Arab News’ iconic women driving cover grabs world’s attention

Saudi women celebrated women driving at Acuppa Tea, a cafe in Alkhobar, with Malika Favre’s poster by chanting “What Changed: Arab News.” The cafe’s owner, Asma Al-Joaib, offered women with valid driving licenses free drinks and white roses to bring them together during the phenomenal day. (AN photo by Ziyad Alarfaj)
Updated 28 June 2018
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Arab News’ iconic women driving cover grabs world’s attention

  • From news channels to cafes to diplomats, Malika Favre’s iconic image for special edition of Arab News takes hold
  • An hour before women started driving just after midnight on Sunday, Favre posted the illustration she did for Arab News on her Instagram account, along with an animated version, with a heartwarming message. 

JEDDAH: An iconic image of a Saudi woman driving by “New Yorker” illustrator Malika Favre, commissioned by Arab News for the cover of its souvenir edition on June 24, has been shared around the world.

An hour before women started driving just after midnight on Sunday, Favre posted the illustration she did for Arab News on her Instagram account, along with an animated version, with a heartwarming message. 

 “So excited to reveal this very special @arabnews cover celebrating Saudi Arabian women finally steering the wheel for the first time today 24th June 2018!!,” said the French artist, who is based in London. She also challenged people to re-enact the image, as was done with her famous cover of female surgeons for The New Yorker.

 “We have been overwhelmed by the popular reaction to the image, which capped a week’s worth of special coverage,” said Faisal J. Abbas, Editor-in-Chief of Arab News. “Our team, particularly the women of Arab News, feel very proud to have been part of this historic day, giving it the attention it deserves both editorially and artistically.”

 The image, of the road reflected in a woman’s sunglasses, has become one of the most retweeted artworks celebrating the occasion on Twitter. 

 Many prominent figures have also shared the fabulous design by Favre on their social media. Saudi Princess Reema bint Bandar reposted it on Twitter, along with several prominent media personalities, including  CNBC’s Hadley Gamble, Al Arabiya News Channel’s Rima Maktabi and Sarah Dandarawi, a Saudi TV presenter who tweeted: “What a brilliant special edition…”.

 

 

 

Kinda Ibrahim, partnerships director of Twitter MENA, said: “Thank you @arabnews for the special edition,” while Irish journalist Naomi O’Leary said: “Love this detail of the hands on the wheel.”  Arab News’ coverage, including the artwork, has been featured in different languages, including Arabic, Russian, Urdu and Malayalam.  

Mainstream media also picked up on Arab News’ coverage with wire services such as Reuters and renowned dailies such as the UK’s Daily Telegraph pointing pointing out to the front page headline which read ‘Independence Day’. “Arab News celebrated women driving by adorning the cover of their pages through an illustration design by French artist Malika Favre; along with the design, embellished with colors of the Saudi Arabian flag, came the logo ‘Start your engines,” reported the news website of the Arab television network, Rotana. Meanwhile, CNN International also referred to the Arab News coverage while Canada’s CTV hosted Arab News staff to talk about the coverage.

On the diplomatic front, several ambassadors serving in Saudi Arabia have written to congratulate Arab News on its coverage. The official Twitter account of the embassy of Italy in Riyadh, @ItalyinKSA, posted a message displaying a number of artists’ entries on women driving. Saudis have also retweeted it, along with other artworks commemorating the historical occasion.

Through a special collaboration with 21Wallpaper, many have used Favre’s artwork as their avatar photo, Twitter banner, phone and Apple Watch screensaver and desktop wallpaper. The artwork became available to Arab News readers and viewers an hour before the driving ban was officially lifted; it is now the most downloaded illustration on the website during the short period it has been available.

 

• Download our free #SaudiWomenCanDrive mobile phone background designed by renowned artist Malika Favre: https://startyourengines.21wallpaper.design


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.