DiplomaticQuarter: Janadriyah Festival is an opportunity to build bridges, says Djibouti envoy

Djibouti’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Dya-Eddin Said Bamakhramatoured several heritage villages at the Janadriyah Festival. (SPA)
Updated 02 January 2019
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DiplomaticQuarter: Janadriyah Festival is an opportunity to build bridges, says Djibouti envoy

  • Many visitors said that VR technology was being widely used in education and training and that its deployment was likely to increase in the future

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is a cradle of civilization and Islam’s birthplace, said Dya-Eddin Said Bamakhrama, Djibouti’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, during his visit to this year’s Janadriyah festival.
“Saudi Arabia has a great economic and historic edge given its rich past,” he said.
The ambassador toured several heritage villages, including those of Al-Kharj, Al-Ghat and Jazan, as well as pavilions set up by government agencies, including the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs and the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
In a statement to the SPA, Bamakhrama praised the efforts of the Saudi government in preserving national heritage and remaining up to date with the world’s latest technological advantages.
He also praised the cohesion and harmony reflected in the festival through activities and programs that reconcile the past with the present.
“I am happy with what has been achieved through the participation of young men and women,” he said.
“The Kingdom has taken active measures to ensure an increasing number of local and international visitors year after year. The festival will surely enjoy wider cultural participation and that will help build bridges with other civilizations.”
The festival embraced the future with virtual reality (VR) providing education, entertainment and training for visitors.
Many visitors said that VR technology was being widely used in education and training and that its deployment was likely to increase in the future.
Earlier, the Indonesian envoy thanked King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for choosing Indonesia as the guest of honor country. He said that this participation would further enhance the relations between both countries.
The festival reflects the leadership’s care for the history of the Kingdom and its keenness to introduce information on Islamic civilization to the world and shed light on folk arts, culture and heritage.
Since it was first held in 1985, the festival has offered a variety of activities and programs, including the establishment of a heritage village that presents the cultural history of all provinces in the Kingdom, and includes a commercial market and exhibitions of objects and tools used by Saudis in the past.


International conference celebrates the camel as a pillar of Arab culture

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International conference celebrates the camel as a pillar of Arab culture

  • Scholars highlight the camel’s role in Arab history and the Arabic language
  • Experts from Saudi Arabia and abroad gather in Riyadh

RIYADH: Scholars at a Riyadh conference this week underscored the fundamental role the camel has played in shaping Arab heritage, emphasizing the profound link between camels and the Arabic language.

King Saud University, in partnership with the King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language, is hosting the Fifth International Conference, titled “Camels in Arab Culture,” which ends on Thursday.

Prominent scholars and specialists from Saudi Arabia and abroad are participating in the conference, which is exploring key topics related to camels, including heritage, history and geography, and archaeological findings.

Hajed Al-Harbi, conference chairman, said: “Honoring camels is a tribute to our deep-rooted values and rich heritage, reflecting our pride in our origins and historical legacy.”

Ibrahim Al-Furaih, conference secretary, told Arab News how the conference underscores the central role camels have played in shaping Arabic literature and intellectual thought throughout history.

“Camels are a fundamental element of our national identity and Arab culture, with a significant presence in our heritage.

“Whether through literature, poetry, inscriptions, or the daily life of early Arabs, they have left an indelible mark. Their influence endures, continuing to shape the lives of Arabs to this day,” Al-Furaih said.

Bedoor Al-Fassam, chair of the public relations committee for the conference, said organizers spent months preparing for the event.

Dr. Al-Fassam, who is also an assistant professor of literature and criticism in the Arabic language department at the university, confirmed that conference participation requests exceeded 300, from which 40 research papers were selected. The submitted papers covered a wide range of fields, including literary, linguistic, historical, and social studies, in addition to anthropology research.

Alongside participants from Saudi universities, the conference features academics from Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco and Canada.

The attendees discussed the definition of camels in language and lexicography, as well as their effect on cultural and national identity.

Additionally, they explored the role of camels in Arabic poetry, narrative storytelling and biographies, highlighting their significance in other literatures and cultures.

The conference further delved into the role of camels in the national economy, addressing sectors such as investment, tourism, and entertainment, in addition to camel festivals, sports and racing events.


Saudi ministry records 7,521 tourism violations

Updated 10 min 57 sec ago
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Saudi ministry records 7,521 tourism violations

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Tourism revealed the results of its third-quarter 2024 inspections, involving 9,655 checks on hospitality facilities and tourism activities across the Kingdom.

During the period, 7,521 violations were identified and 11,494 complaints were addressed, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

Common violations included operating without a license, poor cleanliness, failure to meet licensing conditions and non-compliance by facility representatives.

Makkah had the highest number of inspections with more than 3,600, followed by Riyadh with more than 1,350, Madinah with over 1,100 and the Eastern Province with more than 1,070. The remaining regions accounted for more than 2,500 inspections.

These efforts aim to enhance the tourism sector’s sustainability, ensure compliance with regulations, improve service quality and boost visitor experiences.


Saudi Arabia welcomes ceasefire agreement in Gaza

Palestinians react to news on a ceasefire deal with Israel, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, January 15, 2025.Reuters
Updated 8 min 24 sec ago
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Saudi Arabia welcomes ceasefire agreement in Gaza

  • Kingdom stresses need for adherence to the deal, end to aggression against Gaza, and withdrawal of all Israeli forces from the occupied territories

RIYADH: Saudi authorities welcomed the announcement of a Gaza ceasefire agreement on Wednesday and expressed the Kingdom’s appreciation for the efforts of mediators from Qatar, Egypt and the US.

The Kingdom stressed the need for adherence to the deal, an end to Israel’s aggression against Gaza, and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territory and all other occupied Palestinian and Arab lands.

It also highlighted the importance of building on the agreement by addressing the underlying reasons for the conflict and enabling the Palestinian people to secure their rights, the foremost of which is the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Saudi Arabia expressed hope that the ceasefire deal would mark a permanent end to a brutal Israeli war that claimed the lives of more than 45,000 Palestinians and wounded more than 100,000.


Abu Shamikh’s journey from street vendor to Saudi tourism icon

Updated 37 min 19 sec ago
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Abu Shamikh’s journey from street vendor to Saudi tourism icon

  • Food truck owner overcame dire personal struggles to achieve viral stardom
  • Farhan Al-Anzi entertains tourists with English renditions of ancient traditions

MAKKAH: Through the window of his food truck in Tabuk, northern Saudi Arabia, Farhan Al-Anzi, known affectionately as Abu Shamikh, greets visitors with a warmth that embodies the essence of traditional Arabian hospitality.

His infectious cheer resonates with domestic and international tourists, and he has gained global recognition through a viral video on TikTok.

For Al-Anzi, tourism is a calling, a chance to showcase Saudi Arabia’s generosity in its most authentic form.

He performs Al-Hajini and Al-Mashoub traditional poetry originating from the ancient Nabataean kingdom, which is now northern Saudi Arabia and Jordan.

The performances are in English, which creates novel moments of cross-cultural connection.

Tourists find themselves joining in, matching his rhythm and enthusiasm, proving that music and art are universal languages that bridge cultures. 

Al-Anzi’s transformation from a sidewalk merchant in Tabuk to an ambassador of Saudi hospitality speaks to a universal truth: that triumph often emerges from life’s greatest challenges.

A simple man with spontaneous humor, his story carries inspiring details about struggle, patience and giving. 

“I started with just a tea cart on the sidewalks of Tabuk,” Al-Anzi told Arab News, reminiscing about his modest beginnings. “As more tourists started coming — locals, Gulf visitors and Europeans — we expanded to a food truck.” 

However, his path to success was far from smooth. A series of severe health challenges, including multiple strokes and heart complications, left him bedridden for years. 

During this period, his wife battled kidney failure, placing tremendous pressure on the family. “It was the darkest time of my life,” Al-Anzi recalled. “My children had to juggle between caring for both parents while keeping our business alive.” 

The family’s resilience during this period proved crucial. After recovering, Al-Anzi returned to work with a renewed sense of purpose.

He introduced an innovative initiative: every Friday, his truck, aptly named “Our Sweet Days,” provides free services to those in need, including people with special needs, cancer patients, and the elderly. 

His food truck began attracting a wide range of customers, from which he picked up invaluable and unexpected skills. 

“I used to interact with university students from the tourism college, who taught me the basics of promotion and dealing with foreign visitors. I learned simple English words and started using them while providing services, and the results were amazing,” he said.

His breakthrough moment came unexpectedly. A video of him entertaining an American tourist at AlUla’s Elephant Rock, wearing traditional attire and singing, went viral on TikTok.

This exposure transformed his food truck into a must-visit destination, earning a spot on international tourism maps. 

For Abu Shamikh, success is a mission to serve the nation. “What I do is part of our ancient Saudi culture.

“We aim to present a bright image of our traditions through generosity and hospitality, and this is part of our beloved Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which seeks to make Saudi Arabia a global tourist destination.”

With Saudi Arabia preparing to host Expo 2030 and the FIFA World Cup 2034, he hopes to play an even larger role in showcasing Saudi culture to the world.


Manga Productions, Koei Tecmo unveil new Dynasty Warriors game in Riyadh

Updated 51 min 36 sec ago
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Manga Productions, Koei Tecmo unveil new Dynasty Warriors game in Riyadh

  • AAA-rated game will be published across MENA on Jan. 17
  • Arabic version follows later this year, says Essam Bukhary

RIYADH: Manga Productions celebrated the launch of Dynasty Warriors: Origins at an event here recently.

The AAA-rated game, developed by Koei Tecmo Games, will be published by Manga Productions across the Middle East and North Africa on Jan. 17. An Arabic-language version is expected in the second quarter of the year.

The event marks the first visit to Saudi Arabia of series producer Oba Masatomo and the development team behind Dynasty Warriors: Origins.

The event attracted content creators and key figures from the entertainment industry. And attendees were able to experience game demos and participate in a panel discussion with the development team.

In an interview with Arab News, Masatomo said: “I heard from the staff at Manga Productions when we visited Diriyah yesterday that there were many comments from local Saudi people expressing their love and excitement for the franchise and the game Dynasty Warriors: Origins.

“It’s wonderful to hear that so many fans in Saudi Arabia, as well as across the Middle East and North Africa, are eagerly anticipating this game. We are grateful to Manga Productions for their wholehearted support in localizing the game to provide a greater experience for players in Saudi Arabia.”

Essam Bukhary, CEO of Manga Productions, said: “This partnership is a strategic step toward empowering Saudi youth in the gaming industry and fostering regional and global expansion.

“We aim to provide a unique experience to our partners in the Middle East and North Africa, contributing to the development of the creative content ecosystem in Saudi Arabia.”

Masatomo added: “Achieving success with globally recognized titles requires acceptance not just in Western markets but also in emerging regions like MENA.

“The Dynasty Warriors series is vital to our company, and it is significant that Dynasty Warriors: Origins represents our first event in Saudi Arabia and our initial localization into Arabic.

“We felt the enthusiasm from both media and fans, reinforcing the value of our efforts. We hope to use this title as a springboard to further elevate our initiatives with Manga Productions and continue creating compelling titles for everyone to enjoy.”

The game will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, with Manga Productions collaborating with Koei Tecmo Games to localize the game for Arabic-speaking audiences.