RIYADH: Among the many falconers attending the very first falcons and hunting exhibition currently being held in Riyadh, one young man managed to turn quite a few heads.
In fact, visitors gathered around Ahmed Al-Chahwan, 12, as the young boy held two falcons at a time on his small arms.
A sixth grade student from the Qassim region, Ahmed was born and raised among these birds of prey thanks to his father’s avid hobby.
He himself owns two that he has used for hunting several times and has traveled 400km with his father to take part in this exhibition, which concludes on Saturday.
The exhibition, which kicked off on Wednesday, is “reflective of our cultural identity, which in many ways mirrors the Arabian Peninsula over the centuries,” says Ahmed.
He said the exhibition, which aims to introduce a joint platform through which amateurs and professionals can interact, as well as include other falconers from the Gulf, has witnessed a high turnout thanks to its thorough set-up.
The Kingdom is one of 11 countries on the UNESCO list of falcon-breeding countries and is home to many falcon species, as well as a major passageway for other migrating birds of prey. The exhibition features simulations of hunting trips and wildlife in an attempt to make the experience as close to reality as possible. The various sections of the exhibition are also a simulation of oases featuring hills, highlands, sand dunes and some lakes.
Falcons are considered a vital part of life among Bedouins, who see them as a symbol of bravery and nobility.
Indeed, falconry has allowed Ahmed to persevere well beyond his age. While children his age play video games, he spends his time training the majestic animals, garnering the admiration of fellow falconers who are decades his senior.
His father relies on him to tend to the falcons. He is fully responsible for feeding, handling and housing them, and he often accompanies his father on trips outdoors to train them.
“I decided to take part in the exhibition, which is the first of its kind, the moment I heard about it,” he said.
Ahmed’s father commends his son’s interaction with the falcons and says he is his main partner in all hunting trips. “He still manages to focus on his studies despite this full-time job,” he said.
The pair expressed gratitude for the establishment of the Saudi Falcons Club, which they say was a long-awaited initiative among avid fans.
Young Saudi falconer woos visitors at Riyadh exhibition
Young Saudi falconer woos visitors at Riyadh exhibition
Alkhobar offers a visual feast with 56 works exploring new realities
- Artists from Saudi Arabia and the world are screening creations
- Kingdom’s Lina Saeed Qattan showing ‘Lena and the Magic Carpet’
ALKHOBAR: The sixth International Video Art Forum launched this week at the Cinema Society headquarters in Alkhobar, offering a visual feast for afficionados.
Organized by the Saudi Society for Culture and Arts, in collaboration with the Cinema Society, the event runs for 10 days and will feature groundbreaking video art from around the globe.
A jury of experts selected 56 artworks, narrowed down from 127. And the space showcases work from 29 countries, narrowed down from 41.
“There is no particular theme this year — aside from it being within the realm of ‘imagination embodied, reality transformed,’” Yousef Al-Harbi, director of SASCA’s Dammam branch and general supervisor of the forum, told Arab News.
“This year’s works continue to express the transformation of imaginative ideas and perceptions into tangible works of art that can have an impact on the reality that we live in.”
The videos can be watched in the upstairs space, which is covered with a black cloth door. Only three people can watch the short films as they play on a loop.
This year’s works continue to express the transformation of imaginative ideas and perceptions into tangible works of art that can have an impact on the reality that we live in.
Yousef Al-Harbi, Saudi Society for Culture and Arts director
The longest video is 7 minutes and the shortest under a minute.
A notable video is the 3-minute “Choreography of Space and Time” by German-based Egyptian artist Ehab Aziz that blends abstract imagery and dynamic movement.
In addition, Saudi Arabia’s Lina Saeed Qattan’s minute-long “Lena and the Magic Carpet,” uses artificial intelligence to showcase vibrant colors as Lena travels through the desert.
Arab News spoke with the 21-year-old Yemeni director, Yousef Ahmed, who has lived his entire life in the Eastern Province, about his short film, “Dose.”
“The film is about a depressed person who replaces his medication with sweets after reading a newspaper article,” he explained.
“It explores his journey of shifting perspectives — rising out of his sadness, only to sometimes fall back into it. We’ve all had days like this, and that’s completely normal.”
The film, under a minute long, was shot and edited entirely on a mobile phone over a month, specifically for the forum. “The phone is always available and accessible,” he said.
He added that finding the right music and fitting it into a larger format such as a TV screen was a challenge.
Workshops dedicated to AI and painting with light, were also part of the programming, as well as panel discussions with filmmakers and artists.
The forum has become one of the region’s top international platforms for video art, having featured more than 823 artworks from over 70 countries.
It has also hosted 31 lectures and workshops, offering artists a unique opportunity to connect and share their work with a global audience.
The winners will be announced at the conclusion of the event.
1,500 influencers participate in ImpaQ event
- The signing ceremony was attended by Saudi Arabia’s Media Minister Salman bin Youssef Al-Dossary, who emphasized the significance of such initiatives in supporting the media and digital sectors
RIYADH: The Impact Makers Forum, organized by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Media, drew over 1,500 influencers and specialists from around the world, including more than 30,000 visitors.
ImpaQ, the first and largest event of its kind in the Kingdom, was hosted at the Mayadeen Hall in Diriyah, Riyadh, under the slogan “Inspiration Beyond Numbers.”
The two-day event, which ended on Thursday, provided a new platform for influencers to focus on creativity and innovation.
During the forum, a series of strategic agreements and partnerships were signed to promote and enhance creativity and innovation in the Kingdom’s media and marketing sectors.
The signing ceremony was attended by Saudi Arabia’s Media Minister Salman bin Youssef Al-Dossary, who emphasized the significance of such initiatives in supporting the media and digital sectors.
Plaudits for Hail Region Development Authority
- Omar Abduljabbar highlighted the authority’s concentration on human capital and its consistent attempts to empower and support national talent to drive its mission forward
HAIL: Great Place To Work, the global workplace culture organization, has ranked Hail Region Development Authority as fourth among the best public sector workplaces in the Kingdom.
The recognition underscores the authority’s commitment to cultivating a positive workplace culture, enhancing employee experiences, and strengthening the body’s reputation.
Omar Abduljabbar, the CEO of Hail Region Development Authority, said that the ranking reflected the authority’s commitment to fostering a positive and empowering work culture.
He highlighted the authority’s concentration on human capital and its consistent attempts to empower and support national talent to drive its mission forward.
Abduljabbar stressed the authority’s dedication to regularly assessing employee satisfaction, and attributed its achievement to its unwavering focus on creating a supportive, innovation-driven atmosphere that enhanced productivity and aligned with strategic objectives.
Pakistan president receives Saudi Shoura Council speaker in Islamabad
- Sheikh Abdullah conveyed the greetings of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the Pakistani president
ISLAMABAD: Saudi Shoura Council Speaker Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Sheikh was received by Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari in Islamabad as part of his official visit, reported Saudi Press Agency.
Sheikh Abdullah conveyed the greetings of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the Pakistani president, as well as their well wishes for the government and the continued progress and prosperity of the country’s people.
During the meeting, the two men reviewed bilateral relations between the two nations and ways in which they could be enhanced. Other topics of common interest were also discussed.
Attempt to smuggle over 29,000 tablets thwarted
- Separately, teams in the Jeddah region rescued and assisted five Saudis after their marine vessel ran aground
RIYADH: Border Guard land patrols in Al-Raboah, Asir, have thwarted an attempt to smuggle 29,985 tablets subject to the medical trading system. Preliminary legal measures have been completed and the seized narcotics handed over to the competent authority.
Saudi security services urge citizens and residents to report any activities related to drug smuggling or trafficking. Informants can contact the authorities by calling 911 in Makkah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Region, and 999 in the rest of the Kingdom.
They can also contact the General Directorate of Narcotics Control by telephone on 995 or via email at [email protected].
Separately, teams in the Jeddah region rescued and assisted five Saudis after their marine vessel ran aground.
