WASHINGTON: Saudi students who have forged reputations as innovators are urging fellow young Saudis to seize a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape their futures.
At a packed conference room at Washington DC’s most iconic hotel, the Willard InterContinental, just across from the White House, a series of speakers took to the stage on Wednesday to call on the Saudi-majority audience to take up the challenge of reform.
“Never be afraid to do something or to be the first to do it,” said Razan Alageel, who last year won the outstanding youth delegate award at a UN youth project.
Alageel, who is studying political science at Appalachian State University in the US, said Saudis must not be intimidated by the scale of the tasks ahead as they face up to domestic and international challenges.
“You will always have a mountain to climb and another cliff to jump off. Believe in your instincts. You are powerful beyond measure, so use it,” she said.
She made her comments at a Misk Talk event in Washington DC, organized by the Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Philanthropic Foundation.
Misk, as the foundation is known for short, was set up in 2011 by the crown prince to promote innovation and education opportunities for young Saudis, and to encourage media that “knows no boundaries.”
More than half of the Kingdom’s 27 million nationals are below age 30, a demographic situation that poses a serious economic challenge, and many get their news from social media outlets rather than relying on traditional sources.
Saudi Arabia has historically been able to employ young people in government agencies, paid for by the country’s massive oil wealth. But the crown prince has embarked on a bold economic reform agenda that, if successful, will radically shake up government subsidies in the state.
The Misk foundation is part of that effort. At Wednesday’s presentation, the message to young Saudis was that they, not oil, are the country’s most valuable resource.
Mohammed Bakhsh, an undergraduate at George Washington University, used his presentation to encourage young Saudis to take risks and not fear failure, both central elements of the entrepreneurship the crown prince has called for.
“Failure is one of the best teachers, failure is the essence of success,” he said, a mantra more typically associated with Silicon Valley than old-style Saudi economic policy.
Much was also said about the reforms that have taken place in Saudi, including allowing women to drive.
“Remember, less than five years ago we couldn’t have discussions about women’s rights in this formal capacity, that was impossible and unheard of,” said Jehan Al-Mahmoud, a PhD student in socio-lingustics at Georgetown University.
“It has been a journey for all of us. The Saudi youth, we are all witnessing this incredible transformation in our country and we are getting there.
“As the Saudi nation, we got lucky with the oil at first but we continue to get lucky with knowledgeable, ambitious leadership that cultivates the most valuable resource that we have — us,” she said.
Young Saudis urged to seize opportunities to shape economic future
Young Saudis urged to seize opportunities to shape economic future
Saudi human rights society praises UN resolution for children’s digital safety
- Khalid Al-Fakhri, the society’s president, said the resolution marks major progress in strengthening legal and preventive protections for children against digital risks and violations
RIYADH: The National Society for Human Rights in Saudi Arabia welcomed the unanimous adoption by the UN Human Rights Council of a resolution on protecting children in cyberspace.
The society called it a significant step that strengthens international efforts to safeguard children’s rights amid the growing challenges of the digital world, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.
It noted that the resolution aligns with the global initiative launched by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to protect children in cyberspace, reflecting a strong commitment to upholding children’s rights in the digital sphere.
Khalid Al-Fakhri, the society’s president, said the resolution marks major progress in strengthening legal and preventive protections for children against digital risks and violations, and establishes an international framework to support countries’ and communities’ efforts in this field.
He stressed that protecting children’s rights is a core priority the society actively supports and promotes, and praised the Kingdom’s mission to the UN and international organizations in Geneva for its role in supporting and engaging with the resolution.
Al-Fakhri highlighted the need to integrate national and international efforts to advance human rights, particularly children’s rights in the digital age, the SPA reported.
The society reaffirmed its commitment to supporting all international and local initiatives to protect children’s rights and raise public and legislative awareness of the dangers of cyberspace.
These efforts, it added, are crucial to ensuring a safe digital environment and advancing the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 for a cohesive and secure society.
Riyadh to host global falcon auction in August
RIYADH: The Saudi Falcons Club has announced that preparations are underway for this year’s International Falcon Breeders Auction from Aug. 5 to 25 at the club’s headquarters in Malham, north of Riyadh.
The auction has become a key event for falconers worldwide, attracting sellers and buyers of elite local and international breeding stock, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Last year’s auction featured 56 production farms — 13 from Saudi Arabia and 43 international — with 866 falcons sold to buyers from 19 countries.
Total sales topped SR10.6 million ($2.8 million), and more than 18,000 visits were recorded during the three-week event, the SPA added.
The 2024 auction included the highest-priced locally bred falcon, sold for SR210,000 by Al-Aradi Production and Protection Center, and the most expensive international falcon, sold for SR400,000 by Pacific Northwest Falcons, US.
Recognized as one of the world’s largest specialized falcon auctions, the Malham event has created investment opportunities in the sector, according to the SPA.
The auction has also helped local farms adopt international best practices and contributed to Saudi Arabia’s emergence as a global falconry hub.
Royal Institute of Traditional Arts features at Expo 2025 Osaka’s Saudi Culture Week
OSAKA: Saudi Arabia’s Royal Institute of Traditional Arts (Wrth) highlighted the Kingdom’s traditional arts to a global audience during Saudi Culture Week at Expo 2025 Osaka.
The event, from July 12-15, highlighted the “Year of Handicrafts 2025” initiative and put the Kingdom’s creative industries and craftsmanship in the spotlight. It also coincided with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Japan and Saudi Arabia.
Wrth’s participation blended Saudi and Japanese culture in a way that highlighted each one and featured a live demonstration by Saudi artisan Salman Al-Hamad and Japan’s Yuho Ohkotaof, who applied the techniques of Al-Ahsa Bisht embroidery to a Japanese kimono design.
Wrth also held a workshop dedicated to creating Japanese fans with patterns inspired by Saudi traditional arts, using a design by a Wrth student.
Japan Park showcases art, culture at Riyadh’s Esports World Cup
- Japanese anime, manga, videos, and learning calligraphy at Boulevard City
RIYADH: Japan Park has become a major attraction at the Esports World Cup in Riyadh with its displays of anime, manga and video games.
Being held at Riyadh’s Boulevard City, visitors can wear traditional Japanese kimonos on entry and engage with actors wearing costumes of popular characters, including Gundam and Vegapunk.
The park also has traditional Japanese games, including Kendama and Go, dances, and stage shows inspired by well-known anime series.
Additionally, experts have been holding daily workshops on Japanese calligraphy, allowing visitors to learn more about traditional techniques, and how to write their names in kanji.
The park also features workshops on origami and uchiwa conducted by Japanese professionals.
The area has various restaurants, serving dishes including ramen, sushi, and mochi.
The Esports World Cup is an annual tournament that takes place from July to August.
From ‘What If?’ to ‘Wow!’ at Ithra children’s festival
- The festival at Ithra offers shared space for children and parents to express curiosity, creativity
DHAHRAN: The inaugural Children’s Festival being held under the theme “What if?” at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture is designed to “inspire imagination, encourage connection, and make space for discovery,” an official told Arab News recently.
Nouf Al-Jama, the head of learning at Ithra, added: “The program invites children to express themselves, engage with their surroundings, and experience culture in new and exciting ways.”
The event, which began on July 7 and runs until July 26 between 4 p.m. and 11 p.m., blends creativity, learning, play and discovery.
The festival features 50 diverse activities including live performances, interactive stations, creative zones, workshops and a book fair, to encourage critical and creative thinking.
FASTFACTS
• The Children’s Festival’s artistic zones invite kids and their families to explore color, motion, and self-expression.
• The five-day Children’s Book Fair runs until July 19 and includes 20 local and international publishing houses.
• South Korea is this year’s guest of honor, offering a window into its culture through stories and illustrations.
The artistic zones invite children and their families to explore color, motion, and self-expression.
One such experience combines rhythm and culinary arts, transforming everyday kitchen utensils into instruments of sound and joy.
“(The festival) gives children the freedom to express themselves and feel heard — whether through painting in the interactive art space, uncovering clues in the museum adventure, or stepping onto the open mic stage,” said Al-Jama.
The sessions have experts from local and regional institutions including the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language, Abu Dhabi Children’s Library, House of Wisdom in Sharjah, and King Abdulaziz Public Library.
Parents and guardians are invited to join workshops, engage in conversations with other parents and build memories.
“It is this sense of togetherness, where children and families learn and grow side by side, that makes the festival so special,” Al-Jama added.
With schools closed and summertime in full swing, local children are immersing themselves in the festival.
“The response so far has been incredibly encouraging. From the very first day, we have seen families arriving early and staying for hours, moving from one experience to the next.
“Children have embraced the festival with curiosity and confidence,” she said of the opening week.
Additionally, the five-day Children’s Book Fair at Ithra runs until July 19, and includes 20 local and international publishing houses specializing in literature for children and young adults.
South Korea is this year’s guest of honor, offering a window into its culture through stories and illustrations.
“It is part of Ithra’s ongoing efforts to support the next generation by using culture as a tool for exploration, growth, and shared experience,” Al-Jama said.
