JEDDAH: Lebanese Wael Jassar and Tunisian Saber Alruba’i performed their first live concerts in the Kingdom at King Abdullah Economic City on Friday.
The 41-year-old Wael Jassar is a Lebanese singer and songwriter who began his singing career in 1986. His music has earned him the title “King of Emotion” by his fans.
Before his concert, he spoke with a number of media groups.
“It is an indescribable feeling, I feel as if I am in my homeland, I have been received so well, generosity and hospitality are no strangers to Saudi people,” Jassar told Arab News.
“I hope that the kind people of Saudi are always happy, they have always supported us with their loyalty and love.”
Shortly after the interviews with Wael Jassar, Saber Alruba’i held a press conference.
The 51-year-old is a is a Tunisian pan-Arab singer and composer who is best known for his song “Sidi Mansour.” Fans call him the “Prince of Arabic Music.”
Alruba’i said that he had added a number of Khaleeji songs — a Saudi favorite — to his playlist for the concert.
“My fans are my loved ones, my source of support until the very end. It is so beautiful to find people you have never met — who represent different countries — and in one voice say that they are fans of Saber Alruba’i or any other artist,” he told Arab News.
Jassar performed hit songs such as “Entebeh Ala Halak,” “Mawjou,” “Ghariba El Nas” and “We Btesaaleeni.”
“I will never forget this night for the rest of my life,” he told the audience.
Alruba’i performed hit songs such as “Bebasata,” “Ya Aghla” and “Sidi Mansour.”
“It is an honor for me,” he told the audience. “I wish for you all to enjoy this night, and I hope this happens again and again.”
The event was sponsored by the General Entertainment Authority (GEA) and organized by 360 Live.
Saudi Arabia hums as top Arab singers perform
Saudi Arabia hums as top Arab singers perform
- Wael Jassar and Saber Alruba’i performed at King Abdullah Economic City
- It was their first concert in the Kingdom
KSrelief and UNHCR officials discuss enhanced humanitarian support in Syria
- An estimated 6.8 million Syrians remain displaced within the country, while more than 5.5 million have sought refuge in neighboring countries
DAMASCUS: Officials from the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees met in Damascus on Sunday to discuss coordinated efforts to assist the Syrian people, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The meeting, focused on bolstering humanitarian and relief operations in the region, was attended by Abdullah bin Saleh Al-Harees, charge d’affaires of the Saudi Embassy in Syria.
During the discussions, UNHCR officials praised their strategic partnership with KSrelief, highlighting the importance of their joint initiatives to support refugees and displaced persons in Syria.
Both parties also reiterated their commitment to ensuring that vulnerable populations have access to essential resources and services to live with dignity.
The humanitarian crisis in Syria remains one of the most pressing in the world, especially after the fall of Bashar Assad’s regime in December of last year, following over a decade of civil war.
Assad’s ouster came after years of intensified international sanctions and a lightning offensive across key cities by opposition militias, culminating in his government’s collapse.
An estimated 6.8 million Syrians remain displaced within the country, while more than 5.5 million have sought refuge in neighboring countries such as Turkiye, Lebanon, and Jordan.
Humanitarian organizations like KSrelief and UNHCR play a crucial role in addressing these challenges, providing essential aid such as food, shelter, and medical care.
In Syria, UNHCR has been a critical player in responding to the humanitarian crisis, assisting the millions of displaced Syrians and advocating for sustainable solutions to their plight. Its collaboration with partners such as KSrelief has been key to addressing the evolving needs of those affected by the conflict.
Saudi leadership congratulates Kuwait on success of 26th Gulf Cup
- The 26th Arabian Gulf Cup ended on Saturday with Bahrain defeating Oman 2-1 in the final in Kuwait City
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman sent a cable of congratulations to the emir of Kuwait for his country’s success in organizing the 26th Arabian Gulf Cup, Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.
The 26th Arabian Gulf Cup ended on Saturday with Bahrain defeating Oman 2-1 in the final in Kuwait City.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sent similar cables of congratulations to Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, wishing the country continued progress and prosperity.
Saudi Arabia gifts 100 tonnes of dates to Pakistan
- Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf Al-Malki presented the gift to the Pakistani side on behalf of KSrelief
RIYADH: Saudi aid agency KSrelief has delivered 100 tonnes of dates as a gift from the Kingdom to Pakistan.
Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf Al-Malki presented the gift to the Pakistani side on behalf of KSrelief at the Saudi Embassy in Islamabad, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Al-Malki thanked King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their humanitarian efforts and support to countries worldwide.
The director general of the military wing of Pakistan’s Cabinet Division, Brig. Alamgeer Ayub, also expressed thanks and appreciation to Saudi Arabia for the gift.
He said that it reflects the deep and enduring fraternal ties between the two countries.
Ayub highlighted that the Kingdom has consistently supported the Pakistani people during times of crisis.
Heritage Commission, Motoko Katakura Foundation sign MoU to preserve desert culture in Saudi Arabia
RIYADH: The Heritage Commission signed a memorandum of understanding with the Japanese Motoko Katakura Foundation for Desert Culture in Riyadh on Sunday.
Jasser bin Sulaiman Al-Harbash, CEO of the Heritage Commission, and Hiroshi Nawata, chairman of the Motoko Katakura Foundation, agreed to collaborate in the cultural heritage sector.
The Japanese foundation is named after Motoko Katakura, an anthropologist who studied Bedouin communities in Saudi Arabia and the surrounding region.
The MoU seeks to enhance research on cultural heritage, covering both tangible and intangible aspects, such as traditions, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The Motoko Katakura Foundation will hold seminars about its work preserving the desert culture and the archeological sites of Al-Dafi Port and Mardouma in the area of Jubail, eastern Saudi Arabia.
The Heritage Commission will also benefit from the Japanese experience in research and documentation, involving local communities to preserve heritage and showcase the richness of Saudi desert culture, SPA added.
Saudi project clears 1,151 Houthi mines in Yemen
- The total included 32 anti-tank mines, 1,115 unexploded ordnances and four explosive devices, according to a recent report
RIYADH: Members of Saudi Arabia’s Project Masam removed 1,151 explosive devices from various regions of Yemen last week.
The total included 32 anti-tank mines, 1,115 unexploded ordnances and four explosive devices, according to a recent report.
Ousama Al-Gosaibi, the initiative’s managing director, said a total of 477,583 mines had been cleared since its inception in 2018.
The explosives were planted indiscriminately and posed a threat to civilians, including children, women and the elderly.
The demining operations took place in Marib, Aden, Jouf, Shabwa, Taiz, Hodeidah, Lahij, Sanaa, Al-Bayda, Al-Dhale and Saada.
The initiative trains local demining engineers and provides them with modern equipment. It also offers support to Yemenis injured by the devices.
Teams are tasked with clearing villages, roads and schools to facilitate safe movement for civilians and the delivery of humanitarian aid.
About 5 million people have been forced to flee their homes since the start of the conflict in Yemen, many of them displaced by the presence of land mines.
