Souq Okaz marks rich Saudi culture, traditions

the opening ceremony of souq okaz featured theatrical and cultural performances showcasing the region’s rich traditions. (SPA)
Updated 28 June 2018
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Souq Okaz marks rich Saudi culture, traditions

TAIF: Souq Okaz is thought to have originally appeared in pre-Islamic times in the city of Taif as a yearly gathering before the Hajj season. It was attended by lovers of poetry and literature in addition to the traders of the Arabian Peninsula.

Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, the governor of Makkah province, officially opened the 12th edition of Souq Okaz on Wednesday, which is supervised by the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH) under the patronage of King Salman.

Prince Sultan bin Salman, chairman of SCTH and of the Supreme Supervisory Committee of Souq Okaz, welcomed Prince Khaled to the historic market. Both princes delivered speeches — shown on a big screen — highlighting the historical importance of the souq and the keen interest of the country’s leaders in such events.

The opening ceremony also featured theatrical and cultural performances showcasing the rich cultural traditions of the region, including poetry and music, prepared by Prince Badr bin Abdul Muhsin and featuring experienced Saudi actors and singers.

There will be another chance to catch the entertainment at the Okaz Theater on Thursday and Friday.

This is the second edition of Souq Okaz since King Salman gave SCTH the responsibility of organizing the event in coordination with executive bodies in Makkah region and Taif.

Saudi Arabia has been commemorating this market for the past 12 years, aiming to turn it into an international cultural festival.

The 12th edition of Souq Okaz was opened in the presence of Egypt as the honorary guest of this year’s edition. The Festival’s activities will end on July 13.

The cultural program of the festival will include 10 seminars, eight workshops, three poetry evenings and a theatrical performance competition. Okaz Avenue will have exhibitions of Arabic calligraphy, visual arts, traditional crafts and handicrafts.

King Abdul Aziz Arabian Horses Center, the Saudi Camel Federation and King Abdul Aziz Darah Foundation, represented by the National Center for Saudi Ardah, will be taking part in this year’s Souq Okaz.

They will be participating through a number of activities that include an Arabian horse show, a camel marathon and a photo gallery that celebrates the Saudi Ardeh dance throughout the years, in addition to the accessories used, such as the costume and the sword.

The General Authority for Culture of Souq Okaz will be organizing various activities related to art, literature and culture. These activities will be hosted in four main pavilions in addition to the main stage’s activities.

A group of people created accounts on Twitter under the names of the most prominent poets of the pre-Islamic era. Officials of the Souq Okaz denied any ties to the accounts.

These accounts offered an important boost to this year’s festival thanks to the amount of interaction they received on social media.

 

Okaz winners

The Okaz International Award for Literature was won by Nasser bin Saad Al-Rasheed, and the Okaz International Prize for Arabic poetry went to Jassem Mohammed Al-Saheeh from Saudi Arabia. Both awards came with a prize of SR300,000 ($80,000).

The award for writing an Arabic script for a narrative work was given to Mohammed Ahmed Mohamed Naghi from Egypt, who also received a SR100,000 prize.

In the artistic category of the Okaz International Arabic Calligraphy Award, first place went to Abdul Majid Mohammed Al-Ahdal from Yemen, who received SR40,000, second place to Saud Shaker Khan from Saudi Arabia (SR25,000), and third to Mohammed Abdullah Abu Naji from Jordan (SR15,000). In the authenticity category of the calligraphy awards, Bilal Mokhtar Attiya from Egypt won first prize, with fellow Egyptian Ahmed Adel Mohamed Amin second.

First place in the Okaz Fine Art Award was awarded to Tamer Mohammad Ibrahim Ribat from Saudi Arabia, who received SR50,000, with Saleh Salih Al-Shehri, also from the Kingdom, second (SR30,000), and Rasha Mohammed Siddiq from Myanmar third (SR20,000).

Dr. Fares Bin Dabbas Al-Swailem from Saudi Arabia received the Okaz Innovation Award and its prize of SR100,000. The Okaz Business Leadership Award, also SR100,000, was given to Majid Mohammad Fayez from Saudi Arabia. To support the task of media delegations in the festival, the Ministry of Media has set up a comprehensive, fully-equipped media center on the festival grounds.

The media center has state-of-the-art technology to make the job of media representatives easier while they cover festival activities.

The center also allows media delegations to carry out their press coverage using sophisticated modern equipment that help air events and performances taking place in the festival.

In addition to that, the media center provides a dedicated area for press conferences and for conducting interviews with the festival’s visitors.

This media center reflects the support the Media Ministry provides to national events.


Makkah royal commission showcases city’s cultural, tourist offerings at World Travel Market

Updated 9 sec ago
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Makkah royal commission showcases city’s cultural, tourist offerings at World Travel Market

  • Saudi minister of tourism speaks of Kingdom’s investment in sector

LONDON: The Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites this week showcased key projects that highlight the Saudi city’s rich cultural and historical significance, as part of the Saudi delegation at the World Travel Market 2024 in London.

Major initiatives featured by the RCMC included the Hira Cultural District, the Revelation Exhibition, the Kiswa Factory of the Holy Kaaba, and the Institute of Manuscripts and Revival of Islamic Heritage.

The RCMC pavilion also provided insights into major infrastructure developments, such as Makkah’s public transportation system.

This system, with 12 bus routes covering all neighborhoods, is designed to ensure seamless, reliable travel and improve the quality of life for both residents and visiting pilgrims.

This year’s World Travel Market event, which finished on Thursday, also saw Ahmed Al-Khateeb, the Saudi minister of tourism and chairman of the Saudi Tourism Authority, launch the Kingdom’s participation with the Saudi Land Pavilion.

The pavilion included the Visit Saudi exhibition, organized by the Saudi Tourism Authority for the fourth consecutive year and supported by more than 70 partners in the sector, including destinations, hotels, airlines and travel companies.

Al-Khateeb said: “Saudi Arabia, the fastest-growing tourist destination globally, seeks to solidify its leadership in world tourism, aligning with the Saudi Vision 2030 goals by highlighting unique destinations, new projects, and significant investment opportunities.”

He added: “Saudi Arabia is the largest global investor in the tourism sector.”


Meet Reman Assere, Saudi Arabia’s youngest Arabic calligraphy instructor

Updated 22 min 54 sec ago
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Meet Reman Assere, Saudi Arabia’s youngest Arabic calligraphy instructor

  • She became the youngest certified instructor at the age of just 11
  • Assere now tutors students of all ages

MAKKAH: After qualifying at just 11 years old, Reman Assere officially became Saudi Arabia’s youngest calligraphy instructor.

Her journey started in fifth grade, sparked by a school activity. She began with basic exercises but, with continuous practice and self-learning through platforms such as YouTube, she steadily refined her skills.

Arabic calligraphy is celebrated for its variety of styles, including Kufic, Naskh, Thuluth, Diwani, and Ruq’ah, each with a unique character and distinct lettering technique. (Supplied)

Her ambitions and her love of the art drove her to undertake professional training in Kufic calligraphy, believed to be the earliest example of a universal style of Arabic calligraphy. Once qualified, she was registered on the Ministry of Culture’s official platform, Al-Khattat.

What truly set her apart and caught people’s attention was her relentless dedication to learning. Even during vacations, she practiced tirelessly, seeking out special events and connecting with other calligraphers.

FASTFACT

Reman Assere’s ambitions and her love of the art drove her to undertake professional training in Kufic calligraphy.

Now aged 15, Assere told Arab News that her professional training was carried out under the guidance Shurooq Al-Harbi. She also highlighted the pivotal role played in her development by Prof. Siraj Al-Omari, whose ongoing support and encouragement were instrumental.

Today, Assere has become proficient in both in writing and teaching Kufic calligraphy and is expanding her expertise to include the Diwani style.

Reman Assere

However, her journey has been far from easy. A lack of calligraphy institutes in her native region of Abha posed considerable challenges and meant she had to rely on online courses or travel to other cities.

It was worth it, however. Her numerous awards include first place in the 2023 Cultural Skills Competition and the Ministry of Education’s National Olympiad for Arabic Calligraphy. She has also demonstrated her talents at prominent events, such as the Layalina Festival in Wadi Al-Dawasir and the Abha Shopping and Entertainment Festival.

Arabic calligraphy is celebrated for its variety of styles, including Kufic, Naskh, Thuluth, Diwani, and Ruq’ah, each with a unique character and distinct lettering technique. (Supplied)

Assere has also led courses at the Holy Mosque Library in Makkah and organized calligraphy workshops in schools.

Today, she is recognized as one of the most influential trainers in Arabic calligraphy, teaching across all age groups. She takes pride in seeing her students compete in calligraphy competitions, a testament to the success of her approach and teaching methods.

Reman Assere has become proficient in both in writing and teaching Kufic calligraphy and is expanding her expertise to include the Diwani style. (Supplied)

Even in an age of rapid technological advancements, Assere is confident that calligraphy’s unique beauty will endure. She believes the future is bright for students and trainees, as the art of calligraphy continues to inspire and cultivate creativity.

She explained how the beauty of Arabic calligraphy is in the balance and harmony of its letters, with fluid lines that interlace. For Assere, Arabic calligraphy not only captures the essence and grace of the Arabic language, but it also allows the writer to convey thoughts and emotions.

Arabic calligraphy is celebrated for its variety of styles, including Kufic, Naskh, Thuluth, Diwani, and Ruq’ah, each with a unique character and distinct lettering technique. Rooted in precise geometric principles, Arabic calligraphy achieves a harmonious visual balance, allowing for flexibility in letter formation, overlapping designs, and intricate decorative motifs.

Assere said: “The beauty of Arabic calligraphy extends beyond writing; it is a visual art that enhances both artworks and decorations. Over time, it has become a cultural symbol that embodies Arab and Islamic identity.”

 

 


Saudi Arabia’s urban planning on display at WUF

Updated 08 November 2024
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Saudi Arabia’s urban planning on display at WUF

  • The pavilion highlighted prominent Saudi infrastructure development initiatives, in line with international quality standards, that meet the needs of residents and visitors of Saudi cities

CAIRO: The Saudi pavilion at the World Urban Forum in Cairo this week hosted a series of workshops and bilateral meetings on the Kingdom’s strategies and projects in comprehensive urban planning.

The Saudi presence also underlined the positive effect of these strategies on achieving sustainable urban development and improving the quality of life in Saudi cities, in line with the goals of Vision 2030.

Through representatives and officials of the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and more than 30 national entities, the Saudi pavilion showed the Kingdom’s efforts to adopt and expand comprehensive urban planning practices focused on sustainability, and apply the requirement to study environmental impact in municipal and investment projects.

The meetings highlighted the concept of smart municipalities aimed at improving the quality of municipal services in Saudi regions and adopting modern technologies and enhanced municipal regulations for smart city policies, as well as the use of artificial intelligence technologies and data in improving the quality of life.

The pavilion highlighted prominent Saudi infrastructure development initiatives, in line with international quality standards, that meet the needs of residents and visitors of Saudi cities, the Saudi Press Agency reported, in addition to urban landscape development projects and visual distortion treatment projects.

 

 


Saudi foreign minister, Blinken discuss regional crises

Updated 08 November 2024
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Saudi foreign minister, Blinken discuss regional crises

  • Two discussed ongoing efforts to address the issues in Gaza and Lebanon

RIYADH: Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan spoke on the phone on Friday with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Saudi Press Agency reported.

During the call, they reviewed regional issues, with a particular focus on Gaza and Lebanon and ongoing efforts to address the issues there, SPA added.

In a separate call on Friday with UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Blinken stressed the need to stop the fighting in Sudan and the need to support efforts to form a civilian government, the State Department said.

Blinken also discussed the need to expand humanitarian access to Sudan and thanked the UAE for its provision of aid for Gaza and Lebanon, according to a State Department statement.


Saudi health minister unveils new healthcare projects in Qassim

Updated 08 November 2024
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Saudi health minister unveils new healthcare projects in Qassim

  • Saudi Health Minister’s visit marked the inauguration of several healthcare projects, including 54 initiatives valued at more than SR 448 million ($119.4 million)

BURAIDAH: Saudi Health Minister Fahad Al-Jalajel visited Qassim to review several healthcare projects designed to enhance the quality, efficiency and accessibility of medical services for residents.

These initiatives align with the objectives of the Health Sector Transformation Program, a key component of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which aims to foster a “vibrant society” enjoying a healthy and prosperous life, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

His visit marked the inauguration of several healthcare projects, including 54 initiatives valued at more than SR 448 million ($119.4 million). Among these were key projects under the Qassim Health Cluster, such as the dental center in Unaizah, along with community-supported initiatives worth nearly SR102 million.

Highlights included the Prince Faisal bin Mishaal Fertility Center in Buraidah, the Abdullah Saleh Al-Othaim Diabetes Treatment Center at Al-Rass General Hospital, the Al-Rajhi Bank Cardiac Catheterization Center, and several other specialized healthcare facilities.