at the holy mosques and sites, which align with Saudi Vision 2030.
Al-Khamar Al-Baqari, head of imams in the Netherlands, expressed his gratitude to Saudi Arabia, its government and its people for their hospitality.
Sheikh Ali Al-Zughaibi, the program’s executive director, said that since its launch in 2014 it had provided the opportunity for 4,500 men and women from around the world to perform Umrah and visit the Prophet’s Mosque.
Al-Asheikh also highlighted the Kingdom’s unwavering commitment to providing humanitarian aid to those in need around the world, in line with Islam’s core values of promoting compassion and support.
