RIYADH: Coming from a musical family, young Saudi pianist Daleen Khalid wanted to be part of the artistic talents that her household is full of.
The 15-year-old’s father is an artist who plays several instruments, such as the oud, violin and keyboard.
“I grew up listening to music in different ways. Recently I found myself on the piano playing classical music and I decided to teach myself since that moment,” she said.
The self-taught pianist started playing just 11 months ago.
Apart from playing music, Daleen is also interested in public speaking, giving presentations, swimming, cycling and drawing.
“I’m an active person and I always like to experience new things in life,” she said.
Daleen’s family, especially her parents, was supportive of her musical dream and helped her pursue it.
She said that there is no period of time that a person has to spend to become a professional pianist. “Anyone can be a professional depending on their skills and expertise.”
The young talent, who says she is “still in the learning journey,” aspires to become a professional pianist in the future.
Her goal from playing the piano is to get her message out to the community. “Classical music can still be played and enjoyed by young generations as well.”
Public speaking helped Daleen to be more confident and comfortable to perform in front of an audience, especially in some of Riyadh Season’s zones. “Of course I get nervous sometimes.”
Daleen started playing in public before the Riyadh Season. She first started going to cafes and restaurants that have a piano open to the public.
She said that Riyadh Season opened a great window of opportunities for her to grow as a pianist.
“Nabd Al-Riyadh was my first zone to perform and then I moved to different zones,” she said.
Daleen was overwhelmed by the positive reactions to her performance in the season. “They were very supportive. Every single time I play the piano, people seem to be enjoying my performance and the music I pick.”
She finds it difficult to choose her favorite pianist. “I could never say who my favorite pianist is, it’s too hard to choose because every single pianist has their own way to express their emotions and feelings,” she said.
She told Arab News that she would like to be part of all future Saudi seasons, and that she is open to any opportunities.
15-year-old Saudi female pianist reflects on her musical journey
https://arab.news/pft2q
15-year-old Saudi female pianist reflects on her musical journey
- Public speaking helped Daleen to be more confident and comfortable to perform in front of an audience, especially in some of Riyadh Season’s zones
Saudi Arabia to host inaugural ImpaQ Forum for influencers, content creators
- The landmark event, announced by media minister Salman bin Yousef Al-Dosari, will be Saudi Arabia’s largest gathering for influencers, digital content creators and industry experts
RIYADH: The Saudi Ministry of Media announced on Thursday the launch of the ImpaQ Impact Makers Forum, set to take place on Dec. 18-19 in Riyadh.
The landmark event, announced by media minister Salman bin Yousef Al-Dosari, will be Saudi Arabia’s largest gathering for influencers, digital content creators and industry experts, aimed at redefining the role of influence in the rapidly evolving digital landscape, Saudi Press Agency reported.
The forum is expected to bring together more than 300 influencers from around the world, spanning diverse fields and specializations.
Designed to foster meaningful dialogue between local and international talent, the forum will explore ways to enrich societal values, promote purpose-driven influence and share expertise, SPA added.
In total, the event will feature more than 40 programs, workshops and discussions.
One prominent discussion area, “Who is an Influencer?”, will tackle the evolution of the term in today’s digital world, where influencers are now expected to use their platforms responsibly.
Another focus, the “Purposeful Influence” track, will highlight influencers who leverage their platforms to address pressing global issues, from social justice to environmental advocacy.
Experts will delve into the future of social platforms, discussing trends such as artificial intelligence, interactive media, emerging social networks and the integration of virtual and augmented reality. Several leading international companies in AI, digital marketing and media will also participate, offering attendees insight into industry advancements and potential collaborative opportunities.
The forum will offer 12 hours of programming daily and is expected to attract a wide range of attendees, from seasoned influencers to aspiring digital creators, as well as representatives from government and the private sector.
Head of Saudi FDA signs cooperation deal during China visit
- Dr. Hisham bin Saad Al-Jadhey was accompanied by Saudi Ambassador to China Abdulrahman Al-Harbi on a tour of several organizations
- Delegation also visited the National Institute of Biological Sciences, whose chairman, Dr. Xiaodong Wang, gave a presentation on its research initiatives
RIYADH: The head of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority on Thursday signed a cooperation agreement with China’s National Medical Products Administration during a visit to Beijing.
Dr. Hisham bin Saad Al-Jadhey, who will also attend the 8th Shenzhen Food Safety Forum while in China, was accompanied by Saudi Ambassador to China Abdulrahman Al-Harbi on a tour of several organizations, including the China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The delegation also met officials from the National Institute for Food and Drug Control to examine their regulatory operations and visited its affiliated bodies, including the Institute for Biological Product Control.
Discussions covered collaborative projects on developing vaccine oversight, biological alternatives, and innovative therapeutic products, such as gene and cellular therapies.
The Saudi delegation also visited the National Institute of Biological Sciences, whose chairman, Dr. Xiaodong Wang, gave a presentation on its research initiatives, drug discovery work and other developments.
Saudi minister promotes education sustainability at G20 meeting in Brazil
- Yousef bin Abdullah Al-Benyan: School-community engagement in Saudi Arabia constitutes a fundamental element of our national strategy
- Saudi Ministry of Education has established a department dedicated to community responsibility and volunteer work
RIYADH: Saudi Minister of Education Yousef bin Abdullah Al-Benyan has emphasized the Kingdom’s commitment to promoting sustainability in education and investment in skills, innovation and entrepreneurship to achieve a sustainable future for citizens and enhance global competitiveness for future generations.
Al-Benyan was speaking during the G20 Education Ministers’ Meeting in Fortaleza in Brazil, where he emphasized the Kingdom’s support of the goals and priorities of the Education Working Group.
He highlighted the importance of cooperation between schools and communities to provide students with experiences and resources that enhance the importance of learning for them.
Al-Benyan said that the engagement of educational institutions with the community enabled educators to meet the diverse needs of students and their families, promote inclusivity, and help students to develop into active citizens.
“School-community engagement in Saudi Arabia constitutes a fundamental element of our national strategy, as the Kingdom’s educational institutions understand the importance of connecting with the community — not just as recipients of volunteer efforts but also as active participants in societal development,” he said.
The Saudi Ministry of Education has established a department dedicated to community responsibility and volunteer work, focusing on integrating sustainable development goals into education and creating initiatives that address local needs.
Al-Benyan said that a new school evaluation index had been developed to assess community engagement effectively, with Vision 2030 setting ambitious targets for the non-profit sector, aiming to reach 10,000 community organizations, contribute more than 5 percent of GDP, and engage one million volunteers.
He added that the Kingdom had seen a more than 150 percent increase in educational non-profit organizations in 2024.
Al-Benyan also discussed two flagship projects aimed at supporting teachers — the National Institute for Professional Education Development and the Teachers Fund. The institute is focused on four key areas: teacher preparation, teacher development, leadership nurturing, and teacher advocacy.
He called for collaborative efforts to develop a new global perspective that ensured a just and sustainable future for all citizens.
First meeting of international alliance for two-state solution continues in Riyadh
- Saudi deputy minister criticizes Israel’s violations of international, humanitarian law
- Nations must engage in multilateral diplomatic efforts, Abdulrahman Al-Rassi says
RIYADH: International efforts to implement a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict gained momentum on Thursday, as senior diplomats gathered for a second day in Riyadh for the first meeting of a newly formed international alliance.
In his address, Saudi Deputy Minister for Multilateral International Affairs Abdulrahman Al-Rassi stressed the urgency of the initiative amid ongoing violence in Gaza, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
He criticized Israel’s violations of international and humanitarian law and expressed frustration at the international community’s response to the crisis. He noted the UN Security Council’s failure to fulfill its responsibilities and its stance against the Palestinian people’s moral and legal right to self-determination, as well as its failure to initiate a serious process for peace and prevent the expansion of regional conflict.
Al-Rassi stressed the importance of nations engaging in multilateral diplomatic efforts to achieve peace based on the two-state solution and end Israeli occupation. He referenced international law, UN resolutions and the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative as fundamental frameworks, emphasizing the so-called land for peace principle that would enable Palestinians to live freely in an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on 1967 borders.
The deputy minister renewed Saudi Arabia’s invitation to peace-loving nations to join the alliance and praised the recent decisions of several countries to recognize Palestine. He urged other countries to similarly cite their support for Palestinian rights and the alliance itself in working to accelerate the implementation of the two-state solution and achieve peace.
Israel’s continued aggression against Palestinians would only expand regional conflict and threaten global stability, Al-Rassi said, and called on permanent Security Council members to use their authority to force Israel to cease its aggression and allow unrestricted humanitarian aid to enter Gaza.
The deputy minister strongly condemned the Israeli Knesset’s decision to ban UNRWA operations, describing it as a violation of international law and a dangerous precedent that violated UN member states’ Charter obligations and thus undermined the multilateral international system.
“This is the occupying power’s latest action aimed at undermining Palestinian resilience in their homeland and attempting to forcibly displace Palestinians,” he said.
Al-Rassi reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s support for the UN relief agency and firmly rejected Israel’s systematic targeting of it and other and humanitarian organizations, along with the ongoing endangerment of its workers.
He concluded by expressing his optimism for the initiative and said that the support shown for it at the Riyadh meeting demonstrated a genuine desire for peace and an end to the “brutal war on Gaza and occupied Palestinian territories.”
Saudi Arabia condemns terror attack on Chadian military base
- Attack on military base in Chad’s Lake Chad region left at least 40 soldiers dead
RIYADH: The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday strongly condemned a recent terrorist attack on a military base in Chad’s Lake Chad region, which left at least 40 Chadian soldiers dead.
The Ministry expressed its condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims and to the government and people of Chad, wishing those injured a swift recovery.
In a statement, the ministry reaffirmed the Kingdom’s opposition to all forms of violence and terrorism, emphasizing Saudi Arabia’s commitment to supporting international efforts to combat such threats, Saudi Press Agency reported.
The attack took place on Sunday evening on Barkaram Island in the Lake Chad basin area, which has experienced increasing militant activity in recent years.
Although no group has claimed responsibility, Chadian President Mahamat Deby has since launched a counter-mission aimed at tracking down those responsible.
