JEDDAH: The Arab neighborhood at the 12th edition of Souq Okaz features contributions from three guest nations of authentic examples of Arab culture and heritage.
The diverse events and activities include crafts, traditional industries and folk shows, all of which help highlight the importance of Arab culture and tradition, and encourage visitors to learn more.
Souq Okaz is a unique tourism destination in Taif, and is considered one of the most important in the Kingdom. It has become a go-to annual event for those wishing to discover Saudi Arabia’s roots.
The countries taking part in the souq’s Arab neighborhood are Oman, the UAE and Egypt.
This year’s edition, which will end on July 13, was opened under the patronage of King Salman, with Egypt the honorary guest.
Its supervisor, Nasser Al-Abdullah, said that it has three sections. The crafts section features five craftsmen from the three countries, including: Silverware, textile and candy craftsmen from Oman; sadu (a traditional form of Bedouin weaving), millstone and sewing from the UAE; and embroidery, silverware and copper carving from Egypt.
He said that shows from Egypt, the UAE and Oman are held every 30 minutes on the stage at the International Crafts and Folk Arts section in the Arab neighborhood.
The souq is also presenting three culturally significant plays on its stages. Director Khalil Kareem said they feature more than 250 actors and performers, 90 percent of whom are Saudis.
The first play is about the Mu’allaqat poets, including Al-Nabigha Al-Dhubyani, Imru’ Al-Qais, Zuhayr bin Abi Sulma, Al-A’sha, Labid bin Rabi’ah and Antarah bin Shaddad. The second tells the stories of important historic events in the region, and the third explores the history of Souq Okaz through stories set there.
In addition, there are exhibitions featuring input from eight private museums, including one that showcases the heritage and tools of Bedouins, including coffee equipment and incense burners.
There is also a live show about the hospitality and traditions of Hail.
Another exhibition includes old tools and equipment traditionally used in education, along with information about school nutrition, homework, school-seating etiquette and uniforms, as well as the wooden boards on which students wrote with coal rather than chalk.
A third exhibition is a treat for coffee lovers who can sample different varieties while learning about the history and development of the drink, along with information about growing the beans, the trade in them and the role the drink plays in traditions and customs.
There is another display featuring historical documents and photographs that were used to record important events in the Kingdom’s history, especially in newspapers, and an exhibition of traditional weapons from different eras, including rifles, swords, spears, daggers, knives, darts, a silver sword and ammunition.
Many tourists from around the world visit the souq, which has provided a unique historical and artistic forum gathering intellectuals and people interested in literature and culture.
The souq represents an important chapter in the history of the Arabs before Islam. It was more than a trade fair, serving as a cultural, social, economic and political gathering of Arabs.
The Saudi Wildlife Authority (SWA) has offered visitors the opportunity to be introduced to the Kingdom’s diverse wildlife and the resettlement of endangered species in reserves.
The Taif Industrial Secondary Institute is also participating in the festival with a pavilion displaying models designed and produced by the institute’s students.
The pavilion features a section dedicated to carpentry and welding, where visitors are introduced to furniture, windows, doors and bedrooms made from the finest wood.
One of the main attractions during the 12th edition of the event is the Sadu and traditional carpets pavilion. Visitors can see hand-embroidered clothes for children, face covers for women, as well as tassels for horses, and special items for weddings and religious events.
Mutlaq Al-Jahid, one of the organizers of the horse march and knights in Okaz Avenue, said the marches organized by a number of knights who represent all Arabian tribes strongly confirm the harmony between all tribes.
Raja Al-Otaibi, organizer of the cultural activities and events at Souq Okaz, said: “We have worked this year on utilizing modern technology and using interactive systems such as light, sound and décor, and all the requirements that concern the seminars and lectures of the Souq Okaz festival.”
He added: “Souq Okaz’s activities are more special in content and organization this year.” He expected a large audience for Souq Okaz this year; it has become a big Saudi event everyone should be proud of.
Each year, the souq hands out 12 pan-Arab awards, including for poetry, handicrafts, creativity, photography, folkloric art, theatrics and creativity, fine arts and entrepreneurship. The value of the prizes totals SR2.2 million ($586,510) annually.
Traditional neighborhood at Saudi Arabia’s Souq Okaz takes Arab culture back to the future
Traditional neighborhood at Saudi Arabia’s Souq Okaz takes Arab culture back to the future
- The Saudi Wildlife Authority has offered visitors the opportunity to be introduced to the Kingdom’s diverse wildlife and the resettlement of endangered species in reserves
- The countries taking part in the souq’s Arab neighborhood are Oman, the UAE and Egypt
Sudanese cultural festival begins at Suwaidi Park
RIYADH: A cultural festival at Suwaidi Park is inviting visitors to explore the rich heritage and traditions of Sudan.
Part of Riyadh Season, the event takes place until Nov. 17 and features Sudanese music, dancing, food and crafts.
Content creator Hamoud Waleed said cultural festivals played a key role in building connections and understanding.
“Events like this are very important because sometimes you can’t go to see their tradition and culture. But when these cultures come to us here … it lets us know more and more about other people, how they live, what their interests are, and how we can engage with them,” he said.
“When we talk about Sudanese culture, it’s beautiful and comes from a very old history and nice heritage, and when it comes to us, it lets us know more about it, and this is exactly what we are seeing here in Suwaidi Park.”
Sudanese nationals make up 6.1 percent of the Kingdom’s population, according to the Saudi Census, so such exhibitions are important in promoting mutual respect and harmony between communities.
Sudanese singer Youssef Khairy highlighted the diversity of his culture, explaining how sharing traditions strengthened bonds between different people.
“Music unites us all, regardless of colors, shapes, languages, religions, or ways of thinking,” he said. “I am here to represent Nubian music, Nubian heritage and the Nubian civilization.”
Live music and dance performances during the festival are bringing Sudanese heritage to life and offering audiences an authentic cultural experience.
Visitor Olaa Abdulnaaem said these, along with the lively atmosphere, and engaging children’s activities, were standout features for her.
Hiam Othman, a Sudanese attire designer, said the festival had significantly promoted her business. “Our products have been well-received, and they reflect our Sudanese culture,” she said.
Riyadh Season 2024 has already drawn 4 million visitors from around the world, according to Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority. He believes the surge in attendance reflects a growing appetite for cultural exploration and new experiences.
The festival is part of the Global Harmony initiative by the Ministry of Media and the General Entertainment Authority, which is aligned with the goals of the Quality of Life Program. The scheme celebrates the Kingdom’s multicultural landscape by highlighting the lives, contributions and cultural integration of its residents.
In the coming weeks, Global Harmony will celebrate a variety of cultures. After the Sudanese festival there will be a Jordanian, Lebanese and Syrian event from Nov. 17-19, Bangladeshi from Nov. 20-23, and Egyptian from Nov. 24-30.
Launched on Oct. 17, the initiative began with music and dance honoring the culture of Indian expatriates.
KSrelief delivers winter aid and dates to Yemen’s vulnerable
RIYADH: The Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief has delivered dates and winter shelter to vulnerable people in Yemen, the Saudi Press Agency reported late Thursday.
KSrelief’s volunteers distributed 100 winter bags in Thamud district, Hadhramaut governorate, for 600 individuals from 100 vulnerable families.
The aid is a part of the agency’s emergency shelter project in the country.
Meanwhile, 2,459 cartons of dates were delivered in Al-Wadi district, Marib governorate, for the benefit of 14,754 people.
KSrelief continues international relief efforts in Chad, Pakistan
RIYADH: Saudi aid agency KSrelief has delivered aid to people most in need in Chad and Pakistan, reported the Saudi Press Agency.
Some 201 food parcels, benefiting 1,206 people, were distributed in the village of Sharkaya, in Hajar Lamis province, as part of the 2024 Food Security Support Project in the Republic of Chad.
Aid has also been given to 10,500 vulnerable people in flood-affected areas of Pakistan as part of the fourth phase of KSrelief’s initiative to provide shelter materials and winter bags to the country.
Saudi agency KSrelief delivers food, hygiene kits in Syria
- The aid is a part of KSrelief’s projects to support earthquake-affected people in northern Syria
RIYADH: The Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief has distributed food and hygiene kits to thousands of vulnerable people across Syria, the Saudi Press Agency reported late Thursday.
The agency’s volunteers delivered 750 food parcels and 750 hygiene kits in Al-Hasakah, Syria, benefiting 4,500 people.
Meanwhile 745 Syrian families, comprising 2,652 people, in Al-Dana, Idlib governorate, received food and hygiene kits.
The aid is a part of KSrelief’s projects to support earthquake-affected people in northern Syria.
How Google aims to bridge the AI skills gap in Saudi Arabia and the wider region
- Backed by local partners, Google will boost AI upskilling for women, youth, migrants, and rural communities
- The AI Opportunity Initiative aims to equip half a million people across the MENA region with AI skills
DUBAI: As artificial intelligence rapidly reshapes industries, job roles and skill requirements, the Middle East and North Africa region is actively embracing advanced technologies and collaborating with tech giants to bridge the skills gap in an evolving labor market.
One such collaboration is with Google’s newly launched AI Opportunity Initiative, which offers training and education opportunities to make AI technologies more accessible and inclusive across the region.
By collaborating with local organizations, the AI Opportunity Initiative seeks to “train half a million people in the next two years,” Anthony Nakache, managing director of Google MENA, told an audience at the recent AI Connect MENA event at Dubai’s Etihad Museum.
To achieve this, Google “will give a grant of $15 million to fund local organizations,” Nakache said.
Najeeb Jarrar, regional director of marketing at Google MENA, told Arab News: “We are very excited about this AI Opportunity Initiative, especially since we are seeing the Saudi community is fully embracing AI both on the consumer side and on the developer and resource side.
“This is an initiative that we have launched globally and we now are bringing to the region. One of the aims of this initiative is how we are leveling the playing field for AI and AI education and skilling across the entire region,” he added, noting that students will learn to use AI more productively, including skills such as prompt engineering.
To bridge the digital divide in the labor market, Google’s AI Opportunity Initiative aims to upskill underserved workers in AI by offering tailored training materials in Arabic, in partnership with the non-profit Manarat, online course provider Coursera, and other organizations.
Google’s largest AI project in the region, the AI Opportunity Initiative will focus on four key areas: AI skills development, research, products, and infrastructure.
DID YOUKNOW?
• The new AI Opportunity Initiative is Google’s largest AI project in the region.
• It aims to equip 500,000 people in the MENA region with AI skills within two years.
• Google is granting $15 million to local organizations between 2024 and 2027.
• The Saudi government is reportedly creating a $40 billion fund to invest in AI.
“We also worked with local NGOs and local players in the market to ensure that we are also reaching out to different partners,” Jarrar said.
Google.org, Google’s philanthropic arm, has announced plans to contribute $15 million between this year and the end of 2027, providing funding to organizations across the region to ensure accessibility to AI opportunities.
The AI Opportunity Initiative also aims to equip 500,000 people in the MENA region with AI skills in the first two years. This includes students, academics, developers, entrepreneurs and underrepresented groups.
Speaking about the issue of accessibility, Jarrar said: “We wanted to ensure first that this local initiative does not feel like an initiative that is hard to get for the average user.”
He pointed out that both language and local partners, such as Injaz and Raspberry Pi Foundation, play a major role in improving accessibility.
“The content is all in Arabic, we have local examples that we are actually able to showcase,” he said. “We are partnering with local partners that know the market and the community very well and are able to reach more people that are beyond what we can initially reach to.”
The AI Opportunity Initiative enables Google to expand the Maharat min Google program, which targets high school and university students, by introducing a new AI curriculum in Arabic.
As part of its mission to support underserved communities, Google.org is funding Village Capital, a non-profit that supports entrepreneurs tackling environmental, social and economic challenges.
Village Capital will equip business support organizations to offer AI upskilling opportunities to underserved workers.
The program targets women, youth, migrants and rural communities across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Jordan, Palestine, Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Lebanon, Bahrain and Iraq.
The Raspberry Pi Foundation will use grant funding from Google.org to train teachers in AI literacy, equipping students aged 11-14 in the region with AI safety skills to better understand and navigate the challenges of AI technologies.
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Speaking at the Google AI Connect Event, Ruth Porat, president and chief investment officer for Alphabet and Google, said: “AI is estimated to contribute $320 billion in economic growth for the Middle East by 2030.
“Google is working to ensure that people and communities throughout the region have the skills needed to capture the upside of this emerging technology.”
She added: “Our local non-profit and university partners will help bring this program to people and communities throughout the region, ensuring that everyone can benefit from the opportunities that AI can deliver.”
Since 2005, Google has invested more than $400 million in academic research globally.
The tech giant also announced during its Dubai event the launch of new Arabic AI products, including Gemini Live in Arabic, Gemini for Teens, Imagen3, and Gems on Gemini in Arabic.
“For the previous year, we have worked hard with partners, with experts globally and from the region, to understand what are the constraints that we need to implement to make this product safer for teens, teens aged 13 to 18,” Jarrar said.
“We worked tirelessly to make sure we have the right guardrails to ensure that we had the right controls and the proper Q and A and testing, and today we are happy to say that Gemini for Teens is available for users and teens here in the region.”
These efforts are expected to support Saudi Arabia’s ambition to become an AI leader, ensuring its population stays aligned with the latest developments in the labor market.
A September report by the Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence showed that 75 percent of the Saudi population is familiar with the concept of AI, and 64 percent are aware of its applications.
