TAIF: The Voluntary Work Association in Taif has put its Ramadan plans in place, the Saudi Press Agency reported, including the distribution of food baskets and organizing iftar events.
The association has carried out more than 55 activities since its founding last year and was set up to foster the spirit of volunteering “Since its inception a year ago, the association has accomplished much and carried out more than 55 programs and events in all departments and sections, including charity, community and organizational programs,” said Jamal Al-Rabihi, the association’s president.
“The association has proven itself as a successful and effective partner in all the grand events it has engaged with, such as the ceremonies of National Day, the Souq Okaz Festival, the Flower Festival, Ramadan and other important occasions in our country.” Al-Rabihi said the association was a voluntary and non-profit organization that aimed to promote and develop the concept of voluntary work, as well as nurture a love of volunteering in the hearts of men and women, to serve the nation and Islam.
The association’s work also contributes to the Saudi Vision 2030 reform plan, which aims to recruit a million volunteers by 2030.
The association has different departments, including specialist ones such as medical affairs, sports, culture and media. Men and women form the teams and there are more than 40 teams working across different fields and specializations.
Fatima Al-Juaied, from the events and programs department, highlighted some of the association’s most important achievements.
“One of the association’s most important charity programs is the longest iftar table, measuring 1,600 meters in length, for those fasting on behalf of servicemen killed in the line of duty.
There is also a program through which the association provided high-end buses for those who cannot perform Umrah due to various circumstances.” Some of the most important community programs were those with a patriotic flavor, such as National Day celebrations, she added.
There were more than 1,000 volunteers at the Taif Flower Festival, she said, and the association carried out more than 17 programs in 10 days, including managing crowds at different exhibitions.
Taif voluntary body puts Ramadan plans in place
Taif voluntary body puts Ramadan plans in place
- The association’s work contributes to the Saudi Vision 2030 reform plan, which aims to recruit a million volunteers by 2030
Saudi-Qatari roundtable explores opportunities in key investment sectors
- Event brings together senior officials, executives, business leaders
RIYADH: A Saudi-Qatari roundtable meeting held in Riyadh on Sunday highlighted significant investment opportunities in various key sectors as a way of fostering stronger economic ties between the two nations, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The event was co-chaired by Ibrahim Al-Mubarak, assistant minister of investment and acting CEO of the Saudi Investment Promotion Authority, alongside Mohammed bin Hassan Al-Malki, undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of Qatar.
The roundtable brought together senior officials, executives, and business leaders from both countries.
Discussions focused on strengthening investment partnerships and identifying opportunities across diverse sectors, including communications, information technology, banking services, industry, mining, construction, tourism, aviation, and health services.
Key presentations were delivered by Invest Saudi and Invest Qatar to showcase the investment landscape of the two nations and help provide investors and companies with insights into the business environment and opportunities for collaboration in both markets.
Soprano Saira Peter on creating Sufi opera, blending cultures in first visit to Saudi Arabia
- Innovative performer praises Kingdom’s music scene
- Saudis have ‘great rhythm and tempo,’ singer says
RIYADH: British-Pakistani soprano Saira Peter has captivated on the world stage, made history by becoming the world’s first Sufi opera singer, and even received praise from King Charles III for her recording of the British national anthem.
After hearing about Saudi Arabia’s changes in recent years, Peter decided to explore the country’s arts and culture scene herself. In Riyadh, she spoke to Arab News about her musical journey, her upcoming Sufi opera project, and her impressions of Saudi Arabia.
“It’s so wonderful to see how your country is growing and (how) you are embracing the advanced technology,” she said.
When I discovered that I could sing, I decided for myself that I would use music to serve people, to spread the message of peace and reconciliation around the world.
Saira Peter, British-Pakistani soprano
“You’re having so many events around you. And it’s quite enormous and very interesting to see the musical events as well. I met some people and I told them that I’m an opera singer…
“The way I saw Saudi people, their reaction towards music, it’s unbelievable. You have such a great rhythm and tempo inside you.”
The London-based singer, who is the director of NJ Arts London where she also gives lessons, has starred on many stages across the globe, often performing with her husband, musician Stephen Smith, and has an extensive discography that features music in 17 languages.
In 2019 she received an award for Best Music Performance at Islamabad Art Fest, Pakistan’s largest international arts event.
But her acclaimed career was no surprise: Music was part of her life from childhood and she grew up listening to classical music in her household.
Peter admired the likes of Benjamin Britten, Mozart, Beethoven, and Arabic and Eastern singers like Umm Kulthum, but doing her first master’s in physical chemistry really helped her understand the intricacies of music.
Peter said: “In Greek history they used to put music into science and into arts as well. All the notes are composed of different frequencies and each and every note has specific frequencies, which is actually science, which is physics.
“Music is everywhere in the world, even if you hear the sea breeze or when the wind blows. Everything is music.”
But only after receiving her second master’s in history from Queen Mary University of London, and delving deeper into Islamic and Western histories, did she decide to pursue a professional career in music.
She said: “I think music is very important; it’s a language. You can express your emotions, you can express your thoughts, in a very mild way. And you can communicate to the whole world.
“My passion and my vision when I sing, I think, is how I can serve my audience and how I can deliver the message of peace and reconciliation to my audience.”
Reflecting her aim to bring people together, the soprano’s genre of Sufi opera aims to bridge the gap between Eastern and Western classical music.
Peter said: “Fusion means that when you blend two cultures, two musical genres together, when they come together, they should celebrate each other. They should, also, enhance the beauty of what they already contain.”
She is currently working with her team in London to develop the first full-scale opera of this kind, titled “Marvi’s Tears.” Inspired by the ancient Indus Valley Civilization in what is now Pakistan, Afghanistan and India, the story follows a teenage girl, Marvi, and her brave journey in bringing justice to her village.
The opera recently underwent a workshop at Oxford University with renowned British composer Paul Knight, who is also Peter’s vocal coach, and director Johnny Danziger. It is set to be staged in 2025.
Peter said: “The opera is a very unique kind of opera, because it’s a blend of two worlds which are, you know, Western classical and Eastern classical. So if you sing Western classical, there are certain things you are not allowed to do when you sing. For example, you are not allowed to sing in portamento, which is a sliding note.
“Arab singers are wonderful in sliding notes and they have quarter tones and all these vibratos, which are beautiful.”
Considering her ethnic background, Peter’s vantage point is her ability to utilize her voice on both ends of the spectrum — and everywhere in between. This discovery was made by her coach, Knight.
Peter said: “He said ‘You have a very unique kind of vocal force that you can sing both Western classical and Eastern classical without changing the quality of the sound.’
“Because I’m from the East, I have that kind of DNA, that kind of sound.”
During her stay in Riyadh Peter performed a few arias to a small group of Saudis in a home setting, where she was met with claps and cheers. She said: “I never had this kind of experience and response from any audience. Of course I love all my audiences, but here it was very different, and I was so moved.
“It was overwhelming because they were in tears and they were appreciating me with all their heart.”
As Saudi Arabia orchestrates a notable cultural shift, opera is slowly gaining ground and blending with its rich musical heritage, marking a new chapter in its artistic evolution, most recently demonstrated by the staging of the first Saudi opera “Zarqa Al-Yamama” back in April.
While the soprano believes there is no shortcut to hard work and training, she offers a piece of advice to aspiring artists and professionals.
She said: “You need to know what your vision is, and your goal for life. If you have a message, then it becomes whatever you do, whether you want to become a singer or scientist or dramatic artist, you first need to search within yourself.
“When I discovered that I could sing, I decided for myself that I would use music to serve people, to spread the message of peace and reconciliation around the world.”
Rock art in Saudi Arabia’s Harrat is testament to ancient life, cultural exchange
- Archaeological surveys conducted by the Heritage Commission have revealed a wealth of rock art and inscriptions dating back to various periods, including Thamudic, Nabataean, Lihyanite, and Islamic
RIYADH: The Harrat region, south of Tabuk, is a treasure trove of ancient history, boasting a remarkable collection of rock art that provides a fascinating glimpse into past civilizations, according to the Saudi Press Agency report.
The rugged volcanic landscape served as a canvas for ancient inhabitants, who expressed their beliefs, experiences, and social interactions through intricate engravings and paintings.
Depictions of hunting scenes, made using simple tools, offer a window into the daily lives of the early inhabitants of these areas, the SPA report noted.
Rock art also provides a record of the fauna that once lived in the region, including oryx, gazelles, and even tigers.
FASTFACT
Dual-script inscriptions from the 5th century, discovered in Alqan village, highlight the evolution of language and the enduring artistic spirit of the Tabuk area.
Moreover, numerous engravings feature symbolic and abstract motifs, likely carrying religious or cultural significance and reflecting the tribal identities of the area’s ancient societies.
These rock art sites underscore the historical significance of the Tabuk region as a crossroads for trade and cultural exchange.
Located at the intersection of ancient trade routes, Tabuk served as a vital link between the Arabian Peninsula and neighboring civilizations, including those of ancient Egypt, the Levant, Mesopotamia, the Mediterranean, and Asia.
Archaeological surveys conducted by the Heritage Commission have revealed a wealth of rock art and inscriptions dating back to various periods, including Thamudic, Nabataean, Lihyanite, and Islamic.
A recent discovery in the village of Alqan — “dual-line” inscriptions dating back to the fifth century — has provided valuable new insights.
These inscriptions, featuring both Thamudic and early Arabic scripts, offer compelling evidence of the continuity of writing traditions in the region and the ongoing evolution of language.
Interior minister receives Kazakhstan ambassador to Saudi Arabia
- They discussed cooperation between the Kingdom and the Arab League, as well as various developments in the Arab world
RIYADH: Saudi Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif received Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the Kingdom Madiyar Menilbekov in Riyadh on Sunday.
During the meeting, they discussed topics of common interest, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Meanwhile, Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit met Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Matar, the permanent representative of the Kingdom to the Arab League, in Cairo on Sunday.
During the meeting, they discussed cooperation between the Kingdom and the Arab League, as well as various developments in the Arab world.
Saudi Arabia strongly condemns Israeli settlers for storming courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque
- Kingdom’s Foreign Ministry also renewed its denunciation of continued Israeli violations of international law and repeated attacks on the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia strongly condemned on Sunday Israeli settlers for storming the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque under the protection of Israel’s security forces.
The Kingdom’s Foreign Ministry also renewed its denunciation of continued Israeli violations of international law and repeated attacks on the sanctity of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
The Kingdom affirmed its categorical rejection of anything that affects the historical and legal status of Jerusalem and its holy sites.
It also called on the international community to hold Israeli authorities accountable for their serious and ongoing violations against Islamic holy sites and innocent civilians in Palestine.
