Nitro Circus provides action-themed weekend for Saudis in Riyadh

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The Nitro Circus team members are seen waving to the audience at the King Fahad International Stadium. (AN photo by Huda Bashatah)
Updated 17 November 2017
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Nitro Circus provides action-themed weekend for Saudis in Riyadh

RIYADH: With loud motorcycles, a good choice of music and flames, residents of Riyadh were treated to a spectacular weekend brought to them by the General Entertainment Authority (GEA) and the General Sports Authority (GSA).

Over 20,000 attendees arrived at the King Fahad International Stadium to be part of Saudi Arabia’s first-of-a-kind action sports show put on by the Nitro Circus crew.

Performing for the first time in Saudi Arabia, Riyadh was the international action sports team’s second stop after Dubai. “Dubai was the closest we have been to this area,” said Travis Pastrana, Nitro Circus ring master.

Nitro Circus performed some of the most difficult and dangerous tricks using a wide range of contraptions, such as freestyle motocross (FMX), BMX, scooter, skis, bikes, Barbie car, bathtub, lazy boy’s couch and performance pad.




(AN photo by Huda Bashatah)



The show was a big hit for both expats and locals. The family section included children who were given free tickets.

“This is the first time I have brought my family to the stadium. I’m thrilled to have such quality time together as a family. I even brought my six-month-old daughter today,” said Ahmed who attended the second day of the show. “I loved the show. My family enjoyed every minute.”

Obada Awad, executive director at Time Entertainment, said that arranging such events is a good step to engage the Western community in Saudi Arabia. “There are not many entertainment events happening here that attract Westerners and engage them, and this is part of Vision 2030 to include all people here and generate more revenue for the country.”

Prices started at SR50 ($13), and people with special needs were given free seats to enjoy the show. “The GSA announced the new prices, including the free tickets for people with special needs,” said Awad who promised the Saudi-based audience more events before the year ends.

“We have big things in 2017, so stay tuned. In one-and-a-half months, grand things will happen,” he added.

Bruce Robson, the group’s MC, is in Saudi Arabia for the third time. “I lived in Jeddah in 2005.”

He hoped the team could perform again in different parts of the country. “Hopefully we can get invited back. Hopefully we haven’t upset many people and they like us so we can come back again.”

The audience has been sensational, said Robson who was impressed by the people’s enthusiasm in the stadium. “So loud, so caring, so giving … you could feel the warmth as soon as you walked in the place. Everyone was just so excited.”




(AN photo by Huda Bashatah)



Robson, who saw women for the first time inside the stadium, said that the audience showed him the opposite of what he and his team had in mind.

“This the first time women were allowed to come to such a show (in the stadium). We had our concerns and thought we would be kind of quiet not to offend the ladies, but it has been the complete opposite,” he said, adding: “You could see ladies just screaming and cheering and all of our team have just been blown away by it. They have just been impressed by the reception and the enthusiasm.”

Big Hass, radio host and founder of the Re-Volt blog and magazine and host of Saudi’s first FM Hip-Hop show, said that hosting such events helps changing perceptions in the West.

“I do believe that the guys are doing incredible jobs. All the tricks are amazing, but for me, what the General Entertainment Authority and the Entertainment have done is also changing perceptions of how we as Saudis are viewed in the West,” he said. “These guys step into Saudi for the first time. So, they are changing their perceptions. And we have already changed a lot of perceptions.”

“What they see on media and on TV is not what it is. Saudi Arabia is a beautiful country. They said people have been very loving, everyone has been great,” said Big Hass who co-presented the show and tried to add local flavor to the show.

Commenting on the changes Saudis are witnessing in the Kingdom, Big Hass said that as a young Saudi man, he is very proud to see these changes happening for the best. “Do you know why? Because Saudi people deserve it. Expats in Saudi also deserve it. We are an amazing country with an amazing leadership.”


Saudi FM attends Oslo Forum in Norway

Updated 10 June 2025
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Saudi FM attends Oslo Forum in Norway

  • Forum hosts global leaders and conflict mediators
  • Prince Faisal bin Farhan will meet foreign officials

RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan arrived in the Norwegian capital on Tuesday to take part in the Oslo Forum.

The annual event, organized by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the Center for Humanitarian Dialogue in Switzerland, hosts global leaders and conflict mediators.

Prince Faisal will meet foreign officials to strengthen relations with the Kingdom and discuss various regional and international issues, the Saudi Press Agency reported.


What pilgrims are sharing online after their Hajj journey

Updated 10 June 2025
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What pilgrims are sharing online after their Hajj journey

  • Worshippers take to social media to share profound experiences with loved ones
  • Posting online becomes a way to process the weight of Hajj for many

RIYADH: For many pilgrims, the spiritual journey of Hajj does not end when they leave the holy sites. It continues — quietly, intentionally — in the days and weeks that follow.

Across Saudi Arabia, young pilgrims are using social media to process the weight of Hajj and share the experience with loved ones.

Noor Ahmad, 21, did not plan to post during her pilgrimage. But after she returned, the urge to share came naturally.

After returning from Hajj, I decided to share a few captured moments. But how can a photo truly capture the depth and majesty of the experience?

Noor Ahmad

“After returning from Hajj, I decided to share a few captured moments,” she said. “But how can a photo truly capture the depth and majesty of the experience?”

She described how people responded in varied ways. “Those who had gone before felt nostalgic and started sharing their own stories. Others — those who hadn’t been yet — expressed their longing. It became this moment of connection.”

For Noor, the decision to post was not about aesthetics. “It’s a monumental event. Maybe I could inspire someone who’s hesitant to go. Maybe they’ll see what I saw — and want to experience it for themselves.

“It was my way of saying thank you”

Shatha Al-Jadaan, 25, took a different approach to sharing, after taking a digital detox.

I enjoy sharing meaningful moments, and after seeing the tremendous effort put into Hajj on every level, I felt my post was a small, sincere gesture of appreciation.

Shatha Al-Jadaan

“During Hajj, I decided to partially fast from social media. I used only the essentials,” she said. “After I returned, I posted a thread to my close friends explaining where I’d been and shared some of the most meaningful moments.”

The response was full of prayers and warmth. “People were kind, supportive, and curious. But what mattered most to me was that I used the thread to say thank you — to the organizers, to the volunteers, and to Allah.”

She spoke about how she found value in using digital platforms to document something greater than herself.

“I enjoy sharing meaningful moments, and after seeing the tremendous effort put into Hajj on every level, I felt my post was a small, sincere gesture of appreciation.”

Salem Al-Khudair, 28, recorded a voice note to his family group chat while performing the rites.

“I just couldn’t find the words to write. So I recorded myself speaking right after standing in Arafat. I sent it to my family WhatsApp group. My mom was emotional. My dad said, ‘May God accept from you.’ That was enough.”

In an age of curated content, Hajj posts tend to stand out for their sincerity. Pilgrims often strip away the filters, metaphors and trend-driven formats, and just speak from the heart.

Noura Al-Dosari, 23, uploaded a private Instagram story highlight with no captions. “Just visuals. No filters. No hashtags,” she said. “It wasn’t for followers. It was for me. For reflection. A digital bookmark of who I became.”

Some write long captions, others simply post a photo of their ihram folded neatly back into a drawer.

But all of them carry a silent message: I went. I came back different.

Many pilgrims use their posts to recall moments of physical hardship that brought emotional breakthroughs — the heat, the long walks, the brief but powerful connections with strangers.

Others use it to highlight the seamless organization of the pilgrimage as a reminder of how far the experience has evolved.

Amani Al-Saad, 26, used X to share a short story about a volunteer who helped her carry her bag in Muzdalifah. “She didn’t speak much, but she smiled at me and said, ‘This is what we’re here for.’ That stuck with me. I wrote about it as a reminder to myself — that sometimes the smallest moments hold the most meaning.”

While digital connections are increasingly common, most pilgrims emphasize that the real processing happens offline — in quiet conversations with family, in their prayer rooms, or on long drives home.

“I didn’t post to perform,” said Al-Jadaan. “I posted to remember.”

 


National Water Co. ready for post-Hajj season

Updated 10 June 2025
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National Water Co. ready for post-Hajj season

  • The company added the plan included securing water storage and coordinating with water production and distribution systems

MADINAH: The National Water Co. has confirmed it is operationally ready for the post-Hajj season.

The company said it would distribute more than 630,000 cubic meters of potable water daily to pilgrims at the Prophet’s Mosque and throughout Madinah and said its readiness built on ongoing efforts to serve pilgrims and visitors.

The plan involves more than 1,200 employees, including technical, administrative and engineering staff, working to provide water and environmental services.

The company added the plan included securing water storage and coordinating with water production and distribution systems, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Water will be supplied daily during the post-Hajj season through continuous pumping to the central area and religious sites. Chemical and biological tests will be conducted to ensure compliance with water quality standards.

The company said its smart operation system continues to manage and monitor Madinah’s water network, overseeing water pressure and quality in pipelines and reservoirs.

 


Saudi film body joins global audiovisual group

Updated 10 June 2025
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Saudi film body joins global audiovisual group

  • Through this affiliation, the commission plans to develop archiving projects and engage in knowledge exchange with international institutions

RIYADH: The Film Commission announced its membership in the International Association of Sound and Audiovisual Archives, a step aimed at supporting its work in audiovisual archiving.

The association includes members from 70 countries and represents institutions that preserve materials such as visual content, musical works, historical and literary recordings, and oral histories.

According to the Saudi Press Agency, this membership supports the commission’s efforts to preserve Saudi Arabia’s audiovisual heritage.

Through this affiliation, the commission plans to develop archiving projects and engage in knowledge exchange with international institutions.

The move also reflects the commission’s aim to adopt recognized practices and modern technologies in film archiving, the SPA reported.

Cooperation with association members will provide access to innovations in audiovisual preservation and contribute to efforts to safeguard the Kingdom’s cultural heritage.

Founded in 1969 in Amsterdam, the association promotes collaboration among institutions focused on audiovisual preservation.

It hosts an annual conference for sharing expertise in preservation, restoration, digitization, intellectual property, and public access to archival materials.

 


French architect showcases AlUla’s heritage in New York exhibition

Updated 10 June 2025
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French architect showcases AlUla’s heritage in New York exhibition

  • The exhibition was opened by Abdullah Al-Hamdan, the Kingdom’s consul general in New York, who spoke about the role of art in encouraging cultural exchange and international understanding

RIYADH: The Didier Aaron Gallery in New York, in collaboration with the Consulate General of Saudi Arabia, is hosting an art exhibition by French architect Jean-Pierre Heim.

The exhibition showcases AlUla’s culture and heritage through a collection of sketches depicting Saudi Arabia’s archaeological landmarks.

It runs until June 20, reported the Saudi Press Agency.

A special event at the exhibition featured Heim speaking about his visits to AlUla and the surrounding region.

It was opened by Abdullah Al-Hamdan, the Kingdom’s consul general in New York, who spoke about the role of art in encouraging cultural exchange and international understanding.

He also noted the value of such exhibitions in sharing aspects of Saudi heritage with a wider audience.

Heim described his design approach as being informed by local culture and geography, emphasizing the integration of architecture with environment, history, and traditions.

The exhibition includes selected architectural drawings by Heim, inspired by his travels to more than 80 countries, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Sudan, Jordan, Greece, and China.