JEDDAH: The Roads of Arabia exhibition at the Louvre Museum Abu Dhabi has proved a big attraction for visitors of various nationalities. Subtitled Archaeological Treasures of Saudi Arabia, it carries important information about the history and civilizations of the Kingdom and the Arabian Peninsula.
Visitors expressed their pride that the exhibition confirms the Kingdom’s special place in the field of archaeology, in both the discovery of these treasures and the way they are preserved.
“The exhibition represents the ancient desert memory when trade was the lifeblood of the world. The Arab trade route through the region was one of the world’s most famous routes at the time,” said former Director General of the French National Museums Pierre-Francois Zemmour.
A similar exhibition titled Treasures of Saudi Arabia was held in the Paris Louvre in 2010 and achieved great popularity in Europe, according to Zemmour.
“The exhibition hosted by Louvre Abu Dhabi this year displays 466 artifacts from the Arabian peninsula, the land of the Hijaz and the Arabian Kingdom of Kindah in 200BC,” he added.
“This is a cultural and historical event of great importance which is attracting the attention of thousands of people around the world. It shows the authentic lifestyle of these ancient peoples, who were interested in riding, breeding falcons and hunting, as well as in the protection and organization of commercial convoys,” Zemmour said.
“What is distinctive about the exhibition is that the museum reflects the image of the distant past from the heart of a country that still preserves the spirit of ancient civilization and lives on the spirit of authenticity in a contemporary form.”
Simone Garaudy, a researcher at the National Institute of Archaeology and Heritage in Paris, said that Western and Arab archaeological missions have discovered thousands of important sites in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain over the past 10 years. “These discoveries are very important for the history of humanity. It is great to see that the UAE is particularly interested in national museums which represent the memory of the region and preserve the history of the Gulf region and the civilization of the Arabian Desert for the present and future generations,” said Garaudy.
Garaudy said that the Louvre Abu Dhabi displays the great value of the past using the latest techniques of presentation, preservation and storage. “This is very important because it makes it easy for millions of people around the world to follow the exhibitions, which present Arab history to the world,” she added.
Jean de Cornies, an artist and a member of the board of trustees of the Musee d'Orsay in Paris, said that the Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum has a collection of thousands of artifacts that reflect Arab lifestyle through the ages, collected from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Yemen and Oman.
“The Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi works with its counterparts in other Arab countries and around the world, making the Louvre Abu Dhabi a integrated historical memory that reflects a long history of the Arabs.”
Indian researcher Alimuddin said: “I can see sculptures from the Stone Age and artifacts that are tens of thousands of years old, and this makes us rethink many ideas and wonder how these pieces have been preserved, despite the difficult environmental conditions in the region.”
Kabra, a visitor, stressed the importance of viewing this great heritage, noting that she did not know much about the heritage of the Arabian Peninsula, and that holding such exhibitions helps to spread cultural knowledge among the people.
Saudi treasures at Louvre Abu Dhabi dazzle visitors
Saudi treasures at Louvre Abu Dhabi dazzle visitors
- The event reflects image of distant past from the heart of a country that preserves the spirit of ancient civilization
New museums campaign focuses on Saudi heritage
- To preserve Saudi heritage, the commission announced the development of museums in 11 regions
RIYADH: The Museums Commission launched the “Telling Tomorrow’s Story” campaign on Monday to raise awareness of museums’ role in preserving history, strengthening national identity, and promoting creative expression.
The campaign reflects the commission’s vision, which focuses on innovation, the preservation of cultural treasures, and fostering creativity for future generations.
It features digital content highlighting the commission’s museums and cultural centers, including the National Museum, Al-Masmak Palace Museum, Saudi Arabia Museum of Contemporary Art at Jax, Diriyah Art Futures, and the Tariq Abdulhakim Museum in Jeddah.
It also introduces future museums, such as the Black Gold Museum in Riyadh and the Red Sea Museum in Jeddah, which will enrich the Kingdom’s cultural landscape.
To preserve Saudi heritage, the commission announced the development of museums in 11 regions: Qassim, Jouf, Asir, Tabuk, Hail, Najran, Arar, Dammam, Makkah, Jazan, and Baha.
The regional museums, under the motto “Our Saudi Story,” will celebrate Saudi history, heritage, and identity, weaving a collective narrative of the Kingdom’s diverse cultural tapestry and rich history.
These museums will offer permanent collections, temporary exhibitions, educational programs, and cultural events, becoming inclusive spaces for knowledge, creativity, and community.
Riyadh exhibition to boost Saudi palm sector goals
- The exhibition will feature participation from more than 100 local and international entities
RIYADH: The International Dates Conference and Exhibition is set to take place at the Riyadh Front Exhibition and Conference Center from Nov. 19 to 28 under the theme “World of Dates.”
The event aims to solidify Saudi Arabia’s position as a global leader in the production and export of dates, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
Organized by the National Center for Palms and Dates, the exhibition will feature participation from more than 100 local and international entities.
It will showcase innovative date products and serve as a global platform for knowledge exchange and market expansion, promoting Saudi dates in international markets.
The event seeks to support innovation in the dates industry, enhance the competitiveness of Saudi products, and position the palm and dates sector as a key contributor to economic development, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030.
The exhibition will also include a scientific conference in collaboration with King Faisal University, SPA reported.
The conference will focus on local and international efforts to advance the palm and dates sector in Saudi Arabia by adopting smart solutions to improve agricultural practices, highlighting the health benefits of dates, and encouraging the use of e-commerce.
Saudi Fashion Commission, French luxury giant to award sustainable startups
- Finalists will undergo mentorship and workshops to refine their key performance indicators and pitching skills
RIYADH: The Saudi Ministry of Culture’s Fashion Commission and France-based luxury conglomerate Kering have announced a competition to discover and support innovative startups making a meaningful impact on sustainability within the fashion industry.
The initiative, Kering Generation Award X Saudi Arabia, will foster circular innovation, focusing on key themes such as customer engagement, the circular economy, and water protection.
The application process is now open to startups based in or expanding into Saudi Arabia. By December, 20 finalists will be shortlisted to participate in a boot camp in Riyadh.
Finalists will undergo mentorship and workshops to refine their key performance indicators and pitching skills, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The top 10 proposals will move to the jury evaluation phase, judged on innovation, sustainability, and commercial potential.
The competition will culminate in an awards ceremony in January in Riyadh, where the top three winners will be announced.
The winners will receive a 10-day mentorship trip to Paris with Kering’s sustainability teams and the opportunity to showcase their innovations at the ChangeNow Summit 2025.
The launch follows a strategic memorandum of understanding between the commission and Kering, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s broader vision to promote sustainable practices in the fashion sector.
CEO of the commission Burak Çakmak said: “This initiative reflects our commitment to driving innovation and building a sustainable future for fashion in Saudi Arabia.”
Kering’s chief sustainability officer, Marie-Claire Daveu, added: “Through this partnership, we aim to inspire the next generation and foster impactful change in the Saudi fashion ecosystem.”
The collaboration highlights Saudi Arabia’s dedication to creating a sustainable and innovative fashion industry aligned with global standards.
Saudi project clears 614 Houthi mines in Yemen
RIYADH: Members of Saudi Arabia’s Project Masam removed 614 explosive devices from various regions of Yemen last week.
The total included three anti-personnel mines, 36 anti-tank mines, 574 unexploded ordnances and one explosive device, according to a recent report.
Ousama Al-Gosaibi, the initiative’s managing director, said a total of 469,576 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.
Kingdom launches new framework to standardize digital services
- The initiative aims to unify platform designs, ensuring a seamless and consistent digital user experience
- The event gathered dignitaries, digital transformation leaders from public and private sectors, and key stakeholders
RIYADH: The Digital Government Authority has launched the Platform Code, a national framework for designing and developing government platform interfaces in Saudi Arabia.
Unveiled during an event in Riyadh, the initiative aims to unify platform designs, ensuring a seamless and consistent digital user experience.
The event gathered dignitaries, digital transformation leaders from public and private sectors, and key stakeholders.
Ahmed Al-Suwaiyan, governor of the Digital Government Authority, said that the Platform Code aligns with local and global digital standards.
He described it as a critical step toward comprehensive digital transformation, enhancing compliance, and fostering efficient and impactful services aligned with Saudi Arabia’s strategic digital goals.
The Platform Code, an open-source design system, integrates coding frameworks, design tools, and community guidelines, enabling rapid development of unified user experiences. It allows designers and developers to address specific needs using pre-built assets.
The authority also unveiled the Saudi Digital Strategy, focused on growing the digital economy and expanding opportunities for public and private sector products.
Other initiatives included the Digital Transformation Ambassador program, fostering an integrated digital community, and the Scene Program, promoting holistic user experiences locally and globally through advanced frameworks and tools.
Committed to advancing digital governance, the authority aims to position Saudi Arabia as a global leader in innovative digital services.
It leverages cutting-edge technologies like AI and emerging tech while offering consultancy programs and fostering leadership in digital transformation.
These efforts contribute to Vision 2030’s goals of enhanced service quality and economic growth.
