Saudi Shoura Council delegation visits Haramain High-Speed Railway
The railway connects the two holy cities of Makkah Madinah
Updated 15 March 2019
SPA
JEDDAH: A delegation from the transport, communications and information technology committee of the Shoura Council, headed by Lt. Nasser Al-Otaibi, visited the Haramain High-Speed Railway station in Jeddah on Thursday to learn about the services it provides for citizens and pilgrims.
The delegation was received by Mohammed Fida, director general of the Haramain High-Speed Railway, and other officials.
The delegation visited the station, its facilities and services, and then took the Haramain train from Jeddah to Madinah.
In a press conference, Al-Otaibi noted that the Haramain High-Speed Railway shows how Saudi Arabia, led by King Salman, serves pilgrims, and he praised the service and the amenities provided by the train.
Jeddah’s oldest school to begin new chapter as museum
We still visit to remember the good old days, says 82-year-old alum
Updated 9 sec ago
SALEH FAREED
JEDDAH: The first school formally established in the Arabian Peninsula is poised for a new chapter as a museum, according to Ali Al-Sulimani, the managing director.
The historical section of Al-Falah School building will be handed over to the Ministry of Culture for its transformation into a cultural landmark.
It was built in 1905 by Saudi businessman Sheikh Mohammed Ali Zainal Alireza as the first boys’ school in Jeddah at a time when the Hijaz, the western part of modern Saudi Arabia, was partially under Ottoman Turkish rule and both poverty and illiteracy were common.
An archival image of students in class. (Supplied)
Although Zainal went through major financial crises, he continued funding the school with help from other business families. Eventually, the Kingdom’s founder King Abdulaziz visited it and appreciated its great educational and social role, and arranged for government support.
The school marks the onset of modern education in Saudi Arabia and has been the alma mater of numerous national figures, including former Minister of Information Mohammed Abdu Yamani, former Minister of Commerce Abdullah Zail, former Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Ahmed Zaki Yamani, and former Minister of Hajj Hamid Harasani among others.
Al-Falah School, is located in the heart of the historical area in Jeddah, has continued to the present day, and includes two buildings, the older of them dating back more than 120 years.
The school offers three levels of education — elementary, intermediate and high school — with each having its own playground. (AN photo by Ghazi Mahdi)
According to Al-Sulimani the older building will be a fully integrated museum, including a cultural space, a cafe with a heritage theme and seating areas where visitors can learn about the historical area and the history of the school.
“The old part was handed over to the Ministry of Culture to be prepared to comply with the development plans for the old buildings in the historic area,” he said.
One former pupil, 82-year-old Hamza Awfi, told Arab News: “The school was based on a solid foundation. It is the place I considered as our second home. Here I have met many students who graduated and later held important leadership positions and I still remember them, young and old.
It was a place of knowledge and it provided me a wonderful environment and opportunity to learn and grow myself in every field.
Ahmed Abdulgader Al-Noaman, 72-year-old alum
“We really hold great memories, and by the way, I and other friends who graduated from this school, still go and visit it from time to time to remember our old good days.”
Awfi added that keeping the modern building for education as a symbol of resilience and enlightenment while at the same time transforming the old building into a museum is a great idea.
Another former pupil, 72-year-old Ahmed Abdulgader Al-Noaman, told Arab News: “My four years at Al-Falah have been an excellent memory to cherish for a lifetime. The time spent has been full of learning opportunities. It was a place of knowledge and it provided me a wonderful environment and opportunity to learn and grow myself in every field.”
The school offers three levels of education — elementary, intermediate and high school — with each having its own playground. Today, the old U-shaped building stands in the center of the complex and is used by elementary students. The classrooms remain their original size, which is considered small by current standards.
The floors, ceilings, and doors of the school’s original building are made from wood they were restored, with their traditional character retained in order to preserve the school’s history and heritage. The original green dome still rests on top of the old building.
Turki Alalshikh launches City Hub entertainment project in 7 Saudi cities
Project works exclusively with Saudi companies
Jazan, Alkhobar, Buraidah, Hail, Al-Baha, Taif, and Tabuk to host City Hub
Updated 20 January 2025
Arab News
RIYADH: A new project bringing a range of entertainment offerings to seven Saudi cities has been announced by Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority.
The City Hub project will begin its journey in Jazan on Jan. 23, followed by stops in Alkhobar, Buraidah, Hail, Al-Baha, Taif, and concluding in Tabuk in August after spending 14 days in each city.
The project exclusively works with Saudi companies, creating thousands of direct and indirect job opportunities in the Kingdom’s entertainment industry, according to organizers.
Covering an area of more than 20,000 square meters in each city, City Hub will provide a diverse range of entertainment including video games, circus acts, and a “Horror Zone.”
One of the main attractions is the “Play and Learn Festival,” which offers children a hands-on experience in various professional fields, including innovation, banking, and medicine.
This initiative was designed to allow young visitors to explore future career paths through interactive activities, organizers said in a statement.
An electronic games zone will feature esports tournaments with titles such as EAFC24 and TEKKEN 8, presenting prizes to winners.
For thrill-seekers, the “Horror Zone” promises an immersive experience, complete with lifelike challenges.
Meanwhile, the circus tent will host a variety of performances, including dancing fountains, trapeze acts, and the adrenaline-filled 360-degree motorcycle cage performance.
A pet bird zone allows guests to engage with rare birds in a natural setting.
Visitors can also enjoy a diverse marketplace and a curated selection of local and international restaurants, ensuring a rich culinary experience.
Each city will host City Hub for 14 days, underscoring GEA’s commitment to promoting local content.
KSrelief, Saudi Esports Federation donate $1.7m to UNICEF to boost children’s education in Burkina Faso
John Agbor: Thanks to the generous contribution of KSrelief and SEF, thousands of children will benefit from formal and non-formal education, vocational training and radio-based learning
Funds will support preschool education for 4,500 children, formal and non-formal education for 16,700 children, and technical innovations for 6,600 children
Updated 20 January 2025
Arab News
RIYADH: The Saudi Esports Federation, through the Gamers Without Borders tournament — the largest virtual charity event for gaming and esports — in collaboration with Saudi aid agency KSrelief, donated over $1.7 million to UNICEF’s office in Burkina Faso.
The grant aims to provide formal and non-formal education to more than 27,800 children, 50 percent of whom are girls, in areas affected by insecurity.
John Agbor, UNICEF representative in Burkina Faso, said: “Thanks to the generous contribution of KSrelief and Saudi Esports Federation, thousands of children will benefit from formal and non-formal education, vocational training and radio-based learning.”
The funds will support preschool education for 4,500 children, formal and non-formal education for 16,700 children, and technical innovations for 6,600 children in the Central-North, North, East, Sahel, and Boucle du Mouhoun regions.
As of December 2024, the humanitarian situation in Burkina Faso remains difficult, with over 2 million displaced due to conflict.
Despite the government’s efforts to reopen more than 1,500 schools, over 5,000 remain closed, affecting 20 percent of the country’s educational institutions.
In one year, primary school enrollment rates in Burkina Faso dropped from 85.8 percent in 2022 to 77.4 percent in 2023.
With KSrelief and the Saudi Esports Federation’s support, UNICEF has launched several initiatives, including building and equipping 27 classrooms, creating more than 100 accelerated learning centers for out-of-school children, and planning vocational training for 500 boys and girls.
Other initiatives aim to reach 6,000 children through emergency classrooms and 600 children via remote learning with tablets, as well as increase radio-based learning and provide school supplies for vulnerable children.
Big 5 Construct Saudi 2025 expands offering to two weeks
1st week to showcase foundational aspects of construction, while 2nd presents finishing phases
Updated 20 January 2025
Arab News
RIYADH: The Big 5 Construct Saudi, organized by dmg events, returns as the largest construction event in the Kingdom, taking place across two weeks, from Feb. 15-18 and Feb. 24-27, 2025, at the ROSHN Front Exhibition and Conference Center in Riyadh.
A gateway to Saudi Arabia’s $1.7 trillion construction industry, supporting the ambitious Vision 2030 goals, Big 5 Construct Saudi has attracted in past editions over 75,000 visitors and featured over 2,000 local and international exhibitors from more than 60 countries showcasing over 20,000 products across eight specialized events.
This year, the exhibition spans an impressive area of 140,000 square meters, doubling from 2024.
“The 13th edition of Big 5 Construct Saudi marks a monumental step forward in supporting the Kingdom’s dynamic construction sector. This two-week format provides an unparalleled platform for exhibitors to showcase cutting-edge innovations, sustainable solutions and transformative technologies,” said Muhammed Kazi, senior vice president of construction, dmg events.
“By aligning with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, the event enables local and international industry leaders to connect, collaborate and contribute to the Kingdom’s giga projects and economic diversification goals.”
Expanding its footprint, Big 5 Saudi will spotlight the Kingdom’s vibrant construction landscape and build on its legacy as a platform for significant business engagements and partnerships.
The event’s two-week format is tailored to meet the specific needs of the construction industry’s various phases.
In the first week (Feb. 15-18), the event will focus on heavy construction, concrete, HVAC (heat, ventilation and air conditioning) and related sectors, under the theme “Strong foundations from design to build.” This week will feature the launch of specialized shows such as “Heavy Saudi Arabia” and “Totally Concrete Saudi Arabia,” addressing the foundational aspects of construction.
In the second week (Feb. 24-27), the event will shift focus to the finishing phases of construction, including windows, doors, facades, urban planning, hospital construction and facilities management, under the theme of “Transforming projects from fit-out to services.”
Tea ceremonies, sushi workshops, and manga classes at Ithra’s ‘Japan Cultural Days’
Event highlights deep-rooted ties between Saudi Arabia and Japan, organizers say
Kingdom and East Asian nation celebrate 70 years of diplomatic relations this year
Updated 20 January 2025
Arab News
DHAHRAN: A vibrant celebration of Japanese culture including tea ceremonies, sushi workshops, and manga drawing classes will be held in Dhahran from Jan. 23 to Feb. 8 as part of the “Japan Cultural Days” event hosted by the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, or Ithra.
Organizers say that the event highlights the deep-rooted friendship and cultural exchange between Saudi Arabia and Japan as the two nations mark 70 years of diplomatic relations this year.
“The ‘Japan Cultural Days’ are an important part of Ithra’s wider mission to make a tangible and positive impact on human development by offering local audiences meaningful opportunities for cultural exchange,” Noura Al-Zamil, Ithra’s Head of Programs, said in a statement.
Visitors can expect to be immersed in a wide variety of activities that showcase the richness of Japanese tradition and innovation.
Japanese performers in action. Visitors to Ithra’s “Japan Cultural Days” can expect action-filled activities at the centre. (SUPPLIED)
Offerings such as the Japanese House Experience, which introduces the art of the tea ceremony, and the creation of wagashi (Japanese sweets), will emphasize the themes of mindfulness and harmony that are central to Japanese culture.
For those with a passion for cinema, a ticketed selection of Japanese films will be screened, spanning both classic and modern works, from heartfelt dramas to vibrant animations.
Workshops will be a key element of the 17-day celebration, providing plentiful opportunities to engage with Japanese traditions.
Visitors can learn about the intricacies of creating and decorating masks and making traditional-inspired Japanese fans and postcards.
Additionally, participants can learn about the centuries-old practice of cultivating miniature trees, combining art and nature.
There is also a sushi-making workshop, in addition to one centered on kintsugi, where participants can learn how to repair broken pottery with lacquer dusted with powdered gold.
There will be workshops dedicated to manga writing and drawing, a calligraphy class and sessions dedicated to origami, the art of folding paper into shapes.
Participants will be able to solve riddles and visit thematic stations at the Cultural Quest section, deepening their understanding of Japanese customs and traditions in a fun and interactive way.
Image of The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) building in Dhahran which will play host to the “Japan Cultural Days” event. (SUPPLIED)
A kimono exhibition will offer spectators the chance to view traditional Japanese garments and learn about their cultural significance.
The event will also host a classic car exhibit, showcasing iconic Japanese automobiles and their impact on the automotive world.
The event will feature a series of captivating performances that highlight the dynamism of Japanese arts.
Among these is the Kingdom’s debut of the much-anticipated Drum Tao performance, blending traditional taiko drumming with flute and harp melodies and contemporary choreography.
Lush Gardens will also offer a Japanese bazaar experience and a flower arranging station, as well as eight live outdoor shows.
These include a traditional kabuki theater production and a live kendama performance, led by Tokyo 2022 Olympics opening performer Waaonwagi and Guinness Record winner Ito Yusuke.
Young visitors will not be left out. The Children’s Museum will offer numerous hands-on workshops and storytelling sessions designed for youngsters that will bring Japanese folklore to life.
For more details and the full schedule of events, visit Ithra’s official website or their social media channels.
